FitSugar

Now Is the Time to Get Ready For the Slopes

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:41 PST

Even though we're in the middle of Fall and I've yet to see any real signs of snow, experts say now is the time to get your butt in gear for Winter sports. Days on the slopes can be long and require a good amount of endurance, especially if you're the type who likes to visit the mountains for an extended weekend or even longer.

Veteran Winter Olympic athletes like ski racer Daron Rahlves and snowboarder Elena Hight recommend doing specific training for Winter sports six to eight weeks before the season starts. They say the key to lasting all day, weekend, or week on the slopes is to work on flexibility, strength, and cardio. A good mix of this will ensure you can snowboard from sunup to sundown. Being in tip-top shape will also help cut down on injuries.

An article in the San Francisco Chronicle asked a group of Winter Olympians and trainers their advice on getting in shape for Winter sports. Here's some of their advice.

Stretch for 15-20 minutes every day or do 10 minutes of sun salutations. Skiers should focus on their lower bodies, while snowboarders should focus on their upper and lower areas.
Two to three times a week, focus on strength training with emphasis on your quads, hamstrings, and core muscles. Keeping your legs and core strong helps with balance and endurance, and helps cut down on ACL injuries. If you can, use kettlebells and also make sure to do tons of squats, leg curls, and lunges.
Do some sort of aerobic activity for at least 15 minutes every day, keeping your heart rate elevated the entire time.

Sounds doable to me. Who's hungry for powder?

Work It at Home: Just You and a Deck of Cards

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:30:00 PST

Mixing up your fitness routine keeps boredom at bay, and I have a total body workout that is all about variety. This at-home workout will have you sweating in no time and it's always challenging. All you need to get started is a deck of cards, so dig yours out of the junk drawer and get your move on.

The workout involves circuits of push-ups, sit-ups, and squat jumps, and the deck of cards keeps you guessing at the number of repetitions. Here's the gist: Flip over the first card. Let's say it's a 10. Your first circuit will be 10 push-ups, 10 sit-ups, and 10 squat jumps. Flip over the next card, and repeat the circuit but change the reps according to the number on the card.

To find out ways to make this workout more interesting and challenging,

read more. There's not much you can do to change the squat jumps, but there are endless possibilities when it comes to sit-ups and push-ups. Consider doing some push-ups more slowly, try the one elbow in, one elbow out variation, and maybe include the triple clap push-ups you've been working on. As for the sit-ups segment, any challenging abdominal exercise would be a great substitution for the traditional sit-up. Don't feel like you need to tear through an entire deck of cards on your first try; in fact, half the deck is pretty intense. You may initially get through a fraction of the cards, but challenge yourself by adding another card or two each time you take on this workout. Source

Swimming in the Winter?

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 12:02:00 PST

I'm not talking about a Penguin Plunge here - there will be no jumping into freezing cold water in the middle of winter to raise money. I don't think I could ever do that.

I'm talking about joining a gym or YMCA that has a pool you can use to swim laps in for fitness.

Wintertime can be too cold for most of us to exercise outdoors, and swimming is just about the most excellent form of exercise you can do. It's a great cardio work out to get your heart pumping - but you can't overheat because the water keeps you cool.

It combines breath work and strength training, while having very low stress on your joints and bones.

It's great for people who have knee pain or injuries from running, so you can still work your total body without pounding your feet into the pavement.

All you need are the obvious things - a pool, a swimsuit and a pair of goggles to protect your eyes from the chlorine. See you in the pool.

Fit's Tips: If you're going to be swimming consistently a few times every week, you want a bathing suit that'll be comfortable and will last. Try to find a suit that is chlorine resistant, because after time, exposure to chlorine can ruin the stretch fibers of a regular bathing suit, which can make it sag - not what we're going for here.

Rewind: Our Predictions on the Toughest Oscar Matchups

BuzzSugar — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:05:08 PST

Be sure to check out our new video of the the toughest head-to-head Oscar matchups and see our predictions for who will take home the Oscar!

Winter can't come fast enough: We got our first look at Game of Thrones season two.

The Oscars are coming! The Oscars are coming! Don't forget to a ballot for a chance to win an iPad, and keep track of all the nominated films you've seen with our checklist. Get some viewing party inspiration with our ideas for theming it like Midnight in Paris or The Artist.

Speaking of the nominees, we dug up their bad movies pasts and showed you the films that star multiple nominees.

The full-length trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man has finally arrived! See Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone in this extended look of the much-anticipated film.

The doctor is out: Fox announced that House would come to an end after eight seasons.

We got peeks at upcoming movies: Kristen Stewart is the fairest of them all in Snow White and the Huntsman photos, and we saw stills from The Avengers as well.

The Vampire Diaries stars bared all as Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder got naked for the cover of Entertainment Weekly.

Feel the love: Watch our supercut of hot actors saying "I love you."

Read our interview with the adorable Bret McKenzie, who is nominated for an Oscar for the music of The Muppets.

There's a new action hero in town! Check out Jeremy Renner in The Bourne Legacy teaser.

We chatted with What to Expect When You're Expecting star Elizabeth Banks about her experience working on the film and what it's like to be a real-life mama.

Do You Work Out on Your Lunch Break?

Michele Foley — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:11:27 PST

The dark days of Winter have me skipping my usual afterwork gym session; emerging from a workout to pitch-black darkness and freezing temps doesn't appeal to me. To make up for it, I've been ramping up weekend workouts and fitting in gym sessions during my lunch breaks at work. It takes extra planning (and organizing) when it comes to my workday, but it's worth it to avoid the dark commute home. I also have to make sure I am speedy getting in and out of the locker room since every extra minute at the gym is one less minute I'm at my desk. To make sure I don't run over on time, I follow these timesaving tips for working out at lunch.

5 Surprising Health Benefits of Being a Sports Fan

Prevention — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:19:15 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

By Cristina Goyanes, Prevention

It’s no wonder your friends aren’t available to hang out on Sundays in the Fall and Winter - according to a 2005 Gallup Poll, 64 percent of Americans claim to be professional football fans, and as of 2010, women make up 44 percent of the NFL fan base.

Being a sports fan doesn’t mean you’re expected to know all the players and stats of your hometown teams and destined for a beer gut - it’s about coming together in the name of good times as part of a community.

“Bonding over sports - the highs and lows of the game - strengthens ties, helps us feel supported, and makes it easier for you to open up about personal things,” says Renee Clauselle, PsyD, who runs a private psychology practice in Long Island, NY.

Seventeen Unexpected Side Effects of Exercise

Rooting for the same team creates an immediate sense of family, says Daniel Wann, PhD, a Murray State University professor who has been studying the psychology of sports fans for over 20 years. “If you identify with a local team, you build an instant connection to others around you,” he says.

Beyond the bonding aspects, watching sports can motivate you to pump up your own workouts - and even burn a few extra calories when you jump, cheer, and clap during the highlights of the game. Find out more ways being a sports fan is a winning situation for your health.

Keep reading to learn how being a sports fan benefits your health.

5 Tips From a Pro: How to Create a Beautiful Bronzed Glow

Real Beauty — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:07:27 PST

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty.

When trying to create a natural, sunless tan on your body, mistakes are expected and accepted. If things go too awry, you can just opt to wear pants until the color wears off.

Bronzer or self tanner: which is right for you?

But a botched fake tan on your face? Completely out of the question. Here, five foolproof tips on how to get gorgeous bronzed skin.

The Help's Win, Love For 30 Rock and Modern Family, a Scorsese Drinking Game - Highlights From the SAG Awards!

Allie Merriam — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:22:03 PST

Michelle Williams was the first presenter at this evening's SAG Awards, handing the outstanding supporting actor statue to Christopher Plummer from Beginners. Octavia Spencer took home the corresponding statue for her work in The Help.

On the TV end, Alec Baldwin squealed with delight when he was named best actor in a comedic series, and an especially stunned Betty White, from Hot in Cleveland, dedicated her prize to her leading ladies Wendie Malick, Valerie Bertinelli, and Jane Leeves. The child actors from Modern Family, Ariel Winter, Rico Rodriguez, and Nolan Gould, got a chance to take the podium when their series won outstanding cast in a comedy. Miniseries accolades went to two absent stars, Kate Winslet for Mildred Pierce and Paul Giamatti for Too Big to Fail.

Bridesmaids' Maya Rudolph, Kristin Wiig, and Melissa McCarthy brought some comedic relief when onstage introducing their film as a contender in the best ensemble category. The trio came to the stage armed with vodka, beer, and champagne, and introduced a drinking game based around the word "Scorsese." Jessica Lange then followed up on her Golden Globes win with another victory in the category of best dramatic actress on a TV series for American Horror Story. Steve Buscemi won an Actor for his leading role on HBO's Boardwalk Empire. TV ensemble in a drama honors went to Steve's whole cast, giving him an additional opportunity to invoke his producer Martin Scorsese's name as an excuse for a drink.

There was a slight upset in the best actor in a film category - The Artist's Jean Dujardin beat out Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Demián Bichir, and George Clooney. Viola Davis claimed the best female actor in a motion picture for The Help, and beamed from the stage in her Marchesa gown. Further acclaim went to the cast of Viola's movie, with their Actor statues being handed off by none other than Brad Pitt. We've rounded up the full list of 2012 SAG Award winners, and make sure to check out all the action from celebrities on the SAGs red carpet!

Cardio Workout: Beginner Treadmill

Susi May — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:55:34 PST

If one of your goals for 2012 is to start running, already don't panic that it's the fourth week of January. There is still time! Working out on a treadmill during the inclement weather of Winter is a fine way to get into the sport, and we have a workout for you to try.

I am a firm believer in easing into your relationship with running to give your body time to adjust to the physical demands - you don't want to get so sore that you never want to run again. Mixing walking and running is a great way to get your heart rate up while priming your body for distance and speed. Here's a 40-minute walking/running workout, and if you're new to running you should certainly check it out.

Take a look at the workout when you read more.

Geek Tip: Winter-Proof Your Cell Phone

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:41:01 PST

Now that it's gearing up to unleash a wicked load of 4G phones (and soon, an iPhone), Verizon is dishing out the Winter cell phone tips to keep you texting, emailing, and chatting, and at just the perfect time. Although we've been hanging out in the middle of the desert at CES in Las Vegas, it gets pretty nippy out there, and according to Verizon, cold weather sucks down your battery faster than it would in warm temps. Not only that, but your phone's display is more sensitive in chilly Winter weather, which makes it easier to break. Talk about a double downer.

How can you keep your phone working at full speed, and get through Winter in one piece? Find out after the break.