FitSugar

Gear Review: Mizuno Breath Thermo Tights and Crew Top

Leta Shy — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:29:16 PST

San Francisco may not have arctic weather, but running in the Winter still calls for a few layers, or at least gear strategically designed to keep frosty temps at bay. Enter the newest offering from running company Mizuno: its Breath Thermo line of zip-up jackets, tops, and tights designed with snowy weather in mind.

Thin and lightweight, both the Mizuno Breath Thermo Layered Running Tights ($75) and the Mizuno Breath Thermo Running Crew ($60) have a secret - they're made of material that both absorbs sweat and converts it to warmth using the company's Breath Thermo technology, so you stay dry and warm at the same time.

Once the evening temps hit the 50s, I took these out for a spin. I loved the tights the instant I pulled them on; they felt cozy and soft without feeling constricting, and they have well-thought-out details, like zippered calves for easy on, easy off, a small back zippered pocket for cash and ID, and an inside pocket for a key. Also, the strategic stitching and seam design give the tights a flattering fit as well - an important aspect to consider when you're running around town in leggings!

Find out what I thought about the Breath Thermo crew top after the break.

Reasons to Keep Running in the Cold

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:33:17 PST

If chilly weather has moved into your neck of the woods, it can be downright uninspiring to keep up with your running routine. Here are three compelling reasons you should keep running in the cold weather.

Cold and Flu Prevention
Huffing and puffing regularly gets your heart pumping, which transfers oxygen to your blood and increases your body's natural virus-killing cells. Plus, getting fresh air not only gives you a break from the cold-causing germs found indoors, but it can also strengthen your immune system.

Cheaper Than a Gym Membership
Many people trade in outdoor runs for a membership to their local gym. You'll spend about $30 to $60 a month (or more!) to use the treadmills or ellipticals. Save some dough by using the free roads and trails in your neighborhood. Aside from not costing you a dime, you'll also avoid germs found at the gym and in the locker room.

Continue reading to find out why running in the cold is perfect for this time of year.

Snow Chains For Your Shoes: STABILicers and YakTrax

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 05:00:33 PST

If you bundle up in the right gear, running in the cold can be fun and invigorating. There is the minor issue of all that snow and ice on the running path though. If you don't want to ruin a pair of sneakers by adding screws to the soles, try something less permanent like YakTrax Pros ($30) or STABILicers ($40). Think of them like snow chains for your shoes: the rubber grippers slip easily onto your existing shoes and help provide stability and traction so you won't slip while running in snow and ice. And, unlike screws, they can be taken off easily. We've tested them in Vermont, and our friends, who live in Omaha, Lake Tahoe, and Virginia, swear by them.

YakTrax have rubberized bands that allow for more flexibility in your foot, which offer more comfort and control, and they're also cheaper than STABILicers. But, YakTrax may not stay on your sneakers as well as STABILicers do. STABILicers are more like a semi-permanent cleat that fits snugly over the sole of your shoe. Just remember: whichever kind you choose, they're only meant for running on lightly snowy surfaces or where there's visible ice - these will not work on black ice. If you prefer the extra workout of running in deeper snow, attach them to waterproof trail runners or running boots instead.

Cold Weather Tip: Warm up Indoors

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:00:00 PDT

I don't know about you but working out in the cold can sometimes be uncomfortable because it makes my muscles extra tight. What helps me is to warm up inside before heading out into the chilly weather.

Before a run or bike ride, I do about 5-10 minutes of light cardio inside. Jogging in place, jumping rope, or going up and down my stairs is just enough activity to loosen up my body and get my blood pumping. When I get outside, it's less of a shock to my system. If you'd rather do your warm-up exercises outside, a hot shower is another great way to loosen up your muscles before a cold weather workout.

DrSugar Answers: Do I Burn More Calories Running in Cold Weather?

DrSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 04:30:00 PDT

DrSugar is in the house and he's answering your health questions.

Dear Doc Sugar,
As the weather heats up, I am wondering if I burn more calories running in the Winter when it is chilly or when temperatures are much, much higher? It feels much tougher working out in the cold, but is that just psychological? I have also heard that sitting in saunas raises your heart rate and therefore burns calories. Is that true?
- Climate Concerns

To see what DrSugar has to say about your caloric burn in hot and cold temperatures,

It is true that different temperatures can affect your metabolism and lead to changes in calories burned. This effect is most dramatic at very cold temperatures when we shiver. Shivering alone can actually burn up to a few hundred calories an hour, but this effect of cold temperatures on metabolism is only significant if you’re actually shivering. It would have to be very cold to shiver while jogging, because so much body heat is generated from your exercising muscles. You will notice that sometimes you sweat less when jogging in the cold because the ambient temperature is keeping you cool.

Very hot environments, like saunas, can slightly increase your body’s baseline rate of calories burned, but it’s not dramatic. As discussed in this LA Times article, researchers have found that sitting in a hot tub burns slightly more calories than sitting on the couch, and we can extrapolate that a sauna would be similar to a hot tub. It is estimated that someone would burn 34 calories sitting in a hot tub for 20 minutes versus burning 23 calories sitting on the couch for the same amount of time. This is not a significant number of calories when you consider that walking for 20 minutes burns 100 calories. The long and short of it is that temperature extremes can affect calories burned, but not dramatically unless you are shivering for long periods of time.

Have a question for DrSugar? Send it by private messaging me here, and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Source

Get Your Butt in Gear: Base Miles Headband

FitSugar — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 02:30:00 PST

I need to have my ears covered up when I am running in the cold. I can be a little chilly everywhere else on my body, but my ears start to hurt after just a few minutes of running in the cold, especially if the wind is blowing.

My new favorite solution for this problem is the Base Miles Headband ($19) from Athleta. Moisture-wicking and insulating for your long miles in cold weather, this piece is made from lightweight fabric that’s brushed on the inside for maximum comfort and smooth on the outside. What's more? The rollover binding minimizes chafing while the reflective-trimmed ponytail hole holder adds to the comfort of such an important accessory to any winter outdoor workout. Buy it here.

Don't Make These Mistakes When Exercising in the Cold

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 11:45:00 PDT

When it's cold outside, it's tempting to just throw on a heavy sweatshirt and sweatpants and hit the ground running. Problem is, this could leave us ~~standing~~ running out in the cold, wet and uncomfortable.

To keep warm think about correcting these common mistakes many people make while working out in the cold:

Mistake #1: Wearing jeans or street clothes. Unless they’re waterproof (which most jeans are not) and designed to dry quickly (again, not my jeans), you’ll end up freezing cold and miserable.
Mistake #2: Wearing only cotton. Cotton is great, but not for working out in the cold weather since it absorbs and retains sweat, rain, and snow.
Mistake #3: Not layering clothing. Perfecting the art of layering is key to exercising happily outdoors in the winter. Not sure how to do it, be sure to check out my how to on layering effectively.
Mistake #4: Layering socks. I learned this lesson while skiing and as a kid and the theory is that your feet will stay warmer with more layers, however, you could end up cutting off your circulation in your tootsies and making things much worse (and painful). Instead, invest in one good warm pair of wicking socks.
Mistake #5: Not wearing a hat or gloves. We all lose a good amount of heat through our heads and hands, so keep warm by covering yours up.

Source

Cold Weather Running Gear

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 03:00:00 PST

Don't let the winter chill keep you off of the streets. Running in winter is fun, but you have to dress appropriately. Starting with your feet, because if they are cold you'll be miserable. Wear some ski sock liners made out of poly-pro with wool and/or silk blended in. These will keep your tootsies toasty. If the temperature is lower than 20 degrees, I'd opt for ski socks since they're thicker.

You are also going to want a top and bottom base layer made out of poly-pro or merino wool something that you can move in that also wicks the moisture away from your skin. Cover this up with a thin nylon shell to break the wind and keep you protected from the elements.

Keeping your hands warm is also key, so wear some poly-pro gloves or mittens. Don't forget a hat! A light weight wool stocking cap should do the trick.

Remember that it also takes the body longer to warm up in cold weather so add a few minutes onto your warm up time.

Happy running.

Help me find the some of this gear and come Fit Finding with me.

Things to Never Do While on a Short-Distance Run

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:14:00 PDT

With last week's Boston Marathon kicking off marathon season, there's been a lot of talk about how to tackle long-distance runs and how to recover from an endurance run once it's over. All great advice, but for many of us, a 30- to 40-minute run is all we want to handle. For all you short-distance runners out there, here's a list of things to never do during your workout.

Skip the warmup: Even though you're not running for very long, you still need to warm up your cold muscles. Walk briskly, do some jumping jacks, or run up and down your stairs for five minutes to get your blood flowing and to prepare your muscles and joints for the workout ahead. Skip the warmup and you might as well sign yourself up for a pulled muscle.
Carbo load: Depending on how much you weigh and how fast you're moving, a half-hour run burns 300 calories, more or less. Compare that to someone burning 1,200 on a two-hour run and you'll see that it's not necessary to carbo load beforehand with a huge spaghetti lunch. Follow these tips for choosing an appropriate pre-workout snack, don't eat a thing during your workout, and when you're run is complete, nosh on one of these low-cal post-workout snacks.

Keep reading to find out more short-distance running mistakes to avoid.

Spring Cleaning: Refreshing a Pet-Friendly Home

Sara Yoo — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 04:00:00 PDT

Thanks to cold weather and short days, it's easy to get complacent about house cleaning during those long Winter months. But now that Spring has sprung, I'm feeling recharged and ready to tackle the tasks I've largely ignored since Fall's warmer days! I won't place full blame on my pup, but for such a small member of the household, she sure contributes a lot of the mess: muddy footprints, fur everywhere, slobbery toys, and errant treat crumbs are just a few of her transgressions. So I've compiled my to-do list of must-hit spots in my Spring cleaning purge. Keep reading for my Spring tasks!