You know that little click you hear when your gas tank is full? Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was a little warning like that for our stomachs? Just some subtle little chime that rings in to let us know it's time to stop eating? Unfortunately, our bodies are much more subtle than that.

For most people, it takes 20 minutes for our brains to realize our stomachs are full. Today may be the age of lightning fast e-mail, but our bodies are still relying on the pony express. That's why portion control is so important; when you keep your portions reasonable, you know you're not taking in more than you need. It's also important to eat slowly -- relish each bite and enjoy your food. When you take your time eating, you give that pony more time to get the "You're full!" message to your brain.

I just stumbled across this article about a woman who had a condition that caused her to faint when consuming things like sandwiches or soda. It sounds like a horrible condition and she must be relieved to have a diagnosis. However, I did find it humorous that she's not pleased about her post-treatment weight gain.

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Have you given your stomach 20 minutes after eating to realize it's full and doesn't need one more bite? I mean, have you really given it 20 minutes? I know I've claimed to have tried this slimming technique but really, I never gave it an honest go. Until recently.

It all started one night during dinner when I really wanted seconds but was too lazy to get up and serve myself. So I sat. And 20 minutes ticked by. And then something happened: My tummy felt full. Like, really full. Like, another bite really would not have fit in there. Ah-a, I realized. It does work.

It takes the stomach about 20 minutes to produce the hormones that tell your brain that you are full. The whole process doesn't start until your stomach begins to stretch. If you eat more before this happens, that stuffed feeling sets in. I hate that, don't you? If so, give it 20. Really give it 20.

Here at That's Fit, we're constantly telling you what we think about things, but sometimes it's nice to know what you think. So from time to time, we'll ask you a question. Don't be afraid to speak up -- we love feedback.

No holiday stands for overindulgence and wanton gluttony quite like Thanksgiving does. You might have planned to keep your portions reasonable, or you might have accepted in advance that you'd have to do an extra hour of fitness the next day to compensate for the calorie fest. But plans are one thing -- executing them is another. So I'm wondering ...

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. 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 one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Fitz, I'm sick of feeling sick at the end of Thanksgiving Day. I seem to eat all day, even when I'm not hungry. I literally feel like the clothes I put on that morning don't fit me anymore. I'm dreading it this week. What do I do? Alex

A. Gobble Gobble, Alex! I mean ... don't Gobble Gobble, Alex. (Bad joke, I know). Holidays, particularly Thanksgiving, often lead to really weird amounts of mindless eating. It doesn't help that this particular day is actually based on a feast. Darn Pilgrims! Why couldn't they show their gratitude with a running race? I can help you avoid this scenario, though. No one likes to unbutton their jeans to be able to sit down. It's uncomfortable, embarrassing and depressing. So let's get proactive, make a plan and stick with it.

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One major cause of weight gain is eating when you're not hungry. Cut down on unnecessary eating, and you'll cut the numbers on the scale.

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Don't gobble down your food. It'll make you fat if you do. Just eat slowly and modestly and you'll slash your chances of being overweight by, like, three times.

Blame the fast food industry on the fact that we scarf our meals, says a new Japanese study, and then ban those fast meals on the spot. Here's why: Researchers found that half of the men and just more than half of the women studied ate until they were full. Just under half the men and more than a third of the women ate quickly. The consequences? Men and women who ate until they were full were twice as likely to be overweight. And those who ate both quickly and to fullness were three times more likely to be heavy.

An interesting fact: Seems humans are hardwired to overconsume energy when it is available. Make that energy fast and cheap, and we're all over it. And because of this, we're getting fatter and fatter. We must learn, then, these two tactics: (1) Steer clear of fast food and (2) Slow down.

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What's your reason for training for a marathon? Personal sense of achievement? A bet with your buddies? To get a hot body? To improve your heart health? If you answered yes to that last one only, you might consider re-thinking your motivation after recent studies that showed marathoners aren't as heart-healthy as you might think.

In fact, marathoners tend to have higher levels of calcium build-up in their arteries, which can lead to plaques and ultimately heart attacks. The reason? Unknown. What is known is that these findings contradict everything we know about regular running -- it's been shown to reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure and help in the maintenance of a healthy weight.

The bottom line? I wouldn't stop running just yet if I were you -- it seems the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. But all the same, if you feel compelled to scale back your running routine to, say, half marathons, go for it. Any amount of running is better than none at all.

(Via CalorieLab)

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First she tackled life as a child actor -- she played Stephanie Tanner on Full House, remember that? -- and then she tackled a crystal meth addiction. Now, Jodie Sweetin is on to another big undertaking: Losing weight.

It's baby weight the actress is trying to shed, and she's doing a pretty good job of whittling it away. It's only been two months since daughter Zoie was born and already Sweetin has just 10 pounds she wants to drop -- she's already lost 15. How is she doing it?

"I'm still working very hard and dressing strategically," says the new mom. "I'm doing NutriSystem, and they have been phenomenal." Sweetin also works out with a trainer at least twice a week.

Check her out now. A little hard work really does pay off.

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Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Alexandra Harris

Age: 51

Occupation: Life Coach

How often do you exercise? I eat seven days a week, and I exercise seven days a week!

What type of exercise do you do? Power walking, light weight training (for muscle tone), and yoga (for balance, flexibility, and occasionally turning my organs upside down). I think there's something really healthy about moving your organs around!

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Almonds are one of those things that have been around for ages but are just now gaining the notoriety they deserve. Those delicious nuts are now being lumped in with many superfoods for the nutritional value they offer. True, they're high in calories and fat, but if you consume them in moderation, they have a number of health benefits.

Like? Well, according to a new study on Almonds, almonds can help you feel full for longer periods of time, keeping you from overeating other stuff. Almonds are also a great source or protein and don't have all the bad fats that other protein sources may have. Almonds lower cholesterol and can increase your levels of a number of important nutrients, including Vitamin E, magnesium, fiber, potassium, calcium, and iron.

The best part? Studies have shown that adding up to 570 calories worth of almonds to your daily diet doesn't lead to weight gain. Why this is, I don't know. But I do know I'll be eating more almonds from now on.

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A rumbling tummy is a dangerous thing. It can cause you to make bizarre, unhealthy choices in your quest for food. But in order to avoid the damage to your waistline, not to mention the guilt and shame, that comes with a bad-food binge, here are some tips on how to fill up without de-railing your diet, courtesy of Women's Health Magazine:

• Make a date: Studies show that women eat less on dates. Though I think this is more true of first or second dates.
  
• Fill up on berries: They're healthy and tastier enough to be binge-worthy.
  
• Eat high-fiber foods: They're shown to keep you fuller longer
• Take multi-vitamin: Studies show that when your body lacks nutrients, it makes up for it in hunger
• Eat with your left hand (or right-hand for lefties): It will challenge your brain and lead you to eat more slowly

For more great tips, read the full article, and be sure to let us know what your secret is in the comments.

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My partner, Jon, seems to live on things that I hardly ever allow myself to eat -- instant ramen noodles (two packages at a time), pizza, Chinese food, convenience store hoagies, triple-patty bacon cheeseburgers, meatball subs ... you get the picture. The only time he eats healthy is when I cook for him. And yet he never gains weight while I have trouble losing one pound. It's frustrating at the best of times, and I'm sure everyone knows a man like that, who can eat without abandon and not gain an ounce.

But the secret to men's diet's isn't what they're eating, according to this article. It's how they eat. Think about it -- when a man is frustrated or upset, does he reach for the ice cream? No, but I sure do. Men, particularly my man, eat when they're hungry and stop when they're full. It's as simple as that. Though that doesn't mean we have the go-ahead to eat like Jon as long as we stop when we're full -- he is extremely active so that contributes to his lean physique.

I think this makes a lot of sense -- don't you?

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Your body has no idea that liquids contain nutrients.

Or so that's the theory scientists have come up with based on a recent study that took the idea that liquids are less filling to the next level. They found that although liquid and solid calories of comparable nutrient value filled people up about the same right away, the people who had the liquid calories reported feeling hungrier sooner afterwards. And in the study it didn't seem to matter if the liquid/solid fullness comparisons came from high carb, high fat, or high protein sources -- a glass of juice or milk isn't nearly as filling in the long-term as a piece of fruit or a hunk of cheese.

Interesting. I can totally see this principle working in my life everyday -- can you?

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You can gimmick yourself to death these days trying to find new and exciting ways to lose weight, but the only real way to get lasting results is to be sensible in your approach and stick to the tried-and-true basics. AARP is aiming to help people remember just what the 'basics' are by offering some suggestions.

They are reminding everybody not to skip meals, to drink lots of water (especially before meals so you feel fuller), to eat foods with high fiber and water content (fill up with less calories), to keep a food journal, and most importantly: not to give up! Every little bit helps.

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