FitSugar

The Beach Is a Workout Waiting to Happen

FitSugar — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 23:30:00 -0700

Who doesn't love spending time at the beach? Cameron is one starlet that takes advantage of all the beach has to offer. I love that she doesn't just lounge on the sand, but plays in the water practically non-stop. Which is great since I believe the beach is a workout waiting to happen.

If you are lucky enough to live near the ocean or will be vacationing soon by the shore, you too should take advantage of all the beach has to offer. If you want a hard core workout try the Beach Body Workout on the beach. But let me tell you, there are more casual and playful ways to burn some extra calories while hanging out at the shore.

Here are some ideas:

Walking in the Sand: Sand provides way less traction than concrete sidewalk or asphalt roads. So take advantage of your disadvantage and walk the beach. Do walk in both wet and dry sand to challenge your body in different ways. There will be good people watching to entertain you too. Who knows maybe you will even see some wildlife.

Walking in the Surf: Just walking in ankle deep water is a great challenge. Add the ebb and flow of the tide and you have yourself a great lower body workout.

Playing in the Waves: Jumping up and down in the surf is great fun and a challenge to your entire body. Diving under waves and swimming against the tide is a great way to workout with the ocean providing extra resistance.

There's more to do at the beach, and there are more photos of Cameron frolicking in the waves. So just read more
Swimming: Swim out past the break and try some laps in the ocean. The current creates a natural challenge. Make sure you stay in sight range of the lifeguard. Remember: If you can't see the guards, they can't see you.

Body Surfing: Riding the waves without a board is a fun way to experience the ocean. You don't need any gear, although fins do help. eHow tips on body surfing are very helpful - check them out.

So get out there! Play in the waves - it is a great way to help maintain your beach body. Plus, it won't feel like a workout, it will just feel like fun.

View 5 Photos ›

Source & Flynet

P.L.O.W. - Tunes about Water

FitSugar — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 03:00:00 -0700

I usually listen to my iPod to get pumped up for a run, but sometimes I don't feel like huffing and puffing and getting all sweaty. Plus it takes a lot of energy to fully exert my body like that, so when my energy is low, I like to take my time and go for a nice long walk along the water. Not only is it great exercise, but it gives me a chance to be alone with my thoughts and really appreciate the gorgeous surroundings.

Since I love to walk along the beach or lakeside, this playlist is a tribute to everything water - rivers, streams and even rain. After all, we wouldn't be here if it weren't for crisp, refreshing, glorious water.

Want to see it? Then read more

Source

Windsurfing: It's All About Balance

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 14:30:00 -0700

A great way to enjoy the summer weather is to take advantage of lakes and oceans. The air is usually much cooler near the water and there are so many fun things you can do to work your body besides swimming.

Windsurfing is fun and feels adventurous. You can rent a board, thats what you stand on, and a rig - the sail, a mast and the boom (the bar you hold onto). The board and the rig together are sometimes referred to as a "kit." There is the uphaul, a rope attached to the boom and the bottom of the mast that you use to pull the sail up.

I'd highly recommend getting a lesson from an experience instructor. They can give you pointers on how to position your board in regards to the wind, how to pull the sail up without getting knocked over, how to stand and stay balanced on the board, as well as the simple but important skill of how to steer.

If you want to know more about getting started, then read more

It's a good idea to first start out on land. You've got to learn how to control the sail first without worrying about staying balanced on your board. You can do this by sticking the base of the mast (it has the sail attached) into the sand or ground. Practice holding the mast (sometimes it has a little handle on it) with one hand, and pulling the boom closer to you with your backhand - this is how you catch the wind and start moving.

When you get a handle on that, venture into some shallow water with just the board. Practice standing on it to get a feel for its movements. Then you can stick the mast into the center of your board and let the mast and sail float in the water (it can swivel down). Learning to pull your sail up by pulling on the uphaul rope is a little tricky so don't get frustrated if you fall off a million times. Remember laughing is a workout too.

Once you get the hang of staying up and slowly pulling the boom towards you to catch the wind, you'll be cruising along in no time. It's a great upper and lower body workout because you use all your muscles to try and stay balanced. Since it's challenging, it's a lot of fun, and once you get the hang of it, you'll feel so proud of yourself.

Here's a video explaining how to get your board ready, how to get on it, and how to do some basic windsurfing moves.

Source

Best and Worst Fish Choices

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 13:30:00 -0700

We all know that eating fish is a great way to get protein and Omega-3s but what about all that mercury and pollution from the ocean? It's hard to know which fish are considered safe and which aren't so Oceans Alive, a team of professionals who focus on protecting ecosystems and fisheries, has created a great list on the best (high in omega 3s and low in environmental contaminants) and worst seafood to eat. To see if your favorite fish makes the list (best or worst), read more

"Nightswimming," by REM, 4:18
"Rain," by Madonna, 5:24
"The Sea," Morcheeba, 5:48
"Water," by Lauryn Hill, 6:09
"River," by Joni Mitchell, 4:05
"Mary," by Sarah McLachlan, 3:55
"River of Freedom," by Deee-Lite, 4:06
"Beyond the Sea," Kevin Spacey, 3:32
"Red Rain," by Peter Gabriel, 5:38
"Walk to the Water," by U2, 4:47
"Two Sides of a River," by Dar Williams, 4:09
"Down to the River to Pray," by Alison Krauss, 2:56
"Islands in the Stream," By Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton, 4:11
"I Think it's Going to Rain Today," by Norah Jones, 3:04
"Nothing but the Water," by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, 2:44
"Rivers of Babylon," by The Melodians, 4:18
"Many Rivers to Cross," by Jimmy Cliff, 2:42

Total PLOW Time: 1:15:46

Best	Worst
Abalone (U.S. farmed)	Caviar (wild)
Anchovies	Chilean seabass/toothfish
Arctic char (farmed)	Cod - Atlantic
Catfish (U.S. farmed)	Grouper
Caviar (U.S. farmed)	Halibut - Atlantic
Clams (farmed)	Marlin
Crab - Dungeness, snow (Canada), stone	Monkfish/goosefish
Crawfish (U.S.)	Orange roughy
Halibut - Pacific (Alaska)	Rockfish/rock cod (Pacific)
Herring - Atlantic (U.S., Canada)	Salmon - Atlantic (farmed)
Mackerel - Atlantic	Shark
Mahimahi (U.S. Atlantic)	Shrimp/prawns (imported)
Mussels (farmed)	Skate
Oysters (farmed)	Snapper
Sablefish/black cod (Alaska)	Sturgeon (wild)
Salmon - wild (Alaska), canned pink/sockeye	Swordfish (imported)
Sardines	Tilefish
Scallops - bay (farmed)	Tuna - bluefin
Shrimp - northern (Canada), Oregon pink, U.S. farmed
Spot prawns
Striped bass (farmed)
Sturgeon (U.S. farmed)
Sturgeon (U.S. farmed)
Tilapia (U.S.)

Darth Vader and Yoga: A Connection Through Breath

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 04:41:07 -0800

Yoga is all about connecting your breath with your movements.

It's called ujjayi pranayama (pronounced oo-jai pra-na-ya-ma). Some instructors call it "ocean breath," "victorious breath," or "Darth Vader breath." It is said that Yogis performing this breath alone can create enough heat to melt snow around them. If you walk into an Ashtanga yoga class, you will be overwhelmed with an amazing and powerful sound - it feels like the walls themselves are pulsing.

Basically you are turning your ordinary breath into an audible one. When you can hear your breath, it's easier to follow and concentrate on. You can focus on letting your inhalations and exhalations guide your movements - then it's kind of like a moving meditation.

Want to know how to have that audible breath? Then read more

Say out loud - "I love Yoga."
Now whisper the same words, "I love Yoga."
Keeping your mouth closed, slowly exhale out through your nose and whisper "I love Yoga," again. Now inhale and whisper the same phrase.
The breath is moving to the back of your throat and nose.
Now slowly inhale and whisper one syllable,"Love." Exhale and whisper out "Love."
When you're ready, practice breathing this way, through your nose, keeping the breath deep in the back of your throat.

This breath creates the rhythm you use to guide your yoga practice. Take long and deep breaths, and you'll feel its relaxing effects instantly.

Anna Paquin Shares Her Healthy Habits

FitSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:30:08 -0700

With her fresh face and healthy physique, True Blood star Anna Paquin has made a graceful transition from child star to sexy vamp. In this week's issue of Us, the recently engaged, 27-year-old actress talks about the healthy habits that keep her feeling and looking great.

Paquin understands the importance of mixing up her fitness routine. "I'm obsessed with Pilates," says the star. But she also loves swimming in the ocean and recently took her first surf lesson.
A big fan of watching gymnastics on TV, Paquin once dabbled in trapeze arts: "I've always wanted to be a circus performer, so I took aerial silks classes at Trapeze School New York a few years ago."
Since staying healthy isn't just about exercising, Paquin gets plenty of rest and avoids unhealthy habits. She says she takes a lot of naps and that "Kombucha and coffee are my two biggest vices."

If those are here only vices, I can understand how she looks so good! Do you think she's a good role model?

How Clean Is Your Beach?

FitSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:00:26 -0700

If you're heading to the beach soon to beat the Summer heat, you might want to see how clean it is. Recently, we learned that playing in the sand can increase your risk of developing gastrointestinal ailments, and the water might not be too clean either.

The National Resource Defense Council just released its annual report on the cleanliness of our beaches, and unfortunately some did not pass muster. Let's start with the top ranked beaches based on water quality and frequency the water is tested - the cleanest are in California, Minnesota (land of 10,000 lakes), and New Hampshire. The dirtiest are in the Northeast and Florida. Both water and sand become polluted from runoff water that drains into the ocean after a storm. The runoff collects pesticides, pet waste, road grease, etc., and all this ends up in the water. The polluted water can lead to a variety of health problems from skin rashes to neurological disorders.

You can check out your beach with this NRDC chart or this interactive map from the Environmental Protection Agency. Unfortunately, with budget shortfalls in most states, the beaches are not being monitored as closely as they once were. Just remember to steer clear of the beach after a heavy rainstorm.

You Asked: The Heat Has Shortened My Runs

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Dear Fit,

I always wanted to get into running and my New Year's resolution was to be able to run 30 minutes straight, four times a week. I've kept it up until the Summer sun and heat got the best of me. Now I can barely do 15 minutes and I'm exhausted. I tried pushing myself, thinking it'd just take some getting used to, but now during my runs I get headaches, stomach cramps, sweat uncontrollably, and a few times felt dizzy and nauseous. I don't want to give up on running outside since I'm training for a half-marathon this Fall. I also don't have access to a treadmill in an air-conditioned gym. Any tips?

-Overheated Heather

Being too hot to exercise the way you want to is so frustrating. I have some suggestions though so read more.

Summer is generally a hot time of year, but certain times of the day are hotter than others. Try to do your runs early in the morning or late in the evening when the sun is out of the sky. Stick to shady places like the woods, or breezy areas such as near the ocean or a lake. Make sure you hydrate before you head out and bring water with you to drink and pour on your body to help cool you off.

Wear a heart rate monitor to keep track of your heart rate. When exercising in the heat, your heart rate will rise in order to send more of your blood supply to your skin to cool it down. A heart rate monitor will allow you to keep track of the intensity of your workouts. This means you'll probably have to run at a slower pace, or even walk, which just means your normal run will take longer. If you don't want to compromise your pace, then break up your workouts. Do 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes at night. Or you can slowly train your body to acclimate to exercising in the heat. Gradually increase the duration of your runs until you're able to go for 30 minutes.

I must say that the most important thing to consider when running in heat and humidity is to listen to your body and not overdo it. Some of the symptoms you described above sound like they could turn into heat exhaustion, which means your runs will be doing more harm than good. In that case, think about using this time of year to cross train with cooler cardio activities such as swimming, kayaking, and water aerobics.

Soothe Your Scalded Tongue

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0800

Cold weather means more hot chocolate, and I will admit my tongue has paid the price of my impatience. Since I can't wait for my cocoa to cool, I have been researching how to help heal a burnt tongue.

Women's Health magazine offered up this simple advice: Rinse with salt water. The saline solution of one teaspoon salt to one warm cup of water can help soothe a scalded tongue. The salt water also draws the infection to the surface of your tongue and can neutralize mouth acids, which promote harmful bacterial growth. Both of these actions help to heal the burn quickly. The only drawback to this method is you need to perform your oceanic oral rinse immediately and that can be challenging to find a salt water solution in a ski lodge. The simplest solution: Wait for your cocoa to cool.

Source

Fit Gift Guide: Surfer Betty

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0800

The surfers I know live and breathe the sport, so giving a gift that supports their hang-loose hobby will be sure to please any surf-loving Betty in your life. From the home to the ocean, I've found a few fun presents that will make a surfer girl's holiday simply rad.

Ted Shreds Surf Wax Candle: A lot of surfers can't get to the beach as often as they'd like, and this tropical wax-scented candle will remind them of riding that beloved board. They won't have to worry about the 32-ounce candle burning too quickly, because its burn time is from 80-100 hours.
Robb Havassy Poster: This colorful poster would be a cool addition to a deserving wall, and part of the purchase proceeds goes to SurfAid International. A great gift and a good cause, all wrapped into one.
GoPro Sports Wrist Camera: This shockproof/waterproof wrist camera is ideal for surfing and other outdoor sports. It can be used up to 100 feet underwater and can pivot upright for capturing videos or photos on the fly. The miniature gadget will make riding waves with friends even more fun.