Once you become more physically active, you're likely to look at food whole new way. Interestingly, people who become more active seem to automatic adjustments in their choices. You'll probably drink water and juices, and you'll reach for fruit as a snack. Try it; it's best for yourself.

A lot. For starters, regular physical activity bums up excess calories and can, in time, burns up excess body fat too. If you just rely on a low- calorie diet you run the risk of losing muscle tissue -- instead of just body fat. With physical activity, you'll also increase the amount of muscle you have -- and muscle bums up calories very efficiently.

Just think about the number of times you've gone on a diet -- and then gone off -- only to return to the very same habits that caused you to gain the weight in the first place. That's the beauty of becoming more physically active: studies show that people who continue to exercise regularly after a diet are much more likely to keep the weight off.

And there's so much more exercise does:

Just remember to start slowly -- as with dieting -- and set reasonable goals. Don't expect to jog five miles your first day out. But DO SOMETHING! Begin making small changes in the way you approach everyday activities that will get you moving. Of course, if you have any questions about increasing your physical activity level, check with your doctor.

OK, what's the first step?

Do you always park right in front of the movie theater or the mall? Are you inclined to take the elevator? Do you clutch the TV remote control all night in the palm of your hand? If so, start thinking: M O V E M E N T! No one's asking you to run a marathon or climb to the top of the Empire State Building, but begin thinking of SMALL ways to get your body MOVING.