FitSugar

Gym Power to Power the Gym

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0800

It looks like more than the New Year's Even 2009 sign at Times Square can be powered by pedaling exercisers; the Green MicroGym, in Portland, OR, takes full advantage of pedal power too.

The Green Microgym's goal is to be carbon neutral business and to use only solar power and energy created by clients. Most fitness equipment contains a spinning wheel which can be used just like a windmill for creating energy. At the Green Microgym, the treadmills and exercise bikes are connected to batteries that store the energy exercisers have vigorously created. The energy stored in the batteries is converted to an electrical current that can then be used to power appliances, using a piece of equipment called the Human Dynamo. While the energy created might be free, the batteries and converters are still costly and prohibitive for many gyms during this economic downturn.

The Green Microgym uses solar power to fulfill a third of its energy needs, and they are also savvy about saving energy. They save about 50 percent of their energy costs, by powering down gym equipment and televisions when not in use. The gym owner remains optimistic and feels that most gyms will be carbon neutral in 20 years. I think if we all had to pedal to keep the lights on, we would have much more respect for energy conservation as well as for our power-ful legs. Let me know how you feel about the carbon neutral gym in the comments section below.

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Equinox Is Not Only a Pretty Face

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Equinox, one of my favorite national gyms, has more to it than a pricey monthly fee.

Equinox has gotten a lot of flack for its unusual choice of advertisements, but the brand is actually highly committed to being a green company. Currently here is what has been going on behind the scenes that you may not have known (I know I didn't):

All the tiles, paint, wood products used to make the gyms include low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), as well as recycled and rapidly renewable materials.
It has switched to using low-toxic and natural cleaning products during workout hours, which improve indoor air quality while still maintaining a high level of cleanliness.

There's more so read more.

It uses recycled paper in all clubs and in the corporate office, as well as have launched initiatives to reduce paper consumption.
Trion air filtration systems are also being installed to purify the indoor air.
Will be moving away from energy-intensive incandescent lighting and using more efficient technologies.
Special showerheads will be installed to control water flow and deliver a luxurious, drenching flow, along with low-flow toilets and waterless urinals that reduce water consumption.

What does all this mean? Well basically that it's not just a swanky gym to see and be seen. Expect even more green initiatives in the future such as brown towels that require a lower washing temp than the standard white towels found at most gyms now. The times are hard, so the high cost may not outweigh the great things going on for you. But it's definitely worth knowing, and applauding.

Way to go Equinox!

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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.

View 5 Photos ›

Are the Kardashians' QuickTrim Diet Products Quackery?

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:50:02 -0800

A very pregnant Kourtney Kardashian is having a hard time accepting her baby weight. Slim sis Kim says that "Kourtney is going crazy. She feels so big right now. She's just ready to have the baby." According to Us Weekly, sisters Kim and Khloe are both dieting with their QuickTrim diet products and expectant mom Kourtney is jealous because she sees how they're both losing weight.

I've got to admit that I'm sick of hearing about the Kardashians, and now they're promoting this diet product and proving that it works. Ever wonder what it is exactly, or if it's even healthy? My gut says it's not, so I decided to check out the website to see what I could dig up. Here's what I found: QuickTrim Fast Cleanse ($30) is a "lemonade flavored drink designed to help rid the body of excess water weight, belly bloating, and intestinal bulk." So are you supposed to drink these magic citrus beverages all day and that's it?

To hear more about QuickTrim and what the ingredients are, read more.

The Fast Cleanse drink I just described is one product made by QuickTrim. It contains many ingredients including pure lemon juice concentrate, chicory root (fiber), and aloe vera gel. Although it's made with natural ingredients, detoxing your body isn't necessary.

QuickTrim makes two other diet supplements, but these are in tablet form: Extreme Burn ($50) and Burn & Cleanse ($60). Extreme Burn claims to burn up to 8,000 extra calories per month. Burn & Cleanse is a 14-day diet system that promises to burn calories all day, and cleanse and detox you all night. They're made with ingredients such as cocoa extract, acai fruit extract, hyssop, false unicorn root, and green tea leaf extract. Sounds like a witch's potion to me. But at least you're instructed to take these tablets between meals, not in place of them.

These pills are supposed to stimulate your metabolism, maintain your blood sugar levels, burn fat and calories, and contain antioxidants to promote a happy mood. Safety-wise, QuickTrim products are not FDA-approved, so I'd skip them completely and save your moolah to buy things you know will help shed pounds, like a gym membership or fresh fruits and veggies. If you're trying to lose weight, don't fall for this quick-fix diet scam. As I've said before, the safest and most effective way to slim down is with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Gear Review: Nike ACG Wildedge GTX Shoe

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:00:23 -0700

I'm a big fan of Nike's All Condition Gear (ACG) line. If you're into climbing, hiking, or trail running, this shoe line has something for you. When at the Nike store recently, I noticed that my Wildedge approach shoes are now on sale. This shoe, a mixture of a hiking boot and climbing shoe, is now $65, marked down from $110.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Nike's ACG line and to celebrate it, Nike rolled out some pretty cool versions of the Wildedge shoe - a modern twist on the vintage Wildwood shoe that was popular in the '90s. I was immediately drawn to the line because of all the cool colors offered. Most hiking and approach shoes are pretty boring and come in two colors - all-over brown or green. Although I did settle on the ones that have brown and green in them, I think the colors are a lot brighter and flashier than any other hiking shoe I've seen. I also love the fluorescent pink swoosh on the side.

To see how these shoes perform, read more.

Along with being aesthetically pleasing, the Wildedge shoes perform well, and after trekking in them for over six months, I have to say I am a happy customer. The shoes are really lightweight and waterproof, two things that are important to me when backpacking. What I'm most impressed with is the sticky sole, which provides major traction with its .44 sticky rubber, creating a surface that grips onto whatever I'm hiking up. They're also super comfortable - I've hiked in these shoes for hours with no complaints, and even did an hour on the treadmill with them when I accidentally brought the wrong shoes to the gym.

Lauren Conrad's Life Shapes Up Beyond The Hills

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:28:48 -0700

Lauren Conrad's tale proves that moving on and letting go make for a healthy life. The former star of The Hills has not only embraced love with the actor Kyle Howard, but healthy eating is a staple of her new life, too. Gone is the worry of what others think and the junk-food cravings. All good changes for the natural beauty, which she shares in the upcoming issue of Shape.

Once a calorie counter, LC is more flexible these days when it comes to food choices. Opting for fresh fare - fruit, organic salad greens, and lean proteins - she has tamed her cravings.

"I've found when all I'm eating is really fresh, healthy foods, I stop craving pizza and burgers," she says. Lauren's even switched to super-nutritious nibbles (what she calls "snack plates"): hummus, sliced turkey, cucumbers, and apples. "When I have these foods in front of me, I find it easier to avoid high-calorie binges," she says.

For more on her workouts and her new tattoo keep reading.

Get in Shape While Planning Your Wedding

FitSugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Being a bride-to-be is joyful and exciting, but there's no denying that planning for the big day can be really stressful. You have so much to think about: flowers, the ceremony, invitations, your dress, the cake, and the honeymoon. Planning the wedding can be as much work as a full-time job! In order to prevent feeling overwhelmed with your enormous to-do list, you're going to have to make multitasking a part of your planning process.

So kill two birds with one stone by researching wedding info while working out. You can download wedding podcasts from iTunes and burn calories and tone up while you listen. Here are a few for you to try:

For free, download The Wedding Planning Audiocast, which is the Internet's number one wedding show heard around the world.
Also at no cost, download 70 of the most recent podcasts from Wedding Podcast Network.

To see what else you can listen to while hitting the gym, read more.

Download free episodes of Wedding Workout from the Wedding Podcast Network to help you get bridal-gown ready.
If you need more wedding exercise ideas, check out five free episodes of The Healthy Bride Podcast Workouts.
If a green wedding is important to you, check out two free episodes of Your Guide to Green and Eco-Chic Wedding.
Brides Magazine has four free podcasts that discuss the latest trends, style tips, and cost-saving strategies in planning your wedding.
If you don't mind paying a little, the audiobook called Wedding Planning ($12.95) gives insights from wedding planner Susannah Richardson, so you can have as little stress as possible when planning for your big day.
Or download season six of Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? for $17.99. It shows how wedding planners help real couples get through the hectic planning process, and have the wedding they always imagined.

If these don't float your boat, there are tons of other wedding-related podcasts from iTunes, so you're bound to find something that will help make planning your wedding a little easier.

For more wedding tips, check out all of the Sugar Network’s wedding coverage here.

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:00:22 -0700

Reese Witherspoon hates the gym? - FitCeleb
The inside scoop: Self goes spinning! - Fresh Fitness Tips
How to eat healthy at Pizza Hut - Daily Spark
Experts weigh in on how to drop the weight for good - Shape
The best foods to help protect your vision - Nutrition Data Blog
Why putting on a happy face is part of staying fit - That's Fit
Five reasons that Facebook could be good for you - Vitamin G
Whip up some early Spring greens soup - Mark's Daily Apple

Flynet

Minutes to a Healthier You . . .

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:00:00 -0700

It is more than just your time at the gym that makes you healthy; it is the simple everyday acts that take mere minutes to complete that add up to healthy lifestyle.

Here is one simple thing that you can do to start your day off right: drink eight ounces of water before breakfast. After sleeping for seven to eight hours your body needs water as well as food - being slightly dehydrated can actually slow down your metabolism. Before downing your latte, green tea, or juice, have a glass of water because according to the journal Obesity well-hydrated cells not only work better, but they help you flush out fat.

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Common Diet Sabotages: Part One

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Can't seem to figure out why you can't lose those last few pounds? It may not be the hours you're not spending at the gym or those random fast food runs that are sabotaging your diet, but rather the little things we may not even think about. Women's Health found common culprits for what may actually be keeping you from your goal weight. Here are highlights:

You're using the wrong serving utensils, and I'm not talking about etiquette here. If you find that you're always using big spoons and knives. Knives and spoons often go hand in hand with unhealthy items like mayo, peanut butter, ice cream. Forks, on the other hand, are better served to dig in to foods like salads, steamed fresh vegetables, and chewy lean meats.

There's more so read more.

Your produce is always going bad. Sure you're buying lots of fresh fruits and veggies at the store, but are you actually eating them? A drawer full of rotten produce may mean that you're not eating as healthy as you could be.
You're hungover. You can eat salads until you're green in the face, but splurging on cocktails is not helping your cause. Any drink with alcohol in it is high in calories and not to mention not nutritious at all.
You're always tired. Just like eating healthy and working out, sleep should become a priority. It's not only been proven that folks who get enough sleep have faster metabolisms. When push comes to shove, sleep is more essential than hitting the gym. So in a pickle, choose your bed over pumping iron.

Stay tuned for more common diet sabotages, but in the meantime do you have anything that is sabotaging your diet? Share it below.

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