FitSugar

"Ab"solutely Don't Overwork Your Abs!

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:30:00 PDT

I know that bikini season is approaching fast. I also know that we are all looking to get those abs in tip-top shape; with this in mind, many of us have the tendency to go a little ab crazy right now. However, if you overwork them, you may be doing more harm than good.

The abs are like any other muscle in the body -- Intense work followed by a period of rest and recuperation (at least 48 hours) is the best way to develop them. Working them out on a daily basis is not a great idea because you are not allowing for that essential rest time. Think about having an intense "ab" day once or twice a week -- This would be a day that you only focus on exercising your abs, proceeded or followed with at least 30 minutes of cardio, of course.

I know it's tempting, but resist the urge to do those once obligatory 100 crunches at the end of your workout every single day. You and your abs can thank me later.

The Best Indoor Workout Classes (Because It's Freezing Outside!)

Self — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:35:01 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

There are lots (and I mean, lots) of reasons why my motivation to work out during the Winter plummets - from the snowy commute to freezing cold winds to the cold, dry air that hits my chest with such force that it becomes hard to breathe. (Ahem, there's a reason I sign up for races that are after September - this born-and-raised Floridian prefers to train outdoors during the Summer.)

But it is possible to sculpt, strengthen, and sweat (majorly sweat) without having to be freezing cold during the winter. So when the weather outside is frightful, head indoors for these top full-body workouts that will help ward off Winter weight:

Indoor cycling: Ruth Zukerman, cofounder of NYC's FlyWheel cycling studio, is heating things up indoors with her 45-minute, heart-racing classes. (Self favorite Jillian Michaels is even a recent investor in the company). "I wanted to be part of the most innovative and effective indoor cycling program, and that is FlyWheel. I am thrilled to join the FlyWheel team," Michaels said in a press release. What makes cycling such an effective alternative is that it's taking the fun full-body workout people love indoors, and instead of scenery, you'll stay motivated to challenge yourself thanks to encouraging instructors and a killer playlist. Flywheel has an awesome on-bike technology board that lets you compete against other riders in the class. Plus if you're looking to shape up before hitting the slopes, "indoor cycling is great preparation for all Winter sports, especially skiing and snowboarding. I know from personal experience that when I hit the slopes I don't tire out easily or suffer from the kind of après-ski muscle pain that most people do, and it's because of indoor cycling," Zukerman says.

Try this move: If you're riding an exercise bike at home or the gym, try some interval training. One thing we often do at Flywheel is a "Sprint Chorus," meaning we increase our RPMs to a sprint during the song's chorus and then revert to a cadence on the beat of the music as the chorus ends.

More best indoor workouts after the break.

Pilates Experts Tell All: How to Get Long and Lean Muscles

Leta Shy — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 02:42:11 PDT

Many people tout Pilates as one of the best ways to get that long and lean look. Even super toned Serena Williams said she was able to change her body by incorporating Pilates into her routine: "I saw results within a week," she's said. Impressive, right? We asked the experts why the practice is so great for sculpting your body. Read on for their tips on how to get long and lean muscles - no matter your workout - with these Pilates principles!

Practice good posture. So many reasons to stand up straight, and being taller (and creating a long and lean look) is one of them. Training your core helps keep you from slouching, and Pilates is one of the best ways to do it. "Pilates forces you to be aligned and pull up [to] re-create a 'perfect-posture' look," says Nicole Stuart, Pilates instructor to celebs like Kate Hudson. Even if you aren't a Pilates student, make sure you keep this in mind by adding powerful core exercises into your normal routine and doing posture-correcting exercise (try these three exercises for a better posture) to train your muscles to keep you standing tall.
Lengthen while you strengthen. Strength training moves that work muscles while they are in eccentric (fully extended) position are an effective way to build muscles from the inside, Nicole says. That can help combat the bulkiness that some people say they experience when they weight train. "In Pilates you stretch the muscle to its full extension, then contract it. The difference with [using] weights is that you are using your muscles against the resistance of that weight you are holding. So while you're lifting the weight you build and expand your muscle. You are adding a layer of muscle and reshaping." Add a few Pilates moves to your strength training routine with these five moves that target all areas of your body.

Find out more muscle-sculpting tips after the break.

Stretch It: Easy Quad Stretch

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 07:30:00 PDT

I think the quads are the most over worked muscles in our bodies and they sure do get tight. This standing quad stretch is one of my favorite stretches because you can do it anywhere (I often do it when I am waiting for the elevator when no one is around). In fact I often refer to it as a "portable stretch" since you need no props to do it and you don't have to get on the ground.

Here are some tips:

If the challenge of balancing on one leg proves too difficult and detracts from the stretch, hold onto something.
Make sure that your knees are touching. This helps to target the stretch to the outside part of the quad which tends to overwork.
Squeeze your booty just a bit to increase the stretch.
Pulling your abs in will increase the stretch too! Engaging your deep abs will help with your balance too.
To increase the stretch, you can bend the bottom knee a bit.

Hold Stretch for 20 - 30 seconds

This is a great stretch to do after just about any activity, from hiking or running, to swimming and biking. Stretch those quads ladies!!! Your knees will love you for it.