FitSugar

Would You Consider Back Fat Surgery?

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:30:00 PDT

We all have those little areas on our bodies that we'd like to change. Some people turn to dieting, some people exercise, and others consider plastic surgery. If back fat is your enemy, there's a new surgery known as the bra-line back lift designed to get rid of those bumps and rolls of skin on your back, sort of like a face lift or tummy tuck. Go in with rolls and leave with smoother, even skin.

It's not so much designed for slightly overweight people who carry their fat on their backs; it's more for people who've lost an extreme amount of weight or who have saggy skin from aging or too much sun exposure. After the surgery, you're left with a scar that a bra or bathing suit would hide. The procedure will run you from $7,500 to $10,000, so a flat back doesn't come cheap. Tell me . . .

Source

What's Worse: Cankles or Back Fat?

GiggleSugar — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 11:00:00 PST

It seems like every time I turn around there's another body part I'm supposed to be obsessed with. First it was love handles, then arm flappage (what--there's not a name for this awful affliction yet?!), double chin, etc. And I've already shown you that some clothes make all this even worse (hello, low rise jeans!) Well, now there are a couple more to add to the roster. (You may have heard of these--they're news to me.) What's worse?

Back Fat

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 07:30:00 PST

Worried about back fat? No matter where it is, fat is fat and one of the only ways to get rid of fat is by burning more calories than you consume. Then, to start building muscle tone you can also do back exercises. So while you get in the groove of burning more calories a quick fix for back fat: Stand up straight. When you stand up straight, you look about 10 pounds lighter.

Fat-Proof Your Life

Health — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:06:06 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

By Maridel Reyes

It's true that there are certain times in your life when extra poundage seems to appear out of nowhere . . . and settle on you. In fact, experts have honed in on the exact moments when you're most vulnerable to weight gain.

"Life transitions, having a baby, and going through menopause cause many women to pile on pounds," says Susan Albers, PsyD, author of But I Deserve This Chocolate!: The 50 Most Common Diet-Derailing Excuses and How to Outwit Them. "But with planning and prep, you can stay thin."

We asked top experts for their strategies to help you ward off weight creep - and even shed pounds - at these tricky stages. Solutions ahead.

Getting married

Heavier ever after? It can be the flip side of wedded bliss: "Six out of 10 of my clients come back heavier after the honeymoon," says celebrity fitness and wellness guru David Kirsch.

Health.com: 25 Diet-Busting Foods You Should Never Eat

Young newlyweds pack on an extra six to nine pounds in the five years after getting hitched compared to singletons, according to research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. And most of that gain happens in the first year of marriage.

"Couples start to mirror each other's eating habits," explains Albers. "You might be matching him calorie for calorie without realizing it."

Learn how to keep the pounds down postmarriage and in the mommy years, after the break.

4 Moves to Say Goodbye to Saddlebags

Self — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:54:13 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

If you're saddled with saddlebags, you probably think you got the short end of the family gene pool stick. But, lucky for you, those pesky fat deposits surrounding your hips, thighs, and butt are far easier to banish than, say, Great Aunt Hilda or your bossy big sister. "Saddlebags are largely determined by genetics, hormones, and age, but women can still affect the shape of their bodies through nutrition and exercise," says Rebekah Rotstein, a New York-based Pilates instructor who recently released the Pilates For Buff Bones DVD.

Not sure where to begin? Rotstein recommends utilizing large muscle groups rather than relying on spot training for fast results. "Pilates get results because it's a whole-body exercise program and works your muscles synergistically," she says. "Muscles aren't meant to function independently but as a team!"

Just remember to keep your expectations realistic. No workout in the world can turn you into Cameron Diaz overnight. "All women have padding at their hips, no matter how thin we are (even Diaz!)," says Rotstein. "It's what differentiates us from men and accentuates the curves you've got!"

To tone up those saddlebags fast, add these four moves to your regular workout routine. Check out the moves after the break.

5 Surprising Health Benefits of Being a Sports Fan

Prevention — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:19:15 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

By Cristina Goyanes, Prevention

It’s no wonder your friends aren’t available to hang out on Sundays in the Fall and Winter - according to a 2005 Gallup Poll, 64 percent of Americans claim to be professional football fans, and as of 2010, women make up 44 percent of the NFL fan base.

Being a sports fan doesn’t mean you’re expected to know all the players and stats of your hometown teams and destined for a beer gut - it’s about coming together in the name of good times as part of a community.

“Bonding over sports - the highs and lows of the game - strengthens ties, helps us feel supported, and makes it easier for you to open up about personal things,” says Renee Clauselle, PsyD, who runs a private psychology practice in Long Island, NY.

Seventeen Unexpected Side Effects of Exercise

Rooting for the same team creates an immediate sense of family, says Daniel Wann, PhD, a Murray State University professor who has been studying the psychology of sports fans for over 20 years. “If you identify with a local team, you build an instant connection to others around you,” he says.

Beyond the bonding aspects, watching sports can motivate you to pump up your own workouts - and even burn a few extra calories when you jump, cheer, and clap during the highlights of the game. Find out more ways being a sports fan is a winning situation for your health.

Keep reading to learn how being a sports fan benefits your health.

Get a Grip on Indulgences With Trainer Gunnar Peterson's Tips

Leta Shy — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:55:48 PST

Indulgences can get the best of us at any turn. Whether it's a co-worker's plate of cookies or a strong desire to skip a workout in favor of happy hour, it can be hard to stick with a routine when you notice temptations left and right. We recently spoke with celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson, the man behind some of the curviest bodies in Hollywood, who offered these tips on how to get a grip when we're craving unhealthy food or have skipped a workout.

Have a healthy outlook: Most people have an indulgence or two that leaves them weak in the knees (even Gunnar's got one: "Peanut butter is death for me. I would shank my grandmother in the neck for a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup," he jokes). Instead of banning your favorite junk food from your diet completely, make healthy choices most of the time, but allow yourself some leeway in all aspects of your healthy lifestyle. "Just try and make the right choices most of the time," Gunnar says. "If you make them all the time then you're just flat out boring and then you become a weird fitness zealot, and at the end of the day nobody wants to be around you."

Get out of the kitchen: If the kitchen table is your go-to spot for paying bills or finishing up work in the evening, you may find that just being around all that food can lead to mindless snacking. As Gunnar jokes, "If all bachelor parties were held in movie theaters there would be a lot less bad stuff that happens at bachelor parties." Take temptation out of the equation by getting out of the kitchen after you're done eating for the night.

Read on for more of Gunnar's healthy living tips.

Would You Have a Postbaby Boob Job?

Kate Stahl — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:36:53 PST

When I had my C-section, my mom (who had two of her own) told me her only regret after having my brother was that she didn't request a tummy tuck after delivery, a somewhat shocking statement from my totally low-key, nonvain mother. Of course, back then, I was still operating under the illusion that my body would snap back to its prepregnancy state within a few months and my formally flat abs would return with little to no effort. Now, nine and a half months later, I'm still holding on to seven pounds of baby weight. Despite working out three to four times a week, I'm sporting stretch marks that, for some reason, only affected my left side, and I'm still trying to embrace my other pregnancy parting gifts: back fat, wider hips, and flattened chest - one side effect I totally didn't expect!

Considering I've always been very small-chested, I didn't think pregnancy and breastfeeding would take too big of a toll, but going from an A cup to a C+, then back again, has not been pretty, and suddenly, I'm thinking a boob job might not be a bad idea. Are you on the same page as me? Would you consider a postbaby breast lift or implants? Weigh in below!

Why You Sweat More Than Your Exercise Buddy

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:10:19 PST

You're trucking along on the treadmill and as you reach for a towel to wipe off the perspiration on your forehead, you can't help but notice the guy to the right who's sweating so much. It looks like he jumped in a river. Why is it that some people sweat like crazy and some are barely glistening?

First off, sweating is the body's way of cooling itself off and maintaining a healthy temperature. You're born with between two and four million sweat glands. Women have more sweat glands than men, but men's glands are more active. How much you sweat depends on your gender, the number of sweat glands you have (more glands equal more sweat), how hot it is, how intensely you're exercising, or how anxious you feel.

The amount a person sweats also depends on how many sweat glands are activated and how much sweat is excreted from each gland. It turns out that fit men sweat significantly more than fit women. The same amount of sweat glands might be activated, but women produce less sweat from each gland. Fit people sweat more efficiently by sweating sooner during workouts, when their body temperature is lower. However, a sedentary person working at the same intensity will heat up a lot faster and possibly sweat more. Also, overweight people sweat more profusely than normal-weight individuals because fat acts as an insulator that raises core temperature.

Unfortunately, some people suffer from excessive sweating, a common condition called Hyperhidrosis. Their bodies' faucets turn on and their palms, feet, back, and face become covered in sweat, even if it's cold out or they're not moving. If this sounds familiar, consult your doctor to see what treatment options are available.

6 Ways to Sit Less Every Day

Health — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:03:42 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

By Sarah Kehoe

Need help being less sedentary? Here are the best ways to sit less and move more, from easiest to hardest.

Pace on the phone
Invest in a two-way speakerphone, a superlong phone-to-ear cord, or a quality headset so you can be more mobile while you chat.

Even if you simply stand while on the phone, you'll naturally shift from leg to leg.

Health.com: Little Ways to Lose Big Pounds

Putter after eating
Or take a quick walk postmeals. The fat levels in your bloodstream are highest after eating, and simply moving around afterward increases the activity of lipoprotein lipase, which spurs your metabolism.

Opt for bar seats at restaurants
Sit on the front third of the bar stool. Spread your feet just wider than hip distance, so they're supporting a fair bit of your weight, and gently roll your hips forward, arching your back slightly.

This position is called "perching" - it maintains an S-shape in your spine and distributes your weight more evenly.

Health.com: 20 Ways to Torch 200 Calories

Leave the seat at home
Whether you're going to a concert, tailgate, or park, don't bring a chair.

You'll find that if you don't have one, you stand the whole time or naturally move back and forth between your blanket and standing, says Marc Hamilton, PhD, a microbiologist at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

More suggestions for giving up the chair after the break.