FitSugar

'Tis the Season to Save on Gym Sign-Up

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 11:48:57 PST

National health clubs traditionally offer their best deals in the final days of December, which means it is prime time to sign up or reevaluate your current gym. Gyms give their sweetest sign-up deals now because they want to lure the large number of individuals, like yourselves, who have resolved to get fit in the new year.

FitSugar readers' favorite gym of the year, Life Time Fitness, is waiving its enrollment fee, Gold's Gym is offering a $1 enrollment special, and 24 Hour Fitness is waiving its enrollment fee as well. No matter where you get your sweat on, make sure to Google your gym this week, or call up the membership office and scope out their deals and initiatives. Remember: they want to keep you happy, healthy, and signed-up, so don't be afraid to ask. I've scored special trainer sessions and an adjusted monthly rate just by asking gyms over the years. Of course, don't sign up with a gym simply because it has the best deal. Becoming a member of a health club is a big commitment that involves other factors beyond cost, like location and class offerings. Make sure you check out our tips on choosing a gym before enrolling anywhere. Here's to getting fit in the New Year!

Happy New Year From BuzzSugar!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 10:30:52 PST

Happy New Year, BuzzSugar readers! Thank you for participating in a great year of entertainment and visiting the site to chat about movies, TVs, and music in 2009. Cheers to 2010, and I hope you'll continue to come here for more news, thoughts, and gabbing as the calendar changes.

Happy New Year!

CasaSugar — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 10:30:00 PST

Welcome to 2010! I wish you a beautiful, bright, and design-savvy new year. What are you looking forward to in the home world this year? New colors? New designs? New style ideas? Share your hopes and dreams for your 2010 casa in the comments.

Source: Flickr User andyket

Happy New Year!

FabSugar — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:00:08 PST

May 2010 bring you nothing but happiness, health, love, and, of course, fabulous fashions. Good luck on those resolutions!

How Many Glasses of Champagne Did You Drink on NYE?

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:30:47 PST

Happy New Year! We hope that you're enjoying a great start to 2010 and not nursing a hangover from all the champagne you drank. I decided to not imbibe on New Year's Eve - locked away in a Winter cabin, I chose mulled cider instead. But that's beside the point: I want to know how many glasses you drank while ringing in the New Year?

Happy New Year!

GeekSugar — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:00:14 PST

Good morning, 2010! As 2009 came to a close, we looked back on all the great things that the year brought us - from new gadgets and toys to great tech innovations - but I can't help but be excited for what lies ahead. Thank you all for making '09 a geeky year to remember, and of course, here's to the future!

A Different Way to Celebrate the New Year

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:00:20 PST

New Year's Eve is synonymous with going big. Champagne, lavish dinners, and all-night parties are how many people I know will be spending the holiday. I thought I'd be right beside them, especially since I give myself a bit of a free pass when it comes to the holidays. Not so this year.

Even though the last Christmas cookie was devoured days ago, I still feel a little slovenly from it all. (And I still went to my gym as much as ever!) The triple play of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's makes for a lot of indulging in a small time period - there's just so much butter and eggnog a girl can ingest.

Since Christmas, I've been on a mainly raw food diet. It wasn't intentional or thought out; I think it's just my body's response to overindulging during the holidays. And with NYE just days away, I'm not the least bit excited about swilling champagne or hitting a dinner party. I'm done. Zip me up in a sleeping bag and wake me when 2010 is here. I just can't do any more refined sugar, champagne, or fatty foods in the name of celebrating.

To hear what I'll be doing for NYE,

OK, I'm being dramatic, but I am skipping out on the champagne-filled New Year's Eve and opting for a healthier celebration with my family and friends. Instead of partying down, we're spending the weekend of NYE in Lake Tahoe. We're going to hike, do yoga together each morning, ski, and sled. Because we want to get the most out of shorter days and we all still feel weighted down from Christmas, we're doing it sans alcohol too. And that's fine with me - we're heading up there with tons of games, a Wii, and lots of healthy recipes to prepare together.

I'm excited to ring in the New Year in a healthier manner, and I think it's something I want to do every year. The holidays are definitely a time to celebrate, but it doesn't mean all your health and fitness choices need to be shelved until January. Will any of you be skipping the champagne this NYE?

A Nonalcoholic NYE Drink: Ginger Pineapple Sparkling Punch

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:00:51 PST

If you're looking for something to toast the New Year with but aren't a drinker, I've got your solution - this festive ginger pineapple punch. It's sparkly and bubbly like champagne, but you won't end up with a dreaded hangover the next day. It's also not overly sweet, and the ginger gives it such a nice kick, you won't miss the booze.

If you do have guests that will be drinking, this punch mixes nicely with alcohol. Just leave some bottles of gin or vodka out that they can add to their individual glasses. The ginger syrup also tastes good on its own when mixed with sparkling wine or soda water.

To see the recipe,

Ginger Pineapple Sparkling Punch
Adapted From Epicurious

Ingredients

For ginger syrup
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup agave nectar
1 cup thinly sliced unpeeled fresh ginger

For punch
3 cups unsweetened pineapple juice, chilled
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
4 1/2 cups sparkling water, chilled
4 cups ice cubes

Directions
Make ginger syrup:

Bring water, agave nectar, and ginger to a boil in a saucepan, stirring until agave nectar is dissolved.
Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes, then remove from heat and steep, uncovered, 15 minutes.
Pour syrup through a sieve into a bowl, discarding ginger. Chill, covered, until cold, about 2 hours.

Make punch:

Stir together ginger syrup and fruit juices in a punch bowl or pitcher.
Stir in sparkling water and ice.

Makes 12 servings.

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Save Your Dollars and Join a Gym Today

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:50:06 PST

The last week of December is when most national health clubs offer their best deals - with so many of you saying that your New Year's resolution is to get back to the gym, take my advice and join a gym before 2009 ends. Health clubs are offering their sweetest deals now because they want to lure the large number of individuals, like yourselves, who have resolved to get fit in 2010.

After checking out what your favorite gyms of 2009 are doing to entice new members, the tactic seems pretty consistent across the board. Life Time Fitness (your fave), Equinox (my fave), Gold's, and 24 Hour Fitness are waiving enrollment fees if you sign up before January. Some gyms are adding on even more incentives. Life Time Fitness is offering an additional $150 credit that can be used towards in-club services like personal training sessions, and 24 Hour Fitness has an option for a month-to-month contract. A monthly membership option is great if you're afraid of committing yourself to a lengthy contract that could cost you later.

If the gym you have your eye on isn't offering a great deal for the New Year, don't be afraid to negotiate. Gyms were hit hard during the recession and are doing what it takes to make up for that now, meaning they want your membership. Go ahead and ask for a better deal, or show them what competitors are offering. The worse they can do is turn you down.

Finally, don't sign-up with a gym simply because it has the best deal. Becoming a member of a health club is a big commitment that involves other factors beyond cost like location and class offerings. Make sure you check out our tips on choosing a gym before enrolling anywhere. Here's to getting fit in the New Year!

A Lighter NYE Drink: Lillet Champagne Cocktail

FitSugar — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 03:30:03 PST

We're almost to the finish line of holiday madness - New Year's Eve is less than a week away! Whether you're hosting a party or staying in with that special someone, it's nice to celebrate with a drink. The dilemma: cocktails are higher in calories than champagne, but champagne doesn't always have the same creative kick as a mixed drink.

If you're looking for something different to sip this holiday but are worried about calories, try this Lillet Blanc Champagne cocktail. Lillet Blanc is a French aperitif wine that has flavors of citrus and honey, and when combined, it really steps up the flavor of champagne. I love this cocktail because I still get all the celebratory bubbles of Champagne but feel like I am drinking a fancy cocktail. And since it's a wine-based drink, it's also a lot lower in alcohol and calories when compared to a spirit-based cocktail.

To find out how to make this drink at home,

Lillet Champagne Cocktail
adapted from Gourmet

Ingredients

2 ounces Lillet Blanc
3 ice cubes
2 ounces chilled Champagne or sparkling wine
twist of orange peel for garnish

Directions

In a chilled Champagne glass combine Lillet with ice, add the chilled Champagne, and garnish the drink with a twist of orange peel.

Makes 1 drink.

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