That's Fit

When you start dating someone new, it's easy to get a little lax in your eating habits. After all, you're going to swanky, romantic restaurants, sharing appetizers and desserts, drinking more wine than normal. Or, if you're past the "wooing" stage, you might find yourself staying in, cuddling, and chowing down on pizza and Chinese takeout.

Dining is such a social occasion that it's no wonder you want to share meals with your sweetie. However, you don't need to sacrifice your figure, wardrobe, or health in order to go on a food-related date. Check out the gallery for some fun, food-y ideas!

If you're single and running a race, you know there's a possibility you might meet somebody interesting. I mean, runners are hot! Perhaps you're super focused before the race, but later, maybe you reach for a post-race banana, and another runner reaches for a nearby bagel. Your hand brushes against his. You stop, your eyes meet, and ... then what? What do you say?

"So, you're a runner, huh?" is a little lame, but there are some hilarious suggestions at Half-Fast. Who's not going to accept a dinner invitation from a guy who says, "I'd like to see your race-y pictures at the finish," or "Do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I pass you more than once?"

Okay, so not everyone would get a kick out of these, but if you don't have a goofy sense of humor, I don't want to have dinner with you anyway. If the lines above made you chuckle, check out the full list, and let me know if you've used any running-related pick-up lines (or been on the receiving end of them).

I think it's safe to say that men and women are a bit of mystery to each other. I'm single, but even my married friends often puzzle over things their spouses have said or done. The Kinsey Institute conducted a study that sheds some light on what turns men on.

The research team set up six focus groups with men ranging from age 18 to 70. The one thing they found is that what turns one man on may not turn on another. As a woman, I'm glad to hear that. It's nice to know that all men aren't looking for that stereotypical "beautiful" girl.

Some turn ons included women who were confident and felt good about themselves. Not surprisingly a good body and a pretty face were listed as turn ons, but so was intelligence. Feeling emotionally connected to a woman is also a turn on for many men, as is a woman's scent.

Want to learn more about sexual health? AOL Body has resources for both men and women.

Anna Kournikova participated in the Nautica South Beach Triathlon. Sort of, anyway. She ran a four mile portion as part of a relay team for K-Swiss. She held a very respectable 7:15/mile pace, but she had another goal that took up a good bit of her focus -- raising awareness for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. The tennis player regularly incorporates running into her fitness routine, so this was not a huge stretch for her. Some observers say she's lost her curves, but I think she looks fit and healthy.

Mariah Carey is showing up everywhere lately, but there's less of her to see thanks to a lifestyle change and nutrition and fitness coach. She admits she's bummed to give up her comfort foods, like mac 'n cheese, but she's thrilled to be fitting into the same size jeans she wore in 10th grade.

Not only is Britney Spears working out at Bally (she's been there one to three times a day, lately) -- she just might become their newest spokeswoman. You know, if fitness plays a big role in Britney turning her life around, then Bally might be taking a really smart risk. Or not. Only time will tell.

If you go out on a date with someone who seems to be perfect in every way, have you ever wondered if they would also make a great romantic partner? A new study is suggesting that when it comes to social butterflies who seem like the perfect date versus those people considered "socially awkward," the latter group makes a better committed partner.

Those individuals who are always on top of their game when it comes to social situations are referred to as "self monitors." They evaluate how their actions and appearances affect those around them. By adjusting how they act and what they say, these people appear to be perfect at building strong relationships.

However, researchers conducted a study by comparing various participants' level of commitment and how much they self-monitored, communicated (on an intimate scale), and their relational satisfaction. The findings show that because these individuals watch what they say and do in order to appeal others, their commitment doesn't run as deep. This is in comparison to socially awkward types who, when surveyed, showed higher commitment and satisfaction. Is this scientific, or moreover, believable? Not across all situations, thankfully -- everyone is different, and even the researchers admit that people often end up with someone in between these two polar ranges.

It's been a while since I dated, but when I did, it was all the same old thing -- dinner, drinks, maybe a movie. Not that I minded then -- that's what I did 5 years ago. I didn't have any real hobbies and wasn't too into fitness then so everything revolved around food or drink. But nowadays, I try to spend the majority of my free time doing fit, wholesome things, and if I were single, I'd try to incorporate that into my dating life.

Fitsugar recently put together a list of fitness date ideas, and they have some great ones but here are a few that I would add to my own list:

• Go roller skating or roller blading. Seriously, it's a riot.
  
• Go bowling. Ok, this is a date idea that's old but it's a good one!
• Go for a luge or bobsleigh ride. This might not be available in your area but it is in mine. It looks scary, but exhilarating.
• Go curling. It's fun. Really.
  
• Go for a walk around a market or street festival.
  
• Go play paintball or laser tag.
  

What do you do that's fit and fun on a date?

Although dating is about as natural as possible when those awkward teen years show up, there are still guidelines for safety that every parent must think about. The world, as they say, is a different place than it was a generation ago.

Although I would not latch onto the modern media's obsession with bad news and sensationalism these days, there are still things that need to be brought up, like getting to know someone at school or over the phone before arranging a date -- and then, in public.

Here are some other tips from the U.S. Department of Health.These are very basic, but very important.

• Encourage fun and safe outings, like a picnic, a trip to the mall, or the movies.
• Talk to your child about the importance of speaking up about what makes her comfortable and uncomfortable.
• Make sure she -- and her date -- both understand what time she is to return home.
• Be sure that your child tells you where she's going, who she'll be with, and how you can reach her.

I don't know how it works but for some women, dating seems easy. They see a guy they like and somehow make it happen. If things don't work out, they find a new man quickly and without much of the anxiety that the rest of us feel while dating.

For most of the girls I know though, dating is a lot more like the way it's described here. The author of the piece compares finding the right boyfriend to getting a great new coat. Sound silly? It is a bit and I'm sure it's meant to be, but she does make some good points.

Our dutiful shopper recommends trying on a lot of coats before settling on the one that's just right, suggests sticking with a classic rather than going for something cute and trendy that will only last a season and says we should watch out for coats that have special care instructions because they may be too tough to maintain.

What do you think? Do these tips make sense when finding that special someone?

Sometimes the gym feels like one big 'meet' market. I don't mind working out at a co-ed gym but sometimes I feel a bit ... well ... violated when I catch some guy intently watching me pump iron in my curve-hugging workout gear. What's worse, I've looked over to be greeted by the super-cheesy head nod, which I've promptly ignored (Snobbishness be darned.) The gym just doesn't seem like the best place to meet people -- and that's not just because I am not single.

But maybe I'm wrong. This article from eDiets proclaims the gym an ideal place to find love. I guess it makes sense -- if you're into healthy living and exercise, it's a great place to meet someone like-minded -- but nonetheless, I don't think I'll advocate it to my single friends. Something about making chit-chat after a run when you're drenched in sweat doesn't appeal to me. What about you?

More and more men are taking up yoga, and as much as we'd all like to think that they all have the best of intentions and truly want to learn the techniques in some cases it's all too painfully clear what they're really after: that little blonde in the stretchy pants. There's even an online comedy sketch on YouTube called "Inappropriate Yoga Guy" about a man who hits on all the girls in his yoga classes with cheesy pickup lines and badly timed compliments.

Have you ever experienced anything like this? Sometimes it's just newbies who are nervous and don't understand the unspoken rules yet, but other times it's a genuinely uncomfortable situation. Where should the line be drawn?

Congratulations on living healthfully, Bay Area residents -- According to Fitsugar, a recent study by Match.com found that the city with the most healthy singles is San Francisco on all counts. The city was ranked the number one place to meet someone who frequents the gym, is committed to a healthy diet, is a non-smoker and follows a vegetarian lifestyle. Honorable mentions go to Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Seattle and Washington, DC. Atlanta, Philadelphia, Dallas and Chicago also made the top 10s, though they were further down the list.

So what does this say for the singles living in other areas of the country? Is it hard to find singles that aren't beer-swilling, smoking, couch potatoes? What's the singles scene like where you live?

Some of the time the posts on That's Fit can be a bit gloomy -- stories about all the things that will give you cancer and how death rates are rising because of obesity, aren't exactly feel good fare. While these posts offer important information, I always enjoy the pieces that are a bit silly or goofy, because if we only ever talked about the serious side of health, we'd be a pretty stressed-out bunch.

So for that reason, I thought that today I'd highlight a fun but serious series of books that offer real advice for ridiculous and bizarre situations. The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbooks tell readers, in detail, how to:

• Survive if your parachute fails to open,
• Build a shelter in the snow,
• Treat a scorpion sting,
• Crash-land a plane,
• Survive in a plummeting elevator,
• Stop a car with no brakes,
• Fend off a shark,
• Wrestle an alligator, and
• Use a defibrillator to restore a heartbeat, among other things.

There are books dedicated specifically to Travel, Dating and Sex and Work situations, in addition to the original handbook. While the books can be quite funny as it's unlikely that any of the crazy stuff they discuss will ever actually happen to you, the advice given is sound and you just never know when it might actually save your life.

Sure it's fun to have a little crush on someone at the office -- during down times when you're really bored of your job, at least you still have something that will motivate you to show up every day -- but dating or actually starting a relationship with someone at work can be tricky. What do you tell people if things work out? And if things don't work out, it will be emotionally draining to have to see your former partner, who's now just a co-worker again, every day.

At the same time, it would be a shame to miss out on someone great just because you happen to occupy the same work space. So while I don't think it's a good idea to become a serial office-dater, if you meet someone special and decide to go for it, make sure to review this as it gives tips on how to navigate dating at work.

Basically, look out for number one. Don't go telling everyone else at the office until you've developed an actual relationship, and then make sure to leave all personal couple conversations -- and arguments -- at home. Give your partner space so that you don't get sick of seeing each other all the time, and if things don't work out in the end, be prepared to have to get over it under the watchful eye of co-workers.

Have you ever dated someone you worked with? How did it work out?

There is nothing like the ups and downs of dating to sabotage a healthy eating plan and work-out schedule. Whether you love it or hate it, it is an unhappy fact that for many people dating can be very dangerous for the waistline. Gaining weight while in a relationship does not have to be inevitable.

According to this, there are several stages for both singles and those with mates that can be dangerous. While many people who are looking for a soulmate will hit the gym in order to look their best, those who are single and feeling lonely may be more likely to overeat as a way of dealing with their feelings.

At the same time, those who are in a relationship tend to eat out more, indulge in desserts or wine and, after being in a relationship for a while, get comfortable and begin to neglect how they look. And there is nothing like a bad break-up to drive a normally healthy eater to seek comfort at the bottom of a carton of Haagen Dazs. If any of this sounds familiar and you want some advice and motivation, have another look at the article for tips and suggestions on staying fit while dating.

Ever kissed a smoker? It's not always great, is it? I know that a number of times I've heard it compared to kissing an ashtray. It doesn't matter how sweet or passionate a kiss is if the main impression left behind is how terrible it tasted. As a lifelong non-smoker I've always preferred to date fellow non-smokers. That doesn't mean it always works out that way -- attraction is attraction after all. But given the choice, I'll always go for someone who enjoys clean air and clear, healthy lungs.

Turns out I'm not the only one. According to this, a study conducted at the University of Sydney shows that the majority of singles state they prefer to date someone who does not smoke. The study gives a number of reasons why men and women tend to seek out non-smokers. Not wanting to "kiss an ashtray" is certainly not the only reason. There's also not wanting to be inundated with harmful secondhand smoke, not wanting a potential life partner to drop dead of a heart attack or suffer with lung cancer, not wanting to sit alone at dinner while a boyfriend or girlfriend shivers out in the cold as they get their nicotine fix, and so on.

So all the smoking singles out there should stop and think about it. I realize that smoking is a very hard habit to break and has to be done for your own reasons and on your own terms. But if you're looking for love, now you have yet another good motivation.