FitSugar

Are You Stressed Out Because Your Significant Other Hasn't Proposed Yet?

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 04:00:00 -0700

Being in a relationship with someone you love is a wonderful thing. The love you feel is so powerful, and the unconditional support you share helps you to be better people. When you're in a relationship for a long time, and you feel strongly about that person, you're bound to think "When will we get engaged?"

Others are bound to think that too, especially your close friends and family. You can feel a lot of pressure when people are constantly asking, "So...When are you two going to get engaged?" It doesn't really help the situation and can make you extremely anxious.

Are you totally in love with your significant other, and are anxious because he hasn't popped the question yet? Here are some tips to help you relax.

Tell your friends and family to back off - Politely tell them that you feel strongly about where your relationship is going, and if anything happens, they'll be the first to know.
Talk to your significant other - If you really are doubting how he's feeling about you, and whether he wants to spend the rest of his life with you, chatting about it will set your mind at ease.
Exercise - Releasing all that energy will help release stress and tension, not to mention, it'll keep you in shape so when you do get engaged, you'll feel good about trying on wedding gowns.

Want to see the other tips? Then read more

Go away for the weekend with some girlfriends - There's nothing like a little female bonding time. Plus, a new place will give you a new perspective, and we all know that distance makes the hard grow fonder.
Get a massage - Treat yourself to some hands-on relief. A massage will relax your muscles and your mind, and get the issue of an engagement out of your head.
Talk to a Therapist - They are professional listeners, and they don't know you or your history, so they won't make any judgments. Sometimes it's just nice to get your feelings out, and for someone to hear what you're going through.

Fit's Tips: These are just some ideas to help you de-stress. Whatever you do, don't lose hope. A secret proposal could be in your not-to-distant future, so if you know in your heart that someday you'll get engaged, enjoy the time you have together, and be excited for what's to come. Plus, dealing with all this stress now will be great practice for when you're married, and people start pressuring you with "So...When are you going to have kids?"

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Working on Your Partner to Work Out

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:00:00 -0800

I have been asked repeatedly for ways to motivate husbands, boyfriends, partner, lovers to get interested in fitness. If you're reading FitSugar, chances are high fitness is a priority for you, but here are some tactics to get your significant other to work out.

Join a gym together. Tell them you really want to stay fit, and that you need their support to do it. Most gyms offer a deal if you join with a friend.
They may need a little push to get them to the gym, so ask if they can meet you there after work. Tell them you're doing weight training and you really need a spotter.
If you have a dog work the K9 training angle and tell them that all the dog training books recommend that you walk your dog for at least an hour everyday.
Do something active together that's fun, so it doesn't seem like exercise. Go hiking, play tennis, go swimming in the gym pool, or plan a weekend ski trip. Try to do a fun physical activity together at least once a week.

Want to see the other ideas? Then read more

Surprise them and sign both of you up for a Partner Yoga retreat, salsa dance class, or dodgeball team.
Treat them to a session with a personal trainer.
Convince them to go to a doctor. If they're told that their high blood pressure and extra weight are putting them at risk for a heart attack, it may be just the thing to kick them in the butt and get them moving.
If all else fails, cry. Telling them how much you love them and want to live a long life together is sure to be emotional for both of you. Perhaps a tug on the old heart strings will inspire them to get on the healthy boat. I would use this one as a last resort.

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The Biggest Loser Recap: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:45:00 -0800

Last night The Biggest Loser turned its focus from weight loss onto recycling.

Instead of the usual weight loss tips and trainer tips, this week we were given "Green Tips." While it was cool to see NBC trying to make conservation mainstream, the blatant marketing centered around it all was painful.

One thing that we can all take from this week's episode is that you don't need to use electricity to workout. Machines are easy but if you're looking to conserve a little energy, there are many other options such as using the great outdoors for cardio, and your own body weight or resistance bands for resistance. Some of the contestants had their biggest weight loss numbers last night, and not one person used a treadmill (that was on, at least) to get there. Jillian asked, "What's the point if we're taking care of our bodies and not our planet?" Great point, and one we should all ponder daily.

One of the challenges involved guessing how many calories were in a typical large meat lovers pizza and 32 ounce cola. Think you know? To find out the answer and to see who was eliminated this week, just read more

The answer is 3,253 calories! That's 2,880 for the pizza and 373 for the cola - yikes! Me, I still love pizza, but instead of loading it up with extra cheese and meat, I load it with veggies and go light on the cheese. Wash it down with 32 oz of water and you've got significantly less calories.

Ryan was the victim of the game this week and was eliminated after a six pound weight loss. Ryan explained that he knew he was leaving a better person and couldn’t wait to be with his wife and daughter. He looked absolutely fabulous after the show and I know he is going to look super strong at the finale. To check out Ryan's parting words, visit iVillage. I am sick of the back stabbing so I am hoping that next week the game will remove the duos and start with singles (finally every man or woman as an individual).

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The Magical Peppercorn

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:30:00 -0800

Black pepper comes from the berries of the pepper plant which are picked and then left to dry (that's why they look all shriveled up). Black pepper, green pepper, and white pepper actually come from the same plant - the different colors represent different stages in development.

Black pepper stimulates the taste buds in such a way that it alerts your stomach to increase hydrochloric acid secretion, therefore improving digestion - consuming pepper can prevent heartburn and indigestion.

Black pepper is known as a carminitive - it helps prevent gas. It also promotes sweating and urination.

Salt's buddy has also been shown to have significant antioxidant and antibacterial properties, which are important for fighting disease and maintaining overall good health.

The outer layer of the peppercorn stimulates the breakdown of fat cells, keeping you slim while giving you energy to burn.

Wow - black pepper is magical.

Fit's Tips: Check out this electric pepper grinder from Williams-Sonoma. It even has a light so you can see how much pepper is on your food. It's a great gift idea for the pepper lover in your life (cost is $60).