Everyone has their moments during a summer BBQ or perhaps even a buffet in Vegas where they load up their plates with way more food than they should eat (sometimes we even go back for seconds!). While researching for this week’s gadget spotlight, I stumbled upon this blog post. Apparently a Ukranian scientist has developed a talking plate with built in computer and weight sensors to yell at you when you’re out of control.

The plate will insult you via comments such as “Where’s your willpower?” and “Stop eating!”

Another article I found was from November 2006, so no telling if the plate will ever actually be available. But if it does, I would image that you will be so embarrassed about being called out by your plate, that you’ll make smarter choices when it comes to helping yourself to large quantities of food.

While reading some stories on CNN.com this morning, I came across this posting about retail chains scaling down the size labels on clothing. It’s been a while since I heard about this, so thought I’d torture myself with a quick read.

You don’t need to conduct a scientific study to confirm that girls feel better when they’re wearing a skirt with a size 4 tag versus a size 10. Anyone could tell you that. I personally would rather not purchase a shirt a size higher than I typically wear — it’s depressing and I’d rather not buy the shirt at all than have to face the reality that at this particular store, I have to go a size up. Nope, not an option. Well unless it’s couture. Everyone knows couture runs small, (if you don’t know what I mean, venture into a bridal boutique and get fitted for a Vera Wang gown—it’s a very cruel, eye opening experience).

I found the second half of the article to be particularly interesting. It focuses on the “history of body size perceptions.” As CNN notes, back in the day (and I mean waaaay back in the day), plumpness was an indicator of prosperity when food was scarce. I’ve been told that all fashion comes back eventually… so when is being a normal weight going to come back? It’s been almost 200 years!  Anyway, I’ve always blamed Kate Moss for the ridiculous “heroin chic” look in the ‘90s and for the downfall of women’s body image as this look doesn’t quite work with 99% of body types. Well, I’ve been proven wrong. I learned it goes back much further – to the artistic and literary movement known as Romanticism, which took place in the late 18^th century. Apparently anorexia and the “willowy” look for women took off in the 1830s. The word diet and the goal of weight loss entered our vocabularies in 1910. Who knew?!

So Kate Moss, I apologize. Although I do think we’d all feel better if you ate a cupcake once in a while. Please?

So it may be a little hard to bite into… and it may taste like plastic… but this little cupcake will also help you see the humor in dieting (hopefully).

I love the British, so I extra love the Magnetic Talking Diet Decision Maker. Slap this magnet on your fridge for cheeky sayings like “Naughty pickers wear big knickers” or “A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips,” or my personal favorite (or should I say favourite?), “Those who indulge, bulge.”

Are you indecisive? Are you having trouble deciding what diet to go on or what exercise would be best for your metabolism?

Well, if you take the magic 8 ball approach to life, this new Web site is for you. Hunch.com is designed to help you make decisions – because apparently you’re too lazy to do the research yourself. Which is awesome, because normally I am too lazy.

Click here to help you formulate a decision on the following:

• Best diet for you?
• Should I detox (a la The Cleanse)?
• What workouts should I try to do to lose weight?

It’s like one of those Choose Your Own Adventure books, but for the Internet! You can also try it on other topics, from music, to books, to gadgets. Read more about the new Web site on CNN.

As Ludacris so poetically declared:

shake, shake, shake your money maker. like you were shakin it for some paper

Except, I’m doing it for jeans!

I’ve decided it was time to mix up the diet routine a bit. Moving forward, consider me the guinea pig. I’ve volunteered to test out different diet fads to see if they work, if it makes me irritable (interpret as you will) or if they FAIL.

First up, shakes!

This is my modified version of the Slim Fast diet. I prefer to use fresh fruit, 100% juice and yogurt. The purpose is to really see if substituting two meals a day with liquid really helps. Plus, I’ve splashed in some wheat grass and protein powder in there for good measure.

Here’s today’s shake: Blueberry- Banana- Wheat Grass Noms

• 1/2 small frozen banana
• 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
• 1/4 cup vanilla non-fat Danon yogurt
• 1/2 100% Tree-top Apple Juice
• 1 shot wheat grass

Total calories: 178 calories

We’ll see if this works. Coupled with my dancing abilities *scoffs* this should make for an awesome weight loss regime.