FitSugar

Get Your Butt in Gear: Gretchen Bleiler For Oakley

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:30:00 -0800

January is just around the corner, and that means it's time to play in the snow. Are you mountain ready? If you're in need of fresh gear, check out the new collection that snowboarding superstar Gretchen Bleiler designed for Oakley - and you thought they only made sunglasses.

Known for her crazy trick the inverted crippler, Bleiler designed a collection that mixes wild and tame. A jacket she calls The Mane features a faux fur trimmed hood and comes in three colors, one a bright yellow that suggests a lion abstracted. The collection includes basic jackets and pants, all with small details that give them style and flair. The jackets and pants are cut to flatter the female form, and many items are made with recycled polyester. At $250 to $300, the price range might be as steep as the mountains you ride, but style wedded with comfort and warmth is always priceless.

To see more of the collection, read more.

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Get Mountain Ready: Add Decline to Your Treadmill

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:00:04 -0800

The snow's a-flowing where some of you live, and that makes skiers, riders, and snowshoers very happy. To prepare your legs for the excessive stress on your quads, knees, and shins, it's best to condition yourself for the downhill. There are a few commercial treadmills available that offer a decline option, but instead of springing for a brand new piece of equipment, you can just raise the back of the one you have.

To do this, place one or two two-by-fours under the back of the treadmill. It'll offer a slight decline, but it's enough to allow you to work your legs. It's best to do it before you hit the slopes, since you don't want to realize you should have trained more while cruising down the hill.

Of course, you can also train downhill outside if you don't have a treadmill. Run downhill, or if that bothers your knees, walk instead. I recommend doing intervals of flat, incline, flat, decline, etc. Training downhill will not only strengthen your muscles and joints, but it can also prevent injury or extreme soreness from a day on the slopes. When you head into snow with your skis, board, or snowshoes, all this training will allow you to spend more time on the mountain and less time resting at the lodge.

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Get Mountain Ready With Ashtanga Yoga

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:30:00 -0800

Now that Winter is in full force, I'm sure many of you spend your weekends skiing or snowboarding. Nothing beats the excitement and anticipation of standing at the top of a white mountain and looking down the slope. However, an exhilarating day on the mountain can leave you very sore and achy the next day.

If you take the time to lengthen and strengthen your legs and core before heading to the slopes, you can seriously decrease the delayed onset muscle (DOMS) you experience the day after boarding or skiing. Let me tell you, Ashtanga Yoga can help get you mountain ready, especially the Primary Series. This sequence of set postures, involves tons of poses that stretch and strengthen your quads, hamstrings, hips, shoulders, and lower back. These are the areas skiers and boarders need to focus on, and stretching and strengthening them can prevent injury, as well as make you stronger and more in control when you hit the mountain.

In the Primary Series, you practice both Sun Salutation A and B, which are great for warming up heading up the lift. Other great poses in the Primary Series are: Warrior 1 and 2, Seated Straddle, and Head to Knee. These poses help increase your flexibility and build endurance. Ashtanga is perfect for inflexible athletes who like to sweat and work every muscle.

Fit's Tips: Check out your local yoga studio to see if the offer Primary Series classes or beginners workshops. If they don't, check out this awesome Primary Series DVD. Also check out my videos of Sun Salutation A and Sun Salutation B.

Get Mountain Ready with Step Aerobics

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 08:32:27 -0800

I know step aerobics is a staple in almost every gym's schedule of classes. I also know it is a little dated and dorky, but I love it. Plus, step aerobics is a great way to get your self fit for your favorite mountain sport, be it skiing or boarding.

Step aerobics is great agility training. Not tripping on or falling off the step takes some concentration and coordination. This motion will prepare you for quick moves down the slope.

All the side to side motion, stepping over the step, works and strengthens your lateral stabilizers. These are great areas to strengthen, especially if you ski moguls.

Step aerobics is also aerobic, after all. Being in aerobic shape helps you stay on the slopes longer, recover more quickly and decreases your chances of injury. You will also be working your legs a lot - step aerobic instructors seem to absolutely adore squats.

So add some variety to your winter conditioning routine. Step it up.

Mountain Ready?

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 09:00:00 -0800

Before you head to the mountains it is a good, well really great idea to do a little conditioning before you hit the slopes. Being aerobically fit decreases your chance for body soreness due to muscle fatigue and injury. But you have got to add a little anaerobic work into the mix, since skiing and boarding both require short, quick bursts of energy.

So you need to add sprints to your regular work out routine - you can do this on a run or on a bike. Try to add some 2 minute intervals of sprints, taking a short break after the sprint (don't completely stop, but slow it down a bit).

See you on the slopes.

Online Sale Alert: Athleta

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:30:07 -0700

I am a longtime fan of Athleta. Its stylish workout gear, cute yet functional swimsuits, and comfy clothing look good on and are made for motion. Just in time to squeeze the last little bit of fun out of Summer and to stock up on back to school fashions, Athleta is having a sale. Some items are reduced by 60 percent. They even have screaming deals on a last year's ski jackets if you're in the mood to get mountain ready. Here are some items that I have my eye on.

Outrun Tank - $59.00	Maia Bra by Moving Comfort® - $46.00
Nanda Coverup - $49.00	Swirl Jacket - $168.00
Drynamic Fitness Skort - $54.00	One Piece Halter - $69.00
Chakra Tank - $49.00	Summer Fun Tow-In Top - $44.00

I am stoked - the rashguard I included in my August Must Haves is now $42.50, marked down from $60.

10 Ways to Reward Yourself For Reaching Fitness Goals

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:53:58 -0700

I feel it is important to set fitness goals, but it's equally important to reward yourself once you reach them. After completing my first triathlon, I bought a new purse. If you need ideas for rewarding yourself, take a lesson from FitSugar readers and how they recognize their achievements.

"Going to the gym and working out is its own reward because it makes me feel so much better." - kclulu
"As I am losing the weight, I made a rewards list for each milestone. At 10 pounds, I bought myself hip scarves for belly dancing. At 20 pounds, I watched all five of the Best Picture nominees in February. At 30 pounds, I got an iPod Touch. And at 40 pounds, which is where I am now, I got a hula hoop and signed up for dance lessons. When I reach 50, I get to go on vacation." - tamaradulva
"When I reach a milestone, I reward myself by buying new gym clothes." -sandy82

To see the other ways FitSugar readers reward their fit and healthy efforts, read more.

"My fitness goal IS my reward! My boyfriend wants to go on a challenging week-long mountain trek later this year. It's been his dream since he was little, and I'm so touched that he wants me to go with him. I'm working out every day and strength training to get ready for it. Being able to do it with him, and actually enjoy it, is going to be the biggest gift to him and myself!" - Anonymous
"When I reached 50 pounds I went skydiving. It was awesome!" - elenaperez64
"New lingerie. It highlights everything I've done much much more than my usual clothing. It makes me feel very confident too. And my fiance is definitely not complaining." - LilyLyra
"I like to reward myself with something fitness related like a new HRM watch, personal training sessions, or Pilates sessions. This way, it gives me something active to look forward to and makes exercise the ultimate reward. Plus things like training or Pilates sessions help to break the boredom and give me an extra workout boost.
New clothes are always fun too." - Anonymous
"I don't usually reward myself for exercising goals actually. Thinking I look hotter naked is enough of a reward." - tlsgirl
"I agree that feeling and looking better is more than enough reward! But sometimes I promise myself new exercise clothes or equipment, because new things always get me excited about working out!" - sourcherry
"When I reach my weight goal . . . which will hopefully be in the next week or two . . . I'm eating a cheeseburger from my favorite spot!" - Anonymous

Strike a Yoga Pose: Twisting Goddess

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:30:00 -0700

After channeling your inner strength with Goddess pose, it's time to try this variation. Not only will it tone your quads, glutes, and core, but it will also increase flexibility in your shoulders.

Sanskrit Name: Parivritta Utkata Konasana
English Translation: Revolved Fierce Angle Pose
Also Called: Revolved Goddess or Twisting Goddess

To learn how to do this pose read more.

Stand at the top of your mat in Mountain pose.
Step open to the right, opening your legs about three feet apart. Turn your heels in.
Bend your knees coming into wide squat until your thighs are parallel to the ground. Your knees should be directly over your ankles, so adjust your feet if you need to.
When you're ready, lift your arms up, bending your elbows so they are at 90 degree angles, and open your palms away from you, coming into Goddess.

Now rest your right elbow on your right thigh and either raise your left arm over your ear, or reach it around your lower back and clasp your fingers around your right inner thigh.
Hold here for five deep breaths, gazing over your left shoulder.
Then switch sides, resting your left elbow on your left thigh, holding for another five breaths.

Strike a Yoga Pose: Goddess

FitSugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 04:30:00 -0700

Channel your inner goddess with this simple but bold yoga pose. Goddess pose builds your inner and outer strength; since it is like a wide squat you will be working your quads and glutes.

Sanskrit Name: Utkata Konasana
English Translation: Fierce Angle Pose
Also Called: Goddess or Victory Squat

To learn how to do this pose read more.

Stand at the top of your mat in Mountain pose.
Step open to the right, opening your legs about three feet apart. Turn your heels in.
Bend your knees coming into wide squat until your thighs are parallel to the ground. Your knees should be directly over your ankles, so adjust your feet if you need to.
When you're ready, lift your arms up, bending your elbows so they are at 90 degree angles, and open your palms away from you.
Hold here for five deep breaths.

Strike a Yoga Pose: Standing Split

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 03:30:00 -0700

If you're looking for an effective way to stretch the backs of your legs and hips, give Standing Split a try. The best thing about this pose is that you can focus on one leg at a time. It's also a great pose to work on if you want to strengthen your sense of balance. Since your head is below your heart in this pose, you'll feel energized and alert afterward.

Sanskrit Name: Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana
English Translation: One Foot Extended Upwards Pose
Also Called: Standing Split

To learn how to do this pose read more.

Begin standing in Mountain pose. Take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, fold forward from the waist. Bring both hands to the floor and work on straightening both legs.
When you're ready, inhale and shift weight into your right foot and your palms. Then lift the left leg up as high as you can. You can bend the left knee if you like, or work on straightening the leg. Tuck your chin and draw your torso toward your right leg, breathing deeply and relaxing the shoulders away from the ears.
Stay here for five breaths. Then return your left leg to the floor. Stay here for a complete breath and then do this pose with the left foot on the floor.