FitSugar

Build a Strong Core and Arms With the Suitcase Walk

FitSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:00:00 PST

If you're looking to strengthen your core muscles as well as your shoulders and arms, here's a great move called the suitcase walk. Not only is it great for toning your muscles, but it can also prepare you for carrying your suitcase in the airport this holiday season. Here's how to do it:

Hold a rather heavy size dumbbell in your right hand, between 15 and 30 pounds. You want to choose a dumbbell weight that will challenge your core, but also allow you to have good form when walking. Hold the hand weight to one side with a straight arm, just like you would hold a suitcase. Keep your shoulders even and your posture square.
Walk, carrying your dumbbell at your side, for 100 to 300 feet. If you don't have one long area to walk in, then walk a shorter distance, back and forth, to total the amount of feet you've chosen. Keep your spine straight and your abs engaged as you move with control. Don't swing the dumbbell mindlessly, but keep it at your side.
Then bend your knees to put the weight down and pick it up with your left hand. Walk the same distance.
Do this exercise once or twice on each side, envisioning the long lines at the airport.

Source

ExerciseTV: Post Flight Stretches

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 04:00:00 PST

Travel much? Try these easy stretches for when you get off the plane. They will help revitalize your travel weary body by opening up your chest and shoulders. Since the busiest travel day of the year is approaching I wanted to share this video I found over on ExerciseTV. They were generous enough to share this video with me and to sponsor this post.

You should definitely check out the extensive video library at ExerciseTV. There is no reason to ever be bored with your workout again!

Happy traveling!

Altuzarra Fall 2012

Marisa Tom — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:27:47 PST

Just when we thought we couldn't swoon any more over Joseph Altuzarra's creations, the designer sent us on a dizzying trip around the world via brightly hued Moroccan-chic knitwear, chunky fringe, plush shearling, and quirky coin embellishments. From 1940s Parisian silhouettes to ultra-tailored naval coats and equestrian-inspired jodhpurs, to the whimsical markings of a visit to a Marrakesh marketplace, this collection was all about mixing it up. The result? A sultry blend of super-structured jackets, pants, and fur-lined outerwear paired perfectly with eclectic fringe-laden skirts, Indian-braid schoolboy sweaters, and coin-infused cocktail dresses. Slick, tasseled, patent-leather ankle boots and knee-high riding boots completed each look - a fitting accessorized finish for the well-traveled style setter who knows where she's going next.

Trends: Global traveler, fringe, coin embellishments, equestrian-inspired silhouettes, fur-trimmed collars, quirky updates on the Fair Isle print.
Colors: Earthy brown, black, navy, ivory, gold, and bright pops of Moroccan oranges and reds.
Key Piece: The vibrant coin-sashed orange dress embodied Altuzarra's worldly take on his Fall '12 lineup.
Accessories: Chunky cummerbund belts, patent-leather ankle boots, and knee-high riding boots, complete with slick tasseled add-ons.
Who Would Wear It: The downtown cool girl with a flair for spontaneity, like Kate Bosworth, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ashley Olsen.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Yoga Mat

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:36:43 PST

Buying a yoga mat is like buying a new pair of running sneakers. It takes careful consideration and research to find the right fit. Since there are hundreds to ~~confuse you~~ choose from, narrow down your search by asking these important questions.

How Much Do I Want to Spend?
Your budget is a huge factor in the mat you end up with. Do you have the dough to lay down for the priciest one on the market or are you happy buying a cheaper mat? The upside of buying a more expensive mat, like the Manduka PRO Black Magic ($104), is durability, which will actually save you money over time.

How Thick Do I Want It?
If you're new to the mat-buying scene, you might not realize that mats come in different thicknesses. A quarter-inch is the standard mat thickness, probably like the one you've borrowed from your studio. Think about how your body feels on this mat in certain poses where your bones are pressing into the floor. If you've felt discomfort, splurge on a thicker mat, but make sure it's also dense. A thick squishy mat makes balancing postures more difficult.

Keep reading for more things to consider when purchasing a new yoga mat.

Looking to Escape? 9 Flash Sale Travel Sites With Great Deals

Emily Co — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:26:08 PST

It's a good idea to start planning your trips for the year now, so you can keep your eye out for the best deals and you won't have to resort to paying expensive last-minute prices. If you already have several destinations in mind, check out travel flash sale sites, which can save you hundreds of dollars! Here are a couple to browse through:

Groupon Getaways

Groupon partnered up with Expedia to launch a travel deals vector that features new deals every Tuesday. The deals stay live for seven days or until they run out. The site offers a good mix of national and international travel deals.

Hot recent deal: $39 for $100 toward a round-trip Virgin America flight from San Francisco to Chicago. The deal has already sold out, and over 5,000 Grouponers bought this deal.

Jetsetter

A luxury travel site that offers deals up to 50 percent off only the most luxurious and exotic hotels around the globe. Each sale lasts about five to seven days. You can pay 10 percent of the trip price to "hold" a trip for three days to decide whether to book it. If you decide not to purchase, the 10 percent becomes Jetsetter credit that never expires.

Hot recent deal: A hotel in Rome, Italy, that's going for $130 a night. This compares with the regular nightly rate of $220.

Read on for more sites.

How to Stop Keeping Up With the Joneses

LearnVest — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:15:16 PST

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

At first glance, it doesn’t seem like there are many money lessons to learn from The Real Housewives.

One spent a season building a $1.8 million mansion and driving around a $1,280-per-month Escalade, only to file for bankruptcy with almost $11 million in debt.

Shortly postbankruptcy, she dropped another $60,000 on a shopping spree so she could continue to fit in with those in her social circle.

Even if you don’t end up with millions of dollars in debt - or have friends who are millionaires - trying to keep up with the Joneses (or the Gorgas, in this case) can not only make you feel lousy about yourself, but also inspire bad spending decisions. We call this phenomenon “money comparisonitis.”

How Having "Comparisonitis" Affects Us

In our own lives, the dangers of gazing enviously at the Real Housewives’ spending sprees, our neighbor’s new car, or that family down the street who can send their kids to private school are not only the fact that it makes us feel bad, but that it literally distorts our view of reality.

In other words, we look at celebrities like the Kardashians or the wealthier people we know, and we try to emulate their spending habits. “You’re not being truthful with yourself,” says Susan L. Hirshman, president of She Ltd., a consulting firm focused on enhancing women’s wealth, and the author of Does This Make My Assets Look Fat?. “As they make more money, that allows them to live a certain lifestyle.” In other words, you have to face facts and spend in accordance with your own budget, rather than feeling entitled to live a certain way just because other people do.

Read on for more.

Lil Links: There Are More Than a Few People in Your Life Who Don't Love Your Children

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:32:25 PST

The seven people who hate your child - The Stir
The Octomom takes her brood to the beach - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Sarah Drew welcomes a son - Celebrity Baby Blog
Power freezer recipes for the nesting mama-to-be - FitPregnancy
How to keep it together when traveling alone with the kids - Parenting
Thanks, but I don't want my husband in the delivery room - Momformation
How fatherhood really changes men - Yahoo! Shine
Six ways to dine out on a budget with kids - Real Simple
Bugaboo introduces healthy-cooking videos for families – Child Mode

Madonna Talks Underwear, Her "Bum," and Her New Album's "Happy" Sound After Globes Win

Molly Goodson — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:24:46 PST

Madonna took home the Golden Globe for her song "Masterpiece" from her movie W.E. at this evening's big show. She stepped backstage after her acceptance speech and was in great spirits, joking about everything from how she tones her famous behind to what she makes sure not to travel without. While talking about the sound of her upcoming album, Madonna showed off a few dance steps. Check out the quotes:

On her current fitness regime: "I’m not really doing Pilates anymore. I’m just dancing. You know, dance aerobics. I kind of do that, but the best thing for your bum is dancing."

On her first post-win call:"Well I’m probably not going to call anybody, I’m going back to my seat, but my daughter will be."

On her Globes dress: "I love it because I feel like I’m wearing chain mail and I’m ready to go to battle."

On beating Elton John: "I hope he speaks to me for the next couple of years. He’s known to get mad at me. He's brilliant and I adore him. He’ll win another award, so I don’t feel bad."

On what she never travels without: "My passport, a pair of tweezers."

Favorite things in her closet: "I'd say my fishnets, but I'm not wearing them tonight. My Victoria's Secret underpants."

On all her upcoming projects: "Well it took me three years to make this movie, and while I was making the movie all these things were pushing the train behind me saying, "What about me?" I do have a recording career to pay attention to. And I do have to pay my rent. Making a record was always on my mind, and then I was asked to do the Super Bowl, which is an honor but takes a lot of planning. Then it’s a tour."

On the sound of her new record: "Well I did a good majority of the record with Martin Solveig, who is a DJ/producer. His sound is really fresh. His music is happy, it puts a smile on your face and I hope my record does too. Also, it will be introspective and thoughtful. It’s a good combination of the light and the dark."

On what inspires her: "Life inspires me."

Fitness on the Go: US Hotel Chains With the Best Gyms

Heather Dale — Thu, 26 May 2011 02:46:31 PDT

Whenever you travel, do you care how posh the fitness center in your hotel is? I tend to believe that if I pay a bit extra for a certain hotel, I expect a decent gym to be included in that price. Unfortunately, a nice clean gym in one hotel- fully stocked with all the treadmills, ellipticals, and rowing machines your heart could ever desire - isn't the same as another hotel from the same group in another city. You definitely need to do your homework before assuming you'll get the same amenities across the board.

What is cool though, is that hotel chains are realizing that being able to exercise in a well-equipped fitness center is very important to their guests, which is why hotels like the Westin are making it easier for customers to workout during their stay. Westin Hotels & Resorts has teamed up with New Balance to launch a complimentary gear loan program at 10 Westin properties, where guests have access to New Balance shoes, apparel, and accessories. How cool is that?

Now, to see my pick for US hotel chains that have the best gyms, keep reading.

Kate Hudson Cuddles Bing Close For a Family Weekend

Lauren Turner — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:17:08 PST

Kate Hudson carried her son Bing on her chest, and wore a cropped boxy cowl with elbow patches from Autumn Cashmere, as she ran errands outside of LA over the weekend. Bing is already 6 months old and he's fit in a lot of traveling during that short time. He and his mom have been spotted in London and NYC, and their latest getaway was in Aspen, CO. Kate and her fiancé Matthew Bellamy went skiing with Kate's oldest child, Ryder, over the holidays, though Bing sat out from the snowy activity. The fun continued for the Hudson-Bellamys after they returned to the West Coast since they celebrated Ryder's eighth birthday on Saturday.