FitSugar

Fit Tip: Don't Let One Skipped Day Turn Into a Month

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:30:00 PST

It's easy to neglect one day of working out - one day is nothing to be concerned about. The problem is when one day turns into two days, two days turn into a week, then a week turns into a month and so on. In order to get yourself motivated and back in the swing of things, don't aim for a full day at the gym. Try and do a short 10 minute run outside or session on the elliptical. Chances are that after the 10 minutes you'll be in the groove and want to keep going.

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Holiday Fit Tip: Short Bursts Are OK

FitSugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:30:00 PST

Most of us think that in order to reap all the benefits of exercise, we need to spend hours in the gym. Lucky for us this is just not the case.

Always keep in mind, but especially during this holiday season, that short bursts of exercise are good too. In fact, a study earlier this year found that anyone who is currently overweight, obese, or sedentary will benefit from just 10 minutes of cardio a day. So while you are trying to figure out a way to fit in a workout during the holidays, don't obsess over how long you are working out, just focus on actually being able to get your body moving - a 10 minute stretch while waiting for water to boil or a 10 minute power walk after dinner will do wonders for your health and your holidays.

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Fittingly Mad: The 10-Minute Workout

FitSugar — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 02:30:00 PST

Every week I have a stack of fitness DVDs on my desk waiting to be tested. More than half of them have "10 minutes" or "five minutes" written boldly on the cover, implying that this is the length of the workout. Since I've done many fitness DVDs in my time, I know that while the DVD claims "10 minutes to a toner you," that is simply not the case.

We think, "10 minutes? Well shoot, I've got 10 minutes to get in a workout." However, once you pop in the video, you find that there are actually several 10 minute portions to the workout that could add up to more than an hour. Sure you don't have to do them all, but I have a hard time putting in a DVD and simply doing the 10 minute warm-up and feeling good about my workout. I've even seen one minute workout videos - one minute! What is not made clear is that the video is actually made up of 127 one-minute segments, which is over two hours! Here we were thinking we were going to be done in one minute!

Sure, a few minutes is definitely better than nothing. However, I am mad that these companies are trying to draw us in with claims of getting in an entire workout in just 10, eight, six, five minutes, or even one. Why can't they just be forthright? I want to know what I am getting myself into and I don't appreciate bold misleading claims. Be wary of DVDs with such claims. I am not saying you won't get in a good workout, just don't expect it to be in 10 minutes or less.

On a side note, did anyone ever seen There's Something About Mary? Every time I see a video that promises results in 10 minutes or less, I think about the hitchhiker.

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Just Ten Minutes Will Do

FitSugar — Thu, 17 May 2007 07:30:00 PDT

A new study has found that, if you're currently overweight, obese or sedentary, just 10 minutes a day can improve your cardiovascular fitness.

This is great news for anyone who thinks they don't have enough time in the day to exercise because it's so easy to squeeze in ten minutes. Once you start getting used to ten minutes, you can then up the time until you are able to fit in at least 30 minutes on most days.

Fit's Tip: I know what you're thinking, but if you're not currently sedentary (or overweight) then don't use this post as an excuse to cut your workout time to ten minutes.

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An At Home Workout Anyone Can Do in 10 Minutes

FitSugar — Thu, 10 May 2007 08:45:00 PDT

Unfortunately not all of us have the luxury of going to the gym or stepping outside into beautiful weather all the time (ain't that right Seattle?).

MSNBC's Fit List this week is all about how to get in a 10 minute (maybe more like 15) workout at home. The best part is that you'll be using stuff you already have lying around the house.

Start with your kitchen chair to warm up. Sit down and stand back up. Do this for one minute.
Go to the stairs and start climbing up one step at a time. Go up and down 8 to 10 times. If you don't have stairs, use a small step stool. Position it next to a wall so you can place your hand on the wall for balance. Step up and down on the stool (up with the right foot and then up with the left foot, down with the right and then down with the left) for one minute.
Go to a wall and place your back against it. Your feet should be about one foot away from the wall. Now, slide down the wall until the hips are parallel to the knees. The knees should be directly over the ankles. Keep your back pressed against the wall and place your hands comfortably on the thighs. Hold this position for one minute using an egg timer. If you can't make the full minute, hold as long as you can.
Sit in the kitchen chair and hold detergent bottles, one in each hand. Curl them up toward your shoulders to work the biceps. Do three sets of 12 with a rest in between sets. Drink some water while you rest.
Place a three-foot strip of masking tape on the floor in front of you. Stand on one side of the tape and with both feet hop over the tape. Go back and forth for one minute on the egg timer. If you can't jump with both feet, hop one foot to the other foot. Once you get the hang of it you will progress to hopping with both feet. This is great for getting your heart rate up, burning calories, strengthening your bones and improving balance.

There's five more moves, so

Go back to the chair and hold the detergent bottles again, this time extending your arms out to the sides. Raise them up until they are at shoulder level. Then return them back down to your sides. This exercise works your shoulders. If the weight is too much, pour out some water, but make sure you keep the same amount in each bottle.
Walk to the bath tub (or you can use the kitchen chair) and sit on the edge. Place your hands on the edge of the tub with your fingers hanging over the front edge. Pull yourself off the edge so you are supporting yourself with your arms. Lower yourself down and up by bending your elbows. Do three sets of 12. This exercise is for the back of the arms, the triceps.
Finish up the workout by getting on the floor near your coffee table (or ottoman). Place your feet on the table and lift your hips up off the floor and squeeze the hips and buttocks. Lower back down. You will feel this in the back of your legs. Do three sets of 10 lifts.
Keep yourself in the same position and place your hands behind your head. Lift your shoulders up off the floor and exhale as you lift. This is for your abs. Do three sets of 15.
Lie flat on the floor, arms stretched out and legs extended. Breathe in and out while you relax.

One thing is for sure: I, for one, will definitely be doing dips using the side of my bathtub tonight. I love this idea! Source

High Blood Pressure? Take a Short Walk

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 04:23:55 PST

Researchers at the University of Indiana have found that short bursts of exercise, rather than long durations, will help lower blood pressure. While the study found that both forms of exercise (short and long) lowered blood pressure by the same amount, the effect lasted for 11 hours with 10-minute walks compared to seven hours for 40 minutes of walking.

What do the numbers mean? Depending on your age and heart history, a healthy blood pressure is anywhere from 120/80-140/80. Systolic (high number) measures when the heart contracts and pumps blood out. Diastolic (low number) measures between the beats, as your heart fills with blood again.

Fit's Tip: It is much easier to find the time for 10 minute walks -- So if you're looking to lower your blood pressure then go for a walk during your lunch hour. If you're doing a lot of traveling, take a short walk through the terminal during your layovers.

A Reader Recipe: Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

Fit Community — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:27:50 PST

If you've got a cookie craving, you're in luck: FitSugar readers Pure2raw recently shared this gluten-free chocolate chip cookie cake with us in our Healthy Recipe group.

Everyone loves cookie cake, right? We have a chocolate chip cookie cake that is not only gluten-free but egg- and dairy-free, too. It is full of flavor with a great soft, cakelike texture. Plus the three-ingredient coconut frosting is too good not to try.

Get the recipe after the break!

Sisters of DC Cupcakes Share Valentine's Day Baking Tips and Chocolate Ganache Recipe

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:16:28 PST

What's sugar and spice and everything nice? Cupcakes! And no one knows more about our obsession with the lil confections than Sophie LaMontagne and Katherine Kallinis, co-owners of Georgetown Cupcake and stars of TLC's DC Cupcakes. The sisters, who learned their kitchen skills from their grandmother ("We followed her around the kitchen and always begged to help"), have been known to bake up to 10,000 lil cakes a day, much to the delight of the patrons who line the block of their Washington DC store. The duo - who just opened their first outpost in New York City - gave me a few minutes of their time to discuss their tasty desserts.

LilSugar: Cupcakes have moved from kiddie birthday party staple to a favorite of adults and kids alike. But kids aren't always willing to try new flavors. Which are most popular with kids?
Sophie LaMontagne and Katherine Kallinis: Our Vanilla Birthday (vanilla cupcake with vanilla buttercream and rainbow bobbles), Chocolate Birthday (chocolate cupcake with vanilla buttercream and rainbow bobbles), and Milk Chocolate Birthday (vanilla cupcake with milk chocolate buttercream and rainbow bobbles) are the most popular with kids. We think it's the color rainbow bobbles!

LS: Moms are busy; what shortcuts can you recommend to making delicious, beautiful cupcakes without spending the whole day baking and decorating them?
SL and KK: Try to keep a stash of baking staples - butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, all purpose flour, baking soda/powder, salt, and cocoa powder/chocolate on hand in your kitchen at all times and you can make almost any flavor! Our recipes are very simple - we don’t use cake flour or pastry flour - just all purpose - we find that works best. Also, we're big fans of chocolate ganache icing. It's so easy - just two ingredients - chocolate chips and heavy cream. You just melt them down (two cups of chips to one cup of cream), and dip your cupcakes in and you've got a super fast and unbelievably delicious frosting.

LS: Do you ever make "healthy" cupcakes for those who want to skip some of the sugar? If so, what goes into it?
SL and KK: We have a carrot cake cupcake, which has fresh carrots and fresh apples grated in it. We skip the walnuts, to save on calories, and it's a light and delicious cupcake!

The new season of DC Cupcakes begins on Feb. 25, but if you're looking to create their Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes for Valentine's Day,

Snacking Good: Natchitoches Meat Pies

OnSugar Blog — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:07:39 PST

We've always wanted to take a stab at rolling out a few Natchitoches meat pies. Thanks to an easy recipe from Food Orleans, this might be a dream realized sooner rather than later.

[Baked or fried? You decide.]

Natchitoches meat pies are one of those special little treats with a name as fun to say as they are to scarf down. Nackadish - that's how you say it - is a small town we drive through on our way north to visit Alexandria or Oklahoma, and it's where Steel Magnolias was filmed, and it's famous for these little pies. It's a beautiful little place, with a picturesque riverfront lined with shops and restaurants that have their own sort of French Quarter-ish wrought iron balconies (remember the Easter scene where Jackson slapped Ouiser? That's the riverfront!). But you don't have to go into the actual town to get yourself some meat pies; just stop at any gas station right off I-10. They all fry them up and they're all pretty wonderful.

For her recipe, continue reading.

Race Up the Empire State Building Is Tonight!

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:00:44 PST

I'm all for jogging up stairs to warm up before a run, and I've even come to love running hills. But running straight up the 86 flights of stairs it takes to get to the top of the Empire State building seems grueling. That's just what the 650 brave souls who are entered in the 35th Annual Empire State Building Run-Up Race are doing tonight.

Keep reading to find out how long it took last year's winners to complete this race.