FitSugar

Nutritional Information Printed on Receipt: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 03:30:00 -0800

Nutricate, a new company, has developed technology that prints the nutritional information of your purchased meal right on the receipt. The way I see it, it could go two ways: the new receipts may make some of us feel horrible that we just purchased a meal that has 1,000 calories while others can feel overjoyed with how many calories they are saving by simply saying, "Hold the mayo." I could see this becoming a problem when folks get their receipt and want to change their order completely after they've realized they've just purchased a heart attack on a plate.

What do you guys think - is nutritional information printed on the receipts of food you ordered cool or not?

MBT shoes = A Toned Backside, No Lie

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 08:45:00 -0800

My backside feels almost dead after sitting on it all day. My favorite way to resuscitate it is walking in my MBTs.

MBT stands for Masai Barefoot Technology. A Swiss company put a lot of research into creating a shoe that imitates what the foot does when it is not wearing a shoe. Twist your mind around that one. I must say their research paid off and they get paid handsomely for each pair of shoes - they retail at $245.

If you can swallow the price the shoes are wonderful. They activate the back of the leg with every step and force the body into alignment. Plus they decrease the stress on your knee joint. As I move up years, further from 20 and closer to 40, my knees appreciate it.

You might have seen them in the Bliss catalog claiming to be the anti-cellulite shoe. But the Swiss makers of the shoes make no claim to this, but the shoes have been proven to increase muscular activity in the legs and glutes.

So the shoes might not be all that pretty to look at, but they turn any walk into a workout, especially if you are headed up an incline.

To learn how the shoes work and to see more styles just read more

The shoes have a sensor, or a roll bar, toward the heel of the shoe that make the shoes unstable. By stepping on the bar, rather than hard on your heel (like most us of do), you activate under used muscles that should work like when you are walking barefoot. When wearing the shoes you take smaller strides, stepping onto a slightly bent knee, then pushing off with a straight leg activating your hamstrings and glutes. I do so love that I work my booty with every step.

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Peruse the Walkers Warehouse for all your MBT needs.

Get Your Butt in Gear: Heart Rate Monitoring Sports Bra

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 04:00:00 -0800

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!

Gear Review: Clear2Go Water Bottle With Filter

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:00:56 -0800

I've been carrying a reusable water bottle with me for years now, filling up on tap water as needed. Well, portable water just got a little cleaner with the Clear2Go water bottle ($16). It's your standard water bottle with a squeeze top made for cycling, but it comes with its very own water filter. The filter adds a little weight to the bottle, but it filters out 99.9 percent of microbial cysts (cryptosporidium and giardia), reduces the chlorine taste of water, and reduces lead and mercury. Using trickle down technology developed originally by NASA, one filter lasts for 100 gallons, or 533 refills - keeping an estimated 757 plastic bottles out of landfills. Replacement filters are available in two packs and cost $13.

Lance Armstrong is a fan of these eco and health friendly reusable bottles, and if you become of fan of Clear2Go on Facebook you can enter to win a bike ride with the seven-time winner of the Tour de France. You can purchase your mobile filtration system directly from Clear2Go. They make great holiday gifts and would definitely get you well on your way to filling a loved one's stocking.

Celebs Like to Shake It

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:50:58 -0700

At first, the Power Plate seems like another gimmicky weight-loss product, but its website features endorsements from fit celebs like Madonna, Courteney Cox, and Hilary Swank. On top of that, it's used by over 60 college and pro sports teams, and the Police brought one with them on their reunion tour. That's some serious ~~celeb~~ street cred.

The secret behind the Power Plate is its vibrating plates. The manufacturer claims that if you stand on it for 10 minutes a day, three times a week, you'll lose weight, tone your body, and improve bone density. To really maximize the benefits of the machine, it's encouraged that you do the same exercises you would do on the floor - sit-ups, for example - on the Power Plate.

Cougar Town actress Cox says the Power Plate was essential in shaping her up for her new role: "The Power Plate machine has dramatically changed my workout. I know that every muscle in my body is being ignited in ways that you can't do with traditional training."

To see a video of Cox's trainer Michelle Lovett demonstrating the Power Plate, read more.

They call the technology behind the machine Acceleration Training: the vibrations transmit energy waves to the body that are able to contract muscles 25 to 50 times per second. This is suppose to help stimulate blood flow, work the muscles harder than ever before, and increase strength and flexibility.

Vibration training is not a new thing in the fitness world (remember the black rubber belts that used to go around the waist to shake off fat?), but it's been picking up steam especially as it garners more backing from the medical community and health professionals.

Studies done on the effects of vibration training show that if used properly, it's more beneficial at building lean muscle mass, improving weight loss, and increasing strength and speed than exercise regimens without vibration training. Researchers warn that the machines should not be used for more than 30 minutes a day due to health concerns about engaging the body in high-amplitude vibrations like back pain or blurred vision.

I remain a little skeptical, mostly because I can't get the Shake Weights infomercial out of my head, but my curiosity is piqued. My gym doesn't have a Power Plate yet, does yours? I'd love to hear what you think of this new workout.

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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Purely Good for You

FitSugar — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 12:00:00 -0800

Sometimes, we all need a little extra oomph when it comes to our fruit intake.

Pure Fruit Technologies has created exotic juice supplements that are extremely good for you! With flavors like Mango-Xan Antioxidant Recovery Formula, Seabuck-7 Rejuvenation Formula, Goji-Zen Longevity Formula and Gac-Chi Heart & Vision Formula, it's hard to believe that they would actually taste good. I've tried and tested and they do taste good (I was more shocked than anyone). Out of the four mixtures, my favorite was the Mango-Xan. A bit thicker than normal juice but definitely do-able. The best part is you just need a little (1 oz) of each supplement to reap the benefits. The mini's ($2.95 for 1.67 oz) are a great way to try them out first. Buy them here. (A case of 12 starts at $35.40) or you can go here to find a store near you that carries them.

Fit's Tip: Struggling to find a stocking stuffer for the health nut on your list? Pure Fruit Technologies has pre-packed gift sets like the 12 days of health ($34.95). Buy it here.

Fruit Powered Clock

FitSugar — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 03:00:00 -0700

Now we all know that eating fruits and veggies every day is good for us, and being that Earth Day is April 22, we also know that we need to preserve our earth's resources.

I've got just the thing for you. Introducing the Fruit Powered Clock. It's a clock and a calendar that combines micro-electronic technology with the natural electrical potential of a fresh fruit or vegetable.

You can use a fresh apple, orange, pear, lemon, lime, banana or any other convenient fresh fruit or vegetable. Connect it to the components in this kit and you've got a nature powered digital clock for only $14.95. That's some powerful fruit!

Get Your Butt in Gear: Springboost Shoes

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Walk much? Who doesn't, but are your shoes allowing you to do it properly?

Springboost B-WALK Shoe ($140.00) is a walking sneaker that automatically corrects your posture, just merely by wearing them while walking. B-Walk, is designed for the weekend warrior looking for a waterproof shoe with good grip. The outsole of the shoe has also been studied to provide increased rolling action, lengthening the stride and providing the feel of a light, dynamic walk. This is all done using Springboost's special Dorsiflexion Technology. Anyone who walks for fitness will appreciate the health benefits gained from walking in dorsiflexion (with your foot slightly flexed) such as relieved lower back pressure, straightening of the back, increased blood circulation in the legs and activation of more muscle fibers in the legs and buttocks. The shoes are sold with two sets of interchangeable insoles. One enables users to get used to dorsiflexion with an insole at 0 degrees dorsiflexion, and the other allows wearers to get more out of their walk with a 2 degree dorsiflexion insole.

They are a lot like Earth Shoes in that they promote good walking. They are similar in appearance to MBTs (though MBTs are made on a rocker rather than a decline), but they are a lot less expensive. Buy them from TheTannery.com.

Knuckle Cracking Is A-OK

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:00:48 -0700

I have written about knuckle cracking in the past, exposing the notion that doing so causes arthritis for what it is a health myth - one that is perpetuated by grandmothers all over the US. One doctor took his research on the subject quite personally.

For 60 years Dr. Donald Unger cracked the knuckles of his left hand repeatedly, but used his right hand as the "control group" and left them well alone. After 60 years of cracking, his left hand did not develop arthritis. For his decades long research, Unger was awarded an Ig Noble award, a lighthearted version of the Nobel prizes, which were announced this week. The Ig Noble Prizes "honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think. The prizes are intended to celebrate the unusual, honor the imaginative - and spur people's interest in science, medicine, and technology."

Scientific bottom line on your knuckles: keep on cracking.