Shapewear isn't just increasingly popular -- in some cases, it's a lifesaver. Even if you're not overweight, you've probably experienced an outfit that could benefit from a little below-the-surface smoothing action.

Photo: banglz.com

But, of course, that only disguises the problem, and you want more -- you want to get rid of the problem. The Smartslip is designed to do just that. Essentially, it's a fitted half-slip (similar to shapewear), but it's designed to "add slight, on-going resistance," giving you a workout with every step!

I tried out the fullrise version (goes from above the belly down to just above the knee). It definitely provides resistance -- I had to make a real effort to take long strides.

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You should be able to work out anywhere in the world at any time of the day. You don't need a massive gym full of equipment (although that can be nice), and you don't need a full hour to get something accomplished. In this video, our fitness expert Fitz explains the function of the chest muscles and offers a variety of methods for training, using equipment, partners or nothing at all.

To view more innovative training videos, visit Fitzness.com.

The fitness equipment Fitz uses in the video can be found at Power-Systems.com

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That's Fit Club is our feature devoted to you, the reader! We have all learned so much on our paths to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! That's Fit Club members are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect; some are not. But all have health on the mind.

Besides showing you off, we want to reward you for all of your hard work! Everlast and Everlast Woman are giving gorgeous workout T-shirts to each featured member! To join, please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Courtney Clasen

Age: 32

Occupation: Homemaker, Domestic Engineer, In-House Chef, Maid, Taxi, Motivator, Sheriff, Dog Walker, Cat Feeder, Snake Tamer, Playmate and Diva

How often do you exercise? About six days a week.

What type of exercise do you do? I am proud to say that for the first time in my life I can call myself a runner. I also do resistance exercises.

What gets you to work out, even when you're feeling lazy? My bad mood! I know exercise will snap me out of it and give me that hyper "I love everyone" feeling.

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Forget fancy dumbells and barbells -- all you need to get a good workout is an exercise buddy ... or, better yet, a few exercise buddies who come in a range of shapes and sizes. Or, you could just head over to Gymbox in London, where the weights are your workout buddies. That's right, they've replaced traditional weights with humans in a variety of sizes.

Depending on your level of fitness, you can bench press 'Dainty Diva' Arti Shah, who weighs just 66 lbs, or do a lateral pull-down with 'Super Human' Matt Barnard providing, 340 lbs of resistance. All in all, there are five people to choose from, so you can take your pick.

Sounds weird, huh? Gymbox owner Richard Hilton doesn't think so --he believes that being able to visualize the weight you are lifting will help you effectively shape up. In other words, you'll be more motivated to lift a human being than a stack of metal weights, even if it's only for the bragging rights -- just don't mention to your friends that the person you lifted was less than four feet tall.

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There are always hints in the media about this celebrity or that celebrity coming out with a fitness DVD. Melanie Brown, otherwise known as Mel B, has followed through. The Spice Girls' three-disc fitness DVD will be available February 3rd.

Mel B, a former Dancing With the Stars contestant, said "For anyone with jubbily bits, I'm going to tighten you up, make you laugh and enjoy your workout no matter what level you are."

The discs, titled Totally Fit, cover a 28-day program with aerobic and resistance workouts. She also shares some nutrition tips and recipes.

For more news on celebrity fitness, check out AOL Health.

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For a lot of women, hips are a bit of a sore spot. Particularly after we reach a certain age, or after having children, our hips can become pack rats of sorts -- holding on to little stores of fat we really don't need. Alive Magazine has a great routine to work the outer hip muscles (hip abductors). Toning your outer hips will help you look awesome in your jeans, but that's not all! Keeping these muscles strong helps maintain balance and reduces your risk of some injuries.

• Clamshells with leg lift. Lie on your side against a wall with your knees bent so they're at a right angle to the rest of your body. Tighten your tummy and, without shifting your pelvis, raise your top leg. After 20 repetitions on each side, you can repeat the same exercise with your legs straightened.
• X walks with tubing. Step on a length of exercise tubing with handles (or a resistance band) with both feet and criss-cross the handles (holding one handle in each hand). Stand tall, with tummy muscles tightened, then take 15 to 20 steps to one side. Repeat in the other direction.

Check out AOL Health for an all-over leg workout.

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Can I tell you how much I wish I'd known about this 10 or 15 years ago, when I lived at home and had a pool? The StretchCordz Short Belt is a tool that allows you to swim as long and as hard as you want without having to turn at the end of the pool. I don't know about you, but most home pools I've been in aren't long enough to allow for good lap swimming, so this sounds like a perfect solution.

Four feet of heavy tubing is attached to a two-inch waist belt, allowing you to attach the tubing to a ladder and then swim to your heart's content without ever going anywhere. While initially I was concerned about the feeling -- would it be distracting? Would my feet hit the tubing? -- this review put my mind at ease.

The idea behind it is simple, and, according to a number of reviews, it's really effective for swimmers of all levels. It can be used in small backyard pools, hotel pools, or wherever else you want a good, long, continuous swim. And, at under $30, it's not a huge investment. Now, if only I had a pool in my backyard ...

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It looks like a treadmill, but there's a lot more to this up and coming piece of fitness equipment. The Thorotread was featured at the Health & Fitness Business Convention in Denver last month. It takes the best of the treadmill and adds a new component that the manufacturer refers to as "resistance retro walking." Basically, the machine helps you walk backwards while pulling on weight.

The grab bar on the front of the machine releases so you can pull back on it while walking backward. The amount of resistance can be adjusted with a simple push of a button. In addition to the benefits of a regular treadmill, the Thorotread's backward action helps work different groups of muscles. The Thorotread will be available for purchase in Fall, 2008.

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There's a swimming pool in my neighborhood and while it's full of kids and families during the days and on weekends, early mornings and late evenings are pretty peaceful pool times. No canon balls. No "Marco," "Polo." No screaming. No shouting. No inflated tubes. No rafts. No water torpedos. No dive sticks. Just quiet. And stillness. Which makes it perfect for a water workout.

I'm about to make my splash in that pool. I'm about to stretch and run and jump and swim until my muscles are strong and lean. Julia Roberts is doing it. I can too.

Celebrity trainer Kathy Kaehler has Roberts in the pool and has tasked her with a range of shallow and deep-water activities, cardio exercises -- like jumping jacks, water walking, and water running -- and for toning, Kaehler has Roberts doing scissors, heel lifts, leg circles, and knee swivels.

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Whether you're making your foray into fitness sometime soon or if you've been working out for quite some time, I'm sure you have goals. You've set them in your mind; to look a certain way, to feel better, to build strength and endurance, etc. Some of your goals may even be more specific; to fit in a pair of jeans, to be able to bench press your bod weight, to be able to complete a 5k marathon, etc. Whatever your individual goals happen to be, now that they've been set, it's time to start achieving them.

If your goal is ...

To Be More Flexible ... Try stretching more often. A great stretch that incorporates most of the joints and muscles in your body is to lie face-up on the floor with your legs extended. Grab the back of your left knee with both hands and pull it close to your chest. Hold it there for 30 seconds. Then, do the same for the right knee, also holding it for thirty seconds. Next, cross your right knee over your left knee, as you would when you cross your legs while seated in a chair. Use both hands to pull the back of your left thigh toward you, which should bring your right knee toward your right shoulder. Hold for 30 seconds and then switch legs and do the same for that side.

To Be Stronger and More Toned ... Perform multi-joint exercises that burn more calories when performed. Examples include the squat, bench press, deadlift, push-ups, pull-ups, and military press. Incorporate resistance training movements of this kind to your workout at least two or three times a week for a minimum of twenty minutes.

To Be Less Winded ... Start interval training. Divide your regular cardio workout into segments of low-intensity and high-intensity. For example, try jogging lightly for two or three minutes and then all-out sprinting for 15 to 20 seconds. Repeat this cycle three or four times in total. As your stamina increases, you can adjust your effort accordingly.

While my fitness forecast for 2008 is based on the belief that we will be going back to the basics, there may be one exception.

Vibration training is gaining popularity in high-profile gyms and sport-specific training facilities, and I expect that it won't be long before it crash lands into your local fitness center. Designed by aviation scientists, a vibrating platform is used in a variety of training methods, supposedly offering fat-loss and an increase in muscle and bone strength. Researchers from Stony Brook University in New York found that merely standing on these platforms for 15 minutes per day week can help reduce fat by as much as 27 percent. Many trainers have implemented the vibrating platform into their clients' workouts, using it in tandem with traditional resistance training exercises. At the same time, many trainers and critics have had their fair share of commentary against the efficacy of the platform.

Personally, I'm not entirely convinced that standing on a vibrating platform will have any significant affect on my body. Yes, that is strictly my opinion and it is completely possible that I am wrong. However, I seem to recall a machine from waaaaaay back in the day that used to strap you in and perform a similar vibrating movement. It's since become something we look back at and laugh. Will the same degree of "roll your eyes" comedy come from this new vibration training trend? Feel free to shake things up with your opinions.

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Gym not for you? Don't worry -- many people can't stand the gym and would rather work out in private. But working out on your own accord takes motivation ... and a little help from a trained professional who can give you some guidance. Jari Love, one of my favourite trainers, gave her advice on at home workouts to MSN -- all this workout requires is a some resistance bands! Click here for the workout.

Reading about workouts not good enough? If you need a visual guide, pick up a fitness DVD or two to work out to. Jari's Ripped series is a great start.

How do you stay slim without the gym?

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Diabetes can be prevented. Do you know how? Surprise: Diet and exercise.

According to the website HealthyUpdates.com, about 54 million American adults have pre-diabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetes. These people can prevent their conditions from evolving into type 2 diabetes by employing these three strategies.

1. Eating right. Studies show an increase in fiber, whole grains, and cereal can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.

2. Moving. Exercise can reduce insulin resistance.

3. Losing Weight. Exercise plus weight loss cuts the risk of developing diabetes, says data from the National Institutes of Health's Diabetes Prevention Program. It only takes a loss of four to six percent of body weight to make a difference.

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My grandma had osteoporosis. For her, it reared its ugly head in her back which became more and more rounded with each of her passing years. It caused her great pain. And it caused her to continually urge me to stand up straight and practice good posture -- which is important for young women like me who wish to maximize bone health. But even more critical for mostly Caucasian and Asian women is weight-bearing exercise and resistance training.

Walking, running, dancing, and playing tennis are just a few good weight-bearing activities. Biking and swimming don't count because they provide no impact of bones on the ground.

OK, so are you ready for your mission? Here's what you've gotta do: Start slow if you must and tackle 10 minutes of walking three times per week. Gradually build up to 30 minutes a day, five times per week. Do more if you can. Then add weights for resistance. Take on some strengthening exercises for 20 minutes, three times per week. If you don't feel very fit at the moment, begin walking with ankle weights and then tack on small amounts of weight, beginning with one pound and working your way up.

Personally, I hope to turn back the clock on osteoporosis. How about you?

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Experts are weighing in on the best approach for preventing and controlling diabetes as they consider whether exercise or weight loss is better. Any ideas?

It all depends on a three-pronged approach. And the three prongs are: Diet, exercise, and quality of food consumed. But one is more important than the others for prevention, and one is more important for control of the disease. Place your guesses now.

For prevention, weight loss is better. The Diabetes Prevention Program established that losing seven percent of one's body weight can cut the risk of developing diabetes by 58 percent. Exercise doesn't hurt either, and exerting yourself physically for 150 minutes per week will help you achieved this decreased risk.

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