FitSugar

Dara Torres Talks About Staying Fit and Not Acting Your Age

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Dara Torres, the amazing Olympian, swimmer, and mom who made headlines at Beijing when she swam for a comeback at age 41. She won three silver medals and also won me over.

Not only did Torres give me lots of great advice on health, training, and fitness, but she also shared some insight on how she balances intense training with a (relatively) normal personal life. She was funny and refreshingly honest. Better yet, I've got a video excerpt of our interview! Check it out below.

To read some more of my favorite excerpts from the interview, read more.

FitSugar: Tell us about your memoir, Age Is Just a Number:
Dara Torres: "It was really a lot of fun to write. I got that title because I really realized you don't put an age limit on your dreams. And a lot of people put elite athletes on pedestals and forget that we're human and that we make mistakes and we have our ups and downs and our trials and tribulations, and I really wanted that to get across. I wanted the everyday person to relate to my book."

FS: What are some of those trials and tribulations you discuss in the book?
DT: "I talk about just getting back into my comeback and my father passes away from colon cancer. I deal with the pressures of trying to make an Olympic team when so many eyes are on me and so many middle-aged people are counting on me. I talk about my coach, who ended up having a rare blood disorder right after I made the Olympic team. There were a lot of things I had to deal with."

FS: And you also, throughout all this, have been raising a daughter? How old is she now?
DT: "My daughter is 3, and it's really been such a fun time in my life. I really looked towards role models like working parents to figure out how I can balance my life to be the best mom that I can be and also be able to do what I love to do. Just normal people who work 9-to-5 jobs and are still awesome parents. It's a tough thing to try to figure out how to balance, but I'm lucky I found a balance that works really well for both my daughter and myself."

FS: And does she like swimming?
"She loves swimming. I've had her in the pool since she was about 3 months old. Some of my teammates who are so young tease me and say 'you guys'll be swimming in the same meet coming up soon,' so I get teased a lot."

FS: What is your precompetition ritual in terms of what you eat or what you do?
DT: "I'll drink some type of shake with milk before I swim, and that's really all I need. I don't like to eat a lot before I'm in a big race because I'm already nervous as it is and the last thing I need to do is get sick to my stomach. Maybe have a little cereal with milk. Just very minimal what I eat before I train."

FS: In a recent interview with More magazine, you mentioned that you had some eating disorder issues when you were in college and went "cold turkey." What tips could you offer to other women who are struggling with this?
DT: "It's not easy to get over it on your own. What I did was set a goal. And at that point in time I had not been swimming for a while, and my goal was to try and make a third Olympic team. The minute I had that goal in my head, it was like, you know what, I can't have this eating disorder anymore or else I'm not going to reach my goals. And so I was lucky to have swimming as an outlet. The biggest thing you need to do is be able to talk to someone about it. It's not like if you talk to them you’re going to get over it right away but at least you can communicate and let someone know and hopefully they can help you get help."

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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.

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Low Resting Heart Rate?

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 02:00:00 -0800

Have you noticed that since working out your resting heart rate is lower than it was? This is no cause for alarm as most athletes (yup, you're an athlete now) generally have low heart rates.

Runner's World gives us this analogy:

...consider a bricklayer lifting bricks. If his arm muscles are strong from lifting lots of bricks, he can move 10 bricks with each lift rather than just two or three. Similarly, if your heart muscle is strong thanks to running, it has a higher stroke volume, which means that it can pump more blood with each beat than an untrained heart. It can also pump the same amount of blood in a minute using fewer beats.

The average resting heart rate of adults is 60-100 beats per minute (bpm) while athletes are around 50-60 bpm. Other numbers to know: The infant/neonatal rate of heartbeat is 130-150 bpm, the toddler's is 100–130 bpm, the older child's is 90–110 bpm and the adolescent's is 80–100 bpm.

The worry would (and should) come in when a resting heart rate is lower than 30. However, even that can be completely normal (and usually is) if the athlete is totally healthy. The slow heart rate usually just indicates a strong heart. If you are concerned, it never hurts to consult a physician when dealing with your health.

Fit's Tip: The best time to determine your resting heart rate is when you first awaken in the morning or after sitting down and relaxing for at least 5 minutes. Get a heart rate monitor to monitor your heart while working out. Don't know your target heart rate? Check out the Fit Calculator to find out!

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.

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.

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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.

Things to Think About When Buying Athletic Shoes

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 14:30:00 -0700

So you need to buy a new pair of sneakers for running, or maybe for soccer. Regardless of what activity you need the shoes for, here are some things to think about for choosing the best pair of sneakers:

Wear the appropriate shoes for the appropriate activity. If you're going to be running, it's not in your best interests to wear tennis sneakers. Even if the tennis shoe is cuter.
Get your foot measured. Our shoe sizes change over time, so make sure to have your foot measured from time to time.
Due to normal swelling in your feet throughout the day, shop for your shoes in the afternoon.
Leave the idea that you need to break a shoe in at home. If your athletic shoe does not feel comfortable in the store, don't buy it.
Shop around. There are lots of shoes to choose from and the first one you try may not always be the best even if it feels OK.
Take your own socks, the ones that you would wear with those shoes on your own.
Unfortunately, when it comes to athletic shoes you pay for what you get. So don't be afraid to pay a little extra for a nice pair of shoes.

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