Can you still fit into your high school clothes? Your answer probably depends on your age. If you graduated just a few years ago, you can probably wear your high school garb no problem.

But if you're approaching middle age, it's probably a much tighter fit. And whether you're willing to sport your high school styles again or not, the issue goes beyond retaining your youthful figure and the accompanying bragging rights.

Your waist size is an important indicator of your health. 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., provides a plan for eliminating the unhealthy fat that can accumulate around the organs which they say is the true cause for the middle-aged bulge.

The good news is that with the right diet, this fat can be quickly reduced, enhancing both your appearance and your health.

For a chance to WIN a copy of The 6-Week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle, just Subscribe To This Blog and post a reply telling us what you hope to accomplish in the next six weeks. What job, goal, nagging chore or delightful activity do you hope to have done by November 2?

You have until Monday, October 12 to let us know. I'll announce the winner here on Tuesday, October 13.

As promised, here are a few of my fave high-protein Canadian Living recipes:

Pilaf-Stuffed Rack of Pork
(46 grams of protein per serving)

Seared Rib Eye Steaks with Roquefort Butter
(50 grams of protein per serving)

Lamb Stew with Squash and Mint
(43 grams of protein per serving)

Biscuit-Topped Chicken Pot Pie
(45 grams of protein per serving)

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
(43 grams of protein per serving)

Congratulations to Karen, who has won our August 27 contest by telling us about her favourite high-protein food.

Karen says:
"eggs give me a lot of energy for a long period of time"

Karen has won a copy of Lori Incledon's book Strength Training for Women: Tailored programs and exercises for optimal results.

I'm crazy about eggs and I find they give me an energy boost, too. I hard boil six at a time and keep them handy in the fridge. Plus, did you know that a large egg has six grams of protein and only 90 calories?

I'm packed with protein now, thanks to all your suggestions on my August 27 post. Keep your protein tips coming - you have until this Thursday to enter to win a copy of Strength Training for Women.

I also noticed that many of you opt for a meat-free protein boost, so with you in mind, here are a few of my fave high-protein Tested Till Perfect vegetarian recipes:

Potato Pesto Pizza
(18 grams of protein per serving)

Japanese Vegetarian Buckwheat Noodles
(17 grams of protein per serving)

Spinach and Rice Phyllo Pie
(19 grams of protein per serving)

Rotini with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Basil
(17 grams of protein per serving)

Easy-Stir Corn and Pepper Risotto
(16 grams of protein per serving)

Congratulations to Jeri-Ann, who has won our August 19 contest by telling us about how she sneaks more fibre into her diet.

Jeri-Ann says:

"I am trying to add more fibre into my diet, so all these tips are great. I love chili,  that is the only way right now I can get hubby to eat beans. we use whole wheat pasta and multigrain bread (that one was a struggle for the hubby). I have been told I need to eat between 25 and 35 grams per day due to diverticulosis, so this book would be a godsend for me."

Jeri-Ann has won a copy of The Fiber 35 Diet, by Brenda Watson.

Have you entered our August 27 contest yet?

With all this talk about nutritional information and fibre, I'm also starting to wonder if I'm getting enough protein in my diet.

Protein is vital to every cell in your body. It builds, maintains and repairs all your body's tissue, including your muscles, organs, skin and hair and it's particularly important if you're undertaking strength training.

And of course, strength training has a ton of benefits, from building muscle and boosting metabolism to helping you look slim and trim.

Lori Incledon's book Strength Training for Women: Tailored programs and exercises for optimal results provides insight into how the female body responds to training and provides six sample programs and more than 100 exercises to train every part of your body. In addition to helping you gain strength, the book is designed to help you burn fat and build strong bones.

For a chance to WIN a copy of Strength Training for Women, just Subscribe To This Blog and post a reply telling us about your favourite high-protein food.

You have until Thursday, September 10 to let us know. I'll announce the winner here on Friday, September 11.

Wow, you folks are a wealth of information when it comes to suggesting how to sneak more fibre into your day. The tips you're providing for our August 19 contest are super-fabulous, so keep 'em coming! You have until next Wednesday, September 2, to enter for your chance to win a copy of The Fiber 35 Diet.

Here are a few more Tested 'Till Perfect high-fibre recipes for you to enjoy:

Gardener's Pie
(15 grams of fibre per serving)

Turkey Chili
(16 grams of fibre per serving)

Black Bean Soup with Lime Coriander Sauce
(17 grams of fibre per serving)

Couscous Bean Salad
(16 grams of fibre per serving)

Four-Bean Tomato Salad with Roasted Garlic Dressing
(16 grams of fibre per serving)

I am constantly wowed by nutritional information.

Did you know that Health Canada recommends that women aged 19-50 should get 25 grams of fibre each day?

Usually, foods that are labeled as 'high in fibre' contain five grams of fibre or more. That means I might have to eat five high-fibre foods a day to meet my fibre goal.

Sounds like a lot of fibre.

Try to keep an eye on how much fibre you're getting in your diet. If you're like me, it isn't nearly enough, considering fibre apparently helps prevent diabetes, heart disease and cancer, and it helps to control your appetite by making you feel full.

In The Fiber 35 Diet, Brenda Watson shares her knowledge of fibre and the digestive system to help you lose weight and improve your health.

Watson describes fibre as the "miracle nutrient". She explains that "fiber and fiber-rich foods actually help regulate blood sugar, control hunger, and increase the feeling of fullness - all of which are essential to losing weight and keeping it off."

For a chance to WIN a copy of The Fiber 35 Diet, just Subscribe To This Blog and post a reply telling us about your favourite fiber-rich food or how you sneak more fibre into your diet. You have until Wednesday, September 2 to let us know. I'll announce the winner here on Thursday, September 3.

In the meantime, here are some of my favourite recipes that are super-duper-high in fibre:

Cajun Red Beans and Rice
(17 grams of fibre per serving)

Pasta with White Beans and Rapini
(18 grams of fibre per serving)

Ratatouille Calzones
(18 grams of fibre per serving)

Slow Cooker Pork and Black Bean Chili
(18 grams of fibre per serving)

Eat-the-Bowl Rainbow Chili
(18 grams of fibre per serving)

Do you have three girlfriends?

I do. In fact, I have exactly three BFFs.

So it's scary to think that, statistically speaking, one of us will be diagnosed with cancer.

That's right: over the course of their lives, one in four Canadian women will hear a doctor tell them they have cancer. That means this year 81,000 women will hear that diagnosis.

Look Good Feel Better is a national charitable program that helps women with cancer to overcome the effects of the illness and its treatment on their appearance.

Think about it: how much better do you feel when you know you're looking your best? Your appearance has an undeniable impact on your thoughts, feelings and mood. And that can impact your overall sense of well being.

So you can see the value of an organization that runs free workshops to help women with cancer learn simple aesthetic techniques to help them look, and therefore feel, better. Participants have described it as 'a makeover for the spirit'. The program has helped over 90,000 women since its inception in 1992.

You can support Look Good Feel Better, and improve your own health and appearance in the process, by taking part in the Look Good Feel Better Running Series, held in partnership with the MultiSport Canada Running Series.

• On August 15, the Island Girl 10K promises a lively, Caribbean-style event on a scenic course. Take the short ferry ride to Hanlan's Point on Toronto Island and enjoy the camaraderie of a women's only 10K.

• Run along the world's longest fresh water beach as Wasaga Beach hosts the second race of the season on September 13. The half marathon distance is open to all and the 5K welcomes women of all abilities.

• The inaugural Toronto Island Women's Half Marathon will be held on September 19.

You can visit www.runmsc.com for more information on the MultiSport Canada Running Series.

Why not get together with your BFFs this weekend and improve your mood by helping each other look great? Here are some fab articles to get you looking and feeling your best:

• Make your own face scrub
• Make your own natural foot scrub
• 5 spa-treatment recipes using ingredients from your kitchen

Congratulations to Monika K. who won our July 29 contest by telling us about what's going well in her life right now.

Monika K. says:
"Not knowing anything about my biological parents makes me very conscientious about how I prepare foods at home. I favour low fat, low (or no) added sodium, mild/moderate exercise.... Being lactose intolerant also is a factor in what I prepare.

We love traveling and are active on a trip - no lying around waiting for the flight home! Whether it's a quick 2-3 night getaway or longer, we try to enjoy the destination to the fullest in the time we have there. Sure we'll indulge in treats while away - but are back on track once we return. So far, neither one of us has gained any weight when we've been on holidays. And it's not like we don't eat - because we do! Must be all the activity we do, and are able to burn off the added calories."

Way to go! Monika K. has won a copy of High Performance Health: 10 real life solutions to redefine your health and revolutionize you life by James M. Rippe, M.D.