Body Knowledge: Cold Hands, Warm Core?


Updated 10/14/11 11:49 AM · Posted by FitSugar · 11 comments

Do Women or Men Tolerate Cold Better?

The cooler temps of late Autumn spark what we call in our house the thermostat wars. Although the preferred temps in my home seem to vary greatly by gender, there is no clear-cut answer which sex tolerates cold better. Studies have found that women have a higher core temperature than men, but colder hands. I can vouch for the cold hands thing — can you? Although a warmer core temp means women Read more

Body Knowledge: Red Blood, Blue Veins?


Updated 10/14/11 11:49 AM · Posted by FitSugar · 10 comments

Why Are Veins Blue If Blood Is Red?

There is a common misconception among kids that blood, as it courses through our veins on its return trip back to the heart, is blue. When you look at your arms you see blue veins, but this is a trick of light, or rather a problem with wavelengths. According to Live Science, the blue waves of light are not absorbed by your skin, unlike red light waves, so blue is the color you see because it Read more

How Muscles Are Made


Updated 09/21/09 3:25 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 9 comments

How Muscles Are Made

With all this talk about strength training and weight lifting, I was curious to know how muscle is truly made. Here's what I learned from the trainer at eDiets, and I am going to share it with you. Training effectively by using enough weight to sufficiently overload a muscle, micro trauma and micro tears are created in the muscle. The muscle then goes about repairing itself, and to do so the Read more

8 Myths About Sex Differences


Updated 05/25/12 9:05 AM · Posted by · 2 comments

Myths About Gender Differences

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, The Good Men Project. Today, Agustín Fuentes points out that when it comes to men and women, what "everyone knows" isn’t what science shows. Everyone knows that men and women are really different. We think differently and act differently because we are wired differently. I mean look at our brains and genitals: they are just Read more

The Final Say in the Light Weights vs. Heavy Weights Debate


Updated 05/10/12 10:50 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

Is It Better to Lift Heavy Weights or Light Weights?

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar. You've always heard that when it comes to building muscle mass, heavy weights are preferred over lighter weights. But a new study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology has found that isn't always the case. In fact, you can build just as much muscle by lifting lighter weights. If you do it right... 10 Health and Read more

From the Fit Community: 3 Tips to Start Shaping Up For Swimsuit Season


Updated 02/16/12 9:28 AM · Posted by · 2 comments

How to Start Shaping Up For Bikini Season

Bikini season will be here before you know it, so FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV asked an expert for the best way to start shaping up. She posted her tips in our 10 Pounds Down! community group. Well, it's official. The release of the 2012 swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated marks the opening of bikini season! And even if you are still snuggled and warm hiding your bod in that turtleneck, the Read more

Foods That Can Make You Look Pregnant


Updated 02/11/12 2:35 AM · Posted by · 4 comments

Foods That Make You Look Pregnant

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar. Over the weekend, I saw a photo of a female celebrity (who is in a relationship with a male celeb) leaving a café with the caption, "Baby bump?" and I had to refrain myself from shouting out loud, "Come on, can't a girl eat without the world thinking she's having a baby?!" The truth is having a perfectly flat stomach Read more

High Heels Can Give You Barbie Feet


Updated 01/26/12 12:45 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

Study Shows High Heels Damage Leg Muscles

High heels. You either love them or hate them, but you can't deny they are chic. We love the height boost and illusion of longer legs they offer, but we do realize they're not the best things for our feet. Unfortunately, recent research shows that these lovely shoes may be worse than previously thought. In a study of longtime high heel wearers, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, Read more

Experts Say This Is the Most Effective At-Home Workout


Updated 11/17/11 10:37 AM · Posted by · 7 comments

Why P90X Is So Effective

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar! Between infomercial-style ads for Pajama Pants and Ab Rollers, perhaps you've seen advertisements for P90X DVDs.  Or maybe you have a friend who suddenly looked a bit more taut and toned, who casually referenced the muscle confusion-based fitness craze. The point is P90X is undeniably a major exercise movement.  Read more

3 Warning Signs You Might Be Exercising Too Much


Updated 06/23/11 1:37 PM · Posted by · 2 comments

How Much Exercise Is Too Much?

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar! If you're anything like me, your workout waves come in (short) fits and starts. At least you're doing something — that's how I rationalize it. On the downside, that may mean that you get overzealous during exercise phases.  It's great to keep moving, but overshooting your fitness level — or even hitting the gym Read more