My fellow That's Fit bloggers and I have made our views on fad diets and the like pretty clear in past posts. A former fitness industry exec has just written a book giving his views and exposing some fad diets, fitness gimmicks, supplements, and exercise equipment as out -and-out lies. Craig Pepin-Donat, the author of The Big, Fat Health and Fitness Lie (Waterside Publishers, $24.95, 258 pages), seems to take a reasonable and moderate stance when it comes to health and fitness; he promotes healthy eating, regular exercise, and monitoring portion sizes. He also stands behind fitness clubs, as long as it's a reputable organization, with good equipment and qualified nutrition and exercise professionals.

I haven't read the book yet, but it sounds like a good read to me. I've often wondered about some of the equipment touted on late-night infomercials. I'd never consider buying most of it myself (I'm a try-before-you-buy type of gal when it comes to fitness purchases), but I think it would be interesting to read a review of what those pieces of equipment do... or don't do.