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Seven Habits of Women Who Don't Get Sick

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Nothing is worse than getting a cold or the flu. Sometimes it seems unavoidable, but CNN recently reported on seven habits of women who rarely get sick. I've highlighted some key points in this slideshow, so see for yourself what you may want to do, or pat yourself on the back for those things that you already do.

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Avoid The Monday Blues with Positive Thinking

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 03:30:00 -0700

I know it might seem cliché to admit this but rainy days and Mondays always get me down. They just do. I came across this article recently on the Power of Positive thinking and I thought this might just be the tool I need to help me power through my Monday blues.

While Positive Thinking may sound corny, optimism has been proven to be a healthful mindset. The Mayo Clinic lists the following side effects as some benefits of looking at the glass as half full: decreased negative stress, greater resistance to catching the common cold, a sense of well-being and improved health, reduced risk of coronary artery disease, improved coping ability for women with high-risk pregnancies, and (obviously) better coping skills during hardships. Don't know if Mondays count as hardships, but sometimes it sure feels like they should.

We have all gone through bouts of negative self talk (so many personal sports moments come to mind), and the best way to stop the slow build of pessimism is to practice positive thinking. Sounds easy, but it takes practice to turn lemons into lemonade. The best guideline for eliminating the stream of negative thought is to not say anything to yourself mentally that you wouldn't say out loud to anyone else. Periodically check in with the stream of your thoughts and if they are sour, give them a positive spin. Instead of saying "There is no WAY I have time to do this" try "I think it is time to reevaluate priorities." I am telling you it really does work - see I'm feeling optimistic already.

So tell me - is the glass half full or half empty?

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Positive Thinking Day is Today, Sept 13th!

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:30:00 -0700

Today is going to be a great day.
Today I am going to workout.
Today I am going to eat healthy.
Today I am going to get plenty of sleep.
Today, when my husband farts, I'll feel happy we have such a close bond that he feels comfortable being himself around me.
Why, you ask? Because today, September 13th, is National Positive Thinking Day.

So if you tend to fall a little more on the negative side, make a point to put a positive spin on things today. Heck, you may even like it.

In celebration of this very positive day, Positive Thinking Magazine is offering free access to their online magazine for the latest issue (Sept/Oct). To be granted full access, just type the word "journey" at the login.

And of course, share your positive thoughts in the comments section below.

Best Buy No Longer Just Selling Couch-Potato Electronics

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:21 -0800

When I hear my husband is headed to Best Buy, I get a bit nervous. My fears my be slightly allayed by the fact that select outlets of this electronics mecca will be selling my favorite fitness accessory that features a computer chip: heart rate monitors. Forty stores in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Texas will be selling HRMs as well as pedometers and gear for swimming, yoga, and Pilates enthusiasts. Many locations will also have cardio machines like ellipticals, treadmills, and stationary bikes for shoppers to test drive. My guess is that the store is also hoping you will think that you need a flat-screen TV for your new home gym, but I still take this as a positive sign for incorporating fitness into daily life.

Ziploc 100-Calorie Snack Bags: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:00:31 -0800

I was over at my friend's house and saw a case of Ziploc snack bags in her kitchen. They're sort of like regular plastic sandwich bags, except about half the size. I asked her what the deal was with her bulk buy and she said that she couldn't resist after seeing "Perfect For 100 Calorie Snacks" scrawled across the box. Prior to this my friend had never touched a snack bag in her life.

100 calorie snack packs of chips and cookies are big sellers in stores, but a lot of these offerings are empty carbs. My friend says these bags are a great way for her to pack her own healthy snacks while adhering to portion control. I'm not sure I buy it, though. She could opt for reusable containers that are way less wasteful than these bags, and many 100-calorie snacks wouldn't even fit in these hacked versions of sandwich bags.

Ziploc got it right though, and has positioned itself nicely within the 100-calorie snack market. What do you think of the Ziploc snack bags - a waste of money, or a successful tool for portion control?

Work It Girl: Reverse Arch Stretch

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:00:58 -0800

Constantly hovering over your keyboard, with your shoulders hunched over not only contributes to terrible posture, but can be a real pain in the neck and back. I know this stretch looks a little provocative and is reminiscent of FlashDance, but it is the antidote to a day of blogging.

Sit on the edge of your chair. Reach your hands behind you and hold on to the back of the chair.
Inhale and press your chest forward, arching your spine. If it feels comfortable, let your head fall back slightly to open through the front of the neck.
Continue to breathe, feeling the front of your body open up as you extend backwards.
Hold this position for 30 seconds or as long as you want. Then slowly lift your head back up, straighten your spine, and release the chair.

Try it and tell me what you think.

Health Food Obsession Gone Too Far: Orthorexia

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:00:39 -0700

If you're reading this site, chances are you're into eating healthy. While it's beneficial to be conscious about what you put in your mouth, it's not good to become so obsessed that your lifestyle goes from a healthy diet to an unhealthy fixation on a healthy diet. The condition is referred to as an eating disorder by some, known as orthorexia nervosa. Symptoms include sticking to a strict diet such as a raw food diet, making a list of foods that are off-limits, or nervously avoiding foods deemed unhealthy, such as those with artificial flavors, preservatives, or that aren't organic.

Being obsessed about eating healthy seems like a positive thing, but problems arise when a person's healthy lifestyle becomes so overwhelming that it pushes other activities and interests to the periphery, and interferes with relationships and day-to-day responsibilities. As the quality of their diet increases, the quality of their life decreases. It can ironically lead to unhealthy consequences like malnutrition or starvation (anorexia orthorexia).

This is not to say that those who have diet restrictions such as vegans or those following a macrobiotic diet have orthorexia. It has to do with the rigidness of the lifestyle, and whether or not it's actually detrimental to a person's health. While some mental health professionals classify orthorexia as an obsessive compulsive disorder, others think orthorexia isn't a real disorder at all. What do you think?

Fitness 101: Smith Machine

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:00:15 -0700

When it comes to strength training, I am usually a free weight kind of gal. Then I learned to love the cable pulley machine. I was still looking to branch out a little more, so my trainer Hannah introduced me to the Smith machine. Essentially, the weight machine consists of a barbell that slides on a fixed rail, and can lock into place at the fixed points along the track. Twisting the barbell activates J-shaped hooks on the side of the bar that lock into holes on the rails. This simple locking mechanism turns the Smith machine into a "spotter," making it easier to work on hardcore moves like bench presses when you're alone at the gym. The Smith machine only moves in the vertical plane, which makes some exercises harder on the joints. Although squats seem to be a popular exercise to do using this machine, many fitness experts think the fixed plane of motion of the machine forces the body into compromising positions. You can still use this machine to get a full body workout, and by locking the bar you can do variations on incline pull-ups and push-ups.

While I always think of the Smith machine as something for gym dudes, I am keen to learn more. If your gym has this machine, ask someone to show you how to use it. See if they can teach you a few different types of exercises with it.

How to Avoid Catching the Swine Flu

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:00:00 -0700

We're pretty familiar with how to prevent catching a regular cold or the flu, but the swine flu seems like a whole new ball of wax (or phlegm, in this case). Since swine flu seems to be spreading quickly, you want to do whatever you can to keep from catching the H1N1 virus. Here are some precautions you can take.

Wash your hands often with soap and hot water (don't just rinse with water). Lather up for at least 20 seconds, or long enough to sing your ABC's.
Avoid touching common things that others come in contact with such as doorknobs, railings, handles on the subway, elevator buttons, magazines in the doctor's office, public phones, pens at the bank, etc. If you can't help it, refrain from touching your nose, mouth, or eyes until you can get to a bathroom to wash your hands.
When you're at the gym, disinfect all equipment before you use it in case the person before you forgot. Bring your own towel, use your own yoga mat, and wash your hands before leaving the gym.

To see how else you can protect yourself, read more.

Keep hand sanitizers in your purse, car, and at work so you can kill germs when you can't get to a sink.
If swine flu cases have turned up in your area, consider avoiding public places. Those infected with swine flu can be contagious before showing symptoms.
If you're really paranoid, wearing a high quality respiratory mask can offer some protection.
Get plenty of rest, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regularly. All these things will strengthen your immune system.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women, those who work with children, and those who work in the medical field are at a higher risk for catching swine flu. So if you're in this group, think about getting vaccinated against the swine flu.
If you start feeling flu-like symptoms such as a sore throat, stuffy nose, chills, or body aches, don't go to work. Stay at home and get better. If your symptoms worsen, call your doctor. If you test positive for swine flu, they can prescribe Tamiflu.

Is Christina Hendricks Losing Her Curves?

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:15:00 -0700

Wearing a gorgeous L'Wren Scott dress, Mad Men actress Christina Hendricks showed off her glowing skin and new, slimmer figure at this year's Emmy Awards. Hendricks, who plays the curvy secretary Joan Holloway on the popular series, is said to be dieting for her upcoming nuptials to Geoffrey Arrend.

At an Emmy afterparty, costar January Jones commented that she hopes Hendricks holds onto her signature curves. I think most of you will agree that Hendricks looks amazing as is, but getting in shape before the big day is almost a rite of passage for new brides.

Jones won't have to worry though - Hendricks recently told Self that she is more than content with the way she looks: "My healthiest habit is keeping positive about my body at whatever stage it is - being confident and celebrating who I am at the moment."

To learn how she's tweaking her diet and exercise program, just read more.

The actress went on to describe her diet and says she makes food choices based on seasonality, sticking to high-energy proteins and setting limits on her carb intake. As for her fitness regimen, she and her fiancé meet with a trainer three times a week for a strength and cardio workout: "It's amazing how quick an hour can go by when you work out with someone you love."

I love the approach Hendricks is taking towards her health - it's balanced and, most important, she seems really happy. What do you think: are you worried like Jones that she'll lose her curvy figure?