FitSugar

Fit Gift: Fitness Challenge for the Fit Wannabe Couple

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 07:30:00 PST

Looking for a game that will get fitness wannabes moving?

The Fitness Challenge ($29.95) combines playing a board game with the benefits of an exercise and fitness program. Designed for two players of any age or ability to compete, The Fitness Challenge uses rewards in the form of star points along with cute coupons (make the other player organize your drawer or clean out your cat's litter box) as prizes to motivate players to exercise consistently and lose weight for eight weeks.

The best part is that you it doesn't matter what kind of shape you are in, anyone can play. The game is eight weeks long and the rules are designed to motivate you to exercise at least three days a week, every week. From walking to mountain climbing, the range of workout choices accommodates any lifestyle.

This is a great gift idea for any twosomes you have on your list. Buy it online at The Fitness Challenge site.

Gifts That Move You

FitSugar — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:45:00 PST

If you're like me you're right in the middle of figuring out gifts for the long list of people you love (or don't totally love, but still are obligated to buy for). I hate buying people gifts that I know are going to promote them being sedentary. It is hard when it comes to games but there are some games that really get you moving.

Wii. We love the Wii ($732 was the best I could find) because people are seriouly getting moving playing this video game -- Not just adults but kids as well. Check out geeksugar to see a very cute kid playing Wii. Buy it on Amazon.com.

Cranium. There are so many Craniums out there. I love them all but for getting moving, I like Pop 5. Pop 5 ($34.98) is one of the newest additions to the Cranium family fun and you have the option to act out every play. Get Pop 5 on AreYouGame.com. For kids, go with Hullabaloo ($19.98) which is sure to get the kids in your life moving. Get Hullabaloo on AreYouGame.com.

Twister. Twister (12.99) is a tried and true game that gets anyone moving. If you don't sweat while playing Twister, then you're doing it wrong. Buy it on eToys.com. Now Twister has Twister Moves (19.99), which is a way to get kids moving to the music. Buy it on eToys.com.

Dance, Dance Revolution for Playstation 2 (though they have it for xBox as well). DDR ($29.95), as the serious players call it, is a game that can be a serious cardio workout and it might even teach you how to dance! Buy it at Toys R us. For the kiddies, try Dance Dance Revolution with Stawberry Shortcake ($29.99). Buy it at Toys R Us.

The Vampire Diaries "Dangerous Liaisons": The Good, The Bad, and The Bloody

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:52:08 PST

The original vampire family hosts a ball on this week's episode of The Vampire Diaries, and the whole town puts on their finest formal wear for the event of the supernatural season. Elena has two dates to the event, but it's her date to meet the original witch that gives us insight into what's in store for Klaus and his siblings.

Speaking of Klaus, we get some developments between him and Caroline that are sweet and promising (even if she's a bit cautious to date him because of his cruelty in the past and general bloodlust). There's also a hot hookup that I didn't see coming, so there's lots to talk about this week. To get to the good, the bad, and the bloody, just keep reading.

Fresh Start Resolution: Cut Yourself Some Slack

SavvySugar — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:23:53 PST

It's a New Year and a new you! We're offering 12 tips to start off the year right. We've already given you advice on mastering time management and improving your public speaking, so here's another way to start afresh in 2012.

Make this the year that you finally give yourself a break. It's easy to get caught up in stress and to be hard on yourself when it comes to work, finance, and relationships, but the best way to stay happy and healthy is to lighten up a little bit. Here are four ways to cut yourself some slack in the upcoming year:

Schedule time for yourself. In between work commitments and everyday errands, it can be tough to find time for the things that fulfill you. Still, it's crucial to step back and let yourself indulge. Whether it's exercise, spa treatments, lunch dates, or just 10 minutes to sit and breathe, give yourself the gift of leisure. Even tiny moments of joy will have an impact on your mind-set.
Use your vacation days. Companies want eager, enthusiastic employees, so take advantage of your benefits package and schedule a vacation early in the year. With a trip to look forward to, you'll find yourself energized and more satisfied with your workplace. After your break, you'll return to the office with a calmer spirit and the drive to do better - especially since greater success usually means extra days off.

Read on for more stay-sane tips

How to Jump-Start Your 2012 Workout Action Plan

Heather Dale — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:45:08 PST

If you're the type of person who likes to set New Year's resolutions each year, then you've probably already come up with some fitness-related goals to add to the list. With the holidays soon coming to a close, it can be difficult to carve out some time to plan for the next 12 months, which is why I've come up with some easy tips to help you get your workout plan underway. Just make sure your list doesn't include some of these unrealistic resolutions, which are pretty much guaranteed to fail!

Get Calendar Crazy: Don't stress about filling in your calendar for the entire year, but what can be helpful is to plan out the next two or three months. Is there a yoga or spin class you've been wanting to try? Find the class time each week and add it to your calendar so you instantly block off that time. If you know you want to get back into running, carve some time out of your calendar for scheduled running sessions. Also pencil in marathons and anything else fitness-related that interests you and is happening in 2012.

Keep reading to check out the rest of the plan!

What to Do With Your Year-End Bonus

LearnVest — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:15:06 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

You’ve just been informed by your supervisor that you have a tidy bonus coming to you soon for all of your hard work this year. (And, of course, you totally deserve it.)

But whenever a large sum of money falls in your lap, you need to have a plan for it, so you don’t wake up a month or two later and realize that it’s all gone.

That’s no way to reward yourself for a job well done.

What You Shouldn’t Do

Rack up credit card debt in advance of your bonus expecting to pay it off.
Use it to treat your family and friends to oversized Christmas gifts.
Count your chickens before they hatch. Even if you’ve been told how much your bonus is, it will be taxed like regular income. Because of all the factors that play into it, don’t assume you know exactly how much will land in your account.
Plan your finances around the same bonus showing up next year.

Read on for more.

Best of 2011: The Year's Biggest Health Food Trends

Michele Foley — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 03:21:27 PST

When talking health food trends, last year was all: ancient grains, overnight oats, and gluten-free goodness. This year's biggest health food trends? Here's a hint: chia pets, the godfather of fitness, and pina coladas.

Coconut milk: With recent studies calling into question the benefits of soy, people were on hunt this for a dairy-free alternative that wasn't linked to breast cancer. While almond and rice milk are old favorites, they lack the richness and sweetness that soy does. Enter: coconut milk beverage. Not as thick and rich as the kind of canned coconut milk used in curries, coconut milk beverage is great in smoothies and ice cream; it's also great over cereal, in coffee, or on its own.
Pressed juice: It seems that Odwalla just isn't fresh enough! Not since the early days of Jack Lalanne has pressed juicing seen such a heyday. Once looked at as some sort of hippie juice, everyone - even Starbucks - is getting in on the pressed-juice craze. All of Hollywood seems to be juicing, too: stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Richie, and Olivia Wilde are regularly spotted with their carrot-beet-apple-and-green-stuff blends. Are you a juice-head? Then definitely check out our recipes for pressed root veggie juice and green juice.
Chia seeds: Move over flax, there's a new seed in town! Chia seeds (yep, the same kind used to decorate those wildly adored, '80s novelty gift, chia pets) are everywhere this year. Sprinkle them on yogurt, add them to a bread mix, or even toss them in a dressing - there really is no end to what chia seeds can be used for. The health claim to fame? Chia seeds are high in protein, fiber, calcium, antioxidants, and omega-3s - zing!

Source: Flickr user littlebluehen, Source

7 Tips For Being the Best Gift Giver

Colleen Barrett — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:46:41 PST

Like most things, all you need to know to be an amazing gift giver can be found in the words of 30 Rock's Jack Donaghy. "Gift giving is the purest expression of friendship," he tells Liz Lemon. "I'm going to think about what I know and like about you and that will lead me to the perfect gift. And you do the same."

The problem is we don't always know the people we're buying gifts for as much as we'd like, so I've rounded up some advice that will make you the best gift giver under the tree. After all, competition is what the holidays are all about.
Get the tips below.

15 Cool Gift Ideas For the Man in Your Life

Jaime Richards — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 07:08:34 PST

The thing about getting gifts for men is that you don't want to get them something too fussy, or else they'll likely be turned off. But they also deserve to be pampered and groomed just like the rest of us. From presents with moving parts to scents they'll go wild for, check out some great options for the dad, brother, or any other dude in your life. They're bound to love them just as much as they love you.

Glee-ful Highlights From Episode "Extraordinary Merry Christmas"

Shannon Vestal — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:57:02 PST

I must be in the holiday spirit, because Glee made my heart grow three times this week. Early in the episode, the gang mentions how dreary last year's holidays were, what with Kurt being at another school and Sue destroying their tree and gifts, so they want to have a happier holidays. The show itself seems to take that sentiment to heart, and there's pretty much nothing but music, joy, and laughter in this episode.

If you're a holiday lover, I'm willing to bet this is one of your favorite episodes of all time - it definitely is for me, because watching the glee club perform old Christmas standards and fun original songs made me more than merry. I didn't mind that there's very little story development this week - just fun, and I'm already planning on watching the hilarious and wonderful Christmas special segment again. To break down all the festivities, just keep reading.