FitSugar

Get Physical: At Home Partner Circuits

FitSugar — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:30:00 PDT

Everyone has a bit more time on the weekends, so it should be easier to rope in a buddy to do alternating cardio circuits with you. Exercising with a friend can not only keep you on track, but it doubles the fun too. Here's how to create a circuit plan for you and your buddy.

Create a plan by picking a type, or types if you're so inclined, of cardio and a time limit – somewhere between two minutes and five minutes works best.
At home, I have an elliptical so we use it for our alternating cardio times (plus it acts as our timer), but you could use a wide variety of cardio elements to alternate with your strength training moves. Here are a few examples:
- Jumping rope (or pretending to if you don't have the rope).
- Running around the block, or to the corner and back.
- Step ups onto a stair, stool, or chair.
- Jumping jacks
- Climbing stairs

There's a bit more to planning, so

Then you pick five to ten strength training moves:
- lunges
- squats
- push ups
- ab work
- burpees
- plank with reverse row
Put it all together. One person does cardio for the prescribed time and the other person does strength training moves for the same time period, and it is best to combine strength training moves so for a three minute period alternate between squats and push ups, or push ups and planks, or ab work and lunges. You get the picture.

Try it and see how it goes. Remember to be flexible in creating your joint workout so everybody's needs are met. That reminds me, don't forget to stretch either!

Source

4 Time-Saving Tips For a Healthy Lifestyle

Leta Shy — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:18:40 PDT

Summers can be incredibly busy - between shuttling kids to and from activities to planning and going on vacation, all the activities that come along with the season can leave you pressed for time. Luckily, we've got a few suggestions for how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, even if you've only got minutes to spare.

Total-body in 20: Breaking up your workout in just 10- or 20-minute increments ensures that you'll break a sweat and burn calories without having to devote too much time out of your day. Even more efficient is making sure that your workouts target all areas of your body. For short workouts that you can do anywhere, check out our fast full-body workouts.

Home cooking: It's easier to cook healthily if you've already done the legwork. Shop for produce and other groceries at the beginning of the week so you can plan every night's dinners - check out one of our healthy dinner plans for the week here. You can also store individual servings of smoothies or sauces (using an ice-cube tray!) in your freezer to have at hand while whipping up a meal.

Read on for more time-saving tips!

Healthy Dose Link Time: A Different Circuit Workout For Every Day of the Week

Michele Foley — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:14:32 PDT

17 boredom-busting circuit workouts to do anywhere - Peanut Butter Fingers
Editor tested and approved: the best sports bras on the market - Vital Juice
10 nutrient-filled cereals to start your day with - Daily Spark
A visit to the Reebok headquarters - Fit Bottomed Girls
Paula Deen drops 30 pounds; see what healthy swaps got her there - Fit Celeb
Have your bread and eat it too! 300-calorie healthy, carb-centric breakfasts - Fitness
Interval training is all the rage, but does it really work? Experts weigh in - Prevention
Bring sexy back, even after a long day's work - Health

Our (Yummy, Guilt-Free) Lunch With Jillian Michaels

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:16:25 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

Ever wish you had a personal chef to deliver diet-friendly meals right to your home? Us, too! That’s why we had to catch up with Jillian Michaels at her recent event at the W Residences in Hollywood to get the skinny on her new partnership with Freshology, a food delivery program that brings gourmet, calorie-controlled meals straight to your door.

"I've been wanting to get involved with something like this for a long time, but either the food sucked or it was packed with unhealthy preservatives," says Michaels. "It's not just calories - the quality of the food matters when it comes to health and weight loss, which is why I really clicked with the Freshology's commitment to fresh, clean food."

Teaming up with Freshology’s five-star chef, Michaels used her nutrition principles to create a total weight-loss plan that delivers healthy, wholesome, and delicious food with no preservatives, no hormones, no artificial sweeteners, and no trans fats. On the program, you’ll receive a twice-weekly delivery stocked with daily meals totaling 1,400 to 1,800 calories: breakfast (240 to 475 calories), lunch (230 to 470 calories), dinner (303 to 536 calories), and a dessert. The 28-day rotation ensures you’ll never experience taste bud boredom. And all the food is precooked, chilled, and ready to go, so at the very most, all you have to do is zap it in the microwave. For added "thinspiration," you’ll also get Michaels’s fitness DVDs, texts to keep you motivated, and a copy of her book, Master Your Metabolism.

Keep reading to see if Freshology passed our taste test.

Make Hectic Days Manageable: 4 Tips For Fitting in Exercise

Leta Shy — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:17:50 PDT

You know that sitting too much can lead to serious health conditions, but when things get hectic you may think you don't have time to fit in a workout. If that's the case, here are four ways to spend your next busy day burning calories.

Wake up with a 10-minute workout: Nothing saves time more than a workout at home, so start your day with a total-body 10-minute workout - you'll burn calories, raise your heartbeat, and tone all over before you even have to take a shower. You don't even have to spend time making up your own circuit; follow along with celebrity trainers in our 10-minute Class FitSugar workouts here.

While you're waiting: Waiting in line is inevitable, so don't let all that time go to waste. Do a few of these discreet toning moves to continue to whip your body into shape while you wait.

Lunchtime workout: Your day may be packed, but sometimes that's just the time to duck into your gym for a quick workout. A midday workout can re-energize and refocus your mind, making you more efficient at performing afternoon tasks (and possibly freeing up your time!). To find out how to get in and out of the gym without delay, read our time-saving tips for fitting in a midday workout.

Relax and unwind: Keeping your muscles loose and flexible is key to an effective workout routine. Add a few of these sleep-inducing yoga poses before you go to bed in order to tone your muscles while relaxing your body and preparing yourself for bedtime.

For ideas on how to plan your workouts so you don't have to skip them, read more of our tips on how to exercise when you're busy here.

A Full-Body Winter Workout to Do at Home

Anna Monette Roberts — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:44:40 PST

Being covered up in Winter sweaters and Wellies is no excuse to skip a workout. If you overindulged a little too much this holiday season, now's the time to get back on track. This full-body workout will target all your major muscle groups, and it doesn't even require you to make a trip to the gym or go outside. Make some open space in your living room, use a set of cans as your weights, and work your way toward greater strength and a fitter bod. Spring break will be here sooner than you realize . . .

Source: Thinkstock

10 Boredom Busters For Indoor Workouts

Laura Marie Given — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:52:00 PDT

If you tend to feel bored at the gym and spend more time watching the clock, these easy tricks are sure to boost your motivation. Whether you're just beginning a bikini-ready plan for the Summer or consider yourself a seasoned gym rat, here are 11 simple ways to fire up your indoor workouts:

Vary your machines: If the treadmill is your best (and only) friend, it's time to switch things up. Try the seated row, the stationary bike, the elliptical, or a mix of all four to keep your body guessing.
Head for the hills: Ward off repetition by changing the incline regularly. The best part? You'll tone your muscles and burn extra calories.
Direct your thoughts: If you can't stop thinking about how bored you are, try coming up with a new focus for every minute or mile. Plan your future wedding, imagine a dream home, or brainstorm your favorite songs and movies to distract yourself.
Alternate weights and cardio: Rather than following a full strength workout with a long bout of cardio, mix up the two. Not only will you stave off boredom, but you'll also give your metabolism an extra boost from the intervals.
Change your listening habits: If you're sick of your workout playlists, why not try an audiobook? What about a podcast? If you prefer something with a fast tempo while you run, reserve audiobooks and podcasts for incline walks or cool downs.

Keep reading for more boredom busters.

Full-Body Circuit Workout With Weights

FitSugar — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 04:41:00 PDT

Circuit workouts are great for strength training, but they also keep your heart rate up, helping burn up calories while building muscle. This full-body circuit combines exercises to work your arms while toning your legs, plus your abs and back will all be challenged. And you can do this workout in the comfort of your living room!

Not only is an at-home workout excuse-proof, it is also recession-proof since it is free and will only cost you calories! It takes about 20 minutes to do, and for the workout all you need is a set of dumbbells between five and eight pounds. If you don't have weights, you can still give it a go.

Instructions: After warming up with light cardio for five minutes, repeat each three-exercise circuit twice, resting for 60 seconds after completing one rep of an entire circuit.

Find the printable version here.

Source: Getty

11 Bootcamp Workouts to Have You Looking Your Best For Bikini Season

Michele Foley — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 02:33:20 PDT

With bikini season just a few months away, get a jump on your fitness regimen now, instead of scrambling one week before your beach vacation to realize it's too late. Do a few of these circuit bootcamp workouts every week, alongside a solid cardio routine and healthy diet, and you'll be beach-ready as soon as the sun comes bearing down this Summer.

This boot camp video workout from Jeanette Jenkins may only be 10 minutes long, but not a second gets wasted. Jeanette takes viewers through five intense exercises with extra emphasis on the backside. A good-looking booty goes a long way when it comes to bikini season!
We can't think of a better pair to inspire you to get fit for bikini season than beach babes Karena and Katrina from Tone It Up. Their booty-camp video workout focuses on basic moves like squats and lunges, but bumps it up with the addition of weights. Get ready to work your entire body!
LA-based trainer Jason Walsh has worked with major stars like Jessica Biel to keep them svelte and strong. Jason created this three-part circuit workout, which works multiple muscle groups and focuses on high-intensity intervals to really burn calories.
All you need are a pair of dumbbells and a resistance band for this at-home full-body circuit-training workout. Walk away with stronger legs and arms and a solid core - bikini season can't come soon enough!
Given how good Heidi Klum looks in a bikini, you don't have to twist our arm to do this workout from her trainer. The David Kirsch boot camp circuit workout will tone your entire body while also keeping things fun with challenging plyometric moves.

Read on for five more boot camp workouts to get you bikini-ready.

Too Cold to Run? Burn 250 Calories With This 30-Minute Circuit

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:37:13 PST

When it's too chilly to even imagine donning all the layers needed to run outside, you need a simple indoor workout to fall back on that will get your heart rate soaring and work your entire bod.

Here's a five-minute circuit workout you can do at home using set of stairs, a jump rope, and an exercise ball. If your house or apartment is only one floor, just use a sturdy low bench in place of the stairs. No jump rope on hand? Use your imagination and pretend; just jump in place without it. Using the exercise ball for push-ups and crunches makes these two moves more challenging, but if your home gym doesn't have one, just do those exercises on the floor. Crank up your favorite workout tunes and keep an eye on the clock, repeating this circuit one time through:

One minute walking up and down the stairs: 8 calories burned
One minute strength training (30 seconds push-ups, 30 seconds crunches): 5 calories burned
One minute jumping rope: 11 calories burned
One minute skipping around your house: 10 calories burned
One minute fast-paced jumping jacks: 8 calories burned

Total calories burned per round: 42

Repeat this five-minute circuit five more times for a total of six rounds and you'll burn 252 calories. This indoor circuit can be done at home, in a hotel room when traveling, or even at the gym (if you don't feel silly skipping in public!).