Healthy happy you.
'Tis the season to show off your gams! Sure Summer is when we bare the most skin, but holiday soirees often mean dressing up and shimmying on a pair of stockings and heels. If you want to do some quick toning and defining, you can trust a few hardy sets of calf raises to help you out. The simple leg lifts are easy enough to do just about anywhere and will have you feeling (and looking!) sexy and Read more
I must come clean and confess that I neglect my calves. Aside from stretching them in Downward Dog, I spend little time on this overworked muscle that helps propel me forward as I run. I'm changing my ways, and have added calf raises to my strength training routine. The calf may be small in comparison to the larger muscles in the thighs, but this muscle still needs to be worked in multiple Read more
There are tons of exercises that work your booty and thighs, but what about your calves? It's important to tone these muscles because not only do they look sexy in your gym shorts, but strong calves will help you run faster and tackle hills with ease. Here's an exercise that you can even do while at your desk. All you need is an exercise ball or chair, and a light set of dumbbells. To learn how Read more
A lot of us do a lot of leg work to develop our lower body muscles, but completely forget about the calves (or neglect them for fear they'll get bulky). Calf Raises develop flexibility and strength in the ankle joint and calf, and all you need to do them is your body and a step/curb or any uneven surface. Here's how: Stand with balls of feet on a curb/step, heels hanging off. Keep knees soft, Read more
High heels. You either love them or hate them, but you can't deny they are chic. We love the height boost and illusion of longer legs they offer, but we do realize they're not the best things for our feet. Unfortunately, recent research shows that these lovely shoes may be worse than previously thought. In a study of longtime high heel wearers, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, Read more
FitSugar community member (and fitness instructor) livinginthin has shared a how-to on an overlooked exercise that everyone should be doing. Running, cycling, squatting, jumping, curling, crunches, and lunging — you do it all, right? Well, the one move you aren’t doing is probably the one that can keep you doing all those things (and more), pain and injury-free for a lifetime. What is it? Read more
We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar! Baby, it's cold outside! But for those of us training, sans gym membership, or just yearning for some fresh air, we can't let the chilly weather keep us from an outdoor workout. If you find your morning runs too cold, have achy joints, or just want to make it through a run without wiping out, we hear you! Read more
You've been running regularly for some time and have completed a few 5K fun runs. But now it's time to step it up and take this distance seriously. Here are some tips to help you beat your personal record when running 3.1 miles. During Training Add speedwork: If you want to run a faster 5K, you have to practice running faster. Coach Andrew Kastor recommends adding 80-meter sprints into your Read more
Fall weather might mean your skin is all covered up, but you still shouldn't neglect the largest organ in your body. Covering Health magazine, the actress from the new film Machine Gun Preacher, Michelle Monaghan, talks candidly about her brush with skin cancer: " . . . A few years ago I had a mole on the back of my calf, and he [husband, Peter White] was adamant that I get it checked. In Read more
We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar! Lady Gaga has finally dropped her latest masterpiece, and Born This Way was born to inspire our workouts. The '80s-inspired opus is full of gym-ready grooves, from Eurodisco to Latin rhythms. Let's get moving! Gaga training sessions with Harley Pasternak consist of a 25-minute routine combining strength and cardio. The Read more
