FitSugar

Trouble Waking Up? Try Sleeptracker Pro

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:00:00 PDT

Some of you may have a difficult time falling or staying asleep, but others are the opposite. You hit snoozeland as soon as your head hits the pillow and you could end up sleeping until lunch. If that's the case, you probably have a really tough time waking up, and this little device called the Sleeptracker Pro ($179) may interest you. Just as its name states, it tracks the series of sleep cycles your body experiences throughout the night. Most people will go through four to five full rounds of these 90 to 110 minute cycles, which are comprised of five stages. In Stages 1 and 2, you're lightly sleeping, and Stages 3 and 4, known as Delta Sleep, are when you're in the heaviest sleep. This is when your body has the chance to rebuild itself. Stage 5 is known as REM sleep is when we dream.

As your body undergoes these cycles, the Sleeptracker Pro's sensors can figure out what points during the night you are "almost awake." You set the alarm for a certain window of time, say 6:15 to 6:30 a.m., and the watch gently wakes you at the most optimal moment when you're most alert. This device may be great if you tend to be coma-like each morning. The only downside is that wearing a bulky wrist watch like this may be annoying and it'll keep you up all night. If you're a deep sleeper though, you probably won't even notice it. What do you think of the Sleeptacker Pro? Is this a helpful gadget or a waste of money?

Apparently Dr. Phil is a huge fan. To hear what he had to say

For Better Sleep, Do These 3 Things 20 Minutes Before Bed

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 10 May 2012 05:01:37 PDT

We spend about a third of our lives in slumberland, but many people complain of not sleeping well. If you have a tough time falling asleep or you toss and turn in the middle of the night, try exercising during the day and limiting alcohol and caffeine a few hours before bedtime. But if you are doing this already and still have troubles, here are three things to do immediately before hitting the hay to calm your body and mind and help you get the restful night of sleep you crave.

The Power of Water
Twenty minutes before bedtime, dim the lights in the bathroom, turn on some relaxing tunes on your iPhone and take a warm shower or bath. The heat soothes achy muscles, and the steam clears your sinuses, which is essential if allergy symptoms prevent you from sleeping well at night. It's also a great way to wash away germs and prevent you from getting sick, which can also make it difficult to sleep.

Bye-Bye Pains
After your 10-minute warm bath or shower, slip into your PJs and do five minutes of stretching to ease any pains that prevent you from sleeping. Lower back pain is common for many, so if yours bothers you, here's a yoga sequence to offer back pain relief. If a sore neck and shoulders are your woe, do these soothing stretches. A little self-massage can also ease muscle tension, or apply a heating pad or one of those rice pillows you warm up in the microwave to sore areas.

Get Bored
Now slip into bed, not with a riveting, can't-put-it-down book, but one that has a dull, monotonous, stale topic that's bound to have your eyelids drooping in minutes. Be sure to read from an actual book, not a laptop or iPad, as the lights cue your brain to wake up.

Should There Be a War on Makeup For Little Girls?

BabyCenter — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:57:47 PDT

Here's a post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we bring you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post from Betsy Shaw about kids and makeup.

Hope Perlman survived the moment of mothering girls I dread. In her post for NY Times' Motherlode, she relays the day her 13-year-old daughter begged to be allowed to wear makeup to a party.

After much soul searching – Perlman occasionally wears makeup herself – and lecturing, she said yes. She describes her rationale here:

"I wanted her to fit in, because I know fitting in is what middle school is about. But what, exactly, was she starting to fit into? The role of the teenager tortured by her failure to live up to a magazine picture? I'd been that teenager, with a picture of a model taped to my bedroom mirror. It wasn't what I wanted for my child."

So she acquiesced. But not before letting her know exactly what she thought about the message, so aggressively delivered by a male-dominated advertising industry, that girls and women need to paint themselves, cover their skin with lotions and potions, to be beautiful and feminine.

"So that's how I allowed my daughter to start wearing makeup," Perlman says at the end of her essay, "I gave her permission - along with a large and cumbersome bag of guilt. The personal is political. Better remember that. Here's your mascara, honey. And your burden of awareness. Enjoy!"

I relate to Perlman’s story: When my daughter first sensed I had "issues" with makeup, she was about four years old. She asked me to get her a makeup kit, like the one her little friend Hanna got for being a flower girl, and I refused.

"Why not?" she pouted.

Instead of simply saying "because I said so," I treated her to a verbal tirade of stinging righteousness that came from an apparently conflicted place inside of me.

Keep reading for more of the story.

Strategies to Get Your Energy Back

Health — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:13:28 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

Can't seem to get enough rest? To-do list dragging you down? Hit refresh with these foods, moves, and must-dos for a more revved-up you.
By Mary Kate Frank

Wish you were still bounding out of bed like you did when you were 22? Who doesn't! But it can be hard to summon all your old verve in the midst of the daily grind.

"The main reason I see for loss of energy in women is that they have too much to do," says Michael Roizen, MD, chief wellness officer at the Cleveland Clinic and founder of youbeauty.com. "There's a merry-go-round of caring for kids, caring for parents, working, and not paying attention to yourself or getting proper sleep."

Health.com: How to Fake a Good Night's Sleep

Sometimes there's a medical cause (like a vitamin deficiency or thyroid disorder) for a lack of energy. If you feel deeply fatigued all the time, schedule a checkup ASAP. But if your sluggishness is just a case of you on overload, the good news is that you can do something about it yourself. Here, Dr. Roizen and other health pros share strategies for putting the pep back in your step.

Sleep more soundly
Although it's true that you naturally begin to sleep more lightly in your mid-40s - a result of changes in brain waves as you age - you can start having trouble catching zzz's much sooner. "I've got patients who at age 30 are sleeping like 60-year-olds because of stress," says Michael Breus, PhD, author of The Sleep Doctor's Diet Plan.

A good night's rest is essential to waking up fully energized. Learn a few simple steps to snooze smarter after the break:

4 Lazy Moves That Boost Your Health

Prevention — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:05:16 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

You don’t have to go on a deprivation diet or spend hours exercising to ward off disease and be your healthiest self! Instead, try these supersimple tips
By the editors of Prevention

Staying healthy can feel like so much, well, work (think: logging hours at the gym and whipping up nutritious meals from scratch). However, there are plenty of small moves that you can make in your everyday life that will have big health benefits. We’ve rounded up 15 practically zero-effort ways to fight disease, whittle your waist, lower stress, and more. Bonus: many of these good-for-you moves feel good, too. So say sayonara to the old adage “no pain, no gain” and try these tips today.

Lazy Move No. 1: Protect Your Ticker by Snoozing
Need a good excuse to grab your comfiest set of pajamas and hit the sack? Skimping on shut-eye may do more than make you cranky or unproductive - it also boosts your risk of a heart attack. According to one Norwegian study, people who reported that they did not wake up feeling refreshed in the morning had a 27 percent higher risk of a heart attack, those who had trouble staying asleep almost every night in the last month had a 30 percent higher risk, and those who had trouble falling asleep almost every night in the last month had odds that jumped to 45 percent.

Twenty Ways to Sleep Better Every Night

Some researchers speculate that insomnia might trigger your body to release more of the stress hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol have been linked with high blood pressure and diabetes, which are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Plus when you’re exhausted, you may be more likely to make unhealthy choices that up your heart disease risk, such as skipping your workout or reaching for fatty or sugary snacks for a quick energy fix.

Keep reading for three more lazy ways to improve your health.

Jasmine, Gardenia, and Juicy Couture - OH MY!

Sponsor — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:00:00 PST

Finish the sentence: I never leave the house without a spritz of my favorite ___________.

If you said perfume then you’re in good company. If you said couture perfume then you’re in fabulous company. Viva La Juicy by Juicy Couture (because, one can never have enough couture in their lives). Viva La Juicy is an alluring fragrance of wild berries and mandarins, honeysuckle, gardenia, and jasmine. With underlying hints of amber, caramel and vanilla, sandelwood and praline. Inspired by a glamorous girl who is always the life of the party, the Viva la Juicy girl never turns down a glass of champagne or the chance to get into the tiniest bit of trouble. She stays out late, wakes up early and lives life with Viva!

90210 "A Thousand Words": Most Scandalous Moments

Rose Curiel — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:58:40 PST

These days, it seems no political campaign is complete without a scandal, and on this week's 90210, Teddy unwillingly fills that role in his conservative uncle's race for Congress. There are plenty of other issues, of course, including Annie taking a shocking new turn with her relationship with Patrick.

Meanwhile, Dixon tries to sort out his life by dealing with his addiction and feelings for Adrianna head on, and Ivy and Raj, receive good news. Let's break it all down when you

Teddy's wedding video makes the local news. When Silver's footage of Teddy's wedding is leaked to the media, he instantly blames his new beau Shane. Little does he know it was Silver's boss Marissa who leaked the tape after Silver accidentally emailed it to her. Marissa has no problem admitting that she was the source of the leak after Silver confronts her, even making a case that she did it for the greater good. Her twisted logic is no help to Silver, who can't get Teddy to forgive her after she tells him the truth.
Liam lands a new modeling account. Is it me, or is Liam a little bit of a diva this week? He turns down every modeling gig his agency offers him until he learns he can drive a race car as part of a new cologne campaign. He's all smiles until he throws a Hollywood-style hissy fit when he learns he's not actually allowed to get behind the wheel of the car, or participate in any dangerous activities that might damage his pretty little mug. In another diva move, he takes his anger out on his agent's assistant who trails him to make sure he doesn't get into trouble, until he ditches her to sneak into the racetrack with Teddy. When the police catch the pair, Liam breaks his leg in an attempt to flee. Newly injured, he can't complete the cologne campaign, which costs his agency $200,000. He has to take on a new campaign to work off the debt, and it's one that's sure to deflate his expanding ego: romance novel cover model.
Ivy's headed to New Guinea. Ivy's photography teacher Nick encourages her to enter CU's photography showcase competition, which offers a first place prize of a trip to New Guinea with a professional photographer. Ivy's visibly uncomfortable when Nick first breaks the news of the contest, but I'm guessing that's got more to do with the oh-so-obvious sexual tension between her and her teacher than the prospect of leaving Raj while he's undergoing cancer treatment. Ivy enters the contest and wins, only to find out that the photographer set to travel with the winner is none other than Nick. Shortly after the showcase, Raj receives news that he's cancer-free, which opens the door for Ivy to travel to New Guinea. But does it also mean that a less guilt-ridden Ivy might get into trouble while she's abroad with Nick?
Dixon heads to rehab. Dixon agrees to head to a cushy, resort-like rehab center in Santa Barbara, but not before trying to secure a relationship with Adrianna. He tells her he has genuine feelings for her and that he hopes she didn't only sleep with him as a means of distracting him from drugs in Vegas. It's a cute, bold admission, but Adrianna fears he's still using and that the drugs are making him say things he doesn't mean. Though she admits she has feelings for him, she decides to put their relationship on hold until he's through with his treatment.
Annie's officially a prostitute. Dixon's rehab comes with a hefty price tag of $40,000, and Annie takes it upon herself to put together the $10,000 deposit. She tries to play nice with sugar daddy Patrick, but ends up confronting him about catching him cheating in Vegas. Patrick shows no remorse, telling Annie she's "special to him," but that he has different women in different cities. When Annie fails to raise the $10,000 on her own by auctioning her stuff online, she goes back to Patrick, essentially telling him she's fine with exchanging sex for money. The next morning she wakes up to Patrick leaving a $10,000 check on the bed.

What did you think of tonight's episode? Were you shocked by Annie's decision to go back to Patrick? Do you want to see Adrianna and Dixon together? Tell us what you think in the comments!

Photo courtesy of The CW

How Can I Get Rid of Love Handles?

Shape — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:14:40 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar. This week Shape turns to personal trainer and strength coach Joe Dowdell for some help!

Q: How can I get rid of love handles?

A: There isn't just one secret to losing love handles - it's a combination of factors. It's true that the typical answer of total-body strength training, high-intensity cardio intervals, proper nutrition, and sound recovery strategies are the keys to long-term success, but there are more secret strategies for burning belly fat.

You've probably heard that cortisol, the "stress hormone," is responsible for excess abdominal fat, but that's only part of the story. Your body produces cortisol in response to stress—physical, mental, or emotional. This may include extremely low-calorie diets (fasting or starvation), infection, lack of quality sleep, emotional trauma, or intense exercise, as well as daily stressors such as job pressure or relationship trouble.

Top 50 Fall Dit Foods for Weight Loss

Stress and cortisol alone do not make you fat, but research has linked high cortisol levels with storage of body fat, particularly visceral belly fat. Visceral fat is packed deeper in the abdominal cavity and around the internal organs, whereas "regular" fat is stored below the skin (known as subcutaneous fat). Visceral fat is particularly unhealthy because it is a risk factor for heart disease and diabetes. Therefore, the key to avoid storing excess fat around your middle is controlling your cortisol response, or the amount of stress on your body.

Learn the top tips for getting rid of love handles after the break!

What to Rent: New DVDs This Week

BuzzSugar — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 03:05:00 PST

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Harry, Ron, and Hermione embark on one final adventure in the eighth film in the Harry Potter franchise. The trio sets out on the search for the remaining Horcruxes necessary to take down Voldemort, but it is ultimately Harry who must face off with the Dark Lord in what becomes an all out war between good and evil in the wizarding world. The film's stars deliver powerful performances in a fast-paced, visually stunning movie. DVD extras include deleted scenes and featurettes about the female characters of the franchise and the creation of the Gringotts goblins.

96%

The Change-Up

After a drunken night out together, best friends David Lockwood (Jason Bateman) and Mitch Planko (Ryan Reynolds) wake up to discover they've switched bodies. The irresponsible and unemployed Mitch struggles to pull off David's life as a father and lawyer, while the tightly wound David has trouble handling his friend's acting auditions and active dating life. The storyline is predictable, and the film's raunchy humor is more often gross than funny. The DVD features deleted scenes and a gag reel.

24%

The Vampire Diaries "Smells Like Teen Spirit": The Good, the Bad, and the Bloody

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:03:53 PDT

The gang is officially back in school for their senior year at Mystic Falls High on this week's episode of The Vampire Diaries, but they've got way more to worry about than what they're going to wear on the first day. Stefan is a bully in the halls, Matt and Jeremy are haunted, and Rebekah is the new, annoyingly popular girl (and killer vampire).

There are a few shocks near the end of the episode, but I was really into the return of the students at school (especially the vision of something we rarely see: drunk Elena). I'm ready to break down all the good, the bad, and the bloody of the episode, though, so get there when you keep reading.