Fitness

Feature

• Stay Fit and Trim All Winter Long

  We give you expert advice on how to stay healthy when all you can think about is drinking hot chocolate and hibernating.

• Why Your Abs Aren’t All That … Yet

  You do a decent amount of abs work, so where is that six-pack? We tell you what you’re doing wrong -- and how to do it right.

• What Comes First: Build Muscle or Shed Fat?

  Sure you want both. But you can't do it all at once. We tell you which method makes sense for your physique now, and how to get there.

• The Workplace Workout

  Is work curtailing your workouts? Are your workouts cutting into work? Fix both problems at once with the workout you do at work.

• The Cardio Myth

  If you really want to lose weight, say our fitness experts, you'll skip the cardio and follow this program instead.

• Ramp up Your Summer Pickup Game Performance

  You never know when you might get drafted to play basketball, flag football or even toss a flying disc. Here's how you can be better in each.

• Olympic Hopefuls: A Roundtable Discussion (Part 1)

  Ever wonder what it takes to be an Olympic athlete? In Part 1 of our series on Olympic hopefuls, MLT writer John Hanc gets the lowdown on fitness and nutrition.

• Stoke Your Competitive Fire!

  Lance Armstrong wasn't born a champion. He made himself into one, and so can you.

• The Stubborn Belly-fat Solution

  Working out like crazy ... but still carrying around a spare tire? We tell you why -- and how to get rid of it.

• Get a Jump on Your Fitness with Plyometrics

  Want to be quicker, more explosive, stronger, and more balanced? Here's a plyometrics program that will get you there.

• Dating a Jock

  When your girlfriend is a bigger sports nut than you, problems can ensue. Our relationship expert helps you navigate the tricky terrain of competitive dating.

• Plan to Ski or Snowboard? Strengthen up Now!

  Get physically prepared to hit the slopes by doing this winter-sports workout now, and be ready to rip it up when those first flakes fall.

• How to Make First Pick at the Team Tryout

  Whether you're going out for a school or amateur team, a squad for football or bowling, here's how to make the cut.

• The Best Fall Sport for Cardio

  Which fall sport gives you the best cardio workout -- and thus, the greatest heart fitness? We declare a winner.

• Meet Women at the Gym Now!

  The health club can be a great place to meet the ladies -- if you know how. We'll walk you through five common gym scenarios and arm you with the best plans of action.

• Winning Water-sport Workouts

  Want to be the best surfer, boogie boarder, windsurfer or water skier out there? Try these three easy strength- and endurance-building workouts.

• Triumph With Your Own Beach Olympics

  Don’t just lie there in the sun: Set up these summer contests, which will keep you fit and having fun.

• Conquer the Biggest Mud Runs

  Take an obstacle course, add earthly sludge, and you've got the hottest new fitness challenge. Here's the 411 on the biggest mud runs and how to prep for them.

• Find Your Best Softball Field Position

  You're playing league softball but aren't sure which position to go out for? This softball aptitude test will tell you which softball field position is best for you (and your team!).

• How to Throw a Ball Farther

  It's softball season! Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Mike LaLuna reveals how to add distance and velocity to your throws.

• Groom Your Way Into the Winners’ Circle

  Want to smooth your path to victory? Here, grooming habits proven to enhance your athletic performance.

• Fit Your Bike For the Perfect Ride

  Want to get more out of cycling? You’ll need to make your bike an extension of you. Here’s how.

• Get Strong With Olympic Lifts

  Looking to achieve tremendous gains in strength, speed and agility … like an Olympian? Try Olympic lifts, weight training techniques sure to chisel you into a gym warrior.

• 10 Healthy Habits That Make You Handsome

  Want to clear up your skin, ditch those under-eye bags and trade in dull hair for sheen? First, you’ll have to feel good.

• 25 Ways to Have the Best 2010

  Here’s the only article you need to read to be fit and healthy in the new year -- and beyond.

• From Frat Brothers to Fat Brothers

  If staying lean is a struggle, you just might be hanging out with the wrong crowd. Here’s how to stop your friends from making you fat.

• Be Your Alpha Best

  Want to be your team’s alpha male? The leader out in the field? Just remember: The climb to the top all starts in your head.

• The Ready-for-anything Workout

  Want to be fit enough to conquer Tibet’s highest mountains? Or maybe “just” pass a fireman’s fitness test? All you have to do is master this exercise regimen.

• Go From Stick to Thick

  It's tough to bulk up. But even “hard gainers” can add muscle if they follow these crucial tips.

• Live Healthy Now -- Have More Sex Later

  Think what you do today has no bearing on your sex life tomorrow, or the day after? Think again.

ExpertQA

• Every year, I make the same resolution about getting in shape. And every year, I get bored by the end of January and start slacking off. How can I make a workout regime interesting enough to stick with?

• Is there anything I can do to make my mind sharper, faster? My gray matter appears to be working fine, but I want to be even faster on my feet. Any exercises I can do to get the mental edge?

• Does stretching really help prevent athletic injuries?

• I've got some pretty decent muscle, but when it comes to my chest, I've got nothing in the upper pectoral area. How do I give myself some muscle cleavage?

• What should I do when I get a sports injury? Apply ice? Heat? Ice and then heat? I'm totally confused.

• I want to reach my one-rep max on the bench press. How do I get there?

• I'd like to start my own amateur sports team. How should I go about it?

• I've been seeing ads for shoes that will help me build muscle just by walking in them. Sounds too good to be true. Is it?

• I excel in a lot of different sports and love to play them all. I don't know if I want to try to go pro. If so, do I have to focus on one, and at what point? I'm a junior in high school.

• I’ve been invited on a ski trip. I’ve never skied before, and I don’t want to invest in a bunch of clothing and equipment I may never use again if I don’t like it. What’s the minimum I can get away with buying?

• I want to strengthen my core, but I'm just not a yoga or Pilates kind of guy ... and there's no way I can afford a personal trainer. What can I do at home or at the gym that will give me the same benefits?

• Do I need to worry about my so-called maximum heart rate if I'm reasonably fit?

• After dieting and exercising for two months, I'm starting to notice real results. I know how to get through the holidays -- choose the healthy items on the table, eat sensible portions, etc. -- but it's a lot easier said than done. How do I make myself actually do it?

• When should I let people "work in" while I'm on a machine? And in a work-in situation, should everyone keep changing the weight and seat settings back for the other person?

• I trot up lots of stairs every day. What techniques can I use to maximize muscle-building benefits?

• I have a lean bone structure. Does this mean my muscles will also be on the small side? Will I never be able to build bulk that competes with big-boned men?

• I’m trying to stay in shape by participating in cardio activities (running and cycling). The problem is, afterward, not only do I want to eat more, I want to eat stuff that’s bad for me (usually food filled with fat or sugar). This seems counterproductive. How can I avoid this syndrome?

• I want to run faster to improve my sports performance, but some of my friends say you're born with a maximum running speed. Is that true, and if not, what can I do to get quicker?

• I want to make sure I'm operating at optimum physical performance. Can my doctor help me get there? If so, what kinds of tests should I ask him to perform to make sure my body is perfectly "calibrated?"