That's Fit

'Do you mind if I double dip?' a friend of mine asked over shared appetizers and wine at one of our favourite restaurants. I replied as I always do: Of course not. I'm not a germaphobe, and even if I was, double dipping doesn't spread many germs, does it?

Well, actually, it does. According to this article from Prevention Magazine, double dipping deposits thousands of saliva bacteria into the dip, hundreds of which can be transferred onto the next clean chip or cracker. Yuck.

Still, a little bacteria won't hurt you if you have a normal immune system, but if you're concerned about germs, it's good to know what you're putting into your mouth.

A few weeks ago, I received one of my favorite fitness tools to date. I'm a massive proponent of training with our own body weight. For most of us, it's the heaviest weight we will ever lift. From my eyes as a fitness trainer, we are all just a bunch of massive dumbbells. Isn't that nice of me to say? So my little dumbbells ... I have a cool new tool for you! The Lebert Equalizer will add some fun and give you a bunch of neat things to do with that delightfully heavy body of yours.

The Lebert Equalizer is perfect for pull-ups, push-ups, dips, decline rows, scull crushers, planks and tons of other fantastic strength and cardiovascular training exercises as well. It's light-weight, portable, versatile and not too pricey. For $99.99 you'll get a set of Equalizers along with a free training DVD and a poster to guide you while you train.

Much to their delight (or disgust), many of my personal training clients ages 16 to 62 have been subjected (tortured) with the Equalizers. I kid! The typical exercises one would do with these tools are hard though -- in a good way. My intermediate/advanced fitness level clients have loved the challenges put forth to them each session. I would not allow someone with very little strength to use them though, because without great balance, the Equalizers wobble a bit. Having said that, people wobble on the BOSU, stability ball, and lots of other fitness tools. Balance is an integral part of functional fitness training. I don't reference the wobble to deter you. I just want you to be extra aware not to allow Great Aunt Sue to use them.

When it comes to dips and dressings, we pretty much know which ones are the bad guys: Things that are cream-based, made with cheese, high in fat or all of the above. So when snacking, we healthy eaters tend to lean towards nutritious things with nutrients and fiber. Vegetable-based snacks like salsa and guacamole fit the bill, right?

Salsa, yes. But guacamole? Is it healthy? What do you think?

Did you have fun at the Memorial Day party you attended? I hope so. And what about the food - how was it? I hope great. Did you try any of the chips and salsa dip? If so, I'm sure they were delicious. All that crunchiness, the flavor of the salsa, and the 10,000 microscopic bacteria ... yummy.

Not that I'm pointing fingers at you necessarily, but chances are someone double-dipped at your Memorial Day party. And, more likely than not, someone will do it again at the Fourth of July party you attend, too. While double-dipping may seem more like a fairly innocuous, Seinfeldian faux pas, an article in the most recent issue of Women's Health demonstrates otherwise. Pointing to a recent study in the Journal of Food Safety, the article states that as many as 10,000 bacteria are transfered from a mouth to a bowl of dip when someone dips their chip too many times.

As for sharing beers, I can only imagine how many germs are swapped. Oh well, good thing you're usually with family and friends at these sort of events!!

I hope this news makes you as happy as it just made me. Wholly Guacamole, my very favorite pre-made guacamole, has come out with 100 Calorie Snack Pack.

Wholly Guacamole is made of avocados, spices, and not a lot else. It is "Fresherized," meaning that they use pressure to preserve the product, not chemicals. In the regular size, they offer Classic, Spicy, Pico Style, Guaca Salsa, and Organic. So far, the 100 calorie packs are just available in the Classic flavor, but hey, I have no complaints.

Why am I so excited about this new option? Avocados have all kinds of health benefits (and a guac like this is a good source of avocado), but they are a bit higher in calories and fat then most fruits and veggies. I know perfectly well how much guacamole I should put on my plate. However, when that bowl is in front of me, it's really, really hard to take just what I should have and walk away. Having only 100 calories in the packs (and they come in packs of three or six) is just what I need to help me with my guacamole portion control.

Looking for a great way to firm and tone your upper body? If so, try a move known as the Dip. No, not Fun Dip -- though that stuff was delicious (and basically just a bunch of flavored sugar, so forget about it) -- but, if done properly, the results will certainly make you happy.

For starters, it's important to know what muscles you'll be working. Primarily, the dip works the triceps (the muscles that appear on the backside of your arms), the chest (pectorals) and your shoulders. Clearly, the dip is a pretty solid upper-body exercise, calling upon multiple muscle groups to get the job done. Next, it's even more important to know how to properly perform Dips. Well, without already going ahead and making things all confusing, it's still important for me to point out that there are two different ways of doing Dips. The first requires parallel-grip bars, which shouldn't be hard to find in most any fitness gym. In this version of the Dip, you will hoist your body up in the air by fully extending your arms. Then, slowly lower yourself down about a foot, completing the motion by then slowly raising yourself to full extension of your arms (which was your starting position). Be careful not to overextend yourself by lowering your body too far, as you increase your risk of shoulder injury.

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz! I am 29 year old male and I am thinking about starting a workout routine. However, I don't know where to begin. I have a treadmill and that's it. I am 5'11 and about 160lbs. I don't have a lot of muscle, have a low self esteem towards my body shape and would like to change it. Something simple I can do at home with or without the treadmill would be OK. Any suggestions? Jared

A. Sweet Jared. So sorry you're feeling down in the dumps. Hard to know exactly what is causing it all, but getting yourself in shape can certainly be a grand opportunity to increase your physical fitness, confidence and self esteem. It's proven to help people live better and longer. I can help you with your physical goals. If you feel like there may be something else adding to your low self-esteem, please don't feel shy to talk to your medical doctor or a counselor.

Having said that, it sounds like you are long and lean. What a lucky place to start! Let's get you going with a very simple routine which should get you on your way towards the athletic body you so desire. Make that treadmill your home for at least thirty minutes a day, five days a week. Jog for as long as you can, take a two minute walking break, and then repeat. Continue this jogging/walking training until you can jog for 30 minutes straight. Once you get there....increase your time, distance, speed or all three. Up to you! When you feel like you have bricks in your shoes, just walk! It's OK to have some slower days here and there.

Double dipping, is it a big deal or isn't it? One of the great controversies of life, it seems, got an answer on Friday when Bethany wrote that yes, it IS a big deal.

So for all intents and purposes it really is like putting your whole mouth right in the dip, but bad manners never stopped some people. So what are you supposed to do about it if you spot one of your guests double dipping a chip at your party?

I wouldn't recommend calling them out the way George got called out on that famous Seinfeld episode, but if they're a close friend you might be able to tease them lightheartedly and they'll get the point. And if you're really germophobic and suspect you have double-dippers in the room you can also serve your dips in smaller dishes that can easily be "refilled" with fresh dip on a frequent basis. Any other ideas?

Hola! I just made some of my favorite party dip tonight for a get together tomorrow and thought I should share it with you. I make my Fat Free Mexican O-Layered Dip often and it's always a crowd pleaser. It only requires a few simple ingredients and is quick and easy to just throw together. Add some lean meat to it and you can enjoy it as a meal.

Have a looksy here at the recipe, give it a try and let me know what you think! I love great food, and have had great success substituting the fattening parts for equally tasty not so fattening parts. Adios!

There's nothing precise about this salsa recipe. But there's everything healthy about it. And that's why you should give it try. It goes like this:

Cut up watermelon into chunks -- big chunks, little chunks, you decide. Then cut up a few fresh peaches into similar-sized pieces. Add some diced jalapenos to suit your desire for spice, some cut up bits of cilantro, a sprinkling of onions, and a dash of Light Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing -- which you could also leave out entirely. The juices from the fruit may do just the trick in exchange for less fat and calories.

Now mix it all up, and use your fruity salsa as a dip for the healthiest tortilla chips you can find (try blue chips from your grocery store's health food section), for a topping on your favorite fish, for a dressing on your yummy salad, or for anything your little heart desires. It doesn't really matter where your salsa lands. It's sure to spice up just about anything -- and in only the healthiest of ways.

Mexican food is definitely a fan favorite, but tends to be atrociously heavy in fat and calories. It doesn't have to be though, and getting the taste you like without the love handles to match isn't such a challenge.

The ingredients on almost all Mexican meals are mainly the same. Meat, beans, veggies, rice, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa and some version of a tortilla shell. Give or take a little bit of each ingredient, the meals don't vary much. Cooking at home or ordering out there's a few adjustments you can make to keep things more healthful than not.

First, choose a lean meat. Doesn't matter which one, just make it lean; not cooked in oil. Black beans or fat-free re-fried beans are your next choice. Beans are high in protein, but also high in calories so avoid too much. Fill up on those veggies, just make sure they are grilled, not sauteed. My favorite Mexican restaurant will grill mine dry, grease free. Pile on the fresh veggies like lettuce and tomatoes freely.