FitSugar

Winter Exercise Tip: Head Into the Wind First

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 04:00:00 PST

A lot of us run in one direction for 15 minutes then turn around and run back for the remaining 15 minutes. For those of us who live in windy places, this means that half of our runs are done into the wind and the other half are done with the wind at our back.

When it's especially cold outside you need to protect yourself from the elements, so start your outdoor jogs by heading into the wind on the first leg. You'll be less likely to get over chilled (and even frostbitten) on the way back (when you're wet from sweat) if you end your workout with the wind at your back.

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Boating Safety: Things to Know Before You Go Afloat

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 26 May 2012 19:27:32 PDT

It seems like boating season unofficially begins on Memorial Day weekend with everyone headed to their lake houses, weekend river residences, or the beach. In different parts of the nation, boating accidents, injuries, and unfortunately fatalities are on the rise. Now that I've captured your attention, let's review a few tips on boating safety.

Boater's fatigue is real, and it can wear you down. The US Coast Guard warns people about this condition, created by the combination of wind, noise, heat, and vibration of the boat. All these elements can mentally and physically fatigue boaters and subsequently impair their judgment.
Personal flotation devices, otherwise known as life jackets, are vitally important for everyone on board the boat, be it a canoe or a speed boat. Some states even require children under a certain age to wear life jackets, so if the little ones complain about wearing the big orange life vest, tell them it's the law.
Boating and alcohol don't mix. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination, affects your swimming and diving skills, and reduces your body's ability to stay warm. Coupled with boater's fatigue, folks on a boat will feel the effects of alcohol faster than they would on land. Plus, driving a boat while intoxicated is illegal.
The wind can keep you cool and make you forget you're in the sun, but don't forget to reapply sunscreen every two hours and always after swimming. Lube up even if it's overcast since UV rays can still damage your skin through clouds.
Watch the weather to keep an eye on local weather conditions, and be prepared for electrical storms. Water conducts electricity, so you don't want to find yourself on the open water during a lightning storm.

Cauliflower Gratin

OnSugar Blog — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:30:00 PDT

Looking for an elegant yet simple way to serve cauliflower? Look no further than Fresh Tart's gluten-free version of cauliflower gratin.

Perhaps it's cliche that I read MFK Fisher's The Gastronomical Me and wanted to immerse myself in the world of food, but that's OK. Who wouldn't want to do exactly that after reading that sexy, scrumptious book? My goodness that woman could write, my mouth waters (and my heart swoons) just thinking about it.

There's one passage in particular that has had me making simple cauliflower gratins for years. I purposely don't look back at the specifics, I just count on how incredible she made cauliflower roasted with cream and Gruyere sound, swiped through with crusty bread and enjoyed with cold wine.

Lord.

So here's my version, so simple, so completely gluten-free, so much better than the pasta dish I served to Nathan and John tonight (in my opinion). I threw in some arugula leaves this evening because I had them, but you wouldn't need to include them.

Keep reading for an elemental cauliflower gratin recipe.

5 Tips For Keeping Your Hair Safe From Rainy Weather

BellaSugar — Fri, 18 May 2012 03:35:00 PDT

Spring is a time for sunshine and bright skies, but it's also a time where seasonal storms can wreak havoc on your hair. Between the increasing warmth in the atmosphere, the humidity, and wind, stormy weather is definitely more fun to look at than it is to go out in. If you do need to leave the house, though, there are some uncomplicated ways to keep you from winding up with a bird's nest on top of your head. To find out how, just read on.

Jennifer Lopez Has a Red-Hot Night at American Idol

Lindsay Miller — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:44:11 PDT

Jennifer Lopez left her trailer on the set of American Idol and took her seat at the judges' table last night to see this year's five finalists perform. Jennifer wore a formfitting red dress with a sexy mesh cutout and Christian Louboutin heels as she joined Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler on the stage. As this season of American Idol winds down, Jennifer's own music and movie career is heating up. She's starring opposite Cameron Diaz in What to Expect When You're Expecting, which hits theaters May 18, and in June, she's heading out on tour in South America with Enrique Iglesias in support of her album Love? Our latest I'm a Huge Fan winner, who will meet Jennifer Lopez in person in just a few short days, was on hand at last night's taping of Idol to chat up the contestants and get the inside scoop on what it's like to work with Jennifer. Catch today's PopSugar Rush to see the behind-the-scenes action from her visit to the set and stay tuned for the newest episode of I'm a Huge Fan, coming soon!

See Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations so Far

Annie Scudder — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:22:26 PDT

On Feb. 6, Queen Elizabeth II marked 60 years on the throne. To commemorate the Diamond Jubilee, the royal family is traveling around the world on her behalf; Prince Harry recently enjoyed a successful royal tour in Central America and the Caribbean. The queen herself will be staying closer to home for the celebrations.

Today the queen put on her best royal red to check out Gloriana, the new royal barge built for her Diamond Jubilee. The 86-year-old monarch held onto her hat as she and Prince Philip, 90, braved the wind and rain to visit the pier on the Thames to see the barge that will carry Queen Elizabeth and her husband down the river during Jubilee celebrations in June. Last month, she headed to Manchester, England, to mark her Jubilee, and even found time to crash a wedding! The couple had invited her royal highness, knowing she would be in town. A lady in waiting sent a letter declining their invite, but plans were in fact made for the queen to surprise them.

For the first official Diamond Jubilee event, the queen was joined by her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and Kate Middleton. In Leicester, Kate and the queen watched a fashion presentation, meeting up with Prince Philip later for a service at Leicester Cathedral and lunch. Queen Elizabeth really seems to be enjoying herself. You might not know it, but the queen has a laid-back side to her. She reportedly isn't afraid to put on lipstick in public, text message her grandkids, and has a big heart for her racehorses and corgis. We've rounded up pictures from all the festivities! Check them out now.

American Idol: Who Deserves to Get Cut This Week?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:56:56 PDT

In the wake of last week's non-elimination, the contestants stood strong for the intro to this week's show, but they must know performances are more important than ever now that the judges' save card is no longer in play. This was a particularly tough week because everyone had two songs. The first had to be a number one hit from 2000 or later, and the next was some soul "from back in the day" as Ryan Seacrest put it.

With so much on the line, Hollie kicked off the show with a bit of Adele, which the judges praised. Colton put a heavy rock spin on Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance"; Elise utilized her unique voice, and a wind machine, with "No One"; and Phillip Phillips picked up his guitar for his version of "U Got It Bad." We got a second scoop of Alicia Keys when Jessica Sanchez slayed "Fallin." It was the right pick for her, and the judges were all, "See America, we told you so." Lady Gaga also got double-dipped with Skylar's country rendition of "Born This Way," the spunk of which was cleverly juxtaposed with Joshua Ledet's simple, yet strong performance of "I Believe," which earned him a standing ovation from the peanut gallery. The last half of the show was filled with the usual suspects: Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, and more Marvin Gaye. So after their two chances, who impressed you the most and who's heading home?

Race-Day Tips From 2012 Boston Marathon Winner Sharon Cherop

Michele Foley — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:27:27 PDT

This year's Boston Marathon was brutal. The unusually hot weather caused dehydration, heat exhaustion, and in some cases, heat stroke for some of the 2,000 runners. Amid those grueling temps, Kenya's Sharon Cherop emerged as the women's elite champion, who during a press conference shared what led to her victory on such a challenging day. While almost all of us will never finish a marathon with a time like Sharon's 2:31:50, we can benefit from her race-day tips.

Know the Course

Don't let race day be the first time you see the marathon course. When asked what led to her finish-line success, Sharon said knowing the course made all the difference. This was her second time running Boston, so she knew key places where she could afford to slow down or needed to speed up, and there were no surprises waiting for her around any corner, which allowed her to make that dash around the corner at the 600-meter mark before the finish. The specifics of the course also played out in her training. "Last year I realized there's more downhill than uphill. This time I was training more in downhill." Before heading to your destination, research the course online and make note of any elevation changes, winding paths, or road obstacles. Check forums to see what advice other runners offer about their own experiences there. Once you reach your destination, rent a car or sign up for a marathon tour to see the course up front. Driving the length of those 26.2 miles will provide you with a comfortable edge of knowing what to expect on race day.

See what other factors attributed to Sharon's winning success after the break!

Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: "Tea Leaves"

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:32:43 PDT

On this week's episode of Mad Men, Betty's back - and in an, um, "big" way. Thanks to January Jones's real-life pregnancy, Mrs. Francis has packed on a few pounds after what appears to be more than one afternoon spent on the couch with a box of Bugles. Things take a dramatic turn when Betty's mother-in-law advises a trip to the doctor, and he finds a tumor in her throat.

As Betty contemplates her mortality, Don and Harry take a little work offsite to a Rolling Stones concert in the name of Heinz. Back in the office, Peggy adds a new copywriter to Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, and the tension between Roger and Pete continues to build. It's a relatively slow episode ("Zou Bisou Bisou" is a tough act to follow), but let's break down the biggest moments when you

Scary situation: Betty's clearly a bit bored in her life as Mrs. Francis, and as her mother-in-law points out, Betty is starting to let herself go. She heads to the doc in hope of scoring some diet pills, but he finds a tumor instead. Betty begins contemplating what will happen to her kids if she has cancer, and starts having nightmares to go along with it. Ultimately, the tumor is benign, but the scare doesn't shake Betty into reevaluating her life: it only makes her help herself to more ice cream.
Wise beyond her years. Betty's not the only one who's initially shaken up by her tumor: Don is also starting to panic. He's suddenly caring and introspective (perhaps because he recently lost Anna to cancer), but he's also pushing Megan away. When bikini-clad Megan is hurt that he wants to blow off their trip to Fire Island because he's upset about Betty, he tells her that she's 26 and basically insinuates that she's too young to understand. Megan handles the situation nicely, reminding Don that she's old enough to handle death and even manages to convince Don to come along on the trip. Yet another case of Megan proving that Don's temperament doesn't scare her.
Let's spend the night together: Don and Harry head backstage at a Rolling Stones concert in hope of scoring the band for the new Heinz campaign. They basically redefine "fish out of water" standing in their suits and ties among teenage girls smoking joints. Harry gets an in with a groupie, which leaves Don fraternizing with a young fan - and for the first time, Don actually seems fatherly instead of trying to hit on her. It's all for naught though: Harry ends up signing a band called The Trade Winds thinking he got the Stones. Whoops!
Tension in the ranks: Even with his new office, Pete and Roger are still butting heads around SCDP. Pete concedes the Mohawk account to Roger, much to Roger's pleasure - only to essentially take it back at the end of the episode. As he pops a bottle of champagne, Pete announces that Roger will be dealing with the day-to-day, but he'll still be the one in charge. Roger is obviously disgruntled about this and laments to Don that he's starting to feel like he's being shoved out the door at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. This relationship seems like a ticking time bomb, but what will prompt the big blowout?
New guy: With Mohawk airlines back on the client list for SCDP, Roger demands that Peggy find a new copywriter. Enter Michael Ginsberg, whom Stan dismisses as too qualified (he warns Peggy of hiring someone who might be her boss someday), and Roger likes because of his Jewish background. Peggy is immediately turned off when he thinks she's a secretary, and is concerned how Don will feel about his off-putting remarks. As it turns out, Don's completely fine with Ginsberg, and he gets a job. There's just one late-breaking twist: despite Michael's claim that he has no family, friends, or ties of any kind, we learn at the end of the episode that he lives (and cares for) his father. Wonder how this one will affect his promise to live in the office 24/7.

I was happy to see Betty back on the show, but I'm not sure where they'll take her character throughout the season. Plus, it felt like more Betty meant less Joan, and I definitely missed Joannie this week. How'd you feel about the episode?

Photo courtesy of AMC

How to Deal With Spring Running and Shin Splints

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:57:26 PDT

When Spring weather hits, many runners can't wait to wave goodbye to the treadmill and head to the open road. All that fresh air and gorgeous scenery gives the sense of freedom, but it can also cause a painful sensation in the front of the lower legs. Shin splints are a common ailment for runners switching from the treadmill to the road, and if a runner doesn't take certain precautions, that pain can really put a wrench in their training routine.

Shin splints are small tears in the area where the lower leg muscle attaches to the tibia, aka the shin bone. The tears result from overuse, and since running on pavement taxes your muscles more than a treadmill, many runners complain of shin pain when they first begin outdoor runs. Shin splints often occur because the calf muscle becomes stronger than the tibialis anterior, the muscle on the outside of the shin. Even if the ache isn't that bad, it's still a minor injury. Pushing through the pain could result in more severe tears - an injury that could sideline your running routine altogether.

Keep reading to learn how to prevent shin splints.