For a variety of reasons, the holidays can be a stressful time for many people. If you're watching your waistline, this can be a particular trying time. Putting the sensuality back into your supper has the power to transform a simple bite into a blast of pleasure with every morsel that passes your lips. And mindful eating will not only going to make your holiday meals markedly more pleasurable, it’s an excellent dieting tool because it lends itself to portion control and keeps you from overeating.

Here are five dieter-friendly tips to help you savor your holiday season:

1. Wake up your tongue with new tastes and textures. When it comes to appetizers, treat yourself to new taste sensations by trying unfamiliar foods. This way you won’t pile your plate up with the tried and true, thus limiting your pre dinner calorie intake.

2. Avoid calorie laden cocktails. Cocktails can be a real diet buster if you don’t watch your bar intake. Spirits (vodka, gin, rum, etc.) have more calories than beer and wine, and when you add the mixes and fruit juices to the glass the calorie count keeps on growing. Drinking a glass of water in between each cocktail will help you manage as well.

3. Control the amount of food you put on your plate. The holidays are not the time to deny yourself the delight found in familiar and comforting foods. Think portion control instead. Consuming smaller amounts will allow you the pleasure of partaking in your favorite foods, and help you watch your diet.

4. Don’t just taste your food, savor it. Take a bite of one dish and before chewing, savor the taste, textures, temperature, and sensations created in your mouth. Now chew slowly, taking the time to relish every bite. Not only will you enjoy your food more, you’ll be taking in less.

5. Join the conversation. Put your fork down between bites and engage yourself in the dinner table conversation. You’ll walk away from the table feeling more in touch with your family and less stuffed than normal.
Eat, drink and be merry!

Here's my event schedule for the next few weeks. If you're nearby, I hope you'll come out and join us. And if you have friends in area, please send them the information and encourage them to join in on the fun!

Sept. 5...Bliss Network. Listen to my conversation with the Bliss Lady, Teri Williams on Empower Radio. Listen here.

Sept. 15...7:00 PM Blue Marble Book Store. 551 Carpenter Avenue, Philadelphia, PA I'll be doing a reading and discussion from The Power of WOW.

Sept. 17...1:00pm EST Coach BettyLive on The Positive World Network.

Sept. 21...7-9 PM EST Twitter Party! We're chatting up sex, sensuality and anything else you'd like. RSVP by following @StilettoU, and check out #PowerofWOW. Win free gifts including a sensual bath basket by Babeland, free coaching sessions and more!

Sept. 27...5:00 PM EST Stiletto U Q & A on Learning Annex Channel on Ustream I'll be answering the top questions asked by my clients and during workshops. If you have a question, send it to stilettou@yahoo.com by Sept. 25. $.99

5:40-6:00 PM EST 7 Seductive Tips for The Shy and Sexy. Learning Annex Channel on UstreamLearn seven sexy moves that are highly effective and comfortable to execute. $.99

The insight continues. Part two of the Great Male Survey delves into the lifestyle choices of men. Did you know that the majority of men own only four to six pairs of shoes. And that's a lifestyle choice! And apparently, 36% feel it's cool only to cry following the death of a loved one. Interesting tidbits to help you understand men...yeah like that will ever happen! :-)

Askmen.com has just released their annual male survey. I thought it interesting that included on the list of women they were tired of hearing about was Lady Gaga (20%), Sarah Palin (25%) and Kim Kardasian (17%). I thought I was the only one! Read on and see what's on the minds of our brethren. (The photo above is strictly for eye candy purposes!)

I was at a social function yesterday when a woman came over and asked if she could speak with me. She'd heard about my work as a sensuality coach and author and wanted to ask a question about a friend. I wasn't sure if the friend was real or simply a privacy prop, but I was game to listen and give whatever advice I could.

Seems her 'friend' had a problem. Over fifty and divorced for many years, she'd recently began dating a man and after three dates, had determined that even though she found him attractive and interesting, they didn't have any sexual chemistry. I did suggest that maybe she give it a little more time, that sometimes, for some people, the chemistry beneath takes time to penetrate layers of past experiences and emotional fears before it can bubble to the top. But she insisted that because her 'friend' had been celibate for over a year, that the right man should and would get her juices flowing immediately.

Perhaps but more than likely not.

Here's the thing, I explained, long-term celibacy is like going on serious diet. Let say you decide that you are going to eliminate sweets from your diet, and after two weeks or two months, someone puts your favorite chocolate cake in front of you. The likelihood is that you are going to be tempted to taste that cake. Your mouth still remembers the creamy taste of luscious chocolate. Your head tingles at the idea of the coming sugar rush. And if that baker's delight stays in front of you too long, the probability of you licking yummy icing from your lips is going to be strong.

But let's say that same damn, trying to bust my diet, person puts a cake in front of you after nearly two years of not eating any desserts. You've gone so long without sugar and chocolate that you've lost your craving for sweets. The temptation to taste is just not there anymore. You have effectively blunted your desire.

The same is true for sex. Long spans of celibacy (whether voluntary or imposed) forces a similar state upon you. When your brain is no longer continually filled with thoughts of sex and you shut down your sexual energy as well as your physical sexual functions, you shut down your desire. And if you're not careful, you also shut down thinking about yourself as a sensual, sexual being.

My bottom line advice for her friend was to spend sometime alone reviving her sexual energy and putting sex back on her brain. Like those Jimmy Choos or that chocolate cake you can’t get off your mind—the more you think about something, the more you have to have it. Sex is no different. If she woke up her sexy mind and got reacquainted with her inner sexiness, she might find that the chemistry was there all along.

What do you think?