FitSugar

Save Your Money: The Chin Gym

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 03:30:00 PST

I was watching some old Ellen (I know, I am obsessed with her) videos the other day and came across her mom, Betty, trying out "As Seen on TV" fitness contraptions. One product, the Chin Gym, caught my eye as I thought there was no way this product existed but I was wrong, it does exist.

The Chin Gym ($39.95) is basically a really complicated looking contraption that promises to reduce the double chin and define the jaw line by trimming, toning, strengthening and removing wrinkles from chin, neck and jaw line muscles. Here is the deal, the only thing really able to rewind the effects of aging and gravity is plastic surgery if you are willing to go that far. If you're looking to remove excess fat from your facial area, unfortunately there is no real way to spot reduce target areas like your chin or your back. I know I may sound like a broken record, but it is true: Exercise and eating a healthy blanced diet are the only real ways to get rid of fat (without going under the knife) including your chin and back. If, despite my attempts to talk you out of spending your money on this contraption, you still want to try it out, diyhut.com.

Want to laugh at Ellen's mom trying it out? Then,

Mistakes You're Making on the Pilates Mat

Susi May — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:51:53 PST

Mat classes are the most affordable way to reap the benefits of Pilates. Taught across the country at gyms and private studios, group classes mean you don't have an instructor cuing and correcting your every move. Make the most of your time on the mat and be mindful of these common mistakes I've seen in classes over the years.

Not Going Deep
There are many benefits to Pilates, but getting in touch with the deep abs, aka the transverse abdominals, is, to me, the most important. If the deep abs are working, then all four layers of ab muscles will be working right along with it, making for a very stable torso. In class, use every exhale as opportunity to reengage your abs and pull them into your spine with a little lift up. If the abs are pooching outward, you're only working the top layer of the abs and training them to pull away from the spine - the opposite effect of what you want.

Momentum Is Not Your Friend
Deliberate pauses are built into the choreography of many Pilates exercises to prevent momentum from taking over the motion. The Pilates method was originally named Contrology (the study of control) to emphasize this very concept. Going slowly is key. Jayme Boyle, the group fitness coordinator and Pillates mat instructor at the SF Equinox, explains the importance of forgoing momentum like this: "Slower pace means you’re turning on stabilizing muscles and you’re creating more isometric contractions." And I have to agree. Pilates is not a race.

Keep reading for more common Pilates mat class mistakes.

Winter Running Woe: Burning Lungs

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:22:30 PST

Temps across the country are plummeting, but a little cold (or even snow) won't keep die-hard runners indoors. Layering up with wicking clothes is the key to staying warm and dry while sweating it out, but what about breathing in that frigid air? It's not only painful to inhale, but since the air is often dry, it causes your airways to narrow, making it harder to breathe.

If running in the cold makes your lungs burn or causes you to cough, try this simple solution: wear a moisture-wicking neck warmer, like this Smartwool Neck Gaiter ($25), over your mouth. It'll not only keep cool air off your neck, but the gaiter also traps the natural water vapor you exhale, making the air you inhale moist and a bit warmer, which is easier on your lungs. A regular scarf could also work, but who wants to wrestle with slowly unraveling loose ends, especially on a windy day? Another benefit is that a neck warmer can be lowered below your chin or easily slipped off, bunched up, and stored in your pocket after you warm up, while a scarf is much too bulky.

When temps dip really low, you'll probably prefer a balaclava that covers your nose, mouth, ears, and head. It may look a little scary, but at least you'll be warm and comfortable. Plus it's a great option whether you breathe through your nose or mouth, although you might find breathing through your nose may ease the burning in your lungs - just bring along tissues in case your nose runs.

Keep reading to find out other ways to relieve your burning lungs.

Commemorate Veterans Day With Chin-Ups and Push-Ups

Susi May — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:04:27 PST

Today is Veterans Day and to commemorate the day I thought we should cover where the fitness world and the military collide and that's the ever-popular boot camp. I talked recently with vet Ruben Belliard, co owner of Warrior Fitness Boot Camp in NYC. A former Marine (but I think Ruben would say once a Marine always a Marine), Ruben met his business partner Alex Fell at basic training, and now these two train for triathlons together. Both have seen action overseas but now spend their days helping us civies get our sweat on.

When I think military workout, I think pull-ups. Ruben clarified for me something you might already know: the difference between a chin-up and pull-up is not how high you go, but the grip. With a pull-up, your palms face away from you and this grip means you're relying on your back muscles to pull you up to the bar. The palms-facing-in grip of the chin-up means the biceps and the pecs can assist you in your upward motion. According to Ruben regardless of your grip, if you want to pull your head up toward a bar you need to strengthen your muscles by doing assisted pull-ups first. He suggests using the assisted pull-up machines (our fave way to tackle this move at the gym), superbands (a big rubber band that helps you up), or a friend to push your legs from below while you pull with all your might.

To learn why push-ups are important, keep on reading.

How to Keep Post-Gym Skin Clear and Blemish-Free

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:07:31 PDT

You think you're doing your body good by going to the gym every day, yet your skin is telling you otherwise. If you struggle to keep your skin clear, here are some tried-and-true solutions to help you keep your skin as radiant and healthy as your body.

Use an oil-absorbing sheet. If you tend to work out in the afternoon, blot your face with an oil-absorbing sheet preworkout to remove excess oils. If you don't have a packet handy, use a clean toilet seat cover as an oil-absorbing sheet. It sounds strange, but it works the same way.
Wash your face pre- and post-workout. To avoid clogged pores and acne, remove the makeup off your face before working out as well as wash the salty sweat off your skin after working out.
Bring towelettes with you. Save time and your face from breakouts by using cleansing towelettes.

See more skin solutions here.

Core Work: The Split Crunch Is Harder Than It Looks

Leta Shy — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 02:13:43 PDT

I've been working on strengthening my core with my trainer, Tim Rich, at Crunch Gym. He recommended a do-anywhere exercise that is anything but easy but will definitely help strengthen your ab muscles. The move, called the split crunch, uses your leg positioning to modify a normal run-of-the-mill crunch. The result? An ab-killing exercise that you can fit in anytime.

To start, lie on your back, making sure your abs are engaged and your spine is neutral. Read these tips for proper back form when doing the Pilates, The Hundred - just like in the classic Pilates move, when doing the split crunch your belly button should be pulled in toward your spine.
Next, straighten both your legs to a 90-degree angle from your torso, feet parallel to the floor with soles facing the ceiling (see picture above). Put your hands behind your ears - not the back of your head or neck, or you may risk straining your neck as you do the move - and pull your chin in toward your chest, fixing your gaze on your belly button.

Ready to go? Read on for the rest of the split crunch move.

Gear Review: DoD Fitness Tools

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:36:06 PDT

Tightness in the wrists, a kink in the neck, and discomfort in the knees - these pains can disrupt a great workout, interfering with the benefits of toning exercises or yoga poses. DoD Fitness (the acronym stands for Do or Die) created a line of foamy products to help reduce discomfort in the wrists, neck, and knees during poses that typically strain these areas. We tried the Set of All Three ($45), which included Wrist Wedges, Knee Donuts, and a Neck Circle. DoD Fitness Tools are made out of a super light foamy material, so they can be transported easily. No need to deal with towels, because the products are sweat-proof and waterproof too. The line was tested by experts in biomechanics, kinesiology, and chiropractics to ensure that they aid in correct alignment while achieving better comfort.

Find out what we thought of DoD Fitness Tools.

6 Moves to Say Goodbye to Lower-Back Pain

Self — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 05:37:54 PDT

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

We know planks and dead-lifts are great, but the real question is, how can they help relieve your aching back?

Back pain affects about 8 out of 10 people, according to the National Institutes of Health, and is one of the most common medical problems. It's costly too - in 2004, a team from Duke University found that treatment for back pain was estimated to cost nearly $26 billion annually.

A recent study from the University of Nevada found that those would walked backwards on the treadmill for 15 minutes three times a week reported less low back pain. But walking on the treadmill isn't the only option for relief; I asked Ian Hart, CSCS, co-creator of Back Pain Relief4Life and owner of EarthFIT fitness studio for simple at-home exercises that will strengthen the lower back, ease pain and help prevent injury in the long run.

Find out Ian's recommendation's after the break.

Work Out With Beyoncé

Self — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 05:13:30 PDT

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

Queen B released her fourth album - appropriately titled 4 - yesterday and, surprisingly, it's more slow-burning ballads than booty-shaking anthems. Still, the always-inspiring singer knows how to motivate us in the gym.

Beyonce, who has graced our cover no less than three times, has told us plenty about how she gets her bootylicious bod into shape. When she's gearing up for a tour (she killed it at England's Glastonbury Festival just this weekend), she works out five days a week with her trainer, and practices her choreography for nine hours a day, seven days a week--while wearing 5-inch stilettos. Her just-keep-going secret? The singer keeps a painting of an Oscar at the gym, so she's literally running towards her next goal. "I look at it, and I'm like OK, I have to stay in shape," she says. So download B's latest album, stick a picture of the chart-topper in your iPod case for extra motivation and hit the gym with this exclusive workout inspired by the singer.

Cardio
First, let's start with the cardio: for a quick, 15-minute warm-up that will get your heart pumping, kick off your jog with the Kelly Clarkson-channeling kiss-off "Best Thing I Never Had," followed by the percussion-driven "End of Time," the reggae-tinged, high-energy "Countdown" and, of course, B's new anthem, "Run The World (Girls)."

Get the rest of the workout after the break!