FitSugar

The Ultimate Date: Indoor Rock Climbing

Fit Community — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:32 -0800

Women That Rock (Climb) community members Spacekatgal and her husband Spacekatdude give you their take on why indoor rock climbing makes a perfect fitness-inspired date.

Spacekatdude and I are married, so we're always looking for fun new things to do. Recently, we decided to give indoor rock climbing a shot! We totally loved it! We wanted to post a bit about it for newbies.

We each signed up for a $160 class, which included gym membership for two weeks. We got free equipment rental and a really great instructor named Nate that taught us the basics, focusing on safety. We were taught to tie our own knots and how to "belay" your partner safely, meaning how to catch them if they fall off the wall.

I will be honest and say it's a real trust building exercise. I love my husband dearly, but I also know it's in his nature to be distracted. It was a little hard for me to put my life into his hands and trust him to catch me if I fell. Throwing myself off the wall for the first time was very scary - but I quickly learned that I could count on him for this. Working as a team to guide the other person up the wall is both fun and good for your relationship!

It's also a great workout. Within a few weeks of rock climbing, I've greatly increased my upper body strength. If you have moxie, I would definitely say it's a sport you should try!

To hear Spacekatdude's perspective, read more.

A guy's perspective - Spacekatdude here. Rock climbing is awesome. It's not just a physical thing - it's very mental, as you try to figure out set paths up the wall, only being allowed to touch rock outcroppings of a particular color - very challenging. Whenever we go to the gym there are a lot of women there, and it's great to watch those who love the challenge and love to push themselves, I think that's awesome. Our instructor Nate also told us that it was great for kids - one of the best rock climbers he knew was an eight-year-old girl, who showed him some excellent routes during an outdoor climb.

I mentioned that climbing is a mental exercise. This is because you have to constantly concentrate on what you're doing. If you go in mentally weak or lazy, bad things can happen: I read of some climbers who went to Half Dome at Yosemite, all ready to hammer in their own ropes to descend from the top. But there were ropes already there, embedded in the rock, and they just used those. As they climbed down, the ropes gave way, and they fell to their deaths. So laziness has no place in rock climbing.

Also, as you climb, it's important to remember to use your feet for power, and not to try to pull yourself up by your arms. So the mental challenge is to keep concentrating the entire time you're roping yourself in, climbing, and belaying.

Share your climbing tales in the Women That Rock (Climb) group and spread the love! Not a climber? Be sure to take a look at our other community groups - there's something for everyone!

Source: Flickr User Charlie Brewer

Make It a Summer Date: Batting Cages

FitSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Cycling and hiking are awesome Summer activities to do with your honey, but they're not the only ones. Do something different on your next fitness date and pay a visit to your local batting cages. Even if you were the kid picking grass in right field during middle school during baseball games, I promise you'll have a blast when you're swinging bats in the sunshine.

You don't need to bring your own equipment to the cages; just wear comfortable clothes and sneakers and bring a little cash to pay for your time. Most places have a selection of cages with multiple options - soft-pitch softball or baseball, medium- or fast-pitch baseball, etc.

Expect to be a little sore after hitting a bunch of balls. Your upper body will get a great strengthening workout, particularly your back, shoulders, forearms, and core. My obliques were still noticeably sore a few days after my most recent trip to the batting cages!

Fit Tip: You may consider taking along a pair of batting gloves if you plan on swinging at 20 or more pitches. Your hands can easily tear after so much use, and you don't want a little injury to cut your afternoon short.

Fit Tip: Schedule a Fitness Date So You Can't Skip Out

FitSugar — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:00:00 -0700

I'm a fan of early morning workouts because they make the rest of my day better. The problem is, once your alarm goes off, it's so easy to roll over, hit the snooze button, and skip out. You wouldn't be able to sleep in if you knew someone was counting on you to show up though, right?

So whatever time you like to workout, schedule a fitness date either with a friend, fellow runner, or a trainer. Knowing he or she will be there waiting and ready to go will make it impossible for you to miss it.

Source

Back on Track: Make a Fitness Date

FitSugar — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Maybe you're inspired to workout after watching some of the Olympic games. Or maybe you had one too many slices of peach pie this weekend and feel the need to add some cardio to your life. Regardless, now is the time to pencil in some workouts for the upcoming week. Get out your calendar, find your address book, and make a fitness date with a friend. Instead of gabbing while getting your nails done, you can talk while you walk or run. Meet at the gym and catch up while you stretch out post workout. Convince a pal to try a belly dance class with you and then head to a healthy dinner afterwards. Have fun, burn some calories, and hangout with a friend - sounds like a winning combination.

I will be biking with an old friend Tuesday morning at 6 a.m., followed by a large and steamy latte. What about you?

Source

Make Your Next Date a Fitness Date

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Dating can definitely put a damper on your healthy lifestyle. All those drinks, popcorn at the movies, decadent dinners out, and late-night talks over gelato are bound to mess up your healthy routine.

I'm not saying you should forgo all that delicious food and never eat out, but why not throw some active dates in there as well? Here are some ideas:

Meet at your gym (he can use your guest pass) and you guys can work out before heading to dinner.
You could sit and talk at a coffee shop, or you can walk and talk instead.
Plan an afternoon hike on the weekend.
Go horseback riding. You can take a lesson together.
Take dance lessons together, or just go dancing.
Visit an indoor rock climbing gym.
Take a partner yoga class or other fitness class together.
Go ice skating at an indoor rink. Many arenas offer times for public skating, so call ahead to find out what times are available.
Rent bikes together and take a tour of the town you live in.
Play a game of tennis, golf (with no cart), football, baseball, or whatever. If you're not into playing a whole game, just play catch, go to the batting cages, or hit golf balls at the driving range.

If you have any other ideas for fitness dates, be sure to share them below.

Source

Looking to Meet? Fitness Singles Online Dating Community

FitSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Online dating is no longer as taboo. I've been to at least a couple of weddings where the bride and groom met online. If you're looking for your soul mate, or at least someone who can keep up with your active and healthy lifestyle, then there's an online dating service right up your alley – Fitness Singles. Around since 2003, Fitness Singles might just be the fastest growing online dating community for sports and fitness lovers.

You can post your profile for free, but to check out other people's profiles, there's a fee (of course). A one-month membership is $29.95, with a six-month membership priced at $89.70. It's worth the dough if you find someone who loves you as much as his or her weekly Pilates class, right? Once you sign up, you can email other people near you who are interested in all sorts of activities including trail running, biking, hiking, sailing, rock climbing, surfing, dancing, swimming, yoga, and golf. Not only can you sign yourself up, but if you have a friend in need of a fitness partner, you can treat them to a membership too.

It's a great idea for health conscious people who want to be in relationships with others who share their healthy and fit way of life. So if you're looking to meet your future spouse, or just want a training partner for your next triathlon, why not check them out? Let me know if you do!

Source

Have You Ever Dated Someone From the Gym?

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:30:49 -0700

One of my co-workers recently went out on a date with a guy she met after running a 12K. When he approached her, she was still in her running gear, bib number and all. He told her on their date that the reason he went up to her that day was because he was attracted to the fact that she seemed healthy and athletic.

My co-worker's story made me wonder if it was common to date someone you met while working out. It makes total sense to be attracted to people who share a similar lifestyle, but the whole approach seems like it could be incredibly awkward or invasive.

Have any of you ever dated someone you worked out with? If you've got any funny anecdotes, tips, or success stories, share those in the comments section too - I'd love to hear them!

Dieting and Dating: Finding a Fit

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 11:45:00 -0700

Dating, whether you are single or in a relationship, can be a serious diet killer. Dating can be stressful enough as it is, so the added distraction of worrying about what to eat while dating is something you just don't need right now.

MSNBC.com along with Shazia Paroo, a personal trainer in Canada, has created these possible dieting scenario threats while dating (and breaking up) and offers ways to keep them under control:

Dating Stage: Drive-thru, anyone?
Pitfall: Your Friday night action is the girl who answers the phone at your favorite pizza joint. At the grocery store, you find yourself hoping that cute but confused-looking guy will ask your advice on frozen dinners. Cooking for one is depressing, but eating one more piece of your mom's lasagna can't hurt (it's comfort food, after all). It's easy to fall into the self-pity mode when you're going through a dry spell -- then, the temptation to Jabba the Hut yourself to the couch can be overwhelming.

Antidote: "Set a goal and visualize where you want to be and how you want to look," says Paroo. Buy a juicer, find some recipes that don't involve pasta and parmesan, and consider blueberries as something other than a topping for cheesecake. Having the luxury of all that non-relationship free time is also an ideal opportunity for combining socializing and health -- join a gym or a baseball team, take up fencing, cycle naked to protest rising gas prices.

Taking care of your body and appearance will affect your confidence, too. Paroo mentions a client who went down in size "four belt loops. He would go out to a bar and just sit by himself with his head down," she says. "Now he talks to everyone."

Need dieting tips for dieting on a first date? Or what about sticking to a diet during a breakup? Then read more

Dating Stage: Reservations at 8
Pitfall: You can hardly believe your luck -- there's someone else out there who thinks Tiny Tim is an under-appreciated genius. You both hated the sound your exes made when they breathed. In other words, love is in the air -- and that means dessert with dinner and chocolate croissants in the morning. Eating out, ordering in and trying to impress each other with tasty cream sauces are also on the menu.

Antidote: When it comes to the hormonal honeymoon stage, there are two extremes, says Paroo. "You get comfortable and you gain weight, or you get in shape for your partner." Now is the time to be ultra-aware not just of over-indulging, but of losing your motivation. Try adding an extra lap around the track or adding a game of tennis to your schedule. Better, involve your date -- you can both sign up for those yogalates classes.
Dating Stage: Should we just order in?
Pitfall: Congratulations! You've made it into the land of the duos. You've met the parents, confirmed your partner's lack of a criminal record, and even (temporarily) altered him or her to better suit your ideal of someone you'd actually like to be with. Staying fit? That's for single, desperate schmucks who don't have a quality pair of expandable sweat pants. Well, don't get too cocky -- this might be the most dangerous stage as the comfort level rises and the desire to look desirable drops.

Antidote: "People in relationships come to me after a year," says Paroo. "And they've become too comfortable watching movies and eating out a lot. They're drinking a lot, they're not eating well, and they're eating at the wrong time. If you're in a relationship you'll eat late at night, guaranteed." You're biggest enemy at this stage is yourself. Complacency and bliss have dulled your edge and every time you think of working out it's with a twinge of guilt. Get over it -- there are no guarantees in this life, and you'll feel better about yourself if you maintain some semblance of your former shape.
Dating Stage: Pass the Chunky Monkey
Pitfall: It's over but the eating, and all you have to show for your efforts are a food processor you'll never use again, a taste for pancetta and a few extra pounds of relationship fat. You're depressed and anxious, and you're going through the ever-popular grieving process -- sadness, fridge, anger, fridge, bitterness, fridge.

Antidote: Breakups are stressful -- wondering where your next foot-rub is coming from can take a lot out of a person. Fear not -- the answer is as close as the nearest elliptical trainer. Even though lifting weights or running around a track might be the last thing you feel like doing, follow the slogan and "just do it." Guaranteed you'll feel better -- not just from the release of endorphins but just knowing you're still among the living. This might also be the best time to hire a professional. "Let us kick your butt," says Paroo. "You'll get your self-confidence back. And no matter how hard people find it to work out, it's the best stress relief ever." And never discount the motive of revenge when it comes to getting in fighting form, says the trainer: "People want to show the ex how hot they can look."

Not having problems dieting and dating, but just dating in general? Then check out what E. Jean has to say about dating on DearSugar.com.

Source

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:00:33 -0700

Cucumber tartines for a lowfat and fancy snack - Vitamin G
Three ways to run almost barefoot - Vital Juice
How Starbucks affects your waist - That's Fit
Katie Holmes runs in 769 Pink New Balance sneakers - Fit Celeb
Get physical with your man and make a tennis date - Fresh Fitness Tips
Make the most of your next sushi meal - Healthy Bites
Ten salads to avoid when dining out - Daily Spark
Don't fall prey to the couch potato syndrome this Autumn - Health

Do You Get a Better Workout Alone or With a Buddy?

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:00:32 -0700

With my busy schedule between work and family, it's hard to coordinate exercising with a friend. So I end up sweating it out on my own most of the time. I do love working out with a buddy though, so at least once a week I try to plan fitness dates. If I exercise with someone who loves to push themselves, it really motivates me and I end up getting a better workout than if I were solo. How about you?