FitSugar

A Week In Review: FitSugar roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 04:00:00 -0700

Before you eat too many pieces of Easter candy, you might want to read this breakdown of your favorite Easter candy.

Here are some suggestions on how to create a Healthier Easter basket.

Do you cheat at the gym?

Looking to get fierce? Try this yoga pose - fierce.

I am curious - Would you buy weight loss lip gloss? Vote on the poll and let me know what you think.

Gabby Reese has some words for you - grow up

Looking for a free and easy way to do a yoga class at home. Check out YogaToday for hour long classes.

Do you know how much sun you need to get your rays of Vitamin D? Take sunshine quiz and test your knowledge.

Confused if you have an allergy or a cold. Read this post on the symptoms hopefully it will clear things up for you (literally).

Looking for a new gym bag? Here are a couple of really cute bags by Nike.

Curious about the differences between running on a treadmill and running on the road? This post should clear it up.

Don't worry if fashion mags make you feel bad about yourself. They have that effect on everybody.

Here's a list of 8 ways to lasting weight loss.

Looking for some cardio inspiration? Here's a track workout with intervals to help you get your heart rate up.

A Healthier Easter Basket

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 07:30:00 -0700

You've seen the Easter Candy breakdown. You cast your vote for your favorite Easter Candy over on YumSugar...and now you're thinking maybe I should make a healthy Easter Basket. Well you know I am going to second that option. I am going to go so far as to give you some suggestions.

Carrots - The Easter Bunny likes to share
Fresh fruit
Homemade cookies that are filled with healthy ingredients like oats, raisins, dried cranberries, walnuts, and dark chocolate chips

Bars of Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate covered peanuts, pretzels, or raisins
Mini banana bread muffins
An exercise DVD
A scented candle
Hand soap shaped like bird's eggs (my girls love these)
A jar of all fruit jam
Granola bars
A potted plant
Small picture frames
Herbal teas and a mug
A CD of relaxing music
Silly Putty - it comes in its own egg
For kids: a coloring book, colored pencils, puzzles, small toys, stuffed bunnies, stickers, play-doh, magnets, disposable cameras, packets of seeds and gardening tools, plastic eggs filled with coins, beads, and books about Easter.

Fit's Tips: I don't believe in denying yourself anything, especially during special family and holiday times. Make sure you do enjoy yourself (and the treats), and try the things you love, just don't go overboard and eat the ENTIRE 12 inch chocolate bunny in one sitting.

Source

Give Your Host a Healthy, Homemade Gift Basket

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 03:30:00 -0800

Hostess gifts are often an afterthought when preparing for a stay away from home, so why not do things differently this holiday season? Give a thank-you gift that will be appreciated and remembered by creating a healthy gift basket for your host. The fact that you did it yourself, rather than purchasing a prepared fruit basket, will stand out as an extra-thoughtful gesture. Consideration toward your hostess gifts doesn't have to take a whole lot of time, just a little forethought.

Your instinct might be to get a basket before you go shopping for the contents, but you don't want to buy a basket too big or small for the items you want to include. Start by making a list of things you want to include and buy your basket after you've collected everything. This is your opportunity to be creative and have fun with giving. To see some ideas for what to include in your healthy gift basket, read more.

Organic coffee beans
Homemade granola
Dark chocolate
Bag of snack-size rice cakes
Energy bars like Lara, Clif, or Luna bars
Homemade, guiltless cookies, like flourless chocolate-walnut cookies
Green tea
Seasonal fruit, like pomegranates
Almonds or mixed nuts
If your host has a Christmas tree, consider including an ornament
If your host celebrates Hanukkah, add a package of beautiful menorah candles

Source

Holiday Eating Tip: Healthier Easter Basket

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:45:00 -0700

Easter is coming up this Sunday, and for those of you who celebrate and are also trying to watch your weight, this means another holiday of dealing with candy and sweets. The positive side is that there is no rule that says you have to fill your Easter basket with pounds of chocolate eggs and jellybeans. Fill your basket with these healthier alternatives instead:

Carrots (since the Easter Bunny likes to share)
Fresh fruit
Homemade cookies that are filled with healthy ingredients like oats, raisins, dried cranberries, walnuts, and dark chocolate chips
Bars of Dark chocolate
Colored eggs made with homemade dyes
Dark chocolate covered peanuts, pretzels, or raisins
Mini banana bread muffins
Fitness DVDs
A scented candle
Animal shaped hand soaps (my girls love these)

If you want to see the other ideas then read more

A jar of all fruit jam
Energy bars
A potted plant
Small picture frames
Trail mix
Herbal teas and a mug
A CD of relaxing music
For kids: a coloring book, colored pencils, puzzles, small toys, stuffed bunnies, stickers, play-doh, magnets, disposable cameras, packets of seeds and gardening tools, plastic eggs filled with coins or beads, Silly Putty (it even comes in its own egg), and books about Easter.

Fit's Tips: I don't believe in denying yourself anything, especially during special family and holiday times. Make sure you do enjoy the treats you love, but do so in moderation. So if you get a 12 inch chocolate bunny then you may just want to eat one ear, instead of the entire bunny in one sitting.

Source

All Kinds of Gifts For Bikers

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:00:32 -0800

Nothing beats heading out for a ride on Christmas day decked out in new gear with all sorts of new biking accessories. From full fingered, padded cycling gloves - a wintertime must have - to entry level biking computers, this list has something every cyclist wants. If your biking friend has everything, splurge and give them a biking computer with a built in heart rate monitor for the full fitness riding experience. Fancy cycling knickers are a perfect gift too. Even if there is snow on the ground, these padded knickers will be great for early Spring rides after the thaw. Don't forget the urban cyclist either. I have found a great set of panniers and a super cute bike basket as well. Take a gander at the gifts and tell me what cycling gear you covet for Christmas.

Fit Gift: Citybike for the Urban Chic

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:00:00 -0800

Some people consider the urban lifestyle totally unhealthy but that does not have to be the case. Urban transportation is usually walking, biking, subway, bus or taxi. Walking can be time consuming and biking seems scary on a road bike with über-thin tires and mountain biking on Park Avenue seems wrong since mountain bikes are, well, made for mountains.

Ever been to Europe -- particularly the Netherlands-- and noticed all the bikes? Nearly 30% of transportation in Amsterdam is done by citybike, but it has never even been a real option over here.

Want to get your own super cool citybike? Then, read more

View 2 Photos ›

Jorg & Olif Citybikes ($795-$1295) are bringing the citybike west for individuals who wish to redefine urban living...and do it in style. What is a citybike anyway? Unlike mountain bikes or road bikes, which are designed for off-road use and speed, citybikes are deliberately designed for city riding. Not sure you're into biking? 75% of Jorg & Olif's customers are new bikers. Their first US customers, Daryl Hannah and Chloe Sevigny, are pictured above.

First the Danish introduced us to banning trans fat and now the Dutch are introducing us to the citybike -- I'm beginning to think they've got a good thing going over there in Europe.

The bikes are so popular that they are on back order right now but the good folks over there know that when you order something, you want something so all orders will come with a free basket and very cool Christmas tree ornament. Leaving something to put "under the tree" until your bike arrives (in February).

*Thank you to Jorg & Olif, who provided me with the great pictures!

Gear Review: Modern Union Yoga Bag

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:00:03 -0700

Dealing with my yoga mat when I ride to the gym can be a pretty tricky feat. I have a bike basket that I can tie it to but it always throws me off balance. That's why I was really excited to find these messenger bags from Modern Union ($68). The bags were designed by yoga studio owners Stephanie Ofanankis and Belinda Osborne because the partners couldn't find a yoga bag that met their lifestyle needs - lucky me!

First off, I love the textiles they chose - simple, colorful, and modern. Beyond that it's a great bag to take to the gym or use on your days off. The straps on the bottom of the bag keep a yoga mat secure, and I like that there are outside pockets for a water bottle and cell phone. The inside of the bag is roomy enough to carry gym essentials or even a laptop. Inside are a bunch of smaller pockets so things don't get lost, including a key ring holder.

Most importantly these Modern Union bags make commuting on a bike so easy. There's a padded shoulder strap for comfort and a magnetic closure, which is great in case you need to get in and out of your bag quickly if you're stopped at a light. An added bonus is each bag is made out of durable cordura, meaning it won't be ripping, scuffing, or tearing on you anytime soon and it's water resistant.

5 Reasons to Try Kettlebells

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:00:54 -0700

I can't stress enough how important it is to mix up the equipment you use when strength training. Dumbbells, weight machines, and resistance bands are common fitness tools you'll find at the gym, but you may have also seen kettlebells. Though they look like some medieval torture device you want to avoid, they're actually a really effective way to tone and strengthen your muscles. Here are five reasons you should give them a try.

This type of equipment comes in a variety of weights, so you can use different amounts depending on the exercise you're doing. They're also small, so they don't take up a lot of space.
Kettlebells are fairly inexpensive. A 10-pound kettlebell costs $26.50.

To hear why else you should use kettlebells, read more.

They're used primarily for swinging movements, so they end up combining strength training and cardio in one workout. Since they tone your muscles and burn calories, some think kettlebells give you more bang for your buck.
Kettlebell exercises utilize a greater range of motion, so they also increase overall flexibility and tone your core. Lifting static weight such as dumbbells tends to cause tight muscles, but using kettlebells will strengthen your muscles while keeping them supple.
Strength training with a kettlbell mimics the same lifting you'd do in real life, so it can prevent injury while doing daily activities like holding your baby, picking up groceries, or carrying a basket of laundry.

Tell me how you feel about kettlebells in the comments section below.

Back on Track: Grill Veggies For the Week

FitSugar — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:30:05 -0700

Summer weather is winding down, so it's time to grill as much as you can before it gets too chilly. Since I don't always have time to light up the grill after work, I like to grill up a bunch of veggies on Sunday so I'll have extra for the week. They taste great on their own, mixed with pasta, as a pizza topping, or in a sandwich.

All you have to do is wash an array of vegetables such as mushrooms, carrots, peppers, eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, and zucchini. Then slice them so they're still in big chunks since they tend to shrink once they're cooked. Place the veggies in a big bowl and mix them with some olive oil, salt, and pepper. Then pour them into a grill basket and periodically stir them while they cook. After about 40 minutes, you'll have savory, roasted veggies that melt in your mouth. Enjoy some for dinner and store the rest in the fridge in an airtight container.

Learn to Love: Clipless Pedals

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:30:40 -0700

I had been cycling for years before I learned to love riding with my feet clipped onto my pedals. It seemed too scary, I thought I would fall over at every stoplight. I have turned the corner though and have learned to love being "clipped in" and it looks like Orlando Bloom, aka Mr. Mountain Bike Man, does too. First let's review the pedal terminology, because it's a bit confusing. First there were basic pedals (like many of us had on our bikes when we were kids), then came pedals with toe clips (or toe baskets) to help the foot stay put on the pedal, now there are "clipless pedals" - a cleat on the bottom of the shoe clips into the pedal.

I love cycling with my feet attached to the pedals because it makes me feel one with my bike. Pedaling this way means you can use all the muscles of your legs to power your bike instead of just your quads. Pulling up on the pedal works your hamstrings like nobody's business. When you pedal with your entire leg, your legs fatigue much more slowly since the work is distributed and this means you can ride for longer more comfortably. If you stand on your pedals to climb hills (or to give your booty a little break), when you're clipped in you are much more secure. Your feet won't slip off the pedals.

Learn how to start riding with clipless pedals.