FitSugar

Fit Tip: Trade Your Office Chair For an Exercise Ball

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:30:00 PST

I really don't believe we evolved to sit all day long. Sitting creates tight hips and hamstrings, causes a tight neck and shoulders, and often leads to back pain. If you suffer from these ailments, ditch your regular office chair and replace it with an exercise ball ($27).

When you sit on a firmly inflated ball, you'll improve your balance and tone your core muscles from your desk. It allows you to focus on keeping your spine long, and you can even use the fitness ball for wall squats or other exercises during the day. Sitting on a ball has also been proven to help kids focus and do better in school. If it works for them, it'll work for you, too.

If you're worried about the ball being too roly-poly, and not having a back support to lean on, then check out Gaiam's BalanceBall Chair ($99). I know it's kind of pricey, but if it can prevent discomfort while you work, then isn't it worth it? To see a video of this ball in action

Burn Office Calories

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:30:00 PDT

So what if you sit at a desk all day? There are hundreds of opportunities to burn calories from nine to five, and avoid job-related weight gain. According to Fitness magazine, there are some easy ways to stay fit and still keep your job. To see the list,

Sit All Day? You Can Still Be Healthy

FitSugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:00:00 PDT

Let's face it: most of us are more sedentary than we want to be. We're desk-bound at the office, and sitting during our commutes. All this sitting is not exactly the best for your body. Not moving around translates to fewer calories burned throughout the day, which can lead to unhealthy weight gain. Sitting for more than eight hours a day can also cause back pain, a tense neck and shoulders, and leg cramps. Sixwise offers some tips on keeping your body and mind healthy while on the job.

Check your posture and your desk set-up. Your thighs should be parallel to the floor, and if you type at a keyboard, your hands, wrists, and forearms should also be parallel to the floor. Make sure your chair is padded yet firm, so the natural curve in your spine is supported and you're not sinking into your seat.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a big office buzz word, so you want to work on preventing this and other injuries by avoiding repetitive motions. If you use a mouse, purchase a new one that places your hand and wrist in a different position (like a vertical mouse). Try to rearrange the things on your desk often, like your coffee cup or your pens, so you have to reach for them with a different hand.
Just because you sit at a desk all day doesn't mean you're glued to your seat. Be sure to stand up and move around every 20 minutes or so, for at least 30 seconds. Do some desk stretches, take a walk to visit your co-worker, or go to the kitchen to refill your glass of water. Not only will this circulate blood to your muscles, but it'll also prevent boredom.

For more desk tips,

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.

Take a Peek at David Beckham's Super Bowl Underwear Commercial

Allie Merriam — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:17:11 PST

Take a sneak peek at David Beckham's hot Super Bowl commercial - People
The Descendants' star Shailene Woodley isn't getting the fashion cred she deserves - Lainey Gossip
How much do Brad and Angelina really make? - HuffPost Entertainment
*NSYNC and BSB - then and now! - TooFab
30 Rock star Katrina Bowden is engaged - see her ring! - Us Weekly
Why are Kate Moss, Lady Gaga, and more going gray on purpose? - The Daily Beast
How pumped are you for Game of Thrones season 2? - BuzzFeed
Are you happy Liam Neeson has a hit on his hands? - Rotten Tomatoes
Oops - Celine Dion has a big wardrobe malfunction - Wonderwall
Alec Baldwin gets candid about a scary health diagnosis - Lifeline Live
Why William and Kate are putting off their baby plans until 2013 - Celebitchy
Sofia Vergara talks about her relationship and why boyfriend Nick loves her job - Zap2It

Britney Spears Does the School Run With Her Bare-Footed Sons

Allie Merriam — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:16:18 PST

Britney Spears picked up her sons Sean Preston and Jayden James from a class yesterday in LA. She had her hands full as she led the boys back to their SUV. Brit is in charge of looking after the little ones since their dad Kevin Federline is off on a job in Australia. Kevin Federline's out of the hospital after a health scare on Monday, when he was taken to the doctor's with chest pains. He apparently felt ill while filming a workout session with the Australian football team Greater Western Sydney Giants for the weight loss reality show Excess Baggage. He's currently down under and being looked after by his girlfriend Victoria Prince, who's also keeping an eye on their baby daughter Jordan Kay.

Britney, meanwhile, is planning for her upcoming wedding with fiancé Jason Trawick. The pair got engaged just before Christmas, and she was quick to show off her massive new Neil Lane band that features at least 90 small diamonds. Britney's marriage to Jason will be the beginning of a new chapter in her personal, and legal, life. Once they're legally wed, the conservatorship her father established for her welfare back in 2008 will finally end.

The Detox Market Opens Its Doors in San Francisco

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:01:00 PST

There are endless "natural" beauty and health brands out there making claims, and sometimes it feels like a second job just wading through all the information. Which is why The Detox Market is a great idea. The store's concept is simple: the founders curate one exemplary natural product in each beauty category (a sole lipstick, the best sunscreen, etc.) and sell everything in an uncluttered boutique. So instead of walking in and being overwhelmed by inconsistent labeling and hundreds of ingredient lists, you get a single high quality, prescreened option.

There are already two Detox Market locations in LA, but northern California just got its first, at 969 Valencia Street in San Francisco's Mission neighborhood. We paid a visit intending just to have a chat and a look around, but ended up buying half the store. As it turns out, most of the beauty selection includes stuff we already love or have been dying to try. They even carry some longtime Bella favorites, including sunscreen obsession, Suntegrity, and they were the first place we've seen actually carrying cult favorite Ilia lipstick, which we now can't stop applying. It might not be the store for people who love overwhelming variety, but for us, it made buying natural beauty fun again.

6 Ways to Sit Less Every Day

Health — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:03:42 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

By Sarah Kehoe

Need help being less sedentary? Here are the best ways to sit less and move more, from easiest to hardest.

Pace on the phone
Invest in a two-way speakerphone, a superlong phone-to-ear cord, or a quality headset so you can be more mobile while you chat.

Even if you simply stand while on the phone, you'll naturally shift from leg to leg.

Health.com: Little Ways to Lose Big Pounds

Putter after eating
Or take a quick walk postmeals. The fat levels in your bloodstream are highest after eating, and simply moving around afterward increases the activity of lipoprotein lipase, which spurs your metabolism.

Opt for bar seats at restaurants
Sit on the front third of the bar stool. Spread your feet just wider than hip distance, so they're supporting a fair bit of your weight, and gently roll your hips forward, arching your back slightly.

This position is called "perching" - it maintains an S-shape in your spine and distributes your weight more evenly.

Health.com: 20 Ways to Torch 200 Calories

Leave the seat at home
Whether you're going to a concert, tailgate, or park, don't bring a chair.

You'll find that if you don't have one, you stand the whole time or naturally move back and forth between your blanket and standing, says Marc Hamilton, PhD, a microbiologist at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

More suggestions for giving up the chair after the break.

Smoking Pot Doesn't Harm Lung Function, Study Says

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:48:08 PST

It turns out that although smoking a doobie on your front porch may be illegal, it might not be as bad for your lungs as previously thought. A recent study on marijuana users - and the largest study on this population every conducted - found that even though pot smokers tend to inhale deeply and hold the smoke in for as long as they can handle before ~~coughing uncontrollably~~ exhaling, periodically smoking pot doesn't negatively affect lung function.

The study followed 5,100 men and women over two decades, and whether smoking one joint a day for seven years or once a week for 20 years, lung capacity didn't deteriorate. In fact, some who smoked regularly had slightly improved lung function.

This is by no means a green light to light up the green. Aside from being illegal in most places, those who blaze up suffer from mental health problems twice as much as nonusers. There's also the risk of lung cancer, plus cannabis-induced mental fogginess and impaired coordination could lead to accidents, job loss, and other social implications. Chronic bronchitis and other respiratory problems are also a major risk for marijuana smokers, as well as issues in the bedroom - men that smoked pot daily were four times more likely to have trouble reaching orgasm. Toking also increases your heart rate, which can up your risk of a heart attack.

Like alcohol, smoking pot is considered a rite of passage for many young adults. Although its addiction rate isn't as high as that of nicotine or heroine, many get hooked on the instant feeling of calm that goes along with lighting up, and aren't worried about the possible health risks. Hopefully, this study doesn't give people more reason to toke up.

Source: Flickr User cagrimmett

Activity	Calories Burned
Typing (120 minutes)	230
Heel raises while sitting at your desk (5 minutes)	19
Walk the stairs on your lunch break (15 minutes)	128
Touch up your makeup (5 minutes)	10
Clean your desk and drawers (15 minutes)	40
Stand while on the phone (30 minutes)	58
Desk stretches (15 minutes)	59
Go for a jog on your lunch break (20 minutes)	158
Bike to and from work (20 minutes)	118
Do some strength training with dumbbells (5 minutes)	15