FitSugar

ACTivism: Team In Training

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:15:00 PST

Do you want to run a marathon and don't want to train alone? Are you are interested in participating in a triathlon and want some outside motivation? Then Team In Training (TNT) might just be for you.

With TNT you raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society so you are training for a cause. Plus, you join a team that is training (hence the name) for endurance events just like you. Once you join the team in your area, you receive personalized fitness training by certified coaches for a four to five month period, access to training clinics, your own Web site for online fundraising, and lodging and airfare to your event. All that and you are going to make a lot of new friends as you train with your team.

Interested? Just enter your zip code on the entry page of the Team In Training to find out what events folks are training for in your area.

Want to Run a Marathon? Team in Training Can Help

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:30:00 PDT

Have you always wanted to run, cycle, or walk to help fight or raise awareness about a deadly disease? Not only is it a powerful feeling to cross the finish line, but it makes it even more worthwhile if you know your efforts are going to support a cause. Your accomplishments will give you the sense that you did something more important than just get in good shape.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training program will help you get there. They offer training from certified coaches for four to five months, training clinics, your own website for fundraising, lodging and airfare to the event, and they'll connect you with a patient so you know who all your hard work is going to benefit.

In exchange for their training and support, the money you raise will go towards finding cures to help beat blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

To get started, all you have to do is type in your zip code here. You can train with the largest endurance sports training program that's been saving lives for 20 years, and has raised over $700 million. It's a great way to help make a difference.

"ACT"ivism: Team In Training

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 10:30:00 PST

Did you know that every five minutes, someone in the United States learns that he or she has leukemia, Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma or myeloma and that every ten minutes, someone dies of a blood cancer?

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training is one of the world's largest endurance sports training programs. Basically thousands of runners, walkers, cyclists and triathletes have participated in the world's major marathons, half marathons, centuries and triathlons this year on behalf of the Society. What happens is in exchange for training and support, you help raise money towards cures for blood cancers like lymphoma, myeloma and leukemia -- the No. 1 disease killer of children.

By helping to raise funds for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma research and patient services, you'll get:

Personalized fitness training by certified coaches for a period of four to five months
Your own personal Web site for online fundraising
A supportive group of teammates
Lodging and airfare to more than 60 accredited events in the United States and abroad

What's a better reason to train for that 5k? To find a chapter near you, go here.

The Five Best Races For Women

espnW — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:09:19 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar!

By Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea

Sage Steele, SportsCenter anchor, is preparing to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World on Feb. 26 and hoping to fall in love with running in the process. Follow Sage’s journey on espnW.com

Women's races offer a decidedly different vibe than their coed cousins': more camaraderie, a sole sister atmosphere that welcomes all runners and walkers, and lots more running skirts. Here are five of the top women's races and series in the country. Sign up then train like Sage.

Disney Tinker Bell and Princess half marathons
Sage picked a winner. Let your inner child run free through the Magic Kingdom at these festival race weekends. Tinker Bell is in Disneyland, while Princess is in Disney World, but both allow thousands of runners to mix and mingle with Disney characters on courses that wind through each park. Racers put almost as much effort into costumes - Snow White, Belle, or Minnie, anyone? - as training. Bonus: your kids will be especially psyched to cheer you on.

Sage Steele gets some training advice from Disney runMom Lori Lovell

Nike Women's Marathon
Yeah, it's tough to snag an entry, but if you can, this race is so worth it. (Psst: Go through Team in Training.) This 26.2-mile race, and its half-marathon companion, traverses San Francisco with sweeping vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge and Pacific Ocean to take your mind off the killer hills in the first 10 miles of the race. Tuxedo-clad firefighters bestow each finisher with a Tiffany & Co. pendant.

Run fast by fueling up smart

Three more great races after the break.

4 Moves to Say Goodbye to Saddlebags

Self — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:54:13 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

If you're saddled with saddlebags, you probably think you got the short end of the family gene pool stick. But, lucky for you, those pesky fat deposits surrounding your hips, thighs, and butt are far easier to banish than, say, Great Aunt Hilda or your bossy big sister. "Saddlebags are largely determined by genetics, hormones, and age, but women can still affect the shape of their bodies through nutrition and exercise," says Rebekah Rotstein, a New York-based Pilates instructor who recently released the Pilates For Buff Bones DVD.

Not sure where to begin? Rotstein recommends utilizing large muscle groups rather than relying on spot training for fast results. "Pilates get results because it's a whole-body exercise program and works your muscles synergistically," she says. "Muscles aren't meant to function independently but as a team!"

Just remember to keep your expectations realistic. No workout in the world can turn you into Cameron Diaz overnight. "All women have padding at their hips, no matter how thin we are (even Diaz!)," says Rotstein. "It's what differentiates us from men and accentuates the curves you've got!"

To tone up those saddlebags fast, add these four moves to your regular workout routine. Check out the moves after the break.

David Beckham and Prince Harry Meet Up For a Night of London Clubbing

Allie Merriam — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:26:06 PST

David Beckham and his best friend Dave Gardner spent last night at what seems to be London's hottest spot, the Arts Club. Prince Harry was out as well to say hi to David, along with Princess Eugenie and the singer Katherine Jenkins. It was Harry and David's latest get-together. David visited with Harry when the latter went to LA for a weekend during his time in the US doing an Apache helicopter training course. Both good-looking British guys are looking forward to the Olympics, with David hoping to play for Great Britain's soccer team. Harry recently expressed an interest in doing a PR-friendly race against champion runner Usain Bolt while touring Latin and South America to promote his grandmother Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee.

The evening of fun came as a break from work for David. He traveled to London earlier this week to launch David Beckham bodywear for H&M, later celebrating the launch with his parents and his wife Victoria's mom and dad. David also spent an afternoon filming an ad for Adidas. Victoria, meanwhile, has her own new collections on the brain. She's gearing up for New York Fashion Week, where she'll actually have two presentations. In addition to her Victoria Beckham Collection, she's also showing Victoria by Victoria Beckham.

The Best Indoor Workout Classes (Because It's Freezing Outside!)

Self — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:35:01 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

There are lots (and I mean, lots) of reasons why my motivation to work out during the Winter plummets - from the snowy commute to freezing cold winds to the cold, dry air that hits my chest with such force that it becomes hard to breathe. (Ahem, there's a reason I sign up for races that are after September - this born-and-raised Floridian prefers to train outdoors during the Summer.)

But it is possible to sculpt, strengthen, and sweat (majorly sweat) without having to be freezing cold during the winter. So when the weather outside is frightful, head indoors for these top full-body workouts that will help ward off Winter weight:

Indoor cycling: Ruth Zukerman, cofounder of NYC's FlyWheel cycling studio, is heating things up indoors with her 45-minute, heart-racing classes. (Self favorite Jillian Michaels is even a recent investor in the company). "I wanted to be part of the most innovative and effective indoor cycling program, and that is FlyWheel. I am thrilled to join the FlyWheel team," Michaels said in a press release. What makes cycling such an effective alternative is that it's taking the fun full-body workout people love indoors, and instead of scenery, you'll stay motivated to challenge yourself thanks to encouraging instructors and a killer playlist. Flywheel has an awesome on-bike technology board that lets you compete against other riders in the class. Plus if you're looking to shape up before hitting the slopes, "indoor cycling is great preparation for all Winter sports, especially skiing and snowboarding. I know from personal experience that when I hit the slopes I don't tire out easily or suffer from the kind of après-ski muscle pain that most people do, and it's because of indoor cycling," Zukerman says.

Try this move: If you're riding an exercise bike at home or the gym, try some interval training. One thing we often do at Flywheel is a "Sprint Chorus," meaning we increase our RPMs to a sprint during the song's chorus and then revert to a cadence on the beat of the music as the chorus ends.

More best indoor workouts after the break.

6 Tips to Start Your New Job Right

Kiplinger — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:08:12 PST

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

I learned some valuable lessons about how to succeed in the "real world" while starting out at my first full-time job, and you can, too.

I never expected my social circle, at age 22, to use the phrase "I feel so old" so much. We know we still have our whole lives ahead of us, but making the transition from college to career can really make you feel like you've aged 20 years. For example, unlike in my college years, convincing myself to go out on a Friday night these days takes almost as much work as getting out of bed on a Monday morning. And I never thought I would be spending my beloved lazy Sundays running whatever errands I didn't get done during the week. Even four internships, including one with my current full-time employer, the Kiplinger Washington Editors, hadn't fully prepared me for this whole professional-life thing.

To help you make the adjustment and overcome common obstacles you might face when you're just starting out, here are some lessons I learned in the first few months of my first job. I hope these tips will help you feel as young as you are. SEE ALSO: Our Quiz on Navigating the First Weeks at Your New Job

Read on for tips.

The Biggest Loser Premieres Tonight - Will You Tune in?

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:13:44 PST

It's been dubbed the season of "No Excuses" - and in a new twist, Season 13 of The Biggest Loser will be the first season to do away with the buddy system. In tonight's premiere, airing at 8 p.m./7 p.m. CST, teams of two will arrive at the ranch expecting to work together. Instead, the contestants will be divided into two new groups trained by Bob Harper and Dolvett Quince.

No excuses, no partners, and since Anna Kournikova will not be returning as a trainer, this also marks the first season with no female trainer. We're interested to see how these changes affect the contestants - and the ratings. What do you think?

Photo courtesy of NBC

No Joke: The Shake Weight Works Muscles 66 Percent Harder

Self — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:36:37 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

It's the stuff of dreams for raunchy Saturday Night Live comedy writers, but the Shake Weight might be worth more than just a few laughs.

In case you haven't heard of the Shake Weight, it is, according to its makers, the "revolutionary new way to shape and tone your arms, shoulders and chest." Basically, it's a 2.5 pound dumbbell with springs on either end, and instead of merely lifting, you, yes, shake it. Exercise physiologist Amy Dixon, group fitness manager for Equinox in Santa Monica, Calif., isn't surprised the Shake Weights are selling so well - according to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), in its first year on the market, more than 2 million Shake Weights were sold and they have since surpassed the 4.5 million mark. "People are always looking for the new hot product and the quick fix," Dixon says. "This product promises fast results and has a marketing campaign that promotes the idea of 'sexiness' - if you want sexy arms like the people on the commercials, you need a Shake Weight!"

But will it really give us sexy arms? Wanting to test out some of the claims made by the Shake Weight informercials - primarily that the Shake Weight can "increase your upper-body muscle activity by up to 300 percent compared to some traditional weights" - ACE commissioned a team of exercise scientists from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. The researchers compared the degree of muscle activation when using the Shake Weight to using a traditional dumbbell of equal weight, and they came up with some interesting results.

So, does the Shake Weight actually work? Find out after the break.