That's Fit

I'm stuck! I've been teaching fitness for almost twenty years., and I often feel like I know all there is to know about body mechanics, weight loss, and fitness equipment. Today though, I'm totally stumped. My socks suck, and I can't seem to find a pair that don't!

I have been running a lot lately, and the only thing that bothers me after mile three is my socks! Ack! They're driving me nuts, and on the verge of giving me blisters. SO! I come to you, my brilliant That's Fit readers for help. Tell me about the socks you love and which ones I shouldn't waste my money on. This fitness pro needs your advice. My feet would like to thank you in advance.

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.

As if last week's Celebrity Fitzness Report with Anthony Field video wasn't cool enough....we're back with a new video that will literally chisel you and your abs up like Roman statues. Oh my! Think you're doing everything you can to slim down, build muscle and cut up? Only if you're doing this stuff!

Read more.....

After almost 7,000 responses, a poll is closed that asked women: Would you rather have the body of Jennifer Aniston or $1 million? The results are quite intriguing. Nearly 80 percent said they would take the million dollars, but 22 percent said want that perfect physique.

Perhaps this is signaling a change in the perception of what is considered "perfect?" While Aniston is one of the more healthy-looking celebrities out there, this poll shows that women are more interested in the cash. Of course, you could always afford to tweak a few things when you're a millionaire, so maybe women voted for the efficient option!

Thirty percent of respondents admitted to feeling ashamed of their body at the same time though. Does that mean they're uncomfortable with themselves and they'd rather take the money anyway? Keep in mind these results are anything but conclusive, and definitely not scientific. Women have their own reasons for choosing whatever option they voted for. Which would you take?

So the Body Mass Index (BMI) may not be the best indicator of obesity. It only accounts for height and weight and gives a whole host of other factors (muscle mass, for one) no attention at all. There's also the skin fold test, or pinch test. I called my local health and fitness center to inquire about this option -- I'd really like to see where I fall on the body fat spectrum after losing some weight -- and I was told it's not all that accurate either. Since the skin is pinched and measured using calipers, it's difficult to grab the same fat each time it's done. Obviously, this can skew results. So where do I go now for a precise evaluation of my fat?

I could go for a waist-hip ratio -- a tape measure is used around the waist and hips -- but this won't tell me exactly how much fat I'm carrying around. That leaves one method -- hydrostatic weighing. It happens to be the only route recommended by the fitness trainer I spoke with on the phone, and it involves a whole lot of water and a whole lot of exhaling.

Hydrostatic weighing works like this: After expelling all of the air from the lungs, a person is repeatedly submerged in water for five to 10 seconds. It's a very reliable measure, the gold standard really for assessment of body composition. It can be scary for those who fear the underwater world, but it works and is available at various health and fitness centers.

What do you think -- would you get dunked to capture the essence of your own body fat?

A grad student at the University of Calgary in Canada has used the death of a family member in a drunk driving accident as inspiration for a video game that simulates the consequences of driving under the influence.

Created by Lori Shyba, the game named Booze Cruise, lets players experience tunnel vision, flared lights and slow reaction times, and forces them to avoid pedestrians and go through alcohol checkstops. While the game still throws in some silly elements -- apparently obstacles to avoid include Elvis and pink elephants -- it still deals with an important life or death subject and is meant to be taken seriously.

Shyba and the rest of the team that created the game want to give young people the chance to see what it's really like to drive after drinking, while avoiding the potentially tragic consequences. Hopefully, kids that get the chance to play Booze Cruise will realize that drunk driving is never an option.

If the game become widely available, would you encourage your kids to play it?

I had to take a minute to hold my tongue on this because it's one that so many people like myself are guilty of. If I counted up the number of times I could be blamed for Dialing and Driving, some states would already have me in jail.

After a certain point though, it really becomes a personal issue. We've all heard the case: it's dangerous because it takes your attention off the road. But what if someone told you it was more risky than driving drunk? Now that's a bold claim! All of a sudden talking on the phone seems about as safe as turning your minivan into a driverless missile on the road.

This oldie-but-goodie article points out the dangers that we should all be reminded of. For instance, did you know that using a hands-free device doesn't really make you safer? All it really does is ensure that you won't have a cell phone to clutch for dear life. So next time you're late picking up the kids or are needed in eight places at once, reconsider that phone, or at the very least make the conversation as short as possible.