FitSugar

Exercise Plan: 100 Push-Ups in 6 Weeks

FitSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:00:00 PDT

There's the 8-week Couch to 5K running program and the Zero to a Mile six-week swim program, and now there's a push-up plan for you to follow. It is guaranteed to increase your upper body strength in a month and a half. The goal? One hundred consecutive push-ups! I can see you smiling through the blogosphere.

It doesn't matter how push-up proficient you are right now. If you follow the six-week program, 100 consecutive push-ups are in your near future. If you're serious about toning your upper body then

Before starting the program, you need to determine where you rank strength-wise. Complete as many push-ups as you can. For example, if you can do 10 push-ups, you're in Rank 2. If you fall into Rank 1, you may want to consider doing the alternative push-ups instead, with your knees are on the ground (these still work your upper body). If you ranked 6 or 7, you may want to do more difficult push-ups where your legs are on an incline.

The plan requires that you work out three days a week, resting between each day (so Monday, Wednesday, Friday works well). For each workout, you complete five sets of push-ups at your level, and each day, you progressively increase the number you can accomplish. At the end of the six weeks, you should be strong enough to take on the final test and execute 100 push-ups. To find out more details about this training program, check out the onehundredpushups website.

Are you going to do it? I am. So drop and give me as many as you can.

Source

13 Health Gimmicks You Can Stop Wasting Money On

Business Insider — Tue, 01 May 2012 00:15:21 PDT

Consumers have a tendency of falling for the next big health gimmick. Save your money on health duds with these Business Insider tips.

No matter how many times we're told otherwise, Americans' obsession with get-healthy-quick schemes will likely never die. Too bad most of these fads aren't worth their weight in salt - or your hard-earned dollars. We've put together a list of some of the worst budget-sucking health trends that still persist today.

Coconut Water

Coconut water may be nature's version of Gatorade but some brands have already caught fire for over-hyping its nutrient content. Vita Coco agreed to settle a $10 million class action lawsuit over an independent study that showed the drinks didn't pack near as many electrolytes as advertisements implied. Some coconut waters are also loaded with added sugar, which will do nothing to help your waistline.

Alternative: Pick up your own young green coconuts on the cheap from an Asian produce market. Just crack them open with a cleaver and pop in a straw.

"All-Natural" Foods

30 percent of Americans bought more natural foods in 2011, according to a Rodale study. But what are we really paying more for? There's no clear cut regulation on what makes food "natural," which means just about any company can slap that label on its packages, add a fancy green theme and jack up the price.

Says Andrew Schrage of MoneyCrashers: "Before buying any food that is touted as being 'all natural,' take a look at the ingredient list before you check out. Keep in mind that butter and salt are indeed natural ingredients. So stocking up on natural foods may not achieve anything other than increasing your grocery bill."

Read on for more.

5 Exercises to Ditch Arm Flab Forever

Shape — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:07:15 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar. This week Shape turns to celebrity trainer Jay Cardiello for some help!

Ah, that infamous area along the back of your arms, the nemesis of so many women. How do you tackle the jiggle? First, I want to tell you what not to do, as people are often tempted to take the wrong course of action. And that is the concept of spot reducing, or lowering fat stores in one specific area of the body. It is essentially impossible to accomplish and should not be a part of your fitness regimen. Fighting arm flab requires more than just spot treatment!

In order to tone the backs of your arms, which is where your tricep muscles are, you have to remember this: specific exercises to increase your lean muscle mass will get you results, but you must also decrease your fat intake without risking too much muscle loss. (Sound familiar? Have you managed to lose fat, but still carry some extra bulk around the tricep?) So, to lose the wiggle and jiggle, be sure to eat a healthy balanced diet with proper nutrients; get at least six to eight hours of sleep so that your body can repair, recover, and build muscle; and consistently maintain your exercise program. And be sure to incorporate these five flab-fighting exercises into your workout routine.

The Ultimate Abs and Arms Workout

See Jay's arm workout after the break!

Jackie Warner's 5 Favorite Jump Rope Moves

Self — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 04:29:27 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Are you tired of jumping through hoops to keep your sweat sessions interesting? Instead of doing the same humdrum routine week after week, why not get a jump start on your next workout by jumping rope? Self reported in March that it's the #1 way to melt fat!

"Jumping rope using my cardioacceleration technique will get you maximum muscle toning with the maximum amount of fat-burning possible," says celebrity trainer Jackie Warner. "Cardioacceleration is doing quick, intense bursts of exercise in between your resistance training sets."

Pro athletes use this innovative technique worldwide but you don't need to be the next big name in sports to reap big rewards from the fat-torching program. "You go from anaerobic to aerobic throughout your workout, which raises your heart rate 60 percent higher," says the Bravo TV star.

To burn major calories at home, grab a jump rope and follow this five-move routine to get your heart racing while sculpting long, lean legs. "It's a 10-minute workout, but I always say it's not how long, it's how strong!" says Warner.

Read on to get the workout.

Fabio Viviani on Upcoming Ventures and the Health Trends That Bug Him

YumSugar — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:19:22 PDT

Photo: Camilla Salem

Recently, we had the chance to spend some quality time with Italian charmer Fabio Viviani. After homemade pasta and cappuccinos for breakfast, and a series of hilarious one-liners, we grabbed a table at Casa Tua in Miami, and got to dishing. Even though he'd been out until 4 a.m. the night before, he had plenty to say about reality TV, the world of vegan cuisine, and his take on health food.

YumSugar: You rose to fame on Top Chef. Do you have any further plans for reality TV, on Bravo or anywhere else?

Find out his answer, plus other things he's been up to, when you keep reading.

Get Fit For Summer: Challenge 8, Share Your Fave Strength Training Moves

FitSugar — Tue, 31 May 2011 20:20:07 PDT

We know that bikini season is right around the corner, and to help you get fit for Summer we've created a series of weekly fitness and health challenges. To add a little incentive, throughout the rest of Spring we'll be awarding a weekly prize of a $100 New Balance gift card to participating readers. To be eligible to win, create a post in the Get Fit For Summer community group as each challenge comes up.

This week's challenge: For me, a workout doesn't feel complete unless I do some push-ups and some form of lunges; they're the staples of my fitness life. What about you? Tell us what strength training exercises move you . . . literally. Squats? Side planks? Crunches? Share your go-to exercises in a blog post in our Get Fit For Summer community group. Tell us how often you do these moves and why you love them. If you're looking for some new strength training moves, try our no-equipment-necessary circuit workout. Just download and print out this PDF.

Remember, by completing this challenge you will be entered into a random drawing for a $100 gift card from New Balance. Just be sure to complete the challenge by 11:59 p.m. PDT June 5 to enter. Need to know more? See the official rules here.

The Britney Spears Femme Fatale Workout

Self — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 04:38:34 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar!

At long last (and after major hype), Britney Spears's Femme Fatale is out! Naturally, we took the pop princess's clubbiest album yet to the gym to find out what songs work during which parts of your workout.

"Till The World Ends"

It takes a solid minute for this Ke$ha-penned track to really get going, so use that time for some aerobic stretches to warm up your muscles. Try this: Stand with feet wider than hip-width apart, knees soft. Keeping hips stable, reach left arm overhead to right, and right arm across torso to left. Then reach right arm overhead to left, and left arm across to right. Next, bend forward from hips so torso is parallel to floor; repeat arm reaches. Then fold body completely forward and reach arms to front. Do sequence 20 times. To up your heart rate, add in jumping jacks or jump rope (you don't actually need a rope, just go through the motions!) for the next minute.

Keep reading to see the rest of the Britney Femme Fatale workout!

Charity Events For Fitness Fans at Any Level

Leta Shy — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:07:12 PDT

With Summer approaching, many of you may be thinking of ways you can join a fitness event to help a charity dear to you. Many events are walks or runs, but if you hate to run or want to challenge yourself even more, a walk or race for charity may not entice you to participate.

Just because you aren't a runner, however, doesn't mean you can't participate in a fitness event in the name of a good cause. Here are some unique options for helping others at every fitness level.

Take the stairs. The American Lung Association's Fight For Air Climb takes over stairs in a skyscraper or stadium so you can climb for a cause. It's a great way to meet new people, it doesn't involve any extra skill (except lots of stamina), and you'll be raising money for lung cancer research.
Drop and give them money. Another common charity cause is Pushups for Charity, where your friends and family donate a set amount for each push-up you can do in one minute. Events are usually organized by a specific charity and include free fitness coaching to help you become even more fit.
Build it. Gain valuable skills and learn how to DIY with Habitat for Humanity, where you can swing a hammer or squat and lift your way to a days-long workout while helping give someone a home.
Hike (and hike, and hike). Love being outdoors and in need of a trip to the UK? Grab three of your friends and sign up for the Oxfam Trailtrekker 100km Team Charity Challenge in June, where you're allowed just 30 hours to hike about 60 miles through hilly terrain in northern England. Money goes to Oxfam, an international organization that aids impoverished countries.
Compete in a triathlon. If you like a challenge, sign up for the Janus Charity Challenge to raise money for a charity of your choice while competing in one of five triathlons in 2011.

Source: Flickr User jimmyharris

A Reader Reviews the P90X Extreme Home Fitness Program

Fit Community — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:00:28 PST

FitSugar reader debnicole shared this fitness DVD review for the eighth challenge of our Get Fit For 2011 giveaway, and you should too!

I incorporate various workout DVDs in my exercise regimen. Lately it's been mainly the P90X series. My husband and I started two months ago on P90X and are halfway through. It's definitely an investment to buy the set; but I definitely feel like the money was well spent. It's a 12-disc collection with a variety of workouts.

What I love about the collection:

You never repeat the same workout two days in a row.
Variety is key! There is cardio, strength, abs, yoga, and stretch workouts.
It's pretty fast-paced . . . there isn't much (if any) resting between sets.
You don't have to have a gym membership - the kit came with resistance bands. Even if you don't own free weights, the bands work great.
The trainers encourage you to work at your own pace.
My favorite workouts are: core synergistics, back and biceps, shoulders/triceps/chest.

Find out what she didn't like about P90X when you

Take it or leave it:

The diet plan - if you have horrible eating habits presently, it may be a good jumping off tool.
I personally feel like this is geared more towards men. The women are almost always in tiny shorts and a sports bra while the men are sporting shirts and shorts. I'm not speaking out of jealousy (the women having amazing bodies) just out of equality - the men should lose their shirts!
On days when I just went to get through it, the instructing gets really annoying. Luckily you can silence the DVD and you have the option for just the cues.

So what's P90X done for me? I've gained strength in my upper body - I can now do 20+ consecutive push-ups, I can even properly do the Chaturanga pose during yoga (the Chaturanga push-ups are insanely hard for me . . . still). I've noticed muscle tone in my back - and in my abs! (Holler!) No chiseled six pack by any means, but it's nice to jump in the air and not continue shaking five minutes after you've landed back on the ground. Speaking of jumping, the plyometric workout (aka jump training) has totally helped my runs - granted I think the entire combination of the workouts have helped my run - but specifically, with the plyo one, I've noticed a difference in my endurance and breathing. I've also seen more definition in my legs, and even feel like my rear has firmed up.

So if you're in the market for a new workout series, look into P90X! I do suggest though: get a workout buddy! It will make you more committed.

Share a fitness DVD or workout review in our Get Fit For 2011 challenge group to enter to win a $100 Nike gift card and a chance to win our grand prize - a four-day fitness boot camp in LA!

How to Make the Most of Beach Workouts

Heather Dale — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 01:27:59 PDT

A true beach bum at heart, I'll use any excuse to get near the sand and ocean. As much as I love laying in the sun and watching the waves roll in, I still enjoy a good workout at the beach - there's nothing quite like feeling the sand between your toes - especially when running in the sand burns 30 percent more calories! If you're already gearing up for sunny weather like I am, here are some tips when taking your workouts to the beach.

Beach Running 101: From choosing the right shoes and going barefoot, to starting on wet sand and protecting yourself from harmful UV rays, here's how to get the most out of your beach workout.
Take Off Your Shoes: As I mentioned above, I love feeling the sand between my toes, especially while running, but did you know that walking barefoot in the sand does wonders for the muscles in your feet and your calves? That's because it's so much more difficult than walking on a flat surface, so you're guaranteed to give these muscles a serious workout and burn more calories!
Calorie-Burning Activities: Besides running, there are many activities you and your family can take part in on days you head to the beach. Try practicing some yoga stretches, or what about doing some push-ups and sit-ups? You could even give your upper arms some nice cardio by building a sand castle - as we all know from our youth, stacking sand ain't easy! And before you know it, you'll be well on our way to having a Jennifer Aniston beach body.

And don't forget to show us your abs this week for our Get Fit For Summer Challenge - you could win a $100 New Balance gift card!