FitSugar

Locker Room Beauty Fixes in a Flash

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:00:00 -0700

I often love the way I look after a nice hard workout. The problem is that when I am working out at lunch, the "I've just sweat buckets" look doesn't always mesh with a post workout meeting with my boss.

Fitness Magazine consulted with workout diva Denise Austin on her own personal locker room beauty tips that make going from sweaty to sweet in minutes. Here are highlights:

Problem: Ponytail Crease
Fix: To prevent a ridge from forming mid-length, pull hair into a high ponytail and secure with a fabric holder instead of a tight elastic. "When you take hair down, it'll have extra volume," says Austin.
Problem: Flaky Skin
Fix: Avoid deodorant soap during your post-workout shower. Opt for a gentle body wash or simply rinse with water.

There are more easy tips so read more.

Problem: Flushed Cheeks
Fix: Tone down red cheeks with a blast of cool air from a blow-dryer, then apply moisturizer to soothe skin. "Skip foundation and let your natural rosy glow shine through," says Austin.
Problem: Melted Mascara
Fix: Remove smudges with a cleansing cloth. "Then curl lashes to revitalize the mascara that's still on," says Austin.

If you have a good locker room beauty tip, share it in the comments section below.

Source

Molly Sims's Beauty Secret: Exercise

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 02:30:00 -0800

While my girl FabSugar is doing her thing in NYC for Fashion Week, we managed to score a little beauty advice from Molly Sims for us. To my surprise, she's one healthy lady.

I know having your own personal makeup artist can do wonders, but I love that she had exercise and drinking water on her list of beauty secrets because it's so true! I would have never pinned her as a health nut, though we did see her working out with her dog recently.

Oh and I'm checking into this "Barley Green" thing, but it sounds a little gimmicky.

5 Things About: The Benefits of Sleep

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 04:00:00 -0700

Sleeping in on the weekends is rare for me since my little ones like to rise with the sun. To inspire myself to "hit the hay" a little earlier than usual I made a list of the 5 benefits of a good night sleep.

Health: Not getting enough Z's can compromise your immune system making you more susceptible to viruses. Plus, living in a constant state of sleep debt can contribute to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Smarts: Even though your body is at rest, your brain is buzzing. During sleep is when the brain sorts and processes information you absorbed while awake.
Weight Control: Recent research indicates a relationship between insufficient sleep and inability to lose or even maintain weight.
Coordination: Trying new activities that require coordination like step aerobics and playing the piano can be made more difficult after a bad night's sleep.
Beauty: They don't call it "beauty sleep" for nothing. While you sleep, your body repairs itself. Experts say you need 8 hours of sleep to avoid puffy, bloodshot eyes, as well as dark under-eye circles and a pale washed-out complexion.

Well, I for one am going to bed early tonight.

Speak Up: When Do You Feel Most Beautiful?

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Drew Barrymore's interview on beauty, made me both introspective and curious. She told people she felt most beautiful right after working out, because exercising makes her feel strong.

And you...when do you feel most beautiful? Tell me in the comments section below.

Source

Tyra Banks and Her New BMI

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 03:30:00 -0800

Models have been in the news a lot lately. From fashion models starving themselves to ex-model Tyra Banks and her weight gain.

Regardless of what you think of her...I know some folks got turned off by her Geraldo journalistic expose, dressing up in a fat suit to prove how mean Americans are to the overweight. Seems a little ironic now. Tyra is taking this moment of criticism to demystify the manufactured beauty of print media. I find it more than refreshing to see a beautiful woman, clad in only a swim suit, point out her cellulite on untouched photographs. Watch the clip from her recent show until the end if you can (it is 8 minutes long...sorry, but it is NOT boring) for her emotional conclusion. She may seem a little self obsessed, but haven't we all been that way about our cellulite, or thighs, or belly at some point in our lives. We were lucky enough to do it in the privacy of our own homes.

FYI: Being 5'10" and weighing 160, Tyra's BMI is 23. That is in the optimal zone. If you are curious about your BMI, check out your sugar stats with the Fit Calculator.

Grade Your Hikes

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0800

I love hiking in the Fall because of the beautiful scenery and perfect weather - the crisp air never leaves me too hot or too cold. On the weekends I often go on all-day or multi-day hikes in Yosemite valley or the Lake Tahoe region. Some of my friends equate hiking with a leisurely stroll through the woods, but anyone who hikes regularly knows this isn't always the case. Whether it's steep, rocky, or exposed terrain, a hiking trail can be quite difficult.

One way I prepare for an all-day hike is by researching the difficulty of the trail I'm walking. I'll use guidebooks and the Internet as resources, as well as the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). The YDS is a three-part classification system that rates the difficulty of walks, hikes, and rock climbs based on categories of terrain, length, and level of danger. Not all routes are graded in each category - generally speaking, rock climbs are the only routes that use all three grading systems of the YDS.

To learn how hikes are classified, read more.

Classifying a route's terrain is what's most applicable to hiking trails, especially longer, more intense hikes such as the John Muir trail or Half Dome hike. Here's a general breakdown of the different terrain class types found in the YDS:

Class 1: Walking on a relatively flat trail with little chance of injury. Many backpackers compare a class 1 route to walking on a sidewalk.
Class 2: A simple trail that might have a slight incline. You may have to use your hands to balance while scrambling up rocks.
Class 3: You'll definitely need to use your hands and feet to find balance along parts of the trail while scrambling up rocks. There may be exposed terrain during the hike, though a fall should not prove fatal.
Class 4: This hike will involve climbing up steep terrain, and even though the route will have some natural protection, a fall could prove fatal.
Class 5+: Reserved for rock and aid climbing. Protection and gear recommended for these climbs as a fall will prove fatal.

Keep in mind that the YDS is a somewhat subjective grading system and there can definitely be some overlap and debate over a class assignment. I continue to use it as a guide because I can search for harder or easier trails depending on my mood that day. I'm also finding that more and more backpackers are using the YDS lingo when describing a trail to one another.

You can also keep a journal with details of your favorite trails and try rating them for yourself. If you do assign a class rating to a trail, the class assignment should reflect the hardest part of the hike. (For example, if you went on a hike that was mainly class 1 but had a few elements of a class 3 route, classify the hike as a class 3 route.)

Tell me, what class of hikes do you usually stick to?

How Mo' Nique Lost the Weight and Why Some Don't Like It

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:30:47 -0800

Everywhere I look lately I'm seeing comedienne Mo'Nique. She's got a new late-night talk show on BET, is making the talk show rounds, and is creating some serious Oscar buzz for her standout performance as an abusive mother in Precious. Oh, and also, she's about 50 lbs. lighter.

The stand-up comic has spent a career embracing her big girl status, often telling fans: bigger is better. But on a recent appearance on the Oprah show Mo'Nique shared that slimming down was a matter of life and death.

In 2006, at 262 lbs, she was diagnosed with high blood pressure and doctors warned that she was on a fast track to a short life. In late 2007, Mo'Nique made the decision to lose the weight. A decision, she says, that has alienated some of her fans who looked to her as a symbol that being big is OK. She still thinks that being big is beautiful, but says that being healthy and alive is even better.

To hear how Mo'Nique lost the weight, read more.

Mo'Nique shared with People that her plan is to lose a total of 65 lbs. and is about 20 lbs. away from reaching her goal. The main focus was to change her eating habits - she's cut out junk food like cake, cookies, and chips, and instead of red meat and fried foods, she eats fresh fish and drinks a gallon of water each day. She also hired trainer Erica Sammy to whip her into shape. They hit the gym together on weekday mornings doing a combination workout of cardio, stretching, and weight training.

Words That Move You . . .

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:41 -0800

"Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, 'I've never seen anyone run like that before.' It's more than just a race, it's a style. It's doing something better than anyone else. It's being creative."

- Steven Prefontaine (1951-1975)

Need some more motivation? Check out all of my words that move you.

Gifts For the Fly Fisherman

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:00:04 -0800

Here at Sugar, holiday season is already in full swing - you better believe I've been making my list for who's been naughty and nice! To make gift shopping a breeze for you, we'll be offering up a bevy of gift ideas in the coming weeks for all the special fit folk in your life.

If you're like me, you have a man in your life that likes to fish. As a young girl, I always looked forward to weekend fishing trips with my dad, but I've since traded in my reel for a yoga mat and a day on the rocks. My dad is still going strong, though. Here are a few things I'm scoping out for him that may come in handy for the special fisherman in your life, too.

Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die ($16) Beautiful photographs and descriptions of the 50 best fly fishing spots in the world. This book gives the fish fanatic something to dream about, or inspiration for his next trip.
Tie-a-Fly ($22) Bob Henley's fly kits are an easy and inexpensive way to learn how to tie fly patterns. Each kit comes with enough material to tie 12 flies.
Gallatin Lanyard ($39) Every good fisherman needs to have his gear handy, and a lanyard is an easy way to keep the essentials within an arm's reach. It's padded with foam to keep the neck comfortable, and it has an adjustable length of nine to 27 inches.
Embroidered Clearwater Mesh Vest ($57) Even knee-deep in water, you still gotta look good! No fly fisherman is complete without his vest, and this one gets you remembered for the personal embroidered pocket.
Fly of the Month Club ($60-220) For three, six, or 12 months, the Fly of the Month Club will send that special someone premium flies right to their door.

DVD Review: Beautiful Belly With Hemalayaa

FitSugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Remember Hemalayaa, the woman who did The Dance of the Kama Sutra DVD and Bollywood Burn? Well she's back with this Beautiful Belly ($15) workout. She begins with a 6-minute cardio warm-up that's refreshingly quick-paced to raise your heart rate up immediately. Then Hemalayaa moves on to three 12-minute dance workouts you can do all at once, or choose one if you're pressed for time. Since most ab work tends to involve staying in one place, I was pleasantly surprised that this video involved so much action, and I really felt it in my core.

What I loved most about this video is that it didn't feel like exercise, but that I was on stage as the star of a dance musical. She encourages you to smile, laugh, enjoy life, and be proud of your body. While Hemalayaa is slightly corny, her sweet and encouraging personality is so endearing that you can't help but dance with her. Don't worry about being bored since the movements are so swift and sexy; you're too busy kicking, bouncing, shimmying, and stretching to lose interest. Plus all this moving around also ends up working your thighs, booty, hamstrings, shoulders, and back, not just your belly.

To see a clip of The Ellen DeGeneres Show with Hemalayaa as a guest this past Monday read more.

And here's a clip of the DVD: