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.

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On a chilly winter day, hot soup often hits the spot. My problem with soup is that it rarely fills me up. Mind you, I'm a little lady and I still don't find a bowl of soup satisfying. I can't imagine how hungry a big guy would be without adding a large sandwich on the side.

I have a solution, though! For a long time, I've been adding other ingredients like cooked vegetables to canned soups to keep the calories low, the meals hot and my tummy full. It's really easy and quick and actually allows soup to become a meal in itself.

I've added my Easy to Make - Soup Dinner recipe to the online recipe book at Fitzness.com on page 32. I hope you'll give it a try!

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Have you been caught in the recent cold blast that's sweeping the nation? It's pretty bitter where I live, and considering I work from home, I have to make efforts to get outside and fight the doldrums. Divine Caroline has some healthful ways to beat the winter blues. Here are the top three tips:

• Exercise. When you're feeling down, you may be tempted to just plop on the couch and stare at the TV. But that's the last thing you should do. Exercise helps to energize you, release stress, and it elevates your mood.
• Eat right. Healthy eating habits can boost your mood. Include plenty of complex carbs (whole grains, fruits, vegetables) in your diet for a long-lasting energy boost; and avoid refined and processed foods, which can cause your blood sugar to spike and drop and can sap your energy.
• Step outside. I know it's cold outside, but a little daylight will do you a world of good. Bundle up and go for a short walk. Even simply opening the blinds and letting the sunlight in your living room or office can help, too.

Check out the full article on Divine Caroline for more healthful ways to beat the winter blues.

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Can you laugh your way thin? You'll need to change your diet and exercise habits too, but Laura shares why laughter isn't just the best medicine, it's also good for weight loss.

Sure, we usually call them New Year resolutions, but Jacki has a very good argument for not tying your diet and fitness goals to the calendar.

Even when you're avoiding the inside aisles at the grocery store, sometimes processed foods are a necessity. Here are the 20 worst packaged foods, so you can make a mental note that reads: AVOID.

Alanis Morrisette went vegan to lose 20 pounds and claims that giving up animal products changed her life. Could you make such an extreme lifestyle choice?

Tragic Exercise Face -- Do you suffer from it? And what the heck is it? Kristen has the scoop.

Don't want to spend all day at the grocery store reading food labels? Bev has some quick tips for picking out the most nutritious foods.

Oh, Oprah, Oprah, Oprah. There's nothing more frustrating than having to face weight loss again. Do you think she can slim down one more time and keep it off this time?

So you're sniffling and sneezing ... should you work out? Bev tells you when to hit the gym, and when to stay home under the covers.

Are you having trouble teaching your parents healthy habits? Fitz has advice for adult children whose parents struggling with their weight.

You're eating right and exercising, but still can't seem to squeeze into those skinny jeans? Try cutting back on salt to see if you can shed some water weight.

Speaking of skinny jeans, That's Fit readers lost a whopping 102 pounds this week in our America Takes it Off: Shrink a Size challenge! You rock!! Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for next week's challenge.

Have a great week, everyone!

Bev tells me it was in the 50s in Chicago the other day. A friend of mine in Ohio shared recently that it hit 68 degrees in Cincinnati. Are your snowmen melting too? If so, get yourself outdoors for a warm(er) winter workout.

We get some cool temps here in Florida now and then and as crazy as it might sound to you below-freezing folks, those 40-degree cold mornings definitely drive me indoors, where I often sluff off on the whole exercise thing. But when we registered at 80 the other day, I laced up my sneaks and ran -- and ran, and ran. It was refreshing (well, it was hot, actually, but I like to run in the hot), and by golly, it may help jolt me out of my recent fitness slump.

My friends: Take advantage of any unseasonably warm day you get this winter. Get outside and walk, run, bike, hike -- just get your heart pumping. Go ahead and hibernate on the really cold days if you must. But when winter gives you a break, take it. Take the opportunity to visit AOL Health's America Takes It Off program too -- lots of great diet and fitness tips here.

Baby, it's cold outside! Think twice about how you choose to warm up.

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I love to run on chilly days, but not cold days. I just never know how to dress for the occasion. If I bundle up, I get too hot. If I don't wear enough, I never feel perfectly warm.

Dress in layers, says RealAge. Thin layers -- like these -- so you can easily add or peel them off without getting too hot or too cold. Good suggestion. Here are two other bright ideas for exercising in the nippy weather: Watch your step in slippery conditions and remember sunblock, sunglasses, and reflective gear.

Got any cold-weather fitness lessons you'd like to share?

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Do you spend your summer seeking outdoor adventures? Mountain biking on rugged trails or scaling the face of a rocky mountain? While opportunities for your favorite outdoor adventures may not be so numerous in winter, you can still get your adrenaline rush indoors.

Men's Health shares four amazing indoor adventure sports centers across the country. But you may be able to find something a little closer to home. For example, in my neck of the woods there's an awesome rock climbing wall at the community center, a rowing pool at a local rowing club, and an indoor skating/biking facility just a couple hours away.

And don't forget about all the incredible adventure sports -- such as snowboarding and skiing -- winter has to offer as well. AOL Health has 11 fun winter fitness activities to try.

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Now that the weather is getting colder, my son is getting in the mood for winter activities. He practically salivates every time we drive past the sledding hill, even though we've yet to see a single snowflake. Just yesterday he asked if we can go to the ice skating rink this weekend. Despite the rink's year-round availability, my son isn't really in the mood for ice skating until it's chilly outside.

If you have an ice skating rink near you, why not give it a shot? Not only is skating a lot of fun for the whole family, it's also a great workout. It benefits your leg and core muscles as well as improving balance and flexibility.

Just like any other activity, it's important to warm up properly and be safe. Alive magazine has some tips to help you get the most out of your ice skating experience.

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The common cold. Ugh. Even typing the words leaves me feeling a bit drained. When my son got home from school last Friday, he gave me a hug and said, "Mom, you feel warm." Sure enough ... a few hours later, I was spiking a 101.6 temperature. The next two days, I was practically glued to the couch and was starting to feel like a real slug. And it made me wonder: How much of a damper does the common cold really have to put on your fitness routine?

Fitness expert Chris Freytag recommends doing the "neck check." If your symptoms are limited to the neck or above -- such as a stuffy nose or a sore throat -- you're likely OK to exercise. In fact, gentle exercise may help unclog your sinuses a bit, and the circulation boost will help fight the fatigue symptoms. If you're having symptoms below the neck -- such as chills or stomach problems -- you should probably stick to rest.

Knowing how I felt this weekend, I wasn't about to do anything strenuous. But today, when I was feeling a bit better but still far from 100 percent, I got up and followed a portion of my typical fitness routine. I wasn't able to finish it, but even doing a bit of it made me feel better. If a cold has you down, listen to your body -- if it's calling for rest, give it what it needs. But don't forgo fitness entirely -- even a little bit can make you feel more like your healthy self.

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I don't know what the weather is like where you live but in my neck of the woods, we've suddenly switched from a pleasant Indian Summer to a rainy, cold fall. If you're a runner, the rain can really put a damper on your workout.

Marie Claire experts have a tip for running in the rain -- they suggest wearing a garbage bag to keep dry. I can see how that would be handy before a race; you could wear the garbage bag to protect yourself from the rain and then strip it off when the race begins. But wouldn't an inexpensive poncho work just as well? As far as actually running with a garbage bag on? Well, I think the idea just stinks.

If you'd prefer not to look like a running sack of garbage, then be sure to dress in layers -- wear a technical fabric that wicks moisture from your skin as a base layer and a waterproof jacket as your outer layer. You may also want to wear a brimmed hat to keep some of the rain out of your face. Kristen has the scoop on waterproof running shoes.

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The leaves are turning, the days are shorter -- it's impossible to ignore the fact that fall is coming ... er ... make that already here. Despite the fact that it means the impending doom of winter is just around the corner, I like fall -- the colours, the clothes, the warm food and the selection of produce at my local farmer's market.

Mark's Daily Apple Recently counted down the top veggies for fall -- next time you go shopping, stock up on these:

• Endive
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Celery root
• Onions
• Pumpkin
• Spinach
• Zucchini

Want to know more about these awesome veggies, including how to eat them? Head over here for more info.

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There's no denying it -- some people seem to be prone to every kind of illness out there, while some are healthy as a horse. I tend to fall into the latter category -- besides one doozy of a cold I had last January, I haven't been sick in ages. But trust me, I'm exposed to just as many germs as anyone else, be it at the office, at the gym, at school and just about any public place I frequent.

AOL Health recently listed the healthy habits of women who never get sick, including these:

• Get regular massages (I really like this one!)
• Wash your hands
• Sip ginger and honey for stomach and bowel issues
• Take cold showers
• Get your fill of garlic, vitamin c and zinc

As for me, I find that the old adage an apple a day keeps the doctor away really works! How do you stay healthy?

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Wouldn't you love it if your favourite guilty indulgence could be part of a healthy weight loss plan? Like, say, the cheesecake diet? The triple-meat-extra-cheese pizza diet? Sounds ridiculous, huh? But the ridiculous thing is, someone probably has already thought of it, marketed the idea and made a profit on it.

What, don't believe me? Check out this post on Mark's Daily Apple on the craziest diet ideas. Some of the wackiest ones?

• The alcohol diet, in which you imbibe regularly and frequently, provided you stick to low-carb, clear drinks like vodka and gin.
  
• The chewing diet, in which you chew each piece of your food 32 times and don't swallow it. Apparently, chewing it enough ensures you get the nutrients. Yeah, right.
  
• The cold foods diet, which is based on the idea that you'll lose weight eating cold things because your body will burn calories trying to warm it up. Which means you can eat ice cream -- yay!
  
  

Want to know more? Read the post, and feel free to share any bizarre diet plans you've heard of.

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When the temperature soars, the last thing you want to do is slave over a hot stove. Personally, I have many days when I'm perfectly comfortable in my own home then, after cooking dinner, I feel prickly and hot and miserable. If I didn't think it was so important to feed healthful foods to my family (not to mention avoiding the high costs of eating out), I'd skip it altogether.

Shape Magazine comes to the rescue with great ideas for healthy meals with no cooking required. With so many fresh fruits and vegetables available at this time of year, there's no shortage of no-cook ingredients available to you. Some of the ideas include chilled soups and stuffed fruits or vegetables.

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