FitSugar

What's the Deal with Spikeball?

FitSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:30:00 -0700

I noticed a new game recently while at the beach, called Spikeball. I've never seen it before so I decided to do a little research.

Basically, Spikeball is a lot like volleyball except instead of hitting the ball over the net, you hit it onto a circular net/trampoline to volley the ball to your opponents. The game is a two-on-two match, and like volleyball you and your teammate have up to three volleys between you to return the ball on the net. The biggest (and coolest) difference is that with volleyball you must stay on your side of the net. With Spikeball once the ball has been served off the net, you can run wherever you want - there are no sides.

Not only does it make for a really fun beach (or Fourth of July barbecue) game, you'll end up running all over the place trying to get the ball, which means you're bound to burn a ton of calories. The game will run you around $50 and it's a guaranteed good time. I just ordered my set - fingers crossed it gets here by this weekend!

What's the Deal with Body Wraps?

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Wrap it up, and watch the pounds melt off. If only it were that easy.

With claims that body wraps push fat cells together and allow your body to change into a slimmer shape, many folks are turning towards such treatments in search of losing a few unwanted pounds instead of hitting the gym. Experts, such as Dr. Erica Brownfield, associate professor of medicine at Emory, warn us to use caution when opting for a pricey body wrap. Want to know why? Then read more.

CNN reports that:

"[Body wrap providers] claims say they are squeezing the fat cells closer together," Brownfield says," but I think it's very important for people to realize that they're not losing fat cells. Those fat cells, once you decompress them and take those wraps off, they're going to go back to their usual shape and size."

Brownfield is also concerned that, in some cases, these wraps could be a health hazard. "Actually, depending on which wrap you use they can be harmful, they can dehydrate the body," she says, which can be dangerous for some people. She also cautions people to make sure they know what type of minerals and solutions are being used in the procedure. Allergic reactions are one concern, but also any type of open wound, contagious disease or rash might make a body wrap a bad idea.

And finally, if you have any medical concerns, talk to a doctor before deciding if wrapping up is your best bet for shaping up.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: there is no magic bullet. If body wraps were it, I'd have been first in line. Have you ever tried body wraps for weight loss? Did you think it worked?

Source

What's the Deal With Rate of Perceived Exertion?

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:30:00 -0700

If you read fitness magazines or FitSugar regularly then you have probably noticed that we use the Rate of Perceived Exertion, or RPE, as a way to measure your exercise efforts. This 1-10 scale seems way more complicated than it really is, but it's a great and easy way for anyone to monitor her exercise intensity when doing cardio. What's more? It requires no equipment. Here is how you use it:

RPE	What It Means
0-1	No exertion. The only movement you're getting is pushing buttons on the remote.
2-3	Light exertion. This is how you should feel when you're warming up, cooling down, and stretching.
4-5	Medium exertion. You're breathing a little faster. Your heart is pumping a little faster. You're feeling a little warmer.
6-7	Moderate exertion. You're breathing pretty hard now, you're probably sweating. You can talk, but it's getting tougher.
8-9	Hard exertion. You're breathing really hard and you can only say a few words at a time. You're wondering how long you can go on like this.
10	Hardest exertion. You can not keep this pace for more than a minute. Speaking is impossible. This is your limit.

Try it out the next time you're doing one of my cardio workouts.

Source

What's the Deal with The Cardio Free Diet?

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Anyone watching Good Morning America the other day may have seen the piece they did on The Cardio Free Diet ($13.80). Anyone who knows anything about exercise was probably just as stunned as I was.

The basic principal of the Cardio Free Diet is that cardio is a waste of time and it ruins your diet by making you hungry all of the time, so you shouldn't do it and should focus on weight training instead. I can see where Jim Karas, the author, was going with this book but it truly does not make sense in terms of real life application. Sure, lean muscle burns more calories at rest, but the overall benefits of cardio are plainly stated and researched across the world -- Cutting cardio out would be cutting you (and possibly your life) short. Don't even get me started on his recommended daily caloric intake of only 1200 calories. With or without cardio, I personally would be starving on only 1200 calories per day.

As always, I am having a hard time understanding why we all just can't grasp the fact that it is best all around to do cardio and resistance training along with eating right. Books like this may sound good and I am sure they appeal to those who truly hate cardio, but in my opinion, it's a love-hate relationship you need to learn.

Still interested, then buy the book from Amazon.com.

Lose Pounds and Gain Shoes: The Shoe Diet

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Do you love shoes? I sure do. It's a strange phenom really, women and their shoes. What else do women love (well love to hate, really)? Dieting. So, isn't it then a great idea to combine dieting and shoes?

This is just what Isabelle Shaw, author of The Shoe Diet ($12.95) has done. Unfortunately this diet is not about a special pair of shoes that curb your hunger (though I am sure we'll be seeing that in the future), it is based on the power of reward. What's a better reward than shoes? The diet is built upon a series of steps that you must take in order to earn your rewards, shoes. The first one being that you must start a food journal and begin your shoe rating system. For example, think of everything you eat just like a hotel star system, with one shoe corresponding to "not really worth it" and five shoes meaning "it was so worth it!" Soon you'll be eliminating your one shoe foods from your diet, all while keeping your eye on the ball: Your first new pair of kicks for a job well done.

I love that Dr. Shaw has realized that while we may not be willing to finally step up and eat right for our health, we will do it for a pair of hot shoes. Kind of reminds me of click it or ticket, we won't buckle up for our safety, but we'll do it to save 50 bucks. This is a diet that I think FabSugar (not that she needs to go on a diet) will enjoy. Buy the book on Amazon.com.

What's the Deal with: The Bar Method?

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Looking for a new way to get fit? Maybe you should try the bar. Not that type of bar, silly...

The Bar Method exercise system is another way to create a lean, firm, sculpted body by reshaping and elongating muscles while maintaining an intense pace that burns fat and increases stamina. The class is usually an hour long and composed of eight or nine strengthening exercises followed by stretching. The strength work combines holding positions that use the body’s own weight with small, controlled moves that increase range of motion and stamina. Stretching is focused on the hips, chest and lower back to improve posture and body alignment. Students begin the class with free weights and push-ups, move to the ballet bar to work their legs and abdominals, and finish on mats for more core work and stretching (basically interval training). The Bar Method is great for working tight muscles, especially those around the hips and lower back that get that way from sitting hours and hours a day at your desk.

To learn more about where you can take it as well as to see a few examples of the kind of exercises you'll be doing in a class, read more

I sense a little friendly competition between The Bar Method with Pilates and Yoga folks, but the bottom line is that with any method you choose, you'll be doing something good for your body. Personally I like The Bar Method because it brings out the dancer in me -- Who doesn't have fun pretending to be a prima ballerina doing bar work? To learn more including where you can take a class, visit BarMethod.com.

Right now there are only studios in California and Connecticut, so if you don't live in those areas, you may want to check out the The Bar Method DVD's. I did it, so check out my review on it.

Here are some sample exercises you may find in a class:

View 10 Photos ›

What's the Deal with Customized Vitamins?

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 03:30:00 -0800

Your way, right away, even when it comes to supplements...

While nutritionists, researchers, doctors and scientists are arguing the worth of multivitamins, companies like Mitamins, are profiting from custom made supplements. How it works: You fill out a form about yourself and they create a supplement unique to your needs. At first glance, this appears to be a fabulous concept but after further thinking about it, only your physician can really help you figure out if you're lacking certain nutrients.

Being that this concept is still rather new, I would suggest putting your money towards fresh fruits and veggies, especially since the debate on the benefits of multivitamins is still up in the air. Some people believe that if you eat a proper diet, you'll get all the vitamins you need from your diet alone (without supplementing). The other theory is that your body doesn't even absorb supplements as it would from the food source. The final theory is that supplements are a great way to get your vitamins in minerals, as long as you make sure you aren't over doing it.

For me, before I start shelling out extra money for a customized supplement, I am going to want proof that they are beneficial -- but that's just me. No matter what your opinion may be on supplements, before beginning any dietary supplement program, please consult your doctor.

What's the Deal with: The Good Mood Diet

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 11:45:00 -0800

Is your diet bringing your mood down? You're not alone.

Dr. Susan Kleiner, the author of The Good Mood Diet ($16.31), is a nutrition authority on eating for strength. She is also the nutrition consultant to the Seattle Supersonics and the Seattle Sea Hawks. The book proves that you can choose healthy foods that both make you feel great and, when eaten according to the plan, help you lose weight too. Her theory is that most diets cause chemical changes in the brain which make the dieter feel depressed. Yeah, no kidding. Talk to anyone who's suffered through the grapefruit diet and they'll agree.

Dr. Kleiner believes that the typical diet plan is often too low in calories for most people to feel full and therefore satisfied. In The Good Mood Diet you can eat feel-good foods in conjunction with ideal timing and ideal combinations that give a balance of protein and fats to go with carbohydrates. Yup, you get to eat carbs on this diet. Eating from a list of the feel-good foods (that increase serotonin) and eliminating the feel-bad foods helps dieters feel fuller and better while still losing weight.

What are feel good foods? Fish, flax seed and eggs for example. What is a mood killer food? Refined sugar. If you were expecting to hear that alcohol is a feel bad food then think again, and you're allowed a bit of sweets once you're two weeks into the diet.

So, if you're interested, check out the Good Mood Diet site for more information and you can buy the book on Amazon.com.

What's the Deal with: The Fluidity Bar

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 03:30:00 -0800

Have you always wanted the body of a dancer, but you're no prima-ballerina?

The Fluidity Method ($199.80) works the whole body. When you stand up and use your own body weight for resistance, you engage all of your muscles to work together. The thinking behind the Fluidity Method is that you develop strength, proportion and flexibility from head to toe, creating a longer and leaner look.

The bar is stable, like a wall-mounted bar even though it is a fold-down unit, it also adjusts to your hip height and level of flexibility. Don't want your dinner guests to see it? The bar folds down to 4" high and rolls into a closet or under a bed. My friend, who is a dancer, loves this method but it is a familiar territory to her.

The bar, as you might have guessed, is not available in stores as this is an "as seen on tv" product, but one that I think, if done properly may actually help you sculpt your body. You'll probably still want to add some cardio into your routine, as well as other strength training elements so you don't get bored. As always, eat healthy -- There is never a magic bullet. Get it on fluidity.com.

What's the Deal With Kerri Walsh's Shoulder Tape?

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Watching Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor kick some sand-covered butt has been a highlight of the Summer Olympics so far, and I'd love to see this dynamic duo go home with the gold. Meanwhile, I've been puzzling over the multicolored tape that Walsh has been wearing on her shoulder; sometimes it's black, sometimes it's blue, but clearly it's there for a reason.

I did a little research and discovered that this stuff is called Kinesio Tex Tape, and it's being used by a number of Olympians this year.

The therapeutic tape can be used for many different purposes, compressing muscles while allowing athletes to move freely. It helps relieve pain and also supports muscle and joint stability and performance. There are a number of different ways to apply it and use it, so you should do some research and/or talk to a professional before using Kinesio tape.

If you want to follow in Walsh's footsteps, you can buy a 2” x 16.4' roll of Kinesio Tex Gold Tape for $15. Better yet, until Aug. 31, you can get a deal: When you buy three or more rolls, you get one free - though the website warns that orders may be delayed due to increased demand from the Olympics!

If you've ever tried this stuff, I'd love to hear what you thought, so tell me below.

Source