FitSugar

Get Physical: Play Frisbee

FitSugar — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 03:30:00 -0700

Working out doesn't always have to be something you dread, in fact it should really be something you love to do. It doesn't have to be dull and repetitive and it doesn't have to make you sweat. Throwing the old disk around is one of those things that works your muscles and your heart without you even realizing it, since you're having so much fun.

Grab your boyfriend or girlfriend, your dog (if you have one) or some pals and head on down to a beach, a park or someone's big backyard. Bring along a frisbee and start passing it around. If you get a whole group of people together, you can play a game of Ultimate Frisbee.

Throwing the frisbee around works your upper body. Your core gets a workout too, since you're twisting your torso every time you throw. When someone throws the disk to you, you'll end up running, diving, and leaping for it which will work your leg muscles and your heart. If you end up missing the catch (which is bound to happen), you'll end up laughing your butt off, which works your abs and relieves stress.

Playing regular frisbee for 30 minutes burns around 150 -170 calories and Ultimate Frisbee burns 230-250 calories. That's a lot considering playing frisbee is mostly about laughing and having a good time.

Fit's Tips: A frisbee is a great thing to pack along for your next BBQ. Why sit around and chomp down chips and dip while you're waiting for the burgers or veggie burgers to cook, when you can work up an appetite by tossing the disk.

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Get in Gear: Ultra Star Frisbees

FitSugar — Thu, 17 May 2007 02:00:00 -0700

You can't very well toss the disk around or play a game of Ultimate Frisbee without a Frisbee, can you?

Check out these Ultra Star Discs - they're The Official Disc of the Ultimate Players Association and the choice of teams worldwide. These have been the leading Frisbee sold and used since Ultimate Frisbee was introduced in 1981 (that's pretty impressive).

So what I'm saying is that these are state-of-the-art, top-notch Frisbees we're talking about here. Not only that, but they only cost $7.95. They come in black, red, white, or yellow.

Buy one from UltimateFrisbees.com.

It's Ultimate Frisbee Time

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 10:15:00 -0700

Warmer weather always makes we want to go for a nice long walk in the park. I always see college kids, running around barefoot, and tossing around a frisbee.

Some ladies are causal frisbee tossers, and others take the game much more seriously. Ultimate Frisbee has taken this carefree pastime to a whole other competitive level.

It's like a whole bunch of sports rolled into one. You play on a field similar to one used for football. It requires the athletic endurance of soccer, and the quick thinking and passing of basketball. It's played by 2 teams of 7 players.

In order to score a point, you need to catch the frisbee in the other team's end zone (kind of like football). You can run around unless you have control of the frisbee, then you need to stay put until you pass it.

If you want to play, you can always get a bunch of your buddies together for a friendly game, but you could also join a club, team, or game in your area.

Want to see the 10 rules of Ultimate Frisbee? Then read more

Here are the rules:

The field is rectangular, with endzones at each end. A regulation field is 70 yards by 40 yards, with endzones 25 yards deep.
Each point begins with both teams lining up on the front of their respective endzone line. The defense throws ("pulls") the frisbee to the offense.
Each time the offense completes a pass in the defense's endzone, the offense scores a point. Play is initiated after each score.
The disc may be advanced in any direction by completing a pass to a teammate. Players may not run with the frisbee. The person with the disc ("thrower") has ten seconds to throw the frisbee. The defender guarding the thrower ("marker") counts out the stall count.

When a pass in not completed (e.g. out of bounds, drop, block, interception), the defense immediately takes possession of the frisbee and becomes the offense.
Players not in the game may replace players in the game after a score and during an injury timeout.
No physical contact is allowed between players. Picks and screens are also prohibited. A foul occurs when contact is made.
When a player initiates contact on another player a foul occurs. When a foul disrupts possession, the play resumes as if the possession was retained. If the player committing the foul disagrees with the foul call, the play is redone.
Players are responsible for their own foul and line calls. Players resolve their own disputes )there are no referees).
Ultimate Frisbee stresses sportsmanship and fair play. Competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of respect between players, adherence to the rules, and the basic joy of play.

How to Stay Healthy on Your Honeymoon

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Even for the most fitness-minded among us, honeymooning and exercising aren't necessarily a match made in heaven. It's hard to get motivated to exercise on vacation, especially after your wedding. But just because you're ditching your gym routine doesn't mean you can't balance your relaxation and indulgence with some sensible habits. Here are some tips for staying healthy even when you're over the moon.

Schedule active activities. Probably the most obvious tip, but not to be forgotten. When planning your itinerary, consider tourism that will get you moving, whether it's a scenic hike or a bike tour. Staying beach-bound? Bring along some props, such as a Frisbee or paddleball set, which will engage you and your new mate.
Explore on foot. If you're vacationing in a city, forgo taxis and transit for walking. As long as you make sure to stick to safe areas, walking is a calorie-burning way to feel good about your vacation indulgences, and it's a great way to see a city too.

To see five more ideas, read more.

Choose indulgences carefully. Just because it's your honeymoon doesn't mean you should throw all caution to the wind. Think about what you most want to indulge in, and allow yourself one or two a day rather than pigging out every meal. Try to keep things in balance: if you have an extra piña colada at lunch, skip dessert at dinner.
Walk it off. Even if you're not seeing a city on foot, consider taking a 45-minute walk after particularly indulgent meals. Research suggests that walking right after a high-fat meal can help reverse potential damage to your arteries.
Explore the local bounty. Whether you're staying on a tropical island or in a European city, do some shopping at the neighborhood food markets. Picking up local produce, seafood, and other fresh foods will help you snack sensibly while experiencing local flavor.
Share your suppers. It's tempting to eat everything on your plate while on vacation, since you can't take the leftovers home. So split an entrée with your newlywed to save both money and calories.
Dine al fresco. If you're vacationing in a hot climate, eating outside may help you eat less. As opposed to being in AC, dining al fresco can make you crave more liquids and less food.

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Valerie Bertinelli Talks About Keeping It Off

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:00:49 -0800

It's hard to believe Valerie Bertinelli is 48; she still looks like a fresh-faced teenage star. Of course, it doesn't hurt that she recently shed 40 pounds. On the cover of the January issue of Fitness, the Jenny Craig spokeswoman talks about the pressure of keeping the weight off while in the public eye. Here are highlights.

On creating a positive relationship with food: "I love to cook. I enjoy the smells of a new dish; I like the camaraderie of cooking with Tom or my son. I'll put some music on in the kitchen while we work."
On celebrities losing weight: "Look, I understand the cynicism that we have all these people working for us, doing everything we need done. But that's not the case for me. I cook, I run my own errands. No one can do my workout for me - no one lifts the weights or does the treadmill or elliptical for me. I don't have someone calling me up to make sure I'm exercising."

She makes a good point: Even the world's best trainer can't do the exercises for you! For more of Bertinelli's thoughts on food and fitness, read more.

On food pitfalls: "Certain drinks definitely put the weight on me. A glass or two of white wine is fine, but fruity drinks or hard alcohol - that'll pack on the pounds."
On the gym vs. outdoors: "I'm not big on the gym. I would rather be outdoors. You really can get fit without an expensive gym membership or fancy equipment. I have this one-mile loop around my house that I like to do. . . . I like to throw on jeans and a T-shirt and fit in a 15-minute walk here, 20 minutes there. It's fun to do activities with friends or family. On the weekends, for instance, we'll play Frisbee on the beach."
On plastic surgery rumors: "Sometimes I hear, 'Oh, she had plastic surgery.' No, I just finally got healthy. Looking back at old photos, I've realized that being overweight ages you. As I lost the pounds, my vibrancy came back. But getting too thin ages you as well. I don’t want to lose too much; you don't want to be my age and still shopping at Forever 21!"

Wow, so true and so refreshing, don't you think? Do you agree that being too thin or too heavy can age you?

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:00:16 -0800

What a NFL linebacker says about Britney and Angelina's weight loss - That's Fit
Why you should consider ultimate Frisbee - Mark's Daily Apple
Make a yummy Greek chicken wrap - Shape
Stay fresh-faced through all the holiday parties - Vital Juice Daily
Shape your shoulders with this easy routine - Self
Meet the sleep medicines of the future - Health
The constant battle of binging versus butt size - Elastic Waist
A great holiday gift idea for health nuts - Vitamin G

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Does Your Family Get Active on Thanksgiving?

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:30:00 -0800

Working up an appetite with your relatives before Thanksgiving dinner is a great way to burn calories and bond with your family. Flag football, Frisbee, and soccer are fun team games that get everyone running around. Hiking is a wonderful non-competitive activity many generations can do together. If weather prevents you from playing outside, dig out the old game of Twister or get competitive with the Wii Fit.

Does your family have a tradition of getting active together on Thanksgiving? If not, try to get one going this year.

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Favorite Excuse For Not Working Out: I Just Hate It

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:30:00 -0700

When it comes to taking care of yourself, you have no problem eating healthy and watching your calorie intake. That part is easy. It's the exercise part you have a problem with. You just hate it. Maybe you can't stand going to the gym, or working out in public. Maybe you hate running outside or on the treadmill because you can't breathe or it hurts your knee. Maybe you don't know how to use weight machines or dumbbells. Maybe you just don't like your exercise outfits, or maybe you just never liked exercise, period.

You're not alone. If you hate working out, then you probably haven't found the type of exercise that's right for you. There are millions of ways to move your body, and you've got to find one that speaks to you. It has to be fun, affordable, and cause no discomfort. It must also be convenient so you're more likely to stick with it, and it has to be effective so you see results. Here are some exercise ideas:

If you don't like exercising alone: Take fitness classes at a gym such as spinning, sign up for a group lesson with a trainer at your gym, or join a dodgeball team.

If you hate the gym and love the outdoors: Go for a hike up a steep mountain, hit some bike trails, or play Ultimate Frisbee.

If you think exercise is boring: Sign up for a hula hooping class, watch a movie on your iPod while using a cardio machine, or jump into a Circus Arts workshop.

To see the other ideas read more.

If you have knee or back pain: Use an elliptical, take up swimming, or do strength training with dumbbells or resistance bands.

If you don't like moving fast: Do yoga, Pilates, or go for a long walk with a friend.

If you just don't know what to do: Hire a personal trainer for a series of sessions. They'll help you figure out how to reach your goals, how to use machines at a gym, how to do exercises at home on our own, and can suggest new ways to exercise to prevent boredom.

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Get Moving This 4th of July...

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:15:00 -0700

To many of us, the Fourth of July means stuffing our faces at a barbecue with family and friends. No major harm done since it only rolls around once a year.

However, take a few pointers from seriously toned Matthew McConaughey (and his party pals Jeremy Piven and Woody Harrelson) and offset all those extra calories (think beer and s'mores) you're taking in with a few fun activities for everyone to do.

Activity	Calories Burned in 30 Mins (*Based on an 130 pound person.)
Billiards	74
Frisbee	90
Volleyball	101
Badminton	133
Soccer (casual)	207
Basketball (1/2 court)	242
Football (touch)	257
Handball	355
Playing with Kids	117

I couldn't find that stats for how many calories you could burn during a mean game of water balloon toss, but you can bet I'll be organizing a game or two. There's more pics of hot Matt playing frisbee and football so read more

View 13 Photos ›

Flynet

Alternative Activities for Spring

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Spring has sprung which means we are able to spend a little more time outside these days and getting a good workout is not only reserved for the confines of your gym walls. You may love the gym, but there are other things you can do outdoors this spring to supplement your workout. For a list of alternative activities for your aerobic (cardio) and anaerobic (weight lifting) workouts, read more

Alternative Aerobic Activities:	Alternative Anaerobic Activities:
Mountain biking	Gardening
Skating (Rollerblading or Rollerskating)	Fishing
Walking	Golf
Dancing at a concert in the park	Horseback riding
Hiking	Rock climbing
Water sports	Softball
Kayaking (though could be anaerobic as well)	Spring Cleaning
Ultimate Frisbee	Frisbee Golf
Swimming	Playing tag with your kids outside
Taking the dog for a walk/run	Volleyball Game
Singles tennis	Doubles tennis

Fit's Tip: Keeping up with your regular cardio and weight training program is important. You know your level of fitness. For example, if your body is used to running 30 minutes on the treadmill three times a week, walking your dog for 30 minutes three times a week will not give you the same results. However, adding any number of these alternative workouts never hurts.