That's Fit

Here at That's Fit, we're forever grateful for the service, courage and sacrifice made by the heroic men and women who serve as military, law enforcement officers, and firefighters. We're so grateful, that we'd like to dedicate some features to both showing our heroes off, and learning a little bit in the process as well. If you serve your country courageously, are a veteran or know someone who does, please return this form completed to Fitz along with a photo and we'll share your story with the world.

Name: Erik J. Fritz

Age: 19

Occupation: Bulk Fuel Specialist at the Marine Corps and Navy Reserves Unit

If you're in the military...where are you? Green Bay, WI,

How often do you exercise? Almost every day

What type of exercise do you do? Running outside and on the treadmill, lifting weights, and a lot of push-ups.

What gets you to workout, even when you're feeling lazy? Knowing that I have to stay in good shape to pass my PT.

Chronic pain is something that millions of people deal with every day of their lives. According to this article, over 30 billion dollars were spent on sore necks and backs alone in 2005. But often times doctor visits and pills don't do the trick. It can be like taking a medication lottery for pain, hoping that the next prescription will bring relief.

But what if someone could enroll in a four week "boot camp" that trains the body to mitigate the chronic pain caused by his or her body's system going haywire? It doesn't cure the pain, but it allows for the person to address its unrelenting nature and helps them combat the ever-present discomfort.

Patients of this boot camp are taught to move and exercise in ways that address biological, psychological and social elements of chronic pain. They're also seen by professionals to guide them: a physician, an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, a biofeedback therapist, a clinical psychologist and a movement specialist all lend their expertise. One women who partook in the program was able to take her first ballet class in over a year thanks to the regimen. It may be pricey, but some people may be willing to foot the bill if it means less pain!

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Jonathan Fisher

Age: 34

Occupation: Service Director for a chain of motorcycle dealerships

How often do you exercise? Six to seven days a week.

What type of exercise do you do? Swimming, running, biking, boot camp, and tennis.

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. Brrrr Fitz! I live in the waaaaaay cold and am already starting to feel the flab. It's too cold outside to go for runs like I normally do. I can't afford the gym and don't want to look like the snowman on my lawn. What do you suggest? Rick

A. Eeeek Rick! I can't imagine. Literally. I can't imagine, because I've lived in Florida all of my life. It's about 80 degrees outside right now. I have been in the cold and snow though, Norway seems to have a lot, and I do have some recommendations. First, there are a ton of things you can do at home. Sometimes it is just too hot to train outside where I am, so I end up in the same situation you're in now (but opposite).

A treadmill would suit your running needs, but if that investment is too much...here are some ideas. Move the furniture and--jump rope, run in place, do jumping jacks, jump on a mini-trampoline, hit a heavy-bag, dance, do step aerobics, squat jumps, video training, gliding disks, free weights, pull-ups, push-ups, squats, or crunches.

One of my favorite colleagues in the fitness industry, Tracy Benham, M.E.S.S. has just launched a spectacular program designed to keep you on track and maybe even get you fitter for the holidays. HolidayBootCamp.com offers a free e-course jam packed with the best information from degreed and experienced fitness professionals (including myself) who are dying to change your life.

You'll receive a daily Kick in the Butt via email to keep you on track, and train your brain to make the best of your body. Ready for real-deal gimmick free fitness advice? Sign up at HolidayBootCamp.com,

I love the idea of fitness boot camp, although I'll admit that the premise scares the you-know-what out of me. It's not just the idea of getting up at 5am for an hour of grueling exercise (the bad), it's also the thought of doing it for five days a week for a full month. Can you imagine how sore you'd be every single day (the painful!)?

Of course, both are likely a small price to pay when you start to see results (the good). I also think that the good outweighs the bad (and the painful) in that you've got a professional helping you get into shape every step of the way for an entire month. Plus they make sure to mix up the exercises each day so you end up doing cardio, a full range of muscle exercises, stretching and more. Finally, fitness boot camp causes you to commit for four weeks. It's easy when you're on your own to give up after a few days if you're really not feeling motivated, but when you've got a class of 10 or 15 people, plus your very own work-out drill sergeant, you've got some serious incentive to get your butt in gear.

The writer of this article tried it out and really only has positive things to say. One of the aspects I liked the best was that people of all ages, weights and fitness levels could join. And if you're really not a morning person, most companies also offer classes after work. What do you think, would you be willing to give it a try?