FitSugar

Get in Gear: Strider Hydration Waistpack

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:30:00 PDT

This hot weather makes exercising outdoors tough. I used to go for a run and then come back and drink water, but because I'm sweating so much, I need to rehydrate while I workout.

One of my new favorite finds is this water waistpack known as Strider made by Ultimate Direction.

It is a waistpack so obviously you wear it around your waist, and the straps are adjustable so you can get it to fit as snug as you like it. The water bottle fits right into the curve of your lower back and the little zippered pouch rests on your left hip. The small amount of weight from the water bottle pressing on my lower back feels really comfortable.

It comes with a water bottle and the pack is so lightweight, I hardly feel it when I'm running or bike riding. The tiny pouch is 8 inches long, so it's big enough to fit some money, keys, cellphone, and a pack of tissues (or whatever other small items you like to have when exercising outside).

You can order it online from Rei.com for $30. It comes in black, as shown, or sage gray.

Glee-ful Highlights From Episode "Michael"

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:04:31 PST

When I heard that Glee was performing a Michael Jackson tribute, I basically starting moonwalking across the floor, but the episode didn't quite live up to my expectations. I definitely appreciated the effort, and there were absolutely some standout performances, but I would have loved more Jackson 5 or old-school Michael disco tunes.

With so many songs crammed in, there's very little in the way of plot here. Basically, the entire episode is about the rivalry between the New Directions and the Warblers, and Sebastian emerges as the show's new villain when he hits Blaine with a jacked-up slushie. Oh, and Rachel finally gives Finn an answer to his proposal! Ready to break it all down? Just

5 Unbelievably Bad Fast-Food Breakfasts

Prevention — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:06:39 PST

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

By Molly Raisch, Prevention

Mom always said, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” And she was right. Morning meals are essential to revving your metabolism and kick-starting your calorie burn, but indulging in a fat- and calorie-laden breakfast from your favorite fast-food chain could easily send you into sugar shock and pack on the pounds. Research shows that people who ate a big morning meal consumed an extra 400 calories per day, setting themselves up for muffin tops and pancake bottoms. Here are six breakfast drive-through disasters and their Prevention-approved healthier, make-at-home options.

Fifty Simple Strategies to Lose 10 Pounds

Starbucks® Zucchini-Walnut Muffin
Muffins are calorie sinkholes - they pack in the calories but somehow still leave your stomach grumbling. This muffin from Starbucks® seems healthy enough, boasting both zucchini and walnuts, but don’t be fooled by its veggie-based name. This morning baked good has close to 500 calories and 28 grams of fat.

Try Instead: Zucchini-Raisin Muffin
These scrumptious zucchini muffins are half the calories and nearly a third of the fat as their coffeehouse counterparts. Tricks of the trade: Load up your bread batter with tons of zucchini shreds and add raisins for a touch of natural sweetness.

Ten Breakfasts For Glowing Skin

McDonald’s Big Breakfast® With Hotcakes
When your breakfast comes off a fast-food menu and has the word “big” in it, your waistline is headed in the same direction. This hearty breakfast has scrambled eggs, sausage, a buttermilk biscuit, hash browns, and two hotcakes piled onto a plate, making it no surprise that one order accounts for over half your day’s calories and over 55 grams of fat. The worst part? This lumberjack breakfast is sky-high in sodium: 2,150 milligrams.

Try Instead: Pancakes With Berries and Cinnamon
Satisfy your hotcake cravings with these light and fluffy low-cal flapjacks. The secret to cutting fat and calories without losing any buttery flavor: bake them in the oven. Top with berries and cinnamon, and you’ve got a mouthwatering, guilt-free pancake breakfast the whole family will love.

Keep reading for more healthy breakfast swaps after the break.

6 Tips to Start Your New Job Right

Kiplinger — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:08:12 PST

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

I learned some valuable lessons about how to succeed in the "real world" while starting out at my first full-time job, and you can, too.

I never expected my social circle, at age 22, to use the phrase "I feel so old" so much. We know we still have our whole lives ahead of us, but making the transition from college to career can really make you feel like you've aged 20 years. For example, unlike in my college years, convincing myself to go out on a Friday night these days takes almost as much work as getting out of bed on a Monday morning. And I never thought I would be spending my beloved lazy Sundays running whatever errands I didn't get done during the week. Even four internships, including one with my current full-time employer, the Kiplinger Washington Editors, hadn't fully prepared me for this whole professional-life thing.

To help you make the adjustment and overcome common obstacles you might face when you're just starting out, here are some lessons I learned in the first few months of my first job. I hope these tips will help you feel as young as you are. SEE ALSO: Our Quiz on Navigating the First Weeks at Your New Job

Read on for tips.

Doctors Say We Should Bribe Our Kids to Eat Well

BabyCenter — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:33:21 PST

We're excited to share this post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we will be bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post from Dr. Lisa Dana about convincing kids to eat healthy foods.

A study out of the University College London in the United Kingdom says yes. Reuters reported on the study.

Children rewarded with a small sticker after eating 3 to 4 bites of a previously disliked vegetable would ultimately change their attitude toward the vegetable. After the 12 day experiment, kids who were rewarded with stickers, would change their opinion from “yucky” to “okay” or “yummy.”

Related: Teaching Bad Sleep Habits

The experiment compared three different groups of children. One group was rewarded with a small sticker after eating vegetables, one group received verbal praise, while the control group was simply offered the vegetable without praise or rewards for eating. The vegetables in the study included carrots, celery, cucumber, red pepper, cabbage and sugar snap peas.

The children in the reward group gave higher ratings to the previously disliked vegetable, and they were more likely to eat it 3 months later.

Jane Wardle, a researcher on the project emailed Amy Norton of Reuters, “We would recommend that parents consider using small non-food rewards, given daily for tasting tiny pieces of the food - smaller than half a little finger nail.”

I have never been an advocate for the reward system. Why do we need to bribe kids to do something that is ultimately good for them. Also, when do the rewards stop? I believe that if we start healthy eating habits early, then babies and toddlers will love these healthy foods from the beginning.

When parents tell me that their toddlers and children are picky with vegetables, I suggest they keep trying. At meals, offer vegetables first, and if you are out and about, bring it along as the snack option. You should also expect to offer it at least 15 different times before giving up on a particular food.

As the kids get older, I speak directly to the kids about healthy eating options. I remind them how important vegetables are for their growing bodies. I also tell them that no one, including their parents wants to argue about food at meal time. Meal time should be more relaxing. For these older picky eaters, I ask that when they return for their annual check up in a year, that they try to expand their repertoire by at least 3 -4 new foods.

*Note: The advice provided in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis, advice or treatment for specific medical conditions

More great stories from BabyCenter.com:
7 guilt trips moms can do without
7 gifts you pray your kids don't get this year
Do you spoil your kids? Should I?
Do the kids sit at a different table?
You know you're a mother when . . .

Shop and Watch PopSugar's Holiday Gift Guide!

Molly Goodson — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:41:14 PST

Stay tuned for a replay of our gift guide, and until then, shop the picks by clicking above.

Our ultimate PopSugar 100 Gift Guide is coming to life with a LIVE video show and it's your lucky day because we're also giving away some of the hottest items from our must-have list. Watch as the PopSugar editors show off our 25 favorite gifts for the season to help you with all your holiday shopping needs. During the show we're making it super easy to shop while you watch with direct links to buy all of the items. To make it even more exciting, we give away luxurious Tom Ford lip gloss, the stunning Phillip Lim 3.1 bag, Butter nail polish, and even the coveted Proenza Schouler P.S.1. There are giveaways every 15 minutes!

Watch the Gift Guide on PopSugar LIVE right now!

Giveaway Official Rules

7 Fun Facts About Josh Groban and His New Character on The Office

Rose Curiel — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:21:39 PDT

Josh Groban makes his debut as Andy Bernard's little brother, Walter Jr., on this week's episode of The Office. Groban took the time to talk to reporters about his new character, the rivalry between Walter Jr. and his older brother, and why he sometimes wishes the Bernard family patriarch, Stephen Collins, was his actual father. Plus, he filled us in on how he landed the gig.

Walter Jr. Stole Andy's Name
"Andy is the firstborn, which is usually, I think, probably the favorite son, but for whatever reason being the secondborn somehow I kind of stole his name from him. He was originally going to be Walter Jr., but they made me Walter Jr., and he kind of wound up being a little bit more of the happy-go-lucky, very successful, almost kind of fell up in a way."
He Geeked Out Over Visiting Schrute Farms
"I was very, very honored [to visit Schrute Farms]. I did not take it lightly for sure. I was actually kind of surprised they didn’t put a blindfold on me on the van ride over because it feels like one of those very kind of top secret TV land locations. But when we pulled in, as a fan of the show, it was really, really fun to see. And also it was great to see the actual house on Schrute Farms. Everything that you see on the show, none of that feels like a set when you’re there. It’s a beautiful piece of land and what they’ve done, the prop department people who have created that house, it’s all to scale, and to be able to walk in and be able to see all the Schrute portraits on the wall, and the pictures from his childhood and the oil painting of his grandfather next to the Kiss poster, like it’s just like they haven’t left any stone unturned as far as his character and what that property means for his character. As a fan of the show it was really, really cool to see."

To find out what other things Groban revealed about his character, just

He Couldn't Resist Bringing a Prop Home "I definitely will treasure the family portrait that was taken on set. We got to take a picture where it was me and Ed [Helms] and Stephen [Collins], and all of standing there, and Dee Wallace of course, who plays our mom, who is amazing. It’s definitely a cool portrait. I’m going to frame it and hang it on my fireplace at some point."
He Got His Office Gig Through Twitter "The complicated thing right now is that I’m actually on tour. When Mindy Kaling asked me about doing the show, she said - she actually kind of direct message tweeted me, and I was shocked to hear from her and I said, 'Yeah, no I would love to do the show. When are you thinking?' And it just so happened the exact week they were taping this episode was the exact week out of an eight-month tour that I’m doing, that I happened to be in the Los Angeles area. So it was 100 percent just serendipity that I happened to be in town when they were taping this episode."
He'd Love to Play a Drug Dealer "I would love to play somebody really bad on Breaking Bad. I think that would be a really fun thing for me. I would love to play a drug dealer, or something that would be really, really fun. I’ve been completely obsessed with that series."
He Wishes Stephen Collins Was His Part-Time Dad "Stephen Collins, you know, I’ve watched his work in the past and everybody’s seen him in 7th Heaven and all those shows, and he’s kind of like the ultimate dad. When you watch him at work, he’s kind of the dad you wish was your side dad, no matter how great you think your family is. Like, you want him as your weekend dad. He’s a cool dude and when I met him off set, there’s something about him that is so calm and collected, but he has a really dry wit. Just hanging out with him, we were working on some of our song harmonies and things like that. He, first of all, has an amazing voice. Not to give any spoilers, but I think people will kind of realize that the musical inspiration in the family started with him. There’s a little bit of a Von Trapp family atmosphere in his world in the show.
He Can Be Just as Shy as Walter Jr. "I think to a certain extent I am kind of as shy in garden party situations as Walter is, and I think to a certain extent, any of us who have achieved a certain amount of success kind of feel like we’ve worked for it, and also feel to a certain extent like we were given wonderful opportunities and wonderful open doors to walk through. I would say that I’m definitely a little bit more neurotic than Walter Jr. Walter Jr. seems to be just very much go with the flow, and life’s grand, and I tend to be a bit more of an overthinker than he is, I think."

Glee-Ful Highlights From Season Three Premiere "The Purple Piano Project"

Shannon Vestal — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 07:51:51 PDT

Glee is back for season three, and the brand new school year has brought with it a few shakeups: several characters have quit the glee club, a few are off the show entirely (Sam, we hardly knew ye), and since it's senior year for a few of the students, we're starting to see plans form for when the year ends.

The season opener set up some arcs for the next few months, but it also glossed so quickly over many things that changed my head was spinning. Still, it's nice to see the gang back - even if they're not singing all together again yet. It's time to talk about everything that goes down in the episode, though, so let's go over it all when you keep reading

Getting Down With SUP

Susi May — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:02:30 PDT

I recently tried my hand, well, whole body, at stand-up paddleboarding. After looking at photos of Jennifer Aniston and Matthew McConaughey tooling around with paddle and board, I thought I was prepared. While SUPing is really not that difficult, especially when the water looks like glass, I was still hoping for a few beginning pointers other than terse advice to "balance" from the rental desk where I picked up my 11-foot board.

But that one word of advice is not to be underestimated; balance is key. You do not, however, need to start immediately standing on your board. Start in a low kneel (booty on your heels), then work your way up to a high kneel ("standing" on your knees), and eventually to standing. When you do make it up, it helps to have your feet just a bit wider than hip distance apart, toes pointed slightly outward, and knees slightly bent. Actively engage your core (just like at the gym when confronted with standing core exercises), but allow your entire body to respond as the waves roll in.

If you're ocean bound to SUP, I suggesting heading out in the morning when the water tends to be less dramatic. I jumped on my board in the later afternoon as the wind was picking up, making for choppy water. Ultimately, these conditions turned my rough start into a killer workout. Heading directly into the bumps and swells the ocean offers up is easier than riding parallel to the breaking waves. If you roll off the board due to waves, you have a splashy and refreshing landing into the water.

Learn another crucial bit of advice when you keep reading.

Etsy Finds: Stylish Selections For Father's Day

Elka Karl — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 03:00:05 PDT

Don't forget - Father's Day is coming up quickly. Make sure to mark your calendars in time to get Dad's gift in the mail or ready to be shipped for celebrating on Sunday, June 19. This year, why not add something to improve Dad's home style? Whether you live with the dad in question and will directly benefit from some handsome bedding and accessories, or will be shipping the gift across the country, it's sure to be appreciated. See some of my favorite Etsy finds for Father's Day - from the practical to the ultimate wish-list gifts.