FitSugar

Healthy Eating Tip: Drink Water First

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:00:00 -0700

How much water have you had today? The eight glasses a day theory has come under scrutiny, but we still need to stay hydrated, especially if we exercise and/or live in a hot, dry climate.

But there's another reason you want to keep hydrated; studies have found that folks who stay on top of their water intake actually consume fewer calories. This could be because sometimes we can confuse the feeling of dehydration with the feeling of hunger. So, in an effort to stay hydrated and keep your calories down, think about drinking a glass of water before your meals. You may find that you feel fuller faster, and if nothing else, it's a good way to guarantee you'll be drinking a few glasses of water a day.

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Fit for July: FitSugar Must Haves

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Summer is in full force by the time July swings around. If you're lucky, you're still finding a time to exercise before the mercury rises and all the barbecues get fired up for Independence Day. In this seventh month, we're more than halfway through the year and hopefully still going strong on our healthy endeavors. Keep motivated and fit with my must haves for July.

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Spring Fit Tip: Bring Enough Water

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Spring is here and you know what that means? It's time to bring your workouts outdoors! If you're going to be embarking on any hiking or biking then be sure you bring along enough water.

A good rule of thumb is to have 16 ounces for every hour you anticipate to be gone. I know it may seem like a lot but nothing is worse than finding yourself two hours away from home on a lovely bike trip as you realize you've just finished your last drop of water. If you're going to be doing a bit of day trippin' than you may even want to invest in a hydration pack.

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What to Do After Your Workout

FitSugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:45:00 -0800

You might not have ever thought about this but what do you do once you've finished 30 minutes of cardio and lifted your last rep of your last set? Go home? Not quite.

Just because you've done the hard part does not mean that you should just pack up and head on home. Feel free to congratulate yourself for a job well done, but here are a few more things you should consider doing:

Hydrate. Just because you're done working out doesn't mean you're done hydrating. Chances are you've lost a good bit of water during your workout, even during Winter workouts, so be sure to keep on drinking water to keep hydrated beyond your workout.
Cool-down. A 5-10 minute cool down is necessary to bring your heart rate back down to a normal rate, lower your body temperature, as well as help prevent blood pooling, muscle soreness and cramps.

There are a few more tips so read more.

Stretch. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, "Stretch after exercising." If you need reasons why, be sure to check out my top ten reasons to stretch.
Eat. This is the one most people have the hardest time with because it seems counter productive, however, it is very important to refuel after a workout - within 90 minutes. I'm not saying you should stop at Macaroni Grill on your way home from the gym, but try to eat something that will help repair your torn muscles and replenish your lost energy.

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Three Ways to Stay Hydrated at Work

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Hydrating at work is just as important as hydrating while exercising. Office environments are notorious for being some of the driest places on earth, particularly with air-conditioning and heat going at full blast. Hydration is simple to do, but if left undone can leave you feeling less than stellar. So stick to this 3-point plan to focus on hydration from RealBuzz.com:

Limit caffeine intake. Caffeinated drinks including cola, tea and coffee, all dehydrate your body. This can result in headaches, dry and sore throats, and lethargy.
Don’t lose your bottle. Always keep a bottle of water at arms reach. Take frequent swigs and you’ll keep your fluid levels topped up.
Don’t neglect activity. However, just because you have water close at hand and don’t need to move away from your desk for a drink, still make sure that you take regular exercise and mobility breaks.

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5 Things Every Healthy Eater Should Do

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 02:30:00 -0700

So you call yourself a healthy eater, eh? If so, you may want to be sure to do these five things to ensure your healthy eating status:

Eat breakfast, always.
Drink plenty of fluids/water.
Get your five a day.
Limit salt. Better yet, avoid it.
Avoid late night snacking

Have anything else you'd like to add to the list? Then add your ideas in the comments section below.

How to Ease the Pain of Sunburn

FitSugar — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:45:00 -0700

Sunburned? You don't need me or anyone else reminding you that you should have worn sunscreen - your screaming red skin is reminder enough! So what can you do to ease the pain and speed up the healing? Here are some tips:

Take a cool shower and gently lather up with a moisturizing soap.
As soon as you get out of the shower, while your skin is still damp, rub aloe all over your sunburn. The store-bought gel works well (I keep mine in the fridge), but if you have an aloe plant, that'll work better. Just break off a stalk, peel one side of the skin off and rub it all over the affected area. You can save the leftover stalk wrapped in a plastic baggie in the fridge. If you don't have aloe, rub regular lotion all over your skin.

There's more tips so read more

If the area is really hot and burning, apply cool, wet washcloth compresses to your burn.
Take an aspirin or ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling.
Drink plenty of water to re-hydrate yourself.
Wear loose fitting clothes so you don't irritate your skin.
If your skin blisters, avoid popping the bubbles because it can cause infection. Continue to moisturize your skin several times a day with aloe or lotion.
Stay out of the sun until your skin heals.

Fit's Tips: Since the next time you go out in the sun, you won't forget your sunscreen, just remember to reapply it every 2 hours so you can be fully protected. Remember to check the expiration date if you still have last year's sunscreen.

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Why Does My Face Turn Red When I Exercise?

FitSugar — Thu, 10 May 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Having that sweet pink flush to your face is a tell-tale sign that you've been working out, but some people's faces turn beet-red. Why is that? Is something wrong?

Not at all! When you work out, your body produces heat. One way that your body makes sure it doesn't overheat is by sweating, of course, but your body also increases blood circulation to the skin's surfaces, so the heat can be radiated off (smart bod). Warm, oxygenated blood rushes to your face, turning it that bright red color. It's receiving lots of healthy blood, bringing nutrients to your skin and carrying away toxins.

If you are noticing other symptoms besides a red face, like dizziness, fatigue, or nausea, you may be in danger of becoming overheated. To help your body stay cool, wear clothes that breathe easily, like cotton. Also make sure to keep yourself hydrated. Bring a water bottle with you and sip when you feel yourself getting too hot (resist chugging down gallons of water - it could give you a belly ache). You can also pour some water on your head to cool you off (if you're running, lean forward so you don't get water in your shoes - it'll prevent blisters).

Now that the weather is getting warmer, if you are exercising outside, you may want to workout early in the morning or later in the evening, when the temperature is cooler. Also, tone down your workout a little - you may not be able to do what you did when the air was colder. If the heat really bothers you, you may want to exercise indoors (that's what air-conditioned gyms are for)

Fit's Tips: If you're in the market for new sneaks, you'll find that most of them are now made with this meshy material to help keep your feet from getting too hot and sweaty. Pretty clever, huh?

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Get the Bod: Evangeline Lilly

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 11:45:00 -0700

Not only am I addicted to LOST, but seeing all those toned and sun-kissed bodies really inspires me to workout and eat healthy (so I can look that good in my bikini this summer).

Evangeline Lilly (Kate, the adorable brunette) always looks amazing - I love her tousled hair, her golden skin, and her tough as nails body (not to mention attitude - I wouldn't mess with her!).

What does she do to look that good? She may be on a deserted island, but she told Self.com that she knows the dangers the sun can have on her skin. She's all about the bronzers and self-tanners - much healthier than baking in the sun - and she always wears sunscreen to save her skin's future.

Was she born with that strong and lean body? Are you kidding? She's obsessed with eating healthy and exercise is part of her life - she loves walking or riding her bike instead of driving.

Want to know her #1 health tip? Then read more

Sleep!! She makes sure to get 8 hours of sleep a night. Staying hydrated is just as important, so she drinks lots of water. Do you know how much water you should be drinking? Check out the Fit Calculator - it will tell you!!!!

Her healthy lifestyle is motivating me to buy some self-tanner and ride my bike to work!

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Powdered Drink for Power: Luna Elixir

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 03:30:00 -0700

Sometimes a gal just wants to drink her vitamins while she hydrates her continually thirsty body. I think this healthy multitasking must be the reason that makers of the tasty Luna bar created the Luna Elixir, a powdered drink mix. It is convenient - packaged in individual serving sizes, and easy. Just pour the contents into your water bottle, shake it up and drink. Follow the flavor meter on back of the packet to determine how sweet you want your drink, sweeter means add less water (8 ounces). I prefer mine less sweet so I add 16 ounces of water.

The drinks come in four flavors: Raspberry Lychee, Orange Passionfruit (my personal fave), Pomegranate Berry, and Dragonfruit Kiwi. Each drink package contains only 50 calories, plus 15 essential vitamins and minerals important for women's health. Calcium for bones and teeth plus Vitamin D to help absorb it. Magnesium for bone, heart and immune system health. The antioxidants Vitamins A, C, E as well as zinc, folic acid (important if you are planning on getting pregnant soon or already are), and iron. Supplements in liquid form are easier for your body to metaboize than supplements in pill form, so there's the bonus for drinking them. I try to drink Elixir instead of having a second cup of coffee in the morning - all the B vitamins seem to give me a nice energy boost.

The mix is 70% organic and contains no artificial sweeteners, although it does have 11 grams of sugar. You can purchase a box of 15 individual servings for $16.95 from Luna directly. Or use their handy
store locator to find a retailer near you.