That's Fit

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 know that most people are trying to lose weight, but I am trying to gain. Gain muscle, that is. I am going to the gym three to four times per week. I'm using the weight machines there, but It doesn't seem like I am gaining any muscle. Could you give me some advice? What types of healthy food should I eat? Should I be doing more reps with less weight or fewer reps with more weight? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Lea Rettig

A. Hey Lea, your question is superb, and the answer thank goodness is quite simple. Strength training should be challenging. Funny enough, my clients always seemed shocked and follow up that feeling of shock by giving me dirty looks when I pass them the dumbbell I'd like them to lift. Along with that dirty look, I receive chronic cries of, "Fitz! That's heavy!" Well, yes. Yes it is. The purpose of strength training is to get stronger, and yes ... build muscle. If I were to give them weights they could already lift comfortably ... they wouldn't be getting any stronger!

It may sound far fetched, but women aren't the only ones getting implants in the chest area. More men are conceding that diet and exercise aren't the only ways to a "perfect" body. That's where pectoral implants come in. Apparently it's taboo to look normal anymore, as a growing number of guys want the Spartan look of a warrior.

If that means paying anywhere from $7,000 to upwards of $12,000 for the procedure, then so be it. Some people might think the fear of botched pecs would scare such a radical surgery out of consideration. But that isn't stopping others. There was nearly a 100 percent increase in 2006 regarding the number of operations.

The payoff comes in confidence, according to one therapist in San Francisco who got the fake muscles as a birthday present to himself. Having been introduced two decades ago, pectoral implants do have some validity. As a fix for deformities, you can see how certain cases would merit the procedure. But how many other guys out there would jump at the chance for this new facade?

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, Why is that we feel like puking or vomiting during intense workouts? Is it a bad indication or health threat? I saw on the Biggest Loser that there were those who puked. However, I felt it just recently on my 20 minute incline treadmill workout and it gave me the creeps. Did I do something wrong? Am I supposed to have myself checked with a doctor? Thanks, Kassy

A. Hi Kassy. Thanks for the great question. There are a bunch of possible causes for your nausea, and most are not worthy of worry. Vigorous exercise takes it's toll on all the different parts of our body; not just our legs, arms and abs. It effects our respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, and digestive systems (amongst others) as well. Most of the effects of challenging exercise are great, some of the effects though are temporarily not-so-great. I found a study by Dr. R. Rafoth, M.D., The Athlete and the G.I. Tract which describes the causes of exercise induced nausea and other G.I. symptoms which I summarize below.

Some of the factors that can lead to exercise induced nausea are:

1. Presence of symptoms in a non exercising period, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

2. Age. More symptoms occur in younger athletes.

3. Gender: Women are more likely to experience exercised induced nausea, completely unrelated to ones menstrual cycle.

4. Diet: There is an increased incidence of upper abdominal symptoms in athletes who consumed:

• too big a meal too close to exercise
• fats
• hyper-tonic drinks, glucose syrups, honey/maple syrups
• foods high in dietary fiber
• high protein diets

Ladies, I think we can all agree that sometimes the 'girls' need a little boost, particularly for those of us who have been endowed with small bust (like my own 'mosquito bites'.) Exercise won't make your breasts larger but they can affect how they sit on your chest, according to celeb trainer Denise Austin. Want some exercises that can boost your bust? Here are the exercises she recommends:

• Wall press on a stability ball
• Chest opener
• Walk from a plank position

To find out how to do these exercises, click here.

Whether you're into cosmetic surgery or not, sometimes the only way to get a particular result is to have yourself altered surgically. But thankfully that's not always the case -- in many situations a little hard work can get you similar, if not the same, results. Want specifics? Well here's a great set of moves in slide show format from iVillage, including moves to help give yourself a bust lift, a tummy tuck, and even a tighter backside.

Think of all the money you could save by skipping the surgery and going for natural results instead -- that's one heck of a fun vacation or a lot of shopping for new clothes!

Do you suffer from exercise-induced heartburn? It can really be miserable, not to mention put a serious kink in your efforts and sap your motivation to work your hardest. So in order to stave it off completely, or deal with it most effectively when it does strike, try these tips:

• Pay attention to your diet, and do some problem-solving
• Eat something small that you know helps reduce your chances of heartburn right before you workout.
• Experiment and find the ideal time to eat before working out -- whether it's 30 minutes or 2 hours, everybody is different.
• Pay attention and experiment to see if all exercise, or only certain kinds, trigger heartburn attacks.
• Don't be afraid to treat heartburn symptoms, for example taking a small sip of vinegar can neutralize the acid.
• Try commercial over-the-counter treatments like TUMS or some other calcium-based antacid. Experts say it certainly can't hurt to try.

I don't think anyone enjoys their yearly check-up. In fact, I know some people who skip it altogether, which is, of course, a terrible idea. Sure getting a pap smear is anything but fun but neither is fighting an uphill battle against cervical cancer. While there are a number of standard tests that your doctor will perform during a yearly exam, there may be other questions that you should be asking.

This guide gives details on important stuff not to forget at you next check-up with respect to every region of your body including head, heart, chest, pelvic area, skin, blood and bones. Things not to forget include whether or not to take an aspirin daily (heart), if a sinus headache could really be a migraine (head), whether you've got dense breasts (chest), if your skin type affects your risk for skin cancer (skin), whether or not you should take the HPV vaccine (pelvis), whether you're at risk for blood clots (blood) and how much calcium you really need (bones).

Lots more questions are included and while they're not all applicable to every person, it might be a good idea to take a look and see if any apply to you before your next visit to the doctor.

Although pleurisy is most commonly caused by viral infections, other underlying diseases can cause it such as pneumonia and tuberculosis, and other diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, liver and kidney disease, heart failure and pulmonary embolism. Other causes include chest injuries and drug reactions.

Pleurisy, also called pleuritis, is an inflammation of the pleura, which is the moist, double layered membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the rib cage. The condition can make breathing extremely painful, and sometimes it is associated with another condition called pleural effusion where excess fluid fills the area between the membrane's layers.

The pain of pleurisy is usually treated with analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and indomethacin. Pleurisy from a bacterial infection can be successfully treated with antibiotics, while no treatment is given for viral infections that must run their course. Alternative treatments can be used to help heal pleurisy. Acupuncture and botanical medicines are alternative approaches for relieving pain and breathing problems. An herbal remedy commonly recommended is Asclepias tuberosa otherwise known as pleurisy root. It got that name by early American settlers who learned of this medicinal plant from Native Americans. Pleurisy root helps to ease pain, inflammation, and breathing difficulties brought on by pleurisy.

Push-ups are by far my favorite upper body exercise. In fact, if you had to choose only one exercise to do for your upper body for the rest of your life.......you better pick the push-up. This all in one exercise works just about every muscle above your hip and then some. No other strength training exercise has the ability to work your chest, back, shoulders, biceps, triceps, forearm, abs, erector spinae (low back), glutes, calves, anterior tibialis (over your shin), neck. and more. Not only are they the best, they're something almost everybody can do. Barring spinal injuries and rotator cuffs, unless you've specifically been told not to do push-ups.....you should do them.

Here's a bunch of fun ways to do a push-up, in order from easiest to hardest. Keep in mind, your back should always be straight, Your tushy should not sag down, or stick up. Breath, breath, breath. Suffocation is rarely useful. I normally start my clients with three sets. Do the most you can possibly do on your first, rest and repeat two times. You'll be surprised at how quickly you progress.

Level 1:

Wall push-ups. Hands on wall, feet on floor about a foot away. Push out.

On knees, butt high. Hands and feet shoulder width apart on ground, push-up.

On knees butt flat. Hands and feet shoulder width apart on ground, push-up.