FitSugar

Matthew McConaughey Ditches Running for SUPing

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 08:45:00 -0700

Stand up paddle surfing, or SUP, has been taking celebs like Jennifer Aniston by storm. For good reason too, not only is SUP fun, but it's also a phenomenal workout for the whole body.

Not that he needs any work on his physique, but it looks like Matthew McConaughey and girlfriend Camila Alves have joined the SUP phenomenon. SUP is a great workout to do with a pal since in the beginning you're going to spend a lot of time laughing at how many times you end up falling off and getting back on board-it looks like Camila has already thrown in the towel on even trying to stand up. Since it works basically every muscle in your body, perhaps you can both practice your massage skills on each other after a day of SUPing.

I love a good shirtless MM exercising sighting, however it's equally as nice to see him doing something other than running for a change, which he also does shirtless, of course.

View 5 Photos ›

Flynet

Jennifer Aniston: What SUP?

FitSugar — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Lately a big trend among water sports enthusiasts, and our favorite celebrities, is stand up paddle surfing (SUP). So much so that even the lovely (and smart) Jennifer Aniston has taken to the sport.

Maybe it's because it's fun, but I'm sure she also likes it because SUP is a phenomenal workout. SUP is basically where you stand on a surf board (or kayak) and paddle. If requires a good deal of balance, but it's not about catching waves. SUP can be done on totally flat water and since you are standing up, you are able to get a much better view of what is going on in and out of the water. Being that it is all about balance, SUP basically works every muscle in your body. Not only are you working your legs, but you're also working your arms and core. You'll be improving your fast-twitch muscles (crucial for balance and reaction time), which makes SUP a great cross-training workout since almost all sports/exercises rely on balance and core strength. Plus since you'll probably be falling off a bunch in the beginning, you'll be getting a good workout pulling yourself back onto the board. SUP fans regularly claim that just thirty minutes will work your body much harder than several hours of surfing.

To see more pics of Jennifer (and her super toned body) in Hawaii, just read more

View 7 Photos ›

Bauer-Griffin

Gear Review: Kahuna Long Board With Big Stick

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:00:46 -0700

If you are looking to keep the surf of Summer alive in your landlocked life, you might want to try a dry version of stand-up paddling (SUP). Riding a long skateboard by Kahuna Creations while paddling yourself about with a Big Stick is the skating version of the popular water sport. As you can see, Matthew McConaughey is a fan of skate paddling; I would say I am too, but I'm not quite proficient enough at stopping yet to really claim to be a fan.

The Kahuna boards are beautiful - I tried the 45-inch Haka Pua ($169) - as are the Big Sticks ($89). To see how it feels to use them, just read more.

I had fun paddling up and down my street. Not only is it an upper body workout, but the motion gets your heart rate up too. As someone who is accident-prone with no prior skateboarding experience, it just doesn't feel all that safe - hence the helmet. Falling into water while SUPing is much less daunting than wiping out on asphalt. I found stopping and steering difficult, but feel these skills would come with practice. And skate paddling is fun, so practicing to gain skills would be a good time.

Here are a few more detailed shots of the board and stick.

View 3 Photos ›

Check out this video clip of two dudes who know how to work the Big Stick.

Myths on the Pill Debunked

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 07:30:00 -0700

Do you take "the pill?" If so, you're not alone. However, despite the overwhelming number of women on the pill right now, there are still some serious myths floating around out there, giving the pill a very bad rep.

Health.com has taken note and talked to the professionals to finally debunk the most common myths on the pill:

It’s risky to stop your period: Studies show it’s safe to suppress your period using various methods: Seasonale, a pill that limits you to four periods a year; Seasonique, a similar pill that may help fight PMS; or others like Depo-Provera injections that may eliminate your period. “The hormones keep the lining of your uterus thin, so nothing builds up,” says Rebecca Gould, MD, an OB-GYN at Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. Side effects that usually go away include breakthrough bleeding. Menstrual suppression is great for women with particularly heavy flows, painful cramps, and menstrual migraines.

Does the pill make you fat or give you cancer? To find out, read more

The Pill ups your cancer risks: Actually, the risk of endometrial and ovarian can-cers goes down the longer you’re on the Pill. After one year, endometrial-cancer risk decreases by 50 per-cent, and after just three to six months, ovarian-cancer risk decreases by 40 percent. After 10 years, the risks are 80 percent lower than normal. “The longer you keep the endometrium thin and the ovaries inactive, you are reducing the chance of the inappropriate cell divi-sion that characterizes cancer,” explains Katharine O’Connell, MD, assistant clinical professor of OB-GYN at Columbia University.
The Pill may also lower the risk of colon cancer: What about breast cancer? The research is inconclusive. A recent review of previous studies, published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, suggests a tiny elevation in risk among current users, which disappears when you quit. (There’s no debate for women who have-or have had-breast cancer: They should steer clear because the hormones can stimulate some cancerous cells.)
The Pill makes you fat (and frigid): Wrong. Most women link the Pill to weight gain, but only breakthrough bleeding is a proven side effect. (Women often put on pounds after getting the Depo-Provera injection.) As for libido, while some studies show a decreased sex drive, others show an increase-a lower chance of pregnancy can be quite an aphrodisiac.
An IUD ruins your fertility: The Dalkon Shield, pulled from the market in the 1970s, may have contributed to infections that led to infertility. It was also linked to 17 deaths. But not the new and safe IUDs, such as ParaGard and Mirena. Plus, they’re more effective and cheaper than the Pill.

Cons? Pain during insertion (for about 3 minutes you’ll feel a sensation akin to intense menstrual cramps), and cramps and bleeding that can occur for a week afterward. Also, there’s an increased chance of infection during the first 3 weeks, usually because bacteria have been introduced during insertion; this can be easily treated with an anti-biotic, though.

The Sponge is as good as the Pill: Nope. The Sponge, which blocks the cervix and contains a spermicide, leaves much to chance. Its failure rate is 32 percent for women who have delivered a child vaginally (because the cervix is larger after childbirth); for those who haven’t, the failure rate is 16 percent. For better protection, pair it with condoms.
Long-term use of the Pill is a no-no: You may risk getting pregnant if you take a break. “This is how my brother was conceived,” Gould says. There’s no medical reason to stop. It’s possible to get pregnant right away after quitting. Half of women get pregnant within three months-a good reason not to take that break!
Pill side effects last forever: Not at all. The first three months of any new hormonal birth control method brings side effects that eventually go away, Gould says. It’s past month three, and your doctor’s telling you to “gut it out”? Time for a second opinion.
Taking the Pill past age 40 is risky: Not if you’re healthy. You can take it till menopause. But if you’re over 35 and you smoke, or have uncontrolled high blood pressure or long-term or uncontrolled diabetes, your heart disease and stroke risks are elevated, and the Pill raises them. Anyone who fits this profile is fine on a progestin-only “mini-pill” (or Depo-Provera).
It’s OK to take any medicine with the Pill: Wrong. St. John’s Wort, a popular sup-plement used for depression, cuts the Pill’s effectiveness. Researchers think the herb makes your body speed up the metabolization of the Pill, preventing the hormones from doing their job. On the flip side, the Pill may exaggerate antidepressant effects.
The Pill makes migraines worse: The Pill doesn’t aid or aggravate migraine symptoms. But birth control pills may increase stroke risk in women who suffer from migraines with aura (added symptoms like numbness, weakness, hallucinations, or blurred vision). For them, the mini-pill and other estrogen-free hormonal methods are OK.

To read the full article and other fabulous information, visit Health.com.