Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

Feeling a bit un-challenged by your same old running routine? Here are some affordable gadgets that will help take your jogs to the next level.

Get awesome glutes -- Shape your backside with these creative variations on the traditional lunge.

How much you weigh matters, but where you carry that weight also matters -- research suggests that people who carry a certain kind of fat will have a harder time losing it than anyone else.

Don't let achy joints keep you from working out -- As Health.com points out, a bit of sweat can really help you manage the pain.

Looking on the bright side isn't so easy -- or is it? Here are some easy tips on how to become a "glass half-full" kind of person.

We've all been there -- after a stressful period at work, a fight with a friend or a bad break-up, we reach for the Oreos and ice cream and deep dish pizza, all while promising to eat better once we're feeling normal again. If we work out and eat healthy foods after a few weeks of bingeing, it's OK, right?

Wrong. A new study shows that what goes into our lips really does stay a lifetime on our hips. When it comes to unhealthy eating, "even short-term behavioural changes may have prolonged effects on health," Asa Ernersson, the key author on the study, told the BBC. Ouch.

The research, done at Sweden's Linkoping University, showed that people who binged on fast food for four to six weeks gained an average of 14 pounds and kept it on for over two years. During the study, the 18 adult participants were limited to 5,000 steps or less per day while increasing their consumption of energy-dense foods by 70 percent. So it's not surprising that they gained the weight.

Don't get fat, because if you do, you'll be fat forever! Fear! Woe! Despair!

This is how much of the media is interpreting a new obesity study out of Sweden. 'Fat Forever' certainly makes a good headline, but what they're doing by spewing this hyperbole is violating the principle of Occam's razor.

Occam's razor is a principle that the simplest explanation to an event is usually the correct one. As an example, you do the laundry and a sock goes missing. Why?

1. An alien shape shifter that loves the taste of freshly-washed socks has taken the place of your dryer.
2. The mixture of tumbling and heat opens a wormhole into a parallel universe, but the hole is only large enough to allow socks to travel through.
3. You lost a sock somehow, somewhere. It might turn up, and it might not. Deal with it.

Occam's razor asserts that number three is most likely correct. Go figure.

While those are extreme examples, the aforementioned weight loss study out of Sweden (PDF) has caused all sorts of complex assumptions to be made about losing weight where a simpler answer is quite likely more correct.

Natasha Turner, N.D. is a Toronto-based naturopathic doctor. She is the founder of the Clear Medicine wellness boutique and author of the bestselling book The Hormone Diet. Each week in her column for That's Fit.ca, Dr. Turner advises readers on how to remedy common health issues and improve their overall health.

Dr. Turner answers all your detox questions.

Beginning the fall with a cleanse or detox is a fantastic way to jump-start your weight loss process, clear your complexion, improve digestion and optimize wellness. Toxicity of the liver and the digestive system makes us feel bloated, tired and generally unwell, which makes it tough to begin an exercise program and to stay motivated.

Weight Loss and Toxicity
The majority of the toxins in our body are fat-soluble. This means they are stored in our fat cells and may be released into our system when we begin a weight loss and exercise program. Another important factor to consider is that being thin does not necessarily mean being healthy and that the steps used today to achieve your weight loss goals must be safe, well-planned and executed. Now, let's tackle a few questions you may have regarding detox so that you can get started and successfully complete your cleansing program.

How long should I stay on the detox?
A minimum of two weeks is best for a cleanse. However, individuals with chronic symptoms or conditions (arthritis, endometriosis, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, etc.) may wish to continue for four to six weeks. Before beginning, and in order to avoid cheating or falling off the program, it is best to eat the foods currently in your fridge that will not be allowed in your detox program. Plan your meals to prepare for the detox, shop for specific foods and supplements and make sure all your social commitments are out of the way. Revisit The Hormone Diet for a detailed detox plan.

Which supplements should I take?

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

Looking for some flavourful greens to add to your salad? Try watercress -- recent studies have found it to be effective in warding off cancer.

How bad it looks is the least of your worries -- as it turns out, your muffin top can actually kill you if you don't do something about it.

Speaking of your muffin top, you can work it off (and any other unsightly bulge or wobbly bit) simple by walking -- here's how amping up your daily stroll can lead to big results on the scale.

We're always being told that water is an essential ingredient in the weight loss equation, but how effective is it really? And do we actually need as much as the experts recommend?

Your period doesn't just help you track ovulation -- as new research points out, keeping track of your cycles is also an effective way to predict your cholesterol levels.

Are you sick of agonizing over your size - whether you perceive yourself to be 10 or 100 pounds overweight? We asked Wendy Shanker, author of The Fat Girl's Guide to Life, to explain why she decided to stop dieting and embrace her body.

Q: What inspired you to write this book?

A: I wrote The Fat Girl's Guide to Life because I was fed up. I'd been dieting for almost my entire adult life. While I was good at a lot of things, I was not good at losing weight. At least, losing weight and keeping it off. I always felt like I was too fat, too weak, too sad, not good enough...and if only I could be thin, I'd be happy.

When I turned 30 I went to this very famous medical weight loss center in North Carolina for one final attempt to dump my big ass forever. Well, I lost it – but "it" wasn't weight. After four weeks of perfect dieting, exercise, medical supervision, group talks, cooking classes, calorie counting...I lost exactly two pounds. The program cost me almost $10,000. It netted out to about $5000 a pound in weight loss. It wasn't the expense that tipped me over the edge, it was the realization that maybe, just maybe, my body was naturally inclined to stay at the weight it was at, and always returned to after losing weight. Maybe I could be a happy, healthy person at the weight I was (about 219 at the time). That was it. No more diets, no more self-hate, no more waiting for life to start in different size pants.

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

Going organic shouldn't break the bank -- check out these tips on how to fill your cart with the best organic foods without emptying your wallet at the checkout counter.

In search of your "happy weight?" Here's how one habitual dieter ditched the scale and found hers.

If you're having trouble losing weight and you can't figure out why, the answer might be just around the next cubicle in your office. Beware the "office feeder" -- he or she could be sabotaging your healthy habits.

Drew Carey is now half the man he was -- literally! Here's what he had to say about how being fat "sucks."

Gross! A survey show that one in five adults admit to peeing in the pool -- if you're part of that 20 percent, here are some very good reasons to get out and use the toilet.

1. I love to eat
Running is one of the most time-efficient, calorie-burning exercises around. When I run, that food I've eaten gets burned off as heat energy. If I didn't run, that food would end up getting stored as an unhealthy and unattractive blob around my midsection. Running many kilometres is what got me slim, and it's what keeps me that way.

2. I love to be outside
Regardless of this great country's weather extremes, there is something invigorating about spending time outside, especially if you're sweating while doing it. Whenever I need an excuse to get outside, my running shoes are always right there asking me to strap them on. The opportunities to be outside and running abound. If I drop my kids at a birthday party, I run. When I take them to a karate class, I run. When I wake up early and everyone else is asleep, I run. When TV sucks, I run.

When I want to, I run.

Find out six more reasons after the jump.

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

We're constantly being told to drink more water, but can guzzling litres of H20 every day actually help us slim down? According to these experts, there might not be any need to chug aqua throughout the day.

Looking for the perfect workout? Your search is over -- here's a whole-body exercise plan than can tone all your trouble spots in just 20 minutes a day.

It's not just humans who are being affected by this obesity epidemic -- studies show that our pets are also falling victim to excess weight. Maybe it's time to put Fido on a diet?

Looking for an indulgent, yet healthy breakfast idea for the weekend? Try these maple and peanut butter pancakes that will hit the spot and fuel you for the rest of the day.

Our warm summer evenings are ideal for family time in the park and on the monkey bars, but first, let's brush up on our playground safety rules.

I don't discriminate against the overweight. Anyone who thinks so would be saying I discriminate against my own mother, and you don't want to do that, because I love my mommy.

Yes, I get in people's faces when they make lame excuses as to why they can't work out because it grabs attention. If I wrote these posts like they were being submitted to a scholarly journal then the average retention level would fall to that of a rugby player in a scrapbooking class. My occasional profanity, outlandish statement, and downright offensiveness keep readers on their toes so that the underlying messages sink in.

In other words, I yell because I care. You're welcome.

Now that you know I'm really a nice guy deep down, it's time to piss some people off.

A little while ago I wrote a post on how slow and steady is the best way to lose weight and the comments section turned into a bit of a battleground over claims that people are genetically programmed to be fat and there is nothing they can do about it. Here is one quote: "Stop trying to lose weight. If you're like most people, you won't. Not permanently. You're fighting generations of genetics. You're not going to win."

Granted, this person did not disparage exercise and efforts to be healthy, but she was against trying to lose weight, saying you can't win. I respectfully disagree to hell and back.

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

Buying organic is best, but if that's not an option, don't worry -- you can detoxify your produce yourself. Here are some quick and easy intructions for making sure your foods are pesticide-free.

Going on a diet shouldn't mean cutting valuable nutrients out of your life. Here's some advice on how to get your vitamins without the extra calories.

Did you notice a little more "wiggle room" when you went to see Inception over the weekend? It's not your imagination -- theatre seats have been getting bigger and bigger as the obesity epidemic has grown.

Before your slather it on and hunker down in the sun, be sure you know the facts about suncreen, including these tips you may not have heard before.

Having trouble slimming down? Make sure you're not making one of these top weight loss mistakes.

When it comes to beer, I have a refined palate, which is a nice way of saying I'm a snob.

My local favourite is Big Rock Traditional, but I'll take a Newcastle, Bass Ale, Guinness or just about anything German any day. So when the PR person for the new Molson 67 Calorie beer asked me to write about choosing low-calorie beer as part of a weight loss regimen I thought, You're asking the wrong guy.

Still, I agreed. It's free beer, after all.

Before even receiving it I was coming up with similes in my head: "It tastes like it passed through the urethra of a pack animal" came to mind. Alas, as with so many things in life, timing is everything.

It was a hot day and I was pulling up to my beer-less house having just returned from a 95km bicycle ride. And there it was on the porch: a six-pack of Molson 67. And it was still cold. I took it inside and threw it in the fridge, then I guzzled a large glass of water to replace some of the fluids lost on my ride and hit the shower, thinking about the beer waiting for me when I got out.

I wasn't expecting much. We are talking about a 67-calorie beer here, but you know what? It didn't suck.

OK, we're done. Review over.

Crud. My editor said something about a "minimum word count" for my articles, so let's do some math.

Natasha Turner, N.D. is a Toronto-based naturopathic doctor. She is the founder of the Clear Medicine wellness boutique and author of the bestselling book The Hormone Diet. Each week in her column for That's Fit.ca, Dr. Turner advises readers on how to remedy common health issues as well as improve their overall health.

For many people, myself included, grabbing a latte is the high point of a day. You may occasionally give it up for a few weeks at a time, but the comfort and gratification from this basic pleasure doesn't keep you away from the local coffee shop for long. However, there are a few things you can do right now to make this unhealthy habit, a whole lot healthier:

1. Go for soy milk over cow's milk: Some sources suggest that cow's milk is a common food allergy that can contribute to eczema, asthma, sinus congestion or digestive upset. Soy is high in protein and in calcium. It is also beneficial for heart health, prostate cells, menopausal and PMS symptoms, bone density and sex hormone balance (due to its phytoestrogenic isoflavones). Breast tenderness, irritability and acne breakouts before menses can be lessened by having a cup of soy milk each day. Recent studies even suggest that soy protein contributes to fat loss and the maintenance of muscle during a weight loss program.


2. Top it off with cinnamon: Cinnamon is all the rage right now in the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes because of its insulin-sensitizing effects. Insulin instructs the body to store extra calories as fat if they are not burned off after consumption. An insulin-sensitizing agent is one that causes the cells of the body to have a better response to insulin, which ultimately lessens the need for excessive insulin secretion. A study published in Diabetes Care found that half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day significantly reduces blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It also reduces triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels among this group. Less insulin is beneficial beyond weight loss reasons and cholesterol control as avoidance of high insulin levels over long periods of time is linked to reduced risk of cancer (i.e. breast), Alzheimer's disease, high blood pressure, accelerated aging and heart disease.


3. Coffee: One cup a day is not that bad: New research confirms that moderate coffee consumption has possible benefits and may not cause us harm. These benefits include reduced risk for type 2 diabetes, gallstones, liver disease, colon cancer and Parkinson's disease. Studies show that type 2 diabetes is lower among regular coffee drinkers (two or less cups per day). In addition to the long-term health benefits, the immediate effects of coffee consumption include improved endurance in long-duration physical activities and higher, fat-burning effects before a workout.

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

Japan is known for having a high percentage of centenarians and have you ever wondered what the ace up their longevity sleeve is? Here's why you should definitely start eating more sushi.

If you're expecting, you're welcome to start taking it easy, but don't use it as an excuse to become an all-out couch potato for nine months. Here are some tips for exercising when you've got a baby on the way.

Turns out there may be something good about those Canadian winters -- studies show that cold temperatures help activate our "brown fat," which makes it easier to lose weight.

Skin tags, liver spots, razor burn ... you skin can be a tricky organ to manage. Here's how to handle your most frequent problem spots.

Got a goal weight in mind? Slow and steady weight loss might help you in the long run, but new research shows that rapid weight loss is best if you're trying to hit a target.

Are you sick of bouncing back and forth between inspired spurts of deprivation and weeks of indulging bad habits? Dr. Terese Weinstein Katz, founder of the Eat Sanely program, explains why we eat (or fail to eat) to extremes and how to break the cycle.

Q: What is eating sanely?

A: I define sane eating as "eating that maintains a healthy enough weight, for good, without extreme dieting, and with peace of mind." That means that, most of the time, your eating does not involve extreme over or under-eating. It means that you don't live part of your life "on a diet" and part of it not. And it means that you're not constantly worried or guilty about what or how you're eating. In short, you're eating in a way that you can live with, day in and day out, year in and year out, and that maintains a weight that's acceptable to you and doesn't cause health problems.

Q: Why do so many of us have a tough time eating sanely?