Injured a body part? You've still got others to be worked 
Hey folks, it's question and answer time again. Please keep them coming.

Rack weights, hush to show gym courtesy 
Now, I know we've talked about this before, but it definitely needs to be mentioned again. There are some unwritten rules that we need to follow in the gym. Some of them are written somewhere, but here are a few that have been broken lately.

Fitness, good diet: You can't have just one 
We exercise religiously. We try to work our butts off - literally. We run, lift, swim, step, hike and flex, and do them all properly.

Obesity drug no substitute for exercising 
From the realm of the positively amazing comes a possible obesity vaccine. Finally a pill or a shot that can, perhaps, cure dreaded obesity. People less than enthusiastic about fitness probably read that last sentence and got butterflies of joy. They're probably jumping around, giddy even, at the prospect of going to the drug store to pick up the pill that really is magic.

Weight lifting makes women look stronger, not masculine 
Hey women, this one is all for you. And it can be our little secret, too. Resistance training - lifting weights - is all right. It's safe for you. And the best part is that you won't get big, bulky and, as many of you say, "manly looking."

Time-challenged? Try moves that hit several muscle groups 
Could you provide me with some thoughts on developing the most beneficial workout routine for someone looking to improve aerobic fitness/stamina, muscle tone, and overall strength.

Take steps to soothe your sore muscles 
We've all heard the old saying: "No pain, no gain." Although I find that statement ludicrous, I do draw a distinction between pain and soreness. We're inevitably going to experience soreness as fitness enthusiasts.

Mood music will improve your workout 
If your workouts lack intensity, take a listen to the sounds gathering in your ears. Are you hearing the gym’s standard compilation of good song to mediocre song to song you’ve never heard?

Resistance training beats doing aerobics for burning fat 
The scenario: John and Jane Doe want to get in better shape. They both want to gain more muscle definition, lose a couple of inches and maybe even a few pounds. The problem? They're both insanely stubborn.

Preparation reduces risk of training injuries 
Too many resistance-training injuries occur because of bad lifting technique. During the next few weeks, we’ll look at proper form for several exercises.

Put trainers through paces when selecting one for you 
And speaking of personal trainers, if you're thinking about getting one, you should know that the first step in finding one lies in you.

Fitness writer will hit the road to hell 
Folks more biblically knowledgeable than I am say purgatory is filled with fire and brimstone. I don't see hell that way. From my vantage point, hell is filled with millions of murky running trails that go on forever but lead nowhere.

Government's new health guidelines not strong enough 
Leave it to me, and the guidelines would have suggested even more exercise time - time to make up for the hours spent on our butts.

Resolution: Set aside play time in 2005  
Everybody reading these words used to be a 7-year-old. Everybody used to run through the playground or in the woods. We used to play kick ball, dodge ball and sometimes basketball, if the big kids let us on the court.

Flexibility key for the elderly, no matter what level of fitness  
Understanding whether we're "lifers," "second-timearounders" or "first-timers" goes a long way in determining the kind of strength-training exercises we should focus on as we get older.

Fitness training organization's new facilities are impressive  
Readers constantly ask how they can find a competent fitness trainer, not a glorified spotter or a person with an aesthetically pleasing body who promises the same.