FitSugar

Fitness Pros Weigh In on The Biggest Loser

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:00:38 -0700

Fall TV is back, and with it comes the return of The Biggest Loser. Now in its eighth season, the weight loss reality show has inspired many viewers to get off the couch and get to the gym.

Although it cannot be denied that the show has brought health and weight loss, or at least the notion of it, into millions of households across America, there are some fitness professionals who disagree with the tactics used. IDEA, an international organization of fitness and wellness professionals, published a long article discussing the fitness regimen used on the ranch. In the article, personal trainers weigh in on the show. Here are two similar complaints, voiced in the article by fitness professionals:

“There seems to be little concern for biomechanics, and many contestants who clearly have been avoiding even the simplest forms of activity for years are now doing explosive, full-body plyometric exercises. There is simply no sound reason for doing this."

"Speed is only appropriate when you’ve mastered the basics of movement. Many of the contestants on that show have no business jumping or doing explosive exercise."

Learn how Bob Harper, Biggest Loser trainer, responds when you read more.

Harper defends the show's workout regimen, explaining that there is a logical progression. But watching contestants while they learn the ropes doesn't make for exciting TV. The heavily edited two-hour show comes from hundreds of hours of footage. Harper also explains, in response to criticism for yelling at the contestants, that he and Jillian might care too much. Most paying clients do want to be motivated, but most likely won't stand for yelling.

While the ultimate message of the show is health and personal accountability, some trainers feel the message of extreme exercise might cause more harm than good.

What do you think? Are you a fan of the show? Will you be watching this season? Do you think the workouts are too over the top?

Photo courtesy of NBC

Do You Eat in Front of the TV?

FitSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:00:01 -0700

A lot of us take our dinner right in front of the TV. Seems relaxing enough, but if your aim is weight loss, then you may want to think about moving away from the TV.

Research has found that kids who watched TV while eating lunch ate a whopping 228 more calories than those who ate without the television on. While the study was done only with kids, I am a firm believer that this also holds true for adults. I'm a fan of TV just as much as the next girl, but it can be a mindless activity, which leads to mindless eating and unnecessary calories. So do yourself and your kids a favor and turn off the tube. Maybe you're already eating without the TV on, so I'm curious . . .

Turn Off That TV!

FitSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:00:00 -0700

This week, turn off your television set and turn up the volume on your physical activity. From now until Sunday, it's officially National TV Turnoff Week, designed to help families get moving in the fight against childhood obesity. Avoiding a sedentary lifestyle isn't the only reason to avoid TV; too much tube can be harmful in more ways than one. Consider:

People who watch more TV may be less happy in the long term.
Watching TV while eating could make you consume more calories, and crime dramas are even worse in this respect.
For every hour of TV watched daily, a preschooler's risk of being overweight increases by six percent - and a whopping 31 percent for kids with a TV in their rooms.
Excessive TV watching by children has also been linked to hypertension.
The average American watches more than four hours of TV a day, so why not help bring down the average?
Turning off the TV in favor of reading or fitness saves energy and is better for the environment.

So, do you think you will put yourself on a TV diet this week, even if just for a few days? You should see what my buddy Buzz has to say about this.

Source

Fit Tip: Trade TV Time For Gym Time

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:00:00 -0700

The wave of new television shows is about to hit the air this Fall, which means we may be tempted to shorten, or even ditch our workouts for the newest episode of The Office. I'm not one to point fingers at vegging out in front of the TV, I even do it myself, but be conscious of how much time you are spending on the couch. Instead, why not sacrifice one show (30 minutes to an hour) and use it as your time to exercise. The TV will be there when you get back and if you're anything like me, you'll be able to enjoy your time to relax a lot more knowing that you've already worked out. Besides, is the new 90210 really worth it?

Source

Diet Tip: Ease Up on the Crime TV

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Find yourself with an empty bag of chips after a night of must-see TV? You're not alone. MSNBC recently reported on a new study that found that consumers who have been recently reminded of their own mortality on TV actually eat more and spend more.

Does this mean we should all ditch The Closer, Criminal Minds, and CSI altogether? Not necessarily. Just use this rather interesting finding as a reminder that watching television often leads to overeating, which can be troublesome since most of us eat in front of the TV. Try and dine away from the tube most nights of the week, especially if it's murder mystery night on Dateline.

Source

Do You Eat in Front of the TV?

FitSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:30:00 -0700

A lot of us take our dinner right in front of the TV. Seems relaxing enough, but if your aim is weight loss then you may want to think about moving away from the TV.

New research has found that kids who watched TV while eating lunch ate a whopping 228 extra calories than those who ate without the television on. While the study was done only with kids, I am a firm believer that this also holds true for adults. I'm a fan of TV just as much as the next girl, but it can be a mindless activity, which leads to mindless eating and unnecessary calories. So do yourself and your kids a favor and turn off the tube. Maybe you're already eating without the TV on, so I'm curious . . .

Source

Fit Tip: Work Out While Watching TV

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:00:00 -0800

I've definitely used the excuse before that I'm too tired after work to exercise, or that I just don't have the time. Nobody has an extra hour lying around in their day for working out - you have to make the time. That means that sometimes you've got to multitask to get in a workout.

So why not exercise while watching TV? I keep a set of weights and a resistance band in the TV–stand drawer, so after dinner, during my favorite shows, instead of sitting my lazy butt on the couch, I do strength training exercises. I really do. I lay a mat on the floor (it makes my workout seem more official that way), and I work my muscles for about 30 minutes. I always feel good afterwards, and it puts me in a calm mood just in time for bedtime.

Need some ideas for what you can do in front of the TV? Then

Stretch your tight hips and hamstrings by doing this yoga sequence.
Tone your abs with these strengthening exercises.
Work your outer thighs and buns with the Pilates Clam Series.
Work your whole body with this Mini Boot Camp series of moves.
Tone your backside with this four-minute booty routine.
Grab some dumbbells and work your arms and upper back.
Work your waist and get rid of those love handles with this series of moves.
Use a resistance band to tone your biceps.

Source

Hypertension Linked to Kids TV Time

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 02:00:00 -0700

A lot of us are concerned about having high blood pressure (aka Hypertension), but have you ever thought about your child having high blood pressure?

As it turns out, children who spent two to four hours a day watching TV were 2.5 times more likely to have hypertension than children who watched two or less hours of TV a day. Children who watched four or more hours of TV a day were 3.3 times more likely to have hypertension than those who watched less than two hours a day.

Furthermore, changing a child's TV time alone can lead to weight loss, without any changes in physical activity. I'm thinking if you don't have kids, or even if you do, the two hour rule is something that we can all apply to our own TV viewing schedules in an effort to be more active.

For those of you who are always looking for more information on parenting as much as I am and have been asking for our parenting site, your wait is almost over! LilSugar is launching very soon so get ready for baby news, trends, advice and stories - Sugar style!

Source

Which Team Do You Want to Go to the World Series?

FitSugar — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 03:00:00 -0700

So the Colorado Rockies already made it to the World Series (which starts on Wednesday). Who do you want to join them: The Boston Red Sox or the Cleveland Indians?

Source and Source

A Few Eating Habits to Avoid

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:00:00 -0700

I'm always telling you good habits to pick up when it comes to your health, but some people need to be told habits they should avoid. Breakfast is crucial, but you're not doing yourself any favors if your daily breakfast is loaded with saturated fat. So in an effort to cover all grounds, here are some eating habits you should avoid:

A Bad Breakfast: You know you're not supposed to skip breakfast, but did you know that what you eat in the morning sets the tone for your meals throughout the day? Breakfast--full of calcium, fiber and carbohydrates--is likely to be your healthiest meal.
Eating Without Thinking: Taking a little bit of time to think about what you've eaten over a day or week can make a big difference in your diet. It can also help you realize how much you're splurging and identify any patterns to your unhealthy snacking or other bad habits.
Weekend Splurges: You've maintained a balanced diet all week. The weekend is the time to reward yourself, right? Not so fast. New research is showing that some people consume an extra 300 calories a day on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, causing a weight gain of a few pounds a year. The biggest source of those extra calories is breakfast, since people often trade in their usual bowl of cereal for eggs, bacon and pancakes.
Letting The TV Tell You What To Eat: Researchers say advertising both between and embedded within shows may be encouraging children's desire for less healthy foods, as opposed to fruits and vegetables. Imagine what it's doing to your diet.
Three-A-Days: Some studies have shown that regularly eating smaller, more frequent meals than the standard three a day may prevent overeating and keep your metabolism steady.

Source