That's Fit

If your New Year's resolution involves running, keep an eye out for the Nike Start, a new running shoe targeted for beginners available in February 2009.

Check out the Runner's World video for a sneak peek overview of the Start's unique features. Namely:

• Nike applied their flywire technology to the Start, adding a kevlar band connecting laces to the midsole for good outside support.
• A dedicated panel connects the laces to the arch, keeping the arch secure.
• The stylish Women's Start is more flexible and the heel is articulated to aid a woman's stride. I love the subtle pink colors.
  
• Don't worry guys, there will be a Men's Start for you, too.

A That's Fit congratulations if you plan on training for your very first 5 or 10K next year. The Nike Start ($88.00) could land you squarely in stride toward your 2009 fitness goals.

Your dad taught you how to buy a car. You had a couple 'How To Buy Your Dream Home' books on your nightstand when it was time to purchase your first piece of property. But when it comes to home gyms, most of us head into the treadmill store total amateurs.

If you're hoping the tree will be trimmed with a new piece of cardio and some weights this Christmas, pass along these don't-miss-home-gym-buying-tips to your Santa in disguise:

• Research machines and space -- Treadmill Doctor has reliable feedback on cardio equipment and the American Council on Exercise offers home gym points to ponder.
  
• Check Craiglist, eBay, even local classifieds for house sales -- dusty treadmill steals are out there.
• Test drive before buying -- bring your gym clothes along while shopping. Give it a true work out, then you'll know if you really like it.
• Cardio equipment is like a piano -- be prepared to pay for delivery if you're buying used, as that behemoth probably won't fit in that gas-guzzling SUV you've been trying to sell in this nightmare economy.

May your home gym dreams come true this holiday season.

The clouds are thick and gray, frost covers the morning grass and flurries are whipping about -- winter cycling season is here (at least in Chicago).

From the right snot rag to sandwich bags over your feet, here are a few tips to keep you warm, safe and cycling all winter long:

• Don't be one of those gross people who holds one nostril and blows a wad of goo out the other, while riding, of course. Keep a paper towel folded up your sleeve and de-snot at the red lights. Better yet, try the high-tech Snot Spot shown in the gallery below.
• Layer wicking clothes on your torso and legs. No cotton allowed. Wet, cold cotton kills. Don't wear it.
• Cover that noggin' with a balaclava, but make sure you find one that doesn't muffle your hearing. You need all five senses on alert to cycle safely.
  
• Lobster gloves (two fingers and a thumb) over a silk glove keep you warm, or any glove/mitten combo. For wet gloves, one Bicycling Magazine reader suggests you toss 'em into a convenient store microwave for 30 seconds. This is a selfish move -- just think of the construction worker behind you unknowingly walking out with a microwaved-double cheeseburger a la sweaty glove.

This recumbent rower on wheels is not like riding a bike. According to Outside magazine's Lab Rat's Nick Heil, it's a good workout if you can survive the weird stares. Rising above the odd-factor, rowbiking delivers a killer ab workout and burns more calories than jogging, without the joint stress. Rowbike's popular 720 Sport (pictured) sells for $1,190. If you can't ride a bike, no excuses -- try the 4-Wheel Crewzer ($1,999).

Check out the Lab Rat's 2:00 video on the rowbike, and learn more about the product here. About 6,000 have been sold over the years, but I've never seen one. What do you think -- cool, weird or both?

iPhone and iPod Touch users, get ready to get fit! New, easy to use, and fun applications are just waiting for you to download. What's more ... many of them are free!

iTunes Store has added a category for apps, so after searching for your favorite workout tunes, you can search for a new tool to help you track your exercise minutes, count calories, or monitor your vital statistics while working out.

Whether you're dedicated to tracking your progress and plan to do so from here on out, or you just need to track your progress for a few days to make sure you're still on track, putting an application on your iPhone or iPod Touch makes it easy.

Music is often a vital component to an awesome training experience. Check out this video and learn how you can get the same high tempo, pause-free, continuous music that fitness trainers are famous for. And yes, Fitz refers to WorkThis.com

To grab some extra fit tips, recipes and celebrity fitness videos ...

Could a creative sneaker sole design really make you speedy? I always have my kids test out their sneakers in the store. If a pair delivers a lightning fast 25-yard aisle dash, we buy 'em. 'Fast' is purely subjective here, -- if the shoes are affordable, look good and fit right, I cheer loudly to close the sale.

Japan's Achilles shoes has been selling the Syunsoku brand, an allegedly speedier sneaker for kids, since 2003. Now an adult design is planned for 2009. Is Syunsoku's reportedly faster sole design simply a close-the-deal-ploy or real deal fast? A pair of Syunsokus offers asymmetrical soles with more rubber spikes on the right (see pic), providing better stability/grip against centripetal force during anticlockwise runs around a track. Small tracks are popular in Japan's urban schools.

If speed is measured in dollars, Syunsoku delivers -- rocket-speed sales to date indicate one in every two elementary school kids in Japan are wearing them. Anyone have a pair?

Remember Babar the Elephant? I don't know about you but stories of Babar and his family were a fixture on my childhood bookcase -- I love the one where Babar and family go skiing because that's what my family spent their weekends doing.

Now Babar is at it again -- the lovable elephant is joining the worthy cause of getting kids in shape by encouraging them to get in the yoga groove. Babar's Yoga for Elephants by Laurent de Brunhoff is a beginners guide to yoga for pachyderms and kids alike. One word of warning: It might not be the best 'bedtime story', as it encourages active participation.

Getting kids healthy is definitely a worthy cause, and this is a fantastic way to get kids moving, if you ask me. What do you think? Have your kids tried yoga?

(via Fresh Fitness Tips)

Skinnier? You? Want to see it? You can! WeightView.com offers you the opportunity, for free, to see yourself at the weight you're striving to become. All you have to do is upload a photo and enter your desired weight loss. Within 48 hours, WeightView.com will email you an image resembling what you would look like.

Talk about motivational tools! The ability to actually see yourself in the body you want to be in? Priceless. Figuratively, and literally. (Remember, I told you it was free!).

Have you been struggling unsuccessfully to lose weight? Maybe it's because the end result just does not feel tangible enough. This little bit of technology might just be what puts you over the edge to a fitter and leaner body.

One of my pet running peeves is the seemingly inevitable thing that happens usually 2 km into my run: My shoe laces come untied. And once I get going, I hate stopping until it's over -- I often feel like taking this forced break breaks my stride. So when I read about bubble laces, I was pretty ecstatic. Apparently, their funky design keeps them from loosening while you're running -- it's such a simple concept but one that could make a huge difference in my runs. They're on my Christmas wish list -- though at only $2 a pair, I could probably just pick them up on my own.

What else is on my wishlist? The Nike + iPod sports kits that connects to your shoes and not only records your workout but also keeps you motivated and can sync your songs to your running rhythm

I'm curious to know -- what other running gadgets can you not live without? Please share. For some inspiration, check out our featured Fit Gadgets here.

(via Fresh Fitness Tips)

Apparently, the bra is a multi-functional tool. Check out this video to find out what Fitz does with hers!

For more fun quick fit tips and recipes from degree health and fitness experts ...

Of course, in a perfect world, candy would have never been invented. We'd all have perfect teeth and couldn't imagine consuming anything but fruits, veggies, lean protein, and whole grains. But really. That world does not exist. So, my job as your online fitness trainer is to get you to make better choices.

I just found a good one. Tic Tac Chill is the new deal from Tic Tac. These new Tic Tacs are small, tasty, sugar-free, and come in a cool box. One flavor can save you in a pinch too. The Paradise Mint acts as a ridiculously strong breath mint. I promise that whatever stinky thing you consume before this product will be left undetectable. It's odd how strong these little things are.

The flavor I like best is Exotic Cherry, but I'd definitely use the Paradise Mint before a meeting of some sort. Hey. It's still candy, but the Tic Tac brand has been well known for providing low calorie candies for a long time.

I have been sleeping in ecstasy for the past few weeks. Yes. I have a Sleep Number Bed. Not only do I have a Sleep Number Bed, but I have the new kind with Memory Foam on top. Mmmmmm. It's amazing. In fact, I didn't realize how poorly I was sleeping until I got this bed.

I value sleep. I'm a fitness trainer, fitness enthusiast, mother of two and writer of far too many things. I need to sleep, and I need to sleep well in order to accomplish the ridiculous amount of tasks that fill my days. Are you familiar with this insane style of living? I bet many of you are.

Sleep is such a powerful tool. In fact, it's a requirement for professionals and parents and growing children too. Think of it this way. Exhausted people don't work out. Those running on fumes struggle to achieve the bare minimums of each day and then toss and turn at night, unable to get to sleep quickly. Sleepless people tend to eat poorly and gain weight as a result as well. The bottom line? Quality sleep is a crucial component for vitality, fitness and success.

Butternut squash soup is a Fall favorite of mine, and I often make enough to freeze so that we can enjoy it into the winter months. So when I saw a commercial for Cambell's V8 soup -- which includes a butternut squash variety -- I was intrigued. Can Campbell's match my homemade recipe? Is it really a healthy option?

It was on sale, so I figured, "Why not?" I bought a box and served it to three family members for lunch yesterday. Here are some of their thoughts:

• "Sweet and creamy."
• "Pretty good."
• "I'd eat it again."
• "Not as good as yours." (That one from my husband. Smart guy.)

Buying a cycle saddle is like shoe shopping. There's no one-size-fits-all magic saddle on the market. To feel comfy, you need to do a little homework. Beyond purchasing the right saddle for riding style and body type, it's critical you find the perfect seat adjustment.

Jim Langley over at Bicycle Seats Explained offers these five steps to nail that perfect adjustment:

• Level and center the seat.
• Don your cycling garb, then grab a friend. Put your bike in a trainer or hold yourself upright in the saddle while holding yourself up in a doorway. With your heels on the pedals, have your friend watch you pedal backwards, raising your seat until your legs are completely extended at the bottom of the stroke.
• Mark the magic spot on your seatpost, in case of slips, readjustments, shipping your bike, whatever.
• Read here for detailed instructions on how to find the proper fore/aft seat position -- it's important.
• If the nose bothers you downstairs, tip it down no more than one to three degrees. Tip too much and your weight will shift forward and pressure those knees.
  
  

To beat saddle-sores, ride more, wear clean shorts, lube with Chamois Butt'r, upgrade to a suspension seatpost or invest in a recumbent bike. Check out the gallery of seats from classic leather to the alternative Spongy Wonder. Remember -- like good hiking shoes -- you may need to try more than one.