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How Often Do You Exercise at Home?

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:00:00 PST

There are many benefits to working out at home. With your own home gym, you never have to wait in line to use your equipment, it's conveniently open 24 hours a day, you don't have to waste time in the car getting to it, you don't have to worry about strangers' germs, and you're in charge of the TV. So when it comes to working out . . .

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Tori Spelling Asks How Moms Squeeze in the Exercise

Tori Spelling — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:36:55 PST

We're excited to bring you a new post from mother and actress Tori Spelling! Every other week, we're bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle advice from ediTORIal by Tori Spelling, which is Tori's daily blog about everything from food and fashion to parenting and relationships. This week, Tori shares her thoughts on motherhood and exercise.

Last weekend, Liam had some observations about my footwear:

"Mama, what the heck are you wearing on your feet? Those are tennis shoes. I've never seen you wear those. You only wear regular shoes."

He's correct. The harsh realization that my 4-year-old is inadvertently pointing out that I haven't worked out in years. Oh well, ya gotta start someplace.

How do you busy mamas squeeze workouts into your crazy schedules?

More great articles from Tori Spelling:
Valentine's Day Creative Kids Crafts
Eco-Chic: My New Vintage Wood Floors
Home Sweet Hollywood Recap: The Season Finale
Palm Springs PicTORIal Part 1

Mistakes That Could Ruin Your Morning Workout

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:50:47 PST

If you work or go to school full time, getting your sweat on in the wee hours of the morn is probably the only time you can fit it in. Kudos to you for resisting the urge to hit the snooze button and skip out. Make setting your alarm and pulling yourself out of bed worth all the effort and avoid these morning exercise mistakes.

Not eating: It's super early, but you need to eat in order to fuel your workout. Munch on something small while you're getting ready, like half a banana or half a piece of toast with a little peanut butter. You'll not only avoid the gnawing hunger pangs, but you'll also have an extra pep in your step to exercise harder or longer than you would on an empty stomach. When you get home, you can enjoy your usual breakfast, which is always something to look forward to.
Loading up on fiber: While it's important to eat a little something, you don't want to load up on bulky fiber that can make you feel too full or upset your stomach.
Not hydrating: Aside from food, you also need water. Definitely don't down half a gallon before you hit the gym because too much water can cause cramping, but make sure you sip a short glass of H2O while enjoying your small snack.
Not laying your outfit out the night before: You don't have oodles of time in the morning, so don't take away from your exercise time by scrambling to find your missing sock. Plan your outfit before you go to bed so you can just slip it on and go.

Keep reading for more morning exercise mistakes to avoid.

From the Fit Community: Leave Your Phone at Home When You Work Out

Fit Community — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:25:08 PST

FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV wants you to know: you're hurting your workout when you bring your cell phone into the equation. She shared her three reasons you should stay cell phone-free at the gym in our 10 Pounds Down! community group.

1. It’s hurting your workout (and could cause you to get hurt)

If you can text or talk on the phone during any part of your workout, you aren’t working hard enough. Exercise requires a mind/body connection (yes, even the time you spend on the treadmill) and your cell phone seriously disrupts the communication signals between your mind and your body.

Even if you think you are the most talented texter, or multitasker to ever walk the earth, don’t kid yourself - many studies have shown cell phone distraction as even worse than being drunk – so if you wouldn’t run that mile, take that spin class or do Pilates totally wasted, then your phone shouldn’t be out during your workout. Not paying attention during exercise is dangerous and can cause you to hurt yourself - in a big way. Not to mention, it slows you down! Even if you stop to text in between exercises, you are slowing down your flow - and your heart rate. Not a good way to get results.

Read more reasons for keeping your cell phone at home after the break.

Earn More Money By Changing Up Your Office Space

LearnVest — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:15:07 PST

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

Most of us spend about 40 hours per week at work - in other words, the majority of our waking hours.

And nearly all of those hours are spent sitting at our desks. It’s a definite problem - and not just because we’re missing happy hour or quality couch time at home.

There’s no shortage of discouraging research pointing out the evils of a sedentary lifestyle and claiming that sitting will actually shorten our lives.

But, conversely, making a few tweaks to the way you sit - and the space you sit in - all day has been proven to make you a happier, healthier worker, busy earning your killer salary.

And, scientists say, the happier you are, the more you tend to earn.

In an effort to make the time spent at our desks as productive (and as profitable) as possible, we’ve combed the research for the easiest, most effective tips to soothe your mind and body when trapped in a cubicle . . . or corner office.

Just follow these four steps.

1. Make It Comfy

When we say “comfy,” we mean “ergonomic.” It’s an unfriendly word for a friendly concept: basically it means “intended to provide optimum comfort and to avoid stress or injury.” Friendly, right? Besides, an awkward workspace can lead to major health issues, including disorders in your joints or tendons, so a little tweaking of your cubicle can go a long way for your well-being. Line up your body correctly by following these two principles:

Your feet should be flat on the floor and your elbows should be even with your desk. This can be achieved either through adjustable chairs or - if chairs are a hot commodity at your office - a combination of step stools and pillows.

Read on for more tips.

4 Reasons to Try TRX Suspension Training

Leta Shy — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:45:17 PST

It may have been developed for the Navy SEALs, but you don't have to be in secret-weapon shape to work out with TRX. The concept of the TRX suspension training is pretty basic: you use two cables on your feet or hands to partially suspend your body and use your own body weight as resistance. The muscle groups you work as well as how hard you work them all depend on the positioning of your body on the cables.

To find out more about the benefits of the workout, I spoke with Randy Hetrick, former Navy SEAL and current CEO and founder of TRX, at the unveiling of the newly expanded TRX Training Center in San Francisco, CA. If you've ever wondered about all those odd-looking straps hanging in your gym, read on to find out more about working out with TRX.

It's for anyone: So, who should do TRX? Everyone, Randy says. "People who like yoga and Pilates tend to like TRX because there are some crossovers. But it's also great for runners, cyclists, or anyone who is an endurance athlete and wants to have more strength training." Even reluctant "power lifters" are usually swayed by the workout once they see how effective it can be at building muscle, he says.
It's beginner-friendly: Another reason to try a TRX class - it's easy to tweak exercises to your own level of difficulty and ramp up when necessary. "It's all user-defined," Randy says. "You determine how hard or how easy you really want to go. So really advanced or really beginners can work out in the same class and get what's right for them."

Read on for more reasons to try TRX.

Kirsten Dunst and Garrett Hedlund Couple Up For a Bike Ride

Allie Merriam — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:39:55 PST

Kirsten Dunst and Garrett Hedlund took to their bikes for a ride near her LA home yesterday. They practically matched in their gray sweats, but the outing wasn't all about exercising - Kirsten also put posters up to publicize her cat's disappearance. Kirsten and Garrett are together in California after spending a few days last month in Utah. They headed to Park City for the Sundance Film Festival premiere of Bachelorette, Kirsten's new dark comedy with Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan, and James Marsden. Garrett skipped the red carpet, but he and Kirsten were seen getting close at the afterparty. It seems the couple got together at some point last year after meeting on the set of On the Road. Both Kirsten and Garrett star in the big screen adaptation of the classic Kerouac novel, which also features Kristen Stewart and Tom Sturridge.

How Stacy Keibler Gets Red-Carpet Ready

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:37:17 PST

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

Awards season is in full swing, and we can't help but wonder how these celebs manage to look so good. And what's a girl without access to expensive Hollywood trainers and stylists to do? We caught up with actress, model, and former wrestler Stacy Keibler (who looked stunning on the arm of boyfriend George Clooney at the SAG Awards!) to learn about the new game she uses at home to keep her svelte figure looking fabulous for the red carpet.

First of all, you look great! How often do you work out each week?

I always try to fit in some type of activity every day, but just like everyone else's schedules, some days are busier than others. I'm a big believer in being active no matter what, so even if I only have a few minutes to squeeze some moves in, it's better than nothing.

What are your go-to moves for those busy days?

I love lunges, especially because you don't need any equipment to do them. So no matter where you are, you have those to fall back on.

Keep reading more about Stacy's relationship to home workouts and George.

Wake Up Early and Get Motivated to Move

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:38:20 PST

If your schedule is so jam-packed that it's tough for you to squeeze in a workout, it's best to get it done in the early morning. If setting your alarm early to exercise before heading to work seems ~~cruel~~ impossible, here are some tips to get you moving in the morning.

Lay out your outfit and all the fitness gear you'll need the night before so when you wake up, you won't waste time searching for a matching pair of wicking socks, a clean sports bra, or your headphones. Also charge any gear you might need, like your iPod.
Be sure to hit the hay early so you're well rested, and set your alarm to wake up to your favorite peppy song. Lately I've been rousing from my slumber hearing Rihanna singing "Where have You Been." I'm practically dancing out of bed. If you tend to hit the snooze button way too many times, try putting your alarm clock on the other side of the room.
Make a date with a friend or fitness trainer. If you set up a time to meet in the a.m., you'll feel obligated to go, even if your mind and body tell you otherwise.
Schedule something exciting and inspirational to look forward to for your morning workout. A 6 a.m. Zumba class with your favorite instructor, sunrise yoga in a heated studio, or a new workout playlist to run to is sure to pull you out of bed.
Eat something quick before you workout, but plan a special breakfast to eat after your workout as a reward for your efforts. Nothing make me run home faster than the thought of a nice warm cup of coffee.

6 Digital Etiquette Tips For 2012

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:30:55 PST

There's still time to break the bad habits of 2011 and kick off the year with a fresh take on the tech etiquette that may be driving your co-workers crazy and even have consequences to your health. Be a considerate digital user in 2012 by breaking these six technology habits.

Walking or driving while texting - we've seen the ad campaigns warning against distracted driving, but it seems every time we're on the highway, we pass a driver glancing at their phones instead of the road. The same goes for the busy city street pavements you pound during lunch for exercise. If you're texting or otherwise fiddling with your phone while walking, not only are you likely to be walking slow and annoying other pedestrians, your distracted movements may keep you from seeing an upcoming intersection, a clear recipe for disaster. Put the phone away for a few minutes and take in the scenery of the street.
Loud cell phone chats on the bus - the commute to and from work is rarely the highlight of an average day, but we're all in this together. Be kind to the other passengers and leave the loud stories of last night's date or the boss's attitude for when you get home.
TMI overload - your friends love keeping up with your life adventures via Facebook and Twitter, really they do! It's junior's potty adventures or how takeout leftovers made you feel today that gets people hovering their cursor over the Unsubscribe button. Play it safe and avoid talk of bodily functions on social networks.

See the rest of the tech etiquette tips to keep in mind for 2012 after the jump.