FitSugar

Sonia Kashuk® Winter Must Haves!

Sponsor — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:00:23 -0800

Award-winning makeup artist and beauty expert Sonia Kashuk believes that makeup and makeup application can be easy for every woman. Her high-performing, face-flattering products and professional-quality tools make it effortless. Celebrating 10 years, Sonia Kashuk for Target simplifies beauty at remarkably affordable prices. Shop Sonia Kashuk now!

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O . . . M . . . Gossip Girl.

Sponsor — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:45:46 -0700

This just in: Anna Sui and Target have hooked up to create fashion inspired by the designer’s favorite show, Gossip Girl. Best of all, it’s available at prices to gossip about. Now, the big question is: which of the show’s four main characters best reflects your fashion sense and personality? Is it charming and ruthless Blair’s love of glamorous classics with a modern twist? Self-assured Serena’s ability to make haughty Euro-styles look easy breezy? Innocent and quirky Jenny’s rocker-chic fashion turn? Or outcast Vanessa’s penchant for bold colors and patterns that set her apart from the Upper East Side elite?

Whatever style is right for you, you can get it at Target now. Best of all, you don’t have to have the finances of an heiress to afford it.

Celebrating 10 Years of Everyday Beauty

Sponsor — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:45:29 -0700

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Get Your Butt in Gear: C9 Jacket by Champion

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 03:00:00 -0700

A lot of you were liking the little pink Nike jacket I posted about a while ago, but user lintacious tipped me off on another cool jacket that's a little bit cheaper.

The C9 Jacket by Champion is just as cute as it is useful. The best part? The sleeves have built in mittens (sort of), so when your hands get cold on especially chilly jogs, you can put your hands in the little pockets that attach to the sleeves. When your hands get hot, take them out and keep on with your jog. I love that you don't have to worry about keeping track of yet another thing while running. What's more? There is even a slot on the sleeve for your iPod nano! Buy it from Taget.com for $25. Gotta love Target!

Thanks for the tip lintacious!

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Get Your Butt in Gear: C9 Athletic Pants

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 03:00:00 -0700

You guys expressed loving the way the So Low fold over Cropped Pants looked, but you also expressed not loving the price. So I've found a cheaper alternative.

These C9 by Champion Basic Athletic Pants ($21.99) are pretty similar but way less in price. They have the same fold over top so you can wear them how you want. I actually really like the slits in the back, because not only are they flattering but they also add for some good ventilation. Buy them from Target.com.

Stretch It: Relaxing Hamstring Stretch

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:00:28 -0700

Stretching my hamstrings after a run is a must, but since I bike and swim as well, my hamstrings could use all the stretching they can get. So I try to squeeze hamstring stretches in whenever I can. Here's one that you can do while watching TV or lying in bed.

To learn how to do this simple yet effective stretch, read more.

Roll onto your right side with both legs straight, propping yourself up on your left elbow. If it's hard to balance, bend your bottom knee.
Lift your right leg in the air, keeping it straight, and reach your right hand to the back of your right thigh, calf, ankle, heel, or toes. Make sure your knee and toes are pointing toward your body to target your right hamstring. Use your right hand to add weight to your leg and deepen the stretch.
After 30 seconds, release, roll over, and repeat this stretch with the left leg.

Go Figure: Another Look at Target Heart Rates

FitSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 05:50:00 -0700

Figuring out your target heart rate zones for your workout is a pretty simple equation: 220 minus age times the percentage you're shooting for. But this formula leads to a number that many sports trainers find low. They use an alternative equation that contains a few more steps.

If you are looking for an alternative method of finding your max heart rate and target zones, learn this alternate equation when you read more.

The alternative method is a little more complicated, but I think you will get the hang of it. You need to know your resting heart rate before you work the equation. Learn how to do that here.

220 - Age = Theoretical Max Heart Rate
Theoretical Max Heart Rate - Resting Heart Rate = Range
Range x .6 + Resting Heart Rate = 60 percent intensity
Range x .7 + Resting Heart Rate = 70 percent intensity
Range x .8 + Resting Heart Rate = 80 percent intensity

If you're 30 years old with a resting heart rate of 63, work the equation to find where the fat burning zone begins (60 percent of max heart rate) like this:

220 - 30 = 190 for Theoretical Max Heart Rate
190 - 63 = 127 for Range
127 x .6 + 63 = 139

While number crunching is fun for some, it is important if you are just beginning a cardio regimen to help reign yourself in from overworking. Generally you want to stay in the 70 to 80 percent of max zone for a basic workout. Once you have been working out for a while, you can move away from the numbers and use the rate of perceived exertion chart.

Source

FIT Calculator: Target Heart Rate Calculator

FitSugar — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 09:45:00 -0800

So I've been telling you to get your heart rate up a lot recently and maybe you understand why but maybe you don't.

Here is the rundown as to why you should care:
Knowing your target heart rate lets you measure your initial fitness level and monitor your progress in a fitness program. There is a mathematical equation that allows you to find your resting heart rate and then you multiply it by certain percentages to see where your heart rate should be depending on where you are in your workout. Knowing your THR is like having a free cardio personal trainer.

Luckily, FitSugar has taken the hard work out of it with SugarStats, a new calculator that will let you see what your personal target heart rate is. Check it out here!

That's not all! With the new SugarStats you can also evaluate your calories in a day, see if you're drinking enough water and find out your Body Mass Index.

What's My Target Heart Rate?

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:00:00 -0700

When you're working out, it's important to know what your target heart rate is so you can maximize your exercise time. You want to get your heart rate up high enough that you are working your heart and lungs, but not so high that you can't maintain your pace and need to stop.

Your target heart rate is a zone between 50-85% of your maximum heart rate and it is measured in "beats per minute" (BPM). This means you are working hard, but not working as hard as you possibly could.
You can enter your stats in Fit's Calculator to figure out what your specific target heat rate is for your age, height, and weight.

Or you can use this chart to find out where your target heart rate should be, depending on the age that is closest to yours.

Age in Years	Target Heart Rate Zone in BPM	Average Maximum Heart Rate in BPM
20	100-170	200
25	98-166	195
30	95-162	190
35	93-157	185

You can test your heart rate by checking your pulse on your wrist or neck. Or you can wear a heart rate monitor if you don't want to be bothered with counting your breaths while exercising. I for one, love my heart rate monitor.

If you don't want to bother with either, than use the conversation pace test. If you can sing while maintaining your level of movement, than you're not working hard enough. If you can talk while moving, that's a pretty good pace, but try to push a little past there. If you can't even waste your breath to grunt an answer to a yes/no question, then you are working too hard.

Fit's Tips: If you're just beginning to do cardio, you want to aim for your lowest target heart rate. So if you were 25 years old, you'd want to be working out at a pace of 98 beats per minute. As you continue working out, gradually build up to the middle part of your target heart rate, around 134 beats per minute.

Target Workouts - Download Fitness Videos

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 07:30:00 -0800

Target Workouts offers fitness videos that you can download. They've got a ton of workouts to choose from like aerobics, yoga, Pilates, kickboxing, shorter office workouts, and even hotel workouts you can use when you're traveling. You can download streaming videos and have them on your computer whenever you want them.

The instructors are professionally trained and certified. And it's easy to do - just select a workout and download the video.

All the videos are available in 4 fitness levels ranging from Stage 1 (easiest) to Stage 4 (hardest), so you can choose the level that's right for you.

They offer a free 3 day trial, but if you sign up for a year, it only costs $9.99 a month. That's incredibly cheap compared to a year membership at a gym. You can even surprise a friend and get them a gift certificate so they can download videos too.

Some of the workouts require some fitness equipment like balls, resistance bands, and dumbbells - you can get those too at their online fitness store.

If getting in shape for 2007 was one of your goals, but you want to do it on your time, downloading workouts may be just the thing for you.