Get on the Ball: Single Leg Squats


Updated 12/12/11 6:07 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 6 comments

Get on the Ball: Single Leg Squats

Squats are so much fun. OK, maybe you don't love squats but you must admit they get the job done. If you have a stronger leg, or a dominant leg, chances are high you are not working your legs evenly and your weak leg is getting short changed. The answer is, of course, single leg squats. Doing them with an exercise ball is a great way to tone your booty, challenge your core as well as your sense Read more

ExerciseTV: Single Leg Squats With a Chair


Updated 07/15/09 10:12 PM · Posted by FitSugar · 9 comments

ExerciseTV: Single Leg Squats With a Chair

Single leg squats are one of my December must haves. They are a great way to get your legs mountain ready. Even if you don't like snow sports, single leg squats are a challenging exercise to add into your strength training routine. This simple exercise strengthens your quads and glutes (love to work that backside!) and helps you hone your sense of balance. When I found this great single leg Read more

4 Reasons to Add an Exercise Ball to Your Home Gym


Updated 05/22/12 2:00 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

Ways to Use an Exercise Ball

The exercise ball may occupy a lot of room in your home gym, but it's one versatile piece of equipment. Find out how to get the most out of your exercise ball below. A healthier seat: Ditch your normal seat on the couch and sit on an exercise ball instead. Using a ball to sit helps correct your posture, tones your abs, and encourages you to stretch, all of which sounds a lot better than the Read more

One-Legged Moves Help You Bust Through a Fitness Plateau


Updated 03/02/12 12:35 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

Work Your Core With One-Legged Exercises

Reaching a fitness plateau means you're getting stronger (congrats on all the hard work), but it also means it is time to kick it up a notch. You need to add some new challenges to your workouts. My Equinox trainer Lauren has taught me one simple tweak will make every exercise harder: go one legged. Taking one leg off the floor forces your entire body to work harder to keep you on balance. Here Read more

Last Chance! An End-of-Season Workout to Up Your Ski Game


Updated 03/05/12 8:43 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

Plank Lunge and Box Jump Circuit Workout For Skiers

Even with this mild Winter, we've still seen our fair share of snow in the mountains. And while Spring is just around the corner, late-season storms around the country have given us the gift of fresh powder. If you're planning a snowy mountain weekend anytime soon, here's a circuit workout that works your core, lower body, and balance — courtesy of Erick Northrup, a district fitness manager at Read more

Strength Training No-Nos: What Not to Do When in Squats


Updated 12/13/11 12:05 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

Mistakes When Squatting

No matter your fitness passion, from snowboarding to CrossFit, you likely do squats in your sweat sessions — they're a fitness staple. Sometimes, the more simple the move, the more careless we become when doing it, and before you know it you have sloppy squats. Here are four common mistakes that plague the standard squat. Next time you head to the gym, take a little time to get back to basics Read more

10 Sneaky Toning Moves You Can Do at Work


Updated 06/21/11 6:50 AM · Posted by · 5 comments

Toning Exercises You Can Do at Your Desk

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar! Your office nemesis isn't that know-it-all in the cubicle over, it's lurking right beneath you: your chair! The more you're sitting, the less calories you're burning... not the ideal bikini body plan. Picture this: when sitting, your activity in your muscles drops and the calorie-burning rate decreases to just about one Read more

Work Out With Lady Gaga


Updated 05/25/11 5:05 AM · Posted by · 0 comments

Lady Gaga's Born This Way Workout Playlist

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar! Lady Gaga has finally dropped her latest masterpiece, and Born This Way was born to inspire our workouts. The '80s-inspired opus is full of gym-ready grooves, from Eurodisco to Latin rhythms. Let's get moving! Gaga training sessions with Harley Pasternak consist of a 25-minute routine combining strength and cardio. The Read more

Weekend Workout: Get on the Ball


Updated 05/16/11 7:14 AM · Posted by FitSugar · 1 comment

Three Exercises With a Fitness Ball

It's true that using a fitness ball can make any exercises more challenging. But the more challenging the exercise the stronger you will become, making your workout more efficient. Working on an unstable surface, like a ball that can roll, means you must stabilize your core, so it doesn't take many reps before you begin feeling the work. Grab an exercise ball and a set of dumbbells (five to 10 Read more

How to Push Past a Fitness Plateau: Get Unstable


Updated 09/19/11 3:17 PM · Posted by · 0 comments

Balancing Strength-Training Exercises on BOSU or Balance Pad

Once you've mastered the basic moves of strength training — like squats, lunges, and planks — gym time can become a little dull. Workouts creep by slowly due to boredom, and if you don't push yourself to the next level, you may find your fitness level stalling as you coast onto a plateau. When the going gets boring, it's time to get unstable. Performing seemingly simple exercises on an Read more