Be the best you can be in 2003

Will 2003 be the year you finally shape up, trim down and feel

fabulous? With guidance from dozens of diet and exercise gurus, you

could inch your way ever closer to those goals.

No matter what your age or physical condition, you can improve

energy, stamina and mood in just a day, Jay Williams says in “The

24-Hour Turnaround.” With a mind-body program structured around eight

“total life changes,” the trainer to the stars at her exclusive Mauna

Lani Resort in Hawaii promises to help readers take charge of their

bodies and emotions.

Don’t want to radically change your lifestyle on the way to

becoming a svelte new you? Check out Ed Victor’s “The Obvious Diet.”

Based on the premise that everyone knows what foods they should

avoid, this balanced approach to eating recognizes that rules we make

ourselves are those we’re most likely to follow. Rather than adopting

a rigid plan, Victor advocates combining elements from different

diets to suit personal preferences.

Diets aren’t the solution for weight loss, proclaims nutritionist

Shari Lieberman in “Dare to Lose.” Promising to help readers get thin

for life, she outlines a program designed to raise metabolism through

sensible eating, exercise, relaxation techniques and over-the-counter

weight-loss supplements.

Dietary choices can ward off cancer, reduce hypertension, preserve

eyesight, and promote heart health and the brain, maintain the

authors of “The Color Code.” Learn how to select foods with

disease-fighting properties in this new work by James A. Joseph,

Daniel A. Nadeau and Anne Underwood.

There’s a similar emphasis on foods that heal in Robert and

Shelley Young’s “The pH Miracle.” By following a diet primarily of

vegetables with a spectrum of supplements, it’s possible to reverse

cancer, improve digestion and lower cholesterol, the Youngs contend.

Sensible eating alone won’t lead to ultimate fitness. Combine it

with “Pilates On the Ball” for a strong, flexible body and mind.

Written by certified pilates trainer Colleen Craig, this illustrated

manual combines one of the hottest workouts of the decade with the

trendy Swiss exercise ball for a low-impact way to build lean muscles

and abdominal strength.

“Check it Out” is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Melissa Adams, in collaboration

with Andrea Jason. All titles may be reserved from home or office

computers by accessing the catalog at www.newportbeachlibrary.org.