FitSugar

Partner Yoga Pose: The Fountain

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:45:00 -0800

Many of the Partner Yoga poses I've posted recently focus on opening up the hamstrings and hips, so let's try one that increases flexibility in your spine. This pose called The Fountain will also challenge your ability to trust your partner.

Music: "Silence" by Delerium

I know this pose doesn't look like much, but once you give it a try, your back will be loving it. To see a detailed description of how to get into this pose with a partner, read more

Both partners stand facing one another, about five inches apart.
Hold each other's hands securely and at the same time, both partners lean all their weight back. Once it feels comfortable, both partners look back, bring their head between their shoulder blades and arch back.
Stay like this for five or more breaths and at the same time, both partners lift their torsos and come to stand up.

Follow this back bending pose with a relaxing Double Child's Pose.

Fountain of Youth, Right There in Your Gym

FitSugar — Wed, 09 May 2007 13:30:00 -0700

I don't know about you, but I am dying for them to find a fountain of youth. Turns out that there is something you can do in the gym to help ward off aging: Weight lifting.

Weight lifting is not only great for keeping you looking good, but it is also great for keeping you youthful too! A new study on Prevention.com has found that women who strength-train 3 times a week have more of a type of growth hormone that counteracts age-related muscle loss and protects bone density. Producing growth hormone gets harder with age, and pumping iron is the best way to slow the decline.

So get to it and pump some iron -- You can thank me down the road. Here's a great starter arms workout video so you can begin today!!!

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How to Avoid Germs at the Gym

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:00:00 -0700

The cold temps are moving in and it's that time of year for colds and the flu. To prevent getting the sniffles, sore throat, and achiness, you've got to avoid the germs. It's not enough to watch out for germy places in your home. You've also got to beware of places that are shared by tons of people, and for FitSugar readers, that means the gym. Yours may seem neat and clean, but that doesn't mean it's germ-free. So here are some ways to avoid the invisible creepy crawlies that can make you sick.

Spray down all equipment before you use it with disinfectant spray. It may be a rule at your gym that you have to clean equipment after you use it, but who knows if the person before you remembered, or how thorough they were. Wipe down everything you touch including handles on weight machines and dumbbells, yoga balls, and buttons on the displays.
Purchase your own mat for yoga, Pilates, or strength training. They're sweat on by many, and rarely get washed.
If you're a major germaphobe, pack along other equipment like weights and resistance bands.
Bring your own towel from home to wipe off your sweat or to use after you shower. The gym towels are supposedly clean, but you never know.

For more tips on avoiding gym germs read more.

Refrain from touching your mouth, nose or eyes while working out.
Wash your hands often, or use hand sanitizer.
Keep a towel between you and the seat in the sauna.
Fill up a reusable water bottle at home, and bring it to the gym. Germs can pass easily from a person's mouth, to their water bottle, then to the fountain tap and back to another bottle, and to another person's mouth, if people hold their bottles against the tap when filling them. Gross.
Shower immediately after working out to get rid of germs. If you can't, be sure to wash your hands and face, place your sweaty clothes in a plastic bag, and put on a clean outfit.
Wear flip-flops in the shower to avoid picking up athlete's foot.

These Female Celebs Stay Toned and Tranquil With Yoga

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:30:00 -0700

While we may not have found the fountain of youth (yet!) and there isn't a magic pill to keep us looking and feeling young, I'm a firm believer that yoga is the next best thing. It keeps your muscles flexible and strong, and helps calm and relax your mind. Practicing yoga regularly is the secret to a healthy body and soul, so check out which female celebs have a yogic side.

View Slideshow ›

Running Tip: Mind Your Hands

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:30:00 -0700

When running, most of us concentrate on our feet, breathing, moving forward, or just not slowing down and walking. On your next run, I ask you to consider your hands, since we all carry a lot of unnecessary tension in our forearms. When running, your hands should be relaxed, or rather cupped into a soft (with the emphasis on soft ) fist. When you hold a tight fist, you tense your forearm, and that is wasted energy. I encourage you to not hold anything with your hands when out for a run; this slight imbalance can cause your torso to rotate, and torso alignment is key to good form. This means using an iPod holder or a water bottle belt, or keeping track of public water fountains for on-the-spot sips during your next run.

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Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:00:00 -0800

The best and worst of body image from 2008 - Weighting Game
Health conditions that get no respect - Vitamin G
Burning calories walking in a Winter wonderland - Fresh Fitness Tips
Naughty but nice low-calorie cocktails - That's Fit
Yummy Winter treat: cranberry-nut biscotti - Shape
Oprah's Dr. Oz thinks meditation is the fountain of youth - FitCeleb
How do Biggest Loser alums fare off campus? - Elastic Waist

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Ink - writing

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:00:18 -0700

Overview

Definition
Alternative Names
Poisonous Ingredient
Where Found
Symptoms
Home Treatment
Before Calling Emergency
Poison Control, or a local emergency number
What to expect at the emergency room
Expectations (prognosis)

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

Writing ink poisoning occurs when someone swallows ink found in writing instruments (pens).

Alternative Names

Fountain pen ink

Poisonous Ingredient

Writing ink is a blend of:

Dyes
Pigments
Solvents
Water

It is generally considered non-poisonous.

Where Found

Bottled ink
Pens

Symptoms

Eye irritation
Staining of skin and other mucus membranes

Home Treatment

Seek immediate medical help. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional.

Note: Large amounts of writing ink must be consumed (more than an ounce) before treatment is needed.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

Patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
Time it was swallowed
Amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

What to expect at the emergency room

The health care provider will measure and monitor your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. You may receive:

Washing of ink from the eyes or skin

Note: You may not need to be treated in a hospital.

Expectations (prognosis)

How well you do depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment is received. The faster you get medical help, the better the chance for recovery.

Because writing ink is generally considered non-poisonous, recovery is very likely.

Review Date: 2/27/2008

Reviewed By: Stephen C. Acosta, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, OR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

adam.com

Source Doc: 1_002791

Cut Calories and Live Longer?

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

If you're looking to dip into the Fountain of Youth, cutting some calories daily just might help. Calorie restriction has long been proven to slow down the aging process in mice and rats, and researchers at Saint Louis University decided to test this theory on a human population.

In a year-long study, subjects who eliminated 300 to 500 calories from their diet a day showed a decrease in the thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3). Scientists think decreasing the T3 hormone slows down the aging process, because it helps to slow metabolism and tissue aging. The calorie restriction methods used in the study were nothing extreme, just simple acts like skipping out on dessert, cutting out sugary beverages, or making healthier choices such as a turkey sandwich instead of fried chicken and French fries. The doctor in charge of the study is not encouraging you to skip out on meals or starve yourself, but rather to eat a nutrient-rich diet. Long term studies are necessary to determine if a decrease in the T3 hormone from calorie restriction really affects the length of life in people.

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Reality Check: Jennifer Aniston's Expensive Anti-cellulite Treatment

FitSugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Along with the fountain of youth, I'm sure many of us are looking for a way to erase cellulite from our bodies. Realistically speaking though, since 95 percent of women have cellulite, most of us have come to terms with those little dimples on our backsides since creams and lotions don't really work.

There are many expensive anti-cellulite treatments at spas though. According to Us Weekly, Jennifer Aniston recently headed to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Spa for a 110-minute lymphatic-draining massage and algae wrap. She paid $290 for this treatment that the spa says is designed to reduce "the dimpled, uneven appearance of cellulite." To find out if it works read more.

I wish I could break the bad news to you gently, but there's no sensitive way to tell you. Cellulite, which is just another word for fat, cannot be eliminated with expensive massages or body wraps. You can however reduce the appearance of that indented skin by decreasing your overall amount of body fat. You do this with old-fashioned cardio that burns calories and strength training to tone your muscles. You'll have to learn to love squats, lunges, and any other exercises that target your booty and thighs, where cellulite tends to show up. I guess this makes me feel better because there's no way I'd drop almost $300 for a special spa treatment.

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Partner Yoga Pose: Rising Cobra

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0700

If you love poses that increase flexibility in your spine and stretch through your abs and chest then you're going to love Rising Cobra. It's similar to Cobra Hero, but allows the person on the bottom to get even deeper into the pose. The sensation is similar to the backbend in the double pose The Fountain.

Want to know how to do this pose with a partner? Then read more.

Partner #1 (man) lies on his belly with his knees together and his arms by his sides.

Partner #2 (woman) stands straddling Partner #1, right behind his hips. She bends her knees and reaches for his hands, and they clasp each other's wrists firmly.
Then Partner #2 slowly begins to stand up, assisting Partner #2 into a variation of Cobra. Partner #1 should be doing most of the work to lift his torso up, which will strengthen his lower back muscles. Partner #2 is just supporting the stretch.
Now Partner #2 tucks her tailbone in, presses her hips forward, and gently arches back. At the same time, Partner #1 wants to focus on tucking in his tailbone, pressing his hips towards the ground, and lengthening through his spine.
They hold for five or more deep breaths, and then Partner #2 stands up straight, and slowly bends her knees to help Partner #1 lower his torso back to the ground.
Partner # 1 can come into Child's Pose for five breaths to stretch through his lower back, and then they can switch positions.

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