FitSugar

Beach Body Beach Workout

FitSugar — Mon, 21 May 2007 04:00:00 -0700

So you've been hitting the gym a lot to get into that bikini and now that you've arrived, try and keep it that way with this beach body beach workout:

Warm-Up: Tread water for 5 minutes.
Cardio: Jog in the sand for at least 30 minutes. For an added challenge, run in ankle high water.
Walking Lunges: Walking lunges are a great variation to regular lunges. Plus doing them in the sand adds a whole new variation. Try doing 20 forward and 20 backward. For an added challenge, hold two water bottles down at your sides.
Mountain Climbers: Do 3 one minute intervals. (Hands in sand with shoulders over hands. One leg tucked, one leg extended. As quickly as possible "climb" alternating legs back and forth.) Word to the wise: You may want to close your eyes as you'll probably be kicking up a lot of sand.
Push-Ups: Do 3 sets of 10 push-ups on the sand. For an added challenge, make sure your head is at a slightly lower level than your feet.
Crab Walk: (Reverse push-up position: belly facing up, abs tight, legs out in front of you, arms extended below your shoulders, spine straight) Walk forward for 25 steps and then backward 25 steps. Repeat. For an added challenge, soak a towel and rest it on your belly for some added weight.
Crunches: Do 2 sets of 25 basic crunches in the sand -- For an added challenge position yourself so that your head is at a slightly lower level than your feet.
Cool-Down: Walk around in the sand for 5 minutes and follow with 15 high kicks.

Fit's Tip: Be sure to use a waterproof/sweatproof sunscreen and I prefer to wear sneakers (except when swimming) for support of my ankles despite the sand.

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Get It Up, Your Heart Rate, That Is: Treadmill Hills and Legs

FitSugar — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:00:35 -0700

If the Summer heat is forcing you to work out indoors, here is a treadmill workout that will certainly bust through your cardio-machine boredom.

Next time you're at the gym, try this hill climbing treadmill workout combined with a bit of strength training that will blast away calories and really work the muscles in your lower body. This workout will certainly help get your backside ready for the beach.

Check out the workout.

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:00:57 -0700

Cool off with this Asian Cucumber Salad - Mark's Daily Apple
The psychology of post-diet weight gain - Daily Spark
The skinny on nutritional yeast - Vitamin G
Eddie Izzard running 1,000 miles for charity - FitCeleb
There are so many reasons to play paddle ball at the beach - That's Fit
Say bye to crunches and try this standing figure eight ab move - Fresh Fitness Tips
Get the scoop in ExerciseTV's Bikini Body Workout - Fit Bottomed Girls
Here's help on how to cut calories - Shape

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Fit Tip: Do It in Sand

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:00:17 -0700

Walking and running are great workouts for your heart and lower body, and they're also free. So take advantage of the warmer weather and make your workouts even more challenging and workout at the beach. Walking or running on sand burns about 30 percent more calories than you would on a harder surface such as asphalt. Resist walking on the flat sand right at the water's edge and go for the dry sand to make your workout harder. Walk without shoes so you can really use your toes to grip the ground. Walking and running barefoot in the sand is great for the muscles in your feet and your calves, but be careful running on uneven surfaces can increase the risk of sprains, sprains, and tendonitis. Build your running time up slowly and wear supportive shoes. Remember, if your feet get hot, you can always cool off by walking on the wet sand, which is great for exfoliating the dead skin cells from your heels and preventing fissures.

The Beach Is a Workout Waiting to Happen

FitSugar — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 23:30:00 -0700

Who doesn't love spending time at the beach? Cameron is one starlet that takes advantage of all the beach has to offer. I love that she doesn't just lounge on the sand, but plays in the water practically non-stop. Which is great since I believe the beach is a workout waiting to happen.

If you are lucky enough to live near the ocean or will be vacationing soon by the shore, you too should take advantage of all the beach has to offer. If you want a hard core workout try the Beach Body Workout on the beach. But let me tell you, there are more casual and playful ways to burn some extra calories while hanging out at the shore.

Here are some ideas:

Walking in the Sand: Sand provides way less traction than concrete sidewalk or asphalt roads. So take advantage of your disadvantage and walk the beach. Do walk in both wet and dry sand to challenge your body in different ways. There will be good people watching to entertain you too. Who knows maybe you will even see some wildlife.

Walking in the Surf: Just walking in ankle deep water is a great challenge. Add the ebb and flow of the tide and you have yourself a great lower body workout.

Playing in the Waves: Jumping up and down in the surf is great fun and a challenge to your entire body. Diving under waves and swimming against the tide is a great way to workout with the ocean providing extra resistance.

There's more to do at the beach, and there are more photos of Cameron frolicking in the waves. So just read more
Swimming: Swim out past the break and try some laps in the ocean. The current creates a natural challenge. Make sure you stay in sight range of the lifeguard. Remember: If you can't see the guards, they can't see you.

Body Surfing: Riding the waves without a board is a fun way to experience the ocean. You don't need any gear, although fins do help. eHow tips on body surfing are very helpful - check them out.

So get out there! Play in the waves - it is a great way to help maintain your beach body. Plus, it won't feel like a workout, it will just feel like fun.

View 5 Photos ›

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Celebrity Trainer David Kirsch Loves Push-Ups and Hates Processed Carbs

FitSugar — Thu, 14 May 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Celeb trainer David Kirsch took time out of his busy schedule - his days start with a 5 a.m. workout before training clients at his gym in Manhattan - to speak with me yesterday. David helped Heidi Klum walk gorgeously down the runway eight weeks after having her third child. His client list also includes Anne Hathaway, Liv Tyler, and Faith Hill.

He launched his Summer Slimdown program for free, so I decided the time was right to ask him for more fitness advice. Always curious what personal trainers do for exercise, I asked David his favorite core move; he recommends planks, and planks rolling into a T-position, as well as work on the stability ball. Kirsch believes in fitting fitness into a busy life, and when pressed for time push-ups are the one move he thinks you should do.

When I asked him how I could increase my metabolism he told me:
“You have to move your body faster to burn more calories. Combine good strength training exercises with a form of cardio, and it doesn’t have to be running. It can be circuit training or one of my boot camps as long as it keeps your heart rate up.” He follows his own advice. His early morning 45-minutes workouts are heart pumping circuits, which he does four to five days a week.

Learn David’s favorite foods and what he thinks about “cheat days,” when you read more.

When it comes to diet, David believes in eating well and listed salmon burgers, quinoa, and beans among his favorite foods. I asked if he believes in cheat days and he wholeheartedly replied, “Sure! But be smart about it. Pick a meal, or a certain food, but don’t eat five million pieces of it.” Once again, we learn from an expert that moderation is key. David also loves to cook and prepares Thanksgiving dinner for 30 to 40 guests every year. I asked him if he used butter for his T-day dishes and he said, “No” before I could say the second syllable of butter. His stuffing does sound divine: cornbread with chestnuts, herbs, turkey sausage, red peppers, apples, and apricots.

David does have a couple of suggestions on how to get beach ready. First he suggests that you fine-tune your diet, limit dairy, get rid of cheese completely, and stay away from processed carbs. Secondly, he says, “You should assess your body and see where you need work and be strategic. Do more plié squats if the inner thighs need toning. Do more Pilates if your abs need toning. Do push-ups if the triceps need toning. Maybe you need a little bit of all over toning so do it all over. Be strategic and come up with a process that is good for you."

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Lauren Conrad Is Ready For Summer

FitSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:35:00 -0700

We learned last year that Lauren Conrad loves kickboxing, but it looks like she's upped the ante and according to In Touch is now doing what her trainer calls the Body Box. Sounds vaguely sinister, but Jarret Del Bene, LC's trainer, says the boxing circuit is a full-body, high-intensity workout. Because the combos are always changing, the Body Box is also a boredom buster, which is good since the Hills star does the workout two to four times a week. The workout mixes punching and kickboxing moves with squats and other conditioning exercises.

Del Bene said LC follows a healthy diet, but she is limiting her caloric intake to 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day, portioned out into five or six small meals. While that is not dangerously low - an adult requires about 1,200 calories daily before the metabolism slows down as if there is a threat of starvation - I think I would feel hungry all the time if I ate like that every day, especially if I was exercising intensely. You can check out Lauren frolicking on the beach here.

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How Marisa Miller Keeps Her Bikini Body in Shape

FitSugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Marisa Miller is in a bikini-body league of her own. The Victoria's Secret model is flaunting her all-natural stuff on the June cover of Shape, and inside, the California surfer girl shares her tips and philosophies on eating and working out.

Marisa lives by this fitness-focused health mantra: "Working out is not a luxury, it's a necessity." She works hard to stay in shape, utilizing her home gym, taking Spinning classes at the gym, boxing with a trainer, and strength training with resistance bands when she's on the road.

To see what Marisa eats before exercising, read more.

Marisa fuels her workouts with healthy steel cut oatmeal with bananas or a protein shake made with soy or almond milk, yogurt, and organic fruit. She must know that eating these foods before working out burns more fat! Because she believes in never running on empty, Marisa keeps Gnu Flavor & Fiber bars handy for the days she has to jet out the door.

We may never look as smokin' as Marisa in a bikini, but taking her advice to make exercise non-negotiable will get us ready for baring our bods on the beach. Get started with my all-abs workout.

Visit Shape to find out what Marisa sips at the movies and how she handles mealtime with her husband who can eat anything.

Wedding Day Workout Tips

FitSugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 08:00:00 -0700

If you're a bride- or bridesmaid-to-be, chances are you've kicked up your diet and exercise routine a notch so you can look and feel picture-perfect for the big day. So when the special day arrives, there's no reason to say goodbye to your sports bra and sneakers. It'll feel good to move your body a little before slipping on your dress, so here are some tips to keep in mind when working out on the day of the wedding.

Definitely exercise, even if you only have a short amount of time. It'll help reduce prewedding jitters and give you energy to dance well into the night.
Eat before you exercise, preferably something that's high in protein but not high in fiber as it may add to the intestinal uneasiness you'll most likely be experiencing.

For the other tips read more.

Now is not the day to try anything new and challenging like mountain biking or water skiing. You don't want to risk injuring yourself before walking down the aisle.
Don't push yourself too hard physically. Do something of moderate difficulty that you enjoy, like going for a jog on the beach or a bike ride around town. The purpose of this workout should be to get your heart pumping, but it should also calm your mind.
Include your bridesmaids and family in your prewedding workout. Many yoga instructors or other fitness experts will travel, so you can hire them to lead a group class. That way everyone will benefit from a little exercise, and you'll still be spending time together.
If you're at a place that has its own gym, definitely take advantage. If your husband-to-be wants to hit the gym too but you don't want to see each other until the big moment, have someone tell him what time you're planning on going.

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Think of Your Workout as Active Meditation

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:30:00 -0700

There's more to working out than improving your physical fitness since moving your body can also benefit your mind. Many of you are not that into types of exercise that typically lend themselves to sharpening mental awareness, but in no way does that mean you're unable to develop a mind/body connection through other forms of exercise.

Goddess on the sand, Gabrielle Reece, calls her beach volleyball workouts "active meditation." I love this phrase and what it suggests. While most of us don't have access to a beach as our fitness playground, choosing to be present during every workout can positively affect your senses of overall well-being and awareness. Begin making your workouts active meditation by creating intentions each time.

It looks like Gabby and the master of meditation, the Dalai Lama, have something in common. To see how the "world's most important Buddhist monk" incorporates meditation into his fitness life read more.

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