That's Fit

Bocce: Not just for aging Italian men anymore. Photo: Eric Perrone, Flickr

Even those of us with the healthiest habits can get thrown off course on a holiday weekend. Too much eating and drinking paired with a lot of sitting and chatting can totally derail your diet. However, with the slightest amount of planning, you can mitigate the damage (at least a little bit).

Take bocce, for example. The D.C. Bocce League (whose motto is "Our balls are harder") allows people of all ages (yes, young folks play bocce, too) to get together and be, well, somewhat active. Definitely more active than, say sitting in a lawn chair. Or a bar stool. Or the couch.

The game, for those of you who are unfortunate enough to be unfamiliar, is an ancestor of bowling that initially became popular when soldiers in ancient Rome tossed stones to stave off boredom between battles. It now consists of tossing a two-pound ball toward a small white ball across a lawn. No, you're not going to work up a sweat, but it'll burn more calories than the 12-ounce curls you'd planned on.

Sephora.com

It's summertime, and you're active. And you know what that means -- makeup melt. You covered up that blemish and added a perfect amount of blush to the apples of your cheeks, but the moment you stepped out into the sweltering heat, you felt like all your hard work was just running down your face. Now, you're just hoping that your sweaty cheeks didn't cause your mascara to run all over.

While I can't guarantee you can keep a perfectly made-up face through a big workout, there are products available to help you look fresh and put together when the heat is on.

• Face. Start with a foundation primer. For starters, it will give your skin a nice, smooth finish so your foundation will go on flawlessly. More important right now, though, it gives your foundation a bit of "stick" -- it's designed to outlast heat and a bit of sweat with ease. I've had good luck with Peter Thomas Roth Max Anti-Shine Mattifying Gel, $35, but for acne-prone skin, your best bet is probably Clear Prep FX Matte Foundation Primer and Anti-Acne Treatment, $39, which is designed to give you that smooth finish while treating blemishes.

So, have you done your grocery shopping for the big cookout this weekend? Before you do, think about how comfortable you really are with blowing several days' worth of calories in one big, fatty meal. Since you're here, chances are good you'd rather keep the damage to a minimum. And no, lightening up your Fourth of July spread of food doesn't make you any less patriotic.

Want to cut some calories without sacrificing flavor? The video below has some great tips. We want to hear from you, too. Share your top tips for a slimmed-down barbecue in the comments!

The Only Underwater Pogo Stick Photo: hammacher.com

The Underwater Pogo Stick is the only pogo stick designed specifically for pool use -- the rigid ball is filled with water, so it allows you to bounce on the walls and bottom of your pool. Your body weight is all you need to bring it down, and the ball provides enough bounce to get you bounding through even deep water!

The handles are rubber, and the footrest is also nonstick, so you should be able to work hard without losing your grip. And while I love swimming laps, I have to say that this looks like a heck of a lot of fun. It's the type of tool that would help you burn calories without feeling like you're actually working. And the price is right -- just $59.95 at Hammacher Schlemmer.

The only caveat -- chances are you won't be able to use this at your gym's pool. But you can probably find some pool-owning pals who'll let you splash around. You know, as long as you let them have a turn, too!

If you're looking for fitness inspiration, why not look to the stars? Each week, we round up some of the best celebrity fitness stories for you. Many will motivate you to hit the gym and eat healthfully, while some ... well, some can be viewed more as cautionary tales. But no matter what, you're going to be entertained!

Who doesn't love Bollywood dancing? It's energetic, it's beautiful, and it's fun! And although I wasn't completely satisfied with the last Bollywood-inspired workout I did, I was excited to try Bollywood Booty, featuring fitness star and yogini Hemalayaa.

The video is beautifully shot, and Hemalayaa makes all of the moves look easy and natural. She has two other women dancing with her who also do a great job. And, some of the moves are guaranteed to get you giggling, which is part of the point -- throughout the 45-minute workout, you're constantly reminded to smile and enjoy yourself.

If you've watched much Bollywood dancing, you'll definitely appreciate learning some of the names of the hand and arm movements -- seeing those broken down definitely makes the whole style much more approachable. But is the video worth your hard-earned money?

Photo: JY7929/Flickr

You probably already know that, around these parts, we highly recommend triathlons. After all, regardless of your athletic ability, there's a race that will suit you -- and when a great workout is as much fun as an event like this, what's stopping you?

Oh, right, the training. No worries -- Aflac Iron Girl has lots of tips for triathlon training. Whether you're hoping for a faster swim, bike or run, these suggestions will help you cross the finish line well before your goal time.

Swim
Fix foggy goggles by leaving a bit of water in them. And, drink up! Many swimmers get dehydrated because they don't think to drink water while they're in the water. Get your fluids both before and while you swim.

Could Warrior I make you a better runner? Photo: judepics/Flickrs

If you're a runner and don't practice yoga, you're really missing out. Sure, you have plenty of reasons for not trying yoga -- it's boring, it doesn't get your heart rate up like running, the poses hurt, it just doesn't do much for you. But you know what? It's actually a perfect complement to your running habit, and New York Yoga is putting on a workshop that will teach you everything you need to know.

Jenny Gammello, the instructor teaching the 12-week Yoga for Runners workshop even made me want to do nothing more than to spend an hour doing yoga followed by an eight-mile run. But here's a big surprise -- Jenny was once one of those people who felt like running and yoga just didn't work! "I quit yoga when I started running because my muscles were so tight that classes were just miserable. Then, I quit running for yoga because I felt like I was destroying everything I'd accomplished in my classes when I went for a run!"

So what changed her mind? "Yoga has actually made me a much better runner," she said. For starters, while running is very one-dimensional (all forward), yoga utilizes your whole body and your entire range of motion. "Yoga helps you find the best, most efficient way to move forward, not to mention the fact that it helps runners be more present and more aware of possible injuries."

Take in the sights on your bike! Photo: madnzany on Flickr

One of the best ways to see a city you're visiting is to go for a bike ride. It's scenic and you get a workout (not to mention, it's totally eco-friendly!). There's just one problem -- most bikes don't exactly fit in a carry-on, and even if you're driving to your destination, it can be difficult to pack bikes for the whole family and still bring the luggage. And the family.

However, if you're going to one of 157 cities in the U.S. or Canada, there's a simple solution -- RentaBikeNow.com. You simply go online, select your destination, reserve the bike of your choice (mountain, cruiser or road bike, height, etc.), pick it up on the proper day, and ride!

Prices and availability vary depending on location. For example, in Tampa, Florida, you can rent a bike for an hour ($10), four hours ($30-$40), a full day ($60-$65) or for a whole week ($150-$230). In San Francisco the prices are a bit lower, but there are fewer bikes available, and your only choices are to pay by the hour or by the day.

The next time you travel, maybe you should worry less about what kind of gym your hotel has, and focus more on finding the nearest bike rental shop!

I've said it before, and I'll say it over and over again -- looking good and feeling good really do go hand in hand. I don't mean that dressing in cute clothes will make you happy (although I promise it won't hurt). Rather, if you feel good -- healthy, happy, optimistic -- it'll show.

Photo: shop.fila.com

I always feel better when my purchases support my beliefs, so when I heard that Fila had teamed up with AmericanForests.org, I was intrigued. Then, I found that not only had Fila made a one-year commitment with the nation's oldest and most respected non-profit dedicated to tree planting in the U.S. and globally, but they were also using eco-conscious fabrics in their Women's Personal Performance line. Sold!

The brand has incorporated the use of sustainable and recycled fibers, like soy, bamboo and recycled Polyester into their women's line. Initially launched in 2008, the line has proven that fashion, function and eco-friendliness can go hand in hand (uh, in hand). Don't even try to tell me you're not into the Fila Twist Back Yoga Tank ($58), or the Flower Sleeveless Muscle Tank ($50).

And yes, I realize that $50 for a top is more than you'd pay at, say, Target. And I know that's hard right now. But, consider this -- would you rather have one piece that supports a company that's incorporating sustainable practices and donating money to get more trees planted, or three pieces that don't?

If you're looking for fitness inspiration, why not look to the stars? Each week, we round up some of the best celebrity fitness stories for you. Many will motivate you to hit the gym and eat healthfully, while some ... well, some can be viewed more as cautionary tales. But no matter what, you're going to be entertained!

Devotees of yoga are often divided into two schools -- those who practice for the physical benefit, and those who practice for the spiritual/mental aspect. While I like what yoga does for my body, I definitely fall more into the latter group. Yoga provides a peace of mind that just isn't matched by most other forms of exercise.

Element: Am and PM Yoga for Beginners is right up my alley. It focuses strongly on the mind while giving good instruction on how to move the body.

But, is it the best choice for someone new to yoga? I tried it out and am happy to report my findings!

Nia Vardalos in 2004 (left) and 2009 (right). Photos: Getty Images

Nia Vardalos thought she was attractive when she shot "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." However, according to a post she wrote on the Anderson Cooper 360 blog, studio execs and movie reviewers disagreed, calling her "overweight, unattractive, and unappealing."

In the past year, Vardalos has starred in a movie, wrote and directed another and adopted a three-year-old child. However, the fact that she lost 40 pounds is what people are asking her about, and she just doesn't understand what the big, fat deal is.

"I had a blood sugar problem so my Doctor ordered me to lose weight, it was really hard but I did it through diet, exercise and it took a year," writes Vardalos, adding that, when she tells people this "secret," their eyes glaze over and "I might as well just shove an Ambien up their nostril."

Photo: athleteoutfitters.com

Have you entered to win a set of Safe Side Towels? Why not?

The Safe Side Towel shows you which side to use on gym equipment and which side to use on your face, keeping you safe from the icky (and dangerous) germs living on that sweat-soaked treadmill. And this week's giveaway gives four lucky readers a chance to win a set of three!

Entering couldn't be easier -- just head over to the original giveaway post and leave a comment. But hurry -- you only have until Friday at 5pm to enter. Good luck!