So what's the weather like where you live? I'm still bundled up in jeans and a sweatshirt, but I know that swimsuit season is lurking right around the corner. The older I get, the more I try to embrace my body for the amazing thing that it is... even with it's imperfections. But a swimsuit can make those little imperfections seem a little more pronounced than usual. I've been following Shape's Bikini Body Countdown to help me feel as confident as possible once pool-worthy weather arrives. How about you? Does swimsuit season stress you out?

Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Our fitness expert Fiz sits down with the stars and digs out their great and not-so-great methods for staying healthy.

This season's "Bachelor" Jason Mesnick is finally coming down to his most dramatic rose ceremony ever! Although that whole "dramatic rose ceremony thing" makes me giggle, Jason's body does not. In fact, he's been showing off that six-pack of his quite a bit since the show began a couple of months ago. In this satellite video interview, Jason dishes on how he stays sexy for shower scenes and what measures he takes to keep his teeny son Ty healthy too. Jason also answers the question about which girls were kept around just because of their looks.

"The Bachelor" finale airs this Monday night, March 2nd on ABC at 8/7c. I'm sure no matter how much drama the show contains, there is bound to be a few shirtless shots of Jason. I'll tune in for that!

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Baking up goodies for parties, gifts and Santa is a terrific part of this festive holiday season -- even for me, your loving fitness trainer. Baking doesn't have to be bad for your body though, nor does it have to contribute to that traditional December weight gain.

If I weren't a fitness professional, I'd be a baker. It's fun and allows me the ability to be creative while making people happy. I love making people happy. I don't, however, enjoy putting fat on my hips or the hips of others. This has lead me to be really creative.

I've got a few suggestions for you to follow and a link here to my favorite baked treats in my online recipe book at Fitzness.com.

• Substitute eggs for an egg substitute like Egg Beaters.
• Substitute butter/oil for a sugar free syrup like the ones sold a DaVinci Gourmet. (Use equal amounts as the ones given for the oil/butter.)

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Autumn's cooler weather may be starting to chill the air, but don't let it put a freeze on your fitness and nutrition habits. Enjoy the best autumn has to offer, healthfully.

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Fresh fruits are on their way out. No more you-pick strawberries and blueberries. Soon, there will be no more scrumptious strawberries, no more tart raspberries, no more of my favorite cherries either. There is a way to enjoy your pick of fruits throughout the long winter, though, long after they've gone out of season. Just freeze them. Especially blackberries.

Even when iced, blackberries burst with protective nutrients, says RealAge. In fact, frozen blackberries have almost as much antioxidant strength as the fresh variety, enough to fight off colon, prostate, breast, and oral cancer cells.

Stocked, blackberries are, with vitamins A, C, E, and K, beta carotene, folate, potassium, zinc, lutein, and anthocyanins -- these give the fruit its dark color and disease-fighting powers. With only 43 calories per three-ounce serving, you ought to be freezing these berries -- now.

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My son is starting soccer practice soon, and I can't wait. Last season, he had so much fun... and I did, too. Parents aren't required to stay at practices, but I attended every one. I think it was good for my son, because I got to observe the drills and skills the coach was teaching the kids. Then, my son and I practiced them at home. It's end up being extra practice for my son and great exercise for me!

Tournaments and games were fun, too. I loved seeing my son work so hard and excel at a sport. It's such a positive environment to encourage his love of sports, work on social skills, and bolster his self-esteem. And I had fun getting to know all the other parents and cheering on our team.

But, except for in the younger set, soccer doesn't have quite the following that other sports have in the US. Caught Offside lists seven reasons that Americans should learn to love soccer.

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Standing in front of the mirror this morning, just out of the shower, naked -- too much information? -- I coincidentally happened to hear from my living room TV Carson Kressley of Lifetime's' How To Look Good Naked as he spouted off this trick for really looking good naked: moisturize.

A moisturized naked body is a beautiful naked body, said Kressley, who happens to believe -- or so he says -- that any naked body can be beautiful, no matter the size, shape, or physical condition. All it takes is a little mental exercise in feeling good about your body -- and apparently, some good moisturizing too. Kressley, as host of the naked show, also teaches women how to dress in ways that flatter their assets.

I'm all moisturized now. And ready for the Season Two premiere of How to Look Good Naked on Tuesday, July 22 at 10 PM on Lifetime. Hoping to pick up some more great tips.

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At my house this summer, we are enjoying the greatest fruit salads. Our typical heaping bowls of fruit include watermelon, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, kiwi, peaches, cherries, banana, grapes, and sometimes pineapple. My mouth waters at the thought of these in-season fruits. My heart sinks when I think of the day they are not so plentiful, when dare I say, they are not in season. It happens every year. And somehow we manage. We just aren't as hyped up about our off-season salads.

Fortunately, there are a lot of great in-season foods available right now. Real Simple magazine lists 11 of them. Check them out, and enjoy them while you can.

• Argula
• Basil
• Beets
• Bell Peppers
• Berries
• Chard
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Stone Fruits (plums, peaches, and nectarines)
• Summer Squash

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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.

Mmmmmm. Just the mention of Chef Jens Dahlmanns's name puts my mind in ecstasy. His is the name of the man who created what I'd choose as my 'last meal.' He's the premier Chef of Disney's signature restaurant The California Grill, who also oversees a staff of award-winning chefs atop Disney's Contemporary Resort. Chef Jens was classically trained in European kitchens and worked for Le Cirque 2000 in New York City and Cafe 'L Europe in Palm Beach, Florida, before joining Disney in April 2004.

We first spoke on the phone a week before I was to dine at his spectacular grill. From a fitness trainer standpoint, he gave all of the 'right answers.' Not that he was contrived, but his stance on cooking is what I would wish to hear. If you've read my features before, you'll know that I preach the importance of lean fresh foods. Read on to see how dead-on Chef Jens is to that style of eating. From a regular gal's point of view, it was just really exciting and fun to hear Chef Jens talk about food. He described white asparagus the same way most men would describe a beautiful woman. I could imagine what each item tasted like as he described them.

My experience at The California Grill was almost indescribable. Chef Jens and his staff were pampering to say the least. He greeted me with a sample of the white asparagus he gushed about, and I knew I was in for something special. The combinations of flavors and textures were to die for! I relished every bite and cleaned each and every plate that landed in front of me (highly unusual for me). The man knows how to make fresh food taste divine. The advice he gave in this interview is exactly what I, as your online Fitzness Trainer, want you to follow. Chef Jens just knows far better than I, how to make all of the healthy stuff taste heavenly.

Fitz: How much does "healthy" influence the foods you create for your menus?

Chef Jens: Healthy actually has a lot to do with our menu. First of all, Disney has set an initiative for enhancing our menus in a healthy way, so across all of the Disney parks and restaurants you'll find better choices. On my part, I'm always driven by what's fresh in the market. We create meals based on the season. At the California Grill, our menu changes according to what foods are in season. Fresh food equals leaner and "cleaner" food. I never use processed ingredients.

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You may think a 'How To' article on sneezing and coughing is a bit elementary, but then you'd be surprised at how many kids (and adults!) fail to take precautions when the cold season is in full swing. After all, it's that time of year when a simple office interaction or playground high-five can spread the funk.

The flu and cold can be given from one person to another simply by not covering your mouth when sneezing. Those pathogen-packed sneeze droplets come shooting out of the mouth at 100 MPH or more. That's 40,000 to 60,000 fluid droplets! It's our responsibility to cover our own mouths when the urge arises.

Speaking of covering mouths, use a tissue. But if you don't have one available, the crook of your elbow works great too. Otherwise, if you blow all that gunk on your hands and extend it to shake someone else's, they could end up sick just as easily! Of course, a sure-fire way to stay as clean as possible is to use a travel version of antibacterial hand sanitizer (like Purell). It doesn't take a lot of effort to ward off the sick season!

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Find yourself craving a big bowl of spaghetti once the first snow flies? I know I do -- something about the cold weather makes me want to hole up with my comfort foods -- mac n' cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, pasta and so on. And I'm not alone.

Winter controls the appetites of many, according to this article from WebMD, and those extra pounds can really add up. So what's causing this? Is it a side affect of SAD (Seasonal affective disorder)? Maybe, but it's more likely that it's evolutionary -- we're programmed to store more fat in the winter in case of a food shortage.

Want to know more about your winter cravings? Click here.

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Here's a holiday tip some readers may have heard about: Don't eat the mistletoe! Actually, that tip should be geared toward your children, but the context still stands. Have you ever seen one of those fliers that warn to keep it out of reach of kids and pets? This idea is where it came from.

The thinking was that mistletoe was toxic and could be deadly if ingested. Pretty scary proposition if you host holiday parties with lots of decorations. So is it true?

Actually, some good news is that mistletoe is not lethal. The claims were not unfounded, however, because mistletoe does contain viscotoxins. Those bad boys can cause an upset stomach or even a slowed heartbeat (watch out for the berries). So don't go mixing in mistletoe with a seasonal stew, but should someone you know accidentally eat it, don't panic! Just call your nearest poison control center.

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I'm an early bird when it comes to shopping for holiday gifts. And while I don't actually have much in the way of purchased presents right now, I do have a list that spells out exactly what I'm giving to my loved ones this year. It's nothing too extensive, and my plan follows a bit of simple logic. I'm buying only what (1) is consumable or (2) is long-lasting. Another condition: both options must support the pursuit of health and happiness. Here are some of my ideas.

I've already got the gift bags -- plain old brown bags with handles, perfect for dressing up with fancy ribbons and tags -- and these bags will be filled with apples, oranges, bananas, and maybe some kiwi. My message to the recipients of these goody bags will be something to the effect of, "Have a happy, healthy holiday!" Obviously, this gift is of the consumable nature and will surely deliver a dose of health and happiness -- hey, free fruit makes my wish list any day.

An idea I've got for my little boys: sports equipment -- bunches of it. Balls, jump ropes, soccer gear, maybe even a punching bag top this list of long-lasting items that will bring happiness to both my boys and me -- busy, tired boys always make me happy. It will also, of course, engage their bodies in lots of physical activity.

I'm also investing in cutesy note pads -- great for jotting down diet and fitness plans -- and well, I can't reveal any more. Some of my readers are on my gift list, and I don't want them to "peek" at their presents.

In the spirit of health and happiness, I offer you this link, chock-full of healthy holiday gift ideas.

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The cold weather brings cravings for more comforting meals made of heavier foods, which unfortunately also means extra calories. The holidays aren't here yet but they're just around the corner, so if you're looking to head holiday weight gain off at the pass then get into some good habits now. By simply avoiding (or eating in careful moderation) fall's most fattening foods you can go into (and come out of) the holidays without gaining a pound! Now how great would that be?

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That time of year is creeping around again...cold and flu season! The key to staying as healthy as possible is in what you do now to prepare and prevent illness. Making healthy choices is about living a healthy lifestyle everyday, and although I don't agree personally with absolutely everything on this list, here's one take on 10 things you can do to never get sick again:

• See a chiropractor
• Laugh hard
• Mix up your workout routine
• Get enough sleep
• See an acupuncturist
• Meditate
• Do cardio at least 4 days a week
• Stretch
• Eat organic
• Be cautious of medications

Anything you would add? I think drinking enough water and eating a balanced diet (deep-fried onion rings won't do a thing for you even if they are organic!) are important too.

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