FitSugar

Do You Usually Have Your Worst Night's Sleep on Sunday?

FitSugar — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 03:00:00 -0800

Sunday evening rolls around and I am already thinking about my alarm going off early Monday morning. It seems that I am not alone. In a recent UK sleep survey, 60 percent of the participants answered that Sunday night was the worst night of sleep for the week. A quarter of those workers also admitted to calling in sick for work on Monday due to lack of sleep. I am not sure my sleep is affected, but I know that I go to bed thinking about work rather than counting sheep.

How about you . . .

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Weekend Well-Being: Get a Pedicure

FitSugar — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 02:00:00 -0800

Winter is a beautiful time of year, filled with days on the mountain, nights sipping hot cocoa, and snuggling in front of a good movie.

Unfortunately, winter and feet don't really get along too well. You're always cramming your toes into boots that don't let your feet breathe. I hate how my feet feel so constricted - my feet are always cold, so they're usually hidden away in socks.

The heat you crank up to battle the frigid air totally dries out your skin, and the soles of your feet are left hard and cracked. I hate the way they feel so dry, and it's embarrassing when I go to a Pilates or yoga class, where your feet are bare.

So, why not treat yourself to a pedicure? They'll lovingly clean and massage your tootsies, leaving you feeling relaxed and calm. And you can say goodbye to rough heels, because they'll get rid of the dead skins cells, leaving your skin soft and moisturized. Your feet will feel more fresh and alive, and they'll look good too.

In the winter, you don't want to ruin your pedicure by shoving your toes back into your boots. Check out these Bootie Pies - they're boots made especially for pedicured toes. They're warmer than flip-flops, so you can protect your feet from the cold without smudging your polish.

Back on Track: Wake Up Early on Sunday Morning

FitSugar — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 04:30:00 -0700

Starting the week off without getting enough sleep on Sunday night is no fun, but our sleep schedules tend to get all messed up on the weekends. While I like to sleep in on the weekends, if I sleep too late on Sunday, I have a tough time going to bed at a reasonable hour that night. Then I start the week off on the wrong and very groggy foot.

Try this solution. On Sunday morning, no matter what time you go to bed on Saturday night (well, within reason), try waking up just an hour or so later than you would on a normal workday. If you usually wake up at 7, wake up at 8 or even 8:30, but don't sleep any later than that. You'll be less tired than you'd think on Sunday, and you'll have no trouble hitting the sheets at your usual bedtime on Sunday night. You may have to sacrifice some sleep on Saturday night, but it'll be worth if for how good you feel when you wake up on Monday.

Got your own Sunday sleep strategies? Share them in the comments below.

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8 Ways to Start Your Week Off Right

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:30:00 -0800

Though some of us like to do intense workouts on the weekends, for many people, Saturday and Sunday are a time for relaxing and getting out of your fitness routine. It's important to start off Monday on the right foot, so you're on the right track all week. Here are my suggestions for things you can do Sunday night to make sure you're back on track for a healthy Monday morning.

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Jess Feels the Burn but Goes Back For More

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:00:47 -0800

The media hasn't been kind to Jessica Simpson or her curvier physique, which repeatedly made headlines throughout the year. Still, she's hardly throwing in the towel. Even while a nationwide Sunday NFL spoof, jokingly compared Jessica's physique to that of a "defensive tackle," she's managed to keep a healthy perspective on fitness and surround herself with positive friends and family, like trainer, Mike Alexander.

In fact, US Weekly reports that Jessica is hitting the gym hard and sticking with it - even when the training gets tough. Training with Alexander is what helped the star to achieve her famous Dukes of Hazzard bod, so it's no surprise that the training's intense, prompting Jess to Twitter, "Why am I still hurting from our workout earlier? I'm getting old! See you tomorrow with a pouty face and sore buns." Alexander responded, "Probably because you're a badass, and your efforts know no limitations." I'm inclined to agree - despite media taunting, she continues to show how she's rising above it - staying happy and fit.

Catching Up With Biggest Loser Tara Costa

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:47:08 -0800

Even though she is no longer required to pull big numbers at the weekly Biggest Loser weigh-ins, Tara Costa is still working it. She told Life and Style that she's "still battling the last 10 pounds."

Tara currently weighs 164 pounds (down from 294 at the start of the show), but the second runner-up of from last year's season says she'd "love to live at 155-ish." Her plan of attack is twofold. She's headed for a week-long stay at the Biggest Loser Resort and Spa, located in Ivins, UT, where guests can reenact the rigors of the weight-loss reality show: six hours of daily exercise and a healthy diet. Her second method is running. Tara ran in the New York City Marathon last Sunday, completing the 26.2-mile course in 4 hours, 23 minutes, and 12 seconds.

I love keeping up with past contestants from the show and seeing that they are still living healthy lives. Like Tara, are you battling the last few pesky pounds that refuse to go away? Join the Weight Loss Support group, to meet like-minded people who share your goals.

Photos courtesy of NBC and Getty

Celebrate Daylight Saving Time With a Morning Workout

FitSugar — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:30:05 -0700

It's that time of year again, where we "fall back," and turn our clocks back one hour. I love gaining an extra hour this one time of the year, so make the most of it. Don't just go through your day as usual, because you'll never even realize you received that extra 60 minutes.

Since most people complain that they don't have time to exercise, my advice is to get up in the morning when you normally do, and spend your freebie hour working out. It's a great habit to get into, especially if you love exercising outdoors. Mornings will be brighter, so it's safer to exercise before work, since it'll most likely be dark by the time you get home. Here are some ways to sweat it out for an hour:

Call a friend and go on a long, brisk walk. You'll burn 236 calories.
Pick up the pace and go on a relaxing run. An hour burns 473 calories.
Hit a mountain trail. An hour-long hike burns 355 calories.
Hop on your bike and tour a new spot in your neighborhood. After an hour, you'll have burned 473 calories.
Do a strength-training session and burn 177 calories after an hour.
Take a heart-pumping cardio class at your gym. You'll burn an astounding 414 calories.

Don't forget to change your clocks before you go to bed tonight. Daylight saving time officially ends at 2 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 1. Enjoy your hour!

Get Back on Track: Work Out Today

FitSugar — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 03:30:00 -0800

I always begin December with the best intentions. I will work out, eat well, avoid overindulging, and get enough sleep no matter how full my schedule becomes. By this last week of the month, it becomes clear that I have had to make some compromises in my healthy routine. Maybe you have too? This year, with Christmas falling on a Thursday, many of us have had four or more days off. With all those days of relaxing and chilling out, Sunday is the day to reclaim your fitness life. I often consider Sunday a rest day, and if I do anything physical it is yard work or something family-oriented like hiking. Today, though, to get back on track, not just from a weekend but a whole month of brushing exercise aside, I am going on a long, slow meditative run. Jumpstart your last week of 2008 with a long Sunday workout. Be sure to pack your gym bag for tomorrow too.

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Are Your Weekend Workouts More Intense?

FitSugar — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:00:05 -0700

Hooray for Saturday and Sunday! I love my job, but I love my days off more because I have the free time to do whatever I want. That translates to longer, more intense workouts than I do during the week. I go on lengthy bike rides, hike up mountains, go rock climbing, take three-hour yoga workshops, and once Winter comes, I'll go skiing too. I love to push myself hard on my weekend workouts, and then afterward, it feels so good to eat a big meal and relax. How about you?

Source: Flickr User ricardo.martins

Alanis Morissette Marathoning For Eating Disorders

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Many celebs have laced up their sneaks and finished marathons, including Will Ferrell, Mario Lopez, Oprah, David Lee Roth, and Katie Holmes. Now you can add Alanis Morissette to that list. She's planning on running this Sunday, Oct. 11, in the Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon, in Lassen National Forest in northern California.

Alanis is running to raise money for the National Eating Disorders Association, since she knows firsthand what it feels like to struggle with anorexia and bulimia. Alanis began running about a year ago after seeing her assistant Leah running "like a gazelle" while on tour. This singer-songwriter feels that running this marathon is allowing her to use her body as an instrument and raise awareness about an important and personal issue. She knew she couldn't get through the many hours of grueling training unless there was a higher purpose and explains, "I wanted to offer this run to anyone who has had a fraught relationship with their food, their body and their heart and soul."

To find out if training triggered unhealthy eating disorder behaviors, read more.

Alanis said that marathon training did trigger some eating disorder type behaviors, but she knew there was no way she could undereat and maintain the high level of energy needed in order to run. So training for this marathon actually helped her find balance in how she fueled herself. This amazing singer was also aware of not exercising obsessively. She has an order of priorities now: Sleep first. Food second. Run third. Alanis said, "I don't have the first two nailed, I can't run. So it incentivized me to nurture the first two. When I run healthfully I feel empowered and kind. When I run obsessively I feel nervous, stressed out and disassociated."

Have any of you ever walked, biked, or run for a cause? Tell me about it in the comment section below.