I've got hills -- seven of them in my neighborhood, and I often truck up and down each one for exercise. I've never given much thought to how exactly I move up and down my inclines but apparently, I should.

According to the Family Circle fitness folks, we shouldn't barrel up inclines as fast as possible. Instead, we should shorten our strides and focus on maintaining an easy and constant pace. On the way down, we should elongate our strides, while keeping core and leg muscles engaged. We'll gain energy this way, which will help propel us forward.

Good tips. I'm going to try them next time I hike up and down my hills. And you?

For guidance on how to approach a treadmill incline, read on here.

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Walking is such a great physical activity. It's easy to do, requires no special equipment, and people of almost any fitness ability can do it. Beyond that, it's a perfect way to get the whole family involved in fitness. But if you're really trying to boost your fitness level, walking may not seem vigorous enough.

To get a little more out of your walk, you can pick up the pace. But be sure to do so safely and correctly:

• Pump your arms. Keep your elbows in (no chicken arms!) and keep your hands in loose fists. Pump your arms a little more quickly and your feet will follow.
• Tilting forward. Good Housekeeping recommends keeping your back and head straight, but leaning forward a little bit. Other sites disagree with that advice, though. Try the lean and see if it's comfortable for you. Remember -- lean or no lean -- keep your back straight and don't hunch over.
  
• Tighten your tummy. Keep your stomach muscles tight and raise your upper body while walking.
• Keep a natural stride. When you're trying to walk faster, the natural tendency is to elongate your stride. Resist that urge and keep a comfortable, natural stride.

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Not only are Victoria's Secret FitFlops not likely to pump up your fitness level, they're actually prone to throwing you off your stride, causing pain in your lower legs and feet. This, according to a study released last week and presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Indianapolis, comes after experts observed 39 college-age men and women walking on a special platform wearing flip-flops and then walking across the same platform wearing athletic shoes. The platform measured stride length and vertical force.

The bottom line: Flip-flops, unlike sneakers, cause shorter strides and require heels to hit the ground with less vertical force. This altered gait explains some lower leg and foot problems in people who often sport flip-flops, like college students.

If you're worried about pain in your own legs or feet, take this common-sense advice: Limit the use of flip-flops. Replace them every three to four months too, just like you'd do with athletic shoes. And perhaps rethink your trip to Victoria's Secret for those Fit, and albeit very cute, Flops.

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