FitSugar

Adult Fitness Tests?

FitSugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:00:00 PDT

Raise your hand if you received a Presidential Physical Fitness Award in high school. No? Well, don't worry about it. Now an adult fitness test is being introduced by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, so it's kind of like a second chance. No, you won't get a certificate signed by the President, but you'll be able to see where you rank among people of the same age, which is so much better, right?

The test involves three basic components: aerobic fitness, muscular strength, and flexibility. It was created to inspire people over 18 to keep moving. Hey, I'll support anything that gets people to exercise.

The test includes four parts: a one mile walk or 1.5 mile run, all you can do push-ups, one minute of half sit-ups, and an exercise called the sit-and-stretch, to measure flexibility. All four scores can be entered online, as well as the person's gender, age, height, and weight. The test isn't meant to be a competition, but rather it can allow people to have a baseline to work with. Then they can continue to exercise regularly and measure their level of fitness based on their previous scores. What do you think about this test? Is it something you would do?

What Does The President’s Challenge Adult Fitness Test Measure?

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:50:50 PST

The President’s Challenge, championed by the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, aims to "help people of all ages and abilities increase their physical activity and improve their fitness through research-based information, easy-to-use tools, and friendly motivation."

If you've been in a Physical Education class since the 1960s, you're well aware of the hurdles and challenges set for children, but what do the test guidelines for adults measure? Take this quiz and find out.

Take the Quiz

OnSugar Blog: Tips on Choosing a Major For Adult Students

OnSugar Blog — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:15:35 PST

OnSugar blogger the college mom gives tips to adult students for choosing majors.

When I was an academic adviser, it never seemed to fail that at this time of the semester I would begin to see students coming to my office by the dozens searching for advice on choosing a major. I don't know what it is about this time but it really seems that students begin to focus on what course of study they should pursue right about now. It may have something to do with midterm exams taking place or it could be for a myriad of other reasons. Whatever the cause, now seems to be a time of great anxiety surrounding choosing a major. Let's discuss some ways to tackle the task and lessen the stress.

Take an Inventory

One of the first things I always recommend to students is taking a career inventory. A career inventory is kind of like a test that assesses your strengths, weaknesses and preferences and gives you a list of career types that may appeal to you. Career inventories don't tell you what you should do for a living; they merely produce ideas that may suit you based on your assessment results. Some examples of career inventories are the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory and the Strong Interest Inventory. See your career counselor or academic adviser for assistance in taking and interpreting such assessments.

Read on for more tips.

How to Save Money on Health Insurance When You're Young

Kiplinger — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:57:00 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

I recently asked my twentysomething friends what they'd like to know about getting health insurance. The most common response? "Everything." Evidently, and understandably, those of us navigating the maze of health insurance for the first time are less than clear on the ins and outs. Plus, paying for health insurance coverage can be a drag when you don't have much cash to spare. SEE ALSO: Our Quiz on What Young Adults Need to Know About Health Insurance

But skipping it could be even more costly. Although the number of uninsured young adults is falling, thanks to new federal rules requiring most insurers to allow children on parents' health plans up to age 26, more than one-fourth of young people remain without coverage. In 2010, about 27% of 18-to-24 year olds and 28% of 25-to-34 year olds had no health insurance, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. "I have seen so many stories about young people who ended up saddled with enormous medical bills," says Kathleen Stoll, deputy executive director of Families USA, a health-coverage advocacy organization. "It's not a risk you want to take if you can find an affordable source of coverage." Here's how to get good coverage without going broke:

Individual Coverage

Even if you have the option of employer or parental coverage, you may be able to find less-expensive coverage on your own. In most states, healthy, young people can find individual policies in the private market with premiums of about $150 to $200 a month, says Ankeny Minoux, president of the Foundation for Health Coverage Education. A high-deductible policy may run closer to $100 a month. On average, single coverage through an employer costs an employee $921 a year in premiums, or about $77 per month, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. But the cost varies widely by employer. You can shop for and compare policies at sites such as eHealthInsurance.com. Or find a broker who will help you get coverage through www.nahu.org.

Check your plan options carefully, says Aaron Smith, executive director of Young Invincibles, an organization that advocates for health care for young people. You may find that, say, certain prescriptions or doctors you visit regularly aren't covered. And keep in mind that premiums you pay through an employer will be deducted from your paycheck before taxes, a perk you won't have with individual coverage.

Read on for more.

Fit Tip: Use the Talk Test to Measure Your Workout's Intensity

Leta Shy — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:43:46 PDT

When you exercise, how do you know if you're pushing yourself hard enough? Try the Talk Test - it's one of the best ways to measure your workout's intensity, according to a new study.

The Talk Test measures how easy or hard it is for you to hold a conversation while exercising to gauge how intense your workout really is (similar to the Rate of Perceived Exertion scale). To test its usefulness, researchers studied healthy adults by making them recite the Pledge of Allegiance while exercising at varying intensities. Then they compared the results - whether or not it was hard for the exercisers to recite the pledge - to established intensity guidelines to see how this often-used test actually compares to more definitive measurements like heart rate and maximum oxygen consumption. Researchers found that being able to talk comfortably while exercising correlated to the lowest end of the intensity scale, while struggling to speak when exercising matched up with the high end of the intensity scale.

Confirming the effectiveness of the Talk Test means that it's a quick and easy way for you to gauge how intense your workouts are, especially if you are new to fitness. "If you are beginning an exercise program and can still talk while you're exercising, you're doing OK," says Timothy Quinn, the study's lead researcher. "But if you really want to improve, you've got to push a little bit harder."

So grab a running buddy and gab all you want, but just make sure that when you want to up the intensity you're focusing on your workout, not the latest gossip!

Lil Links: Spice Up Your Child's Lunch Box With Simple Tricks

LilSugar — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 01:00:55 PST

Rock the lunch box by tweaking favorite foods - Parenting
Guy Ritchie to be a dad again - Celebrity Baby Blog
Jennifer Lopez's children are the light of her life - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Why I don't let my kids beat me at games - The Stir
All the reasons you need to exercise now! - FitPregnancy
What is the glucose tolerance test - The Bump
Are you a neurotic mom? - Parents
One in three adults sleeps less than seven hours a night - Health
Tom Hanks takes on Toddlers and Tiaras - Momformation
Create your family's soundtrack - Alpha Mom

15 Crazy, Sexy, Cool Items For a Pre-Parenting Bucket List

LilSugar — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 03:36:06 PDT

You know the lede here, dear reader: Having a child inevitably changes your life forever. It's a deep, affirming, complicated and challenging adventure. Most of us say we want to buy a house, get in better shape and become better people before we become parents, but personal development and achieving smaller goals just for you is also a significant quest.

Before you start planning for a pregnancy, testing strollers, and contemplating just how much your world will change, make a pre-parenting bucket list. It may take months and it may take years, but you'll never regret getting the regrets out of your system and you can start it whenever you want.

Here's a starter guide of things you should do pre-baby so you never miss the days of being a single lady. If you've already added to your brood, share what you intentionally crossed off your list before reading baby naming guides.

Crazy:

Run risk-taking behavior out of your system.
Be the life of the party.
Zipline. Jump out of a plane. Get your motorcycle license.
Splurge on a big-ticket item you probably couldn't justify when you have diapers and a college fund to think about.
Challenge yourself to an athletic extreme: Run a marathon. Become a black belt. Take adult ballet.

Keep reading for the list of sexy and cool suggestions.

8 Germiest Public Places to Avoid

Prevention — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:06:02 PDT

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

Excerpt from The List Maker’s Get-Healthy Guide, By the Editors of Prevention

Avoid touching these surfaces in public places to stay healthy.

An average adult can touch as many as 30 objects within a minute, including germ-harboring, high-traffic surfaces such as light switches, doorknobs, phone receivers, and remote controls. At home, you do all that you can to keep the germs at bay. But what happens when you step out the door to go to dinner, do some grocery shopping, or visit the doctor's office? Know where germs are most likely to lurk, as you'll find out here.

1. Restaurant menus
Have you ever seen anyone wash off a menu? Probably not. A recent study in the Journal of Medical Virology reported that cold and flu viruses can survive for 18 hours on hard surfaces. If it's a popular restaurant, hundreds of people could be handling the menus - and passing their germs on to you. Never let a menu touch your plate or silverware, and wash your hands after you place your order. Or use antibacterial wipes.

2. Lemon wedges
According to a 2007 study in the Journal of Environmental Health, nearly 70 percent of the lemon wedges perched on the rims of restaurant glasses contain disease-causing microbes. When the researchers ordered drinks at 21 different restaurants, they found 25 different microorganisms lingering on the 76 lemons that they secured, including E. coli and other fecal bacteria. Tell your server that you'd prefer your beverage sans fruit. Why risk it?

3. Condiment dispensers
It's the rare eatery that regularly bleaches its condiment containers. And the reality is that many people don't wash their hands before eating, says Kelly Reynolds, PhD. So while you may be diligent, the guy who poured the ketchup before you may not have been, which means his germs are now on your fries. Squirt hand sanitizer on the outside of the condiment bottle or use a disinfectant wipe before you grab it. Holding the bottle with a napkin won't help; napkins are porous, so microorganisms can pass right through, Reynolds says.

Keep reading for more germy spots to avoid!

DrSugar on Fibromyalgia

DrSugar — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:30:12 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! Today she's explaining the confusing condition fibromyalgia.

I am taking a break from answering your questions to discuss a medical condition that has garnered a lot of attention in recent years, both in the medical field and the public arena: fibromyalgia, a well-publicized but often misunderstood medical condition that affects two to four percent of the population. To learn more about fibromyalgia, keep reading!

DrSugar Answers: Running and High Heart Rate

DrSugar — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 07:00:12 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's answering a runner's question about her heart rate.

Dear DrSugar,
I am worried that my heart rate is too high when I am running. I am fairly fit and work out three to five times a week. My resting heart rate is around 70, but when I start running it shoots up to 168 and I am not even moving fast. I am running an 11 plus minute mile to warm up. It stays up pretty high during my entire run and sometimes gets over 170 when I push my pace a bit. I am 35 so I know my max heart rate is only 185, so my heart rate seems kind of high to me since I am not even sprinting or anything. Is this normal? Is there something wrong with my heart? Should I make an appointment with my doctor?
- Hearty Gal

Thank you for having the insight to ask this very important question. I’m certain you are not the only FitSugar reader who has faced this issue. To see my answer, just

Before I begin, I encourage you and all FitSugar readers to always consult your primary care physician if you are concerned about your health. Whether you have actual signs and symptoms of a problem, or just a gut feeling, a complete history and physical examination by a physician is of utmost importance to rule out a medical condition.

Getting back to the question at hand, there are three factors that should be discussed when it comes to heart rate and exercise. These factors are: basal (or resting) heart rate, maximum predicted heart rate, and target heart rate. There are many different equations that can be used to calculate one’s maximum predicted heart rate. An equation that is generally used for healthy young adults is the formula 220 minus age. Just as you had stated in your question, at age 35, your maximum predicted heart rate is 220 minus 35, which equals 185 beats per minute.

It is not recommended to exercise above 85 percent of your maximum heart rate. You gain the most benefits and lessen cardiovascular risks when you exercise in your target heart rate zone. According to the American Heart Association, your target heart rate zone is when your exercise heart rate is 50-85 percent of your maximum heart rate. It is possible for your heart rate to get above 90 percent of the maximum heart rate during vigorous exercise, but usually this is during interval training with rest/recovery periods that allow your heart rate to return to the acceptable 50-85 percent level. Monitoring heart rate during exercise is a great way to determine your exercise intensity and can be done manually or by investing in a heart rate monitor.

It is also very important to measure your basal (or resting) heart rate. According to the Mayo Clinic, the normal resting heart rate for a healthy adult is 60-100 beats per minute. For a well-trained athlete, a normal resting heart rate may be as low as 40-60 beats per minute. Tachycardia (the medical term for a fast heart rate) is generally defined as a resting heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute. Some people with tachycardia have no symptoms at all, but some may experience dizziness, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, palpitations (a physical feeling of skipping heart beats), chest pains, or fainting.

A number of conditions can cause a rapid heart rate and tachycardia symptoms, including hyperthyroidism, congenital disease of the heart, high blood pressure, heavy alcohol or caffeine use, or imbalance of electrolytes in the blood. There is a very big possibility that you are just fine and your heart and health are completely normal, but because you are concerned, I would recommend seeking consultation with a physician to rule out a medical condition. A simple blood test can determine if you have hyperthyroidism and your physician may choose other tests to perform based on your history and physical exam.

Take care of yourself, know your limitations, and see a medical professional for an evaluation. Even if everything turns out to be normal, the peace of mind will help you keep your stride!

Have a question for DrSugar? You can send to me via private message here, and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.