FitSugar

Travel Tips: 3 Car Exercises For Road Tripping

FitSugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:00:00 PST

For the most popular travel holiday of the year, Thanksgiving finds many of us stressed out in airports or on long road trips. But just because you're stuck in a car doesn't mean you should completely neglect your body. I have a few easy car exercises so you can work your body while still focusing on the road.

Steering wheel isometrics: Using simple isometric exercises, you can work your arms. Start with your hands at nine and three on the steering wheel (just like driver's ed class) and press inward with your arms. Hold for five counts, but keep the tension out of your neck. Repeat four times, and then move your hands to 10 and two and repeat. Changing positions of your hands will work different muscle groups.
Belly vacuums: This is a great way to work your abs at traffic lights or waiting out a traffic jam. On an exhale simply pull your abs toward your spine without letting your back round. Keep the abs engaged and focus on breathing into the back of your ribs for three to five breaths.
Glute winks: Your bum can get sore and numb from sitting for so long. This exercise not only works the glutes a bit, it also gets the circulation going once again and can relieve low back pain, too. Simply squeeze your right glute for three to five seconds, release it and switch sides. Repeat for a total of 10 times.

Happy, safe, and fit travels to you all.

Source

A Reader's First Half Marathon Is Full of Triumphs and a Little Bit of Embarrassment

Fit Community — Thu, 03 May 2012 00:41:02 PDT

FitSugar reader Dhitri has an embarrassing tale about her first half marathon. She shared her story in our RunningSugar community group. Help her out by sharing your own funny or embarrassing race tales below!

So you know I ran my first half and had the greatest time ever.

There were a few blunders, of course (what's a race without 'em?). Firstly, I arrived only half an hour before the start. Leaving the house without breastfeeding my little miss didn't feel right (and I had to lose that excess fluid from that part of my body anyway!) and it took longer than anticipated. Then of course I completely forgot about the road closures! We were stuck in traffic and I had to hop out of the cab and run to the event location to save me a few minutes. Also, in all my excitement, I forgot to put on any Vaseline or Bodyglide and even forgot to apply sunscreen. My skin was dry and full of marks from me scratching all night (I do that when nervous). My legs never looked this ugly!

But here comes a big confession: I peed in my pants during the run. Okay, firstly I have to criticize the otherwise flawlessly organized race. There were simply not enough portaloos! The line before the start was just EPIC.

Initially I didn't feel like I needed to go, but then remembered that I downed a lot of water when I woke up at 5AM (2 hours before start) and even though I went a few times at home, I felt like I needed to visit the conveniences in case I needed to wee because of the cold (it was a chilly morning at 10 degrees C) or nerves. I braved the line until a couple minutes before start (and was still nowhere near my turn). Big mistake! I should have braved the bushes instead.

Read on for the rest of Dhitri's story!

8 Life Lessons Learned From CES 2012

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:31:59 PST

This year's CES didn't just teach us about gadget trends and the future of the industry - it also taught us a few things that we'll remember in our everyday lives as well. Here, we offer up a few tips to take with you on your next journey to a big tech conference, or to keep in the back of your mind for life. Trust me: our pain is your gain!

Get plenty of sleep. Between long hours on the show floor and various industry parties (and afterparties), there's a good reason we'd love to see siesta lounges at CES. But if you can't nap during the day, be sure to get enough shut eye at night. This is true even for the real world, where you've got emails, shows, and news to catch up on. Put away the laptop at a decent hour and get your beauty rest. You'll wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day's to-do list.
Carry water. Downing coffee, cocktails, and Diet Cokes, coupled with the dry weather in the desert, and filtered air in the hotels and casinos can cause dehydration fast. Keep a bottle of water on you at all times. This not only keeps your skin fresh, lips hydrated, and head clear, but it'll keep you from overheating due to thirst.
Wear good shoes. Did I mention how much we walked at CES? Seriously, the biggest expo I've ever seen, it spans the Las Vegas Convention Center and surrounding hotels. It's not hard to walk six miles in a single day. Multiply that by three or four days, and you've got yourself a good workout. Dress your feet appropriately for CES, and everyday life, since it can save your back later down the road.
Get in the lunch line early. Hungry bloggers line up to get their lunches far before the 11:30 a.m. call time. Although we never saw a shortage of food, who wants to wait in another line when you're tired and hungry? This is another way to say "eat your lunch." Skipping meals can lead to headaches and crankiness, symptoms you don't want to experience when you're in a fast-paced and crowded space or in your office.

Check out the rest of the list when you read more.

Tricks for Stress-Free Travel

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:52:52 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

John DiScala, or Johnny Jet, as road warriors know him, is no amateur when it comes to hitting the road. The Travel Channel expert has flown 127,467 miles this year alone! Since a day at the airport can be more exhausting than a day at the gym, we screened Johnny Jet for his secrets to book, fly, and sleep - minus the stress - just like an expert jet-setter.

Be flexible! "I just bought a ticket to Florida a couple days ago and only paid $168 because I left a few days earlier than planned (the 21st). You can sign up for airfare alerts to be notified when the best deals are available."
Go postal. "Ship bags and gifts ahead of time via FedEx or UPS ground, five to seven days before your trip, to make it affordable. If you do pack presents, don't wrap them, because there's a good chance the TSA will unwrap them."
But do come bearing goodies. "Bring a box of chocolates for the gate agents and flight attendants! You will get the best service and possibly even an upgrade."

Read on for more of Johnny's stress-free travel tricks.

More from FITNESS Magazine:

Healthy Travel Diet: The Best Food to Eat on the Road

Beat Stress, Weigh Less: Calorie-Burning Yoga Workout

Find Your Happy Weight

Jake Freshens Up With a Buzz Cut Ahead of the Holiday Weekend

Lindsay Miller — Sat, 28 May 2011 05:04:00 PDT

Jake Gyllenhaal was spotted making his way into a salon in Studio City, CA, yesterday. The actor is still sporting the relatively close-shaved haircut he got to work on End of Watch. Despite his shooting schedule, Jake has been spending lots of time off at low-key lunches, workouts, and errands. He also made a quick trip east recently. Jake was spotted flirting with a brunette out at a Brooklyn bar, but since splitting from Taylor Swift a few months ago, he seems to be mostly flying solo. Instead, he's been focusing on his career and friendships. He was busy on the promotional trail for Source Code for much of March, and once the film hit theaters, he took advantage of a break and joined his buddies from the band Mumford and Sons on the road for part of their recent tour.

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 09:38:40 PDT

Forget the fluff! Brown rice krispy treats with peanut butter - Eating Bird Food
How Jessica Alba is keeping fit during her pregnancy - Fit Celeb
The one activity guaranteed to bring weight loss - Daily Spark
Your 2011 Spring shoe guide - Active.com
A treadmill workout when 20 minutes is all you've got - Peanut Butter Fingers
Road trip cheat sheet: the healthiest fast food restaurants - Health.com

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:15:35 PDT

The nutritional value of McDonald's oatmeal explained in pictures - MindBodyGreen
Dance like Natalie Portman and Skype a Ballet Beautiful workout - Vital Juice
Get absolutely fabulous abs with these six moves - Fitness
Road tripping? Healthier fast food choices from Hardee's and Carl's Jr. - DailySpark
Drink your next beauty treatment; sip on Drew Barrymore's fave green smoothie - Shape
DIY protein balls with rich chocolaty flavor - Eating Bird Food
Snoop Dog should know that alcoholic energy drinks are just no good - Fit Celeb

Matthew McConaughey Puts His "All Right, All Right, All Right" Physique to Work

Molly Goodson — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 06:19:43 PST

Matthew McConaughey hit the beach in Malibu yesterday for his usual workout of running, push-ups, and ab work. He wasn't simultaneously pulling daddy duty this time, though in the past his kids Levi and Vida have gotten early lessons on staying fit. Matthew is back home after a recent trip north to Ojai where he channeled and quoted his Dazed and Confused character Wooderson during a concert. He's also been fitting in rounds of golf and sharing parenting responsibilities with Camila Alves before he hits the road to start promoting The Lincoln Lawyer. The movie is out March 18, and he kicks off press duties later this week.