Want to know how long you would need to work out in order to burn off the four pieces of pizza you just shoved down your throat? Maybe you're in a new town and you're trying to find out where the nearest gym is. Or, perhaps you just want to know whether your new yoga pants make your butt look great. Who ya gonna call?

No, not Ghostbusters. You need the KGB -- the Knowledge Generation Bureau. You've seen their funny commercials, and you might know that they have real people sitting around, waiting to research the answer to your question, but you might not have given much thought to how it applies to fitness. Let me assure you that they are fully able to answer all of the above questions (and in my case, yes, my new yoga pants did make my butt look great -- thanks KGB!).

The trick is to be super specific. Don't ask, "How far do I need to run to lose a pound?" Instead, ask, "How far and at what pace does a 150-pound woman need to run on a flat surface to burn enough calories to lose a pound?" Get it? They charge just 50 cents per answer (and if they can't answer your question, there will be no charge; but, unless you ask a question like my friend Annie did, they'll probably be able to give you an answer). Just text your question to kgbkgb (542542 for those of you who don't do the letter-to-number conversion so well). Or, if you like to fill your brain with crazy trivia, head over to this section of their website. Trust me. And you're welcome.

Google, the ingenious company that has seemingly single-handedly conquered the internet, could use some lessons in nutrition, apparently. Well, at least their NYC Cafe could. The eatery recently served up a stomach-churning, heart attack-inducing, vomit-inspiring doozy of a sandwich. The Bacon Krispy Kreme Burger is just that -- a cheeseburger with bacon served on a Krispy Kreme donut as the bun. The only way they could possibly make it less nutritious is if they deep fried it.

How many calories does you think is in one of these? Let's see, about 200 in the donut, 250 in the pattty, 150 in the bacon and 100 in the cheese? At 700 calories and about a jillion grams of fat, let's hope Google provides its employees with good insurance plans.

(via Celebrity Diet Doctor)

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Walking is fantastic exercise. But while American suburban sprawl doesn't naturally lend itself to walk-happy travel, $4.00/gallon gas is sparking some to slip on their sneakers to complete nearby errands.

Conveniently, Google Maps recently added a walking directions option to its website. Pop in your to/from and it'll spit out route, mileage and estimated time to walk to your destination.

Cool! According to Google Maps, my neighborhood grocery store is 1.4 miles away and should take 27 minutes to walk there. Ha -- I can walk faster than 3 mph! Maybe Google should add a 'jogging at X-mph' option, too. Now if only Americans could live in European-like villages with fresh, organic food markets scattered on street corners. Nothing wrong with Big Suburban dreaming, right?

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Bethany announced on May 22 that Google has launched its own health information service. Called Google Health, this internet-based system allows individuals to store and manage their personal health details in one convenient location. Privacy issues aside -- who knows how many crafty folks will tap into your confidential matters -- Google Health might just work for you. And here is exactly how it works.

Log In -- If you already have a Google account, you won't need to sign up for anything. Just log in. If you don't have an account, you'll need to create one. Then you can begin building your profile.

Add Information -- This is the hard part. Gather your paper records, prescription receipts, lab test results, and other important documents and start creating your profile. Be sure to include all conditions, procedures, and allergies here.

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Google recently launched a new health information service, aptly named Google Health. The service allows users to store their personal medical information online, and offers services such as links to pharmacies and medical laboratories, a medication reminder, and a physician finder.

Internet users know, however, that anything you put online has the potential to be viewed by another person, perhaps many different people, so Google's launch of this new site has not gone without question. Google says every effort has been made to insure that information stored on Google Health stays private, including storing the information on a separate set of computers on their premises.

I took a minute to check it out, and it's definitely a unique service. If you have are on the lookout for a system to centralize all of your health information, then Google Health may be exactly what you need. Many patients will even be able to schedule appointments and refill prescriptions online ... very convenient!

Have you tried Google Health? Would the privacy issues concern you?

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FitSpirit explores the mind-body connection and the intangible benefits we gain from our efforts to stay physically fit.

The internet is our key to the unknown. Need a definition for a tough word? Forget the trusty dictionary sitting on the bookshelf. The internet is quicker, easier, and so much more convenient. Need a quick recipe for chicken, potatoes, or say, cookies? No need for a visit to that old recipe box or cookbook. A quick search of the internet can score bunches of tried and true blueprints for the cravings that consume us. And when it comes to our health? Heck, who doesn't self-diagnose by way of the keyboard?

At times, we all share the same doctor. Austin Fit Magazine calls our collective physician Dr. Google and while many of us might highly recommend the good doctor, it's possible we're relying on this seemingly trusty source of medical information a bit too much.

Surveys reveal that nearly 40 percent of web-using adults have gone online to research a medical condition. Some use sites like Web MD. Some simply type a symptom like "ankle pain" or "sore throat" into a search box. Such investigation can be helpful but it can also lead to panic, anxiety, and plain old misinformation. Without an actual person who can offer comfort and explanation, online searches can be downright dangerous.

As with everything, using the internet for medical pursuits is all about balance. Too much information from this source can undermine the real patient-physician relationship. On the other hand, knowing our stuff before we head into an exam room isn't such a bad idea.

Whether you call it empowerment, useless wandering, or something in between, perusing the internet requires an open mind and a whole lot of common sense too. The bottom line is this: Use Dr. Google's free-flowing information as you will. But remember that medicine was never intended to become a do-it-yourself project.

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Google continues to infiltrate many areas of our everyday lives. We use it to search for health problem causes, nutritional advice, psychological advice and where that evening movie is playing.

But, Google wants to get deeper into your life -- it wants to collect a set of health information problems and apply its search technology to get solutions to its users as neatly as possible.

A Google exec says that the company noticed the number of searches being done with its search engine had to do with hard-to-diagnose health problems. As standard Google fashion, the company listened to its customers using that method and has devised a solution to it that will most likely be incredibly useful for millions seeking advice on health issues.

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Maria Shriver, First Lady of California, visited Google headquarters to speak about finding a balance between work and home life. With four children, Shriver certainly knows what a hectic life is like. In addition to her successful career in journalism, Shriver has written several books. During her speech, Shiver spoke about how difficult it is to maintain a balance between your career and your family. She stated that, at times, her life has been "a blur." She says it's important to follow your passion, but remember to slow down and live life in the present. She suggests not overbooking yourself... keeping time free for what really matters.

Google employees kept their laptops open and clicked away as she spoke (which strikes me as incredibly strange and rude). But perhaps the lack of attentive listening is because Google headquarters seems to do a pretty good job of creating comfort for their employees. A campus food court provides free meals and gyms, pools, and massage rooms are available for employee use.

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What do you do when you have a new health issue and your doctor's appointment is a week away? If you're like many, you head to the nearest search engine and plug in a description. Patients are increasingly using the Internet to try and self-diagnose themselves or bring information to their doctor.

And what do doctors think of this trend? A recent study found physicians used words like "nightmare" and "irritating" when describing this kind of patient. They expressed frustration that patients were testing them or simply gathering piles of misinformation, and complained that the practice increased their workload or led to an atmosphere of distrust. To help patients find reliable information, the Medical Library Association made a list of the 10 most useful websites.

I can see both sides of this issue. On one hand, anyone can put information (or misinformation, for that matter) on the net. On the other, I think taking an active role in your own health care is important. I think it's important to find a good doctor who will truly listen, be your own advocate, and then let your doctor do their job. What do you think?

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Last spring, I decided to take up jogging. I remember coming home from my first time out, gasping for air, telling my husband that I "must have gone at least two miles." It seemed that he smiled at me a little knowingly, and when I checked the distance later with my car, it was just under a mile. I was humiliated and immediately set about marking a safe, three mile route that I could work up to.

Jogging never turned out to be my thing, but I still walk that route. I've been meaning to go back with my car and plan out a few other walking routes for a little variety, but have never gotten around to it. There have been plenty of times when I took off and rambled around my neighborhood and wondered when I returned just how far I'd gone.

Today, I discovered Map My Run, a virtual pedometer by put out by About.com. Using Google map technology, they've created an easy way to map out your walk or run ahead of time. You can see exactly how far you're going, and even use their calculator to get a quick list of workout stats. There's an "out and back" feature that makes it easy to plot a route that brings you right back to your house. You can even figure in elevation, or view your route on a satellite map or Google Earth.

Definitely a fun toy, as long as you don't spend more time playing with it than you do on your walk or run!

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With doctors facing an overwhelming amount of possible diagnoses these days, it's good to know that the world's leading Internet search engine is there for them. Instead of or in addition to using the PDR (physician's desk reference), some doctors are turning to Google to search for information on certain diseases and ailments.

With Google arguable housing the largest-ever index of information in the history of the planet in every imaginable area, it makes sense for physicians to seek out information from this vast database to assist in helping patients. A recent study performed in Australia stated that doctors using Google to assist in diagnosing patient ailments were correct in their assumptions a staggering 58% of the time.

That ought to make Google folks feel pretty good -- and it gives a new meaning to technology "changing the world", yes?

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Just last week Google announced its plans to install over 9,200 solar panels in its "Googleplex" campus in San Francisco, CA. This project, which Google hopes could end up supplying up to 30% of its power needs, is being heralded as the biggest solar project ever undertaken by a U.S. company. The internet giant is obviously very proud and has been bragging openly about this new endeavor -- with the vice president of real estate, David Radcliffe, quoted as saying "We hope corporate America is watching. We want to see a lot of copycats."

The project is slated to be up and running by next spring, and although no dollar amounts have been released on just how much this will cost Google, the company has said that with the energy it will save they expect it to pay for itself in 5-10 years.

Solar power has been around for a long time (first invented 50 years ago) but it continues to be more expensive than fossil fuels here in the U.S. The use of solar energy is expected to grow by leaps and bounds in the coming years, and this publicity can do nothing but help.

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