FitSugar

24 Hour Fitness Sued By Female Employees For Discrimination

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:00:12 PDT

In a class-action lawsuit, 24 Hour Fitness is being sued for discrimination against minority and female workers. The workers claim they are being passed over for managerial promotions and are underpaid compared to their white male colleagues. The lawsuit asks that the fitness chain giant put an end to its unfair practices and provide these workers compensation in the form of back pay and damages.

Plaintiffs claim that even though females and minorities make up the majority of 24 Hour Fitness employees, their presence is lacking amongst management. In a statement, 24 Hour Fitness responded by saying, "24 Hour Fitness makes its hiring and promotional decisions without regard to race, national origin, gender or any other protected basis. We firmly deny the allegations made in the complaint and we expect to prevail when all the facts are heard."

Nike+ Gym Equipment Coming to a 24-Hour Fitness Near You

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:00:00 PDT

In March, Nike and Apple announced they were working to integrate their Nike + iPod system with cardio equipment. The idea being that you could hop on a treadmill, elliptical, stair stepper, or stationary bike, track, and record your workouts in the same way that the Nike+ Sports Kit for the iPod works. The largest chain of gyms in the US, 24-Hour Fitness, just announced that in July, they'll be the first to offer this new Nike+ iPod compatible gym equipment. You'll see them in gyms located in New York, San Francisco, Miami, Denver, Portland, and Salt Lake City.

This is great news for people who love to mix up their cardio routines and want to know exactly how many miles they've gone and and how many calories they've burned. They'll be able to upload their data to the NikePlus.com website to keep track of all their workouts. Hopefully, in the near future other gyms will offer these NIke+ iPod compatible cardio machines, too.

Source

Nike RockStar Workout @ 24 Hour Fitness: Dancehall

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:25:44 PDT

Do you often think it would be great if your workout could improve your nightlife as well as your health? You know, like directly translate to making you not only svelte but hip too. Well the latest class in the Nike Rockstar series - "Dancehall" now offered at 24 Hour Fitness, might be just what you are looking for.

The new Dancehall workout was choreographed by Jamie King who has created moves for Madonna, JLo, Britney and Shakira. Now you can move like a rockstar too!!! The Caribbean style moves, inspired by the latest music videos and dancehall steps, will not only challenge your sense of coordination but your heart rate as well. If you want a little primer before heading to class, you should check out the video. They look incredibly fun - the video is truly motivational.

If you don’t like step or dance aerobics this class might be frustrating for you at first. The challenge, however, will keep you motivated and engaged as you get or stay in shape. Learn the moves at the gym and then take them out for a night on the town (another great way to burn calories).

If you aren't a member of 24 Hour Fitness yet, don't worry, right now you can try it out for 10 days for FREE. To get your free 10-day pass, check out 24hourfitnessoffers.com.

Fit's Tip: To find a class at a club near you, check out this class schedule and locator. Remember ladies - ROCK ON!!!!

24 Hour Fitness: Camp24

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 15:14:49 PDT

I wanted to give a shout out to 24 Hour Fitness and say thanks for sponsoring the pages of FitSugar. They even gave me a t-shirt and they would like to give you 10 free days of their group series classes. Talk about Spring Training. So, if you're looking for a group class that is a well rounded workout and fun, Camp24 is a great bet.

Camp24 is 24 Hour Fitness's answer to boot camp. Your trainer is the drill sergeant and you're there to do as he/she says (don't worry, it's not that scary). You can pace yourself, or go the limit in this ultimate circuit workout, though you'll definitely be encouraged to go the limit. Improved cardiovascular abilities, muscular strength and endurance are to be gained from this class that, I would say, is suitable for all levels. You'll be using dumbbells (you pick the weight), a step and a mat throughout the class. There are a lot of 3-minute interval circuits -- For example 3 minutes of jumping jacks, 3 minutes of bicep curls, 3 minutes of dips, etc.

I've got to say, I feel great! My arms feel fatigued which means they got a fabulous workout and I can't imagine how my booty is going to feel the next few days. My favorite part about Camp24 is that there is not much thinking involved; the trainer tells the class what to do and when to do it. You're not left wandering around the gym wondering what you should do next and how (and why), which can be a downfall for many of us. What's more? I was forced to work parts of my body that I often neglect (like my deltoids).

If you aren't a member of 24 Hour Fitness yet, don't worry; right now you can try it out for 10 days for FREE. To get your free 10-day pass, check out 24hourfitnessoffers.com.

Fit's Tip: If you're used to doing long cardio workouts, then you need to engage your arms as much as possible during the cardio intervals to really get that heart rate up.

Lil Links: Is Your Baby's Name One of the Top Names of 2011?

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:32:56 PDT

The top 100 baby names of 2011 has a big surprise at number two - Circle of Moms
Jessica Alba says having babies helped her embrace her sexuality - Celebrity Baby Scoop
This 6-year-old's response to his father's homecoming is a miracle - The Stir
Check out Monroe and Moroccan Cannon's first birthday photo - Celebrity Baby Blog
What your contractions really mean - FitPregnancy
Sixteen early signs of pregnancy - Parenting
Are your baby's bottles, binkies, and sippy cups safe? - The Bump
Is 24-hour day care are replacement for family help? - BabyCenter Blog
How much do you know about kids' favorite condiment? - Yahoo! Shine
More women are paying alimony as gender roles shift - LearnVest
There's only one mommy war worth fighting - HuffPost Parents

Swimmer Dara Torres on the Quest For Her Sixth Olympic Games

espnW — Fri, 11 May 2012 04:12:32 PDT

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

By Luke Cyphers

Dara Torres once wrote a book called Age Is Just a Number. Nowadays, though, the feel-good story of the 2008 Olympics admits to, well, feeling her age. Torres won two silver medals as a 41-year-old mother and swimmer in Beijing, but she harbors no illusions about repeating the feat four years later. "You have to be realistic," Torres said. "I am 45 years old. I'm that much closer to being 50, and my body just can't recover the way it used to."

Her goal was gold in 2008. In 2012? "I don't feel like I have anything else to prove going into these Olympic Games," said the 12-time medalist. "It's not about medals. I have enough."

So why does she put herself through grueling training five days a week in the hopes of making her sixth - and she swears last - U.S. Olympic team? Because, at her best, she's still one of the fastest sprinters in the world. She placed second in the 50-meter freestyle (25.24 seconds) at the winter nationals. Last month, she swam a solid 25.36 seconds in the prelims of the Indianapolis Grand Prix, but faded to 25.47 in the final to finish sixth. She'll need to place within the top two at the Olympic trials in Omaha in June to make it to London.

Kim Rhode is not your typical Olympian

Dara Torres says it is harder for her body to recover compared to when she competed in the 2008 Olympics. "If I had to just swim the race once, I don't think it would even be an issue making the team," she said. "But I have to swim it three times, and having my body recover for those three races is my issue."

Torres embraces the actuarial challenge of capping an Olympic career 28 years after it began in 1984, even as her world has changed and her body has creaked. Her longtime coach, Michael Lohberg, died of a rare blood disorder in 2011. One of Lohberg's assistants, Bruno Darzi, now coaches her. Her daughter Tessa is now 6. And her left knee required surgery and more than a year to rehab. Through it all, "I still have a passion for the sport of swimming," she said.

But there's also a sense of obligation to the public following she has built through her success and frequent television appearances. (The former telecommunications major and frequent morning-show guest announced her comeback on "Live with Regis & Kelly.") "I have so many people come up to me and say I'm inspiring them to do things that they thought they couldn't do because they were too old, or that they put off because they couldn't find a balance in their life to do it," Torres said.

Keep reading for more on Dara Torres' Olympic past and present.

3 Tips For Germ-Free Travel

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 08 May 2012 04:17:50 PDT

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

Whether you're going by boat, plane, train, or automobile, travel bugs are bound to greet you. Here, some cringe-worthy stats on germs and traveling - and tips on how you can take a trip unscathed.

Stay Hydrated

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the air inside planes has anywhere from 10 to 20 percent humidity, which can dry out mucous membranes and make people more susceptible to germs. Staying hydrated throughout the trip can prevent nasal passages from being irritated, so load up on water and skip the carbonated beverages and booze. "Alcoholic and caffeinated drinks should be followed with water or fruit juice to rehydrate because they are diuretics and can cause water loss," advise Ray Fillmore Garman, MD, MPH, and Susan Spengler, MD, both associate professors with the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Kentucky. Sipping on water assists with immune function - and in some cases even helps with jet lag. For longer, international trips pack electrolyte-friendly snacks like GU Energy Chomps, a banana, nuts, or a small bag of fortified cereal to keep drowsiness at bay.

Keep reading for two more healthy travel tips after the break.

Want to Look Like Kate Middleton? Here's What It Might Cost

BellaSugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:26:47 PDT

One year after her royal nuptials, Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, always looks lovely and put together. So it's no surprise that many women are clamoring to mimic her style. Obviously, her good looks were handed down from her parents, but constantly being so well groomed requires a serious beauty regimen. While nobody but Kate knows her exact routine, we've uncovered a few products and treatments that are said to be her favorites - and added up the costs. As you can imagine, looking princess-perfect costs a pretty penny. Read on to see the breakdown.

Emma Stone's Amazing Ab Workout

Self — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:13:44 PDT

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

She played a frumpy reporter in The Help, but in real life, Emma Stone is the epitome of young Hollywood glamour. The 24-year-old made the transition from child actor to leading lady look effortless, but Stone puts plenty of hard work into every project she tackles, including her Pilates workout. "There's not much to chisel away at on her body, but she enjoys the feeling of flexibility and well-being," says LA-based Pilates instructor Mari Winsor, who has worked with Stone for the past year. "Whenever she's in town, she tries to come in every day."

During their hour-long sessions, the actress likes to focus her energy on firming her thighs and glutes and especially her core. "She was excited about the little lines that were created in her abs," says Winsor. "Pilates is great for creating long, sexy muscles, and we all want to feel sexy!"

Incorporate these three moves into your regular routine to get sculpted abs like Emma Stone. (Note: Oscar nomination not included!)

Get the moves after the break.

11 Signs You're Not Over Your Ex

Laura Marie Given — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:35:20 PDT

An occasional stroll down memory lane is only natural, but if those "Remember when?" moments turn into an everyday, all-consuming affair, it's time to reevaluate your feelings. The difference between wistful and hopelessly devoted can be a confusing gray area, but if you relate to these signs, you're probably not over your ex:

His Twitter page is one of your bookmarks. If you're still following your ex on Twitter, FourSquare, Instagram, Tumblr, etc., moving on is going to prove more than a little difficult. Keeping tabs on him isn't healthy if you're hoping to get over the relationship, so do yourself a favor and defriend or unfollow if his updates bum you out.
You can't watch baseball anymore because it reminds you of him. Looking back every once in a while is fine, but if you have to give up something you love just because it triggers a memory, there's more to the story. Try creating new memories with different pals so that you associate the hobby with them instead.
He's in your bed. A good rule of thumb: if you're still sleeping with him, chances are you still have feelings for him. There are certainly a few exceptions, but moving on just isn't going to happen if he's still your regular cuddle buddy.
In your phone, his name is "Seriously, Do Not Call." Drunk dials are a real thing, and so are late-night meltdown calls. Can't seem to stop yourself from picking up the phone? There's an app for that. Download the Don't Dial! app, which allows you to block certain numbers for up to 24 hours.

Read on for more signs you're not over your ex.