FitSugar

Eat by Numbers

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:30:00 PDT

Need a simple number, one through 100, to tell you how to eat? Well the good folks at Griffin Prevention Research Center, part of Yale University, created an algorithm to rank the “overall nutritional quality" of food. The equation factors in vitamin content, macronutrient composition, nutritional density, and other nutritional properties. The Overall Nutritional Quality Index (ONQI) will begin appearing on foods at many grocery stores soon. To see how 11 foods ranked, click the orange start button.

Source

Chrome Niko: Serious Bag For Serious Business

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:30:05 PST

The holidays are a perfect time to get cozy with your camera. The lights, the food, the weather, all of it makes for an awesome shot at a moment's notice. And if you need a bag that's going to stand the test of time, there's none better than the Chrome Niko Camera Bag ($95) to do the job. Chrome was kind enough to send me this bag to test out, and so far, I don't want to give it up. At first glance the Niko may not seem so "female-friendly," but on the contrary, it has no problem fitting smaller frames, and best of all, it's not too bulky.

Made of tough military grade nylon, this bag can take a beating and come out the other side looking shiny and new. Cyclists and bikers will love the Niko since it's lightweight and compact, but offers amazing protection for your gear thanks to its padded interior and water-resistant zippers. The signature Chrome seat-belt chest strap offers a satisfying click when closed (which also doubles as a bottle opener for those beer-fueled hikes), and the waist straps help it stay snugly in place. I have worried that someone (or something) will accidentally hit the center closure and send my gear falling to the ground, which is a scary thought if you're toting an expensive camera. I will say that ladies with a larger chest may not find this bag desirable. The padded chest strap is wide, so it could cause an unpleasant and uncomfortable "separation of the girls" if you know what I mean.

See who I think the Niko is perfect for, and the one thing I wished it came with after the break.

5 Ways to Save Money While Staying Healthy and Fit

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:12:19 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

Fancy home gym equipment, organic food and a wardrobe of the latest fitness apparel can be pricey, but consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch says that doesn't have to be the case. "As a young girl, I tagged along with my mom on shopping trips and learned that you don't have to spend a lot to look good," she explains.

Woroch herself ranks health as one of her top priorities (besides helping others save money), and loves bike riding, hiking, running, swimming and skiing-"anything and everything that gets me moving."

So we asked Woroch to share her insider intel about how we all can keep our wallets happy while staying fit and looking and feeling great.

1. Subscribe. Group coupon emails offer deals for more than clothes shopping and restaurant meals! "Sites like LivingSocial and Dealery often offer discounts for health clubs, fitness studios and outdoor activities at up to 70 percent off," Woroch says. Another plus? There’s no long-term commitment, so if you like, you can just continue trying new things based on what is offering a coupon!

2. Take advantage of free trials. "Request free or deeply discounted trial memberships from various gyms and fitness studios you're thinking about joining," Woroch suggests. This way you can find your favorite before getting locked in with a location that may not be your favorite.

3. Use technology. Online coupon sites like RetailMeNot and SmartSource offer a wide variety of discounts for online or in-store shopping at grocery, fitness specialty stores and more. Combine coupons you find online for stores like Whole Foods with what’s on special when you get to the store to score even bigger savings.

Check out these Coupon Sherpa sites for printable coupons at common retailers:

For two more great tips keep reading.

Husband Lives on Wife's Breast Milk. Why? Because It's Delicious.

Yahoo Shine — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:32:20 PDT

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Yahoo! Shine:

Man can not live on bread alone. Breast milk, maybe. A blogger named Curtis is going to find out, as he embarks on a diet consisting only of his wife's breast milk.

"Much more hungry yesterday, 104 ounces consumed, roughly 3120 calories," he writes on his blog Don't Have a Cow Curtis, where he and his wife, Kate, are tracking his daily diet. (Update: Curtis's site has been taken down.) Curtis came up with the unique meal plan after the birth of his child nine months ago left his wife with an excess of frozen breast milk. They tried donating their stock but milk-bank regulations and shipping fees prevented it. Besides, Curtis actually likes breast milk.

"I see nothing disgusting or wrong with drinking my own species milk (especially that of my wife), it is nothing more than a healthy meal," he writes. He also says it's a handy digestive aid and is much easier on his stomach than cow's milk. But how does it taste?

Should You Skip Sleep to Fit in a Workout?

Shape — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:33:26 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar. Shape turned to personal trainer and strength coach Joe Dowdell for the answer!

Q. What's more important: getting enough sleep or fitting in an early-morning or late-night workout?

A. To change your body composition in the least amount of time, cleaning up your diet and getting seven to eight hours of quality sleep are both essential. Sleep is extremely important for body composition and helps the body and brain restore and rejuvenate in many different ways. Plus, sleep (or the lack thereof) affects important hormonal activity tied to appetite and therefore has a direct impact on your ability to lose weight (i.e. body fat).

One study published online at the Public Library of Science shows how sleep is connected to eating habits and weight gain. The December 2004 study found that people who slept less than seven to eight hours a night ate significantly more and weighed more than those who slept longer. What's more, the more sleep deprived the person was, the more they ate and the greater their weight gain. These results can be directly attributed to two key appetite-regulating hormones: leptin and ghrelin. Leptin (a hormone secreted by our fat cells) and ghrelin (a hormone secreted in our stomachs) work like a checks and balances system in the body and control your feelings of fullness and hunger. When you don't get enough sleep, your leptin levels drop and your ghrelin levels rise. In other words, you're more likely to crave sugary, high-carb foods (thanks to higher levels of Ghrelin) that have the potential to sabotage your diet. The growth hormone - which is extremely important for tissue repair, body fat reduction, and healthy immune function - also gets released during sleep.

Now you can see why getting quality sleep is just as important as your workout routine and nutrition. In fact, I would rank sleep and diet as more important than exercise, especially if fat loss (i.e. getting a lean, toned body) is your primary goal.

Maria Sharapova Talks Tennis, Travel, and Her Sweet Tooth

Self — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 06:45:09 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar!

It's official, NYC has tennis fever! The courtside champs have been spotted around the Big Apple as they're in town for this week's US Open Tennis Championship.

Selfers mingled with tennis greats at the 12th Annual BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis including James Blake, Rafael Nadal, Mardy Fish, and Vera Zvonareva were also in the house.

I caught up with Maria Sharapova and Novak Djokovic at HEAD's Head-to-Head event (say that 10 times fast) to help kick off their new campaigns, including one where number-one ranked Djokovic does his best courtside Sharapova impersonation.

Sharapova, a self-proclaimed bag lover, recently designed a few stellar tennis bags (pictured after the break) for the premium sports equipment company HEAD. Her favorite part is that they don't automatically scream "I'm a tennis bag;" they'd also work as a cute weekend (or overnight bag the way I pack!).

She sat down to share some of what keeps her going during tournament season.

Read on for Self's interview with tennis star Maria Sharapova.

Guess How Much the Average Google Employee Makes?

Emily Co — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:52:43 PDT

We all know that the tech industry doles out big bucks for their engineers and developers, but did you know that Google leads the pack in having the highest paid employees? Further, Google has constantly been rated as one of the top five companies to work for in Fortune rankings.

It's no wonder its workers are satisfied; not only do they get high pay, but they also get free food at Google's lavish cafeterias, have access to gyms and exercise classes at work, and get free laundry, too.

Try your hand and guess how much the average mid-career Google worker makes!

Take the Quiz

Trojan Truck Gives Out Condoms and Sex Toys in New York

Tara Sharp — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:40:00 PDT

It's one thing to hit up a food truck for a late-night taco run. But how about a late-night vibrator run? Trojan's Good Vibrations truck is cruising around New York City today and tomorrow to promote its line of vibrators and pass out free sex toys and condoms. And the purpose of the truck isn't all about self-promotion; with a sexual health educator on board, it's also about opening up young adults to not be shy about talking about safe sex and sexual pleasure.

If sex-shop trucks joined the ranks of food trucks, and you could pick up condoms along with your midnight Korean BBQ, would you do it? Or does the idea of buying sex toys on the street make you uncomfortable?

A Whole Lotta Lil in This Week's Links

LilSugar — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 03:16:20 PDT

We can't get enough of this amazing Angry Birds birthday party a mom put together for her tot.
Carla Bruni joins the ranks of mamas giving birth after turning 40.
Holly Robinson Peete shared her family's struggle with food allergies and a tip for moms of twins!
Corsets, high heels, and Hooters tees? What do you find too racy for baby?
Sometimes a tot has two moms or two dads. These books about gay families help explain it to lil ones.
Get your lil one into the swim of things this Summer. Here are 6 reasons to do so!
Should camp counselors be allowed to apply sunscreen to campers? One state doesn't think so!
The fruit is ripe: here's how to get the kids to eat it!

This dad is changing the way kids watch TV with a new channel for families.
See how Kate Hudson rocked the Summer's floral trend six days after giving birth!

Source: Simply Styled Home

Single in the City: Top Vacation Spots For the Unattached

Annie Scudder — Tue, 10 May 2011 07:00:16 PDT

One of my personal hall-of-fame vacations was a trip to Greece with two girlfriends. The best part? We all happened to be single. Two of us had just ended relationships, and the other was about to start one when we got back, but for that period we were all unattached and ready to swim, nap, eat, drink, dance, and flirt for four days straight.

For its annual Top 29 Cities, out today, Ask Men focused on the places single guys need to visit this year. Ranking global destinations based on weather, food, sports, culture, nightlife, and women - a score derived from the ratio of men to women, an attractiveness rating, and the incidence rate of gonorrhea in the population (a hight rate hurt a city's score, even though it might indicate a lot of people are getting laid!) - Ask Men came up with cities that offer a nontraditional experience single men are looking for.

But I'm curious, do men and women want the same thing in a singles getaway? Take a look at the top-10 cities for single guys to visit, as well as why they won their spots, and vote on whether you think it's a dream destination for single women, too. And you can see the entire top-29 list here.