I'm guessing you spend a lot of time thinking about your weight. Some days you might love it, but most days it's the opposite. It has control over your mood and your confidence, and at the same time, it seems like an arbitrary number that you have no control over. It just doesn't seem fair.

And guess what? It's not. Fair, that is. According to this article from Reader's Digest, your weight is determined by many factors you don't have any control over -- your genes, your mother's habits when you were in the womb, your spouse, your family, your career, your busy schedule, illnesses you've had in the past ... and the list goes on, unfortunately.

So what are those who are dealt the fat hand to do? It's up to you to change your habits, change your metabolism, and change your lifestyle to one that's conducive to weight loss. It sucks, but it's true. There's no magic pill (yet), so just as if you were born with a learning disability, you've just gotta learn how to work with what you got. Never fear: AOL Health's America Takes It Off campaign is here to help. One click on the badge below, and you'll surely find the inspiration to make some change.

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There's no denying it -- some people seem to be prone to every kind of illness out there, while some are healthy as a horse. I tend to fall into the latter category -- besides one doozy of a cold I had last January, I haven't been sick in ages. But trust me, I'm exposed to just as many germs as anyone else, be it at the office, at the gym, at school and just about any public place I frequent.

AOL Health recently listed the healthy habits of women who never get sick, including these:

• Get regular massages (I really like this one!)
• Wash your hands
• Sip ginger and honey for stomach and bowel issues
• Take cold showers
• Get your fill of garlic, vitamin c and zinc

As for me, I find that the old adage an apple a day keeps the doctor away really works! How do you stay healthy?

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If you've ever had a case of food poisoning, you'll know why it's so important to keep cooking surfaces clean and to properly wash your food. Every step you can take to minimize the spread of bacteria and viruses is well worth it. All You Magazine has 7 steps for germ-free cooking:

• Use separate cutting boards. Use one cutting board for meats and another for fruit, vegetables, and anything else. Avoid wooden cutting boards as they can trap bacteria. Be sure to clean your cutting boards thoroughly after each use.
• Scrub fruits and veggies. Even if it says pre-washed, take the time to scrub fruits and vegetables off. A good scrub will help remove traces of pesticides (if you don't buy organic) and any other residue on the produce. It's even a good idea to wash fruits that you peel (bananas, oranges, etc.) to avoid transfer of pesticides or bacteria.

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It's easy to assign blame when it comes to our collective weight gain. Poor food choices, sedentary lifestyles, overindulgence, lack of sleep, etc. But what if there was something else going on? Something far less obvious as the reasons mentioned? It turns out there may be.

A recent study, published in International Journal Obesity, found that certain viruses and bacteria may also play a role in weight gain. Specifically, these microscopic belly expanders may affect our ability to absorb nutrients from food and influence hormones that regulate appetite and metabolic rate. In separate studies, researchers discovered that overweight people tend to have more of these particular types of viruses than fitter people, suggesting that a link between the two variables is not outside the realm of possibility.

Does this mean that viruses are solely to blame for the girth of our nation? I wouldn't exactly make that leap just yet. I think the aforementioned reasons -- poor food choices, sedentary lifestyles, etc. -- are far more likely to be causing us to run out of belt notches. Still, it's an interesting theory, certainly one that merits further investigation.

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I will never forget a TV special I saw several years ago about household germs. They claimed that germs could "jump" from a toilet bowl and surfaces such as doorknobs were just breeding grounds for virtual colonies of little beasties.

Now the new germ-haven is your computer keyboard. Makes sense. Most people may remember to wash their hands before eating, but who thinks to wash their hands before using the computer? And, other than a perfunctory wipe down, my guess is there aren't too many people who really clean their keyboards.

Research from Great Britain indicates that computer keyboards may have more germs than toilet seats. The study was somewhat limited -- swabs were taken from 33 keyboards, one toilet seat, and one bathroom door handle. Several keyboards were dirty enough to be health hazards and one of the keyboards had five times the germs found on the toilet seat.

But even though the findings are a bit gross, there's no reason for alarm. The solution is simple: wash your hands before starting to work and clean your keyboard regularly. You may also want to consider minimizing the amount other co-workers use your keyboard.

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Don't go outside with wet hair. You'll get sick if you do. Or will you?

Nope. Wet hair worn outside won't make you ill. Science proves it, say researchers at Baylor University. Here's how they know: They exposed 44 volunteers to the cold virus and had some stand in a chilly room and some in a toasty room. Those kept in the chilled space weren't any more likely to get the sniffles than anyone in the toasty room. That's because viruses cause colds, not wet hair or cold temps.

The best way to boost your immune system and keep healthy is to get enough sleep and exercise, according to SHAPE magazine. This way, your body can defend itself against any virus.

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Even though winter finally seems to be nearing its end, it doesn't mean that you still can't catch a cold. In addition to regular exercise and getting enough sleep, try eating foods that have been shown to boost your body's defenses. Here is a list of five foods, sourced from Fitness Magazine, that may help.

Ginger - Many cultures consider ginger to be a panacea for colds. Researchers say that fresh ginger may help fight viruses by helping the body sweat out toxins.

Eggs - High in B vitamins, zinc, and amino acids, eggs boost white blood cell count and antibodies, which the body needs to stave off illness.

Garlic - Immune-strengthening, sulfur-based compounds contained in garlic may help the body stay free of infection.

Yogurt - A study showed that people who ate three-quarters of a cup of yogurt daily for a year had 25 percent fewer colds than those who didn't. Because it contains probiotics, yogurt helps strengthen the immune system.

Red Bell Pepper - With 130mg more vitamin C than an orange, red bell pepper is a great source for this cold-fighting nutrient.

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How much time do you waste every winter being sick? Your to-do list is long enough without getting slowed down and delayed by an illness, and we all know what happens once you skip a workout or two -- it's a slippery slope that's hard to recover from.

So the trick to not falling behind and not falling off the wagon altogether is to keep from interrupting your good flow by not getting sick. And although there's no guaranteed way to never get sick, by eating the right foods and living a healthy lifestyle you can boost your immunity and eliminate most (if not all) illnesses.

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Is it possible to catch obesity like you'd catch a cold, the flu, or pink eye? Yes, say researchers who believe obesity is due, in part, to a viral infection.

Adenovirus Ad36 -- one in a family of about 50 viruses that cause colds, respiratory infections, gastrointestinal problems, and eye inflammations -- could be the culprit in some cases of obesity in humans and other animals. In fact, it's been linked to a 50 to 100 percent gain in body fat in some animals. And 30 percent of people screened for the virus in one study had the antibodies, compared to 10 percent of people of a healthy weight range.

"We can't say that the virus caused obesity in all those people," says researcher Richard Atkinson, emeritus professor of medicine and nutrition at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. "It's still speculation, some say a gross speculation." Still, Ad36 research has led Atkinson to create an obesity research center in Richmond, Virginia where people can pay for tests to determine whether it's food or viral exposure responsible for their extra pounds.

There are too many restrictions on testing right now for Atkinson and fellow scientists to make any convincing human conclusions. But they are pretty convinced by their study on mice and monkeys. What they've learned so far: Animals inoculated with the virus gain weight even when their food intake remains the same. And Ad36 is transmissible from animal to animal.

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Most of us have had it: those itchy, scabby little red dots known as the chicken pox. Me, I had them when I was six, and all I remember is my Nana bringing over a new doll house for me to play with while I was ill. I was in heaven -- itchy, itchy heaven.

Most of us know the deal with the chicken pox--or at least we think we do. Did you know, however, that you can die of the chicken pox? Sadly, that's what happened to a new 37-year-old father only days before Christmas, according to this article from the Daily Mail.

Chicken Pox is often serious if contracted by adults, but rarely is it fatal. Still, if symptoms are severe, it's important to visit the doctor. Luckily, most of us get it in childhood and don't develop it later in life.

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Winter is known as cold season - and it's not just because the temperatures are dropping. Your chances of catching a cold this season are high -- but according to Everyday Health, you can reduce your chances of picking up one if you follow these steps:

• Avoid touching your face with your hands. Cold viruses can easily enter your body through the eyes and nose.
  
• Speaking of hands, wash them. Frequently.
  
• Avoid people who are sick, is possible.
  
• Keep your surroundings clean. Cold viruses can live for up to three hours on the phone reciever or stair railing, so make sure you are wiping those down with disinfectant if a sick person has used them.
• Take your echinacea at the first sign of sickness.
  
• Get your vitamin C too -- try drinking orange juice every day, for instance.
  

And if you're the one with the cold? Be polite -- cover your mouth when you sneeze and wash your hands often to prevent spreading the virus.

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The flu has been around since the beginning of time, and in all those years and centuries more than a few misconceptions and myths have come to be believed as truth. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that for all our technology we still can't cure it, or that it can manifest itself in so many ways, or simply because there's just too much room for people's imagination to run wild with the symptoms. Even many people who should know better, like health care workers, often believe incorrect facts about the flu. Do you think you're in the know? Or are you a victim of myth and old-wives tales? Find out the 12 most common flu myths and share your thoughts in the comments!

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U.S. health officials reported this past week that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) -- which causes bronchiolitis and pneumonia in newborns and infants under one year of age -- is now in full swing in the U.S.

Southern and Northeastern states are seeing the first cases now, can affect up to 40 percent of children, according to the CDC. It can cause infections throughout life as well, with even the risk for severe illness and death.

Winter is generally when RSV rears its ugly head, although there are usually large differences in cases from U.S. region to region. In last year's season, there were over 21,000 reported cases in 36 states.

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Only if you eat about ten thousand of them! Yucky, yuck, yuck! I can't tell you how many people have asked me this strange question throughout my 18 years in the fitness industry. Too many to count. So! To anyone else who may be concerned about the belly bulging effects of fingernail chewing, here is my answer.

I'm not exactly sure how many calories are in each nail per se, but since they are made of keratin, a sturdy fibrous protein....it couldn't be much.They'd probably just run right through you. In fact, I think you'd have to chew through the hands and feet of everyone you know to even equal a moderately satisfying snack. Hmmmmmm. Yummy!

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Nothing's more stressful during the holiday season than getting sick amid all the hoopla.

So, as you're cruising the aisles of the grocery store stocking up on canned pumpkin, flour, sugar and other "necessities", consider grabbing those infamous immunity buildings, zinc and echinacea. Stocking up on vitamin C might also be a good idea, although it is a more controversial remedy for the common cold and one must be careful about dosing with a supplement. As you're picking through the produce, throw in a few bulbs of garlic, which is believed to have antibiotic properties. If nothing else, it sure spruces up sauteed veggies and pasta sauces and can be added to olive oil for a divine bread dip.

Then, after your home perusing the net for holiday gift ideas, visit here and order some fabulous teas that reportedly aid digestion, reduce cholesterol and boost antioxidants . I also like this place, which has some nice herbal and decaf options. Even if you're skeptical of the health benefits, you can't argue that a nice hot cup of liquid does wonders for relaxation. And that can't be bad for warding off illness. As a matter of fact, might be a good gift idea too.

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