FitSugar

Get Physical: Go For a Jog Together

FitSugar — Sun, 20 May 2007 02:30:00 -0700

I know this one seems relatively basic, but one of the best ways to get out and about with your partner-in-crime (husband, best friend, mom, etc) is by going for a good ol' jog. My husband loves running outside and so do I, but sometimes neither of us feel like going at it alone, especially on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon.

This weekend you and a partner should dust off the old running shoes and go for jog. This gives you the opportunity to chat about everything you missed in each other's lives during the week (plus then you can use the talk test to make sure you're keeping good pace). I like to make it a friendly competition with my husband. For example, the first person that wants to take a break and walk has to do the dishes after dinner for a whole week. Jogging is a fabulous calorie burner (130 lb woman can burn 590 calories/hour and 190 lb man can burn about 863 calories/hour) for everyone involved, not to mention a great way to check out your neighborhood. You'll both feel great that you've accomplished the run together, which makes it a great bonding activity too!

Fit's Tip: Bring the dog along to give everyone some much needed exercise. Is the jogging partner you want miles away? Well, there's always the option to jog virtually.

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0800

Seems like Demi Moore has lost her hip on the cover of W - Never Say Diet
Meet Gwen Stafani's trainer Mike Heatlie - Fit Bottomed Girls
Going for the fastest marathon time . . . pushing a jog stroller - That's Fit
A little blue pill for the ladies is on the way - Vitamin G
Workout starved? Try the kitchen boogie workout - Fresh Fitness Tips
A 500 calorie Thanksgiving Day meal. How can that be? - Daily Spark
Tame your hunger with these five healthy snacks - Health

Cold Weather Tip: Warm up Indoors

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0700

I don't know about you but working out in the cold can sometimes be uncomfortable because it makes my muscles extra tight. What helps me is to warm up inside before heading out into the chilly weather.

Before a run or bike ride, I do about 5-10 minutes of light cardio inside. Jogging in place, jumping rope, or going up and down my stairs is just enough activity to loosen up my body and get my blood pumping. When I get outside, it's less of a shock to my system. If you'd rather do your warm-up exercises outside, a hot shower is another great way to loosen up your muscles before a cold weather workout.

Is Running While Pregnant Safe?

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:00:52 -0700

It's not every day that you see a pregnant woman going for a run, like Miss Kourtney Kardashian here. On her hour-long jog, I'm sure she got some stares and whispers. Not just because she's famous, but because she's got a big bun in the oven. They're probably wondering, is this safe for her baby, and safe for mom?

Regular exercise is encouraged by doctors for those expecting, because it can help a woman stay healthy, and alleviate some of the discomforts like stiffness, back pain, leg cramping, or constipation. Working out can also prevent unnecessary weight gain, relieve stress, and get a woman ready to endure the physical challenges of labor.

With that said, there are some guidelines a pregnant woman should follow when working out.

Don't make any big changes to your exercise program once you become pregnant. If you were running regularly before you conceived, then it's safe to keep it up, as long as it feels good and you don't overdo it. If you want to start a new type of exercise, talk to your doc first.
Be OK with modifying your routine, especially as your pregnancy progresses. If you used to run four miles a day, you may find that you'll need to cut down in the beginning of your pregnancy. And once you're in the end of your second trimester, or third, walking may be best.
Don't do any types of exercise that put you or the baby at risk, like extreme sports that require balance, speed, or could result in you falling. Your doctor will probably recommend you save the surfing, skiing, horseback riding, biking outdoors, and rock climbing for after delivery.

For the rest keep reading

Sheryl Crow Is the Picture of (and on) Health

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:00:53 -0700

When I think of breast cancer survivors, Sheryl Crow is one of the first people to pop into my mind. Three years ago, she was diagnosed with the disease and is now happy to say she's cancer-free. These days, this down-to-earth, single mom is a breast cancer advocate, and in a candid interview with Health magazine, she talks about ways she's taking care of herself to stay healthy. Here's what she said about her diet.

"When I first got diagnosed, I went to this great nutritionist who specializes in disease prevention and well-being, and I still incorporate her tips like eating omega-3s - I eat salmon or other fish at least three times a week. I eat a lot of walnuts, almonds, colorful vegetables, and prunes, which get such a bad rap but are loaded with antioxidants. I also drink pomegranate juice and keep a vat of tomato soup around or some kind of tomato sauce, because it has lycopene. And one big thing I learned was that so much of wellness depends on your body getting rid of waste. So I eat a lot of Fiber One, which has 14 grams of fiber per serving."

Getting your fill of omega-3s, antioxidants like lycopene, and fiber have all been found to help prevent breast cancer, so following Sheryl's advice is a great way to put prevention into your own hands.

To hear what Sheryl said about her exercise plan, read more.

"I try to do something every day that’s sports-related, and I like to be outside. I love riding my bike, and playing tennis, and paddle surfing. I don’t love going to the gym, but I’ll do it if it’s rainy."

Research has shown that vigorous exercise (running, fast jogging, aerobics, bicycling on hills, etc.) can reduce the risk of breast cancer by about 30 percent in normal-weight women, so get moving like Sheryl to help prevent this disease. The singer also tries to rid her life of stress, lets out her emotions rather than bottling them up, and doesn't deny herself one of her favorite guilty pleasures - Lay's potato chips.

Add Sprints to Drop Those Last Five Pounds

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:47:07 -0700

You've been eating right and exercising regularly for quite some time and the scale has been good to you. You're five pounds away from your goal weight, but your body is hanging on to that extra fluff for dear life. To help drop those pounds for good, you're going to have to make a change to your exercise routine. When doing cardio, instead of traveling along at the same speed or intensity, sprinkle in 30-second sprints. It doesn't matter if you're jogging, biking, jumping rope, or swimming. Whatever type of cardio you're doing, start off your workout at a moderate pace for 10 to 15 minutes, then kick it up as fast as you can for 30 seconds, then slow it back down to an easy pace to recover for 90 seconds. Repeat this interval cycle five to eight times, and then finish off your workout at a moderate pace for 15 minutes. Including speedy bursts burns more calories than working at a continual steady pace. Doing this kind of interval training is also proven to decrease belly fat. So add sprints to your cardio workouts and you should see those last few pounds disappear.

DVD Review: Weight Loss - Cardio Kick

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:00:51 -0700

Although I'm not a huge fan of DVDs that have the words "weight loss" on the cover, I did love the Weight Loss - Cardio Sculpt video I reviewed a while back.

Here's another video from that series called Weight Loss - Cardio Kick ($15). This DVD follows the same format of a few minutes of cardio, and a few minutes of strength training with weights, so it goes by really fast. The cardio portion includes high-energy kickboxing and martial arts-influenced cardio moves like punching, kicking, and pretend jumping rope to burn calories. The sculpting section leads you through combo moves such as bicep curls with squats, and lunges with deadlifts. There are a few workout options you can choose from. Do the total 51-minute workout including warmup, two cardio/sculpting workouts, and the cooldown, or if you don't have as much time, do the 31-minute workout including warmup, one cardio/sculpting workout, and cooldown.

For more of my opinion on this DVD keep reading.

Exhausted? Then go for a jog

FitSugar — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 13:30:00 -0800

A riddle:
Our children are full of it. It comes bottled in a drink. We want more of it.

To find out what it is read more

ENERGY! You know you'd love to get more of it and with all the hype over energy drinks and corporate cat naps, we're all trying to figure out the best way to get more energy. A recent study from the University of Georgia has found overwhelming evidence that the best way to combat fatigue and sluggishness is with regular exercise. I know it seems counterintuitive that a good jog could help when you are feeling like you have no more to give, but from healthy adults to those with chronic conditions, everyone benefits from exercise. It was even found that exercise worked better than medications in combating fatigue. That's refreshing, isn't it?

Fit's Tip: Before reaching for another energy drink or caffeinated soda, you may want to reach for your sneakers. RedBull is not cheap, so instead of putting your money towards energy drinks, put it towards a gym membership.

10 Ways to Work Off a Summer Beer

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:50:47 -0700

For many people, kicking back and relaxing means kicking back with a cold one, and a regular 12-ounce beer contains around 150 calories. If you're worried about what that beer will do to your waistline, here are some summery ways to work it off.

All calculations are based on a 130-pound woman.

Jog for 22 minutes.
Swim laps for 19 minutes.
Play golf for 28 minutes, just be sure to carry your own clubs and walk the course.

To find out what else you can do read more.

Go on a 44-minute canoe ride.
Bike for 19 minutes.
Go on a hike for 26 minutes.
Catch some waves surfing for 51 minutes.
Play 22 minutes of tennis.
Go for a casual 44-minute walk.
Join a volleyball game for 51 minutes.

Fit Tip: Exercise Even If You're Sore

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:00:00 -0700

The day after a grueling strength-training session or lengthy bike ride always leaves me deliciously sore. Yes, I admit that I love the feeling of sore muscles, but on those days, I often feel like skipping out on exercise. While days of rest are definitely necessary and a great reward for a previous day's hard work, a little soreness is no excuse to ditch the gym entirely. A light workout will actually help alleviate some of the tightness and tenderness you feel. I'm in no way encouraging you to do a 10-mile run, or 30-minute session of squats and lunges. Take it easy and go for a relaxing walk, do some stretching, or even a short jog. The light exercise will get blood pumping to your muscles, and afterward, your soreness should feel much less painful. I will say that if you wake up and are extremely sore, as in you-can't-even-walk sore, then a day or more of rest will probably be more beneficial.