FitSugar

Green Exercise: Run Stairs With a Medicine Ball

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:30:00 -0800

Using the stairs instead of the elevator is a great way to burn some extra calories while on the go, but you can also use your stairs at home for working out. It's a perfect way to get your heart rate up in the Winter without having to brave the cold, not to mention it's completely free. While trudging up and down stairs is itself a major workout for your legs, you can work your upper body too by holding a weighted medicine ball ($17). If you don't have a ball, use a set of dumbbells or a kettlebell.

Just hold the weight in front of your chest, or straighten your arms over your head for a real challenge, and go up and down the flight of stairs 10 times. When going up the stairs, skip every other step to make it even more difficult for your quads and booty. Move at a slower pace as you go down the stairs to prevent putting too much pressure on your knees. Not only does this workout require no electricity, but it's also a great way to warm up without having to turn up the heat in your home. Two green reasons rolled up in one great exercise.

Green Exercise: Add Lunges to Your Walks

FitSugar — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:00:00 -0700

Green exercise is all about working your body without using electricity to get you going. Walking is a cheap and simple way to burn calories and you can do it anywhere, but it can be a little boring. So I add walking lunges to my walks to not only stretch the muscles in my lower body and increase flexibility in my hip flexors, but lunges also strengthen my quads and booty.

Begin by walking for ten minutes.
Then stand with your feet together. As you inhale, take a huge step forward with your right foot. Exhale, and bend your right knee and lower your left knee into a lunge position with your left heel lifted. You can lower your left knee as far down as you want until you feel a good stretch in the front of your left hip. Then inhale as you step your left foot forward to meet your right foot. Then exhale to prepare for the next lunge.
Now inhale, and step forward with your left foot. Exhale, bend the left knee and lower your right knee into a lunge. Inhale, and step your right foot forward to meet your left. Then exhale to prepare for the next lunge.
Repeat on both sides 10 to 20 times, and then go back to regular walking for 10 minutes. Then repeat the walking lunges a second time, and then walk for another 10 minutes.

Fit's Tips: Do these with a walking buddy so you don't feel silly, or walk on a quiet neighborhood street. Or you can use the indoor track at your gym, where people are doing all kinds of crazy fitness moves, so this will seem pretty normal.

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Green Exercise: Don't Turn Up the Heat, Do Some...

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 03:00:00 -0800

Here's a thought for dealing with two issues at once: saving on your heating bill and getting buff.

Next time when you feel cold and are about to turn that thermostat up, stop, drop and do some push ups! This technique will help you with your push up challenge. By no means should you limit yourself to push ups. Jumping jacks will certainly do the trick as will kicking out some burpees (aka squat thrusts). You could always do some ab work too. Or some lunges. You get the point.

Try it! I just did 20 push ups. Not only do I feel warmer, I feel revved up and energized too.

What do you do to stay warm? Share the details in the comment section below.

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Green Exercise: Ride Your Bike Inside

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:30:00 -0800

Riding your bike is perfect exercise for your heart and a wonderful way to tone your lower body. It's also great for the environment, because it doesn't require any gas or electricity to get it going. If you live in a place where Winter means cold, ice, and snow, I'm sure you've put your bike away till the Spring, but you can still get the benefits of riding your bike without having to go outside.

Transform your favorite bike into a stationary bike by using a cycle trainer like the Blackburn TrakStand Mag ($159.99). All you do is remove your bike's front wheel and mount your back wheel into the cycle trainer's mount, which elevates your bike and keeps it stable, turning your road bike into a stationary bike. This bike mount even folds up for easy storage.

Want to make your indoor ride even more challenging? Then read more

If you're a more experienced rider, you can also use a cycling roller ($169.99) like this one from CycleOps. These are a little harder to use, and you really need to pay attention to steering and balancing so you don't fall off the rollers. They require more concentration than just hopping on your bike and going for a ride since you're not attached to the rollers.

Although cycle trainers and rollers can be pretty pricey, ranging from $100 to more than $300, they're cheaper than having to go out and buy an expensive stationary bike. This is a lot smaller than a huge piece of equipment too, so that means less space taken up in a landfill someday.

Green Exercise: The Water Rower

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:45:00 -0800

I don't think I am alone when I say that most cardio equipment is unattractive and difficult to store. Nothing you would want to keep in living room. Recently, I happened upon the beautiful WaterRower that take the rowing machine to a whole new level. Designed to look good and feel good these machines are made from various woods or metals and are completely energy independent. No plugging into the grid!

The resistance in WaterRowers is supplied by water, which just really makes sense. Resistance is provided by the WaterFlywheel imitates the natural dynamics of a boat moving down the river. The more work you do, then more fluid resistance you have to overcome which moves the WaterFlywheel faster. The WaterRower is a foot shorter than most other rowing machines making it easy to store. The machine is perfectly quiet too; you supply the heavy breathing and, dare I say it, grunting.

I love the look of the wooden machines and placed against the wall it looks downright sculptural. The price ranges from $1095 for the classic model constructed from ash to $2500 stainless steel model. You can purchase one directly from WaterRower.

To see a few more images of the machines, just read more

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Green Exercise: Do the Stairs

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 02:00:00 -0800

For many people, when the temperature turns chilly, running outside really is no longer an option. Joining a gym working out on cardio equipment is a viable option, but one of the reasons I love running outdoors is that it doesn't use electricity, so it keeps my carbon footprint just a little bit smaller.

How about using the stairs in your home, apartment or office building? It may seem a little silly at first, but it's really a great way to exercise your heart and lungs, and it tones and strengthens your lower body too.

Try these variations:

Walk up and down the stairs.
Sprint up and down the stairs.
Run up, walk down.
Walk up, run down.
Walk up the stairs, skipping every other step.
Do squat lunges (where you bend and then straighten your front knee) to strengthen your quads and bum.
Hold lunges to stretch your hip flexors.
Place your left leg on the ground at the bottom of the stairs, and your right heel on the third, fourth or fifth step (depending how flexible you are). Keep your right leg straight, fold your torso towards your right knee and stretch your right hamstring.

Fit's Tips: If you don't have stairs in your home, do the stairs during your lunch hour at your office.

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Green Exercise: Manual Treadmill Requires No Electricity

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:45:00 -0800

Since it's getting chilly out, walking or running outside may seem less and less appealing. You can buy an expensive motorized treadmill or spend lots of money on a gym membership, but if you want a cheaper or greener option, a manual treadmill may be just the thing you're looking for.

These treadmills have no motor and use no electricity. All it takes is your muscle power to get the belt moving, which means it's good for your body and the environment. Not only that, but it makes much less noise so you can listen to music or watch TV and be able to hear without having to wear headphones.

This one is called the TrimWalk Folding Manual Treadmill ($100). Just like when you walk or run outside, you can set the pace yourself. It has a display that will tell you your distance, speed, time, and calories burned (powered by a AA battery). You can also fold this up and put it under your bed when you're not using it. This is a great option if you're looking for an inexpensive treadmill.

Burn Calories Create Energy

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 10:15:00 -0800

After watching on the green tips and electricity free exercise this week on The Biggest Loser, I got to thinking (always a dangerous activity). Why don't we generate electricity from our exercise and make that pedal power turn into actual power?

Well, somebody asked that same question and created a answer. Windstream Power, renewable energy pioneers, have actually created some ways to recapture your energy. My favorite is the Human Power Trainer that combines an indoors bike trainer with a permanent magnet DC generator, which is placed under the back wheel. The friction created by the motion of the back wheel produces electricity in the generator. The amount of electrical power generated is determined by the weight (friction is part of the equation, remember) and strength of the cyclist.

While a cycling pro can create 300 watts at a sustained rate, it is estimated that the average person can generate about 150 watts. The entire system costs a pretty penny though and you can expect to pay $595 for the Human Power System and additional amount for the portable power pack. But think about the motivation: recoup losses by creating your own electricity and burn some calories.

To learn more of the technical detail you should definitely visit jumping rope is a great way to get your heart pumping, work on your coordination, your balance, and your agility. It also burns calories beautifully since you're moving your own body weight against gravity. Plus it tones your calves, thighs, back, abs, shoulders, arms, and bum. Jumping also helps to strengthen the bones in your lower body (which is so important for women). All that and it requires no electricity, so it's good for Mother Earth.

So now that you're anxious to start jumping, I have some moves for you to try, so read more.

Jump like you're jogging, with one foot at a time.
Hop on one foot for 10 seconds, then switch to the other foot for 10 seconds, and continue alternating.
Hop with one foot for 10 seconds, while raising your other knee up towards your chest (you have to squeeze it in as tight as you can so the rope doesn't get caught on your knee. You'll feel this move in your abs). Then do the other side.

There's so much more you can do with a jump rope. To see what else read more

Jump rope backwards (this takes coordination).
Move forward while jumping rope.
Jump rope as fast as you can for one minute, then slow down the pace for two minutes, and continue the pattern.
Cross your arms while jumping rope for 30 seconds to stretch your shoulders.
Practice jumping as high as you can and swinging the rope under your feet twice (three times if you're really good).
After you're done jumping, you can use the rope to stretch out your hamstrings. Lie flat on your back, and lift your right leg up into the air. Fold the jump rope in half and take the looped end and wrap it around the back of your ankle. Then pull the other ends of the rope towards you, keeping your right leg straight. After 30 or more seconds, gently release and do the other leg.

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Amanda Peet: So in Love

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:00:17 -0800

Amanda Peet is undoubtedly feeling great. She's starring in the number one film in the country, and in the December issue of Self the actress shares that nothing brings her more joy than hanging at home with her hubby and baby girl. In fact, the actress credits her husband, screenwriter David Benioff, as being her healthiest habit. Oh, true love!

The 37-year-old actress is not without her envies, though - she wants "boobs, a gentle six-pack, and a perky butt." And when it comes down to it, she secretly wishes for a bod like Gisele Bündchen's or Jennifer Aniston's. Outside of a little admiration, especially since Peet strives to live a life full of balance and a lot of laughs.

To hear Peet's take on health, read more.

Amanda is a big fan of moderation:

"To me, staying healthy means doing everything in moderation. Eat a lot of greens, but in moderation. Exercise, but in moderation. Drink wine, but in moderation. Sleep as much as you can. And have people around you who are very funny."

At the end of the day it all comes back to love for Peet, who says that her 2-year-old daughter is the reason why she stays healthy.

"I do feel like it's important for her to have me be as healthy as I can be. So, you know, I don't want her to have horrible eating habits. I don't want her to never exercise. But obviously I'd much rather have her play a sport than have a gym membership before she's 20. I mean there are kids in LA who go to the gym and they have a trainer. I'm like, Play a sport!"

Check out more shots of the hot mama and visit lilsugar to read more about Amanda on mothering. Also, see lots more photos, quotes on Self.com.

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