FitSugar

Got Bunions?

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 02:00:00 PDT

Bunions! If you have them you know where they are. That bump on the joint growing just south of your big toe. While you might want to blame your shoes for your bunion, it would be more accurate to blame your parents (they are such excellent scape goats aren't they). Bunions are most often caused by "faulty foot" structure that is an inheritable trait. Certain foot types increase the risk of bunion growth, although ill-fitting shoes can and do worsen the pain, but they are actually caused by a change in your bone's structure. This causes your big toe to grow at an angle and bump into your second toe, instead of pointing straight. The bones in your foot go all out of alignment, which causes pain and that bump to form on the inside of your foot just below your big toe.

There are certain foot types, such as flat feet, that are more susceptible to developing bunions. Some pregnant women tend to develop bunions too, because hormones can loosen the ligaments in their feet, causing them to flatten.

Shoes do contribute to the pain of a bunion, by rubbing and pressing on the bone growth. So those pointy brown stilettos really are just adding to pain. High heels are terrible for bunions, because they push weight into your toes, cramming them even more. Standing on your feet for long periods of time can also aggravate symptoms.

Fit's Tips: If you are prone to bunions, try to wear shoes that have big toe boxes such as shoes made by Keen or Earth Shoes.

Source

A Little Sanskrit Lesson: Body Parts

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:45:00 PDT

When you take a yoga class (especially Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Jivamukti classes), sometimes the instructor will call out the names of the poses in their original language, Sanskrit. Here's a list of some body parts in Sanskrit, so you can get familiar with them. Knowing these Sanskrit words really helped me to remember the names of certain yoga poses.

Pada - foot or leg, as in Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana A (Extended Hand to Big Toe pose or Standing Hand to Big Toe A)
Angustha - big toe, as in Supta Padangustasana (Sleeping Big Toe pose)
Hasta - hand, as in Padahasthasana (Foot to Hand pose)
Sirsa - head, as in Sirsasana (Headstand)
Janu - knee, as in Janu Sirsasana (Head to Knee pose)
Karna - ear, as in Karnapidasana (Ear Pressure Pose)
Anga - limb, as in Trianga Mukha Eka Pada Paschimottanasana (3 Limbs Facing 1 Foot Western Intense Stretch Posture or Half Hero Forward Bend)
Pincha - chin, as in Pincha Mayurasana (Forearm Stand)
Sava - a corpse, dead body, as in Savasana (Corpse pose)

If you're lucky, your instructor will only use the Sanskrit names of poses, so after hearing them over and over again, they'll become ingrained in your brain. It's still okay to call poses by their English name too - it doesn't matter what you call them, just as long as you're doing them, right?

Keira Knightley, Angelina Jolie, and More: Engaged Celebs and the Dresses They Should Wear

Marisa Tom — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:12:21 PDT

We just heard the news that Keira Knightley and James Righton are engaged - and obviously we are already conjuring up images of the British beauty in something ultraromantic and lace-infused. Now that these celeb couples have put a ring on it, it's time to match up the season's most beautiful wedding dresses to each soon-to-be blushing bride. If there's one thing we know how to do, it's how to scout the absolute best gowns for any and every occasion. With betrothed beauties like Angelina Jolie, Drew Barrymore, and Jessica Biel keeping us on our toes about setting the date, we thought we'd get a head start on which designer dresses, like Vera Wang, Marchesa, and Oscar de la Renta, we hope to see them wearing on their big day and why. Don't forget to let us know your celeb wedding dress picks, too. First up? Newly engaged couple (and certainly a wedding we can't wait for) Keira Knightley and James Righton!

Barre Workouts are Expensive! Try This At-Home Alternative Instead

Self — Wed, 23 May 2012 04:23:06 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Barre classes may make you easy on the eyes, but at $20 or more a pop, they're definitely not easy on the wallet. Rather than take a second job to pay for our latest fitness addiction, we turned to Beverly Hill-based Cardio Barre instructor Stacey Bosworth to get the inside scoop on scoring a long, lean dancer's body in your living room. "This at-home workout is effective because it targets the whole lower body. Cardio Barre is amazing because it is a no-impact workout that allows you to lengthen and strengthen your muscles while burning fat. It will also help increase your flexibility and strength," says Bosworth.

Celebrity devotees, including Dakota Fanning, Neve Campbell, and Heather Morris, can all attest to the fact that Cardio Barre has given them "a lifted tush and leaner, dancer-like legs!" Incorporate these three moves into your regular routine three times a week for maximum results.

Butt Blaster
Come down to the floor on both forearms with your knees bent. Your left hip is directly over your left knee. Your right leg is bent to a 90-degree angle with your foot flexed. Extend your right leg toward the ceiling as if you were pushing the ceiling away from you (see photo above). Bring your right leg down past your left hip and then back up toward the ceiling, keeping your leg parallel to the floor with your kneecap pointing toward the ground and your foot flexed. You are doing a full range of motion, trying to imagine extending your leg all the way through the ceiling.

Keep reading for more barre moves you can do at home!

5 Ways to Fake Sandal-Ready Feet

BellaSugar — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:46:01 PDT

The weather is heating up, so open-toed shoes are coming out. One day, probably very soon, many of us will be faced with a dilemma: wear cute sandals and risk exposing busted-looking toes, or hide our feet in oppressively hot sneakers. This doesn't have to be a conundrum, though. There are plenty of ways to fake pretty, pedicured feet when you don't have time for a pedicure. To find out five sneaky ways to get great-looking feet in a flash, just keep reading.

Kate Middleton Pairs a High-Slitted Gown With Jimmy Choos For a Night With William

Allie Merriam — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:02:51 PDT

Kate Middleton and her husband Prince William arrived at Claridge's hotel in London last night. She was decked out in a long white gown from Roland Mouret, surely rivaling any of the high fashions seen in NYC at Monday's Met Gala. Kate paired the white dress with a chic pair of sky-high Jimmy Choos. The sandals revealed that Kate has her toes painted a dark berry color! Kate also wore the sandals for an event last November.

Their evening out was to meet up with the Thirty Club, a group of executives from advertising and the media. Prince William was the guest of honor and planned to give a speech. Many of his family members have had the same honor, including his mom, Princess Diana, aunt Princess Anne, and grandfather Prince Philip.

William and Kate have another big event coming up this week. The Our Greatest Team Rises gala will host Will and Kate in just a few days at an event honoring the Olympics' Team Great Britain and Paralympics Great Britain. Their social schedule in the UK is full, but the same might not be said for her sister Pippa. There are reports in the English press today that Pippa Middleton may be considering a move to NYC.

A Body Check That Won't Hurt: Tips For Proper Running Form

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:49:36 PDT

Running is all about stepping one foot in front of the other. Sounds easy enough, right? But if your running form is incorrect, you'll end up with aches, strains, and injuries that could prevent you from lacing up your sneaks at all. Make sure to avoid these running-form mistakes the next time you hit the treadmill, trail, or pavement.

Head: It sometimes feels good to close your eyes and relax your chin toward your chest, but don't keep your head down (or tilt your head up) for long periods of time. Prevent neck strain and encourage an open throat for easy breathing by keeping your head stacked over your spine. Correct head position also encourages a straight, upright stance, which makes you a more efficient runner.
Shoulders: Without even realizing it, you may be running with your upper back and shoulders tensed up toward your ears. (And you wonder why you have a pounding headache or aching neck.) Every so often, take a nice deep breath in and as you exhale, relax your upper torso and actively roll your shoulders back and down toward your pelvis. Do a self-check to make sure your shoulders are stacked over the hips. Hunching the upper body forward not only makes it difficult to breathe, it also puts pressure on your lower back.

I'm just getting started so keep reading to find out what the rest of your body shouldn't be doing while running.

5 Exercises to Ditch Arm Flab Forever

Shape — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:07:15 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar. This week Shape turns to celebrity trainer Jay Cardiello for some help!

Ah, that infamous area along the back of your arms, the nemesis of so many women. How do you tackle the jiggle? First, I want to tell you what not to do, as people are often tempted to take the wrong course of action. And that is the concept of spot reducing, or lowering fat stores in one specific area of the body. It is essentially impossible to accomplish and should not be a part of your fitness regimen. Fighting arm flab requires more than just spot treatment!

In order to tone the backs of your arms, which is where your tricep muscles are, you have to remember this: specific exercises to increase your lean muscle mass will get you results, but you must also decrease your fat intake without risking too much muscle loss. (Sound familiar? Have you managed to lose fat, but still carry some extra bulk around the tricep?) So, to lose the wiggle and jiggle, be sure to eat a healthy balanced diet with proper nutrients; get at least six to eight hours of sleep so that your body can repair, recover, and build muscle; and consistently maintain your exercise program. And be sure to incorporate these five flab-fighting exercises into your workout routine.

The Ultimate Abs and Arms Workout

See Jay's arm workout after the break!

Salute the Sun: A Morning Yoga Playlist

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:24:46 PDT

Sun Salutation can mark a beautiful, introspective time in your day, and I'm a huge fan of employing the help of some happy, sunny tunes to get me motivated and centered. Starting a day with even just 20 minutes on the mat can make a big difference in how you look at the world around you. If your morning practice is feeling a little tired - or like me, you've literally fallen asleep on your mat in the morning! - try out these tunes to see if something new will work. I've got you covered, whether you're into the smooth, sweet sounds of Norah Jones, or old school soul like Bill Withers is your style. And if you're feeling particularly down in the dumps, hear me out and allow me to suggest some Styx. I once had a teacher kick off a morning vinyasa class with this tune, and the whole class started cracking up. But at about 30 seconds in, the happy energy in the room was basically palpable!

Find out how to do a Sun Salutation A sequence here or a Sun Salutation B sequence here.

Keep reading to see the full 10 tracks on the list.

9 Easy Tricks to Maximize Your Wardrobe

LearnVest — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:15:31 PDT

Despite what you think, you actually don't need more clothes. The trick is to just maximize your wardrobe. LearnVest shares how.

Whether you live for shopping the latest trends or wish you could spend every day in your favorite pair of jeans and a white t-shirt, your clothes project a message about who you are.

The great thing is that you have the power to control that message entirely - as long as what you already own isn’t standing in your way.

From having a wardrobe that’s bursting with every item of clothing you’ve had since childhood to owning a ton of pieces that you never wear (the definition of wasted money), these are the ways your closet can stop you from being the most stylish version of yourself.

To cut through the clutter and help you get the most from the items you already have, we polled everyone we know - including all of the LearnVest editors, who are definitely invested in looking their best on a budget, and one fashion expert - to come up with nine easy, inventive ways for you to make over the closet you have without spending a ton on new trends.

At least one of these strategies will dramatically change the way you feel about getting dressed in the morning.

1. Follow the Rainbow

This strategy comes courtesy of LearnVest reader Erin Greenbaum, who has used this technique for years with great success. Every day for a week, make sure that your ensemble includes an item of a certain color: week one is red, two is orange, three is yellow, etc. This will encourage you to search through your closet and actually wear the pieces that have been languishing, unloved, underneath your go-to items.

2. First In, Last Out

In her new book, You Are What You Wear, Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner says that the majority of people wear 20 percent of their closet 80 percent of the time. There are variations on this “first in, last out” wardrobe strategy, which prevent you from wearing a few pieces nonstop.

Instead of wearing the same small percentage of your closet every week, do what Assistant Editor Alden Wicker does: after wearing an outfit, she hangs it in the most remote corner of her closet, which forces her to see only pieces she hasn’t worn frequently. If she’s totally uninspired by a piece staring her right in the face, she has to decide whether to consign it or not. Another approach (which might be better if you like to organize by item type - dresses near dresses, shirts near shirts) is to hang each item inside out after you wear it (assuming you don’t have to wash it immediately). This way, you can easily see which pieces you’ve recently worn and which items you may have forgotten about.

Read on for more.