FitSugar

Build a Strong Core and Arms With the Suitcase Walk

FitSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:00:00 PST

If you're looking to strengthen your core muscles as well as your shoulders and arms, here's a great move called the suitcase walk. Not only is it great for toning your muscles, but it can also prepare you for carrying your suitcase in the airport this holiday season. Here's how to do it:

Hold a rather heavy size dumbbell in your right hand, between 15 and 30 pounds. You want to choose a dumbbell weight that will challenge your core, but also allow you to have good form when walking. Hold the hand weight to one side with a straight arm, just like you would hold a suitcase. Keep your shoulders even and your posture square.
Walk, carrying your dumbbell at your side, for 100 to 300 feet. If you don't have one long area to walk in, then walk a shorter distance, back and forth, to total the amount of feet you've chosen. Keep your spine straight and your abs engaged as you move with control. Don't swing the dumbbell mindlessly, but keep it at your side.
Then bend your knees to put the weight down and pick it up with your left hand. Walk the same distance.
Do this exercise once or twice on each side, envisioning the long lines at the airport.

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Olivia Wilde and Emma Stone Stun in the Latest Revlon Ads

Marisa Tom — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:00:11 PDT

5 Mattress Buying Secrets from an Insider

Guest Writer — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:00:21 PDT

I'm excited to present a post from guest writer, eco lifestyle expert, and all-around awesome guy Danny Seo. Today, he's here to walk you through some simple, smart tips for buying a new mattress.

If you're like I was a few years ago, buying a mattress from a store was akin to purchasing a used car: stressful, high pressure, and not fun.
In 2009, I partnered up with the Simmons bedding company to create a line of eco-friendly mattresses called the Simmons Natural Care by Danny Seo. It was my attempt to do a mainstream line of eco beds that would be sold in retail stores nationwide and come with all the bells and whistles Simmons mattresses are known for: great customer service, white glove delivery, long and trustworthy warranty. The line was a hit.

This post isn't about my beds, but about the insider tricks and tips I learned about the mattress business and what consumers should know and do when shopping. Here are my top 5 tips:

Bring Your Pillow. When you sleep at home, most of us do not lay flat on your back, shoes on, head firmly pressed against a bare mattress. Yet, we do that all the time when "test driving" beds in stores. Since you can't strip down to your PJs in the store, do the next best thing: bring your pillow. Resting your head on whatever number of pillows you normally sleep on will give you a true feel for how a new mattress will feel when you sleep on it.
Don't Bother Looking For a Lower Price. Some stores have the tagline "If you find a lower price, it's free!" but the truth is, you will likely never find a lower price. Regional chains work with mattress manufacturers to make special version of popular beds. So instead of just selling a Simmons Natural Care mattress, it could be called The Simmons Natural New Hope model or The Simmons Natural Care Iverness Valley. These model names are often unique to stores, so finding a lower price can be next to impossible. If you find a bed you like, negotiate with the store and don't bother shopping around.

Keep reading for three more matress-buying tips from Danny Seo!

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Yoga Mat

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:36:43 PST

Buying a yoga mat is like buying a new pair of running sneakers. It takes careful consideration and research to find the right fit. Since there are hundreds to ~~confuse you~~ choose from, narrow down your search by asking these important questions.

How Much Do I Want to Spend?
Your budget is a huge factor in the mat you end up with. Do you have the dough to lay down for the priciest one on the market or are you happy buying a cheaper mat? The upside of buying a more expensive mat, like the Manduka PRO Black Magic ($104), is durability, which will actually save you money over time.

How Thick Do I Want It?
If you're new to the mat-buying scene, you might not realize that mats come in different thicknesses. A quarter-inch is the standard mat thickness, probably like the one you've borrowed from your studio. Think about how your body feels on this mat in certain poses where your bones are pressing into the floor. If you've felt discomfort, splurge on a thicker mat, but make sure it's also dense. A thick squishy mat makes balancing postures more difficult.

Keep reading for more things to consider when purchasing a new yoga mat.

50 Geeky Date Ideas For Valentine's Day (and Beyond)

GeekSugar — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:30:10 PST

Coming up short for Valentine's Day date ideas? If you and your sweetheart are more of the geeky persuasion, simply hitting up an overpriced restaurant just won't cut it. We brainstormed 50 date ideas that incorporate science, tech, and video games, for a special Valentine's eve. But don't limit yourself - tackle these date ideas all year!

Bundle up, pack a dinner picnic, and head to the park for some stargazing.
Watch Contact (for the millionth time).
Go to a science museum.
Hit the natural history museum and check out your favorite dino bones.
Go retro - grab a roll of quarters, a slice or two, and hit the pizza parlor arcade.
Build your own planetarium with glow-in-the-dark stickers.
Catch up with the Doctor Who craze by watching the series from the beginning.
Throw a Star Wars party for two.
Whip up a batch of Cloud 9 mojitos (complete with mason jar glasses) and have a Battlestar Galactica marathon.
Visit Nerdy Day Trips and find geeky stuff to do near you.
Go to the planetarium.
Take a dream vacay to the Hobbit Hotel in New Zealand.
Spend a few romantic nights in the Hobbit House of Montana.
Visit the actual Lord of the Rings movie set.
Travel to the Chott el Djerid salt lakes in Tunisia, which were transformed into Luke Skywalker's home on Tatooine.

See the rest of the list after the break!

Guerrilla Guide to the Holidays: A Perfect, Price-Tag-Free Gift List

LearnVest — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:15:18 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Don’t look now, but here come the holidays (really, they’re just 10 weeks away!). This year, we’re going to make planning and budgeting for them a snap.

That’s why we’re starting early to help you tackle the season step by step - and save time, money and stress. If you follow our Guerrilla Guide each week, we promise that by the end of December, you’ll be outside on the skating rink instead of stressing inside the shopping mall.

According to our Facebook poll, 78% of LearnVesters were already thinking about holiday gifts as early as last week. So, for this issue of the Guerrilla Guide, we bring you the newest way to sort out your holiday gift list.

WEEK 2: YOUR CREATIVE, BUDGET-FRIENDLY GIFT LIST

As you make your list this year, we want you to think about holiday giving a little differently.

Before you start assigning dollar amounts to everyone and hunting around for products to buy and wrap, first consider whether the best gift for them is a thing with a price tag. According to the Five Love Languages, defined by marriage counselor Dr. Gary Chapman, people receive messages of love very differently, and only one of these categories involves actual physical gifts. Some people would rather receive acts of service or quality time instead.

Read on to find out more.

Nate Berkus's 3 Resources For Color Inspiration

Julia Millay Walsh — Wed, 11 May 2011 14:20:00 PDT

On Monday, I attended an intimate event in New York City for Lowes and Valspar Signature Colors paint hosted by Nate Berkus. Nate presented about the power of paint and let us in on the secret of where he finds color inspiration. The biggest takeaway for me, I think, was that color really should be the inspiration for a room. You can add style influences like "rustic" or "shabby chic" later but choosing your paint and palette choices up front gives a room direction and keeps your design on track.

But how do you choose your colors? Here are the three places Nate Berkus finds color inspiration:

Nature. Berkus says he looks at "combinations in the colors in nature" for inspiration. Ever the designer, he's always on the hunt for interiors inspiration. Berkus says when he was snorkeling in Thailand at the islands made famous by The Beach, he saw a "bright, bright turquoise and orange fish," and thought to himself, "I'm so going to turn that into someone's family room." According to Berkus, "You can't go wrong with colors from nature because you're just knocking off what God's done."
Fashion. Berkus also looks to fashion for color inspiration. While, he said, the "tailored, structural, and architectural" pieces by Jil Sander may influence the shapes in his interiors, he was inspired by the colors of Derek Lam's collection this past fashion week - cloudy blues, brick red, and olive greens - for future decorating palettes. Whether it's pieces straight from the runway or from the pages of Vogue, the color inspiration in fashion is everywhere, he says. "Paint is the greatest equalizer," because everyone can afford it and do it themselves, and it "cuts out the middle man between fashion week and your living room." You don't need to own a Dior bag or Louis Vuitton suitcase to achieve that style: "You can re-create those combinations through color."

Continue reading for one more place to find color inspiration!

Ways Your Vacation Is Making You Fat

Heather Dale — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 03:06:16 PDT

Vacations are all fun and games until you realize your pleasure trip is taking a toll on your waistline! Some of us give our diets and exercise a break when we bon voyage, but if you're a regular jet-setter, you may want to take into consideration these primary culprits for weight gain when you're on a trip.

The food. Whether you're on a cruise or staying at an all-inclusive resort, there is always an abundance of food right in front of your nose. Rather than starving yourself from all that food, eat three-square meals a day (with healthy snacks in between) and order foods that are either baked, broiled, or grilled while keeping an eye on portions. All of these suggestions will help reduce both fat and calorie content.
The cocktails. Of course you want a colorful cocktail with a cute umbrella as soon as you check into your hotel. Unfortunately some of our favorite drinks are filled with calories, which is why the drinks can sometimes do more damage than the actual meal! Don't fret - you can have your food and your drinks too if you try incorporating some of these smart solutions for cutting down on cocktail calories.

Here are some other reasons why your vacation may be packing on the pounds.

Ryan Phillippe and Amanda Seyfried Get Romantic in the City of Lights

Lindsay Miller — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:25:00 PDT

Ryan Phillippe and Amanda Seyfried took a stroll beneath the Eiffel Tower and shared a little PDA in a Paris park yesterday. The pair flew to France together this weekend, where Ryan has been promoting his movie The Lincoln Lawyer with his costar Matthew McConaughey. Ryan and Amanda parted ways temporarily today, though, as she left their hotel with her suitcase and he stayed behind. The actors have been dating since they met last Fall and have been stepping out together more and more frequently lately, cuddling up during dates, walking their dogs, and even working up a sweat on couples' jogs. Ryan has even introduced her to his two kids, Ava and Deacon, both of whom he's been gushing about during his many TV appearances for the legal thriller.

Where to Go Now: Getting the Most of Your Dollar

LearnVest — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:15:59 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

March is always a tough month to get through. The festivities of the holidays are over, the gleam of the new year has worn off, and the warmth of spring is not…quite…here yet.

Consider packing your suitcase and taking a spontaneous trip to one of these places that are currently offering great deals. Here are three destinations where your dollar will go far right now.

Istanbul, Turkey

No longer the undiscovered gem that it was just a few years ago, Istanbul is still under the radar for many American travelers. That’s why it is possible to experience this amazing city and its legendary hospitality for a fraction of what you’d pay in London, Paris, Rome, or any of the other more traditional European destinations.

Spring is the optimal time to visit since the mild climate is perfect for sightseeing, the tourist hoards of summer have not yet descended, rates are lower, and restaurants are not overbooked. Plus, you’ll avoid the mosquitoes that arrive around mid June.

Two airlines have direct flights to Istanbul from the U.S.: Delta (from JFK) and Turkish Airlines (from Dulles, LAX, and O’Hare). A roundtrip flight in March and April will run you around $700, a steal given that (a) many indirect flights on other airlines cost as much or more and (b) stretching the 9-hour haul into several layovers would waste valuable time exploring this historic metropolis.

One of the many beauties of Istanbul is that it’s not cluttered with hotels, but two options include the posh and pricey Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, where rates in March begin at $700 per night, and the charming Empress Zoe, where your $165 room includes a delicious buffet breakfast. (Bonus tip: Pay in cash and get a 10% discount off your room rate). Both of these properties are right smack in the middle of the historic center, a stone’s throw from the incredible Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Marmara Sea.

Check out more Spring travel recommendations after the break!