FitSugar

Yoga Video: Stretch Those Hips and Hamstrings

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Need to open up and stretch those tight hips and hamstrings? Not only is this a wonderful sequence to start out with before moving onto deeper poses like backbends, but it's also a great way to warm up before or after a run, hike, or bike ride.

Music: "Om Namo Narayana" by Deva Premal

By the way, I'm wearing the Simplicity Pants made by be present. I love the way they feel when I practice. They allow me to move freely and they wick moisture from my skin so I stay dry.

Exercise, Weight Loss, and the Fat Burning Zone

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:50:01 -0800

Much has been made of late about exercise and its relation to weight loss. There was the Time cover story The Myth About Weight Loss and a recent article on the topic in the New York Times, which recommended working out in the fat burning zone.

You see the phrase on all types of cardio machines: the fat burning zone, aka the "weight loss zone," means working out at a lower intensity to burn fat as fuel. But these workouts also burn considerably fewer calories. I was confused about how we should all be spending our cardio time, so I took my questions to exercise physiologist Jason Karp, who also happens to be an avid runner.

When I asked him if we should all be scaling our workouts back and aiming for the fat burning zone, Karp explained that it's not the type of fuel your body is burning, but the overall calories that count. "It doesn't matter if you're using fat or carbohydrates. In order to lose fat from your waistline you don't have to be using fat as fuel during workout," he said. He offered up the example of sprinters; they don't train in the fat burning zone, but they're mighty trim in the torso. Losing weight comes down to math - you want to be in a calorie deficit to shed pounds and body fat. Higher intensity exercise puts you at a higher burn rate. To burn the most calories in a cardio workout, skip past the fat burning zone and work out with more intensity. To really burn up calories, Karp recommends intervals. To learn why, read more.

Essentially, interval workouts give you the most bang for your sweat buck. Karp explains that with "intense exercise you're pushing your body more out of homeostasis," that is, the equilibrium of energy the body prefers to maintain. During the few hours after an interval workout, the body must go through a recovery period, and a lot needs to happen to return to the body to pre-exercise levels. "You've got to drop the heart rate, synthesize glycogen for the muscles, remove lactate from muscle and take it to the liver," says Karp. All these actions require energy, which raises the metabolic rate for many hours after exercising. Thirty minutes of exercise at a low intensity doesn't place nearly as much stress on the body as intervals, so you burn fewer calories both during and after the workout.

Before you hit the track and start running intervals, Karp recommends building a strong cardiovascular fitness base and working with a trainer for guidance. Even if you're not ready for sprints, play with your speed during your next cardio session. Slow and steady might win the race, but intervals will burn more calories.

Source: Flickr User pistoldrawn

Stretch It: Shin and Ankle Stretch

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:00:20 -0800

After long bike rides, my shins and the tops of my feet are often tight. All that flexing of my ankle and pulling up on the pedals to maximize my stroke takes its toll on this part of my body. Once I slip off my stiff cycling shoes, this is the first stretch I do.

Here's how:

Cross your left ankle over your right with your toes pointed to the right.
Bend your right knee to increase the stretch for the top of the left foot.
Hold for 15 to 30 seconds then straighten the right knee; repeat before switching sides.

This is a great stretch post-run as well. Try it. You'll like it.

DVD Review: Daily Energy - Vinyasa Flow Yoga

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:00:50 -0800

It's no lie that Shiva Rea is one of my yoga idols. Considered one of the best Vinyasa yoga instructors due to her calming energy and challenging sequences of postures, Shiva has created a new DVD. You know I was excited to try it.

Titled Daily Energy - Vinyasa Flow Yoga ($20), the new video contains seven 20-minute sessions to encourage a little time on the mat every day. Shiva believes a little daily yoga is more beneficial than occasional long and intense practices. The DVD is as flexible as its creator - you can practice for 20 minutes or longer by combining a few sequences for a longer yoga session. She has also created pre-set practices for you to experiment with if you're looking for longer combinations, with some practices being grounding and relaxing and others uplifting and energetic. Depending on your mood, you can choose which session will benefit you for the day.

I love that the video includes short yoga workouts, so you can always fit in a quick, yet complete practice. It's so much better than popping in a full-length video and following along for only part of the series. This video is great to do after a run or bike ride. The unique and fluid sequences strengthened my arms, core, and legs, but also gave me a good stretch. Shiva never lets me down and is always coming up with challenging variations of postures I've never seen before. Beginners and seasoned yogis will both love this DVD.

To see a clip of this video, read more.

When Should I do Cardio?

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 08:40:00 -0800

The question has been posed: When is it best to do cardio, before or after weight training?

Really there is no sure fit answer to the question. It really depends on your body, the results you are looking to get and how long (and hard) you're doing the cardio.

Before: It is best to do your cardio workout before weight training if you're training for something endurance related (such as a 5k). Putting cardio first allows your body to give the most energy and effort into the session so that it can produce the best results. However, if you're going to do a low intensity cardio workout then it can serve to warm up the muscles. Then you can move right into high-intensity weight lifting without having to do as many warm-up sets.

After: It is probably best to do your cardio after weight training if you're looking to shape your body (for bikini season, perhaps). The reason is that a high intensity cardio workout could actually take away from an effective weight-training workout. You need carbs for effective weight training and cardio burns both fat and carbs. So if you do cardio first, you may not have the carbs you need to have a beneficial weight training session. Furthermore, increasing your lean mass will help burn fat because lean mass is what will help use up calories all day long. So if you are looking to build a little muscle, and get killer arms like Cameron Diaz, then weight training should take priority in your workout.

Celebrate Daylight Saving Time With a Morning Workout

FitSugar — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:30:05 -0700

It's that time of year again, where we "fall back," and turn our clocks back one hour. I love gaining an extra hour this one time of the year, so make the most of it. Don't just go through your day as usual, because you'll never even realize you received that extra 60 minutes.

Since most people complain that they don't have time to exercise, my advice is to get up in the morning when you normally do, and spend your freebie hour working out. It's a great habit to get into, especially if you love exercising outdoors. Mornings will be brighter, so it's safer to exercise before work, since it'll most likely be dark by the time you get home. Here are some ways to sweat it out for an hour:

Call a friend and go on a long, brisk walk. You'll burn 236 calories.
Pick up the pace and go on a relaxing run. An hour burns 473 calories.
Hit a mountain trail. An hour-long hike burns 355 calories.
Hop on your bike and tour a new spot in your neighborhood. After an hour, you'll have burned 473 calories.
Do a strength-training session and burn 177 calories after an hour.
Take a heart-pumping cardio class at your gym. You'll burn an astounding 414 calories.

Don't forget to change your clocks before you go to bed tonight. Daylight saving time officially ends at 2 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 1. Enjoy your hour!

5 Things For Safe Outdoor Workouts

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:00:31 -0700

Even though cold temps are moving in, some of you may still love sweating it out in the outdoors. Exercising outside is a great way to lift your spirits, is usually free, and prevents boredom, but you need to be especially aware of your safety. So here are some things you'll need for outdoor workouts.

Road ID ($20): This colorful fabric bracelet ID can be personalized with up to seven lines of text. Wear it on your wrist or attach it to your sneaker or jacket, and in case of an emergency, someone will know your name, where you live, and who to call.
Cell phone case: Whether I'm biking far away from home, or just running in my neighborhood, I always carry my cell phone in case I get hurt and need to call for help.

What else should you have on your outdoor workouts? To find out read more.

Airdrive Earphones ($60): I'm a big fan of listening to music while I work out, but it's not exactly safe to blast Fergie so loud you can't hear anything around you. These headphones sit just outside the opening of your ear, so you can hear your tunes, and also be aware of outside noises.
Reflective gear ($60) or lights ($15): Since the days are shorter, you may be exercising before the sun rises or after it has set, so you need gear that makes you more visible to drivers. They make all sorts of wearable reflective gear now, but when it's really dark, you may also want to sport a headlamp so not only can others see you, but you'll be able to see where you're going too.
Pepper spray ($10.50): If you work out in an unsafe neighborhood, or are in the woods and worried about animals attacking you, then pepper spray could save your life. This one has a handle so you can carry it easily, and it's ready to use instantly.

The Lowdown on Exercising High

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Recently FitSugar reader mamasitamalita wrote in to ask about her friend who works out while buzzed. Apparently it's more common than I thought, and it's not the only thing people are doing before hitting the gym. An anonymous reader commented

"Sometimes, every once in a while, I will get stoned before yoga or a long run - it helps me to calm down and focus on the task at hand, rather than obsessing about work or personal stresses."

So this brings up another issue. What about working out while high? Although illegal, people still smoke pot, so to find out if it's safe to light up before burning calories keep reading

Is Running While Pregnant Safe?

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:00:52 -0700

It's not every day that you see a pregnant woman going for a run, like Miss Kourtney Kardashian here. On her hour-long jog, I'm sure she got some stares and whispers. Not just because she's famous, but because she's got a big bun in the oven. They're probably wondering, is this safe for her baby, and safe for mom?

Regular exercise is encouraged by doctors for those expecting, because it can help a woman stay healthy, and alleviate some of the discomforts like stiffness, back pain, leg cramping, or constipation. Working out can also prevent unnecessary weight gain, relieve stress, and get a woman ready to endure the physical challenges of labor.

With that said, there are some guidelines a pregnant woman should follow when working out.

Don't make any big changes to your exercise program once you become pregnant. If you were running regularly before you conceived, then it's safe to keep it up, as long as it feels good and you don't overdo it. If you want to start a new type of exercise, talk to your doc first.
Be OK with modifying your routine, especially as your pregnancy progresses. If you used to run four miles a day, you may find that you'll need to cut down in the beginning of your pregnancy. And once you're in the end of your second trimester, or third, walking may be best.
Don't do any types of exercise that put you or the baby at risk, like extreme sports that require balance, speed, or could result in you falling. Your doctor will probably recommend you save the surfing, skiing, horseback riding, biking outdoors, and rock climbing for after delivery.

For the rest keep reading

Are Marathons Bad For You?

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:00:57 -0700

With marathon season winding down (NYC marathon is 11/1) there is an ongoing debate in the medical field over the effect the 26-mile race has on the heart. Some scientists are claiming that running a marathon causes long lasting damage to the heart, while others say the damage is only temporary and is brought on by the extreme physical demands of the race.

Last year studies were conducted in Australia, Canada, and Germany measuring the effect running a marathon had on the hearts of elite to novice runners. Tests were given on the participants immediately before and after running a marathon. The end findings were similar across the board - the participants showed marked blood indicators of cardiac damage.

“We measure those same blood markers when someone comes in to the emergency room and we suspect a heart attack,” says Davinder S. Jassal, MD, an assistant professor of cardiology, radiology, and physiology at the University of Manitoba as told to the New York Times. Blood profiles like those displayed by the runners are similar to those in a very mild heart attack.”

Those scientists that oppose the findings, site that the research is premature and the studies were too small. They also say that accurate results cannot be determined since researchers in the original studies did not follow up with any of the participants after the race day. A later second study conducted in Canada seems to support this claim - a week after completing a marathon, researchers followed up with the runners and found none of the initial damage was lasting.

As the debate continues please keep in mind that running long distances is definitely taxing on the heart. Check out our tips to avoid any risks while training and share your own tips with us below.