That's Fit

I hate to admit it, but the iPod revolutionized the way I run. I remember my first run with it -- nothing bulky to hold, no switching sides of the tape -- just pure, energizing music. It helped me to run faster and further; however, I've run into a problem. I can't find earphones I like.

My original iPod earbuds fit me perfectly -- they stayed in place and caused no pain. However, they recently stopped working, so I tried my husband's earbuds -- no luck. I don't know what's different, but something is, and they slide out of my ears. I tried two other types of earphones -- one pair that was like earbuds but hooked over my ears, and the one that was like a standard set of earphones that also hooked over my ears -- and neither of them worked for me, either. The first didn't stay in place and the second pair really hurt the tops of my ears.

Do you have a pair of earphones you really like? I found this forum with some suggestions, but I'll hold off on shopping until I hear from some That's Fit readers.

I've got a small head -- my six-year-old has a bigger noggin than me. Luckily, my ears are in proportion to my head, so I don't look like Dumbo. But my tiny ears have never been able to accommodate iPod or MP3 player earbuds. They fall out thirty seconds into a workout. Instead, I wear wrap-around-ear headphones that don't quite fit right, exceedingly jealous of gym rats performing forward lunges with perfectly nestled earbuds.

If you suffer from earbud slippage or even asymmetrical ear canals, check out these potential solutions:

• Ultimate Ears sells custom-fit earbuds. They're pricey -- starting at $129, up to $1,150 -- but considering a custom fit requires an exact impression, I bet they don't fall out. You'll need to chain these earbuds to your body, at this price this is one pair you don't want to lose.
• PodFitKit offers a much cheaper solution. For $16.49, PodFitKit is a moldable, non-toxic silicon material that attaches to your earbuds, hardening to the unique shape of your ear. The kit is offered in a variety of colors -- off-white, blue, red, orange, green and natural.

It's time for me to stop complaining and stick some PodFitKit silicon on a new set of earbuds ... pronto.

A lot of us use earbuds or headphones pretty regularly, whether it's while working out or during a long subway commute or whatever, and most of us barely give our health and our hearing a second thought while choosing a playlist and adjusting the volume. But research shows we should be giving it some thought, as causing permanent hearing damage is easier than you might think. Experts have suggested some listening guidelines based on how loud you like to crank your tunes (these are for earbuds):

• At 80% of the maximum volume you shouldn't listen for longer than 1.2 - 1.5 hours at a time
• At 70% of the max volume you can listen for quite a bit longer: 4.6 - 6.0 hours
• And if you can keep it to 50% of the max or lower you can listen as long as you want

I have no idea what percentage I usually have my iPod set on, but I'm gonna figure it out!