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.

Negative calories -- they sound like the biggest diet loophole ever, but there may be a few catches. Learn the upside and disclaimers about this hot-button topic. Plus, check out our photo slide show of potentially negative-calorie foods.

Sure, you know that fast food can be seriously salty, but what about that innocent-looking shaker sitting on your counter -- do you wield it wisely? Check out what one nutritionist has to say about salt and your waistline.

While the content of your meal is probably packed with more calories, your condiment could be a diet-derailer too. Take our quiz to test your calorie-content knowledge of your favorite sauces, dips and more.

Dr. Thomas R. Frieden isn't afraid to step up to the front lines of the nutrition wars. In the past, he has helped to affect change with reducing trans fats and posting nutrition information in restaurants. Now, Dr. Frieden is fighting the war against salt.

Around 80 percent of sodium in the average American's diet comes from processed foods. Dr. Frieden met with some of the big-wigs in the world of food processing to suggest a plan of action. He wants the sodium in processed foods cut by 25 percent in five years, and another 25 percent in a decade.

To me, on the health and wellness side of things, that seems like a generous time frame. But can't you just imagine the reactions the food processing execs had? After all, salt is an important ingredient for the food processors. Not only does it add flavor, it reduces dryness in some products, covers up metallic/chemical tastes in drinks, and even helps make cookies and cakes sweeter.

Dr. Frieden estimates that a 50 percent reduction in the sodium content of processed foods could potentially save 150,000 lives in America each year. That's a pretty big incentive, don't you think?

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Nearly 44 million people in the U.S. are living with osteoporosis. The disease, which causes bones to be thin and brittle, strikes women more often than men. It's never too early to make the lifestyle changes that will help develop strong bones:

• Weight-bearing activity. Exercises such as walking, jumping rope, and jogging help build bone. Strength training is also important for bone health.
  
• Calcium. Eat a diet rich in calcium and be sure to get appropriate amounts of vitamin D (through sun exposure and fortified foods -- supplements are also available).
  
• Salt. Limit salt intake as it causes your bones to excrete more calcium.
  
• Break bad habits. Smoking can be bad for bone health as can drinking alcohol and drinking soda.

Check out the gallery for age-specific bone health recommendations.

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Can you laugh your way thin? You'll need to change your diet and exercise habits too, but Laura shares why laughter isn't just the best medicine, it's also good for weight loss.

Sure, we usually call them New Year resolutions, but Jacki has a very good argument for not tying your diet and fitness goals to the calendar.

Even when you're avoiding the inside aisles at the grocery store, sometimes processed foods are a necessity. Here are the 20 worst packaged foods, so you can make a mental note that reads: AVOID.

Alanis Morrisette went vegan to lose 20 pounds and claims that giving up animal products changed her life. Could you make such an extreme lifestyle choice?

Tragic Exercise Face -- Do you suffer from it? And what the heck is it? Kristen has the scoop.

Don't want to spend all day at the grocery store reading food labels? Bev has some quick tips for picking out the most nutritious foods.

Oh, Oprah, Oprah, Oprah. There's nothing more frustrating than having to face weight loss again. Do you think she can slim down one more time and keep it off this time?

So you're sniffling and sneezing ... should you work out? Bev tells you when to hit the gym, and when to stay home under the covers.

Are you having trouble teaching your parents healthy habits? Fitz has advice for adult children whose parents struggling with their weight.

You're eating right and exercising, but still can't seem to squeeze into those skinny jeans? Try cutting back on salt to see if you can shed some water weight.

Speaking of skinny jeans, That's Fit readers lost a whopping 102 pounds this week in our America Takes it Off: Shrink a Size challenge! You rock!! Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for next week's challenge.

Have a great week, everyone!

Welcome to Walking the Walk, a feature that takes a deeper look at commonly shared diet and fitness advice. Every other week, I'll choose one piece of advice and practice it for seven days. Then I'll report back on what I discovered about making it work in real life and how it affected my own personal fitness -- and how it ultimately can affect your own efforts.

January is the perfect time to try something new, isn't it? That's why I was clicking around over at AOL Health's America Takes it Off, looking for something inspiring to try this week on Walking the Walk. I've created a pretty good routine for myself -- limit my calories, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and be as active as possible -- but still, there's always room for improvement, right?

When I saw this tip from Jillian Michaels, I was intrigued. To get cut, she says, cut the salt ... and that doesn't mean just removing the salt shaker from your dining room table. Instead, she says, to beat the bloat, get your sodium intake down under 500 mg a day.

But salt makes things so tasty, you're thinking (or am I the only one?). Is it really that important to keep an eye on it? According to Jillian, yes. And her take on sodium has the support of top health organizations such as the American Heart Association. Our bodies need about 200 mg of sodium a day, but in reality, most of us eat much, much more than that.

Jillian's 500 mg a day is considerably lower than the 1,500 to 2,400 mg a day that most health organizations recommend. Because my blood pressure tends to fall into the "wow that's low, are you sure you aren't feeling dizzy" category, I've decided to split the difference and stick to 1,000 mg a day this week.

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. 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. Hi Fitz, I just bought a fairly fitted dress for a party this weekend and am desperate to avoid a poochy tummy. I'm in pretty good shape but often get bloated. I can not wear this dress if I'm bloated. Help! Andrea

A. Hi Andrea, Bloating is a bummer, but I can definitely help you avoid it. You're just going to have to be smart about what you eat and drink for the few days prior to your event.

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You might not suspect it, but a half a cup of low-fat cottage cheese contains 360 milligrams of sodium. One Pepperidge Farm whole grain white bagel: 440. And that healthy Heart Smart Prego Traditional Italian sauce: 430. I'm not so shocked that V-8 juice is full of sodium (480 mg in one cup), but the others, well, I'm surprised.

Harmful amounts of salt may be hidden in some unexpected foods, according to the January issue of Consumer Reports magazine. The government advises that healthy adults get 2,300 mg per day (about one teaspoon) and for those trying to control high blood pressure: 1,500 mg is tops. Sneaky salt can therefore be a problem, pushing our limits above what they should be. We might think we're eating smart if we keep our calories, fat, and sugar in check. But loads of lingering salt can definitely derail our diets.

Two suggestions: One, do a little basic math next time you're browsing the aisles at your supermarket, and buy only the products that keep you in a salt-safe range. Two, try to live without your salt shaker. With so much sodium already in our foods, there's really no need to add more.

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Fancy a big, heaping serving of salt on your breakfast plate? Yuck. I don't know about you, but the thought turns my stomach. However, recent studies show that many of us are getting our half and sometimes even a full day's worth of salt in our first meal of the day. What's even more alarming about this statistic is that this is true even for those of us who make our own breakfast at home.

I think everyone accepts that a big breakfast of bacon, eggs and hash browns is a salty way to start the day but apparently, many seemingly inauspicious items are also high in salt -- things like Starbucks skinny muffins, as well as many pastries and croissants. Even some toast toppings have more sodium than bacon! Consider this -- a Skinny Blueberry Muffin from Starbucks has 2400 mg of sodium, while a slice of bacon has a mere 303mg.

Do your heart a favor: Check the labels and do what you can to make sure you're not getting too much sodium in the AM -- or any time of day. The daily RDI of sodium here in North America is 2300 mg.

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I try to avoid prepackaged foods, but I have to admit to buying Hot Pockets from time to time. My son absolutely loves them and when we're rushing out the door to head to his soccer practice, it's undeniably convenient to throw one of those in the microwave. But it always gives me a bit of mommy-guilt. Like most pre-packaged foods, they usually come with more sodium than you'd like or contain some unpronounceable ingredients. Nothing pre-packaged compares to homemade.

This article tells you how to make your own "haute" pockets. The crust is a simple recipe -- but I would recommend substituting at least half of the all-purpose flour with whole-wheat flour. Fill the prepared crust with any mixture you like. The article has filling ideas you can try, but your options are limitless.

I'm planning on trying them out this weekend. I think it will be a fun project for my son and I to do together -- and it will result in a variety of quick and healthy meals waiting in our freezer for whenever we're on the go.

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Butternut squash soup is a Fall favorite of mine, and I often make enough to freeze so that we can enjoy it into the winter months. So when I saw a commercial for Cambell's V8 soup -- which includes a butternut squash variety -- I was intrigued. Can Campbell's match my homemade recipe? Is it really a healthy option?

It was on sale, so I figured, "Why not?" I bought a box and served it to three family members for lunch yesterday. Here are some of their thoughts:

• "Sweet and creamy."
• "Pretty good."
• "I'd eat it again."
• "Not as good as yours." (That one from my husband. Smart guy.)

If you want to follow the latest fashion trends, you should go for it. Want to get that trendy haircut? More power to you. You should get in on the diet and fitness trend too -- because high blood pressure is on the rise in America, and we're pretty sure this is one trend you'll want to avoid.

The numbers are climbing -- from 1998-1994 24.4% of Americans had high blood pressure; more recent numbers show that 28.9% are now diagnosed with the condition. On the upside, more people are being properly treated, so deaths related to blood pressure have decreased.

While you can't control some risk factors for high blood pressure -- such as family history, race, and age -- there are things that you can control. Maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat a healthful diet that's low in sodium, avoid drinking alcohol, and keep your stress level under control.

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You're watching fat and calories, but are you watching sodium levels too? Even "healthy" fast foods can be high in salt.

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Chinese food is a rare indulgence for me, but there's no denying that when I go for Chinese, indulge I do. Noodles, deep-fried chicken balls, sweet and sour sauce -- I love a good Chinese feast. But it's not the most calorie-conscious cuisine. eDiets recently counted down the five worst Chinese choices:

• Crispy anything. It's just another way of saying 'deep fried.'
• Egg rolls. Again, just another way of saying 'deep fried'
• Spare ribs. The meat is fatty and slathered in sugary, salty sauce. Enough said.
• Sweet and sour anything. Whatever mystery meat they're serving is deep fried and slathered in sugary sauce. Skip.
• Fried rice. White rice alone is not a great choice. White rice fried in fat and served with bits of mystery meat is about 100 times worse.

What do you skip at the Chinese restaurant?

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September is National Cholesterol Awareness Month, so take some time this month to educate yourself on cholesterol -- the good, the bad, and what you can do about it.

• Get tested. If you don't know your cholesterol levels, visit your doctor. Ask your doctor to explain the results and give you some recommendations if your cholesterol levels needs improvement. Chris recently posted a good overview of the different types of cholesterol and some general guidelines for healthy ranges.
  
• Eat heart-healthy foods. Choose plenty of whole grains, healthful fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated), lots of fruits and vegetables, and lean protein. Also, remember to minimize your sodium intake.

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In early June, I wrote a post about a study that stated a low-sodium diet didn't have as great of an impact on heart health as previously thought. Now a new study confirms the traditional thought that salt intake effects blood pressure. Color this writer confused.

The more recent study aimed to find a genetic component that made people more susceptible to the effects of salt on blood pressure. Ultimately, the study found no genetic link. The study subjects who took in more salt had higher blood pressure regardless of genetics.

While the previous study doesn't necessarily dispute the link between blood pressure and salt intake, it does state that 80% of people who were on a low-sodium diet (in their study) were at a greater risk for developing heart disease. While they don't believe low-sodium diets are a causative factor for heart disease, they're questioning whether or not a low-sodium diet is effective for heart health management.

So what's a person to do? Personally, I'm going to continue avoiding high-sodium packaged foods, minimizing the salt I use in cooking, and not worrying about it. How about you?

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