FitSugar

Pilates Tip: Avoid the Head Rush

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:00:00 PDT

When I am gardening and move from a deep squat to standing, I get a little lightheaded. It is not really disconcerting, but when it happens when I'm doing Pilates, well that is a different story. Exercises where you move from horizontal to vertical quickly can create a sudden lowering of blood pressure, which can make you dizzy. The most simple way to avoid the head rush is to move more slowly. And moving more slowly will emphasize the element of control central to the Pilates philosophy. This will also increase the difficulty of the move. Think of that as a perk brought to you by your desire to avoid a head rush.

The expert at About.com: Pilates also thinks that increasing the "scoop" of the deep abs on the inhale can help keep the blood pressure from dipping too low. Keeping the low and deep abs engaged while you breathe in means you need to focus on breathing into the sides and backs of your ribs - an element of Pilates we can all work on.

Try these two fixes and see if they keep getting dizzy at bay.

Source

Key Skin Care Products Every Woman Should Own

Jaime Richards — Sun, 20 May 2012 05:10:00 PDT

A trip to the skin care aisle can be a dizzying experience, but it doesn't have to be so complicated. And while it's obviously important to make sunscreen a part of your daily routine, there are a few key items every woman should include on her must-have list, explains Suki Kramer, founder and president of Suki skin care. They are . . .

A great exfoliator: "From jump-starting collagen to purifying pores to removing dryness and blemishing to making us feel great because of the immediate way an exfoliator takes care of business, this product is a can't-live-without product," Kramer explains.
The right moisturizer: "Even if your skin type tends to be normal to oily, using a high-quality moisturizer with good oils on a regular basis can be the key to improving the way your skin functions, looks, and feels," she adds.
A great lip balm: Everybody gets dry, chapped lips at some point or has problems with flaking and/or dryness. A lip repair product will help keep the lips smooth, supple, and kissable. Bonus? It also provides an excellent base for your lipsticks, glosses, and liners, keeping them fresher- and purer-looking all day (or night) long.

Guess the Engagement Ring Style!

FabSugar — Thu, 03 May 2012 04:30:05 PDT

You hear the engagement ring terms being thrown around - cushion-cut, bezel, princess - but do you know what it means? If you choose to get engaged, will you know what you want? There's a surfeit amount of styles to choose from - enough to leave you dizzy - so we're going to test your bling knowledge. When you're done here, be sure to check out our other wedding stories!

Question 1 of 10

Can you guess this diamond cut?

5 Tips For Choosing the Right Skin Care Routine For You

Jaime Richards — Thu, 03 May 2012 06:00:00 PDT

A trip down the beauty aisle can be a dizzying experience, particularly when it comes to choosing the best skin care regimen for your needs. Look behind all the fancy creams and serums, though. All it takes to get it right is a little diligence - and an easy four-step cleanse, tone, moisturize, and treat routine - explains Suki Kramer, president and founder of Suki skin care. Get a closer look at some other things you might want to consider when you read more.

5 Things You Should Never Do During a Workout

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:27:58 PDT

There are many things you shouldn't do before a workout, such as cold stretching (learn more prewrokout no-nos here). To make the most of your actual workout, here are a handful of things to avoid while getting your sweat on.

Exercise on an empty stomach: Used as a common weight-loss technique, exercising on an empty stomach can actually prevent weight loss. Without fuel in your system, calories burned will come from muscle instead of fat. Eat before your sweat session and it'll provide energy for your workout, boost your metabolism, and studies show you'll consume fewer calories throughout the day.
Gulp water: Preventing dehydration is a must, so do drink water throughout your workout, especially in the heat. Sip between about one to six ounces every 15 to 20 minutes. Gulping down larger amounts of water at a time can not only cause stomach cramps, but could cause hyponatremia, also called water intoxication. Overhydrating can lead to low amounts of sodium in the body, causing dizziness, cramps, slurred speech, and nausea. Stick to drinking small amounts of water during regular workouts, and during intense workouts or those longer than an hour, sip on a sports drink to replace lost electrolytes.

Keep reading to find out three more things you shouldn't do during a workout.

Does The Lorax Live Up to Dr. Seuss' Book's High Standards?

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:18:49 PST

In our family, The Lorax is put on a pedestal. When my firstborn was younger, its rhythmic verses lulled him to sleep, making it a favorite for this tired mama. Now it is part of our weekly rotation, with my son reciting lines from memory as we make our way through Dr. Seuss's tale of overindustrialization and environmentalism. We have a special bond over The Lorax, so there was no question which parent would be taking him to see the film when we both gasped upon first seeing the trailer. The only question was if it would live up to our very high expectations.

A month after seeing the flick, I can honestly say, "Yes" - but with some caveats. As many have noted, the creators of Despicable Me (while working with Audrey Geisel) took some creative license to extend the classic tale into a love story. Ted (now the name of the lil boy from the book, as a nod to Theodor Geisel, who is voiced by Zac Efron) is trying to win the heart of Audrey (a new character voiced by songstress Taylor Swift), whose dream is to see a real-life tree, rather than the fake, robotic versions that currently populate their town. To win her heart, Ted's enthusiastic grandmother (voiced by the always-amazing Betty White) tells him to visit the Once-ler (voiced by an equally charismatic Ed Helms) on the outskirts of town. It is here that the film follows Dr. Seuss's familiar story, while throwing in some new obstacles such as greedy mogul O'Hare (voiced by Rob Riggle) and some song and dance numbers that get the whole town up and moving.

Much bigger and complex than the original story, the film version definitely conveys Dr. Seuss's earth-friendly message, you just have to peel back the layers to get there. As the lil orange Lorax with the big mouth, Danny DeVito makes that message abundantly clear. It just takes a backseat to the love story that is unfolding.

But the big musical numbers (really, they are toe-tappingly great), fun animal characters (the Bar-ba-loot bears are particularly fun), and amazing graphics (the Truffula trees look amazingly soft and cuddly) all come together to create a fun movie experience for kids who know the book and don't want to (or are too young to) know anything about love stories.

As for the 3D experience - I know it is expected in this day and age, but it really isn't necessary. I actually found it more dizzying than enjoyable and would have rather focused on the dialogue than any objects that were seemingly flying my way. But 3D or not, when the Once-ler utters his most famous line - "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing's going to get better. It's not" - it's like a call-to-action for a new generation ready to carry on the environmental mission.

Younger Women Getting Heart Attacks Without Realizing It, Study Says

Leta Shy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:18:19 PST

You may think that heart attacks happen when you're older, and when they do, the sudden, gripping pain in your chest will be all you need to know that you're having one. But a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that in reality, women are getting heart attacks younger and without the normal symptoms we think are the signs of a heart attack.

The study, which followed 1.4 million heart attack patients for 12 years, found that 42 percent of the women experienced a heart attack without any chest pain, compared to 30 percent of the men in the study. Heart attacks also led to death in more of these women - possibly because they didn't think they were having a heart attack in the first place, and therefore put off going to the hospital. Also worrisome was the fact that most of the women with these atypical symptoms were younger (less than 55 years old).

Knowing what symptoms other than chest pain you should look out for may help you get the timely care you need. Read on to find out the common heart attack symptoms in younger women.

No Headphones? 5 Ways to Entertain Yourself on the Treadmill

Leta Shy — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:44:44 PST

I love running on the treadmill, but let's be honest: it's not the most entertaining workout. I usually distract myself from counting down the minutes with a good playlist, audiobook, or tuning in to the gym's TVs. When I forget to take my running headphones, however, I have to entertain myself in an entirely different way. Here are some ways to keep yourself entertained (not to mention motivated!) when you can't do your normal headphones-on, tune-everything-out routine.

Change up your intervals: You should be doing this anyway once you've mastered your current workout, but if you're used to going through the motions, now's the time to change your intervals or the speed of your high-intensity runs.
Take a fit test: See how fast you can run in a set period - say, five minutes - without stopping (make sure you don't overdo it, though - stay at a level where you don't feel short of breath, lightheaded, or dizzy). Doing a fit test regularly is a good way to gauge your progress if you've been running regularly and if it's time to pick up the pace. Plus you may be surprised by just how fast you can really go!

Read on for more.

From the Community: Exercises to Avoid Later in Pregnancy

OnSugar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:31:42 PST

Recently, OnSugar blogger Coach Lark Says offered advice on how to work out while you're pregnant and in your first trimester. Here's a follow-up post with more advice on exercises to avoid in your second and third trimesters.

In my last post, I went over the benefits to exercising while pregnant and listed some basic guidelines.

In the second and third trimester, you should limit or avoid altogether:

Supine (back lying) exercises, especially exercises where the legs are not moving. These can cause some circulatory problems with blood returning back to your heart from your uterus.

Two more exercises to limit in your second and third trimesters after the break.

How to Prevent a Bad Running Day

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:56:02 PST

Some days I slip on my sports bra and sneaks and I feel so light and strong - like I could keep going and going. Other days it seems like my legs are trudging through mud. What gives? We can't prevent bad running days entirely, but here are a few things you can do in order to have more good days than bad.

Get enough sleep the night before. Hit the hay early enough so you get seven to nine hours of shut-eye.
Make sure you're hydrated. Not drinking the appropriate amount of water before and during your workout can lead to dizziness, headaches, decreased energy and performance, dry mouth, and cramps. A few hours before running, drink about 15 to 20 ounces. Drink another eight to 10 ounces 10 to 15 minutes before heading out.
Eat before your run. Remember that food is fuel. If you're not working out for five or so hours, enjoy a meal that contains protein, fat, and carbs. Several hours before a run, eat a meal that's under 500 calories. Thirty to 90 minutes before you head out, enjoy a carb-loaded low-fat snack. If you're working out first thing in the a.m., fuel up with easily digestible carbs that are low in fiber. Getting too much fiber can cause major cramps during your run.
Hit the ladies room. There's no need to carry unnecessary weight with you, so if you can relieve yourself before your run, you'll feel much lighter and will be less likely to experience belly aches.

See more tips after the break!