Some call it Valentine's Day, others call it Single's Awareness Day. But for the sake of your body, despite what you name it, don't let this Feb. 14 be national "if it's chocolate I'll eat it day."

The annual holiday of love is anything but loving to your physique. That romantic Pine Club date has an ambiance of candlelight and your true love, but also makes downing 1,000 plus calories feel acceptable. On the other hand, many unhappy singles spend date night with old reliable Edy's double fudge brownie ice cream.

Calories, fat and sugar are ingested in mass quantities by sheer definition of the day. It doesn't have to be like that. Celebrate Valentine's Day with your boyfriend, girlfriend, friends or yourself without waking up a pant size bigger Feb. 15.

THINK OUTSIDE THE

RESTAURANT

While dinner and a movie is the simple, cookie cutter of dates, it can also be the most detrimental to your diet. Restaurants serve food with more grease, oil and fat than meals prepared at home, and often in double the portion size that a person needs. Team that with buttery popcorn for the movie and say goodbye to that Daytona body. The solution? Find alternative date activities, including bowling, batting cages, hiking or skiing. These activities can increase closeness between you two, as well as give you a workout.

GIVE MORE THAN SUGAR

Everyone loves food, plain and simple, which makes it the easiest gift to give. But how much will your girlfriend thank you when two days later that box of chocolates set up camp on her hips? Instead, go back to chivalry and send the traditional gift of flowers. Stuck on giving edibles? Try Edible Arrangements, a service that delivers fresh fruit bouquets directly to the door. For more information check out http://www.EdibleArrangements.com.

CHOOSE FRIENDS, NOT FAT

Although food is comforting, don't spend Valentine's Day bingeing on it because you're single or lonely. Put down those chips, let go of that pizza. Instead spend quality time with your friends. If all your friends are out doing that romance thing, take time for yourself, get a massage, go shopping or pick up a book. Just treat yourself to whatever you've always wished you had time for. And no, eating that killer brownie doesn't count.