FitSugar

Road Trippin' Blues: Car Sickness

FitSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 06:00:41 PDT

If your July entails squeezing in one last road trip, you might want to read up on motion sickness. It is actually quite common; about one third of the population experiences symptoms in relatively mild circumstances, like being on a boat in calm water. In fact, the word nausea means seasick in Greek. Motion sickness is basically a disagreement between your eyes and your inner ear. The inner ear recognizes motion, but the eyes don't, or vice versa, jumbling the brain, and nausea ensues. It is no fun for any passenger to endure.

For some tips for fending off car sickness,

Don't look down: Keeping your focus on the horizon can definitely help keep your eyes and your inner ear in agreement. If you happen to be traveling with little ones, play the "I spy" game to keep them looking up. Watching DVDs will increase the confusion between senses, so don't pull out movies to entertain them. Try a book on tape instead.
Breathe some fresh air: Roll down the windows if it is not too hot. The fresh air can be soothing. Heat makes the symptoms worse, so do run the AC if you can.
Food and hunger: When road tripping you should avoid spicy and greasy foods. However, hunger can make the symptoms of nausea worse. Keep a mild snack like crackers around to keep the unsettled stomach at bay. Clear sodas and sparkling water can help too.
Drive: Take over the wheel if you are prone to motion sickness. When you drive all your senses work together, avoiding the disconnect between your eyes and ears.
Ginger: Eating ginger has been shown to reduce symptoms of motion sickness. Take it in capsule form or sip some ginger ale.
Get out of the car: Walking on terra firma will certainly quiet the symptoms. Take stops as frequently as you can.
Medicine: You can try an over-the-counter medication, like Dramamine, or an alternative medicine treatment like the PSI Band that works the antinausea pressure point.

If you are prone to car sickness, please share how you prevent it in the comment section below. Happy travels!

Road Trip Health: Fending Off Car Sickness

FitSugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:00:00 PDT

If you're planning to squeeze one last road trip out of Summer, you might want to read up on car sickness. Motion sickness is actually quite common; about one third of the population experiences symptoms in relatively mild circumstances, like being on a boat in calm water. In fact, the word nausea means seasick in Greek. Motion sickness is basically a disagreement between your eyes and your inner ear. The inner ear recognizes motion, but the eyes don't, or vice versa, jumbling the brain and nausea ensues. No fun for any passenger to endure.

For some tips for fending off car sickness,

Don't look down: Keeping your focus on the horizon can definitely help keep your eyes and your inner ear in agreement. If you happen to be traveling with little ones, play the "I spy" game to keep them looking up and at the horizon. Watching DVDs will increase the confusion between senses, so don't pull out movies to entertain the wee ones. Try a book on tape instead.
Breathe some fresh air: Roll down the windows if it is not too hot. The fresh air can be soothing. Heat makes the symptoms worse, so do run the AC if you can.
Food and hunger: When road tripping your should avoid spicy and greasy foods. However, hunger can make the symptoms of nausea worse. Keep a mild snack like crackers around for munching to keep the unsettled stomach at bay. Clear sodas and sparkling water can help too.
Drive: Take over the wheel if you are prone to motion sickness. When you drive all your senses work together avoiding the disconnect between your eyes and ears.
Get out of the Car: Walking on firm ground will certainly quiet the symptoms. Take stops as frequently as you can.
Medicine: You can try an over the counter medication, like Dramamine, or an alternative medicine treatment like the PSI Band that works the anti-nausea pressure point.

If you are prone to car sickness please share how you prevent it in the comment section below. Happy travels!

Source

Ginger For Motion Sickness: FACT

FitSugar — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 09:30:00 PDT

I can tell you for certain that being adventurous and being prone to motion sickness is not a great combination. There are various OTC medications one can take for motion sickness, but they leave me drowsy. However, ginger just really fires me up and it has been proven to reduce symptoms of motion sickness.

Several studies have found ginger to be effective against nausea from seasickness and other motion sickness related conditions. Taking two capsules of ginger in powdered form can delay the onset of sickness about twice as long as taking the medication. Now that is super cool!

Why it worked remains a mystery, but I am happy to know this is one herbal folk remedy that works!

Source

Prone to Motion Sickness? Try Acupressure

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 11:00:00 PDT

Motion sickness, be it on the water or in the air, just isn't pretty. From the slight green tint of the skin to the intense nausea, there is nothing to love about the condition commonly called "sea sickness." Instead of taking the popular non-prescription motion sickness medication Dramamine, which can cause unwanted drowsiness, try this acupressure point.

The point, known in Chinese Medicine as Inner Gate is located on the inside of your wrist. Measure three finger widths up the inside of your arm, from the wrist line. Use your thumb to locate the point in the hollow between the two bones and in the middle of the tendons. A slight soreness will let you know you have found the right location. Press the point firmly while you breathe out, and release pressure as you breathe in, repeating eight times on each wrist. Of course, try to relax while you do this. Focused breathing will definitely help.

Fit's Tip: Pregnant women suffering from "morning sickness" often find some relief from this pressure point as well.

Source

Gear Review: Lark Silent Alarm Clock

Leta Shy — Sun, 13 May 2012 16:48:00 PDT

You can count me as one of the 30 percent of people who don't get enough sleep every night, so when Lark sent me its silent alarm clock ($100) to test a couple months ago, I was all about it. Since then, I've been using it pretty regularly, here's what I think of the alarm clock.

First, here's what it is: The Lark is part app (compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad only at the moment, but an Android version seems imminent), part motion-sensing wristband that vibrates to wake you up and tracks your sleep quality throughout the night. It promises to both help you wake up more naturally and without disturbing your bedmate and change your personality from sleep-deprived night owl to well-rested morning lark. Included in the package is the Lark sensor, wristband, and charging dock where you plug your wristband into when you wake up - both to shut off the vibrating alarm and ensure that your wristband has enough juice to monitor your sleeping stats for the next night. The charging dock includes a USB port to connect your iPhone charger to it, so you don't have to use two sockets for each.

Who it's for: The Lark is useful if you have a partner and you both wake up at different times. Since it's a silent alarm clock, it rouses you with a series of vibrations through your wristband, so if your normal wake-up call is earlier than your bedmate's, your partner can snooze away without being disturbed. That may or may not be valuable enough for you to justify the $100 price tag, but it is an effective solution. Besides the alarm clock portion, the Lark app tracks several sleeping stats: how many hours you slept as well as how many times you woke up during the night and how long it took you to fall asleep (both based on your movements).

Keep reading for my thoughts on the Lark alarm clock.

A Cancer Survivor's Goal: 50 Triathlons by Her 50th Birthday

espnW — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:26:06 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar!

By Julia Savacool

It's a good thing Jenn Sommermann discovered triathlons when she did. "I was turning 40 years old, and my friend and I were looking for a way to commemorate the occasion," Sommermann said. "We decided to train for a triathlon." Because Sommermann was on the East Coast and her friend was on the West, the two trained together virtually, exchanging workout notes and messages of encouragement. Several months later, they competed in the Danskin Women's Tri in Seattle.

"That was it, I was in love with triathlons," Sommermann said. Little did she know, two years later the fitness she gained through the sport would help her win a battle against ovarian cancer.

It was December 2006 when Sommermann received her diagnosis. She'd been feeling out of sorts for months, but had been reluctant to see her doctor.

The symptoms for ovarian cancer are subtle: Bloating, weight gain, fatigue and indigestion are all indicators for the disease, but they are also common symptoms for many women during their monthly cycle. The main difference with ovarian cancer, explained Sommermann, is the symptoms don't go away.

It was by chance she discovered the cancer - she was pressing on her stomach one night and came across a hard lump. "I called my husband over, and he felt it, too," she said. "I knew this wasn't good." She went to see her physician immediately, and an ultrasound revealed a tumor about the size of an eggplant. "I had Stage 3 ovarian cancer," said Sommermann. "I was in shock. The disease is 94 percent curable if you catch it by Stage 2. But after that, the numbers are not in your favor."

Surfing gets Anastasia Ashley through tough times

Read more about Jen's inspiring story after the break.

Use Ginger to Treat Colds, Motion Sickness, and Muscle Aches

Heather Dale — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:06:19 PDT

Ginger, the powerful herb used as a spice in many dishes, can also be used as a treatment for a variety of ailments. Whether dried, fresh, in juice form or as a powder in a pill, ginger has many therapeutic properties. Here are some to just name a few.

Cold Remedy: Drinking homemade ginger tea (which by the way, I'm addicted to), can help relieve congestion, that icky symptom of the common cold.
Soothes Sore Muscles: Two separate studies showed that participants who had sore muscles due to a variety of exercises and who took ginger supplements had a reduction in pain of almost 25 percent compared to the placebo group. This study demonstrated ginger's healing anti-inflammatory properties.
Motion Sickness: Put me in the back seat of a car and it's a nauseous nightmare. Several studies have found ginger to be effective against nausea from seasickness and other motion sickness related conditions. Taking just two capsules of ginger in powdered form can delay the onset of sickness about twice as long as antinausea medication. And not only that, but another study showed that ginger improved the symptoms of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women and is a low-risk effective treatment.

What else can ginger do?

Morning Sickness Relief: 5 Helpful Products For Mama-to-Be

LilSugar — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:15:41 PDT

Feeling a bit queasy? Many expectant mamas experience agonizing morning sickness during pregnancy - and those who escaped it the first time may not be so lucky the second time around. If you've been praying to the porcelain god day in and day out, these five helpful products may be able to provide you with some much-needed relief.

Happy Mama Spray ($14): Just spray and inhale! This spray claims to be "virtual bliss in a bottle" as it's made with pure essential oils - including lime and ginger - and flower essences for pregnancy nausea, on-edge new mamas, and even toddler meltdowns.
Mommy's Bliss Morning Sickness Comfort ($14): Drink it down! If nausea is keeping you in bed all day, perhaps it's time to supplement. Check out this natural herbal supplement used to ease the nausea associated with pregnancy - it's available at most major pharmacies in case you need relief now.
Morning Wellness Tea ($13 for 16 tea bags): Tea time! Eating may be the last thing on your mind, but you may able to curb that nausea with a nice cup of tea - blended with ginger root, spearmint, peppermint, chamomile and lemon balm with a twist of orange peel for flavor.
PSI Bands ($16 for 2): A helpful accessory! These aren't just pretty wristbands - they're acupressure bands that provide relief from nausea due to morning sickness and motion sickness too! You can even choose from five designs and patterns to match your outfit or your mood.
Preggie Pops ($4): Have a lolli! A special formulation of essential oils and aromatherapy delivered in the form of a delicious lollipop - these pops are highly recommended among expectant mamas.

Everything You Need to Know About Buying a Nintendo 3DS

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:36:44 PDT

It's almost time - the Nintendo 3DS launches this weekend! I've had a few days to get to know the unit, and while I'm admittedly a Nintendo kind of gal, it's definitely exceeded my expectations with this console. Find out more about it below!

Price and Availability
The new Nintendo 3DS will hit stores this Sunday, March 27 for $250.

Trade-Ins and Credits
Want to trade up for the newest version? Here's what you need to know:

Walmart - Starting this Sunday, you can trade in a used Nintendo DS model for up to a $100 credit toward the 3DS at authorized Walmart locations.
Target - Starting on Sunday, you can trade in any used Nintendo DS system for up to $50 in credit toward the purchase of a 3DS, or any other purchase in Target stores.
GameStop - Trade in your used Nintendo DSi XL for $100 in reservation credits, your DSi for $75, and your DS for $50 to put toward the purchase of a new 3DS.

Find out more about the games, the 3D quality, and whether or not you should buy after the break.

AT&T Releases First US 3D Smartphone: LG Thrill 4G

Michele Foley — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:30:12 PDT

AT&T is really trying to up the ante this week. The company already made news on Monday with its $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile; now it's earning bragging rights as the first US provider to offer a 3D smartphone.

The carrier says that its LG Thrill 4G will be out in the "coming months" and will feature a dual five-megapixel camera capable of shooting both 3D photos and high-definition 720p video. Also available to LG Thrill owners is a library of 3D content in the form of photos, video clips, and games by way of the "LG 3D Space." Other specs include a 4.3-inch display, dual-core 1GHz processor, 16GB of flash memory, and HDMI output. Based on what we know so far, it sounds like the LG Thrill is a version of LG's Optimus 3D, which is set to roll out in Europe sometime during the second quarter.

No word yet on how much the phone will cost, but I suspect it won't be cheap. I'm curious to see how the 3D technology affects the phone's battery life (a problem already plaguing the Nindendo 3DS), or if owners will be walking around with motion sickness, headaches, and blurry vision.