You gave up jumping rope ages ago - mostly because "the bigger they are, the harder they fall" came into play for those of you with two left feet.

Solution: A ropeless jump-rope. Yes, you read right a jump-rope that lacks what many would consider a critical feature: the rope.

Jump ropes have obviously come a long way and they aren't just for recess anymore. They have always provided a simple and effective workout on the go, but now JumpSnap loses the rope, leaving two handles with electronic chips and an LCD screen that estimate calories burned, while providing a timer and audible workout summary. It even makes a snapping sound with each rotation so you don't feel entirely silly - and btw jumping rope isn't for wimps, think boxing regimen. While you might not find Sugar Ray jumping without a rope, you will find him endorsing the benefits of it! Jumping rope (also referred to as rope skipping) is a staple in a boxer’s conditioning program. And, it is the cheapest fat-burning workout around—and the best as it obliterates calories--up to 600 an hour--and rocks your heart rate on par with running, but without the joint-jarring impact. It does wonders for your agility, posture, balance, reflexes and coordination, it blasts your calves, tones your delts and arms, and fires your abs.

I'm away this week (for a little adventure with the family) so I thought I'd post some popular posts from the past.

Summer shoes have high expectations of your feet.

Open-toe slingbacks, sandals, wedge heels. Not to mention that you’re footing the bill for weekly pedicures just to stay presentable in them.

But what do you demand of your shoes? Not much, by the looks of yours... but shouldn't you? If you could request that your shoes make your legs leaner (and your ass for that matter). Wouldn't you?

Sound crazy? This summer tone your thighs, your calves and your glutes with Fitflop, the UK's hottest new fitness shoe. This unique line of flip-flops was dreamt up by a woman who specialises in coming up with things we just didn't know we needed. Marcia Kilgore is the former personal trainer who came up with the concept of Bliss the Mecca for spa hoppers on both sides of the Atlantic ­ and then surpassed herself with her next project, the gloriously tabloidish "Soap and Glory" skincare range.

This time she went one step further (literally) and designed a shoe (rather a flip-flop) that exercises your legs while you walk. The FitFlops cleverly designed midsole creates an uneven walking surface which challenges core calf, thigh and butt muscles to maintain control while you walk - you are literally working out while strolling down the high street!

That’s more than I can say for the shoes in my closet.
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New Year’s came and went. Lent is over. Memorial Day is right around the corner. You’ve talked a good game. But you’ve run out of time (and excuses).

With spring break right around the corner, well, 'er, it’s officially swimsuit season. And you have yet to break a sweat (or get rid of your winter bulge). It's time to get yourself into high gear with some basic training at an outdoor (or even indoor) boot camp class before it's too late.

You say working out is boring? Yeah, well, bulging out of your bathing-suit is well, down right miserable!

Lucky for you: Military-style workouts are on the rise. Turns out many of us like being yelled at while we sweat. The basic boot-camp workout includes a warm-up, cardio work (jogging, sprinting, relays, etc), and strength training (push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, etc). Many are outside and most are led by stringent, stern instructors who likes to motivate through yelling. Don’t see the appeal?

Here’s why people like boot camps: They’re efficient, they’re a good deal (it’s like a having a personal trainer for a group discount), and if nothing else... they get us out of the gym!

Several boot camp classes are popping up all over the country. Sweat it out with one of my top picks in your area: Back Yard Bootcamp in CA (Encino Area), LIFT - Basic Training in NJ, Boot Camp Fitness in NYC, Bulldog Bootcamp in Chicago, BCSF in San Fransisco, Jay's Boot Camp in Texas, Bootcamp Fitness in Kansas City, and Platoon Fitness in PA.

Feeling adventurous? Try the Bikini Boot Camp in Tulum, Mexico (more to come on this fabulous getaway).

You will build camaraderie (having a common enemy always spawns friendships)and often classes are made to order; brides, men, women, marathoners, and several other subsets can find their own workouts.

What are you waiting for? Try it out and see if a class suits you. If at the end you can still feel your legs, you'll be in great shape!

I didn't say it was going to be easy.

Men: It's Vegas... do you know where your women are? You might want to check out a class called "Stripper 101" or who knows maybe you want to sign them up.

The class is held in a theater at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino (formerly the Aladdin), and has become so popular that it's now offered daily.

Approximately a dozen or so women, every day, from their 20s to 50s enthusiastically learn how to do a striptease. It's a sweat-inducing low impact aerobic workout designed to instill a positive body image and increase self-confidence, while developing a strong sense of sensuality. The mantra: Grab Life by the Pole!

The fact is that you won't burn a ton of calories but it is still an exotic dancing workout that involves lunges, squats, kicks, and stretches that will reach all of the major muscle groups.

It's not for everyone; some women even find the whole concept demeaning, but for the most part I'm all for trying new things. Who knows you may just end up feeling more sexy and liberated (no matter what shape or size you are), and honestly isn't that what the class is all about? The cost is $40-$60 and includes a drink (which you will probably need).

Men: Did I mention that she also walks away with a "stripper's license?"

The gym is crowded, your shoulders are sore, and all you want to do is hide in the sauna and relax. But, surprise, surprise, surprise, looks like everyone else has the same idea as you.

Do you ....

a. Get down with the other naked strangers (yes, you).
b. Forget you need to relax and head back to the treadmill.
c. Escape to your own personal retreat.

If you picked c, you're a smart cookie, and a Sunlight Sauna is just what you need. It’s like the anti-sauna. Meaning no attitudes, no unwanted strangers, and no traveling to get to it. Just total relaxation in the comfort of your own home, available whenever you want it. This unique infrared sauna not only promotes detoxification of metals and toxins, but it also boosts immune and cardiovascular systems as well as relieving pain. But the best part? It burns up to 600 calories in 25 minute sessions.

Used by many top celebs to relax, escape from the crowds (and burn calories), this sauna delivers! Fit for one person, and starting at $1895, this luxurious sauna can compliment just about any home.

Don't like to be completely alone? Get a larger one and invite over your friends.

Clothing optional.

For you, summer (not to mention spring break) has always meant freaking out in a dressing room while trying on bikinis and hiding every ounce of your body underneath a designer tunic.

Might be time for a change. This year try one of these new classes and get yourself bikini ready for summer:

Kranking: Like Spinning but for the upper body, Johnny G's latest shape-shifting sensation uses a cycle (see photo) for the arms to sculpt shoulders, build biceps, and burn fat fast.
Try it out at: Equinox, various locations or at Club One.

bodyBrasil: Get the physique of a certain leggy Brazilian bombshell with this total-body toning class, which fuses capoeira-inspired core-strengthening drills with weighted resistance.
Try it out at: Sports Club/LA at Rockefeller Center or at Zone Hampton.

Mind-Body Blend: Find (and tone) your center with an invigorating fusion of yoga, weight training, and meditation that will strengthen and loosen even the most tightly wound body.
Try it out at: Clay, NYC.

It's all worth it in the end.

Because this summer, you'll be able to grin and bare it!

Want more? Get inspired and get in shape with the group fitness picks from Women's Health Magazine!

To get Arms and Shoulders like Halle Berry, Jim Ryno tells us that you need to challenge your muscles by lifting heavy weights. The great thing about the shoulder area is that it is one area that does not hold a lot of body fat and so you can tend to see results pretty quickly.

To get a back like Hilary Swank, jump rope; it’s a phenomenal way to train the upper body. Jump rope, which is often associated with boxing, is a high-intensity, highly effective cardio activity that you can mix in with your strength training program.

To get glutes like Jennifer Lopez, you can perform your cardio on an incline - such as climbing stairs - it’s a great way to tone your glutes. Good form is crucial when working this area, as we often put our backs into these exercises instead of our glutes.

For amazing abs like Sheryl Crow, you’ll need to not only include cardio to your strength and endurance training, but you’ll need a sensible diet as well if you want to see results in this area.

For legs like Lisa Rinna, you should do cardio that involves climbing, or an incline to help develop your shapely legs. We all now know that Lisa is a phenomenal dancer and that also helps her look so great - dancers have some of the best legs around, so why not mix it up?

The only muscle soreness you’ve felt in months is shopping arm (you know ... from carrying all those bags).

And, no, that doesn’t constitute exercise.

Maybe it’s time to think outside the box. Or, rather, inside it: If you're not active outside, maybe it's time to head inside to your local gym. Odds are you're still working out the logistics of your New Year's Resolutions anyway, and exercise was on the top of your list, wasn't it?

Here's a solution: Gym Ticket. It's a web database that contains information about health centers in addition to deals and discounts. Search for gyms by specialty, such as yoga, pilates, and kickboxing. View photos of the facilities before you visit, and read or write reviews about fitness centers that you've already visited. Still not sure if you should sign up for a particular health club? Gym Ticket allows you to print out free guest passes so that you can make up your mind after you've been there once. The site also features informative articles about evaluating health clubs, finding clubs that meet your financial expectations, and what to look for when you seek out a regular fitness center.

Just think: Once you join your new gym, the staff will help you create a customized fitness program just for you.

So you can haul twice as many bags as before.

How does progress happen? Through intellect, inspiration, and the courage to be different.

Fumbling for a new song in the saddle is your inspiration, Pearl Izumi is the intellect behind the Vertex MP3 Cycling Shorts, and you (the consumer) who dares to wear these in public... well that my friend is where the courage to be different comes in.

It might seem like overkill, but the built-in Flash MP3 Player and thigh-mounted control strip will help keep you on track while zooming down the road.

A spin around the block never looked so good.
$499. Available only on pearlizumi.com - $100 from each pair sold to benefit the Davis Phinney Foundation.

Sure, there’s something to be said for style and affordability. But there are those times when only the best will do. As in luxury. As in service. As in private, but worth hocking your Tiffany diamond watch for. Here’s a handy guide to the five hottest, most over-the-top gyms for the super rich on the east coast. Four right in New York City and one little gem in New Jersey. Remember: There are more millionaires per capita in New Jersey than any other state in the nation.

The right sum can buy the best of the best -- from designer clothes to fancy homes. In this case, that also includes improved health and a sculpted body, which many agree is priceless. Call them hip. Call them uber-cool. Big or small, just don't call them "gyms."

The Madison Square Club: Clients spend about $20,000 per year for membership, and only six people are allowed on the floor per hour. The expensive attention isn't just for vanity's sake--meeting your fitness goals is especially important when your paycheck is dependent on your looks. Owner/celebrity trainer David Kirsch trains Heidi Klum.

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