FitSugar

Starter Arms: Exercise Video

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 12:00:00 PST

Here is the third installment of the Test Case series: Starter Arms. This video is all about toning the upper arms to get you ready for springtime tank tops.

You will need a set of 5 to 8 pound dumbbells. If you don't have weights experiment with soup cans or full water bottles. Try to do this every other day for 2 weeks and see if your arm tone changes. Consider it an experiment or a challenge.

Some of the exercises are done with just one weight, but experiment and see if you can handle using both. Feel free to repeat the series once or twice.

Why not print this chart out to take these moves to the gym.

How's Your Short, Sweet and Complete Abs Test Case Going?

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 12:00:00 PST

Hey all -

How's it going with the 4 minute ab workout? I've been questioning folks here to see what they think and they have noticed a couple of things.

First - The exercises have gotten a little bit easier.

Second - They do feel like their belly's are getting more toned.

Third - A couple of test case volunteers really hate the hip ups, but I love them so so all I can say is learn to love them too.

Please write in and tell me what you think and how your body feels.

Stay tuned for a video workout for toning your love handles just in time for Valentine's Day.

Here's the video if you haven't tried it already.

Short, Sweet and Complete Abdominal Workout Video

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:35:00 PST

How about those abs? If you are bored with your ab routine, or if you neglect your middle, here's a workout for you to try.

This video is made for you to play while you do the exercise. Think of it as a quick little workout with a voice leading you along and a counter in the lower lefthand corner counting down your reps.

So don't just watch. Watch and do. Then be sure to work your abs at three days a week. Your belly will thank you for all the attention.

For a few tips, just

You want to make sure you are working your deep abs the entire time. So focus on pulling your navel to your spine.
To keep tension out of your neck when doing crunches, think of holding an orange between your chin and your chest. Don't juice the orange, but don't drop it either.
When performing toe taps and heel taps, keep the torso and pelvis totally still. Use your abs to do this.
Have fun with the Hip Ups, but remember to control the motion and really scoop out your low belly.
When twisting to work your obliques, isolate the movement to just the rib cage. Don't move your low back.

Sugar Shout Out: February Must Haves!

Katie Henry — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:55:38 PST

Photos courtesy of Universal Pictures, ABC, Inc., and NBC

Todd Oldham to Bring Kid Made Modern to Target With New Line of Art Supplies

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:04:55 PST

Art supplies and crafts collection, designed by a real-life designer, at Target prices? Sign me up! When Todd Oldham first published Kid Made Modern ($16) almost three years ago, he created a minirevolution in the world of arts and crafts. Inspired by the most influential midcentury artists - including Alexander Calder, Charles and Ray Eames, and Marimekko - he sought to teach lil ones about their creativity through 52 projects kids could do at home, everything from creating flowers out of wire (Calder) to making polka-dotted book covers using bubble wrap (Marimekko). The projects all used a combination of household items and store-bought crafting products.

This Spring the designer is expanding his drive to inspire creativity in kids through a new partnership with Target. On May 20, Target stores nationwide will introduce more than 50 Kid Made Modern art supplies and kits, all designed and tested by Oldham himself. I got a sneak peek at the line last week and can already tell you that it will be on your must-buy list! The beautifully made products - including crayons in various shapes and sizes (the pyramid one was my favorite!), board book-making kits, gorgeous wooden blocks primed for painting, and learn-to-sew kits that feature Charley Harper's gorgeous images - are all artfully packaged in recyclable boxes (many of which double as display cases) and will all be priced under $20 (talk about great birthday presents!).

Stay tuned for more details in May (including my interview with Todd as he walked me through his favorite products). Until then, take a peek at a few of the highlights from the line!

Did You Have a Surprise Birth?

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:11:14 PST

Ready or not, here he comes! Regardless of whether or not you had a written plan for your lil one's birth, when baby's ready to come, there's little mom can do to stop him!

Such was the case for Rabita Sarkar of Harrison, NJ, who thought she was feeling false labor pains and decided to use them as an opportunity to do a trial run to test her route to the hospital. Soon after boarding the PATH commuter train into New York City, the contractions turned real and within minutes, the expectant mama gave birth to a son - while sitting on the train! She said:

He decided to come and that was it. Nothing could stop him. Nothing could keep him inside for longer. I don’t think anybody could actually dream of such a delivery.

We've heard of plenty of women who didn't know they were pregnant until they were in labor, and I've even had a friend who gave birth in her car outside of the hospital entrance, but were you so surprised by your labor that you gave birth in a strange place? If so, tell us!

Source: Flickr User Remy Sharp

How to Pick the Gym That's Right For You

Heather Dale — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:29:50 PST

If your New Year's resolution is to get fit, chances are you might be shopping around for a gym or fitness center, which is not as easy as it sounds. Here's criteria you should try to check off before signing up for any gym membership.

Location, location, location: Don't kid yourself into believing that you'll drive halfway across town to go work out. If a gym is closer to where you live (or work), you'll be more inclined to visit. Also, check to see if there's cost-effective parking, nearby public transportation, or if you can't walk to it. Also make sure it's in a safe neighborhood in case you want to pop in later in the evening.
Ask for second opinions: Get on Yelp, and ask your friends, family members, co-workers, husband's cousin's girlfriend - anyone! - what the best gym is in your neighborhood. Tell them what you're ideally looking for and see if your research, plus your mini-interviews, point to one locale.

Here are some more tips.

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.

4 Surprising Things You Don't Know about Calories

Prevention — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:12:55 PST

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

Only 12 percent of Americans can estimate the calories they eat in a day! Find out why we're so clueless and get easy ways to stop calorie confusion.
By Mara Betsch, Prevention

You know what calories are, and you probably know that if you eat too many, you’ll gain weight. But do you know how many are in your favorite deli sandwich? Or how many calories you should really eat each day? Most Americans don’t. Only 12% can accurately estimate the number of calories they should consume in a day someone their age, height, weight, and physical activity, according to a 2010 survey by the International Food Information Council Foundation. So what is it about calories that keeps us baffled? Here are 8 reasons you’re confused about calories and the simple steps that will help you do the math.

8 Healthy Foods That Help Fight Disease

1. Portions Sizes Are Out of Control
You’ve all heard about the rapidly expanding serving sizes of restaurant and fast food portions, but just how bad are they? Portions sizes in restaurants may contain double or triple the calories of home-cooked meals, and studies show eating out is associated with a higher BMI. Unfortunately, those portions affect our waistlines. When there’s more food on the plate, people eat more-up to 30% more, according to an analysis of several studies.

Stop the confusion: Use this cheat sheet of portion sizes. We know it’s hard to look at your plate as decks of cards, tennis balls, and all the other, so start by measuring out your food servings at home and take a good look at what a half-cup of pasta looks like. Until the serving sizes are engrained in your brain, when dining out, aim to eat half of your meal, saving the leftovers for lunch the next day.

Comfort Food That’s Actually Good for You

2. Serving Sizes Are Deceiving
"There really aren’t standard serving sizes for packaged foods, which makes them confusing," explains Elisa Zied, RD, author Nutrition at Your Fingertips. She gives the example of cereal. A standard serving size of breakfast cereal is approximately 50 g, but depending on the cereal, that could mean a cup and a half of flakes or half a cup of heartier granola. Depending on the type of cereal you’re eating, just eyeing how much you put in the bowl, like most people do, can lead to inaccurate calorie counts.

Not only that, but larger-than-life snack foods may seem like single servings even though they often contain two to three servings per packet. Buy a 16-ounce bottled Coca-Cola, and the nutrition label reads 100 calories . . . for one of the two servings in the bottle. Drink the whole thing, as many people do, and you’re really getting 200 calories. Eat the whole bag of Austin Zoo Animal Crackers, commonly found in office vending machines, and you’re getting 230 calories, nearly two servings, instead of just one.

Keep reading to learn even more about calories!

The Most-Overlooked Tax Deductions

Kiplinger — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:50:44 PST

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

Every year, the IRS dutifully reports the most common blunders that taxpayers make on their returns. And every year, at or near the top of the “oops” list is forgetting to enter their Social Security number at the top of the tax form - or making a mistake when entering those nine digits.

But think about it for a minute: Do you think that’s the most common mistake . . . or simply the easiest to notice?

One thing we know for sure is that the opportunity to make mistakes is almost unlimited, and missed deductions can be the most costly. About 45 million of us itemize on our 1040s - claiming more than $1 trillion worth of deductions. That’s right: $1,000,000,000,000, a number rarely spoken out loud until Congress started tying itself up in knots trying to deal with the budget deficit and national debt.

Another 92 million taxpayers claim about $700 billion worth using standard deductions - and some of you who take the easy way out probably shortchange yourselves. (If you turned 65 in 2011, remember that you now deserve a bigger standard deduction than the younger folks.)

Yes, friends, tax time is a dangerous time. It’s all too easy to miss a trick and pay too much. Years ago, the fellow who ran the IRS at the time told Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine that he figured millions of taxpayers overpay their taxes every year by overlooking just one of the money-savers listed below