Lifting Tip: Complete the Full Range of Motion


Updated 06/11/08 2:08 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 1 comment

Lifting Tip: Complete the Full Range of Motion

Whether you're using dumbells or a weightlifting machine, you aren't doing yourself any favors by cheating. So make sure that for every rep, you complete the full range of motion for the exercise. If you're using free weights, this means returning to your starting position after every rep: If you're doing bicep curls, lower you hands all the way down and bring them all the way back up. To get the Read more

Barre Workouts are Expensive! Try This At-Home Alternative Instead


Updated 05/24/12 8:43 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

At-Home Barre Workout Ideas

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar! Barre classes may make you easy on the eyes, but at $20 or more a pop, they're definitely not easy on the wallet. Rather than take a second job to pay for our latest fitness addiction, we turned to Beverly Hill-based Cardio Barre instructor Stacey Bosworth to get the inside scoop on scoring a long, lean dancer's body Read more

From the Fit Community: The Best Cardio Machine For Your Body


Posted by · 0 comments

Which Cardio Machine Is Best?

Which cardio machine is right for you? FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV asks an expert for the answers. She shared what she found in our 10 Pounds Down! community group. The stair master, the stationary bike, and the elliptical — we all have our favorite cardio machine at the gym, but which one is the best one for your body? We asked Dr. Yoav Suprun, DPT, a McKenzie physical therapist at Canyon Read more

The Makeup Tool That Will Change the Way You Apply Mascara


Updated 05/21/12 10:55 AM · Posted by · 1 comment

How to Apply Mascara With a Fan Brush

You could argue that the eyes are the most important part of the face (windows to the soul and all that). For a makeup artist, never has a sentiment rang more true. The eyes are a canvas for many creative colors and techniques, but the last thing you want to do is taint your carefully applied shadows and liners with spidery or clumpy lashes. Floriane David of Make Up For Ever Academy admits Read more

Gear Review: Lark Silent Alarm Clock


Updated 05/15/12 9:32 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

Lark Silent Alarm Clock Review

You can count me as one of the 30 percent of people who don't get enough sleep every night, so when Lark sent me its silent alarm clock ($100) to test a couple months ago, I was all about it. Since then, I've been using it pretty regularly, here's what I think of the alarm clock. First, here's what it is: The Lark is part app (compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad only at the moment, but Read more

Amp Up Your Workout With These Balance Exercises


Updated 05/03/12 2:40 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

Balance Exercises Using a Foam Pad

If you're looking to amp up your fitness routine, you need to get unstable. Performing classic single-leg exercises while standing on a foam pad, like the one pictured above by Aeromat, is simple way to do this. The squishy surface forces your core and legs to work harder, increasing your strength gains and caloric burn. Standing on the soft surface also strengthens your feet and ankles, which Read more

Know Your Basics: How to Do a Lunge


Updated 05/01/12 3:10 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

How to Do a Lunge

Lunges are a quintessential exercise; you can do them anywhere and the effects can be seen in no time, in the form of shapely, toned legs and backside (just in time for bikini season!). If you're planning on incorporating lunges into your routine, however, make sure you're not doing more harm than good. Find out how to do lunges correctly below. The basics: It's important to do lunges properly Read more

Learn to Love the VersaClimber With This Short Workout


Updated 04/30/12 9:20 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

What to Do on VersaClimber Cardio Machine

No doubt you've seen the VersaClimber at your gym — that tall piece of equipment, lurking in the corner behind the more popular cardio machines. But the VersaClimber's unpopularity is also its saving grace: there is never anyone using it, so you hop on it without a wait. Since the machine is often empty, you can also use it to add short bursts of cardio to your circuit training sets, just like Read more

One Leg Is Less Flexible, Is This Normal?


Updated 04/15/12 2:17 PM · Posted by · 4 comments

Muscle Imbalances Can Lead to Overuse Injuries

Is one of your legs always stiffer and won't stretch or move as far as the other one? You're not alone. Flexibility and range of motion differences between the sides of our bodies is very common. The problem is, this can set you up for an injury. In general, we all have a dominant leg just as most folks have a dominant hand. If you notice one leg is more flexible than the other, it means you're 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