FitSugar

Gabby Reece Returns to the World of Pro Volleyball

FitSugar — Fri, 28 May 2010 05:50:50 PDT

Volleyball superstar Gabrielle Reece made a big announcement this week: the 40-year-old mom is returning to the pro volleyball circuit this July. Calling it her "comeback," Gabby told ABC News that she decided to play on the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) circuit this year because of changes its new owners made. Those changes include a shorter competition schedule and the return of the "four on four" format, meaning teams of four play against one another. On whether or not she's excited to be coming back to the sport, Gabby said, "I am. It's fun. You're outside, it's on the beach, and you're around all these great girls." She also mentioned that she's excited to play with the "younger girls," too.

Gabby says she's feeling comfortable and strong, and that even after she stopped playing pro volleyball (almost 10 years ago), she's always kept a training schedule and an active lifestyle. The only thing she's not looking forward to? Those regulation bikini bottoms. The star says she will be doing her best to lobby for the return of tights.

Meet the Ladies of Vancouver, Part Deux

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:00:01 PST

I told you I'd be back with more amazing ladies from Team USA. I will definitely be watching the opening ceremony this Friday, as I'll be on the lookout for the medal hopefuls I'm showcasing here. Here's hoping that their incredible talent, drive, and training is enough to bring home the gold!

Lindsey Vonn's SI Cover: OMG or No Biggie?

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:00:20 PST

It must feel pretty good to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated next to the headline "America's Best Woman Skier Ever." But the buzz about this photo of Vancouver lady Lindsey Vonn concerns the way she's posing. As Women Talk Sports points out, SI rarely features female athletes on its cover, and often, they're shown in sexualized poses. Of course, you could argue that Vonn's pose isn't sexual at all but merely the stance of a skier. What's your take on this image?

Are You Attracted to Athletes?

TresSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PDT

The recently revealed (and depressing) secret code of sports mistresses reminded me that there are some women who will do anything to spend some time with a man who happens to be really, really good at sports. The rules for women who get involved with professional athletes include: never, ever, fall in love, always get gifts paid for upfront, and don't expect them to be faithful.

Of course there are some women who have the hots for athletes, without diving into the sordid world of groupie-dom. A friend in college dated multiple guys on the soccer team and a former roommate had a huge crush on baseball great Alex Rodriguez. (Apparently, she's not alone; Madonna and Kate Hudson, anyone?). Do athletes turn you on?

Dara Torres Talks About Staying Fit and Not Acting Your Age

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:00:00 PDT

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." Source

Male Athletes Struggling With Eating Disorders

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:00:00 PST

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

Kidmazing: Seven-Year-Old Played Hoops With Michael Jordan

LilSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:00:59 PDT

Anthony Iglesia wants to be like Mike. The seven-year-old baller was in Santa Barbara attending Michael Jordan's basketball camp when the iconic athlete tapped him to play a game of two-on-two against another camper and San Antonio Spurs player, Tony Parker. The former duo beat the latter with young Anthony scoring the winning basket and just as many points as Jordan. The child's proud mama and pop rooted him on.

Can You Guess the Olympians' Favorite Foods?

YumSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:30:07 PDT

In the past two weeks, many of us (myself included) have kept our eyes glued to the television screen watching the Olympics. You may think you're a die-hard sports fan since you know the number of world records broken or gold medals won, but the real test is whether you know what foods the Olympians just can't resist. Here's your chance to test your aptitude. On your marks, get set . . . go!

Source

Take the Quiz

Low Resting Heart Rate?

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 02:00:00 PST

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!

Bar Refaeli, Anne V, Chrissy Teigen, and More Wear Bikinis For SI's Swimsuit Issue

Allie Merriam — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:12:53 PST

The annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue features some of the world's most famous models in their two-pieces. Bar Refaeli wore a bikini for a spread with some well-known athletes like Rafael Nadal, Michael Phelps, and Chris Paul. Chrissy Teigen, Anne V, and Irina Shayk also show skin in the magazine. Click through to see highlights from SI's latest, which features Kate Upton on the cover, and make sure to check out all the 2012 Sports Illustrated bikini pictures!