FitSugar

Get Your Partner to Exercise: No Nagging, Bribing, or Insulting Required

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:03:28 PDT

Fitness may be a priority for you, but your husband, boyfriend, or partner might be another story. If you wish your better half would include more exercise in their day whether it's to relieve stress, drop a few pounds, or as a way to spend more time together, I'm sure you've discovered that nagging, bribing, or insulting them are surefire ways to get them to shun sweating it out. Plus, it won't make you feel very good if you're constantly pressuring your partner to get moving. Your significant other is more likely to start working out and stick with it if he or she feels like it's their idea, so give these tactics a try.

Work the money angle. Mention that the gym you want to go to offers huge deals if you join with a friend. Who doesn't jump at the opportunity to save a little moolah?
Speak their language. If saving dough isn't exciting enough, lure your significant other with talk about air-conditioning, deals on massages, and huge TVs to watch sports and The Food Network.
Make it about your dog. If you have a four-legged friend, mention that you went to the vet, and your doc is really concerned about recent weight gain leading to a doggie heart attack. That'll pull on the old heart strings a little, and will certainly inspire regular walks or runs with Fido, but really, Fido will be walking or running them (wink).
Surprise, you're exercising! There's no backing down if you casually sign the two of you up for a Partner Yoga retreat, salsa dance class, or dodgeball team.
Throw them a compliment. Come home from the gym all upset and say, "I really wish you were with me to spot me on the machines because you're so patient and strong. I'd much rather have you help me than one of the random muscly dudes at the gym. Could you meet me after work tomorrow?" Flattery can work wonders and maybe once they show up, they'll do a few sets and like it so much that you'll have yourself a permanent spotter and gym buddy.

Keep reading for more ideas.

Staying Fit in a New Relationship

FitSugar — Fri, 13 May 2011 00:37:54 PDT

New relationships can be a source of much bliss, but they can also wreak havoc on your exercise routine. Where you used to rush to the gym after work can be replaced with fancy dinners and drinks, which may not be the best for your waistline (and the one physical activity you may be getting a lot of doesn't burn as many calories as you might think).

But a new relationship doesn't have to be spent on the couch. Here are some tips for working out as a couple.

Get competitive. A little friendly competition never hurt, even in a fresh new relationship, and it can help push yourself further than what you are used to. Fit couple Josh Duhamel and Fergie are fans of this tactic; Josh says Fergie will challenge him to go "one more mile" in order to keep workouts fun and motivate each other.
Learn something new together. Taking a class where both of you are newbies can make for even more bonding time. When I first tried out yoga I convinced my boyfriend to sign up for a beginner's pass with me. It got us off the couch, and we both had a blast trying out new classes and making fun of each other.
Plan something active on the weekend. Is most of your free time spent in a restaurant or a movie theater? Plan to swap one of those activities with something active on the weekend, whether it be a hike or a simple visit to the farmers market (bonus: couple's cooking time!)

How did you healthfully navigate a new relationship?

Get Physical: Garden

FitSugar — Sat, 01 May 2010 03:00:14 PDT

I love gardening! It's a great way to spend quality time in the great outdoors and to play in the dirt, plus you can burn some serious calories. Gardening solo can be quite meditative, but getting the entire family involved in yard work is not only more fun, but it's way more productive- my girls love weeding and relocating the worms they find in the process.

Here are a few similarities I see in gardening and gym time:

Digging holes and turning compost feels like lifting weights.
Raking feels an awful lot like a rowing machine with some added oblique work with that twisting.
Pushing a lawnmower is similar to walking on a treadmill but with added upper body work.
Pruning with loppers is a serious arm workout, especially when working overhead.
Weeding and squats seem like a match made in heaven - remember to bend at your hips and not round your low back!

Vigorous gardening for an hour burns about 300 calories (depending on your weight and how intensely you dig).

Do you garden? Tell me what you're planting. I just put in two raspberry bushes and am hoping for some sweet berries in Autumn.

Ways to Turn Your Partner Into Your Workout Partner

FitSugar — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:00:11 PST

I have been asked repeatedly for ways to motivate husbands, boyfriends, and partners to get interested in fitness. Chances are high that fitness is important to you, but here are some tactics to get your significant other to make working out a priority as well.

Join a gym together. Tell your honey you really want to stay fit, and that you need their support to do it. Most gyms offer a deal if you join with a friend.
They may need a little push to get them to the gym, so ask if they can meet you there after work. Tell them you're doing weight training and you really need a spotter.
Do something active together that they'll think is fun, so it doesn't seem like exercise. Go hiking, play some one-on-one b-ball, play 18 holes, or plan a weekend ski trip. Try to do an exciting physical activity together at least once a week.
Buy him or her fitness-related presents like workout clothes, sessions with a personal trainer, or a subscription to a fitness magazine.

Want to see the other ideas? Then

Surprise your favorite person and sign both of you up for a Partner Yoga retreat, salsa dance class, or dodgeball team.
Convince your partner to see their doctor. If they're told that their high blood pressure and extra weight are putting them at risk for a heart attack, it may be just the thing to kick them in the butt and get them moving.
If you have a dog, work the K9 training angle and tell them that all the dog training books recommend you walk your dog for at least an hour every day.
If all else fails, cry. Telling your significant other how much you love them and want to live a long life together is sure to be emotional for both of you. Perhaps a tug on the old heart strings will inspire them to get on the healthy boat. I would use this one as a last resort.

Get Physical: At Home Partner Circuits

FitSugar — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:30:00 PDT

Everyone has a bit more time on the weekends, so it should be easier to rope in a buddy to do alternating cardio circuits with you. Exercising with a friend can not only keep you on track, but it doubles the fun too. Here's how to create a circuit plan for you and your buddy.

Create a plan by picking a type, or types if you're so inclined, of cardio and a time limit – somewhere between two minutes and five minutes works best.
At home, I have an elliptical so we use it for our alternating cardio times (plus it acts as our timer), but you could use a wide variety of cardio elements to alternate with your strength training moves. Here are a few examples:
- Jumping rope (or pretending to if you don't have the rope).
- Running around the block, or to the corner and back.
- Step ups onto a stair, stool, or chair.
- Jumping jacks
- Climbing stairs

There's a bit more to planning, so

Then you pick five to ten strength training moves:
- lunges
- squats
- push ups
- ab work
- burpees
- plank with reverse row
Put it all together. One person does cardio for the prescribed time and the other person does strength training moves for the same time period, and it is best to combine strength training moves so for a three minute period alternate between squats and push ups, or push ups and planks, or ab work and lunges. You get the picture.

Try it and see how it goes. Remember to be flexible in creating your joint workout so everybody's needs are met. That reminds me, don't forget to stretch either!

Source

Get Physical: The Push Up Challenge

FitSugar — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 03:30:00 PDT

Next time you are watching TV with your honey or a friend, try this fun way to workout during the commercial break - I call it the push-up challenge. It takes at least 2 people since you switch off, but there is no reason you couldn't include more people in the challenge.

Here's how to do it:

You simply hold the plank position while your buddy does three push-ups. Then switch roles. Keep alternating in this fashion for the entire commercial break. Really! It is fun and it keeps you moving.

The benefits:

Builds a sense of camaraderie.
Builds upper body strength.
Keep you from becoming a total couch potato.

Fit's Tip: If you want to do the unmodified push-up, meaning not on your knees, you actually have to do "real" push-ups, even though they are hard and really suck.

Get Physical: Couples Boxing

FitSugar — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 03:30:00 PDT

Boxing, for the ladies, is definitely "hip" right now. If you and your man want to push the envelope and your comfort zone, take a look at coed/couples boxing as a way to get physical together. You can master your left hook, your jab and your trust issues all in the ring.

Setting boundaries is an important part of any loving relationship, and rules are equally important when a couple enters the ring. Safety rules that dictate how coed pairs fight vary from gym to gym, and couple to couple. At some gyms, women are allowed to hit much harder than their male sparring partners. In other gyms, men are not allowed to hit women at all. It might seem like the men are getting the short end of the workout stick since they are not fighting to their full potential, but men definitely get a workout as they bob and weave defensively.

The actual punching time in the ring is just one part of the workout. Like all good boxing regimens, there are multiple elements to training for coed boxing - think Rocky and Million Dollar Baby. There is jumping rope, speed drills, bag punching and strength training.

If you don't want to spar with your man, you can still take coed boxing classes with him. Many gyms offer coed classes with only same sex sparring at the end of the workout. You can exercise together, hitting punching bags side by side and cheering each other on, but never enter the ring together.

If working out in the ring sounds like fun to you check out this directory at Boxing Gyms for a boxing gym near you. Remember keep it clean and have fun, but don't knock yourself out.

Source

Get Physical: Find a Trail and Go Snowshoeing

FitSugar — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 07:00:00 PST

Ok, so you and your honey decided to make a date to get out and enjoy winter this weekend. You're going snowshoeing. Cool. OK, so how do you figure out where to go?

You can ask your local gear store, the place where you bought or rented your snowshoes, or ask a trusted nature friend to point you in the right direction.

Maybe you're planning a day trip a few hours away and want to find some new trails. Check this out. Find a trail using this website from Tubbs.

You can also tell folks about trails you've enjoyed on the Tubbs site.

It's great that the snow has finally come. It actually feels like winter now. So get out of the house and get into the snow.

Fit Philosophy: Ginnifer Goodwin

Michele Foley — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:02:27 PDT

Happy birthday, Ginnifer Goodwin! The Once Upon a Time star turns 34 today, and to celebrate we're taking a look at how Ginnifer stays active and fit in her daily life.

Always on the go: Ginnifer often credits living in health-conscious LA for her active lifestyle. Whether she's going to Ballet Body or The Bar Method, her workouts gravitate toward leotards, the barre, and pliés. She also turns everyday excursions into an excuse to power walk, "I'll speed-walk a couple of miles, get a cup of coffee, speed-walk back. It’s so easy. Just break a sweat for 30 minutes and you’re fine."

It's a lifestyle not a diet: An outspoken fan of Weight Watchers, she credits the diet program for helping her maintain a healthy weight in realistic ways. She told People, "It takes time because you lose the weight slowly . . . You don't have to go through that horrible yo-yo cycle of binging." Even when counting points, Ginnifer can indulge in treats like her favorite dark chocolate or a pasta dinner. Ginnifer maintains a sense of balance when it comes to eating, so she never has to feel deprived.

Health is more than just weight loss: For Ginnifer, being healthy means being confident, feeling less stressed, and maintaining a well-rounded perspective in her life. She told Health, "Healthy is beautiful. Because what comes with health is a clear mind and a high spirit. When I’m not healthy, I can’t think straight, and I’m unhappy. I’ll realize that I’m an emotional mess, and it’s because I’m dehydrated. Or I’m cold and cranky, and it’s because I’m not exercising and my circulation is poor."

How Not to Destroy Your Marriage

The Good Men Project — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:30:42 PDT

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, The Good Men Project. Today, Mark Tyrrell offers eight relationship tools to make your marriage work.

"All marriages are happy. It's the living together afterward that causes all the trouble." - Raymond Hull

So how do you make your marriage work? Or do you just blindly hope it'll take care of itself?

Think of a hot, successful date with someone you’re attracted to. You have fun, great conversation and more sexual chemistry than a warehouse full of pheromones. You don’t have to “work at” the date because it’s self sustaining. It runs as smoothly as the gliding hand of a classical guitar maestro and you can’t wait for another rendition.

Teenage Dating in a Twilight-Hunger Games World

But marriage, or any long term relationship; well that’s a whole other caboodle.

If we’re not careful, marriage can deteriorate into little more than a torturous assault course; littered with routine boredoms, frustrations and resentments. Couple all that with external pressures and sometimes marriage feels not worth the effort. But there are major benefits to being hitched or committed, other than just a beneficial tax regime.

Healthy marriage; healthy people.

Being happily married bestows heaps of health benefits. You might be forgiven for thinking that if you’re married you don’t live longer it just seems like it but, no, a good marriage really can help you clock up more years (1) and married people are happier (2) even though they don’t always look it from the outside.

But when marriage doesn’t work it can feel being manacled to a maniac, marooned with a misogynist or nailed to a nag. And I don’t care what the studies say, that’s not healthy. You may hear couples say stuff like: “We are making our marriage work!” but how do we do this?

Making it work.

We pay lip service to “working on the marriage” but what is the work we need to do? Marriage vows such as “to love and to cherish” and “forsaking all others, for better or for worse” don’t really tell us how to make it work, although they give us a clue.

Fortunately a ton of research has been done on what to do and not do to make your marriage, or any intimate relationship work. Follow the guidelines here to become “good at marriage."

Tip one: Be romantic but keep it real.

We are all (force?) fed romance in movies and novels. The handsome man gets the beautiful woman. But what I wonder is what happens after our romantic couple ride off into the sunset together? What do they do exactly? Bicker? Moan at one another? Start to ignore each other?

After all that romance, our beautiful couple is bound to have massive expectations of their life together. But when rose tinted expectations clash with day to reality, watch out!

Romance is vital in any relationship. Always seeing the best in your partner helps to keep things intimate and love should be expressed. But if you have been raised on Mills and Boon Romance novels or feel-good movies, then your own romantic expectations can work against the sustainability of your long term relationship.

When day to day life fails to live up to the giddy, heady lust-filled days of the pre-settled down romance people can become angry, even blame one another: “This wasn’t what I signed up for." They find it hard to take the rough with the smooth because they never really figured there would be any rough.

Expectations not diluted with at least a dash of realism can be a royal road to relationship ruin. Your partner may be an angel, but they have feet of clay. You must learn to love those feet or at least accept them a bit!

Get the rest after the jump!