FitSugar

Zooey Deschanel Bellies Up to the Barre

FitSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:30:03 -0700

Bride-to-be Zooey Deschanel has been dancing it up lately. Seems she likes tripping the light fantastic so much, she's using ballet-inspired workouts to prepare for her wedding.

Sources told the New York Post that the actress has been taking back-to-back classes at Pure Barre in LA. Similar the Bar Method and Physique 57, the workout combines elements of ballet, Pilates, and weight training. The 55-minute classes are said to burn fat as well tone the arms, abs, and help "lift the seat."

Zooey is engaged to the lead singer of Death Cab For Cutie, Ben Gibbard, and their wedding is planned for some time this Fall.

Marriage Equals Happily Fatter After

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:00:37 -0700

Wedding season is in full swing. It's a commonly held belief that when we find that special someone, we're supposed to live happily ever after. We may be happy, but recent studies show we may also be overweight too. After a few years of marriage, a couple is twice as likely to become obese as couples who are only dating. What's even worse is that statistics show women gain the most weight. Evidence shows that couples do in fact "let themselves go." Not only do they feel more comfortable with their partner and don't feel the need to keep up their figure to impress, but couples also spend more time watching TV, and aren't engaging in enough physical activity.

In order to gain a spouse without gaining pounds, here are seven tips to help you live healthfully after. If one of you decides to make healthy changes by eating right and exercising more, the health kick tends to be contagious.

Tell me, do these stats apply to you? Did you gain wedding weight after saying "I do?"

Avoid Post-Wedding Weight Gain

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:00:42 -0700

Marriage is supposed to be all love and bliss, but it may not be so great for your waistline or health. Studies show that people who get married are twice as likely to become obese as those who are merely dating! So even though you've found your soul mate, it's no reason to "let yourself go." Here are some tips to help you keep the pounds off after your wedding, and live fit and healthy ever after.

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How to Stay Healthy on Your Honeymoon

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Even for the most fitness-minded among us, honeymooning and exercising aren't necessarily a match made in heaven. It's hard to get motivated to exercise on vacation, especially after your wedding. But just because you're ditching your gym routine doesn't mean you can't balance your relaxation and indulgence with some sensible habits. Here are some tips for staying healthy even when you're over the moon.

Schedule active activities. Probably the most obvious tip, but not to be forgotten. When planning your itinerary, consider tourism that will get you moving, whether it's a scenic hike or a bike tour. Staying beach-bound? Bring along some props, such as a Frisbee or paddleball set, which will engage you and your new mate.
Explore on foot. If you're vacationing in a city, forgo taxis and transit for walking. As long as you make sure to stick to safe areas, walking is a calorie-burning way to feel good about your vacation indulgences, and it's a great way to see a city too.

To see five more ideas, read more.

Choose indulgences carefully. Just because it's your honeymoon doesn't mean you should throw all caution to the wind. Think about what you most want to indulge in, and allow yourself one or two a day rather than pigging out every meal. Try to keep things in balance: if you have an extra piña colada at lunch, skip dessert at dinner.
Walk it off. Even if you're not seeing a city on foot, consider taking a 45-minute walk after particularly indulgent meals. Research suggests that walking right after a high-fat meal can help reverse potential damage to your arteries.
Explore the local bounty. Whether you're staying on a tropical island or in a European city, do some shopping at the neighborhood food markets. Picking up local produce, seafood, and other fresh foods will help you snack sensibly while experiencing local flavor.
Share your suppers. It's tempting to eat everything on your plate while on vacation, since you can't take the leftovers home. So split an entrée with your newlywed to save both money and calories.
Dine al fresco. If you're vacationing in a hot climate, eating outside may help you eat less. As opposed to being in AC, dining al fresco can make you crave more liquids and less food.

Source

Natalie Coughlin's Pre-Wedding Run

FitSugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 03:00:00 -0700

She may have made her athletic mark in the pool, but Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin also loves to run. She began running in college as part of her aerobic conditioning regimen. Once she graduated from UC Berkeley, she continued to run to help calm her energetic pooch - a border terrier. But running doesn't just calm her dog; it works for her, too.

When Runner's World asked Natalie if she was going to run on her upcoming wedding day, she replied:

"Yes. I've spent a lot of time planning my run the morning of my wedding. I know I'll need to work off my nerves. The problem is finding a route that won't let my fiancé see me."

Nice to see that this athlete included planning for exercise along with all the other wedding planning. Working out is a great way to calm pre-wedding nerves. If you can't get out to do cardio, carve out 20 minutes to do some calming yoga moves before getting ready.

Need more wedding inspiration? Check out all of the Sugar network's wedding coverage here.

Source

Wedding Day Workout Tips

FitSugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 08:00:00 -0700

If you're a bride- or bridesmaid-to-be, chances are you've kicked up your diet and exercise routine a notch so you can look and feel picture-perfect for the big day. So when the special day arrives, there's no reason to say goodbye to your sports bra and sneakers. It'll feel good to move your body a little before slipping on your dress, so here are some tips to keep in mind when working out on the day of the wedding.

Definitely exercise, even if you only have a short amount of time. It'll help reduce prewedding jitters and give you energy to dance well into the night.
Eat before you exercise, preferably something that's high in protein but not high in fiber as it may add to the intestinal uneasiness you'll most likely be experiencing.

For the other tips read more.

Now is not the day to try anything new and challenging like mountain biking or water skiing. You don't want to risk injuring yourself before walking down the aisle.
Don't push yourself too hard physically. Do something of moderate difficulty that you enjoy, like going for a jog on the beach or a bike ride around town. The purpose of this workout should be to get your heart pumping, but it should also calm your mind.
Include your bridesmaids and family in your prewedding workout. Many yoga instructors or other fitness experts will travel, so you can hire them to lead a group class. That way everyone will benefit from a little exercise, and you'll still be spending time together.
If you're at a place that has its own gym, definitely take advantage. If your husband-to-be wants to hit the gym too but you don't want to see each other until the big moment, have someone tell him what time you're planning on going.

Source

Fit and Fun Engagement Parties

FitSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Weddings call for many celebrations, but all those parties don't need to be formal affairs. There are many fun ways for you to celebrate your engagement and bring guests together without having to stress about seating arrangements. Here are a few of my ideas for healthy and fun engagement parties.

Garden party: In my mind, a garden party is just a little more formal than a BBQ, but games are a featured activity nonetheless. You can play badminton and croquet. The Italian lawn game bocce ball is a fun way to engage (pun intended) guests of all ages. I also like that the Italian word for kiss, bacio, sounds a lot like bocce - it adds a romantic twist to the game.

Healthy cooking class: Many chefs, restaurants, and catering companies offer hands-on cooking classes, where every guest gets to play chef. Guests are placed into small groups to prepare different dishes. At the end of the class, you all sit down to eat the feast you created. Many of these schools allow you to participate in planning the menu, so you can opt for healthier fare.

See my third idea when you read more.

Square dance: How long has it been since you have been to a square dance? Not only does a square dance offer the perfect opportunity to wear your fave cowboy boots, but you will also burn some serious calories while you do-si-do. This is a great way for everyone to mingle.

Need more wedding inspiration? Check out all of the Sugar network’s wedding coverage here.

Source

Reality Check: Anna Faris Is Eating More Before Her Wedding

FitSugar — Fri, 01 May 2009 06:00:00 -0700

It's easy to lose focus on the big picture while wedding planning. A romantic engagement suddenly warps into a stressful process, and this stress is often accentuated by the pressure some brides feel to lose weight for the big day.

Anna Faris is turning her back on the idea of spending months before her wedding regulating everything she eats or turning the gym into her second home. She's getting more comfortable in the skin she has, and instead of worrying about fitting in an extra workout or counting every calorie, Anna is spending more time with her fiancé. To see what she said when asked if she plans on buckling down before the big day, read more.

Anna told People magazine,

I am fattening it up! Now that I have a man, I'm like, "Oh, I don't have to try anymore! Now I can eat." We love to splurge at home. We love to cook. My fiancé is an incredible eater, and so he's really fun to feed, and it's great to share some wine and watch a movie. He's always like, "Baby, don't lose that butt!"

While "fattening it up" isn't appealing to most brides-to-be, I love that Anna is remembering to enjoy herself during her engagement. It's always important to be active and eat healthily, but Anna's attitude is a reminder for brides to give themselves a break.

For more wedding tips, check out all of the Sugar network’s wedding coverage here.

Source

Get Strapless Dress Ready: Shoulder Sculpting Moves

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Our friends over at American Council of Exercise have designed a series of exercises to target your shoulders and upper back. So if you're planning on wearing a strapless dress in the near future, or just want to tone up for bathing suit and tank top season, check out these five moves.
Source

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Get in Shape While Planning Your Wedding

FitSugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Being a bride-to-be is joyful and exciting, but there's no denying that planning for the big day can be really stressful. You have so much to think about: flowers, the ceremony, invitations, your dress, the cake, and the honeymoon. Planning the wedding can be as much work as a full-time job! In order to prevent feeling overwhelmed with your enormous to-do list, you're going to have to make multitasking a part of your planning process.

So kill two birds with one stone by researching wedding info while working out. You can download wedding podcasts from iTunes and burn calories and tone up while you listen. Here are a few for you to try:

For free, download The Wedding Planning Audiocast, which is the Internet's number one wedding show heard around the world.
Also at no cost, download 70 of the most recent podcasts from Wedding Podcast Network.

To see what else you can listen to while hitting the gym, read more.

Download free episodes of Wedding Workout from the Wedding Podcast Network to help you get bridal-gown ready.
If you need more wedding exercise ideas, check out five free episodes of The Healthy Bride Podcast Workouts.
If a green wedding is important to you, check out two free episodes of Your Guide to Green and Eco-Chic Wedding.
Brides Magazine has four free podcasts that discuss the latest trends, style tips, and cost-saving strategies in planning your wedding.
If you don't mind paying a little, the audiobook called Wedding Planning ($12.95) gives insights from wedding planner Susannah Richardson, so you can have as little stress as possible when planning for your big day.
Or download season six of Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? for $17.99. It shows how wedding planners help real couples get through the hectic planning process, and have the wedding they always imagined.

If these don't float your boat, there are tons of other wedding-related podcasts from iTunes, so you're bound to find something that will help make planning your wedding a little easier.

For more wedding tips, check out all of the Sugar Network’s wedding coverage here.