FitSugar

5 Fitness Classes Where You're Likely to Spot a Celeb

Michele Foley — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:58:27 PDT

Celebs definitely flock to the basics when it comes to fitness; yoga, Pilates, and running are all popular ways for Hollywood to stay in shape. Celebs are also stepping out from behind their personal trainers to try out some of the hottest fitness classes in town. From spinning on poles to balancing on bars, check out which classes celebs are flocking to, and what famous faces you might see if you take these classes yourself!

Amy Adams Works Out the S Factor Way - Have You?

Michele Foley — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 03:30:09 PST

In the latest issue of Marie Claire, Amy Adams tells the mag that she is not as innocent as people think. She even cuts loose by conducting the interview while pole dancing. No, the actress is not at a strip lounge; she's taking a class with Sheila Kelley, founder of the S Factor.

If you're not familiar with the S Factor, it's essentially a pole dancing workout that has quite a few celebrity fans - Martha Stewart has even tried it! Fans of the workout say it's a great way to tone muscles, firm the body, increase flexibility, promote weight loss, and elevate energy levels. Amy, 35, thinks it's also good for unlocking "your inner erotic creature." Mostly though, she's using it as a way to drop the baby weight, "I'll do anything to get off of that treadmill."

Have you tried this favorite celeb workout?

Work It, Martha!

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:30:25 PST

I'm loving this clip of Martha Stewart going completely outside of her box by doing a pole dancing workout with S Factor founder, Sheila Kelley. Check out this clip as the domestic diva gets down and gyrates her hips in full workout gear. Despite not being able to slide upside down on the pole, Martha did finish with an impressive leg lift.

If you've ever wanted to try a pole dancing workout but were too afraid, you've got no excuse now. If Martha can do it, so can you. In her own words: "She's got me on the pole. Woo-hoo!"

Is one of your fitness goals for 2010 to step out of your fitness comfort zone? Are you ready to work with a pole?

Guess Who?

FitSugar — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 05:50:28 PST

Can you figure out who has taken S Factor pole dancing classes?

Stick to Healthy Eating, Even at Your Bridal Shower

FitSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 02:30:00 PDT

Now that you're engaged you're going to be attending a lot of parties in your honor: Engagement parties, showers, bachelorette parties, etc. Nothing can kill healthy eating like a wedding shower complete with a plate full of potato salad and cake.

To make sure you don't overindulge this wedding season, here are a few tips to keep you from stressing over eating at parties:

Don't show up on an empty stomach. Have a little something healthy at home, this way you won't feel the need to stuff your face upon your first sighting of the buffet table.
Have a say. Chances are the person planning the party may ask what kinds of foods you'd like to have there. Ask for healthy options as well as typical party fare.
Make sure you eat. I know this one seems obvious, but everyone wants to talk to the bride and sometimes it's hard to get a bite in. Chances are your body is already running on low fuel as it is and the last thing you want is to get sick because you're not getting enough nutrients. Can't break away from Auntie Emily telling you about her bunions? Ask a good friend or mom to fill a plate for you with lots of healthy (and yummy) stuff.
Drinking can be your worst enemy. I'm not saying don't drink, but drink in moderation at these parties. A drunk bride can be a little unsightly, not to mention the added calories you'll be getting from that 4th vodka tonic.
Party games anyone? Parties do not have to only consist of drinking and eating. Ask the planner to plan activities that get everyone moving and burning off a little of that ganache. Pin the veil on the bride anyone?
Don't be too hard on yourself. This one is important! These parties are meant to be fun. If you splurge and have a few extra pieces of cake, it's OK...besides you didn't want to be rude, now did you? Just promise yourself you'll hit the gym for an extra 5 minutes the next day.

Source

Learn How to Strip Like Lindsay (and More)!

PopSugar — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:19:33 PDT

Lindsay showed off her continued distaste for undergarments in NY this weekend. Linds, who could never be described as modest, seemed pretty comfortable playing a stripper in the upcoming film I Know Who Killed Me, thanks to Sheila Kelley's popular strip tease-based work-out, S Factor. The starlet isn't the only celeb who likes to work it while she works out -- Kate Hudson is also a fan of S Factor and takes classes in LA. The program is about so much more than dirty dancing; it's focused on body toning and self-confidence (though we can't imagine knowing the moves is a bad thing). Curious? FitSugar has teamed up with S Factor to offer you a free introductory class at the studio closest to you!

Okay, completely unrelated but equally important: don't forget tomorrow it's trivia again! This week we're keeping it all in the family (that's your hint so study up). Three lucky winners will be signing off with a fab PopSugar t-shirt so we'll see you in the chatroom at noon PST!

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What It Takes to Buy a Home

Kiplinger — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:14:47 PDT

Do you have what it takes to buy a home? Consider this exhaustive guide from Kiplinger.

Tired of renting? It could be a great time to buy your first home. In many cities, home prices have bottomed, and rents have risen. Mortgage rates are still superlow. In fact, homes haven't been as affordable since 1971. On the downside, in many cities, buyers have fewer homes from which to choose and more competition for the best houses.

In Austin, TX, newlyweds Mark and Ariane Corcoran bought their first home in March. They were renting in a popular downtown neighborhood, where they paid $1,200 a month for a 500-square-foot loft apartment, when they inherited enough money for a down payment. When they began shopping, they expected to buy a classic 1930s Austin bungalow. They found lots of prospects online but drove by most of them. "Agents are really good at taking photos that exclude what they don't want you to see, like the used-car lot out back," says Mark.

They put in an offer on a $225,000, 800-square-foot home. But after the home inspection, they realized that it needed $20,000 to $30,000 in renovations and repairs and that they'd quickly outgrow it. They walked away during the state-mandated rescission period (during which a buyer can back out for any reason and get back any earnest money deposited).

Ariane identified their next prospect within an hour after the listing appeared online. It was a newly built, 1,600-square-foot home with three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a yard for the dogs. The builder asked $270,000, the couple offered $260,000, he countered, and they paid $268,000. They put down 20 percent to avoid private mortgage insurance and snagged a 30-year fixed rate of 3.75 percent from a credit union. Their monthly mortgage payment is $1,524.

Before you take the plunge, consider the answers to questions often posed by first-time buyers. Read on for what to ask yourself.

Sneak Peek! Madewell's Girl Goes Woodsy and Tomboy-Cool For Fall

Hannah Weil — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:15:01 PDT

We got our first taste of Madewell's Fall 2012 back in April, but if ever there was a way to prove the cool factor in this collection, it's in Madewell's perfectly styled Fall lookbook. Mastering the art of effortless layers, girl-meets-boy appeal, and the style quirks of traditional Fall clothing turned on its head, Madewell offers up the season's essentials in bold hues, clever prints (like a leopard-print grandpa cardigan), and staple denim. It's the best kind of tomboy dressing - pastel tulip skirts paired with plaid button-downs and field boots - and a woodsier edge, thanks to cozy knit hats, lumberjack-inspired jackets, and cheeky wool sweaters. Read on for our must-have pieces, then click through to get a glimpse of the whole collection.

This varsity jacket has just the right sporty vibe to toughen up all of our Fall dresses.
This adorable sheep-printed sweater tops our list with its quirky style sense and slightly vintage feel.
We love the slightly '70s feel of this look, and we're adding the felted fedora to our wish list.

Make a Japanese-Inspired Salad, Live Longer in the Process

Michele Foley — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:32:16 PDT

Japanese woman live to be almost 90 years old, which is a record high the world over. And while a lot of factors contribute to a long life, diet is certainly one of them. A bowl of udon or a plate of sushi might not appeal to you every night, but there are a few simple ways to tweak your salad using elements of this heart-healthy cuisine.

Soba noodles
In Japan, soba noodles are served either hot or cold, on their own or in light broth. Not just for soups, they're also a tasty addition to any salad - and a healthy one too. Made from buckwheat flour, soba noodles are full of fiber, protein, iron, and amino acids. And those living with celiac disease should know that 100 percent buckwheat soba noodles are gluten-free. I'm a fan of adding soba noodles to a salad of mixed greens, mango, edamame, red pepper, and cucumber. Toss lightly with a miso or sesame dressing for a satisfying lunch!

Seafood
When it comes to a protein staple, fish rules the day in Japan. What you won't find on a day-to-day basis is an overabundance of beef or dairy. The diet is rich in variety, from common varieties like salmon and tuna to the more exotic uni. Seafood is an easy way to give salad the protein boost that is often missing; it also adds omega-3s, iron, and calcium. Try some seared tuna on your next salad creation.

See more ways to make your salad Japanese after the break!

Swimmer Dara Torres on the Quest For Her Sixth Olympic Games

espnW — Fri, 11 May 2012 04:12:32 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar!

By Luke Cyphers

Dara Torres once wrote a book called Age Is Just a Number. Nowadays, though, the feel-good story of the 2008 Olympics admits to, well, feeling her age. Torres won two silver medals as a 41-year-old mother and swimmer in Beijing, but she harbors no illusions about repeating the feat four years later. "You have to be realistic," Torres said. "I am 45 years old. I'm that much closer to being 50, and my body just can't recover the way it used to."

Her goal was gold in 2008. In 2012? "I don't feel like I have anything else to prove going into these Olympic Games," said the 12-time medalist. "It's not about medals. I have enough."

So why does she put herself through grueling training five days a week in the hopes of making her sixth - and she swears last - U.S. Olympic team? Because, at her best, she's still one of the fastest sprinters in the world. She placed second in the 50-meter freestyle (25.24 seconds) at the winter nationals. Last month, she swam a solid 25.36 seconds in the prelims of the Indianapolis Grand Prix, but faded to 25.47 in the final to finish sixth. She'll need to place within the top two at the Olympic trials in Omaha in June to make it to London.

Kim Rhode is not your typical Olympian

Dara Torres says it is harder for her body to recover compared to when she competed in the 2008 Olympics. "If I had to just swim the race once, I don't think it would even be an issue making the team," she said. "But I have to swim it three times, and having my body recover for those three races is my issue."

Torres embraces the actuarial challenge of capping an Olympic career 28 years after it began in 1984, even as her world has changed and her body has creaked. Her longtime coach, Michael Lohberg, died of a rare blood disorder in 2011. One of Lohberg's assistants, Bruno Darzi, now coaches her. Her daughter Tessa is now 6. And her left knee required surgery and more than a year to rehab. Through it all, "I still have a passion for the sport of swimming," she said.

But there's also a sense of obligation to the public following she has built through her success and frequent television appearances. (The former telecommunications major and frequent morning-show guest announced her comeback on "Live with Regis & Kelly.") "I have so many people come up to me and say I'm inspiring them to do things that they thought they couldn't do because they were too old, or that they put off because they couldn't find a balance in their life to do it," Torres said.

Keep reading for more on Dara Torres' Olympic past and present.