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.

Brazil Sends Its Vintage Scents to the States

Annie Tomlin — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:55:00 PDT

Unless a trip to Rio is in your future, good luck tracking down Phebo soaps and candles. Founded in the 1930s, Phebo is one of Brazil's most venerable perfumery brands - and as well-known as the line is in South America, it's extremely hard to find in the States. That's all about to change, as Macy's begins to stock a variety of Phebo bath and body products this month. Three hundred stores will have soap gift sets in fragrances ranging from rose to neroli; flagship stores in San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Miami will have an extended range that includes beautifully packaged candles and bath salts. If you're interested in getting your hands on the brightly wrapped goods, move quickly. With only a three-month run planned for Macy's, Phebo will be gone faster than you can say tchau.

Hollywood Secrets For Long, Lean Legs!

Self — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 04:30:18 PDT

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

Angelina Jolie, Jessica Biel, Cameron Diaz . . . Who hasn't watched their favorite movie stars walk the red carpet and grown a little envious of their mile-long legs? Granted, most leading ladies are blessed with superior DNA, but that doesn't mean you can't score long, lean gams too! "What is possible for others is possible for you," says Barry's Bootcamp cofounder Barry Jay, the celebrity trainer behind Eliza Dushku's, Stacy Keibler's, and Juliette Lewis's fit physiques. "But be patient! If you want legs that look like Jessica Biel's, do the work!"

That means ditching the late-night pizza runs and sticking to a healthy diet. Also remember to maintain proper form during those calorie-torching sweat sessions or all of your hard work will be for naught. "Form is everything," says Jay. "Don't just do it. Do it right!"

To get started, incorporate these three moves using a set of five- to eight-pound hand weights (or set a timer for one minute per exercise if hand weights are unavailable) into your regular routine twice a week. "Good legs are important because they help your whole body change," says Jay. "You burn the most calories when you work out your legs. They are the foundation of your body, a gift, and they deserve to look their best!"

Read on for the workout.

Easy Ways to Green Your Fitness and Daily Routine

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:38:43 PDT

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

You carry your own water bottle, use a reusable shopping bag, and sort your recyclables from the trash. Here are more easy ways to green your daily routine without thinking about it.

Choose Wisely

Look for eco-friendly companies when shopping for workout clothes and gear. Gaiam, Patagonia, and GoLite are just a few of the companies that use organic fibers in their clothing and accessories. Green your yoga session by investing in a mat made from sustainable ingredients, like Manduka's eKO Mat.

Reuse Old Fitness Gear

If you've Downward Dogged your yoga mat into tatters or have equipment from your days of being in the neighborhood soccer league, blow off the dust bunnies for a cause. Bring new life to your old gear through these programs.

Recycle Your Mat: Send your old mat (or drop it off at a participating location), and this company will work with other organizations to find creative new uses for it.

Sports Gift: Organize a collection in your neighborhood, school, or office for old gear like soccer balls, tennis rackets, and athletic shoes, and this nonprofit will ship them to underprivileged children worldwide, so they can enjoy sports too.

Reuse-a-Shoe: Donate worn sneakers to Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program, and they'll turn your pair into material for playgrounds and other Nike products. Find a drop-off location or start your own shoe drive at Nikereuseashoe.com.

Keep reading for more green fitness tips.

Last Chance! An End-of-Season Workout to Up Your Ski Game

Leta Shy — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:14:27 PST

Even with this mild Winter, we've still seen our fair share of snow in the mountains. And while Spring is just around the corner, late-season storms around the country have given us the gift of fresh powder. If you're planning a snowy mountain weekend anytime soon, here's a circuit workout that works your core, lower body, and balance - courtesy of Erick Northrup, a district fitness manager at Crunch and avid skier - to keep in your workout rotation before you head to the slopes.

Get the workout after the break!

How to Travel Full-Time For $17,000 a Year (or Less!)

Wise Bread — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:46:59 PST

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

For the last five years, I've been traveling the world full-time, and for less money than I've ever spent (and I'd wager less money than most people would spend) to live in one place.

My worldly possessions fit into one bag (just larger than carry-on size) and a backpack containing my laptop and computer gear. This small entourage (weighing less than 45 pounds in total) comes with me as I wander around the world, sometimes quickly, but mostly slowly.

In 2011 alone, I traversed 13 countries and over 45,360 miles. Sounds pretty expensive, huh?

What if I told you it wasn't? What if I told you that both 2010 (a similarly busy year of travel) and 2011 cost me just over $17,000 (including some major non-travel-related purchases)? Would you believe me?

Believe it. (Here's proof, with a full breakdown of where I went and how much it cost: My Cost of Full-Time Travel in 2011).

How to Keep Your Travel Costs Low

Of course, I could travel for way more than $17,000 a year. The sky is the limit for what you can spend on the road, from food and accommodation to flights, destinations, and tours. I could also travel for less than this, if I made different spending choices.

Here are a few of my secrets.

Don't Pay For Accommodations

In the entire year of 2011, I paid $173 for accommodation. And that expenditure was a function of a discounted stay at the Hilton in Stockholm as a luxurious “splash out.” The rest of the time, I had free accommodation in various forms, including . . .

Read on to find out more.

10 Ways to Make a Good Day More Likely

SavvySugar — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:05:41 PST

You may wake up on the wrong side of the bed, but that doesn't mean you have to adopt a negative attitude. Sometimes bad days seem inevitable - you miss the bus, arrive late to work, then forget a major deadline - but just a few tweaks to your everyday routine can set you up for better, happier days. Hoping to have a joyful Spring? Check out 10 simple ways to make a good day more likely:

Set multiple alarms. It's hard to be satisfied when you're tired and groggy, so do yourself a favor by going to bed at a decent hour. More importantly, though, be sure to set several alarms so that your day gets off to a prompt, panic-free start.
Eat a healthy breakfast. If you're hungry, it's not a good day. Period. Easy solution? Allow yourself enough time each morning to sit down and enjoy a filling, nutritious meal. Pack healthy snacks to make sure you have plenty of energy throughout the day.
Look good, be comfortable. If you dress well and feel positive about your appearance, you're more likely to channel your best self. Your attitude will shift, if only slightly: "The rain is terrible, but at least my sweater is cute."
Have a plan. Avoid any hectic moments or anxious breakdowns by giving yourself a daily schedule. If you're able to prep the night before, you'll feel much more relaxed as you tackle your daily responsibilities.
Chat with loved ones. Engaging with the people you care about, be it in person or over the phone, can do wonders for your attitude. Even a five-minute conversation with your pal will be enough to lighten your spirit and leave you energized.

Read on for more ways to improve your days.

Beginner's Mind: 5 Tips to Build Your Yoga Practice at Home

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:49:23 PST

A "beginner's mind" is a term you may have heard thrown around the yoga world. It means we're heading to our mats with no preconceived notions about what we can or can't accomplish, what poses we can or can't do - essentially, we should approach each experience like it's the very first time. While this is a tool we can take to all facets of our practice, recently, I've been finding it essential when practicing at home. Regardless of whether you're brand new to yoga or you're a seasoned yogini looking to breathe new life into a stale home practice, it's time to take these five tips to heart!

Set up a sacred space: While yoga is certainly a physical practice, half of its beauty comes with the clarity it brings to your mind. This comes first and foremost with a serene environment conducive to yoga. Make sure you have ample room to move with as few technological distractions as possible. When the mood strikes, turn on soothing music and light a candle or two. This is your time, so let's get it as relaxing as possible!
Make yourself (and your yoga) a priority: It's easy to get distracted from your home practice. Yes, things certainly come up and plans change, but do your best to dedicate a specific amount of time to your yoga. If you're constantly cutting out yoga from your schedule, rethink when it is a best fit. If you normally plan on practicing at night postwork but always cancel, try waking up a little early to kick things off with some Sun Salutations. It will bring a whole new energy to your day.
Be gentle with yourself: Learning to listen to your body is one of the best gifts you can receive from yoga. There's a difference between pushing yourself to a comfortable edge and putting yourself in a stressful position that will lead to a serious injury. I had a fantastic teacher who told me that you can really feel the difference between a "good" hurt and a "bad" hurt. If you're delving into a yoga home practice, you're going to have to get acquainted with this difference. Get yourself set up with all the necessary tools of the trade, and listen to your body now so you don't pay for it with serious discomfort later.

Get two more tips after the jump.

How to Avoid New Mom Comparisons

BabyCenter — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:00:57 PST

We're excited to share this post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we will be bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post from Evonne Lack about avoiding the dangerous trap of competitive parenting.

The comparison game is one new moms know well. Even when we try to avoid the "does your baby do this yet?" questions, it's pretty impossible not to notice when, say, a friend's 5-week-old is smiling and yours isn't. As mom Heather Cianciolo says, "Doesn't every mother compare her kids?"

Blame it on our survival instincts, says Kathy Seal, coauthor of Pressured Parents, Stressed-out Kids: Dealing With Competition While Raising a Successful Child.

"We're hardwired to push our kids to compete. After all, our ancestors' children had to be strong enough to get that last piece of meat or outrun that dangerous animal," Seal says. "It's also natural to want our kids to acquire skills, so we compare for reassurance."

Normal as it is, comparing can be a recipe for stress. It can also prevent us from fully appreciating what our kids are accomplishing. Here are some common comparison traps - and how to sidestep them.

Related: Developmental Milestones

Milestone & Developmental Comparisons
Babies vary widely when it comes to hitting milestones like sitting up, crawling, and walking, which makes this comparison trap a particularly easy one to fall into.

"I remember sitting in music class, watching a 10-month-old demonstrate physical milestones that my 19-month-old was just getting around to. It was hard," says Cianciolo.

As moms, we're encouraged to watch for any development problems or delays and to get help right away with anything we notice. So it's no wonder we're constantly wondering what's normal and what's not.

Sidestep the trap: Research shows that as long as your child is reaching milestones within the normal range, how quickly he reaches them has no bearing on his later skills.

So if your 18-month-old says only one or two words compared to your same-age nephew's dozen, it doesn't mean your child won't eventually gab your ears off.

"Milestone development has very little to do with a child's future potential, so I encourage parents not to worry if their children are late bloomers or seem to be at the outer limits of normal," says Darshak Sanghavi, a pediatrician who's also an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and author of A Map of the Child: A Pediatrician's Tour of the Body. "It's tempting to think that what a child does when he's young is going to control his destiny, but everyday experiences don't bear this out. We can't determine a child's destiny based on what month they started walking," Sanghavi says. Enjoying your child's current skills and tricks can help ground you in the present and prevent you from fretting about the future.

"It's hard to hear my 15-month-old niece saying more than my 2-year-old daughter. But it helps to focus on the special things my daughter does - like when we get ready to read, she gets the blanket and pillow and sets it all up, which really makes my heart melt," says Kim Lybrand.

Finally, remind yourself that while we can certainly help our children learn new things, we can't force them to reach milestones before they're ready. When we attribute our kids' development to our superior parenting skills, it can come back to bite us.

"When others noticed how well my son got around, I felt like we must have done something great to facilitate his excellent gross motor skills," remembers Jennifer Parker. "But then I'd hear other children speak so clearly, while my son wasn't yet talking at all, and I'd feel like such a bad mom."

More on no-competition motherhood after the break.