FitSugar

All the Right Gear For Summer Hikes

Heather Dale — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:36:05 PDT

Take to the hiking trails this Summer with the proper shoes, equipment, and apparel to help make your day - or night - excursion as effortless and enjoyable as possible. Just as it's a good idea to have the proper gear for Spring, hiking enthusiasts should also keep a stash of items suited for Summer hikes. Here are some great products to help keep you cool, comfortable, and hydrated while trekking through different terrains over the next couple of months.

Clockwise from top left: Black Diamond Spot Headlamp ($40), Columbia Omni Shade Sun Goddess Booney ($20), Patagonia Borderless Short ($48), Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Water Bottle ($18), Guyot Squishy Bowl and Cup Set ($15), Brooks Cascadia 6 ($110), Feel Goodz Flip-Flops ($25), Thorlo CoolMax Light Hiker Socks ($16), ASICS Abby Shimmel Tank Top ($35), CamelBak Vantage 35 Hydration Pack ($149).

Stay Hydrated With Reusable Earth-Friendly Water Bottles

Heather Dale — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:36:53 PDT

This Friday marks the 41st anniversary of Earth Day. In honor of this important day dedicated to Mother Earth, we're striving to green our workouts and invest in workout gear that is created using sustainable methods and is made with eco-friendly materials. Plastic water bottles are filling up our landfills and taking a toll on our health, which is why it's important to have a reusable bottle. Here are some of my top favorites that are safe for the environment and are eco on the inside, too.

Gear Review: Klean Kanteen Insulated Water Bottle

FitSugar — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:30:25 PDT

I have found my new Summer best friend. I am not exaggerating when I say that Klean Kanteen's new Insulated Water Bottle ($26) is the best invention I've seen in a while. Though the concept is simple - this bottle keeps your cold water cold, and your hot beverages hot - it's really changed my life for the better. After all, it's the simple pleasures in life that make it all worthwhile, right?

The website says this insulated stainless steel bottle will keep your iced drinks cold for up to 24 hours and they are not lying! I filled my 16-ounce bottle with ice water, and brought it to an all-day concert last week (it was 85 degrees). I didn't end up drinking it all, and when I opened the bottle the following day, it was still icy cold. I've even kept ice water on my desk without the top on, and hours later, there are still ice cubes floating in it. This bottle is no joke. Another plus is that when you hold the bottle, it doesn't feel cold, and it doesn't sweat like a regular Klean Kanteen bottle would. I'm also a huge fan of the wide mouth that makes it easy to plop in ice cubes, easy to hand wash, and easy to sip from.

For more reasons why I'm in love with this insulated bottle keep reading

Have You Lost Your Reusable Water Bottle?

FitSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 04:30:00 PDT

I am on my fifth reusable water bottle. From leaving them at the gym and on the bus, I've managed to work my way through water bottles. I can't help but think I'm being counter productive here and they're not cheap either, Sigg and Klean Kanteen both start at around $20 a bottle. I'm curious, as we're all trying to keep hydrated while doing our part to stop using plastic water bottles and start using reusable water bottles, have you ever lost your reusable water bottle?

Source

Gear Review: Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Water Bottle

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:00:00 PDT

I'm sure you've heard the bad news. Polycarbonate water bottles that contain the chemical Bisphenol A, like the ever popular ones made by Nalgene, are probably bad for you. Studies show that hard, clear plastics might possibly cause cancerous tumors, urinary tract problems, and early puberty. With news like that, you're probably in the market for a new, safer water bottle. Enter Klean Kanteen!

This Klean Kanteen water bottle ($16.95) is made of stainless steel (SIGG bottles are made of aluminum). It holds 27 ounces of water, is toxin free and can be cleaned in the dishwasher, which I love. The mouth of the bottle is wide enough to handle ice cubs, and the polypropylene screw cap is easy to grip and seals tight to prevent leakage. The bottle is skinny so I can slip it into my backpack easily or in the cage on my bike. If you are super outdoorsy, you can use a spare carabiner to attach the bottle to the outside of your backpack with the handy loop on the bottle lid.These are a little cheaper than SIGG bottles (a 20-oz. bottle is about $20), so if you're trying to save some dough, I'd definitely pick one of these up. You can buy one here.

Keep BPA Away: 3 "Healthy" Foods to Avoid (and 3 Safer Alternatives)

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:47:00 PDT

With the BPA scare of '08, just about everyone I know ditched their plastic water bottles for a Klean Kanteen, Lifefactory, or BPA-free Nalgene. Reusable water bottles aren't the only things to be wary of - there's BPA lurking in other everyday products. Although the FDA believes low levels of BPA exposure aren't harmful to people, it's not clear how much exposure that means. To minimize your contact with BPA as much as possible, start with these foods.

Canned Foods
Canned beans, tuna, tomatoes, and soup - these foods are generally healthy, but unfortunately most of the cans they come in are lined with plastic containing BPA. To compound the issue, acidic foods (like tomatoes) can break down the plastic, leaching BPA. In addition, any heat exposure during food processing can also break down the plastic. Organics company Eden makes a BPA-free can, and other brands like Fig Food Company offer boxed beans and soups. In general, look for food packaged in BPA-free pouches, boxes, and glassware.

Soda and Other Canned Beverages
Yep, aluminum-canned beverages are also lined with BPA-containing plastic. Since the acid and alcohol in beer can make leaching more likely, choose glass containers when possible. Canned seltzer like Polar also contains low levels of BPA in their lining, so if it makes you feel more comfortable, choose its BPA-free plastic bottles instead or invest in a seltzer maker.

Watercooler
Pour yourself a glass of H20 from the watercooler and think you're doing your body good? Unfortunately those enormous plastic jugs contain BPA. Whenever possible, fill a reusable bottle at home with filtered water instead.

7 Reasons Your Yoga Instructor Might Yell at You (and How to Handle It)

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:30:44 PDT

Yoga instructors are often the calmest people you'll meet, but when their beliefs are grounded in strict yoga principle and technique, they may sometimes put their foot down during practice. Here are some reasons your yoga teacher might reprimand you during class.

Drinking water: Practicing yoga is about building your energy or prana, otherwise known as your fire. Some by-the-book instructors believe gulping water puts out the fire you're working so hard to create and may say something if you reach for your Klean Kanteen. It's important to hydrate before coming to class, but while you're practicing, you can't always prevent a dry throat or feelings of being overheated. Only you know if you need to drink some water, so if your teacher says something, politely smile, take your sips, and get back to your practice.
Doing another variation: Yoga instructors take great pride in designing their classes, so when a student strays from a teacher's sequence by doing a different pose, the teacher might not be pleased. Due to injuries and different ability levels, it's imperative to listen to your own body and do the practice that's right for you. Of course, what you do on your mat shouldn't disrupt other people in the class. But if you're quietly doing the more advanced Full Wheel rather than Half Wheel and your instructor gets peeved, chat with them afterward, or try out a class with a more lenient teacher.
Coming out of a pose too soon: Yoga instructors are there to inspire your practice, which means designing challenging sequences of poses. Sometimes it's too much, and if your quad is burning after the sixth variation of Warrior 1, I can understand needing to straighten your leg to come out of the pose. It's great for an instructor to encourage deeper stretches in poses, but only you know your body and what it needs. If an instructor makes you feel bad for taking a break, then they may not be the nurturing teacher you need.

Keep reading for more reasons your yoga instructor might yell at you.

Healthy Beach Essentials For Memorial Day Weekend

FitSugar — Tue, 24 May 2011 02:27:43 PDT

To most of us, Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of Summer, when we can finally go camping, host an outdoor barbecue, or head to the beach for an evening bonfire. If you're planning on being beach-bound this weekend, here are some items to take with you to ensure fun in the sun and also staying protected from the elements.

Clockwise from top left: Strathwood Folding Canopy Chair ($49),
Badger SPF 15 Sunblock Lip Balm ($4), UPF 50+ Sun Hat ($27), Mikasa VSO2000 FIVB Replica Volleyball ($14), Klean Kanteen Insulated Water Bottle ($22), Alba Botanical SPF 45 Sunscreen ($10), Oakley Necessity Women's Sunglasses ($130), Smashball Beach Tennis ($11)