FitSugar

Get Rid of Unwanted Hair: Sugaring

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:45:00 -0700

Unwanted hair - it's a fact of life. Many women choose to shave or wax, but there might just be a sweeter way. Have you ever heard of sugaring?

Also known as Persian Waxing, it's a method of hair removal that has been around for thousands of years. Similar to waxing, it's supposed to be less painful because it only sticks to the hair, unlike wax which also sticks to your skin.

It's made out of all natural ingredients including sugar (honey or molasses is sometimes used instead), lemon juice, and water. You can play around with different recipes and do it yourself, but I recommend having a professional do it for you.

First, the area is dusted with powder, then warm sugar solution is applied and spread around with a tongue depressor. A porous piece of cloth is then pressed onto your skin. Just like waxing, the strip is then quickly pulled off in the opposite direction the hair grows.

Fit's Tips: If you want to stir up a batch of your own, make sure you have a candy thermometer. You can buy pre-made sugar solutions such as Moom and Nad's and have a regular hair removal party!

Gift Ideas For Yogis

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:00:59 -0800

Yoga love has blossomed everywhere it seems, and just about everyone I know has either tried it, or practices regularly. I'm sure you know a friend or family member who has yoga coursing through her veins, so this holiday season, give her a gift to support her obsession.

Affordable Yoga Clothes Under $40

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:00:14 -0700

FitSugar reader TxYogi posted a question in the Yoga Stretch and Tell group. She asked: "I love the look and fit of yoga gear from lululemon and Hard Tails, but I just can't bring myself to pay so much for clothes I'll probably do nothing but sweat in. Can anyone recommend some great fitting and great looking yoga gear at reasonable prices?"

I am wearing two of my favorite items in the photo on the left and these pieces are actually each under $20 - proving that there are deals to be had. For the details on these items and more, check out this slideshow. If you have any suggestions, please be sure to share them here.

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Gear Review: Body Language Workout Clothes

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:00:27 -0700

I know that when I'm wearing a flattering and fun exercise outfit, I feel more inspired to push myself harder. So if you're tired of wearing your plain old boring black leggings and racerbacks, then you're in need of some color and pizzazz. Check out Body Language Sportswear, which combines comfy material with feminine designs that make you feel playful yet sexy.

I have the Zorro Cami ($50) in black, and I love the high neckline that keeps my girls covered, and the unique crisscross straps in the back. I run in the Vicky Shorts ($38), and the foldover waistband with the ties on the side are really adorable and flatter my waistline. When I practice yoga or strength train, the Foldover Leggings ($73) have a snug fit that supports my muscles and makes me feel stronger. You can see them in action in this post.

The Body Language collection is made with Supplex material, which is fitted yet flexible, and won't shrink, fade, or become baggy. I know these clothes aren't cheap, but the material they're made with is thicker than less expensive workout clothes, which makes them feel more durable and worth the splurge.

To see the brand's other designs, read more.

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Gear Review: Beyond Yoga Clothes

FitSugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:00:00 -0700

I just found a new brand of exercise clothes that I am in love with. Although the company is called Beyond Yoga, they have a variety of styles which can be used for any type of movement. In the photo below, you can see the Straight Back Cami ($60) and the Supplex Short Shorts ($58) in action.

To hear why I love this new outfit, read more.

I love the top for two reasons. It has a fairly high neckline so your girls are kept covered - even when doing all kinds of inversion poses, my cleavage stayed hidden. Plus the built-in shelf bra is surprisingly supportive. The other thing I love is the material. It's soft and supple, has some stretchiness to it, and is slightly thicker than many of the tops I've tried. The material feels rich and luxurious, and washes in the machine well, which is a huge plus for exercise gear. This top is long enough to keep your belly covered when moving around, and the material doesn't shift or bunch up.

The shorts are made out of the same incredibly soft material. I love the wide waistband that fits snugly around my hips. It stays put, and even when bending forward, I didn't have to worry about revealing the top of my bum. These shorts are pretty short, as you can see from the photo, so they'd be great for running, dance, strength training, or other types of exercise.

I know these clothes aren't cheap, but since the material is such high quality and they fit your body so superbly, they're well worth the splurge.

Fittingly Mad: Vanity Sizing on Workout Clothes

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:00:00 -0700

I hate trying on clothes, and the fact that sizes are all over the map doesn't help matters. Some brands run big while others run small, which means I have to take a pile of items into the dressing room. But I got really riled up while shopping for workout clothes this weekend, when I discovered what's apparently a new trend: vanity sizing on workout clothes.

I've ranted before about vanity sizing, the practice of making clothes larger but sizing them smaller, so people can wear smaller sizes and feel better about themselves. I'm normally a solid medium, but when I was shopping this weekend, I tried on several mediums that were enormous on me. I guess the clothing manufacturers want me to be happy about buying a small, but they're not fooling me with their flattery. (Also, what would a really small person wear?!)

But what really annoys me is that vanity sizing on workout clothes is totally counterproductive. To find out why, read more.

If you are working out and trying to slim down, shouldn't you wear clothes that are an accurate representation of your size? Wouldn't you rather know that you've actually dropped a size, or that you are maintaining your happy size, rather than being tricked into thinking you've changed? Exercise helps us feel better about our bodies, and that's way more real than a vanity size that tries to do the same thing.

What do you guys think? Am I overreacting, or do you also find vanity sizing in workout clothes fittingly mad?

Source

Gear Review: slotRadio by Sansa

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:20:25 -0800

I love my iPod, but there is a new music player vying for my heart: the slotRadio ($79) by Sansa.

The two-inch-by-two-inch clip-on music player comes with a data card with 1,000 songs from the Billboard music charts, with prearranged playlists by music genre. I tried the additional Health and Fitness mix, which includes the mixes for warmup, cardio, roadwork (cycling), power (lifting), yoga, cooldown, and the even more mellow spa mix.

To see what I thought of this music player, just read more.

I must admit I am a bit technically challenged - ironic since I am a blogger, I know. Even with my latent Luddite ways, I found the slotRadio super easy to use. The instruction manual was simply written with helpful graphics. Open the box, charge the radio, which took about an hour, put in your music card, and go. My inaugural run with the slotRadio was great. It clips onto your clothes and is so small and light you don't even notice it. The volume button is easy to find, as is the skip button. You can easily skip genres, too. I warmed up with Lady Gaga and Nelly and moved onto cardio with a few bands I have never heard of, like VHS or Beta. The slotRadio feels like a pop music education in a good way. This little player is a great way to introduce yourself to new music. However, I had to remove the foam covers from the earbuds to keep them from falling out of my ears.

The video screen features graphics of exercises and lets you know the next song up on the playlist so you can advance easily to find motivational music. The slotRadio is also a real radio. As an NPR junkie, I love that I can switch over to radio and catch up on news or Fresh Air while working out.

I enjoyed the Health and Fitness music card much more than the standard Billboard artist music card. Thankfully, the data cards are easy to change, and there are many options to choose from, including Christmas tunes, '80s and '90s music, Latin, and classical. The extra data cards cost $40. The slotRadio bundle comes with headphones, charger, and Billboard music card. These make a great gift for the musically impaired fitness fanatic in your life.

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Athleta Yoga Jeans: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:30:41 -0800

Sporty and causal clothes retailer Athleta usually hits the fashion mark, but I am not sure about the Bettona Bermuda, now $35 marked down from $54. Styled to look like jeans, rivets and all, these long shorts are intended for yoga practice. Made from stretchy fabric to ease into yoga poses, these shorts even have a faux fly. While I am fine, with black cotton leggings for my practice I wonder what you all think.

Share tales of your favorite yoga gear in the Yoga Stretch and Tell group.

Fittingly Green: Fila Goes Eco-Friendly

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:30:00 -0700

If you're a fan of workout clothes made from eco-friendly fabric such as bamboo, then you're going to love Fila's new green apparel. The brand just announced its collaboration with AmericanForests.org, and with it comes a line of stylish clothes made from sustainable materials, including Tencel and recycled polyester.

I'm a fan of the Twist Back Tank ($45) made from Tencel, a fabric derived from natural cellulose found in wood pulp. When blended with Lycra, this fabric is extremely lightweight, flexible, comfy, and breathable. It's also fully biodegradable, so you can feel good about your impact on the environment. To see pics of Fila's other green products, read more.

I'm also loving Fila's adorable Drawstring Bottom Yoga Tank ($45). Also made with Tencel, it's a looser fit than the twist tank, so it's perfect if you don't like form-fitting workout clothes (especially during that time of the month). Both tanks are unique style-wise, and the softness makes you feel like you're hardly wearing anything. They're great for moderate activity, but if you're going to be bouncing or jumping, I'd definitely wear a sports bra underneath (the built-in shelf bra isn't very supportive).

The Flower Sleeveless Tee ($40) is made from recycled polyester, so it's stretchy and dries quickly. If you're just looking for bottoms, Fila also makes Roll Down Pants made from bamboo ($65). I'll admit that I never wore too many clothes made by Fila, but now that they're becoming more eco-conscious, I'll definitely have my eye on this brand.

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Weigh In: Flirtatious Guy at the Gym

FitSugar — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:00:02 -0800

This FitSugar reader needs some advice about an overly friendly guy at her gym.

Dear Fit,
I joined a gym last Winter because my New Year's resolution was to lose 40 pounds. I'm halfway to my goal, and am really proud of myself. I definitely notice a big change when I try on clothes or look in the mirror, and it seems there's a guy at my gym who has noticed too. I've been heading to the gym after work three times a week for the past 10 months, and recently this guy I've seen ever since I joined has been approaching me. He compliments me, saying things like, "looking good today," or "your arms look really ripped in that tank top." Don't get me wrong - the attention is actually really nice since I never had anything like that when I was heavier, but it's a little creepy. I'm not attracted to this guy at all, and it kind of pisses me off that as soon as I lose weight, I'm worth the friendly smiles and sweet words. Really, I'm at the gym for one purpose only, so how can I get this guy off my back without seeming like a total bitch?
-Annoyed Annie

If you have any experience with this or any suggestions, please share them below.