FitSugar

Get Your Butt in Gear: Gretchen Bleiler For Oakley

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:30:00 PST

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,

Burn It Up: 30-Minute Circuit Workout From Equinox

Susi May — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:33:36 PDT

Circuit training is one of my favorite ways to get my sweat on. You torch calories by getting your heart rate up while building muscle with strength training - a win-win workout. My Equinox trainer, Lauren, likes 'em too. Recently she put me through the paces of the following circuit workout, and I just had to share the fun. Get ready to sweat!

There are three circuits of four exercises each. Do 15 reps of each exercise, and keep rolling through the four exercises for 10 minutes. Between each circuit, rest (stretch and hydrate) for one to two minutes. To warm up, run on a treadmill for five minutes. This workout uses 12 kg. kettlebells and a variety of dumbbell weights. As always, work with a weight that is appropriate for your strength level.

Circuit One

Exercise	Reps	Equipment	Notes
Jump squat	15	Body weight move
Squat thrust deadlift	15	12 kg. kettlebells	Place hands on kettlebells to jump back into plank; come to standing lifting kettlebells.
Single-arm kettlebell swings	15 each arm	12 kg. kettlebell	Really pop your hips to get that kettlebell up!
Plank with reverse row	15 each arm	10-15 pound dumbbells

Keep reading! There are two more circuits after the break.

6 Weekend Weight-Loss Tips to Slim Down

Shape — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 03:44:06 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

After a week of spartan lunches, rigorous workouts, and sleep-depriving presentations, it's easy to feel you've earned a happy hour margarita and a plate of cheesy nachos. But topping off a tough week in this way can undo all your hard work and even pack on the pounds. According to a study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, women consume about 115 more calories on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday than they do on weekdays. "Those extra 300 to 400 calories can leave you nine pounds heavier by the year's end," says Barry Popkin, Ph.D., the study's lead author. Fortunately, when armed with the right advice, it's possible to avoid the most common dietary traps while savoring that delicious downtime. And you may even wake up on Monday a little slimmer. Not a bad way to start the week!

FRIDAY

Overdoing It at Happy Hour
Alcohol isn't only high in calories, it also diminishes resolve - making it harder to keep your hands out of the pretzel bowl.

Keep reading to see the solution to this and many more weekend dilemmas!

Gear Review: Lululemon Hot Yoga Hobo Bag

Leta Shy — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 03:49:50 PDT

Considering my everyday handbag is large enough to carry more things than necessary, I was happy to receive the roomy Lululemon Hobo Bag ($118) for review. At 15 inches wide by 13.5 inches tall, this bag is made to fit everything you'll need before and after your workout, whether that's a sweaty Bikram class or a heart-pounding gym session.

After a few weeks of trucking the bag to and from work, the gym, and yoga class, I've gotten used to being able to lug around more gear than I probably should. For one, the Hobo bag holds its shape whether it's packed or empty, which makes it easy to fill when I'm getting my gear ready at night. A surprising number of pockets and compartments makes gym organization easy too - there are three interior mesh pockets, one zippered, for small items (most pockets have a label, like "before," "after", "keys," and, naturally, "chocolate"), not to mention a strap to hold your yoga mat (it will stick out of the unzipped top). On the outside there are two large zippered compartments that can fit your clothes, and two outside pockets for anything from a yoga towel to your phone; they also have toggle ties, which will keep your water bottle from spilling. With these organizational amenities it's no wonder the bag can fit everything I need; in addition to my shoes, sports bra, pants, cosmetics bag, and multiple workout shirts, I'm able to stuff my laptop in it as well.

Read on for more on my thoughts about the Hot Yoga Hobo.

Interview With an Ultramarathoner: What It Takes to Run More Than a Marathon

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 01:26:41 PDT

I run a few times a week, about 10 to 12 miles total, but I wouldn't consider myself a runner, especially not after interviewing Deanna Stoppler, an ultramarathoner. At 32 she has completed dozens of marathons and a handful of ultras - races that are longer than the typical 26.2 marathon distance. If you ever wondered what it takes to run such extreme distances, or why a person ~~in their right mind~~ would ever want to do it in the first place, check out this amazing interview.

FitSugar: How many miles long were the ultras you've completed and how long does it typically take a woman to complete?
Deanna Stoppler: I have completed ultras from 40 and 50 miles to 100 km (62.14 miles). I have not completed a 100-miler yet. It really depends on the course, weather, and fitness level, but I'd say plan to be out anywhere from six to 24 hours (100-miler) or more.

FS: How did you get into this type of racing?
DS: I started out as a marathoner. When I read Dean Karnazes book Ultramarathon Man, I knew that trying an ultra was the next step for me. He started completely out of shape and has gone on to complete extraordinary feats.

FS: How do you train for this type of race? What other types of exercise or cross training do you do to complement your running?
DS: The main thing is to run back to back long runs, usually on a Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday schedule, increasing distance over time and tapering a couple of weeks before the race. I avoid running on pavement as much as possible. I do sit-ups and push-ups every night, and when I have time, I try to do core exercises with an exercise ball. I used to stretch but I don't do that anymore. It seemed to make me more sore the next day. I also use a Tiger Tail roll bar when certain muscles get tight.

FS: How do you keep going for that long? What techniques do you have when you feel like you want to stop?
DS: I try to start out slow because everyone runs like bats out of hell at first. I stay near the back and slowly work my way up. I don't sprint in ultras, although, in one race I did run faster for the last three miles because I didn't have a flashlight and didn't want to get caught in the dark. I continue to ingest calories even when my body says not too (digestion slows when you exert that much energy). I do math in my head for hours on end! Mostly it's math about the next time that I need to take a GU shot, ingest S-caps (electrolyte tabs), and fill my water. I try to think about how awesome it is that I'm doing this and that it's only one day out of my entire life.

Continue reading to find out what ultramarathoners do about going to the bathroom.

How to Be the Perfect Houseguest

LearnVest — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:15:17 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

At the beach, in the mountains or in the big city, being invited to a friend’s place not only lets us catch up with loved ones but also lets us save on hotels.

Of course, the flip side is that there’s a totally different set of expectations (read: you can’t throw your towels on the floor). If you’re not a master of houseguest etiquette, you might come off as ungrateful and inadvertently ruin your chances of visiting again next year.

We don’t want you to break a long tradition of shacking up at your aunt’s cute beach house every summer, so we’ve put together a guide to being the perfect houseguest.

Be Clear About How Long You Will Stay

Make sure you lock down your visiting dates far in advance with your hosts . . . at their invitation. Don’t ever be vague or hope to stretch out your visit after you arrive. If your BFF says she’ll be busy after Labor Day, book your return ticket to leave a full day before so she has some time to herself.

No Surprises, Please

Never show up unannounced - or, even worse, with a puppy, child, significant other or friend (even if it’s a mutual friend), unless you've cleared it with your host beforehand. You may call it spontaneous and fun . . . your cousin and her husband may call it inconvenient.

Read on to find out how to be the perfect houseguest.

Throw a Candyland-Inspired Birthday Party!

Leta Shy — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 09:01:01 PDT

The classic board game Candyland has been a kid favorite since its debut in the 1940s. If your lil one can't get enough of Candy Cane Forest or Gum Drop Mountain, a Candyland-inspired birthday party is easy to put together and fun to attend! Get ready for a sugar high with these ideas on turning your house into a candy kingdom!

Starbucks Fans: Get Excited For Better Rewards

Susannah Chen — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:15:02 PDT

Get ready for more Starbucks in your life. At its annual meeting today, the coffee giant revealed more of its plans for this year, and as usual, they're nothing short of ambitious. Although representatives didn't want to comment on the speculation that Starbucks will buy Peet's, we did learn a little more about what's in store.
Starbucks plans to permeate multiple aisles in grocery chains and warehouse clubs across the nation. The company's hoping to capitalize on the single-cup market, and has inked a deal with both Green Mountain Coffee Roasters to sell single-cup coffee pods of Starbucks and Seattle's Best coffees, as well as Courtesy Products to offer a one-cup coffee brewer. Bonus: as an incentive for shoppers, the chain will also expand its rewards card program to include Starbucks products in grocery stores, such as coffee beans and bottled Frappuccinos.

In its stand-alone locations, Starbucks is adding more content to its in-store digital network, including access to new partners such as the Economist, Mediabistro, Marvel Comics, and ESPN Insider. Clearly, it's not just about coffee anymore, is it?

On the Road, Again! Last-Minute Tips For Car Travel With Kids

Heather Maddan — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 13:32:00 PST

Holiday! The wagon, SUV, or minivan is packed and ready to roll so don't forget these tricks to keeping the kiddos happy (and distracted) while out on the open road.

Lots of parents reserve trips to the drive-thru for family car trips! Consult the In-N-Out secret menu and allow youngsters to order exactly what they want!
Busy your tots with these fun road games!
Nursing in transit? Here our some ways to keep mom and baby comfortable.
If you're heading into the mountains, this product will keep big kids' ears from popping at high altitudes, and it isn't gum.
You won't have to pull over if you take our advice for curbing car sickness!
And, don't forget to clean up the carbage!

5 Reasons to Ride

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 07:00:19 PDT

Biking is my favorite form of locomotion. The world moves by at the perfect pace when pedaling. You can take in the view and still feel the wind in your face. Riding a bike is a great green way to get around since you can travel a greater distance in a shorter time when compared to walking, and it can be faster than driving, depending on gridlock traffic.

Here are five reasons to bike to work, bike about town, and bike for errands:

Eco: Let's start with the greenest reason - biking reduces your carbon footprint. Using pedal power, rather than fossil fuels, for short trips and commutes can reduce your carbon emissions by an estimated 11 percent.
Cardio: Cycling is a wonderful, joint-friendly form of exercise. Instead of burning oil, you burn calories on your bike. Biking for 30 minutes at a moderate pace burns around 230 calories
Strength: Biking about town builds leg strength. Pedaling tones your quads and hamstrings as well as your calves, helping you get ready for the short shorts of Summer. Tone your gams while maximizing your pedal power.

See two other reasons to hop on your bike when you