FitSugar

Fact or Fiction: Not Eating Breakfast Before Exercise

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:30:00 PDT

I think it is safe to say that we all want the most out of our morning workouts. For many of us that means firing up our metabolism and burning fat, which are two benefits of getting the heart rate up. Is it beneficial to run on an empty stomach? Does it burn more fat and fire up the metabolism to skip breakfast? Take this one question quiz to see if this is a piece of fiction or a fitness fact.

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Countdown to the Big Day: How to Hire a Personal Trainer

Leta Shy — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:50:46 PDT

You're hiring a caterer, florist, and wedding planner, so why not also enlist the expertise of a personal trainer? If you're trying to lose weight for your wedding, having a trainer can be one of the best ways to help you reach your goals. But since you're on a timeline, it's important to ensure you're getting what you need from your training sessions. Here's how to hire the right personal trainer before you walk down the aisle.

Start early: Personal trainers can help you get results fast, but they're not miracle workers. Waiting too late to lose the weight can add unwanted pressure, which can make workouts stressful and ineffective. To ensure you have enough time to lose weight the healthy way, celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson recommends that future brides start shopping for a trainer at the beginning stages of their wedding planning (like when you start looking for the venue).
Know your goals: Your personal-training package will start with an initial assessment of your fitness level, but you should have an idea before you begin your trainer search of what you want to get out of your sessions. Are you already a pro on the elliptical but want to know how to get your arms in strapless-wedding-gown shape? Do you need your trainer to recommend a healthy eating plan to complement your time in the gym? Knowing what you want in a trainer helps you both ask the right questions before designing your fitness regimen.

Read on for three more tips for picking a personal trainer.

Thinking About a Juice Cleanse? 4 Ways It Can Cause Weight Gain

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:19:17 PDT

Whether it's to improve energy, clear acne, Spring clean the digestive system, or shed a few pounds, juice cleansing is all the rage now. Even celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Richie are buzzing about the benefits of liquid detoxing. Before you splurge on a juicer or lay down the dough for a liquid detox program, learn how a juice cleanse may lead to weight gain.

Hard-to-measure liquid calories: Since all the calories you're consuming are liquid, if you're not watching your intake, it's easy to consume well over the daily limit. (A pressed juice averages between 100-350 calories per 16-ounce bottle.) Make sure you have a plan to follow and an accurate way to determine how many calories are in each glass or bottle you're drinking. Most retail juicing programs provide calorie counts, but are also pricey to join.
Messes with metabolism: A typical juice cleanse lasts anywhere from three to seven days (or sometimes longer), where you drink 32 to 64 ounces of freshly pressed fruit and vegetable juice each day. When your body doesn't get the all the nutrients (or the amount of calories) it's used to, it stresses out because it thinks it's starving. Often the body reacts to this by slowing down its metabolism, which can make losing weight harder in the future. And while juicing is an easy way to deliver phytonutrients to the body, the fruit-based juices tend to be high in sugar, which can negatively affect insulin levels in the body.

Continue reading for more ways a juice cleanse can cause weight gain.

Long Commutes Are Detrimental to Your Health, Study Says

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:14:05 PDT

Working a nine-to-fiver is mandatory for most people, and unfortunately, a long commute often comes with the territory. According to a study published today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, those who travel 16 or more miles each way weigh more and have higher blood pressures than those with less than 10-mile commutes.

Of the almost 4,300 residents from Dallas and Austin involved in the study, researchers discovered that for every 10-mile increase in driving distance, the commuter's BMI (body mass index) rose .17 units. People with lengthy commutes are nine percent more likely to be obese, either because they didn't exercise as much, are eating fast food while driving, or they're not getting enough sleep because their long commute forces them to wake up early.

Weight isn't the only thing affected by a long drive to work. Spending that much time in the car, especially stuck in traffic, also makes a person tired, moody, and stressed out, which is one reason 52 percent of those in the study with a longer commute suffered from high blood pressure.

So what's a commuter to do? Quitting your job is obviously not an option, and if working at home part-time isn't feasible and neither is finding a job closer to where you live, keep reading to learn what commuters can do to avoid weight gain and other health issues.

5 Reasons to Exercise Before Work

FitSugar — Sat, 05 May 2012 19:30:38 PDT

I know that exercising in the early a.m. before you head to work can be a real challenge. If you aren't a morning person, missing out on sleep can seem very unappealing, but here are some reasons you may want to set your alarm for an early morning workout.

It's usually a peaceful, quiet time of day, so it can be a great opportunity to think and get some time alone.
Exercising in the morning wakes up your brain, clears your mind, and helps you organize your thoughts or your mental to-do list, preparing you for the day ahead.
If you get it done first thing, then you won't have to worry about trying to squeeze it in to your busy schedule, especially if you have kids. Plus, studies have shown morning exercisers are more consistent.
Exercising helps get things moving, digestively speaking, so working out early can prevent getting backed up later on in the day.
Since working out on an empty stomach can cause you to lose muscle, morning workouts will encourage you to eat breakfast, which has been proven to boost your metabolism, which helps to burn calories.

How to Avoid Gaining Weight While Dating

FitSugar — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:41:52 PDT

Being in a relationship is so exciting that spending so much time together can cause your healthy lifestyle to fly out the window. You may even adopt some of your partner's unhealthy habits. That can add up to some extra pounds on the scale, so here are some tips to prevent weight gain while dating.

Remember that eating an extra 500 calories a day will make you gain a pound in one week, so be conscious of how much you're eating. Just because your guy has three slices of pizza, that doesn't mean you should too. Guys need more calories, so remember to eat appropriate sized portions, even when dining together.
You don't have to eat just because your partner is. Guys tend to inhale their meal, and then an hour later they're eating again. It can be tempting to join in if food is in front of you, but don't nosh unless you're truly hungry.

Keep up with your regular exercise schedule. When you're in a relationship, you don't want to sacrifice the things that are important to your own well-being, so make time for your 20 to 60 minutes of exercise a day. Get up early before work or steal away during lunchtime so you don't feel like it's taking away from time spent with your loved one.
Or better yet, exercise together. Meet at the gym after work, play tennis or racquetball, take salsa dance lessons or a Vinyasa yoga class, or join a dodgeball team.
Spend more time being active together instead of sitting on the couch. You don't have to be really athletic, but you can tour a museum, take a walk in the park, hike in the woods, or go for a bike ride.
Sign up for a healthy cooking class together so you can both learn new ways to make delicious dishes that are full of nutrients but not full of saturated fat, cholesterol, and empty calories.

Tracy Anderson's Weight-Loss Tips For Brides-to-Be

Leta Shy — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:39:22 PDT

It seems like Tracy Anderson has trained half of Hollywood, and one of her biggest fans, Nicole Richie, even enlisted her to help her get in shape for her 2010 wedding. "Nicole worked out six days a week, she learned dance aerobics, she did her muscular structure work, and she did it in such a healthy beautiful way," Tracy says of her client's devoted wedding prep. If you want to look like a starlet on your wedding day, here are a few tips Tracy Anderson shared with us for brides-to-be who want to get in shape.

First, start early: Don't wait until the last minute to try and lose weight and then expect miracles, Tracy warns. "The thing that is most unfortunate is when a bride comes to me and has never done anything before and is like 'Oh my god, I have to lose 30 pounds in a month,'" Tracy says. She recommends you figure out your diet and exercise plan as soon as you start looking for venue locations, at the beginning of your wedding planning, so you don't end up resorting to juice cleanses or feeding-tube diets to lose pounds weeks before your big day. (Tracy jokes, "If I were the husband-to-be, I can think of nothing less sexy than my fiance installing a feeding tube to look 120 pounds thinner on the wedding day. I'd probably call it off!")

Read on for Tracy's diet and exercise recommendations for brides!

4 Bad Habits Keeping You From Reaching Your Fitness Goals

Laura Marie Given — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:21:11 PDT

You may think you're right on track with your fitness regimen, but if you're not seeing the results you expect, these surprising bad habits may be to blame. Sure, there's something to be said for a steady schedule, but do you remember to switch it up every once in a while? From unreasonable goals to dull solo workout sessions, here are four bad patterns to avoid if you're hoping to improve your fitness routine.

You make unrealistic gym plans: If you don't have the time or physical energy to run for an hour, then don't try to force it. Remember that every little bit counts and making yourself do too much can be the quickest way to get injured - or make you give up altogether.
You only exercise solo: Including friends in your fitness routine can be a great way to stay motivated. Not only will they keep you accountable, but they can also share tips and tricks of their own. Hesitant to reach out? Learn the benefits of a workout buddy and ask pals to join your plan.
You stick to what you know: Stepping outside your comfort zone and surprising your body with new, challenging exercises helps you to break through plateaus and stay in shape. It's important to mix up your fitness routine: fresh workouts keep you from getting bored, and you'll have the chance to work different muscle groups for a well-rounded routine.
You ignore hunger signals: If you don't properly fuel your body, you won't be able to push it during tough gym sessions. Learn what to eat (and when) before working out so you have plenty of energy to maximize your fitness potential.

Do you have any tips for a successful fitness program? Share them in the comments below!

How to Combat That Afternoon Slump

Leta Shy — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:40:46 PDT

Sometimes, you just can't beat that afternoon slump. Sitting at a desk all day can leave you feeling the opposite of energetic, especially around those postlunch hours when our bodies expend more energy digesting or we crash from the effects of our morning cup of coffee - and when that happens, don't think you can always rely on energy drinks. Besides their long list of unpronounceable ingredients, a new study has found that energy drinks contain high levels of citric acid, which can cause major tooth enamel erosion.

Luckily, even without the energy drinks you don't have to spend your nine-to-five dreading the inevitable urge to nap. Here are some ways for combating that afternoon slump.

Exercise in the morning. A good day begins with a good start. Exercising in the morning is beneficial for many reasons: you don't have to worry about scheduling a time later, and it's nice to be able to check something off your list before the day really begins. A morning sweat session is also good for keeping your energy levels up throughout the day, so if you find yourself hitting a wall in the afternoon, try moving your workout session to before work and see how you feel.
Take an afternoon walk. If you find yourself spending more time dozing and daydreaming than working in the afternoon, take a 10-minute break to rev up your body. Just walking around the office, chatting with co-workers, or taking a break to enjoy the sunshine outside can be all you need to give your body a recharge.

Still tired? Read on for more tips that'll keep you from taking a nap at your desk!

4 Ways to Lose Weight Before Noon

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 03 May 2012 01:24:21 PDT

With bikini season coming up, many of us are trying to lose those last stubborn pounds. Here are four things you can do before lunchtime to increase your calorie burn.

Eat first thing in the morning: Skipping breakfast may seem like a great way to save calories, but your body actually holds onto fat because it's being starved. Make sure to eat breakfast each morning to jump-start your metabolism. Don't just grab anything; be sure to include protein to give you sustained energy and fiber to fill you up for hours. Here are some breakfast ideas to help you lose weight.
Work out soon after you wake up: Research has shown that morning exercisers tend to work out harder and longer than afternoon or evening exercisers, which translates to extra calories burned. Those who sweat in the a.m. are also more likely to stick with a routine, helping to lose those unwanted pounds. If you choose to exercise as soon as you wake up, eat something small beforehand, and then enjoy a full breakfast afterward.
Snack on fiber: A midmorning snack helps satiate hunger, meaning you won't chow down on way more food at lunch than you normally would. Make sure it's fiber-packed and low in calories like these snacks.
Sip water all morning: Keep that reusable bottle close by so you can periodically drink water until lunchtime. Water is a low-calorie way to fill you up, and sipping keeps your mouth busy if you tend to be a mindless nosher.