Here comes the sun, and a sleek waistline and sculpted abdominals can make your new summer wardrobe look spectacular.

Boxing training can be extremely high-intensity, increasing the heart rate and keeping the metabolism humming long after your workout ends.

Having to sit for eight or more hours a day sure can take a toll on muscles, tendons and joints as we hunch, bunch and use everything BUT good posture to read computer screens and perform close-up work.

Many women with large thighs avoid leg exercises for fear of adding inches to their legs. What they don't consider is that exercise burns fat, and that fat, not muscle, is the culprit when it comes to thunder thighs. Strong, muscular legs are lean and shapely. Fat legs are, well, the opposite.

Kettlebells basically are hunks of iron with handles. Not very high-tech or cool-looking, but they have become popular in recent years. If you haven't tried kettlebells yet, this might be one of the most efficient ways to get a full-body workout with just one piece of equipment.

I know. It sounds like the usual gimmick: Get fit while you watch TV.

1. Begin on your hands and knees.

We all seem geared these days toward quick results: instant gratification, hurry-up lifestyles, and everyone seems to want it NOW. This is a quick, little workout that, done as a circuit three or four times a week, gives big results. Adjust the time for performing each exercise depending on your level of fitness.

Functional fitness refers to practical exercises that keeps us fit for daily, real-life activities such as toting bags of groceries, lifting laundry baskets and hoisting toddlers. The exercises below use compound movements, which train muscles to work together. Improving core strength not only makes physical tasks easier; it greatly reduces the risk of strains, sprains and other injuries. Do them three or four times a week.

There are good reasons why Mom nagged us to sit up straight. Good posture makes us look younger, more confident and gives an impression of overall vitality. Improving posture also can help to reduce back, joint and shoulder pain and alleviate nerve compression and other negative effects of allowing the head to pitch forward, the shoulders to round and the spine to slouch.

Thousands of dollars are spent every year by people who want exercising to be easy with instant, guaranteed results. Every time you switch channels on the television, an infomercial is selling the latest and greatest (they leave out most expensive) workout gadget on the market.

5. Biceps lunge

Thigh-kick stretch

Forget the creams and miracle cures. Exercise can definitely make a difference in the appearance of your skin through improved circulation and muscle tone.

Not everyone who enjoys working out has, wants or needs dumbbells, barbells or other gym apparatus to maintain a desired level of fitness.

It's a spring ritual for most of us: pre-summer assessment of the body's winterization. We can't help but anticipate the change to warm-weather clothing that hides none of the sins of holiday indulgences. If you're dreading T-shirts, tank tops and sleeveless dresses, you still have time to give those arms some shape and improve strength before the bulky clothes come off.

According to those in the know, one of the biggest changes in the golf world today is increased emphasis on fitness.

Pssstt. Just between us "… have you ever looked at those ads for padded derriere enhancers and wondered whether maybe they would improve your rear view?

Exercise can take Herculean effort for many of us, but for those who suffer from arthritis, the thought of purposeful exercise can be especially discouraging.

People who work out often focus their efforts on arms, abs, legs and cardio vascular strength. While any exercise is beneficial, they may be forgetting the importance of having a strong back. The back muscles have a significant impact on everything we do: sitting, standing, lifting and bending. With a few strengthening exercises, everyday activities will be much easier to manage. Posture and balance also are greatly improved, which can reduce the risk of pain, strain and injury.

Most everyone is tightening their belts these days, and gym memberships often are one of the extras that get sacrificed. If you're willing to take a few moments at home at least three times a week, you can literally tighten your belt over a slimmer waistline with these quick and easy home exercises.

Every time we turn around, we hear about how important exercise is to every aspect of our health and well-being. This is especially important as we reach our senior years, when mobility becomes critical to continued independence. As we age, we tend to lose strength and flexibility, making it more difficult to perform everyday tasks. Below are a few simple exercises that can, when done regularly, help maintain strength and flexibility. Before you start:

Some women worry that using dumbbells will give them big, bulky muscles.