Ask Fitz! Your Fitness Questions Answered

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Dear Fitz, Ack! Swimsuit season is just around the corner. I'm obviously not going to lose a bunch of weight or get buff in only a couple of months, but what are some simple things I can do to feel better about myself when I'm on the beach? Thanks, Meghan

A. No worries Meghan. There is a ton you can accomplish in a few months. In fact, if you get serious today...you'll see results in just a couple of weeks. I'm not sure how much weight you'd like to lose, but better is better and you can definitely feel better then than you do now. For one, up the ante on your fitness routine. Find a way to exercise most days of the week. When you do exercise, here are my rules of thumb. Huff & puff when doing cardio. Grunt while strength training. And wince.....juuuuuuuuust a little bit while stretching.

If you are compelled to huff, puff, grunt, and wince, you're definitely challenging yourself and making progress. Being challenged is vital to the progress of folks at all fitness levels. Of course, don't try a marathon tomorrow. The whole weekend warrior thing leads to pain and a feeling of failure. Just get up each day and go sweat. Show your body what it's capable of and it will start to change.

Start paying attention to what you eat too. Diets are stupid. They're temporary behavioral changes that only lead to temporary results. Just be particular about what you put in your mouth. Seek out highly nutritious, low calorie foods to enjoy. Not everyone is capable of looking like they belong on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition by this summer, but EVERYONE is capable of looking and feeling better! Good luck Meghan. See you at the beach.

Q. Hi Fitz, I would really like to hire a personal trainer to help me get over some obstacles in my weight loss and exercise programs but I don't want to get yelled at. Do all personal trainers get boot camp tough with their clients? LaShaun

A. Sweet LaShaun What an good question! First of all, I'm thrilled you're considering a personal trainer. If you get the right one you'll gain a plethora of knowledge and the inspiration you need to achieve your fitness goals. You have to jive with that trainer though, so your hopes for one who won't yell at you is legitimate.

There are a ton of different trainers out there, and all of us have our own way of dealing with clients. Each person responds to different stimuli, so we use different techniques based on each individuals needs. I choose to think that I yell for people and not at them. I do yell sometimes, but only when I think it's appropriate. I do it when a client needs that extra boost when the music is loud. Sometimes I simply scream "hooray" when my clients do something fantastic. Yelling is something I do, but it is always with a purpose. I also giggle, chat and cry with my students as well. Our relationship becomes a partnership and I feel what they feel. I also want them desperately to accomplish their goals, so emotions do run high.

On the flip side, I workout at a local gym full of trainers and have never heard a peep out of one of them. Maybe they're not allowed to holler and maybe they just choose not to. But either way.....they don't yell. We're not all drill sergeants. At least not all the time. Yanking the best out of people requires creativity and sometimes volume is part of our recipe for productivity.

Hire a trainer based on referrals. Don't look in the phone book; ask your friends if they've heard of anyone great. Ask relevant questions you want to know and then give the best candidate a call. Don't pay for a huge package before you train either. I always encourage people to come in and experience a workout with me before they spend their money. If they love me, they can go with a package. If they don't....they can pay for one session and never come back. Good luck with your search, LaShaun. I'll be quietly rooting for you from afar!

Punches & Kicks,
Fitz

Note: The content presented in this Q. & A section is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as medical advice or substitute for professional medical care.