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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Day in and day out, your That's Fit bloggers are in search of fitness and nutrition news, the latest fitness products and the skinny on healthy (or unhealthy) celebrity lifestyles. Some of our scoop is helpful -- stuff you can take action on right away. Some is inspirational -- people and events who can motivate you to become more fit. Some of it is just plain odd, because we all need a laugh from time to time.

Now here we are in the last days of 2008. So, inspired by Health.com's America's Healthiest lists, we've decided to comb through That's Fit's Best Tips of 2008. Check back each morning at 10 AM between now and the New Year for a new "Best of..." list. And, just for the fun of it, we might throw in a "Worst of..." list or two for good measure.

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When you reach for a snack, fresh fruits and veggies are always a wonderful option, packing loads of nutrients without packing on the pounds. However, most of us have occasions where an apple just isn't going to cut it. For those occasions, check out FitnessMagazine.com's 2008 Healthy Food Awards: The Best Snacks.

We're not just talking granola bars (although they do list their favorite) -- you'll find cereals, puddings, canned fruits, energy bars, cookies and more.

Keep in mind, even the best cookies aren't going to provide the same nutrition as a piece of fruit, but if you're going to splurge, some items are better than others. I was pleasantly surprised to find some of my favorites on the list -- does it contain any of yours?

To learn more about healthy eating habits, check out AOL Body's America Takes It Off Summer Quick Fix.

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In the market for some new best friends? Women's Health suggests you hand over your loyalty to these 10 friendly foods. They're trustworthy, good for you, and they'll always be there when you need them. These non-toxic friends will never do you wrong.

• Baby Carrots -- Buy them washed and bagged and use them for their vision-improving beta-carotene.

• Black beans -- Buy them canned, low in sodium, and dark and you'll enjoy the benefits of antioxidants, fiber, folate, and magnesium.

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Forbes published some tips for choosing the best sneakers for your sport, and to be honest, I found it a bit lacking. They covered a lot of running and outdoor sports, but some of the sports for which shoes are really important (like volleyball and basketball) were totally left off.

I did a little research and added what sounded like the best shoes for those sports. However, it's important to remember your sport-specific needs when shopping for a shoe. If you will be making quick, side-to-side movements, you'll need different support than you would for running a marathon. If you really don't know what you need, try to find a store that specializes in your sport and ask for help. The right shoes might not make you a better athlete, but they will make your sport more enjoyable.

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I know that people who don't have pets or who aren't big animal lovers can't understand how those of us with furry friends can possibly think of dogs and cats and friends, family members and even children. I suppose these people think it's ridiculous to shell out perfectly good money on specialty treats for pets. To an extent I can see where they're coming from -- fancy clothing for cats and dogs is a bit extreme in my opinion -- but I will happily spend hard-earned cash on fun stuff for my dog.

I know that I'm not the only one. Most major, dog-friendly cities (Vancouver being the first that comes to my mind) have got fancy dog salons and boutiques in pretty much every trendy neighborhood. While I usually stick with funny squeaky toys and the occasional cute new collar, other dog owners out there will open their wallets for specialized grooming products, accessories, clothing, bedding and more.

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I'm the first to admit I'm competitive. I like to get on treadmills next to people who are running hard and set mine to go faster. I play basketball with boys. I push myself to do my best at everything I do, and I always thought that was a pretty good trait.

However, recent research by psychologists Gregory Miller and Carsten Wrosch showed that those who throw in the towel when facing unattainable goals were healthier than those who never give up. They had fewer health problems overall and showed fewer signs of psychological stress.

Well, that's fine and good, but I can't help but wonder about the health benefits of a sense of accomplishment. What do you think?

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

Q. Dear Fitz, I want to take one of the BOSU classes at my gym, but I've never done it before and I'll feel like a total dork if I bust my butt on one of those things. Plus I'm a guy. Mostly girls take those classes. Should I bother? Eric.

A. Ahhh! Eric, you are too cute. First of all. The BOSU is a balance tool and is designed to make people wobbly. Until that is, they earn the strength and control to not only stand on top of it, but do some tricks too. Second. You can stand in the back of the classroom if you don't want to be a spectacle. Third. Most people in a BOSU class are too concerned with their own balance to have the time and ability to look at what anyone else is doing.

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According to Men'sHealth, there are 30 great gyms in this country. I'm sure there are more. These are just this magazine's top picks. Six of them happen to be in my state -- Florida. There are also six in California, three in Arizona, one in Nevada, a few scattered through Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and well, take a peek here to locate the rest of them. Just scroll over the yellow dots in your state of choice and the name of a top-notch gym will appear.

While visiting this site, stop by here and try out the Men'sHealth gymfinder, a comprehensive database of fitness clubs, gyms, health centers, and sports groups.

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Interested in finding out which hospitals rank in the upper echelon of health care facilities? Thankfully we have organizations whose sole purpose it is to do that sort of thing. Enter HealthGrades, who has put out their second annual America's 50 Best Hospitals list just today.

Even though this is the second iteration of the report, hospitals were ranked based on their quality starting back in 2003. Certain elements of health care were assessed to provide a basis. For instance, they looked at the procedures surrounding heart attacks, pneumonia, and strokes.

They also looked at mortality data. So you want to know the best already? They were listed in alphabetical order, so it should be easy to find your local facilities that way. Notables included the Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Joseph's out of Atlanta, and the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. Anyone have any experience with our nation's best?

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

Q. Hi Fitz, I am 15 and I weigh 225 pounds. I'd like to lose a lot of weight. For exercise, I fast walk on the treadmill for 15 minutes a day. I try to eat the right foods, but I keep having a temptation to go back to my old habits. I keep trying, but because of my brother's metabolism... he can eat anything. That is not helping me at all. I need help, but I'm afraid that no one will help me because of my weight, so I hope you guys can. Shelby

A. I'm really glad you reached out for help here, Shelby. Being overweight is no fun, especially as a child.....which you are. I struggled with my weight as a teenager too, but thankfully I eventually figured things out. I remember way back then thinking a good weight loss technique was to simply eat fewer Cheetos. My parents never spoke about weight management to me and I simply didn't have much guidance on the subject. I felt bad about myself and desperately wanted to change. Sounds like you're in the same boat.

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Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Want to know the secrets of the stars? Bi-weekly our That's Fit fitness expert Fitz sits down with the celebs we want to know more about, and digs out their great and not-so-great methods to staying healthy.

I'm thrilled to death about my guest this week, Dr. Mehmet Oz., vice chair of surgery and professor of cardiac surgery at Columbia University. I, along with millions of others met Dr. Oz a couple of years ago when he started appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show as her health expert. Kind of like the way she introduced Dr. Phil; except that Dr. Oz is truly brilliant in a non-subjective kind of way, easy on the eyes, and easy to understand.

I've been teaching fitness for almost two decades and have earned a Master's Degree in Exercise and Sports Sciences. I'm always hungry for new and relevant information. Rarely I find it. But, Dr. Oz always teaches me something new. He breaks highly advanced medical concepts down, so that everyone can understand them and how they affect our lives.

Dr. Oz is a major force in the push for real deal, gimmick-free healthy living. Mehmet is one of Oprah's favorite things, and a host of his own talk show on the Oprah and Friends radio network. He has a series on the Discovery Health Channel called You:Staying Young. He also happens to have best selling books out: You:Staying Young and You:On a Diet. I'd like to shrink down small and run around in his brain for a while to absorb all that he has to offer; either that or be his apprentice for a week. Since I probably can't do that, I invited him for an interview. Enjoy it. I did!

Fitz: How did you make the transition from cardiologist to wellness guru?

Dr. Oz: I spent the first few years of my career doing general medicine; you have to learn all other aspects of being a doctor before becoming a cardiologist. I got a great education on how the entire body works. Medicine is somewhat of a narcissistic profession, and I've spent a lot of my life keeping myself healthy. I saw the lifestyle mistakes others were making which led them to me, and I started to feel kind of guilty for not sharing what I knew about health and fitness. The stuff I've been pursuing my whole life! I lettered in eleven sports; everything from water polo to football. I love how you feel after working out; there's a lot to learn in life from pushing your body.

Fitz: How old are you?

Dr. Oz: I'm 47.

Fitz: Do you have children?

Dr. Oz: I have four kids. Ages twenty-one, seventeen, thirteen, and eight.

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Often times it's easy to eat ourselves into a rut (be it healthy, or otherwise). As the old saying goes, if it's not broken then no need to fix it! But this interesting article points to seven foods many people don't normally incorporate into a diet that can help in getting out of that rut.

Kale is one of the foods that caught my attention. It looks a lot like lettuce, but greener and packs a huge nutritional punch! Kale is loaded with vitamin A, so much in fact that one cup provides you with twice daily recommendation. Vitamins C, B and calcium also included.

When I think dried figs, those delicious Newtons come to mind. But don't forget about what stand-alone dried figs can provide: lots of fiber, some vitamin B, iron, potassium and calcium. Speaking of calcium, five figs equals roughly half a glass of milk's worth.

Other foods on the list include soybeans, sweet potatoes, avocado, lentils and barley. Some of those you may even be eating on a regular basis! If so, pat yourself on the back because you're ahead of the game. For everyone else, head on over and read about why these foods are so good for you.

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I caught a minute of ABC's The View on Tuesday and learned that co-host Whoopi Goldberg is trying to quit smoking. Good for her.

"I want to be done by December 15," Whoopi told her audience. A wise plan, considering smoking damages nearly every organ in the human body, is linked to 10 different cancers, and accounts for 30 percent of all cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. Yet one in four Americans still light up.

Smoking is by far the leading risk factor for lung cancer. And it is far more dangerous for women than men. Now wrap your head around this fact: The nicotine found in cigarettes is as addictive as heroin. If that's not reason enough to stop smoking, I don't know what is.

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Need a pick me up? The power of positive thinking is a very real thing, and taking some time to focus on the good things in your life can do amazing things for your motivation and your overall attitude and approach to things in life. So what are some of the best things in your life? Can you come up a top 10 list? This guy did, and I think it's a good idea for all of us. We all have different priorities in our lives and different "small things" that mean something to us but it's easy to lose sight of them in the midst of our hectic everyday lives.

I'm really gonna have to do some brainstorming to come up with a solid top 10 list for me personally, but I know one thing for sure: 'laughing babies' is going to be on there somewhere (they crack me up!).

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