FitSugar

Tone Your Love Handles: Exercise Video

FitSugar — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 04:00:00 -0800

This video is all about toning up your love handles. Yep - just in time for Valentine's Day. While you may not be able to pick and choose the body parts where you lose fat, you can spot tone an area. To lose weight at your waist you need to commit to a cardio workout plan which will help you lose fat all over. Toning up the muscles under those love handles will both strengthen your core and give you a firmer look through your waist.

So give a little love to your love handles; I am sure they will enjoy the attention. There is now a printer friendly version of the love handle workout so you can take it with you to the gym.

Take It to the Gym: Printable Love Handle Workout

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 15:23:24 -0800

I know not everyone likes to do ab work next to his or her laptop. I know I am unique in this case. For all of you that go to the gym and want a little guidance (not from your iPod - but a tangible piece of paper) here is a print out version of the Love Handles workout. Now you can really take it with you where ever you choose to exercise.

Pilates Twist: 10 sets

Keep reaching energy out the top of your head.
Twist with just the ribs, not the pelvis.

Can Can: 10 sets

Really pull your navel to your spine as you straighten your legs

Twisted Crunch: 10 times, each side

Make sure to lift both of your shoulders evenly off the floor

Side Plank and Thread the Needle: 3 times each

Really lift the pelvis up
Press the hand firmly into the ground
Scoop though your abs to "thread the needle"

Dumbbell Side Bends, 10 sets

Make sure to bend just to the side, not forward or backward.

Test Case #2: Tone Your Love Handles - How's It Going

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 12:00:00 -0800

So it has been a week since the Love Handle workout. It is a "test case" and I want to know if you feel or see any results. Really, I do...do you have any questions or feedback? I really want to know.

This 4 minute workout is something that you can do every day, it is not like lifting weights where you are supposed to take a day off.

If you haven't started - you should try it. There is even a printable version for you to take to the gym with you (since not everybody works out in the living room with her or his laptop).

There is also a great Pilates based 4 minute abdominals routine for you to try too.

Coming soon - ARMS!!!! Tank top season is rapidly approaching.

Banish Love Handles: Side Bridge

FitSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 03:30:00 -0700

We may not be able to spot reduce love handles, but we can certainly tone them. Side Bridges are an effective oblique exercise to help banish love handles and get you ready for bikini time. The internal and external obliques are both abdominal muscles on the sides of the torso and this exercise will tone them both. Here's how to do a Side Bridge.

Start sitting on your left side with legs almost straight and right leg crossed in front of the left leg. Inhale to prepare.
Exhale, pull your abs to your spine and lift your pelvis off the floor, coming into a side plank. Really lift your bottom waist up. Pull your shoulder blade down your back so your shoulder stays away from your ear (this will work your lat too).
Hold for five seconds. Lower your pelvis back to floor slowly and with control. Repeat a total of 10 times on each side. Do two sets.

Fit's Tip: This is a variation of the Mermaid exercise from the Pilates method. You will get a nice stretch for the side of your torso as you lower your pelvis back to the floor; it's a nice bonus.

Beyonce's Trainer Reveals 5-Minute Preparty "Body Blast"

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:50:29 -0800

When I'm totally wrapped up in Thanksgiving cooking, prepping, organizing, shopping (need I go on?), there's hardly a fighting chance that I'll make it to the gym for a full-on workout. Usually, I'll try to squeeze in a set of push-ups while prepping dinner preparation, or an early morning yoga session, if I can. So, I was excited to see Marco Borges, the trainer credited with whipping Beyonce, husband Jay-Z, and Gwen Stefani into tip-top shape, sharing an easy and no-equipment-needed workout with US Weekly. Here are the five moves he suggests to give yourself an all-over body-blasting workout (even if you only have five minutes to spare before your guests arrive):

Jumping Plies: I call these jumping squats, but it doesn't matter what you call them as long as you do them. Here's how: stand with your feet just a bit wider than shoulder-width apart, abs pulled in tight, and bend your knees, lowering your body till your thighs are parallel to the floor and jump straight into the air. Return to starting position and repeat for one minute.

Reverse Lunges: Standing with feet shoulder-width apart, step back into a lunge and repeat on the opposite side, alternating for one minute. Be sure that abs remain tight throughout, working your core and maintaining your balance and posture.

Push-Ups: According to Marco, "The push-up is quite possibly one of the simplest and best body weight movements targeting the muscles of the chest, arms, shoulders and core." Do as many classic push-ups, or moderated position push-ups from your knees, as you can for a full one minute, making sure to maintain proper form and bring your chest as close to the floor as you can before pushing back to starting plank position.

For the rest of Marco's workout, keep reading

You Asked: Is Morning the Best Time to Do Yoga?

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:30:21 -0800

Dear Fit,
The holidays are fast approaching, and I wish I loved this time of year but I'm already stressed out about hosting Thanksgiving dinner, what to get for my picky in-laws, and dealing with traveling. I've heard yoga can help people relax, so I wanted to give it a try. A friend of mine says that she does a short session in the morning every day, including sun salutations (whatever those are), and a sequence of standing and seated yoga poses. I'm really not a morning person, but if practicing in the a.m. will help me calm down after realizing a flight to my parents house for X-mas is going to cost over $1,000, then I'm ready to set my alarm early. What do you think, is morning yoga more beneficial?
-Aspiring Yogi

I'm really excited for you to try out yoga because personally it's helped me find inner balance, and I always feel calmer and more grounded after my practice. Although yoga can help relieve stress and tension, it's no free ride to tranquility town. What it can do is help clear your mind, so you're better equipped to handle the frustrations the holidays tend to throw our way. To find out if there's a perfect time to get on your mat read more.

Many people believe that yoga must be practiced in the morning, but really whatever time works for you is when you should practice. You should not eat for two hours before doing yoga, so that's why many people choose morning yoga before they've had breakfast. They may also like how it gives them some alone time before their busy day begins, and getting it done first thing ensures that they'll have the energy and time to practice. On the other hand, some people may be too hungry or stiff in the morning, or they may not be able to wake up early enough to fit in a complete practice. They may prefer practicing in the evening because it helps relieve stress from their day, and helps them relax before bed.

So the decision is up to you, and the bottom line isn't what time you practice, it's that you practice period. If you have flexibility (no pun intended) in your schedule, try out a class at different times of the day to discover what you prefer. Keep in mind that certain poses and types of yoga are calming and some are invigorating, so depending on the yoga you choose, you might prefer morning, noon, and night!

All you yogis out there, I'm wondering what time of day do you prefer practicing yoga? Visit the Yoga Stretch and Tell group and share.

Get on the Ball: Saddlebag Busting Leg Lifts

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:32:08 -0800

If you're unhappy with the extra bit of padding on the sides of your thighs right by your bum, here's a move that can help smooth out your saddlebags, which I affectionately call my lower love handles. You can't spot-reduce the area, but toning sure does help.

To learn how to do this exercise, read more.

Come onto your knees and bring an exercise ball next to your right thigh. Rest your right arm on the outside of the ball and lean your weight into the ball. Now your right thigh is in a diagonal line.
Extend your left leg straight out and flex your foot. Balance your weight on both the ball and your right knee as you lift your left leg up toward the ceiling. Try to raise your left foot so it's as high as your hip.
Then with control, lower your leg so your toes barely touch the floor.
This counts as one rep. Complete three sets of 12 to 15 reps on this side and then repeat with the left leg.

5 Things For Safe Outdoor Workouts

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:00:31 -0700

Even though cold temps are moving in, some of you may still love sweating it out in the outdoors. Exercising outside is a great way to lift your spirits, is usually free, and prevents boredom, but you need to be especially aware of your safety. So here are some things you'll need for outdoor workouts.

Road ID ($20): This colorful fabric bracelet ID can be personalized with up to seven lines of text. Wear it on your wrist or attach it to your sneaker or jacket, and in case of an emergency, someone will know your name, where you live, and who to call.
Cell phone case: Whether I'm biking far away from home, or just running in my neighborhood, I always carry my cell phone in case I get hurt and need to call for help.

What else should you have on your outdoor workouts? To find out read more.

Airdrive Earphones ($60): I'm a big fan of listening to music while I work out, but it's not exactly safe to blast Fergie so loud you can't hear anything around you. These headphones sit just outside the opening of your ear, so you can hear your tunes, and also be aware of outside noises.
Reflective gear ($60) or lights ($15): Since the days are shorter, you may be exercising before the sun rises or after it has set, so you need gear that makes you more visible to drivers. They make all sorts of wearable reflective gear now, but when it's really dark, you may also want to sport a headlamp so not only can others see you, but you'll be able to see where you're going too.
Pepper spray ($10.50): If you work out in an unsafe neighborhood, or are in the woods and worried about animals attacking you, then pepper spray could save your life. This one has a handle so you can carry it easily, and it's ready to use instantly.

Whittle Your Waist With Side Planks

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:30:38 -0700

As we all begin to cozy up for Winter, let me remind you to keep working your core. The obliques, the abs on the sides of the torso, help stabilize you as well as tone your waist. Even though we can't spot reduce the love handles, you can tone the area with some side planks. Remember, the stronger your core the longer and harder you can run, dance, swim, lift and ride. Check out these five side planks.
Source: Getty

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More Love, Less Handles: Gold's Gym Couples Workouts

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:00:00 -0800

One way to share quality time with your sweetie is to work out together, and Gold's Gyms have decided to take the battle of the bulge to a whole new level of intimacy. To create more love and less handles, they have created four customized couples workouts designed to strengthen your trust, intensity, intimacy, and communication, as well as your muscles.

If you think you and your partner could benefit from some together time at the gym, here's a brief explanation of the four workouts that Gold's will be offering this week.

Communication: This workout focuses on flexibility training since communication is vital to partner stretching. Small adjustments are essential for making the stretch fulfilling without pushing it too far.
Intimacy: Eye contact is an essential part of intimacy, and in this strength training workout, partners look at each other during each move. For double lunges, the couple faces forward and locks arms, then alternates lunging forward and backward. It resembles the tango more than calisthenics.

To see what the other two workouts involve, read more.

Intensity: Sometimes we strength train against gravity, but in this workout your partner will create additional resistance with his or her body weight. Try doing a push-up while being hugged from below.

Trust: Anytime you use a spotter for lifting weights, you are also strengthening your sense of trust. Working this way will definitely make you feel more connected to your partner.

You don't need to be a member of Gold's to try these workouts. You can use a trial membership for a pre-Valentine's Day partner workout. Find your local Gold's gym here.

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