FitSugar

Modern Dance at the Oscars!!! Pilobolus Moves

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 14:12:17 -0800

Did you see the cool moves of Pilobolus last night on the Academy Awards? They're a modern dance company that has been making sculptural and shape oriented dances for years. Well if you didn't catch the show last night, here's a video of their Oscar performances. Their athletic dance style combines the flexibility of yoga and the strength of weight lifting. Trust me, Pilobolus is unlike anything you've ever seen.

Interested in seeing Pilobolus perform live, check out their performance schedule. If you've already seen them, and they've inspired you to move, classes are offered through the Pilobolus Institute (most classes and workshops are in Connecticut where they are based).

Taking risks (like standing on someone's shoulders to make a shadow image of an Oscar statuette) and trying new things is considered good for your mental health. The brain and the body both appreciate a challenge. Plus dance, especially the way Pilobolus does it, really works you out and gets you strong.

So if you are interested in dancing, try contacting local dance studios and movement centers to find out about other classes that might help you to discover a new way to move, have fun and exercise.

Class Act: Cardio Theater

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:47:52 -0700

One way I beat boredom while doing cardio inside is to watch movies. I'll start one and watch about 30 minutes or more, and then the next time I work out, I'm excited to continue where I left off in the flick. I'm lucky to have a machine at home I can walk or run on, but if you don't, check out Cardio Theater. Fitworks health clubs offer a huge room with cardio machines in front of a 15-foot theater screen, so you feel like you're at the local cinema, not at the gym. You can watch movies, TV shows, or sports games, and it makes the time go by so fast. Cardio Theater is included in the price of the membership at their Cincinnati, Akron, Cleveland, Dayton, Ohio, and Northern Kentucky area clubs. If you don't live in these areas, I'm sure it'll be just a matter of time before other fitness clubs catch on. Tell me, would you want a Cardio Theater at your gym?

Don't Blow Your Healthy Habits at the Movies This Weekend

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:53 -0800

It's a big movie weekend, for sure. With New Moon finally out, I've already committed myself to spend an afternoon at the theater - the only complication is that I'm not so fond of the movie-theater fare. It's an admittedly challenging place to stick to healthy food choices, since there usually aren't any to begin with. Just in case you don't believe me, recent research is revealing just how unhealthy movie popcorn can be - and it's probably a lot worse than you think.

An article from WebMd highlights the Center for Science in the Public Interest's findings on the state of popcorn, which claims movie theater popcorn is just about as bad for you as "a pound of baby back ribs and a scoop of Haagen-Dazs ice cream or maybe two Big Macs" - and that's before you even add the butter. For the study, researchers sent samples of popcorn and toppings from three different movie theater chains and compared their findings to the chains' own nutritional information. What they found is likely to make you rethink how you view your movie treat.

The study's results show that the calorie count of movie theater popcorn ranges from just about 400 to 1,200 calories, and contains an alarming serving of saturated fat that's equivalent to three days worth of your daily recommended portion, and anywhere from 200 (in the smallest 6-cup size serving) to 1,500 milligrams of sodium. Additionally, the study revealed that both AMC and Regal theaters pop their popcorn in coconut oil, which has a saturated fat content of a whopping 90 percent. Cinemark theaters, which pops their popcorn in canola oil, earns the rep as the healthiest chain, with a significantly lower saturated fat content - ranging from 2 grams in the 420-calorie small size to 5 grams in the 910-calorie large popcorn bucket. But, keep in mind that popcorn is usually just a part of the order - add a soda or your choice of candy, and your order is easily nearing 1,700 calories.

To learn about healthier options at the movies read more.

To avoid a serious caloric overload on your movie outing, the solutions are simple. Opt to share a small, unbuttered popcorn, and request that it be popped without salt (according to the article, these chains will happily oblige), or knosh on something healthy before you head out. If you can, bring a small bag of almonds or a piece of fruit along. Be smart about your choices, and don't let one afternoon at the movies spoil your healthy habits. It's totally fine to indulge every now and then, but a 1,200-calorie serving of popcorn that packs more saturated fat than you need in three days is hardly a treat for your bod or health.

Popcorn Breakdown

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 10:15:00 -0700

Popcorn is delicious, satisfying, crunchy, and fun to eat. It's nature's snack food.

There are so many different ways to make and flavor popcorn, but unfortunately, some of those tasty methods turn this healthy snack into one loaded with sugar and sodium.

So let's look at the nutritional breakdown of 1 cup of each to see how they compare.

Want to see, then read more

	Calories	Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Sugar (g)
Air popped popcorn	31	0	1	6	0
Stove-top with oil & salt	55	3	97	6	0
Orville Redenbacher's Microwave popcorn (ultimate butter)	55	3	40	3	0
Orville Redenbacher's Microwave popcorn (light, butter)	40	1	35	4	0
Newman's Own Organics Microwave popcorn (butter)	46	2.6	54	4.9	0
Popcorn Indiana Kettle corn	60	1.8	48	11	5.5
Movie theater popcorn with butter	83	7	-	4	-
Smartfood (cheddar cheese flavored)	162	10	294	14.2	3
Cracker Jack with peanuts	240	4	140	46	30
Crunch and Munch (buttery toffee with peanuts)	128	4.6	147	21	12
Poppycock (cashew lovers)	280	12	180	42	24
Fiddle Faddle (Honey nut)	260	7	480	48	30
Caramel Corn	243	12	357	34	26

Fit's Tips: The sodium and sugar content of movie theater popcorn was impossible to find, so that makes me think it's even worse than I imagine. So the next time you go to the movies, forget about buying over-priced, unhealthy snacks - why not bring your own? I always pop my own popcorn and bring it along in my purse with a water bottle. That way I won't be tempted to buy the movie theater popcorn when I smell the fake, yet mesmerizing, buttery aroma. I also like to pack some dark chocolate, almonds and dried cranberries.

Since movie theaters make most of their profits by selling overpriced snacks, you gotta keep your homemade treats on the down low. Wait until the lights go dim before enjoying your tasty snacks.

Source

Movie Theater Food Breakdown

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 09:45:00 -0800

This holiday season many of us will be flocking to the movies to see the latest and greatest hitting the theaters.

Unfortunately we may not realize that the snacks we are paying WAY too much for have WAY more calories than we may realize. So to help you through, I've broken down some movie theater favorites:

Large Buttered Popcorn (20 cups): 1500 calories, 116g fat, 90g carbs
Hot Dog (1 dog with bun): 305 calories, 4.5g fat, 23g carbs
Nachos with Cheese (large, 4 oz): 1101 calories, 59g fat, 131.5g carbs
Soft Pretzel (large): 483 calories, 4.5g fat, 99g carbs
Cotton Candy (2.5 oz): 300 calories, 0g fat, 74g carbs
Junior Mints (3 oz): 320 calories, 5g fat, 68g carbs

There's lots more, so read more

Milk Duds (3 oz): 340 calories, 12g fat, 56g carbs
Sno-Caps (3.1 oz): 360 calories, 16g fat, 60g carbs
Raisinets (3.5 oz): 380 calories, 16g fat, 64g carbs
Gummi Bears (4 oz): 390 calories, 0g fat, 90g carbs
Goobers (3.5 oz): 525 calories, 35g fat, 55g carbs
Twizzlers (6 oz): 600 calories, 4g fat, 136g carbs
M&M's (5.3 oz): 735 calories, 31.5g fat, 105g carbs
Skittles (6.75 oz): 765 calories, 9g fat, 166.5g carbs
Reese's Pieces (8 oz): 1200 calories, 60g fat, 138g carbs
Starburst (24 pieces): 480 calories, 10.5g fat, 99g carbs
Coca-Cola with ice (large, 3 pints, 18.9 fl oz): 353 calories, 0g fat, 88.4g carbs

King Corn Coming to Theaters Near You

FitSugar — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 03:00:00 -0700

Corn, it is an ingredient in just about everything. The cob is manufactured into fillers, oils and sweeteners. Many have theorized that the rise in obesity is due to the increased use of high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener. While the jury is still out on that particular connection, many see the corn subsidy as the underlying problem with American food production and agriculture.
In light of all this, two recent college graduates decided to plant an acre of corn in Iowa in an attempt to learn more about the crop that is taking over America. The tale they tell in the documentary King Corn is entertaining, enlightening and funny. Regardless if you have or haven’t read Michael Pollan’s treatise on agriculture in the U.S. - The Omnivore's Dilemma - you should see this film. If you are what you eat, then we are all corn!

King Corn will be shown in select theaters around the country this October. If you can't make it to see the film, don't fret. You can read about the film and its protagonist / antagonist, corn, on their website.

Lunafest Film Festival Supports Breast Cancer Fund

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:30:36 -0700

Luna, maker of the sports bar for women's nutritional needs and super stylin' biking gear, also dabbles in the arts. Every October to coordinate with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, for the past nine years Luna has put on Lunafest, a festival of short films, by, for, and about women; the proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Fund.

Last night I was lucky enough to attend the premiere here in San Francisco. It was inspirational - both creatively and health-wise. The Breast Cancer Fund's mission is cancer prevention through educating women on environmental factors, including household cleaners and beauty products, that might play a part in the disease, as well as how healthy living - diet and exercise - help prevent it.

The cool thing is, you can host a Lunafest event, too, to raise money for the Breast Cancer Fund as well as a local nonprofit - more details on that later this month. There are already 110 screenings of the festival planned across the nation. Here's the calendar of events so you can find when the festival will be coming to a theater near you. One of the 10 films features Laura Dern (it's nice to see her again) in Courteney Cox's directorial debut, the charming 19-minute film Monday Before Thanksgiving.

I highly recommend this evening of films. How often do you get to raise funds for a good cause while sitting in the dark eating popcorn?

Yoga With Biggest Loser Trainer Bob Harper

FitSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:47:23 -0700

I gaze out past the middle finger of my left hand into the Hollywood Hills as my right quad quivers holding Warrior 2. This is when Bob Harper, trainer from The Biggest Loser, says, "You might be feeling a bit of heat in your thigh right about now." He's teaching a yoga class to a few bloggers and ladies of the press, and we all laugh as our legs burn.

You can hear Bob's charming smile even in his calm instructions leading us from pose to pose. He's a thoughtful teacher, with smart sensitive hands that gently mold you into correct positions. I've had a bit of a TV crush on him for years, and now after meeting him in person, I'm smitten. This yoga class and round table discussion were produced by Go With the Grain, and although carbs did come up (as well as protein, which Bob thinks is overrated), we mostly talked about the show, yoga, and a dash of musical theater. He mentioned the contestant Shay more than a few times; she was clearly on his mind. Having lived through each moment during filming, Bob doesn't watch the show but checks the ratings the following morning. He's also learned to avoid the online community boards: "They're so mean." He addresses the recent criticism about all the screaming on the show and shakes his head in dismay and bemusement about the clip of a tirade used on the Emmys.

Bob said there is so much of the action at the ranch that ends on the cutting room floor because it doesn't make for good TV. Which brings us to yoga. Quiet, slow yoga. He actually does a fair bit with his contestants because it's meditative. "It helps them own their bodies," he explains. Working with people that weigh over 300 pounds, Bob gets creative with props, using benches to help support Shay in Chaturanga. Ten minutes of sun salutations is often part of the exercise homework he gives his team.

To see if Bob and Jillian, his rival trainer on the show, are buddies, just read more.

Bob still teaches a Saturday spin class at a Crunch in LA and has participated in the SF to LA AIDS ride, so I asked him if he rides a road bike much. "I spin four to five days a week and get my cycle time there. Mostly, I like to ride my motorcycle." Who taught him to ride? Jillian. They hang out all the time. Cute.

As a personal trainer, we know Bob is into fitness, but food is a major part of the health picture. Growing up on a cattle farm, with "two coffin freezers full of meat," Bob is not into animal protein and believes in a plant-based diet. He feels too much emphasis has been placed on protein. He really wants people to focus on fruits and veggies, and of course grains. On the show, he tell contestants that life on the ranch is the little picture. It's extreme. Going forward with their lives after The Biggest Loser they're going to need to find balance. Which is what we all need, especially when doing the standing splits to end a series of standing poses he taught in his class.

Obviously, I am big fan of Bob's - are you? How was your last yoga class? Ever taken one with a celebrity yogi? Share the details in my Yoga Stretch and Tell group.

Tri Training: Practice Your Transitions

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:30:34 -0700

If you're training for your first triathlon, I hope you're having fun mixing up your cardio while training. It's fun to bike one day and swim hard the next. Unfortunately when actually at the race, you have to do all the events back-to-back, and they all require different gear. The transitions can be nerve-wracking. That is why I like to think of tries as three-act plays with two quick costume changes. Just like life in the theater, or on the set of Deseperate Housewives, you need to rehearse those transitions. Going through the peeling off of a wetsuit to slipping socks onto wet feet is important for a couple of reasons: One, practicing will decrease the anxiety-inducing unknowns - being more familiar with the struggles of tying your shoes while sucking down some sports goo will help you stay calm. Two, while practice doesn't make perfect, these mini-rehearsals will help you solve many problems ahead of time, ensuring that you don't forget important equipment prior to the race.

If you're training for a race be sure to join the Race Day Training Group to share your training tips, racing fears, and moments of glory.

What's Your Movie Theater Diet Killer?

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 11:24:22 -0800