The secret to becoming fit and trim is painfully simple, and I know you can follow these easy instructions. No diets, pills or programs necessary!

Changing your post-workout routine, tools to "un-Gumby-fy" your yoga routine, and other neat fitness training tips can be found at ...

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It's still pretty summery in most places but soon enough fall and winter will be here, which means instead of cranking the A/C on your way to work you'll be hitting the seat-warmer switch.

Or maybe you'll want to think twice about that...

A recent study in Germany found that the heated seats found in more and more vehicles as a luxury option are not only heating people's chilly bums but they're also essentially cooking men's privates and causing them to have significantly lower sperm counts.

Of course this is really only an issue for guys who are trying to have a baby, in which case experts recommend wearing loose undies, making frequent stops on long trips, and trying to use the heated seats as little as possible.

Via Autoblog

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Some might think fitness isn't a prerequisite for race car driving. I mean, how physically taxing is it to sit behind the wheel and alternately slam on the gas and brake?

Racing is definitely a physically demanding sport, according to racing star Danica Patrick. When asked by a reporter for USA Today if she considers herself an athlete, Patrick says: "Absolutely, I'm an athlete."

If people took a little time to learn what Patrick does, they'd see just how physical her sport it. They'd see what she does to work out too.

Patrick works out daily and balances strength training (especially upper-body work) and stamina and endurance. She uses free weights, runs, and does yoga and pilates.

Clearly, racing isn't for the faint of heart. Driving a go-kart will give you a sense of it, says Patrick, who reports that bruises are a common occupational hazard. And in Indy cars, there's no power steering. "The forces are such that we could drive upside-down," she reports. The cars weigh more than 1,000 pounds."

Says one exercise physiologist at Florida Atlantic University: "Elite drivers have to have a fine-tuned sense of timing and excellent focus so they can anticipate and respond to stimuli ... The heat, the powerful lateral forces on the body and the constant vibrations make for intense stimulation during a race."

Convinced fitness and racing go hand in hand? I am.

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Ever feel like you're running on empty as you power through your hectic days? Likely, you do. And it's likely you find it difficult on your busy days to sit down and enjoy healthy meals and snacks. Parade magazine wants to help and offers these handy tips for eating on the run.

About 75 percent of office workers eat at their desks two to three times per week. If you fit this profile, try these tricks: Stock the office fridge with low-fat yogurt, low-fat cheese and whole-grain crackers, hummus, natural peanut butter, and raw veggies. Take sandwiches to work or salads with canned tuna, salmon, lean meats, and skinless turkey. Microwave oatmeal, carry along some apples, and fill your desk candy jar with the soybean snack edamame.

While driving in the car, take along peanut butter sandwiches -- especially for the kids -- and fruit and veggies such as apples, oranges, bananas, and baby carrots.. Control your portions by using small plastic bags, and if you must swing through the drive through, opt for grilled over fried foods, chicken over burgers, salad over fries, and milk or water over soda. Other good-to-go snacks include: Energy bars high in fiber and low in fat and sugar, nuts, and dried fruit.

For more guidance on how to stick to your diet in the face of stress and chaos -- AOL Body calls this "regrouping" -- jump on aboard the America Takes It Off train.

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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, My husband makes a big stink when I give our kids any type of 'sugar candy' like gummy bears or bubblegum. The kids are totally skinny and I don't see what the big deal is. They are kids! What do you think? Christy

A. Hey Christy. Your husband is a freaking genius. That's what I think! He has the insight and thoughtfulness to know that as parents, you should be teaching your children the best habits possible. He knows that your children are less likely to eat nutritious things when they've had a dose of candy. They're more likely to deal with the pain and terror that comes along with having their cavities filled if you give them candy. They're more likely to struggle with their weight and other less than lovely issues later on in life if you don't instill high standards in them today.

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Statistics say lack of sleep is one major cause of car accidents. Do heavy eyes ever plague you on the road? If so, try these three remedies for staying awake and alert.

• Suck on a mint. Researchers report that the scents of peppermint and cinnamon boost altertness and cut down on fatigue. Pop a mint in your mouth on your next road trip and see if it works.

• Crank up the tunes. Fast music with high frequency sounds -- high voices, violins, saxophones -- may cause your brain waves, heart rate, and breath to speed up to match the rhythm of the music.

• Grab a cup of Joe. One recent study found that drinking coffee might be more effective than a power nap. Good reason to swing by that roadside Starbucks.
  
  

Source: Woman's Day magazine, April 2008

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You might think strapping a tight seat belt over a growing pregnant belly can harm an unborn baby. But not buckling up is what harms fetuses, says a newly-released University of Michigan study concluding that pregnant women who wear seat belts significantly reduce the risk that their babies will die or be seriously hurt in a vehicle crash.

Study findings, published on Wednesday, reveal that the lives of 200 of the roughly 370 fetuses killed each year in U.S. vehicle crashes would be spared if all pregnant women wore seat belts.

"Seat belts absolutely protect the fetus -- and not wearing a belt is a big problem," says study lead Dr. Mark Pearlman. "Every single time they get in a motor vehicle, pregnant women should wear their seat belts without question -- every single time."

It's simple: Seat belts protect moms. And they protect babies, says Pearlman who offers these tips for proper pregnant buckling.

• The lap strap should be placed under the belly as much as possible, across the hips.
  
  

• The shoulder strap should be placed between the breasts, to the side of the belly.
  
  

• Seat belt straps should not go directly across the stomach but should be below the belly button as low they can comfortably go.
  
  

• The seat belt should be snug, not loose.
  
  

Pearlman's study also showed no evidence that air bags are harmful to fetuses. He therefore does not recommend disabling them.

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Traveling is easily one of my favorite activities. Whether it's a short road trip with friends or an across the globe adventure, as long as I can get the time off work and scrape together enough money to go, I'm in. The only thing I don't like, is the dazed and crazed look I often sport after several hours of travel time.

I wrote not so long ago about an article that gave tips on how you can maintain your good looks while on a flight -- drinking lots of water and no alcohol, sleep and movement are all key. This time I've come across an article that will help you prepare beforehand, including advice on what to pack and which beauty treatments to try before you hit the road. Whether you're traveling for business or for pleasure, the advice listed here will make sure that you're looking great as soon as you land.

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I know a few people who are diabetic, but driving is never something I thought they would need to prepare for. If you think about it though, driving with inconsistent conditions like those caused by low blood-sugar could be a road hazard. This article about preparing to get behind the wheel even goes as far to say it's like drunk driving!

Now I'm not sure that is an entirely fair statement, but the point is well-received. Should someones levels drastically drop (or go up), they could feel drowsy, confused, disoriented or exhibit blurred vision. All of those seem like scary combinations on the highway, but are easily avoided by preparing.

A doctor at the University of Washington says that even if a person with diabetes takes insulin, they should check their blood glucose before getting behind the wheel. This doesn't seem like something to scare people off the road, but it would be tragic if an individual blacked out and hit a tree. That's exactly what happened to Mark Lippe when he was 19. If you can relate to diabetes, how do you prepare for driving? Like I said, the diabetics I know have a clean record with automobiles, so this may not be a widespread issue at all.

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It's become so common there's actually an acronym for it! Driving while texting, or "DWT," is becoming such as issue across the nation that not only are many state governments looking at passing laws to regulate (or ban altogether) using cell phones and other devices to send text messages while driving but insurance agencies are also getting in on it -- they could actually look at your phone records and refuse to pay a claim if they see that you were texting at the time of an accident.

What do you think, fair or not fair? I say fair. I'm guilty of popping out a few texts while sitting at stoplights, but that doesn't mean I think it's right. Truth is that when we text message while behind the wheel we're not paying as close attention to the road -- and that endangers everybody.

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There's always been a general consensus when it comes to safe vehicles that bigger is safer, but that's really not the case. Not only is bigger not safer, in some cases it's actually more dangerous to drive a larger vehicle. The Ford Excursion, for example, had 3 times the death rate of the smaller Excursion and twice that of the mid-sized Explorer (it's now a discontinued model). To help us all figure this out Forbes has compiled all the data from crash test ratings, available electronic stability control, and accident avoidance statistics to come up with a list of the 15 safest SUVs, and here are the top 5:

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The city I live in is booming, and as a result, most people here have more money than brains these days. Which means, of course, that the majority of people drive large, gas-guzzling SUVs because they look pretty, and, well, they can afford it. A concern for the environment doesn't come into play at all.

But would a green tax change all that? In Britain, they're talking about implementing higher charges for people who choose to drive environmentally un-friendly vehicles, which would include higher purchase taxes as well as higher driving taxes. The move is expected to cost families an extra £1000.

What do you think about green taxes for high-emission vehicles? I think it's a great idea, but you probably gathered that already.

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A big part of watching out for your health is watching out for your own and your family's safety. There are many dangers out in the world, but one of the biggest safety risks involves something you do everyday without even batting an eyelid: jumping in the car.

Making the decision on which car to get for your family is a big one that involves a lot of factors, but one of the most important is safety. According to Forbes this is the top 10 list of the safest in family cars:

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I want my sister's car. It's a brand new Ford Edge. It's small, sporty, sleek, and nothing like my seven-year-old, dented and scratched Honda Odyssey mini-van. That's why I want it.

The Ford Edge is not in my future, at least not until my little boys are grown and nearly out of my care. My mini-van is just too practical. For one, we own it. Second, the seats are positioned perfectly and my guys can't touch each other. That's a biggie. Third, it's dented and scratched, and I don't worry at all about what else may happen to my jalopy. Fourth, and most important: My mode of transportation at this very moment contains two bikes, one skateboard, one Big Wheel, one portable potty, hats, sunglasses, and a few tubes of sunscreen (it's still sizzling hot here in Florida). In a nutshell, we are on the road to fitness every time we embark on a road trip. All we need is a location, and we're set.

After school the other day, we headed to a local community college track and logged more than a mile of activity -- my boys on their bikes, me on my own two feet. All summer, stocked with swimsuits, tubes, boogie boards, squirty guns, and more, we were set for a jaunt to the pool at a moment's notice. When we go to the beach, we jam-pack with chairs, umbrellas, coolers, buckets, shovels, and fishing gear galore. Does it get any better than that?

I don't know about you, but I spend a lot of time in my car, or so it seems. And I don't even have to commute -- I work from home! We're often talking about how to make our homes healthy, so here are some great tips from Fitsugar on making your car healthy too:

• Keep fresh water in the car, but don't drink from bottles that have been there for weeks
• Keep some healthy snacks in the glove box for stuck-in-rush-hour hunger pangs. Think nuts or dried fruit -- not chocolate or chips
  
• Keep a set of gym gear or a yoga mat in the trunk in case you suddenly feel motivated to make a pit-stop at the gym

For allergy suffers, a box of tissues in the car is also a must. And make sure to give the inside of your car a good clean every now and then.

How do you keep your car healthy?

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