Do You Share Your Weight?

The company you keep can help--or hinder--your efforts at weight control, as a study published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine shows. In today's Lean Plate Club column, discover how social networks impact your weight and see how some Lean Plate Club members have already put this knowledge into action. Then check out an animated graphic of these "weighty" networks in action. Or watch a video interview with one of the study's co-authors.

So how about it? What do you think about this new finding? Has a friend's weight--or a spouse's or other family member's weight--ever affected your efforts? We'd love to hear all about it. Tell us now. Then then check the transcript at your leisure to see if you have won one of the handful of prizes that I award each week to participants. Or join today's Lean Plate Club Web chat from 1 to 2 p.m. today.

Avandia Alert: FDA Takes a Closer Look

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Concerned about an increased risk of heart attacks, federal health officials yesterday urged removal of the widely used diabetes drug, Avandia. The drug's manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, countered that there is no increased risk, citing its own analyses of studies of Avandia, also called rosiglitazone. Public Citizen--a consumer advocacy group--urged the FDA to remove the drug from the market in May.

Do you take Avandia or any other diabetes drug? Tell us your experience with this drug in today's Web chat from 1 to 2 p.m. Or leave your comments now and check the transcript later. You can also e-mail me anytime at leanplateclub@washpost.com. I read all your e-mails and respond to as many personally as time permits.

What's for Dinner Tonight?

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My colleague, Kat Hom, has found these possibilities:

Eating Well magazine offers mock ceviche, a twist on the traditional dish that is "cooked" with citrus juice. In this recipe, which gets four stars from those who made it, tilapia filets are used in place of scallops and they're cooked, rather than just marinated. This recipe has 236 calories per serving. Yum. And it's ready in a snap.

If you're in the mood for something, well, meatier, you might try Flank Steak with Mango Relish from Self magazine.

Salsa chicken sandwich is an option from Eat Better America, (a joint effort of General Mills, Rodale publications and the Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition,) while Fitness magazine offers chicken and potato hash with fried eggs

Okay, so what are you eating this week? Tell us all about it. Or just share a great-tasting healthful recipe. Can't join the Web chat live from 1 to 2 p.m. today? No problem. Just leave your tips and recipes now then check the transcript later.

Make the Move!

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Sometimes you need the right equipment to keep your activity on track as this message from a Lean Plate Club member in Centreville, Va. shows: "Hi Sally! I recently saw something about a lap-counter for swimmers, but I can't remember where I saw it! It's a simple contraption that straps on the wrist; you press a button on it when you finish each lap, and it counts the number of presses. Any idea what I'm talking about and where I can find one?"

Online is a great place to start. Robic carries a chrono lap counter that looks like a watch and counts your laps in the pool. Find it at Swim2000.com. It costs about $37 plus shipping and handling. At SwimOutlet.com, you can also get a lap counter that can also be used on land for jogging. (Dare I whisper triathlon?) It's by SportCount and runs $28 plus shipping and handling. For something smaller, check out this ring lap counter at World Wide Aquatics. It runs $48 plus shipping and handling.

If you have tried these devices, we'd love to hear what you think about them. Or have you got a great gadget that helps your workouts fly by? Tell us all about that, too, in today's Web chat, live from 1 to 2 p.m. ET or leave your comments and tips now.

Here's a message from a Lean Plate Club member in Washington, D.C. who asked: "When is the best time to workout? First thing in the morning, after work or after dinner?"

Answer: The best time to exercise is the time when you will do it consistently, although admittedly going for a 5K after a heavy meal could make for an interesting roadside spectacle. Working out after work can be a great way to jettison office stresses and ease into the evening. When you work out in the morning, you're already a step ahead of the game. (Plus you can feel virtuous throughout the day!) The secret is to find a time when you can make exercise a habit, to find something that you enjoy doing enough to keep doing it and of course, to move as much as possible throughout the day to keep activity levels as high as possible. Speaking of which, I'm getting up from my computer now!