FitSugar

Fit Tip: Stay Cool With an Icy Bandana

FitSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

After reading my post about soaking your hair before a workout, a friend of mine shared a similar stay-cool tip that I just have to pass along.

When hiking, playing tennis, or participating in other warm-weather activities, try soaking a bandana in ice water and wearing it as a headband. That way you can stay cool and show off some hippie-chic style. Or, if it's really hot, try rolling up a few ice cubes in your bandana and tying it around your neck, situating the ice at your back so the cool water trickles down. If you're near a cooler, you can even keep rewetting and reicing the bandana throughout the day.

One caveat: Although wetting your hair or tying on an ice-cold bandana can help you stay cool, it's no substitute for actually drinking water, so don't forget to hydrate!

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Fit Tip: Soak Your Hair Before a Workout

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:00:00 -0700

When I head out into the hot weather to work out, I discovered an easy trick for staying cool. It works so well that I do it before heading out for a run, bike ride, or hike. I simply stand over the sink and drench my hair with water. When it's completely soaked and dripping, I wrap it in a bun. As I run, the breeze on my wet head keeps me cool. It is quite a pleasant sensation. Try it the next time you head out in the heat.

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Gear Review: Radiance Jacket by Mountain Hardwear

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:33 -0700

If you are looking forward to Winter but not the cold that accompanies it, Mountain Hardwear has constructed a jacket for you. The Radiance Jacket ($230) is pre-wired for the Ardica Moshi Power System ($145).

When fully charged, the battery powered energy pack will keep you warm for a little over eight and a half hours when set on the low setting and three hours when set for high. The heater fits into an internal pocket in the back of the jacket that sits between your scapula with extra heating coils in the front just above the pockets. Simply pressing the black button on the top of the jacket turns on the heater. The contrast between the lightweight jacket and the stiff battery is quite noticeable though. Known for their lightweight yet warm jackets (I ski in an older version of the company's Flip Jacket), the power system makes the jacket heavy.

I sat in my cold house (why houses in Northern California aren't well insulated is beyond me) and cranked the jacket to the high setting and was quite toasty. I was sweating in minutes. I have no doubt it would keep me warm on the slopes or sitting at a snowy football game, I am not sure I want to pay $375 to stay warm. Think of all the hot chocolate you could buy, even overpriced ski lodge cocoa, with that kind of dough.

If you're an electronics junkie, the jacket will charge them. To learn how read more.

The left pocket of the jacket houses a USB cable, they come with a variety of adapters making it useful for charging your iPhone, iPod, camera, or BlackBerry. The Ardica System takes more than a few hours to fully charge, but it can fully charge your phone multiple times once it's charged.

I think the concept of a warming jacket that helps you stay wired (or at least charged) is cool, but I am not completely sold on the technology. While the jacket is cute and streamlined - it would fit well under a shell to keep for added wind and water protection - but if it is so cold that I need a heater to keep me warm riding up a mountain, I might just opt for a lodge day. What about you? What do you think of the Radiance Jacket?

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Stay Cool in the Pool

FitSugar — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0700

After watching a week of Olympic world record breaking swimming at the Olympics, doesn't jumping into a pool seem like the thing to do. Even if lap swimming seems unappealing, the intricacies of the synchronized swimmers might inspire you to get in the water and test out your aquatic dance moves.

Swimming is my favorite way to exercise and stay cool. If you are starting to see the pool as a workout resource, then check out these swim workouts. However, if you are just beginning to swim for exercise, then you should start with the six week Zero to a Mile swim program.

If swimming laps isn't for you, then you can see how many calories you can burn by treading water if you read more.

If you still crave pool time, you can work out in the water without freestyle, backstroke or butterfly by treading water. Doing so for 15 minutes burns 68 calories. This may not sound like a huge amount of calories burned, but if you are spending the day at the pool you could repeat your 15 minutes water treading four times and burn 272 calories - not bad. While treading, practice with the grace and poise of a synchro swimmer and your respect for that sport will surely soar. Here are some more water exercise alternatives, if you're bored with swimming laps.

How do you like to exercise in the pool? Or are you more of the lounge chair type? Tell me in the comments section below.

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Pearl Izumi Gets Technical

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:30:06 -0700

Pearl Izumi ruffled some feathers with its ad campaign pitting runner against joggers, but regardless they make amazing biking gear. Recently, the company released clothing made with four technical fabrics designed to reduce drag, regulate body temperature, and address the problems of moisture. They sent me a few items to check out, which meant a couple of bike rides and a spin class over the course of a few days - any excuse to hop on my bike.

The fabric used to construct P.R.O. Octane Shorts ($225) feels more luxurious than anything I have ever worn for a workout. These lightweight shorts feel great on as well. The technical fabric used in their construction is designed to keep a rider cool during a hot competition. In the hot spin I took wearing them, they did just that. Honestly, the price of these shorts indicates they are truly made for elite high mileage riders or serious competitors. I hope to wear them soon for a distance ride, but don't think I would ever drop that much dough on shorts.

To read about the other two more affordable items, just read more.

The W's Transfer Short Sleeve Baselayer ($50) worked well on a cold, yet sweaty ride. My core stayed warm and dry as I powered up hills and sped down the descents. It's made with Pearl Izumi trademarked Minerale fabric, a polyester fortified with carbon based minerals to improve wicking and keep the stink out of the shirt. After a three hour, sweaty ride the smelled only a little bit and the small amount of smell washed out easily. A short sleeve base layer for Autumn biking worked well for me. This shirt is seriously lightweight and tailored to fit the female form.

My favorite piece is the P.R.O. Barrier Lite Jacket ($95.00). A solid windbreaker can save you on a cold and blustery ride, and this windbreaker did just that. Should the sun come out and the wind dies down, this jacket packs down small to easily fit in a the back pocket of a biking jersey. I am impressed with how thin the material was yet how much wind protection it offered. This jacket might be pricey, but as long as it is not raining I think I can wear it all year long. I would wear it to run too.

All three items are available at the Pearl Izumi website. Look for them at your local bike shop too.

Too Hot to Exercise? Try These Tips

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:03:51 -0700

Many of you are psyched you don't have to deal with snow or bitter weather now that Summer is here, but now you have to deal with humidity and high temps. Here are some tips for exercising in the heat.

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Gabrielle Reece on Fitting Fitness Into a Busy Life

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:50:52 -0700

Gabrielle Reece is a fitness idol of mine, and I was lucky enough to speak to her about fitness and motherhood recently. I thought she was cool before, but now I wish she could be my new BFF.

Needless to say, Gabby is a busy lady, and many of you were curious about how she fits fitness into her daily routine. Simply put, she's aggressive about it. Comparing her commitment to working out to her obligations as a mother, she says that you wouldn't skip out on picking your kids up from school, so you shouldn't skip taking care of yourself. One way to ensure she doesn't blow off her workout is by running a circuit-training group of 10 women on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Since she's responsible for the class, she's there. Gabby saves the other two weekdays for cardio - biking or swimming. She explained her reasoning:

"It comes down to this . . . I am going to be a better wife, a better professional, a better mom, and definitely a nicer human being if I train. So I schedule it. And I think it's critical to schedule with other people because then you're accountable. You just can't blow it off."

To see how becoming a mom has changed her workouts, read more.
A mother of two young girls, Gabby knows that once you become a mom, you have a lot less time, and time constraints force you to be a lot more flexible. She explained that she has become more focused, too, when she has a scheduled workout.

"I have become a lot more serious about that time. If I have allotted an hour, I don't mess around with that time. I don't chitchat. This hour is golden and I am here to bust it. There have been days where I only have 20 . . . Instead of freaking out I say, 'Today is 20 minutes and 20 minutes is better than nothing.' With being a mom, you have a mix. I have become softer and harsher about it all."

As a working mother with two girls of my own, I fully relate. That 6 a.m. workout is the time I have to work out, so I make it work. Says Gabby: "When I am training, it's an opportunity to just be me, not do the mom thing. It's a chance to plug into my inner athlete."

Here's to a victorious inner athlete! Stay tuned for more on Gabby's food, abs, and working out with Laird, her surfer-pro husband.

Itchy Legs and Running

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:50:57 -0700

It's a beautiful September day. There's a cool breeze blowing, not a cloud in the sky, and it's inspired you to lace up your sneaks after taking a break from running all Summer. A few minutes into it, you start to experience an itchy sensation all over your legs, and it's so overwhelming that you have to stop running to scratch. What gives?

The reason our skin itches is because of what's happening inside our bodies. The millions of tiny capillaries and arteries in your muscles begin to expand rapidly as your heart rate increases, and blood is flowing quicker. If you're a fit person, your capillaries stay open to allow for maximum blood passage. If you're out of shape, your capillaries tend to collapse and don't allow as much blood to pass through. When your capillaries expand, they cause adjacent nerves to send messages to the brain, which reads the sensation as itching. I hate to say it, but this is the price some people pay for falling off the exercise wagon. To prevent itchy legs, keep up with your regular exercise routine.

Gear Review: Fila Tennis Collection

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:00:35 -0700

Tennis anyone? If you're a fan of volleying the ball across the court, you'll be happy to know Fila just came out with a new Fall collection of tennis gear - just in time to gear up for the US Open. The collection is called Heritage, with colors that are basic but bold, and the fit is sporty, yet feminine.

I wore the racerback tank ($50) and the skort ($45) to the court the other day for a test game. I love that the tank is high-cut and has a shelf bra sewn in, so my girls stay put as I race around the court. The tank is made with a lightweight fabric similar to swimsuit material. It feels silky and soft, and the mesh fabric on the back kept me cool and dry. The skort, made from the same material, is wonderful because the attached shorts aren't super tight. The whole outfit is really flattering and comfortable, and what's great is that it washes well too. If you're looking for a new tennis outfit and are willing to spend a little cash, it's worth checking out.

To see the rest of the collection, click on the pictures below.

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FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 05:50:11 -0700

It is OK to eat in between meals, as long as your follow the dos and don'ts of snacking.
Check out Jessica Biel's new workout.
Then print out my total body yoga flow series.
What do you think of the Skechers exercise shoe? Cool or not cool?
A very pregnant Heidi Klum opens up about losing baby weight.
Familiar with celebs' taut tummies? See if you can guess the celeb by her abs.
In this heat, how many glasses of water do you drink in a day?
Jennifer Love Hewitt has shed some pounds and gained some wisdom.
Some folks are saying that exercise doesn't help with weight loss.
If you think melon is the perfect Summer food, see how all sorts of melons compare.
Stay fit on the road with these eight vacation fitness vitals.

Source: Getty and Flickr User craige