FitSugar

Prevent Swimmer's Ear

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 17:15:00 PDT

Your ears are pretty remarkable. Their unique design helps to tip water out of your ear canal, so you can usually bathe, shower, swim, and even walk in the rain with no problems. The ear canal is also acidic which prevents against bacterial and fungal infections.

However, if your ear is exposed to excess moisture (like if you're swimming a lot), the water can stay trapped in your ear canal. This skin can then get soggy and break down, diluting the acidity and allowing bacteria or fungi to penetrate through the skin, causing an infection called swimmer's ear.

The weird thing is that you don't have to swim to get swimmer's ear. Anything that causes a break in the skin of your ear canal will cause this infection - that's why cleaning your ear with a cotton swab is NOT recommended - if you damage the skin, you could risk getting swimmer's ear.

What are the symptoms? PAIN! The ear may also feel itchy or full. The outer ear may turn red or get swollen, and the lymph nodes around the ear may become enlarged and tender. There may be discharge - clear at first, but then turn cloudy, yellowish, and pus-like. Hearing, understandably, is affected as well.

Fun stuff, huh? So what do you do if you have swimmer's ear? To find out,

If your infection is severe, your doctor will prescribe drops that contain antibiotics for 7-10 days to fight the infection, and steroids to reduce swelling. Oral meds like ibuprofen or aspirin may also be suggested to help reduce the pain.

Fit's Tips: To prevent this painful infection during the summer, as soon as you're done swimming, shake your head to one side and then the other to get excess water out of your ear. OTC drops that contain a dilute solution of acetic acid or alcohol can also help dry up your ear canal. If you or your child is prone to swimmer's ear, wearing ear plugs may also be a good option.

Source

J Lo Sees a Vegas Show With Casper as Idol Has a Disappointing Debut

Katie Henry — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:26:16 PST

Jennifer Lopez met Cirque Du Soleil stars from their show O in Las Vegas last night. She's in Sin City filming American Idol but decided to take the night off to see a show with boyfriend Casper Smart. Jennifer and Casper seem to be going strong, and he's even spoken out about their 18-year age differences. Casper tweeted, "Our ages are mere reminders of the hours logged on this earth and the precious time remaining. . . We should all honor our time here by indulging our passion and dreams. So, close your ears and open your hearts; Love and be happy!" J Lo later retweeted his sentiments to her 4.3 million followers.

American Idol returned for its 11th season on Wednesday night. However, the debut failed to post the impressive ratings seen in the past. The drop in Idol ratings isn't a complete loss, though. J Lo and her cohosts Steven Tyler, Randy Jackson, and Ryan Seacrest are still winning their primetime time slot.

Bundle Lil Ones Up With Character Laplander Hats Like James Wilkie Broderick

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:46:38 PST

Warding off Winter's chill has never been this cute! With temps dropping and many mamas pulling out the cold weather gear for the first time all season, it's always fun to see how tots bundle up. While doing the school run earlier this week, Sarah Jessica Parker was spotted covering up James Wilkie's ears with a Cartoon Network Adventure Time w/Finn & Jake Laplander Ski Winter Beanie Hat Cap. More can be found in our round up of cute head toppers below!

Clockwise from top left: Adventure Time With Finn & Jake Laplander Ski Winter Beanie Hat Cap ($40), Bioworld Black Wolf Laplander Cap ($16), Domo Kun Yellow Pilot Laplander Hat ($17), Tiger Laplander Hat ($15), Rovio Angry Birds Bomb Black Bird Plush Laplander Earflap Beanie ($30), Owl Ear Flap Hat ($35).

How to Lose 5 Pounds in 5 Minutes

Self — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:05:05 PST

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

Pumpkin pie, Christmas cookies, potato latkes, mashed potatoes and gravy . . . We're all guilty of overindulging in December but getting back on track doesn't have to be as difficult as it sounds. It may take weeks to melt away those post-holiday pounds but it's easy to create the illusion you haven't gained an ounce simply by improving your posture.

"Most of us spend way too much time slumped in front of computers, slouched at steering wheels or vegging out in front of TVs," says fitness expert Liza Savage-Katz. "It collapses lung space which restricts our breath, affects our mood and cuts off proper nerve and blood supply to the brain."

To counteract these bad habits, Savage-Katz recommends a few "very simple exercises kind of like sucking in your stomach" to "carry your body as nature intended." You'll instantly look as if you've dropped five pounds. Add these three moves to your daily routine to "strengthen your abdominals, improve your posture and strengthen your back."

Get the moves after the break.

How a Pair of Earrings Became My Personal Trainer

Fit Community — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 04:12:48 PST

Here's a crazy story that FitSugar reader Beaner posted in the RunningSugar community group about a recent run.

The only jewelry I wear when I do cardio is my nose ring and my wedding rings, but last week the warmer weather inspired me to go for a run, so I quickly threw on my running clothes and headed out the door. Just as I finished my warm-up, the strange whistling in my ear made me realize I forgot to take off my absolute favorite pair of earrings. There was no secure place to put them, so I just tucked the dangly parts underneath my hat. Problem solved.

Like I said, it was especially warm that day, so after a few minutes, I ended up having to pull off my hat and stick it in my pocket. I was doing my usual three-mile loop and just as I was coming up the hill toward home, I realized I had lost one earring. Without even thinking, I turned around and started running the loop backwards - I knew it must have dropped when I took my hat off. Sure enough, there it was sparkling on the ground, and I was beaming. I scooped it up and headed back home.

Using the Nike+ GPS app, I was tracking my run and realized this whole earring mishap resulted in a six-mile run, and my pace was 20 seconds faster than normal. Who knew a little earring could be such an awesome personal trainer? I was happy running my moderately-paced three miles, but this incident made me realize I was totally capable of running faster and longer. Since then, I've been pushing myself to run four miles instead. It's not a huge difference, but I definitely feel stronger, faster, and I'm actually enjoying the longer run. I'm definitely not recommending you lose one of you favorite personal possessions in the name of a good workout, but take this as a little whisper of inspiration to kick your running routine up a notch.

Need more workout inspiration or have a running question? Check out the RunningSugar community group, and something you post might be featured here on FitSugar.

Must-Know Tips For Neti Pot Newbies

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:03:57 PST

Whether it's a nasty cold or allergies causing your congestion, it may be time to give a neti pot a whirl. This teapot-looking device may seem a little odd at first glance, but it's recommended by ear, nose, and throat doctors to relieve nasal congestion and pain. To a newbie, using a neti pot may seem torturous, but with a few helpful hints, you'll be a neti-pot know-it-all in no time. Watch this video showing how to use a neti pot and keep these important tips in mind.

Go for plastic: Metal and ceramic pots might be pretty, but they tend to break or warp when dropped. A plastic neti pot (I like Rhino Horn neti pots) is lightweight, easy to travel with, a cinch to clean, and you don't have to worry about it shattering if it accidentally drops on your bathroom floor.
Type of salt: There's no need to splurge on special salt to use with a neti pot. Regular table salt works fine, but be sure it's not iodized, as that can cause irritation. Follow the directions that your neti pot came with and measure out the salt exactly rather than eyeballing the amount. Typically the ratio is one teaspoon of salt to 16 ounces of water.

Keep reading for more neti pot newbie tips.

Pilates Moves For Your Arms and Core From Kim Kardashian's Trainer

Self — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 04:18:48 PST

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

If you're a novice like me, you might not realize that there are many different kinds of Pilates. And those incarnations are not defined as "hard, very hard, and nearly impossible."

Celebrity trainer Sara Kapuchinski just opened her new LA studio i heart fitness xo, where she teaches West Coast-style Pilates to a revolving A-list clientele including Khloe and Kim Kardashian, Christina Ricci, Modern Family's Sofia Vergara and Glee's Romy Rosemont.

Kapuchinski started out as a weekend trainer, whose day job was as an A & R executive in the music industry. Soon, she realized that teaching fitness felt more personally satisfying. "Music was fun, but I was more gratified training people," she recalls. "After sitting at a desk from 9 to 5 and staying up 'til all hours, I was experiencing a lot of neck and back pain. And, like most people, I was amazed that classic Pilates did the things that it was supposed to do: my posture improved, I lost inches in my waist and my neck and back pain basically disappeared."

After a bit of investigation, the trainer found that Pilates on the West Coast, which is heavier on cardio, was more her speed: "Pilates is so great for your body, for your core (that mysterious thing), but a lot of times you leave a class feeling like you need to sweat. I wanted something that was a bit more cardio-driven without having to go take a Boot Camp."

Read on for three of Kapuchinski's heart-pounding Pilates moves!

The Lazy Girl's Guide to Fall Skin-Care Prep

Real Beauty — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:06:44 PDT

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty.

Transitioning from summer to fall isn't just tough on your wardrobe. Dry air and colder temps can do a number on already-sensitive skin. For some insider tips on how to best pamper your mug to take on seasonal climate changes, read more.

10 Sneaky Toning Moves You Can Do at Work

Self — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 04:30:38 PDT

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

Your office nemesis isn't that know-it-all in the cubicle over, it's lurking right beneath you: your chair!

The more you're sitting, the less calories you're burning... not the ideal bikini body plan.

Picture this: when sitting, your activity in your muscles drops and the calorie-burning rate decreases to just about one per minute. And, women who spent more than six hours per day of sitting (less than a full day of work!) had a 37 percent higher death rate, according to a study from the American Cancer Society. It's scary stuff.

Since I haven't quite mastered the art of jogging while responding to emails, I asked creator of the MELT Method Sue Hitzmann and creator of FitKit Office Amie Hoff to share tips for combating the effects of being chair-bound. And since turning your office into a pseudo-gym can garner a few strange looks, they've kept their exercises as sneaky as possible. Just tell your bosses what's good for your health is good for their bottom line, and try to convince them to bring these healthy vending machines to the break room!

Check out these easy moves after the break!

Achoo! 5 Helpful Items For Surviving Cold and Flu Season

LilSugar — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:02:56 PDT

There's nothing worse than a cranky tot who can't fall asleep because he's so congested he can't breathe! As temperatures drop and fallen leaves blanket the sidewalks, mamas start to prepare for runny noses, nasty coughs, and sky-high fevers. Check out these five must-have items to help your kiddo - and mom! - survive the cold and flu season.

Kidsline Ultrasonic Cool Mist Monkey Humidifier ($40): Help baby breathe better during naptime or bedtime with a humidifier. This monkey-shaped mist spout makes the contraption less scary for tots!
Graco Nasal Clear Nasal Aspirator ($20): You'll render your little one's nose "boogie-free" in a matter of seconds with this gadget, and that's pretty awesome - because mamas know that using a standard nasal aspirator is a two-person job.
Ayr Baby's Saline Nose Spray/Drops ($3): Use a saline solution to loosen mucus before using a nasal aspirator or having your tot blow his nose.
Graco 1 Second Ear Thermometer ($17): Getting babies to hold still while mama takes their temperature isn't easy. A digital ear thermometer lets you do it in the blink of an eye!
Boogie Wipes ($4): Sore, red noses are a thing of the past, ever since these gentle saline wipes hit the market. They offer quick, gentle, effective relief of stuck-on "boogies" - and they smell so good, mama just might end up using them for herself.