FitSugar

What is your dream winter vacation?

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 04:00:00 -0800

Lately I have been thinking about getting out of dodge for a winter vacation.

These shots of Cameron really inspire me to head for the waves, but a week skiing could be great too. Ahhh...but it is just a dream for me. What about you -

What is your dream winter vacation? Do you escape the cold or celebrate it?

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

You Asked: Pain in the Ear When Flying

FitSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Dear Fit,
Whenever I fly I get this horrible pain in my ears, right as we're descending, about 15 minutes before we land. It's excruciating and sometimes I can't hear well a few hours after the flight. What causes this and is there any way to prevent it? I am traveling soon for my Summer vacation and am not looking forward to flying.
- Pain in the Ear

Great that you're taking a vacation. They are great for stress relief. It sounds like you suffer the condition aptly named airplane ear. More scientifically it's known as barotrauma or barotitis media, but whatever the name, the pain can be really intense and can cause ringing or bleeding in your ear, dizziness, or temporary hearing loss.

To hear what causes it and how to ease your pain read more.

This condition is pretty common and is caused by rapid changes in altitude or air pressure, which causes an unequal pressure between your middle ear and the air outside your ear. This makes your eardrum bulge outward or retract inward, which hurts, and can even cause a ruptured eardrum. You've probably also experienced it when swimming in deep water or driving through the mountains.

Swallowing or yawning should help ease your discomfort because the Eustachian tube, which connects your middle ear to the back of your nose, opens and allows air to flow into or out of your middle ear, equalizing the pressure. If you're congested though because of a cold or allergies, this tube can be blocked, causing pain, muffled sound, and temporary hearing loss.

To prevent this from happening on future flights, try taking an over-the-counter decongestant such as Sudafed about 30 to 60 minutes before your flight. This will help to dry up mucus from your nose and sinuses. While you're flying, chew gum or suck on a cough drop. This will encourage frequent swallowing, which helps to activate the muscles that open your Eustachian tubes. Also, don't sleep when the plane is descending, so you can be sure you're swallowing often. I hope this helps and happy travels.

Source

Newsletter - Week 27

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:34:49 -0700

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Welcome To Week 27

Your Baby: Growing Inside And Out

At this point, your baby weighs roughly 2 pounds (900 g), and measures about 15 inches long from head to toe (10 inches from crown to rump). On the outside, his skin looks wrinkled from floating in water. So don't be surprised if your newborn has a crinkled, prune-like appearance for a few weeks after birth as he fills out into a baby. The lungs and immune system are still continuing to mature during this period of time.

Your Body: Travel Do's And Don'ts

There's no better time than the second trimester to take a vacation "with baby" as long as you've checked in with your doctor and you've gotten the go ahead. That said, you should keep stress to a minimum and plan a relaxing trip. Below are some recommendations that may help you plan for your trip.

Traveling is generally considered safe during pregnancy. The key with traveling while pregnant is to make sure you are going to be comfortable and as safe as possible. It is best to notify your doctor of your travel plans and ask for any recommendations specific to you and your pregnancy. Whether you are traveling by plane, car, or train, it is important to do the following:

Continue to eat regularly.
Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
Get up and walk around every hour or so to help your circulation and to keep the swelling down.
Wear comfortable shoes and clothing that are not binding.
Take crackers and juice with you to prevent nausea.

DO NOT take over the counter medicines or any non-prescribed medications without checking with your doctor. This includes medication for motion sickness or bowel problems related to traveling. Foreign travel: If you are planning a trip out of the country, discuss your trip with your doctor. Plan ahead to allow time for any shots or medications you may need, and be prepared to take a copy of your prenatal record with you.

Traveling to high altitudes may cause problems during pregnancy, as your body and your fetus adjust to the lower air pressure and lower levels of oxygen. It’s generally best to let your body adjust to moderate altitudes – 6,000 – 8,000 feet – for a few days before going above 8,000 feet. Women with complicated pregnancies may want to avoid mountain-top excursions altogether.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends the following when traveling by land, air, or sea:

Land: No more than 5-6 hours a day. Always wear your seatbelt. (Place the lap belt under your abdomen and across your upper thighs so that it fits snugly and comfortably. Put the shoulder strap between your breasts and across your shoulder. ALWAYS wear the lap shoulder strap when traveling while pregnant.

The fluid-filled sac inside the uterus, which is further protected by muscles, organs, and bones, cushions the baby. Unless the mother has a serious injury in an accident, the baby will likely not be harmed. However, if you are in an accident, you should always check with your doctor to make sure you and your baby are fine.

Air: Flying during pregnancy is generally safe. In the United States, pregnant women are allowed to fly up to 36 weeks of pregnancy. You should consider getting an aisle seat for more room and to make it easier to walk around and get to the bathroom. Wear layered clothing so you can have some control when there are temperature changes. Be sure to get up and walk at least once an hour, and drink plenty of fluids, to reduce the risk of blood clots forming in your legs.

Travel may not be indicated in someone with medical or obstetrical complications. You should discuss your travel plans with your health care provider. Women with complicated pregnancies – those with high risk of preterm delivery, pre-eclampsia, or signs of poor fetal growth – may need supplemental oxygen when flying. Talk to your health care provider before you travel to see if you need additional oxygen.

Air travel also exposes passengers to small amounts of cosmic radiation. This is rarely an issue for passengers, but flight attendants and pilots may be exposed to inappropriate levels of radiation.

Sea: If you have never been on a cruise, now may not be the best time to take one. When traveling by sea, the motion can upset your stomach (even without being pregnant) and may be more likely if you are pregnant. If you do decide to go on a cruise, check what medical care will be available to you and always inform your physician of your plans before departing.

On a Different Note: What's The Deal With Delivery?

If this is your first pregnancy and you can't imagine how you're going to get this baby out of you in a few months time, then this vaginal delivery animation is a must-see. With a simple click of the button, you'll see the whole birthing process right before your eyes.

Weekly Tip

If you know where you plan to give birth or if you are considering a few places, you and your spouse should pay a visit. Many hospitals give tours of the labor and delivery ward so you know exactly where to go, where to park, and what to do when the time is right. Then, once you've made your final decision, you should pre-register and fill out all the necessary paperwork -- for the hospital and for insurance -- ahead of time.

Review Date:
2/6/2007
Reviewed By:
Douglas A. Levine, MD, Gynecology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

adam.com

Pregnancy Center Links

You Ski Like a Woman

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:30:00 -0800

Looking for some programs to jump start the snow sports season?

Skilikeawoman.com is an on-line directory of ski, snowboard and snowshoe lessons and programs for women at over 250 resorts around the world. Snow sports' instruction used to be the same for men and women, but new theories of learning have found that women and men learn differently. Well I could have told you that after my first snowboarding lesson with my husband - he went straight down the mountain immediately to see what would happen while I wanted to be instructed on my every single move. So check it out to find women only classes and programs near you (or near your next wintery vacation).

I am not leaving men out, there is also a directory of programs and classes for men only as well.

Source