FitSugar

Learn to Love: Running and Biking in the Wind

FitSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Riding my bike into a strong headwind used to make me irritable, but lately I have learned to love it. Nature is providing me with an extra challenge for free. Talk about seeing the glass half full!

Running or biking into the wind provides resistance, thereby forcing you to work harder. It's like adding some resistance training into your run, similar to using a parachute strapped to your waist. I've seen Tyra Banks do it, so I know it can be done. On a windy day, you don't need extra equipment, and you get some resistance for free.

It is important to train in all types of conditions, so come race day, you are prepared for all types of weather. Especially windy days are one such adverse condition. When I am running into the wind, I focus on how fast I will feel on my next run on a windless day. So don't let a blustery day keep you indoors running on a treadmill. Embrace the elements and the chance to challenge yourself.

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Winter Exercise Tip: Head Into the Wind First

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 04:00:00 -0800

A lot of us run in one direction for 15 minutes then turn around and run back for the remaining 15 minutes. For those of us who live in windy places, this means that half of our runs are done into the wind and the other half are done with the wind at our back.

When it's especially cold outside you need to protect yourself from the elements, so start your outdoor jogs by heading into the wind on the first leg. You'll be less likely to get over chilled (and even frostbitten) on the way back (when you're wet from sweat) if you end your workout with the wind at your back.

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All That Fluff and Your Seasonal Allergies

FitSugar — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:30:00 -0700

You might have noticed some puffy, fluffy, white stuff floating through the air and lying on the grass? You might have looked at it and anticipated your allergies going haywire. But here's the good news - it's NOT pollen. These fluffs are the seeds of Aspen trees and each piece of fluff contains a little seed. The wind carries the fluffs, dispersing the seed in a similar fashion to dandelions.

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you now know Aspen fluff is harmless. The pollen that aggravates you, is very tiny - it has to be in order for you to breathe it in through your nose, and those pieces of fluff are definitely too big for that.

Interested in knowing the current allergy levels in your area? Thenread more

Check out the pollen.com website. You can even sign up to have "Allergy Alert Emails" sent to you with daily 2-day forecasts if the allergy conditions in your area reach moderate levels. This is great to help manage your allergy symptoms.

Snowkiting - Wind and Ice Unite

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 10:45:00 -0800

Imagine being able to snowboard or ski without the mountain or the chairlifts. It's possible when you're snowkiting, holding onto a kite and using the power of the wind to propel you. It is the snowy version of windsurfing.

The wind pulls you along at amazing speeds and you can get lifted and jump and spin in the air like you're flying. You can lean your weight and adjust the position of the kite to help direct where you're going. It's an incredibly fast and weightless feeling like no other.

Look for free snowkiting demos at a frozen lake near you, where you can get a 3 hour lesson for about $85. All you need to start is what you already own if you ski or snowboard, and they'll provide everything else you'll need from the knees up.

Fit's Tips: You may want to check out the Stormboarding Kitestorm happening on Feb 24-5 on Lake Champlain in Burlington, VT.

You can also take a snowkiting lesson through the Boulder Outdoor Center on Lake Dillion in Frisco, Colorado. A beginner lesson costs $249, but it's 4-5 hours long and if you love it, 15% of that price can be applied to purchasing your own snowkite.

Want to see another video? Then read more

Belly Aching? Try Some Yoga

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 02:30:00 -0800

So how are you feeling after that enormous Thanksgiving meal? Not so good? If your belly is feeling less than perfect, try some of these "wind releasing" stretches (that's really what they're called).

Nothing gets things moving along like a great spinal twist. This one is called 1-Legged Seated Spinal Twist or Marichyasana.

Want to see the other stretches? Then

If you're bloated or constipated, bend both knees into your chest and give yourself a big hug. It'll help to massage your abdominal organs.
You can also do this pose by alternately hugging one knee into the chest, holding for five breaths, and then switching sides.

Fit's Tips: Does your body need a little bit more stretching? Why not bring along a gentle yoga DVD and pop it in. Get your family members to do it along with you. It'll help you relax from the stress of traveling and also help with digestion.

Gear Review: Radiance Jacket by Mountain Hardwear

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:33 -0700

If you are looking forward to Winter but not the cold that accompanies it, Mountain Hardwear has constructed a jacket for you. The Radiance Jacket ($230) is pre-wired for the Ardica Moshi Power System ($145).

When fully charged, the battery powered energy pack will keep you warm for a little over eight and a half hours when set on the low setting and three hours when set for high. The heater fits into an internal pocket in the back of the jacket that sits between your scapula with extra heating coils in the front just above the pockets. Simply pressing the black button on the top of the jacket turns on the heater. The contrast between the lightweight jacket and the stiff battery is quite noticeable though. Known for their lightweight yet warm jackets (I ski in an older version of the company's Flip Jacket), the power system makes the jacket heavy.

I sat in my cold house (why houses in Northern California aren't well insulated is beyond me) and cranked the jacket to the high setting and was quite toasty. I was sweating in minutes. I have no doubt it would keep me warm on the slopes or sitting at a snowy football game, I am not sure I want to pay $375 to stay warm. Think of all the hot chocolate you could buy, even overpriced ski lodge cocoa, with that kind of dough.

If you're an electronics junkie, the jacket will charge them. To learn how read more.

The left pocket of the jacket houses a USB cable, they come with a variety of adapters making it useful for charging your iPhone, iPod, camera, or BlackBerry. The Ardica System takes more than a few hours to fully charge, but it can fully charge your phone multiple times once it's charged.

I think the concept of a warming jacket that helps you stay wired (or at least charged) is cool, but I am not completely sold on the technology. While the jacket is cute and streamlined - it would fit well under a shell to keep for added wind and water protection - but if it is so cold that I need a heater to keep me warm riding up a mountain, I might just opt for a lodge day. What about you? What do you think of the Radiance Jacket?

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Pearl Izumi Gets Technical

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:30:06 -0700

Pearl Izumi ruffled some feathers with its ad campaign pitting runner against joggers, but regardless they make amazing biking gear. Recently, the company released clothing made with four technical fabrics designed to reduce drag, regulate body temperature, and address the problems of moisture. They sent me a few items to check out, which meant a couple of bike rides and a spin class over the course of a few days - any excuse to hop on my bike.

The fabric used to construct P.R.O. Octane Shorts ($225) feels more luxurious than anything I have ever worn for a workout. These lightweight shorts feel great on as well. The technical fabric used in their construction is designed to keep a rider cool during a hot competition. In the hot spin I took wearing them, they did just that. Honestly, the price of these shorts indicates they are truly made for elite high mileage riders or serious competitors. I hope to wear them soon for a distance ride, but don't think I would ever drop that much dough on shorts.

To read about the other two more affordable items, just read more.

The W's Transfer Short Sleeve Baselayer ($50) worked well on a cold, yet sweaty ride. My core stayed warm and dry as I powered up hills and sped down the descents. It's made with Pearl Izumi trademarked Minerale fabric, a polyester fortified with carbon based minerals to improve wicking and keep the stink out of the shirt. After a three hour, sweaty ride the smelled only a little bit and the small amount of smell washed out easily. A short sleeve base layer for Autumn biking worked well for me. This shirt is seriously lightweight and tailored to fit the female form.

My favorite piece is the P.R.O. Barrier Lite Jacket ($95.00). A solid windbreaker can save you on a cold and blustery ride, and this windbreaker did just that. Should the sun come out and the wind dies down, this jacket packs down small to easily fit in a the back pocket of a biking jersey. I am impressed with how thin the material was yet how much wind protection it offered. This jacket might be pricey, but as long as it is not raining I think I can wear it all year long. I would wear it to run too.

All three items are available at the Pearl Izumi website. Look for them at your local bike shop too.

How Many Alcoholic Drinks Do You Have a Week?

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:30:26 -0700

Hello Friday, and hello glass of wine after work! When the end of the week rolls around, sipping a glass of chardonnay or pinot noir is definitely one way I like to wind down.

Although there are tons of health benefits associated with wine, many studies point to the rule that women should enjoy one alcoholic bevvy or less a day. Limiting the amount of alcohol you gulp down can help prevent breast cancer and other cancers, lower your risk of stroke, and prevent loss of bone density. Some days, it's tough to stick to that rule though, so be honest . . .

The Biggest Loser Recap: "It's Like Pissing Into the Wind"

FitSugar — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:30:00 -0700

The Biggest Loser this week was back to being inspirational and motivational, and I cried. Though I will admit that I was a bit on edge due to our earthquake in the Bay area last night.

Last night's episode was all about getting back to working out, eating right and losing weight. I am more and more impressed with Jillian's attitude. She used to be a little too hard core for me, but she has such a fabulous motivational side to her and you can't but help feel she is really pulling for her team (and everyone else for that matter). I loved that she sat down with Amy and said, "Put the game aside and go after what you want." This not only fits in with the realm show, but also in the realm of our own lives because when it comes to our bodies and our health, it's about going after what we want.

Before I reveal who was kicked off, here are the things I learned from The Biggest Loser:

Lose weight while getting zen!
Train your mind and body with yoga. An intense hour of yoga can burn up to 600 calories and yoga is great for relieving stress and gaining flexibility.
Rid your body of cellulite!
Exercises like squats and lunges are proven to smooth out the underlying flabby muscles and minimize the appearance of cellulite.
Get on the resistance bandwagon!
Resistance bands are affordable, lightweight, flexible and easy to take with you. They are a great alternative to barbells, dumbbells and hand weights.
Get rid of your spare tire with crunches!
Crunches eliminate excess fat around your waistline. What may surprise you is that the bicycle maneuver is more than 50% more effective at working your obliques than crunches.
I missed the fifth tip due to breaking news of the earthquake, so if anyone knows what it was, please share in the comments section below.

To see Jillian's trainer tip and find out who was kicked off, just read more

The game goes on and David, the cowboy, was sent home. I was OK with him going home only because he had mentioned that if he did go home last night, that he knew he was going to be able to succeed on his own. He used the analogy about weight loss, "It's like pissing into the wind," which is not only a fabulous visual, but also because of how great an analogy to losing weight it truly was. I was more than moved when we got to see clips of him going home to his four kids and wife. To see David's parting words be sure to check out iVillage. (Also, Sunny had lunch with Jez and he shared how he's lost 120 pounds on Sunny's Shape Up Blog).

Since, like me, you're probably sitting at your desk reading this right now. If so, check out Jillian's Trainer Tip.

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Are Marathons Bad For You?

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:00:57 -0700

With marathon season winding down (NYC marathon is 11/1) there is an ongoing debate in the medical field over the effect the 26-mile race has on the heart. Some scientists are claiming that running a marathon causes long lasting damage to the heart, while others say the damage is only temporary and is brought on by the extreme physical demands of the race.

Last year studies were conducted in Australia, Canada, and Germany measuring the effect running a marathon had on the hearts of elite to novice runners. Tests were given on the participants immediately before and after running a marathon. The end findings were similar across the board - the participants showed marked blood indicators of cardiac damage.

“We measure those same blood markers when someone comes in to the emergency room and we suspect a heart attack,” says Davinder S. Jassal, MD, an assistant professor of cardiology, radiology, and physiology at the University of Manitoba as told to the New York Times. Blood profiles like those displayed by the runners are similar to those in a very mild heart attack.”

Those scientists that oppose the findings, site that the research is premature and the studies were too small. They also say that accurate results cannot be determined since researchers in the original studies did not follow up with any of the participants after the race day. A later second study conducted in Canada seems to support this claim - a week after completing a marathon, researchers followed up with the runners and found none of the initial damage was lasting.

As the debate continues please keep in mind that running long distances is definitely taxing on the heart. Check out our tips to avoid any risks while training and share your own tips with us below.