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. Hi Fitz. I'm five months pregnant with my first child and crunches don't feel comfortable anymore. I don't want to just ignore my abdominal muscles for another five months. I still walk, swim, and do some weight training though. Any suggestions on something I can do for my abs while I continue my pregnancy? Kristi

A. Congratulations Kristi! Motherhood is amazing and you are in for so much fun. Hooray for you! I'm thrilled to hear you're pursuing a fit pregnancy, as being a healthy home is one of the nicest things you can do for yourself and your teeny baby, and you are the home! From your question, I'm guessing you're interested in maintaining abdominal strength and not flat abs. (Which would be both dangerous and silly, by the way.) Very smart. Your back and abs work together to create stability, so you're wise to prioritize this issue.

I suggest that you pursue stability training which will engage your hips, back and abdominal muscles at the same time. Invest in two Versa Disks. These balance tools are very low to the ground and would be ideal for you to stand on while going through a variety of motions. You can even do some strength training with light weights if you feel uber comfortable doing so. LIGHT WEIGHTS. The good news with the Versa Disks is this....you can work your abs just trying to stand still on them. If you are of high-level fitness you can use a small medicine ball or other light weight to make it a bit more challenging.

Another neat exercise that will challenge your abs without requiring you to lie down on your back is something you can do with a cable system and lat pull bar, or tubing. Stand facing the lat pull bar with your knees slightly bent. Grab the bar with almost straight arms and pull it down toward your thighs. You'll have to engage your abs to go through this motion, as well as your lats. Choose a weight you can repeat at least 20 times.

Safety first always. Hate to call you 'fragile', but you do have to be extra cautious right now. If any exercise feels bad at all to you, stop doing it. You and your child's health comes first. Even if you had to ignore your ab strength for the next five months, you'd be able to regain it one your child is born. Good luck Kristi! I wish both well. Fitz

Q. Hi Fitz. I want to lose weight quickly. What weight loss drugs do you recommend.? Eddie

A. Eddie, I absolutely do not recommend any drugs at all. In fact, the only thing I recommend is exercise and eating right for weight loss. Of course I'm not a doctor, but after doing this for almost 20 years I do know that weight loss drugs usually only lead to horrible side effects and very little actual weight loss. And of course, if there were an effective and safe weight loss drug available, wouldn't we all be at our ideal weight? It wouldn't be a secret.

There is no magic pill, Eddie. There are a million thieves out there who will try to sell it to you though. Don't waste your money on snake oil. Be smart. Set goals and accomplish them the old fashioned way. You can do it!

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.