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5 Tips For Keeping Your Hair Safe From Rainy Weather

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 30 May 2011 05:00:00 PDT

Summer 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.

Don't Melt! Tips For Exercising in the Heat

FitSugar — Fri, 28 May 2010 03:00:13 PDT

Where I live, Spring has quickly sprung into Summer weather, with sunshiny days and temperatures steadily climbing through the 80s into the 90s. The warm weather motivates me to get outside and exercise, but I'll tell you, the sudden high temps mixed with humidity are kicking my butt. Here are some tips to make working out in the heat safe and more bearable.

Stay hydrated. Drink water before, during, and after your workout to avoid dehydration. Bring along a water bottle, water belt, or hydration pack and sip about four to eight ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes.
Ease into hot outdoor workouts, and don't push yourself too hard. Exercise for less time and at a lower intensity, then gradually build up to longer, harder workouts. Listen to your body, and don't be afraid to take breaks if you need to.
Alter your schedule to run during cooler times of the day. Early mornings or late evenings tend to be the best.
Run in shady places like the woods, or breezy places like the beach or along a lake.

Want to know what else you should do? Then

You Asked: Why Do I Get Sick Less in Warmer Weather?

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:00:47 PDT

Dear Fit,
I had at least three colds this past Winter and now that warmer Spring weather is on its way, I'm looking forward to a cold-free season. I don't think I've ever had a cold in the Summer, but I'm wondering why. It would seem to me that germs could live more easily on surfaces when the temps are mild as opposed to when it's so frigid out. So why is that?
- Just Curious

Cold and flu season is definitely associated with the Winter season, and one thing we all look forward to in the Spring and Summer is dodging the fever, stuffy noses, and fatigue associated with the common cold. To find out why more people get sick in the colder months,

read more. While your mother may have told you to bundle up in the Winter to avoid getting sick, it's not the cold weather itself that's to blame for your illness. Viruses cause colds and the flu, and the reason more people seem to get sick in cold weather has to do with humidity levels in the air. Viruses favor low humidity levels that you find in colder weather, and can survive longer and spread faster. That's why it's recommended to use a humidifier during the Winter months to help prevent getting sick. Cold and flu illnesses are also highly contagious. In the Winter, people tend to live and work in close quarters with little ventilation, making it easier to come in contact with viruses. Keeping active is also proven to ward off colds, and warm weather inspires more people to get outside and exercise. Now aren't you even more psyched for Spring and Summer?

Keep Your Vitamins Out of the Bathroom

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:00:09 PST

If you down your vitamins with a little bit of tap water, chances are high you store them in your bathroom or kitchen. Unfortunately, a new study indicates that the watery elements of those two rooms make them the worst places to keep these pills. High humidity and high temperatures, often found in both the kitchen and bathroom, can degrade the potency and decrease the shelf life of certain supplements - even if the bottle caps are screwed on tight. Opening and closing the bottles allows humidity to creep inside, and that moisture can dissolve ingredients in the vitamins, decreasing their quality. The chemical changes are irreversible. It doesn't make your supplement unsafe, just less potent.

Check your vitamins and if you notice irregular brown spots, darkening, or signs of moisture in the container, you may want to replace them. And when you do, store your bottles away from the bathroom and kitchen. I keep mine on my desk at work. Where do you store yours?

Tips For Exercising in the Humidity

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PDT

Some people really enjoy working out in the heat under the summer sun. The weather is inspiring as are the other people outside exercising in the heat with you. There is plenty to look at too.

Warm weather is wonderful, but you've got to be careful when the temperature and humidity levels get too high. Here are some tips when exercising in the humidity:

Check the heat-index level. This is the number that takes into consideration the temperature and the humidity to determine how hot it actually feels outside. Check out the chart below - If you are exercising and the temp is 85°F and rising, and the humidity is 65% or more, you could be in danger of heatstroke.

Stay hydrated. Dehydration caused by excessive sweating can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Drink fluids before, during, and after exercise even if you don't feel thirsty. Make sure to pack a water bottle with you while you're out - I like to fill mine with tons of ice and a little water. I put some cubes in my mouth and in my sports bra, and I make sure to take sips of ice water every 5-10 minutes.

To see the other important tips

Avoid direct sunlight. Wear a hat, or workout in shaded areas.
Wear loose-fitting, light-colored, and lightweight clothes.
Exercise at cooler times of the day, early in the morning or late at night.
Go easy. Whether you are running, biking, or hiking, slow down your pace and take intervals of rest and recovery.
Try to use water in your workout routine. Go kayaking, swimming, windsurfing, water skiing, or wakeboarding. You'll be using your muscles and getting your heart pumping, but you won't be staying cool.

Source

Do you find it easier to stretch when the weather is hot and humid?

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 07:30:00 PDT

Stretching is one of my favorite activities and warm weather really inspires me to work on my flexibility. The heat seems to make me more pliable and the stretching even more enjoyable. Does the warm weather have that affect on you too?

Source

Allergies and Humidity

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 13:30:00 PDT

Allergies are the worst. You know what I'm talking about if you suffer from itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, and coughing.

Summer can be one of the worst times of the year because so many things are growing. It also gets really hot and humid, so I want to know...

Source

Cool Vaporizers Are Not Hot, But They Are Cool

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 03:30:00 PST

Unfortunately, we are right in the middle of cold season and at this point, we're desperately looking for anything that will help ease a nasty cold.

Increasing the air moisture is a common way to help you (or your child) feel better when congested -- The added moisture in the air can relieve symptoms such as sore throat and congestion. A cool mist vaporizer or humidifier is preferred over a warm mist one because of the risk of your child (or someone else's child) getting accidentally burned by the outflow of hot steam.

The problem is that a cool mist vaporizer or humidifier gets dirty faster because the heat (in a hot vaporizer) kills mold and germs gathering in the vaporizer. To avoid this, clean your cool mist vaporizer frequently (at least once a week) to deter growth of bacteria and other pathogens.

Fit's Tip: I like Vicks Natural Mist Humidifier ($32.84) because it is quiet and has a wicking filter with built-in bactericide, which helps ward off germs. Buy one on Walmart.com.

Sweet Success: 10 Tips For Baking the Perfect Macaron

Sara Yoo — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:06:19 PST

With their vibrant colors and lacy frills, dainty, crisp-crusted French macarons are the perfect Valentine's Day baking project. But these lovely little delicacies are temperamental enough to stump even the most accomplished chefs. Even if you follow a detailed recipe down to the letter, a batch of macarons can go very wrong very quickly. Thanks to humidity, an unreliable oven temperature gauge, or an overly enthusiastic stirring hand, you may find yourself facing macaron-ageddon rather than baking bliss. But before you throw in the tea towel, we've assembled a few tips to solve your sugary conundrums.

Eyeliner Smudge Solutions

Michelle Phan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:24:00 PST

YouTube star and beauty guru Michelle Phan is all about beauty, and she always has a trick or two up her sleeve. This week, Michelle helps us make raccoon eyes a thing of the past:

Hi everyone,
A reader named Anastasia recently asked me the following question: "I'm from Singapore which is pretty hot, so how can I keep my eyeliner from smudging? I don't want to look like a panda!"

Meet cellulite's worst enemy: coffee

Eyeliner that won't stay put over time - whether we're talking over the course of the day or just a few short hours - is a common makeup mishap. This usually happens as the result of long wear time, using the wrong products, or being in hot and humid environments. Since we all encounter this problem every once in a while, I thought it would be helpful to share my answer, along with some of my favorite tips for keeping your liner in place.