You may wonder why I rant and rave about your eating habits in this newsletter so often. I mean, I'm a personal trainer-not the author of a dieting book. Why don't I leave the diet talk for someone else and focus only on my true passion-exercise?

To be perfectly honest, I would love to discuss only exercise. To divulge how I can sculpt the human body into a finely tuned machine of strength and agility. However, it just wouldn't be practical to ignore your diet.

You see, I write this newsletter to benefit you. My purpose is to give you practical tips that you can use to improve your health and fitness level-today.

Which leads us to the disturbing truth...

Your diet is ruining your body.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but someone had to say it. I can talk about exercise until I am blue in the face, but until you take charge of your diet, it would all be in vain.

Today's statistics show that nearly 60% of the population is currently overweight or obese. While this is shocking, according to a new study reported by WebMD, three out of four US adults will be overweight or obese by the year 2015. That's 75% of us.

Wow, those are some scary numbers. I certainly don't want to become part of that statistic, and I know you don't either.

So what's the deal? Why are we getting fatter and fatter? It all comes back to that little word...diet. The diet of today's adult is simply out of control. Here's why:

• Portions gone wild. It all started in the 1970's. Restaurants began to increase their portions and as a result the unsuspecting public ate more. Since then portions have continued to grow and most people continue to clear their plates despite the extra calories.
• Convenience food mayhem. Junk food used to be only found in vending machines-not so today. Have you ever noticed how the checkout line in the supermarket has changed in recent years? It used to be stocked with gum, mints and a few candy bars. Now everything from potato chips to cookies sit within arm's reach. Very few people get through their day without consuming some kind of convenience food.
• Fast food fallout. How many fast food restaurants do you pass on your way to work? Probably more than you can count. How many times do you stop in for a quick bite? Probably more times than you would like to admit. Fast food has never been more available than it is today-and it shows in the waistline.

Here's something you may not know: If you were to exercise everyday of the week but failed to change your eating habits from those listed above, you wouldn't see any visible results.

Now don't get me wrong-exercise is a vital ingredient for improving your fitness level, health and the shape of your body. Exercise and good nutrition go hand-in-hand. You won't make progress toward your goals without them both.

So where does this leave you? The way I see it, you are faced with an opportunity. With just a few small changes to your daily eating habits you could be well on your way to having an incredible body. Couple this with an exercise program and you will be unstoppable.

Keeping with my goal to give you practical tips to improve your health and fitness level, here are three ways to improve your diet.

1. Slash your portions. Even though that mountain of pasta looks great, remind yourself that it is three or four times more than you really need to eat, and those extra calories are going to land right on your waist. Consciously make an effort to reduce your portions at each meal and watch how your weight shrinks and your energy soars.
2. Pack your snacks. Instead of turning to a bag of chips or packaged cookies in mid afternoon, reach for a piece of fruit instead. It only takes a few minutes to pack healthy snacks for your day, and it will save you a boatload of extra calories. Convenience food is packed with sugar, fat and empty calories that will only leave you more sluggish and uncomfortable than you are today
3. Cut out one fast food meal per week. If you currently eat 5 fast food meals each week then only eat four this week. Next week reduce that number down to three. And then two, and then one. Once fast food isn't a regular part of your diet you should look at it as something to be had as a treat-not a dietary staple.

Eating too much salt will wreck havoc on your healthy lifestyle. Raised blood pressure and bloating are just a few of the adverse side effects that an extra dose of salt will lead to. Make it a habit to pass on the salt and to purchase low sodium food items.

Strawberries, blueberries and peaches blend with turkey cubes and cottage cheese for a smoky-sweet taste in this delightful salad. This recipe makes a great lunch-it is packed with protein and nutritious fruit to power you through your day. Servings: 2

Here's what you need...

• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 1 white nectarine, chopped
• 2oz smoked turkey, cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup nonfat cottage cheese

1. Gently mix the strawberries, blueberries, nectarine pieces and turkey cubes. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
2. To serve, spoon the cottage cheese into bowls and top with the fruit mixture.