FitSugar

Need Motivation? Challenge Yourself to Something

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:15:00 -0800

In 2008 I've decided that (at some point this year) I am going to be able to run a seven minute mile, like I could in high school - yikes. Challenging myself to new things is one way that keeps things exciting for me because I am always so proud of myself after I've reached my goal. Once I accomplish it, I'll move onto something else. So, if you're having a hard time motivating yourself, then how about challenging yourself physically? Challenge yourself to run a race, learn how to snowboard, or even master salsa dancing. It really doesn't matter what your challenge is, just try to make it something attainable and go for it.

I would love to hear how you are going to challenge yourself. Tell me about it in the comments section below.

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Need Motivation? Dance like Granny

FitSugar — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 03:00:00 -0700

I love to dance around the house - it burns some extra calories, gives me a little pick me up, and makes my girls laugh and dance too. Which makes me laugh with joy; they are so cute when they dance. Well here is another cutie dancing around, and in a gym no less. Check out Ben Kweller's granny dancing her heart out and getting her heart rate up to his song Penny on the Train Track. She is adorable, inspirational and this 82 year old has got some moves.

Just click on the image and the video will play.

So what are you waiting for? Crank up some tunes and move it.

New Moon Star Nikki Reed Says Relationship Keeps Her Slim

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:00:49 -0800

If Kristen Stewart needs any help kicking her nicotine habit, she can look to her New Moon costar Nikki Reed for advice. In the last few months, Reed has given herself a bit of a lifestyle makeover, thanks in large part, as she told People, to her relationship with Greek shipping heir (and Paris Hilton ex) Paris Latsis.

Reed and Latsis have officially been out as a couple since Summer, which was the perfect time for Latsis to introduce Reed to all the outdoor sports he loves. The pair spent the season hiking, windsurfing, and water skiing, and as a result, Reed says, the pounds started dropping.

Besides having tons of fun, Reed was so inspired by her boyfriend's love of the outdoors that she became motivated to get into better shape. First things first, she quit smoking. Now Reed hits the gym for two hours a day and says that being active has made her "much happier."

Last week I shared with you some ways that your relationship might be making you fat, but keep in mind that as with Reed, relationships can have positive effects on health. I personally am healthier now that I'm with a partner who likes being active as much as I do. He and I love riding bikes, climbing, and going on long hikes together. Do any of you credit your relationship for making you healthier?

Need Workout Motivation? Try the Five-Minute Rule

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:08:07 -0700

Whether you're just getting into a regular exercise routine or you've been following one for years, some days it's just so tough to motivate yourself to pull on a sports bra and lace up your sneaks. There are millions of excuses out there not to exercise, but you know you always feel better after you do. If that vague memory of post-workout bliss is not enough to get you moving, try the five-minute rule by health and fitness coach Amelia Burton.

Still need more motivation? Check out these eight techniques.

Pass Gym Time With Healthy Competition

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:30:59 -0800

Watching TV, listening to music, and perusing magazines are all great ways to pass the time when you're on a cardio machine, but even those can get boring. They also require a bit of attention, compromising a good workout - you can't turn pages while doing sprint intervals. When you need a little motivation, utilize your fellow gym-goers and compete with a stranger. While on the treadmill, look for someone near you who is clearly working it, and try to run a little faster or stay on the machine a little longer than that unsuspecting runner. When they end their run and you're still going, get ready for the sweet taste of victory. This works on a bike, elliptical, or in the pool. While it's helpful to use someone else's drive to push yourself, just make sure you also listen to your body and don't exceed your personal limits.

Words That Move You . . .

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:41 -0800

"Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, 'I've never seen anyone run like that before.' It's more than just a race, it's a style. It's doing something better than anyone else. It's being creative."

- Steven Prefontaine (1951-1975)

Need some more motivation? Check out all of my words that move you.

Powerhouse Hit the Deck Workout System

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:00:17 -0800

Powerhouse Hit the Deck ($20) is a new workout system that you can do "anywhere, anytime, with no fitness equipment needed." It's made up of 35 color-coded cards and an interval timer. Each card has a strength/cardio exercise on it, and its color denotes the exercise's level of difficulty. The levels are broken down in a cute way - no sweat (easy), I'm glistening (medium), and sweating buckets (hard) - and there are five warmup/cooldown cards too.

Using the Powerhouse deck is pretty simple:

Set the interval timer to how long you want to do an individual exercise - I set mine to 30-second intervals.
Always start each workout by drawing the yellow cards; these are the warmup exercises.
Read over the first card, hit the timer, and do as many repetitions of the exercise on the card as possible until the timer beeps.
Stop the timer, draw the next card and repeat.
After getting through the warmup exercises, draw from the rest of the deck and continue the process for as long as you like.

To see what I thought of the system, read more.

I liked the Powerhouse deck and thought it was a great cross-training workout. There are all sorts of variations you can do to change it up: go totally random and draw cards regardless of difficulty, keep your workout limited to one difficulty level, or build on difficulty as the workout progresses. You can also decide how much time you want to spend on your workout by pulling a certain number of cards before you begin. I liked shuffling the cards I pulled before starting so that my workout would always be a complete surprise.

The pace of the workout is a lot like the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD, but the drawback is you don't have Jillian's motivation or anyone there to explain proper form. Given that it's just you and a deck of cards, you really have to rely on yourself for motivation. Also, you have to make sure you're following the cards as closely as possible so you don't injure yourself.

Though I wouldn't use the deck in place of my gym or even a workout DVD, this is a great set to have for traveling or if you need a quick way to relieve some stress.

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Tweet What You Eat: Food Journals in the Digital Age

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:00:09 -0700

If the whole world knew what you ate all day, would it motivate you to make better food choices? That's what the folks behind Tweet What You Eat (TWYE) are hoping.

TWYE is a Twitter-based online food diary that is updated in real time via the web or a text message. And unless a member has opted to keep their diary private, the 15,000 (and growing) members of TWYE get to see what you eat, all day, every day. Most users do go public and the founders admit that this has been key to finding success on TWYE. Users might think twice before gorging on cake, cookies, or donuts if their diary is open to all.

To learn how to use TWYE, read more.

Basically you text or tweet what you eat throughout the day to TWYE, including calories. You can also submit calorie-burning activities to get a more accurate reflection of everything that's going in and out. If you don't know how many calories a particular food item has, that's OK, because the site has a database of popular foods and their caloric breakdown. At the end of each day you are given a grand total of the calories you took in.

The service is fairly new, so all you can really do is track calories - there's no breakdown of fats, carbs, or nutrients - but it's a great tool if that's all you're interested in doing. It seems incredibly helpful for those times when you're on the go, since you only need your cell phone to make an entry.

Would you use TWYE?

Words That Move You . . .

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:00:59 -0700

"Who bravely dares must sometimes risk a fall."
-Tobias George Smollett

Need some more motivation? Check out all of my words that move you.

Gear Review: Polar RS300X Heart Rate Monitor With Foot Pod

FitSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:00:29 -0700

I love training with a heart rate monitor, and Polar is my favorite brand. These days I have been working out with the RS300X ($170). Designed with running in mind, this HRM is great for other sports as well.

For me, the feature that distinguishes this heart rate monitor from others I have used in the past is the big red lap button at the bottom of the watch face. Press it, and the watch saves your stats for that lap, but keeps on recording the rest of your workout. When you're done with your workout, the RS300X breaks down your workout data by lap as well as giving your info on your overall workout. It is great for working out at the track when running repeat distances or when training with negative splits. When combined with the S1 Foot Pod ($130), the heart rate monitor tracks your speed and distance as well - perfect for all the type A runners out there.

For more of my opinion, keep reading.