That's Fit

Whether you have (or have had) dreams of participating in the Olympics or are simply interested in mixing up your fitness regime, it's fascinating to hear about the workouts Olympic athletes go through. For me, it not only helps me appreciate the effort it took for them to achieve that level of greatness, but it also inspires me to push harder in my workouts -- I might not be able to keep up with them, but I can try!

Lots of athletes have taken the opportunity to speak about their fitness routines, eating habits, and more. We've pulled a bunch of their information together, so to see what your favorite Olympian does to stay in shape, keep clicking the "Next" button!

When you reach for a snack, fresh fruits and veggies are always a wonderful option, packing loads of nutrients without packing on the pounds. However, most of us have occasions where an apple just isn't going to cut it. For those occasions, check out FitnessMagazine.com's 2008 Healthy Food Awards: The Best Snacks.

We're not just talking granola bars (although they do list their favorite) -- you'll find cereals, puddings, canned fruits, energy bars, cookies and more.

Keep in mind, even the best cookies aren't going to provide the same nutrition as a piece of fruit, but if you're going to splurge, some items are better than others. I was pleasantly surprised to find some of my favorites on the list -- does it contain any of yours?

To learn more about healthy eating habits, check out AOL Body's America Takes It Off Summer Quick Fix.

Oh man. This is one of those statistics that makes you either swear off eating all together or throw your hands up in the air in disgust. I mean seriously. Who is the guy with the weird job which allows him to research these odd little details? I'd hate to be his wife, as he comes home each night with all the yucky tidbits in life that I really never want to know.

I learned about my bug consumption while flipping through the June 2008 edition of Women's Health magazine. Seems more the type of scoop you'd find in Maxim, but no ... it was my beloved Women's Health that broke the news.

Every season brings with it new trends and styles, and changing up your wardrobe is a great way to welcome in the new season. However, one thing I find myself telling people again and again is that no matter how hot a trend is, if it doesn't work for you, don't spend your money on it.

And so, I'm here to walk you through some of this season's trends but also tell you how women of different shapes and sizes might want to incorporate those into their wardrobes.

We're all human, which means we all have junk food weaknesses.

Ever wonder what the presidential candidates list as their biggest junk-food weaknesses? If so, you're in luck. TIME magazine recently published A Voter's Guide To the 2008 Election. Among topics such as the candidates' signature issues, their liabilities, and their most memorable childhood memories are their favorite sinful indulgences. Take a peek.

• Hillary Clinton loves chocolate ice cream
  

• Barack Obama craves French fries
  

• John Edwards: Give the man a cheeseburger
  

• Mitt Romney likes pie
  

• John McCain chooses sugared doughnuts
  
  

Not all candidates listed their junk foods of choice. Maybe they're holding back; maybe they're clean. What about you -- care to share?

TIME magazine's Andrea Sachs names 10 of the most notable diet books for 2008, each one unique in its approach to the always-popular topic of weight loss.

Check out these top 10 in the gallery below.

With more people vowing to get healthier everyday, it's no wonder that new diet trends are popping up every day. NineMSN recently came up with a list of the trendiest diet trends of 2008:

• The Bead Diet. Each bead in your bracelet represents 100 calories, and you wear beads depending on how many calories you want to consume in a day. When you eat a hundred calories, you move a bead. Delta Goodrem and Kate Beckinsale are fans of this approach.
  
• Bench Pressing. This classic exercise is an oldie but a goodie.
  
• Pomegranate. The superfood is so super, it continues to gain popularity.
  
• Skinny Water. This low-cal (?!) water supposedly contains nutrients that will help you burn fat. Jennifer Aniston is known for chugging it.
  
• Marathons. They've been around for a while, but expect everyone and their dog to sign up for one.
  
• The Lunch Box Diet. Armed with a big lunch box, dieters fill it with healthy goodies and much out of it all day.
  
• Workout Shoes. Shoes specially designed to tone your legs are hip this year, even if they look a bit funny
  

2007 was a crazy year, and with the health of our world and its people starting to take a top priority throughout, it's no surprise that this was a year of much controversy. MSN Health recently did an article on the top trends of 2007.

What was hot this year:

• Sleep medication. Too many people suffer from insomnia, so the search for a cure was on.
  
• Tricking your kids into eating their veggies. Hey--whatever works!
  
• Going Green. And thank goodness for that -- we need to make major changes to save our earth.
  
• Medical Tourism. Travelling abroad for medical procedures is on the rise, both to avoid the high and the long waits in our home countries.
  
• Kids' Mental Health. The prevalence of autism, bipolar disorder and ADHD in kids has raised more than a few eyebrows.

What was not:

People Magazine's 2007 Sexiest Man Alive Matt Damon has big plans for 2008 when he pushes his body to new limits.

It all starts with trainer Robert Severiano who will help mold Damon into lean, mean proportions for his role in the movie Imperial Life in Emerald City, which begins filming in early 2008. Then Damon will purposely plump up for a part in The Informant. He'll play a heavy-set guy in this film so he plans to stop training midway through the first movie so he's out of shape for the second.

I'm not sure I'd want a job that required regular body morphing. Even though the stars who succumb to this job requirement receive a hefty paycheck in exchange for their yo-yo endeavors, it seems a pretty unhealthy practice. And a difficult one too. I have a hard enough time maintaining one weight all the time. To jump up and down and all around in body weight is more of a challenge than I'm willing to accept. How about you? For a pretty penny, would you allow your weight to bounce around?

We're coming up to that time of year again, when 2007 goes out with a bang and gives way to a brand-spanking-new year, 2008. 2007 has been a good year in term of healthy living, but what will 2008 hold? Here are some trends we can expect to see in 2008:

• More trained fitness and nutrition professionals
• A continued battle against childhood and adult obesity
• An emphasis on strength and core training, with more people signing up for sessions with a personal trainer
• Fitness programs aimed at older adults
• A push towards functional fitness.
  

What do you think? Are you looking forward to getting healthy in '08?

(Via Fitsugar)