FitSugar

Need Motivation? Challenge Yourself to Something

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:15:00 PST

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.

Source

Need Motivation? Dance like Granny

FitSugar — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 03:00:00 PDT

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.

The Downsides to Meeting Your Goal Weight

Shape — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:32:50 PDT

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

When I started losing weight, I often looked at women who were thinner than I was and thought, "Wow, her life must be so easy." I knew that once I got to my goal weight, I'd feel awesome, and healthy living would be just as easy for me as it was for all the "I can eat whatever I want and not gain weight" women around me.

11 Ways to Rev Up Your Metabolism

Now that I've lost 75 pounds, I can say that I do feel awesome . . . but I can't say that a healthy lifestyle comes easy. Weight maintenance isn't as simple as I expected. While being at my goal weight has its perks, I have to admit: I failed to appreciate some of the great benefits I enjoyed along the way. If I did it all over again, then here's what I'd do differently:

See how you can enjoy the weight-loss journey after the break!

Shaquille O'Neal's Mom Opens Up About Education, Sports, and Keeping Kids Motivated

Yahoo Shine — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:02:33 PDT

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Yahoo! Shine:

When basketball star Shaquille O'Neal was still a kid, he knew that he had to get good grades before he could to play sports.

"In our home we had a rule: No pass, no play," his mother, Lucille O'Neal, told Yahoo! Shine in an interview. "If you didn't pass the grade, then you weren't allowed to play the extracurricular activity." That dedication to his studies is still strong: On May 5, the four-time world champion and 15-time All Star player earned his doctorate in education from Barry University in Miami. That's earned, mind you, not honorary. According to The Miami Herald, Shaq, 40, spent the past 4 1/2 years working toward a doctoral degree in organizational learning and leadership with a specialization in human resource development, studying before and after NBA games and between segments as a sports analyst on TV.

Keep reading to hear Lucille's advise for parents.

Phone It In: Free Apps to Help You Drop Pounds

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:03:47 PDT

Losing weight is a difficult struggle for most, but you don't have to go at it alone. For busy women wanting to drop pounds, being able to keep track of weight-loss goals on their phone is not only convenient, it offers the support and motivation needed to follow through. Here's a list of the best weight-loss apps - and they won't cost you a dime!

Lose It!: Fill in some important info about yourself, including age, height, current weight, goal weight, and how many pounds you want to lose per week and you're ready to go. The app tells you how many calories you should have each day to meet your weight-loss goal, and also keeps track of the calories you consume each day and the calories you lose via exercise. The "My Day" feature gives you a quick snapshot of your day, how many calories you've consumed and burned, and how many cals you have left. Easy to use and easy to read.
Easy Weight Loss Tips: We could always use more advice on how to lose weight, and this little app offers quick diet, exercise, and nutrition tips to help you on your quest, such as, "Keep a bowl of cut-up vegetables in a see-through container in the refrigerator."

Keep reading to hear about two more free weight-loss apps.

7 Money Mistakes Women Often Make

LearnVest — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:15:55 PDT

We all make mistakes - we're all human after all. LearnVest shares some of the common money mistakes that women often make so readers will learn not to make them, too.

Some of us handle our money flawlessly, perfectly, brilliantly, all of the time.

But most of us don't.

Most of us make mistakes here and there. We make some mistakes more than others, because of our personalities, or our upbringing . . . or sometimes even our gender.

It's ridiculous, but true.

We've heard it firsthand - from our readers. In fact, we went through hundreds of reader submissions and found examples of the most common stories that cross our desks every day.

Let's be clear: Not all women make these mistakes. Not all men avoid them. But in our experience, these are a few female financial problem areas that can lead to major debt and lots of stress.

RELATED: Are You a Social Shopper?

Ever bailed out an ex? Indulged in a little more retail therapy than you meant to? Or woken up one day and realized you didn't know as much as you thought you did about managing your money? You just might recognize yourself.

Of course, if you don't, good for you. We're just saying, bad money snafus happen to good people. But read on: We'll show you the top seven mistakes women make - and what to do instead.

Feeling Guilty

"When we were together, I let my ex stay with me rent-free until he found an apartment, lent him my furniture and paid for every date because I had a job and he didn't. When I lost my job, he paid for my rent for a few months and bills, etc. Now that we're broken up, he wants me to pay him back for the rent he insisted on covering. I am still on unemployment and barely getting by. I feel so guilty because we didn't end up as the forever couple and while I can't (nor would I . . . ) calculate all of my assistance getting him settled in NYC, he can quite easily."

A 2011 study from Eversave.com found that 67% of women have felt guilt about a purchase. But that's not the only opportunity for guilt: There's also staying in a job you feel guilty about abandoning, giving someone money because you feel guilty about their situation and, oh, doing the opposite of what you want when it comes to working after having children because you feel guilty about being a good mom (more on that here).

This guilt effect might not be limited to finances, either. Some studies suggest that women are more inclined than men to feel any kind of guilt. And we'd argue, more likely to bail out their exes, too.

Read on for more.

7 Strategies to Build an Emergency Fund

Kiplinger — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:15:32 PDT

Build up your emergency fund with these tips from Kiplinger.

You know you need an emergency fund - easily accessible cash to pay for unexpected expenses. Without one, you could find yourself looking around the house for valuables to pawn, racking up credit-card debt or maybe even considering a payday loan to cover the costs of an emergency.

But you may be wondering how you can find enough spare cash in your budget to set aside for a rainy day. If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, I’m sure the thought of saving up enough money to cover six months’ worth of expenses (as is usually recommended) is especially daunting. The good news is that you don’t have to stash that much cash at once.

The key is to start setting aside a little each month to build your emergency fund. And that doesn’t require a big salary. After all, saving is a function of discipline, not income.

Here are seven ways to find enough money - and motivation - to create an emergency fund.

Save - don’t spend - your tax refund. About 75% of taxpayers received a refund last year, and the average amount was $2,913. A refund of that size can get your emergency fund off to a great start. Open an interest-bearing savings account and have the money directly deposited into it so you won’t be tempted to use it.

Pay yourself first. Rather than wait until next year for another refund to stash in your emergency fund, adjust your tax withholding by filing a revised W-4 form with your employer (see How to Adjust Your Withholding). This will put more money in your paycheck each month, and you can set that amount aside in your savings account so it can earn interest and grow. (That money won’t be earning any interest during the year if you leave it with Uncle Sam.) If possible, have your employer deposit the designated amount directly into your savings account so you don’t see the money in your checking account and aren’t tempted to spend it.

Read on for more.

Find the Perfect Pair of Running Shoes For Your Feet

Zelana Montminy — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:47:16 PDT

Spring is the perfect time to recommit to your running routine, and buying some new sneakers might just be the motivation you need to get out the door. Since the shelves of colorful shoes lining the walls of your local sportswear store can be overwhelming, we talked to a running-shoe specialist to get the lowdown on finding your sole mate.

After you lace up your new sneaks, watch our video on the best way to tie your laces so they stay put.

Not Psyched to Sweat? Motivate a Workout in 5 Minutes or Less

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:30:58 PDT

You work out every day at noon, but today, you just don't feel like it. When you're suffering from the workout blahs, you need a few techniques in your hydration ~~tool~~ belt to instantly inject some pep in your step. Think of these the next time you need quick motivation - you'll be in your sports bra and sneakers in no time!

Ask Madonna for help: You know how you hear your favorite upbeat song and you can't help but bop your head and mouth the words? Use the power of music to motivate your workout, by blasting a booming, fast-paced tune. By the time the three minutes are up, you'll be out the door. Need some new tunes? Check out this list of top 100 workout songs.
The power of a few words: Sometimes all it takes is to hear one quote about sweating it out, and you're on your feet, ready to go. This one always gets me psyched: "The hardest step for a runner is the first one out of the front door." Read through these motivational quotes to inspire your workout, or print out your faves and look at them the next time you need a kick in the pants.
Phone a friend: Make a quick call to a good friend. Tell them you're thinking of skipping out, and they'll tell you exactly what you need to hear, "Just do it because you know you'll feel so much better afterward." Maybe they'll even join you!
Follow the five-minute rule: Even if you don't want to, get dressed and start working out for at least five minutes. Within the first few minutes, you'll probably feel more energized and will want to keep going. If you still don't feel like it, then you probably truly need a break.

Make Your Workout Count: 5 Ways to Feel the Burn

Leta Shy — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:01:58 PDT

Pushing yourself during a workout can help you see results faster as well as make you that much stronger. Make sure your muscles feel the burn while you exercise with these tips.

Fuel up correctly: If you are prepping for an intense workout, make sure you fuel up properly beforehand. Eating too much or too little (or the wrong things) can lead to feeling sluggish and crampy before you're even halfway through your workout. Instead of setting yourself up for an abbreviated gym session, read these tips on finding the right pre-workout foods to help set yourself up for a good workout.

Up the intensity: At least some of your workouts should include high-intensity training - not only does it help you burn calories faster, but it also challenges your body to perform better in the long run. If you need some inspiration, try this tabata video workout or these intense cardio ideas for those who hate the treadmill.

Keep reading for more ways to feel the burn.