That's Fit

When it comes to overweight countries, the focus is often on the United States. A whopping 74% of people over the age of 15 can be considered overweight here. But Mexico isn't far behind. In fact, nearly half of their citizens have growing waistlines, and obesity-related diseases are on a rapid rise.

A new government campaign is trying to beat back those numbers before they get out of hand. Vamos Por Un Million de Kilos, or Let's Lose a Million Kilos is a country-wide program that's aimed at helping Mexican citizens take off the weight. The government is providing education, remodeling or building new fitness facilities, and encouraging Mexicans to eat more fruits and vegetables.

According to USA Today, it's actually a rise in the middle class that's contributing to the country's weight gain. Mexican food has been traditionally rich in fat and calories, but as calories become cheaper, portions are rising. Fast food restaurants are also becoming a popular alternative.

Good luck, Mexico, and we hope you hit your goal! And if you do, maybe we'll be looking to your for inspiration!

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 blew it! I am going on vacation with a bunch of my college buddies and some hot girls in four weeks. I've totally slacked off on my workouts since school ended and now I'd like to get ripped again before we head to Mexico. What can I do at my gym to shred a bit of fat and get buff quick before the trip? I know I'm a dork for slacking, but I also know you can help me improve. I'm willing to do the work! Jason

A. Familiar story Jason! You're not the only one who's taken some time off from their fitness training only to have it blow up in your face. You're also not the first person to try and undo the damage quickly. Four weeks is a pretty decent amount of time, so if you are really clean with your eating habits and start training intensely ... I think it would be safe to take off at least 10 pounds before you see Mexico, and all of those hot girls see you!

Agave nectar has shown up as tidbits in various post on That's Fit before, whether it's an ingredient in a hot chocolate recipe or an element of a celebrity's diet. But for those of you who don't know the details of what this sweet syrup is, where it comes from and why it's a good alternative to sugar or artificial sweeteners, this is for you:

Agave nectar is derived from a Mexican plant and considered a healthy alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners because it's naturally derived and has a low glycemic effect, which is explained thoroughly in this article on Shake Off the Sugar a web site devoted to low-carb options and reducing sugar intake. And here's another article about the trend in use of agave as a sweet alternative.

As for me, I use it in tea and baking recipes as well as in my morning oatmeal. The other day, I used it in lemonade. But I found adding a little organic sugar made the taste of the lemons come out more. Call me crazy.

My experiments have been fun and mostly successful. And I can vouch for agave's low glycemic load as I'm a type 1 diabetic using an insulin pump to control blood sugar and testing often. The effect of agave nectar on my blood sugar is minimal. But of course other experiences might be different. Our bodies are not entirely identical in how they react to various substances. And I'm not your doctor, so talk to yours about how you might use agave in your diet.

You can usually find agave in your local health food store. My local Super Target stocks it too. And you can buy online too. Sweet!

Sometimes the motivation to exercise can come from the desire to be a good role model to your kids. Sometimes it comes from wanting to be able to healthy enough to help take care of your community. And sometimes the motivation comes from ... well, something far less altruistic, like wanting to win a daily prize, plus be entered to win the grand-prize trip for two to Mexico, complete with spa treatments and a basket of beauty products.

For you ladies out there who wouldn't mind putting in the extra effort in the gym this year, the payoff can be some serious and much needed R&R. Sign up for the SELF Challenge: a free, easy-to-follow exercise and healthy eating plan that will help you get your best body ever in just three months! See how it works.

Just as the Self.com website says, the best prize of all will be joining the 1.3 million women who have lost weight and toned up with the SELF Challenge.

The world is a big place and it seems like we get news items and magazine articles all the time about which nations are the healthiest or most-fulfilled. If you've ever wondered about how people in different locations around the globe stay fit and happy, this piece is pretty fun and interesting.

It includes tips and secrets from people as near and far as Florida, Mexico, South Africa, Ireland, Japan, England and France on how to maintain a healthy mind and body. I don't imagine these people are experts or anything but sometimes it's nice to take advice from people based on personal experience.

Some of the secrets doled out include doing a water fast once every couple of weeks (Japan), get ting outside and walking as much as possible (Ireland) and breathing to lower stress (South Africa). If you're interested in all of the tips and the perceived benefits then read the piece in full.

Have you got any health or wellness tips you can share?

Right now where I live, it's -10 outside and there's icy white cold stuff covering everything. A getaway to Mexico sounds perfect -- doesn't it? How about a trip to Mexico that involves taking stretching and muscle-lengthening exercises with a professional ballerina? Doesn't sound quite as perfect? I guess it depends on your priorities -- pigging out at the all-you-can-eat buffet and downing it with a few (dozen) Margarita, or doing something good for your body. Here's some extra incentive -- the classes are followed by champagne and cappuccino, and offer access to the 18-hole golf course, spa and tennis courts.

If this sounds like the getaway for you, check this out for more information.

I admit it. I'm totally hooked on the TV show "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC Tuesdays 8/7C). I watch it every week with my wife (she's thrilled), we vote on the Website, we provide armchair critiques of each dancer's performance and each judge's ratings. If you haven't seen it yet, this is a reality show where talk show hosts, athletes, third-rate actors and singers are paired up with ballroom dancing champions to compete in front of professional judges. The judges conclusions are combined with audience reactions (via telephone and Web voting) and each week one competitor goes home.

My wife and I are very interested in ballroom dancing ourselves. We started lessons a few years ago, but time schedules for both of us get out-of-hand and we haven't been back to it since.

But watching this great show has reignited our interest, and I think we'll be making the time to take some more lessons. And, as it turns out, ballroom dancing is great exercise, according to a study done by the National Institute of Cardiology in Mexico, presented at the World Congress of Cardiology last month.