1. DRINK MORE WATER

The strategy:  Women should drink 9 cups of fluid daily, more if you exercise, but most consume only 4-6 cups a day. Keep a water bottle on your desk, in your backpack and in your car.

The weight-control benefit: Drinking water makes you feel fuller, so you're likely to eat less, and helps prevent you from eating when you're not hungry. Many people turn to food when they're actually thirsty. Tip: Drink water instead of sugary drinks and juices to hydrate and save calories.

The health bonus: Staying well hydrated may reduce your risk for diseases, including cancers of the colon, breast and bladder. In one study, women who reported drinking more than five glasses of water a day had a 45 percent lower risk for colon cancer than those who drank two or fewer.