FitSugar

5 Pink and Red Products That'll Get Your Heart Pounding

Leta Shy — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:44:31 PST

It's almost Valentine's Day, so chances are that everywhere you look you see red or pink. If you love the bright, energizing colors, time to incorporate the happy hues in your workout gear as well. After all, it's also American Heart Month - what better way to a healthy heart than with a few new pieces of exercise clothing to keep you motivated to work out? Here are five pink and red products that'll get your heart racing!

Fit For February: Must Haves

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:54:06 PST

Well, January went by quickly, didn't it? With February here, we're picking gear that'll keep us on track with all of the healthy resolutions we made last month. We've got new gear to motivate us to get our butts into the gym but still keep us warm during those chilly outdoor workouts.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Yoga Mat

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:36:43 PST

Buying a yoga mat is like buying a new pair of running sneakers. It takes careful consideration and research to find the right fit. Since there are hundreds to ~~confuse you~~ choose from, narrow down your search by asking these important questions.

How Much Do I Want to Spend?
Your budget is a huge factor in the mat you end up with. Do you have the dough to lay down for the priciest one on the market or are you happy buying a cheaper mat? The upside of buying a more expensive mat, like the Manduka PRO Black Magic ($104), is durability, which will actually save you money over time.

How Thick Do I Want It?
If you're new to the mat-buying scene, you might not realize that mats come in different thicknesses. A quarter-inch is the standard mat thickness, probably like the one you've borrowed from your studio. Think about how your body feels on this mat in certain poses where your bones are pressing into the floor. If you've felt discomfort, splurge on a thicker mat, but make sure it's also dense. A thick squishy mat makes balancing postures more difficult.

Keep reading for more things to consider when purchasing a new yoga mat.

Tools of the Trade: Gear For Healthy Living

FitSugar — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:47:33 PST

Smart tools and sweet gear help keep the pieces of a healthy lifestyle intact. From what you put on your plate to the quality of your sleep, we've rounded up our favorite things that help staying on the healthy path more manageable. Plus new gadgets always inspire! If you're feeling your healthy resolve waning as January winds to a close, take a look and see what little things might help you keep on keeping on!

There are only a few days left to enter our Get Fit For 2012 giveaways with prizes to jump-start your January: a year's worth of sneakers from Asics, a $500 gift card for Under Armour, a new food processor from Magimix, and KIND snacks for a year!

5 Gadgets That Track Your Fitness Stats

Leta Shy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:29:30 PST

Last week, Nike released its Nike+ FuelBand fitness-tracking device to much fanfare, but this celebrity-endorsed gadget isn't the first high-tech offering when it comes to gathering your workout stats. Read on to compare fitness monitors Bodybugg, Fitbit Ultra, MotoACTV, Jawbone Up, and the Nike+ FuelBand.

Meet the New Nike+ Fuel Exercise Monitor

Allie Merriam — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:13:19 PST

Nike put on quite a show in NYC today to introduce its new Nike+ Fuelband ($149). Jimmy Fallon played emcee for a roster of Nike execs and spokespeople, like hoops star Kevin Durant, Lance Armstrong, and sprinter Carmelita Jeter, at the Highline Stages, where the product was unveiled.

The new bracelet is part watch, part exercise monitor, which allows you to set daily exercise goals and share your accomplishments with friends through Facebook, Foursquare, and Path. It's the competitive aspect that Nike hopes will differentiate this product from other exercise monitors. There is a USB port built into the band for uploading your stats, as well as Bluetooth capabilities. Even cooler, the Fuelband also has an innovative battery that can last up to four days. The Nike design team focused heavily on creating a stylish accessory, but this new gadget is really about motivating users to get out there and be active. You know, to just do it!

You can preorder a Fuelband today, which will be available as of Feb. 22. Will you be getting one?

Fit For January: Must Haves

FitSugar — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 09:57:25 PST

It's a new year, which means it's time to take advantage of all the healthy options a new start has to offer. Celebrate the indoor and outdoor fitness fun of Winter with gear to get you out in the snow and cozy accessories to keep you warm. Read on for our fitness-friendly picks for the month!

You Voted: Best of 2011 Poll Results

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 04:08:51 PST

The year is just about over, and now that we've made it through the holidays, we can look forward to yet another reason to celebrate - the countdown to 2012! Over the past few weeks, we asked you to take a look back at the year in review and vote for your favorite workout song, fitness gear, health magazine, and fittest male celeb, so keep reading to find out the results.

From Silly to Ridiculous: Fitness Gear to Skip in 2012

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:03:49 PST

Once the first of the year rolls around, most people have weight loss on the brain, and companies hoping to make a buck invent new gadgets to help consumers drop the pounds. While many products are effective, such as electronic food journals and heart rate monitors, some are just a waste of money. Here are some products that won't help you get the results you're after in the coming year.

3 Must-Have Items For New Year Fitness Goals

Michele Foley — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:39:35 PST

For a lot of us, the New Year equals a fresh start, and getting healthy and fit seems to be on everyone's mind. Regardless of what your fitness goals might be, it's never too early to start the journey. Here are a few items to get now, which will help ensure that 2012 is your fittest year ever!

Planner or calendar: There's something about scheduling a fitness date that keeps people committed. Before the New Year, go old school and treat yourself to a brand-new planner or calendar. When planning out your week, pencil in workouts the same way you do meetings, happy hours, and other engagements; doing this will keep you from double-booking and help you better organize your workouts. I'm partial to one of these handmade planners from Etsy.
New shoes or gear: There's no motivation to hit the gym or running trail than a new pair of shoes! In the same way that you can't wait to wear a brand-new dress, you'll be dying to break in your new shoes. If your shoes don't need to be replaced yet, treat yourself to a pair of high-quality capris or a couple of cute fitness tanks. Check out these picks of cute and fashionable fitness finds.
Personal training session: The beginning of a new year is a perfect time to assess your fitness level and set new goals. What better way to do that than to meet with a personal trainer? It might seem like a waste of money, but a trainer can assess where you're at, know which areas you need improvement in, and challenge you where you most need to be pushed. If you can only spring for one session, make sure to maximize your time with the trainer: ask a lot of questions and let him or her know what your expecting to get out of the session. Hopefully you'll walk away with a new workout or a plan that pushes you to the next level.