That's Fit

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 one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hey Fitz. I am 12 years old and am a little chunky. I have love handles and wish to get rid of them, but I don't know what I should do! I was trying sit ups and crunches, but they don't work. Now I want to know what really works and how I can keep my body in shape without body fat . Everyone says that I'm not fat nor skinny, I'm just chunky. I want to get rid of all the chunky parts, but I don't know what I should do. Please help! Jellybean

A. First of all Jellybean, I want you to change your focus. I know it's hard to be young and uncomfortable in your skin. I too, had that issue before I was a teenager and ended up with a traumatic eating disorder. Trust me ... it brought me only bad things, never good. Don't go there. Instead of focusing on your so-called "flaws", find something about your body you like. I bet your body is loaded with treasures.

You know which foods give you more energy, and you're aware of the foods that will pack on the pounds. But, can certain foods help your love life? According to a recent article on MSN, the answer is yes!

There's a reason people have turned to aphrodisiacs throughout the course of history -- while oysters alone won't turn you (or your date) into a raging sex machine, certain foods have been shown to have a subtle effect on "how amorous you're feeling."

Want to know what foods you should order on your next date? Check out the gallery!

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. Fitz, For about a year now, I've been doing exercises for my obliques. I've done them about three or four times each week and have done a variety of different exercises each workout. I'm also a naturally thin person who recently lost 10 pounds (so I'm really thin now) and I still have those awful love handles! How do I get rid of them? Emily

A. Ugh Emily! This is a question I've answered before, but since it's such a tremendous source of frustration for so many...I believe the topic of love handles is worth visiting again. You're actually the perfect example of how annoying they can be. You are a trim person who does a variety of abdominal exercises frequently. Most folks would believe that would be enough. Unfortunately for some people, it is not.

Love handles often have to do less with abdominal muscles and more with body type. For example. I'm a pretty trim chic, but when I have gained weight...it's all gone to my boobs, belly and thighs. In fact, I used to be 40 pounds heavier than I am today, but I've never had love handles. Some people get it all in their hips. Even if they achieve their ideal weight, some of those people are still stuck with dreaded 'saddlebags'. Your issue is the same. Great fitness. Lean body. One or two annoying pockets of fat.

A few weeks ago I interviewed the TLC Trading Spaces host Paige Davis for my Celebrity Fitzness Report. Paige was open, honest, and hysterical. We blabbed for an hour and Oh Boy! did she fill it all up! One of the standard questions I ask my Celeb Fitzness guests is what their favorite vacation spot is, and whether or not they work out while on vacation. Paige gave me the best response I'd ever had to that question. Read on to find out what it is. Maybe you too, can incorporate her training into your other holiday activities?

**Actual excerpt from Celebrity Fitzness Report.interview with Paige Davis.

Fitz: Where is your favorite place to vacation?

Paige: Vegas. And, I know it's totally gag-me, but I love Disney World too!

I know that people who don't have pets or who aren't big animal lovers can't understand how those of us with furry friends can possibly think of dogs and cats and friends, family members and even children. I suppose these people think it's ridiculous to shell out perfectly good money on specialty treats for pets. To an extent I can see where they're coming from -- fancy clothing for cats and dogs is a bit extreme in my opinion -- but I will happily spend hard-earned cash on fun stuff for my dog.

I know that I'm not the only one. Most major, dog-friendly cities (Vancouver being the first that comes to my mind) have got fancy dog salons and boutiques in pretty much every trendy neighborhood. While I usually stick with funny squeaky toys and the occasional cute new collar, other dog owners out there will open their wallets for specialized grooming products, accessories, clothing, bedding and more.

If you love the worst of Italian, which is the creamy fatty white stuff...I'm going to be your new best friend. This is a recipe I discovered a really long time ago at a time when I was desperate to have some alfredo in my life...while still trying to stay slim. Often those to desires clash and crash.

Visit page 3 of my recipe section at Fitzness.com and give this dish a try. If you want to go super healthy and cut a bunch more calories, ditch the pasta all together. Usually I enjoy my almost fat free alfredo sauce over grilled chicken or steamed vegetables. That combination provides the magnificent tast of alfredo with actual nutrition. Hard to beat. Enjoy!

I have a sticker on my mirror that says 'you're my favourite' on it. And each morning, before I blow-dry my hair, I look at the sticker, smile at my reflection and repeat what it says while staring myself in the eye. It sounds cheesy, and trust me, I've gotten some weird looks from Jon, but in the long run, it's been worth it.

You see, there's no one in the whole world who is harder on me than myself. I suspect it's the same for you -- all too often, we are our own worst enemies. It seems like we're wired to be critical of ourselves.

But there's no limit to the benefits that self-confidence and positive self-talk can have on both your emotional and physical health. It's not easy to change your behaviour, and the key is to start slow. Every day, while you're primping in front of the mirror, make an effort to say one nice thing to yourself. As for me, I have my sticker to remind, and it does, every day.

I've spent many, many hours coaching youth sports -- girls' volleyball and basketball, mainly -- so I'm pretty sure I'll forever keep my ears perked up for ideas on how to help kids learn about sports. A recent article in The Newark Advocate had just that -- teach kids to love sports by letting them tell you how to play.

Think about it -- kids love to play because it allows them to be creative. If you're trying to teach your daughter to play basketball, by all means teach her the basics of shooting, passing, and dribbling, but let her use her imagination to create new ways to play the game.

A three-year-old little girl at my son's preschool just lost her daddy. It all started with a brain tumor, which led to surgery and then a stroke and then another stroke. Life support became necessary and then this father's living will was invoked. He leaves behind his daughter, his wife, and a bunch of family and friends.

I never did know this man. I don't know anyone in his family either. Still, I am saddened by his untimely and shocking passing, which prompts me to write this post. I want you to know that I'm learning -- once again -- that life is precious, death is sometimes unpredictable, and we simply must cherish each day we have before us. We must also cherish the people in our lives, for they could be gone in a blink of an eye. Just like the daddy of the little girl at my son's preschool.

For today -- and every day that follows -- I encourage you to love the ones you're with. Every one of them. Just in case.

Not only should you dish out hugs and kisses on Valentine's Day. You should dish them out every day, because these natural signs of affection -- holding hands counts too -- can really do a body good.

The reason most of us reach for a hand, cuddle our loved ones, and smooch sweet little babies is because it feels good. I guess that's because it is good.

Researchers are now looking deep into the brain to explore how these loving practices help the heart, boost the immune system, and lower blood pressure. What they're finding is that human touch triggers a cascade of events inside the body, reprogramming heart rate, blood pressure, and certain mood-altering brain chemicals. Consider this:

• Couples in one study who held hands for several minutes and then hugged for 20 seconds experienced an immediate drop in blood pressure and heart rate. Couples with no close contact had no such benefits.

• A Japanese researcher found that when men and women with chronic skin allergies or hay fever spent 30 minutes kissing their partners, blood levels of immunoglobulin E, a compound that triggers allergic reactions, plummeted. Those who spent time cuddling, but not kissing, did not reap the same reward.

• When deep in stress, women who hold hands with their husbands gain quick relief.
  
  

The point of this post: To urge you to not just celebrate Valentine's Day tomorrow but to celebrate it all year long. You might be a happier, healthier person if you do.

As fabulous as we at That's Fit think this blog is, the truth is there are hundreds of wonderful blogs on healthy living to be seen all over the blogosphere. So in this feature, Fit Links, we'll introduce you to some that have caught our eye.

Tonight, my husband and I are going on a date. To Home Depot. To look at new kitchens. Ah, romance -- it changes as you get older. Lingering over romantic dinners has led to lingering over oak cabinetry and arguing over whether we really need to replace the floor, or not. But hey, if we're fast, we might get to catch a movie when we're done, so there's that.

Though I joke, I know that without care, day-to-day life can have a negative impact on the relationship between two people no matter how much in love they might be. Though grand romantic gestures aren't required or even really necessary after years of marriage, the little things really do count. So with Valentine's Day just around the corner, here are the blogosphere's tips for spicing up your love life, whether your relationship is brand new, or you just want it to feel that way.

Healthbolt's Quick Tips to Fire Up Your Love Life

The New Homemaker's Fifteen Ways to Spice Up Your Love Life

Our own Laura Lewis's 10 Tips for Fabulously Fit Sex

I'll start this feature by telling you that I love the gym. I enjoy the equipment, the options, and my fellow exercisers. I actually own my own private gym, but still attend the big one in my area. Having said that, occasionally weird things happen there.

Most recently I've experienced this weird phenomenon of 'gym cuddlers'. It's strange. I had about five silly experiences, all about the same and I wanted your input. Here's the picture. My gym has these massive lines of cardio machines. The treadmills stand about 25 in a row. I've been hitting the gym at slower times lately and often will climb on a treadmill when the entire row is empty. Usually I go waaaay down to the last treadmill in the row (next to the wall), so I can have a little privacy. Peace. Space. You know.

Healthy relationships are an important aspect to our mental health. But knowing that is one thing -- actually having a healthy relationship is quite another. Are there rules to a healthy relationship?

According to eDiets, there are, and they've outlined them in this article. Here are a few of the 'relationship rules' they specify:

• Choose your partner wisely -- find someone who shares similar beliefs and values.
  
• Don't confuse sex with love -- the two are quite different, though sex is an important part of love.
  
• Know your need and speak them clearly.
  
• Respect your partner -- and respect yourself.
  
• Consider yourself a team, one that is stronger because of your differences.
  
• Know how to manage your differences healthily.

Want to know more? Click here to read the rest of the article.

Martha told us recently about news reports claiming Jennifer Love Hewitt is packing on the pounds. By Hollywood standards, maybe putting on a few pounds constitutes packing it on. By my standards, though, Hewitt is still one fit-looking gal. And most important, the actress says she's fine with how she looks.

"Like all women out there should, I love my body," says the newly-engaged 28-year-old. "I know what I look like, and so do my friends and family."

It's not easy managing all the media attention, though.

"I've sat by in silence for a long time now about the way women's bodies are constantly scrutinized. To set the record straight, I'm not upset for me, but for all of the girls out there that are struggling with their body image."

Finally, this Ghost Whisperer star declares: "A size 2 is not fat! Nor will it ever be. And being a size 0 doesn't make you beautiful . . . To all girls with butts, boobs, hips and a waist, put on a bikini -- put it on and stay strong."

Exercise has a lot of amazing benefits -- it can help you maintain a healthy weight, it's helps improve your health, it gives you more energy, and so on -- so it shouldn't come as a surprise that exercise can make you a better lover too. How so, you ask? Well, it benefits you in five ways, according to this article from Prevention Magazine:

• It gives you more energy
  
• It makes you feel better about your body
• It boosts your mood
  
• It makes you more flexible
• It helps you build muscle and increases your endurance.
  

What do you think? Did exercise make you better at sex?