FitSugar

Fit Tip: Feeling Chilly? Do Some Push-Ups

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:57:12 PST

I know for some of you the weather outside is snowy and cold, so your homes and offices may be on the chilly side. Instead of turning up the heat on your thermostat, warm up your body from the inside out. My favorite way is to get on the floor and do 20 push-ups, but you can choose any strength training move: squats, tricep dips, crunches, or lunges. Do enough to start feeling that lovely warm feeling. Not only will it warm you up, but it'll save you some money on your heat and give your brain a boost of energy as well.

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A Reader's First Half Marathon Is Full of Triumphs and a Little Bit of Embarrassment

Fit Community — Thu, 03 May 2012 00:41:02 PDT

FitSugar reader Dhitri has an embarrassing tale about her first half marathon. She shared her story in our RunningSugar community group. Help her out by sharing your own funny or embarrassing race tales below!

So you know I ran my first half and had the greatest time ever.

There were a few blunders, of course (what's a race without 'em?). Firstly, I arrived only half an hour before the start. Leaving the house without breastfeeding my little miss didn't feel right (and I had to lose that excess fluid from that part of my body anyway!) and it took longer than anticipated. Then of course I completely forgot about the road closures! We were stuck in traffic and I had to hop out of the cab and run to the event location to save me a few minutes. Also, in all my excitement, I forgot to put on any Vaseline or Bodyglide and even forgot to apply sunscreen. My skin was dry and full of marks from me scratching all night (I do that when nervous). My legs never looked this ugly!

But here comes a big confession: I peed in my pants during the run. Okay, firstly I have to criticize the otherwise flawlessly organized race. There were simply not enough portaloos! The line before the start was just EPIC.

Initially I didn't feel like I needed to go, but then remembered that I downed a lot of water when I woke up at 5AM (2 hours before start) and even though I went a few times at home, I felt like I needed to visit the conveniences in case I needed to wee because of the cold (it was a chilly morning at 10 degrees C) or nerves. I braved the line until a couple minutes before start (and was still nowhere near my turn). Big mistake! I should have braved the bushes instead.

Read on for the rest of Dhitri's story!

Spring Weather Forecast: Weight Gain?

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:58:41 PDT

Warmer, sunnier weather is thankfully blowing in, and with all that celebrating of the sun brings the risk of packing on a few extra pounds. Find out how Spring weather can cause you to gain weight, so you can be proactive and prevent it from happening.

Forget the gym; I'll take a walk instead. The gorgeous weather can't help but inspire us to get outside and enjoy it, but replacing your intense gym workout with a leisurely walk around the block doesn't exactly burn the same amount of calories. To prevent weight gain and loss of the muscle tone you worked so hard to achieve, make sure your outdoor workouts are just as intense as the indoor ones you've been doing all Winter.

Ooh, the outdoor patios are finally open. When you stroll downtown and see all the restaurants opening up their outdoor patio seating, you can't help but want to grab a seat yourself and enjoy breathing in the fresh, cool air as you enjoy a delicious meal. This is fun to do every once in a while, but don't let the warmer weather inspire you to do it all the time. It's easy to get carried away when perusing a decadent menu, and difficult to guesstimate just how many calories you're consuming when someone else prepares your meal. This means you're at risk of overdoing it on the calorie front, which spells out weight gain. Enjoy patio dining occasionally, and when you do, follow these calorie-saving tips.

Read on for more reasons Spring weather can cause weight gain.

The Best Outdoor Weekend Activities For Kids

LilSugar — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 05:36:12 PST

Is it beginning to feel a lot like Spring where you live? If so, chances are, you and your kids are ready to cure your cabin fever and get outside this weekend.

Encourage Budding Entrepreneurs: Little ones love to feel in control, and giving them their own business opportunity for the day is a great way to teach basic math, social, and even marketing skills. Start a classic lemonade stand, or on a chilly afternoon, try hot chocolate instead. If they're kitchen-savvy, cupcakes or muffins will add an extra "production" element to the plan, and are likely to solicit lots of compliments from the neighbors!
Head Out on a High-Tech Treasure Hunt: Heard of geocaching? The hot, new treasure-hunting trend is a great way for families to embark upon an adventure together. All you need is a GPS device (GPS-enabled mobile phones count), and to sign up for a free membership on geocaching.com. Identify your coordinates on the website, and your GPS will guide you toward your treasure - more than 1 million geocaches are hidden around the world! Even supermodel Cindy Crawford is a fan, as she recently posted about the activity on her Facebook page.
Play Tourist in Your Own Town: Traveling tends out to bring the planner in all of us, but on a typical weekend at home, more often than not, we're guilty of getting stuck in the same old routine. Take advantage of a beautiful day by discovering something new. Whether it requires simply walking out your front door or driving 30 minutes, make sure that everyone in the family learns something from your mini adventure that they didn't know before.
Plan a Picnic: Get the most out of an old-fashioned picnic by including kids in the planning process. Let them help decide on a menu – be it breakfast/brunch food, sandwiches, a healthy snack, or a sweet treat - and pack their own backpacks with games and toys.
Bundle Up and Head to the Beach: It may not quite be bathing-suit season, but kids still love the excitement of going to the beach. If you're lucky enough to live within driving distance, make sure everyone's bundled up and go for a family walk by the sea. If it's windy out, bring a kite - Spring days are often ideal for high-flying fun.
Photo Safari: Encourage your little shutterbugs to get snapping by creating a list of "photo missions," and accompanying them on a photo safari. Include things you're apt to see around your neighborhood - a red door, a mom with a double stroller, a white dog . . . get creative!

Get Baking: Treats With Only 200 Calories Per Serving

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:08:54 PST

If the chilly Winter wind is still blowing where you live, baking is one cozy way to warm up. But you don't need to make high-calorie treats! We've rounded up some delicious homemade baked goods, and every one of these recipes creates a treat with a serving under 200 calories so you won't feel guilty about indulging in a little something sweet.

February Must Reads

Tara Block — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:25:48 PST

Ready or not, February has arrived! And with Valentine's Day around the corner, we're feeling the love. This month brings the holiday for lovers along with a diverse selection of book releases - from heartbreaking memoirs to fictional love stories to beautiful odes to cities and icons. So set the mood with some of the sexiest and romantic books out this month, or simply take advantage of the chilly weather by cozying up to one of our riveting recommendations. Dive in to the most promising books of February now!

Source: Getty

Rag & Bone Fall 2012

Chi Diem Chau — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:13:07 PST

Rag & Bone's Fall runway show took place on a chilly evening at Pier 57, but everyone seemed to forget the brisk draft once David Neville and Marcus Wainwright started the show. "Think about a country house and all the things you might find in it," said Wainwright when describing the collection. Layering was key in the duo's vision; ikat printed dresses, wool jodhpurs, tapestry floral suiting, fur vests, and blanket striped wraps were smartly piled on top of one another, creating a luxe, textured feel without going overboard. Meanwhile, sharp tailored coats, blazers, precision-cut suit sets, and a continuous theme of leather touches tempered the varied mix, injecting a sharp, modern feel across the board. For accessories, Neville and Wainwright created more covetable must haves, supplying die-hard fans with a lineup of lace-up boots and stacked platform loafers. The closer? House of Pain's "Jump Around," which pretty much sums up the evening's exciting showing.

Trends: Blanket stripes, asymmetric wrap skirts, jodhpurs, suiting.
Colors: Copper, gray, blue, burgundy, black, red.
Key Piece: The multicolored blanket striped blazers and wraps sit high on our lust list.
Accessories: Lace-up and tweed ankle boots, stacked platform loafers, leather gloves, classic brown leather belts, satchel bags.
Who Would Wear It: Girls who crave texture and modernity like Taylor Tomasi Hill and Hanneli Mustaparta.

5 Reasons Not to Skip Winter Farmers Markets

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:24:23 PST

I know, it's really cold outside. But the shift in weather is no excuse to shift your diet away from local, sustainable, fresh food! You may not get to wear shorts and a tank, but making a trip to a farmers market is just as productive an excursion in the cooler months as it is in the hot Summer sun. Are you picking up what I'm putting down? Here are five reasons you shouldn't skip farmers markets in the Winter.

A little green goes a long way. While the chilly weather and lack of sunshine is bound to affect your mood, you'll be feeling recharged after you head to a farmers market, in all of its colorful Winter splendor. As I've said to myself: a little green goes a long way amid all the gray.
Try out new fruits and veggies. Even if the farmers market doesn't have what I'm looking for, it always proves to be a great experience: you're forced to think outside your typical box and pull for fruits and vegetables you might not have been exposed to before. If you've moved to a new city or are living in a different climate, getting to a farmers market is an awesome way to see what your new region has to offer your taste buds. Who knows? Maybe you'll find your new favorite nosh.

Keep reading for three more reasons why you shouldn't skip Winter markets.

10 Warm Ways to Beat the Single Blues This Winter

Anna Monette Roberts — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:56:47 PST

Winter can be a cold and lonely time for those who are single - but not anymore! We've got 10 snuggling substitutions that will keep you warm and comfy until the chilly weather relents, and you're hit with a case of Spring fever. Bubble baths, blazing fireplaces, and lots of hot chocolate are just a few ways to feel safe and snug. Click through to see what ways you can warm up.

Change Up Your Routine to Beat the Winter Blahs

SavvySugar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:30:05 PST

I don’t know about you, but this is the time of year when I really start to fizzle out at work. The holidays are over, we still have two more chilly, wet months of Winter, and the days are still feeling much shorter than I’d like. But, when the post-holiday blahs set in, I know it’s time to switch up my routine. If yours could use a shake-up too, read on for a few ideas.