FitSugar

Fit Tip: Do It in Sand

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:00:17 -0700

Walking and running are great workouts for your heart and lower body, and they're also free. So take advantage of the warmer weather and make your workouts even more challenging and workout at the beach. Walking or running on sand burns about 30 percent more calories than you would on a harder surface such as asphalt. Resist walking on the flat sand right at the water's edge and go for the dry sand to make your workout harder. Walk without shoes so you can really use your toes to grip the ground. Walking and running barefoot in the sand is great for the muscles in your feet and your calves, but be careful running on uneven surfaces can increase the risk of sprains, sprains, and tendonitis. Build your running time up slowly and wear supportive shoes. Remember, if your feet get hot, you can always cool off by walking on the wet sand, which is great for exfoliating the dead skin cells from your heels and preventing fissures.

Fit Tip: Walk Barefoot in the Sand

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:00:00 -0700

The next time you're at the beach, take a break from relaxing in the sun and get up and move around. Resist walking on the flat sand right at the water's edge and go for the dry sand. Ditch your shoes so you can really use your toes to grip the ground. Walking barefoot in the sand is not only great for the muscles in your feet and your calves, but because it's so much harder than walking on a flat surface, you'll burn more calories. If your feet get hot, you can always cool off by walking on the wet sand, which is great for exfoliating the dead skin cells from your heels.

Source

The Beach Is a Workout Waiting to Happen

FitSugar — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 23:30:00 -0700

Who doesn't love spending time at the beach? Cameron is one starlet that takes advantage of all the beach has to offer. I love that she doesn't just lounge on the sand, but plays in the water practically non-stop. Which is great since I believe the beach is a workout waiting to happen.

If you are lucky enough to live near the ocean or will be vacationing soon by the shore, you too should take advantage of all the beach has to offer. If you want a hard core workout try the Beach Body Workout on the beach. But let me tell you, there are more casual and playful ways to burn some extra calories while hanging out at the shore.

Here are some ideas:

Walking in the Sand: Sand provides way less traction than concrete sidewalk or asphalt roads. So take advantage of your disadvantage and walk the beach. Do walk in both wet and dry sand to challenge your body in different ways. There will be good people watching to entertain you too. Who knows maybe you will even see some wildlife.

Walking in the Surf: Just walking in ankle deep water is a great challenge. Add the ebb and flow of the tide and you have yourself a great lower body workout.

Playing in the Waves: Jumping up and down in the surf is great fun and a challenge to your entire body. Diving under waves and swimming against the tide is a great way to workout with the ocean providing extra resistance.

There's more to do at the beach, and there are more photos of Cameron frolicking in the waves. So just read more
Swimming: Swim out past the break and try some laps in the ocean. The current creates a natural challenge. Make sure you stay in sight range of the lifeguard. Remember: If you can't see the guards, they can't see you.

Body Surfing: Riding the waves without a board is a fun way to experience the ocean. You don't need any gear, although fins do help. eHow tips on body surfing are very helpful - check them out.

So get out there! Play in the waves - it is a great way to help maintain your beach body. Plus, it won't feel like a workout, it will just feel like fun.

View 5 Photos ›

Source & Flynet

On The Surface of Things: Where to Run

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:15:00 -0700

Cool Running, the web site that brought you the ever popular Couch to 5K running program, has rated running surfaces. Why? In an attempt to help keep runners free of injuries - that's why. Running on rock hard surfaces like concrete, like sidewalks, is hard on the body. To protect your joints you want to look for surfaces that have shock absorbing qualities for the majority of your runs. Also, you should try to be consistent with your surface choice, an abrupt switch can lead to injuries.

Here are the surfaces listed in order of best to worst. The number to the right indicates their "grade" with 10 being the best and 1 being just plain awful:

Grass 9.5
Wood chips 9
Dirt 8
Cinder track 7.5
Track 7
Treadmill 6.5
Asphalt 6
Sand 4
Snow 2.5
Concrete 1

If, after reading the list, you decide to move your runs to asphalt, aka the street - BE CAREFUL. Run defensively! Run towards on coming traffic so you can see what is coming at you. Don't listen to music (or at least keep the volume low enough that you can hear the environment around you). Wear bright colors too so you are easily seen.

Source

Freaky Statistic: Sand vs. Shark

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 08:45:00 -0700

According to a new report by father - son doctors accidents involving sand holes have caused more deaths than shark attacks.

Between 1990 and 2006, there were 16 deaths in the U.S. involving sand holes or tunnels and only 12 fatalities due to shark attacks. I know this is morbid stuff, but how many of us come face to face with sand holes compared to sharks? Sand holes and tunnels can collapse horrifyingly fast, often leaving no trace of the victim. So play it safe - only let your children play in a hole no deeper than their waist and please fill that hole in before you leave the beach!!! Someone could accidentally trip in the hole while playing paddle ball, football or Frisbee.

For more information and background on the study visit CNN. The article will inspire you to fill in every sand hole you see, and I don't think that is just the mom in me talking.

Source

Summer Safety: Beware of Beach Sand

FitSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:00:15 -0700

Whether you're building sandcastles or just burrowing your feet, getting sandy is an essential part of going to the beach. But if la playa plays into your vacation plans, be warned: beach sand can contain bacteria known to cause stomach bugs.

Though sand often looks and feels clean, remember that germs are everywhere. According to a new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, young children who dug in the sand raised their risk of diarrhea by 44 percent. Furthermore:

Other studies that have examined the bacteria content of sand at a variety of beaches that were nowhere near a treatment plant have found high levels of E. coli and Enterococcus bacteria in the top eight inches. In fact, levels can be almost 40 times those found in the water at the same beaches.

This doesn't mean that you and your family need to steer clear of sand altogether. Just be sure to keep sand and sandy hands away from your mouth. According to Dr. Philip Kazlow, you won't develop a gastrointestinal illness unless you actually ingest the germs, so just wash your hands before eating or touching your mouth. If you've got little ones, bring along some hand sanitizer to prevent this Summer health risk.

Natalie Coughlin: From the Olympics to DWTS

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:50:41 -0700

Last season on Dancing With the Stars, we saw gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson win gold, and this year we're watching Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin compete on land.

She made it through the first week, dancing a salsa with Alec Mazo and wowed us last night with her quick step. Although busy dancing and rehearsing, Natalie took time out of her day to answer a few questions on topics ranging from Pilates to her opinion on the ban on high-tech swimsuits.

To learn what Natalie has to say, just read more.

FitSugar: I have read that you do Pilates. How does this method of exercise help your swimming? Since it is somewhat dance-based, do you think it will help you on DWTS?
Natalie Coughlin: Pilates is an awesome cross-training exercise for any sport because it focuses on functional movement. It relies on strength along with flexibility, which is perfect for both swimming and dance. My two favorite pieces of equipment are the Balanced Body Exo Chair and Pilates Arc. I personally own both, and they make a nice addition to my home gym.

FS: I loved your "I'm a runner" piece in Runner's World. Do you still run regularly? Do you ever participate in road races? Were you able to run before your wedding ceremony?
NC: My first and only road race was the H2O Audio Surf Monkey last month, which was a 5K run on a mixture of sand, cobbled rock, and pier. It was so much fun, although I had no idea how to run on sand or cobbled rock! A few days before my wedding, I got a little overzealous with my running and ended up straining my right obliques, which forced me to take a bit of a break. Oops! I still love running, but I'm currently spending five to six-plus hours dancing every day, so I'm taking a break. I don't think it would be a good idea to add any unnecessary stress to my feet or legs.

FS:Your swimming career has spanned two Olympics, and you're planning to compete in 2012 - how do you maintain focus in training over those four-year periods?
NC: My focus is constantly evolving. I took three months off immediately following the Athens Games and returned to competition with a series of two-day meets throughout the world. The short format of the meets along with the world travel kept me motivated and interested in swimming. After Beijing, I needed a much longer break both mentally and physically because I have been competing for 21 years now! Dancing With the Stars is providing me with an amazing competitive outlet in something so different than my sport.

FSWhat's your favorite core exercise?
NC: I use the TRX suspension system for strength training and I absolutely love the atomic push-up because it's a killer exercise that works your entire core and upper body.

FS: Is your running playlist different from your swimming playlist? If so, how?
NC: Nope! They're usually the same, but it changes depending on my mood. It can be anything from pop, rock, alternative, to hip-hop . . . and H2O Audio's new Interval lets me listen to multiple playlists in the water or while I'm out on a run.

FS: Swimming can be hard on the skin and hair. What are your go-to beauty products postswim?
NC: Oh dear! I love products . . . Pureology for my hair, Kinesys sunscreen for my face/body preswimming, Palmer's Cocoa Butter for my body post-swimming, and Oil of Olay SPF 15 for my face.

FS: How do you feel about the ban on high-tech swimsuits?
NC: I think it's a good idea because our sport can now get back to the swimming and eliminate the distraction of "who are you wearing?" Eliminating zippers and legs is strange because both have been a part of many of the suits for over a decade. Either way, I'm happy.

How Clean Is Your Beach?

FitSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:00:26 -0700

If you're heading to the beach soon to beat the Summer heat, you might want to see how clean it is. Recently, we learned that playing in the sand can increase your risk of developing gastrointestinal ailments, and the water might not be too clean either.

The National Resource Defense Council just released its annual report on the cleanliness of our beaches, and unfortunately some did not pass muster. Let's start with the top ranked beaches based on water quality and frequency the water is tested - the cleanest are in California, Minnesota (land of 10,000 lakes), and New Hampshire. The dirtiest are in the Northeast and Florida. Both water and sand become polluted from runoff water that drains into the ocean after a storm. The runoff collects pesticides, pet waste, road grease, etc., and all this ends up in the water. The polluted water can lead to a variety of health problems from skin rashes to neurological disorders.

You can check out your beach with this NRDC chart or this interactive map from the Environmental Protection Agency. Unfortunately, with budget shortfalls in most states, the beaches are not being monitored as closely as they once were. Just remember to steer clear of the beach after a heavy rainstorm.

Olympian Kerri Walsh Is Sick of Being Skinny Soft

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 05:51:23 -0700

Olympic beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh gave birth to her first child last month, and of course everyone's interested in her post-baby body. Kerri told People magazine, "36 lbs. is the official number. I just didn't want to hit 40 because that would be 200 lbs. But I feel pretty silly now that I see Joey."

As a professional athlete, Kerri's sense of body image goes beyond the numbers on the scale. She admitted that a lot of the 36 pounds came off during the first week after giving birth, but commented, "Now I just need to build my muscle because I'm skinny soft, which is the worst thing to be."

Kerri knows that a slender appearance does not imply a fit body. The benefits of exercising go way beyond looking good. Summer is the perfect time to work out in the sand; go for a walk, a run, or get inspired by Kerri and organize a group for a fun game of beach volleyball.

Think of Your Workout as Active Meditation

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:30:00 -0700

There's more to working out than improving your physical fitness since moving your body can also benefit your mind. Many of you are not that into types of exercise that typically lend themselves to sharpening mental awareness, but in no way does that mean you're unable to develop a mind/body connection through other forms of exercise.

Goddess on the sand, Gabrielle Reece, calls her beach volleyball workouts "active meditation." I love this phrase and what it suggests. While most of us don't have access to a beach as our fitness playground, choosing to be present during every workout can positively affect your senses of overall well-being and awareness. Begin making your workouts active meditation by creating intentions each time.

It looks like Gabby and the master of meditation, the Dalai Lama, have something in common. To see how the "world's most important Buddhist monk" incorporates meditation into his fitness life read more.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Source