FitSugar

Keep Your Germs to Yourself and Sweat It Out at Home

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 03:05:39 PST

'Tis the season for colds and the flu, and it's also New Year's resolution time. Couple those together, and I've seen one too many sick Sallies in the Saturday morning yoga class I teach. This Vinyasa style class is fast and sweaty, so I get a lot of type A personality students who like to work hard. That also means they feel bad missing a class. Last weekend, one person came dragging in with her rolled mat in one hand and a big wad of tissues in the other. I didn't want to bring attention to her, in case she was going through something emotional, so I just let her mosey on over to her favorite corner spot by the window.

As we began warming up through variations of Sun Salutations, she proceeded to sneeze, cough, and blow her nose throughout the 90 minutes. I realized she wasn't sad; she was sick. I'm sure in her mind she thought that "sweating it out" would help her illness pass through faster, but I kept catching glares from the other students in the class every time she reached for a tissue. I tried to think positive thoughts, since cursing her in my mind wouldn't be very yogic of me, but I too was really upset with her. The room was small, the doors and windows were closed, and all I could think about was, "I'm gonna end up with her cold."

If you only have a sniffle and runny nose and no fever, it's safe to exercise, but you need to be considerate of other people. A good sweat session on the mat may be just the thing to cure your ills, just stick to practicing at home instead of heading to the studio.

Tech Peeve Du Jour: Needless Crazy Password Rules

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:00:09 PDT

I, like many others, take online security very seriously. Now that our entire lives have been arguably completely digitized, there is a lot of sensitive and personal information floating around secure websites. Banking info, credit card data, rent and mortgage payments - for all of the sites containing this sort of information, a complicated password isn't just required, it's necessary to keep you safe. I have no problem with restrictive password requirements for these sites. I do have beef with password requirements on sites that don't necessarily contain sensitive personal information.

Are you with me? Keep reading.

Fittingly Mad: Exorbitant Race Fees

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 07:00:23 PDT

While I'm generally a recreational runner, I enjoy organized races a few times a year. They push me to train harder and provide a great sense of accomplishment. Plus, especially during longer distances, it gives me a chance to check out a new city or neighborhood. I was pumped to run the Oakland Half Marathon (coming up this weekend), but in the middle of filling out the registration form, I realized it would cost $90 just to run.

I understand race fees go to support organizations and are put toward associated race costs - road closures, security, emergency personnel, etc. But $90 seems quite steep. The New York City marathon, regarded as one of the world's most expensive, is around $140 to enter. I've heard of similar fees being charged for commercial races, the Rock 'n' Roll series in particular. I'd make an exception for certain opportunities (running NYC, for example), but otherwise I just don't have that kind of money to spend on a race. The fees have caused me to adopt a new policy when it comes to registration: if it's a pricey run but I think there's a shot I'll beat my personal record, I'll pay it. Unfortunately for this weekend's race, that's not the case and I've opted out. I think my personal cap is around $50 for a half-marathon, which is the distance I race most frequently.

What about you? Do you have a "fee cap" when it comes to paying to enter a race? I'd much rather run an organized race than 13 miles on my own, but when the price of running a race costs as much as my running shoes, I draw the line. Can I register and opt out of receiving and paying for the "commemorative t-shirt?" Now we're talking.

Fittingly Mad: Showing Too Much Skin While Exercising

FitSugar — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 03:30:09 PST

When I taught yoga this week, I was surprised to see a new male student show up in not much clothing. He was wearing the teeniest, tiniest, tightest shorts I've ever seen. I was like, "Um, this is not a naked yoga class!"

This isn't the first time I've noticed men and women exercising and not wearing enough. A few instances while climbing, I've looked up the wall and seen way more than I bargained for. I'm no prude, but I do think there's an appropriate amount of clothes a person should wear in public. I'm not sure why people don't cover up. Are they hot? Because a few extra inches of shorts isn't going to make a person overheat. Are they showing off? Because tight pants and long-sleeve shirts show off enough.

This doesn't make me angry, but it definitely rubs me the wrong way. What about you? Are you OK with people wearing whatever they want, or do you think there should be some ground rules about appropriate workout attire?

Fittingly Mad: Cyclists Not Wearing Helmets!

FitSugar — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:30:00 PDT

When I see images of cyclists riding in past Tours de France, they look odd to me. I recognize the riders, but they aren't wearing helmets. But over the course of the last decade, helmets became mandatory in the most prestigious bike race in the world.

Wearing a helmet is the simplest safety precaution you can take to protect your most important body part: your brain. Even though most casual cyclists are not barreling down hills and mountainsides at the speed of professional racers, wearing a helmet is a no brainer! Yet more than half the riders I see on the street are not wearing helmets. I just don't get it. I know helmets are not the most stylish of biking accessories, but is there really anything flattering about cycling gear? If messed up hair is keeping riders from wearing helmets, I would respond that a serious head injury is considerably worse than a bad hair day. We spend so much time taking care of our bodies and feeding our brains with knowledge, we really should protect our brains when biking.

Some helmetless riders argue that they're skilled cyclists so they don't need a helmet since they're not going to fall. Think of the helmet like the seat belt; it's there to protect you from crazy drivers or large potholes or, in the case of Matt Lauer of the Today Show, a deer. Without a helmet, Lauer would have suffered injuries far greater than a separated shoulder. Same goes for Lance Armstrong's collar bone-breaking crash a couple of months ago. Without a helmet his fate might have been much worse. If you're cruising around town or barreling down a dirt path on your mountain bike, wear a helmet. Please!

Fittingly Mad: Runners Who Pooh-Pooh Walkers

FitSugar — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 03:30:00 PDT

A few times a month, I run with a running group near me. For the most part, everyone is really supportive and there just to meet fellow fit people, learn some tips, and get in a good run. Recently though I overheard some runners badmouthing walkers. As they jogged passed them, one of the runners smirked under their breath, "Walking is for people who don't have the guts to run," and their two pals giggled. I was shocked. What gives that guy the right to pass judgment on someone else? It's like speedism - discriminating against someone because of how fast they move. It really made me angry since I feel all active people should encourage each other. All exercise should be applauded, and I wanted to breeze right by them and yell, "If you're too busy worrying about what other people are doing, then you're obviously not working hard enough yourself!" But I didn't want to perpetuate that kind of negativity. Tell me, have you ever experienced runners who pooh-pooh walkers?

Getty

Fittingly Mad: Increased Membership Prices at the Gym

FitSugar — Sun, 03 May 2009 03:30:00 PDT

I don't have to tell you that economically speaking, times are tough. Many stores and companies are actually cutting prices to help lure customers to their businesses, but not my gym. Oh no. They've actually raised membership prices by $10 a month! That's no small amount, especially because my hubby belongs too, so that adds an extra $240 a year. It really bothers me that they can take advantage of people who feel so strongly about their health, since they know most gym goers won't end their memberships - they'll just suck it up and pay. Since my gym does offer unique fitness opportunities I can't get at other less expensive gyms, such as state-of-the-art cardio equipment, group classes, and of course, the pool, I guess I'll have to be one of those people who agrees to shell out the big bucks. It doesn't mean I won't complain about it though. What about you? Have your gym membership prices increased recently too?

Source

Fittingly Mad: Skinny Dressing Room Mirrors

FitSugar — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 06:04:00 PDT

I don't know too many people who enjoy trying on clothes in dressing rooms. Not only is it annoying that sizing varies so much from store to store, but the ginormous mirror and bright lights are utterly unforgiving. You can end up spending more time criticizing your imperfections than checking out the clothes! Store designers must know the emotional pain we endure in those tiny rooms, and that's why they designed skinny mirrors.

You know the ones I'm talking about, where you try on that skintight pair of jeans and your booty never looked so good. You think, "Wow, those squats are really working." Then when you get home and try them on again, they just don't look the same. Somehow your tiny bum has expanded in the 20 minutes it took to drive home.

I'm sure stores think we owe them a huge thank you for making our dressing room experiences more pleasant, but ultimately it's a huge disappointment. I don't need some stupid mirror making me look thinner than I really am. What do you think about them? Are you psyched with what you see, or do you think this deception is just a marketing ploy to get you to spend more money?

Source

Fittingly Mad: Dog Poo and Hiking Don't Mix

FitSugar — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 04:00:00 PDT

I planned a two hour family hike last weekend and everything was going well, until my little daughter stepped in dog poo. I was so thoroughly disgusted. Not by the smell, but by the irresponsible hikers that walked the trail before us. Not to be gross, but the doggy deposit was definitely fresh. As we were hiking up the mountain, I tried not to glare at every hiker we passed with a pooch.

I have no problem with dogs on the trail. We take Bonnie the dog with us all the time. I also carry a couple of bags in case she goes on the trail. I do, however, have a problem with a dog owner not picking up his or her dog's business especially when it is in the middle of the path. It's rude and disrespectful to the mountain and to the fellow hikers to not clean up a mess your pet leaves behind. I think it is a lot like littering (although it does eventually decompose, but like trash it doesn't belong on the trail). Do you have issues with this too? If you do, share them in the comments section below.

Source

Fittingly Mad: Unlimited Indoor Tanning Free With Gym Membership?

FitSugar — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 03:00:00 PDT

There's a gym near me that has tootsie rolls by the front door, and that's not all the goodies they offer. In the lobby they have a bunch of stand-up tanning beds, and one of the memberships perks is unlimited use. WTF? To me, this is the equivalent of going on a 2-hour hike, getting to the top of the mountain and lighting up a cigarette. Doesn't it strike you as an oxymoron? You join our gym to help you stay fit and live a long, healthy life, but step into this tanning booth to dramatically increase your chances for developing skin cancer. It's idiotic and it aggravates me. I guess people are responsible enough to make their own decisions, but I'm just so surprised that tanning beds are still in existence, and just mortified that they're in a place like a gym. What do you think about this?

Source