FitSugar

Do You Think Golf and Rugby Should Be Olympic Sports?

FitSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:50:15 -0700

The International Olympic Committee has selected golf and rugby sevens (a faster version of the traditional 15-to-a-team version) to be included in the 2016 games, over baseball, softball, karate, roller sports, and squash.

Tiger Woods will undoubtedly be a fan of the decision. As Woods recently said, "golf is a truly global sport and should have been in the Olympics a while ago." Interestingly enough, IOC president Jacques Rogge once played rugby for Belgium, although he did not participate in the vote. The IOC's recommendation will be voted on by the entire IOC assembly in October, which is considered a formality. In other news, women will be able to box for the gold in the 2012 games. Boxing was the only sport that didn't include female athletes.

Fit Gift Guide: The Golf Pro

FitSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:00:00 -0800

I have fond memories of going to the driving range with my grandpa. To thank him for introducing me to the game, I wanted to get him some golf gear this year. If you have a golfer in your life, they might enjoy these gifts too.

Vineyard Vines Golf Tie: From far away, this looks like a regular tie, but if you look closely, you see tiny golf balls and tees. If you don't like light blue (shown), it also comes in mint green, dark blue, red, and pink.
ProActive Sports Pro-Circuit Putt Return System: This indoor putting mat allows golfers to work on their short game anytime. The best part is that when it drops in the hole, the ball comes right back to you.
Chocolate Truffle Golf Balls: Lake Champlain makes these dark chocolate truffles that are covered in white chocolate and dimpled like oversize golf balls. Three deliciously edible balls come in a gift box with ribbon.
A Good Walk Spoiled: Days and Nights on the PGA Tour: When the golfer in your life isn't on the green, they can relax with this book to learn more about the PGA tour.

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Crave Worthy: Golf and Tennis Wear by Stella McCartney

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:30:00 -0700

Stella McCartney paired up with Adidas a few years back, and her feminine yet sporty clothes do not disappoint. The design are always fresh and lovely, not to mention expensive, but a girl can dream can't she. Her Fall sports collection includes dance and ski wear, but it is the golf and tennis outfits that really inspire.

New York magazine recently shared a few sneak peeks at these new designs.
I, for one, would love to hit the links in these clothes. I know they wouldn't help my game, but at least I would lose fashionably.

To see the tennis fashions, read more.

View 2 Photos ›

Let me know what you think in the comments section below. These styles should be available for purchase soon. Until then we can only imagine the prices and keep dreaming.

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Get Out Your Clubs and Live Longer

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:00:00 -0700

If you've never golfed a game in your life, this recent news may inspire you to hit the links. According to a recent Swedish study, golfers have a life expectancy that's five years longer than non-golfers. Amazing, isn't it? I mean we all know that golfing is great for your health because it reduces stress, and all that walking the 18 holes (instead of riding in the cart) is a moderate workout. Could golf be the fountain of youth?

This study also found that players with a low handicap (ones who are good golfers), have a lower death rate. It could be because in order to get really good at the game you have to play a lot, but researchers think it's the actual game, not just the regular exercise, that offers these life-lengthening benefits. This sounds like a great reason to set up a tee time.

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Get Physical: Time to Hit the Driving Range

FitSugar — Sun, 18 May 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Whether you're into playing a round of 18 holes or not, hitting some golf balls at the driving range can be fun for anyone. It's a great activity to do on the weekend with your partner, since it doesn't require a big investment of time or money. It is a great way to enjoy the fresh air and hit something with all your might.

Most golf courses have a separate driving range where you can perfect your swing, and often you don't need to be a member of the club to use it. A jumbo basket of balls only costs about $10; talk about a cheap date. If you don't own your own set of clubs, most courses have loaner sets.

If you've never played golf in your life, the driving range is a great place to start – it is the gateway drug to the game. I love practicing my swing because it's a great upper body workout. It is quite satisfying to see how far you can hit the ball. Fore!

Fore! Luke Wilson For Puma Golf

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:45:00 -0800

I love when celebrities get on board to help design athletic gear because it can help send a good message for people to get off their butts and move a little. Luke Wilson, who we've seen jogging and playing golf, has joined the likes of Scarlett Johansson by creating his own athletic clothing line with Puma and pro golfer Johan Edfors.

The line includes highlights such as chrome details, higher-end Merino wool materials, and personal color combinations and selections. Wilson’s selections included darker blues and blacks for a more casual, laid-back approach, while Edfors selected brighter color palettes with vibrant green and pink, more typical to his personal style. I'm excited about the C-hopper shoe that can be worn on or off the course by just removing the spikes, because I can't tell you how many times I've had lunch with my shoeless husband at the clubhouse. Unfortunately the line doesn't come out until May, so we wait.

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Golf Practice in Cold Weather

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:30:00 -0800

Golf is a favored sport among some of us but those winter months can really take a toll on your game. Since I'm no golf pro (though I certainly try) I found some valuable information for keeping up your golf game during the cold months of winter from Suite101. Here are highlights:

Maintain Golf Fitness and Conditioning - Stretching is imperative to maintaining your golf physique. Areas to focus on include the arms, wrists, back, quads and calves. Stretching will aid in your flexibility as well as your endurance.
Practice/Work On Your Swing - Chris Cullen, Golf Specialist at Old Channel Trail Golf Course in Montague, Michigan, told Suite101 he suggests that golfers work with a weighted club like the Momentus Swing Trainer over the winter months.
Master Your Short Game - The short game can make or break your score, so be sure to work on your putt during those cold winter months.
Practice Driving - Many cities have heated driving ranges and/or indoor practice facilities.
Indoor Golf Centers - The popularity of golf simulators is growing. In fact, many indoor golf centers now offer winter leagues utilizing this technology.

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Fore: Stella McCartney Adds Golf to Adidas Line

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:30:30 -0800

Stella McCartney is about to make hitting a hole-in-one a very stylish affair. The designer is extending her relationship with Adidas by coming out with a clothing line for women who love and spend a lot of time on the golfing green.

The Spring/Summer '08 Golf collection will hit stores in February and features items women will want to wear even when not playing the sport. ''I think it is about time that women who play golf can now echo what they wear in everyday life on the green. It’s exciting for me to bring a bit of an edge to golf," Stella said. I couldn't agree more. The collection is inspired by men's silhouettes and tailoring but includes feminine details. Tee time, anyone?

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Summer Exercises Calorie by Calorie

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:15:00 -0700

If you're like me, when summer is nearing to an end, I get a little sad thinking about all the fun outdoor activities I won't be able to do once the weather cools down. So here's a little kick in the pants to motivate you to get out and enjoy (or try) these sunshiny weather workouts before it's too late.

Summer sports and activities are some of my favorites because even though you're working every inch of your body, you may not even realize it because you're having so much fun. Just be sure to take precautions so you don't get a sunburn (which can lead to skin cancer), become dehydrated, or get heat stroke.

Want to see how many calories a person burns doing 30 minutes of each? Then read more

Activity (30 min)	120 lb	135 lb	150 lb	165 lb	180 lb	195 lb
Casual Walking	108	122	136	149	163	176
Brisk Walking (12 min miles)	244	275	306	336	367	387
Jogging (10 min miles)	272	306	340	374	408	430
Running (9 min miles)	299	336	374	411	449	486
Moderate Golfing (with no cart)	109	122	136	150	163	177
Moderate Biking	163	183	204	224	244	258
Intense Swimming	217	244	272	299	326	344
Moderate Scuba Diving	191	214	238	262	286	302
Moderate Water Skiing or Wakeboarding	163	184	204	225	245	265
Moderate Canoeing, Rowing, or Kayaking	136	153	170	187	204	221
Moderate Badminton	163	184	204	225	245	265
Moderate Hiking	136	153	170	187	204	221
Heavy Backpacking	272	306	340	374	408	442
Moderate Volleyball	136	153	170	187	204	221
Moderate Tennis	163	183	204	224	244	258
Heavy Soccer	327	367	408	449	490	517
Moderate Horseback Riding (trotting)	180	202	225	247	269	292
Moderate Muscle Conditioning (Yoga, Pilates, lifting weights, strength training exercises)	136	153	170	187	204	221

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Back to Basics: Benefits of Sports

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 09:30:00 -0700

As kids we are encouraged to get involved in sports because not only are they great physical motivators, they are also great mentally and for team building. As adults, we may have our team building skills under control, but still would love to get the physical benefits of playing sports.

Just in case you forgot, here are some basic sports that you may want to get involved in:

Soccer is great for the sticks. All that sprinting gives your legs and glutes a workout, which is also a great workout for the heart. Kicking and throwing the ball works your arms and abs to help you keep balance. You'll also use some smaller muscles in the ankle, knee and hip.
Water Polo is not for beginner swimmers, but is a great full body workout. This tough sport is one where your legs never touch the pool floor. Swimming builds strength in your legs and shoulders, and passing and shooting the ball works the back and chest. Water polo also can get your heart pumping for a great cardio workout as well. Despite the fact that the game never really stops until it's over, it is considered a low-impact sport and it has a low rate of injury (minus the occasional elbow to the face). It could even be a great place to meet someone too -- My brother met his wife during an intense game of water polo.
Basketball is not just for tall all stars. Shooting baskets and passing and dribbling the ball will help strengthen arm muscles. It's great for toning up the lower body too -- Think of all the running, jumping and fancy footwork involved. Running back and forth across the court also provides a good cardio workout, this is why you probably had to do basketball drills in gym class as a kid.
Tennis is a fabulous method of burning serious calories due to the high intensity bursts that typically occur during a good tennis match. Beginners may need some practice before seeing this benefit. Swinging, smashing and hitting the ball are fabulous for strengthening your upper body as well as your legs.
Golf is a great way to get in a good dose of walking (considering you ditch the cart). Swinging helps strengthen legs and hips and can increase flexibility in your shoulders, arms, wrists and hands. As long as you can keep your temper under control, golf can also be a major stress reliever.