Healthy happy you.
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
The calves are one of the most overused muscles in the body, and tight ones can lead to overuse injuries. If you wear heels, run regularly, or both, stretching your calves is a must. Here are some great stretches for the calves. Try them all. Pick your fave. Then do it daily. Source Read more
The calf muscles get worked from just about every activity, from wearing killer heels to running. It pays to know multiple ways to lengthen tight calves and here are five of my favorite stretches. Source Read more
For many brides, the perfect wedding-day outfit includes a jaw-dropping white gown and a princess-worthy pair of heels. But if you're donning a pair of pumps for your big day, make sure you read these tips to keep your feet happy and healthy. Stretches and exercises are important: Wearing heels too often can lead to different ailments, like bad posture, bunions, and tendinitis (not to mention Read more
After your run, your legs are probably in need of a good stretch. But it's not all quads, hamstrings, and glutes. Don't forget these areas when stretching after your jog. Hip flexors: Combat all that forward propelling (and desk sitting) with stretches that open up and loosen those all-important hip flexors. Tight hip flexors can lead to back pain and a limited range of motion, so make sure you Read more
When Spring weather hits, many runners can't wait to wave goodbye to the treadmill and head to the open road. All that fresh air and gorgeous scenery gives the sense of freedom, but it can also cause a painful sensation in the front of the lower legs. Shin splints are a common ailment for runners switching from the treadmill to the road, and if a runner doesn't take certain precautions, that pain Read more
Tight calves can be an unwanted side effect of such opposite activities as running or wearing high heels. Many people neglect stretching their calves! Since you have two layers of calf muscles, you need to do two stretches to ensure you are reaching both. So try these stretches after your next run or after a night of dancing in your Jimmy Choos. Gastrocnemius Stretch Place your hands on a Read more
As Summer nears, our thoughts turn to what's underneath those layers of Winter clothes. If you're looking to tone your backside and legs before bikini season, here are five essential lower-body moves fundamental to any workout. And don't worry — you can do them anywhere! The squat: That burning in your upper thighs as you hold a squat tells you just how great this move is for lower body Read more
We spend a lot of time waiting in line, at the doctor's office, or for a dinner reservation, to name a few. But that doesn't mean time waiting should be time wasted. Strengthen your muscles with only the slightest disturbance to your neighbors. Here are four relatively discreet exercises you can do when standing around in public (with little or no embarrassment!). Lower-body barre moves: Barre 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
