FitSugar

Tennis Anyone? Warm Up Before You Hit the Court

FitSugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:38:15 -0700

If you find yourself all fired up to play tennis after watching Wimbledon, let me remind you to warm up before you rally. Watching elite athletes can be really deceptive. They lunge, jump, and volley with such ease, but this is one game that can be hard on your body. One way to prevent injuries is to warm up properly. Here are a few things I think you should do before jumping onto the court with your racquet.

First you want to prime your heart and lungs for all the running, bouncing, and sprinting you will be doing on the court. Jog for five to ten minutes to get your blood flowing. Your body should feel warm. I follow this with a minute or two of small jumps, like I'm working out with a fake jump rope. Then do a few grapevines the length of the court to prime your fancy footwork and wake up your coordination.

What else should you do? Find out when you read more.

Walking lunges are a great way to prepare your legs for tennis. This move simultaneously lengthens and activates muscles in your legs, priming them for the court. Follow these with some side lunges too, to warm up your reach.
Twisting is the major action of the torso when hitting the ball. This standing twist stretch is easy to do against the fence of the court. Follow with some basic twisting from side to side to lubricate the joints in the back. You can try this with your racquet tucked under your arms, behind your back.
Warming up your shoulders is essential. To do this, move your arms as if you're doing the backstroke, circling your arms overhead slowly at first and building up speed for 20 repetitions. Follow this by clapping your hands in front and in back of your body. Then pick up your racquet and hit some forehands and backhands with the cover still on the racquet to create some resistance. I do about 10 to 15 of each stroke.

You should be primed and ready to play after completing this warm-up. Remember to get to the court early so you can prepare your body before you start to play. Don't forget to stretch afterward either. Game on!

Serena and Venus Endorsing Oreos?

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:00:00 -0700

It looks like the Williams sisters are endorsing Oreos. Yes. Oreos. And not just regular Oreos. Double Stuf Oreos. Serena and Venus announced that they're joining the DSRL - Double Stuf Racing League and they're "battling" Eli and Peyton Manning. I'm not entirely sure what this new "sport" is but I'm thinking it has to do with a glass of milk and some twisting, licking, and dunking action. I saw this commercial while watching the US Open and then again during the first NFL game. The ad left me confused. I mean I know these tennis champs can't possibly be enforcing these cookies where the first ingredient is sugar, the second enriched flour, and the fifth is high fructose corn syrup, right? And they sure don't need the money or the fame. Check out the commercial below and tell me what you think. Does this make you feel differently about these female athletes or is this all in good fun?

To hear what the Williams sisters had to say about Oreos and this new campaign read more.

“Oreo cookies and milk were a tradition in our house growing up, and my sister and I fondly remember twisting, licking and dunking them together,” said Venus. “It was only natural to continue that tradition as adults, which is why we jumped at the chance to be a part of the DSRL.”

“And because we love a friendly rivalry, it’ll be fun to show the Mannings what real DSRL competition is like! They’re going down,” Serena said.

Goodbye Olympics, Hello US Open!

FitSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:00:00 -0700

Whether you're relieved or disappointed that the Olympics are over, you can now channel your sports watching elsewhere. The US Open kicks off today in New York!

I always love watching the Open: It's the only Grand Slam tournament held in the US, which makes it feel more familiar even if I can't sit courtside. This year, the Open is celebrating its 40th anniversary, so there'll be some extra nostalgia, including an opening ceremony (tonight at 7 p.m. EDT) highlighting the tournament's singles champs over the past four decades.

The Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal rivalry will be in full force. Though Federer ceded his number one ranking to Nadal, he has won the past four US Opens, so a potential final against Nadal would be a must-see. Other big names to watch will be Lindsay Davenport, who is back after battling injuries, and Elena Dementieva, who just won the gold medal in women's singles Beijing. The way the matches shake out, there's no way that the Williams sisters, who scored Olympic gold in doubles, could face each other in the final match, but here's hoping they come back strong after Beijing.

Check out the schedule here to find out when all the good matches air. Will you be watching the US Open? Who are you most excited to see?

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Venus Williams Is in Shape

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0700

2008 Wimbledon champ, Venus Williams turned pro at age 14. She won her first grand slam title at 20. Now at 28, she is still winning and she shared some of her secrets of success with Shape and here are some highlights.

On Motivation: As far as motivation goes, Venus tells us who has inspired her the most. It's Serena, no question. "Without her, I couldn't have achieved anything. She's helped me believe in myself." Serena loves to give Venus little sayings to remember, such as, 'If you take your opportunities, more opportunities will come.' "That got me through one final at Wimbledon," recalls Venus. "It was a ridiculously difficult match and I was behind until the last three minutes. I kept saying that line over and over in my head: 'If I take the opportunities on the court, more will come.' I was also thinking, 'I want to be like Serena; I want to win like Serena.' And I did."

To see what Venus thinks is the key to confidence, read more.

On Practice: She recommends you practice and practice more! It’s the key to confidence, says Venus. “You have to practice to develop your talents - and learn to enjoy putting the effort in,” she explains. She doesn’t just practice on the court; her gym routine keeps her in the winner’s circle.
On Her Core: Her success on the court is not just her power serve, but a well conditioned core. "I dedicate one entire workout each week to it, but I also challenge it during other exercises – it's where so much of my power comes from."

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Courtside to Poolside: Women in Sports Weekend

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Not only did we have a three day weekend, but the world of women's sports was alive with excitement.

Whether you were watching Wimbledon or not, a sister on sister final match must intrigue you. The Williams sisters dueled it out in an exciting final match (7/5, 6/4). In this match up Venus came out on top, continuing the friendly sibling rivalry – the last time Venus beat younger sister Serena was in the US Open in 2001. The sisters also won the women's doubles title. Congrats ladies and thanks for bringing tennis excitement back to the states!

To see how swimmer 41-year-old Dara Torres did at US Olympic swimming trials, read more.

Off the court and into the pool, mommy Olympic swimmer Dara Torres made an amazing comeback indeed! Not only did she win the 100 meter freestyle as well as the 50 meter freestyle events, she broke a US record too. With already nine medals to her name, Torres is still hungry for more and pushed herself to make the US Swim team after taking seven years off from competitive swimming. Now we just have to wait to see how she does in the Olympics.

We will definitely have our eyes on Dara as well as Venus and Serena when the Beijing games begin. Are you getting excited for the Olympics? I certainly am!

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Venus' Short Shorts: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:25:00 -0700

Tennis fashions have certainly evolved and come a long way from the pastels and "skirts only rules" for the ladies. You all loved Sharapova's red tennis dress, but tell me how you feel about the SHORT shorts Venus Williams wore during her last match at the US Open. No doubt she looks amazing, and by making it all the way to the semi-finals being seeded 12th in the tournament, we know Venus is one fierce competitor.

Today in the semi-finals, Venus takes on top ranked Justine Henin, who defeated sister Serena just two days ago!!! Should be a great game and she will probably be wearing some fashion forward tennis wear too.

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Venus Williams Launches EleVen Clothing Line

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 11:00:00 -0700

My girl, Venus Williams, has recently launched her new clothing line, EleVen in collaboration with Steve & Barry's.

While Williams is only wearing the V-Court pro sneaker at the U.S. Open, which is going on now, EleVen's launch collection will have more than 120 pieces. The collection will cover a wide spectrum, from performance apparel to lounge wear, accessories and footwear. Sneaker styles are appropriately named after tennis terms such as Ace, Deuce and Swing. Many of the items are versatile in nature and can be worn to workout and then go out!

Venus has been working at getting her degree in fashion design at the Art Institute of Florida, so I am thrilled at the prospect of fashionable workout gear. What's more? It's affordable too since everything in the collection is rumored to be priced at $19.98 or less. Unfortunately, you won't be able to buy the gear until November, but you can sign up for email updates at EleVenByVenus.com. I've also heard that a couple of hundred pairs of the V-Court will be sold this Friday at the Steve & Barry's Manhattan flagship store -- So all you New Yorkers can get an early peek...

Source and Source.

Words That Move You

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:15:00 -0700

It's always hard to recover after a loss. . . . I have to know when it's time to step up, not to revert back to bad habits but to keep ahead with the good ones.

Venus Williams,
2005 Wimbledon Champion

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Serena Williams Named Woman of the Year

FitSugar — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:30:37 -0800

Looks like having a potty mouth won't hurt you too much. Serena Williams is one of 11 outstanding ladies Glamour magazine has chosen for its Women of the Year issue.

Glamour cites Williams's competitive spirit and drive as a testament to her success, even in the face of hardships like the tragic murder of her sister Yetunde and her rise through the rankings after suffering injuries in 2006. This year it all came full circle for Williams when she captured the Wimbledon victory against her sister, Venus - whom she credits as being a major force in motivating her to work the hardest and become the best.

Besides her Wimbledon victory, Williams has 11 Grand Slam titles, two Olympic gold medals, and has earned more prize money than any female athlete in history. But her trophies and bank account aren't the only reason Glamour thinks Williams is tops. Between winning matches, she's managed to start her own clothing line, pen an autobiography, and open a school in Kenya through her Serena Williams Foundation.

Who else did Glamour name as Women of the Year? Some of the other notables Williams holds court with are Michelle Obama, Maria Shriver, Rihanna, and poet Maya Angelou.

Are You On the Twilight Diet?

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:00:27 -0700

Have you heard about the Twilight diet? At first I thought it was a term Twilighters - aka die-hard Twilight fans - used to describe their voracious appetites for all things Edward and Bella - books, movies, pictures, life-size Robert Pattinson cutouts - but it's actually related to food. Twilight vernacular is everywhere, even in the world of health and fitness.

I've written a little about Taylor Lautner's quest to bulk up for New Moon. In order to be a believable Jacob the werewolf, the young star was in the gym every day for two hours to put on the needed 30 pounds of muscle. "I had to eat every two hours," says Lautner. "At one point, my trainer said, 'Put anything in your mouth. Go to McDonalds get the biggest shake possible. I just need to get calories in you.' Because my body fat at the time was only, like, 7.5 percent"

Lautner's fitness routine is what the urban dictionary calls the Twilight diet:

Person A: Yo man, I wanna get ripped.
Person B: Yeah man, follow the Twilight diet!

I wonder what Michael Phelps and Venus Williams would think if they knew they were on the Twilight diet while training, and didn't even know it?

To hear about the "other" Twilight diet read more.

I was curious if the Twilight diet was actually being followed, and not only did I find out that it is, I also discovered that there is another diet with the same name - and it seemed to be at odds with the already mentioned Twilight diet! What's a fan to do?

In the first movie we are introduced to the Cullens, a family of vampires who resist their natural desire to feed on humans. This desire becomes even more exasperated when Edward Cullen falls in love with Bella, a human. Some Twilighters are using this narrative as a model of self-control in their own lives. If Edward and the rest of the Cullens can resist eating humans then they, the fans, can resist eating chocolate cake.

There are tons of posts on Twilight boards and blogs affirming that Twilight has been a catalyst for lifestyle changes. Apparently fans are so busy consuming everything Twilight, they have less time to eat. On top of this they are also adopting the Cullen's method of self-control. This combo has led to some serious weight loss - some fans have lost six pounds, while others claim 25.

I admit that the Twilight diet is an easy target, but you can also look at it as inspiration coming in many different forms. For some it's a vampire series that spawns a lifestyle change. Odd? Perhaps. But it's great to see people making choices for the better, whatever the reason.

Have you ever found inspiration from an unlikely source?