FitSugar

Alpine Touring: Ski the Back Country

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 03:30:00 PST

Ski touring, is also referred to as ski mountaineering, ski randonnée, and alpine touring (or AT). It's a form of backcountry skiing (off-piste skiing) involving trekking from place to place in the wilderness, that has parallels with hiking, backpacking and Alpine climbing or mountaineering.

You have skis that are similar to regular downhill skis, but the heels can detach, kind of like telemark skiing. So you can actually hike around on your skis, climbing up a mountain, and then you can ski down.

The way it works is you attach skins to your skis, that help you ascend up the hill. They're straps that have little hairs on them, that create traction so you can climb up the slope on your skis and not slip down.

Once you get to the top, you take off the skins, click your heels back into the bindings, and then ski back down the mountain.

Alpine Touring is for the serious outdoors-woman, who wants to enjoy more freedom on her skis. You've got to be tough to AT, but you can go wherever you want.

Fit's Tips: When you're going into the back country, you never want to go alone. If you're new to alpine touring, contact your local outdoors group or club to find out about guided ski tours.

Leg-Strengthening Yoga Sequence For Skiers and Riders

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:47:25 PST

Whether you click into skis or a snowboard, a strong yet flexible lower body will allow you to cruise down the mountain with control, helping you stay balanced rather than wiping out. This eight-posture lower body sequence focuses on strengthening the core, quads, and glutes, while opening the hamstrings and hips.

Photos taken at Evolution Physical Therapy and Yoga Studio, Burlington, VT

Link Time: Showcase the Savory Side of Lemon

Susannah Chen — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:10:03 PST

Recipes that showcase the savory side of lemon - KitchenDaily
Peel a head of garlic in under 10 seconds! - Saveur
Host a New Year's in Paris brunch - MyRecipes
Bacon marmalade: it simply goes on everything - Food Republic
Best mountain-side eats for ski season - The Daily Meal
How to fix common cooking mistakes - Yahoo! Shine
Master the art of the egg white cocktail - Details

Class Review: Sport Club LA's Aspen Ascent Gets You Mountain-Ready

Leta Shy — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 03:20:20 PST

If you live for the mountains during the Winter, your gym time probably includes exercises to strengthen your lower-body muscles and challenge your balance. Aspen Ascent, a new class at Sports Club LA locations, offers such a workout for skiers and snowboarders alike.

Like many strength-training cardio classes, Aspen Ascent focuses on circuit training with supersets grouped by muscle area, to pump up your heart rate while challenging your muscles. But Aspen Ascent is specifically designed for those who want to enhance their snow sport skills.

The class is divided into three sections: speed and agility, strength and balance, and core and flexibility. A short warmup period at the beginning includes light cardio, such as jumping jacks (my instructor had us do a set of always-exhausting mountain climbers afterward as well). Each of the three sections last between 10 to about 20 minutes, depending on the length of the class, which varies by location. After the core and flexibility section, which focuses on abs and yoga- and Pilates-inspired moves, there are a few minutes of cooldown to stretch your muscles.

Lunges and squats play an important role in Aspen Ascent, as do unstable surfaces to improve balance and upper body work, so many exercises mix a pair of weights with gliding discs. In my class we did two "runs" of every exercise - a short set for 30 seconds with a short break, followed by a minute of the same exercise and a longer break.

See what I thought about Aspen Ascent after the break.

Hit the Slopes in Style: Adorable Ski Apparel For Kids

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:29:43 PST

The holiday ski season is in full swing, so it's time to gear up the kiddies for a day in the snow. Keep it basic with the pants and mittens, so they can be worn again next year or handed down to little siblings. Bold hats and jackets will help mama distinguish her kids on the mountain. If ski weekends are filling your Winter calendar, it may make sense to invest in some junior skis with your tot's favorite cartoon.

For Paul Frank fanatics: The Junior Julius AKO Wave Ski ($205) is geared toward novice to intermediate skiers and is designed to make skiing a light and fun feat.

For the cool kid on the slopes: Gordini's Little G2 Goggle ($15) have all of the safety features of the grown-up version, but sized down for lil ones.

For a basic staple: Brooks Brothers Ski Bib Pants ($148) have adjustable straps, so your kids can grow into them for several years. The black color is gender neutral – that way all younger siblings can receive this hand-me-down.

For the bold and silly: Gymboree Lion Sweater Hat ($18) is a bright and distinguishable hat, so you can find your kid amid the crowded slopes.

For the très chic daughter: London Fog Tweens Hooded Ski Jacket ($135) has a hot pink fleece lining, yet the white exterior will deflect sunlight, so she won't become too hot while skiing.

For a basic but stylish look: Greendog Kids Basic Ski Mittens ($11) are cute, but durable and machine-washable, so you can easily keep them clean.

Stay Fit (and Sane) All Holiday Season With Alison Sweeney

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:03:51 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

She has two kids, two jobs, one lofty fitness goal and a crazy holiday schedule ahead . . . how does Alison Sweeney do it? The host of The Biggest Loser and star of Days of Our Lives, who is currently training for the L.A. Marathon in March, has a few tricks to keep her life organized, manageable and healthy all at the same time. We recently spoke with Sweeney to snag some secrets and learn more about her relationship with Bob, Jillian, and this season's two new trainers, Dolvett Quince and Anna Kournikova.

How do you stay fit during the holidays?

It's really important to find a workout that you can do with no excuses (Get Sweeney's routine here!) And I keep track of my nutrition. With so many treats around, it's really easy to just pop brownies without thinking about it! You may not even be hungry. I also eat before going to parties so I'm less tempted when I get there and am satisfied with a smaller amount of the treats.

Do you and your family have any seasonal traditions?

We shop for gifts and pick out a tree together. When I was young, my parents always took me skiing in the Winter, which was really festive since I grew up in LA. It was so fun and exhausting - you're basically burning calories all day long! Now, when I'm skiing with my family, I take a picture at the top of the mountain and email it to my dad. I thank him daily for instilling this love of activity at an early age.

So you mentioned that you shop and travel - as a busy working mom of two, how do you stay connected and keep track of your to-buy lists and events this month?

There are so many distractions during the holidays, so I try to use technology to keep my family together. I use my Windows phone, which syncs with my computer, to keep track of my calendar and get photos texted to me. It's really family-oriented and you don't need a manual to understand it!

To learn about Sweeney's 2012 resolutions and get the scoop about the future of The Biggest Loser, keep reading.

More from FITNESS Magazine:

• Reality TV Workouts – Tested!

• You Can Do It! The Get Your Best Body Ever Plan

• Our Top 10 Thigh Exercises

This Winter, Hit the Swiss Slopes at New Hotel Nira Alpina

Elka Karl — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:20:24 PDT

For the alpine sports enthusiasts with a keen design eye, Switzerland's new hotel Nira Alpina, a glass-and-timber-built mountain sanctuary, is the place to be this Winter.

From award-winning hotelier MPS Puri, Nira Alpina is the only hotel in Switzerland's Engadin Valley to offer guests a true ski in, ski out experience. Just five kilometers away from the Swiss resort town of St. Moritz in the village of Silvaplana, Nira Alpina's location grants guests access to some of Switzerland's highest mountains, including Corvatsch, the highest mountain in the upper Engadin skiing region.

With 120 kilometers of ski runs, outdoor recreation and natural beauty abound, with gorgeous views over Lake Silvaplana, as well as up to the mountains. Skiers can access a private, glassed-in covered walkway that leads directly to the Corvatsch cable car, which guests can take to reach the mountain peaks and virgin powder snow.

Keep reading to find out more about the Nira Alpina's design and offerings.

Calories Burned With 15 Minutes of Exercise: Summer Edition

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:29:01 PDT

Summer weather inspires me to exercise outside, even though some days it's super hot and humid. I usually work out early in the morning when temps are the lowest, and if I'm done by 8:30 a.m., I usually beat the heat. Not only do I love not having to wear a lot of clothes, but there are also so many different ways to move your body, you'll never get bored.

With busy Summer schedules and the sometimes unbearable heat and humidity, 15 minutes may be all you can spare (or bear). It may feel like a short time, but some exercise is always better than none at all. Check out how many calories you'll burn in your mini-workout. All stats are based on a 130-pound woman.

Running at a pace of 6 mph (10-minute miles): 148 calories
Walking at a pace of 4 mph (15-minute miles): 59 calories
Biking at a moderate pace of 13 mph: 118 calories
Mountain biking: 126 calories
Stretching/light yoga: 59 calories
Swimming laps at a moderate pace: 118 calories
Snorkeling: 74 calories

Not seeing your favorite Summer activity? Keep reading to find out how many calories you burn in 15 minutes of hiking, tennis, or playing Frisbee.

It's a Slippery Slope For Megan Fox and Jon Hamm on the Set of Friends With Kids

Katie Henry — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:27:17 PST

Megan Fox and Jon Hamm hit the slopes at the Mt. Peter ski resort in Warwick, NY, outside of NYC, today as they worked on Friends With Kids. The costars joked around in their snowboarding and ski gear before heading down the mountain under the direction of Jon's girlfriend, Jennifer Westfeldt, who's also the movie's director. The trio was last in Brooklyn, where they were spotted shooting on Saturday night. Jon's focusing on his big-screen project following a busy award season that had him out with the cast of Mad Men and his buddies from The Town like Jeremy Renner and Ben Affleck. Megan also attended a show this year, wearing a sexy Armani Prive gown to the Golden Globes. Jon will be back on the red carpet in no time, though, as he'll be out and about promoting Sucker Punch before it hits theaters on March 25.

Sunday Confessional: I'm Worried About Skiing With My New Guy!

Tres Community — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 03:05:31 PST

This week's confession comes from our anonymous Confession Booth group in the TrèsSugar Community. Weigh in with your advice below.

I've mentioned to this guy I'm dating that I go skiing sometimes. Now he's invited me to the mountains for a weekend, and I'm scared to tell him that I've only actually been skiing a few times. He's really good and I'm a total amateur. Help!

There's lots of great stuff going on in our community - join it, check it out, share your posts or advice in the great groups, and maybe we'll feature it here on TrèsSugar!