FitSugar

Increase Your Energy Today and Tomorrow

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:00:52 -0700

It feels like the dreary weather and shorter days conspire to zap my energy. How about you? You can fight back in the moment and the long term with these five strategies.

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D-Mix Energy Elixir: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:00:54 -0700

There's a ton of energy boosting stuff out there - drinks, bars, gels, and chews, to name a few. Now there's D-Mix, an energy elixir that tries to set itself apart by billing itself as the "world's first customizable energy elixir." D-Mix comes in coffee and mint flavors and is a concentrated liquid serum, which, according to the website, you can pump into just about anything. They even provide non-alcoholic cocktail recipes that they think D-Mix will complement.

Each one-ounce bottle of D-Mix contains:

400 mg of energy (caffeine and guarana)
14 vitamins and minerals
5,000 mg of antioxidants
50,000 percent of vitamin B12
21 amino acids
23 fruits and herbs including acai and goji berries

We tried the mixes in our office, first on their own and then in water. Given all the stuff they're made of, I was surprised they weren't too medicinal tasting. Instead, they were similar to children's chewable vitamins, but with a fake-sugar aftertaste that sits on your tongue for a while. I think if diluted enough you'd probably not taste much of the flavor at all.

There's a little chart on the back of the bottle for the amount of liquid you should pump into your drink depending on your weight, but the idea is you can take in as little or as much as you want depending on your needs.

I can see how this product might take off, since the needs of a six-foot-tall bodybuilder are probably different than my own. But the slick marketing campaign and flashy packaging has me wondering if this is bad media hype. Would you use D-Mix?

6 Natural Ways to Boost Your Energy

FitSugar — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:00:00 -0700

If your busy life is leaving you feeling depleted, I have these six ways to boost your energy. Make sure that you are getting adequate sleep - seven to eight hours a night. Then start this slideshow to learn more ways to stay energized.

Source

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Increase Movement to Increase Energy

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 03:30:00 -0700

If you've been feeling extra tired lately, and skipping workouts due to your lethargy, then it's time to rethink your thinking.

Even though it seems a bit counterintuitive, exercise will not strip you of the little bit of energy you may have left in you. In fact, new research has found that sedentary people who seem to always be tired can increase their energy levels by 20 percent and decrease their fatigue by 65 percent just by engaging in regular, low intensity exercise. Even if you're not sedentary, exercise still increases your energy. Drag yourself off the couch and just do it; and use the mantra, "I will feel better when I am done," to keep going.

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Sustain Your Energy For the Long Haul

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:00:00 -0700

We all bandy about the term "well balanced meal" and the term seems to have many interpretations. One way to measure the balance of a meal is to be sure it contains carbs, protein and fats, creating a balance of macronutrients. These are the foods our bodies digest and turn into energy. The macronutrients are digested at different rates to keep you full and provide energy over the long haul.

To see why a meal should contain all three, read more.

Carbs: The digestion of carbs actually begins in your mouth, making them the body's preference for quick energy production. Carbs provide the energy that fuels muscle contraction and nourish your brain. It is amazing they have become so maligned. Carbs provide energy quickly and fruit, containing many simple carbs, will be metabolized into energy quickly.
Protein: Protein is digested in the stomach, which is why it is important to have some at every meal. It helps keep you full and provides mid-range energy. Protein can help you stay mentally alert too.
Fat: The digestion of fat begins in the intestines. Being broken down so late in the digestion game, fat can help you stay fuller for longer. Not to mention it is an essential nutrient vital for vitamin absorption, regulating bodily functions, and keeping body temperature stable. Of course you want to make sure you eat mostly unsaturated fat, because they are the best for you.

Different diets call for different ratios of the macronutrients. A typical diet is generally 60 percent carbs, 30 percent fats, and 10 percent protein, whereas the Zone diet calls for 40 percent carbs, 30 percent fat, and 30 percent protein.

So balance your macronutrients and hopefully your energy will stay balanced as well.

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Get Motivated: Energy Makes Energy

FitSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:45:00 -0800

This holiday season when we are feeling like there are just not enough hours in the day remember that, even though it seems backwards, energy creates energy when it comes to working out. Sometimes just taking that first step to get moving, when all you want to do is lie on the couch, is the hardest part. Once you get the momentum going, you may actually have the energy to enjoy what you've been working so hard to prepare for. An extra hour up chatting late with your sisters who you never get to see is worth 45 minutes at the gym. Right?

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5 Reasons to Eat Breakfast

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:30:00 -0700

Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Here are 5 reasons why:

People who eat breakfast consume more vitamins and minerals over the course of a day, and they eat less fat and cholesterol as well. The reason for this remains unclear, but one study claims that the frequency of daily eating is associated with consuming more favorable nutrients and fewer less favorable nutrients, such as dietary cholesterol.
Breakfast eaters have better concentration and are more productive throughout the morning. Researchers believe this is due to replenishing glucose, the brain's main energy source.
Want to see other reasons? Then I suggest you read more
Eating breakfast helps people maintain their weight. Researchers speculate that eating breakfast may reduce hunger later in the day, or that it may cause eaters to choose less-dense foods at later meals or that eating breakfast regularly may simply be an indicator of someone who adopts a low-calorie, low-fat diet.
Athletes who skip breakfast train less effectively. People who eat breakfast have higher energy levels and may engage in more physical activity.
Breakfast eaters have lower cholesterol, which reduces the risk of heart disease this is probably because they eat less cholesterol (see reason #1).

So, what did you have for breakfast today? Tell me in the comments section below.

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Get Your Butt in Gear: Adidas Powerweb

FitSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 02:30:00 -0700

New gear from Adidas is cool enough that I think even geeksugar will be impressed.

The new Powerweb workout gear features a compression design that actually focuses your muscles for greater explosive power and long-term stamina. How so? Well the products are made to focus your muscles' energy to generate maximum explosive power, acceleration and long-term endurance. This happens by placing thermoplastic polyurethane bands anatomically throughout the garments to provide muscular support and reduce the amount of energy you expend. Shirts focus on the pecs, shoulders, back and core, while shorts support glutes and hamstrings. I am not loving the Spiderman look of it all, but I'd love to see how it works. You can buy Powerweb gear online at shopadidas.com. Prices start at $45 and go up from there.

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The Good News: Muscle Never Turns into Fat

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 03:00:00 -0700

Time and time again I overhear someone saying: I used to workout but ever since I stopped, my muscles just turned into fat. Does this happen? Let's set the record straight...

Lucky for us, this is not how muscles and fat work. Basically a muscle is a muscle and fat is fat, one can never be the other. Muscles are what moves your body so therefore without muscles, your body would not be able to move at all. Muscles use fat for energy to contract (move your body). This is why the more muscle you build, the more fat that is used up -- Don't worry though, this doesn't mean you need to become the Incredible Hulk in order to burn fat, you just need to work your muscles.

Isn't that good news? Now get out there and do some resistance training already.

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Vitamins and Minerals: What's the Diff?

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 02:00:00 -0700

First off, it's good to know that our bodies require 6 nutrients:

Carbohydrates
Fats
Protein
Vitamins
Minerals
Water

Carbs, fat, and protein are known as macronutrients because we need to eat them in larger quantities (grams per day). Our bodies metabolize them and turn them into energy.

Vitamins and Minerals are considered micronutrients because we need them in smaller quantities (milligrams per day). They don't give us energy but rather help our bodies carry out necessary and important physiological processes.

Vitamins are either water-soluble (water is required for absorption and are excreted in urine) or fat-soluble (requires fat for absorption and are stored in fat tissue). There are 9 different water-soluble vitamins: Vitamin C and all 8 B vitamins. There are 4 fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, E, and K.

Each of these vitamins have unique roles and functions in our bodies. For example, Vitamin A promotes healthy eyesight and helps us see in the dark while Vitamin K plays an essential role in clotting the blood.
Minerals are either Macro (major) or Micro (trace) minerals. Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, and sulfur are considered Macro minerals and are needed in quantities of 100 mg a day or more.
Iron, iodine, zinc, chromium, selenium, fluoride, molybdenum, copper, and manganese are Micro minerals, and are needed in much smaller or "trace" amounts.

There are 16 essential minerals and they are also needed to keep the body healthy. Calcium prevents osteoporosis and iron prevents anemia.

Want to know what else makes them different? Then read more

Vitamins are organic which means they contain carbon, and they contain atoms of one or more different elements. Minerals are pure inorganic elements (containing atoms of the same element), meaning they are much simpler in chemical form than vitamins.

Vitamins can be affected by heat, light, and chemicals so proper processing, cooking, and storage is necessary to preserve their health benefits. Minerals on the other hand are considered more stable.

Fit's Tips: To get enough vitamins and minerals each day, make sure you're eating a variety of fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, and protein. It's completely possible to get everything you need in your diet alone. If you are concerned about a deficiency, get tested by your doctor.