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.

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.

Carrie Underwood's 600-Calorie Workout Trick

Leta Shy — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:12:47 PDT

Since shooting to American Idol fame eight years ago, Carrie Underwood's taken her diet and fitness routine seriously. The "95 percent vegan" singer's healthy lifestyle led her to drop 20 pounds over the years, and while Carrie's got a no-nonsense approach to staying fit, she still likes to have fun while she's exercising. The Self April cover girl recently shared one of her go-to ways to burn 600 calories: the deck of cards workout.

To do the workout, all you need is a deck of cards and a list of your favorite exercises. Assign a body part for each suit (hearts, spades, diamonds, and clubs), then write relevant exercises on each one - Carrie splits the deck in half and changes the exercise for each half. The number on the card represents the amount of reps you do. After that all you need to do is shuffle the cards and start drawing!

The deck of cards workout is a great way to have fun in your workouts while burning major calories. "Having different exercises for each half of the deck keeps me from getting bored. I make sure there's a joker in each half - that's a mile run on the treadmill. Then I go through the whole deck. With a 15-minute warm-up on the elliptical, it takes about an hour and a half total, but it's fun because you've designed the workout yourself," Carrie told Self. "Sometimes I'll make spades boxing and beat the crap out of the bag for however many punches the number on the card says."

Find out more on how to create a deck of cards workout here, and let us know if you use this trick!

Healthy Computing: How to Create an Ergonomic Desk

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 01:39:47 PDT

You might not be able to swing a professional ergonomic evaluation, but you can make simple changes to your desk environment to sit up a little bit straighter and avoid neck, wrist, and back strains. While ergonomics is about proper seating position, it also includes common habits you might be unaware of, like your line of sight toward a computer screen and how you type. Try out these adjustments to your work space and your moving habits, and tell us if you notice the difference.

To sit ergonomically, your knees and ankles and shoulders to wrists should be positioned in 90-degree angles to your keyboard. If you are on the shorter side, keep a footrest underneath your desk, so your feet aren't dangling. Your back should remain neutral, with something supporting your lumbar spine. Here's a helpful diagram of correct sitting and typing ergonomics.
Keep your keyboard, mouse, and phone within your forearm's length. When you are typing or clicking on your mouse, your wrists should be in a neutral position (not angled up or down) and up in the air rather than rested on the table or on a squishy "wrist support." Resting your wrists actually places greater strain on the sensitive tendons. Also, your elbows should remain close to your body throughout the day.

Find out more tips by clicking here.

Buzz Lines: What's Your Favorite Quote From The Goonies?

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 10:00:00 PST

The Goonies is one of those movies from my childhood that I still love watching now - and I know that more than a handful of my friends agree. The movie is so delightfully '80s; it's truly the perfect blend of family friendly adventure and goofball comedy. Who could forget the sweet friendship that blossoms between Chunk and Sloth? Check out a few of my favorite quotes, and add yours in the comments below!

"First you gotta do the truffle shuffle." - Mouth
"I feel like I'm babysitting, except I'm not getting paid." - Stef
"Goonies never say die!" - Mikey

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

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.