Don't let anything stand in your way of getting in shape! Each week I'll help you overcome a common weight loss roadblock.

• Week One: Managing Cravings
  
• Week Two: Finding Time
  
• Week Three: Fighting Boredom
  
• Week Four: Fighting Energy Drain
  
• Week Five: Quieting Self-Criticism
  
• Week Six: Beating Overeating
  

Week One: Managing Cravings

Obstacle: No one is immune to cravings. Mine happen to include chocolate, ice cream and tortilla chips. I've found the key is not so much learning how to say no to cravings, but learning how to manage them correctly.

Overcome it: Cravings really have a lot to do with stabilizing your blood-sugar levels. Setting the tone of the day with a well-rounded breakfast -- complete with healthy sources of protein, carbohydrates and fat -- will help eliminate cravings.

It's important that you feel satisfied after any meal. So, think about your calorie consumption (women usually require between 1,600 and 2,000 calories per day) and make sure you're dividing it up in a healthy way. I find that most people don't get enough calories at breakfast, or they consume too many refined carbohydrates and caffeine. To start curbing your cravings, see this week's Meal Makeover, which will show you how to get in a better breakfast.

Also try journaling! Keep a little notepad in the kitchen or handy in your purse, and when a craving hits make sure you write down the time of day, your mood or what you were thinking about at the time, and what you've been eating throughout the day. Don't wait to record it until later -- you may forget some important information that will help unlock the riddle of your cravings. After a week, review your entries and look for the patterns. Many times cravings are a response to one of a few triggers that you can now be mindful of:

1. Feeling unsatisfied after a meal. When a craving hits, first ask yourself "What have I been eating throughout the day?" You may find that you skimped on some calories. Or, you may not be eating enough healthy fats, like nuts or avocado, which can help you stay satisfied between meals.
   
   
2. Habit. For example, if having sweets every day is a ritual for you, then going without them may leave you with a sense of discomfort or loss. Determine if your craving is real or habit-based.
   
   
3. Emotions. Perhaps your cravings come when you're feeling lonely, sad, underappreciated at work or in a rocky relationship. Pay close attention to your emotional connections to food. Although a chocolate milkshake can feel comforting, it isn't going to resolve the issues that upset you.

More Tips:

• If you do indulge in a craving, get some perspective. Even the most decadent of desserts won't have more than 500 calories and when eaten on occasion, won't blow your whole diet. But, if you find that it's a daily craving, you need to break the cycle by giving it up for one week. I promise, after one week you'll find you're craving it a lot less, and you'll no longer need it everyday.
  
  
• Don't keep your biggest temptations around the house. When a craving hits, you'll be forced to go out to get it. If you do decide to go out of your way, get the smallest portion possible. I do this for my ice cream fix and find that half the time it's more trouble than it's worth!