That's Fit

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Fitzy. I work out a few times a week and eat pretty well, but "six-pack" abs have always escaped me. I do plenty of crunches, but nothing seems to bring me even close to the abs I see on the cover of Men's Health magazine. What is the secret to it? Chase

A. Ahhhh Chase. The elusive six pack. Doesn't every body wish for that? Yes ... almost everybody does. Very few actually achieve it, though. This is the deal Chase, the "secret," if you will. If you want to look like an athlete, you're going to have to behave like an athlete. Train ridiculously hard and eat ridiculously well. Six-pack abs are a sign of elite fitness for sure, and you're probably not going to earn them working out a "few times a week and eating pretty well."

Gabriel Olds is a Hollywood actor. He's appeared on CSI, Law & Order: SVU and Six Feet Under, and his most recent film is Life of the Party. Usually the bad guy on TV, Olds is really a pretty good guy. Why? Because when it comes to women, it isn't fake boobs or fixed noses he prefers. Forget puffy lips and implanted buttocks. This guy like the real thing.

It took this guy a string of unsuccessful dates to figure out exactly what he wanted: Real bodies. He suspects other guys feel the same way.

"This is the part I think women don't understand," says Olds in a Glamour magazine interview. "When a guy falls in love, his lover's body parts become bewitching. I'm not going to tell you that our heads don't turn when we see a stacked blond walking down the street. But when we fall for you -- really, really fall for you -- you hijack our sense of beautiful. What's sexy to us? You -- in the "before" picture."

The Dove Campaign For Real Beauty has been based upon the idea that, while our bodies might have flaws (real or perceived), we're all beautiful. It's a good message, and they're looking to boost the self-esteem of females of all ages, starting with young girls. I'm all for it -- it's important that women realize that they don't need to be able to trade clothes with their favorite actress or be stalked by paparazzi in order to be beautiful.

However, some discussion has recently surfaced saying that the women in the Real Beauty ads were retouched. Premiere retoucher, Pascal Dangin, told The New Yorker that there was a great deal of retouching done on those ads, "But it was great to do, a challenge, to keep everyone's skin and faces showing the mileage but not looking unattractive."

What do you think about this development? I can't say I'm surprised -- I appreciate the fact that Dove still used women of different shapes and sizes. I mean, these are regular women being photographed and filmed in their undies! I can't say I would object to a little digital help were I in their position. But, others feel that it destroys the message -- they're not showing "real" beauty if there's retouching. What do you think?

Looking great and feeling great often go hand in hand. Partly, that's because good nutrition truly shows -- your hair, your skin, and your nails all look their best when you start by eating the right foods. And so, if your current beauty goal is to grow long, beautiful nails, start at the dinner table by eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to get the necessary vitamins.

Now that you've got the nutrition aspect under control, let's talk about some other things you can do for healthy nails. According to ehow.com, there are five steps you can take to get your best nails ever.

Click through the gallery to learn more about the vitamins you need and to see the steps -- but don't break a nail!

It amazes me sometimes how technology is always searching to create new chemicals and compounds to help us look younger and take better care of our skin when sometimes the best products are based on the most natural things.

Have you ever considered lily extract for soothing and balancing out problem skin? I admit I haven't, or at least hadn't until I read this article over at Natural Health. Most commonly used for its fragrance, lily extract also has antioxidant and antiseptic properties that make it a natural for skin care. It moisturizes, softens, clarifies, and even minimizes pores.

Look for for "lily extract" or "tincture of lily flower" on the label.

We talk a lot about reading labels here at That's Fit, like how whole wheat bread isn't always whole wheat, and "natural" and "organic" can mean several things. However, more than just your food is labeled -- so are your cosmetics.

In honor of Earth Day this past Tuesday, I wanted to tell you a bit about how you can find cosmetics and beauty products that are truly cruelty-free. After all, causing pain for an animal just isn't pretty.

Companies use several different types of wording to make the extent of their animal testing ambiguous. For example, if the label says Final product not tested on animals, that means that while that particular lip gloss might not have been put on an animal, the ingredients going into it might have. Or, if it says This brand does not test on animals, it could mean that a supplier or lab that brand works with tests on animals.

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Dear Fitz, My husband makes a big stink when I give our kids any type of 'sugar candy' like gummy bears or bubblegum. The kids are totally skinny and I don't see what the big deal is. They are kids! What do you think? Christy

A. Hey Christy. Your husband is a freaking genius. That's what I think! He has the insight and thoughtfulness to know that as parents, you should be teaching your children the best habits possible. He knows that your children are less likely to eat nutritious things when they've had a dose of candy. They're more likely to deal with the pain and terror that comes along with having their cavities filled if you give them candy. They're more likely to struggle with their weight and other less than lovely issues later on in life if you don't instill high standards in them today.

It's been a busy month for home remedies on That's Fit and AOL Body. First, the AOL Body editors shared our home remedies. Then, we asked for your favorite home cures. Now, we've pulled together our favorite reader health help suggestions -- some a bit unusual (we'd suggest checking in with your doc first). You gave us tips to help everything from colds sores to dry feet. See if your suggestion made the cut, and what other bizarre advice other readers had to offer.

Readers' Favorite Home Remedies: http://body.aol.com/health/home-remedies-real-people.

Here at That's Fit, we're forever grateful for the service, courage and sacrifice made by the heroic men and women who serve as military, law enforcement officers, and firefighters. We're so grateful, that we'd like to dedicate some features to both showing our heroes off, and learning a little bit in the process as well. If you serve your country courageously, are a veteran or know someone who does, please return this form completed to Fitz along with a photo and we'll share your story with the world.

Name: Erik J. Fritz

Age: 19

Occupation: Bulk Fuel Specialist at the Marine Corps and Navy Reserves Unit

If you're in the military...where are you? Green Bay, WI,

How often do you exercise? Almost every day

What type of exercise do you do? Running outside and on the treadmill, lifting weights, and a lot of push-ups.

What gets you to workout, even when you're feeling lazy? Knowing that I have to stay in good shape to pass my PT.

Here at That's Fit, we're forever grateful for the service, courage and sacrifice made by the heroic men and women who serve as military, law enforcement officers, and firefighters. We're so grateful, that we'd like to dedicate some features to both showing our heroes off, and learning a little bit in the process as well. If you serve your country courageously, are a veteran or know someone who does, please return this form completed to Fitz along with a photo and we'll share your story with the world.

Name: Rob K.

Age: 42

Heroic occupation: Police Lieutenant

If you're in the military...where are you? N/A

How often do you exercise? Five times each week.

What type of exercise do you do? Running, strength training, lots of pull-ups, and a variety of cardio machines.

What gets you to workout, even when you're feeling lazy? The knowledge that I'll be glad I did when I'm done. I also feel that the most rewarding workout is the one that you didn't want to do in the first place.

The reported cancer-fighting properties of red wine were recently studied by French researchers, who reported in The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) that high doses of polyphenols -- the active antioxidants in red wine -- can shut down and prevent cancerous tumors.

So, how much wine does one have to drink to obtain the health benefits of polyphenols? An entire bottle per day!! But, since drinking an entire bottle of wine every day isn't really healthy in most other ways, a better approach to get this large amount of polyphenols is to follow a diet rich in fresh produce.

This, of course, doesn't mean I'm suggesting that you cork your bottle of red wine for good. Oh contraire. Drinking one glass of wine per day can still provide some degree of protection against certain types of cancer, as well as ailments of the heart and circulatory system.

In most parts of the U.S., the sun is starting to shine a little more brightly, encouraging us to come out and play. Not only does the warm weather get us all frisky and ready to tackle all kinds of fun outdoor activities -- a change of season is also a reminder to take a look at our current skincare routine to make sure we're still meeting our skin's needs.

It should go without saying, but I'm still going to say it -- first and foremost, make sure you're applying sunscreen every time you go outside. Hats and sunglasses will help protect your face from sun damage, too, but it's a good idea to get into the habit of applying a moisturizing sunscreen every morning.

This doesn't mean you have to wake up and tie yourself in a knot. It doesn't even mean you have to do yoga. Whether it's eating a healthy breakfast, rocking out to some tunes while getting ready for work, or putting on a nice outfit, any small healthy decision can boost your confidence and overall outlook on life.

There's a great quiz about making feel-good choices on AOL Body.

When I took the quiz, I got 8 out of the 10 ten questions correct. Two areas where I can improve are: Making enough time to relax with my friends, and always leaving the house in a killer outfit looking my best. What can I say, I'm a sucker for comfort. But, I'll work on both and see how I feel.

Carpe Diem!

I came across this article today about an 18-year-old high school girl from Florida who died after getting corrective breast surgery to correct asymmetrical breasts and an inverted areola. She died two hours into the surgery from a rare metabloic condition called malignant hyperthermia, that can be triggered by certain anesthesia. Malignant hyperthermia is an inherited disorder, and people usually don't know they have until they are exposed to anesthesia. Plus, there is no test to diagnose the condition. Malignant hyperthermia can be reversed if its recognized within 30 minutes of the onset with Dantrolene, the only known antidote.

The popular teen was captain of her varsity cheerleading squad, had a 4.0 GPA and was going to attend the University of Florida in the fall to study medicine.

It's very sad to hear about such young girls dying after getting cosmetic surgery. Is cosmetic surgery worth that possible side effects?

For thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine has looked to the goji berry as a potent source of nutrients. Specifically used for its supposed anti-aging properties and its benefit to eyesight, goji's high vitamin C and B content also help make it a powerful combatant against kidney and liver problems.

Sometimes referred to as wolfberries, goji berries make a healthy and delicious little snack. In addition to the benefits listed above, some recent research into this rare fruit uncovered a potential link between its consumption and a decrease in blood pressure and cholesterol.

In addition to the berry, you can also try goji juice, which has somewhat of an unusual, but decent, taste. A word of caution for people taking the blood thinner warfarin, though. Just as many leafy green vegetables can lessen the effectiveness of this medication, goji may do the same. Talk to your doctor to see if goji is right for you.