FitSugar

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 Secrets to the Strongest You . . . Ever

Health — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:43:51 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

The top trainer and life guru reveals the one question that'll get you to your goal - plus the single best workout to keep you feeling great for life.
By Alison Prato

Jillian Michaels catapulted to fame as the punishing trainer who got results on The Biggest Loser and Losing It With Jillian. But the 38-year-old has always been just as interested in building confidence as she has in sculpting rock-hard abs.

It's no accident that her most recent book is Unlimited: How to Build an Exceptional Life. Everything Jillian tackles - including her recent gig as a life adviser on The Doctors, her DVDs (such as her latest, Jillian Michaels Kickbox FastFix), and her intimate podcast - is meant to help the rest of us claim a healthier, happier life.

Health.com: Get the Body You Crave With Celeb-Inspired Workouts

Sitting high in the hills of Southern California, the woman who calls everybody "buddy" is surprisingly funny and self-deprecating. And as expected, she's incredibly open, talking about her tough tween years, how she stays motivated (and how you can, too), and the dream she's fighting to make a reality.

Read the interview with Jillian after the break.

You Asked: I Can't Run in This Heat

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:50:24 PDT

Dear Fit,
I got engaged last Fall and began running soon after to get in shape for my September wedding. I've been able to stick with it, running about 30 minutes three times a week, that is until this extreme heat set in. The past couple of weeks it's been in the 90s, and so humid. I usually run after work in my neighborhood, but I literally can only run about five minutes before I feel like I'm going to overheat and pass out. I don't want to give up my runs because I'm almost at my goal weight. Any suggestions to make running in this heat any more bearable?
-Hot and Bothered Bride-to-Be

I can totally relate - the heat makes exercising outdoors feel so much harder - but I have some great suggestions, so

Exercise during the coolest time of day. 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. Being flexible about when you work out will allow you to have a more comfortable run.
Run in cooler settings. Hit the trails in shady woods or run along a breezy beach shoreline. It can be 10 or more degrees cooler than running on the streets in your neighborhood.
Shorten or split up your workouts. Summertime isn't the best time to push yourself, so if you can only run 10 minutes at a time, do what you can, or run twice in one day.
Slow down or go wogging. If you're set on your 30-minute workout, dramatically slow down your pace or do intervals of jogging and walking.
Skip the running and take part in cooler cardio activities. Biking in the wind, swimming in cold water, or hiking under shady trees will burn calories without making you overheat.
Head indoors. Now is a good time to take advantage of a monthly membership at an air-conditioned gym. Can't afford it? Burn calories by following along with fitness DVDs, jumping rope, running up and down your stairs, or doing strength training routines in your home.
Drink water all day, not just before or after your run. Staying hydrated will help prevent some of the symptoms you may experience from exercising in heat such as dizziness, stomach cramps, and headaches. During your run, sip four to eight ounces of water every 15-20 minutes.

If you have any more suggestions, please share them in the comment section below.