FitSugar

Can You Walk to Your Local Grocery Store?

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:47:38 -0800

The first lady recently launched the Let's Move campaign to put an end to childhood obesity, and among other things, she's moving in on food deserts. The term "food deserts" describes areas, both urban and rural, where there is no access to a supermarket, which means no fresh produce. These areas are "nutritional wastelands" where processed and packaged foods rule. The White House estimates that about 23.5 million Americans live in food deserts.

A well-balanced diet requires at least five servings of fruit and veggies daily, and with no grocery store produce aisle nearby, meeting that healthy mark can be a serious challenge. I live in an area full of wonderful markets and must say I take it for granted that I can walk to the grocery store to pick up lettuce, apples, broccoli, or green beans whenever I need to. What about you?

Kellan and Ashley Joke About Robert in SF, Aniston Hits the Stage in NYC, and Twilight Dominates People's Choice Noms!

Molly — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:29:32 -0800

Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene popped up to San Francisco yesterday for a fan event where they joked about shaving Robert Pattinson's head and what vampires smell like. They also have reason to celebrate - the Twilight saga dominated today's People's Choice Award nominations. Plus, we have video of Jennifer Aniston at last night's 24 Hour Plays in NYC and Spencer Pratt threatening to get a vasectomy. Watch PopSugar Rush now!

Michelle Obama Hula-Hoops to Health

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:00:36 -0700

The secret to Michelle Obama's slim waist? Hula-hooping! The first lady hosted a Healthy Kids Fair on the White House South Lawn this week to promote her ongoing message that Americans need to get healthy.

Among the attendees were chefs and nutritionists who prepared lunch while also passing along the valuable lesson of healthy eating. Afterward, the kids and Michelle completed an obstacle course, hula-hooped, and tried double-dutch jump rope.

The first lady managed to swivel the hula-hoop around 142 times before it fell!

View 7 Photos ›

Olympics 2016: And the Winner Is . . .

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:30:31 -0700

It's seven years away but Olympic fever started early for Chicagoans, as the city threw its hat in the ring to host the 2016 Summer games. Despite lobbying from Chicago notables like the Obamas and Oprah Winfrey, hopes were dashed when the Windy City didn't make it past the first-round eliminations. Brazil will be celebrating tonight - Rio de Janeiro has been picked as the host city, a first ever for South America.

Healthy Tips Straight From the White House

FitSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:00:23 -0700

It's no secret that Michelle and President Obama are one fit couple. If you're wondering how they stay in shape with such a demanding lifestyle and with a personal pastry chef living under the same roof, the first lady has offered some tips in a recent issue of Prevention magazine.

Include exercises in your routine that offer immediate results. Michelle says, "I enjoy arm exercises because you can see what it's hitting." So make sure your workouts target a specific area every time you work out, and the consistency will pay off. Now we have more information on her famous arms.
Don't skip out on workouts. If the wife of the president of the United States can make time to work out, so can you. She wakes up at 4:30 every morning so she has time to fit it in.
Cross train and mix up your routine. Doing the same types of workouts over and over again is boring and a great way to injure yourself. So Mrs. Obama varies her workouts with Pilates, cardio, stretching, and weights.

To see the rest of Michelle's advice read more.

Have no absolute "nos." The first lady admits, "I love French fries, I like a good burger, and I like pie. And that's okay. I would be depressed if I felt I could never eat the things that I love."
Practice moderation. The presidential couple encourages their daughters to make healthy choices when it comes to not-so-healthy foods, and to not be obsessed. So if one asks, "Can I have pie?" Michelle will answer, "Did you have pie last night?" It's all about making healthy choices and finding the balance between indulging in what you love and not overdoing it.

At my house, the girls are always asking for ice cream; I'm going to try the first lady's answer.

Michelle Obama Arm Envy Reaching New Heights

FitSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:30:00 -0700

Michelle Obama made a fashionable entrance into the White House, and the first lady has been receiving attention on her style choices and toned arms since President Obama was sworn into office. While Michelle has been showing her commitment to promoting healthful eating across the country, Americans have been exhibiting their dedication to her toned arms on the Internet and in the gym.

There's a website dedicated to the first lady's enviable arms, appropriately named First Guns, where Michelle's arms have been endearingly nicknamed Thunder and Lightning. The Running Center in New York has developed a class called M.O.D.A (Michelle Obama Defined Arms) that focuses on the body part our first lady is known for, and I'd put money on more gyms offering similar classes.

Feeling a little Michelle-Obama-arm-envy yourself? Check out my collection of arm exercises: Work your biceps, triceps, and shoulders to get stronger and more defined arms.

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Health Advocates Want Obamas to Release Daily Diet Reports

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 03:00:00 -0700

While the president and first lady are both dedicated to staying fit and healthy, one of them has taken on the agenda of promoting healthy living throughout the country. Michelle Obama is on a healthy eating mission, reiterating the importance of nutritious food from soup kitchens to your own kitchen table, and she believes in the power of community gardens that make fresh produce accessible to those who couldn't otherwise afford it.

The fit first lady and President Obama have opened up about their decision to eliminate juice boxes, sweets, and processed foods from their daughters' diets a few years ago, when Malia's doctor was concerned about her weight gain. The first daughters are healthy and active kids, and health advocates want the Obamas to publicize their family's eating habits to encourage other kids to choose spinach over tater tots.

Ruth Reichl, the editor of Gourmet magazine, is pushing for the White House kitchen to issue regular reports about what the first family is eating, in hopes that America's families will mimic the healthy theme of their menus. What do you think of this idea? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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The First Lady Hates Squat Thrusts - Do You?

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0800

Much has been said about the first lady's lovely arms. Michelle Obama favors sleeveless fashions that show off her wonderfully toned shoulders.

We all know the Obamas make fitness a priority in their busy lives, and Michelle recently revealed her secret sculpting weapon: squat thrusts. This move gets no love from the first lady. She explained her feelings to People magazine like this:

"It’s jump squats, you go down into a pushup then you jump up,” she said then about her routine. “What does [my trainer] call it? Squat thrusts! That’s the one I really hate. Squat thrusts with a push-up."

I, for one, love this full body move and that is why I consider it one of my March must haves. So how do you feel about squat thrusts?

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Speak Up: How Do You Motivate Yourself to Exercise?

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:00:00 -0800

Regular exercise is part of my lifestyle, and normally I look forward to working out and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with it. Sometimes, though, the last thing I want to do is lace up my sneakers and do something active - the lack of motivation usually comes when I'm shooting for an early morning workout or after I've had a long day of blogging.

Lately, I've been thinking about the ever-fit Obamas when I'm having trouble motivating myself to get moving. I tell myself, if they can make exercise a priority in their lives, then I can, too. Tell me, how do you motivate yourself to exercise?

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How the Obamas Work Fitness Into Their Busy Lives

FitSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:30:00 -0800

Follow the leader? Maybe it's not such a bad idea when it comes to copying the fitness-focused president-elect and future first lady. It's impossible to ignore Michelle Obama's buff arms and Barack Obama's slim physique when there are pictures of the power couple doing everything from waving to crowds to playing in the waves. With schedules more hectic than most people could imagine, the Obamas have managed to make fitness a priority - the president-elect even found time for shooting hoops on election day.

In an interview for the November issue of Men's Health, Barack Obama said, "Most of my workouts have to come before my day starts. There's always a trade-off between sleep and working out. Usually I get in about 45 minutes, six days a week. I'll lift one day, do cardio the next."

To see Michelle's fitness strategy, read more.

According to Sandy Matthews, the future first lady's old workout buddy, Michelle uses cross-training and mixes strength and cardio exercises involving weights, the treadmill, the stair-stepper, or a spin bike. Like many of you, she is competitive with herself during her workouts with the goal of maximizing her time, and Matthews suggested that most women can relate. She said, "It's your time. I think every woman has to find their space and their time during the course of a day, especially a working mom."

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