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And the Oscar Best Picture Award Goes to . . . Which Sports Movies

FitSugar — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 07:53:17 PST

The Oscars are upon us, and there are 10 films nominated for best picture! One of them is a boxing movie, a genre Hollywood seems partial to. But two of our fave workouts, rock climbing and dance, have received nods from the Academy too. Pay tribute to some sweaty, sporty flicks and take this quiz to see if you know which movies walked home with the Oscar, were nominated, or given the cold shoulder by the Hollywood elite.

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My 5 Favorite Bicycle Movies

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 05:50:43 PDT

I'm a sucker for sports movies. They are usually inspiring, have an underdog, or feature really cool action shots. Now that it's sunny out, I've been riding my bike almost every day, which has reminded me that there are some really cool bicycle movies out there. Here are my favorite bike-centric movies, any of which would be perfect to watch after a long day of cycling.

Photos courtesy of IMDb

Ten Sports Movies to Get You Motivated!

FitSugar — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 03:30:00 PDT

I had so much fun when I asked you guys about your favorite motivational sports movies. Better yet, I got a lot of great ideas for new films to watch, as well as some forgotten favorites. If you're looking for a little motivation, look no further than these 10 sports-centric movies.

Speak Up: What Sports Movie Motivates You Most?

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:00:00 PDT

While I was getting all choked up about A League of Their Own, I started thinking about how motivating a great sports movie can be. Whether it's a weepy figure-skating story (Ice Castles, anyone?) or a classic baseball flick like Field of Dreams, sports movies can be emotionally riveting and highly entertaining. So speak up and tell me: Which sports-centric film motivates you the most?

Get Motivated: Remembering Pitcher Dottie Collins

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:00:00 PDT

A League of Their Own always makes me teary-eyed. Not only is it a funny, bittersweet, and touching sports movie, but the true story behind it - of the short-lived All-American Girls Professional Baseball League - is incredibly inspirational. Even watching the fictional movie, I'm always moved by the idea of so many talented female athletes playing together and capturing the nation's imagination during a difficult time.

I got all teary again this weekend, when I read that AAGPBL pitcher Dottie Collins recently passed away at age 84. Not only was Collins an incredible ballplayer (in 1948, she even pitched until she was four months pregnant!) but she was also instrumental in creating the Baseball Hall of Fame's exhibit on the women's professional league. Without her, we may have never learned about this very cool period in history. To find out why, and to see one of my favorite moments from the movie,

According to the New York Times obituary of Collins:

The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., had been considering an exhibition on women and baseball during the mid-1980s, but, as Ted Spencer, its chief curator, recalled in an interview, it had little material to display until Collins approached him.

“When I connected with Dottie, the ball started to roll,” Spencer said. “If it wasn’t for her, I don’t know where it would have gone.”

In 1987, Collins helped form an association of former players in the All-American league. She drew on her contacts to provide the Hall of Fame with memorabilia from the league, spurring creation of its Women in Baseball exhibit in 1988. Now an enlarged, permanent collection, the exhibit inspired the 1992 Hollywood movie A League of Their Own, a reprise of women’s pro baseball during World War II.

Cool, right? I guess we have Collins to thank both for pioneering women's professional sports and for making sure the AAGPBL wasn't lost to history. One of my favorite scenes in A League of Their Own is actually when all the women reunite at the Hall of Fame exhibit dedicated to them. I just got all choked up again watching it, so view with caution, then share your thoughts below.

Photo Courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library and Source

Zac Efron Sports a Scruffy Mustache on His Way to Cannes

Lauren Turner — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:02:59 PDT

Zac Efron carried his luggage into LAX yesterday. He covered up in a beanie and sported a mustache for the trip to France, where he's set to premiere The Paperboy at the Cannes Film Festival. His costars Matthew McConaughey and Nicole Kidman have already arrived in the South of France, joining the many celebrities at Cannes. Zac's on the go again after traveling overseas to promote his other project The Lucky One for much of April. He popped up in London and Berlin for press before the movie's solid opening at the US box office last month.

Cameron Diaz Leads Her What to Expect Costars Overseas

Lindsay Miller — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:08:29 PDT

Cameron Diaz and several of her What to Expect When You're Expecting costars hit the red carpet in London today to bring the romantic comedy to England. Cameron sported a sexy, strapless Stella McCartney jumpsuit for the British unveiling of the film. She's been busy promoting the adaptation of the best-selling book in the States for several weeks already. Cameron stopped by Chelsea Lately to dish on her own feelings about family and motherhood, and also teamed up with her costar Jennifer Lopez to pay a visit to The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Jennifer had to skip the overseas trip this week and stay put in LA for the finale episodes of American Idol, which air tonight and tomorrow. While Jennifer missed out on today's festivities, Anna Kendrick, in Christian Dior, and Chace Crawford, who play a couple in the movie, were on hand. So were Matthew Morrison, Cameron's love interest in the movie, and Rodrigo Santoro, who plays J Lo's husband.

Shia and Tom Hardy Bring a Double Dose of Hotness to Cannes For Lawless

Molly Goodson — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:56:02 PDT

Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy play brothers on the big screen in Lawless, which they debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, today. The two made a handsome pair at their morning photocall, where they joined their leading ladies Jessica Chastain and Mia Wasikowska. Shia was sporting a well-manicured scruff while Tom has clearly been growing out his facial hair. Jessica has been the belle of the ball at the festival so far, hitting up many red carpets and also promoting Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted yesterday. The film, which was formerly called The Wettest County in the World, has its big red-carpet premiere later on Saturday. The movie was met by positive reviews from the press who checked out the first screening. We had a chance to see Lawless this morning and will be chatting with the cast tomorrow.

We're on the ground here at the festival, so don't miss all of the Cannes celebrity pictures so far and follow PopSugar on Twitter for all of our updates.

6 Fun and Frugal Activities to Do With Mom on Mother's Day

Emily Co — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:54:00 PDT

Mother's Day is coming up this Sunday and if you're thinking of spending the day with her but want to do something more intimate and personal, here are a few fun and frugal ideas:

Movie Marathon. Kick back and relax with Mom by indulging in a movie marathon. Pick movies with a mother-daughter theme or her favorite classics. Make some homemade popcorn or mix a few margaritas for the both of you.
Hit the Trails. There's nothing like a walk to clear the mind and enjoy a breath of fresh air. Make plans to take a walk in a park or go to hiking trails nearby. Your mom will definitely appreciate the natural surroundings and the fresh air.
Sporting Activity. Is Mom fond of a game of tennis or a round of golf? If your mom favors a particular sport, try to set it up so both of you can participate in it this weekend.
Re-Create a Favorite Restaurant Meal. Eating in restaurants can be pricey and if you need to give your wallet a break, re-create your mom's favorite restaurant meal instead of taking her to it. She'll appreciate the effort and creativity.
Game Night. Get your whole family together and organize game night on Saturday or Sunday. Play games like Mafia or whatever board game you own at home. Poker is another option as well if your mom enjoys playing it.
Go to the Museum. If Mom enjoys art, science, or history, you can take her to one of the museums in town on Sunday. It's a nice way to spend the day with her and you can get to know each others taste and thoughts on a deeper level as you analyze each exhibit.

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Not So Fast: 4 Ways Post-Workout Snacks Lead to Weight Gain

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:48:51 PDT

After finishing an intense workout, refueling is a must to restore water, electrolytes, and energy. But if you're not careful the snack you choose could end up undoing the good you've done, leading to extra pounds on the scale. Before grabbing just any old snack after working out, learn how the wrong choice can lead to weight gain.

Chowing on a minimeal: A post-workout snack is just that - a snack. And unless it's mealtime, what you eat after an average workout should be around 150 calories. Since healthy foods like trail mix can be high in calories, measure out a serving instead of mindlessly chomping straight out of the bag. If you're looking for some ideas, here are 10 post-workout snacks under 150 cals.
Chugging a sports drink: Liquid calories are still calories, and if you gulp a 120-calorie bottle of Gatorade along with a snack, calories really start to add up. For workouts under an hour (or low-impact activities), good old zero-calorie H2O is the perfect way to rehydrate.
Choose wisely: While you could really go for an enormous brownie after your run, it's not the best way to refuel after a workout. Your body needs carbs and protein, and if you choose a sugary or high-fat treat, you'll be hungry for something else soon after, which means consuming more calories. High-fat and sugary foods are also not the best choices when it comes to repairing the muscles to prevent soreness the next day.
Rewarding yourself with food: I'm all for rewarding fitness goals, but edible rewards are risky business. Hitting the ice cream parlor for a waffle cone or local café for a plate of cheese fries may sound like heaven on earth, but constantly using high-calorie foods as a way to pat your fit self on the back means tons of extra calories consumed. Find other healthy ways to reward your efforts, such as getting a pedicure, buying a new fitness top, or hitting the movies with your running buddy.

Source: Flickr User mary_thompson