FitSugar

Now Is the Time to Get Ready For the Slopes

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:41 -0800

Even though we're in the middle of Fall and I've yet to see any real signs of snow, experts say now is the time to get your butt in gear for Winter sports. Days on the slopes can be long and require a good amount of endurance, especially if you're the type who likes to visit the mountains for an extended weekend or even longer.

Veteran Winter Olympic athletes like ski racer Daron Rahlves and snowboarder Elena Hight recommend doing specific training for Winter sports six to eight weeks before the season starts. They say the key to lasting all day, weekend, or week on the slopes is to work on flexibility, strength, and cardio. A good mix of this will ensure you can snowboard from sunup to sundown. Being in tip-top shape will also help cut down on injuries.

An article in the San Francisco Chronicle asked a group of Winter Olympians and trainers their advice on getting in shape for Winter sports. Here's some of their advice.

Stretch for 15-20 minutes every day or do 10 minutes of sun salutations. Skiers should focus on their lower bodies, while snowboarders should focus on their upper and lower areas.
Two to three times a week, focus on strength training with emphasis on your quads, hamstrings, and core muscles. Keeping your legs and core strong helps with balance and endurance, and helps cut down on ACL injuries. If you can, use kettlebells and also make sure to do tons of squats, leg curls, and lunges.
Do some sort of aerobic activity for at least 15 minutes every day, keeping your heart rate elevated the entire time.

Sounds doable to me. Who's hungry for powder?

Jess Feels the Burn but Goes Back For More

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:00:47 -0800

The media hasn't been kind to Jessica Simpson or her curvier physique, which repeatedly made headlines throughout the year. Still, she's hardly throwing in the towel. Even while a nationwide Sunday NFL spoof, jokingly compared Jessica's physique to that of a "defensive tackle," she's managed to keep a healthy perspective on fitness and surround herself with positive friends and family, like trainer, Mike Alexander.

In fact, US Weekly reports that Jessica is hitting the gym hard and sticking with it - even when the training gets tough. Training with Alexander is what helped the star to achieve her famous Dukes of Hazzard bod, so it's no surprise that the training's intense, prompting Jess to Twitter, "Why am I still hurting from our workout earlier? I'm getting old! See you tomorrow with a pouty face and sore buns." Alexander responded, "Probably because you're a badass, and your efforts know no limitations." I'm inclined to agree - despite media taunting, she continues to show how she's rising above it - staying happy and fit.

Play With Your Food: Exercise With a Pumpkin

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:30:34 -0700

Pumpkins just got even better. Aside from being lined with tasty seeds and being chock full of healthy goodness, the Fall staple also makes a great tool for resistance training. Confused? Think of your pumpkin as a medicine ball you can eat.

Check out this video to see how you can incorporate a pumpkin into your next workout - Halloween costume and Olivia Newton-John soundtrack optional.

Will you be doing this workout before you carve your jack-o'-lantern?

Have You Ever Dated Someone From the Gym?

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:30:49 -0700

One of my co-workers recently went out on a date with a guy she met after running a 12K. When he approached her, she was still in her running gear, bib number and all. He told her on their date that the reason he went up to her that day was because he was attracted to the fact that she seemed healthy and athletic.

My co-worker's story made me wonder if it was common to date someone you met while working out. It makes total sense to be attracted to people who share a similar lifestyle, but the whole approach seems like it could be incredibly awkward or invasive.

Have any of you ever dated someone you worked out with? If you've got any funny anecdotes, tips, or success stories, share those in the comments section too - I'd love to hear them!

When Is It OK to Work Out Sick?

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:30:12 -0700

'Tis the season for coughs and sniffles. If you're like me, the idea of having to skip a workout because of a small cough seems crazy. When is the best time to choose rest over a treadmill though? Take my quiz to find out . . .

Take the quiz

Twilight Star Shows Off New Bod

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:30:50 -0700

The idea of an actor gaining weight for a movie has been a hot topic lately. Let's keep the conversation going with Twilight's Taylor Lautner, who packed on 30 pounds to reprise his role as werewolf Jacob Black in the sequel, New Moon.

Skepticism was expressed over Lautner's ability to match the growth spurt his character experiences in the book as casting for the second installment began last year. In the book, Jacob has a significant growth spurt, turning him into a 6-foot-5, 200-pound teenager who looks a mature 25 years old. Lautner rose to the challenge, and new shirtless photos of the 17-year-old actor show his efforts were not in vain. In under a year, the actor went from scrawny to hunky, with an eight-pack to boot! To see how he buffed up, read more.

When asked how he gained the 30 pounds of muscle, Lautner said that it took "a lot of hard work. Eating, working out - a lot of stuff." Despite the achievement of getting the bod and winning back his role, Lautner is a little embarrassed by all the attention: "It's actually quite uncomfortable knowing so many people are seeing that [a shirtless Jacob]!"

Expect Lautner to bulk up even more for the next two sequels of the Twilight series - Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. In the book series, Jacob grows up to be an impressive 6-foot-7!

Do You Exercise With Your Significant Other?

FitSugar — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 03:06:33 -0700

I'm glad to have my husband as a workout buddy. We take yoga classes together and go for hikes and bike rides with the kids. Not only are we burning calories and working our muscles, but it's also a great time to catch up. I love that he motivates me to get moving at times when I'd rather just plop down on the couch and watch reruns of Sex and the City. What about you?

Source

What to Do After Your Workout

FitSugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:45:00 -0800

You might not have ever thought about this but what do you do once you've finished 30 minutes of cardio and lifted your last rep of your last set? Go home? Not quite.

Just because you've done the hard part does not mean that you should just pack up and head on home. Feel free to congratulate yourself for a job well done, but here are a few more things you should consider doing:

Hydrate. Just because you're done working out doesn't mean you're done hydrating. Chances are you've lost a good bit of water during your workout, even during Winter workouts, so be sure to keep on drinking water to keep hydrated beyond your workout.
Cool-down. A 5-10 minute cool down is necessary to bring your heart rate back down to a normal rate, lower your body temperature, as well as help prevent blood pooling, muscle soreness and cramps.

There are a few more tips so read more.

Stretch. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, "Stretch after exercising." If you need reasons why, be sure to check out my top ten reasons to stretch.
Eat. This is the one most people have the hardest time with because it seems counter productive, however, it is very important to refuel after a workout - within 90 minutes. I'm not saying you should stop at Macaroni Grill on your way home from the gym, but try to eat something that will help repair your torn muscles and replenish your lost energy.

Source

Don't Wake and Work Out: Eat a Bit First

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 09:30:00 -0800

With everyone concerned about eating extra calories over the holidays, I am here to tell you that you should eat ... before you exercise first thing in the morning. It seems that many folks think that if they work out on an empty stomach, their bodies will target fat. Unfortunately, that is just not true, and this persistent myth can actually set you back if you are trying to lose weight.

After fasting all night, since you don't eat while you sleep, your glycogen (or carb) stores are low. Glycogen is the fuel the body generally burns first for energy. If your glycogen levels are low and your body is in motion, your body decides to hold on to your fat. The body is essentially paranoid and thinks a famine might be coming, so it holds on to the fat as emergency reserve and targets muscle instead. This is not good, since you are working out to lose fat, not lean muscle. You want to keep lean muscle, because it will boost your metabolism.

The good news is that you just need to eat just a small amount to let the body know that fuel is on its way and you are not entering a famine. Just a simple snack that contains 100 to 200 calories will do. Me? I eat a banana and a small handful of nuts before a run, or I eat yogurt before a weight training session.

At What Point Did You Start Working Out?

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 07:30:00 -0700

I can remember the first time I ever hit the gym as clear as day. I was a freshman in college looking to beat the freshman fifteen at my university's fitness center. I had no idea how to use any of the machines and was absolutely terrified of the weight area. Since everyone else seemed look like they knew what they were doing, I've always wondered when they all first started working out. I never got around to polling the entire fitness center, so I am curious about you guys: When did you first start working out?