PULSE.

Behind-the-wheel workout 

DRIVE-TIME STRETCH: Is rush hour taking valuable time away from your workout?

If so, there's a safe and fun way to a little exercise while you're stuck on the freeway, says Dorian Shockey, a personal trainer at Bally Total Fitness in Hollywood. For example, try the ``butt buster.'' To do it, simply squeeze your glutes and hold two or three seconds, then release.

``A lot of women are interested in this,'' says Shockey. ``It's a great way to keep your mind off traffic and keep your body active while you're sitting in the car.''

Shockey stresses that, for safety reasons, this exercise and others should only be done while stopped in traffic. He and other Bally's trainers will be offering other in-vehicle exercises as well as general fitness tips as part of Fusion Studio D, a free interactive lifestyle studio open through March 8 at the Hollywood & Highland center.

Sponsored by the Ford Motor Co. with help from Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., the studio invites the public to participate in and experience a range of services that focus on health and fitness.

Once inside the studio, visitors will also be offered wellness seminars and information about the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure, which takes place in major U.S. cities throughout the year.

``Part of the reason we're doing this is to attract younger women to the race,'' says Linda Perry-Lube, Ford Car Communications manager. ``It's all about getting the word out.''

In addition to the wellness experience, the studio also offers a beauty component, featuring complimentary makeovers, and tips for hair, make-up and skin care.

There's also a section dedicated to music, with listening stations offering new music from up-and-coming artists, CD giveaways and free cards to download a song to your computer, iPod or CD.

The studio is located on the third floor of the complex and is open noon to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit www.fusionstudiod.com and fusionforfitness.com.

- Diana McKeon Charkalis

A CERTAIN TYPE OF DIET: According to author Peter D'Adamo, you may be eating the wrong foods, even if you're carefully monitoring your diet. ``Allergies'' (Berkley; $12) and ``Fatigue'' (Berkley; $12) are two books in the ``Eat Right 4 Your Type'' series of diet books, which preach specific diets tailored to a person's blood type. The books, predictably, claim to be the answer to your battle with allergies and fatigue by cutting you off from foods that are no-nos for your blood type (you just didn't know it).

If you're feeling skeptical, you're not alone; the blood type diets have plenty of critics in the medical and science communities.

Both books list foods to avoid, neutral foods, beneficial foods and ``super beneficial'' foods for those with each blood type. As diet books go, the text can be unreasonably difficult: Straightforward diet plans are justified with incomprehensible medical jargon (perhaps in lieu of medical evidence?). Still, there's probably no harm in trying out the blood type diet. Unless you're a type B and hate brussels sprouts - they're super beneficial for you.

- Andy Wang 

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

(1) no caption (Fusion Studio D)

(2) no caption (book: ``Allergies'')

(3) no caption (book: ``Fatigue'')