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Train at Home - With Little Equipment

Fitness

ask fitz

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. 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 one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

fitz absQ. I have a question for you. A while back you answered a question from a man who had been slacking off and needed to shape up fast for a beach trip. I printed out your advice, and started doing it (lots of push-ups, pull-ups, lunges, squats and cardio). But then I wondered if you would give different advice to a woman. So, what's a fast shape-up program for a relatively thin and healthy woman? And especially one that can be done at home with a minimum of equipment. Thanks! Judy

A. Thanks for the great question, Judy. I'm so happy to hear that you've printed out my advice and have been using it. Makes me feel worthy! I don't, however, have a more "female" workout for you. Look, everyone is different and often a woman's needs are different than a man's. But usually, they're only different when dealing with pregnancy, postpartum or menopause-type issues.

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Exercise - What Type? How Hard? How Often? (VIDEO)

Fit Kicks Videos, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness

fit kicks

Ever wonder how much exercise you should really be doing and why? This Fit Kick has your answers.

For more quick and fun fit tips by degreed experts in the field of health and fitness ...

Eric Stoltz - The Actor Chooses His Last Meal on Death Row

Celebrity Fitzness Report, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements

Actor Eric Stoltz and I just had one of the most interesting and funniest conversations I've had in a long time. He's presently guest starring on ABC's hit show Grey's Anatomy as a Death Row serial killer. Charming. While interviewing my guests for Celebrity Fitzness Report, we always talk fitness, but we also talk about the projects each celebrity is working on at the moment.

So first Eric and I talk fitness. Eric is a guy who works out not because he's desperate to get big, he just really wants to be healthy and fit. He makes a habit of doing cardio and strength training on alternating days. Great! He's also a vegetarian who loves a healthy meal of pasta with eggplant and mushrooms.

Now to the serial killer/last meal part. I asked Eric what his favorite not-so-healthy food is, and he told me he loves pizza. So, going back to his role on Grey's Anatomy, I asked him if pizza is what he'd choose for his last meal.

Your Chest - Make it Stronger! (VIDEO)

Fit Kicks Videos, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness

Each muscle has a function, and the pecs are no different. Watch this quick video and never forget how to work your chest ... even if you're in the desert with Bear Grylls!

Visit Fitzness.com for more training videos, celebrity interviews and delicious low fat recipes!

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Are You Suffering from "Oprah Syndrome?"

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

oprah winfreyNo ... I'm not asking if you're painfully bright, wealthy and generous. I'm referring to the Oprah Syndrome as: Having lost and regained enormous amounts of weight more times than you can count. If you've lost a bunch of weight through dieting or just plain old great fitness habits, yet at some point just broke down and regained it all back, you're suffering from Oprah Syndrome.

I've been teaching fitness for 20 years now, and I've dealt with many people suffering the same condition. It's extremely painful to watch, and it's really frustrating for both those going through it and those who love them. I call it Oprah Syndrome because Oprah has made this agonizing situation famous. She has all the means, tools and professionals around to help keep her on track but at some point, she mentally just can't take it.

Gaining five pounds back can be accidental. Gaining 60 to 80+ pounds back is oddly deliberate. She could have hit the breaks when she gained 10, 20 or 30, but she didn't. I believe her issue is emotional, and she simply won't allow herself the life and/or perks that go along with being fit and trim. I'm no psychiatrist, but after doing this about a bazillion times, it's hard not to know the trends.

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Will Donny Osmond Join the Cast of Dancing with the Stars

Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

donny osmonLast week, I had an exclusive interview with the one and only Donny Osmond. He's currently co hosting ABC's new show Rediscovered, and I thought it would be appropriate to ask what everyone else is probably wondering: "Are you planning on following Marie's footsteps and joining the cast of Dancing with the Stars?"

When Marie competed last year, Donny seemed to spend just as much time on the show throwing in his two cents. He obviously has rhythm and is no stranger to the stage, so why wouldn't he take a stab at that fancy disco ball trophy?

Maybe Donny is afraid of not getting as far in the competition as his sister did? Maybe he's worried about not doing those glittery costumes justice? He's asked this question every day, but until we spoke on the phone, I had never heard him give a definitive answer.

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Cardio and Core Training with Donny Osmond

Celebrity Fitzness Report, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

Today I chatted with Donny Osmond. That almost feels silly to say. Not that he's silly, but because he's been a part of my life for about as long as Santa Claus has. Fortunately, I like him even more now than I did a few hours ago. Donny has spent his entire career in the spotlight, and at 51 years of age, he looks just about as great as he ever has.

donny osmondHe's performing in Vegas right now and hosting a new show on ABC called Rediscovered, airing December 22 at 9 PM ET, which sounds pretty fun. Rediscovered gives adults who unsuccessfully auditioned to be a Mouseketeer 20 years ago a second chance at stardom and a $50,000 prize. Donny and Marie were sold on the concept and are enjoying the opportunity to see these "regular people" shine on stage. Read on to learn more about the show, how Donny stays fit, and whether or not he's going to take his shot at Dancing With the Stars!

Fitz: So you're back on prime-time television. What drew you to Rediscovered?

Donny: Marie and I just loved the concept. It's been amazing to see these regular people dragged out of their normal lives and put back on the stage. The show is fun, the audiences have been really receptive and the contestants have proven to be terrific.

Fitz: Since the contestants haven't been performing for a living, are any of them disastrously horrible?

Celebrity Fitzness Report: Donny Osmond(click thumbnails to view gallery)

RediscoveredDonny gets in cardio on stage!Donny avoids eating grease - he leans towards organic food.Donny dreams of chocolate covered edamame! The Big Confession

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Elite Training on a Treadmill - Without Using Your Feet (VIDEO)

Fit Kicks Videos, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

The treadmill is a great tool for walking and jogging, but have you ever tried to use it for anything else? (Besides drying clothes on it.) You might be surprised to learn about all of the things you can do on a treadmill to get a tremendous upper body and abdominal workout. Check out this video of my wicked workout partner Anthony Field of The Wiggles and me as we take your training to the next level.

This type of innovative training is so fun and effective, it may just get you past working out because you "have to" and take you to working out because you "want to." Those are two completely different things. For more cool videos, recipes and other fun fit tips ...

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Obese people bring back simple pleasures through fitness

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness

I'm training a woman right now who walked through my door several weeks ago nearing 300 pounds. I'll call her Crystal. At her morbidly obese weight, Crystal was desperate to lose about 150 pounds. One goal: To be able to sit on the floor with her kids.

Ever think your weight might spiral so completely out of control that you wouldn't be able to do something so simple? Neither did she. But it happens all the time. Here comes the great news.

Crystal found herself kickboxing with me on my heavy bag that first day. Since then, she's learned an arsenal of strikes and has been more mobile in the past three weeks than she has in the past few years. Could this be you?

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Celebrity Fitzness Report: Trading Spaces Carpenter Brandon Russell

Celebrities and Entertainment, Celebrity Fitzness Report, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements

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.

Brandon Russell is the super sexy carpenter building up a storm on TLC's Trading Spaces. Easily filling Ty Pennington's boots of long ago, Brandon is passionate about carpentry and the viewers are passionate about him. One homeowner even tried to unzip him! We spoke for about an hour this week, and besides being gorgeous, Brandon is a true southern gentlemen. His drawl is adorable, and he is truly a sweet and smart guy. Brandon is also a former personal trainer, and his body is proof that he knows his stuff. Want to know his secret to spectacular abs? Read on!

Fitz: You're in your second season of Trading Spaces. How's it going?

Brandon: It's unbelievable! I've always wanted to work on television, and when I was told I got this job, I honestly cried. To be able to do what I love, carpentry, and just be myself on TV is an amazing gift. In fact, after I cried, I called all of the girlfriends I ever mocked for being weepy to apologize.

Fitz: That's pretty "manly" of you to admit it! But you're not just "the carpenter" on the show, you're the "hot carpenter." How's that?

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Pedometers: A personal trainer you can wear

Fitness

No need for an expensive trainer to motivate you in your fitness goals. A pedometer might be all you need.

Pedometers prompted a group of overweight folks in one University of Michigan study to move 20 to 40 minutes longer than those who didn't wear one. That's 2,000 to 4,000 more steps or an extra one to two miles, based on a three-mph walk. Logic has it that self-monitoring is too hard -- we tend to think we've walked longer than we have, for example. But watching a pedometer gives us the cold, hard facts on how many miles we've logged. Consider a pedometer a personal trainer you can wear.

I don't personally have a pedometer but I use my treadmill to chart much of my success. When I'm beginning to wind down my workout, I'll push myself if I see I'm just short of an accomplishment. If my three mile run has me completing, say, 30 minutes, I'll challenge myself to squeak in another two laps -- that's a half a mile and a whole lot more than I'd conquer if I was running outdoors, unaware of how my pursuits were adding up.

Are you a pedometer person?

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Fitz's Cool Tools: Chisel Your Body with The Lebert Equalizer

Healthy Aging, Healthy Home, Womens Health, Book Reviews, Healthy Products and Reviews, Cellulite, Obesity, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Reviews & Products, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health

A few weeks ago, I received one of my favorite fitness tools to date. I'm a massive proponent of training with our own body weight. For most of us, it's the heaviest weight we will ever lift. From my eyes as a fitness trainer, we are all just a bunch of massive dumbbells. Isn't that nice of me to say? So my little dumbbells ... I have a cool new tool for you! The Lebert Equalizer will add some fun and give you a bunch of neat things to do with that delightfully heavy body of yours.

The Lebert Equalizer is perfect for pull-ups, push-ups, dips, decline rows, scull crushers, planks and tons of other fantastic strength and cardiovascular training exercises as well. It's light-weight, portable, versatile and not too pricey. For $99.99 you'll get a set of Equalizers along with a free training DVD and a poster to guide you while you train.

Much to their delight (or disgust), many of my personal training clients ages 16 to 62 have been subjected (tortured) with the Equalizers. I kid! The typical exercises one would do with these tools are hard though -- in a good way. My intermediate/advanced fitness level clients have loved the challenges put forth to them each session. I would not allow someone with very little strength to use them though, because without great balance, the Equalizers wobble a bit. Having said that, people wobble on the BOSU, stability ball, and lots of other fitness tools. Balance is an integral part of functional fitness training. I don't reference the wobble to deter you. I just want you to be extra aware not to allow Great Aunt Sue to use them.

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Ask Fitz! Your Fitness Questions Answered -- Get Ripped Quick

Healthy Aging, Healthy Habits, Healthy Places, Healthy Relationships, Stress Reduction, Vegetarian, Womens Health, Healthy Recipes, Healthy Kids, Ask Fitz!, Cellulite, Obesity, Healthy Events, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Motivation, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health

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 one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hey Fitz. I blew it! I am going on vacation with a bunch of my college buddies and some hot girls in four weeks. I've totally slacked off on my workouts since school ended and now I'd like to get ripped again before we head to Mexico. What can I do at my gym to shred a bit of fat and get buff quick before the trip? I know I'm a dork for slacking, but I also know you can help me improve. I'm willing to do the work! Jason

A. Familiar story Jason! You're not the only one who's taken some time off from their fitness training only to have it blow up in your face. You're also not the first person to try and undo the damage quickly. Four weeks is a pretty decent amount of time, so if you are really clean with your eating habits and start training intensely ... I think it would be safe to take off at least 10 pounds before you see Mexico, and all of those hot girls see you!

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When do calories really count?

Healthy Aging, Healthy Habits, Healthy Kids, Cellulite, Obesity, Healthy Events, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health

On a regular basis, I make a habit of informing both my personal training clients and lecture guests of exactly when calories count. For some reason, this topic often seems more complicated than it is, so let me lay it out for you clearly.

When Calories Count:

  • They count on Friday night.
  • They count on your birthday.
  • They count when you are out drinking.
  • They count on Thanksgiving.

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Get Fit with these specific text messages

Healthy Aging, Healthy Habits, Womens Health, Celebrities and Entertainment, Healthy Kids, Healthy Products and Reviews, Cellulite, Obesity, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health

Hooray! Fellow blogger,Jacki Donaldson just brought up a great subject. Using your phone to help you stay motivated works! I use text messages to harass my personal training clients, and I always receive feedback that they've inspired and kept the recipients in line when tempted to go to the dark (not-so-healthy) side.

Having said that, my brilliant colleague, Tracy Benham, is the mastermind behind TxtVox's Get Fit text messages. The girl is a sharp exercise physiologist and fitness trainer (we met getting our Master's Degrees in Exercise and Sports Sciences). Let her in your mind a couple of times a week ... and sooner rather than later ... your body will rockin'! The texts come twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, and are really just there to motivate, educate, and harass you like a personal trainer would.

Go to TxtVox.com. Find the All About Me section, and then check off the box Get Fit! And did I mention that it's free? Oh yes! It is. If you're someone who could use a bit of consistent motivation from a REAL-DEAL professional ... TxtVox.com Get Fit messages are the way to go.

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