In my October 7 blog post, I asked you to tell me about what scares you for a chance to win a copy of Esther Kane's new book It's Not About the Food: A Woman's Guide to Making Peace With Food and Our Bodies.

We have a winner! Congratulations to Amy Barroso, who said:
"I was trying to pin down one thing that scares me, but on my way to work today I realized that what scares me changes depending on my life stage.

When I was little I was afraid of getting lost or losing my parents in the grocery store. When I was a teen I was afraid that my friends wouldn't accept me. In my 20's I was afraid that I wouldn't find the man of my dreams and have a happy life.

But I never got lost, my friends never judged me and I did find the man of my dreams.

Then it was the "mommy" stage and that opened up a whole new world of scared. When they were babies I was afraid they would stop breathing in the night and I wouldn't know it. When they were small I was afraid of losing them in the grocery store and now that they are teens I'm afraid of the wrong choices they may make.

All I can do is take a deep breath and be thankful that they never stopped breathing, I never lost them (well I did lose the little one for a minute LOL) and that the way I raised them will have taught them to make the right choices.

Can't wait to see what scares me next!"

What a terrific, positive approach. Way to go, Amy!

Have you entered our October 21 contest yet? And remember to enter our October 27 contest!

I was just checking out a book called The Shangri-La Diet: The No Hunger Eat Anything Weight-Loss Plan, by Seth Roberts, Ph.D.

Eat Anything. Anything. Really?

While I'm skeptical that you really could eat anything and lose weight and be healthy, I'm curious: if you could eat anything without feeling sick, full or fat afterward, what would it be? What would your 'Eat Anything' meal look like?

Mine would probably start with a rocky road ice cream appetizer, then progress to a poutine entree, followed by a towering pyramid of baklava for dessert, accompanied by a chocolate milkshake. Or two.

How 'bout you? For a chance to WIN a copy of The Shangri-La Diet, just Subscribe To This Blog and post a reply telling us about what you would eat if you could eat anything.

You have until Thursday, November 12 to let us know. I'll announce the lucky winner here on lucky Friday, November 13.

I'm really enjoying reading all your responses to my October 21 post, where I asked you to tell us about how you stay young. With all these great ideas, we'll be able to stay young-at-heart and enjoy healthy living for years to come!

You'll find more ideas for attaining a lifestyle that encourages longevity in Dan Buettner new book, The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest. Buettner has traveled the globe to uncover strategies for longevity found in the Blue Zones: places in the world where higher percentages of people enjoy remarkably long, full lives.

For a chance to WIN a copy of The Blue Zones, just Subscribe To This Blog and post a reply to let us know what's on your "bucket list" - that is, what's on your list of things to do before you die? Now that our healthy lifestyles are helping us live longer, how do you want to spend your time? Let us know about the things you want to accomplish before you pass on - the places you'd like to see, the things you'd like to do.

You have until Tuesday, November 17 to let us know. I'll announce the winner here on Wednesday, November 18.

Oh my lord, I'm getting old.

At least, that's how it feels these days. Maybe it's the shorter days and the cooler temperatures that are making me feel stiff, sore, tired and generally ancient. (Or maybe it's the fact that I am, in fact, a 96-year-old woman trapped in the body of a 31-year-old.)

I wistfully remember those fresh, energetic spring days filled with the promise of a summer that would go on forever.

And now. Here we are. November, daylight savings time, and flu season loom large on the horizon. Not to mention another birthday.

I need your tips on how you keep yourselves young! And in exchange, I'll provide one lucky winner with a copy of the brand new book The Hormone Diet: Lose Fat. Gain Strength. Live Younger Longer by Dr. Natasha Turner, naturopathic doctor.

Just Subscribe To This Blog and post a reply telling us what you do to keep yourself feeling young for a chance to WIN. You have until Wednesday, November 11 to enter. I'll announce the winner here on Thursday, November 12.

In my September 21 blog post, we talked about whether you could still fit into your high school clothes and I asked you what you hoped to accomplish by November 2 for a chance to win a copy of The 6-Week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle: The simple plan to flatten your belly fast, by Mary Dan Eades, M.D. and Michael R. Eades, M.D.

Our winner is Conni Christensen. Conni says:
"In the next six weeks I plan on keeping my family healthy enough to fight off any signs of H1N1 flu. I'm going to duct tape my mouth shut so that I don't eat the leftover Halloween candy. I've GOT to make jelly out of the grapes that are STILL in the freezer...they're my nemesis! Nope, I cannot fit into my highschool clothes...grad '82....I'm about 4 sizes up now...RATS!!"

Congratulations, Conni — I'll be sending you a copy of The 6-Week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle. Here are some great articles to help you through your to-do list.

Prepare for flu season:
How not to spread the flu
Expert tips on staying flu-free
Colds and the flu: Symptoms and treatment
Chicken Soup: Comforting chicken soup recipes for cold and flu season

Have a lean Halloween with these great ideas:
Halloween health tips for adults

Beat your nemesis with these great recipes:
Great Grape Jelly
Grape Plum Jelly

Can't fit into your high school clothes? Here's how to make the most of what you've got while you continue down the road of healthy living:
How to dress for your age
How to pick a little black dress for your figure
8 secrets for dressing slimmer

Have you entered our October 7 contest yet?

With Halloween just around the corner, it's a great time to talk about what scares you.

For me, it's getting fat(ter). It's trying on clothes and having to get the next size up.

Of course, my fears aren't just related to weight. It's not all about the food. I have all the other fears, too, like looking at my bank balance, or realizing I've forgotten my keys, or waking up with (another) giant zit, or getting a flat tire on the 401. And then, of course, there are the real, serious fears about someone you love getting sick or hurt.

So I have food fears, but it's not all about the food.

What scares you? Let us know your deepest, darkest fears for a chance to WIN a copy of Esther Kane's new book It's Not About the Food: A Woman's Guide to Making Peace With Food and Our Bodies.

Just Subscribe To This Blog and post your reply for a chance to WIN. You have until Wednesday, October 28 to enter. I'll announce the winner here on Thursday, October 29. Good luck!