Stretch It: 2 Wrist Stretches


Updated 08/18/10 10:58 AM · Posted by FitSugar · 5 comments

Stretch It:  2 Wrist Stretches

I'm sorry to say, but our wrists are pretty weak. That's no insult - it's the truth! They're skinny and delicate, and they have tiny muscles. Plus people don't spend too much time doing wrist strengthening or flexibility exercises. If you type a lot, play a musical instrument, or spend a lot of time balancing on your hands, you can end up with sore, overworked, or injured wrists. Here are Read more

Swimmer Dara Torres on the Quest For Her Sixth Olympic Games


Updated 05/11/12 9:33 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

Dara Torres Interview on 2012 Olympics

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar! By Luke Cyphers Dara Torres once wrote a book called Age Is Just a Number. Nowadays, though, the feel-good story of the 2008 Olympics admits to, well, feeling her age. Torres won two silver medals as a 41-year-old mother and swimmer in Beijing, but she harbors no illusions about repeating the feat four years later. "You Read more

3 Ways Walkers Can Benefit From Going Barefoot


Updated 05/10/12 2:00 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

Benefits of Barefoot Walking

If you're into running, there's no doubt you've heard the buzz about barefoot running. It's become trendy for a reason: running barefoot can help you have better form and technique, preventing injury and pain. Runners aren't the only ones who can benefit from ditching their footwear. If walking is your exercise of choice, here are some reasons you'll want to try going barefoot. Active and Read more

Things You Should Never Do With Your Yoga Mat


Updated 05/03/12 12:00 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

How to Clean and Care For Yoga Mat

No matter how much moola you dropped on your yoga mat, you want it to last and offer you a smooth and injury-free yoga practice. There's not a whole lot that goes into caring for your mat, but here are three things you should never do. Lather up: New mats often come with a rubbery or plastic-y odor, so of course your first instinct is to give it a thorough cleaning. Using too much soap can Read more

Dispel These Common Complaints and Start a Love Affair With Running


Updated 05/07/12 12:18 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

Common Running Complaints

You want to love running, you do, but every time you head out for a run, you end up hating it even more. Check out some of the most common complaints below, and find out how you can turn your relationship with running around for the better. "My Knee, My Back, My Feet — Everything Hurts" Pounding the pavement is not easy on the body, and one reason for aches and pains is poor running form. Read more

A Body Check That Won't Hurt: Tips For Proper Running Form


Updated 04/23/12 10:50 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

Running Form Tips

Running is all about stepping one foot in front of the other. Sounds easy enough, right? But if your running form is incorrect, you'll end up with aches, strains, and injuries that could prevent you from lacing up your sneaks at all. Make sure to avoid these running-form mistakes the next time you hit the treadmill, trail, or pavement. Head: It sometimes feels good to close your eyes and relax Read more

Get to Know Your Iliotibial Band


Updated 04/18/12 9:27 AM · Posted by · 7 comments

What Is the Iliotibial Band and Why Does It Cause Me Pain?

Many a runner has been sidelined by knee pain caused by the iliotibial band (aka the ITB). But knowing how to deal with this long band of fascia, which runs down the outside of the thigh from the pelvis to just below the shin, can help keep an injury at bay. Knowledge is power, and we want to help keep you on the road. First off, fascia is a stiff connective tissue (like tendons and ligaments) Read more

Don't Forget These Stretches After a Run


Updated 04/13/12 4:10 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

Postrunning Stretches For Hips, IT Band, and Calves

After your run, your legs are probably in need of a good stretch. But it's not all quads, hamstrings, and glutes. Don't forget these areas when stretching after your jog. Hip flexors: Combat all that forward propelling (and desk sitting) with stretches that open up and loosen those all-important hip flexors. Tight hip flexors can lead to back pain and a limited range of motion, so make sure you Read more

5 Things You May Be Overlooking at Your Gym


Updated 04/11/12 5:00 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

Common Gym Perks You May Be Overlooking

Location and machine availability may be the biggest reasons why you chose your gym, but there's more to be had with your membership. Get the most out of the hundreds of dollars you're spending with this list of extras you may be overlooking at the gym. Workout props: Maybe you only use the machines, but don't ignore the props lying all over the gym floor. Things like battle ropes (those thick Read more

Meeting My Sperm Donor


Updated 04/06/12 10:38 PM · Posted by · 2 comments

Meeting Sperm Donor

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, The Good Men Project. Ben Sommer, conceived through alternative insemination, is a young man now and tells the story of deciding to meet his donor. I grew up in a middle-class home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with two loving parents, both of whom are women. My conception was perhaps the most organized and scientific miracle of Read more