We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar! If you're saddled with saddlebags, you probably think you got the short end of the family gene pool stick. But, lucky for you, those pesky fat deposits surrounding your hips, thighs, and butt are far easier to banish than, say, Great Aunt Hilda or your bossy big sister. "Saddlebags are largely determined by genetics, Read more

If you're anything like me, back in the day — before exercise seemed like an issue — you rocked cropped tops everywhere. Circa 1994, was there something else worth wearing? In recent years, though, I've generally kept a little fabric between my belly and the world. Until now. Cropped tops are a must wear again. Luckily, Pilates instructor Natalie Ridley of The Sports Club/LA (where the likes Read more

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar! Some women may take it easy during their last trimester, but Hilary Duff isn't the type to let her workouts slide just because she's eating for two. The singer-actress may be seven months pregnant, but according to her trainer of eight years, Vivica Jensen, she's still staying fit with biweekly Piloxing sessions. Read more

Mat classes are the most affordable way to reap the benefits of Pilates. Taught across the country at gyms and private studios, group classes mean you don't have an instructor cuing and correcting your every move. Make the most of your time on the mat and be mindful of these common mistakes I've seen in classes over the years. Not Going Deep There are many benefits to Pilates, but getting in Read more

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar! There are lots (and I mean, lots) of reasons why my motivation to work out during the Winter plummets — from the snowy commute to freezing cold winds to the cold, dry air that hits my chest with such force that it becomes hard to breathe. (Ahem, there's a reason I sign up for races that are after September — this Read more

Breathing. You're doing it right now without even thinking about it. Put a little thought into the action, and you just might find yourself soaring through your next tempo run. When you're going the distance running, swimming, cycling, and even rowing you need to power your muscles with fresh oxygen. To do this, you need to breathe deeply. Unfortunately, most of us are just breathing into our Read more

When I was a gym newbie, I enlisted the expertise of a personal trainer to help me learn which exercises were best for my goals. His verdict? Start balance exercises ASAP! Years of bearing weight on my right leg and overloading my handbags meant my first balance diagnostics results were a disaster — I couldn't last a full minute standing on my left leg. As I learned, balance is an important Read more

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar! If you're a novice like me, you might not realize that there are many different kinds of Pilates.  And those incarnations are not defined as "hard, very hard, and nearly impossible." Celebrity trainer Sara Kapuchinski just opened her new LA studio i heart fitness xo, where she teaches West Coast-style Pilates to a Read more

Get ready for T-day! Five-ingredient, vegan pumpkin cheesecake — Blisstree Runners listen up: Pilates is perfect for injury prevention — Self Go head over heels for Plow pose with these tips — Yoga Journal Not lovin' your love handles? Celeb trainer tips to banish the muffin top — Shape Awesome arm workout with a little ab work thrown in — Peanut Butter Fingers Toning up vs. bulking Read more