Tip of the Week: If you're not motivated to exercise by the thought of fitting into last year's bathing suit or bettering your best high school bench press, think of the children. Really. Think about those who you love and who love you most, and of the impact your better health will make in their lives.

Whether it's your kids, your spouse, your friends — whomever it may be who you interact with on a daily basis — imagine how much your good health will mean to their lives. When you exercise, you're healthier, stronger and have more energy — energy that can in part be devoted to family and friends.

I've seen countless people turn their average lives into extraordinary lives thanks to the power of exercise. The vigor that comes from exercising can also make you a better parent, a better spouse and a better friend. So if doing yourself a favor isn't always in your line of thinking, consider doing your loved ones a favor and take care of your health.

Q: I'm a 32-year-old woman who's interested in taking up weight training to improve my tone and definition as well as drop a few pounds, but I'm afraid I'll get too muscular. What can I do to avoid this?

A: Why must this old wives' tale persist? Why do people — both men and women — believe that gaining muscle is as easy as simply touching a barbell? If that were the case, all of the bodybuilding champions I've worked with over the years could have saved themselves a good bit of time in the gym.

The truth is that it's very difficult to build muscle. It takes patience and diligence, not to mention a lot of hard work. Except for the very gifted few, I've never seen anyone make appreciable muscle gains with less than six months of steady training.

So, now that I've made it clear that you needn't worry about becoming overburdened with rippling muscles the first time you step into a gym, I hope I didn't scare you off.

While building good muscular size is not an easy thing to do, getting fitter and feeling better by way of exercise is a much more expedient process. After just a couple of weeks of training, coupled with a good diet, you should be able to measure your weight loss in pounds and begin to see the muscle tone that you seek.

The important thing for you to do is approach your workouts with enthusiasm, not worrying about potential muscle gains. They simply will not come unless decide you want them to and then work very, very hard to get them.

Q: I recently saw an ad for a device that fits in a suitcase and claims to stimulate muscle growth by way of an electric charge that causes your muscles to contract involuntarily. So you basically can work out while sitting and watching TV. It almost sounds too good to be true. Have you ever heard of this, Joe?

A: I'll tell you one thing about this fitness business I'm in, there always have been and I imagine there always will be snake oil salesman looking to prey upon unsuspecting people.

I have seen the device you write about, and I think it's a lot of bunk. I do know that they use electric muscle stimulation machines for physical therapy, so if you're incapacitated and have severe muscle atrophy, they could be of help.

If you're a healthy adult, however, there's absolutely no reason why you should use one of these machines. First of all, studies have been done to compare them to exercise for developing the ab muscles, and they have been shown to be virtually ineffective in comparison. Secondly, what's the point?!

If you want to get in shape, why not get outside and run or get into a gym and lift? Why not move your muscles yourself and enjoy the feeling of being able to move? Being mobile is a gift not to be taken for granted. Use the muscles you've been given, and use them well. Leave the electronics for your home appliances.

Joe Weider is the co-founder of the International Federation of BodyBuilders, creator of the Mr. Olympia and Ms. Olympia bodybuilding contests, and publisher of numerous fitness magazines. To find out more about Joe Weider, write to him and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

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