FitSugar

Burn Calories, Walk Your Dog and Your Dogs

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 12:00:00 -0800

Time and time again I get requests for Jessica Biel's workout. I don't blame you for wanting to know what she does, the girl is ripped. I have also noticed, time and time again, that we are always seeing Jessica out walking her dogs.

While I am sure that she does WAY more than just walk her dogs for exercise, it definitely doesn't hurt for maintaining that figure of hers. A 130-pound woman walking her dog at about 2.5mph (average) will burn about 183 calories in one hour. For great tips on safe dog walking and to see even more pics of Jessica walking her dogs read more

Here are some great tips from Weather.com for happy dog walking this spring:

Just like people who aren't used to exercise, dogs should start off slow. Moderately paced walking and swimming are a good way to start--they let canine athletes build their cardiovascular and muscle strength without putting undue stress on their joints.
Keep a close eye on your dog: watch for any unusual signs of fatigue or trouble breathing. If your pup wants to stop, let him. Dogs that overdo it can suffer strained tendons or ligaments or other orthopedic problems.
Don't expect your fuzzy buddy to be a weekend warrior, even if you only get exercise on the weekends yourself. After a long week without exercise, your dog may be ready to get out and burn off energy. But because of their enthusiasm, many of the popular breeds, such as Labrador and golden retrievers, will overdo it.
Safety first--keep Rover on a leash when you run. Even the best-trained dogs can run into the path of a car or a territorial animal. And if you have to run when it's dark out, put reflectors on your dog's collar as well as on your clothes.
Concrete and asphalt are tough on the paws, especially on hot days. Try to run on dirt paths or grass as much as possible. Gravel, cinders, and road salt can also irritate paws.
Take it easy in extreme weather. If it's freezing cold or hot and steamy out, either keep your run short or play a little indoor fetch instead.
The more active your dog is, the more water he'll need. Make sure he has plenty of fresh water before and after your run. If you're going for a long run, take some water along for him.

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Get Physical: Walk Dogs at a Local Animal Shelter

FitSugar — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 03:30:00 -0800

At the humane society near my home, they're always looking for volunteers. Since I have such a soft spot in my heart for animals, like my pal PetSugar, I was checking out ways to help out and saw the perfect job.

You and your significant other can volunteer as dog walkers. You usually have to have some kind of orientation first, but then after that you can show up and take the dogs that are waiting to be adopted for a walk whenever you want. It gives you both some exercise, and it also helps the dogs feel more at ease when socializing with humans.

Animal shelters appreciate your help, and the dogs appreciate getting out of their tiny stall and into the fresh air where they can run around. It'll have a huge impact on the dogs you walk, and you'll feel good getting outside and running around, too.

Fit's Tips: Some shelters are closed on Sundays so call ahead to find out when they're open.

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"ACT"ivism: Volunteer to Walk Dogs at a Pet Shelter

FitSugar — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:30:00 -0700

Looking for ways to burn a few extra calories this summer? One way to do that and put a smile on someone's face, or rather a wag in someone's tail, is to volunteer to walk dogs at a local pet shelter or rescue. A 130 pound person can burn about 177 calories just by walking a dog for an hour and imagine how happy you're making the dog who could be otherwise restricted to a confined space the majority of the day. To find a shelter or rescue group near you, just visit PetFinder.com.

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Fit Tip: Take Your Dog (and Yourself) For a Walk

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:00:49 -0700

You're a busy person with work, family, deadlines, errands, and appointments. Since you have so much going on, when you get home at the end of the day, it's easy just to open your back door and let your dog relieve himself in the yard. Really, though, what you both could use is a long, relaxing walk.

Even if you only have a few minutes, you'll both benefit from the fresh air and time alone. It'll allow you to stretch your legs, increase circulation, and give you a little energy, and just 15 minutes of brisk walking burns 52 calories. It proves that every minute of movement helps keep you in shape. If you can work in three 15-minute walks with your pooch a day, that's 150 calories. Getting in the habit of regular daily walks can help you both stay fit and happy.

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Fit Tip: Get a Dog Exercise Buddy

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0700

Feel like you're not walking enough each day? Then you maybe want to get a dog.

Recent research has found that dog owners walk an average of 300 minutes per week whereas folks without dogs only walk around 168 minutes. Being accountable to someone else, even if it's a dog, makes us feel more motivated so I totally believe these findings. For me, I always take my dog on a long walk before I leave in the morning and when I get home because I feel bad that he's in the house while I am at work. He loves it and I know that I'm burning calories - everyone wins!

I'm curious about you guys. If you have a dog, do you feel like you walk more because of him?

Fit's Tip: I do want to add that a dog is a lot more responsibility than just having an exercise buddy. Be sure to do your research before you make the commitment.

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Outdoor Activities, Just a Few Ideas

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:30:00 -0700

So you've decided now that it's autumn, you're going to start being more active outdoors. Problem is, what's there to do? To a novice outdoorsy woman the idea of hanging out, well, outside seems daunting but there are tons of things you can do to get moving, you just have to open up to ideas.

Here are a few of my favorite ways to burn a few extra calories outside this fall:

Hiking
Mountain biking
Raking leaves
Walking your dog
Walking shelter dogs
Flying a kite
Walking
Running/Jogging
Eco-running
Geocaching
Doing Community service (Habitat for Humanity, etc.)
Apple Picking

Those are just a few of the many ways to get active outside this fall. What's your favorite fall activity? Share it in the comments section below.

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Get the Look: Lauren Conrad's Dog Walking Layering Look

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Lauren Conrad is not one to leave her dog, or her style, at home when she's working out. I love her dog walking gear and I'm always on the market for a good long tank to layer while working out so FabSugar did a little investigating for me to find LC's Daftbird Daft-Jersey Body tank. The top is super cute, but at $51 it's also a real splurge for most of us. So to get the look for less, just read more.

If you're on more of a budget than this healthy reality star then you can check out a tank I found that will give you the same look for a lot less cash.

Old Navy, my go-to for affordable layering pieces, has similar long layering tanks for $8.50 (the Duck Egg Blue is on sale for $5)! - for that price you even can get a few. Throw on some black leggings, a pair of sneaks, and grab Fido and you'll be looking just as cool and fit as Lauren on your next walk.

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Pros and Cons of the Treadmill

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:00:36 -0700

If you enjoy walking or running, sometimes exercising outside just isn't an option, so the treadmill is your saving grace. It's one of the most common pieces of gym equipment used, so check out some of its benefits and disadvantages.

Pros	Cons
Rain, sleet, snow, blazing sun, and pitch black can't keep you from using the treadmill, so no matter what the weather or time of day, you can always get in a workout. The terrain is always free of rocks, trash, dog poo, and ice, so you don't have to worry about where you're stepping. You can count on it being smooth and safe, which can help you avoid injury.	If you don't belong to a gym, treadmills aren't cheap and you'll end up spending between $1,500 and $4,000 for a good one. Treadmills require power, so they're not exactly the greenest type of exercise. Running outdoors only burns calories, not electricity.

To see the rest of the pros and cons, read more.

Pros

Cons

The surface of a treadmill is more forgiving than pounding concrete or asphalt, so it's easier on your joints.
It's a safe way to burn calories if you're afraid to exercise outside in your neighborhood.
You can work out using an incline, which burns more calories and effectively tones your legs and booty.
Newer treadmills have a variety of programs so you can do several interval workouts that replicate outdoor terrain even though you're inside.
Since you can control the speed and duration of your workout, you can customize the intensity to meet the needs of your fitness goals. It's great if you're doing speedwork and need to run at a specific pace for a certain distance, but it's also great if you need to do an easy run for muscle recovery the day after a hard run. Just set the speed and hop on, and it'll prevent you from running too fast.
The readout keeps track of your workout data including time, speed, distance, and calories burned, so you can monitor your progress.
You can watch TV or read while on the treadmill, which is especially great for passing the time on long runs or walks.

The moving belt propels your legs, so you're not working as hard as you would running the same speed outside, which translates to fewer calories burned.
If you're training for a race, you'll be missing out on training in extreme temps, wind resistance, blaring sun, precipitation, and on an uneven surface.
The treadmill belt may be too narrow or short for your body, so you'll compensate by running with a shorter stride and not swinging your arms as freely.
The monotony of the treadmill can be so boring that you exercise for less time.
If you're not paying attention, you could misstep, fall, and get propelled backward.
The readout on the machine may not be as accurate as other devices, like specialty heart rate monitors and the Nike+ Sportband.

Strike a Yoga Pose: Handstand Scorpion

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:00:57 -0700

There are so many variations of scorpion pose like Locust Scorpion and Forearm Stand Scorpion, but Handstand Scorpion is my favorite. It's one of the most challenging poses you can try because it requires the three zingers - balance, strength, and flexibility.

Sanskrit Name: Vrschikasana B
English Translation: Scorpion B Pose
Also Called: Handstand Scorpion

To learn how to do this pose read more.

I know this pose is insanely difficult, so if handstand isn't happening for you quite yet, practice this pose in front of a wall.
Begin in Downward Facing Dog. If you're in front of a wall, place your fingertips 15 inches away from the wall.
Walk your feet as far as you can toward your hands. Lift your right leg in the air, coming into Three-Legged Dog.
Bend your left knee slightly and jump off the ball of your left foot, coming into handstand. Find your balance and slowly bend your knees, arching your back and lowering your toes toward the top of your head. If you're in front of a wall, lean the tops of your feet into the wall and inch them down toward your head.
Hold this pose for five breaths, then straighten your legs up to the ceiling and lower them back into Down Dog.

Volunteer and Get Fit With Fido

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:30:57 -0700

Exercise and volunteering can seem like extras in our lives that we just don't have time for, so why not combine the two? There are organizations such as Get Fit With Fido in Seattle where you can volunteer to exercise shelter dogs. Walking or running with a dog is a great skill you can offer, and not only will the pooch love the attention and fresh air, but you'll also benefit from the furry companionship. Not to mention, both of you can stay fit together. Another plus is that when you take the dogs out, you can help them find a home faster since more people will get to meet them. Obese dogs that trim down will also find homes quicker since pudgier pooches tend to get overlooked by people wanting to adopt. Exercised dogs are also calmer and train more easily, so their good manners and friendly demeanor are also a bonus for prospective pet owners.

So if you don't have your own dog to run with, borrow one that is in need of your love and attention. Call up your local shelter to see if they offer programs where a group of volunteers take dogs out together. If they don't, I'm sure they'll be excited to have you exercise dogs on your own. Go on your lunch break once a week, a few times a week, or for longer workouts, go on your days off.