FitSugar

Target Special Edition iPod Shuffle: The Winner Is ...

BuzzSugar — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:00:00 PDT

Thanks to all of you who took the BuzzSugar quiz to win a pink special edition iPod Shuffle in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Much as we'd love to shower you all with prizes, only one lucky reader could win - and that reader is splayer! Congrats to you!

Thanks again to the rest of you for entering. Don't forget: You can still read all the great Breast Cancer Awareness Month coverage from around the Sugar Network.

Marware Takes Care of Your iPod

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 02:04:17 PST

If you've spent tons of money on your iPod, you want to protect it with a case of some sort, especially if you're working out with it. Marware has got you covered, literally.

They make this really convenient armband for your iPod Shuffle called the Sportsuit Runabout for only $14.95.

And they make tons of cases for the iPod nano. If you prefer holding it in your hand so you can control the buttons easily, you'll love the Sportsuit Sprinter. It's designed with an adjustable hand strap, for only $24.95.

But I don't want to have to worry about holding it (for fear I'll drop it) so I love the Sportsuit Relay. It's a little more expensive, $29.95, but it comes with the iPod nano holder, and a pocket strap that attaches to your shoe to hold your Nike + iPod sensor. You can strap it to your wrist or arm.

Marware makes it easy to workout with your iPod. Want to see what they have to outfit your iPod? Then

View 6 Photos ›

Top Affordable MP3s

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 11:30:00 PST

You asked for it so FIT has put together a list of the best and most affordable MP3 players to use while you work out.

I picked the smallest ones that also have a good amount of memory. Also, if you're wondering-- I considered having an FM Tuner an important feature since many gyms send the signal from their TVs through the FM tuner.

iPod Shuffle, 2nd Generation ($109.99): 1GB. The downside is that there is no screen to see what is on it. But it's very small with good sound. Buy it here.

There's lots more so,

SanDisk Sansa M240 ($61.95): 1GB. Don't love the play list features but a good quality player and it has a FM tuner. Buy it here.

MobiBLU DAH-1500i ($119.00): 2GB. So small I can hardly believe it. Downside is that it charges only through a USB port. Buy it here.

Rio Carbon Pearl ($114.99): 5GB. Super cute and looks great but the buttons can be annoying to use. No FM tuner. Buy it here.

Sony Bean E307 Walkman ($116.90): 1GB. Super small and a very ergonomic shape, great if you like to hold something while running. FM tuner. Problem is there are no good options for belt clips and arm bands. Buy it here.

iRiver T10 ($62.99): 1GB. FM Tuner, small and attractive. Takes an AAA battery so you can't just recharge it. The cross fading when you push pause can be really annoying. Buy it here.

Microsoft Zune ($249.99): 30GB. The newest of the MP3s. Microsoft's version of the iPod but with an FM tuner. The most expensive player on this list. Buy it here.

Fit's Tip: Alot of MP3 Players come with crappy headphones. Do yourself a favor and get a good pair that you can wear while working out. The extra pennies spent will be worth it.

Gym 101: Strength-Training Warmup

Susi May — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:12:55 PST

A solid warmup sets you up for a solid workout. When it comes to prepping for strength training, an active warmup primes the joints and muscles, prepping them for the heavy lifting. Lauren, my Equinox trainer, introduced me to these moves, and after a little light cardio - for me, it's five minutes running on a treadmill at a 6 mph pace, but the elliptical or a little jump rope would work - Lauren has me do three out of these five moves. Mix and match the exercises however you please, or do them all for a very thorough warmup.

Rocking Lunge
Give an active stretch to both your hips and hamstrings with the rocking lunge. Start in a deep lunge with your right leg forward; you can even bring your left knee to the floor. Straighten your right knee to rock your weight back and onto your left foot to lengthen the hamstring. Flex your right toes as you rock into the hamstring stretch. Return back to your deep lunge and repeat for a total of 10 times on each side.

Toy Soldier
A walking kick, the toy soldier stretches out the back of the leg, both hamstrings and calves. Step forward on your right foot, and kick your left leg forward, bringing your left toes toward your right hand. Step onto your left foot and kick the right leg, bringing right foot toward left hand. Take 20 steps total.

Keep reading for three more moves.

5 Things Not to Bring to the Gym

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:03:10 PST

If you want to make the most of your gym time, there are certain things you shouldn't take with you. To stay healthy and centered during your workout, leave these five items at home:

Reading material. It's important to stay focused while you're at the gym, not only for safety reasons, but also to maximize the benefits of your workout. If you're focusing on the latest issue of your favorite magazine, you're probably not paying attention to your body. Read outside the gym to zero in on your training.
Energy drinks. Stick to zero-calorie water to stay hydrated. The amount of caffeine in different energy drinks varies, but you should steer clear while you're working out to avoid becoming lightheaded. Prefer something with a bit of flavor? Try adding electrolyte enhanced flavor packets to your water.
A plastic water bottle. Refilling and reusing old plastic water bottles can be dangerous to your health - and the environment. Go green and invest in a stainless steel option instead.

Keep reading for two more things to leave at home.

6 Quick and Easy Last-Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

Jaime Richards — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:05:07 PST

The holidays have a funny way of sneaking up, but just because it's the 11th hour, doesn't mean you can't still find amazing gifts. So if you're a bit behind on your shopping list, no fret. See six quick and easy ways you can make it all come together now.

Download of the Day: Newser

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:49:06 PST

Want to quickly get world news in the palm of your hand without shuffling through an undermanaged and wordy RSS feed? Download the Newser app (free). Drawing from the best news sources on the web including CNN, The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and BBC, Newser editors condense the news into bite-sized articles that you can read on the go.

Get stories in the customized grid format, or view in an easy-to-digest list, plus share with friends via email, Twitter, or Facebook, and browse through photo galleries with a few swipes of a finger. Just like Newser's tagline, you can read less and know more. Who can argue with that?

6 Reasons Runners Will Love the New iPods

GeekSugar — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:47:17 PDT

This week's announcement of new iPods piqued my interest not only as a lover of shiny, new toys, but also as a runner. The two smallest versions, the new iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano, are even more perfect for running (and other exercises). Here's why:

The new Nano is tiny. - At just over 1 1/2 inches wide and just under 1 1/2 inches high, the new Nano is considerably smaller than the previous version - it's almost half the size! And it also weighs half as much as the previous version.
The Shuffle's buttons are back. - The most recent version of the Shuffle was, in my opinion, a runner's nightmare. The design was sleek, but there were no buttons on the device itself, making it incredibly difficult to use with any other headphones other than the ones that came with the device. Now, the same familiar circular set of buttons have made a comeback.

There are more reasons to love 'em! Check out the rest after the break.

From the Community: Beat Boredom With This 40-Minute Treadmill Workout

Fit Community — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:57:25 PST

Caught in a rut on the treadmill? FitSugar reader FitFabCities has created a 40-minute treadmill workout that is certain to get you excited about the gym again!

I'm not afraid to say it: I love the treadmill. I know, I know, my fellow runners out there probably gasp in horror at the thought of spending even 30 minutes "running but going nowhere," but I love it. I love staying dry, I love watching TV, and I really love being warm.

That said, I am willing to admit it can get a wee bit boring if every time you hop on the old treadmill, you hit your regular three to five miles. Well that's why I love this workout; you'll be changing speeds, inclines, even directions every minute, so there is no chance you'll get bored. After all, keeping your mind and body guessing is the best way to keep seeing results!

See this interval workout (and get a printable copy) after the break!

Taylor's Big Wins, Bieber Meets LMFAO, J Lo and Marc Reunited - All the Action From the AMAs!

Allie Merriam — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:24:21 PST

The 2011 American Music Awards kicked off with a duet from Nicki Minaj and DJ David Guetta, the first of 17 musical acts! They got things started after a star-studded AMAs red carpet on which stars like Katy Perry, Heidi Klum, Justin Bieber, and Selena Gomez posed for photographers. Maroon 5 was an early winner for best duo/group before Taylor Swift won her fourth favorite country female artist in a row.

Next up was a performance from Justin Bieber, who sang "Under the Mistletoe" while girlfriend Selena Gomez watched from the audience. Jennifer Hudson changed dresses to introduce favorite rap/hip-hop artist Nicki Minaj, who also tearfully took home favorite rap/hip-hop album honors for Pink Friday. Rihanna sent in a video thank-you for her favorite soul/R&B album nod, and Beyoncé Knowles did the same when accepting favorite soul/R&B female artist. Beyoncé couldn't attend the show since she was in the Big Apple promoting her new Live at Roseland DVD. Kelly Clarkson and Enrique Iglesias, with the help of Ludacris, were onstage for two subsequent performances. J Lo really brought the house down with a rendition of "Move Your Body" and "On the Floor" that included an actual Fiat as a prop - she has an endorsement deal with the car company! Pitbull sang with J Lo, and also later joined her estranged husband Marc Anthony and Lil Jon for a song.

Heidi Klum rocked her silver Giles Deacon to introduce an artist she and her family love, Katy Perry. Katy received an award of achievement for the five number one hits she's racked up this year. J Lo was next to take the podium as favorite Latin artist of the year, commenting on her "exciting and overwhelming" 2011. Christina Aguilera made a special appearance to sing with Maroon 5, and then Drake took the stage following an introduction from John Legend. Katherine Heigl and her husband Josh Kelley teamed up to present Taylor Swift with her ninth AMA, this time for favorite country album. She didn't have to wait long for the 10th, since Taylor also won artist of the year! Justin Bieber helped LMFAO wrap up the proceedings, and came out to do the shuffle during "Party Rock Anthem!"