Fill these dumbbells up and get ready to sweat.

What I dislike most about flying is taking off. To make it more pleasant, I peruse the Sky Mall catalog. My husband says I will find any excuse to shop. Recently, waiting to depart for another business trip and flipping pages as usual, I saw an ad for AquaBells: portable water-filled dumbbells that easily fit in any suitcase. Quite an appropriate purchase for the writer of this column. Even my husband agreed.

A little traveling shouldn't get in the way of shaping up and maintaining your physique. Regularly altering my hotel room workouts has kept me in shape no matter where I've been. Finding these AquaBells is going to make it even easier.

Each AquaBell dumbbell includes four inflatable plates. Weighing only 24 ounces when collapsed, a pair of AquaBells can provide up to 32 pounds of weight-training resistance. Each plate has two chambers. Simply fill them with water to achieve the desired resistance and attach them to the grip, and they are ready to use. You can lift as little as 4 pounds or fill all four plates for 16 pounds per AquaBell.

A single pair of Aquabells can be used to perform literally hundreds of exercises. For instance, you can press half-filled AquaBells overhead to work your shoulders or lift them backward to tone your triceps. Then, after a short break to fill up the Aquabells, hold one in each hand while you squat to work your thigh and butt muscles. Take the following routine on the road for a total-body workout:

Warm up by marching in place while moving the arms in different directions for about 5 minutes.

Weighted Squat
Use one weight on each side of the hand grip (approx. 8 pounds). Stand with your feet hip-width apart and hold the AquaBells on your shoulders. Inhale as you bend your knees and lower your body as if to sit in a chair until your thighs are as close to parallel to the floor as possible. Do not go lower than this or you will put too much stress on your knees. Hold for a count of 3 before slowly returning to starting position.

One Arm Row
Use one 8 to 16 pound AquaBell depending on your strength level. Hold the AquaBell in your right hand, arm extended toward the floor. Exhale as you bend your right elbow, pulling the weight up to the side of the chest, and keeping the arm close to your body. Inhale as you slowly return to starting position.

Weighted Lunge
Stand with feet together, hands holding an 8-pound AquaBell on each hip. Inhale as you step forward with your right leg and bend your front knee until a 90-degree angle is formed. Keep your knee directly above your toes during the downward movement to avoid overstressing the knee joint. Hold for a count of 3 before slowly returning to start position. Switch legs and repeat.

Seated Shoulder Press, Biceps Curl and Triceps Extension Combo
The three following exercises, done as a combo, create an excellent circuit workout while you're in the comfort of a chair. Sit tall on the edge of a chair, feet flat on the floor.

Seated Shoulder Press
Sit tall on a chair and contract abdominals. Holding an AquaBell in each hand, bring your arms out to the sides, and bend your elbows 90 degrees so that weights are level with your ears, palms facing forward. Exhale as you press the AquaBells toward the ceiling until only a slight bend remains in your elbows. Do not touch the AquaBells together at the top of the move. Hold for a count of 3 before slowly returning to start position and repeat.

Biceps Curl
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees relaxed, pelvis tucked, shoulders dropped, and chin level. Hold AquaBells in each hand, arms extended straight down from your shoulders, palms facing forward. Exhale as you bend one elbow to bring the AquaBells three-fourths of the way to your shoulder. Inhale as you return to starting position.

Triceps Extension
Raise your arms overhead, then bend the elbows so your upper arms are next to your ears and your elbows are bent at 90 degree angles. Keep your elbows in alignment with your shoulders and hold your upper arm stationary. Raise AquaBells by extending your elbow. Avoid locking at the top of the movement. Slowly lower to starting position and repeat.

Chest Fly
Lie faceup on the floor with your feet planted. Hold an 8- to 16-pound AquaBell in each hand, depending on strength level. Keep your palms together and extend your arms above your chest straight up from your shoulder. Open your arms out to the side with the elbows slightly bent until your arms are almost touching the floor. As if you were hugging a large beach ball, bring your palms toward each other and repeat.

Weighted Abdominal Crunch
Lie faceup on the floor, knees bent and feet flat on the floor, feet and knees together. Hold one AquaBell in both hands, directly over your chest. Keep your head and neck relaxed. Exhale as you contract your abs to bring your shoulders off the floor, hold briefly. Inhale as you slowly lower to starting position.

If you have expensive tastes and filled those AquaBells with Evian, have a drink from your newest exercise toy. Otherwise, replenish your body fluids with something healthy from the mini-bar and hit the showers.

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