FitSugar

Bagel For Breakfast: What Should You Put on Top?

FitSugar — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 04:00:00 -0800

Who doesn't love a soft and chewy bagel on the weekend? I don't care that they're full of carbs, since our bodies need them for energy. Plus I try to go for whole grain bagels anyway, so they're healthier than ones made with white flour. I also try to choose healthy spreads like low fat cream cheese and peanut butter, but sometimes I can't help but go for sugary jams and butter. Let's see how these bagel toppings compare.

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ExerciseTV: Jump Rope Jam

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:24:55 -0800

Jumping rope is all the rage these days and a great element to add to your circuit training. Here is a short jump rope routine I found over on ExerciseTV. They were generous enough to share this video with me and to sponsor this post.

So what are you waiting for? Get your heart rate up with this short jump rope jam. You don't even need to use a jump rope; as long as you are jumping along you still benefit from the exercise without having to worry about getting all tangled up!

You should definitely check out the extensive video library at ExerciseTV. There is no reason to ever be bored with your workout again!

Stretch It: Towel Foot Stretch

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:00:09 -0700

If you think about it, your feet take a lot of beating, from pounding the ground when running, to walking all over the city, to wearing high heels. They carry the weight of our entire bodies, so take time to give them some TLC. This stretch will target the muscle in the soles of your feet, but will also stretch your calves.

To learn how to do this stretch keep reading

Your Favorite Song Is Heart Healthy: What's Your Go-To Jam?

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0800

Do you love so many songs that you could never pick a single favorite? That's OK, it just means you have more opportunities to make your heart stronger. Good music is good for the soul, and new research has discovered that listening to our favorite music can dilate our blood vessels like they do when we laugh, exercise, or take blood medications. Smoother blood flow prevents blood clots that cause heart attacks and strokes.

After listening to music they enjoyed, blood vessel diameter of the test group participants increased on average 26 percent, and the music they disliked caused vessels to narrow by 6 percent. Now go turn on Kanye, Justin, Britney, Christina, or whoever has a hit that you can't get enough of these days. Old favorites are always good for a boost, too. What's your go-to happy jam?

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Weekend Workout: 1-Legged Core Exercises

FitSugar — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:00:04 -0700

Weekends are often jam-packed with traveling, errands, spending time with friends and family, and house chores, which means you can't always fit in a regular workout. So here are some strength training moves you can squeeze in when you have a few minutes. They don't require any equipment so you can do them anywhere. The first move will tone your glutes and hamstrings, the second targets your upper body, and the third move is great for your thighs and abs. Complete each move in this order, and repeat for a total of three times.

Reverse Elbow Plank
With Leg Lifts

One-Legged
Dolphin Dive

Side Plank Star

Still itching for more? Check out these Weekend Workouts to learn how to tone other areas of your body.

P.L.O.W. (Play List of the Week): SUPER BOWL

FitSugar — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 04:00:00 -0800

In honor of the Super Bowl, I thought it would be most appropriate to give you a playlist full of tunes to pump you up, complete with Prince half-way through the playlist.

Hear the crowds roar. Flex in the mirror. Punch the guy next to you. Spit. Burp. Do what you have to do to get in the spirit of NFL sports and have a blast while blasting away calories.

Total PLOW= 37:11

Once you've completed 37 minutes of working out, you definitely owe it to yourself to celebrate with your own victory dance.

Bagel Breakfast: Which Spread Should You Choose?

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:00:02 -0700

Bagels have gotten a bad reputation for being a dieter's nightmare, since one plain bagel contains 260 calories and 56 grams of carbs. But I believe a carb-free diet isn't the healthiest way to drop pounds and maintain a healthy weight, so I think it's more than OK to enjoy a warm, toasted bagel every so often. They're not all as unhealthy as everyone thinks, especially if you choose one made with whole wheat flour, whole grains, or seeds. It also depends on what spread you choose to smear on. Does butter contain more cholesterol than cream cheese? Which contains more calories, almond butter or peanut butter? To find out the answers and see the nutritional info for other bagel spreads, keep reading

Favorite Excuse Not to Bike: It Hurts My Back

FitSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:00:15 -0700

I could talk about biking all day. Not only is it a great cardio workout, but it's also a great way to get around. I've heard some people say biking isn't for them because it causes back pain, so here are some tips for keeping your back happy while pedaling about town.

Bring your ride to a bike specialty store for a bike fitting. They'll check the frame size, the height of your seat, and the height of your handlebars and adjust them all to fit you.
Relax your shoulders away from your ears to relieve tension in your neck and upper back. Also keep a slight bend in your elbows so they can act as shock absorbers.
Check your posture while riding. Your spine shouldn't be in an upright position. If your torso is straight up and down as if you were standing, it doesn't allow any give when you hit road bumps, so your vertebrae will jam together and aggravate existing back pain. So aim for a slight arch like a hill, not a sway back like a smile.

For other helpful tips, read more.

Try clipless pedals. They'll allow you to use all the muscles in your legs, and will also prevent your toes from pointing out, which can cause back pain.
Learn to use your gears. Switching to lower (easier) gears when climbing hills will take the pressure out of your back and legs.
Take breaks from sitting on your saddle and stand on your pedals, especially during long rides. I call these "booty breaks."
If you have a back injury or chronic pain, a traditional bike may be putting pressure on your vertebrae. So try a recumbent bike, where your torso is reclined.
When you strength train, be sure to do exercises such as squats and lunges to strengthen your quads and hamstrings. The stronger they are, the easier biking will be, and the less strain it will put on your lower back. Don't forget the core work, either!
Stretch after your ride. Target your lower back, hamstrings, and hips.

7 Fitness Tips From Olympian Dara Torres

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:50:19 -0700

Swimmer Dara Torres is one woman who's inspired me to stay active and healthy for years to come. At 41, she won three silver medals swimming in Beijing, so she's living proof that you only get fitter with age. Here are some tips from a Self magazine exclusive interview with Dara Torres, to help you stay healthy as you age.

Set a fun fitness goal. Dara says, "Even if you don't quite believe in yourself yet, if you set a goal that's not too tough to reach, then meet it, that will motivate you to set another one and continue that cycle."
Triple your warmup time. Instead of the recommended five minutes of warming up, Dara does at least 15. She says it "helps prevent aches" and make her feel "as spry as she did when she was 17." Warming up gives your muscles a chance to ease into your workout, which will reduce your chance of sustaining an injury. The longer you warm up, the better.

There are five more tips, so keep reading

Dealing With a Stressful Commute

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:15:00 -0700

Americans drive an average of 25 minutes to get work. Commutes can be brutal, especially on Friday evenings when everyone on the road is anxious to start their weekend. Here are a few tips to help decrease the stress of your upcoming commute.

Take mass transit if you can. Since you are not driving you can read a book or newspaper or knit. These activities can help you decompress after your work day. Another plus to mass transit, is that the commute time becomes much more predictable.
Carpool if you can. Not only will you have some company for your commute, but you can share the burden of driving and the cost of gas money. One less car on the road helps the environment, too.
If you must drive alone, make sure you have maps in your car and alternative routes planned out if you hit a huge traffic jam. If you can navigate around a section of the freeway that has turned into a parking lot, you will hopefully feel more empowered and less frustrated.

I have a few other idea, so read more.

Talk to your boss and see if you can work flexible hours to avoid commuting during peak traffic times. Or better yet, see if you can telecommute one or two days a week to lessen your drive time.
If you find yourself stuck in traffic, be Zen about it. Admit that you are stuck and just go with the flow, or the nonflow as the case may be. Honking your horn and yelling at the stopped cars will not get you to your destination any faster, and chances are it will rile you up, which is so not necessary.
Travel with water and snacks. There is nothing worse than feeling stuck, dehydrated, and hungry.

How do you deal with your commute? Share in the comments section below.

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