FitSugar

Did You Get Sick Over the Holidays?

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 03:30:00 -0800

I love the holidays for many reasons, but for many other reasons I am excited for them to finally be over. I can't think of the last time I didn't get sick over the holidays and this past holiday is no exception. From constantly traveling to having a jam-packed schedule, I always find myself a little under the weather at some point. I am finally over a nasty little cold and excited to be able to get back into my regular schedule with working out, but what about you guys . . .

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What Fitness Gifts Did You Get This Year?

FitSugar — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 03:30:00 -0800

We talked about all the things we wanted Santa, or anyone, to give us as a gift this holiday season so I am hoping that you got some of what you were asking. More important I am wondering what, if any, fitness/health gifts you got this year.

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Stuff Those Stockings With Healthy Goodies

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:30:00 -0800

If you read FitSugar regularly, chances are high you are on a health and fitness kick, and to that I say "Right on!" Since Christmas is the time of giving why not give something healthy to your friends and family? Seriously, health is the gift that keeps on giving. Here are some great ideas for stocking stuffers that encourage a healthy lifestyle:

Gift cards to gear shops or health-food stores.
Gift certificate for a free-month gym or studio membership.
Fitness DVDs.
Gift certificate for a session with a personal trainer, private chef, or dietitian.
Wicking socks for runners, skiers, or riders.
Emergen-C packets.
LARABARs, Kind Bars, or other energy bars.
Hand weights or exercise bands.
A little card that says you got them a year's subscription to Women's Health, Yoga Journal, or some other health magazine.

Do you have any other small, but healthy ideas that could fit in a stocking? Please share them in the comment section below.

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Get in Gear: Traveling Trainer

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:30:00 -0800

The holidays are approaching faster than ever. With the holidays come traveling for many of us, and with traveling comes not working out as we normally would. I like to try to keep up a workout as best I can when I am traveling but it's not always easy, and I'm not about to lug my dumbbells to Philadelphia for Thanksgiving.

One way to help keep it easy (and light) is by getting a Traveling Trainer kit ($39.99). This exercise travel kit is like a personal trainer in a bag. It's an easy, safe, and effective program and the kit comes complete with a few resistance tubes of varied resistance, a door attachment, a 26-minute exercise video, an exercise instructional guide, a diner’s guide, and Michael Sena’s (author of Lean Mom, Fit Family) personal-training workout programs. All of that comes in a lightweight nylon bag easy to pack in your suitcase or trunk, travel ready. Plus, you can even use the resistance tubes when you're not traveling.

Keep the Holidays Safe

FitSugar — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 04:45:00 -0800

Let's face it, even during the holidays, accidents happen!

Luckily for us, KidsHealth.org has created a checklist for ways to try and avoid accidents for safe holiday celebrations this year.

From tips on poisoning: "Bubble lights" containing methylene chloride can be poisonous if a child drinks the fluid from more than one light (even if labeled nontoxic).

To tips on accident prevention: Keep breakable ornaments out of your young children's reach - or keep them off the tree until your children are older. If one does break, clean up the broken glass quickly.

They've got you (and your loved ones) covered. Check out the full list on KidsHealth.org.

Which Drink Has More Calories?

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 13:12:15 -0800

Ahh, 'tis the season to totally lose track of how many calories we are actually consuming.

Between Eggnog and Hot Buttered Rum, (the season's most popular alcoholic beverages) which has the most calories?

Eating Through the Holiday Stress

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 12:00:00 -0800

Do you find the holidays to be particularly stressful? If so, you may find a few extra unwanted pounds under your clothes come next year.

This year, try your hardest not to turn to food this season. Women, in particular, find the holidays to be stressful as we feel the need to make it perfect for all our loved ones. This leaves many of us laying in our beds at night, sobbing while clutching a box of Ho-Hos. Not good.

MSNBC reported that the studies by the American Psychological Association show that nearly half of all American women suffer from holiday related stress which can lead to comfort eating and weight gain.

If you suffer from holiday stress and emotional eating try going easy on yourself this holiday season with these tips:

Get others to pitch in -- Don't just ask people to help, assign them tasks.
Find time for yourself -- Schedule a massage and have your in-laws watch the kids.
Go easy on the decorating -- Everyone will still have a good time even if your house doesn't look like the Griswald's from National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.

There's more tips, so read more

Shop online -- Crowds, lines and lugging bags around can contribute to stress.
Exercise -- Working out is a fabulous way to combat stress and burn calories.
Don't schedule big group excursions -- Trying to coordinate 12 people going to the zoo seems like a good idea until you are actually trying to get out the door.
Don't keep items you can easily binge on in sight -- Candy bowls are easy targets for emotional eating, if it's not there you won't eat it.

Fit's Tip: Still stressed? Keep healthy foods offhand so that if you turn to food, its something healthy -- Instead of eating all the candy canes off the tree, reach for veggies and hummus.

Need support and help on keeping on track this holiday season? Be sure to join my "Diet Support Group."

Fit Gift: Tummy Tuck Jeans

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 03:30:00 -0800

Still looking for that perfect gift for your older sister who always talks about getting a tummy tuck, but hates the idea of going under the knife? Or do you want a pair of skinny jeans that are not themselves skinny, but that actually make you look skinny?

Enter Tummy Tuck Jeans ($118-$148) by NYDJ (Not Your Daughter's Jeans). Tummy Tuck Jeans claim to flatten the tummy, contour the hips, lift the booty, slim the body and allow the wearer to go one size smaller. NYDJ created the Tummy Tuck Jeans for fashion forward women who are actually shaped liked real women, not models. They come in sizes 2 to 24, including petites. Sounds too good to be true, I know, but many women swear by these things. Buy them on Nordstrom.com.

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Gifts That Move You

FitSugar — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:45:00 -0800

If you're like me you're right in the middle of figuring out gifts for the long list of people you love (or don't totally love, but still are obligated to buy for). I hate buying people gifts that I know are going to promote them being sedentary. It is hard when it comes to games but there are some games that really get you moving.

Wii. We love the Wii ($732 was the best I could find) because people are seriouly getting moving playing this video game -- Not just adults but kids as well. Check out geeksugar to see a very cute kid playing Wii. Buy it on Amazon.com.

Cranium. There are so many Craniums out there. I love them all but for getting moving, I like Pop 5. Pop 5 ($34.98) is one of the newest additions to the Cranium family fun and you have the option to act out every play. Get Pop 5 on AreYouGame.com. For kids, go with Hullabaloo ($19.98) which is sure to get the kids in your life moving. Get Hullabaloo on AreYouGame.com.

Twister. Twister (12.99) is a tried and true game that gets anyone moving. If you don't sweat while playing Twister, then you're doing it wrong. Buy it on eToys.com. Now Twister has Twister Moves (19.99), which is a way to get kids moving to the music. Buy it on eToys.com.

Dance, Dance Revolution for Playstation 2 (though they have it for xBox as well). DDR ($29.95), as the serious players call it, is a game that can be a serious cardio workout and it might even teach you how to dance! Buy it at Toys R us. For the kiddies, try Dance Dance Revolution with Stawberry Shortcake ($29.99). Buy it at Toys R Us.

Relax Already: Decorating for the Holidays

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:15:00 -0800

Holidays got you starting to majorly stess out? Thanksgiving is enough to handle let alone everything that follows. One thing that always stresses me out is decorating. Ugh!

This year, go easy on the outside decorations, this way you will be less stressed and able to focus on making the indoors cheery. Your neighbor who has the animated manger scene with strobe lights and a paid Santa actor always takes the cake and no one even looks at your house anyway-- give yourself a break this year. A pretty wreath on your front door tastefully says Happy Holidays. Sitting in front of the fire and sipping some warm tea is a lot more relaxing than stringing 4,000 light bulbs on your frozen gutters.