FitSugar

Shape Up! Alarm Clock: Cool or Not

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:00:00 PDT

This hilarious Shape Up! Alarm Clock (price unavailable) has you hit the weights instead of hitting snooze. The dumbbell-shaped alarm buzzes until you've done 30 reps of bicep curls. I'm all for sneaking in strength training and morning workouts, but I don't think I'd enjoying exercising amid the incessant buzzing. What do you think?

Review: FitFlops – Functional Fashion?

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 08:45:00 PDT

The fitness fashion fad of muscle sculpting footwear continues. Last Spring, FitFlops ($49.99) were all the rage, but due to unforeseen popularity they were hard to find since many stores couldn't keep them in stock.

This thong styled sandal from the UK is designed to make the muscles of your legs and bum work more than usual with each and every step. Essentially, as the makers say, they turn your average afternoon of running errands into something a little more akin to actual running. The shoes themselves are comfy, but unlike MBTs, I didn't really feel them working my legs or my bum; I couldn't sense the "wobble board" in the FitFlops that is supposed to increase muscle activity. If a body doesn't feel the work, does that mean the muscles aren't doing anything? Anyway, I haven't noticed any improvement on the backside either, although studies found increased muscle activity in the glutes and thighs in people wearing FitFlops.

The engineered FitFlops are considerably more foot friendly than regular flip flops. FitFlops have a much harder heel than most thongs and offer a lot more support. Wearing regular flip flops, with their lack of arch support, can make my feet and back ache, but I experienced no foot or back discomfort after running around in my FitFlops for a couple of hours on an unseasonably warm day.

If you are interested in experimenting with FitFlops you can find a store that sells them near you with this handy store locator, which will also help you find online retailers.

If you have a pair let me know what you think about them in the comments section below.

Source

Get Your Butt in Gear: Harbinger Weighted Fitness Balls with Straps

FitSugar — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 16:30:00 PST

Harbinger Weighted Fitness Balls with straps are my new favorite work out toys. These fitness balls are like a combination between dumbbells and medicine balls. They come in weights of 6, 8 and 10 pounds and have a Velcro strap so that you can isolate specific muscle groups or body parts.

Why we love them: The straps make them versatile so you can easily train all parts of your body rather than just your arms, but they are still great for doing most arm work such as front raises and hammer curls. They are colorful and great for home use but relatively transportable for traveling as well. Buy them here.

How Sports Illustrated Cover Girl Kate Upton Stays Healthy and Fit

Michele Foley — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:48:16 PST

After being named the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition's "Rookie of the Year" in 2011, Kate Upton is this year's cover girl! The five-time equestrian champion has showed off her curves in campaigns for big names like Guess, Victoria's Secret, and Dooney & Burke. On being fit, Kate told The Daily, "It's really important to stay slim for the industry . . . but you still want to have a body." Here's the scoop on how Kate maintains her model curves.

Kate's fitness regimen: Like many of the industry's top models, Kate trains with former competitive swimmer Justin Gelband. Justin told Shape that he "incorporates multidirectional exercises" into Kate's training sessions. To keep things fresh, Justin changes up the types of workouts he and Kate do together (Pilates and kickboxing are favorites) and uses a variety of equipment like medicine balls and exercise bands.
Kate's diet: For Kate, it's all about living a healthy lifestyle. Kate has said in several interviews that it's important for her to watch what she eats, but she doesn't go on any sort of special diet to prepare for a shoot or runway show. Her splurge? The occasional treat of ice cream or french fries.

Photos courtesy of Sports Illustrated and The Daily

Tone Your Abs and Booty With Two Easy Moves

Susi May — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:04:42 PST

We love the versatility of the exercise ball and decided to share our two favorite moves with you: learn how to work your abs without crunches and your backside without squats. Remember, size does matter! It's best to work with a ball appropriately sized for you, so check out this exercise ball chart to see what dimension best fits you.

How to Choose and Use an Exercise Ball

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:00:00 PDT

Yoga ball, exercise ball, gym ball, fitness ball - whatever you call it, it's a must have for all active people. An exercise ball can be used for both stretching and toning exercises, but if you're new to this piece of gym equipment, here are some things you should know.

When choosing an exercise ball, you should know they come in three sizes, depending on your height. Check the list below to see which size is right for you before purchasing one.

4'11" to 5'4" height: 55 cm ball
5'4" to 5'11" height: 65 cm ball
5'11" to 6' 7" height: 75 cm ball

Now that you know which size ball to use, here are some ways you can use it:

Use the ball as a weight bench. Lie across it on your back and do chest presses, tricep presses, or lying pec flies to work your upper body. Since you're using your legs to keep your body stable, you end up toning your glutes, quads, and hamstrings as well.

To see the other exercise ball ideas,

David Kirsch's Boot Camp Circuit Workout

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:54:27 PST

He helped Heidi Klum bounce back post baby, and now David Kirsch is here to help you revamp your exercise routine. He created this fun and challenging workout to help FitSugar readers stay on track through the Winter months! Tone your entire bod with these moves while burning some serious calories. Here's how to follow the workout.

Instructions: Work through the entire circuit doing 15 to 20 reps of each exercise. Then repeat entire circuit twice more for a total of three sets. Your goal is to complete three full sets in 45 minutes. Props needed: a set of three- to five-pound dumbbells, a four- to six-pound medicine ball, and an exercise ball to fit your height.

Click here for a printable PDF of the workout. After printing it, hang the workout on your fridge to remind you to get your sweat on!

Source: WireImage

Top 10 Signs It's Time For a New Personal Trainer

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:25:17 PST

If you're spending $50 or more for a session with a personal trainer, they better be awesome at motivating you to get a great workout and reach your fitness goals. But if they're not helping you hit those goals, here are some telltale signs that it's time to find a new one.

You struggle to get through 20 push-ups, and your trainer gets on the floor and says, "Watch how fast I can do 20!"
Your trainer is supposed to be helping you work your upper body by tossing the ole medicine ball, but you catch them winking at a fellow trainer as they launch the 15-pound ball at your face.
You're not sure if they forget to wear deodorant or wash their workout clothes, but every time they reach their arms up to show you a move, you get an overpowering and nauseating whiff of funk.
Your trainer doesn't talk much, but when she does, it's, "Just do what I do. I have to fit my workout in sometime."
In the middle of counting reps while doing crunches, your trainer starts throwing out what seems like random numbers. You look at him puzzled. His response? "That's my phone number. Call me."

Keep on reading for more signs that it's time for a new personal trainer.

From the Community: the Best Exercise You Aren't Doing

Fit Community — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:10:46 PST

FitSugar community member (and fitness instructor) livinginthin has shared a how-to on an overlooked exercise that everyone should be doing.

Running, cycling, squatting, jumping, curling, crunches, and lunging - you do it all, right? Well, the one move you aren’t doing is probably the one that can keep you doing all those things (and more), pain and injury-free for a lifetime.

What is it? Dorsiflexion. In layperson’s terms, dorsiflexion is the action of the foot that occurs when you pull your toes back toward your shin, engaging the foot and ankle muscles (the tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus).

Weak muscles in this part of the leg can cause everything from muscular imbalances to an impaired gait and even tripping and falling (as we age, we lose even more strength in this area, which makes it harder to step properly), says Dr. Yoav Suprun, PT, Dip. MDT, a certified personal trainer, physical therapist, and owner of SOBE Spine in Miami Beach, FL.

Learn what exercises you should be doing to combat these muscle strains, after the break!

How to Get Your Arms Picture-Perfect For the Big Day

Heather Dale — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 04:23:15 PDT

I'm in full-on wedding planning mode - I've decided on the venue, the photographer is booked, and the save-the-dates have been sent. But there's one area I haven't really tackled yet - my "get in tip-top shape for the wedding" game plan.

Here's the thing, I just want to tone up and look my best, so I don't think that requires going to boot camp for three hours a day until the big day. An area of my body that I would like to get picture-perfect ready is my arms - a neglected area that thankfully gets a decent regular workout during yoga class. Other than that, I don't do weights or targeted arm exercises. . . sorry biceps.

I'm not stressing at all, because I know if I start incorporating some of the following exercises into my regular fitness routine, I'll be all set to show off my arms when the wedding day arrives. And you will too! Here are some of my favorites: