FitSugar

Fit Tip: Do It in Sand

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:00:17 PDT

Walking and running are great workouts for your heart and lower body, and they're also free. So take advantage of the warmer weather and make your workouts even more challenging and workout at the beach. Walking or running on sand burns about 30 percent more calories than you would on a harder surface such as asphalt. Resist walking on the flat sand right at the water's edge and go for the dry sand to make your workout harder. Walk without shoes so you can really use your toes to grip the ground. Walking and running barefoot in the sand is great for the muscles in your feet and your calves, but be careful running on uneven surfaces can increase the risk of sprains, sprains, and tendonitis. Build your running time up slowly and wear supportive shoes. Remember, if your feet get hot, you can always cool off by walking on the wet sand, which is great for exfoliating the dead skin cells from your heels and preventing fissures.

Ask Casa: A Sand-Friendly Vacuum

CasaSugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:00:59 PDT

Dear Casa,
I have seen posts on pet-friendly vacuums, but my problem is not just dog hair. It is massive amounts of sand that my beautiful Chow Chow drags in from Crissy Field [in San Francisco]. I need a recommendation for a vacuum for wood floors and carpets strong enough to pick up the sand. Any ideas?
Thanks,
MaryBeth

To hear my response to MaryBeth,

Hi MaryBeth,
Funny you should ask . . . literally just two days ago, I spilled a fine-granule cleaning solution that is very much like sand, and used my Dyson DC24 ($399.99) to suck it up with no problems. I didn't even have to run over the sandy solution twice; first time was a charm! If you read Casa regularly, you may remember that I reviewed the Dyson DC24, so you can read about it for more details. If not this particular vacuum, I highly recommend Dysons in general for your dilemma, as they exhibit great suction power. Some other vacuum brands that I highly recommend are Electrolux (vintage ones are best) and Miele. I hope this helps!
Cheers,
Casa

Source

Fit Tip: Walk Barefoot in the Sand

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:00:00 PDT

The next time you're at the beach, take a break from relaxing in the sun and get up and move around. Resist walking on the flat sand right at the water's edge and go for the dry sand. Ditch your shoes so you can really use your toes to grip the ground. Walking barefoot in the sand is not only great for the muscles in your feet and your calves, but because it's so much harder than walking on a flat surface, you'll burn more calories. If your feet get hot, you can always cool off by walking on the wet sand, which is great for exfoliating the dead skin cells from your heels.

Source

On The Surface of Things: Where to Run

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:15:00 PDT

Cool Running, the web site that brought you the ever popular Couch to 5K running program, has rated running surfaces. Why? In an attempt to help keep runners free of injuries - that's why. Running on rock hard surfaces like concrete, like sidewalks, is hard on the body. To protect your joints you want to look for surfaces that have shock absorbing qualities for the majority of your runs. Also, you should try to be consistent with your surface choice, an abrupt switch can lead to injuries.

Here are the surfaces listed in order of best to worst. The number to the right indicates their "grade" with 10 being the best and 1 being just plain awful:

Grass 9.5
Wood chips 9
Dirt 8
Cinder track 7.5
Track 7
Treadmill 6.5
Asphalt 6
Sand 4
Snow 2.5
Concrete 1

If, after reading the list, you decide to move your runs to asphalt, aka the street - BE CAREFUL. Run defensively! Run towards on coming traffic so you can see what is coming at you. Don't listen to music (or at least keep the volume low enough that you can hear the environment around you). Wear bright colors too so you are easily seen.

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Bellissima! Bobbi Brown Sandbar Soap

BellaSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 07:00:35 PDT

Bobbi Brown has a fresh, outdoorsy line called Beach. It's a summer collection that includes body oil, body lotion, body scrub, bath fragrance and her most famous fragrance, which happens to also be called beach.

Yet I think one of the coolest, simplest and most innovative products that she has ever created is Sandbar Soap ($16).

This creamy bar soap has a luxurious lather, a crisp beachy scent and it contains tiny grains of sand that clean, refresh and exfoliate the body all at the same time. Keep in mind that it's on the market only in limited-edition quantities, so if you are interested, act fast and stock up while it's still hot outside!

Hello, Memorial Day: Vacation Sex Is the Best Sex, Says America

YourTango — Mon, 28 May 2012 04:00:17 PDT

We're happy to present this excerpt from one of our favorite sites, YourTango. Today, we have some thoughts on vacation sex.

Memorial Day Weekend is upon us, ladies and gentlemen - 'tis the season to wear white jeans, indulge in a back yard barbeque and, of course, go on vacation.

Speaking of vacation, traveling can be quite the romantic experience. Sure, there is likely plenty of nagging, awkward sunburns and uncomfortable TSA frisking associated with getaways, but there's lots of sex involved, too, say the survey aficionados at Zoosk. They picked the brains of 1,500 Americans for their thoughts on travel, romance and - of course - sex.

Zoosk found that 69 percent of men and 72 percent of women think having sex while on vacation is better than doing it at home. Is sun and sand the reason we're so turned on while at the beach? Or, perhaps, the musty smell of a muggy hotel room in the Caribbean? Sadly, those questions aren't answered, but there's plenty to learn about the best - and worst - of couples vacations.

Getting there. As relaxing as lying on a beach with a cocktail in hand sounds, the preparation for vacation can cause copious amounts of stress, especially for couples. One-third of Americans worry that they'll be selected for an additional pat down (or worse) by the TSA before takeoff.

Where to go. The beach was the most popular destination for a romantic getaway, with 22 percent of the vote. A romantic city (Paris comes to mind) came in second with 19 percent, with cruises and "exotic, far-flung locales" tied at third with 15 percent each. Other romantic destinations included bed and breakfasts and camping, but we're having trouble associating the "best sex ever" with mosquito bites getting in the way.

For the rest of the article, head to YourTango: Hello, Memorial Day: Vacation Sex Is The Best Sex, Says America

Written by Lydia Belton for YourTango.

How to Solve 3 Common Beach Photography Problems

Anna Monette Roberts — Sun, 27 May 2012 07:12:12 PDT

A day at the beach is the perfect chance to capture carefree memories, but the brightness of the sun reflecting off the sand and water doesn't often yield the best photographic results. Before you start snapping away, take a look at three common beach photography problems and simple ways you can avoid them.

The photos are overexposed: Auto mode can overexpose photos, making them appear washed out. Experiment with the camera's manual setting. First set the camera's ISO (the setting that controls the camera's sensitivity to light) to a low number, like 100. A low ISO setting is best for bright lighting. Set it to a higher number, like 400, when shooting moving objects. Next, change the white balance, and set it to daylight, shade, or cloudy-twilight-sunset, depending on the weather.

The pics are boring: Transform a shot of the sea by finding a point of interest to focus on, whether it's a rock, crashing wave, setting sun, or flying bird. The object breaks up an otherwise basic-looking landscape. Frame the pic using the rule of thirds, and include the horizon of the beach in the background to give the photo depth.

The pics have a weird bluish lighting: Try attaching a few filters to the camera. A UV filter will remove the fog effect that is caused from UV rays, and it helps protect the lens from sun damage. Experiment with a polarizing filter to reduce the glare from water and to darken the bright blue hues of the sky. It can be used occasionally, depending on the effect you are hoping to achieve.

Enter Our Choose Your Summer Getaway Giveaway

SavvySugar — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:09:41 PDT

Are you sitting at work, dreaming of where you'd like to spend those long Summer days? You're in luck, because SavvySugar has teamed up with DailyWorth and CheapOair to make your getaway wishes come true.

What's better than a free vacation? A free vacation at your choice of three dreamy destinations. Do you want to feel the adrenaline on Las Vegas's streets or gawk at the bay views of San Francisco? Just maybe you want to feel the hot sands of Miami on your feet. Enter to win two round-trip tickets, a three-night hotel stay, and $750 in spending money to take you where your heart desires.

In addition, we'll be serving up tips on how to save for your Summer travel and how to find the best vacation deals. Enter below by May 28 to win your Summer getaway, and you'll be one step closer to getting there.

Enter Below

1. Like us on Facebook

SavvySugar

DailyWorth

CheapOair

6 Beach Workouts For a Sunny Memorial Day Weekend

Leta Shy — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:52:50 PDT

Hopefully this weekend will involve some fun in the sun, but that doesn't have to be limited to sipping a frozen cocktail on a deck chair. To get you inspired for an outdoor sweat session, we've rounded up some fun fitness routines for the beach - check off your daily workout for the day while enjoying the sun!

Fit and fast: Got 12 minutes? Do this simple CrossFit circuit workout as hard as you can. Bonus: after the intense session, all you have to do is take a dip in the sea!
Leg up: Want to tone legs and thighs? This leg workout from a FitSugar reader helps save your knees from too many squats - and you can do the moves while laying out in the sun.
On the ball: If you happen to have an exercise ball handy, this Kerri Walsh-approved full-body workout will get you in pro-athlete shape.

More beach workouts to inspire you after the break!

Celebaby Roundup!

Meghan Rooney — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:44:34 PDT

The stars were out and about enjoying the beautiful weather with their kids this weekend. Gwen Stefani and son Kingston dug their toes into the sand playing on the beach while Reese Witherspoon spent the afternoon outside cheering on son Deacon during his flag football game in LA. The Beckham boys, Brooklyn, Cruz, and Romeo, got dressed up to accompany their parents to the Sports Spectacular event where dad David Beckham was honored and Jennifer Garner had fun at the farmers market with Seraphina munching on yummy treats. There was plenty more action with your favorite celebrities and their kids this weekend - click through to see the rest of the sweet shots!