Thanks to the popularity of things like Facebook, Playstation and TiVo, it's pretty obvious that teenagers today are getting less physical activity than they were a few decades ago. Or is it? Recent findings from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have found that teenagers today are definitely heavier than they were 20 years ago, but they're still getting about the same amount of physical activity. Which means, then, that a lack of exercise isn't to blame for the staggering levels of obesity in young adults today.

Of course, if obesity isn't caused by a reduction of calories being burned off, the only other logical explanation is that it's caused by an increase in the calories being consumed -- we're getting just as much activity as we did before, but it's simply not enough to make up for all the extra food we're consuming. In fact, other experts argue that the surge in obesity levels in youngsters is caused by food alone -- exercise habits don't even factor into the equation.

Hey, nobody's saying that exercise isn't important -- it's definitely an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. But when it comes to obesity levels in teenagers, it seems the problem starts at the dinner table, not the couch.

Many people are also pointing fingers at school lunches -- students in Chicago can fill up on nachos five days a week.

Eating plenty of protein may be the key to building bigger and stronger muscles, but even if you're gobbling your fair share, you still might be guilty of making a few classic mistakes along the way. Mistakes that could be preventing you from seeing the kind of results you deserve.

For close to fifteen years now, I've had the pleasure of working with some of the world's top sports nutritionists, exercise physiologists and strength and conditioning coaches. In that time, nearly all of them seem to adhere to the same three basic rules when it comes to getting enough of this essential muscle-building nutrient. It's these three simple principles that keep their clients -- many of them professional athletes and celebrities -- in the best shape possible. Now, it's your turn. Here's how to always pick the perfect portions when it comes to your protein so your muscles never have to stop growing.

Whether extra stress, sex (hey -- you were thinking it, too) or sick days is the reason you've lost a few extra pounds, our keep-the-weight-off guide will keep you looking slim in your loose-fitting clothes.

Are you making the most of your meals by filling up on the hottest antioxidants -- nutrients that can help you prevent wrinkles and grow shinier hair and stronger nails? Click through AOL Health's photo slide show of the best of the best nutritional powerhouses out there.

You may have realized your Kraft Mac and Cheese contains no real cheese, but did you know that Smucker's "100 percent fruit" label is anything but truthful? Ingredient secrets food companies don't want you to know.

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.

This just in: Candy will still be available after Halloween! Here are tips to help you avoid being "tricked" by candy and to let you indulge in a treat that won't wreak havoc on your good habits.

1. Give the treat of healthier snacks.
The grocery shelves are crammed with 100-calorie snack packs that are healthier options than candy. Snacks like pretzels, roasted nuts and baked chips and crackers are better options than some candies, and if you indulge in a pack, too, you can do it guilt-free.

2. Recognize your intent.
"Sometimes it's not the candy we want at all; we are just craving a particular feeling, like comfort or excitement," said Pam Wood, a Weight Watchers meeting leader in Austin, Texas. "We need to ask ourselves, 'What is it that I really want to satisfy: the craving for the candy or the craving to feel fabulous?'" If it's the latter, she advises that you say "no" to the candy and determine the best way to satisfy your true desires. If it is candy, go ahead and have a small piece to satisfy the craving.

Photo: Laurel Fan/Flickr

During last week's yoga class, I took a side glance in the mirror during one downward dog. I was appalled at my reflection. Upside down, the skin on my thighs was all wrinkled! WOW, I thought. All that exercise can only go so far if my skin is sagging. As soon as class was over, I called Jae Berman, a registered dietitian at the San Francisco Bay Club, and I was so relieved when she said: "There are definitely anti-aging foods you can incorporate into an already healthy diet that can boost skin tone."

• Spinach has folate which speeds up cell renewal. Translation: It acts like an inner exfoliant. New, young cells make your skin look younger.
• Oranges, bell peppers and kiwi are loaded with Vitamin C, which boosts collagen production and smooths out wrinkles. Other vegetables and fruits include sweet potatoes, lemons and limes.
• Canned tuna's loaded with selenium, a mineral that preserves elastin, a protein that keeps skin smooth and tight. It's also an antioxidant that buffers against damaging UV rays.
• Walnuts, salmon and flax seed are brimming with omega-3 fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory properties which reduce puffiness.

Try this: Salmon, carrot, tomato spinach stir fry. Throw all the ingredients into a wok or sauté pan with your favorite spices and a teaspoon of olive oil. For more skin-firming recipes, contact Berman at jberman@sfbayclub.com.

Want to cook up another stir fry? Try tofu, spinach and okra for a light, skin-friendly meal.

If you're looking to shed some pounds, just remember it's a numbers game. It takes a deficit of approximately 3,500 calories to lose a single pound. You can revamp your diet, but cardio is also a great way to burn calories. But there are a lot more ways to get your heart pumping than jumping on a treadmill. Check out the video below for some fresh ideas on blasting calories this weekend.

What's your favorite calorie-burning activity?

Photo: Watermelon is a sweet summer treat. sxc.hu

Day 3: If you're trying to build a five-a-day habit (or even better, more!), summer is the time to do it. My fridge is overflowing with fresh tasty produce: Lettuce and green onions from the garden, fresh-picked strawberries from the farmers market, melon, every color of pepper, cucumbers -- you get the idea.

An easy place to start is incorporating just one fruit or veggie into every meal or snack. (If you're not a snacker, aim for two servings at every meal.) Today, I ate two small plums with my breakfast smoothie, a whole bunch of carrots and cucumbers with hummus for lunch, and I had a big bowl of fruit salad -- cantaloupe and watermelon -- with my grilled turkey sandwich (also topped with romaine and tomato) for dinner.

I don't like to spend a lot of time at a hot stove in the summer, so these simple meals worked perfectly for me.

Photo: miky jpeg, Flickr

Day 5: Today was one of "those" days. I missed breakfast due to an early appointment, and I ended up at a fast food restaurant for lunch. I'd love to report I ate a salad, but honestly, lunch looked more like a chicken sandwich and a few stolen fries from my kids.

So by 3 p.m., I'd neither exercised nor eaten any fruits or vegetables. Days like this can be dangerous to people like me -- all-or-nothing thinkers. Old me would say, "Well, I blew it today so I might as well start over tomorrow." But there's no reason why one mistake has to lead to a whole day's worth of overeating.

So dinner was light, mostly fresh fruits and vegetables -- probably not five full servings, but the best I could do. And I was back out on my bike after dinner. And just to make up for that chicken sandwich, I added in 10 minutes of ab work when I got home.

Photo: sxc.hu

Day 7: For some reason, biking was my workout of choice this week, a switch for me since I'm usually a walker. But in just seven days, I can already see some small changes. My legs don't burn quite so much, and my usual route just doesn't seem long enough anymore. What this proves to me is what I already know (but it's still fun to see it in action): Consistency really is key.

The same goes for the fruits and vegetables, I think. Tonight, during a family trip to the ice cream store, I passed up the treat for some fresh blueberries I knew I had waiting for me at home. Eating fresh produce at every meal has helped keep me satisfied, making it easier to say no to sugary treats.

Photo: sxc.hu

It's time to decide -- is this a healthy habit that can be realistically worked into day-to-day life?

• Piece of cake! I can definitely work this into my daily routine.
• Not my cup of tea. This is harder than I imagined. Still, I plan to stick with it and do my best.
• Nuts! This seems nearly impossible to keep up. But I'll definitely do it whenever possible.

This week was great, so easy and so simple. Like I said back at day one, this plan isn't rocket science -- it's what most of us should be doing anyway. What I like about it -- especially for someone who's new to a healthy lifestyle -- is that it's a simple guide that leaves a lot of room for personal choice.

For instance, take five fruits and vegetables a day. The world is full of fruits and vegetables. The choices and combinations are nearly endless. Because of the season, I ate most of mine fresh. But a better cook than me could have incorporated them into delicious, healthy recipes.

Like I said, it feels like a gimmick, but really, it's just good, old-fashioned advice.

Photo: sxc.hu

Want to make the 5 and 30 challenge work for you? Here are some simple tips to get you started:

• If you're brand new to exercise, start small. Think 5 and 10 challenge instead, and work your way up.
• That 30-minute workout can be broken into two to three smaller workouts if time is short.
• Choose an exercise you love, so you look forward to it every day. But change it up now and then to challenge both your mind and your body.
• Visit your local farmers markets for the freshest fruits and vegetables. They'll taste better.
• Love to snack? Make a rule that between meals, only fruits and vegetables are allowed.
• Put a big bowl of fruit out in plain sight. We had the most magnificent plums this week, and putting them out in plain sight meant the whole family reached for those first, before something from the snack cupboard.
• On the other hand, if you're trying to lose weight, there shouldn't be anything in your snack cupboard. Keep your trigger foods at the store and out of reach.
• As always, get plenty of sleep and drink lots of water -- both will help keep hunger at bay.

Have you ever tried a challenge like this one? What kinds of tips and tricks can you share with our readers to make this healthy habit stick?

Got a Walking the Walk idea you'd like to see Bethany try for seven days? Share it with us in comments!

Photo: Macnolete/Flickr

Who wouldn't want a better sex life? Even if life between the sheets is already pretty good, there's always room for improvement. Building a better sex life is a win-win situation; some of the things you can do to improve your desire and (ahem) performance, will also benefit your overall health:

• Want to want it more? Let's face it. As completely unsexy as it is to admit, there are times when we'd all just rather roll over and go to sleep. After busy days at work and running from here to there taking care of all of life's responsibilities, a little late night loving might be the last thing on your mind. But if not wanting it is more of a rule than an exception, it's probably time to take care of your libido. An active lifestyle where fitness is a priority can help boost your libido. In addition, a fit and healthy body can help you feel more sexy which, in turn, will make you crave sex more.
  
• Need more energy? Exercise energizes many people; in fact, it's recommended that you don't exercise too close to bedtime if you have trouble sleeping. The opposite principle holds true if you want to stay awake a little longer. Try exercising closer to bedtime -- you might be able to take advantage of an extra boost in energy.

Eating healthfully also plays a roll in your energy level, and in your sex drive. And remember, there's nothing sexier than confidence in yourself. No matter what your body type, no matter how good or bad of a hair day you're having, be confident in who you are -- your inner sexiness will shine through!

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Can certain foods really affect your mood? It's possible. Maggie tells us that eating photoestrogenic foods might help women control drastic mood swings.

Stop doing those crunches! Or at least, do them in moderation. Instead, says Ashley, protect your back by doing exercises that strengthen your core.

Could you have hidden food allergies that are causing inflammation and making you fat? Jonny says it's possible, and he'll teach you how to find out.

Nia Vardalos on her weight loss secret: "I had a blood sugar problem so my Doctor ordered me to lose weight, it was really hard but I did it through diet, exercise and it took a year." Not much of a secret there, just good, old-fashioned hard work.

Are munching and crunching adding too many calories to your daily diet? Here are some ideas for curing those cravings naturally.

What will they think of next? Kristen tries out a Smartslip, kind of like a big resistance band worn under your skirt to tone your legs all day long. Would you wear one?

'Tis the season for flip flops, the world's most laid back shoes. Let AOL Health show you how to protect those tootsies while you wear your favorite summer shoes in style.

This Father's Day, help your dad be a vertical dad. That is, show him how to relieve stress by being on his feet and staying active, not reclining horizontally on the couch.

After you take Dad out for a hike or a bike, TCBY is serving up free yogurt. Jacki's got tips for keeping this treat healthy.

Can sleep improve your performance in the gym or on the field? We all know how important sleep is, so it's worth a shot to make sure you're getting plenty of shut-eye.

Nothing says summer like a backyard barbecue. And nothing says summer weight gain like heavy potato salads, chips and dip and sugar-rich desserts. In fact, that plate full of food can set you back up to 2,000 calories.

Whether you're hostessing and want to serve up healthy sides to your guests or are bringing a dish so you know there's something you can enjoy without all the extra fat and calories, here are delicious and nutritious tips for your next BBQ:

• Use whole wheat pasta in your pasta salad and go heavy on the vegetables, light on the dressing.
• Grill angel food cake and serve up with fresh strawberries and low-cal whipped topping.
• Roll your corn on the cob in mixed herbs or with a dash of lime sauce, rather than butter.
• Go ahead and serve those baked beans, just skip the meat and add some extra vegetables. Or better yet, try a bean salad instead.
• Skip the dip and serve up fresh, crunchy veggies with salsa or hummus.

It's BBQ season, so if you're looking for more tips on how to make your grilling habits healthier, check out our posts on creative cookouts, grilling fruits and vegetables and good for you BBQs.

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There are plenty of reasons why an apple is a great go-to healthy snack. It's low in calories -- just 81 calories for a medium-sized version. But it's also rich in soluble and insoluble fiber, important for cardiovascular and digestive health. Fiber also helps keep you full longer, which makes an apple a great snack for weight control.

Keep the skin on your apple, and you'll increase its vitamin and antioxidant content. Almost half of the vitamin C in an apple sits just under its peel, and the flavonoid quercetin -- which may protect against cancer -- is only found in the skin. That extra crunch boosts the fiber content too.

My favorite varieties are Golden Delicious, Gala, Fuji and Honeycrisp, so I stocked up on a few of each.