And the Sportsman of the Year award goes to . . . Michael Phelps! After winning a record-breaking eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics and breaking seven world records (some were on relay teams) while doing so, this award really comes as no surprise. He seriously deserves it.

Every year Sports Illustrated presents the award to an athlete or an entire team it feels deserving, after a stellar year of athletic performance as well as sportsmanship. Phelps's quest for eight golds and the US relay team upset in the 100m relay moved swimming, an often marginalized sport, to center stage this Summer during the first week of the Olympic games. He astounded America with his high-calorie diet and his deal with McDonald's. Gold medals and big money endorsements aside, we all know Michael has made it as a sports legend because a video game featuring him is currently being developed in France. A swimming video game? This could be the push into the pool that moves swimming from the margins to the mainstream.

To see some memorable shots of Phelps at the Olympics or to revisit his awesome abs, just read more

The snow's a fallin' in parts of the world, and that means skiers and riders are gearing up for some adventurous time in the snow. If there's a gal in your life who's big into hitting the mountain, here are some gift ideas that are sure to keep her warm and protected.

• Salomon Ladies Temptress Jacket: The best part about this coat is that it has tons of zippered pockets to hold your wallet, keys, phone, tissues, and snacks. It's lightly insulated so once you start cruising, you won't overheat. There's also a goggle wipe and a holder for your ski pass. Since this is last year's model, it's cheaper, so you'll save some dough.
• Smith Women's Anthem Goggles: Goggles are a must to protect your eyes from snow, ice, rain, tree branches, and the sun. These from Smith are made for a woman's facial features, and they're helmet compatible.
• Burton Headphone Beanie: Whether you're zooming down the mountain on skis or a board, some people can't live without their tunes. This hat from Burton has speakers built in. Just plug the wire into your iPod and you're good to go.

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I've been a fan of Tina Fey ever since she was on SNL. With her hit TV show 30 Rock and her recent outstanding imitations of Sarah Palin, I love her even more. She's adorable, smart, and smokin' all rolled into one.

Apparently, she wasn't always as slender as she is now. In a recent Vanity Fair interview, she says that during her early SNL period, she started dieting after seeing herself on camera. She weighed around 150 pounds, and though that's not much for a 5'4" frame, she felt she was starting to look unhealthy. She said, "I looked like a behemoth, a little bit." The star joined Weight Watchers right away. This program involves a pretty strict point system that limits the amount of calories you take in. Good for Tina for losing weight in a healthy way. You can catch her on the cover of January's Vanity Fair looking fabulous.

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The competition on the Biggest Loser Families should be heating up, but last night's show was surprisingly free of drama. Well, not quite. There was Vicky's moment of paralyzing fear, verging on a tantrum, during the physical challenge, but even that little episode struck me as placid. Maybe because everyone involved, blue teammates included, seemed "over" Vicky's antics.

This week all the contestants were treated to a makeover in NYC. Their trip to the Big Apple included new hair fancy and flattering styles. The highlights from the salon: Vicky dyed her hair red and Ed got some highlights himself. Then all five contestants were treated to a shopping trip at Macy's lightly supervised by season-four winner of Project Runway Christian Siriano (didn't he often comment on how he loved the super-skinny models?). This was followed by a "live" reveal on The Tyra Banks Show, complete with a reunion with a friend, spouse, sibling, or parent. The reunions, full of lots of emotion, were pretty sweet watch.

Upon returning back to the ranch, the five remaining players competed in a physical challenge with a two-week spa vacation as the prize. The contestants had to wedge themselves in bottomless boxes suspended 12 to 15 feet above a pool of water. Vicky was first to call uncle, but refused to drop into the water. Heba, Ed, and Renee eventually followed dropping easily and gleefully into the water below. Michelle won the prize and was a disappointed to have her victory celebration marred by Vicky's attention-stealing freak-out.

To see who was eliminated and how they look today read more

If you're used to running outside, and the colder weather has forced you to exercise inside, working out on an indoor track is a great option. Many gyms and health clubs have them, and one reason they're a pleasure to run on is that their surface is spongy, so it's easier on your joints. It's the closest you can get to actually running outside because you're using your own muscle power to propel yourself forward, unlike running on a treadmill. While running in circles might feel a bit boring, you can easily keep track of your distance, and you know it's accurate. Who knows if cardio machine displays are all that precise?

The only downside to jogging on a track is that it feels quite repetitive. If you're interested in learning some great ways to keep it fun and fresh, read more