FitSugar

Just 4 Things 4 Your Health

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:45:00 -0700

There are 4 simple things that have been proven to significantly reduce your risk of developing heart disease.

They are:

Eating at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day
Exercising at least 30 minutes every day
Maintaining a healthy weight (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9)
Not smoking

These four things are basic components of having a healthy lifestyle and are easy to do. In fact, starting these habits at any time can help improve your overall health. To hear more on this topic I highly recommend you listen to the Fitness Rocks podcast of an interview between Dr. Monte, the host of Fitness Rocks and Dr. Dana King. Dr. King authored a long-term study on the benefits of getting healthy in the middle years. But there is no reason to wait for the middle years to get healthy.

A Week of the Happy Healthy You

FitSugar — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 09:30:00 -0800

Soon it will be spring, bringing warmer weather and capped sleeves. So check out the Starter Arms workout video. You can also print out this sheet to take with you to the gym.

If you get cramps when you are running, you should read this post on how to get rid of the stitch in your side.

Happy mom, Jennifer Garner loves cheese more than exercise.

While checking out iTunes this weekend, look for The Fitness Rocks pod cast by Dr. Monte. It is one of my favorites.

Here is a great yoga pose for you to try: 4 limbed staff pose. It is the weekend right? So you have some time to experiment with yoga.

Here are 5 things about caffeine for you to read before you vote on whether or not you consider caffeine a drug.

Interested in finding a new exercise class to take? Well Capoeira will kick your butt.

Do you know how much fiber you are supposed to eat in a day? Test your knowledge with this fiber quiz.

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

Fitness Rocks Podcast - Check It Out

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 03:00:03 -0800

I love my iPod and I love that I can subscribe and listen to countless podcasts for free on it. I just found Fitness Rocks and I have to say I might just be addicted. So it is great that Dr. Monte added a mid week short podcast so I can listen to him twice a week. His 30 minute podcast goes up on Saturdays.

Dr. Monte, an anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, synthesizes the information from those long, dry scientific studies and translates them for the lay person. He breaks down the information so it makes sense and seems applicable to your everyday life. You can tell he is very passionate about fitness and nutrition. Download his podcast from the iTunes store and listen to it during you commute or while you get dinner ready. You will learn some interesting stuff.

Join the FitSugar Women That Rock (Climb) Group

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:30:41 -0800

Are you looking for a place to talk to other women who climb or who are involved in mountaineering sports? Are you thinking about giving climbing a try and want to learn more about the sport? Even if you just like hanging out at an indoor climbing gym, FitSugar has created a group just for you - Women That Rock (Climb).

Swap stories, share advice on training and technique, talk about your favorite climbing spots, and give gear advice. It's your place to share all of your thoughts and stories about climbing with other women who get it. Join Women That Rock (Climb) and be a part of the ongoing conversation.

I can't wait to see what you ladies post - some of your most inspiring stories and sound advice may just find its way onto the FitSugar homepage!

Tina Fey Says No to Working Out

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:30:37 -0700

In the November issue of Harper's Bazaar, funny woman Tina Fey reveals that she doesn't work out - at all. Looking at 39-year-old Fey I would not have guessed that she stays away from the gym. She's slim and carries herself with style and sex appeal. It's also surprising to hear that any woman working in an industry driven in large part by image is able to escape having a personal trainer.

When asked why she stays away from the gym, it comes down to not enough time in her day. The woman is busy, very busy. She's got a hit show to write, is a wife and mother, and is an Emmy-award-winning actress.

To hear what Tina thinks about working out, read more.

"Work, come home, play, kid bounce, work again, go to bed." She has thought about yoga, even done it a couple times. "But," she notes, "even yoga classes go on 80 or 90 minutes." The ethos of Gwyneth Paltrow or Madonna, with their two hours plus of bendiness a day, is not for Tina. "You will still die," she observes. "I'll do grave yoga. Someone can come and stretch me in my grave."

Tina explains her relationship to the business of celebrity this way:

"I like to delude myself that I'm in the old-Hollywood mode. I just tailor my clothes well and try to keep my skin clear. While it would be great to work out an hour a day, there is something inherently sort of selfish about it. I can't do it."

Despite not working out, the actress does focus on maintaining a healthy diet. At the age of 29, Fey dropped an astounding 35 pounds after going on Weight Watchers. The actress describes it as a time in her life where she learned to eat properly, something she still continues to do.

What do you think? Does working in a workout seem selfish to you?

Indoor Rock Climbing

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 07:28:32 -0800

If cold weather is forcing you to move your work out indoors, I think you should check out rock climbing. There are tons of rock climbing gyms with artificial structures made to look and feel like real walls of rock. Learning to rock climb indoors is safe and controlled - a great start if you're looking to rock climb outdoors someday.

Not only does it do an amazing job of strengthening your upper body and your legs - rock climbing is great for women because our center of gravity is at our hips. This makes us really great at maneuvering our bodies up the wall with grace and efficiency.

Check out your local Climbing Gym and sign up for a beginner class which emphasizes the basics of climbing equipment, knot tying, safe climbing practices, and belaying. You'll pay a flat fee for the lessons and any equipment you may need such as shoes and a harness.

Some places even offer Women Only classes taught by women that offer a supportive environment for learning and perfecting climbing skills.

Fit's Tips: Check out this site to find a rock climbing wall or gym near you.

Coming Soon to a Theater Near You: Reel Rock

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:00:23 -0700

I was lucky enough to hit the Reel Rock Film Tour - an annual showcase of the best new films about climbing - when it passed through San Francisco this weekend. Highlights of the festival include the world premiere of Progression and a preview of First Ascent, a new series for the Nat Geo Adventure Channel.

Climber or not, the Reel Rock festival is a must see for adrenaline junkies, outdoor enthusiasts, film lovers, and those seeking some kick ass motivation. Beautifully shot in locations around the world like Patagonia and Yosemite, the films follow the emotional and physical journeys of the sports' top athletes as they push themselves to the extreme. There were definitely more than a few heart stopping moments where I stared at the screen mouth gaping in disbelief of what I was watching.

To see clips from the films, read more.

One of the crazier stories chronicles Alex Honnold's free solo (meaning no ropes or gear) of Half Dome in Yosemite. Honnold climbed about 2200 feet alone and unprotected in just a matter of hours. I'm sure many will view Honnold's feat as being just plain careless but watching his story was an incredible look at the intense mental aspect of the sport and just how far these athletes will take themselves in the name of progression.

Reel Rock is just underway and chances are it's coming to a city near you - don't miss it! The films highlight some of the strongest athletes you'll ever see and brings to light a relatively unknown sport in an accessible way. Check out the preview below.

Photo courtesy of Reel Rock

Gifts For the Fly Fisherman

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:00:04 -0800

Here at Sugar, holiday season is already in full swing - you better believe I've been making my list for who's been naughty and nice! To make gift shopping a breeze for you, we'll be offering up a bevy of gift ideas in the coming weeks for all the special fit folk in your life.

If you're like me, you have a man in your life that likes to fish. As a young girl, I always looked forward to weekend fishing trips with my dad, but I've since traded in my reel for a yoga mat and a day on the rocks. My dad is still going strong, though. Here are a few things I'm scoping out for him that may come in handy for the special fisherman in your life, too.

Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die ($16) Beautiful photographs and descriptions of the 50 best fly fishing spots in the world. This book gives the fish fanatic something to dream about, or inspiration for his next trip.
Tie-a-Fly ($22) Bob Henley's fly kits are an easy and inexpensive way to learn how to tie fly patterns. Each kit comes with enough material to tie 12 flies.
Gallatin Lanyard ($39) Every good fisherman needs to have his gear handy, and a lanyard is an easy way to keep the essentials within an arm's reach. It's padded with foam to keep the neck comfortable, and it has an adjustable length of nine to 27 inches.
Embroidered Clearwater Mesh Vest ($57) Even knee-deep in water, you still gotta look good! No fly fisherman is complete without his vest, and this one gets you remembered for the personal embroidered pocket.
Fly of the Month Club ($60-220) For three, six, or 12 months, the Fly of the Month Club will send that special someone premium flies right to their door.

Nike RockStar Workout @ 24 Hour Fitness: Dancehall

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:25:44 -0700

Do you often think it would be great if your workout could improve your nightlife as well as your health? You know, like directly translate to making you not only svelte but hip too. Well the latest class in the Nike Rockstar series - "Dancehall" now offered at 24 Hour Fitness, might be just what you are looking for.

The new Dancehall workout was choreographed by Jamie King who has created moves for Madonna, JLo, Britney and Shakira. Now you can move like a rockstar too!!! The Caribbean style moves, inspired by the latest music videos and dancehall steps, will not only challenge your sense of coordination but your heart rate as well. If you want a little primer before heading to class, you should check out the video. They look incredibly fun - the video is truly motivational.

If you don’t like step or dance aerobics this class might be frustrating for you at first. The challenge, however, will keep you motivated and engaged as you get or stay in shape. Learn the moves at the gym and then take them out for a night on the town (another great way to burn calories).

If you aren't a member of 24 Hour Fitness yet, don't worry, right now you can try it out for 10 days for FREE. To get your free 10-day pass, check out 24hourfitnessoffers.com.

Fit's Tip: To find a class at a club near you, check out this class schedule and locator. Remember ladies - ROCK ON!!!!