FitSugar

Water Skiing Dog

GiggleSugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:00:00 PDT

This water-skiing pooch almost blows Twiggy, the water skiing squirrel, out of the water. So what should he stand on while skiing? Why, a circular flotation device, naturally!

Get in Gear: Croakie

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 02:30:00 PDT

If you're like me, the summer weather draws you outside every chance you can get. When the powerful sun is blazing, you realize the importance of wearing sunscreen to protect your skin, and sunglasses to protect your eyes.

Sunglasses can be really expensive, but they're totally worth it, especially if the lenses are polarized (I love the crystal clear vision). Since they are so small and lightweight, they can get easily lost, and then what good would they be for your eyes?

Keep track of your sunglasses with a Croakie. It's a strap that attaches to the ends of your glasses, so when you're not wearing them, you can just let them hang from your neck. The strap is made of neoprene so it's soft, flexible, comfortable, and dries quickly if it gets wet.

A Croakie is a necessity if you are always misplacing your sunglasses. It's also great if you do fast-paced outdoor sports like biking, or water sports like water skiing and kayaking (what a crime it would be if your expensive sunglasses fell off your face and into the water!). Check out the 4 different styles:

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Water-Skiing Monkeys

GiggleSugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 13:00:00 PDT

Only in Japan would we find a trio of water skiing and boat steering monkeys, which goes to show that aquatic sports are so easy-- even a monkey can do them. (Then why can't I?! The last time I went water skiing, I swam away with a pulled muscle and a lifetime supply of water up my nose. Not fun.)

Safety Tips for Water Skiing

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:00:00 PDT

I am so psyched for the warm weather. It's not quite time to slip on those water skis since the water temperature is still rather nippy, but it's a good time to start getting excited about it.

Water skiing is an exciting and challenging sport. All it takes is a motor boat, someone to drive the boat, an extra person in the boat to watch the skier, a life jacket, a pair of water skis, and a tow line (the rope you hold onto). It requires a love of speed and the water, tons of upper and lower body strength, and delicate balance to stay up. Once you get going, nothing compares to the exhilarating feeling of flying through the air and riding on the water. It gives new meaning to the word fast!

If you've never tried it before, I definitely recommend having a private instructor show you how, since there are a few risks involved with this sport. I have some strong suggestions for how to ski and boat safely. Want to see them? Then

Always have an observer in the boat - the driver doesn't count.
Always wear your life jacket, even if you know how to swim.
Always water ski in calm water - a big lake is perfect.
Stay clear of congested areas, with no other boats or swimmers around.
Never water ski in the dark - it is both dangerous AND illegal.

With all that said, don't be discouraged if it takes you a while to stand up. You've got to bend your knees into your chest, keep your arms straight, lean back slightly, let the boat pull you, and then stand up. Once you figure it all out, you'll be loving this new sport.

Hey check this out - my friend Giggle found a water skiing squirrel! Good thing that lady was there to catch little Twiggy since he wasn't wearing a life jacket!

Source

10 Ways to Burn More Calories This Summer

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 03:00:00 PDT

This summer, take advantage of all the great ways you can burn a few more calories. Here are ten simple ways that you can burn a few more calories in just 30 minutes this summer:

*Based on a 130 lb. person for 30 minutes of activity.*
Activity	Calories Burned
Fishing	118
Frisbee	89
Horseback Riding	118
Mountain Biking	251
Rock Climbing	236
Snorkeling	148
Softball	148
Surfing	89
Water Skiing	177
Whitewater Rafting	148

The best part? You should have fun burning those extra calories. So pull out the sunscreen and bug spray and start moving this summer.

Source

A Water Skiing Squirrel? That's Nuts!

GiggleSugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 01:00:00 PDT

What's better than a drunk squirrel? A water skiing squirrel named Twiggy, of course! Now I don't know who would keep a pet squirrel or even think to teach it aquatic skills, but I bet this new hobby beats branch swinging and nut hoarding. Go, Twiggy, go!

Get Moving and Say I Do: Ways to Incorporate Fitness Into Your Wedding

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:45:11 PDT

Fitness fanatics have a tough time separating workouts from life, so why should their wedding be any different? Here are some ways to bring an active lifestyle into your big day.

Send out fitness-themed save-the-date cards with you and your partner doing something active, like standing on surfboards with a sign that says, "Water you waiting for? Put this date on your calendar!" Or use a play on words like, "Jenny's finally running away with Mike." You can also design your invitations with exercise in mind. Have them look like a poster advertising a race or use illustrations that depict your favorite sport, such as golf balls and clubs.
If your wedding is going to be over a long weekend, plan activities that'll get folks moving. Hire a yoga instructor to teach a class; plan a scenic bike ride, morning run, or woodsy walk; or play a friendly game of beach volleyball (just make sure the bride's face stays far away from the ball).

Keep reading for more fitness ideas for your wedding.

6 Things About Prince Harry's Rumored Girlfriend Mollie King

Tara Block — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:00:00 PDT

Most eligible bachelor no more? There are rumors that Prince Harry is dating Mollie King, a 24-year-old Brit pop singer (who has an uncanny resemblance to Sienna Miller). Apparently, Mollie and Harry have been friends since first meeting at the Asprey World Class Cup in 2010, and they were spotted karaoking together at London's Bunga Bunga club last week. Here are five things to know about the woman who may have stolen Harry's heart:

In February, she ended a nearly one-year relationship with Brit model David Gandy. He's best known for showing off his body in the steamy Dolce & Gabbana ad for "Light Blue."
Mollie is best known for being in girl group The Saturdays. Before that she was in another girl group Fallen Angelz, which competed on The X Factor.
She had a successful skiing career that she gave up to pursue singing, and she enjoys jet skiing and water skiing.
She's opened up about struggling in school due to her dyslexia.
She plays the acoustic guitar in addition to singing and songwriting.
According to Mollie's band bio, Carrie Bradshaw is her idol.

Yoga No-Nos For Pregos

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:33:23 PDT

Fun issues like nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, and the need to hit the ladies' room - three different times during a workout! - makes it difficult to keep up with a regular exercise routine when pregnant. If you're expecting, taking up yoga (or continuing to go) is wonderful because not only does it alleviate some of these annoying discomforts, your body will stay strong and flexible. No prenatal yoga class offered in your area? Take a regular class, but be sure to avoid the following during your practice.

Deep forward bends: Folding forward can compress blood vessels and nerves that connect to your uterus. Keep things flowing by separating your legs like in this Wide-Legged Forward Bend to make space at the top of the thighs.
Deep twists: This can also decrease circulation, so always twist in an open position as in this pose, not deeply across the knee.
Lying on your back: Once you hit the second trimester, avoid lying on your back for extended periods of time (as in Savasana). The increased weight of your uterus interferes with the flow of blood and nutrients to your developing baby. It can also aggravate lower back pain, heartburn, and elevate blood pressure. Use blocks and bolsters to prop your torso up instead of lying flat, and whenever possible find ways to stretch the same muscles while you're standing, sitting, on your hands and knees, or when lying on your side.
Poses that work your abs: As your belly expands, it's difficult to support the weight with your rectus abdominus (the muscles you see when someone has a six-pack), so you use your obliques (ab muscles on the side of your belly). Overly-strong obliques can pull your abdominal muscles apart, causing a condition known as diastasis. Avoid risk by skipping poses that target your core, especially your obliques - worry about getting your abs back in shape after the baby arrives.

Keep reading for more prenatal yoga no-nos.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé Stop to Snap Pictures on Their St. Barts Vacation

Lauren Turner — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:20:21 PDT

Jay-Z and Beyoncé Knowles hopped out of their car on the side of the road in St. Barts yesterday. Beyoncé had her camera in hand to take a snap of Jay-Z before passing it off to her bodyguard and posing alongside her husband. Beyoncé and Jay-Z have been in the Caribbean since the weekend, when they were spotted boarding a boat with their daughter Blue. The 3-month-old didn't join them for a trip to the beach on Monday, though, giving Jay-Z and Beyoncé a chance to lounge in the sand and dip in the water. Beyoncé wore a swimsuit for the afternoon, but covered up with a top to go for a ride on a jet ski.