FitSugar

Fittingly Mad: Can't a Girl Go For a Run? Geez

FitSugar — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 08:30:00 -0800

Here's the deal. This actually happened. No joke. I was out running the other day and some guy yelled from his porch, "Hey baby. Why are you running away? Why don't you run over here?" I wanted to run a mac truck over him.

It was as if my baggy sweatshirt, said "Rude comments welcome?" Why do guys feel like they can hoot and holler at anyone with boobs? Do they think they are being funny? Sexy? Motivating? My response was run even faster to get away from the idiot.

Now I'm not saying all guys are to blame. But it's that one sleazy guy who can ruin a run and running alone in general. Don't let him ruin it for you though.

Fit's Tip: If you run alone keep the volume low on your iPod so you can still hear what's going on around you. If you run in the dark, use well lit streets. Or call up your best friend and run together in a girl pack.

Is Christina Hendricks Losing Her Curves?

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:15:00 -0700

Wearing a gorgeous L'Wren Scott dress, Mad Men actress Christina Hendricks showed off her glowing skin and new, slimmer figure at this year's Emmy Awards. Hendricks, who plays the curvy secretary Joan Holloway on the popular series, is said to be dieting for her upcoming nuptials to Geoffrey Arrend.

At an Emmy afterparty, costar January Jones commented that she hopes Hendricks holds onto her signature curves. I think most of you will agree that Hendricks looks amazing as is, but getting in shape before the big day is almost a rite of passage for new brides.

Jones won't have to worry though - Hendricks recently told Self that she is more than content with the way she looks: "My healthiest habit is keeping positive about my body at whatever stage it is - being confident and celebrating who I am at the moment."

To learn how she's tweaking her diet and exercise program, just read more.

The actress went on to describe her diet and says she makes food choices based on seasonality, sticking to high-energy proteins and setting limits on her carb intake. As for her fitness regimen, she and her fiancé meet with a trainer three times a week for a strength and cardio workout: "It's amazing how quick an hour can go by when you work out with someone you love."

I love the approach Hendricks is taking towards her health - it's balanced and, most important, she seems really happy. What do you think: are you worried like Jones that she'll lose her curvy figure?

Do You Enjoy the "Fittingly Mad" Feature?

FitSugar — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 02:30:00 -0700

Today, instead of doing my usual rant appropriately called Fittingly Mad, which is full of musings about things I find silly in the fitness and health world, I thought I'd try a poll on it instead.

The feature is not meant to be mean, but a funny way to allow us all to joke around about pet peeves that most of us share surrounding health and fitness. Being that I've gotten some negative feedback, I thought it would be a good idea to get your opinion on this weekend feature since I want to keep the site focus on motivation and fun, but certainly not offensive.

So check out all the past Fittingly Mad posts and let me know what you think!

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January Jones Is Mad For Christina Hendricks's Curves

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:30:21 -0700

It's no secret that Christina Hendricks, who plays the buxom secretary on Mad Men, is engaged, and like many brides-to-be, she is dieting.

Her costar January Jones says the redhead bombshell is keeping quiet on the details of her regimen. January gave People the skinny at an Emmys afterparty:

I know that Christina has gone on a "diet," she said. "She already looks amazing, but you know, before you get married you want to look the absolute best. I don't know what she's doing." Jones added one bit of caution, "My only advice is to not go too far, because if she loses her curves it will be a very sad day."

I must say I agree on keeping the curves.

Fittingly Mad: Vanity Sizing on Workout Clothes

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:00:00 -0700

I hate trying on clothes, and the fact that sizes are all over the map doesn't help matters. Some brands run big while others run small, which means I have to take a pile of items into the dressing room. But I got really riled up while shopping for workout clothes this weekend, when I discovered what's apparently a new trend: vanity sizing on workout clothes.

I've ranted before about vanity sizing, the practice of making clothes larger but sizing them smaller, so people can wear smaller sizes and feel better about themselves. I'm normally a solid medium, but when I was shopping this weekend, I tried on several mediums that were enormous on me. I guess the clothing manufacturers want me to be happy about buying a small, but they're not fooling me with their flattery. (Also, what would a really small person wear?!)

But what really annoys me is that vanity sizing on workout clothes is totally counterproductive. To find out why, read more.

If you are working out and trying to slim down, shouldn't you wear clothes that are an accurate representation of your size? Wouldn't you rather know that you've actually dropped a size, or that you are maintaining your happy size, rather than being tricked into thinking you've changed? Exercise helps us feel better about our bodies, and that's way more real than a vanity size that tries to do the same thing.

What do you guys think? Am I overreacting, or do you also find vanity sizing in workout clothes fittingly mad?

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Fittingly Mad: "We Don't Have Room For Your Sneakers."

FitSugar — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 02:30:00 -0800

Over Thanksgiving I made the trip out to Philadelphia to see family. My husband convinced me that it was going to be way too cold to work out while we were there, so after much discussion and hesitation, I ditched my sneakers. Keep in mind that I bring my sneakers almost everywhere, but I let my hubby win this battle. He reminded me that since we were staying at a relative's house, it was not like I would have the option to hit up the hotel gym. I did bring some workout clothes so I could do stretches in my room, but left the sneakers at home thinking that he was right and there was no way I was going to brave the below-zero temperatures to run for one day.

Thanksgiving day comes along and I go outside for some fresh air and it is 70 degrees outside! I almost died. I would have absolutely loved to take a jog outside, especially since all the leaves were this gorgeous shade of yellow. What's even worse? Turns out that my relatives had just purchased a brand new elliptical machine for their home that I would have loved to try out. Me, I am sneakerless - awesome.

I was really very mad at my husband for being so against me bringing my sneakers and I was bummed at myself for not going with my gut. Next time, even if my husband kicks and screams about the valuable space they are taking up, my sneakers are coming along. Even if it is predicted to be freezing cold, you never know what is going to happen.

To me, being able to fit in a workout when I can is worth having to take only one scarf rather than two. Guess what is on my Christmas list from my hubby? Well Reebok Travel Trainers, of course!

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Fittingly Mad: Bikers NOT Following the Rules

FitSugar — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 02:30:00 -0700

I was driving to the post office the other day and a bunch of bikers (riding bicycles - not motorcycles) were totally ditching every road rule in the book. They were riding on the left side of the road and cutting in front of cars. I don't care so much that they weren't using their arm signals when turning, but they weren't even checking for cars before hanging a right. Don't even get me started on how they were running red lights and busting through stop signs... I also saw them go from riding all over the road, to racing through the sidewalk, almost knocking over this poor woman and her two kids.

This makes me so mad because riders like them are giving us responsible and road-worthy bikers a bad reputation. Not to mention it's completely unsafe and a great way to get yourself hit by a car.

If you're a biker and you're going to share the road, you've got to follow the rules -- It's that simple. Just because you're on a bicycle doesn't mean you don't have to follow the rules of the road, in fact you should be more vigilant.

Let's do what we can to keep everyone sharing the road safe because the safer we all feel, the more people that will get out and ride their bikes. The more bikes, the less cars, and less cars means less pollution in the air for us and future generations.

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Fittingly Mad: I Wish I Could Trust Horizon's Label !!!

FitSugar — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 03:00:00 -0700

In light of my recent post about Horizon Dairy Products, I'd like to say that it makes me so mad that companies can say whatever they want on their labels, but behind closed doors, they just do whatever they want.

I really hadn't heard about Horizon Dairy's methods before my wonderful readers had brought it to my attention (or else I never would have praised it so much). Thank you to Amused Bystander and KerryG for those great links on the truth about Horizon's big business practices. Here's what I found out...

Since there has been such a high demand for organic milk, Horizon decided to produce more milk and label it organic, when it really doesn't deserve that prestigious label whatsoever.

In order to be considered organic, dairy cows need to have access to pastures for fresh air, exercise, and to graze on fresh grass. Horizon's dairy cows are let out rarely, at nighttime, or coincidentally when a tour group comes by. It's awful, but they are mostly stuck in barns, chowing on energy-rich food that increases their milk production. So when they're not eating, they're hooked up to milking machines. What kind of life is that?

When I think of organic milk, I picture happy cows (much like the leaping cartoon on Horizon's label), grazing freely on a lush hillside, able to come and go as they please. Horizon has shattered that image for me, and it looks like Aurora "Organic" Milk is more of the same.

Fit's Tips: You can do your part by boycotting big dairy companies like Horizon and Aurora. Buy from smaller, local, truly ORGANIC farms instead, so you know that the cows are treated more humanely. Or you could choose not to eat any dairy products at all, like vegan Alicia Silverstone. I, for one, can' really imagine a world without cheese, but my world will definitely be free of Horizon products.

Fittingly Mad: Cyclists Not Wearing Helmets!

FitSugar — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:30:00 -0700

When I see images of cyclists riding in past Tours de France, they look odd to me. I recognize the riders, but they aren't wearing helmets. But over the course of the last decade, helmets became mandatory in the most prestigious bike race in the world.

Wearing a helmet is the simplest safety precaution you can take to protect your most important body part: your brain. Even though most casual cyclists are not barreling down hills and mountainsides at the speed of professional racers, wearing a helmet is a no brainer! Yet more than half the riders I see on the street are not wearing helmets. I just don't get it. I know helmets are not the most stylish of biking accessories, but is there really anything flattering about cycling gear? If messed up hair is keeping riders from wearing helmets, I would respond that a serious head injury is considerably worse than a bad hair day. We spend so much time taking care of our bodies and feeding our brains with knowledge, we really should protect our brains when biking.

Some helmetless riders argue that they're skilled cyclists so they don't need a helmet since they're not going to fall. Think of the helmet like the seat belt; it's there to protect you from crazy drivers or large potholes or, in the case of Matt Lauer of the Today Show, a deer. Without a helmet, Lauer would have suffered injuries far greater than a separated shoulder. Same goes for Lance Armstrong's collar bone-breaking crash a couple of months ago. Without a helmet his fate might have been much worse. If you're cruising around town or barreling down a dirt path on your mountain bike, wear a helmet. Please!

Fittingly Mad: Runners Who Pooh-Pooh Walkers

FitSugar — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 03:30:00 -0700

A few times a month, I run with a running group near me. For the most part, everyone is really supportive and there just to meet fellow fit people, learn some tips, and get in a good run. Recently though I overheard some runners badmouthing walkers. As they jogged passed them, one of the runners smirked under their breath, "Walking is for people who don't have the guts to run," and their two pals giggled. I was shocked. What gives that guy the right to pass judgment on someone else? It's like speedism - discriminating against someone because of how fast they move. It really made me angry since I feel all active people should encourage each other. All exercise should be applauded, and I wanted to breeze right by them and yell, "If you're too busy worrying about what other people are doing, then you're obviously not working hard enough yourself!" But I didn't want to perpetuate that kind of negativity. Tell me, have you ever experienced runners who pooh-pooh walkers?

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