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Watch Out For: Ticks

FitSugar — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Exercising in the woods is perfect in the Summer because the challenging terrain offers you a tough workout, but the trees provide shade to prevent overheating. When on the trail you need not only to watch out for poison ivy, but be on the lookout for ticks as well. These little buggers are small, but their bites have the ability to transmit diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, Lyme disease, and other tick-borne illnesses. Blacklegged ticks (deer ticks), lone star ticks, and American dog ticks are all on the list of things you don't want touching your body.

To prevent ticks from landing on you and attaching to your skin, wear long sleeves, pants, and tall socks that cover your shins. Lighter colored clothing will make it easier to spot these dark bugs so you can flick them off. If it's too hot for all those clothes, then spray yourself with bug repellent. Also avoid walking in tall grassy areas. Be especially cautious in May, June, and July when ticks are most active. After an excursion in an area that's known for ticks, check yourself or have someone else check your skin - don't forget your armpits, scalp, and groin.

To find out what you should do if you see a tick stuck to your body read more.

Remove the tick from your skin by using tweezers. Don't smother the tick with nail polish or petroleum jelly, and don't use a hot match. You want to avoid crushing the tick to ensure that the disease-causing bacterium stays inside the tick's body. Pull the tick out and if the mouthparts are still in your skin, pull those out too. Wash the area with soapy warm water. If a tick has latched on to you and it's been less than 24 hours, your risk of contracting a disease is fairly low. Monitor the bitten area as well as your overall symptoms over the next few weeks, just to be sure.

Is it just me, or does anyone else get itchy just looking at the images of ticks?

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Watch Out For: Poison Ivy

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Unknowingly tromping through a patch of poison ivy can turn a pleasurable hike or run in the woods into a nightmare. If you touch the plant or something that has touched it (like your dog), then the oils can get on your skin and cause a nasty, itchy, blistery rash that lasts for up to three weeks.

If you know you've gotten into some poison ivy, you want to rinse with cold water within an hour of exposure. A hot shower is the worst idea because it will open your pores and let the oils in. If you wash the oils off immediately, hopefully you'll avoid a rash altogether. If you do develop the rash, don't pop the blisters. The liquid inside won't cause the rash to spread, but you could get an infection. Use a topical anti-itch cream to relieve your symptoms and speed up the healing process.

If you learned the rule, "Leaves of three, let it be," you can throw that out the window. While poison ivy does grow in clusters of three leaves, it can also grow up to nine leaves in a group. To hear what else you should you watch out for and see some photos of this treacherous plant read more.

This plant needs light to grow, so often you'll find it lurking on the edge of woods, roads, parking lots, and fields.
Poison ivy generally grows in a cluster of low weed-like plants, but it can also be a vine that climbs up trees.
Many plants look like poison ivy, but you'll know it's something to avoid if the base of the leaves are slightly wide. Also, the edges of the leaves have tiny "teeth."
The leaves aren't always green. They are reddish in the spring, green in the summer, and yellow or orange in the fall.
The berries are typically white.

Check out these photos from the poison-ivy.org website, so you know exactly which plants to avoid and which are harmless.

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Ashley Greene's New Moon Diet

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:19 -0800

If you were part of New Moon fever this weekend, I’m sure you were transfixed as I was watching the epic battle scene between the Cullen family and the Volturi. The young actors demonstrated dynamic moves coupled with super human strength that were spectacular to watch on the big screen.

Moves like that don’t come easy, Twilight actress Ashley Greene told Us Magazine. Greene, who plays Alice Cullen in the films, said that prepping for the role involved a lot of training - up to four hours a day! In addition to working out with a personal trainer every day, she also had an intense week of fight training with the rest of the New Moon cast. No wonder all the actors look ripped.

To find out how else Greene stays in shape, read more.

Greene was pretty candid in admitting another reason she’s looking so svelte - 12 hour workdays don't "leave too much time to eat." Before dismissing Greene as an actress who starves herself to look good, the star did say that she ate well and stuck to healthy foods during filming. As for her day-to-day off the set she does Pilates six times a week.

"I do it early in the morning. It wakes you up, and it's kind of refreshing," said Greene, who is headed to London in a few months to begin filming the thriller The Apparition. "And that is basically it. Sometimes cardio. I am not a big weight person because when I do weights I build muscle mass."

Trying to Lose Weight? Ask These Questions

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:26 -0800

Many of the people reading FitSugar have weight loss on the brain, but are your efforts really necessary? Are those extra pounds putting your health at risk, or are you just carrying around a little harmless fluff? WebMD outlined seven questions you should ask yourself to help decide if you really need to get serious about weight loss.

What is your lifestyle? "Regular physical activity and healthy eating are important," say experts who spoke with WebMD, not just for those trying to budge the scale. If you're not active and eat poorly, you should start making some changes for your overall health, not just because of a weight-loss goal.
What is your family history? If high cholesterol, "high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, or another weight-related ailment" runs in your family then Web MD notes that "it's crucial to be mindful of your weight."
What is your weight history? If the pounds have been creeping up on you over the past several years, you need to watch out since "experts say your BMI should not increase dramatically, even as you age. Even moderate weight gain in adulthood can increase your risk of diabetes."

To see the other four questions read more.

How is your weight distributed? WebMD warns that if your body is "the so-called 'apple' shape," it can put your health at risk. So if this sounds like you, aim to whittle away your middle. If your weight is primarily in your thighs and butt, it's not as crucial to drop the pounds.
What is your waist size? The National Institutes of Health say that a "waist circumference of over 35 inches in women signifies a health risk, particularly those people with BMIs of 25 and 34.9 (the overweight category)." If you're not sure what your BMI is, check out Fit's Calculator to find out.
What is your health profile? "If your cholesterol and blood pressure levels are high and your BMI falls into the overweight or obese category, it's important to lose weight," writes WebMD. So make an appointment with your doc to get yours checked.
How do you feel? "If you're overweight and have joint problems, shortness of breath, or other health troubles that limit your day-to-day living," and interfere with being able to work, then experts quoted in the article suggest that melting away pounds would help improve the quality of your life.

Padma Cooks at Home to Stay Fit

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0800

Thanks to a full season of Top Chef's indulgent cuisine, the reality hostess admits she's likely to go up a couple dress sizes during filming. Still, Padma Lakshmi doesn't let the extra pounds take a toll on her healthy fitness perspective, and shares with Glamour how a positive attitude and a realistic take on eating help her shed the weight.

For one, Padma reveals that when Top Chef contestants aren't whipping up something decadent for her to taste, she's likely to be cooking something healthy at home. Padma knows that cooking in her own kitchen can be a healthy way to control her caloric intake, and while takeout can seem a more convenient alternative, Padma reminds us that, "it can actually take longer to order delivery or go pick up takeout than it does to cook." In addition, the foodie loves the physicality of cooking, noting that "[instead] of watching TV, waiting for your food to come, you’re actually moving [when you cook]. My aunt had the best arms in the world, and she never stepped inside a gym.”

Check out Glamour to get the rest of Padma's realistic weight loss and healthy eating tips.

The Ultimate Date: Indoor Rock Climbing

Fit Community — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:32 -0800

Women That Rock (Climb) community members Spacekatgal and her husband Spacekatdude give you their take on why indoor rock climbing makes a perfect fitness-inspired date.

Spacekatdude and I are married, so we're always looking for fun new things to do. Recently, we decided to give indoor rock climbing a shot! We totally loved it! We wanted to post a bit about it for newbies.

We each signed up for a $160 class, which included gym membership for two weeks. We got free equipment rental and a really great instructor named Nate that taught us the basics, focusing on safety. We were taught to tie our own knots and how to "belay" your partner safely, meaning how to catch them if they fall off the wall.

I will be honest and say it's a real trust building exercise. I love my husband dearly, but I also know it's in his nature to be distracted. It was a little hard for me to put my life into his hands and trust him to catch me if I fell. Throwing myself off the wall for the first time was very scary - but I quickly learned that I could count on him for this. Working as a team to guide the other person up the wall is both fun and good for your relationship!

It's also a great workout. Within a few weeks of rock climbing, I've greatly increased my upper body strength. If you have moxie, I would definitely say it's a sport you should try!

To hear Spacekatdude's perspective, read more.

A guy's perspective - Spacekatdude here. Rock climbing is awesome. It's not just a physical thing - it's very mental, as you try to figure out set paths up the wall, only being allowed to touch rock outcroppings of a particular color - very challenging. Whenever we go to the gym there are a lot of women there, and it's great to watch those who love the challenge and love to push themselves, I think that's awesome. Our instructor Nate also told us that it was great for kids - one of the best rock climbers he knew was an eight-year-old girl, who showed him some excellent routes during an outdoor climb.

I mentioned that climbing is a mental exercise. This is because you have to constantly concentrate on what you're doing. If you go in mentally weak or lazy, bad things can happen: I read of some climbers who went to Half Dome at Yosemite, all ready to hammer in their own ropes to descend from the top. But there were ropes already there, embedded in the rock, and they just used those. As they climbed down, the ropes gave way, and they fell to their deaths. So laziness has no place in rock climbing.

Also, as you climb, it's important to remember to use your feet for power, and not to try to pull yourself up by your arms. So the mental challenge is to keep concentrating the entire time you're roping yourself in, climbing, and belaying.

Share your climbing tales in the Women That Rock (Climb) group and spread the love! Not a climber? Be sure to take a look at our other community groups - there's something for everyone!

Source: Flickr User Charlie Brewer

Anthony Edwards Makes His Return to TV

FitSugar — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:00:06 -0700

If you are fan of Anthony Edwards, get excited. The actor is returning to TV in a new five-hour NBC television special. You may have even heard of the much-anticipated program - it's a little something called the New York City Marathon.

Watch this hilarious video as Edwards describes how he's been preparing for his next acting role as "a runner." And make sure to hold out until the three-minute mark where he talks about some of his favorite runners, "Run-DMC, Forrest Gump . . ."

Edwards nails this video. Hilarious.

The Dieting of Mothers Visits Daughters in Eating Disorders

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:00:16 -0700

Parents model behavior for their children, whether consciously or not. A recent survey conducted by British teen mag Sugar (no relation to the PopSugar Network) found that a dieting mother can have unfortunate consequences for daughters.

Out of the 512 girls surveyed, ages 12 to 18, six percent had an eating disorder; that number rose to one in 10 among girls with mothers who dieted. Girls learn how to create a self-image from observing their mothers, and when mom labels certain foods bad and dangerous, her daughter internalizes the message. It has been shown that regular family meals can help prevent eating disorders, and when the female head of household removes herself from the ritual of the family dinner impressionable eyes are watching. Negative body image from mothers affects girls too. This is why I learned to stop talking smack about my thighs. Did your mom diet? Did it affect your relationship with food?

Glee's Amber Riley Weighs In on the Hollywood Skinny

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:30:24 -0700

If you watch Glee, then you probably know Amber Riley as Mercedes - the gal that brought the house down on last week's episode singing Jill Scott's "Hate on Me." Like the feisty character she portrays, Amber told Life and Style magazine that as a full-figured actress, it's important to be happy with yourself. She says,

“You’re not your dress size, you’re not your shoe size, you’re not your pants size. If I’m going to wear a name tag, it’s going to say ‘Amber Riley,’ not ‘Fat Girl’!”

The self-admitted shoeaholic, Amber likes formfitting clothes rather than "plus-size clothes that look like tents." She has a shape and she wants to show it. This young actress rocks a size 16, looks up to Queen Latifah and Jennifer Hudson, and is brimming with confidence. In Hollywood, a land where it is rare for women to be satisfied with their looks, body, and weight, I find her positive body image refreshing. How about you?

If you're a big fan of the show, be sure to enter Buzz's Glee giveaway for a chance to hang out with one of the cast members!

Jillian Michaels Kicking Butt on Own Her Show

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:00:00 -0700

If you love watching Jillian Michaels' antics on The Biggest Loser, then you will be psyched to know she's getting her own TV show - Losing It With Jillian. The eight-episode series will air in 2010 on NBC. This fitness-obsessed health nut is traveling the country and moving in with desperate families for an entire week, picking out their bad habits, and showing them how to live healthier and happier. Jillian says, "When your health is out of balance everything else suffers - finances, relationships, work, and family dynamics." This tough-love trainer isn't doing it alone. Celebrity chef Curtis Stone will also be offering tips on nutrition, portion sizes, and how to cook with healthy ingredients.

Jillian explained the inspiration for the show like this:

"In a way, it [the show] is a response to the comments we always get on Loser. We always hear, 'It’s so easy to lose weight when you move into the camp and you’re living with trainers.' and 'Would they really be able to lose the weight if there wasn’t money on the line?'"

Well, I guess we'll find out.