FitSugar

Health Tips: Ballerina Flats and Your Feet

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 02:00:00 -0700

Oh the shoes...my husband wonders why women are so into shoes and I wish I could explain why we love them so much. Why they somehow seem to be the answer for all that ills us. Some ladies think that flats are the healthy answer to heels, but that is not necessarily the case.

While ballerina flats don't compromise your posture the way high heels do, they don't really help your feet out too much. They provide little if no support for the complex system that is your foot. There are 26 bones in the foot, as well as 2 distinct arches that not only help you balance, but that work as shock absorbers as well.

Most flats are very flat and provide little or no cushion for the bottom of your foot, which can be almost as rough as going barefoot. I have rarely tried on a pair of flats that have arch support, which is really important to keep you feet happy.

Fit's Tip: I wear Spenco arch supports in all my shoes. I wear the 1/2 in flats. I take the arch supports with me when I go shoe shopping. Sometimes the shoes just don't work with them and I have to pass those shoes up (which can take a lot of will power, but shoes that hurt my feet will not get worn). Sometimes I just have to buy shoes a 1/2 size bigger than usual. Check 'em out ladies...I think there is a happy medium between cute shoes and supported feet.

Beyonce's Trainer Reveals 5-Minute Preparty "Body Blast"

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:50:29 -0800

When I'm totally wrapped up in Thanksgiving cooking, prepping, organizing, shopping (need I go on?), there's hardly a fighting chance that I'll make it to the gym for a full-on workout. Usually, I'll try to squeeze in a set of push-ups while prepping dinner preparation, or an early morning yoga session, if I can. So, I was excited to see Marco Borges, the trainer credited with whipping Beyonce, husband Jay-Z, and Gwen Stefani into tip-top shape, sharing an easy and no-equipment-needed workout with US Weekly. Here are the five moves he suggests to give yourself an all-over body-blasting workout (even if you only have five minutes to spare before your guests arrive):

Jumping Plies: I call these jumping squats, but it doesn't matter what you call them as long as you do them. Here's how: stand with your feet just a bit wider than shoulder-width apart, abs pulled in tight, and bend your knees, lowering your body till your thighs are parallel to the floor and jump straight into the air. Return to starting position and repeat for one minute.

Reverse Lunges: Standing with feet shoulder-width apart, step back into a lunge and repeat on the opposite side, alternating for one minute. Be sure that abs remain tight throughout, working your core and maintaining your balance and posture.

Push-Ups: According to Marco, "The push-up is quite possibly one of the simplest and best body weight movements targeting the muscles of the chest, arms, shoulders and core." Do as many classic push-ups, or moderated position push-ups from your knees, as you can for a full one minute, making sure to maintain proper form and bring your chest as close to the floor as you can before pushing back to starting plank position.

For the rest of Marco's workout, keep reading

Gear Review: Erin Ballerina Flats by Keen

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:00:00 -0700

I find walking is a good form of exercise as well as a great way to get from point A to point B. Wearing comfy shoes is a simple way to ensure that you incorporate walking into your everyday activities. I have been on the hunt for shoes that are great for walking and are cute too. I found these Erin Ballet Flats ($90) by Keen and have been wearing them about town, running errands, and chasing my girls at the park.

More fashionable than sneakers and just a little less comfy than running shoes, these flats were made for walking. The soles are made from eco-friendly materials; the inner sole contains renewable cork for cushioning, and the lightweight polyurethane outsoles are made with no environmentally harmful adhesives.

The lining is made of wicking materials in case your feet get a little sweaty when you're on the go. You can pull insoles out of these Keens quite easily and slip in your own customized orthotics if your feet need personalized support. The mesh detail on the upper part of the shoes allows the foot to breathe and creates room for bunions, a bony bulge by the base of the big toe that can make shoe shopping a bear.

If you're looking for a casual, walkable, sustainable shoe, you can buy the Erin Ballerina flat directly from Keen. The manufacturer feels that this shoe runs true to size and I found that it ran a little big, so order wisely.

Fitness Motivation: You've Got Flat Abs!

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:45:00 -0700

If you've ever looked at someone with flat abs and thought, I'll never have that, it's time to stop the negative thinking.

Guess what? Most of us do have flat abs they just may be hidden under a pesky layer of fat. The good news, a few months (maybe more, maybe less) of cardio and strength training can help reveal that flat midsection of yours.

Fit's Tip: If you're a mom who's seen a major change in your abs after having a baby, and are still laughing at the above statement, don't count yourself out of the flat abs group yet. It just may take a little extra effort on your part, but some cardio and strength training, including serious core work, can really bring your abs back to flat.

Source

6 Questions to Ask Yourself When Buying Hiking Boots

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:50:34 -0800

If you choose your hiking boots carefully, you can wear the same pair for years. But tracking down the perfect pair is easier said than done. I recently purchased a new pair of hikers, and they seem promising; I'll know after I break them in!

If you're gearing up for some cold-weather hikes, don't forget to bring these questions along when you head into the store.

Will you be hiking on wet ground? If so, it's worth investing in a pair of waterproof boots; they are more expensive but essential for preventing moisture-based blisters.
Do you need a heavy or light shoe? The heavier the boot, the tougher your hiking will be. For day hikes, a lighter boot is best, but if you're scaling inclines and/or carrying a heavy pack, you need the extra support of a heavier shoe.
Do you need ankle support? If you are going to be hiking on steep inclines or uneven terrain, get a boot that covers the ankles, rather than a low shoe such as an approach shoe. This will help prevent injury.

Three more tips, so keep reading.

Best Buy No Longer Just Selling Couch-Potato Electronics

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:21 -0800

When I hear my husband is headed to Best Buy, I get a bit nervous. My fears my be slightly allayed by the fact that select outlets of this electronics mecca will be selling my favorite fitness accessory that features a computer chip: heart rate monitors. Forty stores in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Texas will be selling HRMs as well as pedometers and gear for swimming, yoga, and Pilates enthusiasts. Many locations will also have cardio machines like ellipticals, treadmills, and stationary bikes for shoppers to test drive. My guess is that the store is also hoping you will think that you need a flat-screen TV for your new home gym, but I still take this as a positive sign for incorporating fitness into daily life.

Prevent Shin Splints With Toe Lifts

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:30:05 -0800

Since the weather is getting chillier, many of you might be moving your runs indoors. From my experience, switching running surfaces always takes some time to get used to, and shin splint pain has often been a symptom of adjustment. To prevent soreness in the front of your lower leg, here's an exercise recommended by Runner's World you can do any time you're sitting to strengthen your shins and increase flexibility.

The photo just demonstrates one exercise so to see a variation of the toe lift read more.

Sit tall in a chair with knees bent 90 degrees, and your feet flat on the floor.
Keep your right heel on the ground, and gently raise your right forefoot up. Lift it back toward your shin as far as you can, and then lower it back to the ground. Repeat 10 times with each foot.
Here's another variation. From the same position, lift your right forefoot up and trace the letter "J" in the air with your foot. Return it back to the ground. Complete 10 lifts with each foot.

Grade Your Hikes

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0800

I love hiking in the Fall because of the beautiful scenery and perfect weather - the crisp air never leaves me too hot or too cold. On the weekends I often go on all-day or multi-day hikes in Yosemite valley or the Lake Tahoe region. Some of my friends equate hiking with a leisurely stroll through the woods, but anyone who hikes regularly knows this isn't always the case. Whether it's steep, rocky, or exposed terrain, a hiking trail can be quite difficult.

One way I prepare for an all-day hike is by researching the difficulty of the trail I'm walking. I'll use guidebooks and the Internet as resources, as well as the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). The YDS is a three-part classification system that rates the difficulty of walks, hikes, and rock climbs based on categories of terrain, length, and level of danger. Not all routes are graded in each category - generally speaking, rock climbs are the only routes that use all three grading systems of the YDS.

To learn how hikes are classified, read more.

Classifying a route's terrain is what's most applicable to hiking trails, especially longer, more intense hikes such as the John Muir trail or Half Dome hike. Here's a general breakdown of the different terrain class types found in the YDS:

Class 1: Walking on a relatively flat trail with little chance of injury. Many backpackers compare a class 1 route to walking on a sidewalk.
Class 2: A simple trail that might have a slight incline. You may have to use your hands to balance while scrambling up rocks.
Class 3: You'll definitely need to use your hands and feet to find balance along parts of the trail while scrambling up rocks. There may be exposed terrain during the hike, though a fall should not prove fatal.
Class 4: This hike will involve climbing up steep terrain, and even though the route will have some natural protection, a fall could prove fatal.
Class 5+: Reserved for rock and aid climbing. Protection and gear recommended for these climbs as a fall will prove fatal.

Keep in mind that the YDS is a somewhat subjective grading system and there can definitely be some overlap and debate over a class assignment. I continue to use it as a guide because I can search for harder or easier trails depending on my mood that day. I'm also finding that more and more backpackers are using the YDS lingo when describing a trail to one another.

You can also keep a journal with details of your favorite trails and try rating them for yourself. If you do assign a class rating to a trail, the class assignment should reflect the hardest part of the hike. (For example, if you went on a hike that was mainly class 1 but had a few elements of a class 3 route, classify the hike as a class 3 route.)

Tell me, what class of hikes do you usually stick to?

Free Sample Alert: Flat Earth Baked Veggie Crisps

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:15:00 -0800

If you're looking for a new snack to add to your, well, snacks then you may want to get yourself a free bag of Flat Earth Baked Veggie Crisps, i.e. chips. According to the manufacturer, Frito Lay, one ounce of these chips provide half a serving of fruits and/or veggies. I know I've said before that I don't buy healthy junk food, but if it's free then I'm not technically buying it, right? Anyway, I figured I'd try them out before I knock 'em so you can too by downloading your own free coupon here (all you have to do to get it is enter your birthday, nothing more).

Which is Your Goal This Summer: Toned Tush or Flat Abs?

FitSugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 07:30:00 -0700

We've all got our goals for summer (like get over fear of sharks)... For many of us, especially if you're reading FitSugar right now, that goal is to be comfortable (and looking good) in a bikini but that can be different for everyone.

So which is your goal from your workout this summer: Toned tush or flat abs?