FitSugar

Lifting Tip: Keep Your Neck Straight

FitSugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:45:00 PST

I admit it. I love to watch myself when using weights. It's not because I love staring at my toned muscles; it's because I'm checking my form.

It's great to make sure you're doing strength-training moves correctly, but if you turn your head to take a peek, you could strain your neck or upper back. So instead of glaring over at your deltoid, stand in front of a mirror to watch yourself, making sure to keep your neck in line with your spine. You can also have a session with a fitness trainer so he or she can watch you do your moves and give you pointers on how to perfect your form.

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5 Things: Ways to Hurt Yourself While Working Out

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:30:00 PST

Regardless of whether you're a gym newbie or have been working out for years, there's a variety of common mistakes that can lead to injury. Nobody wants that right? Here are five ways to hurt yourself at the gym, with advice on how to stay injury free.

Skipping the warm up. Even if your schedule is tight, don't skimp on the very important warmup. Easing your way into your workout will gradually increase your heart rate and get the blood flowing into your muscles. Not only does it help make your body feel more prepared to work hard, but it can also prevent pulling a muscle.
Doing the same thing every time. While it's good to get into a routine, this is a great way to get a repetitive stress injury. So alternate between cardio machines, try out different fitness classes and weight machines, and work on cross-training. Not only will you help give overused muscles a break, but you'll have more fun working out too.

Want to see the rest? Then

Doing too much. Ease into new exercise routines. When strength training, if you're increasing to a heavier weight, shoot for eight reps instead of 20. If bike riding is new to you, ride at a moderate pace first, and as your body gets used to it, gradually increase your speed. You won't be able to go to the gym if you end up really sore or with a pulled muscle, so ease up on the gung-ho mindset and increase intensity as you feel ready.
Holding onto the treadmill. This can put your body in an unnatural running position, which could end up straining your shoulders or back. If you're holding on because you're worried about falling off, then slow down the pace and speed it up as you feel comfortable.
Bouncing while stretching. This is a big no-no since you could be causing microtrauma to your muscles. As these injuries heal and scar, they can actually make you less flexible, undoing all the work you've done. So get into a stretch and stay there to reap the benefits. Stretch to a point where you feel your muscles opening, but you shouldn't feel any pain.

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Fit Tip: Avoid Injury by Mixing It Up

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:45:00 PST

Exercising isn't always fun, so if you find some kind of physical activity that you love, it's easy to stick with it. It's great to fully immerse yourself in one thing like running, but you may be putting yourself at risk by overusing certain muscles groups, leaving others weak and overtaxing your joints. You can also become bored and careless when doing the same thing over and over again, and when you're not paying attention, you could end up hurting yourself.

So mix it up. Don't do the same thing all the time when it comes to your exercise routine. Try to include a mix of cardio, flexibility and strength training each week. I'm not saying you should give up what you love to do, but add some new things in. If you're spending a lot of time using cardio machines, then try taking a class or using the pool. If you love relaxing or low-impact exercise like Pilates or weight training, then step it up and hop on a treadmill or take a spinning class. You'll work new muscles and give old ones a rest, which is important to your body's overall strength and health.

Tell me how you mix it up in the comments section below.
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Mistakes That Could Ruin Your Morning Workout

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:50:47 PST

If you work or go to school full time, getting your sweat on in the wee hours of the morn is probably the only time you can fit it in. Kudos to you for resisting the urge to hit the snooze button and skip out. Make setting your alarm and pulling yourself out of bed worth all the effort and avoid these morning exercise mistakes.

Not eating: It's super early, but you need to eat in order to fuel your workout. Munch on something small while you're getting ready, like half a banana or half a piece of toast with a little peanut butter. You'll not only avoid the gnawing hunger pangs, but you'll also have an extra pep in your step to exercise harder or longer than you would on an empty stomach. When you get home, you can enjoy your usual breakfast, which is always something to look forward to.
Loading up on fiber: While it's important to eat a little something, you don't want to load up on bulky fiber that can make you feel too full or upset your stomach.
Not hydrating: Aside from food, you also need water. Definitely don't down half a gallon before you hit the gym because too much water can cause cramping, but make sure you sip a short glass of H2O while enjoying your small snack.
Not laying your outfit out the night before: You don't have oodles of time in the morning, so don't take away from your exercise time by scrambling to find your missing sock. Plan your outfit before you go to bed so you can just slip it on and go.

Keep reading for more morning exercise mistakes to avoid.

Earn More Money By Changing Up Your Office Space

LearnVest — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:15:07 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Most of us spend about 40 hours per week at work - in other words, the majority of our waking hours.

And nearly all of those hours are spent sitting at our desks. It’s a definite problem - and not just because we’re missing happy hour or quality couch time at home.

There’s no shortage of discouraging research pointing out the evils of a sedentary lifestyle and claiming that sitting will actually shorten our lives.

But, conversely, making a few tweaks to the way you sit - and the space you sit in - all day has been proven to make you a happier, healthier worker, busy earning your killer salary.

And, scientists say, the happier you are, the more you tend to earn.

In an effort to make the time spent at our desks as productive (and as profitable) as possible, we’ve combed the research for the easiest, most effective tips to soothe your mind and body when trapped in a cubicle . . . or corner office.

Just follow these four steps.

1. Make It Comfy

When we say “comfy,” we mean “ergonomic.” It’s an unfriendly word for a friendly concept: basically it means “intended to provide optimum comfort and to avoid stress or injury.” Friendly, right? Besides, an awkward workspace can lead to major health issues, including disorders in your joints or tendons, so a little tweaking of your cubicle can go a long way for your well-being. Line up your body correctly by following these two principles:

Your feet should be flat on the floor and your elbows should be even with your desk. This can be achieved either through adjustable chairs or - if chairs are a hot commodity at your office - a combination of step stools and pillows.

Read on for more tips.

Tips For Practicing Yoga in the Winter

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:24:08 PST

When cold, brisk air is blowing outside, I crave practicing yoga in a heated room. Walking around barefoot in a tank top and feeling the warm arm on my skin is incredibly liberating. Practicing yoga in the Winter is a little different than in the summertime, so here are some things you should keep in mind until the thaw.

Don't just head to class in your just your capris. Be sure to wear warm layers over your yoga outfit. A warm body is less prone to injury.
If you live in a very cold climate, try to get to class at least 10 minutes early to sit in the hot room to allow your muscles to warm up before diving into Downward Dog. Do some Sun Salutations on your own to warm up faster.
To avoid getting sick, ask the instructor not to assist you. They touch every other body in the room, so there's a good chance they can pass germs on to you.
If you have a cold, stay home. I know you think a hot, sweaty yoga class is just the thing you need to kick your cold and unclog your stuffy nose, but be considerate of the other yogis in the class. This is a great time to test out your home practice or use your favorite yoga DVDs.
Use your own yoga mat and never borrow studio or gym mats. It's hard to know when they were last washed or what kind of germs may be living them. Along the same lines, don't let anyone borrow your mat either.
Make sure to bring a change of warm, dry clothes. You don't want to stay in your damp yoga outfit and step outside in the cold air. Cold weather doesn't make you sick, but it sure challenges your immune system.

3 Things I Learned From My First Indoor Cycling Class

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:15:09 PST

Since it's important to vary workouts and keep the body guessing, this year I resolved to add indoor cycling to my usual running-and-weights fitness routine. I made sure to wear and bring the right items to the gym, but I learned a few technique-related tips during class that I wish I'd known earlier. Planning to try an indoor cycling class for the first time? Keep these three pointers in mind to steer clear of injuries and make the most of your workout.

Regularly shift your hands: To avoid stiff, sore wrists, be sure to move your hands around the handlebars by correctly incorporating the standard cycling hand positions. You should try to keep your hands slightly loose - no death grips necessary - and do your best to let your weight fall into your feet, rather than leaning your entire body into your hands. It's also important to keep your shoulders down and relaxed.
Keep pedal rotations pause-free: Aim to make each pedal revolution as smooth as possible so that you don't put any extra strain on your ankles or the balls of your feet. There's a natural tendency to pause at the bottom of a rotation - especially during standing intervals - so make sure that your leg and glute muscles stay in a constant push-and-pull rhythm. To achieve this, try keeping your feet flat rather than letting your heel turn up and toe push down.
Focus on technique, not resistance: As you ease into indoor cycling, don't worry too much about the resistance level on your bike. Instead, strive to stay moving throughout the entire class and learn to fluidly transition between the sitting and standing positions. Later, when you've grown more comfortable on the bike, you can begin to worry about increasing resistance and amping up your workout.

From the Community: New to Group Exercise Classes? 4 Helpful Tips From an Instructor

Fit Community — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:15:33 PST

No need to be nervous about taking your fitness class: FitSugar community member (and fitness instructor) livinginthin has some helpful tips to help you navigate your way through the workout.

Did you just join a gym? Good for you! Group fitness classes can be a fun and effective way to get into an exercise program, but venturing into that loud, crowded room for the first time can be pretty intimidating! As an instructor for the past ten years, I’ve seen many first timers take a class once and never come back. If you are just starting out, here are a few tips to ensure a successful experience in the group exercise studio (and keep you coming back for more):

Let me know it’s your first time: A good instructor should be available a few minutes before class (either in the hall or in the room), so please be sure to let us know it’s your first time. We may be able to give you some tips on how to get the most out of the day’s workout, tell you what equipment you’ll need, etc.

Stand in the middle of the room.: If you are new to class, I need to see you to watch your form, so please don’t hide in the back row. On the same token, don’t stand in the front row either - you’ll want to be able to follow some seasoned exercisers, and the front row usually consists of regulars who have been taking the class for years, and can be very helpful to visually follow when I am walking around the room to help students.

See more tips on taking your first fitness class after the break!

How Celeb Trainer Gunnar Peterson Keeps Sofia Looking Hot

Leta Shy — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:49:57 PST

Modern Family star Sofia Vergara is known both on and off the red carpet for her enviable figure, and award season is definitely a time when the actress can shine. Between her glamorous gowns and camera-ready makeup, Sofia always looks the part. But the self-described gym hater also works hard to keep fit. We spoke to her trainer Gunnar Peterson (whose clients have also included Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and Angelina Jolie), to learn more about how Sofia gets award-season ready. Read his tips below.

Make it fun: How does Gunnar keep his celebrity clients sticking to their routine? "I try to keep it fun. I try and put a little bit of levity in it, but at the same time, I don’t sacrifice the work. We may goof around and stuff, but we’re definitely going to goof around while we’re working." A boring workout is one you won't want to stick to, so read our tips on how to keep a workout fun.

Whole-body workout: Gunnar doesn't like to waste time with isolated moves. Burn more calories and work more of your body at the same time instead. "I don’t do that many isolation movements, like single joint stuff," Gunnar says. "I do bigger movements. If we’re going to do a lunge, we’re probably going to add an upper body component to it, like a lunge with a wood chop, a side lunge with a wood chop, or a rear lunge with a lateral raise, or a forward lunge with a front raise." Try it yourself: incorporate this medicine ball wood chop the next time you do lunges, and check out Gunnar's cutting-edge double-duty gym equipment here.

Read on for more tips from celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson.

Trail or Sidewalk? The Pros and Cons of Running on Different Surfaces

Leta Shy — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:28:56 PST

Body-wise, running can be a high-impact sport, which can mean achy joints, irritated tendons, and other running-related injuries. Many runners use various methods to try to lessen the impact of constantly striking the ground.

For many runners, that means choosing a soft surface. But while you may think that running on soft surfaces may help lower the strain on your body, this may not always be the case. An article from The New York Times says that runners who preferred softer surfaces don't necessarily have fewer injuries than those who ran on asphalt or concrete (and may have more, since softer surfaces can lead to accident-related injuries). In fact, some studies have shown that our bodies actually adapt to different surfaces no matter how hard they are, so the type of surface that we run on may not matter as much.

While the best running surface may be a personal preference, there are still benefits and drawbacks to each type. Whether you love to run on the street or on trails, check out the pros and cons of running on these surfaces after the break.