FitSugar

Good News for Moms With Strollers

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:00:00 PDT

Here is some good news for mom's who like to run with strollers...

A study from Texas A&M found that running with a stroller provided a much more intense workout than running without a stroller and there was no difference in stride length and overall running gait. In other words: Your form is not compromised by pushing the stroller. This is good news for any of us moms that were thinking it was a bad idea to run with the stroller. So get out there and get a really good workout, without having to get a sitter. Just make sure you've got a stroller that can handle it such as a Baby Jogger.

Want to get even more out of your stroller jogs? Hook up a Strollometer to your stroller to see your distance, speed and time.

How to Catch the Quadrantids Meteor Shower Wednesday Morning (Even If It's Cloudy)

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:14:09 PST

If the new year's fireworks weren't enough for you this weekend, fear not - a big meteor shower, called the Quadrantids, will be producing up to 100 falling stars an hour tomorrow morning, essentially creating a natural fireworks show the entire country can see. The light show kicks off in the Northern hemisphere on Wednesday morning at 3 a.m. local time, with meteors coming from the North sky and radiating out from below the handle of the Big Dipper. You should be able to see at least one shooting star per minute until 5 a.m. local time.

The good news is that the National Weather Center is predicting clear skies for most of the country, but if you do have clouds or fog above your head in the early morning hours (or, if it's too cold to hang outside for two hours), there are a few ways you might still be able to see the show with a few live cams. Check them out below!

Oak Grove Observatory - Take a peek into the skies with this camera from Louisiana.
Twin Pines Observatory - This California cam activates when the sun goes down.
Sandia Sentinel Fireball Camera Network - It's a bit of a blurry cam, but you'll be able to catch some of the brightest meteors on this live stream from Texas.

Nutrition Myths That Can Cause Weight Gain

Shape — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:04:23 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Myth: Going Vegan Will Make You Lose Weight
"While various research shows that vegetarians and vegans, on average, consume fewer calories and less fat than omnivores (a 2009 Oxford study found that vegetarians weigh 3 to 20 percent less than their meat-eating counterparts, and a National Cancer Institute study found that subjects who consumed four ounces or more of red meat weekly were 30 percent more likely to die of any cause than those who ate less), these numbers may be misleading," says Rania Batayneh, MPH, a certified nutritionist and owner of Essential Nutrition for You.

Going vegan solely for weight loss can backfire, big time. If you aren’t vigilant with a vegan diet, it’s easy to lack in vital nutrients, vitamins, and proteins, which give you energy and help keep your metabolism stoked. Many first-time vegans may also find themselves reaching for more processed foods like vegan cookies, chips, or even ‘ice cream’ more often with such a restricted diet, and many end up packing on the pounds instead.

If you do decide to adopt a vegan diet, be sure to keep the ‘treats’ to a minimum and plan balanced meals (we love ‘Domestic Vegan’ Diva Jessica Olson’s tips for "going veg"). "Aim to get about 10 to 20 percent of your calories from protein (or about 1 gram per kilogram of body weight), replacing animal protein with healthy plant proteins, like those found in beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy products," Batayneh says. "And, whether you are vegan or not, eating more green, leafy vegetables is great for your health and your waistline."

See which other diet habits may also being causing weight gain after the break!

6 Things You Need to Know About Holiday Tipping

Kiplinger — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:15:00 PST

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

1. Give the traditional way. PayPal? Forget it. An end-of-the-year tip should be handed over in person. Tuck the money (crisp, new bills are a plus) into a card with a handwritten note expressing your appreciation. If you can’t do it face-to-face - in the case of, say, the newspaper deliverer who passes by at 4 a.m. - mail a check or gift card, says Jodi R.R. Smith, president of etiquette consultant Mannersmith. And don’t wait until the final weeks of December - the recipients may be depending on the money to buy holiday gifts. The optimum time for end-of-year tipping is the week before Thanksgiving or shortly thereafter.

2. Make a list. The people who make your life easier should be at the top of your list. They may include your nanny or caregiver, hairstylist, fitness instructor, housekeeper, dog walker, garbage collector, and, if you live in a condominium or apartment, handyman or concierge. For a nanny, a week’s pay is appropriate. The cost of one session is a good benchmark for many others on your list, such as a pet groomer, weekend babysitter or weekly cleaning person. Consult our tip sheet; you can also find a guide at the website of the Emily Post Institute.

3. And check it twice. Take into account your relationship with the provider. If you have worked together closely or for a long time, or if you’ve received outstanding service throughout the year, you might tip at the higher end of the scale. The local cost of living matters, too; $50 goes further in the Midwest than in Manhattan.

Read on for more tips.

Tainted Cantaloupes and Listeriosis: What You Need to Know

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:11:10 PDT

Listeria-tainted cantaloupes have now affected at least 14 states including Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and California. So far, 55 infections and eight deaths have been confirmed, and even more are suspected. Local, state, and federal health experts are investigating the increasing outbreak connected to whole cantaloupes grown in the Rocky Ford-region of Colorado and shipped by supplier Jensen Farms of Holly, CO. The FDA issued a cantaloupe recall on Sept. 14, after tests revealed victims were infected with four strains of listeria. Jenson Farms is fully cooperating with health officials to determine the cause of the outbreak.

The whole cantaloupes may be marked by one of two stickers: A green and white sticker that reads: Product of USA - Frontera Produce - Colorado Fresh - Rocky Ford Cantaloupe. Or, a gray, yellow, and green sticker that reads: Jensen Farms - Sweet Rocky Fords. If you've purchased cantaloupe from this company, throw it out ASAP. Even if you've eaten the melon and haven't gotten sick, ditch the fruit anyway as infections can arise up to two months after eating a food contaminated with listeria. Also, the FDA warns people not to attempt to wash away the bacteria as both the inside and outside of the melons might be contaminated.

I'm sure you have tons of questions about listeriosis, so keep reading to learn more about this infection, and find out what you can do to prevent getting sick.

How to Wach Tonight's Meteor Shower Online

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:07:20 PDT

Be sure to sneak in a siesta at some point today - there's a big meteor shower happening late this evening, and the light show will go on until the wee hours of Saturday morning! In what is considered to be the best meteor shower of the year, Earth is passing through a 1,000-year-old cluster of meteors called Perseids, which should allow you to be able to spot 20-30 meteors (or "falling stars") per hour in your night sky. If your weather report is predicting clouds or fog (I'm looking at you, San Francisco), you shouldn't get too bummed - there's plenty of places to watch the show online. Check out a few destinations in the links below.

NASA - NASA will be broadcasting the sky directly from its Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL, on its web page. There will also be a live chat about the Perseid meteors with astronomer Bill Cooke and team starting at 8 p.m. PDT. Best part - you'll get to hear audio of the meteors as they burn up in the atmosphere!

Sandia Sentinel Fireball Camera Network, Hawley, TX - It's a bit of a blurry cam, but you'll be able to catch some of the brightest meteors on this live stream from Texas.

Oak Grove Observatory - Take a peek into the skies with this camera from Louisiana.

New Mexico Skies Camera - This camera is off during the day, but activates at dusk for your viewing pleasure.

Twin Pines Observatory - Same goes for this California cam, which activates when the sun goes down.

Paul Beskeen Astrophotography - This camera, stationed in Cambridgeshire, UK, is on 24/7. Get a peek now!

Bravo Confirms: Top Chef 9 Will Be in Texas

Susannah Chen — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:59:37 PDT

We've been wondering for some time: how will Bravo top last season's Top Chef All-Stars? The answer, we're assuming, lies in the location. After more than a month of speculation in the blogosphere, the folks at Bravo have finally confirmed that Top Chef is headed to Texas.

According to the announcement, the season will take place in "not one, but three cities - Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio." Houston is glaringly missing. In addition, the show will feature not only the regular cast of characters (Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio, and Gail Simmons), but also Emeril Lagasse and and former Top Chef Masters contestant Hugh Acheson.

As a native of the Bayou City, I'm undeniably biased, but it's hard to believe that Houston - the largest city in the state, the fourth-largest in America, and home to Bryan Caswell, Chris Shepherd, and some of the country's biggest rising stars - has officially been snubbed. We should pray that this season won't get caught up in Texas stereotypes, but the announcement - which is already full of cheesy references like "everything's bigger" and "we hope the cheftestants' cowboy boots are made for walking" - almost certainly foreshadows campy challenges and hokey one-liners. I'm already predicting a kill-your-own challenge on a ranch, a guest appearance (or five) from Dallas star chef Tim Love, and a trip to Smitty's, Salt Lick, Kreuz, or another famous Austin-area barbecue joint. Will you tune in?

Selena Gomez Recovers From Her Hospitalization in Time For a West Coast Show

Allie Merriam — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 08:04:00 PDT

Selena Gomez took the stage in Santa Monica yesterday as part of an Experience Monte Carlo event. The starlet is back in California singing and promoting her upcoming movie, Monte Carlo, after a scary few days. She ended up in the hospital, but Selena is now doing better after a diagnosis of malnourishment and exhaustion. Selena talked to PopSugar LA about her love of In-N-Out before she apologized to her fans at yesterday's event, which was rescheduled from last Friday. She said, "I want to thank you so much for coming. If you guys came on Friday, I'm so sorry that I couldn't be here. . . . I love you guys very much!" Selena also has plenty of affection for her main man Justin Bieber. She racked up the frequent flyer miles with him over the last month, with a rigorous schedule of travel between California, Hawaii, Canada, and Texas. She's now back in Dallas, and tweeted this morning, "Feels so good to be home. I love you Dallas!"

Get Fit For Summer Challenge 6: A Reader Runs Around Texas

Fit Community — Tue, 17 May 2011 13:37:42 PDT

Check out FitSugar reader bjeanne18's description of her daily Texas run! She posted this pic in the Get Fit For Summer community group as part of the sixth challenge in the Get Fit For Summer giveaway. By doing so, she's eligible to win a $100 New Balance gift card!

So the challenge this week was to try a running workout and to snap a picture of any "spectacular" views. Unfortunately, I don't have that many awesome views near my apartment, so instead, I snapped a pic of my completely '80s-reminiscent running gear I took for a spin. Go ahead and laugh, it's a Monday, and it's freakin' hot here in Texas - so the tacky looking sweatband is a must in my books!

I was super pumped with my run - I went three miles in less than 27 minutes, stopped and walked five minutes to let my heart rate calm down, and finished out the four miles strong; all completed in under 40 minutes! No, that is not an incredibly amazing time for most runners, but for me it's pretty huge.

Hear about the health obstacles bjeanne18 overcame after the break!

Picker Sisters Premiere Promises Treasures From Trash

Elka Karl — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:00:48 PDT

Premiering tonight at 10 p.m /9 p.m. (CDT) on Lifetime, Picker Sisters is a must-watch show for those DIY home designers who love to make something beautiful out of nothing special. Interior designers Tracy Hutson and Tanya McQueen, who you may recognize from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, star in this new series that features the two women's road trips across the United States. The first stop is rural Texas, where Tracy and Tanya pick up industrial junk and even take apart an old house, piece by piece, to pack into their trailer and take back to Los Angeles. Once in LA, their contractor, Alan Luxmore, interprets the designers' ideas on how to turn their trailer full of junk into home decorating gold. The ultimate goal for Tracy and Tanya is to stock their Los Angeles home décor popup shop with enough pieces from their travels to turn a tidy profit. I checked out a screener of the premiere, and the series is a lot of fun. I also have serious road trip envy - I wish I could hit the road with my BFF, combing the country's byways for cool bits of industrial junk to then turn into everything from daybeds to pendant lamps. If you're inspired by DIY projects, this is a show that you should really check out. Keep reading to check out a sneak peek of the Picker Sisters popup shop.