FitSugar

Doubling Up: Water Cooler Squats

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 14:30:00 PDT

You know how much I love multi tasking and when I can combine two things I love, all the better. So I have taken to doing a classic squat while filling my water bottle. Squats and hydration combined, what more could a girl want out of a trip to the office kitchen.

You should try it too, especially if your water cooler is in an inconspicuous spot. Also it helps to not be afraid to look a little un-cool by the cooler. So, instead of bending over with straight knees and rounding your back, stick your booty out and bend your knees and squat. In this situation having a bigger water bottle is a bonus because you will need to hold the squat longer while your big bottle fills up. If you are tall, then you will have to squat a little deeper, but don’t let your pelvis go below your knees.

Do you want more specifics on how to perform a squat? Check out this post: You Don't Know Squat. It should answer any of your questions on technique. If you aren't sure how much water you should be drinking daily, you need to enter your stats in the Fit Calculator and find out.

A little impromptu thigh work and getting some thirst quenching water simultaneously – now that is what I call doubling up.

Back to Basics: Stationary Reverse Lunge

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 08:45:17 PDT

Spring is coming, which means so are shorts and bikinis! Get killer legs with these stationary reverse lunges.

Here is how to do stationary reverse lunges, step by step:

To begin, your feet should be shoulder width apart, torso erect with arms hanging straight at your sides, palms facing in.
Take a slow, controlled lunge (or large step) backwards with your left foot.
Lower your hips so that your right thigh (front leg) becomes parallel to the floor. At this point your right knee should be positioned directly over your ankle and your right foot should be pointing straight ahead.
Your left knee should be bent at a 90-degree angle and pointing toward the floor. Your left heel should be lifted.
After reaching the bottom of the movement (when your left knee is almost touching the floor), pause for a moment, or a breath, then push with your left, or back foot to move almost straighten both legs (photo on the left). Keep both feet on the ground - you are not returning to the starting position, just raising your pelvis up a bit and almost straightening your knees.
This completes one, now bend your knees and lower your pelvis down to complete another. Do 10.
Return to the starting position (standing with both feet underneath your pelvis), now repeat the movement on the other side, stepping back with the right foot. Do ten up and downs (or reps) on this side now too.

Do 2 sets of 10 reps on each leg.
I have some pointers, so

Keep your torso as upright as possible during any Lunge exercise to minimize the stress on the back. Start slow and don't go too low if you are new to the reverse lunge. As you progress you will be able to lunge deeper and to work your glutes more and more. Really press the heel of your front foot into the ground to feel the glutes activate and engage.

Don't do this in a herky-jerky manner. Move slowly down and up - this will work your muscles more without jarring your knees.

I know it seems like a good idea to push on your knee with your hands to help yourself up but that is cheating, so don't do it.

To make this a little more challenging, hold dumbbells at your sides while you lunge. To help maintain balance, look straight ahead instead of down at your legs.

Muscles worked: Quadriceps, hamstrings, butt and calves.

Fit's Tip: The reverse Lunge places less stress on the knees because the knees cannot extend beyond the toes, which makes the reverse lunge a good starter lunge.

Move It at Home: DVD - LEGWORK

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 08:30:00 PST

Ever wonder how women in the entertainment industry (on Broadway, off Broadway and way off Broadway) are able to move so well in those high heels?

LEGWORK ($19.95) is a new DVD that teaches the daily routines and exercises of top Broadway dancers. What's more? The workout is specifically designed to be done by women in high heels. The Legwork workout was created and designed by high heel designers, top Broadway dancers and ballerinas with the advice from fitness experts and podiatrists. Sounds torturous? Kylin Brady's (the amazing Broadway dancer who helped create the DVD) killer legs are motivation enough.

And here's why, the DVD claims that:

You will increase sexiness, grace and confidence in heels, leg tone and strength, heal wearing endurance and stamina as well as core strength and control.
You will learn proper heel walking and control, perfect posture, poise and pose as well as everyday walking exercises and relief techniques.
You will decrease pain in feet, ankles, legs and lower back, your risk for injury as well as your daily heel wearing discomfort.

Buy the DVD on LEGWORK.com. One thing is for sure, this DVD will definitely make you feel like you're ready for A Chorus Line.

The Pilates Reformer Will Reform You

FitSugar — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 10:00:00 PST

I would say that the names of Pilates exercises and equipment are not really known for their poetry. Joe Pilates was German after all, so there's really a no nonsense approach to much of Pilates. My favorite factoid was that he referred to his work as Contrology. You know, like the study of control.

The first piece of equipment Pilates designed was the Reformer and it is my favorite piece to workout on because it is so dang versatile. You can work out every muscle of your body with this one machine.

Many different companies make Reformers, but my favorite is by Balanced Body - the wood frame makes it look almost homey. If you have enough room in your place to house this machine that is the size of a single bed, than you can hopefully afford the cost. It retails at $3195.

Basically, the carriage moves against spring resistance - there are five springs with different tensions creating an infinite amount of possible weights to work with.

For Footwork, the most basic exercise on the Reformer, you lie with your back on the carriage, put your feet on the foot bar and just push yourself out and control yourself back in.

You can put your feet in the loops (at the end of the ropes) to work your legs. Or attach handles to the ends of the ropes to work your arms. Standing on the machine and moving the carriage really challenges your sense of balance and your core. Ahhh...so many variations, so little time.

To see some of my favorite moves you can do on the Reformer

View 7 Photos ›

You should take a private Pilates session to experience the joy that is the Reformer. Some Pilates studios and gyms offer group classes on the Reformer, which is an economical way to spend some time on the machine.

Look of the Day: Pink and Gold

Laura Marie Given — Thu, 24 May 2012 03:00:40 PDT

Fab reader smileforstyle showed us how to make a shimmery top work for daytime. She created the perfect office-to-happy-hour style by pairing bright pink wide-leg pants with a shiny gold tank. To keep the proportions in check and dress up the look, she tucked in the top and wore printed platform heels for extra height. The final touch? A sleek, ladylike shoulder bag that sticks to the warm color palette.

Congrats, smileforstyle!

Everyone else, submit your looks, and we might just feature you on FabSugar!

4 Reasons to Add an Exercise Ball to Your Home Gym

Leta Shy — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:58:44 PDT

The exercise ball may occupy a lot of room in your home gym, but it's one versatile piece of equipment. Find out how to get the most out of your exercise ball below.

A healthier seat: Ditch your normal seat on the couch and sit on an exercise ball instead. Using a ball to sit helps correct your posture, tones your abs, and encourages you to stretch, all of which sounds a lot better than the lower back pain that too much sitting on the couch can cause.

Routine shakeup: Adding an exercise ball to your normal mat routines can shake things up and challenge you. For example, you can plank using an exercise ball at your feet to make holding your pose that much harder, or sit or lay on your exercise ball while you execute arm exercises. Even just practicing your balance by kneeling on the exercise ball can help you tone and whittle. Need some ideas? Try these amazingly effective ab and butt workouts using the exercise ball:

Find out how to do the plank pike and the hamstring curl using an exercise ball with this advanced exercise ball workout video.
Skip boring crunches and do this ball pass ab exercise instead.
Challenge your core and balance with this single-leg squat, done against a wall using an exercise ball.
Lie on the ball and work your arms with this chest press move.

Read on for more reasons to use an exercise ball.

Work Out in Comfort With These Maternity Activewear Picks!

Zelana Montminy — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:52:41 PDT

Since working out with a bun in the oven can be challenging for a wide variety of reasons, it's important that your workout clothes are comfy. We've done the leg work for you and tested a handful of pieces of maternity fitness gear, both tops and bottoms. Watch the video and learn what our FitSugarTV host Zelana, pregnant herself, has to say about these five activewear picks.

*$20 gift card will be sent by email within 7 days of purchase on ActivewearUSA.com

Tina Fey Shares Memories of Her Skinny and Chubby Years

Susi May — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:56:14 PDT

Happy Birthday to our fave funny lady! Tina Fey turns 42 today. We've been fans of the actress, writer, and comedienne since her early days on Saturday Night Live. Like many of us, Tina's weight has fluctuated over the course of her career, and to mark her birthday, we're sharing some of her funny quotes from juice cleanses to body image.

Before making the leap from writers room to on-camera talent, Tina followed the pragmatic Weight Watchers program to drop pounds. But that doesn't mean she hasn't dabbled in more extreme techniques to lose weight. She explained to Jimmy Fallon, "I don't really believe in those [cleanses] - your body's not like a purse. You're not supposed to turn it inside out and shake it. But I was like, 'Oh, I don't care. I just need to jump-start this.' So I tried it." After an allergic reaction caused her lips to swell, she abandoned a juice cleanse. Go figure.

These days, Tina works out with trainer when she can fit a session into her hectic schedule, and if she can't, she takes a walk. She's even become a fan of yoga and the superfood kale.

Before settling into her healthy weight, Tina experienced both sides of the weight equation and shared her memories of these phases in her book, Bossypants. In two short, consecutive chapters, she explains the positive and negatives of the different times. Keep reading for a brief excerpt after the break.

Overlooked and Underappreciated: How to Use the Rowing Machine

Leta Shy — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:25:42 PDT

The rowing machine can be intimidating, but once you get the hang of it, it's an effective way to spice up your cardio routine. But while the rowing machine, also called an ergometer, is a calorie buster (about 280 calories in 30 minutes for an 130-pound woman) and a good leg and core workout, improper form can lead to back injuries if you're not careful. Read on for our tips on proper rowing form.

Before you start, there are a few things to note about using the rowing machine. Make sure you wear formfitting clothes, otherwise you risk getting fabric caught in it while working out. Don't set the resistance too high - experienced rowers generally use the rowing machine at 3-5 during their workouts, so setting the machine at 2 or 3 is perfect for a beginner. Keep your strokes per minute somewhere in the low- to mid-20s as well.

There are different ways to measure your workout, so use the change display button on your machine to track your strokes per minute, calories burned, kilometers traveled, or your split (how many minutes it takes you to travel 500 meters).

Beginning Position

For your first row, set the resistance low while you figure out your form, then slowly ramp it up on subsequent rows.
Secure your feet on the pads with the straps tight enough so your feet don't move around as you slide.
Bring your knees up and slide to the top of the machine. Grab the handle using an overhand grip, but don't hold too tightly.
Pull the handle with you as you slide to the end of the machine. Your legs should be straight, but knees should still have a slight bend in them so they aren't locked. Lean back slightly and pull your hands up to your chest, holding the handle so it is right below your breasts, with elbows pointing down against your sides. This is the position where you should begin your workout, and it's also your ending position once you complete a full stroke (see below).

Keep reading for the rest of our tips for proper rowing machine form.

Get Ready For Your Summer Hike With These Exercises

Leta Shy — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:24:26 PDT

Memorial Day is approaching, and we've got warm weather on the brain, but it's not just about getting in shape for the beach. Hiking is a great cardio and muscle-building workout - and you can burn 180 calories in just 30 minutes. Hiking trails vary in difficulty, yet no matter where you go it's a common sight: once-enthusiastic hikers having to stop halfway through, too exhausted and out of shape to finish the trail.

When you're on the trails, don't quit before you want to - if you're looking forward to a hike this season, start with these exercises.

Endurance: Spend some time working on your endurance before a long hike, and it'll all be worth it once you reach the hilltop. Increase the incline the next time your walk, jog, or run on the treadmill, and spend some time on a slower-paced, longer run during the week. Read more on how to increase your endurance here.
Core: Carrying a backpack while making your way up an incline requires engaged, strong abs; strengthen your core with these seven ab workouts.
Lower body: Strong legs make for impressive ascents, so go ahead, do some more squats (and then some). Here's a list of our favorite lower leg exercises to strengthen your glutes, hamstrings, and quads.