Just in case you indulged a little too much last week at all those Memorial Day barbecues, today is a chance at redemption. It's National Running Day, and celebrating is easy -- just lace up your sneaks and hit the road!

Making this day particularly interesting is the fact that it's the very first National Running Day. Road racing clubs and organizations all over the country are joining forces to encourage Americans young and old, fit or fat to get out and run. According to Active.com, president and CEO of New York Road Runners Mary Wittenberg said, "Everyone can run. That's the message of this day."

OK, let's say you want to do more than just take a leisurely jog around the neighborhood to celebrate. Or perhaps you've never run a day in your life, but you're interested in getting started (and what better opportunity will you ever have?). What can you do?

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Want to get more results out of your regular fitness class? It's as simple as standing at the front of the class.

Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Want to know the secrets of the stars? Bi-weekly our That's Fit fitness expert Fitz sits down with the celebs we want to know more about, and digs out their great and not-so-great methods to staying healthy.

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There's really no big secret to losing weight and keeping it off. Burn more calories than you consume and you'll see what I mean. Eating a healthy diet, exercising well, minimizing stress, and getting enough sleep will help your cause. So will another factor, according to this LA Times article.

The Internet may help you lose weight -- you're using the Internet right now, after all, and look at the wealth of diet and weight loss information That's Fit has to offer. But communicating with real people is just as important.

According to a 30-month multi-center study conducted at Duke University Medical Center and three other research institutions, participants in a personal-contact support group gained back 8.8 pounds of the 18.7 they lost. Those in an Internet support group and control group regained 11.4 and 12.1 pounds.

These maintenance results might be modest. But the research supports what has been previously established -- that continued support from people who help with the weight loss process is associated with keeping weight off.

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I don't buy snacks from check-out lines. That's only because I haven't been eating candy and chips and drinking soda for the past year. Otherwise, I'd surely be reaching for those perfectly-placed diet spoilers. I'd likely be gaining weight too.

Women eat 14,300 calories a year thanks to impulse buys at check-out counters, according to IHL Group, a global research and advisory firm providing market analysis and business consulting services for retailers. All those impulses equal about four pounds per year for the female persuasion. For men, indulging in line translates to roughly three pounds. Although women have an overall higher average of impulse buying, men under 25 are the biggest consumers of caloric items. This group actually consumes enough to gain eight pounds per year.

If you an impulse indulger and just can't seem to help yourself, opt for self-checkout systems when available. IHL's study showed that impulse purchases drop dramatically at these stations. Why? Because self-checkout lanes are not as heavily merchandised as staffed lanes. There are usually shorter lines too which minimizes the opportunity for a captive and tempted audience.

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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, I want to take one of the BOSU classes at my gym, but I've never done it before and I'll feel like a total dork if I bust my butt on one of those things. Plus I'm a guy. Mostly girls take those classes. Should I bother? Eric.

A. Ahhh! Eric, you are too cute. First of all. The BOSU is a balance tool and is designed to make people wobbly. Until that is, they earn the strength and control to not only stand on top of it, but do some tricks too. Second. You can stand in the back of the classroom if you don't want to be a spectacle. Third. Most people in a BOSU class are too concerned with their own balance to have the time and ability to look at what anyone else is doing.

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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 29 year old male and I am thinking about starting a workout routine. However, I don't know where to begin. I have a treadmill and that's it. I am 5'11 and about 160lbs. I don't have a lot of muscle, have a low self esteem towards my body shape and would like to change it. Something simple I can do at home with or without the treadmill would be OK. Any suggestions? Jared

A. Sweet Jared. So sorry you're feeling down in the dumps. Hard to know exactly what is causing it all, but getting yourself in shape can certainly be a grand opportunity to increase your physical fitness, confidence and self esteem. It's proven to help people live better and longer. I can help you with your physical goals. If you feel like there may be something else adding to your low self-esteem, please don't feel shy to talk to your medical doctor or a counselor.

Having said that, it sounds like you are long and lean. What a lucky place to start! Let's get you going with a very simple routine which should get you on your way towards the athletic body you so desire. Make that treadmill your home for at least thirty minutes a day, five days a week. Jog for as long as you can, take a two minute walking break, and then repeat. Continue this jogging/walking training until you can jog for 30 minutes straight. Once you get there....increase your time, distance, speed or all three. Up to you! When you feel like you have bricks in your shoes, just walk! It's OK to have some slower days here and there.

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Sometimes, going it alone has great value. Sometimes, being part of a group has a certain appeal. According to those involved with AthletiCamps -- home to cycling camps designed to help riders enhance their performance -- one of the most splendid attractions of road cycling is the feel of rolling down the road in a big collective pack.

What do you think -- ride with the group or go it alone? Before deciding, you may want to better understand the anatomy of a group ride.

A typical group ride consists of any number of riders -- maybe three, maybe 150 -- and typically lasts between two and four hours. Common to group rides is a psychological factor. There's usually at least one person in the group more aggressive than the others, a person who either inhibits or inspires riders.

There are two types of rides, neither of which are races, both of which prepare riders for races. There are training rides, where riders work together on a skill. And there are club rides, where it's not clear who will show up and where a lack of focus can present a challenge.

There's so much more to consider about group rides, and you can learn more here. But the bottom line is this: each athlete's fitness level and goals are unique. For those new to race preparation, it may be wise to avoid unstructured group rides. For those with a little training under their belts, the group ride may be in order. If you're up for it, give it a go -- see how you feel when you're rolling the down the road in that collective pack. I can only imagine it must feel exhilarating.

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If you own a BOSU or have been eying one up at the gym wondering what the heck to do with it, start simple. Pretend it's a step. You know, like the step, we've been using in group exercise classes for decades. Everything you can do on the step, you can do on the BOSU. The BOSU just adds the extra little element of instability, which in the long run will make you more stable.

Go slow at first, because standing on the dome of a BOSU is significantly different. Take a little time just standing on top to get comfortable, and then slowly add on motions you remember from that step class. Besides reaping the benefits of a great lower body workout the step was famous for, you'll engage your hips, abs, and back. Core training. Right?

Seven ideas for step training on the BOSU.

• March on and off.
• Step up lift one knee, step down.
• Jog up, jog down.
• Jump on and off the front and sides of it.
• Lunge on to it.
• Lunge backwards off it.
• Squat on and off.

  For more ideas on BOSU training or to grab one click here.

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Kickboxing aerobics and tae-fitness classes have been the rage for the past few years. To some, they are a bit more fun and interesting than the traditional dance aerobics style group fitness classes. Instead of screaming "reach", instructors yell "punch" and the students go wild. Men are more inclined to venture into these fighting style classes as well. All good news.

As a competitive kickboxer of a little more than a decade I understand the lure. I was compelled toward the sport as a teen, and finally found a legitimate trainer at age 20. My first fight came soon after. I didn't invent kickboxing so I can truly brag about it. It works every muscle in your body from head to toe. It offers the benefits of intense cardiovascular training, builds strength, and increases flexibility. Not to mention it burns a bazillion calories. Oh! And so far, fighting is the most fun thing I've ever done in my life.

Back to those classes. I'm a fan of anything that makes people huff and puff, but if you're into that you may want to take it further. Find a class that utilizes equipment such as heavy bags, focus pads or kicking shields. Hitting the air is fun, but hitting an actual heavy bag is amazing. To me, hitting willing opponents........PRICELESS!

To find a martial arts school near you, visit http://www.martialsearch.com/usa.asp.

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Recently the disease lupus has come to the front of headlines with the American Idol contestant Leslie Hunt. You can't catch lupus from another person. It isn't cancer, and it isn't related to AIDS. It is an autoimmune disease where the immune system is out of control and it attacks healthy tissues in your body and not germs. The disease can involve many parts of the body such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain. Some of the most common symptoms of lupus are, red rash or color change on the face, often in the shape of a butterfly across the nose and cheeks, painful or swollen joints, unexplained fever, chest pain with deep breathing, swollen glands, rheumatoid arthritis, extreme fatigue, unusual hair loss, pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress, sensitivity to the sun, low blood count, depression, trouble thinking, and memory problems. Other signs are mouth sores, unexplained seizures or convulsions, hallucinations, repeated miscarriages, and unexplained kidney problems.

What causes lupus is unknown and there is no cure for the disease. Anyone can get lupus but 9 out of 10 people who have it are women. Talk to your doctor and take a history of your health problems. Many people have lupus for a long time before they find out they have it. I wasn't diagnosed with it until I was 45 years old. It's important that you tell the doctor about all your symptoms. This information, along with a physical examination and the results of blood, urine, and other laboratory tests, helps the doctor decide whether you have lupus or something else.

People with lupus have limited energy and must manage it wisely. Ask your health care team about ways to cope with fatigue. Learn to pace yourself and set realistic goals. Consider support groups to help you over come the depression, anger, and sadness that comes with the disease. Put yourself on a very healthy diet that will help boost the immune system and cut down on inflammation in the body. Try to alleviate stress as much as possible and do moderate daily exercises to build up joint strength. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with lupus learn more about the disease at the Lupus Foundation of America.

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Are you surrounded by "personal drainers?" This article from ediets.com is actually a little depressing when it comes to considering how your friends can really hurt a good diet plan by undermining and sabotaging you at every turn, either intentionally or not. If you hang with like-minded health-conscious types you'll be more successful getting through your weak moments than if you spend time with friends that are just annoyed by your dieting efforts and will tempt you at every turn with pizza and beer.

I think the point is valid, but I'd also like to think I can find a way to lose weight without finding an entirely new group of friends first, even if my best friend isn't as into it as I am.

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2006 was a productive year for the citizens of Jackson, Alabama. Back in January of last year several of the town's citizens came together and started a widespread weight-loss campaign called "Get lost in Jackson" geared towards helping the town become healthier. The original goal was for 2,006 total pounds lost by the end of the year -- but they passed that mark in the first month! One member of the town even referred to the phenomenon as a "tsunami that overtook us." By the end of last month the "pound count" had reached 10,000.

It sounds like a cool idea, offering monthly prizes and all kinds of education and support. And are they finished now that they've hit such a remarkable milestone? Nope, many of the residents are already going for the 2007 round.

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Fitness, weight-loss, eating healthy (heck, simply being healthy) is hard to do. I think we can all say we've made excuses, and many of us have had major lapses in our health and fitness as a result.

Phyllis Pearson has plenty of reasons to make excuses. In fact most people wouldn't even consider them excuses really, more like simple truths why at 85 years old she can't go out swimming or hiking that day. But she doesn't see it that way. Phyllis first set out to run a marathon when she was getting close to 60 years old. She was determined, and although she wasn't able to complete a full marathon, she did run several half-marathons successfully. She has since kept on going strong, and some of her other current hobbies are bicycling, hiking, and swimming.

What does she credit as her "secret to success" for staying in the fitness and health game for so long without playing the excuse game? Being flexible and accepting regular "down time" is what works for her.

This article from The Seattle Times is full of other other inspirational people like Phyllis Pearson, and their personal tricks that keep them going.

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