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Hidden Caffeine, RealAge Test and Too Fat for the Army - Links We Love

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements

We at That's Fit and AOL Health know you've got a lot going on in your lives besides staying in great shape, and we realize that more than just diet and exercise goes into feeling your best every day. That's why we're sharing some of the exciting reporting going on at AOL Health.

Do you know which has more caffeine -- Excedrin or a Dunkin' Donuts Iced Latte? The answer might surprise you. Take our quiz to find out how much caffeine is really lurking in everyday household items.

How does your fitness level compare to your peers? What about your blood pressure? Take the RealAge quiz to see if your lifestyle habits make you younger -- or older -- than your actual age.

Living in a country that's fighting two wars -- plus the war on obesity, makes for a weighty dilemma. Since 2005, the U.S. Army has rejected 48,000 recruits -- simply because they didn't make the weight cut. AOL Health spoke with 28-year-old Christy Nicholson who had to lose 73 pounds to qualify to serve. Learn how she lost the weight.

College Student Emily Wisely is Determined to Earn Back a Higher Level of Fitness

That's Fit Club, Fitness, Motivation

thats fit club

That's Fit Club is our feature devoted to you, the reader. We have all learned so much on our paths to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other. That's Fit Club members are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect; some are not. But all have health on the mind.

Besides showing you off, we want to reward you for all of your hard work! Adidas is giving gorgeous gym bags to each featured member. To join, please send Fitz your answers to these questions, with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

emily wiselyName: Emily Wisely

Age: 20

Occupation: Student

How often do you exercise? Not often enough, but I'm determined to improve.

What type of exercise do you do? I lift weights a couple times a week. I ran throughout high school on my cross country team, but I've slacked since I've been in college. Determined to change that, though!

What gets you to work out, even when you're feeling lazy? I go online and look at health websites! The articles and tips charge me up with energy!

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Exercise - What Type? How Hard? How Often? (VIDEO)

Fit Kicks Videos, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness

fit kicks

Ever wonder how much exercise you should really be doing and why? This Fit Kick has your answers.

For more quick and fun fit tips by degreed experts in the field of health and fitness ...

Hard Work - It Will Flatter your Figure

Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation

The office never seems as bleak as it does during the first week back at work after the holidays, huh? If that statement sums up how you feel today, you're really going to hate me when I tell you this: Working your nose to the grindstone is good for your health.

According to this article from The Daily Mail, "Those who are industrious and ambitious are likely to live up to four more years than the impulsive and free-spirited among us ... They succumb less to the temptations of drink, drugs or risk-taking - which helps guarantee their health."

The long and short of it? The more you work, the more healthy your lifestyle. Which means, of course, that you're more likely to be fit and slim. So what are you waiting for? Get back to work!

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The Truth About 'Genes' and Obesity

Jonny's Take, Diet & Weight Loss


Jonny Bowden, author, nutritionist and weight loss coach cuts through all the misconceptions about diet and fitness to help you transform your body, your health and your life.

There's no doubt that genes have something to do with your weight. But not nearly as much as you might think.

According to a new study, lifestyle choices have a lot more to do with insulin resistance and obesity than heredity does. What you do -- or don't do -- can actually "turn on" these genes (or render them inactive).

Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body doesn't process sugar well, and it often leads to diabetes, obesity, heart disease or all three. But with all the talk of finding "genes" for these conditions, we often forget an important fact: Genes interact with the environment.

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Fat or Thin - Which is Healthier?

Obesity, Diet & Weight Loss

fat man and thin man boxingObesity is a risk factor for so many conditions. Subsequently, fat has become almost synonymous with unhealthy. In addition, we live in a society that trains us to believe that thin not only equals healthy, it also equals attractive. Daily Mail has an interesting article where two men -- one who is overweight and one who is thin -- are thoroughly checked out by a doctor to see who is actually healthier.

Surprisingly, the overweight man is healthier on almost every count. His blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, lung function and liver function all fall within healthy ranges. The thin man, however, didn't fare so well. While his lung function is good, both his cholesterol and blood pressure are high. In addition, his liver function and blood sugar are approaching unhealthy ranges.

Weight is not the only difference between these two men -- they lead different lifestyles and those lifestyles have an effect on their health. The overweight man exercises regularly, eats healthfully and doesn't drink. The thinner man doesn't exercise, pays little attention to what he eats, smokes and drinks quite a bit.

Weight is an important measure of health and we should all strive to achieve or maintain a healthy weight. But, while this article is far from a scientific study, it does show that a healthy lifestyle -- including good nutrition and lots of exercise -- has a bigger impact on our health than anything else.

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Will going on 'The Pill' make you fat?

Diet & Weight Loss

Taking 'the pill' is a common practice among young women these days. But for how long? Studies show that the amount of women who take oral contraceptives is declining for one very good reason: They're afraid it will cause them to gain weight. But is this a legitimate concern, or is it just an urban myth?

Chalk this one up to idle gossip, according to this article from The Telegraph. Scottish Professor Anna Glasier said: "We need to emphasize that [oral contraceptives] don't impair fertility, and the majority of them don't affect weight." All the same, many women do report weight gain and other changes when they go on the pill, but this is more likely due to lifestyle changes, according to Dietitian Juliette Kellow.

Sorry girls, guess you can't blame that extra love handle on the pill -- time to get to the gym.

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3 foods to boost your health

Nutrition & Supplements

I'm not a big believer in the whole superfood concept. I think any diet that's filled with a variety of healthful, nutritious foods is going to be beneficial.

The other day, however, I got into a discussion with the mother of one of my son's teammates. She's reading Anticancer: A New Way of Life and is really learning a lot. Reviews of this book state that, while many of the recommendations are grounded in science, some are a little fuzzy around the edges. But, in my humble opinion, if a food is tasty, good for you in other ways, nutritionally sound, and may potentially ward off cancer or other diseases, then by all means ... go for it.

The book's author believes that 85% of cancer causes are environmental. The foods we eat are one of the most easily controlled factors. Three of the foods he recommends in moderation are garlic oil, red wine, and dark chocolate. Check out the gallery for more cancer-fighting foods.

Foods that fight cancer(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Beans, beans, the magical fruitBerriesCruciferous VegetablesDark, leafy vegetablesFlax seed

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Madonna won't eat out but likes a pint

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements

Madonna, posing her fit bodyYou know what I like about Madonna? There's no halfway for her; she isn't sort-of fit on the days she doesn't have something better to do. She doesn't eat right when she can and then do fast food when it suits her cravings. For this star, it's all or nothing.

Wouldn't it be nice to be that dedicated to a healthy lifestyle? Madonna practices Ashtanga yoga for fitness, so she's finely tuned, mind and body. I'm jealous just knowing that there are people out there who can spend a good portion of every day working out the way they love best, rather than grabbing a little cardio when they have a half hour free.

Now, for her diet: she doesn't eat out and she follows a strict macrobiotic diet. What -- no chocolate?

Is this body to blame?(click thumbnails to view gallery)

MadonnaMadonnaMadonnaMadonnaMadonna

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Daily Fit Tip: Can you battle your body type?

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements

If your dad is short and overweight, your mom is short and overweight, you'll be short and overweight, too, right? Not necessarily.

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In 40 years, we'll all be fat

Diet & Weight Loss

feet on scaleA government study projects that, if trends continue as they have over the past three years, every US adult could be overweight in 40 years. Let me say that again... every US adult. Overweight. Can you imagine?

Dr. Lan Liang with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality states that "genetically and physiologically it should be impossible." However, two-thirds of US adults are already overweight and that is a staggering figure on its own. Any hike in that already high statistic is alarming.

The study is based on the assumption that the trends of recent decades will continue. Dr. Liang states that curbing the bad trend has to be more than an individual effort, it needs to be a societal effort. That's certainly true. But, as individuals we also have a responsibility. So, That's Fit readers, let's consider this a call to action. In addition to taking care of our own health and wellness, it's important to be positive role models for others in our lives. For those of us that are parents, we have an even bigger responsibility to teach our kids to enjoy physical activity and to cultivate good eating habits. It's high time we put a halt to the downward spiral we've been on.

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The biggest baddest VEGAN around: Tony Gonzalez

Healthy Aging, Healthy Habits, Organic, Vegetarian, Vitamins and Supplements, Womens Health, Healthy Recipes, Celebrities and Entertainment, Healthy Kids, Healthy Products and Reviews, Cellulite, Obesity, Healthy Events, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Motivation, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health

I just returned from ESPN the Weekend, at Disney World's Hollywood Studios. One of the highlights for me was when I stumbled across an interesting conversation between football all-stars Donovan McNabb, Chris Carter, Tony Gonzalez and a few others. The men were on an open stage being interviewed my Mike Greenberg of the Mike and Mike Show. What caught my attention was the taunting of Tony Gonzalez with strange veggie jokes. Why were they poking fun at this "lettuce man"? Little Miss Fitzness had to stop and listen.

The taunting was followed by Kansas City Chief tight-end Tony defending his vegan lifestyle. I was both surprised and impressed. Tony was bragging about his ability to jump rope and hit the weight room while his teammates were stuck in the mud the day after a game. He's beaten lethargy, increased his energy, and found many more fascinating benefits since he changed his eating habits. The nearly 250 pound tight end is not someone anyone would guess to be a vegan, but I think that's why he's so neat.

TonyGonzalez88.com(click thumbnails to view gallery)

TonyGonzalez88.comTonyGonzalez88.comESPN the WeekendTony @ ESPN the Weekend.

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Fit Factor: Think like a fit person

To someone who's not, fit people seem to be an entirely different species. Those on the non-fit end of the spectrum can't fathom going to the gym several times a week, participating in sports regularly or heading out on active vacations and excursions. I know, because I used to be one of those people. But used to be is the key here -- I would never go back to that way of life.

Being a fit person is not something that comes naturally to some. And being fit is more than just getting into the habit of going to the gym -- it's a lifestyle and a mindset. But you can--and should--start thinking like a fit person. Here are some habits you should consider adopting:

Queen Latifah new face of Jenny Craig

Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment

Queen Latifah is about to join Kirstie Alley and Valerie Bertinelli on the Jenny Craig scene. The Oscar-nominated singer and actress, 37, is the newest celebrity spokesperson for the weight-loss chain and will help market the message of a healthy lifestyle.

"Queen Latifah joins forces with Jenny Craig to communicate the importance of how small lifestyle changes, in the areas of diet and exercise, can have positive effects on overall health," says Scott Parker, Jenny Craig's vice president of marketing.

They'll be no specific dress-size goal for the star who has always celebrated her plus-size figure and calls her body "voluptuous." She will simply be learning to live a healthier life while the public watches on.

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Singer Dan Fogelberg dies of prostate cancer

Celebrities and Entertainment, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements


"Leader of the Band" soft-rock singer and songwriter Dan Fogelberg died Sunday at his home in Maine after battling advanced prostate cancer since 2004. He was 56.


Fogelberg's death and this statement were announced on his website:

"Dan left us this morning at 6 a.m. He fought a brave battle with cancer and died peacefully at home in Maine with his wife, Jean, at his side. His strength, dignity and grace in the face of the daunting challenges of this disease were an inspiration to all who knew him."


Many, many men get prostate cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. But it's unusual for someone so young to develop and die from the disease -- eight out of 10 men diagnosed with prostate cancer are older than 65. But it does happen. So, guys, take notice and make sure you follow these life-saving steps.

  • Get tested beginning at age 50, or 40 if you are at high-risk.
  • Get control of your diet. A low-fat diet is key.
  • Exercise.
  • Don't smoke.

Now, more than ever, it's clear that cancer can be caused by lifestyle, namely a poor diet and lack of exercise. So, do your part now, before it's too late.

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