FitSugar

5 Ways To a Flatter Belly

FitSugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:30:00 -0700

We all know that the best way to a flat belly is by burning calories and fat through cardio. Bloating on the other hand, is its own beast and nothing kills a day at the beach than feeling super bloated.

Luckily there are easy ways to reduce bloating so that you can show-off that tummy you've been working so hard to get. Check out my top five ways to reduce bloating for bikini season:

Stay away from salt. Too much sodium is not only bad for your heart, but will cause you to retain water and feel bloated.
Drink Water. Being dehydrated is a sure way to cause you to retain water, so be sure you drink enough water to keep your body hydrated.
Limit gassy foods. Some foods (such as lentils, artichokes, wheat bran, carbonated drinks, and more) create more gases in your body than others so you may want to limit them if you're about to suit up.

There are two more so read more.

Eat Fiber. Fiber helps everything move through the intestines more quickly, which prevents constipation and bloating. If you're not accustomed to eating enough fiber then slowly add more and more fiber to your diet, or you'll feel even more bloated than before. Also make sure to drink plenty of water with all the fiber.
Eat slower. One small cause of bloating could be that you're swallowing too much air when you're scarfing down your meals too quickly - this is why some of us get the hiccups when eating too quickly. So slow down when you eat and remember what mom said: close your mouth when you chew.

Do you have any sure ways to prevent bloating? I'd love to hear your tips so share them below.

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5 Things Every Summer Shape-Up Plan Should Include

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:45:00 -0800

It's not too late to get in shape for Summer and it's never too late to get in shape for life. Re-evaluate your Summer shape-up plan to make sure it incorporates the following basic must-have actions:

Doing 30 minutes of Cardio five times per week.
Doing two days of strength training per week.
Eating at least five fruits and veggies per day.
Recording and tracking your progress daily.
Generally burning off more calories than you eat.

What is a must in your Summer shape-up plan? Share it in the comments section below.

Source

Kate Hudson: At Peace in a Two Piece

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:24:43 -0800

Kate Hudson, who's been under pregnancy watch for some time now, has no problem strutting around in a bikini. Perhaps she signed the Body Peace Project, but Kate seems to be totally at peace with her own body image. Or at least that is what she recently told Total Film magazine about her role in Fool's Gold. Here's more:

"I've danced my whole life, I work out all the time and I'm not worried about being totally perfect.

[My character is] a diver, so I'm not wearing this tiny string bikini; they're more the Speedo-type bikini – you know, the ones that cover pretty much everything."

What about you guys? Bathing suit season is just around the corner, so are you too worried about being perfect to wear a bathing suit or will you rock your suit no matter what?

Pacific Coast News Online

Get Motivated: Reevaluate Your Goals

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:45:00 -0800

Bikini season is right around the corner. That's good if you've been dedicated to getting fit, or bad if you've let the cold weather get the best of you. If you fall into the category of the latter then it's time to get back on track. One way to start is by reevaluating your goals for getting fit. As the weather changes, so may your goals (à la a new bikini). Reevaluate and list all the reasons you want to shape up and then carry it around with you as a reminder. I keep my list folded up in my wallet, so I can take a peek whenever I need a little push on deciding to go to the gym or not - it pushes me when I'm feeling lazy.

So tell me, what's on your list? Write them in the comments section below.

Source

Are You Doing Anything to Prepare For Bikini Season?

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 08:45:00 -0700

The onset of bikini season (or any old swimsuit for that matter) reminds me a lot like when New Year's rolls around since people make all sorts of claims of what they are going to do differently. This bikini season have you adopted a new plan for getting into that bikini?

"Ab"solutely Don't Overwork Your Abs!

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:30:00 -0700

I know that bikini season is approaching fast. I also know that we are all looking to get those abs in tip-top shape; with this in mind, many of us have the tendency to go a little ab crazy right now. However, if you overwork them, you may be doing more harm than good.

The abs are like any other muscle in the body -- Intense work followed by a period of rest and recuperation (at least 48 hours) is the best way to develop them. Working them out on a daily basis is not a great idea because you are not allowing for that essential rest time. Think about having an intense "ab" day once or twice a week -- This would be a day that you only focus on exercising your abs, proceeded or followed with at least 30 minutes of cardio, of course.

I know it's tempting, but resist the urge to do those once obligatory 100 crunches at the end of your workout every single day. You and your abs can thank me later.

Does Your Weight Fluctuate by Season?

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Believe it or not, bikini season is right around the corner. The thought of tying up a two-piece suit may cause subtle panic in some of you, and for others, it's no biggie. The difference could have something to do with the tendency to let go a little during the Winter, indulging in warm comfort foods and saying cheers with libations more often than usual. Does your weight fluctuate by season?

Source

Keep Motivated, Even Without Your Bikini

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 04:00:00 -0700

I know that a lot of us use the prospect of putting on a bikini as motivation to get fit for the summer. Now that summer is coming to an end and the time is getting closer and closer for storing those bathing suits you worked so hard to look hot in. Your motivation may be shrinking as your waistline is growing. After all the food holidays are just around the corner (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas...) so what's the point, right?

Wrong! There are many reasons why you need to keep at staying healthy, but here are a few notables:

Exercise can help combat SAD (seasonal-affective disorder), which many of us feel as the days get shorter and colder.
Exercise can also help combat another type of sad: The holiday blues. For whatever reason people get depressed around the holidays. Exercising is known for boosting our moods.
Keeping at it will make preparing for next year's bikini season that much easier -- Toning up those arms is a lot more realistic than losing 30 pounds.
If you've ever planned a last minute winter getaway to a tropical location, then you know that your bikini bod prep time is limited. Keeping fit means no sweat (not literally, of course) instead of stressing about it and embarking on dangerous quick fixes.
Winter sports require stamina. If you've been working out then your body will be a lot more prepped for that first run down the mountain on your snowboard than if you've halted all exercising efforts.
Exercising is just plain 'ole good for you. Keeping your body healthy ultimately means extending your life and protecting yourself from potential ailments (and diseases) down the line.

I'm sure you all have many more reasons to add for why you should stay motivated to workout even after summer, so share them in the comments section below.

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Are You Trying to Get in Shape For Bikini Season?

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:00:04 -0700

It's official: Summer is here! The warmest season is most welcome; the longer days are perfect for working out outside and grilling healthy meals with friends and family. Summer also lends itself to weekends at the beach or pool and vacations to places with even more beautiful beaches and exceptional weather - all of which suggest skin-baring bathing suit attire.

Are your workouts these days motivated by the bikini-clad months ahead?

5 Resistance Band Moves

FitSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:50:10 -0700

Our friends over at the American Council on Exercise (ACE) have shared many workouts with us. There's a morning core workout to target your abs, a hip, thighs, and tush workout to get you ready for bikini season, four exercises for a strong and healthy back, and shoulder sculpting moves to get strapless-dress-ready. ACE has shared another workout with us, this time using a resistance band, that targets a few areas of the body that women say are "trouble spots." So grab a band and get started.

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