FitSugar

FitSugar's Top Fitness DVDs of 2009

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:00:59 PST

Whether you exercise at home, need something for a rainy day, or want a workout you can travel with, a fitness DVD is the perfect solution. But with titles coming out every week, it's hard to know which ones are worth the splurge. To take the guesswork out of choosing which fitness DVD to buy, here are our picks for some of the year's best. Go ahead. Buy yourself a present from this list - a fitness DVD is definitely the kind of gift that keeps on giving!

The Biggest Loser: Last Chance Workout ($10) Jillian Michaels and past Biggest Loser contestants take you through three workouts that focus on maximizing the body's fat burning capabilities. If you loved the fast pace of Jillian's 30 Day Shred, this DVD won't disappoint. Equal emphasis placed on strength and cardio.
Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training ($10) Celeb trainer Jackie Warner usually gets $400 per hour for a circuit training session - save yourself some bucks and buy this DVD instead. There are five different circuit training workouts that differ in total workout time and areas of the body targeted.
Jari Love: Get Extremely Ripped ($15) The title pretty much says it all. An hour-long DVD full of squats, lunges, overhead presses, and biceps curls. Be warned: all your muscles will be aching after this one.

To see what other fitness DVDs we loved this year,

Work It at Home With 8 Great DVDs

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:36:26 PST

One thing I love about my job is getting to review all of the best (and worst) fitness DVDs out there. Since many of us are moving our workouts inside for wintertime, I've rounded up some of my recent faves. Whether you're getting ready for a wedding, getting into yoga, or just getting in shape, here are eight great fitness DVDs to check out.

Jillian Michaels's Top 5 Snack Picks

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:20:00 PST

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

Don't you ever wish you could take a peek in the pantry or gym of the fitness and diet pros you see on TV to see if they really practice what they preach? We do, too! That's why we asked Jillian Michaels, celebrity personal trainer, author, motivational expert, and soon-to-be mom (!), to share her top snack picks that keep her energy high on even the busiest of days.

"These snacks are quick, easy, and they all taste good. Plus they're preservative-free, contain no trans fats, MSG, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners," Michaels says.

Hummus and veggie sticks."This is an incredibly healthy snack that's filling and tasty," she says. The protein from the chickpeas in the hummus and the fiber from the veggies will keep you satisfied.

One hard-boiled egg and one piece of fruit. This combo offers an ideal proportion of healthy fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

Barbecue or sweet potato popchips. "A serving of popchips is packed with flavor and a great savory, salty crunch," Michaels raves, and the 100-calorie bags are handy for on-the-go eating.

Read on for the rest of Michaels's healthy snack picks!

More from Fitness:

The Secret to Jillian Michaels's Amazing Arms

Makeover Mania: the Best Celebrity Body Makeovers

The Top 10 Workout DVDs of 2011

How 74-Year-Old Jane Fonda Inspires

Leta Shy — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:58:18 PST

Happy birthday, Jane Fonda! Everyone's favorite '80s aerobic girl turns 74 today. There's no disputing it - she looks amazing and not just for her age.

Of course, she works hard to keep up her healthy lifestyle (while sharing it with us on her blog). In need of some inspiration? Learn from the best with these tips from Jane herself.

Holiday help: Last year Jane told us her simple philosophy for staying healthy during the holidays. "I just try not to drink too much or eat too much and I try to stick with an exercise regimen," she said. "The thing about the holiday is that the food's so good and you tend to eat too much, so either you [should] eat less or you work out more."

Read on for more inspiration.

Can't Make It to the Gym? 3 Ways to Still Sweat It Out

Michele Foley — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:21:55 PST

Even when we have the best intentions, there are days when getting to the gym is impossible. Mostly because we're dealing with a crazy schedule that involves balancing other obligations or appointments. On days where getting to the gym is not an option, but neither is skipping out on a workout, you do have options. Check out three ways to exercise even on days when you have to skip the treadmill!

Pop in a DVD: On days where you miss a class or skip out on a strength training session, a fitness DVD is often the next best thing. There are a wide variety of workouts to choose from, and the instructors do their best to keep you motivated while also educating you on good form. Because a DVD workout is structured, you often get more out of it than you would when attempting to make your own at-home workout. Need inspiration? Then check out some of our favorite fitness DVDs.
Head outdoors: Whether you run, cycle, or hike, one of the easiest ways to compensate for a missed gym day is to head outside for your workout. If exercising outdoors isn't your ideal, remind yourself that it can help prevent colds and flu by strengthening your immune system. On top of that, avoiding the gym for a day isn't always a bad thing: a fitness center is one of the germiest places a person can encounter in their day-to-day routine. It's also likely that you'll burn more calories, too. Without the assistance of cardio equipment, your body will have to work harder during its workout.
Squeeze in fitness wherever you can: Whether you take the stairs at work, do squats in the most ordinary places, or walk around when taking a phone call, find as many ways as you can to move throughout the day. You might be surprised to see how many calories you can burn from just five minutes of exercise.

The New-Baby Expenses No One Told You About

LearnVest — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:15:00 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

A new baby brings all sorts of surprises . . . one of them will probably be how many unplanned expenses pop up in the days and weeks after your new son or daughter is born. An even bigger surprise? The amount of money you’re going to spend on yourself after the delivery, not necessarily on your new little bundle of joy.

The best way to prepare for this financial challenge is to make ample room in your budget to cover at least some of the items below. Consider this a rundown of what to expect to spend when you’re expecting.

Anything But Hospital Food

Hospital food isn’t the best, and you’ll quickly realize that you don’t have to eat it. From then on, you might expect a takeout bag every time a visitor leaves the hospital. But those morning egg sandwiches and evening trays of sushi that you can finally eat again do add up. Two or three nights in the hospital can set you back $50 to $75.

Getting Out of the House

Being on maternity leave feels kind of like being on vacation (except for the lack of sleep and crying baby). You will have a lot of free time, and after a week or two of adjusting, you’ll need to get out of the house and find things to do. You might want to meet friends for lunch and see some grown-ups. You also might want to go for an early evening drink or even dinner with your spouse since the baby sleeps in public right now, and it won’t always be like this. Try budgeting $25 to $50 a week in pocket money for small outings.

Read on for more baby expenses.

How to Beat the Summer Heat and Still Work Out

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:06:19 PDT

With all this rain we've been having on the East Coast, I'm so psyched that warmer, sunny days are here. It's finally starting to feel like Summer! It's been a shock to my system though, exercise-wise. I've been so used to running in breezy temps between the 50s and 60s that hot and humid 80-degree temps feel overwhelming. Running, biking, hiking, even walking feels harder in the heat. Here are some tips that have helped me get through my Summer workouts.

Be flexible about when you work out. I've become obsessed with checking the weather, and I look to see when the temps are going to be the lowest that day. Sometimes it's early in the morning, and sometimes late in the evening, so I rearrange my schedule to fit in exercise during the coolest time of day. A plus about morning workouts is a lot of my neighbors are watering their lawns, so I run through their sprinklers to stay even cooler.
Invest in some wicking clothes. I used to wear cotton tank tops and shorts, but they'd get sweaty, cling to my skin, and make me feel hotter. Wicking clothes pull the moisture away from my skin, so I really do feel cooler. Wearing a hat to keep the hot sun off my head and face also helps - just make sure the hat is wicking too and breathes.
Take a cold shower. I know it seems a little odd to shower before a workout, but the cold water cools me down. I leave my hair wet and pop it in a bun, and when I head outside water drips down my face and neck and it feels so refreshing. If you have short hair, carry a water bottle with you and squeeze a little on top of your head whenever you need a little cooling boost.

Those aren't the only tips; keep reading.

No Excuses! Try The Dailey Method No Excuses DVD

Angelica Marden — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 02:29:19 PDT

That lean and toned dancer's body is in thanks to Black Swan, Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance and the growing popularity of Bar Method, The Dailey Method, and Body Bar. The differences between the systems may seem subtle at first, but each has a unique focus and avid followers. The Dailey Method, which has locations across the US and studios in Canada and France, has released its first DVD: No Excuses With Jill Dailey ($25). Like the classes, the DVD promises to help you get "longer, leaner, stronger, and more fit" and focuses on ballet bar work, core conditioning, light weights, and stretching.

Keep reading for four reasons you should try it and a video preview of the DVD.

Do You Make a Point to Work Out While on Vacation?

Michele Foley — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:18:11 PDT

On my last vacation, I had the best intentions of sticking to my fitness routine. I packed resistance bands, exercise DVDs, and yoga pants. Guess what? The DVDs and resistance bands never made it out of my suitcase, and there was not a Downward Dog to be seen during my week-long trip. Luckily I went on some pretty intense and challenging hikes, which eased my guilt for skipping out on some of the fitness goals I set for myself. Unless being active on vacation happens organically because it's the by-product of an activity I'm already doing, I've learned that it's unlikely I'll be making the extra effort. When I'm away I like to spend my time taking in the sites, trying out new foods and activities, and also just giving myself time to relax and do nothing. But, when I do get back to my normal day-to-day, I compensate by eating extremely clean and ramping up my workout schedule for a week or two. Of course this doesn't have to be the case with all vacations - there are plenty of ways to sneak fitness in for free while traveling!

Healthy Dose Link Time: Workouts Built For Commercial Breaks

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:25:07 PDT

Have you tried the commercial break workout yet? - Peanut Butter Fingers
Dangers of eating out: Olive Garden diners exposed to hepatitis A - Health
Make the most of your vacation with these fun beach-calorie burners - Fitness
On your mark, get set, go! The best yoga DVDs for runners - Fit Bottomed Girls
So much goodness packed into one veggie burger: black bean hemp superfood patties - Mind Body Green
That's amore: 11 guilt-free Italian restaurant dishes - Shape
Eva Mendes is not afraid of carbs - Fit Celeb
What's better for you - a dietitian or holistic nutritionist? - That's Fit.ca