That's Fit

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. My high school offers very few sports, but I'd like to play something. I'd like to try out for football, but my old-fashioned mother thinks that will make me a "tomboy". What do you think? Katie

A. You've come to the right place Katie! I happen to have embedded myself in the traditionally male sport of full-contact kickboxing, and you know what? It made me a better woman! Sports are sports. Whether you play with a ball, racket, gloves or sneakers...sports are just a more fun way to exercise and flex your competitive muscles. Period.

I loved getting in the ring to try and knock an opponent out. I loved the strategy, speed, and power of the event. Fighting, in fact, is one of my favorite things to do. Some of the girls I've competed against thought they had to take on some sort of macho persona. Short hair, yucky jeans, and mean snarls. I, on the other hand, preferred to act like a monster in the ring and show up to the after-party like a lady in a pretty dress and heels. Embracing my athleticism, strength and courage has allowed me to appreciate how wonderful it is to be a woman. A strong, athletic, educated woman who loves to have the doors held for her.

Go play soccer, football, tennis, or anything else you'd like to Katie! Involvement in school sports is one of the greatest links between the most successful executives in the world. Football is fun. Football will allow you to work on your strength, stamina, sense for strategy, and ability to work well with others as a team. Let your mother know that she's taught you how to act like a lady too well, for you ignore your sense manners and class. I'd ask for her support too. Maybe if you ask her to take part in your adventure she'll feel more comfortable with it. Let me know how it goes Katie! Fitz

Q. Miss Fitz, I've been buying my children those 100 Calorie Snack Packs lately, but then some other Mom told me they weren't healthy. What do you think? Miriam

A. An Oreo is an Oreo, Miriam. I go round and round with some of my personal training clients about the same thing. Yes, those 100 Calorie Snack Packs are better than a larger container of the same products. Having said that...most of the 100 Calorie Snack Packs are just condensed versions of crap food.

The varieties I saw on the Nabisco web site included, Cheese Nips, Oreos, Teddy Grahams, and more. Those things are mostly just a combination of flour and partially hydrogenated oil. Not good for you. I don't buy them for my two little ones.

Miriam, you're obviously a mother who cares. You've already gone to the lengths of buying these snack things, because you thought they were healthy. Then you followed up on your friend's suggestion by writing to me. That's a pretty decent effort. Now what I want you to do is go to the next step. Produce. From now on, when you pack snacks for your children...pack legitimately nutritious food. Grapes, berries, bananas, apple slices, oranges, peaches, pears, plums, baby carrots, broccoli florets and more. Dried fruit isn't perfect because it often packs some added sugar, but at least your children will reap the nutrient benefits of the fruit! My two and five year olds often eat those little cups of sugar free applesauce or fruit cups in their car seats while traveling. Plastic spoons and napkins in their snack bags? You betcha!

I think some people think it sounds to difficult to provide fruit and veggies throughout the day. Trust me...if I do it....it's not complicated. Even if it were difficult though, your children and mine are totally worth the effort. Teaching them to reach for produce today will likely have them reaching for produce as adults. You're their teacher and best role model. Be creative and thank your friend for the honest advice. She must be a smarty!

Punches & Kicks,