Supplement your exercise knowledge at the L.A. Fitness Expo

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Put that barbell down, step off the elliptical and listen up: The Los Angeles Fitness Expo takes place Saturday and Sunday at the L.A. Convention Center, featuring more than 100 exhibitors, plus events that include cooking demonstrations and sumo wrestling. Oh, and don’t miss the bench press and deadlift challenge on Sunday.

Other highlights include a kettlebell demonstration Saturday for those curious about those heavy metal things, currently all the rage in the fitness world. Plenty more contests are on tap, such as a bicep curl competition, a pushup competition, and a fittest couple contest, which may make this expo seem more like a day at Coney Island. Among the fitness celebs making appearances are Olympic gold medal hurdler Dawn Harper and mixed-martial artist Tito Ortiz. This is definitely a mixed bag of health- and fitness-related matters.

And then there are the supplements. Expect to see supplement and vitamin companies galore, since they’re a huge part of the strength training realm (pick up any body-building magazine and you’ll understand how massive the supplement world is), and some are sponsoring the show.

Event planners are expecting a good turnout of fitness buffs and wannabes looking for the equipment, workout clothes, exercise regimens, plus local studios and training programs (One exhibitor is listed as ‘House of Pain,’ and frankly we’re scared to find out what that is.).

For those with lofty aspirations, open-call auditions will be held both days for the ABC program ‘I Survived a Japanese Game Show.’ Recommended fitness levels were not specified.

-- Jeannine Stein