That's Fit

I was roaming around Central Park this week while working in New York City , and came across the nicest yet strangest thing. This man, pictured at right, was ambitiously pursuing a workout in the park. That's the nice part.

The weird part is two-fold. First oddity, he was only wearing his boxer shorts. I suppose that is better than frolicking around in a pair of bikini briefs, but still ... it looked a bit silly to me. The second bit of strangeness was his routine. Of course I'm always telling you guys and gals to 'just move', but this dude took that movement to another level.

He flailed his arms around, tip toe jogged in circles, and frequently practiced handstands (at right) against this tree. I both admired his ambitiousness and marveled at his lack of concern for what others thought. I also giggled a lot too.

If you had what you considered to be a pretty perfect body, would you -- or do you -- flaunt it, show it off, maybe even allow it to be photographed for all to see? David Beckham would. And he did, when he posed in his underwear for Emporio Armani billboards in December.

People everywhere cheered upon seeing Beckham's bod. But not mom.

"When the photos came out, she was the first one to call me and say, 'What are you doing?'" say's the 32-year-old. "I had to try and explain it to her and it didn't go down that well."

So would you do it? Would your mom approve?

I'm off to a wedding today and haven't yet decided if I'll wear my Spanx or not. I'm tempted to hold my not-so-perfect tummy in place with these body-shaping girdle-like undies that claim to comfortably hold every speck of skin in its proper place -- while cutting me down a size or two and erasing all pantylines -- but I might just go familiar and wear my trusty Hanes. I'm just not sure if I want to yank on these form-fitting underwear or slip easily into my usual wear and call it a day.

Think you and Spanx might be a good fit? Check out these revolutionary undergarments -- hosiery, tights, body shapers, bras, panties, and other slimming apparel -- created by Sara Blakely after she cut the feet out of her pantyhose one night so she could wear white pants and open-toed shoes. Presto! Her idea was born. Pantyhose without feet inspired her whole collection and landed this former salesgirl into entrepreneurial stardom. Seven years after her invention made it big, Blakely is raking in $150 million in retail sales and has 55 employees, 100 different styles of Spanx, four patents, and ASSETS -- a new brand at Target.

Click here to check out Sara and all she has to offer.

Oprah has all the bases covered when it comes to feel-good stuff. She's the queen of giving, and gratitude, and good books, and now . . . underwear.

Yes, underwear is good for the soul, ladies. Well, good underwear is. But how many of us have good foundation garments? Are your outdated and faded panties stuffed in a drawer alongside your other mismatched goods? Do your bras work for your body type and shape? How about your gym gear -- does that job bra accomplish its intended function? If you answered "yes," "no," and "no," then your undergarments may need a swift trip to rehab.

Oprah to the rescue. Check out this article from her February 2008 magazine for the lowdown on managing your intimate apparel wardrobe and updating your mental health too.

All My Children soap star and Calvin Klein model Colin Egglesfield and I have been talking lots of fitness lately, so I thought I'd get his advice for stay completely gorgeous for the holidays, and making it to the new year without an ounce of regret. This is what Colin has to say:

"My tips for the holiday season revolve around the theme of "CALORIE CONTROL!" You can enjoy most of the same treats you traditionally desire if you simply use the lowest calorie ingredients available. And of course, I'm never too conscious of exact calorie amounts, that would drive anyone crazy, I just try to be sensible about what I order and try to eat small portions when possible. "

Here are a few tips that I try to heed:

1. Latte, cappuccino, and hot chocolate lovers be sure to use non-fat milk! I love cappuccinos, so when I do order one... I order it with skim milk. I try to limit my intake of coffee to only two or three a week. The rest of the time I drink herbal teas.

I was just chatting with a friend about a recent blurb I wrote about Kelly Ripa. Kelly suggested wearing jeans tight in the tush, so they would act as a push-up bra for your booty. I thought it was funny, so I wrote about it. I found the responses in the comment section interesting. A bazillion people commented that they 'hate her' and think she's a "bony b&^%" . I was surprised by the response, because I think she's a nice enough lady. We're all entitled to our opinions though.

So that brought me to this thought. I imagine the people who commented do not like the look of thin and that maybe they loved bigger bodies. Kelly is on the cover of Fitness magazine in a bikini. I wondered how many other people would do that. So this topic is not about Kelly; it's about you. Would you pose in your under things or a bikini for the world to see? I would. Would you?

Colin Egglesfield is the owner of the magnificent body we see on the Calvin Klein underwear box (at right). Colin has been generous enough to share a clear shot of his abs with us, and also some advice on how to get yours to look more like his!

We chatted a bit the other day for his feature in an upcoming Celebrity Fitzness Report here on ThatsFit.com. I found it refreshing to hear how hard he works to stay in great shape. He's not 'genetically gifted', he's a man who's willing to do the work it takes to earn a body worthy of massive billboards. Read the description of Colin's eating habits and training schedule for when he has a CK shoot on the horizon. Take note of the fact that he does not starve or suffer in any way. He just chooses lean nutritious food, and works out like a monster.Thank you Colin. Not only for making my eyes so happy, but for sharing your fantastic strategies for becoming a physical masterpiece.