What Part of Your Body Are You Focusing on Toning the Most?

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 05:50:17 PDT

With Spring and Summer weather on its way, it means wearing less bulky clothes and having more skin showing. Before you bare your arms in that sleeveless tank or show off your legs in that short skirt, tell me, is there one part of your body that you're focusing on toning more than another?

Which Body Part Do You Have the Hardest Time Toning?

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:00:00 PDT

My thighs are my problem spot. I work really hard doing lunges and squats but no matter what, they never seem to get as toned as I would like. I have since accepted them for what they are and appreciate that they help me walk, but man, why won't they tone-up? We all have that one part of our body that, no matter how much cardio and resistance training we do, just does not want to tone up. So what is your problem area?

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Which Part of Your Body Do You Work the Most?

FitSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 04:30:00 PDT

When working out, you might prefer to focus on toning a certain part of your body. Maybe you want to strengthen your upper body because you're in a wedding this Summer and want to look good in your strapless dress. Or maybe you want to tone your core because it's the only thing that prevents you from having lower back pain. Then again, you may be more into toning your lower body because you're trying to increase your speed for an upcoming race.

Whatever your reason, I want to know . . .

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Exercise Explanation

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 03:30:00 PDT

Working out can be confusing if you're new to it. How long should I stretch? What kinds of cardio can I do besides running? How often should I lift weights?

Here's a basic chart to explain. This is just a general overview, so you can make little changes depending on what your goals and needs are.

Type of Exercise	Kinds	Benefits	How Often
Cardio and Aerobic	Running, Jogging, Biking, Stepper Machine, Brisk Walking, Elliptical Machine, Swimming, Competitive sports like soccer, Classes like Spinning or Cardio Boxing	Improves stamina Benefits your circulatory system including your heart Great for helping to decrease high blood pressure Burns calories and helps you lose weight Helps maintain your weight Reduces your risk of osteoporosis Improves your cholesterol levels	For a healthy body, you should do 30 minutes at least 3 times a week If you're trying to lose weight, than you need to do 30 minutes or more at least 4 or more times a week

There's 2 more. Want to see the rest? Then

Stretching	Calisthenics, Yoga, Tai Chi	Prevents injury Improves flexibility Relaxes the mind Massages the inner organs and aids in digestion Improves balance	Stretch before and after doing cardio If you do yoga or Tai Chi, go at least twice a week
Weights, Strength and Strength Training	Pilates, weight machines, free weights, exercise ball, resistance bands	Reduces your resting blood pressure Tones and defines muscles Strengthens your muscles Prevents injury Increases your metabolism Increases bone mineral density Increases your muscle mass which will increase your calorie burn which in turn reduces body fat	2-4 strength training sessions a week depending on the intensity and length of your session

Back OFF! - Ways to Tone Your Back

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 08:30:00 PST

There has been a serious amount of requests for back exercises. So allow me to introduce you to - Back OFF! Fit's ongoing series of exercises targeting the back. These moves will be great for toning and strengthening your back, and they'll help with your posture too.

You do need an exercise ball for this exercise, so hopefully you or your gym has one. These balls are really great for working out and stretching.

Keep reading for more Back OFF! videos coming your way soon.

Tone-Ups vs. EasyTone Flip-Flops vs. TrimTreads

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:00:30 PDT

Just in time for Summer, all those toning sneakers have evolved into seasonal sandals. Essentially, they are slightly unstable flip-flops that force you to work a little bit harder with every step, even though fitness experts question if working harder actually means better. Earlier this month, I received three different brands of toning flip-flops and have been testing them all out as I go about my daily routine. Here is my unscientific impression on these three sandals.

Skechers Tone-Ups
- Price: $49
- Claim: "Burn more calories, tones muscles, improve posture"
- Looks: Thick sole gives it the appearance of a regular flip-flop on steroids. The sequins were a bigger hit with my young daughters than with me.
- Feel: Cushioned flip-flop, comfy, and easy to walk in
- Verdict: I found the Tone-Ups to be quite comfortable, considerably more so than the regular flip-flops due to the thick sole. You can feel the roll bar action of the sole, which makes the shoe unstable, very slightly. The shoes were easy to walk and move in. I am not sure I felt them doing much extra work on my lower legs though.

See what I think of the other two brands when you

Reebok EasyTone Flip-Flops
- Price: $60
- Claim: "Improves muscle tone in the hamstrings, calves and glutes up to 28 percent"
- Looks: Looks like a classed-up thong with leather straps.
- Feel: Like you're walking on something squishy. The lining of the foot bed feels rather luxurious.
- Verdict: By far the cutest sandal of the three and I could definitely feel the small muscles in my feet working when I wore these shoes (not my butt though). I felt like "the balance pods with moving air built into the shoe that provided natural instability with every step" encouraged my feet to over-pronate (roll inward). The squishy motion also bothered the fascia on the bottom of feet. They do give you a little bounce in your step though.

TrimTreads
- Price: $40
- Claim: "Wear your Trim Treads for 30 minutes a day for toned legs, lifted buns, a stronger core, perfect posture, stronger balance, and burning calories."
- Looks: Its profile reminds me of the Starship Enterprise. Top strap is terry-cloth.
- Feel: I felt incredibly unstable in these shoes. The soles are quite slippery making walking on hard wood floors difficult.
- Verdict: I felt absolutely ludicrous wearing these sandals. My natural walking pattern felt severely disrupted, and going down stairs - forget about it. When bending over to pick up my daughters bedroom while wearing these unstable, platform flip-flops, I could feel my backside working trying to keep me from toppling forward. I do not recommend.

I should also state that I am not a huge fan of flip-flops in general - they are great for showering at the gym, but not so great at supporting your feet. If I were to wear a pair of these around, I would choose the Skechers Tone-Ups just because they felt kind to my feet but not really because of the toning action. I think if you want to work your backside, take 15 to 20 minutes out of your day three times a week to do lunges, step-ups, and donkey kicks. These exercises are free and effective and will definitely tone your backside. Do you have a pair of toning sandals? What do you think about them?

From the Community: Tone It Up's Sexy Valentine's Day Workout

Fit Community — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:22:03 PST

Feel sexy for Valentine's Day with this 15-minute video workout from trainers Karena and Katrina; they posted in the FitSugar Tone It Up community group. If you need detailed descriptions, check out the printable routine!

Take your workout on the go!!! Print your whole routine here.

Get more great bikini workouts from Karena and Katrina in the Tone It Up community group.

Minka Kelly Shares Her Heart-Healthy Fitness and Diet Tips

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:02:38 PST

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

Esquire magazine once named actress Minka Kelly the “sexiest woman alive," so walking in the Heart Truth’s Red Dress Fashion Show to raise awareness for women’s heart health should be a breeze, right? Not quite. “I’ve been nervous all week!” Kelly said when we got the chance to chat with her on her new ambassador title with Diet Coke. We caught up with the brunette bombshell hours before showtime to get the scoop on how she lives a heart-healthy lifestyle, the exercises she swears by, and more.

Tell us about your partnership with Diet Coke and Heart’s Truth Red Dress Fashion Show. What made you decide to get involved?

Before I started working with Diet Coke as an ambassador, I wasn’t even aware that heart disease is the number-one killer for women. I figured this would be a chance for me to use my voice and let other women know how important it is to eat right and exercise to keep your heart in good health.

How do you manage to stay in shape, especially with such a busy schedule?

I try to do yoga every morning at 7 a.m.; it’s good to get your workout out of the way early. I also work out with my trainer Gunnar Peterson two days a week on top of that. I owe him a lot of credit for the shape I’m in because I love to eat! I have to work out extra hard to balance my love for food out.

Keep reading to learn how Minka Kelly is trying defying gravity.

Fashion Week Trend to Watch: Almost-Black Nails

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:50:47 PST

Black nail polish has been a staple part of any cool girl's beauty arsenal for years, but this season there's a new contender for its spot in your makeup drawer. Designers have fallen in love with shades that aren't quite black: burnt plums, deep umbers, incarnadine reds, and moody viridians. These shades have all the drama of your basic black without the harshness, and they set off skin tones beautifully. Check out our top 10 examples of the trend now.

Source: CND

5 Ways to Make Your Morning Routine Faster

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:25:54 PST

Do you find yourself skipping makeup and hair in the morning just so you can grab 15 or 20 precious extra minutes of shut-eye? Or worse, are you losing sleep to an overlong makeup routine? Don't do it! There's no need to suffer for beauty in the mornings, and we've got a few beauty tricks up our sleeves that can speed up anyone's maquillage. See five of our easiest ways to make mornings less painful below.