Obese men have a lower chance of reproducing, and it's just not because they're less likely to score with chicks at the bar. No, obese men have an actual physical problem down there, with their sperm.

According to new studies, obesity impairs fertility by not only drastically reducing sperm count in men, but also by altering the quality of sperm. Additionally, a previous study found that obese men were more likely to battle impotence problems too.

Obviously, obese men who want to have kids should slim down but not just in the interest of improving their chances of conceiving. Obesity is one of the highest causes of premature death -- and you want to live to see those kids grow up, don't you? Well, then, now might be just the time to align yourself with America Takes It Off. Click here to learn more. And come back and see us on Monday -- we'll be issuing a challenge that might just help you on your way to slimmer days.

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NFL star Tom Brady and his leading lady, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, have made it official -- the unbelievably attractive couple is engaged to be married. Brady proposed aboard a private jet on Christmas Eve, accompanied by four dozen white roses, champagne and Bundchen's parents who were visiting from Brazil. Could they be any cuter?

Here at That's Fit, we're fans of both Tom and Gisele already -- they're both so fit and healthy (and dreamy, of course). While Brady's athletic prowess is well-documented -- he is one of the best quarterbacks playing professional football, after all -- Bundchen's should be noted as well. She originally wanted to become a professional volleyball player in Brazil, and with her height and work ethic, she might've had a shot. You know, if the whole "highest earning supermodel" thing hadn't gotten in the way.

Now, I'm not normally one to push a couple to have babies -- not by a long shot. However, I cannot wait to see how athletic their kids are going to be. I bet Gatorade, Nike and Oakley are already setting aside funds to scoop up Baby Bundchen-Brady's endorsement!

Update: The couple's families are denying the engagement. However, a spokesperson for Tom's team, the Patriots, says that while he doesn't think the engagement rumors are true, "Tom keeps his private life private." I'm still holding out hope for their genetically gifted offspring debuting soon!

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When there's a new baby in the house, your whole schedule can be thrown out of whack. You're probably not getting much sleep and just keeping up with your day-to-day tasks is a challenge. If you're finding that workouts are hard to squeeze in, why not try a few of these baby and me fitness tips?

Fitness instructor and mom, Erin Kurdyla, has a great blog called Fresh Fitness Tips on Self magazine's site. Kurdyla has some creative ideas for incorporating strength moves while getting some quality play time with her baby. My favorite idea is holding the plank position while your baby lies beneath you on the floor -- it's great face-to-face time. You can also do push ups and give your baby raspberry kisses on the belly.

What to Expect has eight more ways you can exercise with your baby in tow.

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The littlest ones in our lives need good nutrition, too. And if you're trying to save money at the grocery store, those expensive little jars of baby food can really bust your budget. You can reduce the cost dramatically by making your own baby food. Some suggestions:

• Steam, microwave, or boil vegetables or fruits and then puree into pastes. Some nutritious foods that work well include carrots, peas, squash, parsnips, sweet potatoes, apples, and pears.
  
• Mash softer raw fruits or veggies such as avocados, bananas, and papaya.
  
  

If you're breast feeding, add some breast milk to your mashed or pureed produce to bump up the nutrition. Then, store your homemade baby foods in individual containers. Or, you can freeze them in ice cube trays.

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Recently, TV star Katherine Heigl raised a few eyebrows when she said, "I'm finished with the whole idea of having children of my own. It doesn't seem like any fun. I don't think it's necessary to go through all that." Isn't pregnancy supposed to be a gift? A miracle? More meaningful than just some tedious inconvenience?

But Heigel is not alone -- according to The Daily Mail, many women are choosing adoption over pregnancy. The reasons are many but a couple are especially common: To keep their career on track and maintain their figure. Says one adoptive mother: "I am quite slim, so yes, a lot of it is pure vanity. I don't like the thought of changing my body for a child. Giving birth and the idea of all that pain filled me with dread."

Is not giving birth because of vanity a selfish move? Or a practical one? In the end, it all comes down to personal choice, but I'm curious -- what do you think?

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Having difficulty figuring out what to feed baby? Good news -- your little one can eat the same food as you, in smaller, mushier portions of course. Feeding your baby what you eat is a good way to help your baby develop varied tastes and a fondness for the same kind of foods you eat, and it's perfectly safe according to this article from the New York Times.

There are exceptions to the rule, though. Before they turn one, many experts warn that you should avoid giving your little one egg whites, shellfish, nuts, honey, citrus fruits, beans and wheat. Additionally, there are some allergy concerns with feeding your baby grown-up food so talk to your doctor first.

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Because of possible food allergies, it's usually recommended to not feed babies common food allergens such as peanuts, eggs, wheat, dairy, and seafood until they're at least one. Waiting until they're three is even better. What's more, certain varieties of fish have high levels of mercury which children shouldn't be exposed to.

New research is challenging those old beliefs. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently revised their recommendations and now states that children as young as 4-6 months could have certain foods including fish. Further research shows that babies who eat fish before reaching 9 months have a reduced risk of eczema.

So what are new parents to do? As always, it's important to introduce new foods slowly. And speak to your child's doctor before introducing any of the foods that were previously off-limits for babies. When it comes to your child's health, it's better to be cautious.

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As Jacki pointed out last week, sleep is important for children's health. I can totally relate to her post about strict bedtimes ... we're going through this right now ourselves. After a long summer of lazy evenings spent with little regard to bedtime (and peaceful mornings where the kids slept in!), we now have to be up, at the latest, at 7 A.M. each morning.

Because my kids are still quite young, I know that they still need 10 to 12 hours of sleep a night. It's not easy getting them to bed early (my goal is 7:30), but I know that if we don't stick to the new bedtime routine, I'll have sleepy, grouchy kids who aren't getting what they need to be healthy.

So how much sleep do kids need? It depends on their age and their individual needs. My girls should be getting 10 to 12, but I know from experience that 12 is really optimum for them. Kids Health has a great article on sleep guidelines for kids. As a general rule:

• 0-6 months: Newborns may sleep up to 16-20 hours a day, split between day and night.
• 6-12 months: Between naps and nighttime, babies this age may sleep 15-16 hours a day.
• 1-3 years: Toddlers need 10 to 13 hours of sleep, including a nap
• 3-5 years: Preschoolers will sleep about 10 to 12 hours a night, and may start to drop their nap.
• 6-9 years: These kids still need about 10 hours a night.
• 10 to 12: Aim for a little more than 9 hours per night.
• Teens: Not quite adults, teens still need about 8.5 to 9 hours per night.
  

Of course, these are only guidelines. There are children who will need more sleep, as well as those who thrive on less. But in general, making sleep a priority will help your child be healthy and alert for whatever their day holds.

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A recent study was attempting to determine a possible link between high levels of the brain chemical serotonin and aggression/anger. Instead, researchers stumbled upon an unexpected discovery.

In the study, mice were genetically engineered to overproduce serotonin. Most of the mice died at an early age because they were unable to regulate their body temperature and heart rate. The finding led researchers to believe that an overproduction of serotonin could be responsible for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. SIDS, otherwise known as crib death, is one of the most common causes of death in children between the ages of 1 and 12 months old.

The studies findings support previous research which linked SIDS to abnormal production of serotonin.

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If you have a child with asthma, you might already know that fitness is especially important -- it can help improve childhood asthma. And with summer approaching, you might be thinking about swimming. It's a great physical activity, and kids love it, so you're set, right?

Not so fast. A recent article by Claire McCarthy, M.D., of Harvard Medical School urges parents to take caution with their asthmatic children when it comes to swimming. While the activity itself helps to strengthen their lungs -- and swimming is one form of fitness that's less likely to cause asthma symptoms -- there is one problem. The chlorine.

The article cites a study done in Belgium, where "children who swam as infants in chlorinated swimming pools were more likely to have asthma later in childhood. It appeared that the chlorine may have damaged the lining of the lungs."

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When we think about the biological clock ticking away, we pretty much immediately think of women. After all, age only matters for the mom -- the father can be as old as he wants and it doesn't make a difference, right?

According to a recent Danish study of over 100,000 children, not exactly. Children in the study who were fathered by men over 45 were much less likely to reach their nineteenth birthday than were the children of men in their late 20s.

The older men's children were especially likely to die from birth defects like heart problems. Another common cause of death was as a result of suicide, accidents, or fights, which could be explained by their higher rates of autism, epilepsy, and schizophrenia.

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Water is good for everyone, right? Not quite. Doctors at John Hopkins Children Center are spreading the word that for babies under six months, water can be dangerous. That's because these tiniest kiddos have a strong instinct to drink. They can take in too much water, which leads to water intoxication. This affects sodium levels in the body, which can lead to mental changes, puffiness, low body temperature, and seizures.

With summer's heat on its way, it may be tempting to give your young infant water. But experts urge parents to stick with breastmilk or formula instead. Older babies can have small amounts of water, but doctors still say to stick to one to two ounces at a time and to check with your doctor first.

For tips on how to keep your baby cool this summer, check out the gallery below.

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Good role modeling never goes out of style. It may even be the exact reason why people gobble down Goldfish crackers -- or animal crackers.

In one study, cited in June's The Oprah Magazine, college students who watched a video of a colleague talking while eating Goldfish crackers chose Goldfish over animal crackers 71 percent of the time. Those watching someone eat animal crackers went for Goldfish only 44 percent of the time, despite a reported overall preference for Goldfish.

This Monkey See, Monkey Do phenomenon holds true for babies too.
Chow down on fruits and veggies while your baby is in the womb and while you're breastfeeding and your little one will be more likely to consume these items when offered them, say researchers mentioned in the May issue of Woman's Day magazine.

The lesson here: Think before you eat, because people, even babies, are likely to mimic your actions. And be careful about whose eating habits you watch, because you're likely to pick up the very snacks you see.

For some strategies and tips for healthy eating, check out AOL's America Takes It Off series.

According to a recent study, babies who were breastfed exclusively for at least the first three months of life scored higher on IQ tests at age six than children who weren't breastfed exclusively. Previous research has shown that breastfed babies had enhanced thinking, learning, and memory abilities.

Researchers aren't exactly sure what the link between breastfeeding and IQ is. It could be a nutrient in breast milk -- perhaps the amino acids or cholesterol that's found in breast milk but not in formula. Or it could be the attachment-inducing act of breastfeeding.

The researchers of this study recommend breastfeeding exclusively for at least three months, though six months to one year may have added benefits.

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This has been a Gwyneth Paltrow-heavy week. First of all, the mother of two spoke up about her battle with post-partum depression after the birth of her second child, son Moses. She said, "I felt really out of my body ... really down ... really pessimistic." She thinks part of the problem was that she stopped taking time for herself and neglected her usual wellness treatments, such as acupuncture and massage.

And, as long as we're talking about Gwynnie and gawking, there's no WAY I'm going to leave out the wardrobe she's been sporting while stumping for her new flick, Iron Man. First of all, there have been shoes -- shoes with heels of half a foot or so. And then the dresses! Gwyneth has been rocking the shortest minidresses imaginable, mostly with great success. She certainly has the body to pull it off, although I'm firmly of the opinion that nobody should wear a skirt so short that there's serious risk of a panty-flash, no matter how fab the legs are.

In other Gwyneth news, her trainer (who she says Madonna stole) gave USWeekly a diet and exercise program designed to allow participants to lose three to five pounds a week. It doesn't look too healthy to me, so I think I'll stick with a more moderate plan and be happy to drop just a pound or two weekly.

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