Fitz when she was a Pro Kickboxer

Q. Hi Fitz, I have a question for you if you don’t mind.  I was wondering….in your opinion, which is better for you? Running on a treadmill or spinning. I used to run all of the time, then I went back to spinning and I love it. I was wondering if it was a better choice for toning and calorie loss.  Thanks. Liz
A. Hi Liz! Great question. I think they’re both fantastic forms of exercise which provide cardiovascular benefits, a great calorie burn and a super workout for your muscles. The benefit running has over spinning is that it’s high impact which is great for your bones (allthough too much of it could be bad for your bones – weird huh?) My suggestion? Do both! Either way, you can’t lose anything except for pounds! Hope that helps – now get to work!

Punches & Kicks,
Fitz
Fitzness.com

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our Active Health Network’s fitness expert and celebrity trainer is now your own virtual personal trainer. Fitz will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Post your questions here in the Comments section below, DM us on Twitter (ActiveHealth) or send them to us from our Contact page. Learn more about Fitz here.

-

All material and content provided in the Ask Fitz column/blog (and this entire site) is provided for informational or educational purposes only. It should not be viewed as medical advice or substitute for professional medical care. Consult a physician regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your symptoms or medical condition

Ask Fitz: Running or Spining for Weight Loss and Toning is a post from: Sports Health Exercise

It was a long winter, and it’s probably been a long time since you thought about putting on your shorts or short-sleeved shirts and getting out into the sunshine. But right around mid-April, you start to think about heading back to the gym — just in time for Spring. The long cold nights of winter that zapped your motivation to get healthier and into better shape are over. Springtime is here, and this time of year energizes everyone. Couch potatoes, arise! Buckle down and get into your ‘I need to get moving’ mindset!

 In order to lose weight, have more energy and be more active you need to choose a time and jump right in. Start now — during the Spring months — and you’ll have plenty of time to get into great Summer shape. Truly motivated and inspired individuals (like you!) will head outside or jump on the treadmill now while Spring fever is just starting to rise. Jump ahead of the rest of the crowd and start your workouts before the gym gets busy with the ‘Quick! It’s-almost-time-to-put-a-swimsuit!’ crowd.

 When you start your transformation in the Spring, you will have fewer distractions at the gym, better access to the machines, and won’t have to wait in lines to get your workouts finished. If you have a busy schedule and a very little time to work out, the time benefits of getting started now will not only help you to get your workouts in, but will also establish a habit that will last you through the Spring and Summer seasons.

 Not a fan of working out at a gym? Spring is the perfect time to get out, get active, and be part of your community. Pick a walking, cycling or running route that gives you a clear view on the re-awakening of your surroundings. Sometime we feel like bears, newly awakened after hibernating all winter. A few good workouts can help you break through that sleepy, lethargic feeling.

 So get on out there! Spring is a time of renewal and energy — contribute your own renewal to this bright, new season!

Spring is the Perfect Time to Get Fit – Be Active & Have Fun! is a post from: Sports Health Exercise

Active Health Network: Fit Kick- Raising Fit Kids is a post from: Sports Health Exercise

The holidays are coming and the weather is turning cold, but you … you are getting hotter by the minute. Just look at you and your bad self perched up at your computer smoldering through the screen at me. I can tell already, you’re going to be an easy student.

Looking so hot you make Santa want to cheat on Mrs. Claus isn’t all that hard, but it ain’t easy either! You’re going to have to a put a little effort into it, and our session starts now. Sit up straight and suck it in! You heard me. Frumpy and lazy are not sexy things. You know that. Perfect posture is going to rip ten pounds right off of you and accentuate your curves, so get used to using it.

Next, we’re going to take care of that body of yours! Your job is to start working out five or six days a week, and when I say work, I mean it — don’t you dare stop moving until you are drenched from head to toe with sweat. Sweat = Sexy. Trust me! (It’s a rare form of sexy math and I know what I’m talking about it).

Plan to hang out by the buffet at all the fancy parties you’ve been invited to? Hell no! Too many pigs in blankets will make you look like a pig in a blanket. Forget the food and focus on being the most charismatic and charming guest at all the festivities. Swirl around with a smile on your face, arms free for hugs, and a mouth empty just in case a kiss should come looking for you.

Have you got your spandex and fishnets ready for action? I hope not! Those things are just tacky. Let’s take a different route towards hotness. Dress in sharp clothes, that hug your body and make you feel confident. Flirting in old granny blazers is not cool.

Last but not least, start increasing the effort you put into yourself each day. The stress of the holidays could make a Maxim model look dumpy, so don’t let it happen to you. In order for you to look hot, you’re going to have to feel hot. Train and eat like you’ve got a cover shoot to prepare for, dress to impress, keep your favorite lipstick on and keep a smile on your face. When you feel like the Holiday Hottie, you’ll start melting every snowman in town!

Fitz offers tips to stay slim and trim through the holidays, and inspires you to face the new year in top form. You can read all the Holiday Hottie posts Here.

How to Be a Hottie for the Holiday, Check out Fitz’s new Column on AOL is a post from: Sports Health Exercise

AHN:Fit Kick – Do you ever wonder, “why not me”?  “Why is it so hard for me to commit to be fit and healthy?” 

Do you set high standards?

If this is you then join Fitz as she shares a few ways t0 reconfirm your commitment to living a healthy and active life

Active Health Network: Fit Kick – Why is it So Hard to Lose Weight? is a post from: Sports Health Exercise

Now it’s time to face your enemy — what are your personal barriers to becoming as healthy, fit and active as you can be? You need to identify them in order to conquer them. This will require you to take a long, hard look at your personal habits in all aspects of your life.

So, what’s been holding you back? For many, it’s a lack of belief in their ability to change. Is it a lack of energy? Are you unmotivated to lead a more active lifestyle? Do you feel too busy to make time for health? Do you see this as just one more thing on your already long to-do list?

As you start to think, take out that paper and pencil and get ready to make some notes. Ask yourself what your health disappointments have been, and write them down. Putting them down on paper will help keep you completely honest with yourself. Facing disappointments and weak areas is the hardest part for some people, but identifying these challenges and facing them head-on will put you one step closer to reaching your goals. When you do this, you’re able to discover what you want to change and understand why you want to change it.

Done writing? Great! Take a few minutes, read over your list, and think again about how much better your life will be when this “laundry list” of health disappointments is a thing of the past, and your list of health successes is the current!

Next  – Preview the new, more active – you.   But for today, take another step forward toward your vision of being happier and healthier.

 Later this week: A tip to save money on athletic shoes, Fit Kick video and Chef Laurie shares one of her famous top ten lists. Don’t forget to sign up for our free, Get Fit Texts ( Mobile Alerts on the side bar). Get a Kick sent directly to you mobile phone - twice a week - to help get - and - keep you motivated.

Face your Fitness Demons, Get It Over with and Get on Track to a Healthier Life is a post from: Sports Health Exercise