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.

To lose weight, you just have to burn fewer calories than you consume, right? Technically, that may be true, but the reality is far more complex. For many people, emotional eating, self-esteem issues and other problems play a role in their weight, too.

Take Jenna Vaught, Miss America Plus Elite 2007, for example. Vaught changed her eating habits and exercised to lose weight, yet she said "the real key to losing weight was finding myself and asking the hard questions." And Shauna Reid had to get past her insecurities and fear of being judged in order to lose half her body weight.


Do you think you have any fears that have hindered weight loss?

Childhood obesity is becoming a big problem in the United States as well as many other countries. There are many factors that contribute to the problem, including poor nutrition at home, lack of nutrition education, unhealthy school lunches, and marketing/advertising of unhealthy foods to kids. But as the attention on childhood obesity increases, are we going too far and generating a fear of fat in kids?

A recent survey of 150,000 kids found that 1/4 of 10-year-old boys and 1/3 of girls that age are worried about their body image and shape. I found those numbers disconcerting. Yes, children should be at a healthy weight. Being overweight can have long-term effects on a child's health and self-esteem. But, in trying to help kids achieve/maintain a healthy weight, we shouldn't sacrifice a positive body image and shouldn't damage a healthy relationship with food.

Instead of forcing young kids to think about calorie intake and burning calories, we should just model and support healthy eating habits and make physical activity and play a part of every day. If your child is overweight, try these nine positive ways to help them get healthy.

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Dear Laura:

I consider myself a pretty together person when it comes to working out and eating healthy food. Yet for some reason my moods are not the best. I find I get angry easily and react when others tick me off. For example, when I am driving I get really impatient and end up being really stressed and agitated when I get to work. I feel better after I work out, but I don't hit the gym until after work. Any ideas?

Thanks.

David S., Rochester, N.Y.


Dear David:

Gosh, your not perfect? David, it is unfortunate that so many of us have the same problem. I really feel a big part of our journey through life has to do with conquering those lower emotions and staying in a "higher" state of being. It's super that you realize it' s not healthy to "go there". To be truly healthy as a "whole", you do need to conquer those negative feelings. Read on for some motivation to kick the anger habit.

Here's a bit of background on how negative and positive emotions have an impact upon you... body, mind and more! Warning: This information may change your mind next time you get yourself worked up when someone cuts you off while driving to work!

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I have no problem pushing myself to try a new sport -- I might be nervous, or even scared, but usually when I set my mind to something, I just do it. However, there are a lot of sports I've never tried and probably never will because I feel like my fear is justified -- I don't want to surf Pipe, I don't want to try extreme mountain biking, and I'm quite sure I'm not going to go skydiving anytime soon.

Am I missing out on something? I came across this blog that initially reinforced my feelings, but as I read on, I began to question my resistance to trying some "dangerous" activities. Zandria, the blogger, included thoughts from quite a few people who had tried something really scary, ranging from trying a really challenging cardio class to mountain biking (in actual mountains) in below-freezing conditions. Even though these women were certainly frightened (or in pain) at some point, they still found joy and beauty in what they accomplished.

It doesn't make me want to try ski jumping, but it might make me rethink downhill skiing (which I've never tried -- I might break my leg!). And, I still don't think all sports are for everyone, but I do think that if you have some interest in something like mountain biking, you shouldn't let fear get in your way. Just think -- if it's something you truly want to try, will the pain of an injury you might sustain be worse than the anger or disappointment you will feel if you don't give it a shot?

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My son has a serious case of cabin fever. All of his warm weather gadgets are calling his name and he's finding it hard to resist. Particularly (for some reason) his inline skates. When he asked if he could take them out for a spin, I thought about the snow and ice outside and said something to the effect of "Absolutely, positively, no way." Visions of ice and hard chunks of snow causing amazing crashes were running through my head. The reality is that the sidewalks are pretty clear right now and it probably would have been OK. But I'm a mom. And with that title comes a healthy dose of worry.

A little worry is a good thing. It's protective and helps us make good decisions. But for some, worry can spiral out of control. Constant worry that is disproportionate to the risk can be immobilizing, stressful, and emotionally draining. If your worrying mind is a little overactive, you may have a condition called Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

Therapy can help those with GAD learn to cope with and manage their worry. The therapy includes helping people face their anxieties, analyze whether they're realistic, and to get to a point where the worry is almost old-hat. Most people with GAD are fully aware their worries aren't always realistic, but it's difficult (if not impossible) to just shove their fears aside. Therapy and, if necessary, medication, can help GAD sufferers regain control.

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Many of us have a fear of something; maybe it's the fear of heights. Or how about the infamous arachnophobia -- that's not uncommon either. But have you ever heard of deipnophobia? It's the fear of dinner conversations during a social scene (I wonder if Thanksgiving at the in-laws would count).

Here's an astonishingly long list of unusual phobias you may have never heard of -- or perhaps you actually know someone who exhibits these symptoms! For example, if you know a person who breaks out in cold sweats as soon as they go inside, perhaps they'll make a quick escape because they have domatophobia. That's the irrational fear of houses, or being trapped in one. Have you ever eaten peanut butter and had it stick to the roof of your mouth? That's a fear all in itself called arachibutyrophobia.

Another one that may be slightly more common than the others on the list is paraskavedekatriaphobia -- the fear of Friday the 13th. If you couldn't pronounce that the first time, you're not alone. Some of these descriptions may sound crazy or made up. Like philemaphobia, for example, which is the irrational fear of kissing. But you can bet there's a phobia for just about everything. Check out the list for even more fears.

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If you have anxiety about going to the dentist, why is that? All that poking and prodding in your mouth by sharp instruments and possible drills can be enough to many anyone queasy.

Still, good dental check-ups are really something everyone should do, meaning that you must get over that anxiety somehow. The American Dental Association even has some suggestions to help get you through it.

• Talk to your dentist or hygienist about your anxiety, so they can better understand and accommodate your needs.
• Schedule appointments when you have plenty of time and won't feel rushed -- such as very early in the morning, or on a Saturday.
• Bring soothing music to distract you during your appointment -- especially if the sounds of a dental office bother you.
• Visualize yourself somewhere pleasant -- on a beach, with family or at a park.

[Thanks, Diana]

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FitSpirit explores the mind-body connection and the intangible benefits we gain from our efforts to stay physically fit.

I don't do well with sitting still. Truth be told, it makes me tired. If I keep moving, I stay awake. So in general, I keep moving. On occasion, I do give in to relaxation. I love pedicures, a good massage, vegging in front of the TV at night, and sometimes, I might even be caught sitting silently, soaking up the peace around me. If done properly, this practice is known as meditation.

Meditation means sitting quietly and focusing on one neutral thing, like your breathing or a single repeated word. The long-term goal of meditation is to become less dependent on the ego and its constant cravings for novelty, attention, power, sex, food, and so on. Proper meditation makes us more centered and less stressed out. It can make people happier, maybe even smarter. One study showed that meditators shift their brain activity to different areas of the cortex -- brain waves in the stress-prone right frontal cortex move to the calmer left frontal cortex. This shift decreases the negative effects of stress, mild depression, and anxiety. Meditators also enjoy less activity in the amygdala, where the brain processes fear.

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It never hurts to do a little review on a topic that affects so many women, and some men too. The topic: Anorexia.

Anorexia Nervosa, a type of eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and leading to a restriction of food and dangerous weight loss, is one serious disease -- between one and two of every 10 cases of anorexia leads to death from starvation, cardiac arrest, medical complications, or suicide.

Anorexia can halt the physical and emotional growth of teenagers and can lead to premature osteoporosis, infertility, increased risk of miscarriage, and low-birth-weight babies. Anorexia may be especially deadly for women with insulin-dependent diabetes if they omit or under-use insulin to control their weight.

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Moments of fear grip us all at certain times. Why is that, we always ask. Is it the standard "fight or flight" response that is built into our psyche?

Scientists this week revealed that they in fact know more than in previous years about what causes us to jump when something scares us. It comes down to studying the evolutionary habits of animals in much of the research, and it could lead to better treatments for those folks who have irrational fears that run amok.

In other words, the anxiety disorder could receive a treatment boost if scientists could discover why the brain makes up fears for little reason -- causing some people to live, work, play and sleep in fear. For millions, any new development would be very welcome.

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Have you ever neglected to get help for a health problem because you were too embarrassed to ask the nurse or your doctor about it? Or maybe you did talk to a professional but you couldn't bring yourself to talk with your family and loved ones, despite the fact that they could provide valuable insight and support? It's more common than you may think, and it's a sad situation when it happens. Whether it's simply denying yourself the support of your family or putting off critical treatment because you were afraid to get the diagnosis, waiting is never a good thing when it comes to your health.

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Friday the 13th is -- by far -- the most infamous date on the calendar. For many it's a day that symbolizes bad luck -- just like black cats, walking under ladders, or breaking a mirror. Subsequently, many researchers have searched for a correlation between this date and increased health risk -- but, as of yet, haven't found anything.

Regardless, some people still live in fear of Friday the 13th. Technically called paraskavedekatriaphobia, this fear (just like any other phobia) can have significant side effects. Those who suffer from it experience increased panic and anxiety -- so much so that it keeps them from going about their day to day activities.

So, essentially, the 13th is bad for these people, but only because their fear of it leads them to create their own misfortune.

That said, because an estimated 17 million people refuse to travel or conduct business on this day, it's estimated that $800 million is lost every time it occurs.

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Fear is normal. A phobia, however, is an irrational fear. It's the difference between being scared of a heights when there's a real danger that you might fall, and being scared simply because you're off the ground -- even when you're perfectly safe.

While there's an enormous number of cataloged phobias, here's a list of the 10 most popular:

1. Acrophobia: fear of heights
2. Aerophobia: fear of flying
3. Agoraphobia: fear of panicking and then not being able to escape
4. Arachnophobia: fear of spiders
5. Brontophobia: fear of thunder
6. Carcinophobia: fear of cancer
7. Claustrophobia: fear of closed spaces
8. Emetophobia: fear of vomiting
9. Necrophobia: fear of death
10. Sociophobia: fear of people or social situations

Most of us have these irrational fears for one reason or another (I'm not a huge fan of enclosed spaces, for instance), but still manage to get through our day without interruption. But once that fear starts making it difficult to live your life then it's time to see a doctor.

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If you've recently bought a new health club membership, but are now terrified to go, rest at ease. Health clubs are the perfect place for both beginners and experts and usually have the staff to guide you from one level to the next. You spent the dough, now take control of your life and use that gym! Stop playing mind games with yourself and follow these 10 exercise commandments.

1. I will be impressed with everyone who walks through the front door of my health club. After all, they came here to improve themselves. I will understand that everyone is equally impressed with me.

2. I will utilize the health club staff for a first day introduction to the gym. I will take notes as they explain how to use each machine.

3. I will purchase three exercise outfits, which I feel comfortable in. That way, I will never feel self-conscious about whether or not I look good.

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Whether it's fear of that big spider in the bathroom or anxiety related to giving a speech at a relative's wedding, we all feel afraid sometimes. Fear is an ancient emotion designed to warn of potential danger -- fear causes extra caution, preparation, and sometimes even avoidance of the situation altogether. But although most of the "scary" situations we face in today's world are not life threatening, that doesn't mean they aren't well-founded or don't serve us a useful purpose.

For example, being afraid of that spider in the bathroom is actually an instinctual and learned response to the fact that some spiders are poisonous. But unfortunately, most of us can't just "turn if off," and I still think spiders are creepy and scary -- even when I get a good look at one and realize it's not the dangerous kind.

Snakes and spiders are a big one when it comes to the most commonly shared fears, but some other common causes of anxiety are public speaking, heights, and closed or tight spaces. I don't personally have any actual phobias, although I am afraid -- to some extent -- in most of the situations on the list!

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