FitSugar

Are You Going to Watch the Super Bowl?

FitSugar — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0800

Football is not one of my favorite sports to watch - mostly because I'd rather play football than watch it on TV. My husband is way into it though, so we'll definitely be watching the Super Bowl. Since he invited some buddies over, it's an excuse to try out some new healthy recipes. How about you?

Fit for September: Must Haves

FitSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Now that Labor Day has passed us by, it's time to kiss the dog days of Summer good-bye. Just because you're putting away your bathing suit does not mean that you should also put away your motivation to stay fit. Being healthy is much more than looking good on the beach. Use my September Must Haves to welcome the first day of Fall, and of the rest of your life.

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Will You Be Watching the Super Bowl?

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:30:00 -0800

I must admit that football is not one of my favorite sports to watch. I find playing any sport is more fun than watching sports on TV. My husband, however, would have to disagree. So this Sunday we will definitely be watching the Super Bowl. Rah rah! How about you?

Which Team Do You Want to Go to the World Series?

FitSugar — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 03:00:00 -0700

So the Colorado Rockies already made it to the World Series (which starts on Wednesday). Who do you want to join them: The Boston Red Sox or the Cleveland Indians?

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Football vs. Baseball: Which gets you more excited?

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 10:15:00 -0700

The fall sports season can become pretty loaded, but the two major sports that really seem to compete for our attention seem to be baseball and football. For baseball, autumn means the season is working its way fast towards the World Series. The games start to really cook. In early fall, football is just starting up, but after months without the game, fans get really excited! What about you...

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Soccer Beats Jogging in Weight Loss and Fun

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:45:00 -0700

As if we needed another reason to love Becks, but here's one more. A new study found playing soccer to be more beneficial than jogging (and soccer players had more fun)!

In a comparative study, involving untrained men, the soccer team created more new muscle and lost more weight than the joggers. The study ran for three months with participants in both groups working out 2 to 3 times a week for an hour. However, both groups showed significant improvements in blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and balance. Meaning...wait for it...exercise in general is a good thing.

Researchers believe the shifts between walking, running and sprinting caused the soccer players to experience health improvements. These changes in speed and intensity are very similar to interval training, which has been shown to increase the benefits of cardio workouts. Plus theses sudden changes in speed use both the quick and slow twitch muscle fibers, where jogging just works the slow fibers.

The major difference between the two groups was their opposing attitudes to their workouts -- Unlike the joggers who found their runs difficult, the soccer players enjoyed their practice.

Moral of the story: Playing on a team has multiple benefits. Focusing on your teammates (and winning) masks the physical effort. So what are you waiting for? Becks to be your coach? A girl can dream, but find a team near you and have fun on the field.

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Get Physical: Toss the Football Around

FitSugar — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 02:00:00 -0700

The weather is slowly turning into full blown spring and it's finally Saturday. It would be a real shame if you sat on your couch and watched any more TV today.

So, grab a partner and go outside! Don't know what to do once you get there? How about tossing a football around? I know it sounds a bit frat boy-esque, but playing catch is a great way to get outside, spend time with a friend or loved one, all while burning calories. A 130-pound woman will burn about 148 calories an hour leisurely tossing the football around. Want to get a bit more active? A 130-pound woman can burn up to 515 calories in a one hour game of touch football.

If your husband is anything like mine, he'll be über-excited at the opportunity to combine his three favorite loves: the outdoors, football and his wife. Heck, maybe you'll even get him to burn calories too. Nothing is better than pretending you don't know how to throw the ball exactly to him, and watching him run all over the place for it. Single? Grab a few of your girls for a day in the park. If you're looking for a man, you may just find one there, after all, we have seen many pictures of George Clooney throwing the ball around in the park recently. Plus, nothing is hotter than a bunch of girls tossing around the old pigskin.

Want to make sure you're really motivated to run and catch the ball? Pick up this Chanel football for your day in the park. Hike!

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Bauer-Griffin

How to Work Off Thanksgiving Calories

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:08 -0800

If you're worried about devouring a huge Thanksgiving meal and what that will mean to your waistline, have no fear. You can have your cake - I mean pie - and eat it too, you just have to get moving afterward. After the break, check out the calorie amounts for your favorite Thanksgiving foods and find out some ways you can work off those tasty calories.

To see the chart, read more.

Food	Amount of calories	Activity
6 oz. mulled wine	156	Swimming laps moderately for 20 minutes will burn 158 calories.
3.5 oz. white turkey meat	156	20 minutes of football burns 158 calories.
3.5 oz. dark turkey meat	186	Sneak away for a 20-minute jog and burn 197 calories.
1/2 cup mashed potatoes	150	Burn 158 calories by walking briskly for 40 minutes.
1/2 cup gravy	150	44 minutes of cleaning burns 152 calories.
1 small baked sweet potato	54	Stretching for 15 minutes burns 59 calories.
1/2 cup stuffing	180	A 23-minute bike ride at a moderate pace will burn 181 calories.
1 slice apple pie with 1/2 cup ice cream	555	Hiking for an hour and 35 minutes will burn off 561 dessert calories.
1 slice pumpkin pie	180	Take the family bowling for an hour and burn 180 calories.

Gear Review: Radiance Jacket by Mountain Hardwear

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:33 -0700

If you are looking forward to Winter but not the cold that accompanies it, Mountain Hardwear has constructed a jacket for you. The Radiance Jacket ($230) is pre-wired for the Ardica Moshi Power System ($145).

When fully charged, the battery powered energy pack will keep you warm for a little over eight and a half hours when set on the low setting and three hours when set for high. The heater fits into an internal pocket in the back of the jacket that sits between your scapula with extra heating coils in the front just above the pockets. Simply pressing the black button on the top of the jacket turns on the heater. The contrast between the lightweight jacket and the stiff battery is quite noticeable though. Known for their lightweight yet warm jackets (I ski in an older version of the company's Flip Jacket), the power system makes the jacket heavy.

I sat in my cold house (why houses in Northern California aren't well insulated is beyond me) and cranked the jacket to the high setting and was quite toasty. I was sweating in minutes. I have no doubt it would keep me warm on the slopes or sitting at a snowy football game, I am not sure I want to pay $375 to stay warm. Think of all the hot chocolate you could buy, even overpriced ski lodge cocoa, with that kind of dough.

If you're an electronics junkie, the jacket will charge them. To learn how read more.

The left pocket of the jacket houses a USB cable, they come with a variety of adapters making it useful for charging your iPhone, iPod, camera, or BlackBerry. The Ardica System takes more than a few hours to fully charge, but it can fully charge your phone multiple times once it's charged.

I think the concept of a warming jacket that helps you stay wired (or at least charged) is cool, but I am not completely sold on the technology. While the jacket is cute and streamlined - it would fit well under a shell to keep for added wind and water protection - but if it is so cold that I need a heater to keep me warm riding up a mountain, I might just opt for a lodge day. What about you? What do you think of the Radiance Jacket?

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Fit for November: Must Haves

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 09:30:00 -0700

November is here! The month of my favorite holiday: Thanksgiving! I love celebrating the harvest with seasonal foods. Ahhh...but there is so much more to this month than just one seriously food-centered holiday.

To see why I consider these items fit for November just read more

Top of my list for the month is an organic turkey for T-day. I am truly thankful that I can find a turkey that is antibiotic and hormone-free that was fed organic grains and no animal by-products. Free range turkeys are usually more muscular, less fatty, and take a bit longer to cook. You can order an organic turkey online from Local Harvest, and Whole Foods carries a wide variety and sizes of organic birds.
Do you participate in the tradition of a touch football game on Thanksgiving day? If so you better get out and practice your throw, and this Spiral Tech football ($20) from Nike is perfect for the job. Made of composite leather, it can handle any weather. Plus it is sized just a bit smaller, so smaller hands have an easier time handling this ball. Get your spiral throw down before the big game.
Hiking is one of my favorite pastimes. and I find Fall the best season for it. I find it best to wear a versatile jacket, and this Super Guide Jacket ($165) by Patagonia is a workhorse. Considered a soft shell jacket, it not only sheds snow and light rain, but it allows for unencumbered movement. The fabric breathes too, so you won't overheat! It's great for running and biking too.
Dental health is always on my mind; I try to avoid dental work other than my cleanings. I am loving this Flexcare ($180) by Sonicare. Not only is the toothbrush designed to remove plaque, but it also comes with a UV sanitizer that removes pesky bacteria and viruses from the bristles. You can find it at Target.
Since the days are shorter and colder, I think a gym membership is a must have. Since the prime workout times before and after work are dark now, moving your workout inside is a great idea. Plus the change of environment, the large amounts of equipment, and all the classes could just be the Fall fitness jump start you are looking for. Check out these tips for choosing a gym.