FitSugar

Game Review: Your Shape For Wii

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:50:08 -0800

There's a new fitness game in town and it's ready to work you out and make you sweat. Your Shape ($69), a new Wii game by Ubisoft, makes Jenny McCarthy your workout coach and training buddy so you don't have to sweat it out alone.

The game comes with a camera that you perch on your TV; it captures your image and plays it on your TV so you move with a reflection of yourself, like looking in a mirror. The camera also monitors your movements, and if you slack off, Jenny will let you know - she also gives you praise when you make a correction. Who couldn't use an ego boost mid-workout?

To learn more about the game, continue reading.

Sleepless in West Virginia

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:00:22 -0700

Last night I was up late firing my glue gun at the finishing details on my daughter's Halloween costume, so I was a little groggy this morning. Most of the time I do get plenty of rest, but according to a recent study, sleeplessness is a major US problem. Americans suffer from chronic lack of sleep, and the problem is most prevalent in the southeastern United States, particularly in West Virginia. According to phone surveys of 400,000 people (at least 3,900 in each state), one in 10 Americans didn't get a single good night's sleep in the previous month. Statistics are double that in West Virginia - one in five is sleep-deprived.

The participants weren't asked why they weren't getting enough sleep, but experts think it has to do with the fact that this state ranks the highest when it comes to obesity, smoking, and heart disease. Studies show that obesity causes issues with sleep, and those who suffer from sleep deprivation are at higher risk for depression, high cholesterol, and weight gain, and are more likely to drink heavily and smoke.

Aside from sleep problems, West Virginia is also home to the fattest and unhealthiest city: Huntington, WV. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is shaping up the city in a reality TV show that will air in November. Besides helping them in the kitchen and the gym, it looks like Jamie also needs to help them in the bedroom.

How Jada Pinkett Smith Keeps Her Love Life Hot

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:30:59 -0700

Jada Pinkett Smith is no stranger to sharing details about her love life; with 12 years of a successful Hollywood marriage under her belt, she probably has some healthy secrets we could all use. She told Shape magazine that she is a firm believer in kegels. Pinkett Smith proclaims doing these simple pelvic floor exercises "keeps the sex hot."

Learn how to tone up down there when you read more.

If you practice yoga, you might refer to the pelvic floor (PF) as the mula bandha. The easiest way to find the correct area to activate is to stop the flow of urine when emptying your bladder. Then try to find that same sensation when not going to the restroom. A little more advanced variation is to create the sensation of the entire pelvic floor pulling up. The muscles of the pelvic floor fill in the space between your pubic bone (front of your pelvis), your coccyx (tail bone), and your sit bones (ischial tuberosities in anatomy lingo). The overall shape is similar to a kite and contains many different muscles. To activate the pelvic floor you want to imagine those aforementioned bones coming closer to one another as the muscles attached to them activate and pull up - like a sheet being held by four corners billowing up as the corners move toward the center. It helps to think of the PF as similar to your diaphragm, which moves up and down as you inhale and exhale.

Here is a subtle and simple exercise that you can do right now. It is so subtle that no one will know you are exercising your nether regions. On a four-count inhale, pull the PF up and in toward the center line of your body. Then release slowly on a four-count exhale. Allow your pelvic floor to completely relax in between repetitions. Repeat five to 10 times and throughout the day. Aside from beneficial side effects in the bedroom, a strong pelvic floor provides support while running and lifting weights too. After all, it is part of your core.

Gisele Bundchen Is a Fan of Anusara Yoga

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:00:22 -0700

How does expectant mother Gisele Bundchen stay in shape? Aside from exercising and playing outdoors with Tom Brady and little John, Gisele practices Anusara yoga in the morning for an hour.

Anusara means "flowing with grace,” “going with the flow,” or “following your heart." As the name suggests, this type of yoga has a deeply spiritual side that is focused on connecting with the Divine Spirit (God), opening the heart, and uplifting your soul. As you flow through the challenging sequence of postures, the teacher will give extremely specific verbal cues to help you get your bones, muscles, and even your organs in the right place to ensure proper outer and inner body alignment. At the end of class, your body will feel open and light, and your mind will feel calm and content. Practicing Anusara yoga will increase your flexibility and strength both emotionally and physically. If you're looking to deepen your yoga practice, definitely try Anusara.

Fitness Fashion Flash: Roxy Making Workout Gear

FitSugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:00:00 -0700

If you're a fan of the Roxy brand, known for surf inspired styles, you will be excited to know the company is launching an activewear line. Their affordable sport fashions will be arriving at stores in late May. Because it is Roxy, you can expect their fitness designs to feature bright, playful colors - lime green, fluorescent pink, canary yellow - found in their line of bikinis. Aside from a bold palette, the prints will feature stripes and over-sized flowers mixed with geometric shapes. Roxy's first season of fitness gear will feature 26 designs from tank tops with built-in bras to capris and running shorts. I suspect they will be perfect for running on the beach.

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Dos and Don'ts of Healthy Wedding Planning

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Let's face it: planning a wedding is stressful. Depending on how big your wedding is, it could be one of the most stressful projects you've ever taken on. So amid all the excitement, it's important to keep yourself fit, healthy, centered, and sane. Here's what do to (and what not to do) when planning a wedding the fit and healthy way.

Do make a plan. It sounds basic, but start by planning out your timeline, then go down the list one by one. Otherwise, you'll easily feel overwhelmed.
Don't be shy about accepting help. People have gotten married many times before, so why start from scratch? Registry checklists, like our downloadable registry, will save you serious time. You'll also have people offering to help you left and right, so let them!
Do come up with a fitness plan. If part of your plan includes getting fit for the big day, map out a workout schedule - with the help of online programs or a trainer - to keep yourself on track.

For a few other ideas for how to stay sane while planning your wedding, read more.

Don't overdo it. Getting in shape shouldn't mean setting unrealistic goals that require crash-dieting and unsafe lifestyle changes. Losing a maximum of two pounds a week is considered reasonable.
Do make time for yourself. You'll be bombarded by people and questions right through the wedding day, so set aside some alone time for yoga, massages, walks - whatever.
Don't neglect your workouts. Make sure your exercise routine doesn't get lost in the shuffle. Put workouts on your calendar, alongside all your wedding appointments. If you want, recruit a special wedding workout buddy.
Do control your party-food intake. You're likely to attend some engagement and bachelorette parties before the big day, but if you're trying to stay slim, keep your indulging in check. Have a bite of something you're craving, then move on.

Any of you recent brides out there have anything to add? If so, share them in the comments!
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My Spring Equinox Fitness Challenge: Swim Tip With a Twist

FitSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Yesterday afternoon I had a session with Hannah, my Equinox trainer, and after she kicked my behind into shape (and I mean that literally), I had a swim lesson!

I love jumping into a pool after strength training since one of my Spring fitness goals is to become a more efficient swimmer. We did clear up one important thing - everyone swims faster when being watched, and this is why I often feel out of breath at the end of every lap. Aside from pointing out self-conscious speediness, Hannah also continually offers great pointers for cleaning up my stroke, but one tip from yesterday's session really stuck: rotate. While I have been able to imagine my body rotating like a propeller powering through the water, yesterday I actually felt it while in the pool. The trick is to twist the shoulders and the pelvis evenly, not just one section of the torso. This means your abs have to work since they bridge the gap between your upper and lower torso. Yep, having a strong core helps with swimming too!

To see a video of some nice smooth, rotational swimming read more.

After watching that, don't you just want to jump into a pool?

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Gear Review: Teko Socks

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:00:00 -0800

I feel a little like a gear geek, but I have to admit wearing wicking socks makes me excited to work out. If my feet are happy, the rest of me tends to be happy too. This is important for Winter running as well as indoor workouts. I have started wearing Teko Poly MiniCrew ($12) for spin class. Not only are these socks made entirely out of recycled polyester, which makes them super green, they keep your feet super dry. Spin class can get pretty hot and sweaty, but my feet stay cool in these socks.

I have been running in the Teko merino wool Ultralight Micro ($14). My favorite feature of this sock, aside from wicking away all the sweat and being made out of organic wool, is that the sock is just a bit higher in the back. Many sports shoes are cut high right on the Achilles tendon and if your socks are low all the way around the ankle your shoes rub on the tendon, and voila, a blister.

These socks make it through the wash just fine, but I like to air dry them to help them keep their shape and wicking properties. I think if you are trying to decrease your carbon footprint, you can't go wrong with Teko socks. They are great for the planet and great for your feet too.

If you want to slip your feet into a pair of Teko socks, you can buy them online directly from Teko or find a store near you using their handy store locator.

Reality Check: The Truth Behind Jessica Alba's Post-Baby Body

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:30:00 -0800

In a world where some celebrities claim breastfeeding is their trick to shedding pregnancy pounds, it's refreshing when famous new moms acknowledge that achieving a pre-pregnancy body wasn't all peaches. Jessica Alba looked amazing just a couple months after giving birth to her baby this Summer and her trainer, Ramona Braganza, told the world that Jessica shed the weight by eating right and exercising for an hour, five or six days a week.

Braganza wasn't lying when she said that her client lost weight with a healthy diet and exercise, but the process wasn't easy for Jessica. In fact, in a recent interview with Elle, the actress said that giving birth was easier than the workouts she was doing to get in shape for her Campari calendar campaign. Jessica said, "The workouts were horrible. I cried. And I haven't worked out since." If childbirth couldn't compete with her exercise routine, it's no wonder she gave up on them.

To learn what else Jessica tried in the effort to get her pre-pregnancy body back, read more.

Aside from her grueling workouts, Alba admitted that she wore a girdle around her mid-section. A friend of hers tried the girdle trick after giving birth and her six-pack was visible just eight weeks after having her baby. She recalls, "She told me to put an elastic band around my waist - any kind of band or girdle works," and added, "I didn't recover as fast as she did. I don't have a six-pack - that's just not my body at all."

With or without the tearful workouts, Jessica looks fantastic. Hearing about the lengths she went to in order to change her body immediately following childbirth highlights the immense pressure on Hollywood moms. It also goes to show that the path to achieving a pre-pregnancy body is different for everyone - the reality for some celebrities may be completely unrealistic for you and me.

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Beyonce Is a Fan of Power Moves

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:00:00 -0800

If you caught President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama dancing their first dance, you probably noticed Beyonce singing "At Last," looking radiant and proud. Aside from her amazing voice, she also has an amazingly fit body, and she showed it off in her "Single Ladies" video. If you're wondering how Beyonce got her body in shape, her secret lies in Power Moves exercises from trainer Marco Borges.

The basic concept of Power Moves is that you work several muscle groups at once. Borges says in his book, "You could perform three different exercises using machines but not have the benefits of one compound move, like a reverse lunge shoulder press. It works all the same muscles and the core." If you're interested in more, check out the book Power Moves: The Four Motions to Transform Your Body For Life ($17) to learn the exercises that Beyonce used to strengthen and sculpt her fabulous body.

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