Stevia is perhaps one of the most controversial herbs since, well herb.

Stevia is reportedly to be 250-300 times sweeter than sugar and contributes no calories to the diet.  How great is that?

Problem is that the FDA has not yet approved Stevia to be used as a sweetener (or food additive) or to be GRAS (generally recognized as safe) and so no-one is technically allowed to use Stevia unless it is specifically labeled and used as a dietary supplement.  In fact the FDA has had an alert out since 1996 stating that if it is found to be labeled as a sweetener, search and seizure are to follow.  In Japan and other countries, Stevia has been known as "nature's natural sweetener" and used by millions of people for those purposes for over 25 years.

Whoa, right?!  Where does that leave us then when it comes to Stevia?  Many people believe that the government is trying to protect the booming sweetener economy in the USA and that by allowing a cheap, noncaloric herb in, the competition will be crushed.

All politics aside, while we wait for the FDA to figure this wonderful little herb out, you can still use it and buy it as a 'dietary supplement'.  It comes in the same forms as sugar would (powders and liquids).

Fit's Tip:  I usually buy it in a liquid form and use it as I would honey in my coffee or tea to ... um 'dietary supplement' it.  2-3 drops is equivalent to 1 teaspoon of sugar.

It is a fact:  Salad greens are good for you.  But the dressings, not so much.  A lot of dressings are loaded with fat since they are oil or cream based.

So here's a few ways to dress down your salad.

• Thin creamy dressings, like poppy seed or blue cheese, with non-fat milk.
• Spray salad with olive oil spray so it is not over dressed.
• If you are making dressing at home use olive oil or canola oil since they have good monounsaturated fats, and canola oil has omega 3 fatty acids too.
• Use non-fat salsa as a dressing substitute.
• If you are ordering a salad out, ask for the dressing on the side.

Whether or not we like to admit it, we all have to brave through a McDonald's meal every once and awhile (think road trips and quick meals for the kids).  If you're like me and try to make the best out of it, you're going to go with a chicken meal.  But how do you choose?

You probably want to go for the:

Asian Salad with Grilled Chicken (12.7 oz.) with the Newman's Own Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing (1.5 fl oz.):  380 calories, 12.5 grams of fat, 1570 mg of sodium and 37 grams of carbohydrates.

For other options

But if you just don't want a salad you may as well have the:

Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich (8 oz.):  420 calories, 9 grams of fat, 1240 mg of sodium and 41 grams of carbohydrates.

You should definitely steer clear from the:

Premium Crispy Chicken Club (8 oz.):  680 calories, 29 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of trans fat, 1830 mg of sodium and 64 grams of carbohydrates.

Fit's Tip:  To go the most healthy route, order the Asian Chicken salad without the dressing.  This cuts out 90 calories, 2.5 grams of fat and 14 grams of carbohydrates.

Whether or not we like to admit it, we all have to brave through a McDonald's meal every once and awhile (think road trips and quick meals for the kids).  If you're like me and try to make the best out of it, you're going to go with a chicken meal.  But how do you choose?

You probably want to go for the:

Asian Salad with Grilled Chicken (12.7 oz.) with the Newman's Own Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing (1.5 fl oz.):  380 calories, 12.5 grams of fat, 1570 mg of sodium and 37 grams of carbohydrates.

For other options

But if you just don't want a salad you may as well have the:

Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich (8 oz.):  420 calories, 9 grams of fat, 1240 mg of sodium and 41 grams of carbohydrates.

You should definitely steer clear from the:

Premium Crispy Chicken Club (8 oz.):  680 calories, 29 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of trans fat, 1830 mg of sodium and 64 grams of carbohydrates.

Fit's Tip:  To go the most healthy route, order the Asian Chicken salad without the dressing.  This cuts out 90 calories, 2.5 grams of fat and 14 grams of carbohydrates.

Did you know that raking leaves for 30 minutes burns about 150 calories, depending on your weight and how vigorously you rake?  If you hate raking leaves, just remember you're also burning calories — so why not make the most of it?

Be sure to take care of your back while you bag all those leaves.  Don't round your lower back as you move your piles into bags.  Bend from your hips and stick your booty out.  This will not only work your glutes (like a squat), but it will also protect your lower spine.  And while you're at it, why not use your deep abs too?