FitSugar

10 Simple Ways to Recover From Your Weekend

Leta Shy — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:08:54 PDT

St. Patrick's Day celebrations are over, but your hangover may be still lingering. If this weekend was one for the books, read up on our 10 simple tips to get back on track and recover from all that indulging.

Sunday Must-Dos For a Healthier Week

FitSugar — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:12:58 PST

Stave off the Monday blues that can taint your Sunday afternoon by prepping for the week to come. You will need to hit the ground running come Monday, so do it on the right foot to stay on the healthy track all week. Here are suggestions for things you can do Sunday night to set yourself for a great week.

Source: Thinkstock, Getty, and Flickr User Serenae

Halloween Sugar Overload? Get Back on Track With These Tips

Leta Shy — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:08:10 PDT

Even the healthiest among us can't help but get into the Halloween fun, and while everything's good in moderation, sometimes a night of temptation means we allow ourselves to go overboard. Whether you've snacked on trick-or-treating leftovers too much or are still recovering from the weekend, here are some ideas to get back on track for the rest of the week.

Break the sugar addiction: Spent the holiday eating way too many fun-size treats? Eating a lot of sugar will only make you crave it more, so your Monday of celebration may be leading to mindless reaching for your candy stash the rest of the week. If you're craving sweets, take celebrity trainer Jackie Warner's advice: take five days to wean yourself off sugar and refined carbs by eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies instead. If forgoing sugar altogether seems impossible (especially in light of leftover holiday treats), check out our tips for reducing your sugar cravings.

Stop the hangover: If you overdid it with a multinight costumed celebration, now's the time for post-Halloween hangover remedies. Get back on track by helping your overpartied body. Here are five morning-after fixes to help cure your hangover.

Read more healthy post-Halloween tips after the break.

Do Tell: Share Your Training Best Practices With Me

PetSugar — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 08:30:41 PDT

Sure, my dog isn't going back to school this September but let's use the season to brush up on our best training practices. I'll pass along bits of wisdom throughout the month - like my just (don't) say no tip - but I want to hear any training tricks you've picked up along the way to help life with kitties or doggies go just that much more smoothly. Share one, share all, in the comments below!

I Never Tell My Dog "No"! Do You?

PetSugar — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 04:00:23 PDT

He's spoiled . . . but not that spoiled! What I mean is that I don't use the word "no" to reprimand my pooch. I always worried that it sounded too much like his name (North) and didn't want him to get confused when I was teaching that.

Even for dogs whose names don't include an N or an O, many trainers recommend teaching the concept by using different words instead! Since no one rewards no, it's harder for a pup to learn it, so a success-focused approach will work much better. Try using a word that directs your pooch to what you want him to do (off, leave it, wait, etc.) followed by a positive command (come, sit, etc.) and words of praise (good boy) and see how it works at your home.

Do you use the word no?

Back on Track: Wash Your Workout Wear Today

FitSugar — Sun, 02 May 2010 03:30:53 PDT

Working out means sweating and sweating means dirty clothes. What are the chances you are going to want to workout Monday morning if all your workout wear is still stinky from the week before? I'd say the chances are low.

Take time tonight to wash those sweaty sweats so they will be ready for your workout tomorrow and for the rest of the week. If you exercise in the morning, go ahead and lay out your outfit the night before - heart rate monitor, iPod and all. You can roll out of bed, get dressed, have a bite to eat, and get to the business of exercising early morning style. If a morning workout is not your scene, pack your gym bag tonight, put it by the door and eliminate the excuse that you forgot your bag.

Back on Track: Make a New Cardio Mix

FitSugar — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 03:30:28 PDT

Aside from my sports bra and sneakers, my iPod is also a necessity when I'm working out. Music totally motivates me, and I've found that I don't work out as long or as intensely if there's no music to pump me along. My workout mixes are loud, fast, and definitely not tunes I'd pop in for a relaxing Sunday afternoon. I haven't made a new mix in a while and am pretty bored with my old ones, and since it's Spring, I thought it was high time to make a brand new cardio mix to get me moving. I picked some of my old faves like Rihanna's "SOS," and some new ones like Lady Gaga's "Telephone."

If you're bored with your old workout mixes, weekends are a great time to make a new one. Come Monday morning, you'll be psyched to pump it up and sweat it out. If you need some ideas, check out my new springtime running mix when you

Back on Track: Grill Veggies For the Week

FitSugar — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:30:05 PDT

Summer weather is winding down, so it's time to grill as much as you can before it gets too chilly. Since I don't always have time to light up the grill after work, I like to grill up a bunch of veggies on Sunday so I'll have extra for the week. They taste great on their own, mixed with pasta, as a pizza topping, or in a sandwich.

All you have to do is wash an array of vegetables such as mushrooms, carrots, peppers, eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, and zucchini. Then slice them so they're still in big chunks since they tend to shrink once they're cooked. Place the veggies in a big bowl and mix them with some olive oil, salt, and pepper. Then pour them into a grill basket and periodically stir them while they cook. After about 40 minutes, you'll have savory, roasted veggies that melt in your mouth. Enjoy some for dinner and store the rest in the fridge in an airtight container.

Back on Track: Order Some New Fitness DVDs

FitSugar — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 03:30:00 PDT

If you're doing the same types of workouts over and over again, the boredom can lead to skipping out on exercise entirely. So before that happens, you've got to mix up your routine a little. One way to do that is to try out some new fitness DVDs. So get online or head to the bookstore and pick up a few new videos. Need ideas? Here are some of my faves:

	Shiva Rea - Creative Core + Upper Body: This yoga video is a total body workout, but like the name suggests, it really focuses on your upper body. I was so sore the next day with all the push-up sets you do in between poses. It's a great video for beginner and advanced yogis alike.
	Zumba Total Body Transformation System: It's a low impact, fun workout, and the Latin music is infectious - it's hard to stay still with the enticing beats.

To see the rest

	10 Minute Solution KnockOut Body: This kickboxing video comes with weighted gloves, and I was glistening with sweat by the end with all the kicking, jumping, punching, lunges, and sculpting moves.
	Element Pilates Weight Loss For Beginners: The perfect introduction for beginners, but veterans won't be bored, especially if you use the workout to ease into the day.
	Hoopnotica - Hoopdance Basics: Hooping is a unique workout that uses an adult-size weighted hula hoop. Not only is it an awesome cardio workout, but all the tricks you can learn also sculpt your core and upper body.

Print It: Total Body Yoga Flow

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:30:47 PDT

If don't have the time or money to make it to a studio for a yoga class, you can practice yoga on your own. My Total Body Yoga Flow Sequence is a nine-posture series that will work your legs, core, and upper body. It's a great sequence to do after a run, in the morning to warm up, or in the afternoon for a pick-me-up.

To learn how to do each pose, check out this slideshow. Then download the PDF (printable version) of the sequence, print it, and either hop right on your mat or place it in your gym bag so you'll have it for later.

If you're looking for another yoga sequence to try, download this one.