FitSugar

Take a Fitness Lesson From Maid Marion

FitSugar — Thu, 20 May 2010 05:50:57 PDT

If you've seen Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, then you already know that Cate Blanchett is not your typical Maid Marion. Cate's portrayal is more "kick ass and take names later" than that of a damsel in distress. She's also majorly inspiring on the fitness front. Check out which of Marion's medieval activities I'll be incorporating into my modern day lifestyle for some major calorie burning.

All photos courtesy of Universal

Make Your Next Date a Fitness Date

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:30:00 PDT

Dating can definitely put a damper on your healthy lifestyle. All those drinks, popcorn at the movies, decadent dinners out, and late-night talks over gelato are bound to mess up your healthy routine.

I'm not saying you should forgo all that delicious food and never eat out, but why not throw some active dates in there as well? Here are some ideas:

Meet at your gym (he can use your guest pass) and you guys can work out before heading to dinner.
You could sit and talk at a coffee shop, or you can walk and talk instead.
Plan an afternoon hike on the weekend.
Go horseback riding. You can take a lesson together.
Take dance lessons together, or just go dancing.
Visit an indoor rock climbing gym.
Take a partner yoga class or other fitness class together.
Go ice skating at an indoor rink. Many arenas offer times for public skating, so call ahead to find out what times are available.
Rent bikes together and take a tour of the town you live in.
Play a game of tennis, golf (with no cart), football, baseball, or whatever. If you're not into playing a whole game, just play catch, go to the batting cages, or hit golf balls at the driving range.

If you have any other ideas for fitness dates, be sure to share them below.

Source

Video: Sam Claflin Talks Love Triangles and Horseback-Riding Mishaps on the SWATH Set

Molly Goodson — Fri, 25 May 2012 01:12:02 PDT

Sam Claflin joins Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, and Chris Hemsworth in the action-packed movie Snow White and the Huntsman. We sat down with the actor, who plays Prince William, at a recent press day near London, where he described the experience as a "dream come true." He shared stories of the on-set fun and admitted that his biggest challenge was with horseback riding. Sam also talked about working with the "charming" Kristen and even touched on being caught in the film's love triangle. Check out our interview with Sam, and make sure to see SWATH when it hits theaters on June 1.

Get Moving and Say I Do: Ways to Incorporate Fitness Into Your Wedding

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:45:11 PDT

Fitness fanatics have a tough time separating workouts from life, so why should their wedding be any different? Here are some ways to bring an active lifestyle into your big day.

Send out fitness-themed save-the-date cards with you and your partner doing something active, like standing on surfboards with a sign that says, "Water you waiting for? Put this date on your calendar!" Or use a play on words like, "Jenny's finally running away with Mike." You can also design your invitations with exercise in mind. Have them look like a poster advertising a race or use illustrations that depict your favorite sport, such as golf balls and clubs.
If your wedding is going to be over a long weekend, plan activities that'll get folks moving. Hire a yoga instructor to teach a class; plan a scenic bike ride, morning run, or woodsy walk; or play a friendly game of beach volleyball (just make sure the bride's face stays far away from the ball).

Keep reading for more fitness ideas for your wedding.

The Beckhams Play in LA With Cute Baby Harper, Brooklyn, and Romeo

Lauren Turner — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:23:30 PST

It was an exciting afternoon for the Beckham family in LA yesterday. David took Romeo and Harper to a local park, where Harper had a bottle of juice and Romeo bounced a basketball. Victoria, meanwhile, went for an adventure with Brooklyn and tweeted, "Amazing afternoon horseback riding with Brooklyn in the Hollywood Hills! I love LA!" Brooklyn turned 13 on Monday and celebrated with floor seats at a Lakers game alongside his dad David. The Beckhams' dog Coco even got in on the fun and donned a party hat during a bash at the family's home earlier this week. David had to leave the excitement to travel to Toronto Wednesday with his Galaxy teammates, who tied the Toronto Football Club after a rowdy match.

Yoga No-Nos For Pregos

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:33:23 PDT

Fun issues like nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, and the need to hit the ladies' room - three different times during a workout! - makes it difficult to keep up with a regular exercise routine when pregnant. If you're expecting, taking up yoga (or continuing to go) is wonderful because not only does it alleviate some of these annoying discomforts, your body will stay strong and flexible. No prenatal yoga class offered in your area? Take a regular class, but be sure to avoid the following during your practice.

Deep forward bends: Folding forward can compress blood vessels and nerves that connect to your uterus. Keep things flowing by separating your legs like in this Wide-Legged Forward Bend to make space at the top of the thighs.
Deep twists: This can also decrease circulation, so always twist in an open position as in this pose, not deeply across the knee.
Lying on your back: Once you hit the second trimester, avoid lying on your back for extended periods of time (as in Savasana). The increased weight of your uterus interferes with the flow of blood and nutrients to your developing baby. It can also aggravate lower back pain, heartburn, and elevate blood pressure. Use blocks and bolsters to prop your torso up instead of lying flat, and whenever possible find ways to stretch the same muscles while you're standing, sitting, on your hands and knees, or when lying on your side.
Poses that work your abs: As your belly expands, it's difficult to support the weight with your rectus abdominus (the muscles you see when someone has a six-pack), so you use your obliques (ab muscles on the side of your belly). Overly-strong obliques can pull your abdominal muscles apart, causing a condition known as diastasis. Avoid risk by skipping poses that target your core, especially your obliques - worry about getting your abs back in shape after the baby arrives.

Keep reading for more prenatal yoga no-nos.

Game of Thrones "The Night Lands": What We're Still Talking About

Shannon Vestal — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:34:39 PDT

This week's Game of Thrones is blessedly free of Joffrey, but there's still plenty of other things that are pretty gross. From decapitated heads to surprise incest, things are intense as the houses continue to get ready for impending war. Thankfully, there's also some levity in Westeros, mostly from Tyrion's one-liners and a charming scene between Gendry and Arya.

I definitely missed the characters we don't see this week (well, maybe not Joffrey), like Sansa, Robb, and Jaime, and those we only visit with briefly, like Daenerys. But like each episode of Game of Thrones, there's still a ton to talk about. Let's break it down after the jump.

Alessandra Ambrosio's Secret to a Feel-Good Pregnancy: Staying Fit

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:47:23 PDT

Victoria's Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio is loving the third trimester of her second pregnancy and has no complaints. Without experiencing the usual discomforts of pregnancy, she told People magazine, "I feel really good. I love this pregnancy. It's been really easy. I haven't gotten really nauseous or anything." The VS Angel's secret to feeling great is keeping up with her fitness routine. She says,

"I've been very active. I've been exercising. I've been going for walks and doing yoga. Playing with my daughter all the time gets me in good shape I guess."

Alessandra practices yoga to stay in shape while she's modeling, but it's also an excellent way to stay strong, limber, and calm when you're a momma-to-be. While it's so important for an expectant woman to stay active during her pregnancy, here are some things to keep in mind during each trimester to ensure your fitness routine promotes a stress- and injury-free pregnancy.

First Trimester
Even if you were exercising regularly before becoming prego, it's important to get the OK from your doctor or midwife before continuing. If running, swimming, biking, hiking, strength training, and doing yoga were part of your routine, go ahead and continue those workouts, just modify the intensity as needed. Now is not the time to do anything new or more intense fitness-wise (it's best to wait till after baby to start training for that marathon). Avoid contact sports or activities that put you at risk for falling such as rock climbing or horseback riding.

Early pregnancy symptoms such as nausea, sore breasts, extreme fatigue, the need to hit the bathroom more often, and hunger cravings can get in the way of your workouts, but it's important to listen to your body. This might mean walking instead of jogging, taking more breaks, snacking during workouts, or taking entire days off to nap instead. Your body is busy at work growing that little one, so don't worry about toning down your routine. Most women start to feel better in the second trimester, so look forward to working out more regularly then.

Continue reading to find out tips for exercising in the second and third trimesters.

Print and Play Our Bachelor Bengo Boards For the Finale!

Tara Block — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 08:21:33 PDT

This season of The Bachelor is about to come to an end today, as Ben Flajnik will be giving his final rose to either horseback-riding Lindzi (winner of the first impression rose) or the villainous model Courtney. If you've been glued to your TV screen like us for the ups and downs of the reality dating show, we've got a treat for you that will make next week's episode truly the "most exciting finale in Bachelor history!"

Here's how it works: Just click here to download five different "Ben"go boards (including a blank one), print them out, and play a Bachelor version of Bingo at your finale viewing party!

And here are the links to the different printable Bengo boards:

Now grab a glass of wine (or two), some equally Bach-obsessed girlfriends, and play some Bengo!

Watch the Entire Givenchy Fall 2012 Runway Here!

FabSugar — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:40:07 PST

Inspired by "horseback riding, Guy Bourdin, and Paris in the '70s", designer Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy delivered a tough-girl collection filled with slick leather separates in a moody color palette, knee-high boots, and equestrian jackets. In contrast, the collection also showcased lacy slip dresses, sheer blouses paired with pleated skirts, and silky camisoles. Watch to see the entire runway show now!