I work in publishing and I can tell you it's not easy to get a book published, especially if you're writing about something that's already been written about extensively and has a lot of competition. Publishing is a business and no publisher is going to take a chance on a fitness book that is just a repeat of so many others UNLESS the author is a celebrity, which is why you see so many fitness/health books written by celebrities--usually with a co-author who is the real expert. Amanda gives some excellent advice. If you are lucky enough to get your book published, chances are you won't make a ton of money, or much money at all.
Self-publishing is certainly an option, but the problem with that is you have to do your own marketing or pay the firm that published your book to do it. If you're already 'known' that might not be an issue. For example, Shawnee might not have any trouble marketing her book because she is known, but what about the rest of us? And as Amanda said, getting your book published by a publishing company adds a certain amount of credibility that self-publishing doesn't provide. Publishing companies also do the marketing and promotional stuff for you, as well as copyediting and proofreading.
But I never tell people not to write books. If it's something you feel strongly about and there's a market for it, go for it. If you send it to publishers and have no luck, you can always self-publish.
Good luck!
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