Personality #1: The Couch Potato. You may be cutting back on calories, but you don't move enough to stimulate your metabolism. (Picking up the remote control to change the channel does not count as exercise!) Activity is the only way to achieve calorie deficits. Counting calories and watching your portions are key to maintaining a healthy weight, but you must also get moving to burn extra calories and shed weight. Start taking the stairs at work, park your car farther away from your destination and invest in a couple of sessions with a personal trainer.

Personality #2: The Meat-and-Potatoes Gal. If your meal plan features meat-based protein and white carbohydrates, such as rice, potatoes, breads and cereals, losing weight and staying healthy will be a challenge. Replacing meat entrees with fish, eggs, beans, legumes or soy products, and opting for lean cuts of red meat and skinless white meat can have an enormous positive impact on your health, weight and fat calorie consumption. Choose high-fiber sweet potatoes, whole grain breads, brown and wild rice, couscous, bulgur and low-sugar whole grain cereals. And don't forget to watch your portions.