That's Fit

Demi Moore has always been known for her smokin' body, especially a few years ago when, at 41, she outshone her much-younger co-stars as the hottest star of 2003's Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. But her career has slowed down a bit since then ... has her workout schedule done the same?

You bet, says Demi in an interview with Britain's Hello magazine. "I must admit that I did nearly kill myself years ago, but I've not had that kind of time for quite a while. There was a time when I took on several film roles that made it absolutely necessary for me to be buff, but I took it a bit too far I think," said Moore. "I used to love running, but I have replaced that with brisk walking - it's less impact on the bones. I also do Pilates to stretch and elongate the muscles, and some light weights."

Good for her -- giving up a rigorous routine doesn't mean becoming a couch potato. If you want to take your workout down a notch, do what Demi did and replace it with some gentle exercises.

Who can forget the image of Carol Burnett as Scarlet O'Hara, complete with curtain rods? Actress and comedian Carol Burnett is as loved as the quirky characters she's played. So it's great to hear that she's taking good care of herself.

When asked what her New Year's resolution is, Burnett said, "Just to keep on keeping on -- and something for my own personal self, to continue to exercise. It's a tough one, but I do pilates, and they do help, for the bones and general flexibility. You have to have a trainer, and I have a wonderful gal who helps me. I'm not too thrilled as I'm doing them, but afterward I feel great."

Check out other TV stars New Year's resolutions.

No, no ... Drew Barrymore isn't chug-a-lugging at the bar every night. She got that out of her system at a very young age, sadly. This is a much healthier activity. Drew is a fan of the Bar Method.

The Bar Method, created by Burr Leonard, is a blend of Pilates, yoga and other exercises. The program is low-impact and helps to reduce body fat while toning muscles. Many of the exercises (here comes the "no duh" moment of the post) focus around bar work.

I think Drew Barrymore looks awesome; she's lean and toned without being skeletal like a few other celebs we know.

Ultimate Pilates Workouts is a helpful -- and free -- resource with a full library of Pilates videos for your use. The creators are twins Katherine and Kimberly Corp. Not only are they certified fitness instructors, they also happen to be former Rockettes. (Think perfect legs that go for miles.) The twins got into Pilates after leaving desk jobs to return to the world of dance. They credit Pilates for regaining their flexibility and pre-desk job bodies.

There are premium options available on the website because, hey, people have to make a living, right? But the Basic option (read: FREE) has seven different Pilates workouts to choose from. I wimped out and chose the 45-minute video dubbed "My First Pilates Workout."

It's quite slow in the beginning and I have to admit that I spent the first 10 minutes or so alternately talking myself out of fast-forwarding the video and laughing at the serene music and the twins' calm demeanor as sirens wailed past their studio window. But at the end of the workout I felt great, as if I had slowly and steadily worked every muscle in my body. Moreover, I felt thoroughly relaxed -- and considering the stressful day I had, that's really saying something. If you want more information on Pilates, check out AOL Health.

I remember watching Full House and always thinking Candace Cameron (who played D.J. Tanner for those of you who weren't down with the "House") was the coolest. She was pretty, and funny, and wore the best clothes. However, not everyone was as thrilled with her appearance -- Candace began feeling self-conscious about her weight as a teenager on the hit show.

She insists that nobody ever gave her a hard time about it, or made her feel bad about it, but says, "Nobody likes being the chubby one on TV." Candace tried a variety of diets, including diet pills, but of course, none of it worked. Her weight yo-yo'd for years, throughout her marriage to former NHL star Valeri Bure and pregnancies. But now, as a 32-year-old mother of three, Candace has found just the right balance to be healthy, thin, and fit.

Fitness has become part of her -- and her family's -- life. She works out about four times a week and does Pilates (her absolute favorite), kickboxing cardio classes, and lots of outdoor sports with her kids. "It actually got easier, once I had kids, to be more active," says Candace, "because you need to be active with your kids. I don't want them sitting around playing video games ... It's probably what got me into shape the most."

Fitness is important at any age -- it keeps your body looking and feeling good, it helps prevent a host of chronic conditions, and it boosts your energy. But as you approach the big 4-0, there are some additional reasons why exercise is important.

Exercise helps alleviate some of the symptoms of perimenopause, which can begin anytime during your 40s. Exercise is also a proactive measure against the estrogen loss that will occur later during menopause; it can help prevent related problems such as bone loss. Menopause may seem far away -- but being active now will make it easier when menopause comes knocking on your door.

Revolution Health has fitness tips for women in their 40s:

• Increase your core strength, balance, and flexibility. Improving these areas and maintaining them will help prevent falls and stiff, achy joints as you get older. Activities such as Pilates and yoga will help. AOL Health has tips on strength and flexibility exercises.
• Do weight-bearing exercise. Bolster your bone density by participating in weight-bearing activities such as jumping rope, aerobics, tennis, and jogging.
• Keep up the cardio. Cardio workouts will help keep your heart strong and help you maintain a healthy weight.

Funky machines at the gym are cool and all, but what I really love is a super simple device that allows me to do complex exercises and get a complete workout. And, with the STOTT Pilates Mini Flex Ball, that's just what I get.

To look at the Mini Flex Ball, you might not think there are all that many moves you can do with it. My first thought was to use it as a tool for crunches and honestly, even if that's all it could do, that would be enough. But, it comes with a DVD and mini poster to help you really enhance your workout.

The DVD leads you through 26 exercises over the course of about 40 minutes, moving you from abs to glutes, to back, arms, and thighs. It's easy to follow because the instructor talks you through the exercises in addition to showing you. I don't know about you, but I find that really handy because I don't want to have to stare at the screen the whole time I'm working out and with this video, I was able to get a great workout on the first try.

Are you looking to improve your body? Silly question, isn't it? I think almost all of us have an area or two (or three or four) that we'd like to improve. While you can't lose weight in certain spots, you can target and tone your problem areas. Here are eight tips:

• Want to lose that muffin top? Try sprints, interval training or other intense cardio exercises. Also, when doing crunches, aim for constant tension in your abs. Pilates is also great exercise for your core.
• Trying to lose weight all over? Be sure to mix up your exercise routine. Try doing something different twice a week. Adding fast bursts of fitness to your routine can help, too. And don't forget strength training!
  
• Looking for a better bottom? Plyometrics are great for your glutes. Hip extensions and step-ups are also good choices.
• Want to shed back fat? The seated row and wide-grip lat pull are effective for this area. But don't forget the cardio. Also, it's a good idea to work the opposing muscle group so work your pecs as well.

Wondering what your favorite celeb has been doing to stay in shape? As always, those of us here at That's Fit have been keeping tabs on the hotties of Hollywood all week long, and we've got it all wrapped up for you. Click on your favorite celebs above to find out how they're keeping fit!

There has been plenty of speculation about how, exactly, Angelina Jolie got her body back into such amazing shape so quickly after giving birth to twins, Knox and Vivienne. Did she have surgery? Or was it through diet? Most recently, the story is that she's getting in shape by doing Pilates using the kids' Nintendo DS.

"Let's Pilates" is a game in which you -- you guessed it -- do Pilates. There are ways to customize the workout and reportedly, Angelina is already on the toughest level. By following the routines for an hour, three times a week, Angelina has quickly regained her pre-baby body.

Angie's not the only celeb who's found Pilates to be a fabulously effective workout. Check out the gallery below to see which other stars have a body by Pilates.

Considering she doesn't seem to do anything but show up at random social events and when you take into account the fact that she turned her fitness room into a shoe room, you might be surprised to know that Paris Hilton does any sort of exercise at all (well, besides the sort of workout she got famous for on that infamous video, if you know what I'm saying ... ). But she recently admitted that she does have one healthy habit: Pilates.

Hilton recently said, "I don't have to lose weight but I just wanted to look really good. I started doing Pilates."

Well, that's something. As for the whole not needing to lose weight, I'm not at all jealous.

It's been a busy week in the world of celebrity fitness. But then again, when is it not? You know you love to get the scoop on what workouts and diets are transforming the stars, and this is just the place to peek at all the hot bodies from the past week! Click on the famous faces above to see which ones are making headlines.

I don't know anyone who doesn't like (and admire) Kristi Yamaguchi. She's an incredible athlete and she seems totally likable. Who wouldn't want to try one of her workouts? I mean, one of her workouts that don't involve ice skates, anyway.

Kristi shared her Pilates workout with Fitness magazine, so now we all have the opportunity to exercise like a champion. You would never have guessed that Kristi ever lacked definition in her stomach, but until she started doing Pilates, that was just the case. So, if these moves made a difference in Kristi's already toned body, just imagine what they'd do for many of us!

Check out the article here for pictures and instructions for several moves, plus a video of Kristi demonstrating some of her favorite moves.

Want to tone your body? Eager to become lean and sleek? I know, the workout options are mind boggling -- there's yoga, pilates, weights, and everything in between. This is good news, really -- there are so many ways to get fit and fabulous in a hurry. Prevention magazine knows this and recently tested a few methods to see what worked best out of the following: Weights, resistance bands and balls, pilates, yoga, and body weight moves like push-ups.

The clear winner? Resistance bands and balls. Perfect -- because not only is the equipment inexpensive, it's portable, it's lightweight, and it fits easily into any space. Owning a set of resistance bands means you have access to a good, effective workout every day. Which means -- you guessed it -- that you have virtually no excuse to skip the workout, whether you're at home, on the road, or anywhere else.

Curious about how to use these wonderful workout gems? Head over to Prevention for some tips on sculpting in a hurry.

I used to be one of you. I'd slave away, doing set after set of crunches, knowing I was working my abdominals, yet seeing minimal results. I'd heard that during Alias, Jennifer Garner did 1000 crunches everyday. Sure, I wasn't doing that many, but I was pretty fit ... and pretty discouraged.

Pilates has changed my point of view on sit-ups, and it has also changed my shape for the better. My posture has improved, my tummy is flatter, my waist is cinched in -- all because I do crunches the Stott Pilates way.

Want to know the secret?