I was standing on the precipice, looking down at the still, cold water below, ready to take the leap. I tried to imagine myself grabbing the rope with confidence and hurling myself into the air in a Tarzan-like manner. But as I had just witnessed someone grab too low and slam her shoulder into the base of the diving platform, my wide-eyed optimism was shaken...

That childhood daredevil that still resides within me took over. There was only one way down, because I certainly wouldn’t consider surrendering and slinking back down the stairs. I took a deep, hopeful breath and swung myself in the vague direction of the landing platform. Splash! The water was probably about 45 degrees, but it was frigid enough to steal my breath and leave me gasping for a moment, as I consecutively suffered the unfortunate reality that swimming in tennis shoes is incredibly awkward.

Lisa Allen & Trish Drennan, co-owners of BlackBench Fit, explained what one should be looking for when it comes to attainable and sustainable fitness programs.

Every woman has a unique journey when it comes to her weight, her fitness and her health. We’re no different. For one of us, a chubby childhood and an ongoing struggle with extra pounds was enough to kick-start a near daily running habit. For the other, too-tight clothes and a scale not budging – nearly a year after a third child’s birth – meant it was time for a “come to Jesus” meeting with herself about getting back into shape.

That was nearly six years ago, and we did what everyone else did back then: made a beeline to the nearest gym, signed up for a membership and muddled through what we thought a good workout should feel like.

Despite years of faithful attendance at said gym, no one knew our names, no one knew when we were hurt, and no one pressed us harder. Certainly no one inquired about our nutrition habits, unless you count being hawked the latest powder, pill or potion that “guaranteed” quick weight loss. And, if we didn’t show up, no one checked in with us to see why we hadn’t been there. They were content to keep billing us each month whether we showed up or not. No wonder our bodies, while a bit slimmer – mostly from guessing which nutrition strategies were right for us – weren’t reflecting all of that time we put in at the gym and the calories we counted. If Dr. Phil had been in our lives, he would have asked, “How’s that working for you?”

Fortunately for long-time fitness enthusiasts, newbies and everyone in between, the health and fitness industry is starting to wake up to consumers’ demands for a different kind of fitness experience. For those who are self-motivated enough to get to the gym, change up their routines and push themselves, there’s still a place for big gyms. Many offer impressive amenities. But increasingly, people at all stages of their health and fitness journey are searching for something akin to the “anti-gym” – smaller, more specialized fitness offerings with a strong sense of community and support.

To help consumers evaluate and compare hospital performance, HealthGrades (www.healthgrades.com/about) analyzed patient outcomes data for virtually every hospital in the country across 26 different patient cohorts. Their risk adjustment methodology considers important differences in patient demographic (e.g., age, gender) and clinical characteristics (e.g., underlying medical conditions) that could increase the patient’s risk of mortality or complications. Risk adjustment of the data is needed to make accurate and valid comparisons of clinical outcomes at different hospitals. Hospitals are then assigned one of three star ratings: 1-star (poor), 3-star (expected), or 5-star (best) for each of 26 procedures and diagnoses.

Like clearance rack shopping or a poor episode of Saturday Night Live, online dating requires patience and just enough hope to sift through the unappealing until something gives you pause. Wading against the internet ether in search of that something, clicking over endless profiles, I assured myself that at the very least I would be amused by my online dates, and I certainly wouldn’t get hurt. It turns out I was only half right.

In some ways, online dating lends itself well to love’s multi-layered screening process. First, there is the diligent analysis of profile photos. I like to think of myself as open-minded, and I responded to chat requests regardless of – and sometimes out of morbid curiosity – what I initially saw. Going off of the pictures alone, I conversed with a pirate sporting a live lizard as a facial accessory, a leg cast, a Chevy truck and a medieval knight in a homemade–and endearingly dented–chainmail outfit. And then there was the lovely gentleman who had taken a photo of himself in what appeared to be the basement from Silence of the Lambs.

Every day we are bombarded with media images of super skinny, gorgeous and often half-naked women. We are constantly barraged by society’s ideal form, and even the media recognizes what they are doing. Magazines now include in their pages how a person should be proud of their body and that one should not aspire to look like people they see on television. Recently, we have seen what some may call a “Real Girl’s Revolution,” in which bodies of all sizes are celebrated.

I have a slight problem with this. While I do advocate being proud of who you are and representing all types of bodies, I do not understand the epidemic of “Body Acceptance” that seems to be taking over. There seems to be a message declaring that everyone one is beautiful – from the 5' 4, 100-pound super model to the 5' 6, 300-pound waitress. I agree that everyone is beautiful in their own way and happy in their own skin, but what has happened to promoting a healthy body image, regardless of size or weight?

Good things come in small packages. As cliché as it sounds, it’s true! Six years ago, my third daughter was born on a warm September morning. She was precious, pink and oh so tiny…about three pounds lighter and two inches shorter than my first two daughters. The puzzled hospital doctors asked me if she was born premature. I replied no, that she was right on time, but for the next 12 months my daughter’s petite size, as well as her severe acid reflux, unexplained congestion and constant ear infections baffled my pediatrician, his colleagues and other specialists. Despite many tests to determine the cause of her “failure to thrive” diagnosis and procedures to alleviate acid reflux and congestion, the doctors didn’t notice her puffy hands and feet, turned up fingernails and toenails, broad chest, low-set ears and narrow, high-arched palette (roof of mouth)… some of the potential characteristics of Turner Syndrome.

Imagine you are sitting in the back of your child’s class during the Science Fair. You are just about to discover “How Temperature Effects the Growth of Mold” when you overhear pieces of the parent’s conversation behind you. “So what is up with this Jay kid? Do you think he is dangerous? He pushed my daughter just because she sat down in what he said was his seat at lunch. There are no assigned seats, and why would he want to sit with the girls anyway? Then he started crying. He is obviously an unstable individual. I tried talking to the counselor, but all she said was that it was taken care of and that I shouldn’t be concerned. But I am concerned. I’m sure this is how those “kids” who come back and shoot all the other kids start out!”

We all know chocolate contains incredible health benefits, but we also know that all chocolate is not created equal. So what are some of the important signs to look for when shopping for the “healthiest” chocolate?

In one of the first studies of chocolate’s effect on weight, Dr. Beatrice Golomb’s report from March of 2012 in the Archives of Internal Medicine, linked chocolate to “favorable metabolic associations with blood pressure (BP), insulin sensitivity, and cholesterol level.”

Results from the study (conducted on 1,000 Californians) suggest that individuals who consume chocolate more frequently (with exercise) have a lower BMI (Body Mass Index) than those who eat it less often. Chocoholics around the country rejoiced over the results! While this is all well and good, this is where a dilemma comes into play: every variation of chocolate is at our fingertips in a country of innovation and consumerism. Truffles, bars, syrups, powders, chips – the options are endless, and the packaging and media ads are temptingly creative and original. But not all chocolate is “good for you.” So how do you know what to buy?