FitSugar

Back to Basics: Tone Your Guns

FitSugar — Tue, 11 May 2010 10:00:24 PDT

All right ladies, it's almost tank top and bathing suit season, so it's time to get serious about toning your arms. If you're not sure where to begin, here are some basic exercises from ACE (American Council on Exercise) that will target your triceps, biceps, shoulders, and upper back.

Source: Thinkstock

Get Mountain Ready With These Strength Training Moves

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:50:10 PST

If the Winter games have you fired up for the slopes, our friends over at American Council on Exercise (ACE) have designed a workout to get you mountain ready. These moves for boarders and skiers will help build muscle to make you stronger and faster - just like the Olympic snow geniuses Hannah Kearney and Lindsey Vonn. OK, maybe not as strong and fast as them, but these exercises will definitely help improve your techniques on the slopes. If snow is not your thing, runners, bikers, and swimmers will also benefit from these exercises that will tone your squads, calves, and glutes.

ACE Your Fit Life in 2010

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:28:26 PST

We're a few days into 2010, so if you need some ideas on how to get started getting in shape, check out this new online resource from ACE (American Council on Exercise) called Get Fit. It's completely free, so it fits into your budget beautifully.

This new website offers an exercise library, such as moves on an exercise ball and with a medicine ball. If you'd rather have a complete workout laid out for you that includes the warmup, routine, and the cooldown, there are tons of workouts, including ones that strengthen your core, tone your hips and thighs, and work your arms and shoulders. Get Fit also offers fitness calculators and tools, health and fitness tips, and a healthy recipe database - mmm, I'm going to have to try the Curried Carrot and Apple Soup. If you're interested in recent research about health and fitness, they offer that as well. I also love the product reviews.

This resource doesn't cost a dime, and you're sure to learn something to inspire your healthy lifestyle.

Upcoming Fitness Trends For 2010

FitSugar — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:00:06 PST

While we've started looking back at 2009 to determine the best of the best, the American Council on Exercise has already offered its predictions for what the fitness trends of 2010 will be. It's clear that saving money and time will continue to be guiding forces in people's fitness choices.

Source: Getty

5 Resistance Band Moves

FitSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:50:10 PDT

Our friends over at the American Council on Exercise (ACE) have shared many workouts with us. There's a morning core workout to target your abs, a hip, thighs, and tush workout to get you ready for bikini season, four exercises for a strong and healthy back, and shoulder sculpting moves to get strapless-dress-ready. ACE has shared another workout with us, this time using a resistance band, that targets a few areas of the body that women say are "trouble spots." So grab a band and get started.

Morning Core Workout

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:00:00 PST

So you're headed out for an early morning run. Before you start jogging away, give this quick series from ACE (American Council on Exercise) a whirl. Not only will it wake you up, but more importantly, it's a great prehab workout since it will warm up your spine and core muscles to reduce your risk of injury.

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3 Moves to Build Your Bones

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:30:00 PST

You can strengthen your bones by lifting weights, and both bone-loading exercise and a balanced diet are essential for preventing osteoporosis. To take care of your bones, the American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's nonprofit fitness advocate, offers these three exercises to add to your training regimen.

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4 Exercises for a Healthy and Strong Back

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:30:00 PDT

More than 5.7 million people suffer from back or spinal problems, making back pain the second most common reported health condition in the US. The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's nonprofit fitness advocate, suggests performing these four exercises involving muscle endurance and stability to protect against and prevent future back troubles.

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Definition: Plyometrics

FitSugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 11:00:00 PDT

Plyometrics: Also known as jump training, plyometrics is a form of conditioning aimed at created controlled impact and maximum power and is used primarily by athletes.

This method involves stretching the muscles prior to contracting them and done correctly it strengthens muscles, increases vertical jump and decreases impact forces on the joints. Consciously practicing the technique of landing from a jump in a controlled environment teaches your body how to "land" and your muscles memory will kick in when you cannot focus all your attention on your technique (because you are chasing a rebound or opposing team member). It is great for sports that involve jumping like basketball, volleyball and tennis, but is also really effective for training to ski moguls (especially jumping sideways onto or a "step"). Upper body plyometrics are used to condition for boxing (pack a power PUNCH) and pitching in baseball.

Designed to increase muscular power and explosiveness, plyometrics are not, however, for those who are in poor condition or have an orthopedic condition. Since so much jumping is involved plyometrics can be really hard on the knee joints.

Check out Force Sport Fitness Advisor for some animated explanations of plyo exercises.

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Ace Hotel NYC's Prized Pendletons Are Up For Grabs

Julia Walsh — Tue, 24 May 2011 12:35:00 PDT

Since I first heard about the Ace Hotel four years ago, it has blossomed into a kick-ass, boutique hotel empire with pop-up shops in Tokyo, star-studded fashion fetes in New York, and Halloween pool parties in Palm Springs, attracting the young, hip, and restless. With killer interiors designed by New York design firm Roman & Williams, Ace has perfected its look and its brand. And it's parlayed both into the world of commerce with branded clothing, accessories, and decor.

The latest addition to the Ace's line of goodies is its Ace NYC Pendleton Plaid Blanket ($150 and up), which were made exclusively for the hotel by Pendleton. An emblem of the Ace experience, the blankets are made of pure virgin wool in Pendleton's Oregon mills and are soft, warm, and nonscratchy with a custom label. If you've ever stayed a night in the Ace New York, this is the very blanket you've slept under.

But, this isn't the hotel's first foray into bedding. The Ace originally introduced its Pendleton Elk Blanket ($275), which features a silhouette of the Thompson elk, a famous statue in downtown Portland. The only problem though, for me at least, is that it also reads "Portland Ace Hotel," which isn't exactly the most versatile item for those of us who live in houses not hotels. I'm excited to see the hotel deliver a more subtle yet equally handsome design. Would you like to own one?