As someone who writes about health, fitness and body image, I've gotten to know many people who've made an admirable commitment to healthy living. For them -- and for me -- choosing to take the best possible care of our bodies is about so much more than just creating a nice appearance -- it's about having the energy and confidence to meet life's challenges and stay open to new possibilities. Let's face it: When you feel good physically, those good feelings spill over into your work, your home and your relationships.

But there's a point where the scales tip (no pun intended) and a commitment to healthy living becomes an obsession. You've probably met those people who won't even take a bite of their own birthday cake or can't skip a workout to meet an old friend who's in town. I experienced a small dose of that obsession in 2007, when I wrote a monthly column for Shape, a women's fitness magazine. Readers followed my year-long journey as I worked to ultimately shed 26 pounds through grueling two-hour workouts and constant scrutiny of every bite that went into my mouth. Through it all, my children watched...I was exhausted and cranky and though I was indeed getting thinner, my behavior wasn't always pretty. I liked that they saw me make a commitment to something and see it through. But when the column ended, I knew I had to find a healthy balance.