We've got one trainer telling us to trash the treadmill and reach solely for the weights. And we've got RealAge saying that runners live longer than non-runners. I wasn't sold on the no-cardio concept before. Now, I'm really not sold on the weights-only mentality. But I'm a runner, which makes me a little biased. What do you think?

Hundreds of runners and non-runners were tracked for more than 20 years in one study, and it was determined that those who pound the pavement are much less likely to become disabled or die than non-runners. The difference in death rate was pretty significant -- 34 percent of non-runners died by age 70, but only 15 percent of runners did. Groups were similar in age, weight and overall health status so the thought is that running was the key to survival.

If you're a runner, I say keep on truckin'. If you're new to the sport but want to pick it up, RealAge offers some pointers for getting started. If you just can't see yourself racing to the finish line, don't forget about walking -- it has some real benefits too. And now, my friends, we want to know: Would you run if your life depended on it?

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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 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.

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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, 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.

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Roughly a year ago my cousin had a stroke. It shocked and scared everyone in the family because nobody saw it coming. Prior to her stroke she worked at a school, but has yet to return to work. She's made great progress physically, though she still has weakness in one arm. But her bubbly, effusive, and gregarious personality has never quite been the same since the stroke.

According to an Australian study, depression can disable stroke patients almost as much as physical issues. The study followed 210 stroke patients. Of those who eventually went back to work, 33% were diagnosed with post-stroke depression. 45% of those who didn't return to work were diagnosed with depression.

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Obesity is a new form of disability, according to this article. Studies are showing that those who are obese have a very difficult time walking short distances or climbing even a few stairs. Obese people also have trouble lifting, bending and getting out of chairs. It's a vicious circle, really -- obesity is keeping them from activity and no activity is keeping them obese.

Still, it's nothing new. I've been seeing obese people using Handicapped parking passes for years, but while many people are quick to label such people as lazy, perhaps it's just that they physically can't walk that far. What do you think? Is obesity a real disability?

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This is a subject near to my heart as I have worked for several years in the health care industry, most recently with adults who have suffered traumatic brain injury. Exercise and fitness is a huge part of the rehab process for these individuals, and if you think it's hard for you to get in (or stay in) healthy shape just imagine how it must be for someone with major physical limitations and little to no available facilities or equipment to work with.

Unfortunately the social perception seems to be that disabled individuals are unhealthy and unable to take part in anything physical, or that they're a liability in a gym setting, or that they simply can't do it or aren't interested. I can say from experience how largely untrue these ideas are, but they are not going to change unless, and until, we all take ownership for our own misconceptions.

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The debate continues over whether or not being much short should be considered a disability. Dwarfism is a condition recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act, but that applies only to adults with a height of 4' 10" or smaller. This new debate is about people who are slightly taller than that, 4'11" to 5'3", and have what the medical community calls idiopathic ( which means unexplained) short stature, or ISS.

Children who are growing far behind the normal rates for their ages can be given human growth hormone, but treatments are extremely expensive and most insurance companies won't cover the costs since short stature is not an official disability at this point. Growth hormone supplements are generally safe and better understood now than in the past, but can only add a few inches of total height for most people, leading to a secondary debate over whether the treatment is worth the high costs.

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