That's Fit

Like L.L. Cool J, I can't live without my radio. And just as he does, I like my music loud -- especially when I'm working out. But unlike the time when "my radio" literally meant my radio (when guys would walk around with enormous boom box radios carried up against their ear), these days it's all about .MP3 players.

Inasmuch as I can't live without music during a workout, however, letting the volume on my iPod rip may not be the best idea. Common sense, I know, but this lack of it is something I sense is quite common. Men's Health magazine recently addressed this issue, stating that because iPod earbuds only block 1 decibel of outside sound, we tend to overcrank the volume to compensate (and drown out the sound of the 80s monster ballads that are always played on gym speakers).

By continuously pumping up the volume, you can eventually cause hair cells in your ears to swell and die, causing auditory nerves to atrophy. The end result, as you probably guessed, is partial or complete hearing loss.

How many times have you been around somehow who, after seeing a fit celebrity on TV or in a magazine, say "Please ... if all I had to do with my day is workout, I'd look like that, too." Truth be told, it's not so much about having the time as it is about putting in the effort, which is exactly what rapper and actor L.L. Cool J proves in his book titled (what else?) L.L. Cool J's Platinum Workout.

Offering four different fitness level workouts (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum), L.L., along with his trainer Dave Honig and dietitian Christopher Mohr, offer great insight into what it takes to build a strong, lean and healthy body. Although the workout is more specifically geared toward men, woman could also apply many of the stated principles to achieve their respective fitness goals.

For a more detailed description of L.L. Cool J's Platinum Workout, click HERE.