FitSugar

7 Fitness Tips From Olympian Dara Torres

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:50:19 -0700

Swimmer Dara Torres is one woman who's inspired me to stay active and healthy for years to come. At 41, she won three silver medals swimming in Beijing, so she's living proof that you only get fitter with age. Here are some tips from a Self magazine exclusive interview with Dara Torres, to help you stay healthy as you age.

Set a fun fitness goal. Dara says, "Even if you don't quite believe in yourself yet, if you set a goal that's not too tough to reach, then meet it, that will motivate you to set another one and continue that cycle."
Triple your warmup time. Instead of the recommended five minutes of warming up, Dara does at least 15. She says it "helps prevent aches" and make her feel "as spry as she did when she was 17." Warming up gives your muscles a chance to ease into your workout, which will reduce your chance of sustaining an injury. The longer you warm up, the better.

There are five more tips, so keep reading

Guess Who?

FitSugar — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 04:30:00 -0800

We don't usually see him with a football, but which athlete is about to throw the pigskin?

Speak Up: Who's Your Favorite Current Athlete?

FitSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0700

Spring and Summer are busy seasons in the wide world of sports, and the Olympics are just around the corner. Exciting competitions like Wimbledon and the US Open, not to mention the ongoing baseball season, definitely make for good entertainment.

The athletes are fun to watch and inspiring, too, so I was wondering . . .

Athletic Minded Traveler

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 15:15:00 -0800

How often has that “state of the art” gym turned out to be a closet-size room with a few old machines? No wonder it is a tough task to keep fit while on the road.

The creators of the Athletic Minded Traveler have become so frustrated with the cluelessness of the hotel and travel industry about the needs and desires of athletic-minded travelers that they decided to do something about it. Their mission is to uncover the best places for healthy-minded individuals to stay, workout, eat and enjoy while traveling. Like many good things, it is not free but definitely affordable as subscriptions to the site are only $2.95/month or $19.95/year -- well worth it if you're traveling in 2007. Check out the site for more information.

Male Athletes Struggling With Eating Disorders

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0800

A leaner body has advantages in some competitive sports, but it looks like some male athletes may be taking lean a little too far. Recent deaths among wrestlers attempting to make certain weight classes have raised awareness about eating disorders and male athletes. This issue is not just limited to wrestlers. Increasingly, doctors are seeing unhealthy eating disorders develop among cyclists, triathletes, and cross country skiers.

While training, athletes may lose weight and notice that their thinner bodies allow them to move faster. When competing, their sleekness may help them place higher, which can inspire them to want to lose even more weight. That's where dieting and training may become a dangerous mix. If a male athlete loses enough weight, he may become injured and his training will become over training, creating lackluster performance. Hopefully this negative cycle will convince the athlete to improve his nutritional habits. However, if he in fact does have an eating disorder, the athlete may come up with other reasons as to why his performance is lacking, denying his eating disorder. Professional treatment may be necessary to help these men learn the balance between being athletic and being healthy.

Source

All-American Girls: Do You Know Your Female Athletes?

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:07:59 -0700

As we gear up for the Fourth of July, let's take a moment to salute some of the country's most talented and fearless female athletes. These women have played ball, run track, and, in some cases, even tackled multiple sports. Do you know your all-American female athlete facts? Prove your patriotism by taking my quiz.

Take the quiz

Move it at Home: Yoga for Athletes

FitSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 08:45:00 -0700

Have you ever heard of Kimberly Fowler? She's got quite the story. In 1982, she got hit by a car in a bike race that left her severely injured. A physical therapist introduced her to Iyengar Yoga, and it helped her to heal and realign her body, and she began competing as a triathlete again.

She is now the NIKE Yoga Spokeswoman and she trains all levels of athletes in her Yoga for Athletes and YAS (Yoga and Spinning) classes and workshops.

This DVD called YOGA for ATHLETES, is based on her knowledge and experience with sports and yoga. It's a practice combining the elements of Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Power Yoga. The sequencing of poses are carefully selected with the athlete in mind, to work your hips, hamstrings, core abdominals and upper body. She believes that these are the areas that athletes abuse and injure, so they need special attention.

I loved the difficulty of this DVD. It moved slowly, but you end up holding poses for a long time, which really challenges your muscles and your mind. The only thing I wasn't too keen on was the background rock music, which was easily remedied - I just shut off the sound on the DVD and pumped up my favorite Krishna Das CD.

This video is perfect for someone who likes to push themselves physically, and wants the benefits of yoga without the flowery spiritual stuff. I laughed out loud when I read the front cover that says: "Yoga is a Sport. No Chanting. No Granola. No Sanskrit." This DVD is all about moving, stretching and strengthening your body through the power of Yoga. Order it directly from the YAS website for $24.95.

Get Your Butt in Gear: Athlete Tee Says More

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:30:00 -0800

Looking for a gift that is more than just another tee?

This Nike Women's Athlete Tee ($28) - a limited-edition, short-sleeved classic Dri-Fit tee - says more than just athlete, it actually gives to athletes. One dollar from each tee sold goes directly to Let Me Play, an organization that supports female sports teams.

Buy one here.

Fitness Fanatics + Missed Cycles = Trouble

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0700

I don't know anyone who's thrilled to have her monthly visitor. The bloating, mood swings, and insane sugar cravings are far from a good time. Whether you like it or not though, getting your period is actually a good indication that your body is functioning as it should be. If your period stops, (and you're not preggers), it can be a big red flag that something is wrong. This condition is known as amenorrhea and it can be caused by depression, chronic illness, certain medications (like chemotherapy), or eating disorders. Fitness fanatics who exercise excessively may also notice Aunt Flo's disappearance. To learn more about this condition, known as athletic amenorrhea, take this little quiz.

Source

Take the quiz

Athlete's Foot: Keep it Off Your Feet

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 03:00:00 -0800

Ever since high school when we were forced to take freshmen swimming, I have been mortified of getting athlete's foot. It seemed that someone in the locker room always had it, making showering one frightening experience.

Nowadays I wear rubber flip-flops when I use the shower at my gym. Mainly out of fear but sometimes I wonder: Can the fungus permeate my thongs?

I have since found out that my fear is somewhat invalid. The fungus that causes athlete's foot lives (and thrives) in warm, moist places, making public showers picture perfect breeding grounds for the germ. Wearing flip-flops decreases your risk (phew), but it's also very important to wash your feet with soap. Once you wash your feet make sure to dry between your toes immediately after your shower so there are no warm, moist places for the fungus to live when you put your shoes on. Wear flip-flops every time you shower in a public place and be sure to wash and dry them off too. However should you get the infamous athlete's foot, it is not the end of the world since most drugstore treatments get rid of it pretty quickly.