As obesity rates climb higher each year, a new problem has emerged among American bodies: over-exercising. Andy Fry, assistant director of fitness and wellness for Campus Recreational Sports, discusses the host of problems surrounding over-exercising, or compulsive exercising, and how individuals can get help.

Wrapping up your holiday shopping? Only just begun? IU experts in fashion, romance, fitness, and disability and aging offer tips on what not to get your friends or loved ones, in addition to some tips on potentially useful gifts.

Holiday weight gain is real -- but so is the media's obsession with it. If you feel bombarded by ads for weightloss plans, then change the channel or turn off the TV, IU experts say. If someone starts talking about his weight -- or somebody else's -- change the subject. Give the scale a break. Maintaining a healthy weight and body image, they say, is a long-term goal that won't be "done in" by a couple extra cookies.

One of the greatest gifts parents can give themselves and their children is swim lessons, say aquatics experts at IU's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. "It's the best total body workout you can get, and it's suitable for all ages, ranging from toddlers to the elderly," said Emily Ward, director of aquatics at the Division of Campus Recreational Sports in the School of HPER.

If you feel like you can squeeze a strength workout or a cardio workout into your busy day, but not both, Andy Fry says "think again." Circuit training combines both in a fast-paced, mix-it-up workout that can give you the best of both workouts in your own home.

Thirty minutes of moderate activity most days of the week is enough to gain health benefits such as a lower risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, but carving out the time in our busy days can "seem" impossible. Andy Fry, a fitness expert with the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, offers some tips for making exercise and activity a part of our daily lives.

The cold winter months can challenge the exercise resolve of the most dedicated among us, but there's no reason for our exercise habits to go into hibernation. Andy Fry, assistant director for fitness and wellness at Indiana University's Division of Campus Recreational Sports, discusses common mistakes people make when exercising outside in the cold.

With the holidays often come more occasions for socializing and drinking. Andy Fry, assistant director for fitness and wellness at Indiana University's Division of Campus Recreational Sports, offers some advice about drinking and exercise that makes good sense throughout the year.

The workday can offer a convenient diversion or an unwanted obstacle to health, fitness and overall wellness goals. These gift ideas from Indiana University Bloomington health, fitness and accessibility experts can help loved ones get more out of their jobs than just a paycheck.

Is the summer heat putting a chill on your exercise and activity plans? It might be time to give water exercise a try -- that is, if cool water, strength and balance training, a little cardio and a low-stress environment sound appealing. Read on to learn more about this joint-friendly activity that should be part of every fitness enthusiast's cross-training repertoire.

Technology is partly to blame for society becoming less active, says Bryan Stednitz, assistant director of fitness and wellness for IU Bloomington's Division of Recreational Sports. In response, manufacturers and fitness clubs are turning the tables on technology by combining the two as a way to both attract customers and clients and then to keep them.

Men and women who work out frequently appear to have different reasons for sticking to a exercise program. Researchers at Indiana University found, in a recent study of college students, that sticking to an exercise program was associated with a number of factors for women, including confidence using exercise equipment, positive body image and a preference for aerobic exercise such as running or swimming. For men there was one clear influence on keeping up a workout regimen: strength training.

Sometimes the weather -- snow, blistering wind chill, cold temps -- can be a formidable obstacle to workout plans, especially when they involve running, walking or cycling outdoors or simply leaving a warm home or workplace to head to the gym. Cold weather will pass. In the meantime, Joellan Muyskens, assistant director for fitness and wellness at Indiana University Bloomington's Division of Campus Recreational Sports, offers some exercise ideas to keep us active on the coldest of days.

It's hot and overcrowded. People are cramped for space and annoyed at waiting for their turn on equipment. And, yet, it's where everybody wants to be. It's that time of year again, when the winter cold sets in the bones. Short hours of daylight begin to take their toll on energy levels, and New Year's resolutions fall by the wayside. If you are starting off the New Year by exercising regularly -- or are trying to -- these tips can give your new routine some staying power while helping you avoid common pet peeves that annoy the regulars.

Still shopping for that health and fitness enthusiast on your Christmas list? Ten wellness experts at Indiana University offer suggestions that will get 2007 off to a good start for someone you care about.

Squeezing in a workout during the busy holiday season is a challenging task. Two fitness experts from Indiana University's Division of Recreational Sports offer their advice on fitting in exercise during the festivities. Joellan Muyskens is the assistant director for group exercise, and Bryan Stednitz is the assistant director for strength and conditioning.

Chris Arvin, program director for fitness and wellness at Indiana University's Division of Recreational Sports, will begin his second year of "Fitness for Christmas" in the next few weeks and he challenges you to create a new holiday tradition, as well. Instead of feeding the holiday frenzy with high calorie foods and a hiatus from physical activity, craft a plan from Thanksgiving through Christmas that includes at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. The activities can be as simple as a walk or sledding with the kids. The payoff for Arvin was less stress, more focus (who couldn't use that?!) and an easier time resuming his more rigorous workouts at the beginning of the year.

Strength training is "like your 401K, the people who invest early will have more fun later in life," said Carol Kennedy, a lecturer in Indiana University Bloomington's Department of Kinesiology. Strength training has a strong functional element -- it can help people do day-to-day activities, such as lifting objects and standing and sitting, more easily. Strength training can mitigate conditions such as osteoporosis, loss of muscle mass, joint deterioration, back pain and hypertension, which affect many people as they age. And the good news, say Kennedy and Bryan Stednitz, assistant director of fitness and wellness for IUB's Division of Recreational Sports, is it's never too late to start. They offer some do's and don't's for getting started.

If you were casting the part of a step aerobics instructor, you'd be unlikely to recruit Indiana University environmental science professor Michael Edwards. The tall 47-year-old looks more the statesman than the fitness guru, despite flowing dreadlocks and a lean physique. Preparing to lecture to his chemistry students, he's the epitome of calm, self-described as "very cerebral." But head to the Student Recreational Sports Center a few hours later and you'll find Edwards displaying a very different side: clad in spandex, blasting funk and house music and barking—quite literally—into the microphone. "I thought it was for girls. I thought it was flimflam," Edwards says of his former disdain for group exercise. "But my wife is an instructor and she kept bugging me to try it, so I went to her step class just to get her off my case." That first class was a turning point for Edwards. Looking back now, he says, "It was the best thing I ever did for myself."

Sometimes the best intentions can lead to shortcomings in a swim instruction program, said Annie Eakin, assistant director of aquatics in IU Bloomington's Division of Recreational Sports. Problems like overcrowding, long classes and too much interference from parents can detract from a positive pool experience. Eakin offered suggestions on finding a safe and fun swim instruction program for your child.

Eating before exercise is a subject of contention among fitness enthusiasts, according to Bryan Stednitz, assistant director for strength and conditioning at Indiana University Bloomington's Division of Recreational Sports. Is it better to have a snack and risk an upset stomach, or work out before eating and face lightheadedness and fatigue? There are no easy answers, Stednitz said.

Get out and enjoy the sunshine with running tips from Sandy Tecklenburg, a Ph.D. student in exercise physiology and coach for the IU's women's cross country track team, and Emily Ward, director of informal sports and aquatics for IU Bloomington's Division of Recreational Sports. Find out how to get started, stay safe and avoid injury and burnout.

Looking for a way to relieve stress and tone up? Try a kickboxing class, suggests Malvika Gulati, a graduate student in IU's Kelley School of Business and a group exercise instructor for the Division of Recreational Sports. "Kickboxing is my exercise and my therapy," she said. "I definitely get out some aggression, and it's a solid cardio workout." Follow these tips for a stress-busting, all-over workout.

Group exercise instructor Jonathan Rossing knows how to get the crowd going. "It's the music," says Rossing, who teaches Step, CycleFit, and Hi-Lo Aerobics. He chooses songs to match the different phases of a workout: from easy warm-ups to all-out sprints. Rossing describes three of his favorite playlists for Active for Life, "Divas," "Boy Bands," and "Love Mix."

With three weeks of winter still ahead, it's all too easy to let exercise wait while you nap on the couch. But getting active now can help you greet spring with energy to match the longer days and warmer weather ahead. Lee Cleary, IUB Division of Recreational Sports, offers her top ten tips on overcoming the urge to hibernate.