FitSugar

Get Moving With Girls on the Run

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 03:00:37 PDT

I'm always telling you to get a workout partner so you have another reason to be motivated to stick to your goals. One way to take it the next step further is by becoming a running buddy with Girls on the Run - a program for girls age 8 to 13 years old that combines training for a 5k running event with self-esteem-enhancing, uplifting workouts. It is a great philosophy: teach girls about healthy living and self-respect when then are young, and hopefully these habits will stick for life.

The goal of Girls on the Run is to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual, and physical development. As a running buddy ,you are paired with a girl to run by her side, encouraging her to do her best during a one-mile or 3.1-mile run/power walk. Not only will you be helping a girl achieve her own goal, but you'll be motivated to move too. Find a Girls on the Run branch near you to inquire about becoming a running buddy today.

Watch a video on the nonprofit organization featuring founder Molly Barker when you

ACTivism: Become a Running Buddy

FitSugar — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:45:00 PDT

I'm always telling you to get a workout partner so you have another reason to be motivated to stick to your goals. One way to take it the next step further is by becoming a running buddy with Girls on the Run - a program for girls age eight to thirteen years old that combines training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts.

The goal of Girls on the Run is to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development. As a running buddy you are paired with a girl to run by her side, encouraging her to do her best during a one-mile or 5K run/power walk. Not only will you be helping a girl achieve her own goal, but you'll be helping yourself to get moving. What's more motivating than that? I'm doing it here in the Bay Area and I can't wait. Find a Girls on the Run branch near you to inquire about becoming a running buddy today.

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Whitney's Chris D'Elia Is Back With More Relationship Advice

Annie Scudder — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:00:09 PST

Single and looking for eligible, normal guys? Don't move to LA, says Chris D'Elia, who plays a lovable and hilarious boyfriend on NBC's Whitney. That's some of the advice the standup comedian dished out in response to our readers' questions. Yesterday he addressed your Valentine's Day dilemmas, and today's he's back to tackle general dating and love debacles.

Is it fair to barter TV shows with my fiancé? As in, two hours of The Bachelor equals half of a football game?

Chris: Look, I don't like football, but if I did and I wanted to watch it, then I would expect to have to sit and watch something like The Bachelor, and I would try my best to get into it, or at least find why she liked it. The other alternative is like, "OK, I want to watch football you want to watch The Bachelor, then let's agree on something else." But then neither of you get to watch what you want to. For The Bachelor, I'd want to watch Dexter.

Where do normal men hang out in LA? If you can solve this mystery (preferably with a chart that includes days of the week, locations, and "type" of guy) I guarantee you could sell it for millions in addition to making this single lady very happy.

Chris: I don't think that's a fair question. I think people move to LA because they're not normal.

What's the best way to suggest to any man that he needs to get some new clothes?

Chris: The worst thing you could do is beat around the bush, or side step it. You got to just say it. But I had an ex, and she was like "you got to get Converse," and she kept saying it - "get Converse." I was finally like, "OK, I'll get a pair of Converse." And I got a pair of Converse. I got those regular Chuck Taylor ones, but I literally got every single color of the Converse, and I wore them all the time. And a year later, she was like "All you wear is Converse." So you have to be careful with that, you'll create a monster.

Why do men need their man caves?

Chris: I think that men think they need their man caves. They don't really do. They think they want them, and then the second they do get them and they have alone time and time away from the girl, and the girl is really cool with giving them alone time, then that's when they, or at least I, start to think, "So, why are you so cool with me being alone? What's wrong with me that you don't want to be with me every second."

How can I ask my husband to do housework without sounding like a task master?

Chris: Don't make a list. Don't pin anything up on the fridge. I'm a dude, obviously, and when I'm not in a relationship, I don't do any of that stuff. I don't do laundry until I want to. But if I live with a girl, you have to do it when she wants to or when we want to, which sucks. That totally messes up my day. So just come out and just say it. Just have a good attitude about it and don't wait until you get frustrated.

How would you describe your perfect woman and how could she attract your attention?

Chris: Tweet at me. That gets my attention. The number one thing is, you have to have a good attitude. Find the humor and the fun in things that aren't even fun. The two things that turn me off completely are negativity and if a girl's cheap. I mean, I'll pay for everything, but if a girl just mentions it, that's a turn off. That and DON'T WEAR FLIP-FLOPS. It's terrible. I mean come on. Put something on your feet. What if you have to run away? You're dead.

I'm moving in with my boyfriend next month and it's the first time I'm living with a man. What should I prepare for? Get the answer and much more advice from Chris below!

Ben and Jen Spend a Packed Weekend With Seraphina and Violet

Katie Henry — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:27:39 PST

Pregnant Jennifer Garner kept her girls busy over the weekend, starting with a Saturday trip to the nail salon and a visit to a friend's birthday party yesterday. Jen's kept up a packed schedule in recent weeks and doesn't seem to be slowing down. She's been spotted all over town running errands with Seraphina and dropping Violet off at her various activities. When it came to picking up a gift for yesterday's bash, though, Jen left the shopping duties to Ben and Seraphina. Ben and Sera stopped by the Brentwood Country Mart prior to the celebration, and she even left with a heart shaped lollipop of her own. The Garner-Affleck family doesn't hide their affection, which is one of the reasons Jen and Ben are among our favorite celebrity couples on Valentine's Day.

The Five Best Races For Women

espnW — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:09:19 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar!

By Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea

Sage Steele, SportsCenter anchor, is preparing to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World on Feb. 26 and hoping to fall in love with running in the process. Follow Sage’s journey on espnW.com

Women's races offer a decidedly different vibe than their coed cousins': more camaraderie, a sole sister atmosphere that welcomes all runners and walkers, and lots more running skirts. Here are five of the top women's races and series in the country. Sign up then train like Sage.

Disney Tinker Bell and Princess half marathons
Sage picked a winner. Let your inner child run free through the Magic Kingdom at these festival race weekends. Tinker Bell is in Disneyland, while Princess is in Disney World, but both allow thousands of runners to mix and mingle with Disney characters on courses that wind through each park. Racers put almost as much effort into costumes - Snow White, Belle, or Minnie, anyone? - as training. Bonus: your kids will be especially psyched to cheer you on.

Sage Steele gets some training advice from Disney runMom Lori Lovell

Nike Women's Marathon
Yeah, it's tough to snag an entry, but if you can, this race is so worth it. (Psst: Go through Team in Training.) This 26.2-mile race, and its half-marathon companion, traverses San Francisco with sweeping vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge and Pacific Ocean to take your mind off the killer hills in the first 10 miles of the race. Tuxedo-clad firefighters bestow each finisher with a Tiffany & Co. pendant.

Run fast by fueling up smart

Three more great races after the break.

Eva Mendes on Feeling "Creatively Satisfied" With Ryan Gosling, Her Insecurities, and More in Marie Claire

Lauren Turner — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:02:09 PST

Eva Mendes looks glamorous in a jeweled top on the cover of Marie Claire's March issue. The actress has been busy with multiple projects, including Girl in Progress, which hits theaters in April, and Holly Motors, though much of her headline making is due to boyfriend Ryan Gosling. The duo worked together on The Place Beyond the Pines last year and have been spotted sharing romantic dates in Paris, Disneyland, and around LA since. Eva touched on working with Ryan, her own insecurities, and how she gets her glowing skin. Here's more from Eva Mendes in Marie Claire:

On working with Ryan Gosling: "He’s your dream costar. I have never felt so creatively satisfied on a film."
On her diet and workout routine: "I run four to five times a week, mixing it up among distance running, intervals on a track, and running uphill on a treadmill. I don't eat meat and stopped eating chicken - my skin has gotten a lot better."
On her body image: "What I tell girls is what they don’t like about themselves now, they will probably end up loving as an adult, because that’s what happened to me. When I am complimented on things that I didn’t like when I was 13, like my overbite and my mole, that’s when you realize that your imperfections are why people love you."

Top OMG Moments From Gossip Girl "The Backup Dan"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:42:51 PST

This week's episode of Gossip Girl picks up right after last week's wedding and Blair's subsequent escape. Dan is assisting Blair with her post-reception plan, but everyone else is left wondering where the bride has run off to, and what it means to the royal family. Meanwhile, Georgina continues her scheming under the guise of Gossip Girl, so let's talk about that and all the other OMG moments from this week.

Photos courtesy of The CW

Labor Pains: 7 Ways to Ease the Pain of Labor

BabyCenter — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:37:43 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 Nancy Johnson Horn about tips for easing labor pain.

I remember going into labor over 6 years ago with my first child. When my water broke 11 days early I couldn’t remember a thing, other than "pick a focus point on the wall" and breathe.

But there’s more you can do to make labor go a little smoother. Recently, I spoke to Hope Garland, an Affiliated Bradley Instructor, www.blossombirth.net, who recommended these amazing tips. So, if you’re weeks or days away from childbirth - don’t panic, just print out (or bookmark it on your smartphone) this post so you can reference it when you go into labor.

Pack in the protein: If you were about to run a long marathon, would you eat only ice chips? No. You need to eat a protein-rich meal. It will give you the stamina needed for labor (plus many hospitals won’t let you eat once you check in anyway). Make a plan to either keep something in the fridge/freezer/cupboard or know where you can go to get your marathon meal.
Don’t fight gravity: Remain upright as long as possible. Walk around or sit up, but don’t lie on your back. (Yes, that’s really me in the pic, before I found out I should be walking around.)
Hydrate thyself: Pack (and use) a water bottle. If you properly hydrate yourself during labor, you’ll increase your energy output by as much as 30%. Also, if you can keep drinking water, you may not need an IV that will really restrict your mobility. That’s when the ice chips and clear liquids can also help.
Breathe using your abdomen: Normal abdominal breathing increases relaxation, which you’re really going to need. Chest and patterned breathing may fool your body into stress mode, and you don’t want that.
Take a virtual chill pill: You’ve got to stay relaxed. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. If music helps, bring a preloaded playlist on your iPod, locate a focal point in the room and breathe. Banish as much negative energy as possible. While it’s not easy, stay as relaxed as you can through contractions – it will let your body do what it’s supposed to do.
Move around during labor: There are a variety of positions for labor. Try to change positions so you’re not in one place for too long. Speak to the nurse about how you can be monitored and still move around. Bring slippers for those lovely grippy hospital socks so you can walk the halls.
Make sure you have support and loving encouragement: Having your husband, partner, or trained birth partner can make a big difference. That support will do more for you than any amount of medication!

Do you have any tips to make labor a little easier? What did or didn’t work for you?

More great stories from BabyCenter.com:
Quantity or quality time: Which matters more?
Five reasons you need the Origami Stroller - now!
The three greatest dangers for baby are . . .
Seven ways to spread the love this Valentine's Day
What do you say to pushy parents?

Source: Flickr User bradleygee

Healthy Dose Link Time: Brazilian Blowout Contains Formaldehyde

Susi May — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:22:22 PST

Health hazards of hair straightening: Brazilian Blowout contains carcinogens - Blisstree
Go crazy and try the Insanity Workout for free! - Self
10 easy ways to get cooking with kale. It's a superfood! - Real Simple
Could a club drug be the new cure for depression? - The Stir
Three natural ways to soothe your sore throat - Prevention
Trying to diet? Try skipping the food boards on Pinterest - Fit Bottomed Girls
A full-body workout for you. Print it out and do it! - Fitnessista
Race on! Train for a 5K personal record! - Women's Running

Is Oprah Really Blue Ivy Carter's Godmother?

Allie Merriam — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:39:58 PST

Is Oprah really Blue Ivy Carter's godmother? - Us Weekly
Viola Davis and Shailene Woodley join the list of SAG presenters - People
Why didn't Leighton Meester go to the Gossip Girl 100th episode event? - Lainey Gossip
Looks like Mary-Louise Parker will replace Demi Moore in Lovelace - Huffington Post
Why did Jennifer Love Hewitt strip on the small screen? - TooFab
See Anna Wintour and Karl Lagerfeld get the Simpsons treatment - The Daily Beast
How awesome was Emma Stone in the 30 Rock fake trailer for MLK Day? - BuzzFeed
Are you pumped for Daniel Radcliffe's new movie? - ET
Is One For the Money destined to be Katherine Heigl's best movie? - Rotten Tomatoes
Gossip Girl's Kaylee DeFer ends her engagement - Wonderwall
Claire Danes accepts her "wackadoodle" Hasty Pudding award - Lifeline Live
Alec Baldwin might be serious about a run for NYC mayor - Zap2It
Tim Tebow apparently turned down a date with Kim Kardashian - Celebitchy