FitSugar

Work it Girl: Chair Squat

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 02:30:00 PDT

Sitting at your desk for countless hours in one position can really tighten up your lower body. So why not do something to open up those hips, quads, and calves?

You could always do a Wide Squat on the floor, but if you squat down on top of your chair, you can still get a little work done (I'm all about the multi-tasking).

Stay like this for a minute or two, or as long as you'd like. I wouldn't stay like this for too long though, because your feet will start to fall asleep from loss of circulation.

Just like the Chair Spinal Twist, I love the way this stretch releases my lower back. Give it a try and tell me what you think.

CAUTION: Do NOT try this squat on a chair with wheels. If you do have a rolling chair, find a place in your office where you can do this move with your feet planted firmly on the floor.

12 Things You Should Never Buy Full-Price

Business Insider — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:15:25 PST

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

With the Internet, helpful mobile phone apps, and retailers scrambling to keep consumers in their shops, there's no need to pay full-price for much of anything these days.

To give you a boost, we tapped a few savvy shoppers for their tips on all the ways you can save.

Theater tickets

"One of the greatest savings areas recently has been the theater ticket business," says Anna Aronovich, CEO of GovernmentAuctions.org.

Even if you're not going to be around NYC to score discount Broadway tickets this month, there are opportunities in nearly all cities to see shows on the cheap.

Some rewards programs like Optimum Rewards cost nothing to join and offer discounts on shows.

Beer

If you're looking to stock the fridge for your next poker night, don't hit the liquor store until you've checked out www.saveonbrew.com.

The company's been featured on a host of deals sites lately as one of the best ways to find discounts on brewski, says Jennifer Davidson, director of operations. (See some incredible uses for beer.)

Read on for more.

Adele Strikes a Pose For Vogue's March Issue

Chi Diem Chau — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:08:21 PST

Last night, Adele raked in six amazing Grammy awards including the win for best album of the year for 21. With millions of fans behind her back, the golden girl, recently recovered from throat surgery, shows no signs of slowing down. Vogue just added more fuel to the fire with the unveiling of Adele as its March cover girl, shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. With perfect wing-tipped eyes and sexy, voluminous waves, Adele emoted superstar status wearing a gorgeous citron and black lace dress from Oscar de la Renta, leather opera-length gloves, and strapped sandals. Read below to hear what Adele has to say about her love for Beyoncé, making red-carpet appearances, and her loud personality. Then, visit Vogue.com to see the whole story unfold.

On Beyoncé: "She's been a huge and constant part of my life as an artist since I was about ten or eleven. I love how all of her songs are about empowerment. Even when she's married and Jay-Z put a ring on it, she releases 'Single Ladies.' Go get yours. Go get what you deserve. I think she's really inspiring. She's beautiful. She's ridiculously talented, and she is one of the kindest people I've ever met."

On making red-carpet appearances:: "I hate the red carpet. I don't feel insecure, I just feel like, Oh, I don't want to do this. I literally get a stomach cramp."

On her personality: "I am quite loud and bolshie. I'm a big personality. I walk into a room, big and tall and loud."

Photos courtesy of Vogue

Bikini-Clad Scarlett Johansson Vacations in Hawaii With Her Boyfriend

Katie Henry — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:06:07 PST

Scarlett Johansson broke out her bikini and hit the beach in Hawaii Friday with boyfriend Nate Naylor. The couple relaxed under the sun, and Nate even rubbed suntan lotion onto Scarlett's back. The tropical getaway comes on the heels of Scarlett's recent trip to Berlin and an appearance at Obama's "Runway to Win" fundraiser in NYC earlier this week.

Nate and Scarlett went public with their romance in late January, however according to sources they've been dating for more than five months. It appears Scarlett and Nate are taking advantage of a break in her schedule before she embarks on The Avengers's international press tour prior to the film's May 4 release. The latest Avengers trailer aired during the Super Bowl, and fans got a sneak peek at their favorite superhero squad prepping for an epic battle.

The Five Best Races For Women

espnW — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:09:19 PST

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

By Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea

Sage Steele, SportsCenter anchor, is preparing to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World on Feb. 26 and hoping to fall in love with running in the process. Follow Sage’s journey on espnW.com

Women's races offer a decidedly different vibe than their coed cousins': more camaraderie, a sole sister atmosphere that welcomes all runners and walkers, and lots more running skirts. Here are five of the top women's races and series in the country. Sign up then train like Sage.

Disney Tinker Bell and Princess half marathons
Sage picked a winner. Let your inner child run free through the Magic Kingdom at these festival race weekends. Tinker Bell is in Disneyland, while Princess is in Disney World, but both allow thousands of runners to mix and mingle with Disney characters on courses that wind through each park. Racers put almost as much effort into costumes - Snow White, Belle, or Minnie, anyone? - as training. Bonus: your kids will be especially psyched to cheer you on.

Sage Steele gets some training advice from Disney runMom Lori Lovell

Nike Women's Marathon
Yeah, it's tough to snag an entry, but if you can, this race is so worth it. (Psst: Go through Team in Training.) This 26.2-mile race, and its half-marathon companion, traverses San Francisco with sweeping vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge and Pacific Ocean to take your mind off the killer hills in the first 10 miles of the race. Tuxedo-clad firefighters bestow each finisher with a Tiffany & Co. pendant.

Run fast by fueling up smart

Three more great races after the break.

The Vampire Diaries "Dangerous Liaisons": The Good, The Bad, and The Bloody

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:52:08 PST

The original vampire family hosts a ball on this week's episode of The Vampire Diaries, and the whole town puts on their finest formal wear for the event of the supernatural season. Elena has two dates to the event, but it's her date to meet the original witch that gives us insight into what's in store for Klaus and his siblings.

Speaking of Klaus, we get some developments between him and Caroline that are sweet and promising (even if she's a bit cautious to date him because of his cruelty in the past and general bloodlust). There's also a hot hookup that I didn't see coming, so there's lots to talk about this week. To get to the good, the bad, and the bloody, just keep reading.

The Vow: Channing Tatum Is More Memorable Than the Romance

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:30:00 PST

It's no accident that The Vow's release date coincides almost perfectly with Valentine's Day. The film promises the kind of epic love story that many of us, like it or not, are more amenable to getting swept up in at this time of year: a man tries to make his wife fall in love with him again after a horrific accident leaves her with no memory of the last four years, or of him. Channing Tatum is endearing as Leo and though he has chemistry with Rachel McAdams's Paige, it almost goes to waste due to the film's lack of focus and uneven plot.

For starters, having a stranger for a husband is just the beginning of Paige's problems. Sometime in the four years she's lost, she went from being a preppy law student to a free-spirited artist. Naturally, when she wakes up, she wants an explanation for why she doesn't talk to her family anymore, what happened to her pretty boy fiancé (Scott Speedman), and why her hair is so "weird." It's understandable that she's a little different from who she used to be, but a complete life transformation is a bit hard to swallow - both for Paige, and for the audience.

To see why The Vow may not be the love story you're expecting, just

read more. Watching Tatum and McAdams play off each other is what keeps the movie engaging, and Tatum is particularly sympathetic. Though Paige is the one who has suffered the trauma, it's even more difficult to watch Leo quietly suffer as the love of his life continues to slip away in favor of the life she actually remembers. Leo represents a life that the new Paige is enticed by but can't imagine: he's goofy, laid-back, and immensely committed to her. But Paige can't come to terms with a life she doesn't feel part of, and instead reverts back to her former self. The sincerity and sweetness that Tatum brings to Leo are reflected in flashbacks of his life with Paige and in his current attempts to win her back, but the film isn't the epic romance that it's packaged to be. In fact, it's more depressing than it is joyful; not only are most of the characters in pain throughout the film, but with the exception of Leo, most of them are downright irritating. Paige's family and friends couldn't be more stereotypically conservative, which only makes Paige's decision to stay with them all the more frustrating to watch. As the film goes on, the love story starts to take the backseat to her family issues, and the crux of the film rests on a subplot that's both lame and contrived. The Vow is certainly watchable, thanks to the intrigue of the premise, and the mystery of how Leo and Paige will (inevitably, of course) find their way back to each other. But the film tries too hard to manufacture extra drama out of Paige's memory loss, when all the audience really wants to see is a love story to get swept up in.

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

10 Movies We Want to See in 3D

GeekSugar — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:14:05 PST

Ever wish you could go back and watch your favorite movies in 3D? Lucky for Star Wars fans, the entire Star Wars collection is being rereleased in 3D, starting with Star Wars: The Phantom Menace this Friday.

Of course, we're of the camp that says you shouldn't convert films to 3D just for the sake of jumping on the bandwagon. It needs to serve a purpose. But there are a few films that were released before the trend went mainstream that we wish we could see in a third dimension. Click through the gallery and see our picks, then tell us - are there any movies you'd like to see in 3D?

Emma Stone Shows Off Her Amazing Bikini Body in Brazil

Lauren Turner — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:20:51 PST

Emma Stone wore a bikini to take a dip in the pool of her Rio hotel over the weekend. She's in Brazil to promote The Amazing Spider-Man, and dressed up to meet with fans and snap promotional pictures during her stay. She also made time for sightseeing when she checked out the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon. Emma's action film doesn't hit theaters until July, but we got a glimpse of her hot chemistry with costar and real-life boyfriend Andrew Garfield in the new Amazing Spider-Man trailer that was released yesterday.

Emma will soon switch gears back to her other big-screen project The Help, since the movie is nominated at the Oscars, which take place Feb. 26. The film and its stars have already picked up multiple awards with Emma showing her support on the red carpet at the SAGs, Golden Globes, and Critics' Choice Awards.

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.