Burpees. The name's not pretty, but the results sure are!

A combination of squat, push-up, and vertical jump, the burpee has a somewhat nasty reputation for being the exercise of choice in prisons. But you should consider adding burpees to your routine for the same reasons inmates might: The burpee requires no equipment and can be done just about anywhere. Plus, it works your entire body, including those important core muscles, while increasing your cardio endurance.

So how do you do a burpee? The basic version is a six count move. Begin in the standing position, then:

1. Sit into a squat.
2. Kick your feet behind you so you're in a push-up position.
3. Lower your chest to the ground.
4. Press back up to complete the push up.
5. Pull your feet back in so you're in squat position.
6. Jump up in the air while clapping overhead.

The Perfect Pushup is a fitness product sold in several countries that is designed to make traditional push-up exercises simpler and more effective. It consists of two padded handles that swivel on the floor. The Perfect Pushup has three primary aims.

First, it eases tension on the wrist. Next, claims it will improve the exerciser's form. Finally, it promises to increase the range of motion of the arms, and therefore work muscles that traditional push-ups may not. Push-ups done using the Perfect Pushup use the pectoral (chest), tricep, bicep, abdominal and shoulder muscles.

To use the Perfect Pushup, form a traditional push-up position with your hands, holding the handles with your palms facing towards your feet, your back straight and your arms extended over your shoulders but slightly bent. Lower your body to the ground while rotating the Perfect Pushup handles. As your elbows reach a 90-degree angle, the handles should move to a 90- degree angle where they will become parallel with your body. To complete the push-up, exhale and raise your body while rotating the handles back to their original position.

Once you've mastered the Perfect Pushup, try hitting a treadmill for a great cardio workout.

There's no doubt that push-ups can make a dramatic impact on your physique. They're challenging, work a ton of muscle groups and can be done absolutely anywhere. There's also a bunch of ways you can get creative with them. In this video, Fitz and her team demo a few fun ideas for push-up training with a partner.

For more fun training videos, recipes and celebrity fitness interviews visit Fitzness.com

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. 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 one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz. I keep hearing both you and other people say I should do push-ups, but I'm a small woman and don't want to bulk up. Push-ups are hard, so should I do them if I want to stay toned yet trim? Alyssa

A. Great question, Alyssa! This common question is on the mind of many women, and I'm happy to give this answer as many times as there are women who need to hear it. What you need to know is that it requires extraordinary effort for most women to put on any sort of bulky muscle. That means: protein shakes, supplements and insane amounts of heavy lifting. Of course, there are a few rare women here and there who pack on muscle quickly, but if you're already telling me you are small ... you are not one of those rare women.

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As your fancy online fitness trainer, the ability to teach through video is an invaluable tool. The written word is wonderful for so many things but actually showing you and communicating eye-to-eye via the amazing graces of THE PODCAST has allowed me to truly show you how and why you should try some of my favorite training techniques. Let's take a look back at a reminder of all the cool ways you can take your fitness training to a higher level.

#1 Innovative Push-ups with Emphasis on Your Abs

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. 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 one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz, I love to exercise, but may only have about 15 minutes to do anything on Christmas Day. Can you give me a quick circuit to do at home before we take off for the family party? Thanks and Merry Christmas, Johnny

A. Sure, Johhny! I'd love to. Before I do that, though, I want to tell you how impressive it is that fitness is such a priority for you. Lots of folks are going to use the holiday as an excuse to do nothing. You and I both know that a brief workout will probably make us feel more energetic and happy on the big day and give us a little more wiggle room to enjoy an extra indulgence without paying the price. High five to you!

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This may sounds like an April Fool's joke, but I kid you not: In Santa Monica, a man was recently arrested for doing push-ups and sit-ups on a popular running and jogging path. What's the problem here? There's just one issue -- a sign that clearly states that running and jogging only are allowed on the strip of land.

OK, I guess the better question is: Why? Years ago, the running-only rule was established to keep homeless people and vagabonds from camping out on the strip of land so legally speaking, the police do have a right to stop people from exercising. Still, it's awfully silly to arrest someone for doing something good. Couldn't they implement some sort of 'no stopping' rule?

(via Calorie Lab)

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According to People magazine's December 1 issue touting the "Sexiest Man Alive," the guys in this gallery have the best chests in Hollywood. I have to admit, they've done a really great job of choosing the winners in this category. The only one I can think of who may have been wrongfully left out is 50 Cent. But a ton of other hottie bodies were included, so we'll forgive the People folks for that oversight.

If you'd like to develop your chest to look like hard, rounded mounds of muscle, try some of the advanced push-ups in this video.

To see even more of the sexiest men in the world ...

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. 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 one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Fitz. I'm dying to get in shape, but I'm just too tired to do anything about it. I work a ton, sleep a little, and can't even find time to make a salad. What do I do? Erica

A. Hi Erica. Your question is kinda like the "chicken and the egg" dilemma. I know you think you're too tired to be fit, but this problem is probably in reverse. You are simply unable to keep up with your busy life because you are unfit. Time to make some changes.

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Take your push-ups to the next level and add an awesome abdominal workout to them as well. Fitz and her handsome crew demonstrate a few cool moves to take your training up a notch.

To view more fun videos, recipes and other quick tips from degree experts on health and fitness ...

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 one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hello Fitzy. I need your help! I'm six feet tall and last year I was close to 300 pounds. I am now down to 250. I'm still in the process of losing weight but am stressed because I cannot get rid of my "man boobs."They're devastatingly embarrassing. I wouldn't take my shirt off at the beach if you paid me. What can I do to make them go away? Liam

A. Hi Liam. Isn't it funny how big boobs are super cool on a chic but not so much on a guy? Interesting. Listen, I feel for you. Man boobs are not the status symbol of the day, and it's hard for most people to deal with any unusual bulging pockets of fat. Man boobs, love handles, and saddles bags; nobody wants 'em!

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Having a consistent workout routine is a good thing. Never budging from it though, can be a bad thing. Our bodies tend to adapt and become mighty efficient if we tell it to do the same thing over and over. We're a smart species! What can I say?

The October issue of Women's Health magazine has a great little section on various ways you can tweak traditional exercises to make them challenging once again. Give them a looksy and then give them a try. A little difference goes a long way.

Fitness gear certainly has its place and its purpose. From exercise balls to hand weights to resistance bands to pretty much anything else you can imagine, the right gear can enhance and improve your workout. But sometimes pulling out all the equipment is more of a hindrance than a help.

When you're on the road or you just don't feel like pulling the exercise clutter back into your living room, try these no-equipment-required exercises from Women's Health.

I gave the workout a try and loved it. I felt a bit silly doing moves like the Rock 'n Roll and the Grand Plie Jump, but after taking a moment to appreciate the privacy of my living room, I knew the moves were well worth it. The Pushup Crawl is even harder than it looks ... I think I'm still feeling that one!

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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 one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz, I'm 26 years old and have never been happy with my upper body. My arms are lanky and my chest is soft. I have a demanding job as an attorney, and simply don't have the time nor the know how to get involved in a complicated training regiment. I know I have to "earn" a good body, so I was hoping you could dumb things down for me. A simple routine I can do in a hurry. P.S. I love your fit tip videos! Thanks. Tim

A. Hello Mr. Tim! Training for a guy with "no time" huh? That' my specialty! Glad you asked. Look pal, I wish I could pull off the persona as a rocket scientist, because I'm on top of this stuff ... but I can't. Fitness is painfully simple, and you can achieve your goals without much complexity.

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How many push-ups can you do? I'm guessing you probably can't do as many as you want to be able to do. I feel your pain -- push-ups are hard! It took me months of training before I was any good at them.

What would you say, then, if I told you that in 6 weeks, you could do 100 consecutive push-ups? I'm being serious here -- The Hundred Push-Ups Training Plan is a detailed plan that will have you cruising through the push-ups portion of your workout in no time ... even if you can barely manage a few at a time.

Head over to the website for more details on the plan ... and then get to it!

(Via Fitsugar)

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