By Morgan Vermeil There are some things in life that need a little jiggle. It's nice to see a wiggle in our strawberry Jell-O, a waggle in our chocolate pudding and a shake in Santa's jelly belly. But for me, a little jiggle was the catalyst to a new life of health and fitness. It began one Saturday evening as I prepared for a dinner out. I headed for the shower--wearing only my birthday suit--when I passed a full-length mirror. And something caught my eye.

Jiggle, Jiggle! Like Jell-O that wiggles with every little movement, my excess fat was rippling across my body. I raised my arm and watched my arm flab wave back at me. I took a step and watched my thighs shimmy. I grabbed my belly and gave it a shake worthy of St. Nick. Then I closed my eyes at the horror of it all. And when I sat down to dinner that evening, I demolished a mountain of pasta and garlic bread, and washed it down with a bottle of wine. In my heart, I knew that my excess weight was a direct result of my habits. A poor diet with oversized portions and a sedentary lifestyle had caused my body's jiggle and wiggle. So I decided to change my life. I started reading magazines and books about fitness. I spent hours browsing diet websites. Eventually, I created a healthy lifestyle program that focused on nutritious foods, smaller portions and regular exercise. Here are a few tips that helped me: "Free" Day: One day each week--usually Saturday--I permit myself to eat and drink a little bit of anything I want, whether it's pizza, fries or beer. This helps me avoid feelings of deprivation and junk food binges throughout the week. Exercise Goals: As a goal-oriented person, I like to set fitness goals for myself. For example, I'll set a distance goal when I go for a walk or run. This allows me to measure my success and continually improve my performance. Clean Meals: I try to avoid processed foods and stick to things like egg whites, fish, steamed veggies, and baked sweet potatoes. A "clean" diet can change your physique. Heavier Weights: Women often fear "bulking up." But we just don't have enough testosterone to get huge muscles. When I strength train, I choose weights that are heavy enough for me to reach exhaustion after about 10 reps. As a result, I build muscle and sculpt my body, and I never look "bulky." These days, I don't have much jiggle on my body. I've slimmed down, trimmed my waist and thighs, and am so confident about my arms that I wear tank tops with pride. With a little hard work and dedication, anyone can achieve a healthy body! If you want to tone up and feel great too, check out one of these weight loss programs and starting losing weight today.