FitSugar

Christina Aguilera Gets Down and Dirty About Exercise

FitSugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Christina Aguilera has definitely transformed before our eyes. This pop princess turned hardworking mom added losing post-pregnancy baby weight to her to do list and she looks fabulous. In a recent Glamour interview, Christina openly admits that she's not someone whose pounds just magically melted off days after baby was born and I appreciate her honesty (and hard work). Here are highlights:

On her current workout:
"I hate working out – I have to mentally push myself through it. I can get very whiny, saying things like, 'I can't do it!'"

On hard core trainers:
"No – I can't deal with having someone barking at me. Mean training is not motivating to me at all; I like to be comforted [through my workout]. All my trainer has to do is say nicely, 'I want you to do 200 bicycles; go right through it and don't stop.' Then I'll know she's serious and I'll do it. I started out not being able to do man push-ups; pull-ups were a big one too. Now I can do five in a row."

There's more including what she loved the most about her pregnant body so read more.

On how quickly she noticed a change in her body:
"Being the perfectionist that I am, my attitude was, this had better hurry up – I want results! My trainer kept saying, 'Give it time, you're looking great.' Everyone around me was saying they could see a difference, but, you know, you're hardest on yourself. I did see my stomach get flatter and tighter and more muscle definition."

On what she liked least about her postbaby body and what she liked the most:
"Well, I was OK with the booty and the boobs! [Laughs.] My stomach was really where I carried my weight. Toward the end of my pregnancy, I felt really big – I gained about 40 pounds, which is a lot for my size. My hips also changed significantly. And my feet grew from a size 5 to a size 7 in flats – thank God they [went back to normal]. I would have been so depressed if I had to get rid of my shoe collection!"

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Gear Review: 2XL Colorful Earbuds

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:30:51 -0700

Running with an iPod is as essential to me as a sports bra, but the earbuds that come with it won't stay in my ears unless I'm sitting still. If you have that issue too, then check out 2XL headphones. They have a few different models depending on your ear needs, but the best part is that they're really cheap - $10 to $15 a pair. They come in tons of color combinations so you can get a few pairs to match your fitness outfits and not break the bank.

To hear why I love these earbuds read more.

The earbuds on the right are called Groove ($15), and they're my fave for running since they wrap around the back of your ear and stay put even when doing sprinting intervals. I like that the speaker part just sits outside of the opening to your ear canal, because then I can hear my music, but can also hear what's going on around me - you know, in case a bear sneaks up behind me on the trail.

I also like the Spoke ($15) in-ear buds shown in the middle. Not only because they're metallic pink, but because they fit snugly inside my ears, and are perfect for strength training when I need to hear nothing but Christina Aguilera while doing squats thrusts. These buds come with three sets of changeable gels so you can get a comfortable fit no matter what size ears you have.

The earbuds on the left are called Ratio ($10), and they're just like the earbuds that come with your iPod. So if you prefer this model but are bored with the plain white ones you have, these come in seven different colors to suit your personality.

Check out all the color patterns below.

View 10 Photos ›

Naomi Watts's Secret to Losing the Baby Weight

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:00:00 -0800

It amazes me how celebs like Tori Spelling, Jessica Alba, and Christina Aguilera have slimmed down so quickly after having their babies. Another new mom, Naomi Watts, can join that list too. The 40-year-old actress is already close to her pre-baby figure since giving birth to her second just about a month ago. She owes it all to breastfeeding. Naomi explained to People magazine that her son is "sucking it all out of me, it seems. And when the baby comes out, it's a lot of weight right there."

While it's true that breastfeeding does burn up a lot of calories, solely nursing to lose baby weight isn't the magic pill. It's a combination of that, eating right, and exercising that can help a new mom shrink down to the size she was before becoming pregnant. It is good to remember that some women just lose baby weight more easily than others; I think genes play a role in this process.

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Tips From Celebrity Trainers

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 11:00:00 -0700

One way that celebrities get to look the way they do is with personal trainers who have earned a bit of a celebrity title themselves. The back of their heads (i.e. Harley Pasternak training Sophia Bush pictured below) are always seen on PopSugar, so it's no wonder they are making a name for themselves based on the big names they work with.

CNN recently spoke with five celebrity trainers and they gave their own insights along with tips for us non-celebrity folk. So here are highlights I thought you would enjoy:

Valerie Waters
Worked With: Kate Beckinsale and Cindy Crawford
Tip: "Don't be afraid of weights. They're the quickest way to change your body"

Gunnar Peterson
Worked With: Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie and Matthew McConaughey
Tip: "Get on a regular routine. Exercise should be a cornerstone of your life, like brushing your teeth. It's not even an option to blow it off."

For tips from trainers who've worked with Christina Aguilera and Reese Witherspoon just read more

Ashley Borden
Worked With: Mandy Moore and Christina Aguilera
Tip: Take care of the arches in your feet. "When your arches collapse, your knees rotate inward, and your hips rotate outward giving you a saddlebag appearance. It then pulls your sternum down, it pulls your neck forward, and everything collapses." She suggests orthotics and mio-fascial release to combat chronic pain and posture problems.

Michael George
Worked With: Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Maguire
Tip: Don't wait too long to integrate a healthy diet and consistent exercise into your days. "I've seen a lot of people come to me when it's a little bit too late," he said, "I've had [clients] pass away due to illnesses, cancer, heart disease, whatever it may be. The time is now. If you don't put your health first you're never really going to truly be happy."

Bob Greene
Worked With: Oprah
Tip: "First thing is, know what you want," Greene said. He said a lot of people want to work out because it's "in" or they know they should be doing it, but don't have a specific goal. "Know the reason you are making these changes in your habits, what is it you really want to achieve." He also said most people need to do both weight training and cardio.

Bauer-Griffin

West Wins Favorite Workout Song of 2007

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 07:30:00 -0800

We all have certain songs that we love to listen to while working out. So many heart-pumping songs came out in 2007, but the votes are in and it looks like your favorite song by far was "Stronger," by Kanye West. In second place was "Gimme More," by Britney Spears.

I'm kind of surprised actually, I thought more FitSugar readers would have voted for Christina Aguilera's "Candyman." That song always gets me going and is definitely one of the top workout songs on my iPod. Not only does that song have a fast and peppy beat, but Christina's amazing dance moves totally motivate me.

P.L.O.W. - Sugar Sweet

FitSugar — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 03:00:00 -0700

We all know that eating too much sugar is bad for our bodies, but that doesn't mean we crave it any less! This playlist is in honor of all things sweet. These songs have the word SUGAR in the title or somewhere in the song itself.

OK, I admit it. I got a little carried away here, but there are just so many great songs about SUGAR! If you know of any others, please share them below.

To see the playlist, read more

This is a LONG playlist that you can listen to on a nice Sunday walk, while cleaning the house or making dinner, or turn it on during your next BBQ or party.

"Sugar Sweet," Muddy Waters, 2:31
"Lips Like Sugar," Seal & Mikey Dread, 4:59
"Candyman," Christina Aguilera, 3:14
"Sugar, Sugar," The Archies, 2:52
"Pour Some Sugar on Me," Def Leopard, 4:31
"Sugar," Stevie Wonder, 2:53
"Sweet Sugar Mama," G. Love & Special Sauce, 4:05
"Send Me Sume Sugar Baby," Duke Turner, 3:21
"My Sugar is So Refined," Johnny Mercer, 2:43
"Sugar," Lenny Kravitz, 3:58
"Let's Get it On," Marvin Gaye, 4:51
"Chattanooga Sugar Babe," Johnny Cash, 3:17
"Sugar Candy Kisses," Client, 4:17
"That Sugar Baby O' Mine," Jeanie Bryson, 3:49
"Sweeter Than Sugar," Joe, 3:38
"Sugar," Billie Holiday, 2:44
"Sugar Hill," Dolly Parton, 2:52
"I Can't Help Myself," Four Tops, 2:45
"Sugaree," Grateful Dead, 7:34
"Sugar Mountain," Neil Young, 5:02
"Brown Sugar," The Rolling Stones, 3:49
"Sugar," The Pointer Sisters, 2:18
"Sugar Pie," Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers, 3:19
"Sugartime," The McGuire Sisters, 2:33
"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing), Michael Jackson, 3:58

Total PLOW Time: 1:38:39

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P.L.O.W. (Play List of the Week)

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 02:30:00 -0800

Looking for motivation in music. Well try our first P.L.O.W. for your next 30 minute cardio workout :

SexyBack by Justin Timberlake, 3:28
Ramble On by Led Zepplin, 4:14
Float On by Modest Mouse, 3:29
Unwritten Natasha Bedingfield, 4:21
Walk Away by Kelly Clarkson, 3:08
Ain't No Other Man by Christina Aguilera, 3:48
Yeah by Usher, 4:08
Come to Me by P. Diddy, 4:34
Crazy by Gnarls Barkley, 3:01
Bring Your Heart by Angie Stone, 4:00

Total P.L.O.W. Time: 37:18

This is a great (and eclectic) mix of songs to keep you going with a bit of cool down music at the end.

Let me know what you think below!

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