FitSugar

Favorite Excuse for Not Working Out: I Don't Like to Be Sore

FitSugar — Tue, 01 May 2007 03:30:00 PDT

I was listening to my favorite fitness pod cast Dr. Monte's Fitness Rocks when a guest speaker/personal trainer, Charles Staley, said that most folks quit their exercise regimen, especially when they are new to working out, because they don't like being sore. They just didn't like the post workout soreness that can come on as late as 48 hours after the workout. Ahhh...the gradual build of muscle being reformed.

I have heard this too, at the Pilates studio. So if this is your favorite excuse to not workout, at least you will know you are not alone. I am here to tell you that muscle soreness, however, is a good sign. It means you worked. You created just a little bit of healthy cell damage to your muscles. The muscles are going to repair themselves, getting stronger so they can meet the next challenge you throw their way. Being sore means you are getting stronger. I always take it as a good sign, I like to be pleasantly surprised by where I am sore the next day after yoga, Pilates, running or weight training.

Now, if you go overboard and do 75 push-ups on your first day of boot camp, you are no doubt going to be sore, but your arms are going to be undoubtably stronger. In case you get sore past your comfort zone, here's how to deal with the pain:

Take an OTC anti-inflammatory drug, such as Advil (ibuprofen) or my favorite Aleve (naproxen sodium/naprosyn).

There's more relief so

A light aerobic workout can actually help relieve the pain, since moving around will bring blood to the sore area and new blood helps promote the healing process. Try walking or biking.
Drink lots of water - water helps everything.
Gentle massage and gentle stretching can also promote healing. When you are sore, you really need to stretch to ensure that the new muscle being created is long and flexible (not bunched and tight). So stretching would be a great activity to do after your light aerobic workout.

So revel in the pain, it means you are getting stronger. If you know you are adverse to pain and being sore will make you quit, take a slower approach as you build your weight routine and your cardio exercise. Mixing it up is a good way to avoid over taxing the same muscles over and over again. If your post workout pain persists for over 7 days, you should consult your physician. If you are feeling pain around a joint, you should ice the area.

Fat-Proof Your Life

Health — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:06:06 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

By Maridel Reyes

It's true that there are certain times in your life when extra poundage seems to appear out of nowhere . . . and settle on you. In fact, experts have honed in on the exact moments when you're most vulnerable to weight gain.

"Life transitions, having a baby, and going through menopause cause many women to pile on pounds," says Susan Albers, PsyD, author of But I Deserve This Chocolate!: The 50 Most Common Diet-Derailing Excuses and How to Outwit Them. "But with planning and prep, you can stay thin."

We asked top experts for their strategies to help you ward off weight creep - and even shed pounds - at these tricky stages. Solutions ahead.

Getting married

Heavier ever after? It can be the flip side of wedded bliss: "Six out of 10 of my clients come back heavier after the honeymoon," says celebrity fitness and wellness guru David Kirsch.

Health.com: 25 Diet-Busting Foods You Should Never Eat

Young newlyweds pack on an extra six to nine pounds in the five years after getting hitched compared to singletons, according to research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. And most of that gain happens in the first year of marriage.

"Couples start to mirror each other's eating habits," explains Albers. "You might be matching him calorie for calorie without realizing it."

Learn how to keep the pounds down postmarriage and in the mommy years, after the break.

5 Ways to Make the Super Bowl More Entertaining

TresSugar — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:05:22 PST

Just because you're not a football fan doesn't mean you can't enjoy the Super Bowl. Whether you're single or attached, you can keep things interesting with a bet, a game, or - why not? - a costume contest. Check out these five ways to stay entertained on Super Bowl Sunday:

Start up a square football pool. Do a bit of research beforehand to learn the rules of a square pool system, then encourage your friends to play along. Square pools are all about the score, so you don't need to be a major sports buff to understand how it works. Going to a couple's party? Ask couples to team up and turn it into a battle of the couples.
Create a celebrity lookalike contest. Ever noticed that Aaron Rodgers - last year's winning Super Bowl quarterback - looks like Jake Gyllenhaal? While you're watching the game, tell friends to call out celebrity lookalikes, then vote on the best one as a group. It's fun, amusing, and - let's be honest - the perfect excuse to check out all the players.
Host a Madonna costume contest. The Queen of Pop is set to play during this year's halftime show, so encourage your girlfriends - plus any willing guys - to sport their favorite Madonna look on Super Bowl Sunday. After the game, kick the party up a notch with some classic Madge-themed karaoke.

Keep reading for more ways to spice up the Super Bowl.

Favorite Excuse for Not Working Out: I'm Too Tired After Work

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 16:30:00 PST

We all have our favorite excuses for not working out but if yours is, "I'm just too darn tired after work to go to the gym," then here are some tips for you:

Go straight to the gym after work. Stops at home or anywhere else (where people are not working out) may lessen your chances of making it to the gym.
If you workout at home then don't sit down. Whether it's working out with a video or hopping on your at home elliptical, get right to it.
Change before you leave. I know it sounds weird, but duck into the bathroom and change before leaving the office. This way you're armed and ready to go.
Strength in numbers. Convince a co-worker to do it with you, for whatever reason we are less inclined to let others down (while we have no problem letting ourselves down).
Get to work earlier (if possible) so you can leave earlier. This only works if your job is a bit flexible but leaving even 15 minutes earlier may motivate you because you'll be done sooner.
Eat a late afternoon snack with lean protein and complex carbs. Whole-grain crackers with cheese, for example, will give you a little boost of energy.
Get enough sleep. This one is pretty self explanatory.
Don't go every single day after work. This way going to the gym won't feel like a life sentence.
If all else fails, workout sometime other than after work. Maybe you're better suited to workout before work, or maybe you're a lunch workout warrior. You'll never know until you try.

Is this not your excuse? Check out my other tips on getting over excuses for not working out.

How 74-Year-Old Jane Fonda Inspires

Leta Shy — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:58:18 PST

Happy birthday, Jane Fonda! Everyone's favorite '80s aerobic girl turns 74 today. There's no disputing it - she looks amazing and not just for her age.

Of course, she works hard to keep up her healthy lifestyle (while sharing it with us on her blog). In need of some inspiration? Learn from the best with these tips from Jane herself.

Holiday help: Last year Jane told us her simple philosophy for staying healthy during the holidays. "I just try not to drink too much or eat too much and I try to stick with an exercise regimen," she said. "The thing about the holiday is that the food's so good and you tend to eat too much, so either you [should] eat less or you work out more."

Read on for more inspiration.

Best of 2011: Our Favorite Motivational Tips From the Year

Leta Shy — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:10:31 PST

Sticking to a workout is a constant balance of schedules, moods, and energy levels. And since we know that sometimes it can be hard to meet your fitness goals, we like to share tips and tricks that keep us motivated to work out. This year, we shared with you several ways we stay motivated to exercise; here our some of our favorites from the year!

Make it social: Having a hard time convincing yourself that an evening run should be what you're doing instead of spending time on the couch? It may be time to phone a friend. We love how much friends can help when it's time to exercise, not only by holding us accountable for showing up to exercise dates, but also by swapping exercise ideas, DVDs, and tips. And, when your friend is in a rut, we shared tips for helping a lazy friend out as well.

Build up willpower: Exercising is all about consistency, for both seeing results and for making it a habitual part of your day. Fight the urge to skip out on a workout by using these tips for building your willpower to exercise. By bribing yourself with little rewards or choosing exercises that you actually enjoy doing, you may be more apt to sticking to your goals.

Read more motivational tips after the break.

Travel Tips For the Upcoming Holiday Weekend

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:45:22 PST

Traveling this holiday? Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday this year, which makes one big mess at the airport. If you can't take a car or a train, be sure to check out these packing and travel tips to make your life easier while booking flights, getting through security checkpoints, and beyond.

Booking Flights

TripIt - Once signed up for the free service, forward travel confirmation emails to TripIt, which will automatically create a master itinerary of an upcoming trip accessible through the web or a mobile device. The itineraries even include the tidbits we seem to forget like weather updates, local maps, and directions.
Google Flight Search - Book that plane ticket before prices rise any further! Google's flight search engine incorporates travel basics like price point, maximum number of connections, and preferred airline with an easy-to-use interface.
Hotel Tonight - If there are too many relatives in one house, scan the last-minute hotel deals at Hotel Tonight for a chic getaway at a discounted price. Every day three hotels in a city reveal their discounted rates starting at noon, and you then have until 2 a.m. to book the deal and take advantage of a peaceful room.
My TSA - Can homemade fruit cakes go through security? How early should you show up to the airport for a flight on the eve of Thanksgiving? Answer the pressing travel questions that could otherwise cause delays or stress by adding the TSA's free iOS app to your device. The app's airport security line estimator may become the most crucial feature on your phone when planning your airport arrival.
HearPlanet ($3) - Take the time to discover the cultural side of your holiday destination. This interactive app highlights attractions in over 300,000 locations and uses geolocation features so that you don't miss any of the nearby fun, plus it's a great excuse to get out of the house and move around in fresh air.
GasBuddy - Hitting the open road instead of the air? Use the free GasBuddy app to locate the cheapest fuel on the interstate. Show your fellow travelers some love and share the low-price gas station you discover within the app.

Gadget Essentials

iPad or Tablet - If you have the luxury of spending upwards of $500 on a tablet, it's probably the only gadget you'll need to tote during travel season since it can hold your ebooks, surf the Internet, and keep you connected.
eReader - If you're sans tablet, pack up your favorite ereader. Whether it's the latest Kindle or the new Nook Simple Touch, you can read the entire Game of Thrones series without all the paper weight.
Compact laptop - Though the MacBook Air is arguably the most popular lightweight laptop out there, there's plenty of compact PCs and ultrabooks to choose from as well.
Chargers - If you're toting all these gadgets, you're going to (obviously) need some chargers to keep things juiced. Thankfully, many airlines are offering charging stations in the terminal and even seat-side outlets on board, so you can stay 100 percent charged throughout your trip.
Headphones - Keep the roar of 35,000 feet at bay with some nice sound-isolating headphones. If you're going over-the-ear, consider Skullcandy Aviators ($149), which offer great sound and deep bass and are even comfy for those geeks who wear glasses.

Get more tips on how to pack your bag and save some dough after the break.

Stay Connected During Holiday Travel With These Free WiFi Sources

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:46:00 PST

Heading out of town for the holidays doesn't mean you have to give up on checking your emails, surfing your favorite websites, or watching your shows on Hulu. If you're on the go, keep an eye out for these six places that offer free WiFi connections (and one big safety warning to go along with it).

The Big Apple - New York City and AT&T partnered up to launch free WiFi service at 20 city parks across all five boroughs. While we'd like to imagine park goers enjoying computer-less moments, free park WiFi is a great excuse to "work from home." Just wear a coat while you're out.
Airports - Kayak created a handy guide of WiFi at US airports, noting which airports provide free and secure WiFi.
The golden arches - In most major cities it'd be difficult to not pass a steady stream of McDonald's, Starbucks, and other big name restaurants. Many of these chains offer free WiFi, putting the "value" in value meal.
Starbucks - Grab a cuppa Joe and some free Internet while you're at it. You can pretty much find a Starbucks on every block in big cities, and there are plenty to go around in smaller towns and airports as well.
The library - Oh, forgot about the library since you have a fancy pants ereader now? Well, if you're ever in need of a quick connection, head to your local library branch. If they don't have WiFi, they'll certainly have computers for you to log in.
Your hotel - You may have to fork over the dough to get online in some cases, but free WiFi is becoming a welcome perk at some hotels and hotel chains. Call ahead to see if your hotel offers free connections, and if not, the concierge should be able to direct you to a generous neighborhood coffee shop or bar with a free signal.
But remember, safety first! - Just as leaving your home network open and unprotected with a password can be dangerous, so is piggybacking on an unsecured WiFi signal in a public area, so steer clear of wireless networks labeled "Free Public WiFi," which can be dangerous if used. Hackers can create fake networks in hopes of stealing your personal information. Don't let them get away with it that easily!

13 Signs You’re Too Busy

LearnVest — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:15:38 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

There’s busy.

Then there’s too busy.

Busy is running from one appointment to the next. Too busy is running over someone on your way to the next appointment (physically, vehicularly, whatever). Busy is leaving your cell phone behind at the grocery store. Too busy is leaving your kid behind at the grocery store.

And then there’s the biggest of all ironies-we want to cut back, but frankly, we just don’t have the time to figure out how to do it.

Sound familiar? Well, we’re here to do an intervention-a time intervention. Today, we’ll help you figure out if your life is starting to burst at the seams when it comes to your time. If it is, you need a wake-up call to reset priorities, because there is no shakier foundation for healthy, balanced living (and healthy, balanced money management) than not having the space and breathing room that time provides in our lives.

If you’ve crossed over the line into too busy, you’ll need to reset your foundation: Maybe it means taking a day off from work to reassess your life priorities. Maybe it means evaluating what your time is worth and outsourcing chores like housekeeping or laundry. Maybe it means taking a break from social engagements for a little while to focus on building the right foundation.

Here are 13 signs that you might need a time overhaul in your life-and easy tips on how to get started, today.

You Spend a Good Amount of Time Worrying About Your Time

If your time is preoccupied with, well, your time, you might be: endlessly cycling through your to-do list in your head, spending a lot of time arranging and rearranging your schedule, or wishing throughout the day that you had more time.

If you've worried about your schedule or wished you had more time more than three times a day, you need a break from time itself as a stressor in your life.

Try this: Take a mental break. Remove one thing from your schedule for today that is the least important-it might be putting off doing the laundry or postponing a work call. Spend that time instead totally luxuriating in something in the present moment (like eating a macaron or listening to your favorite song) and not thinking about your schedule, or future plans, at all.

Read on for more.

Christy Turlington Brings Sexy Back

Real Beauty — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 03:05:03 PDT

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

Christy Turlington is a mother, wife, supermodel, student, and humanitarian (whew!). She's also the face of Avon's new scent, Step into Sexy.

Inspired by her famously stilettoed life, we spoke to the all-American beauty about, what else? How to look and feel sexier. This is what she said.