FitSugar

You Asked: Any Ideas for Music and Running?

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:30:00 -0800

You're asking and I'm answering...
Dear Fit,
I am interested in possibly getting an iPod or something similar to use when I work out. I never jumped on the whole iPod train in the first place because the idea of having to pick out songs doesn't appeal to me, since I don't really know what to pick. That's why I like Sirius satellite radio. It exposes me to new music and I don't have to do anything but turn it on. I'd definitely get an iPod to work out with IF there was some sort easy way to download suggested playlists for working out.
-In Need of Tunes Tara

To see what I have to say on the matter, just read more

This is an awesome question since so many people love working out to music. With all the new technology out there, it's hard to know what will best suit your needs. You have two options:

Get an iPod nano - This tiny device can hold either 1,000 songs ($149) or 2,000 songs ($199). It's better to run with a nano rather than a regular iPod, since it uses flash memory and has no moving parts (regular iPods contain a mini hard drive that spins and jolting it around could cause damage). If you get a nano, you can copy all your own favorite music into the iTunes library on your computer, make playlists, and then put them on your nano. OR you can download Sport iMixes from iTunes (you have to buy them for around $15 a playlist).

Another cool thing about owning an iPod nano is that you can buy the Nike + iPod Sports Kit ($29). It comes with a receiver that attaches to your nano and a sensor you wear on your shoe. You can buy Nike + specific sneakers that hold the sensor or you can wear your fave sneakers and attach the sensor with this holder. Then when you run, it keeps track of the time, distance, speed and calories burned. You can even upload your runs to NikePlus.com and track your progress. I use it every time I run and it totally motivates me.
If you don't want to deal with your computer and downloading playlists, and you love Sirius radio, you can purchase portable Sirius radios to run with. The Stiletto 10 ($149.99) allows you to listen to live radio and it can store up to 10 hours of recorded programming. The Stiletto 100 ($199.99) offers a little bit more for your money. You can listen to live radio and store up to 100 hours of pre-recorded programs. You can also go online and purchase music that you can store on it. Sirius portable radios are great if you like your tunes to be a surprise. Just so you know though, after you buy the radio, you still need to pay around $13 a month for the service.

Those are two great options to help incorporate music into your workouts. Just make sure you choose something that will be easy to use and don't be afraid to ask for help. This technology stuff can be hard to figure out at first, but once you learn how, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Fit's Tips: If you're looking for other ideas for music playlists, every week FitSugar posts a playlist and you check them all out here.

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Surgery to Get Your Feet Stiletto-Slim?

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:00:48 -0800

According to Christian Louboutin, Barbie has cankles - but she's not the only one who needs a makeover to fit her stilettos. Apparently, donning perfectly crafted sky-high heels means women need perfectly re-crafted feet to match. In fact, even while most cosmetic procedures are on the decline - thanks to the recession - podiatrists report that the demand for cosmetic foot surgery is on the rise.

The fashion industry is already credited with making women feel inadequate when it comes to their figures, but I was surprised to learn that even a pair of strappy, heeled sandals can wreak havoc on female body image, causing some women to develop body dysmorphic disorder about their feet. Michelle Tzonov, a massage therapist from San Diego, always enjoyed an active lifestyle - an avid runner, hiker, dancer, and snowshoer - who decided her fully functionally, but bunion-covered, feet were in need of a makeover. Multiple surgeries to beautify her feet with intensive cosmetic surgery and a bunionectomy have since left her feet mutilated and saddled her with excruciating pain, likely to be lasting results of her botched surgeries.

To see how three inch heels affect your body, read more.

On their own heels are bad enough - even at three-inches high, they can increase the weight on the forefront of the foot by 110 percent, displacing bones and tissue, according to a recent study by the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. But, surgery to get the foot stiletto-ready can cause severe complications that will eventually radiate throughout the whole body. While I'm certainly not an advocate of any kind of cosmetic surgery, just think of it this way - face work will never jeopardize your ability to walk, but feet support the whole body - mess with them and you're likely to jeopardize any kind of movement, especially the ability to strut your stuff in a pretty pair of Louboutins.

Shoe Review: Bern High Boot by Keen

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:00:45 -0700

The more active you are throughout your workday, the better. When folks wear comfy shoes to work, they walk more; let's face it, speed-walking for 30 minutes at lunch in stilettos is not a good time. That's why I'm on the hunt for stylish, yet comfortable shoes that promote getting up and moving around. With its low heel made of resilient rubber, I'm liking the Bern High Boot by Keen ($150). To see how these boots feel on the feet and if Fab approves of them, read more.

Since the familiar Mark Twain quote "The coldest Winter I ever spent was a Summer in San Francisco" is completely accurate, I had more than a few days this Summer to test out these boots. Not only are they comfortable and cozy, but Fab approved of them with only one criticism. She liked the buckles, a trend for Fall, and the whip stitching details. But she didn't like the extra rubber bump at the toe, which is unfortunately Keen's trademark. Made of leather and lined with faux shearling, these boots accommodate muscular calves, which can make finding tall boots difficult. The dark rubber sole cushions the feet nicely without leaving black marks everywhere. I walked all about when I wore the boots with no aches, pains, or blisters. If the shoes featured at Fashion Week look like they would traumatize your tootsies, check out these boots. You can buy them directly from Keen. They are available in black, light brown, and a dark red. Check out the details on the boots below.

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Class Act: High-Heel Workout?

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:00:00 -0800

Looks like there is a new fitness class on the scene. The focus is to get you in shape, but not in the traditional meaning. Rather than focusing on burning calories, the goal of the high-heel workout it to get you in shape to walk comfortably in heels. The first part of the class is done wearing your fave heels while performing simple dance moves and a few other exercises. After changing into sneakers, the second half of the class includes classic leg toning moves like squats and lunges along with core-strengthening moves to aid posture. Those three-inch stilettos can really throw off your balance. Here is a video snippet of the class.

I am the kind of gal that reserves high heels for special occasions, since they do funky things to my feet like create corns and cause some serious neck and back pain. I think this class is a little silly, but I fear I may be in the minority here, as many of you wear heels three times a week. What do you think about a high-heel workout? Is it silly or practical? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0800

Swing your weights around and have fun with kettle bells - Fit Bottomed Girls
How chocolate croissant eating pastry chefs stay thin - Vitamin G
Calf stretches for stiletto wearing ladies - Fresh Fitness Tips
Quit cigarettes now! Today is the Great American Smokeout - Daily Spark
Avoid turkey induced coma with these three tips - That's Fit
Is there a connection between your weight and your paycheck? - Elastic Waist
Tone your belly without crunches; this is a must-do video - ExerciseTV

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High Heels Can Be a Pain in the Neck

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0700

My pal Fab has been seriously weighing the pros and cons of shoes replacing handbags as the ultimate fashion accessory. Makes sense to me because so many of the heels out this season are intricate and high. I mean really high.

High heels can create the illusion of longer legs, but they can also create all kinds of pains in lower legs. But it seems they have negative health consequences from the tip of the toe to the top of the head, or rather that neck. It works like this:

The spine is balanced at either end by the pelvis and the skull. If one end is out of alignment, the other will compensate (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction - sorry to get so Newtonian when talking about stilettos, I just couldn't resist). To see the chain of events, just read more.

It works like this:

High heels put the pelvis in a tipped forward position.
The head position compensates for this misalignment, most often by moving to a forward head position with the chin jutting forward.
A forward head puts a lot of strain on the muscles that both support the vertebrae in the neck and connect the spine to the skull.
When these muscles are chronically tight they can cause serious neck pain, as well as headaches.

If you love your heels but have some unexplained neck pain, I wholeheartedly suggest switching up your heel height. Alternate high heels with flats and even some more supportive shoes. Hopefully, this can help ease your fashionable pain in the neck.

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Fit Tip: Keep Sneakers at Work

FitSugar — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:30:00 -0800

If you are desk bound all day, taking a break from work is absolutely essential. Even if you can only get up and walk around for ten minutes, it's better than nothing. You'll be more likely to take a walking break if you keep a pair of sneakers with you at work. This bypasses the excuse that you can't speed walk in stilettos. Just slip on your sneaks, get out of the office, and give your brain and body a break.

Fit's Tip: Just because these aren't the sneakers you normally exercise in, doesn't mean you should keep an old beat-up pair at the office. Old sneaks can cause foot and back pain, so make sure your work pair is supportive and comfortable. If you're not sure, then give them the twist test.

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Healthy Dose Link Time!!!

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 11:45:00 -0800

What is up with Esquire magazine clothing women in white turtlenecks paired with white stilettos and nothing else? - The Weighting Game

The Pats might have lost, but you can still get "Wicked Strong" with 40 minutes of free fitness music - fitMusic

Having an appointment with a trainer gets Margarita to the gym - Body by Glamour

Get your quads mountain-ready with awkward chair pose. It's more graceful than it sounds - About: Yoga

New to running? Check out these 100 tips for newbies - Complete Running Network

Crank up your metabolism with these 11 tips - That's Fit

Congested? You might want to try humming to clear out your sinuses - Health Bolt

Check out these ideas for how to make exercise time happy time - Vital Juice Daily

Finding balance using food indulgence as personal reward - Elastic Waist

Read about the uplifting moments of fashion week - Back in Skinny Jeans

The truth about losing inner thigh fat - iFit&Healthy

The truth about double dipping - Mark's Daily Apple

Even superstars like Madonna need extra support from time to time - The Skinny Website

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Got Bunions?

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 02:00:00 -0700

Bunions! If you have them you know where they are. That bump on the joint growing just south of your big toe. While you might want to blame your shoes for your bunion, it would be more accurate to blame your parents (they are such excellent scape goats aren't they). Bunions are most often caused by "faulty foot" structure that is an inheritable trait. Certain foot types increase the risk of bunion growth, although ill-fitting shoes can and do worsen the pain, but they are actually caused by a change in your bone's structure. This causes your big toe to grow at an angle and bump into your second toe, instead of pointing straight. The bones in your foot go all out of alignment, which causes pain and that bump to form on the inside of your foot just below your big toe.

There are certain foot types, such as flat feet, that are more susceptible to developing bunions. Some pregnant women tend to develop bunions too, because hormones can loosen the ligaments in their feet, causing them to flatten.

Shoes do contribute to the pain of a bunion, by rubbing and pressing on the bone growth. So those pointy brown stilettos really are just adding to pain. High heels are terrible for bunions, because they push weight into your toes, cramming them even more. Standing on your feet for long periods of time can also aggravate symptoms.

Fit's Tips: If you are prone to bunions, try to wear shoes that have big toe boxes such as shoes made by Keen or Earth Shoes.

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Tips for Wearing High Heels

FitSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 03:30:00 -0700

In a perfect world women wouldn't be subject to wearing high heels. The world is not perfect and I, for one, love putting on a sexy pair of heels when I can. The problem is that I always have a lingering guilt in my mind about the strain I may be causing to my body.

In case you're like me, even if you're not, here are some tips from The American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society on smart heel wearing:

Wear a shorter heel. A 2-inch heel causes less problems than a 4-inch heel. A shorter heel will give an elongated appearance if it is a thin stiletto type rather than a thick or chunky heel.
Try to save the use of your high-heeled shoes for functions where you will not be on your feet for extended periods of time; treat them as a limited-privilege accessory.
Take your designer shoes to a pedorthist to have them custom fit to your feet. They may be able to stretch the toe box to better accommodate your feet.
Try wearing a larger size than usual and insert heel cups into the backs for a better or more comfortable fit.
Wear open toe shoes instead of a similarly-styled shoe that causes discomfort in your toes. Partially open toe shoes have become more acceptable in many work environments, allowing you to further customize your shoes to your feet.
Remember that however appealing those high-heel, high-fashion shoes are, your feet need to carry you around for a lifetime. Treat them kindly!

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