When I found out I was getting to try the AlterG "anti-gravity" treadmill developed by NASA -- I think I told everyone I knew. Several times. The AlterG works by pumping air into a chamber that surrounds your body from the waist down. This increases the air pressure and that, in turn, lifts you up so that your feet feel less of your weight as you walk or run. Bring the pressure up enough and it's almost like walking in space. Pretty cool, right?

If you're in decent shape, and are just looking for a standard cardio, muscle-building session, there's not a ton of payoff to this contraption. The more body weight you carry when you exercise, the more burn and benefit you get, so removing weight without some purpose actually makes your workout less effective. However, if you've had a back or leg injury -- reducing your body's impact on the ground can alleviate that hurt. This means you can keep yourself in shape and slowly build back strength in a safe and non-painful way. (Indeed, the AlterG is being used in hospitals to help spinal cord injury patients retrain their bodies for movement.)

Additionally, if you're an athlete training for an endurance race like a marathon or triathlon, not only does the machine reduce the likelihood of stress-related injury, you can also use it to increase your speed and build up your non-dominant muscles. I found the reason for this fascinating: When we're responsible for less body weight, it's easier to loosen up and extend our stride, which increases the range and distribution of muscles we use. This, in turn, will translate to better performance back in the "real world." (Interestingly, the product's press materials say that overweight people can also benefit; it protects joints from weight-related stress, they may be able to work out for longer intervals.)

Photo: JY7929/Flickr

You probably already know that, around these parts, we highly recommend triathlons. After all, regardless of your athletic ability, there's a race that will suit you -- and when a great workout is as much fun as an event like this, what's stopping you?

Oh, right, the training. No worries -- Aflac Iron Girl has lots of tips for triathlon training. Whether you're hoping for a faster swim, bike or run, these suggestions will help you cross the finish line well before your goal time.

Swim
Fix foggy goggles by leaving a bit of water in them. And, drink up! Many swimmers get dehydrated because they don't think to drink water while they're in the water. Get your fluids both before and while you swim.

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our Thats Fit 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. Fitz. My husband and I are ready to purchase a cardio machine for our home, but can't decide which to buy. He wants to get an elliptical machine, but I want a stepper so I can burn more calories. Which machine should we get to help us lose weight the fastest? Angie

A. Hello, Miss Angie. What an exciting purchase to make! I'm thrilled that you two are investing in your health, which is vital for ensuring a long and happy life together. Cardiovascular training is beneficial for your heart, lungs and weight-loss efforts. I'm happy to help you choose the machine that is right for you.

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In this week's "Walking the Walk," I spread my daily workouts out over the course of the day, usually one in the morning, one after lunch and one in the evening. What I discovered -- beside the fact that this is a great method for squeezing in exercise on busy days -- was that I really prefer getting my workout done right before breakfast. Once the day starts to get away from me, exercise starts to fall farther and farther down my priority list.

But is morning really the best time to exercise? Most studies say no. Strength output, reaction time and aerobic capacity all reach their peak between the hours of 4 and 7 p.m. So if you're looking for the best workout you can get, an afternoon workout might just be for you.

But ... and there's always a but ... keep reading.

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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.

Name: Jane

Age: 25

Occupation: RN, Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant

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

What type of exercise do you do? Mostly running, some biking and weight training.

What gets you to work out, even when you're feeling lazy? Thinking about my overall health (reading That's Fit!) and for the last few months, my 1st marathon training schedule. Also making sure that I keep pace with my super fit hubby, Tripp!

Triceps have a special function and if you understand what it is, you'll always be able to work them. Fitness expert, Fitz, also shows you what counts as a very stupid way to work your triceps. Ignore the stupid one, and get busy with the really effective choices, shown here in this video.

Discover innovative training tools, yummy low fat recipes and celebrity-laden interviews by visiting Fitzness.com

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The Ballast Ball is like a regular Swiss Ball on steroids. It's full of an exciting substance that makes it perfect for a killer upper body and core training workout, as shown here in this video.

Discover innovative fitness equipment, training techniques and delicious low fat recipes at Fitzness.com.

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I challenge you to sign up for a race this year. Ideally, in a distance you've never done. I don't care whether you plan to run it at breakneck speed or want to intersperse some light jogging with walking, but set a goal. And then, get yourself some support.

No, I'm not talking about proper undergarments (although, that's pretty important, too). I mean support for your training. You might have friends who will train with you, or a local running team you can join. But, if you don't, Active.com has several online teams you can train with.

Choose Rookie Runner (which takes you from the couch to your first 5k), First Marathon, First Triathlon, or Bye Bye Baby Weight. Each category has a coach and several runners who are blogging about their training, so you're never alone in your training. And, they have training plans you can download (for a price).

So, what do you say? Will you sign up for a race this year? Let me know in the comments what you plan to run!

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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.

Q. Hi Fitz! I've come across a couple articles recently that are dead-set against prolonged cardio multiple times a week. They suggest that High Intensity Interval Training or low intensity activity only a few times a week at most, alongside regular weight training, is the only way to lose fat and stay fit. I don't think I could live without long runs or my favorite aerobics class. What do you think? Thanks, Samantha

A. Hi Samantha! Thanks for the great question. I'm sure it's on the minds of many. Bottom line, the folks who said that are over-opinionated. Think about Lance Armstrong, the guy does massive amounts of cardio each week and is the picture of health. So do I ... and so do most runners, cyclists, boxers, kickboxers, soccer players and more.

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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.

Q. Hi Fitz. I keep hearing both you and other people say I should do push-ups, but I'm a small woman and don't want to bulk up. Push-ups are hard, so should I do them if I want to stay toned yet trim? Alyssa

A. Great question, Alyssa! This common question is on the mind of many women, and I'm happy to give this answer as many times as there are women who need to hear it. What you need to know is that it requires extraordinary effort for most women to put on any sort of bulky muscle. That means: protein shakes, supplements and insane amounts of heavy lifting. Of course, there are a few rare women here and there who pack on muscle quickly, but if you're already telling me you are small ... you are not one of those rare women.

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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 ...

If you're training for a race, chances are you have some sort of game plan. Unless you're like me, of course -- I read the game plan, take it into account, and then do something that suits me better. Perhaps that's why I'm not competing for top spots in most races.

Still, whether you follow a training plan closely or do your own thing, it's important that you find a way to train that allows you to improve, yet avoid injuries. And who better to learn from than a man who is still running some of his best times at the age of 52?

Tom Ryan, 52, completed a 5K in just over 16 minutes last year. By running smarter, not longer, he's remained injury free, and he shared his tips with Active.com. Check out the gallery for a few tips on how to have a perfect week of training, and see the full article for specifics on training for your chosen distance.

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There are many ways to train each muscle. I'm a girl who likes challenging and efficient exercises. This three-part routine, shown here and featuring me and Anthony Field of The Wiggles, not only made my arms shake ... it exhausted my chest and abs and left me breathless in a very short period of time. Looking for something new, challenging and fun? This is your answer.

If you're interested in getting the rings like the one's shown here in this video, visit RingTraining.com and look for Elite Rings. And for more star-studded training videos, fitness tips and recipes, visit Fitzness.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.

Name: Chuck Marshall

Age: 44

Occupation: Programmer

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

What type of exercise do you do? Body weight strength training and cardio. I like to do intervals, elliptical, rowing, and running (when I'm not injured).

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As your fancy online fitness trainer, the ability to teach through video is an invaluable tool. The written word is wonderful for so many things but actually showing you and communicating eye-to-eye via the amazing graces of THE PODCAST has allowed me to truly show you how and why you should try some of my favorite training techniques. Let's take a look back at a reminder of all the cool ways you can take your fitness training to a higher level.

#1 Innovative Push-ups with Emphasis on Your Abs

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