Menopause. It's the rite of passage that no woman wants. Or is it? Changing hormone levels, hot flashes, moodiness -- the symptoms certainly aren't the stuff that dreams are made of. And since it marks the end of child-bearing years, it's often considered a time of loss.

But menopause is, thankfully, losing the stigma it once had. It can be considered the beginning of what is arguably the most free time of a woman's life. Besides, women can still be hot and sexy well into their post-menopausal years.

Hot, sexy and period-free ... gooood. But actually hot and kind of sweaty? Not so good. Never fear! Exercise can help manage some of those less-than-desirable symptoms of menopause.

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Many of you shared your biggest skincare problems with us for a chance to win an Emerita prize pack worth approximately $280, and from the sounds of it, there are a lot of fabulous over-40 ladies out there who could use some high-quality skincare products. Perhaps you should send the giveaway link on to your friends and family to show them what you really want to see under your tree this Christmas!

Unfortunately, we can only select one winner, and the lucky reader who won last week's Fit Beauty Giveaway was Kim, who said, "I would love to try this! I have hit the dreaded menopause and am fighting the battle of the dry skin on the cheeks and eyes while still oily around the nose and chin." In addition to the skincare products, Kim will receive a zebra print scarf. You know, just in case she's not feeling sexy enough already!

Kim, you'll have to let us know how the products work for you. As for the rest of you, check out Emerita's website to see which of these natural products are the best match for your skin!

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Fitness is important at any age -- it keeps your body looking and feeling good, it helps prevent a host of chronic conditions, and it boosts your energy. But as you approach the big 4-0, there are some additional reasons why exercise is important.

Exercise helps alleviate some of the symptoms of perimenopause, which can begin anytime during your 40s. Exercise is also a proactive measure against the estrogen loss that will occur later during menopause; it can help prevent related problems such as bone loss. Menopause may seem far away -- but being active now will make it easier when menopause comes knocking on your door.

Revolution Health has fitness tips for women in their 40s:

• Increase your core strength, balance, and flexibility. Improving these areas and maintaining them will help prevent falls and stiff, achy joints as you get older. Activities such as Pilates and yoga will help. AOL Health has tips on strength and flexibility exercises.
• Do weight-bearing exercise. Bolster your bone density by participating in weight-bearing activities such as jumping rope, aerobics, tennis, and jogging.
• Keep up the cardio. Cardio workouts will help keep your heart strong and help you maintain a healthy weight.

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My family had a birthday party for my mother recently. Even though it's downright chilly here, my oldest sister was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and kept fanning herself. Since I'm 15 years younger than she is, I got a little laugh out of her hot flashes. But it's only a matter of years before my time comes.

While the cause of hot flashes during perimenopause and menopause aren't fully understood, there are several health-related possibilities. Women who smoke are more likely to have hot flashes -- one more reason to quit -- and women who are overweight or obese are also more likely to have hot flashes. In addition, blood glucose levels may play a role in hot flashes.

If you're currently experiencing hot flashes, talk to your doctor. He/she may have nutrition or fitness suggestions that will help, and there are several medications that can help as well. If, like me, hot flashes are only a future possibility -- take action now. Make sure you maintain an appropriate weight and eat healthfully.

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Experts believe it's yoga's stress-relieving style that makes it so special. Studies show that combining regular yoga with healthy lifestyle changes can drop cholesterol points up to 23%. Women in menopause report that yoga can relieve their symptoms. And a study of women in treatment for breast cancer found that women reported feeling better after treatment when they did yoga regularly.

Want to learn more about the powerful medicinal benefits of yoga? Forbes has more in their gallery, including:

• Yoga improves balance, important for seniors who could be seriously injured in a fall.
• It relieves pain from conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Yoga can improve digestive and respiratory health.
• Yoga relieves stress and can improve a person's outlook.
• It can make bones stronger, important for women who are at risk for osteoporosis.
  
  

Do more than just wear your yoga pants around the house. Put them on and get yourself to a class to see what else yoga can do for you.

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Milk. It does a body good. Or does it? According to the Celebrity Diet Doctor, one of milk's major health claims -- that it helps prevent osteoporosis by supplying the body with much-needed calcium -- is totally bunk.

In fact, some even believe that milk causes osteoporosis. A study done by the dairy industry allegedly found that post-menopausal women who drank three glasses of milk a day lost bone density twice as fast as those who drank no milk at all. And, as Jacki told us a few months ago, there are other interesting health risks associated with milk.

Still, take everything with a grain of salt -- Milk is a good source of calcium and protein and as long as you practice the 'everything in moderation' mantra, I think you'll be fine. And I'm not giving up my post-workout glass of skim anytime soon.

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Check out your fingers. Is your ring finger longer than your index finger? Mine is. Uh Oh. That means I have nearly double the chance of developing osteoarthritis, according to a recent study.

Size differences between ring fingers and index fingers have already been linked to sexual and physical ability and performance in university exams, but researchers have now discovered that arthritis might also be connected to the size of fingers.

Type 3 Finger Pattern is what it's called when people have the common male trait of a shorter index finger, and it's now been linked to arthritis of the hips and knees. More common in women than men, the mechanism that accounts for this finding -- and one linking this finger pattern with early onset menopause -- is unknown.

Sounds like I could be headed for future health issues. How about you?

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Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Want to know the secrets of the stars? Bi-weekly our That's Fit fitness expert Fitz sits down with the celebs we want to know more about, and digs out their great and not-so-great methods to staying healthy.

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I'm on the plane flying home from the Prilosec OTC Roundtable Discussion with the gorgeous actress, Cheryl Ladd and nutrition expert, Elizabeth Somer, R.D in New York City. They/we discussed the benefits that both a healthy lifestyle and positive attitude can have on today's Baby Boomers. I was happy to see two bright women, both 57 years old, who were able to close in on 60 without being or looking "old". While preserving their appearances and health, they still embrace and enjoy the gifts that come with aging.

Both Cheryl and Elizabeth personify the woman I hope to be when I am of similar age. Not only because they are gorgeous women who have defied the years physically though. Their healthy eating choices, chronic exercise habits, and joyous perspectives on life offer proof that with decent effort one can earn a long, productive, enjoyable life.

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Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Want to know the secrets of the stars? Bi-weekly our That's Fit fitness expert Fitz sits down with the celebs we want to know more about, and digs out their great and not-so-great methods to staying healthy.

My guest this week became famous as one of the hot, yet capable babes of Charlie's Angels. This role that burned Cheryl Ladd's name and face into our minds forever, in my opinion, will not in the end, be what we remember her for. We spoke recently both over the phone and in person, and she definitely showed a side of her I hadn't expected to see.

Although stunningly beautiful, and more capable of turning heads at age 57 than most women are at 25 ... Cheryl's most impressive quality in my book is her willingness to take care of other women. She's investing a lot of time in guiding and educating other Baby Boomer women about menopause. Menopause is often a taboo, hush hush topic. But Cheryl has embraced her age and stepped up to the plate to help make her personal experience with menopause an educational experience for others. She shared a bunch of private experiences with me and offered advice for growing more beautiful each year. Read on to learn how to age as gracefully and gorgeously as she has.

Fitz: You're an iconic figure in beauty. You've aged flawlessly, and to me ... you're prettier today than you were 30 years ago starring in Charlie's Angels. What can we do, to be more like you?

Cheryl: First of all, I think it's most important for women to have a close relationship with their doctor. It's important to trust your doctor, so when things go weird you are comfortable addressing the situation and taking care of things. Be proactive with your health! You also have to love yourself! Beauty comes from the inside first.

Fitz: Well your outside is pretty fantastic too. Let's start with your fitness routine. What do you do to stay in such great shape?

Click here for a sneak peek at Fitz's live interview with Cheryl!

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Forget fitting into your favorite pair of jeans, ladies. Forget burning tons of calories too. Yes, these are great reasons to exercise. But take a look at the bigger picture -- the reason, well five reasons, we simply must exercise. Each one falls into the category of living longer and better.

• Exercise wards off Alzheimer's. All is takes is moderate exercise two to five times per week early in life.
  

• Exercise boosts energy. Exercising when you're tired won't leave you exhausted. Instead, it will relieve your fatigue.
  

• Exercise slows down aging. The bodies of active folks can be 10 years younger than couch potatoes of the same age.
  

• Exercise helps manage menopause. Daily walking can cut stress and anxiety triggered by depleted estrogen. Try 35 minutes at four mph per day.
  

• Exercise reduces the need for drug treatment. Want to avoid drugs for managing diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol? Walk as little as three to eight miles per week.
  
  

Pick up a copy of the latest Oprah Magazine for more on this healthy topic.

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Throughout your life, your skincare needs change. As you entered puberty you required certain products to combat acne, and as you entered adulthood, perhaps the acne was no longer an issue, but you started having dry skin issues. That's totally normal.

Also normal is a change in your skincare needs as you age. You experience a decline in hormone levels, which affects your skin, causing it to dry out -- these changes generally begin to take place as a woman enters her 40s. Dry skin isn't the only problem, however -- at the same time, women begin to see more wrinkles, sagging, and age spots. Needless to say, the cleansers and moisturizers you used in your 20s are no longer the most effective choice.

My friend, Debbie, had the opportunity to try out some products by Emerita geared toward the specific skin problems of mature women and was very happy with the results, which is saying something because she has sensitive skin and is prone to allergic reactions. And so, for today's Fit Beauty feature, I thought I would share her experiences with you.

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Staying healthy, fit and trim keeps just about any woman looking and feeling younger, but time rolls steadily along when it comes to those ovaries. Yet if Father Time is late when it comes to the arrival of your date with menopause, it can be a plus.

According to one gynecologist, late menopause is a good thing. Even with its corresponding one percent higher risk of breast cancer and potential for unwanted pregnancy, maintaining higher levels of estrogen in the body comes with a strong set of advantages -- delaying osteoporosis, heart disease, strokes and wrinkles. Beyond the physical realm, a new study also indicates later menopause may mean less cognitive decline later in life.

This news makes me want to hang onto my periods forever -- a markedly different feeling from my previous attitudes toward menstruation. I felt a little scared when I had my first period at nearly 13, detested the cramps in my 20s, and then watched my cycles carefully when entering motherhood in my 30s. Now at 40, while regular periods are annoying, I don't want them to end. While the average age of menopause is 51, genes are the best predictor. Ask mom when she reached The Change -- chances are you'll follow in her menopausal footsteps.

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Wouldn't it be grand if you simply had to eat a chocolate bar every day? Not complying with your daily prescription would mean the study of heart disease would take a hit. People could get sick, for goodness sake. You wouldn't want that on your conscience, would you?

Participants in Britain will soon be eating one grand chocolate bar every day for one whole year to help researchers determine whether compounds called flavonoids found in chocolate and other foods help reduce the risk of heart disease for menopausal women with type 2 diabetes. Previous studies suggest dark chocolate is linked with heart health but experts say the high sugar and fat content might cancel out some of the benefits.

One hundred and fifty women -- each one past menopause and with type 2 diabetes -- will come to the aid of science very soon. While downing their daily decadence -- half will eat a super-charged bar with 30 grams of flavonoids; the others will get chocolate without the active compounds -- researchers will look at their blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and the condition of their arteries.

Researchers hope this study has implication for a wider population. If all goes well, maybe a candy bar will soon be on your daily diet plan.

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When most people think about "The Change," we think about hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain and even forgetfulness. One less talked about symptom, or side effect, of menopause is a foggy brain. Most women experience menopause sometime between the ages of 40 to 55. If you have gone one full year without a period, you can consider yourself "officially" in the change. Many mature women, myself included, are in full swing professionally, socially and spiritually as we approach mid-life, the last thing we have time for, or patience for in that matter, is feeling like we are living in a fog and not understanding why our normal spunk and vigor seems like it rears its head only after a triple grande latte! But doctor Dr. Sujatha Reddy, an Atlanta, Georgia-based gynecologist, says brain fog (no, that is not an official medical term) is actually quite normal.

Dr. Reddy says, "Most of my patients who are coming in for menopausal issues ask about lack of memory, or confusion, or difficulty concentrating. I think those are real things that happen in menopause." And Dr. Nadine Kaslow, professor and chief psychologist at Atlanta's Grady Hospital, explains that while there does indeed seem to be a connection between foggy thinking and menopause, there is actually no research to substantiate the scientific reality of it. Since hormone therapy has many pros and just as many cons, she recommends taking up yoga and other forms of exercise that require mental alertness and concentration along with herbal remedies. She also suggests making it a habit to learn something new everyday. People who constantly seek out and retain new information continue to exercise the brain and keep it sharp. Who knows ... you may even feel inspired to take up a musical instrument or learn a new language!

Continue to remind yourself that this brain fog is normal. Your mind will eventually settle back into normalcy once again. Be patient and seek out the support of other women who are experiencing menopause or have arrived on the other side happy and emotionally in one piece!

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