FitSugar

Food Court Survival: Part I

FitSugar — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 03:00:00 -0800

The mall is almost unavoidable during the holidays, and something about all that running around and waiting in lines makes me hungry. What's worse: Not only am I hungry, but I also know there is a place where food is easily accessible. That place, like the fast food holy land, is the Food Court.

Don't worry, we can get through this.

My first idea is to stick to places where you can actually eat healthy. Deli-type places (Au Bon Pain, Subway, etc.) that don't even have a deep fryer are good options - in other words, places where you can't get french fries and onion rings. Places such as Cinnabon, where it's gooey cinnamon roles or nothing, are out.

Au Bon Pain is a favorite of mine but watch out for cheeses, mayonnaise, and any other special sauces they throw on a sandwich and opt for mustard instead. A great option is the Tuna Nicoise Salad, with 270 calories and 12 grams of fat; get the dressing on the side to lower those numbers even more. People tend to think Chinese food is healthy, but that is not always the case - go steamed or not at all. A good option at Panda Express is the Mushroom Chicken with a side of mixed veggies, all for about 220 calories and 15 grams of fat.

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Fit Kids Gift Guide

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:00:20 -0800

What little kid doesn't have energy to burn on Christmas morning? Here are a few gift ideas for the active little ones in your life that will take them around the block on two wheels as well as into the pool - indoor swim lessons make a great gift and help add structure to the rainy and cold Saturdays of Winter. Fear not, soccer was not left off the list of fun things to do and gifts to give. Check out my gift ideas below, and if you have gift ideas for the fit kids in your life, share them in the comments section below.

Gifts For the Camper

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:00:54 -0800

Here at Sugar, holiday season is already in full swing - have you started your gift list? To make holiday shopping a breeze for you, we'll be offering up a bevy of gift ideas in the coming weeks for all the special fit folk in your life.

Everybody loves camping - mom, dad, even the kids. Whether your special someone is a car camper or a backpacker, we've got gear picked out especially for them. Start shopping to enjoy the outdoors together!

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Give the Gift of Relaxation

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:50:59 -0800

Here at Sugar, holiday season is already in full swing - you better believe I've been making my list for who's been naughty and nice! To make gift shopping a breeze for you, we'll be offering up a bevy of gift ideas in the coming weeks for all the special fit folk in your life.

Whether you have a zen mama in your life or know someone who needs to take a moment for themselves, we've got you covered. Take a look at our picks that will help anyone unwind from the day, breathe, and find calm in the chaos.

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Gifts For the Fly Fisherman

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:00:04 -0800

If you're like me, you have a man in your life that likes to fish. As a young girl, I always looked forward to weekend fishing trips with my dad, but I've since traded in my reel for a yoga mat and a day on the rocks. My dad is still going strong, though. Here are a few things I'm scoping out for him that may come in handy for the special fisherman in your life, too.

Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die ($16) Beautiful photographs and descriptions of the 50 best fly fishing spots in the world. This book gives the fish fanatic something to dream about, or inspiration for his next trip.
Tie-a-Fly ($22) Bob Henley's fly kits are an easy and inexpensive way to learn how to tie fly patterns. Each kit comes with enough material to tie 12 flies.
Gallatin Lanyard ($39) Every good fisherman needs to have his gear handy, and a lanyard is an easy way to keep the essentials within an arm's reach. It's padded with foam to keep the neck comfortable, and it has an adjustable length of nine to 27 inches.
Embroidered Clearwater Mesh Vest ($57) Even knee-deep in water, you still gotta look good! No fly fisherman is complete without his vest, and this one gets you remembered for the personal embroidered pocket.
Fly of the Month Club ($60-220) For three, six, or 12 months, the Fly of the Month Club will send that special someone premium flies right to their door.

How to Keep Black Friday From Making You Black and Blue

FitSugar — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 03:30:00 -0800

Standing in line on the busiest shopping day of the year can really test your patience, and back, and legs, and feet . . .

Here are a few things to try to make standing in line bearable:

Keep your weight evenly balanced on both feet. Standing with all of your weight on one leg with your hip jutting out might look cool and seem like an energy saver, but it can really tweak your back, your hips, and your knees. Especially if you are carrying a heavy purse or already loaded down with bags.
Bend and straighten your knees a bit to make sure that you are not locking your knees, which decreases circulation to your lower legs and grinds the knee joints - ouch!
When you're frustrated that the sales clerk can’t seem to get the total right for the person way at the head of the line - breathe. Take a deep breath and let it go. Remember - oxygen is free.
Put all your bags down and stretch out your back by rounding your lower spine. Remember: Pulling your abs in increases the stretch. You don’t have to make this a big, conspicuous motion. Just big enough to move the spine around a bit so it doesn’t get overtaxed. (Speaking of which - I wish I lived in a state with no sales tax on clothes. But that is another can of worms.)

Happy shopping!

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Burn Some Holiday Calories

FitSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:30:00 -0800

For me, the holidays are all about eating, drinking, and general merry making with friends and family. All that celebrating can add up to gaining at least five unnecessary pounds. That is no way to ring in the New Year. If you can't make it to the gym, you can maximize the calorie burning potential in your holiday chores. I have made a little chart to help find some ways to burn those extra holiday calories. All the calculations are based on a 130 to 140 pound woman.

To see how you can burn it up, just read more.

Activity	Calories burned
Go shopping. After each store, instead of lugging your bags around, walk back to your car. The extra trips back and forth will burn more calories.	1 hour burns 207 calories.
Wrap gifts.	30 minutes burns 48 calories.
Vacuum, dust, wash floors, scrub the bathrooms, and do other house cleaning to get ready for guests.	1 hour burns 191 calories.
Drive to the Christmas Tree Farm, hike around to find the perfect tree and cut it down.	30 minutes burns 100 calories.
Decorate the tree, and go up and down the ladder to decorate your house with lights.	1 hour burns 250 calories.
Light holiday baking.	1 hour burns 159 calories.
Shoveling snow from your driveway and walkway by hand.	1 hour burns 374 calories.
Take a walk around your neighborhood to deliver holiday cards.	1 hour burns 207 calories.
Nature hike before dinner.	30 minutes burns 190 calories.

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Trim the Fat Friday at Gold's Gym - It's Free

FitSugar — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0800

Even though we all know that the average Thanksgiving dinner is 3,000 calories, it is hard not to overindulge. Gold's Gym wants to help you get back on track after your holiday feast. The chain has even renamed Black Friday "Trim the Fat Friday" and is offering free workouts to the public. Yep, you don't have to be a member of Gold's to participate in the post-holiday exercise fun.

Starting today and continuing throughout the weekend, Gold's Gyms across the country are opening their doors to non-members to help us burn off calories from our Thanksgiving feasts. Both trainers and nutritionists will be offering advice to avoid dreaded holiday weight gain.

To find a gym near your, check out this gym locator. I would call the gym before you head over in your fitness gear. Although I have it from a good source that all Gold's Gyms are participating, the website reads "at participating locations" only. If you're shopping the day after T-day, you can still focus on fitness over the weekend.

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Check Out the New Sale Alert Feature on ShopStyle

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0800

Wearing new workout duds to the gym is sometimes just the motivation we all need. These days, though, many of us are trying to save when we can, and that is where the email sale alerts at ShopStyle come into play. And let me tell you, they make shopping feel more like playtime than ever.

If you've been eyeing a certain pair of sneakers or some running tights to keep you pounding the pavement in chilly weather, you can sign up to get email notifications when the gear you need goes on sale. You can select specific items, brands, or all running shoes, and a message will pop up in your inbox when they go on sale. You can check all your active alerts and constantly update what you're looking for. This is a great way to shop for the holidays too and help your spread the gift of fitness! So what are you waiting for?

Happy Holidays!

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 04:30:00 -0800

Christmas has finally arrived and we are midway through Hanukkah! This all means that 2009 is just around the corner, bringing the fresh start of a new year. After all the shopping, baking, decorating, planning, and cooking, it is finally time to relax and enjoy yourself and your loved ones.

Here at Sugar Inc., we hope you are having a wonderful holiday season and a healthy one too!