FitSugar

Tongue Piercings Can Lead to Fatality

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:00:26 -0700

Add brain abscesses to the list of dangers associated with getting a tongue piercing. The latest Archives of Neurology details the case of a 22-year-old man who died from multiple lesions on his brain two weeks after getting pierced. Doctors say the man's piercing became infected and the condition spread to his brain.

Tongue piercing does not usually result in fatality, but doctors still warn against it because of the associated risks. Some of the more common risks are chipped teeth, receding gums, and oral infections. Rare cases of toxic shock syndrome and blood poisoning have also been reported.

If you decide on a tongue piercing for yourself, get it done from a professional piercer in a hygienic setting and make sure to care for it properly once home. Also, be prepared for a little hunger - when Drew Barrymore got her tongue pierced, she says she could hardly eat or drink anything for two weeks!

Drew Has Her Own Mat - Do You?

FitSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 09:30:00 -0700

Drew Barrymore is into the mind/body fitness connection. She celebrated Easter Sunday with a morning yoga class. Yoga not only relieves stress, but if you go to a challenging class, you'll end up toning your entire body. What a great way to start getting in shape for the Summer.

Drew is smart to bring her own mat since public studio mats are filled with other people's germs and sweat. Using a studio mat is a great way to up your chances of getting sick, not to mention they usually smell really funky. Studios are supposed to wash them, but who knows how often they really get cleaned.

Since your mat is like your own personal sanctuary, if you don't have your own, now is the time to pick one up. If you want to know which ones are my favorites then read more

Manduka Black Mat ($79.50): Though expensive, if you practice a lot, it's worth every penny. It's thicker and denser than any mat out there, so if you find that your knees, hip bones, or head hurt when you press them into a thin yoga mat, you won't feel any pain while pressing into this one.

Manduka PurpleLite Travel Mat ($57): This one is slightly thinner than the Black Mat, but still thicker than your average sticky mat.

This may seem like a lot of money, but thinner yoga mats are about $20 to $30, and they usually end up peeling and deteriorating, so you have to keep buying new ones. Since these Manduka Mats are so durable, they'll last for your entire lifetime, so in the end they'll save you money.

Fit's Tips: If you're not into yoga, these mats are great for Pilates as well.

Flynet

Speak Up: When Do You Feel Most Beautiful?

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Drew Barrymore's interview on beauty, made me both introspective and curious. She told people she felt most beautiful right after working out, because exercising makes her feel strong.

And you...when do you feel most beautiful? Tell me in the comments section below.

Source

When Does Drew Barrymore Feel Most Beautiful?

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 08:45:00 -0700

Have I mentioned that I am a big fan of Drew Barrymore? Well, I am. Even more so now because she had a great interview with People.com on being one of the World's Most Beautiful People.

People: When do you feel most beautiful?
DB: Right after I've worked out and I'm sweating all over the place and my face is two different colors of white and red and my hair is half wet, half dry and I look like I'm about to have a heart attack. I feel like I've changed the shape of my body temporarily into something more flexible and strong.
People: How does your diet affect your looks?
DB: If I eat healthy, I feel healthy. If I eat a bunch of crap, I feel like crap. But I can't be disciplined all the time. I love those days where I just pig out and have the biggest breakfast on the planet with all my girlfriends and we talk about the night before.
People: What are you insecure about?
DB: I always wished I were taller [she's 5'4"]. Especially going to concerts – I really can't see! But I am what I am. I'm grateful. I'm not gonna complain.

No wonder CoverGirl wanted Drew, and her fresh outlook on life, to represent them. To see more pics of Drew at her CoverGirl party, read more

View 8 Photos ›

Source

How the Stars Get Bikini Ready

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 03:30:00 -0700

Life & Style is reporting on how our favorite stars are getting bikini ready this year. Looks like they are turning to Brazil. Brazilian trainer and author of The Brazilian Bikini Body Program, Regina Joseph, gives us the scoop.

Drew practices Pilates! Forget dieting! Drew Barrymore prefers to burn calories with a workout that includes Pilates, one of the most popular pastimes in Brazil. For a complete cardio session, fitness pro Joseph details a combo of core Pilates moves and capoeira (a Brazilian martial art that includes cartwheels, kicks and flips) in her book.
Cam eats early in the day! An always active Cameron Diaz gets going with a protein-packed breakfast of eggs and meat. "The beginning and middle of the day are when you need a big burst of energy," says Joseph. "In Brazil, evening meals are smaller and lighter." That leaves plenty of room for desert!
Denise's smart snack! "I need foods that energize me," says Denise Richards, who revs up on the Amazon-grown acai berry (now available in stores like Whole Foods Market. Says Joseph, "An Acai smoothie provides enough fiber and protein to last until lunch."
Kristen never feels hungry! "I stopped dieting because it made me binge," Kristen Cavallari tells Life & Style. The reality show alum solved her dieting dilemma by opting for smaller, more frequent meals (she snacks on almonds) to curb her cravings. Explains Joseph, "Meals and snacks spaced throughout the day help keep blood sugar up."
Gisele fills up on fruit! Brazilian-born Gisele Bundchen can thank her homeland for her supermodel bod. The Victoria's secret stunner says her fav foods are tropical fruits from her country - which she considers to be the "best place to live."

Source

What a Fit Girl Does Before a Big Event: Hike!

FitSugar — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 07:30:00 -0800

Today, the stars may be looking for a way to unwind prior to a big event like, you've guessed it, The Oscars!

Hiking is simply walking on a path -- it could be a an easy winding trail or a steep treacherous one, either way it's hiking. Hiking can be a great way to escape your regular gym routine as well as a great way of clearing your mind before a major event. I'm guessing that may be what Drew Barrymore is getting ready to do here.

Like Drew, make sure you're prepared, because nothing could kill a red carpet event like getting lost in the woods without water. For hiking tips and more pics of Drew getting ready for a hike, read more

Wear comfortable shoes and socks.
Be careful when hiking up and down hills. For more stability, use a hiking stick or hiking poles.
Take your time, hiking is not a race.
Bring your own water and a snack or two in a light backpack (a health bar would be perfect).
Dress in layers, the higher you hike, the colder it gets.
Follow the trail. It is amazing how similar the woods can look after a few minutes of hiking.

View 5 Photos ›

Fit's Tip: One thing that Drew is doing that I don't recommend doing while hiking (or EVER): Smoking. Not a good idea for so many reasons (forest fires, cancer, etc), so just don't do it.

Flynet

Laughing Burns More Calories Than This: Body Fusion

FitSugar — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 07:00:00 -0800

I am not sure if you caught Drew Barrymore on Saturday Night Live a few weeks ago, but she did a skit that I think is rather appropriate for FitSugar. You already know that I love the healthy way Drew views her body, so I was giddy when I saw her making fun of old school workout videos recently.

After watching this I am thinking that you would burn more calories laughing at the ridiculousness of the Body Fusion workout than if you were actually doing it. I love the different levels of difficulty, so reminiscent of Jane Fonda's workouts -- Enjoy!

Drew Barrymore Can't Eat Everything She Wants

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 04:00:00 -0800

I love Drew Barrymore. From ET to Charlie's Angels I think she is down right adorable.

Drew recently told Harper's Bazaar:

"I am constantly battling my weight. I want to eat whatever I want and get away with it, but I can't. I want to wear whatever I want but I can't."

Can you relate? I sure can and I appreciate her honesty. That is why we sometime need tools and guidelines. The rich and famous have trainers, but the rest of us find our motivation and tips elsewhere. A tip from Drew - it comes down to portion control, not deprivation.

She dropped 20 pounds a few years back and has kept it off - right on. She works out primarily by running (not always naked in a field in Ireland, though). She does some yoga occasionally, but finds it is better to keep her emotions bottled up so she can channel them into her work.

To find out how many calories you can eat in a day and to maintain your weight, check out the Fit Calculator. It can help provide some of those needed tips for fitness and health.

Jennifer Aniston's Favorite Yoga Poses Are . . .

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0800

I'm really happy that yoga is gaining in popularity these days, because it's so good for everybody. Whether you're training for a marathon, recovering from an injury, dealing with chronic back pain, are pregnant, or just need to de-stress, the ancient practice of yoga can help. Apparently it's also good for celebs too. Madonna, Brooke Shields, Adam Levine, Drew Barrymore, and Naomi Watts are all into practicing yoga.

So is Jennifer Aniston. When asked about her favorite yoga poses, Jennifer said in a recent interview with People, "I'm so terrible with names . . . Child pose. And it's a mix between that and Tree pose. [Tree] has good balance and I like how it feels."

These two poses are basic poses you'd learn in a beginner yoga class, but they're poses that you'll continue to do until you're an experienced yogi. To find out the benefits of these tranquil poses read more.

Child's Pose is one of my favorites too because it's so relaxing. Lowering your head below your heart has this calming effect on your mind, and it's a great pose to do if you're feeling stressed or tired. Child's Pose is recommended for people with lower back pain. It's also the perfect pose to do in a yoga class if your arms need a break, or if you feel your breathing becoming too erratic.
Tree is a wonderful balancing pose because it doesn't require a ton of muscular strength. When your bent leg is resting on the inner thigh of your straight leg, it's actually quite stable. So you can stay in this position for a while, just breathing and feeling your connection with the ground.

To learn how to do more yoga poses, check out these Strike a Yoga Pose posts.

Source and Source

In Case You Missed It: Funny Fitness Videos

FitSugar — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 02:30:00 -0800

Throughout 2007, I've posted a bunch of hilarious videos that I came across that totally poke fun of fitness. Check out my favorite ones - even if you've seen them before, they're bound to make you smile again.

Amazing Glutes: These Glutes Were Made for Walking: These women can do things with their glutes that I can only dream of.
Laughing Burns More Calories Than This: Body Fusion This SNL skit starring Drew Barrymore is too hysterical for words. It's totally 80s.
"I'm Not a Runner" Commercial by Nike: This guy is NOT into running. He thinks it sucks, but can you guess what sucks even more?
Maintain Focus - No Matter What: This yogi brings concentration to a whole other level.
Fitness Made Difficult: If the original Fitness Made Simple commercial wasn't funny enough, you've got to check out this spoof.
Not a Good Reason to Do Cobra Pose: Who said cake and yoga don't mix?
Extreme Stretching: I guess with practice it is possible to get both legs behind your back with ease. I'll keep working on that.
The Last Workout You'll Ever Need: Forget about spending thousands of dollars on gym memberships and cardio equipment. Will Ferrell shows you that Bioflex is all you need.