With all the infomercials hawking this or that new ab- or butt-busting contraption and fad diets touted amid implausible claims of instant weight loss, it's no wonder that many people just throw up their hands on the whole idea of fitness and console themselves with pints of ice cream. Fortunately, you can count on this get-fit reference for information that's both medically sound and entertaining: Fitness For Dummies. With the help of authors and fitness professionals Suzanne Schlosberg and Liz Neporent as your personal trainers, you see through the hype of celebrity weight loss videos and the quackery of fat-dissolving potions and creams. Fitness For Dummies shows how you can set and achieve realistic fitness goals without dipping into your retirement fund to buy dust-gathering, high-tech equipment. Thanks to clear, concise explanations and informative photos and illustrations, you'll quickly discover how to . . . Test your fitness level, set realistic goals, stick with your program, and get great results Make sense of scientific studies that pop up in the news media almost daily -- only to fall by the wayside in a few months Design aerobic and weight-training routines that meet your needs Find health club membership bargains -- steer clear of scams and high-pressure sales tactics Identify where fat is sneaking into your diet Get the most out of high-tech exercise machines -- and use plain ol' barbells and dumbbells or a simple jump rope to achieve the same results Understand fitness buzzwords like "target zone," "circuit training," and "metabolic rate" Create your own home gym on a budget Locate a qualified fitness trainer to help you reach your objectives Even survive aerobics and other exercise classes, no matter how uncoordinated and awkward you feel