FitSugar

Get Physical: Tandem Biking

FitSugar — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 02:30:00 PDT

When you bike with your man does he have trouble keeping up with you? Well, I have a solution - a tandem bike. If you are on the same bike there is no playing catch up.

There is a certain amount of teamwork involved, so it is great for those team building skills. You can share the bike with just about anyone - husband, friend or child, but just make sure the larger rider is up front steering. This is important for handling and balancing a much longer bike, and this rider is known as captain. The person riding in back isn't getting a free ride, they provide constant pedal power and are known as the stroker.

Now if you do choose to venture off on a bicycle built for two, know ahead of time the communication between cyclists is very important. Since the stroker cannot see the road, it is the captain's job to warn the stroker of upcoming bumps in the road. The stroker must also leave the steering to the captain. Tandem biking is really equal part trust exercise and part fun. Definitely a little give and take.

If you are interested call up a local bike shop and see if they rent tandem bikes. Then make a date, make a picnic and head out on the road. Be sure to wear helmets (unlike the couple in the photo)!!!!

6 Beach Workouts For a Sunny Memorial Day Weekend

Leta Shy — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:52:50 PDT

Hopefully this weekend will involve some fun in the sun, but that doesn't have to be limited to sipping a frozen cocktail on a deck chair. To get you inspired for an outdoor sweat session, we've rounded up some fun fitness routines for the beach - check off your daily workout for the day while enjoying the sun!

Fit and fast: Got 12 minutes? Do this simple CrossFit circuit workout as hard as you can. Bonus: after the intense session, all you have to do is take a dip in the sea!
Leg up: Want to tone legs and thighs? This leg workout from a FitSugar reader helps save your knees from too many squats - and you can do the moves while laying out in the sun.
On the ball: If you happen to have an exercise ball handy, this Kerri Walsh-approved full-body workout will get you in pro-athlete shape.

More beach workouts to inspire you after the break!

How Not to Destroy Your Marriage

The Good Men Project — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:30:42 PDT

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, The Good Men Project. Today, Mark Tyrrell offers eight relationship tools to make your marriage work.

"All marriages are happy. It's the living together afterward that causes all the trouble." - Raymond Hull

So how do you make your marriage work? Or do you just blindly hope it'll take care of itself?

Think of a hot, successful date with someone you’re attracted to. You have fun, great conversation and more sexual chemistry than a warehouse full of pheromones. You don’t have to “work at” the date because it’s self sustaining. It runs as smoothly as the gliding hand of a classical guitar maestro and you can’t wait for another rendition.

Teenage Dating in a Twilight-Hunger Games World

But marriage, or any long term relationship; well that’s a whole other caboodle.

If we’re not careful, marriage can deteriorate into little more than a torturous assault course; littered with routine boredoms, frustrations and resentments. Couple all that with external pressures and sometimes marriage feels not worth the effort. But there are major benefits to being hitched or committed, other than just a beneficial tax regime.

Healthy marriage; healthy people.

Being happily married bestows heaps of health benefits. You might be forgiven for thinking that if you’re married you don’t live longer it just seems like it but, no, a good marriage really can help you clock up more years (1) and married people are happier (2) even though they don’t always look it from the outside.

But when marriage doesn’t work it can feel being manacled to a maniac, marooned with a misogynist or nailed to a nag. And I don’t care what the studies say, that’s not healthy. You may hear couples say stuff like: “We are making our marriage work!” but how do we do this?

Making it work.

We pay lip service to “working on the marriage” but what is the work we need to do? Marriage vows such as “to love and to cherish” and “forsaking all others, for better or for worse” don’t really tell us how to make it work, although they give us a clue.

Fortunately a ton of research has been done on what to do and not do to make your marriage, or any intimate relationship work. Follow the guidelines here to become “good at marriage."

Tip one: Be romantic but keep it real.

We are all (force?) fed romance in movies and novels. The handsome man gets the beautiful woman. But what I wonder is what happens after our romantic couple ride off into the sunset together? What do they do exactly? Bicker? Moan at one another? Start to ignore each other?

After all that romance, our beautiful couple is bound to have massive expectations of their life together. But when rose tinted expectations clash with day to reality, watch out!

Romance is vital in any relationship. Always seeing the best in your partner helps to keep things intimate and love should be expressed. But if you have been raised on Mills and Boon Romance novels or feel-good movies, then your own romantic expectations can work against the sustainability of your long term relationship.

When day to day life fails to live up to the giddy, heady lust-filled days of the pre-settled down romance people can become angry, even blame one another: “This wasn’t what I signed up for." They find it hard to take the rough with the smooth because they never really figured there would be any rough.

Expectations not diluted with at least a dash of realism can be a royal road to relationship ruin. Your partner may be an angel, but they have feet of clay. You must learn to love those feet or at least accept them a bit!

Get the rest after the jump!

Gear Review: Lark Silent Alarm Clock

Leta Shy — Sun, 13 May 2012 16:48:00 PDT

You can count me as one of the 30 percent of people who don't get enough sleep every night, so when Lark sent me its silent alarm clock ($100) to test a couple months ago, I was all about it. Since then, I've been using it pretty regularly, here's what I think of the alarm clock.

First, here's what it is: The Lark is part app (compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad only at the moment, but an Android version seems imminent), part motion-sensing wristband that vibrates to wake you up and tracks your sleep quality throughout the night. It promises to both help you wake up more naturally and without disturbing your bedmate and change your personality from sleep-deprived night owl to well-rested morning lark. Included in the package is the Lark sensor, wristband, and charging dock where you plug your wristband into when you wake up - both to shut off the vibrating alarm and ensure that your wristband has enough juice to monitor your sleeping stats for the next night. The charging dock includes a USB port to connect your iPhone charger to it, so you don't have to use two sockets for each.

Who it's for: The Lark is useful if you have a partner and you both wake up at different times. Since it's a silent alarm clock, it rouses you with a series of vibrations through your wristband, so if your normal wake-up call is earlier than your bedmate's, your partner can snooze away without being disturbed. That may or may not be valuable enough for you to justify the $100 price tag, but it is an effective solution. Besides the alarm clock portion, the Lark app tracks several sleeping stats: how many hours you slept as well as how many times you woke up during the night and how long it took you to fall asleep (both based on your movements).

Keep reading for my thoughts on the Lark alarm clock.

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.

How a Workout Buddy Challenges Your Fitness Routine

Leta Shy — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:35:13 PDT

You know that having a workout buddy can make exercise fly by, but it's not just about having someone to laugh and talk with you while you sweat. Read on for three ways exercising with a buddy challenges your workout.

They make you push yourself: The right workout partner helps challenge you to become better at your workouts, whether you're side by side on the elliptical or on an outdoor run. By racing each other, pushing each other to go for a few more minutes, or teaching each other the most effective ways to exercise, you and your workout buddy can both help push each other to the next level.

They help you branch out: You swear that you hate Zumba but begrudgingly take it at your buddy's urging - and now, you've found a new fitness love. Not only can trying something new with a friend help you feel less self-conscious if you're worried about looking awkward, but acquiescing to a friend's insistence to try something new can also inject fun and variety back into your workout routine, helping you avoid that dreaded fitness plateau and continue to see results.

They're foils for your excuses: Can't meet your friend at the gym because you forgot your socks? She just so happens to have an extra pair. Woke up late and now don't have time to fit in a run? "We'll just go for a quick one," your buddy says. No matter how much you've talked yourself out of your workout for the day, a good workout buddy won't take no for an answer so you continue to stay on track with your workout plan.

Hilary Duff Opens Up About Postpartum Exercise, Postbaby Date Nights, and What Fills Her Phone Now

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:28:45 PDT

Hilary Duff's been one busy mama since welcoming son Luca Cruz to the world 5 weeks ago. The new mama's been sharing family photos with her fans, trying to return to her prepregnancy workouts, and getting back into her daily routine. Now Hilary's about to become even busier as she joins Johnson's Baby and Save the Children for the launch of Johnson's Baby CARES, a new initiative to support the basic needs of families during natural disasters. The actress and recording star took some time to answer our questions about the campaign, as well as her initial thoughts on new motherhood.

LilSugar: What's been the most surprising thing about motherhood so far?
Hilary Duff: How much I fell in love with Luca from the moment I saw him; it's so cool to see your child changing every day.

LilSugar: And the most challenging?
HD: Getting Luca on a schedule that works for both of us, it was tough at first, but he is getting better every day.

LilSugar: Who does lil Luca look like?
HD: A lot like me when I was a baby, but he has his daddy's nose!

LilSugar: How did you come up with Luca's name?
HD: Mike [Comrie, Hilary's husband of a year and a half] and I were just bouncing names off each other and Luca just stuck. We both knew when we heard it - it was unique, but not crazy.

LilSugar: Have you and Mike gone out on a postbaby date yet?
HD: Yes, we've had a few dates since Luca's arrival. At first it was nerve-racking, but the second date went a lot better. It's important for Mom and Dad to have time together.

Keep reading for Hilary's thoughts on postpartum exercise and her decision to partner with Johnson's and Save the Children.

Get Moving and Say I Do: Ways to Incorporate Fitness Into Your Wedding

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:45:11 PDT

Fitness fanatics have a tough time separating workouts from life, so why should their wedding be any different? Here are some ways to bring an active lifestyle into your big day.

Send out fitness-themed save-the-date cards with you and your partner doing something active, like standing on surfboards with a sign that says, "Water you waiting for? Put this date on your calendar!" Or use a play on words like, "Jenny's finally running away with Mike." You can also design your invitations with exercise in mind. Have them look like a poster advertising a race or use illustrations that depict your favorite sport, such as golf balls and clubs.
If your wedding is going to be over a long weekend, plan activities that'll get folks moving. Hire a yoga instructor to teach a class; plan a scenic bike ride, morning run, or woodsy walk; or play a friendly game of beach volleyball (just make sure the bride's face stays far away from the ball).

Keep reading for more fitness ideas for your wedding.

Naomi Watts Cycles Around the City With Sasha

PopSugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:02:16 PDT

Naomi Watts got some exercise as she peddled around NYC yesterday with her son Sasha. She got some fresh air while Sasha munched on pretzels during the ride. It seems that Naomi and partner Liev Schreiber enjoy cycling as a part of their routine - the duo was spotted toting their boys along on a ride earlier this month in LA. Naomi's been playing quite the balancing act between her duties at home and being a consistent supporter of Tribeca Film Festival events with Liev. The couple was hand in hand at the Tribeca Artists Dinner thrown by Chanel at NYC's Odeon last night, and was also spotted posing together at last week's Tribeca Ball.

5 Ways to Spice Up Traditional Crunches

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:09:58 PDT

If crunches are part of your regular fitness regimen, you may feel like this basic move could use fresh inspiration. If your ab routine is feeling a little dated, but you're not ready to give up crunches just yet, have no fear. Here are five easy ways to spice up everyday crunches.

Take a twist on the tradition: Crunches are even better when you mix up the movement to target different areas of your abs. Target obliques by doing a few sets of bicycle crunches or seated Russian twists.
Grab a partner: If you typically go it solo, find a friend and bring some new motivation to the exercise. Your partner can grab your feet and make sure you've got the right technique that will engage your core and tighten things up. Or, do crunches side by side for a little healthy competition!
Bring out the ball: It's been proven that crunches on the exercise ball are the most effective, making abs work at least 24 percent harder than being on the mat. You may have dropped crunches on the ball from your workouts, but there's no better time than now to hop on board and make them part of your routine. Work your upper abs by doing crunches on an exercise ball.

Keep reading for two more ways to freshen up your crunches.