FitSugar

Ski Like a Woman

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 10:15:00 -0800

March may soon be coming in like a lion, but there is still plenty of good skiing to be had. I just found a really great resource called ski like a woman. It's an online directory of ski and snowboard lessons and programs for women, at over 250 resorts around the world. Isn't that a brilliant idea?

You can search for different types of snow sport lessons, like alpine, telemark, or cross-country skiing. Or you can search a certain area in the world, such as the U.S. or Europe. And you can also search by dates.

It's an easy way to locate women's programs, or even ones for the whole family. You can focus on a certain sport or a certain skill, and learn from instructors who understand that men and women learn differently (they're patient and sensitive).

You can find a program that's right for you, where and when you want it. Could it be anymore convenient?

Bikini Boot Camp in Mexico: Amansala

FitSugar — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 04:00:00 -0800

Amansala, a super fabulous Mexican eco-resort and spa, offers a six-night Bikini Boot Camp program that is limited to 25 men and women, held on the beautiful, remote beach of Tulum, Mexico. Could there be a better place to get bikini ready? Possibly not.

While doing the Bikini Boot Camp, your days start with a beach or jungle power walk followed by a combination of body sculpting, power ab sessions or Pilates and end with yoga and meditation. When you're not doing that, there are excursions to the nearby jungle for swimming and snorkeling in fresh water swimming holes, visits to Mayan ruins and pampering with beach side massages, Mayan Clay Treatments and plenty of sunshine. Yes please.

It's not all about exercise at Bikini Boot Camp, the low fat diet consists of all local chemical free food such as fresh caught grilled fish, mangos, jicima salads and other delicious low calorie selections. Yum.

To see some beautiful pics of what you'll be seeing while you're there, read more

View 10 Photos ›

The relaxing, beautiful setting, along with the healthy meals, and activity filled days make for a perfect way to get your body bikini ready. It definitely doesn't hurt that you'll be in a beautiful part of Mexico as well as surrounded by people with the same goals in mind.

Six night programs are held year round. Three & four night programs available upon request. 6 nights will run you $1,842 per person but it is all inclusive, so it could be worse. For more information and to make a reservation, please visit Amansala online.

Ski Green Resorts

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:30:00 -0800

Skiers, in general, tend to be more environmentally aware than the rest of the population. Ski resorts are another matter entirely. Different resorts deal with the natural resources around them differently and some are more green than others. If you want to ski at a responsible resort you should check out Ski Area Citizens' Coalition (SACC) website.

SACC ranks the top ten as well as the ten worst environmentally-friendly ski resorts. You can select your area of the country and find out what resorts near you scored well on the environmental report card. The resorts were graded on how they impact roadless areas and if they purchase clean energy, participate in making new snow, are involved with logging old growth forest, among other criteria. Being green on a large scale is more than just having a recycling program.

I was surprised that Kirkwood, by Lake Tahoe in California, was given an F. It seems their land preservation policies just plain stink. On the other hand, family-friendly Alpine Meadows, also in the Tahoe area, is environmentally friendly.

Bring the color green to your Winter sports season that is usually covered with white. Ski Green!

Catching Up With Biggest Loser Tara Costa

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:47:08 -0800

Even though she is no longer required to pull big numbers at the weekly Biggest Loser weigh-ins, Tara Costa is still working it. She told Life and Style that she's "still battling the last 10 pounds."

Tara currently weighs 164 pounds (down from 294 at the start of the show), but the second runner-up of from last year's season says she'd "love to live at 155-ish." Her plan of attack is twofold. She's headed for a week-long stay at the Biggest Loser Resort and Spa, located in Ivins, UT, where guests can reenact the rigors of the weight-loss reality show: six hours of daily exercise and a healthy diet. Her second method is running. Tara ran in the New York City Marathon last Sunday, completing the 26.2-mile course in 4 hours, 23 minutes, and 12 seconds.

I love keeping up with past contestants from the show and seeing that they are still living healthy lives. Like Tara, are you battling the last few pesky pounds that refuse to go away? Join the Weight Loss Support group, to meet like-minded people who share your goals.

Photos courtesy of NBC and Getty

Get Discount Lift Tickets at Liftopia.com

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:15:00 -0800

I love to get out on the slopes for a run down the powder and wind in my hair. What I don't love? The cost of doing so. A weekend of skiing or snowboarding can cost more than most of us are willing to pay, so most of us opt out regularly.

Liftopia, a new online marketplace where you’ll find discount lift tickets to top alpine resorts across the country, has come to the rescue. Here you can search for lift tickets to resorts nationwide (and in Canada) for discounted rates. Liftopia partners with many resorts across the nation in an effort to get people to their slopes more often. They work directly with the resorts to identify opportunities for discounts and promotions that give downhill adventurers more opportunities to ski and snowboard for less. Check it out at Liftopia.com.

Foods With the Most Nutrition For the Price Per Portion

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:30:00 -0700

The majority of you haven't felt the recession in terms of gaining weight - you've figured out that just because you might be feeling a financial pinch, you don't have to resort to junk food that adds inches to your waistline. Because we're all concerned about balancing our diet while keeping balanced checkbooks, Dr. Adam Drewnowski, who directs the University of Washington Center For Public Health Nutrition, took it upon himself to research
which foods provide the best nutrition for the buck.

Dr. Drewnowski used federal statistics to compare average national prices per portion with the nutritional value of different foods, per 100 calories. He compared the two rankings to find the best buys, which he defined as the "middle ground between most nutritious yet expensive and the not-so-healthy in each food group." His list favors carrots over peppers and apples over strawberries for their longer-lasting qualities, and lean hamburger over pricier salmon and cheap bacon. For other foods singled out, read more.

Low-fat dairy (milk, yogurt, cheddar, American, or mozzarella cheese)
Lean ground beef, chicken, canned fish
Whole eggs
Beans
Peanut butter, sunflower seeds, almonds
Bread (enriched or made with whole wheat), tortillas, rice
Bananas, apples, frozen orange juice concentrate, 100 percent fruit juice or fruit-vegetable blends
Potatoes, iceberg lettuce, canned corn, canned tomatoes

I'm surprised that iceberg lettuce passed the nutrition component of Dr. Drewnowski's research. Do any of the foods stand out as surprising to you?

To the Tropics For Scuba Diving or to a Snowy Mountain Resort?

FitSugar — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 02:00:00 -0800

As Winter drags on, I am having escapist fantasies. I am dreaming of a vacation that takes me out of my daily routine. Some days I think I'm ready for a week of scuba diving in the tropics. Other days, I am ready to head for the slopes for a week of skiing. A girl can dream, right?

I am curious about you. Would your dream vacation take you . . .

Source

Headed to the Mountain? Dealing With Crowded Slopes

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 02:00:00 -0800

Since President's Day is coming up, many of you may be planning a weekend away in the mountains. Three-day weekends are great for skiing and snowboarding, but since everyone else thinks so too, you may be dealing with crowded slopes. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

It's best to bring your own gear since renting can take a long time when there are tons of people. Either bring your own, or you can rent skis, poles, and boots at a gear store before you head out on your trip.
Carpool. If you're going with a bunch of friends, try to pack all of you and your gear into one car. Finding a parking spot at the mountain can be impossible.
Ski at your level. If you're new to skiing or riding, don't attempt a black diamond just yet. Stick to the easier trails with your fellow out of control and slow beginners. It'll help prevent injuring you or some other unsuspecting skier.
Wear a helmet. The more people on the mountain, the more chance for a collision.
Dress warmly. You'll get cold standing around waiting in lines for the lifts, so make sure your head, ears, neck, and hands are bundled up. Hand warmers tucked in your boots and mittens are a great idea.
Pack your own snacks and meals. Not only will it be much cheaper and healthier for you, but you won't waste time waiting to get your food. Bring your own water too. Use a Camelbak water bottle so you can stay hydrated on and off the mountain.

Source

Paula Abdul's Addiction to Pain Meds

FitSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 05:55:00 -0700

Addiction is powerful, and when dealing with extreme amounts of pain, it can affect anyone. In a recent issue of Ladies' Home Journal, Paula Abdul, who's turning 47 this month, opened up about her addiction to pain meds. For the first time in 12 years she's no longer dependent on drugs. Last Thanksgiving, determined to overcome her grueling habit, Paula checked herself into La Costa Resort and Spa, in Carlsbad, CA. She explains the withdrawal process from heavy pain medication like this:

"I could have killed myself . . . Withdrawal - it's the worst thing. I was freezing cold, then sweating hot, then chattering and in so much pain, it was excruciating. But at my very core, I did not like existing the way I had been."

To find out how her addiction evolved, read more.

While cheerleading at age 17, Paula suffered the first of a series of accidents that would lead to debilitating pain. She refused surgery at the time, since doctors told her there was only a 50/50 chance the operation would correct her back. On the road to fame, she broke her leg in 1991 while rehearsing a dance routine. This was followed a year later by a car accident. In 1993, an airplane crash left her partially paralyzed, requiring 15 spinal surgeries. All the while her career kept growing, and as a veteran performer, her attitude was "the show must go on." So she turned to addictive painkillers and not-so-addictive Chinese medicine for relief.

In 2005, Paula was diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, a condition that results in chronic pain. To deal with her agonizing discomfort, Paula began wearing a pharmaceutical patch that delivered a pain medication nearly 80 times more potent than morphine, and she took a nerve medication to relieve her symptoms. Sometimes she combined all this with muscle relaxers. These meds didn't relieve her pain entirely, which often led to sleepless nights, causing her to "get weird" during the day and sparking rumors that she was high during the filming of American Idol.

Thanks to her 15th spinal surgery, the pain is almost gone. Paula does yoga to clear her mind and take care of her body, and now that she's off pain medication for good, she's ready to make a fresh start.

Source

Healthy Eating Tip: Make a Lentil Ragu

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:30:00 -0800

Most people are eating at home more often these days, including yours truly. Saving money is a big priority, and being experimental in the kitchen is key for avoiding boredom: With these ideas in mind, I suggest you test a lentil ragu.

Lentils are deliciously inexpensive and each serving offers tons of protein and fiber. Texturally, they are a perfect substitute for meat in a traditional ragu sauce. If you're using prepared pasta sauce, simply cook up some lentils and heat them with the sauce before serving. Season as you please.

Changing it up will help you from resorting to takeout, and you're giving yourself a healthier meal by adding these nutrient-filled legumes. Best of all, lentils are a snap to prepare, so you're not forced to choose saving time over saving money.

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