This week's tips include 9-minute walks, building the habit, a tasty salad recipe, and flattening your abs.

• Understanding Exercise Plateaus
  This is a must-read for anyone who is frustrated at lack of progress. Why do plateaus happen, and what can be done about them? From About Exercise Guide Paige Waehner.

• Marcia's Fitness Tip
  A Harvard study published in the March 2001 Journal of the American Medical Association found that "a leisurely nine-minute stroll once a day" can cut a woman's risk of heart disease almost in half. And it was the length of time, not the speed, that made the difference. If you can't manage nine minutes every day, aim for a total of an hour a week.

• Build the Walking Habit
  It's HARD to make ourselves walk during depression, so if we can make it a habit, it will be that much easier. So read this habit-building plan and try it out, especially if you're having trouble making regular exercise a part of your routine. Note: For our program, do NOT set a short-term pounds or inches goal, and it would be better not to set a date for a long-term pounds/inches goal.

• Recipe of the Week!
  Mikki's Easy Zesty Salad
  From our forum's own Mikki, an easy way to make a tasty and healthy salad. Even I could do this!

• Flatten Your Abs
  This is what we all want - a flat stomach! But crunches alone just won't do it. Read ALL about it here in this article by About Exercise Guide Paige Waehner.