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!

Name: Danielle Urtnowski

Age: 34

Occupation: Personal Trainer & nursing student

How often do you exercise? Four to six times a week.

What type of exercise do you do? I always change it up from cardio on the BOSU to plyometric exercises using full body movement to incorporate more than one muscle group at a time.

What gets you to work out, even when you're feeling lazy? I have a large puppy who requires lots of exercise.

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Sitting at a desk all day, it's not that hard to stay properly hydrated. I drink water before and after exercising in the morning, and then I keep a big glass of water at my desk all day long. I don't monitor exactly how much water I drink -- I'm not a big believer in getting a certain number of servings. Instead, I pay attention to my body and I know when I've had enough.

Probably the best way to gauge your hydration is by the color of your urine. Your urine should be pale yellow or nearly clear. If you find you need to hydrate a little more, but can't imagine drinking any more water, never fear. There are many foods that help you hydrate. Check out the gallery for some ideas. Cooking Light also has recipes incorporating hydrating ingredients.

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Because of possible food allergies, it's usually recommended to not feed babies common food allergens such as peanuts, eggs, wheat, dairy, and seafood until they're at least one. Waiting until they're three is even better. What's more, certain varieties of fish have high levels of mercury which children shouldn't be exposed to.

New research is challenging those old beliefs. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently revised their recommendations and now states that children as young as 4-6 months could have certain foods including fish. Further research shows that babies who eat fish before reaching 9 months have a reduced risk of eczema.

So what are new parents to do? As always, it's important to introduce new foods slowly. And speak to your child's doctor before introducing any of the foods that were previously off-limits for babies. When it comes to your child's health, it's better to be cautious.

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Salmon is by far my favorite type of seafood. Not only is it delicious, it's good for you, too; it's rich in omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin D, selenium, protein, and vitamins B3 and B12.

While it's important to me to serve healthful meals for me and my son, I'm not the world's most innovative cook. That's another reason why salmon is tops on my list. It's so easy to cook ... you really can't go wrong. My favorite method is to drizzle it with just a tiny bit of olive oil, sprinkle some paprika on top, and grill it. The same method works in the oven, too. I usually pair it with some seasoned brown rice and steamed asparagus.

Real Simple has eight salmon recipes that are much more creative than my stand-by preparation method. The Dill Salmon Burgers sound awesome as does the Blackened Salmon.

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Unless you want to ingest a hefty dose of mercury, you should not be eating swordfish, says the current issue of The Oprah Magazine (September 2008). But for most other fish, the benefits of moderate consumption outweigh any risks. This from a landmark study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which also makes these recommendations.

• Canned albacore (white) tuna contains more mercury than canned light tuna, which is why the EPA urges women of childbearing age to eat no more than six ounces of albacore a week.
• Salmon does not contain too much mercury but it does harbor some PCBs -- these are industrial compounds -- so you'd be wise to limit servings of farmed salmon to one per month. You can enjoy wild-caught salmon four or more times per month.
• To learn more about the merits and cautions of other seafood options, check out oceansalive.com.

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When I was a young girl, my family spent out summers at a cottage in the northern part of our state. It was lovely waking up early in the morning and going for a swim in the lake. We'd spend the mornings and afternoons at the cottage, but then we'd head out to explore the neighboring areas. One of my favorite spots was a fishing village on the edge Lake Michigan. We'd shop and buy fish fresh off the boat -- a delicious dinner just waiting to be baked or grilled.

Most fish and many shellfish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, most seafood is only 20 to 50 calories per ounce. So, with healthy preparation, seafood is a wonderful addition to your dinner plate. Check out some of these great recipes from Self Magazine:

• Blue-Claw Crab Boil with Asian Condiments.
• Seared Sea Scallops with Lemongrass Sauce.
• Steamed Fish with Scallions and Ginger.

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Of all the choices out there, Tuna is largely regarded to be the smart one. Why? Well, for starters, it's fish, which means that it's naturally lower in fat than other meats and it has essential fatty acids. And one of America's favourite ways to eat tuna (particularly for those of you who are turned off by seafood) is in a sandwich form--think either a tuna salad sandwich or one of my favourite, a tuna melt.

But here's something to ponder? Is tuna with mayo and cheese still just as healthy as fish on its own? That's a no-brainer: absolutely not! Still, how many calories can a bit of mayo add? What do you think? Does a tuna melt pack a calorie punch or is it a good way to get your protein in?

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When the girls and I get together for some wine and appetizers, we usually order a batch of calamari to share. We know it's probably not goo for us, but it's tasty and it's the perfect food for sharing, right? Not to mention it goes great with wine and it's prefect for taking the edge off that pre-dinner hunger.

But Calamari doesn't strike me as the healthiest choice out there. Yeah, it's seafood, which is good for you, but that healthy seafood is battered, deep-fried and often accompanied by some sort of creamy sauce. Still, it's okay to share, right? What do you think?

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Zinc is more than just a way to use a 'z' in scrabble -- it's an essential nutrient that your body needs, both to heal wounds and injuries and help your body break down carbohydrates. How do you know if you're getting enough? Here are some signs that you're not, according to Everyday Health:

• Wounds, lesions and infections are difficult to heal.
  
• Your appetite is decreased.
  
• You experience an abnormal sense of taste and smell.
  
• You have difficulty seeing in the dark
• You experience abnormal hair loss.
  

Think you might be low on zinc? Load up on protein sources like red meat, turkey, seafood and legumes, as well as veggies like spinach and peas. Whole wheat bread, yogurt and milk are also good sources.

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Sure, fish is delicious and very healthy, but is it always safe to eat? Well, in efforts to help eliminate the confusion surrounding fish consumption, the U.S. government has launched a new website called FishWatch.

FishWatch is designed to provide consumers with information about sustainable, safe, and healthy seafood. Listed on the site is a comprehensive description of more than 50 seafood species that are commonly found in U.S. waters, including each species' role in the ecosystem, its history and habitat, sustainability status, and a chronological list of important dates and events related to it.

So, if you have questions about mercury content, how to prepare a fish dish, or safe storage, visit the FishWatch website at www.fishwatch.noaa.gov .

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Omega-3 essential fatty acids are a really good way to get that needed 'good fat' into your system using nutritional supplements. Why not cut down on supplement and just eat seafood, then, you might ask?

Cardiologist Florence Sheehan says "The key is to place the benefits and risks into perspective ... lots of varieties of fish are safe. It's just that some types of seafood can be risky for certain groups of people. From allergic reactions to shellfish sensitivity, researching your seafood diet seems mandatory, yes?

Seafood has also gotten a bad rap recently due to contaminants often seen in sea-faring creatures like tuna and swordfish even. Mercury seems to be the most popular toxic substance found in seafood, and as such, some are fearful of eating too much seafood for fear of mercury contamination. Still, the level of mainstream media coverage on mercury-containing seafood should not dissuade you from eating it regularly. It sure doesn't me, as I enjoy seafood at least a few times a week. Just make sure your health permits seafood without struggling with it at the same time.

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Got a passion for advocacy? Here's an opportunity for you: Become a Seafood Watch Advocate.

Consumers make a difference, say the experts at Monterey Bay Aquarium. Just a few simple actions on your part can help change the seafood buying practices of friends and businesses in your community, they report. They offer these tips to help you get started.

• The choices we make when it comes to eating seafood really matter. Check out these pocket guides for inspiration on making decisions that support healthy and abundant oceans.

• Send an e-postcard to friends and family encouraging them to get involved.

• Download a presentation about the health of our oceans or request a two-disc Seafood Watch Training Program DVD when you pledge to train others.

It all boils down to this: We need healthy oceans because we need healthy seafood because we need healthy bodies. Don't you agree? If so, then do something today in the name of health.

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I think there's not a whole lot of difference between practicing healthy habits for general wellness and practicing healthy habits for the prevention of breast cancer. Just check out the points made in this article about warding off the nasty disease that this year will strike about 178,000 American women.

The suggestions seem pretty familiar, don't they? That's because they're generally good for the body. And so it's simple, really. Just live a clean life, shoot for good health, and you'll have a fairly good shot at warding off all sorts of unwanted illness, like breast cancer.

In a nutshell, here's what tops this article's list of healthy habits:

• Maintain a healthy weight. A 2005 study showed women who gained weight after a breast cancer diagnosis had an increased risk of recurrence. Other studies show overweight women have a greater chance of a first-time breast cancer diagnosis. And countless studies indicate excess weight is bad for the heart, cholesterol, bones, joints, and more. Body Mass Index (BMI), although not a perfect measure, can help you chart your healthy weight.

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Eating fish is good for you. Is it good for the environment too? Not always. But a growing number of aquariums and fish conversation programs are offering "guilt-free" guides to help you make the best choices when it comes to buying fish and other seafood.

Fish that are abundant, well-managed, fished, or farmed make the guilt-free list. According to the National Seafood Guide 2007, published by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, here are some of the keepers:

Arctic Char (farmed)
Bay Scallops (farmed)
Catfish (farmed)
Clams (farmed)
Mussels and Oysters (farmed)
Pacific Halibut
Rainbow Trout (farmed)
Salmon (Alaska wild)
Spiny Lobster (U.S.)
Striped Bass (farmed or wild)
Tilipia (U.S.)

Now this list is not exhaustive. You can find more information here. You'll also get a peek at fish that are both high in omega-3 fatty acids and low in environmental contaminants -- like anchovies, oysters, and sardines.

Note: Young children, pregnant women, and anyone who wishes to watch their mercury consumption should always avoid seafood with high mercury levels -- such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish.

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Want to model some of the best eating habits in the world? Then consider adopting a Mediterranean diet. People from this region of the world have low cholesterol, few incidences of coronary heart disease and cancer, and much longer lives than those who eat the typical American diet. Amazingly, their diet is significantly higher in fat than what the American Heart Association recommends. How do they do it?

Well, they eat loads of plant foods rich in antioxidants. Think colorful fruits and vegetables. Seafood, abundant with heart-healthy nutrients, is also a staple in their diet. Most important: Their diet is free of the two bad fats we tend to consume without a second thought -- saturated fats and trans fats, the ones that stick to our arteries like glue. Try extra virgin olive oil and grapeseed oils to trim your intake of these fats.

It seems the Mediterraneans have the right idea. We should be so wise to follow their lead.

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