I'm a cracker, and it's not just because I'm white.

I crack my neck...my back....my knuckles and my crack. OK, just my neck and knuckles - sorry, I got caught up in a little Khia. I used to pop my back, but about a year ago, I made a conscious effort to never do it again, and so far I've noticed less back pains. I still pop my neck and knuckles, though, and it's strictly become a nervous habit. A lot of it also has to do with the amount of time I'm sitting at a computer.

You wouldn't think clicking and sitting would cause so much strain, but it does. And I'm only 22, so I just can't wait to see what I'm going to be like when I'm 40.

I do have neck pains every now and then, and when I turn my head left, I can hear a little pop when I turn it back. It's not as horrible and painful as it sounds, just annoying, kind of like a clicking jaw.

Do you pop a lot of stuff on your body?

It's hard for me to get too excited about my lunch break at work. My choices are either a sub-par frozen meal, or grabbing something quick at the drive-thru. I've yet to pack my own healthy meal at home and bring it to work.

That's the odd part - I eat healthy at home, but when I'm at work, I'm grabbing cookies in the break room and getting nachos or a burger if I go out. I'm just looking for instant gratification without really thinking about the fact that what I'm eating tends to be empty calories. Plus, with the holidays, we've been having snacks and sandwiches catered to the office.

As for fast food, there are only a few choices that are within a reasonable driving distance, so those are the ones I frequent most often. And we're talking Panera, Burger King and Taco Bell - nothing to be proud of when it comes to healthy eating. However, I've been getting on their web sites and looking at their lower-calorie choices. So for instance, I'll do a half-order of salad and a cup of soup at Panera, or a grilled chicken sandwich at Burger King. (Um, Taco Bell has no healthier alternatives, but I usually go with the bean burrito...protein maybe? Ha, OK, I got nothin'.)

Frozen meals are alright every now and then, but they can't be THAT good for you. since there's usually a ton of sodium and other preservatives in them.

So what do you eat at work? What kind of routine do you have for lunch usually? Is your lunch always at noon, or do you tend to work later shifts?

For over a year now, I've been taking a weight training supplement called N.O. Xplode. I can definitely tell a difference when I work out; I have more energy and can lift heavier weights. The problem is that most supplements, including N.O. Xplode have not been FDA approved, so there's a chance I'm hurting myself more in the long run. Whenever I take it, I pretty much have to work out, because I have so much pent-up energy, and I can feel my blood pumping.

There have been some side effects. One is the occasional severe headache. The drink contains a lot of caffeine, and I'm just assuming my body is suffering from withdrawal, because I only get them on days I don't work out. Also, as soon as I take it, it's like an instant laxative, which in a way is nice, because it cleans my system out before I work out.

Do you take any supplements like this? Some people I know drink coffee or an energy drink before going to the gym. I feel like I've become too reliant on this stuff, which is $60 a bottle and could be causing damage to my heart and liver.

But at least I have biceps!

Looking good is important these days, isn’t it? But good health is even more important….right? At least it should be. It’s a superficial world out there, so it’s sometimes hard to balance out the reasons why we exercise and eat right. Sure, we want to live a better quality of life, but it’s nice to have people ogle at our total hawtness.

I see a lot of people at the gym who make it pretty obvious as to why they work out. They’re tan (a fake one, mind you), they’re talking on their cell phones, their hair is perfectly styled, they stare at themselves in the mirror more than any normal person should. They’re not sweating or panting, yet they seem to be in perfect shape. Pan over to Sam, the sickly pale hairy guy with sweaty man tits and you might just be overcome with a sense of pity and sorrow.

This was at least the scene at the rec center in college. I’ve since taken my moist jugs over to a smaller 24-hour gym, where I’m free to work on my fitness without judgment. I won’t lie though – the superficial aspect of exercising outweighs the health aspect. My clothes fit better and my confidence is higher when I work out regularly. On a scale from 1 to 10, looking better rates about a 9, while feeling better rates about a 7.

What about you? Why do you exercise and/or diet? You can be honest here. I won’t tell anyone as long as you don’t look at the wet bags of sand seeping through my shirt.