That's Fit

I always get a kick out of those fitness product infomercials. My favorite part is the commercial within the commercial; you know, when the infomercial cuts to a "commercial" for the product already being hawked. In it, maladroit exercisers are shown struggling to perform their workout, only to then give up and shake their head in disgust.

During these pseudo-commercials, the voice-over announcer typically asks questions like "Are you tired of doing hundreds of crunches each day?" and "Are you looking for an easy way to burn fat and slim your waistline?" It's at this point where the product is then flashed on the screen, followed by several cut-aways of various happy customers, all of whom are tremendously fit.

Did they really get that fit using that product? Unless it's a total body system, it's highly unlikely. I find it amazing when the allusion is made that an ab exercise gizmo, for example, can also slim and tone your arms, firm and shape your shoulders, and basically turn your entire body into a form modeled after Greek gods. Quite frankly, an ab gizmo can't even get your abs into that kind of shape. To effectuate a full body change of this kind -- or even just tighten your midsection -- it is going to take far more than a piece of plastic and some springs. Don't make other people rich by wasting your hard earned money on their garbage. Save it for a gym membership, a new pair of kicks, or a trip to Whole Foods -- also known as the real way to make a change for the fitter.

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. Hi Fitz, I am a person with T-12 incomplete Paraplegia. I'm interested in learning about some decent ab workouts (including obliques) that I could do at the gym or at home. Just to provide you with a little more information, my T-12 vertebrae are connected by rods. I'd really appreciate some guidance. Thanks! Jon

A. Hello Jon, What a wonderful question! I really feel there's a gaping hole in the fitness industry which needs to address fitness training for people dealing with injuries and/or disabilities. You are the perfect example of that. A guy who's had a spinal injury, but still strives for better fitness beyond rehab facilities. I love it. I also love the spinal cord, and appreciate the sensitivity of it. Long ago, while I was earning my Master's Degree in Exercise and Sports Sciences at the University of Florida, I took a magnificent course on the spine from a brilliant woman, Dr. Christine Stopka, Professor of Adapted Physical Activity & Medical Terminology. She taught me to respect the spine first, and then went on from there. A major aspect of the course focused on educating her students about the things people with disabilities could do. She spent far more time on the could dos than the can't dos. That's one of the most important things I took away with me. I thought your question deserved the most expert advice, so I passed it on to her.

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. Hi Fitz, My question for you is: how can I lose weight when I'm no longer able to exercise due to a life time injury. I'm even stuck relying on the government for my income and food. Lisa

A. Hey Lisa. As if staying in shape isn't hard enough! Dealing with a disability truly makes weight management a challenge. It's not an impossible accomplishment though. It's just going to take a decent amount of education about nutrition for you, and an even greater amount of discipline.

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. Hi Fitz, I am really happy to have found your website and I am really looking forward to you help. Now to try and keep my story short...I have two kids and a third arriving soon. I have been working out for a long time now and I really enjoy it. Usually I can go on my treadmill in the basement while the kids come down a play. But now with a new baby arriving that will make things more of a challenge. I need to be able to workout upstairs where the baby will be, so I can't really have something big like a treadmill or elliptical taking up the whole room. The two items I was debating between are a mini stepper or a set of three DVDs called Hip Hop Abs which is basically fast passed dancing. I am looking for some advice and help as to which option would be more beneficial to me. The stepper or dancing? I really do appreciate you taking the time to listen and help me with my problem. Many thanks, Aimee

A. Congratulations on your third child. Aimee. Wow! As if raising three kids wasn't a workout enough. Right? I only have two, and it requires tons of energy. Having said that, I don't think I'd survive Mommy-hood if I weren't exercising regularly. Not only to keep up my strength and stamina, but for the mental stress relief it provides.

I think you've got two great options with both the stepper and the videos, and they each offer unique benefits. The stepper offers a super challenging cardiovascular workout combined with a decent amount of leg work. The stepper would be great if you're the type of person who likes to watch your favorite show or zone out to some funky music while you train. I would recommend you incorporate some total body strength training if you choose the stepper though. The Hip Hop Abs video will provide you with a more well-rounded workout. Dancing requires lots of different body parts to engage, and the title leads me to believe that the series offers some sort of ab training along with the dancing. Not a bad idea for a postpartum woman. Not having seen these videos though, I don't know how intense this workout really is.

So, my question is......do you like to zone out while training? Or do you like to be totally involved? Want to burn a bazillion calories quickly? Go for the stepper. Want a well rounded moderately paced workout? Go with the dance videos. Sorry not to make the specific decision for you, but I believe that fitness training should be customized to the person doing it. Maybe you could pursue both? I wish you a painless labor, a healthy child, and fit future for you and your entire family! Fitz

Dear Fitz, I am a 24 year old female. I was recently in a car accident on February 28th of 2007 in which I broke my ankle. It will never be the same. I can only stand for short periods of time without having to sit back down. My current weight is 164lbs and I am 5' 8". I am 18 pounds heavier than I should be. I can't really do much working out because of my ankle. What do you suggest I do? I drink water all through out the day and don't consume much food high in calories or carbs. My weight doesn't go up, but it doesn't come down either. Please give me some advice. Thanks, Ashley

One of the biggest physical issues people wish they could change about themselves is their midsection -- everybody wants a flatter and more toned stomach. But somehow even though it's one of the most desired physical changes it also seems to be one of the most elusive. Part of it is that even the slightest layer of fat can cover up a toned tummy and make it look flabby, and the other part is probably not having the time to work on it. But like anything, having the time is all about priorities and about how bad you want it, and if you're looking for a fast way to squeeze in some ab work these exercises may make it easier to get started. eDiets has tailored common moves like sit-ups, leg raises, and others into a fast and efficient ab routine.

Happy crunching!

For some people fat may be the new norm, but for those of us who still dream of a slim and buff midsection and are doing everything we can to have one some workouts work better than others. There are countless ab exercises available out there but which ones are the best? I don't want to mess around and waste my time -- if I'm gonna workout then I want to see results! eDiets has compiled this list of the ten best moves for your midsection, and here they are (click the links for instructions on how-to):

1. Bicycle Maneuver
2. Ab Crunch
3. Reverse Ab Curl
4. Double Crunch
5. Cable Kneeling Rope Crunch
6. Machine Hanging Knee Raise
7. Fitball Advanced Reverse Crunch
8. Lying Bent Knee Leg Lift
9. Machine Angled Leg Raise
10. Incline Bench Leg Raise

We ogle them, we obsess over them and men ... well, because we look, some of you are constantly holding them in. They are a benchmark of superior fitness and it's the body part that really turns our heads. We are of course talking about your abs!

What's that? You need help? Don't worry, with a little effort there's still plenty of time to get that washboard look. But with that said (and because summer is already here) don't be tempted to work them every day. In fact, training more can actually make your abs show less and too much training leads to increased laxity in your muscles. In other words, they could appear soft (and soft isn't good) so instead add resistance to make moves you already do more challenging. Then give your muscles time to rest.

You can find six more tips over at Men's Health to help you really unleash your abs. And, who knows ... maybe you'll be able to inspire women to show you theirs.

Are sit-ups a total waste of time? If you enjoy doing them then the answer is 'no,' although if you're doing them just to build core strength you might be wasting your time. Why? Sit-ups and crunches have been around since the very beginnings of exercise, and it's not that they don't build strength and tone but in truth there may be better more effective ways to get the same results. Sit-ups and crunches are essentially isolation exercises, and doing comprehensive moves that involve your whole body where the abs and core can develop in coordination with the rest of the muscles can provide a strong core along with strong arms and legs and everything else.

I'm not a personal trainer, but I bet there's arguments on both sides of this issue: sit-ups or no sit-ups? That is the question.

Can women have love handles? Or are they called "muffin tops" instead? Whatever you call it, that extra layer of flab so many of us have around the midsection just might be one of the most annoying fitness challenges -- especially during this season of skimpy clothes and skin-baring swimsuits. Getting rid of those stubborn deposits of chub is best achieved with a combination of eating right and exercising fairly intensely in both cardio and strength training regimens. iVillage has put together a workout plan specifically for saying bye-bye to love handles, so give it a shot and let us know how it turns out!

Over the past two decades of teaching fitness, the most common gripe I hear about ab work is that my students experience neck pain while doing crunches. It's true that our heads are quite heavy, and if the little boy in Jerry McGuire was right they weigh about eight pounds.Sounds heavy to me. It's not a problem for our necks to hold these big melons up-right as we stand or sit, but our neck endures an unusual stress while we're in the horizontal position. There are two solutions to get you the firm, ripped abs you're wishing for.

With proper hand support and practice, our necks can earn the strength they need for crunches. Or.....we can just avoid that issue completely with the plank. If you're not familiar with the plank it's a fairly simple exercise that puts a terrific amount of stress on your abs and low back (in a good way), and takes all the strain off your neck.

The simplest form is easy. Get down on the ground and elevate your body on your elbows, forearms and toes. Hover with your back and legs as straight as possible. It looks easy, but once you staring doing it......you'll find it to be extremely challenging. As a beginner, aim to hold this pose for 10 seconds. Repeat the plank at 10 seconds a few times. Every time you do this exercise I suggest you progress by tacking five seconds on to your holding time.

Firm flat abs are the status symbol of every fitness enthusiast in the country. They're the great equalizer in the world. Rich or poor, fabulous abs are up for grabs to whomever is willing to work for them. Are you ready for yours? If so...start your engines and lets get to work. It's time to earn that six pack and show it off!

First. Change your eating habits! If you're carrying extra weight at all, we'll never be able to see your rock hard abdominal muscles. How could we with a layer of fat covering thm? Don't diet just eat smart! Cut calories, fat and sugar. Choose veggies, fruits, lean meat and lean dairy. Consume less than you burn and you'll cut the belly blubber quick.

Second. Sweat....A LOT! Some people think they can do a bazillion crunches, and they alone will bring great abs. Again! You can crunch all you want, but you have to cut the fat. Eat right, and burn lots of calories. Cardiovascular training at a challenging pace is the best way to burn fat. Get sweaty. Don't stop moving until your face is red and your hair is soaked. Do this most days of the week.