FitSugar

Fit Tip: Stock Up on Your Fave Sneaks

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:00:26 PDT

Finding the perfect exercise shoe is a tough challenge. Even though there are a couple brands I've had luck with, I always end up spending at least an hour trying on every type of sneaker made by every brand in the store, just to make sure I've found the best fit. Sometimes I even end up having to go to more than one store! Who has time for that every time you have to buy new sneaks, which for me is about every three months?

So I've started stocking up on a pair I really love. I'll buy sneakers I think are perfect, try it out for a couple of weeks, and if my feet are still happy, I go back to the store and buy one or two more pairs of the exact same sneaker. That way a new pair I know I already love is waiting for me when it's time to ditch my old pair. If you don't like buying the same pair because they look the same, companies usually make the same sneaker in a couple different colors. If you can't find them at the store, order them online, which can save you dough and a trip to the store. You can also create a sale alert notice for the shoes on ShopStyle. You might have to wait a while, but you'll save some dough too.

Fit Tip: Buy New Sneaks in the Afternoon

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:30:00 PDT

So you've been running a bunch and just realized you've clocked almost 350 miles. It's about time to pick up a new pair of sneaks. When you go shopping, it's important to think about the state of your feet. They'll swell slightly as you go about your day, from standing and moving, so avoid buying new sneakers in the early morning when your feet are their smallest. Instead, buy your new kicks in the afternoon, when your feet have had a chance to fill out. That way you'll ensure the best fit, and won't have to worry about your new shoes feeling tight.

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Find the Perfect Pair of Running Shoes For Your Feet

Zelana Montminy — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:47:16 PDT

Spring is the perfect time to recommit to your running routine, and buying some new sneakers might just be the motivation you need to get out the door. Since the shelves of colorful shoes lining the walls of your local sportswear store can be overwhelming, we talked to a running-shoe specialist to get the lowdown on finding your sole mate.

After you lace up your new sneaks, watch our video on the best way to tie your laces so they stay put.

Celebrate Earth Day This Weekend With These Tips

Leta Shy — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:01:59 PDT

Earth Day is on Sunday. It’s a time to think about how our daily routines are impacting the environment, while also helping us remember that our resources are not infinite. If you'd like to green your life even more, here are some ways you can celebrate Earth Day this weekend:

Time to recycle: Have an old pair of running shoes that just aren't cutting it anymore, or a yoga mat that's seen its share of Downward Dogs? Before you chuck them away, read our guide on where to donate your used sneakers, yoga mats, clothes, and more, and spend some time this weekend culling and donating your fitness gear.

Shop smart: If you're stocking up this weekend at the grocery store, make smart decisions that will be good for you and the Earth. Don't forget your reusable bag, choose local, organic foods, and try to avoid products with too much packaging to shop eco-friendly. Read more tips for greening your grocery shopping here.

Green your fitness: This weekend, take advantage of the nice weather and move your workouts outside. You'll use fewer energy resources if you trade the treadmill for an outdoor run.

Shop sustainable: Besides donating old clothes for recycling, you can also take care to buy brands that are known for their eco-friendly practices. Many companies use recycled materials, sustainable fabrics, or resource-saving production practices to make high-quality fitness gear. Read our list of some eco-friendly fitness brands here, and shop our favorite eco finds here.

Check out more ideas to green your healthy routine here.

How to Travel to a Destination Race With Success

Michele Foley — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 01:37:33 PDT

Competing in a race is already a challenge in itself; add to that a bit of travel, and you've got a new set of factors to consider. To find out how to achieve race-day success when traveling across the country - or world - we went straight to the expert, Thom Gilligan, founder of Marathon Tours, a specialized travel agency for runners that provides travel packages to destination marathons. Here are Thom's tips to ensure traveling won't prevent you from having a successful race day, whether you're doing a 10K or a marathon.

Pack race-day gear in your carry-on: Airlines lose luggage - it just happens. "Take precaution by packing all race gear in your carry-on," Thom says. The last thing you need is to be without your running shoes or outfit on the day of the race. Sure, you can buy new gear, but as any expert will tell you, running in new sneakers or clothing on the day of a race is bad all around. You don't want unexpected factors like chafing, pulling, or rubbing to prevent you from having a good day or causing bad form.
Arrive before the day of the race: Jet leg and tight muscles from a cramped airline seat are not a good look when it comes to race day. To feel alert on the day of the race, try to get there as far in advance as possible. Thom says the rule of thumb is to "arrive one day earlier for every hour you may be gaining or losing." But even he knows how impractical this sounds. Ideally give yourself two to three days to acclimate to your new surroundings, he says. The most important thing, Thom says, is adapting your sleep patterns to the current time zone. Fight urges to nap during the day or stay up late at night. Instead, go to sleep at the general bedtime hour of wherever you might be; this will help reset your circadian rhythm to the local sleep-wake cycle. Here are more tips on preventing jet lag.

See more tips for destination races after the break!

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.

The 3 Most Common Mistakes Runners Make

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:22:09 PDT

Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise, because besides burning major calories and toning your tush, it costs pennies compared to other sports. If you're a runner at heart, be sure to avoid these three most common mistakes.

Wearing Sneakers For Too Long
Your trusty old pair was there for you when you shaved two minutes off your 10K time and later conquered your first half, but that doesn't mean you should wear them forever. The lack of cushion and shock absorption that comes from wear and tear can result in foot pain or a more serious injury - make sure to retire an old pair every 200 to 350 miles (about four to six months, depending on how much you run). You could always buy the exact same pair you know and love, but if you're looking for a new sole mate, here are tips on how to find the perfect pair of running sneakers.

Skipping the Postrun Stretch Session
It's hard enough squeezing in a run during your busy day, but stretching those muscles you worked so hard is a must. Increasing flexibility in often-tight hamstrings, calves, shins, and quads can prevent shin splints and runner's knee, as well as lower back pain. A good stretching session can also prevent tomorrow's soreness. Try this yoga sequence to loosen tight hips and hamstrings.

Being Married to Running
You love running. We get it. And even if you're training for your first marathon, running as your sole form of exercise is a big no-no. Since overusing the same muscles can cause repetitive stress injuries, incorporate other forms of exercise into your routine. Biking, swimming, yoga, and strength training are perfect complements because they'll strengthen other muscles, which will make you a faster runner with better endurance. Not to mention, taking a break from running makes you love it even more.

Don't Throw Out Those Used Sneaks! How to Recycle Old Fitness Gear

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:05:25 PDT

Exercising regularly means going through lots of fitness gear. Instead of just tossing out old kicks or a worn-out yoga mat, do something good for the Earth. Here are ways to recycle or reuse old workout gear.

Sneakers

Donate: You can toss them in a Goodwill bin, or send them to an organization that'll put them to good use. Soles4Souls's tag line is "Saving the world - one pair at a time." This organization takes your tired, but "gently worn," sneakers and finds needy feet to fill them. They strongly suggest organizing shoe drives and mailing all the pairs to one of their three warehouse locations. Another organization, One World Running, has been serving runners around the world since 1986. Through collection programs, they are able to provide shoes for needy runners across the world. Check here for drop-off locations.
Recycle: Turn your old shoes into something new. Nike Reuse-A-Shoe takes all brands of sneakers that are beyond "gently worn" and turns them into a recycled product known as Nike Grind, which is used to make tracks, indoor basketball courts, fields, and playgrounds. Just drop off your retired sneakers at any Nike store, or check here for drop-off locations.
Reuse: Keep an old pair of sneakers around for days when you're running or walking in the rain or on muddy trails. Some people even use old shoes as plant potters. Fill a disinfected shoe with soil and grow some basil or cilantro on your deck or windowsill.

Keep reading to find out what you can do with your old fitness clothes, equipment, and yoga mats.

Jessica Alba Dishes About Her Mommy Must Have and Details of Her New Book!

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:32:19 PDT

Just call her supermama. As if having a baby and launching The Honest Company weren't enough to do in one year, Jessica Alba recently announced plans to write her first book, too. The actress and mother of two - Honor, 3, and Haven, 7 months - hopes to share some of the tips and tricks she's learned about motherhood, as well as her methods for creating an eco-friendly and toxin-free environment in her home, with other modern moms who are busy trying to juggle it all.

I spoke with Jessica about her version of healthy living, why we always spot her wearing scarves, and the best trick her own mama taught her about motherhood.

On her forthcoming book about honest living:
"It's what I've learned along the way through trial and error - things that are actually attainable and applicable to me and to my life. I'm not growing organic vegetables at my house and picking them and feeding [them to] my family. I'm a working mom, so for me, it was easier to use disposable diapers. I do the best I can. I make my kids organic food, but I'm not the extreme. I think a lot of people probably fall more in the category where I fall - we want the best for our families, but sometimes we feel like it's too hard and it's too unattainable to go all the way and grow a garden and do that. So where's the happy medium? The book's going to be a very simple handbook on little things you can do that add up and make a big difference."

On sharing new mom tips:
"From room decor to making meals for the week to simple beauty recipes that my grandmother passed down to me made from things that are in your pantry . . . through trial and error, I've figured a few things out, and I'm sure other people have to. So [I'm] putting them together in a very simple, easy-to-read, colorful book. I also want it to be if you only have 10 minutes, you can walk away with something. It's like, what do you pack in your diaper bag that's easy - do you even have a diaper bag? Maybe you just carry a large purse. Maybe you use your purse instead of buying 50 different diaper bags knowing that your purse will probably go better with your outfits. So how do you pick a diaper bag that's neutral and will go with everything? And what do you really need in that diaper bag? In the beginning, I was stuffing my child's entire nursery into the diaper bag and breaking my neck and was like, 'Oh, wait, I forgot my wallet. What's going on?'"

On wearing scarves:
"I wear scarves, mostly because it's an accessory that can dress up an outfit, so you're not just wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers. But it's also because if my baby has an accident - and I'm holding the baby - I can cover that accident up! So I'm not walking around with a big puke stain or poo stain on my shirt! Knowing that I don't have time to go home and change, and really, I don't have the space, time, or capacity to pick out five different changes of outfits for my car - it's enough to remember my baby's change of clothes. I have funny little stories about how I learned that lesson [in the book]."

Keep reading for Jessica's thoughts on letting Honor play with the iPad, Jessica Simpson's baby shower, and the importance of the mom community.

Michael Kors's Inspiration, Grunge Styling at NYFW, and How to Chop an Onion - The Best of PopSugar TV This Week

Allie Merriam — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 06:04:00 PST

PopSugarTV was all about New York Fashion Week! FabSugarTV was in the Big Apple and at the shows, where Michael Kors dished on Anglina Jolie's inspiration and J. Crew's Jenna Lyons shared about Manolo Blahnik collaborating with her brand. BellaSugarTV had the scoop on runway makeup looks, showing sexy tousled hair from Rag & Bone and grunge styling at Altuzarra. YumSugarTV, meanwhile, was in the kitchen showing how to chop an onion and make fondue dippers. FitSugarTV had helpful hints for buying the right sneaker and getting long, lean legs. Check out all the videos at the links above and visit PopSugarTV for even more!