This week, we asked runner and writer -- and occasional candy bar addict -- Dimity McDowell Davis how she stays fit. Davis is the co-author of Run Like A Mother: How to Get Moving and Not Lose your Family, Job or Sanity.

Q: Can you tell me about your exercise routine?

A: I try to exercise between five and six days a week. I can run three days a week, and that's all my body can handle. Right now, I'm really trying to reform my running stride, so I'm doing three 30-minute sessions a week; my brain hurts more than my quads do because I'm really thinking about the way I run. I've been injured off and on for three years, so I decided I needed to start from square one. I'm training for the New York City Marathon in the fall. I also like to ride my bike a lot, so I cycle outside one day and then I have a trainer -- a stand that holds the rear wheel -- so I can ride one day in the basement and work harder than just riding on the road.

Ladies, have you got five minutes? Of course you do -- even the busiest of people can manage to put aside five minutes for their overall well-being. Which is why the news that five minutes of biking or brisk walking is all it takes for pre-menopausal women to control their weight as they age is such a welcome relief. Five minutes? No problem.

Of course, there's a catch. That's an additional five minutes on top of your regular workout. If you don't already have a fitness routine, it's time to get moving.

But for those of us who already sweat on a regular basis: score! The findings, which comes from researchers Harvard School of Public Health and appear in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, indicate that we only have to make minor increases to our fitness regimes in order to maintain our current weight. Cycling and brisk walking were shown to be the most effective forms of exercise.

Dear Sarah,

I don't enjoy exercise, and I saw an infomercial on whole body vibration that claimed I can get fit without having to do the work. It seems too good to be true. Does it actually work? Would you recommend it? Is it a waste of money? Siobhan

Dear Siobhan,

Yes! It really does work. Whole Body Vibration (WBV) was first used as an exercise mechanism by Russian astronauts to increase their bone density and strengthen their muscles in a zero gravity environment. There are several studies on WBV benefits and its worldwide use by athletes, astronauts and movie stars.

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

Beer on the patio on a hot summer's day is one of the great Canadian pleasures. But beer isn't exactly calorie-free -- Fitsugar looks into just how much treadmill time you have to log to burn those cold ones off.

How does Betty White stay fit? "I have a two-storey house and a bad memory! I'm up and down those stairs all the time," the 88-year-old Golden Girl recently admitted.

Feel like you're stuck in a lunchtime rut? Packing a delicious and nutritious lunch in five minutes or less might sound like a fantasy, but it can be done with these tips.

What does it take to convince a guy that you're 'the one'? Recent research reveals that it only takes a millisecond for him to make up his mind.

Feeling stressed? Ditch your busy vegging out routine and get some exercise in. It's the best way to soothe stress and calm you down.

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

Married people apparently live longer, so why did a recent study find that marriage can make you sick? It's all in how you communicate, according to experts.

Have you seen the latest photos of notoriously large John Goodman? He's literally half the man he used to be -- nice one, John!

It will definitely help you shed some water weight through excess sweat, but does working out in hot weather actually burn more calories? The fitness experts at our sister site have the answer.

Having trouble taking the weight off? It's not rocket science -- here are common sense reasons why that number on the scale ain't budging.

Has the World Cup inspired you to give soccer a try? There's more to it than just kicking a ball around, you know. And it's also a really great workout.

We all have our personal reasons for exercising and most of us do it because we want to look and feel great. This is because, as you've all heard, exercise is one of the best ways to improve your overall health. Unfortunately, there are many things we can do that sabotage our efforts to get in shape and here are the top four I run across all the time.

1. Working out too much
Over-exercising will do more harm than good, especially when it becomes a compulsion. If your exercise routine lasts longer than two hours more than five days a week, you are over-exercising. While exercise is good for your body, too much has the reverse effect. Muscles do not grow while you are working out; they grow while you are resting. Muscular training stresses and damages the muscles slightly, and then your body reacts by building up the muscles in order to handle the extra work and stress. A period of 48 hours is recommended to obtain adequate rest and fuel to repair the muscles. For cardiovascular exercise, a rest period of a minimum of 24 hours is recommended to obtain adequate rest and fuel to prepare for the next workout. And every week, your body requires one to two days of complete and total rest, less than that is sabotage!

Source

Source

Source

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

Think zits are just for teenagers? As many of us grown-ups have discovered, that's far from the case.

Is it possible to go 70 years without eating? One Indian mystic claims to have lived on air and meditation only since 1940 -- do you believe him?

Want a healthy dessert item? You should give this yummy-looking one from Oh She Glows a try.

Looking for a great way to de-stress? Bond with your pet and get a workout at the same time with these dog-friendly workout tips from Fit Bottomed Girls.

Could you run 56 miles in a Rhino suit? Check out this crazy fitness challenge that recently took place in South Africa.

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

Whether you love it or loathe it, here's another good reason to eat your broccoli -- it can help prevent breast cancer.

Want to shed a few pounds before you hit the beach this summer? Work out smarter -- here are some exercises that will help you blast fat in a hurry.

Think you know what a plus-sized model looks like? Don't be so sure -- a recent magazine cover featuring one plus-sized model, one 'curvy' model and one traditionally skinny model keeps readers guessing.

Beans really are the magical fruit. Here are some fast facts of these nutritional superfoods.

Is this the end of cheese sandwiches as a lunchbox staple? Some schools are banning them for not having enough veggies.

Are you having a tough time getting motivated to workout? Personal trainer Kathleen Trotter recommends exercising with a buddy to increase accountability, relieve boredom and try some nifty new exercises.

Q: Why do you recommend working out with a partner?

A: There are numerous benefits to having a workout buddy. The main one is that working out with a partner can help give you that extra motivation to get yourself to the gym. The "buddy system" can help make you more accountable. If you know your workout partner is expecting you, then you will be less likely to come up with reasons to avoid your workout. Also, sometimes working out alone can become boring and/or lonely. Working out with a buddy can help solve this problem, by making the workouts more social and fun. Last but not least, working out with a partner can be good for your budget. If you want to work out with a personal trainer, but can't afford it, trying splitting the cost of the session with your workout buddy. You will still get the benefits of having a trainer, but at a reduced price. So next time you don't want to work out, instead of vegging on the couch, grab a workout buddy and get moving.

Q: How is the experience of working out with a partner different from working out alone?

After my KFC Double Down post earlier this week, one commenter on That's Fit.ca's Facebook page said she would love to try the "sandwich" and that it was "nothing 35 hours of cardio won't fix." This gave me a great idea for a post - let's call it The Exercise Myth.

One of the main points of the Double Down post was that the widely disseminated means of evaluating our foods is a broken system. Measurements of calories, fat and sodium don't actually mean anything in terms of whether or not a food is good for you, nutritious or health promoting. One of the consequences of this view point is the exercise myth.

When we deal in calories, we reduce our foods to the idea of nothing more than a number, which makes us think we're free to manipulate these numbers within an equation. For example, a Double Down is X number of calories, therefore if I eat it, I can burn it off by burning X number of calories working out. Calories in equals calories out and the fast food indulgence is forgotten.

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

Happy Earth Day! Show your love for the environment today by being kind to it -- here are some easy tips to get you started.

Does being single make you crazy? The Taiwanese health minister thinks so -- here's an in-depth look into whether his idea is totally out there or has some truth to it.

Love that sun-kissed look? Be careful -- studies show that visits to the tanning salon can be addictive.

You know that rule that says you should always stretch before a workout? Some experts think you should forget that and just give'er.

Suffering from allergies this spring? Get some savvy sniffle advice with these frequently asked allergy questions.

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

Holy consumerism -- research shows that women spend an average of three years of their lives shopping.

Want a long and healthy life? Take some advice from the Okinawans of Japan -- what they do and don't eat is the secret to their amazing life spans.

Now that it's spring, it's time to spring into a new fitness routine. Here are some tips on giving your old workout some spring cleaning from the National Post.

Listen up stay-at-home-moms -- it's time to get your kids moving. Studies show that you're more likely to have overweight kids than moms who work outside of the home.

Who's the latest celebrity to jump on the yoga bandwagon? This Hollywood mama took up the practice after being introduced to it by Jennifer Aniston.

You've just had a great workout. You really worked up a sweat and you know you did some good damage to those muscles. Now, you're thirsty, hungry and fatigued, so what should you reach for?

If you're like millions of North Americans, you'll probably go for a fluorescent-coloured "sports" beverage because the advertising campaigns have convinced you that they're better than water. It seems most of us have bought the line that these lab creations are superior at hydrating than the stuff created by nature that we've been surviving on for millennia.

But ask yourself this: Are sugary, artificially-coloured and flavoured, processed beverages really the best thing for your body after you work out? Are they good for you at any time? You obviously care about your body or you wouldn't be sweating so hard to keeping it healthy - so why feed it something that's hindering its healthy function?

Fortunately, there alternatives to these flashy sports drinks.

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

Feeling a little green today after some St. Paddy's Day revelry? Here are a few hangover facts to help ease your aching head.

Had a recent break up? So did Jennifer Love Hewitt, and she's written a book about it -- here are her top tips for getting over it and moving on (which she seems to do a lot)

Usually, when you have a goal weight in mind, it's less than your current weight. Not so for this 600 lb woman -- she's determined to almost double her size.

You probably don't want to copy her style, but in case you're interested in copying her fitness plan, here's how Lady Gaga gets in shape for her energetic shows.

Expecting a new arrival any time soon? Don't forget to pack the birth bag!

Dear Sarah,
I confess that I read entertainment headlines, and I am always intrigued by what the stars do for exercise. Many celebs claim they got their 'hot bods' from Pilates. What's that all about? Can you explain exactly what part of the body Pilates works?
Thanks, Bethany

Dear Bethany,

Celebs who credit Pilates for their hot bods know that you just have to workout on a regular basis to get results. They have simply found an exercise program that calls them back day after day. Because they enjoy it, they do it. Because they do it, they have hot bods.