FitSugar

Work Your Abs With Yoga!

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:42:16 PDT

We all know that yoga is a great way to de-stress, but the ancient practice can also help you tone your midsection. You can fire up your abs by simply rounding your spine as you move from downward dog into plank. Add a twist and you're working your obliques. Watch this video to learn three moves that target your abs while working your arms and booty, too. Can you tell that I love these exercises?

5 Ways to Wear Spring's Sheer Maxi Skirt

Brittney Stephens — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 08:52:56 PDT

A flash of skin in small doses is never a bad thing - and this season's wispy, ultra-feminine sheer maxi skirt is a surefire way to work the see-through trend without being, well, scandalous. This Rag & Bone pleated silk maxi skirt ($450) is a seemingly tricky investment piece but one that, when carefully styled, can deliver endless options through every season. For those of you ready to show some skin this Spring, here are five ways to wear the barely there sheer maxi skirt.

Quick Tips: 5 Belly-Shrinking, De-Bloating Foods

Self — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 04:00:15 PST

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

We're not going to lie: transforming your body from head to toe isn't always the fastest process, because it takes time to burn fat and build muscle. However, there is an exception: With the right diet and workout, you can see a difference in your belly (and maybe even reveal an ab or two!) in just a couple of days. The secret? Beat bloat.

Generally, the best way to avoid bloat is to stay away from soda, alcohol and greasy, salty, fatty meals, which slow the stomach and the intestines from emptying, according to Timothy S. Harlan (a.k.a. Dr. Gourmet), M.D., medical director of Tulane University's School of Medicine.

Here are 5 of our favorite bloat-busting foods, and a few moves to add to your belly-shrinking workout routine.

Papaya: There's some research that says the enzyme in papaya may aid digestion. Try mixing diced papaya into plain organic yogurt for breakfast.
Oatmeal: According to Harlan, in a recent meta-analysis of a number of studies related to digestion, researchers found that oat bran can be particularly beneficial. Harlan recommends having oatmeal for breakfast. Warning: Avoid McDonald's new oatmeal, which has more sugar than a Snickers bar, according to this recent New York Times article. Yikes!

More foods to decrease the bloat, so keep reading.

Rock Solid: Spotlight on Great Grammy Abs

Angelica Marden — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 10:55:37 PST

Say what you will about Lady Gaga, but the lady knows how to make a dramatic entrance. The pop star showed up for last night's Grammy awards in an egg shell, and broke out to perform "Born This Way" in a yellow, yolk-inspired number. While mesmerized by her antics, we couldn't take our eyes off her totally yoked abs. In celebration of her rock star abs, here's a look back at our favorite fit, flirty, and ab-solutely award-worthy Grammy ab performances over the years.

4 Ab-Focused Workout DVDs Worth Trying

Angelica Marden — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 02:00:22 PST

If you only have a short window of time to spare but want a solid workout, a DVD concentrated on strong and sculpted abs is a smart pick. You don't need a lot of space, you won't get terribly sweaty, and if you do it just right, ab work can be an incredibly effective workout. Here are four DVD workouts FitSugar staffers have tested and reviewed and will deliver moves to strengthen your core.

Fit in 5 Total Body Tone ($15): If the core is what you have in store, the abs workout by Fred DeVito and Elisabeth (Liz) Halfpapp will surely meet your needs. The core fusion workouts (there are two separate 10-minute routines) require nothing more than a mat and a wall. You will push your way through 45-degree sit-up positions, participate in roll downs (similar to Pilates), and crunch the 20 minutes away.
Shiva Rea - Creative Core Abs ($10): The sequencing is very fluid and dance-like, so the time goes by really quickly. It definitely doesn't feel like yoga. Shiva encourages you to explore your range of motion, and even though this video was focused on the abs, the movements strengthened and stretched my upper and lower back, hips, quads, shoulders, and neck too.

Want more options?

DVD Review: Fit in 5 Total Body Tone

Michele Bell — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 07:30:00 PST

Some athletes or sports gurus like to bulk up their muscles and flex to impress. Me? I'm a toning kind of gal and the quicker the workout, the better. While some people take hours a day to work their body into tip-top shape, sometimes all you need is a 20-minute stint. Created for folks who can't always carve a heavy-duty gym routine into their hectic schedules (or those who simply don't want to!), Acacia has compiled five 20-minute workouts that are quick and easy enough to do in the own comfort of your home in Fit in 5 Total Body Tone ($15). Taken from formerly released DVDs, these 20-minute sections are picked out to represent the best in toning. To make sure they offered a little something for everyone, they included a series on each of the following: strength training, yoga, Pilates, abs, and cardio.

Curious to see what I thought of the DVD? Just

A compilation of previously released full DVD workouts, I thought I may be a bit bored with some of the routines. Surprisingly, I wasn't. Also surprising, I was certain I would enjoy the Pilates and yoga the most, but found the strength training and cardio sessions won me over. Below is a breakdown of each section.

Strength: Led by fitness instructor Desi Bartlett and accompanied by sidekicks Ashley and Kristen, it's easy to get into the groove of this squatting, kicking, arm raising workout. Between the three of them, you can see easy ways to modify the exercises that require nothing more than a mat and some light weights.

Yoga: If you're ready to bend and stretch, yoga guru Shiva Rea is the person to guide you there. Slim and trim with cat like flexibility, she glides through vinyasas in a setting that will have you dreaming of Balinese beaches. Her calm voice and fluid motions will have you moving through the 20 minutes of downward dogs and warrior poses in what seems like five minutes.

Pilates: In a clean, modern, simple setting, Pilates instructor Kristin McGee goes through the basics of the Pilates method with beginners and advanced pupils in mind. She talks viewers through the standard scissor kicks, roll-ups, and glute lifting exercises that will leave tushes, arms, and abs feeling tightened and refreshed.

Abs: If the core is what you have in store, the abs workout by Fred DeVito and Elisabeth (Liz) Halfpapp will surely meet your needs. The core fusion workouts (there are two separate 10-minute routines) require nothing more than a mat and a wall. You will push your way through 45-degree sit-up positions, participate in roll downs (similar to Pilates) and crunch the 20 minutes away.

Cardio: Get ready to sweat with the best when you tune into Violet Zaki's 20-minute cardio routine. I never got into the whole kickboxing phenomenon, but this video made me wish I had. Fun and energetic, I hardly noticed when the 20 minutes were up, but for the sweat beading my forehead.

Bundle Up and Get Snazzy Via eBay's ABS Sale!

Melody Nazarian — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:00:05 PST

If you haven't checked out eBay's Fashion Vault yet, you're doing yourself a huge disservice! But don't worry, today is a perfect day to catch up as ABS by Allen Schwartz is dishing out some amazing coats and dresses at up to 74 percent off. That means nothing is over $200. Step inside to see the best of the bunch: five cozy-chic coats that look expensive but aren't and five sassy frocks to spice up your holiday festivities. But don't lag; the sale ends this Wednesday at 9 p.m. PST.

How to Be Jersey Shore's Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino For Halloween

jtsmith — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:06:20 PDT

There's no doubt Jersey Shore's Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino and his six-pack abs have taken the world by storm this year, which is all the more reason he makes for the perfect Halloween costume. Learn how to achieve The Situation's rippled ab look from star stylists Phillip Bloch, Jessica Pastor, and George Kotsiopoulos.

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:00:00 PDT

Nothing says Summer quite like mango salad - Oh She Glows
An easy plan to achieve your first 5k - Active.com
After losing 50 pounds, Sara Rue ditches plans to elope - Fit Celeb
Eat less, spend less? - Social Workout
Protein sources that don't come from animals - Mind Body Green
One move for flat, toned abs - Self

How to Get a Celebrity Workout at Home - Tips From The Hills' Personal Trainer

PopSugar LivingTV — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:00:00 PDT

When Lauren Conrad and the rest of The Hills cast want to get in top shape, they turn to celebrity fitness trainer Jarett del Bene. Watch our video to find out the celebrity workout plan he recommends to clients, as well as how to do two of his signature moves - "The Plank" for hot abs, and "The Squat & Press" for an allover body workout!