FitSugar

10 Simple Fitness Tips

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:30:25 -0800

Time is a precious commodity, especially if you're trying to squeeze fitness into your days. Here are 10 simple fitness tips to help you maximize your workout.
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Pass Gym Time With Healthy Competition

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:30:59 -0800

Watching TV, listening to music, and perusing magazines are all great ways to pass the time when you're on a cardio machine, but even those can get boring. They also require a bit of attention, compromising a good workout - you can't turn pages while doing sprint intervals. When you need a little motivation, utilize your fellow gym-goers and compete with a stranger. While on the treadmill, look for someone near you who is clearly working it, and try to run a little faster or stay on the machine a little longer than that unsuspecting runner. When they end their run and you're still going, get ready for the sweet taste of victory. This works on a bike, elliptical, or in the pool. While it's helpful to use someone else's drive to push yourself, just make sure you also listen to your body and don't exceed your personal limits.

Fit Tip: Break It Down

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:00:47 -0700

On my third round of 20 push-ups, I was hesitant to put my hands down on the floor at Equinox. It had nothing to do with the state of the gym floor; I was suffering. This is when Hannah gave me a great simple tip that I am going to pass onto you. When faced with a daunting set, break it down. For instance, if those last 20 push-ups seem impossible, count them out in four sets of five. The smaller sets seem easier to conquer both mentally and physically. You can convince your mind and your muscles to hammer out five push-ups, and then another, and so on. It works when counting laps in the pool and minutes of a run. Test out this trick: drop and give me 20 push-ups.

3 Ways to Make Sure You're Using Your Fitness Gear

FitSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:50:42 -0700

It's great to keep fitness equipment at home, but the hardest part is getting motivated to use it. Here are three things you can do so they help burn calories instead of collecting dust.

Don't put equipment away. Many types of fitness gear can be folded up so they're out of your way, but if they're out of your sight like in your closet or under your bed, chances are you're less likely to set them up to use. So whatever you use the most, it's OK to tuck it in a corner so you don't trip and fall, but make sure it's still easily accessible.
Set up a small fitness area with all your equipment. Place a yoga mat in the corner for stretching, a set of dumbbells for strength training, and a stability ball for both stretching and strengthening. Seeing the equipment all set up is more inviting, so you're more likely to use it.
Buy equipment to complement the equipment you already have. If you're tired of your plain old resistance band, buy some accessories such as a door strap or ankle straps so you can mix up your routine. Or buy a fitness book or DVD to show you new ways to use the equipment you own. Put some spark back into your old favorites.

Do you have any other ideas? If so share them below.

Fit Tip: Stock Up on Your Fave Sneaks

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:00:26 -0700

Finding the perfect exercise shoe is a tough challenge. Even though there are a couple brands I've had luck with, I always end up spending at least an hour trying on every type of sneaker made by every brand in the store, just to make sure I've found the best fit. Sometimes I even end up having to go to more than one store! Who has time for that every time you have to buy new sneaks, which for me is about every three months?

So I've started stocking up on a pair I really love. I'll buy sneakers I think are perfect, try it out for a couple of weeks, and if my feet are still happy, I go back to the store and buy one or two more pairs of the exact same sneaker. That way a new pair I know I already love is waiting for me when it's time to ditch my old pair. If you don't like buying the same pair because they look the same, companies usually make the same sneaker in a couple different colors. If you can't find them at the store, order them online, which can save you dough and a trip to the store. You can also create a sale alert notice for the shoes on ShopStyle. You might have to wait a while, but you'll save some dough too.

Lifting Tip: Try Closing Your Eyes

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:30:00 -0700

Sight is a powerful sense that's necessary when it comes to working out, but sometimes it takes over and can actually make your workouts easier. Take away your ability to see, and you have to rely on your other senses to move your body. I wouldn't recommend running or biking with your eyes shut since you can end up seriously hurting yourself, but it's great to try when strength training. Balancing becomes more challenging, and you can really concentrate on your muscles and how to move efficiently. Closing your eyes can also allow you to focus more on your breath, which is often overlooked when doing strength exercises. I also find that shutting my eyes calms my mind, so it's also a great way to relieve stress. This isn't something you need to do every time you lift, but doing it every so often can be a fun way to mix things up.

Fit Tip: Keep Your Workouts in One Place

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:30:00 -0700

If you're one of those people who has a tough time sticking to a regular workout routine, here is some good advice: do all your workouts in the same place. Although variety can prevent boredom, it won't help if variety makes you skip out on workouts because you can't keep track of where and when you're sweating it out each week. So just to get into the routine, exercise in one designated place, whether it's the gym, your local park, your spare bedroom, or a yoga studio. It'll make things easier knowing where equipment is, or where you need to park, or how long it takes you to bike there from work so you don't come back late from working out on your lunch break. It just takes the stress and planning out of working out, and lets you focus on the actual exercise part. Then once you've got that down, add new workout places to your routine. To help you keep track of your schedule, write it down in a weekly planner or a fitness journal. The more you plan and the easier you make working out, the more likely it's going to happen.

Fit Tip: Take Up a New Fitness Habit

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:00:35 -0700

January first is usually the time of year to make resolutions to live a healthy lifestyle, but why wait until then? Take up a new fitness habit right now. Here are some suggestions.

Go for a walk after dinner instead of eating dessert.
If possible, bike to work at least once a week.
Walk dogs at the shelter on your lunch break.
Do 20 push-ups right before you shower.
Sign up for a weekly dance or fitness class with a friend or your partner.
Try a new type of fitness activity that you've always wanted to try like rock climbing, water aerobics, or hooping.
Do a long workout on the weekend.
Stretch before going to sleep or while in bed.

Fit Tip: Use Music to Motivate You Pre-Workout

FitSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:30:06 -0700

Many of you said that you listen to music to while working out. It's a great way to keep your energy levels high and can help you push harder than you would without tunes. It's not the working out that's tough for most of us, though; it's getting the motivation to work out in the first place. So use the power of your favorite kick-ass song to get you motivated into your sports bra and sneaks. For some ideas on what tunes to blast, read more.

Interesting Fit Tip From Kourtney Kardashian

FitSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:30:43 -0700

It is truly difficult to keep up with the Kardashians. They certainly have their own way of doing things. PopSugar recently spoke with Kourtney about her upcoming reality show, Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami. In the interview the oldest Kardashian sister revealed an interesting fitness tip. She likes to exercise in the buff - not to be free of an uncomfortable sports bra, but to see how her body looks in motion with the benefit of mirrored furniture. Here's what she said:

"Sometimes I will do them [her workouts] naked because I have mirrored end tables and mirrored furniture in my room. So I can see how gross, like when your lift up your leg, you can see all the jiggle and everything and it makes you work out harder . . . Get naked and examine the cellulite."

Now that Kourtney is expecting a child, I wonder if this habit will continue, since some pregnant bodies like to start storing the milk fat immediately on the triceps and booty. Tell me, is this something you have done or would ever do?