Tiffany Ficklin is not the kind of person you would imagine battles a weight problem.

"My clothes were tight and I really just felt kind of sloppy," says the professional kickball player who gets plenty of exercise.

Her problem: time and location.

"I travel 60 days out of the year and I was in different cities, different hotels across the country," she explains.

With a hectic schedule and no access to a gym, keeping on track was not easy. Then she discovered "Fitness by Phone." Now she connects with her coach from anywhere.

Brenda Rule-Osburn is a certified personal trainer... and a life-line for people on the go.

"I teach people how to workout anywhere, any time, any place," says Rule-Osburn.

Nat sound: So using the stairs in my hotel I can run up and down for the cardio?

Jennifer Blomquist/Reporting: "Fitness by Phone" clients wear a special tracking device that keeps track of the calories they burn. The coach reviews a journal and then calls the client every week to keep track of their progress.

Mary Jane Johnson/Exercise Physiologist: One of the nice things about being coached by phone is that you don't have to make a physical appointment, drive somewhere or find a place to put the kids.

A simple idea... but does it work? A Standford University study says it does by keeping people accountable.

Mary Jane Johnson: All of the studies that have been done on various types of populations ranging from people with heart problems to healthy adults have all shown that people have been able to achieve success with coaching by phone.

Tiffany Ficklin: Here were are nine months later and I have lost 24 pounds and about four inches from my waist.

So if you need to get in shape, you might want to start by exercising your fingers.