I skipped the July 17-18 Health & Fitness Business Convention held in Denver this year. Actually, I skip it every year. But I do like to see what's new and noteworthy in the ever-changing world of fitness gear, so I asked for their 2008 New Product Showcase.

Drum roll, please:

The Thorotread. This new kind of exercise machine may look like your standard treadmill, but really it's a step backward and a leap forward. The Thorotread is a forward and backwards treadmill. It produces a backward-pulling motion, and ushers in an entirely new form of exercise called Resistance Retro Walking.

(Resistance Retro. Are we talking speed walking in madras shorts? Puffing a Lucky Strike? Lip-synching to the Andrews Sisters?)

There's a lot of good science behind walking backward. It strengthens your legs and feet because you bring into play underused, less developed muscles. Throwing yourself into reverse also gives you a good cardio workout. A friend of mine pronates so badly when she walks she is having big issues with foot cramps. Her physical therapist says walking backward will help retrain her foot muscles and ease the cramps. OK, it looks goofy, but she channels Michael Jackson doing the moonwalk, and so far, so good. (She's also taking magnesium — a must for crampers!)

The manufacturer of The Thorotread — Fitness Tools, LLC, 1-800-805 4591, www.thorotred.com lists it at $4,999.00. Holy retro! Sadly, it's probably too new to find a used one.

The Helix. You gotta love the hype. "The Helix is the most revolutionary trainer since ellipticals took the world by storm," the manufacturer claims.

What's the big deal? Does it walk your dog? The Helix is the first aerobic trainer to work the inner and outer thighs. Other ellipticals use that familiar forward-and-backward motion, which does a great job of working the quads, the glutes, the calves. But the Helix — hold onto your water bottles — takes your legs through a horizontal figure-8 motion. The result? Slimmer, tighter, less jiggly thighs. Every woman's dream. The Helix lists at $999. For more info, call 1-866-HELIXCO or email Lenny Snyderman at Mlenny@seriousfitness.com.

Adjustable Dumbbells. This concept has been around for a while, but this new version takes the place of 44 pairs of dumbbells — nearly enough to fill the White House. It can really be a hassle to store 44 pairs of dumbbells. Paying for 44 pairs of dumbbells is also a heavy burden for most of us. That's why the new Lifecore Fitness AD-55 is such a find. It lets you lift from five pounds to 55 pounds with a single pair of dumbbells, and it stores in a space the size of a toaster oven. The cost is a bit hefty — it lists at $399 — but have you priced 44 pairs of dumbbells lately? For more information about the new Lifetime Fitness AD-55 adjustable dumbbells, call 630 386 1412 or email toddkeller@aol.com.

THE XRIDE. Recumbent bikes are a terrific invention. They're easy on the back and ideal for anyone with balance issues. The new xRide takes recumbent biking one revolutionary step further. It gives you the workout of an elliptical cross-trainer, and you do it in a supported, comfortable, seated position. According to the manufacturer, Octane Fitness, studies show that xRiders use more glutes and burn more calories than other recumbent bikers, and the "ergonomically designed seat offers leverage for simultaneous strength training." Sounds great, but at an msrp of $3,199 to $3,799, the Xrider is definitely in the high-end category of new fitness gear. Consider a timeshare with your neighbor. For more information, call 1-888-OCTANE-4 or visit www.octanefitness.com.

The New Teeter Hang Ups. I'm a big fan of inversions. Turning upside down is not for everyone — people with certain eye conditions and high blood pressure should talk to their doctors first, a phrase I rarely use. Yogis know that inversions (head stands, shoulder stands) are great for reversing the blood flow, releasing the spine, bathing the brain. Teeter is a leading manufacturer of user-friendly inversion therapy products for the home, and their latest inversion table — "featuring Flex Technology" — is listed at $359.95. Anyone with low back troubles (and no yoga practice) should flip for this. For more information, call1-800-847-0143 or visit www.teeter-inversion.com.

ENERGY EXPRESS-O: DING A LING

"An amazing invention —but who would ever want to use one?" — President Rutherford B. Hayes, about Alexander Graham Bell's new invention, the telephone.

Marilynn Preston — fitness expert, personal trainer and speaker on healthy lifestyle issues — is the creator of Energy Express, the longest-running syndicated fitness column in the country. She welcomes reader questions, which can be sent to MyEnergyExpress@aol.com. To find out more about Preston and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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