Overwhelmed by all of the "Follow Friday" recommendations on Twitter? Each week AOL Health's Twitter alias Healthpop and That's_Fit search the Twittersphere for the greatest diet and fitness Twitterers, and each week, we'll highlight the best-of their best tweets (no Twits here).

---

Photo: Jemal Countess, Getty Images

One of the biggest spectator sports in Hollywood is watching Renée Zellweger's weight fluctuate with every "Bridget Jones" movie. But, those days might have come to an end. E! Online reports that the itty-bitty actress won't be plumping up the old-fashioned way for the movie's third installment; instead, she'll wear a fat suit.

Admittedly, it's hard on the body to continually gain, then lose so much weight (E! puts the number at 30 pounds). It's not healthy to yo-yo diet, even if it is for your job. And then, there's the fact that it's just plain hard. A source told Britain's Reveal magazine that the actress had difficulty dropping the weight after the last movie in 2004. Five years later, one can't imagine it's going to be any easier!

Some reports say that the newest "Bridget Jones" will focus on our favorite diary-keeper trying to have a baby, and costume designers have plenty of experience creating fake baby bumps. But, what about her face? You can fake larger breasts, a tubbier tummy and thicker thighs with wardrobe, but will makeup be able to match her angular face to her curvy body?

Zellweger might not be willing to stay on this gain and loss roller coaster, but plenty of other stars are up for the challenge. This former "king of the world" is one of the most recent to lose lots of weight, and he's not alone.

Photo: Mary Schwalm, Getty Images

Matt Damon might have a Sexiest Man Alive title under his belt, but not long ago, he had a something else hanging over his belt. For his role as FBI informant Mark Whitacre in the aptly titled "The Informant!," Damon ate his way to an additional 30 pounds.

To distance himself even further from that Sexiest Man title, he sported a bad toupee as well as a mustache. Let's just say it's not his best look.

And, while many stars gain (or lose) weight for movie roles, not all of them enjoy it as much as the former "Good Will Hunting." According to People, at Monday's Venice Film Festival, the actor told reporters, "It was very, very fun, probably the funnest time I had working because I didn't have to go to the gym after work and I just ate everything I could see."

Photo: quinn.anya, Flickr

Jonny Bowden, author, nutritionist and weight loss coach cuts through all the misconceptions about diet and fitness to help you transform your body, your health and your life.

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) recently listed its Top 10 tips for avoiding the Freshman 15. Even if you're not a college freshman, they're worth your attention.

And if you are a college freshman, it's worth noting that one in four freshmen gain at least 5 percent of their body weight (an average of 10 to 15 pounds) during just their first semester. That doesn't mean you have to be in that 25 percent, though. By being proactive, you can significantly reduce the odds that none of your clothes will fit by the time you head home for the holidays!

Here's the essence of what ACE recommends you do:

Liz Neporent is a diet and fitness expert and author of 12 fitness bestsellers. She regularly appears on national TV programs and is the president of Wellness 360, a New-York based wellness provider.

Have you ever looked at your wedding picture and thought, "There is no way could we fit into that gown and tux anymore,"? You apparently have plenty of company, because women tend to gain weight in the few years following marriage, research suggests, and the typical married man is heavier than single or divorced men of the same age.

Just how many pounds do married people tend to gain after walking down the aisle, and how quickly does the weight pile on? No one knows for sure. Studies have produced very mixed results, and the research methods have been so varied, that it's tough to make generalizations. However, a brand new University of North Carolina study found that newly married women and men tend to gain six to nine pounds shortly after exchanging vows -- almost as if the words "I do" mean "I do like to eat."

How's the saying go -- starve a fever? Feed a cold? I can never remember. But here's some interesting news: A common cold bug (AD-36) not only infects your respiratory system and makes you feel like hell, it also causes your fat cells to get hungry and suck up all the fat they can find.

Pretty wild, right?

Scientists found that up to 1/3 of obese people tested positive for the virus, compared to 11 percent of those who maintained a healthy weight. While these findings don't really apply to you and me -- because what can you do to avoid a common cold virus, beyond becoming Bubble Girl? -- it's one piece of the obesity puzzle for scientists.

So what should you do if you catch a cold? Take care of yourself by getting lots of rest and drinking plenty of fluids. And when you feel better, take care of yourself by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

Oh, and wash your hands. It is cold and flu season, after all.

Source

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.

Love it or hate it (we're guessing the latter), your metabolism is something you just need to learn to deal with. And when the numbers on the scale start creeping up, our metabolism usually shoulders the blame. But be honest: Is it really your metabolism's fault?

Source

Got a fitness goal in 2009? We've got just the place for you to start. Join us each week for America Takes it Off: Shrink a Size, and let up help you create the body you want this year.

Ever wonder how naturally thin people stay that way? Laura thinks she's found the key in these seven habits.

Did you know you're more likely to inherit obesity than high blood pressure? Learn 19 more interesting facts about fat.

Kellie Pickler lost 28 pounds and reshaped her entire body. Fitz finds out how.

Have you taken your workout inside for the winter? Here are five ways to amp it up.

Fitz wants a chance to work with Oprah and wonders: Are you suffering from Oprah syndrome?

I'm an advocate of healthy fats, but Martha wonders does this diet go too far?

Men are from Mars, women are from Venus ... even when it comes to weight loss? Check it out!

Have a great week, everyone!

Most people will be resolving to lose a few pounds come January 1st. But for teeny tiny British celeb Cheryl Cole, January 1st will mark a different kind of diet plan -- to gain weight.

Recently, thousands of fans expressed concern over her bony frame after an appearance on hit TV show The X Factor, and it was a wake-up call for the singing superstar. "Cheryl was watching the show and she thought she looked terrible - too unhealthy," says a source close to Cheryl, 25. "She's a [British] size 6-8 and she wants to get to a size 8-10, but she doesn't want to eat junk to put it on, she wants to do it as healthily as possible. She's hiring a dietician and she's going to be eating lots of carbs such as wholemeal bread, rice and potatoes."

Why does this thought never occur to American celebs? Methinks Cheryl and Nicole Ritchie should have a heart-to-heart.

Source

Is weight loss on your list of New Year's resolutions? Try one of these three foods to tip the scales in your favor.

Another season of The Biggest Loser is over. Bev has the wrap-up.

Fitz interviewed Lo Bosworth of The Hills. Find out how she stays fit and trim for reality TV.

Ditch the egg whites once and for all and eat the whole egg. Why? Jonny has a few good reasons.

Here's one more reason to include those healthy carbs in your diet ... low-carb diets cause memory loss.

Want to do a perfect sit-up? Maggie says you just need to learn your alphabet.

Fitz has a two-pound rule when it comes to gaining weight, but she wants to know: What's your weight-gain breaking point?

Looking forward to an upcoming holiday party? Bev shows you how to order drinks that are more nice than naughty.

Water can get boring ... here are five alternate ways to stay hydrated.

Happy holidays, everyone!

I'm sure you remember last week, when the biggest news item was Oprah Winfrey's admission that she had re-gained all the weight she'd lost over the years -- and then some. I was surprised, and I wanted to know if you were too. Here's what you had to say:

• 43 percent said no -- once a yo-yo dieter, always one.
  
• 29 percent said they weren't surprised by the weight gain but they were surprised it was made so public.
  
• 17 percent thought all that money for personal chefs and trainers would do the trick.
• And only 5 percent of you really thought she had a handle on her weight.
  

The majority of people who lose weight end up gaining it back, so the odds are against Lady O -- let's hope she can beat them and conquer this demon once and for all, huh?

The holiday season is in full swing, which means that you need to keep a sharp eye out for holiday diet traps.

Source

Teenagers have this delightful tendency to favour the indoors -- you know, that whole sleeping all day, emerging only to talk on the phone, text friends or read celebrity gossip. Oh wait, that kind of sounds like my life. Ah, the life of a freelancer.

Anyway, teenage girls have a very good reason to venture outdoors on a regular basis because a new study shows that a lack of vitamin D (provided by the sun's rays) can stunt an adolescent girl's growth and -- worse yet, if you ask them -- cause weight gain. You can get vitamin D in supplement form, but why bother when you can get the same results from a few minutes of outdoor time every day.

That doesn't mean that you're off the hook if you're well past puberty. A lack of vitamin D in adults is even more serious, potentially leading to osteoporosis, cancer and other deadly diseases.

Source

Every woman's body responds to pregnancy differently -- some stay reasonably slender through the third trimester, while others pack on the pounds immediately. Isla Fisher fell more into the latter category and was stunned to find her weight criticized while carrying her first child, Olive.

"When I was pregnant, I remember someone wrote on a blog that I had gained too much weight. I remember being really shocked that even during something as incredible and beautiful as pregnancy, you are still subject to body fascism."

Isla gained 55 pounds during her pregnancy, but she shed the pounds pretty quickly, especially considering she didn't sweat them off at the gym. "I have never been a big fan of working out and I've never been a sporty person ... I've been blessed with good genes. My mum is little, and I'm fortunate that I don't like eating junk food. I just don't like the taste of it."

Source

Stephen King's new book Just After Sunset is a collection of short stories. In the story Stationary Bike, King covers extreme diet and fitness in his signature spooky style.

When artist Richard Sifkitz learns from his doctor that his cholesterol and his weight are a little too high, he's concerned. His doctor explains that his metabolism is like a work crew, and when Richard pours fast food down his gullet, the crew has to work overtime. They get grumpy and tired, and sometimes they even quit and go home, which leads to weight gain and health problems. Sifkitz goes home and draws a picture of his "metabolism" -- four guys in a road crew, employed by the company "Lipid."

He puts a stationary bike in his basement and draws a mural on the wall. Pretty soon, he's biking two hours a night and curtailing his eating habits to the extreme, but strange things start happening. He ends up riding in the mural, and let's just say his work crew is less than pleased that he's taken their livelihood away from him.

Source