FitSugar

Love Snowboarding? Then You'll Love the Sideways Bike

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:30:00 PST

Riding a bike is a childhood milestone. Once you master the technique, you'll know how to ride for life. Cycling requires left-to-right balance, like walking, so it is easy to learn. Although more challenging, surfers and snowboarders turn their bodies to the side using front-to-back balance. This type of balance inspired Michael Killian, inventor of the Sideways Bike. Also called a Snowboard Bicycle, you sit on it with both legs on one side, similar riding sidesaddle on a horse. Killian says that the front-to-back balance, combined with the drifting ability of the independent wheels "affords you tremendous grace and motion. It's dance-like. It's mesmerizing and entertaining."

Want to see this bike in action? Then

read more. Both handlebars can steer independently so it's not exactly a cinch to learn, but once you perfect this type of balance, it can make you a better snowboarder. They're not in production yet, but when they hit stores, would you be interested in giving this Sideways Bike a go? Source

Sex and 4 More Everyday Calorie Burners

Self — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 08:00:14 PST

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

When we calculate how many calories we burn in a day (in order to justify dessert!), we often only consider workouts - running, strength training, Zumba, etc. But the truth is, there are other extracurricular activities (ahem . . . sex) that should be counted in that tally.

From a good romp to holiday shopping, we asked personal trainer Pete McCall for five everyday ways to burn more fat over the course of a typical day (calories are based on a 135-pound woman).

Taking the stairs
7 calories a minute

Going to the bathroom one or two floors away can burn an additional 350 calories a day (assuming five bathroom breaks), according to McCall, a spokesman for the American Council on Exercise. "Walking up the stairs sideways is an effective way to strengthen the muscles of the inner and outer thighs," he says. If walking with your left side facing the stairs, cross the right foot in front; if you're leading with your right side, cross your left foot in front.

Walking to work
113 calories in 30 minutes

"If commuting, getting off a stop or two early [so you have, say, a 20-minute walk] to include some additional walking can burn an additional 100 calories," says McCall. Keep the pace brisk and swing those arms.

Biking to work
255 calories in 30 minutes

According to McCall, biking 30 minutes each way to work can burn an additional 500 calories a day (SELF's editor in chief does it and so can you!). If you live closer or further than that, park your car a strategic distance away, then bike in. To up the burn, boost the intensity a few times throughout your ride - going extra hard for 5 blocks - and alternate riding while seated and riding with your bum off the saddle.

To learn the caloric burn of two more exciting activities, sex and shopping, keep on reading.

Best Cardio Machines For Your Booty

FitSugar — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:00:00 PST

A lot of times when we hit the cardio machines at the gym our ultimate goal is a toned-all-over look, but what if you could get all-over-body toning with emphasizing your booty? Um, yes please. Researchers looked at the most popular cardio machines to find out which work out bums the most. Here are the results (FYI, the more glutes activated, the more your butt is working):

Treadmill (jogging): 48.9 Percent of Glutes activated.
Elliptical: 32.6 Percent of Glutes activated.
Treadmill (walking): 24.3 Percent of Glutes activated.
StairMaster: 24.0 Percent of Glutes activated.
Recumbent Bike: 6.0 Percent of Glutes activated.

Want to increase your results then read more!