Back to Basics: Anaerobic Training


Updated 05/29/08 3:11 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 3 comments

Back to Basics: Anaerobic Training

Anaerobic literally means "without oxygen." This doesn't mean the sensation of gasping for breath after you've climbed 15 flights of stairs; it is a little more complicated than that. It really just boils down to what fuel your muscles use to do whatever it is you are asking them to do. For contrast, let me explain aerobic training. When you go for a long run, oxygen is released to metabolize, Read more

Feel the Burn? Shake It Out!


Updated 10/14/11 11:50 AM · Posted by FitSugar · 2 comments

Lactic Acid Helps Fuel Muscles During a Workout

I hit a wall last year. I was working out a lot and eating well, but my body wasn't progressing. Whether it was doing that last pull-up, biking that last mile, or adding heavier weights to my routine, my muscles just gave up on me. This year as part of the Get Fit For 2010 challenge, I made it my goal to increase my strength and endurance. To accomplish my goal I've been doing a lot of interval Read more

Competing Works: How to Use That Edge in Everyday Workouts


Updated 09/20/11 1:16 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

Competition Helps Athletes Perform Better, Finds Studies

When your lungs are at their capacity, your legs are aching, and all you want to do is stop, you may think you can't possibly push yourself to perform better during your workout. But you may just need a little mental boost. In competition, your brain can give you that extra push to perform better, according to new studies as reported by the New York Times. The studies found that while our Read more

Why You Need to Add Jumping to Your Cardio Routine


Updated 09/07/11 12:22 PM · Posted by Self · 4 comments

How to Add Jumping to Your Fitness Routine

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar! Back in the day, when we played double-dutch on the playground (or some simpler incarnation of that), we hardly cared about the value of the workout.  All we cared about was having fun. It turns out that jumping offers a lot more than a good time: in fact, depending on the type of jumping exercise you choose, you can Read more

From Total Body to High Intensity: Elliptical Workouts For All


Updated 08/17/11 12:32 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 1 comment

Elliptical Workouts For All Levels

The elliptical is a mainstay in the gym for good reason: it's easy on the joints and provides a great cardio and total-body workout. But the elliptical can also get pretty boring and repetitive, too. Instead of spending a mindless 30 minutes on the elliptical machine, maximize your time by doing one of these eight workouts instead. Whether you're a beginner, looking for a high-intensity interval Read more

Cardio Workout: Elliptical Intervals Shrinking Recovery


Updated 02/06/12 3:32 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 3 comments

Interval Workout For Elliptical With Decreasing Recovery Periods

By now, we all hopefully know that interval training rocks. Whether you're running, rowing, or swimming, playing with speed has multiple benefits. One way to push the interval envelope is to decrease the amount of rest time between your bouts of sprinting. By shortening your recovery time, you're pushing your anaerobic threshold and strengthening your cardiovascular system. Plus it's fun to mix Read more

Part One: Moving Past the Weight Loss Plateau – Fitness


Updated 10/21/11 8:09 AM · Posted by FitSugar · 16 comments

Part One: Moving Past the Weight Loss Plateau – Fitness

Homeostasis. That is a fancy way to say equilibrium and that is what your body craves (more than salt and vinegar potato chips, really). We humans are very adaptive creatures, and our bodies work to maintain homeostasis. This is really no big deal, unless you are trying to lose weight and then it really just translates into the word the dieter dreads – plateau. When you hit a plateau, meaning Read more