We are 10 days away from the holiday gluttons most adore--Thanksgiving. If you plan to pig out on Turkey Day, you might consider perusing the following FITNESS blogs. Whether you choose to burn off holiday calories by taking an extra long run or you want to learn how to curb your addiction to chocolate we've got you covered:

November 11th---Running: It's All About the Shoes. Before you set out to shed pounds via running it is imperative that you purchase the right shoes. This blog provides helpful tips on what you should look for in proper-fitting running shoe.

November 12th---Running: It's All About the Shoes-Part 2. Part two of "Running: It's All About the Shoes" provides tips on what you should do with a pair of shoes prior to and after you purchase them. Running shoes don't come cheap, so it's vital that you get the right fit the first time around.

November 13th---Runners vs. Drivers-Sharing the Road with Lunatics on Four Wheels. Now that you have the right running shoes it's time to break them in. But, before you do consider your running route. Road rage between runners and motorists has hit an all time high. This blog lists some things you don't want to do when running in traffic.

November 14th---How Exercise Can Help Chocoholics. According to British researchers, chocoholics can reduce their cravings by taking a simple 15-minute stroll. Sounds simple, right? Judge for yourself in this blog.

November 15th---Say So Long to Old School Stretches. If you were taught that holding stretches for at least 20 seconds was essential to a proper warm-up, then you will be shocked by the results of a new study recently conducted in Las Vegas. Find out why old school stretching could hurt you more than help you.

Your junior high school P.E. teacher had it all wrong.

If you grew up in the 70s like I did you were likely taught the importance of warm-up exercises and how holding stretches for at least 20 seconds was essential. Well, time has moved on and now scientists maintain that some of those tried and true stretches you did in 7th grade are not only a waste of time but also are bad for you.

According to researchers, the belief that holding a stretch for 20 to 30 seconds (known as static stretching) primes muscles for a workout is not only antiquated--it's dead wrong. Researchers say a new study shows holding a stretch for that long actually weakens muscles.

The new study revealed that static stretching decreases muscle strength by as much as 30 percent. In addition, researchers say their study proved that stretching one leg's muscles reduces strength in the other leg because "the central nervous system rebels against the movements." According to researchers, the straining muscle becomes less responsive and stays weakened for up to 30 minutes after static stretching, which is not how an athlete wants to begin a workout.

Rather than strain your muscles with static stretches scientists say athletes should participate in light jogging, which helps loosen muscles and tendons and increases the range of motion of various joints. These types of movements literally warm up the body, which is what you want to do prior to beginning an intense workout.

Experts say another option is to employ a technique known as dynamic stretching or dynamic warm-ups. This technique increases power, flexibility and range of motion. Researchers say for runners, an ideal warm-up might include squats, lunges and light jogging. For athletes who need to move rapidly in different directions, like soccer or tennis, experts recommend doing dynamic stretches that involve multiple body parts such as "Spider Man," whereby a person drops onto all fours and crawls a few hundred feet, as if he or she were climbing a wall.

What does your warm-up routine entail? Are you still doing old-school stretches?

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If you are desperately trying to overcome your addiction to chocolate this blog might come in quite handy. According to British researchers, chocoholics can reduce their cravings by taking a simple 15-minute stroll.

The results of this new study are making headlines around the world (which just goes to prove how powerful the lure of chocolate really is). In a recent news conference scientists announced that for the first-time ever research shows a link between exercise and managing food cravings.

The study followed 25 self-professed "chocoholics" (defined as people who ate chocolate on a daily basis). Each chocoholic was told to abstain from eating chocolate for three days. At the end of Day 3 study participants were asked to either complete a 15-minute brisk walk or rest, in a random order. They then engaged in tasks that would normally induce chocolate cravings, including a mental challenge and opening a chocolate bar.

According to researchers, the chocoholics who participated in physical activity reported fewer cravings than those who opted to rest. Researchers also noted that the chocolate cravings were not only reduced during the walk, but for at least ten minutes afterwards.

In speaking to the media regarding their findings researchers said: "Our ongoing work consistently shows that brief bouts of physical activity reduces chocolate cravings. Neuroscientists have suggested common processes in the reward centers of the brain between drug and food addictions, and it may be that exercise effects brain chemicals that help to regulate mood and cravings. This could be good news for people who struggle to manage their cravings for sugary snacks and want to lose weight."

Researchers say their findings are particularly beneficial for women, who studies show are more susceptible to food cravings than men. According to scientists, chocolate is among the most craved foods in the world because it contains a number of biologically active constituents that temporarily enhance our mood.

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Granted I have never been pelted with a half-eaten jelly donut while cruising down the street on my morning run, but I've had my share of empty plastic bottles hurled in my direction over the years.

Runners (all 41 million of us in this country, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association) often become targets of lunatics behind the wheel regardless of whether or not we deserve to be. Okay, "deserve" may be a bit strong, though I've seen many a runner darting through intersections, cutting off vehicles and sprinting in the middle of public streets. This lack of running etiquette does nothing to alleviate the adversity that has long existed between runners and motorists.

What's your biggest gripe about drivers?

According to a recent survey conducted by Runner's World magazine, most amateur runners complain about drivers going too fast or not paying attention to the road. I agree. The number of cellphone chatting numbskulls behind the wheel has increased exponentially since I first started running more than 15 years ago.

Then, there are the drivers, who simply don't care that a real live human being is running near their two-ton motorized machines. Runners are taught to stick to the left side of the road, and run against traffic. Yet, according to the Runner's World survey, many drivers fail to look before making right hand turns and often end up plowing into joggers.

Blaring horns, obscene hand gestures, yelling and cursing are common sights and sounds during driver vs. runner altercations. Unfortunately, in some cases harsh tones and ugly names are not the only things fly when runners and motorists face off.

Last April police in New Jersey responded to a nasty scene between a driver and a runner: According to reports, the incident began when a driver entered a crosswalk and nearly barreled into a jogger. The runner retaliated by smashing his fist on the hood of the car. This angered the driver who proceeded to pin the runner against a parked car. The runner then reportedly fought back and struck the driver with his iPod - at which point the motorist reached into the back seat and pulled out a golf club.

Talk about road rage.

What's the worst thing that has ever happened to you on a run?

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Did you know that women make gyms germier than men; that exercising can reduce the risk of breast cancer; and that very bad things can happen if you suddenly quit working out? You would have if you read this week's entries in the FITNESS blog.

If you missed the information on these timely topics, don't fret, a recap of this week's blogs are listed below:

November 2nd---Celebrity Marathon Runners. It's not everyday that you see some of Hollywood's biggest names running nearly naked through the streets of the Big Apple. Find out, which celebs toughed it out along the 26.2-mile stretch that is the New York City Marathon.

November 3rd---Can Exercising Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer? A new study suggests that women who participate in vigorous exercise can lessen their risk of contracting breast cancer. But, there's a catch. Find out what it is in this blog.

November 5th---Is Your Favorite Sport Putting You at Risk for Injury? Health experts are constantly trying to motivate people to get moving. They want couch potatoes to get up and walk, run, join a bowling league, play tennis, etc. However, doctors are now saying that if the right precautions are not taken, amateur sports can have unexpected long-term health risks. Find out how you can protect yourself against injury in this blog.

November 6th---Girls Make Gyms Germier than Guys Do. A new study found that women spread germs more rapidly around the gym than men. But, experts say that shouldn't stop you from working out in a room full of females. Find out why in this blog.

November 7th---Getting Fit: No More Excuses. If you have been avoiding daily workouts because you can't seem to fit them into your hectic schedule this blog is not going to help your cause. Find out why there are no longer any good excuses to avoid working out.

November 8th---Bad Things Happen When You Stop Going to the Gym. If you thought excess weight was the only thing that you were subject to gain once you stopped going to the gym, think again. Find out what serious disease could be on your horizon should you opt to revert back to your couch potato ways.