FitSugar

Before and After: A Stair Banister Renovation

Casa Community — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:16:43 PDT

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member stephaniepoli from the Su Casa group:

The first thing I wanted to change after moving into our home in 2009 was the banister. It was this unappealing light wood color that didn't match. The wood itself had been neglected for some time. Most of the original varnish had worn off. Instead of spending tons of money replacing the whole thing, I went to work on it myself. After more hours than I can count, spent sanding, staining and painting I had a beautiful new banister for under $60 dollars!

Keep reading to see the stunning results!

Become an Outdoor Stair Climber

Heather Dale — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:24:50 PDT

Sure I can take the stairs when the elevator is broken, but when it comes to stair-climbing to burn extra calories, I'm a bit of a wimp. You see, stairs sort of scare me. Once you start going up a big flight, you know you have to keep going, and the intensity can be overwhelming. Stair climbing is intense because you're carrying your body weight against gravity. And if you take the stairs two at a time - which is basically like combining the StairMaster and lunges - you'll really feel the burn in your hamstrings, glutes, quads, and booty. And those calories? A 130-pound person can burn around 400 calories by running up stairs for just 30 minutes.

Do you ever explore public steps in your city or neighborhood? Here in San Francisco, there are so many amazing outdoor steps to climb that I know I need to just lace up, stop whining, and start putting them to the cardio test. Not only is climbing stairs good for you, but going down stairs is beneficial as well because it reduces blood-sugar levels more than walking uphill. The only downside of going down is that it can be hard on your knees because your leg muscles are in an eccentric or lengthened position, which can strain the knee joint.

Here's an easy way to start outdoor stair climbing and a short inspirational video.

Piano Staircase: Cool or Not?

Michele Foley — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:10:14 PST

A friend recently passed along this video from The Fun Theory that documents the following experiment: will more people take the stairs over an escalator by making it fun to do? The group turns a set of stairs in a busy Stockholm metro station into a working piano - the idea being that making things fun can help change people's behavior for the better. Was it a success? Check out the video.

I thought that the concept was pretty cool, and it was fun to watch how a set of musical stairs made people excited during their commute. After seeing the video, some of my friends had quite a different opinion, notably: "It's a pretty sad state of affairs when we have to make taking the stairs 'fun.' Are people really that lazy, because I can think of about 100 other things where that money is more needed."

I love making fitness fun, but does my friend make a valid point?

A Stairway Hike Through the Hollywood Hills

Kristen Hawley — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 04:30:47 PST

All over California, from San Francisco to the hills of LA, you can find hidden staircases in hilly neighborhoods. Climbing stairs is an easy way to add some cardio to your walk, and it can even prolong your life!

While visiting a friend in Los Angeles last weekend, we made a point to go on a long, winding, and scenic walk through the Hollywood hills, hitting as many staircases as possible. They're located in Beachwood Canyon, just south of the famous Hollywood sign.

I promised my Beachwood Canyon-dwelling friend that I wouldn't disclose the stairways' exact locations, but they aren't too tough to find with a quick Google search. And if you're a California resident or visitor, be sure to check out stairways in an area you're visiting (there's even an iPhone app for San Francisco's hidden stairways!

Check out the details of my hike!

10 Ways to Spice Up Your Staircase

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 06:00:37 PDT

Aside from junkyard garages, basements, and attics, stairwells are probably the most overlooked areas of the home. It's understandable, seeing as our priorities tend to lie in the places where we spend our time, like living rooms and kitchens, rather than the ones we just pass through. But staircases also happen to be one of the easiest spaces to decorate! With a can of paint, a roll of wallpaper, or even some tiles, you can instantly transform the bland, neglected area into a statement-making one. Check out these 10 ways to spice up your staircase!

Cool Idea: Dress Up Your Stairs

CasaSugar — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 07:30:00 PDT

Are you over the whole decal craze? Yeah, I kind of am, too. But these playful staircases have me thinking about giving it another try. When a plain entryway could use a little dressing up, a simple and creative solution is to put a few sticky studs on a staircase. Counting your way upstairs or skipping over zebra print makes for a much more enjoyable trip than blank wooden slats. Don't you think?

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A Healthy Bite: Stephanie Pratt

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:30:36 PDT

"I love doing the stairs. Sit ups. I thinks that's the easiest thing to do every morning and every night."

-Hills star Stephanie Pratt on her favorite workout. Stephanie told Us Magazine that she also keeps an elliptical machine in her living room so she can work out whenever she's watching TV - even if it's just for 10 minutes at a time.

Stephanie's secret for bikini season? Sally Hansen's Sparkle Legs. "You spray it and mix it with lotion and your legs look perfect . . . it's amazing. It totally hides cellulite and everything!"

Minutes to a Healthier You: Make a Date With the Stairs

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:30:06 PDT

An easy strategy for staying fit and developing a healthy lifestyle is to always take the stairs. It's a great way to burn calories, build endurance, and strengthen the legs. But taking the stairs might not seem reasonable if you work on the 20th floor; or, on the flip side, maybe you don't encounter enough stairs in your daily routine. Yesterday, a friend cut our conversation short because, as she said, "I have a date with the stairs." She went on to say that on the days she misses her yoga class, she does laps between the three flights of stairs where she works for 10 minutes. I found her attitude completely inspiring. I usually take the stairs when faced with them but I've never thought to take a "stair break."

Leaving your desk to do some laps on the stairs is a great way to squeeze a small workout into your day. The next time you start zoning out, hit the stairs for about 10 minutes - you'll come back energized and will have burned about 60 calories! Taking the stairs also prolongs your life, reduces your risk for heart disease, and is easy on the wallet (significantly cheaper than a yoga class). You can also make it more challenging by being a two timer climber.

Harley Pasternak Is Always on the Run

FitSugar — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:30:15 PDT

I was lucky enough to talk to celeb trainer Harley Pasternak, who shared a tip that seems perfect for the weekend. Harley says that the singular, most important piece of fitness advice he can offer someone is, "get a great pair of running shoes." On top of that, Harley says that you should always be wearing them, always.

"Wearing a solid pair of running shoes helps put you in the mindset of being active," says Harley. "Every time you see me, everywhere in the world, I don’t care if I’m wearing dress pants or shorts I always wear my New Balance 993s. Because if I see a flight of stairs I want to be like, all right I’ll take the stairs no problem, because my feet are comfortable."

Listen ladies, I know that wearing your running shoes 24/7 is not always an option; I think most would agree that even the coolest pair of kicks are not the best way to set off your LBD. So while I might not be wearing them all the time, I do get what Harley is saying. At work I keep a pair of cross-trainers in my file cabinet so I can take a walk or head to the gym during my work day. And I know that many girls - including Kim Kardashian - wear their workout clothes out as a way to motivate themselves to exercise later in the day.

Even if you don't have a good pair of fitness shoes, think about investing in them. They're great to have on hand for talking a walk, going on a hike, or any other form of fitness that strikes your fancy!

Would You Want a Floating Staircase?

CasaSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:00:14 PDT

I've seen a few floating staircases in the past and they certainly look cool. But I think I'm too much of a wimp not to have a banister. And they're definitely not very safe for children or the elderly. Would you want one in your house?

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