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. Hi Fitz, Can you recommend any good kickboxing videos? I lift weights and run, and I'd like to integrate kickboxing into my routine. Thanks for your help. Samantha

A. Hello Miss Samantha. Great question and you've come to the right place. Kickboxing is actually my sport. I've been training/competing as a full contact kickboxer for over ten years. You're smart to want to include it in your training. I always tell folks at the seminars I teach that I can brag about the sport, because I didn't invent it. Kickboxing literally works every single muscle in your body head to toe. It also offers an insane combination of cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training in one shot.....when done right.

A while back, the physician that has been caring for my lower back injury suggested I go do Pilate's to help strengthen and stretch the muscles that are stuck in a chronic spasm. Now, I've been teaching fitness for 18 years and have been exposed to almost every type of training and equipment under the sun. I'm embedded in it. Strangely though, Pilate's and Yoga are things that have never interested me. I understand the benefit to doing those things, and have recommended them to others. I've just never wanted to pursue them myself. I'm a fighter; literally. If you don't believe me click here. I like to move fast, go hard, sweat, grunt, and pant like a lunatic. I like to GO, GO, GO! The one time I took yoga, I wanted to slit my wrists. The few times I used the Pilate's Reformer, I thought it was interesting....but not anything I'd want to pursue.

So last week I show up at the Gainesville Health and Fitness Center, and the advanced Pilate's mat class was just about to start. Feeling guilty for not following up on my doctor's advice from months ago, I half-heartedly asked the perky front desk chic if there was any room in the class. Yep. There was. And she handed me a little butterfly thing with a number on it to hold my place.

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 high school offers very few sports, but I'd like to play something. I'd like to try out for football, but my old-fashioned mother thinks that will make me a "tomboy". What do you think? Katie

A. You've come to the right place Katie! I happen to have embedded myself in the traditionally male sport of full-contact kickboxing, and you know what? It made me a better woman! Sports are sports. Whether you play with a ball, racket, gloves or sneakers...sports are just a more fun way to exercise and flex your competitive muscles. Period.

I loved getting in the ring to try and knock an opponent out. I loved the strategy, speed, and power of the event. Fighting, in fact, is one of my favorite things to do. Some of the girls I've competed against thought they had to take on some sort of macho persona. Short hair, yucky jeans, and mean snarls. I, on the other hand, preferred to act like a monster in the ring and show up to the after-party like a lady in a pretty dress and heels. Embracing my athleticism, strength and courage has allowed me to appreciate how wonderful it is to be a woman. A strong, athletic, educated woman who loves to have the doors held for her.

Are you thinking about incorporating kickboxing into your fitness routine? Good for you! It's a blast and a serious workout. You're sure to work up a sweat, burn tons of calories, and feel great afterward (even if you are a little sore).

If you're anything like me, you want to make sure you look the part when you walk in for your first class or training session -- I don't mean that you need to have all of the authentic gear or anything, but you should know what attire and equipment is necessary for the best results. Your class or trainer will likely provide a lot of the equipment, but you still have to provide your wardrobe:

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Elizabeth Lienhart

Age: 23

Occupation: Mechanical Engineer

How often do you exercise? Five to seven days a week.

What type of exercise do you do? Spinning, running, kickboxing, weight training, dancing around the house.

What gets you to workout, even when you're feeling lazy? Two piece swim suits and skinny jeans!

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Robyn Ackerman

Age: 45

Occupation: Insurance Adjuster

How often do you exercise? I'm now aiming for five times a week. Just getting back after several set backs health-wise.

What type of exercise do you do? Kickboxing, running and some weights.

What gets you to workout, even when you're feeling lazy? The thought of you Fitz. Knowing that I've let you down by not doing what I should be. I'm also encouraged by my husband who is trying hard to support me.

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Jody Davis

Age: 60

Occupation: CPA/PFS and Certified Family Mediator

How often do you exercise? Five days a week.

What type of exercise do you do? Kickboxing, walking, swimming, Pilate's, and strength training.

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

My guests this week are a bit dear to my heart, as they share the same passion for fighting as I do. Doug Anderson, a highly decorated Iraqi war veteran from New Jersey traveled across the world with Jimmy Smith, a young Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter. Their journey had them test their skills against locals and various fighting styles, often styles they had never seen before. Always exciting, often painful, and always real....the Discovery Channel's Fight Quest stars went on an adventure of a lifetime and returned home with bruises and scars to show for it.

Fitz: Most folks dread the thought of even verbal confrontation. You guys volunteered to go fight a bunch of unknowns from around the world, many of which were yielding weapons you didn't know how to use! What scares you?

Doug: I was shot at in Iraq and had bombs explode 100 yards from me while there. None of that stuff ever scared me. But fighting like we did on this show was different. In Iraq I was part of a team; on Fight Quest I was alone. If I failed.....the onus was on me. I was always most nervous right before each fight, but I'd lose those nerves as soon as I got hit. It made me want to go running face-first into the other guys fist. Just to get it over with!

Jimmy: What scares me is not putting my best foot forward. It's OK to lose to someone better than me, but I hated the idea of losing to someone because I was fatigued or didn't put forth my best effort. As far as nerves go, you can't kill what's inside you. It's best to use those nerves to make you react; make you sharper.

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Kristen Seymour

Age: 27

Occupation: Writer

How often do you exercise? I try to do something at least four or five times a week. Sometimes that means I'm at the gym for seven days in a row, and sometimes it means I take the dogs for a lot of walks. I just try to make sure I work SOMETHING into my schedule.

What type of exercise do you do? You name it! I like to play team sports like basketball and volleyball, run, swim, go to classes at the gym, use weights and resistance training, and, of course, kickbox!

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Audrey Lewis

Age: 59

Occupation: Treasurer of the City of Gainesville.

How often do you exercise? In general, five times a week.

What type of exercise do you do? Three kickboxing sessions and two Pilates sessions.

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Jodi Bennett

Age: 30

Occupation: Gymnastics school owner

How often do you exercise? Five - Six days a week.

What type of exercise do you do? I run, kickbox and lift weights.

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 15 and I weigh 225 pounds. I'd like to lose a lot of weight. For exercise, I fast walk on the treadmill for 15 minutes a day. I try to eat the right foods, but I keep having a temptation to go back to my old habits. I keep trying, but because of my brother's metabolism... he can eat anything. That is not helping me at all. I need help, but I'm afraid that no one will help me because of my weight, so I hope you guys can. Shelby

A. I'm really glad you reached out for help here, Shelby. Being overweight is no fun, especially as a child.....which you are. I struggled with my weight as a teenager too, but thankfully I eventually figured things out. I remember way back then thinking a good weight loss technique was to simply eat fewer Cheetos. My parents never spoke about weight management to me and I simply didn't have much guidance on the subject. I felt bad about myself and desperately wanted to change. Sounds like you're in the same boat.

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. Hello Fitz. I'm 5'8 and 103 pounds. I eat right and do cross country, so I burn off a lot of calories. But I just gained two pounds in one WEEK! Is it fat turning into muscle or do I need to exercise more. Michelle

A. Thanks for writing Michelle. I have two thoughts about your question. First. You are severely underweight right now, so I am concerned for your health. Please consult your physician. You doctor should be able to help you get on a healthier track. It would be an enigma for you to be both that light for your height and completely healthy.

Second thing. For anyone concerned about a two pound weight gain:our body weight can increase by as much as five or more pounds throughout one day, depending on how much we've consumed or perspired. I would pick one day per week, Wednesday for example, and step on the scale first thing in the morning while you are stark naked. This way, you'll get a true measure of your actual weight and are less likely to have inconsistencies. Your true weight will be revealed over time.

Q. Fitz, So many people have addressed the dangers of overeating and weight gain. There are many causes for overeating; message received.Why has the concept of under eating and weight gain not such a hot topic?

Like Matthew (the pilot with multiple abdominal surgeries) I have had many abdominal procedures, and early menopause which resulted in a complete hysterectomy. Since all of these surgeries, I do well if I consume at least 750 calories a day. If I'm not hungry I don't eat. But wait, there's more. Despite my low caloric intake (and yes, I am physically active - I live on a homestead with small animals that need a lot of care) and especially since my hysterectomy, my weight has jumped.

I know there must be some tie between low intake and weight but even with my activity level, it's not dropping an ounce. If I eat more, I just get cranky and swell. I'm doing something wrong, but I can't see it and no one is willing to at least point me in a direction. I would appreciate any comments and thoughts you have on this. Regards, Josie

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 23-year-old female and I struggle with my legs. My issue is the upper area: thighs, hamstrings and glutes. I have a desk job and sit most of the day, but I go to the gym every evening right after work. I read tons about fitness and have tried everything. It just seems as though my glutes and thighs never tone. I do cardio (run & elliptical) three days a week and I weight train two days a week alternating muscles groups: upper body with lower body. I eat well, five small healthy meals a day. Please help. Jasmine

A. Hey Jasmine. Sorry you're struggling. Sounds like you're on the right track, but we can change things up a bit to get you closer to where you'd like to be physically. First of all, I'd like to change the type of cardio you're doing. I absolutely love running and the elliptical trainer, but those activities don't really make the best use of the power in your glutes and thighs. Start engaging in activities that take your legs through a large range of motion and utilize their power. Kickboxing, climbing stadium bleachers, and mountain biking are great choices. These activities require you to lift your legs, extend/flex at the hips and knees and create both endurance and strength in the areas your eager to enhance. Make sense? This way you'll be burning major calories and creating strong hard thigh muscles simultaneously.

Continue a well rounded strength training routine, but add some extra moves to target those glutes and thighs. Walking lunges and squat jumps (squat real low, jump real high) are my favorites. Make these changes, Jasmine, and you'll start seeing the results you've been dreaming about. Keep me posted!

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.Hey Fitz. I'm trying hard to lose some weight, but I go out with my work friends and it's difficult for me to pass on the chicken wings (which I love) when my friends order them all the time. Help! Max

A. Max, chicken wings sure are tasty. There are a few ways to look at this situation, and you can choose the outlook that works best for you. First of all, restricting anything 100% is rarely a great idea. Why? It leaves you feeling deprived, which often leads to major revolts. If you're in love with chicken wings, have a few. Just make sure 90% of the rest of the food you consume throughout the week is of high quality and low in calories and you'll see progress.

You can also create a healthier wing ding. It's the wing sauce you love right? Most folks don't truly crave the task of chewing teeny bits of meat out of teeny little bones. That's not the desired bit. It's the sauce. So to create a healthier option that will satisfy your craving, order a grilled chicken breast and then just dip it in some wing sauce. You'll save tons of calories and fat, as wings are usually deep-fried.

The other thing to consider is that chicken wings aren't going away. If you want to avoid them completely for now, have faith that when you reach your ideal weight you will be able to enjoy a chicken wing again. They're always going to make more. Good luck Max. Be particular about what you put in your mouth, exercise often and you'll get where you want to go. Fitz

Q. Fitz. I'd like to help my 67 year old mother stay strong. Where should I start? Shes obviously not super old...but she's not incredibly fit and I think her age adds an element of concern. Where should I focus? Milena