FitSugar

Weekend Functional Fitness: Winterizing Your Home and Yard

FitSugar — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 03:00:00 PST

Getting prepared for Winter weather, be it rain or snow, is a chore few of us look forward to. I know I don't. There really is nothing appealing about cleaning the gutters, is there? As a means of self motivation, I decided to explore these tasks on a functional fitness level. Yeah, thinking that way actually motivates me. Here are some alternative ways to view all those Fall chores for prepping your house and yard for the Winter months:

Cleaning the gutters: My personal favorite, cleaning the gutters requires ladder climbing and walking on a pitched roof. These activities will challenge your sense of balance as well as your core.
Removing A/C window units: If you haven't already stored your window unit air conditioner, this is the weekend to do it. Not only will this work your arms as your carry the heavy A/C unit to its Winter resting place, but you get to practice your excellent safe lifting technique. Remember to keep your back neutral and lift with your legs. Thank goodness you do squats regularly, right?

Three more functional Fall chores, so

Raking leaves: Save your lawn and plantings by raking fallen leaves. This can actually be a moderate aerobic activity depending on how aggressively you rake. Once again, you can certainly put your squatting technique to use as you bag all those leaves.
Clearing out garage: It is time to make room in your garage for your cars to avoid having to scrape upcoming snow and ice from your windshield. While making space in your garage, you might just notice your bike. I give you permission to take time off from your weekend chores to go for one last bike ride. Enjoy.
Plant bulbs: It is time to get your tulip bulbs planted before the frozen ground prevents you from digging. This is good upper body work, and if you work your spade quickly enough it can be aerobic, just like kranking (spin class for your arms).

Which of these activities will you be doing this weekend? Commiserate with me in the comments section below.

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One Month Till Memorial Day Weekend! How to Get Bikini-Ready Now

Self — Wed, 02 May 2012 04:12:29 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

With spring in full swing, we've already said goodbye to the winter blues. But as you enjoy the milder weather and longer days, keep in mind that Memorial Day weekend is merely a month away - meaning it's almost time for bikinis and short shorts! So, is one month enough time to score your best body yet?

It sure is, says Jim White, registered dietician, ACSM Certified Personal Trainer and spokesman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. But you'd better get started now. "After all the shrieking and gasping about how 'time flies' and it's 'too soon' to be exposing that muffin top, it's time to get realistic and take action," he explains. "A month is not a tremendous amount of time to shed any accumulated winter fat, but before you break out into cold sweats, it is not unreasonable to lose 10 pounds or one dress size in that time."

To make sure you score your best bikini bod before you hit the beach, sign up for SELF's free Drop 10 plan - it'll have you slimmer and stronger than ever in only five short weeks! Then, follow White's basic rules for healthy eating. "Healthy eating is a must if you expect weight loss," he says.

Read on for the one-month plan!

Prepare For Snow: The Best All-Weather Boots to Get Now

Noria Morales — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:00:12 PDT

If you happened to be in the Northeast last weekend, you know how quickly a snowstorm can surprise you - and leave your feet freezing. Don't try to trudge through snow in those cute booties of yours; get a pair of all-weather boots that can handle any kind of weather. It doesn't mean you have to sacrifice looking cute, either. We found 15 pairs of all-weather boots that fit our criteria for functionality - warm, insulated, good traction - and style. We're confident we found something for everyone's Winter boot needs, so to get started, just click.

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Sarah Jessica Pumps Up the Volume in Purple For a Philanthropic Night Out

Lindsay Miller — Tue, 10 May 2011 10:05:00 PDT

Sara Jessica Parker arrived at the Robin Hood Foundation Gala in NYC last night sporting a major, '60s-inspired 'do and a form-fitting purple gown. The actress, who is involved in several Big Apple charitable causes, was one of many celebrities at last night's function. Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen, along with Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber, also lent their support to the cause. SJP was solo for the event after spending Mother's Day weekend with her husband, Matthew Broderick, and three kids, James Wilkie, Tabitha, and Marion. Sarah Jessica Parker and her twins played in the park on Saturday, before Matthew and James treated mom to dinner out on the town on Sunday evening. Sarah Jessica is enjoying some downtime in Manhattan with her children, having recently wrapped work on I Don't Know How She Does It and New Year's Eve. She also took time to commemorate her friend Alexander McQueen at last week's Met Gala, wearing one of the late designer's creations to the red-carpet affair.

Google Flight Search Offers New, Fast Way to Book Travel

Kelly Schwarze — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 05:31:04 PDT

Google's latest search product Google Flight Search offers another option for finding the best deals in the fast-moving world of online travel sources. Search airline ticket prices by entering the travel query in the main toolbar and clicking "flights" on the results page or access Flight Search directly.

Results based on departing city show up in near instantaneous speeds with plenty of customization available. Use the tool's calendar function to show a bar graph of pricing options to a destination of choice over the next several months. Additionally, explore travel by price tag before choosing a destination by selecting departure city and viewing the Google Map results of flight pricing to major airports. If you were choosing between a weekend getaway to New York or Chicago from Nashville, this function immediately displays which city fits in your price range. The search parameters are currently limited to a number of US cities and round-trip, economy-class flights.

See Google Flight Search in action in the official video after the break.

How-To: Plan a Modern Princess Party

LilSugar — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 11:00:14 PST

If your lil girl is begging for some face time with Belle, Ariel, or the rest of the classic princess gang, it may be time for a princess-themed party. Modern Family's court of zany characters met for a majestic and mirthful family function last night, reminding us that careful planning and low drama fetes are always the most fun. Here are some of our best guides for hosting a perfectly modern princess party.

Starter Guide to Planning a Regal Fete - Pick pretty and pink invites fit for a princess.
Regal Cake Molds For a Princess - Let them eat cake fit for royalty! Keep costs down by ordering up a towering and impressive cake mold and making the cake yourself.
Find a Fitting Headdress - Top off your little one's costume with a personalized crown that can be passed down to friends and siblings.
Snow White Wants to Come to Your Lil One's Next Party - There's nothing quite like the look on your tot's face when a picture-perfect princess steps onto the scene! Just ask Maaika Westen, an actress who spends weekends performing at children's parties as part of The Cinderella Company.

Take Advantage of the Season: Why Our Bodies Love the Sun

Leta Shy — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:11:19 PDT

While Summer may mean miserable heat waves that make you want to stay firmly indoors (and preferably close to a cool drink), the sunny season is an easy reminder of the reasons why we love the sun.

It's during the bleak Winter months that we normally realize how much the sun affects our mood, since dark days and nights can lead to seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. So, while we still have those long Summer days, keep reading for a few reasons to get outside and soak up the sun.

Heart Health and Marathons

Susi May — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:00:37 PDT

Marathon season may be winding down - the results are in for the Marine Corps Marathon, and NYC hosts its annual marathon next weekend - but many race participants hearts are just beginning to heal.

New research has found that distance running takes a toll on the heart. Although the damage is temporary and reversible, up to 50 percent of the myocardium, the muscular middle layer of the heart, was found to be damaged in 20 runners immediately after finishing 26.2 miles. And when comparing post-race data to measurements taken six to eight weeks prior to racing, the researcher found symptoms in the marathoners' hearts similar to those in heart attack victims. Unfortunately but unsurprisingly, the cardiac damage was more pronounced in the marathoners who were less fit.

The good new is that three months after racing, the marathon-induced damage had healed and the racers' hearts were once again functioning normally. This study also illustrated the importance of training for races and maintaining cardiovascular fitness. Physical fitness is important but so is knowing your limits - when to push yourself and when to back off.

Have you run a marathon? How did your heart fare?