FitSugar

Get Your Butt in Gear: Heart Rate Monitoring Sports Bra

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 04:00:00 PST

Some people are against wearing a heart rate monitor while they workout because they feel it would be annoying to wear the strap around your lower chest. While I feel zero discomfort whatsoever wearing my strap, you may want to try going strap free.

The NuMetrex Heart Rate Monitoring Sports Bra ($49.50) works with the Polar WearLink Transmitter and compatible watches. It also connects with most fitness machines like spinning bikes and elliptical trainers with integrated monitoring devices.

The NuMetrex Heart Rate Monitor Sports Bra gives you the power of a heart rate monitor with the freedom of strap-free wear. Buy one on Numatrex.com.

Not sure what your target heart rate is? Check out the Fit Calculator to find out!

Top 10 Thrilling 3D Moments in The Avengers

Anna Monette Roberts — Fri, 04 May 2012 07:00:46 PDT

Avengers fans, rest assured, you have every reason to be excited for the film's release on Friday. The visual effects in The Avengers are absolutely stunning, and the 3D rendering draws you straight into the action.

With six superheroes to follow, the action scenes are diverse and gripping, with just the right amount of near-death drama to keep you on the edge of your seat. Explosions galore, flying contraptions, rad weaponry, and battles by air and by sea, there are plenty of jaw-dropping moments thanks to the mastery of Industrial Light & Magic's visual effects. Without giving away any pertinent plot details, here are 10 scenes that 3D and effects fans can look forward to.

The massive security center that secures the tesseract cube implodes during a car chase. As tons of concrete rubble is sucked into the earth, its force nearly drags the cars down too.
The whopping 1,500-foot fleet carrier S.H.I.E.L.D. base transforms into a flying space ship. Just when you think it can't get any cooler, its reflective panels engage, making it disappear.
Thor and Iron Man (arguably the best-looking men on the team) duke it out in the woods, destroying a lot of trees in the meantime. I don't know what's more awesome: seeing Thor's thunderous strength match up against Iron Man's tech-savvy smarts, or the hilarious banter between the two.
It's the moment everyone is anticipating: when will Hulk emerge from Dr. Banner? When Dr. Banner's anger hits a climax, it only takes a few heavy, unnerving breaths before the Hulk roars his way into his monstrous size.
Trapped in a glass capsule, Thor clatters around violently as he plunges 30,000 feet into the Earth. The impact decimates the wilderness around him, yet Thor's quick recovery is glorious.

Click here to read about five more awesome scenes.

Nike Free Running Karaoke Challenge

Sponsor — Tue, 01 May 2012 03:00:00 PDT

Prove your strength by singing and running your way to victory. The person with the fastest 2 mile run by 5/10/2012 wins. Think you’ve got what it takes? Strap on your Frees and sing while you run your way through Nike’s Free Run Karaoke Challenge. Join the Challenge at http://gonike.me/karaoke and log your miles from now through May 10th using Nike+. Nike even created a mix to get you up and running. Download it here: http://gonike.me/karaokemix.

Don’t forget, the runner with the fastest 2 mile run using Nike + wins. Run Stronger. #MakeItCount

iWant: Vegan Matt & Nat Laptop Bag

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:06:51 PDT

What is better than a stylish bag that fits your 13-inch laptop? One that is also animal- and eco-friendly. Matt & Nat's lineup of tech bags are cruelty-free with linings that are made of 100 percent recycled bottles, so you know you're doing good by mother earth while still looking fierce in the concrete jungle. The Ritual bag ($225) is especially handy for tech geeks since it stores your slim 13-inch laptops inside its cushioned walls and comes with an easy-access smartphone pocket in the back, with two pockets inside for other tech necessities. The dual-zipper detail looks ultrachic, and bonus - you can remove the straps (and your machine) to totally rock this bag as an oversize clutch, too. At this price, the Ritual is an investment, but one you can feel good about.

Keep Your iPhone Lenses in Check With the Lens Wallet

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:33:22 PST

If the iPhone 4 is the most popular camera in the world (and it is), then why treat your mobile lenses any different than your DSLRs? Keep your magnetic fish-eye, macro, and telephoto lenses and iPhone tripods safe and scratch-free with this chic iPhone Lens Wallet ($15).

There's a place for everything, and everything stays put in its place, thanks to a magnetic strip and pockets plus an animal-friendly leather strap to keep things nice and secure inside the canvas and felt wallet. Even better - if you don't have any of these amazing iPhone lenses yet, you can get four (fish-eye, macro, and 2X and 8X telescopic lenses) plus the wallet for just $80. That's a deal if I ever saw one.

Ready to snap some pics? Check out a few of our iPhoneography tips and tricks.

9 Popular Tax Breaks You Can No Longer Count on in 2012

Kiplinger — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:15:00 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

You’ll face a higher tax bill next spring if Congress doesn’t act to revive a series of tax breaks that expired Dec. 31, 2011. Among the breaks that Congress didn’t extend in all the Sturm und Drang over the payroll tax holiday are:

Alternative minimum tax patch

The AMT is a parallel tax system created more than 40 years ago to prevent excessive use of tax breaks by the very wealthy, ensuring they pay at least some tax. Taxpayers whose income exceeds the AMT exemption – in 2011, $48,450 for individuals and $74,450 for married couples filing jointly - must calculate both regular tax and AMT liability and pay the larger of the two amounts. But exemption levels have, at least tentatively, dropped to $33,750 for individuals and $45,000 for married couples filing jointly in 2012, which will expose 31 million taxpayers to the higher AMT this year, according to Tax Policy Center estimates.

Higher mass transportation benefit

This one's of particular interest to strap-hangers, van-riders, and other users of public transit. A 2009 federal stimulus provision raised the maximum an employee could receive for transit, tax-free, from $120 to $230. That matched the tax-free limit for parking. With the expiration of this break, the maximum for 2012 dropped to $125. Employees who’ve asked to have an amount higher than that withheld from their paycheck to cover their total commuting costs will see their net pay come down, as the difference is now taxed.

Read on for more.

11 Tips to Give Your Credit Score the Lift It Needs

Business Insider — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:15:00 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Business Insider story here on Savvy!

Trying to improve your credit can seem impossible when lenders are fearful and you're strapped for excess cash.

But don't give up hope.

"Focus on where you are right now and do what you can with what you have," said Justine Rivero, a credit advisor with Creditkarma.com.

You can make progress-even on old, negative debt - and start to rebuild your credit and therefore, your future.

Here's how to do it step-by-step:

Consider debt counseling.

You'll have to close all your accounts, which will negatively impact your score in the short run, but by the time you've reached this point, you should just be focused on paying off your debts, said Gerri Detweiler, an expert with Credit.com.

Closing your accounts won't lower your score as badly as you might think.

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling maintains a list of member organizations, many of which are nonprofit and provide free or low-cost assistance.

Read on for more tips.

A Reader Buys Her First Bike and Preps For a Bike Race

Fit Community — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:30:49 PDT

Being a beginner cyclist didn't stop FitSugar reader bjeanne18 from participating in a 15k bike race! She shares what it was like to shop for a bike and prep for her big race day in our FitSugar Community.

The 15K bike race was part of the Corporate Challenge. I signed up for the bike race and a 5K run and they are the first races I've ever competed in as long as you aren't counting elementary school where I was downright legit at the water balloon relay. Word.

I probably got into biking around January when the BF and I decided to look into getting bikes. We went to our local Richardson Bike Mart and told the salesman we were total newbs and looking for beginner bikes. He nods his head as if he understands us and says, "Ah yes, so the sub-$1000 range." Sub-$1,000?! Um, wow. I really was under the impression a $300 bike was a lot of money. I mean, I still have to be able to afford shoes.

So I get completely schooled/versed on bikes and read a lot of stuff online but I still can't part with the money for a nice road bike - I ended up going with a hybrid Men's DiamondBack but I absolutely love it. It cost me a little less than $300 from Sports Authority and came with a free tune-up in the first year. I like that my seat is more cushion-y than actual road bikes and that my handles bend back slightly so I can sit up straight when I'm riding. It's a lot more comfortable.

Read on to learn more about bjeanne18's bike race prep.

Moschino Cheap & Chic Spring 2012

Chi Diem Chau — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 20:03:49 PDT

Rossella Jardini always brings out the fun in Fashion Week with her Moschino Cheap & Chic line, and her latest Spring collection didn't disappoint. The lucky ones who got to attend the show were treated with fresh fruits and vegetables free for the taking on farmers market-style tables, which, of course, set the theme for the collection. Apple, grape, carrot, onion, and pepper prints all made its way on the runway via maxi dresses, car coats, and tiered skirts. For the strawberry lover, Jardini created a pink dress adorned with black, seed-like beads and a green bow. So cute. Since no farmers market is complete without flowers, Jardini completed the theme with an array of floral print shifts and notable pouf-skirt minidresses decorated with pretty watercolor prints. If this doesn't make you want to gobble up your fruits and veggies, we don't know what will.

Trends: Pouf-skirt minidresses, fruit prints, shift dresses, tiered skirts.
Colors: Yellow, green, white green, black, seafoam green.
Key Look: The strawberry dress and pouf-skirt minidresses were adorable.
Accessories: Metallic platform sandals, quilted clutches, floppy woven hats, double-strap flats.
Who Would Wear It: Girls who like wear fun standout pieces like Katy Perry and Dita von Teese.

In-Room Fitness Amenities Offered at 5 Popular US Hotel Chains

Heather Dale — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:37:06 PDT

Hotel gyms are becoming so state-of-the-art nowadays that you really just need to show up in your shorts and running shoes and you will have access to all the amenities your workout routine could ever require. Hotel chains are even stepping it up a notch by offering in-room workout gear for guests, as an increasing amount of women are keen on exercising in the comfort of their own room - why compromise privacy and convenience?

Here's a rundown of the big hotel names that are bringing the workout to you, in the comfort and safety of your own hotel room.

Westin Hotels and Resorts: Various Westin locations across the country offer a program called RunWestin complete with a running concierge who leads guests on runs and even acts as a tour guide while pounding the pavement. This running group is available for all guests of varying running levels, and if you'd rather run solo, you can grab or download a provided trail map. Forget your shoes? No problem. Your Westin hotel just may be one of the properties that has teamed up with New Balance so you can borrow shoes, shorts, shirts, sports bras, and socks during your stay!

The Westin also offers the option of booking a guest room that comes with a treadmill, a stationary bike, dumbbells, fitness DVDs, resistance bands, and stability balls. So you never have to worry about leaving your room to work out!

Here are more hotels that offer in-room exercise gear.