FitSugar

How the Other Half Sweats: The Ranch at Live Oak/Malibu

Susi May — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 08:00:10 PST

It's dark when I receive my wake up call, which isn't really a call but a staffer gently calling my name and playing sweet sounding chimes at my door. The time is 5:30 a.m. Waking early is just one of the lifestyle changes you experience during a seven day stay at The Ranch at Live Oak/Malibu, other changes include: no sugar, no meat, no cheese, no gluten, no alcohol, no artificial sweeteners, no caffeine, and no Internet. Yep - no caffeine and no Internet, two of my daily staples. The staff of the retreat center sends weekly reminders, starting four weeks before you attend, to help you wean yourself from all these legal vices and prompt you to walk and sleep more. All this because The Ranch is about detoxing your body and mind through clean eating and copious amounts of sweat. With all this activity and serious portion control (they lock the kitchen at night - no joke), you will lose a bit of weight too.

I was invited, along with a couple of fitness writers and luxury travel agents, to experience an abbreviated stay at The Ranch, which is nestled in the mountains of Malibu, CA. And with my expenses paid, how could I say no. The grounds are beautiful and serene, the food gluten-free, vegan, and tasty (only one meal in three days didn't rock my palate). And the program is intense. Don't head there looking to get in shape; come prepared and bring your lightweight hiking shoes.

Read what a day in the life at The Ranch is truly like and take a photo tour of the grounds when after the break.

How to Turn Your Bedroom Into a Retreat

CasaSugar — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 06:00:00 PDT

A bedroom is meant to bring about rest and relaxation, but personal spaces often get left behind in the decorating process. We've already learned how to turn a bathroom into a spa-like sanctuary, but here are a few tips for turning your bedroom into a calming retreat.

Fit Traveler: Fitness Cruise

FitSugar — Tue, 01 May 2007 15:45:00 PDT

Needing a getaway but don't want to do something that will be counter productive to your fitness efforts? How about a cruise? No, seriously...

What: Tom Holland's Fitness Cruise
Where: The ship, Carnival Valor, departs port in Miami, FL to the waters of the Grand Cayman, to the exotic ports of call of Roatan Island, Belize, Costa Maya and back to Miami.
When: March 2, 2008
Why: Tom Holland, a well known personal trainer who has worked at Reebok Sports Club, Equinox, Crunch, The New York Sports Clubs and the Cardio Fitness Center, has put together this fitness cruise. During the cruise, he has daily workout sessions planned that complement the ship's activities and ports of call. Along with your daily workout sessions, you'll have time to talk with Tom directly about your own fitness goals, concerns, etc.

For more information and to sign-up, visit QueenslandTours.com.

Retreat in Mexico: Pilates in Paradise

FitSugar — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 04:00:00 PST

Looking for an alternative destination for spring break? After surviving winter wouldn't it be nice to take a little vacation - relax and eat well (and by well I mean healthy) and do some Pilates? Well, Ellie Herman Studios has just the retreat for you.

Seven days, taking 2 Pilates mat classes a day along with a guided beach walk could be just the thing to get you pumped and primed for upcoming spring and summer activities. The retreat is fine for both beginners and advanced students.

Pricing starts at $1300 for a shared double room at the Mar de Jade vacation/retreat center in Chacala, a stunning beach on Mexico's Pacific Coast, an hour and a half north of Puerto Vallarta.

The EHS staff is full of knowledgeable and energetic Pilates instructors. They will work you, but you will be in paradise, which should lessen the burn. Sounds wonderful to me since it combines two of my favorite things: Pilates and vacation.

Retreat dates: March 17 - 24th, contact EHS studios directly to reserve your spot.

Surf Safari for Women Only

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 10:45:00 PST

Looking to get away from it all and learn how to hang ten at the same time? If you answered "surf camp" on the winter vacation poll, here are a couple of surf schools for you to check out.

My ideal would be going on a retreat with Surf Goddess to Bali for yoga, surf lessons, spa treatments, gourmet meals and a sightseeing tour. 8 days and 7 nights of this can be yours for $1795 (shared room rate) you just have to get yourself to Bali. The rate listed above is the winter, off season rate, which goes through April.

Much closer to home and easier on the wallet is the surf camp based in La Jolla, Surf Diva. Two hour classes start at 10am and run Monday through Friday for $379.50. The program sounds a little bare bones after the surf goddess retreat, but you should have no problem finding waves to learn the basics in La Jolla.

Boardfolio.com has a really complete listing of surf vacations if you are looking for a camp closer to your home.

Good luck catching the perfect wave.

Lacoste Fall 2012

Chi Diem Chau — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:18:02 PST

If the snow outside wasn't enough for NYFW attendees, Felipe Oliveira Baptista provided a few snowflakes of his own for Lacoste's Fall runway show this morning at Lincoln Center. As fake snow blew into the audience, Oliveira Baptista set the tone for his sporty chic ski-inspired line. Mixing in the old - Oliveira Baptista referenced uniforms the brand designed for France's 1966 national ski team - with the new, the designer conceived a smart mix of body-conscious pieces fitting for any après-ski occasion. One can easily head to the slopes, or to the cabin, in one of Oliveira Baptista's rugby-meets-ski minidresses and jumpsuits or sport-striped leggings paired with chic oversized parkas and coats. Leather quilted vests and jackets injected a luxurious touch to the overt sportif theme. With a play on fashionable function, Oliveira Baptista experimented with zippers, some of which opened up all the way up to the shoulders to replicate the look of a cardigan tossed over your shoulder, while others served as pockets for hoods disguised as a stylish oversized collar. More details from the collection below.

Trends: Oversized parkas, colorblock, sporty zipper accents.
Colors: Blue, red, off-white, gray, navy blue, black.
Key Piece: We loved the oversized parka jackets and luxurious quilted leather jackets and vests.
Accessories: Leather platform boots, wool and leather bucket bags, snow goggles/sunglasses, leather gloves.
Who Would Wear It: Anyone looking for a sporty play on Winterwear or otherwise, heading to a ski retreat or chic après-ski event.

Have You Ever Gone on a Fitness Retreat?

Michele Foley — Thu, 12 May 2011 13:45:15 PDT

In a few days, I'm heading to my first fitness retreat - a "wellness weekend" packed with fitness classes, spa treatments, and wine tasting. All this, and the hotel is situated on the Lake Tahoe shore. While there will be time to relax, there's also a lot of fitness happening in those three days. From 8 a.m. Vinyasa yoga classes to ballet-inspired workouts and a Friday kickoff that involves a Pilates mat workout, it will definitely be an active weekend that promises to work my body. And while I've done my share of random yoga classes while on vacation, this is the first time that I've gone on a trip that is centered on fitness.

Have any of you ever planned a fitness vacation? What did you think?

Exclusive - See William and Kate on Vacation in Mustique With the Middletons

Allie Merriam — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:59:23 PST

Prince William and his wife Kate spent the last week together on vacation with her family in Mustique. The couple spent a few days on the West Indies island with her sister Pippa, brother James, and parents Michael and Carole. William apparently met up with the group after the Middletons started their fun. He arrived, however, ahead of the celebrations for Carole Middleton's 57th birthday. The Middletons' getaway included plenty of beach time and group lunches by the water. The girls were able to wear bikinis and sit in the sun, while James snapped photos from his deck chair. William and Kate stayed at Aurora House, a retreat owned by their friend Mark Cecil, according to reports.

William, Kate, and Pippa wrapped things up and left Mustique for the Hewanorra airport in nearby St. Lucia, where they caught a British Airways flight. They headed back to London so William could prepare for his deployment to the Falkland Islands. He was scheduled to begin a six-week tour of duty Wednesday. Along with other pilots, William will be tasked with manning search-and-rescue helicopters.

"How Do I Get Over My Relationship With a Narcissist?"

Tres Community — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:05:00 PST

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

I have been in a relationship with a narcissist for over four years. I didn't realize he was a narcissist until I began to feel as if I was losing my mind about two years ago and sought out therapy. My therapist happened to specialize in narcissism abuse and told me this was what I was suffering from. The relationship, or lack thereof, began good, then got very bad and the cycle continued to get progressively worse and littered with emotional abuse.

My therapist moved about six months ago and my life seems like it has been in shambles since then. I have been on a new conquest for a new therapist, but to no avail. Instead, I have searched the internet for tips and surprisingly haven't found much.
A couple of weeks ago I suspected him of cheating. For example, he only wanted to have sex outside of his home, and if I did go to his home I noticed things were tidier than usual, he had an extra toothbrush, changed his mind about us being exclusive every other day, and gave me silent treatments if I gave any opinion on our situation.

Last night I headed over to his house after we had a fight about investing some money into a couple romance retreat. Once I realized there were additional hidden costs, I knew I couldn't afford my half. He didn't want to give me back my money and said I was backing out of things for us. Later that same night, he wanted to get sexual and I was hesitant so I said no. He begged, so I finally gave in. We began to get hot and heavy, but he didn't want to have sex with me in his house - he wanted to use my car! In the middle of having sex, he stopped to say he was no longer in the mood, leaving me alone in the car! I put on my clothes and I asked if I could at least go into his apartment to wash up and he said no. He finally agreed to let me use his basement bathroom to wash up, but it had no running water.
When I got home, we had a talk about exclusivity and he said he didn't know how he felt about it. We went back and forth for some time, but I just can't take it anymore! I sent him an email and a text message telling him how I felt about this whole ordeal and that I was done.

I'm so hurt. Narcissism abuse is just so different from anything I have ever experienced. I'm thinking of changing my number or getting away, but I just don't know what to do.

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

How to Make Money Off Your Breakup

LearnVest — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:15:30 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

When you break up with someone, should you return any gifts?

Not according to Never Liked It Anyway, where those unlucky in love can sell mementos of failed relationships and divulge the dirt behind the gift.

And it’s not just teddy bears and uneaten chocolates - disenchanted lovers are selling wedding dresses, rings, weekend wedding packages, and anything else adding to their baggage (including the baggage itself). All for a substantial discount.

Someone Loved It Once

Part store and part advice column, the site calls itself “the place where once-loved gifts from once-loved partners get a second chance.” Instead of just facilitating a sale, it also provides a space for the seller’s story.

Never Liked It Anyway was founded by a woman who made it through a major breakup herself and recognized the benefit of cleaning out her closet . . . and profiting in the process.

For us (admittedly not in the throes of a violent parting of ways), the site raises two questions:

Is It Hilarious or Sad?

We’re happy to see the sellers get revenge (or at least revenue) after their heartbreak. But so many of the confessions in the Tell It section (in which users spill but don’t sell) are stories of men doing horrible things and women in horrible situations. The headline “NICE BOOTS BAD GUY” made us laugh . . . but the person who got dumped while her mother was dying broke our hearts.

Is It Cost-Effective or Cursed?

From a consumer's view, it’s a great deal! Over $1,000 off a Tiffany wedding band? It sounds too good to be true. And maybe it is. If you believe in karma, acquiring trinkets from failed relationships just might doom you to the same fate. Then again, wedding dresses for 40 percent off!

Just in case you’re gearing up for your own nuptials and aren’t concerned about the whole karma thing, we’ve put together a wedding plan, using only items from the site.

The Keys

The seller puts the problem with this ring pretty clearly in the title: "Key Ring, Not an Engagement Ring."

Real World Price: $125
Breakup Price: $60

Read on for more items.