They say ignorance is bliss, so it's often easier to indulge in an unhealthy snack or meal when you don't know exactly how much exercise you would need to do to burn it off. Sure, some of you might say, "I don't care. I deserve to indulge." But we know that some of you would be horrified to know that you'd need to walk for more than five hours to burn off a Ruby Tuesday's Turkey burger, which weighs in at 1,173 calories. Or how about the ultimate indulgence for some people -- McDonald's fries? If you knew you'd have to walk for almost two hours to burn off 350 calories from a medium serving, would you still belly up to the drive-thru?

We challenge you to take this quiz from AOL Health. Test your knowledge of calorie counts in some of our favorite foods and see if they're worth the workout.

Fallen off the workout wagon because of a time crunch? Get back on track and save time with circuit training.

Be inspired by our That's Fit Success Stories. Then motivate others by submitting your own. Share how you've transformed your body through diet and exercise by sending us an e-mail at successstories [AT] thatsfit [DOT] com.


Name: Caroline Nittolo

Age: 35

Height: 5 feet, 2 inches

Before weight: 271


Breaking point: After my father passed away from complications from diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, I hit rock bottom, and I was still using food as comfort. I went to see the doctor, and my blood pressure was very high. For the first time, I had health issues, and it scared me. Right around that time, I had to travel for a month on business/pleasure and had to take 14 different flights. I was so mortified that the seat belts didn't fit me! The worst part of the whole experience was that most of the flight attendants automatically brought the seat belt extender to me. They knew just looking at me that I would need it. It was horrible! I knew I was big, but I tried to block out the fact that most people could see how big I really was.

Walking is one of the simplest exercises out there because most of us do it every day. Starting a walking program is just like beginning any other exercise program.

The amount of calories burned while walking can vary greatly, depending several factors. The amount of time you walk, how fast you go, what shape you're in and even where you walk can make a big difference in the calories you burn. For instance, a 150-pound person who walks slowly on a firm surface for half and hour will burn about 85 calories, whereas a 200-pound person on a cross-country hike will burn 273 calories in the same amount of time. Calorie calculators can help you determine how many calories you're burning.

When it comes to upping your calorie burn, remember to keep your pace up: Walking can burn as many calories as running if you work hard enough. And, don't shy away from hills. They might leave you breathless but you'll burn mega calories in the process. Finally? Head off the beaten path. Hitting the trails on a nature walk burn more calories than city-walking does.

Why should you care about how many calories you burn? Burning more calories shaves inches off your waistline and is crucial for your overall health and well-being.

I'm going to go out on a limb and bet that you know how to walk. Chances are, you even know how to walk on a treadmill. So why on earth would you need a fitness DVD devoted to walking?

Well, as the temperatures dip toward freezing, plenty of folks take their outdoor workouts indoors, and that includes those long, nightly walks that helped you stay so slim. But let's face it -- spending an hour walking on your home treadmill (or the one at the gym) isn't exactly the most exciting way to spend your time.

Fit By Tracey Walking Strong is designed to break up the monotony, bump up your heart rate and help you achieve a full-body workout, all on the treadmill. But, if you don't have a treadmill at home (like me), there's someone showing you how to do the workout on the floor, too.

Want an easy way to up your calorie burn? Head for the hills.

Liz Neporent is a diet and fitness expert and co-author of "The Fat-Free Truth." She regularly appears on national TV programs and is the president of Wellness 360, a New-York based wellness provider. You can also follow her on Twitter @lizzyfit.

Photo: mikebaird, Flickr

My knees are shot. Does that mean that running is out of the question? - Robyn Smith, NYC

Running is one of the best calorie burners of all time. It burns between 8 to 20 calories per minute depending on your weight, how fast you're going and your fitness level. Unfortunately, it's also pretty tough on your body. Between 30 and 50 percent of runners are injured every year and up to 50 percent of those injuries are centered around the knees.

So there are a lot of runners out there sidelined by mushy hinge joints wishing they could hear the crunch of leaves beneath their feet and fill their lungs with crisp autumn oxygen. Some will be able to work within the boundaries of bad knees and other joint pain by adjusting the workout. One way to do this is by mixing running and walking intervals together to get just enough of a speed fix and just enough of a break to side-step the aches and pains many runners experience.

If you're reading this, there's no reason you shouldn't be meeting the recommended 10,000 steps a day.

Whether you want to slim down, shape up or simply stay healthy, walking will do the trick.

Liz Neporent is a diet and fitness expert and author of 12 fitness bestsellers. She regularly appears on national TV programs and is the president of Wellness 360, a New-York based wellness provider. You can also follow her on Twitter @lizzyfit.

Photo: mikebaird, Flickr

While it's true that walking doesn't burn calories as quickly as jogging or Spinning classes or other high-intensity workouts, scores of studies have shown it to be a very effective weight-loss tool. For example, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that brisk walking is very effective for reducing deep abdominal fat, the most dangerous kind of fat. And a University of Colorado study found that if people could commit to walking 2,000 steps a day more than they do now -- the equivalent of about one additional mile or about 15 minutes worth of movement -- they may not necessarily lose weight but would probably stop gaining. The typical adult gains 1 to 3 pounds a year, which means they're eating, on average, an excess of 10 to 30 calories a day. The 100 calories per day burned off from walking 2,000 steps would more than compensate for this excess.

Researchers have also found that walking an additional 6,000 steps a day (or about 3 miles) is the point at which the pounds really start coming off, as long as it is done in conjunction with sensible eating habits like fat, calorie and portion control.

Walk your butt off -- literally -- with some inspiration from over the pond.

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.

Want to know the best way to tell if the shoe fits for walking? Then head on over to AOL Health's walking shoe shopping guide.

Eating more tomatoes and fewer (OK, no) fries isn't just good for your waistline -- these two small changes may help reduce the degree of your sunburn and help fight acne, respectively. Check out more tips for healthy skin here.

Just what does a woman think of her lover's looks? AOL Health polled over 4,000 women about their sexual histories and preferences and for this particular question, 42 percent of poll takers confessed that they're more concerned with being attractive to their lover rather than being attracted to their partner. A third are concerned with both how attractive they are and how attracted they are to their partner, while 17 percent think looks don't matter at all. More women's sex secrets are revealed here.

When you live in a big city, it seems the world is divided into two types of people: Fast walkers and slow walkers. And while you might not think there's much difference between those who prefer to motor uptown at a good clip and those who amble idly to their destination, new studies show that they differ in one very major regard: Their lifespans.

Research presented at the IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics in Paris shows that, on average, those who walk fast tend to live longer. The study, which took place over 20 years and involved participants with an average age of 74, compared gait speed and longevity, and found that those who maintained a pace of 1.4 meters per second or faster were over twice as likely to be alive 10 years later -- and the gap was even bigger after 15 years. Interesting, huh? I would have predicted fast walkers to be more stressed out and therefore prone to more heart attacks, but these findings held true regardless of other factors like race, ethnicity and overall health.

Of course, walking slowly is better than not walking at all, so if you're not pounding the pavement, get moving. Already doing your share of walking? Consider picking up the pace -- and sticking to it.

Liz Neporent is a diet and fitness expert and author of 12 fitness bestsellers. She regularly appears on national TV programs and is the president of Wellness 360, a New-York based wellness provider. You can also follow her on Twitter @lizzyfit.

Photo: Jervis_Pics, Flickr

Walking a mile burns the same number of calories as running a mile -- fit or fiction?

Well, this one is not so clear-cut. The answer is no, yes and it depends.

Walking at moderate speeds burns up to 40 percent fewer calories than jogging at moderate speeds over the same distance. This is because moderate walking is a more efficient way of moving and involves fewer muscles than running at a slow-to-moderate pace. When you walk, your legs are fairly straight as your foot strikes the ground. There is less impact, and your center of gravity remains relatively constant. All this conserves energy, e.g., burns fewer calories. Running is essentially jumping from foot to foot which is less energy efficient than the smooth glide of walking; because your knee is bent when your foot strikes the ground, muscles use up even more energy acting as shock absorbers and gravity fighters.

Photo: mikebaird/Flickr

Walking is such a great activity; it's easy to do, convenient, costs nothing (except for a good pair of shoes), and it can do wonders for your overall health. What's more, a walk around your neighborhood or on a trail gives you time to sort through your thoughts and release stress. But sometimes, a walk just seems a little too slow.

If you walk for exercise, why not try picking up the pace a bit? You don't have to do away with your walking routine altogether, but you can slowly create a running habit as well. After all, variety is the spice of life, and you could also say it's the spice in your workout.

Fitness Magazine has some great tips for turning your walk into a run. To start out, time your walking pace. See if you can walk a 15-minute mile. Yes? Now try for two 15-minute miles. Once you're walking fitness is at that level, you can start adding intervals of running into your two-mile route. Start out with a five-minute walk for a warm up and then:

Source

Photo: Corbis

Just a walking on the street or beach in your flip-flops can expose you to a wide range of germs (including fecal matter!). Plus, pounding the pavement in this poorly-padded footwear leaves you more susceptible to stress fractures, meaning no matter how cute and portable these babies are, they are no substitute for your normal walking or running shoes. Check out AOL Health's article on flip-flop dangers to find out what precautions you can and should take to safeguard your feet.