FitSugar

Get Over the Hump Day: You in Motion

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:00:53 PST

Whatever your fitness goals are, being healthy means staying on the move. For some that's daily workouts on the treadmill or the elliptical. Others opt for bike rides, hikes, or laps in the swimming pool. And the rest of us might be practicing yoga, dancing, or resistance training. Whatever activity it is, keep on moving! Remember that all of this hard work you're doing equals more than just burned calories and lost pounds. Your heart is getting stronger, your endurance is building, and your body is getting some nice tone. That's why this week's challenge for the Get Fit For 2010 giveaway is to keep a fitness journal and blog about it in the Get Fit For 2010 community group.

Since there's nothing quite like a body in motion, I want to see you in action. This week's extra credit assignment is to make a photo gallery of your workouts, or better yet, make a video and upload it into a blog post in the Get Fit group. The best part is that this extra credit assignment earns you two entries into this week's drawing for a $100 Nike gift card, as well as the drawing for our fabulous grand prize.

Don't worry if you've never made a gallery. It's simple and here are some easy-to-follow directions on how to do it. I can't wait to see, and I mean that literally, what you're all doing. Check out the workout I did on Monday!

If at First You Don't Succeed . . .

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:15:45 PST

How's everyone doing with their 2010 fitness health goals so far? Based on all the inspiring posts in our Get Fit For 2010 community group, it seems like most of you are right on track. But don't get discouraged if you're struggling a bit. It's hard making these kinds of lifestyle changes, but over time you won't even have to think about it - all of these new, healthy habits you're developing will be second nature to you in no time.

One of the biggest gripes I hear from people who are trying to get in shape is how much they hate exercising. When I ask why, they say that it's boring, uninspiring, or that they hate forcing themselves to do something they dislike. Here's the thing, I empathize with what they are saying.

For me, it's important to love what I do, even when it comes to being active. I have a friend who hated working out until she discovered boxing, and now she practically lives in the ring. Same thing goes for another friend who dreaded going to her Hatha yoga classes. But before she gave up on yoga altogether, she let her coworker convince her to try Bikram. Three years later, she's going to Bikram yoga five times a week.

I really believe that there is something out there for everyone. Some people love being gym rats, while others have to be outdoors. Some people like to work out alone, while others need social interaction to keep them motivated. If you haven't found an activity yet that makes you want to work out, experiment. Don't give up too easily either. It wasn't until my third Vinyasa flow class that I realized how much I loved the practice. Once you find that special something that makes you want to get up and go, you won't even consider it a workout anymore, it's just your life.

Resistance Is Fruitful

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:00:03 PST

This Christmas I was excited about all the fitness-related gifts I received, especially a new resistance band kit. It's been raining a lot lately, and as a result I haven't been able to ride my bike to the gym as much as I'd like. It's a bummer, but using my resistance bands at home has kept me from going nuts. I use them to tone and strengthen as well as stretch. And even though it's not exactly the same as getting to my yoga class or climbing gym, it works the same areas of my body - hips, thighs, arms, back, you name it, it works it!

What's great about a resistance band is how inexpensive it is - you can easily find a good one for under $10 or a three-piece set for around $30. They're small and store easily, making them ideal for traveling or tucking away in a desk drawer at work. And depending on your level of strength, there's one for everyone - from light to super heavy tension and everything in between.

Read why I think you should learn to love resistance bands when you

Besides using them in place of free weights for strengthening specific muscle groups (think bicep and hammer curls), I also make exercises more challenging by incorporating a band into them. Squats, push-ups, and lunges become even more challenging with the addition of a resistance band.

You'll find that when using resistance bands, it's easier to target smaller muscles and also mimic real-life sports scenarios. Because the bands offer tension in all directions, you can use them to mirror the movements you make in your sport and strengthen those muscle groups.

I know that many of you want to tone and strengthen your bodies as part of your goals in our Get Fit For 2010 challenge. If you don't already have a resistance band for yourself, go out and get one: I promise that you'll see results!

You Asked: Jackie Warner's New Project

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:50:18 PST

After reading our review of Jackie Warner's fitness DVD Workout One-on-One Training, many of you expressed curiosity over the future of her hit Bravo series, Work Out. After making a call to Sky Sport Spa - Warner's gym - today, I was told the unfortunate news that the show won't be returning for a fourth season.

I was a bit bummed to hear this but then I remembered Warner has a new show in the works, Thintervention With Jackie Warner. Not only that, Bravo is still looking for real folks struggling with weight loss to cast in the series. Thintervention will feature Warner working with individuals in their day-to-day environments to give them a complete lifestyle overhaul.

Learn the details of this new weight-loss reality show when you

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A press release from Bravo breaks down the show's formula:

Each episode of the one hour series will feature a grueling workout with Warner pushing her clients to their emotional and physical limits, a therapy session to get to the root of their weight issues, and a life lesson in nutrition such as grocery shopping or surprise raids of their home kitchens.

Thintervention seems to be banking on the success of The Biggest Loser formula, and given Warner's no-BS attitude, I'm sure we'll see more than a few tears shed as the season goes on. What we won't see is all the drama in Warner's personal life and the lives of her trainers. Personally, I think the drama is what helped make Work Out such a hit among, viewers so it'll be interesting to see how her new show fares.

Are you excited about Thintervention, or do you want Work Out to come back?

If You Go Away For the Weekend, Do You Work Out?

FitSugar — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:30:00 PDT

I always try to exercise if I'm going away on a week long vacation. I like to maintain my regular workout schedule if I can. Weekends away are a different story though. If I only go away for Saturday and Sunday, I don't always plan to work out because I tend to be really busy. How about you?

Source

Why Does My Body Shake?

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 08:45:00 PST

Sometimes during certain exercises, my muscles quiver involuntarily, especially when I'm doing ab work. Does this happen to you?

Good news: That shaking means you're working and strengthening your muscles. But it's also a sign that the muscle is not accustomed to the demands you're putting on it.

The trembling indicates how the muscles grab and release one other as they lengthen and shorten during the exercise. But that action will become smoother, and the shaking will stop, once the muscles become more used to the activities you're doing.

Although the shaking isn't dangerous, the fact that you're putting extra demand on the muscles could result in some soreness the next day. The soreness reflects the fact that there's some muscle damage, but when the body repairs it, you come back fitter and stronger in the end, so it's a good thing.

Just think - If you do the exercise everyday then you will get stronger and shake less. Test that theory by doing the 4 minute short, sweet and complete ab routine everyday.

Fit's Tips: So don't overexert yourself too much. If you find yourself quivering from the start, take the intensity down a bit, and ease your muscles into working harder gradually.

Yet Another Excuse Not To Exercise

GiggleSugar — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:02:00 PST

So if pumping iron with Snoop Dog isn't quite your style, then how about gettin' your Garfield on instead? And yes, I realize that made absolutely no sense. What do you want me to say? We're talking about a cat-inspired workout here, folks. Throw me a freakin' bone...or a ball of yarn. Just make the video go away. It's really creeping meow-t. Ha!

The P.M. is where I am, how about you?

FitSugar — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 08:30:00 PST

Although most people like to exercise in the morning, claiming it is better than coffee, there is no evidence that it is better for you. I prefer to exercise around 3 p.m. when I generally feel like taking a nap. I do agree with the morning exercise folks – exercise is better than coffee.

Recently a neurologist from Northwestern University challenged the age old convention of "early to rise and early to run – get the exercise done.” Dr. Phyllis Zee believes the best time to work out is in the late afternoon, between 2 and 4 p.m., since that is when your muscle strength is at its peak and people are more alert and wake . Meaning you will be less likely to injure yourself. Your body temperature is also about 2 degrees higher so warming up should be easier too.

On the other hand, some health experts recommend exercising in the morning because the body's metabolism can get an early start at burning calories and sustain that higher metabolic rate during the hours after exercise.

Fit's take: Exercise is important and fitting it into your day, morning or afternoon, can be tough. Since there are advantages to working out at either time, I say go with your personal preference.

Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder Get Romantic in Paris

Katie Henry — Tue, 29 May 2012 01:12:29 PDT

Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder were spotted on a romantic stroll through the streets of Paris on Friday night. The fun continued on Saturday for The Vampire Diaries couple, who partied with friends and costar Paul Wesley at a birthday celebration for their executive producer Julie Plec. On Sunday, Nina ventured out for some solo shopping at Louis Vuitton, and yesterday, the pair packed up and checked out of their French hotel. Nina and Ian have the Summer to travel before returning to work on the fourth season of their vampire drama. Their small-screen fans got a big shock in the season-three Vampire Diaries finale, and while some of characters met their demise, other story lines won't be resolved until the show returns in the Fall.

Don't Get Ticked Off! Easy Ways to Prevent Lyme Disease

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 29 May 2012 00:41:18 PDT

If you're the outdoorsy type - and I don't mean sipping cocktails on your patio - chances are you've come in contact with a tick or two. Blacklegged ticks, also called deer ticks, are the ones to watch out for since they carry the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium, which causes Lyme disease. Seventy to 80 percent of people will develop a rash that looks like a bull's-eye within three to 30 days of being bitten, and other symptoms include severe headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, neck stiffness due to meningitis, joint pain and swelling, and shooting pains. Antibiotics can cure most cases, but some patients will later develop neurological complications, such as Bell's palsy (loss of muscle tone on one or both sides of the face) when not treated in time.

Any way you slice it, Lyme disease is not something you want to bring home from a hike or trail run. The best thing you can do is take some simple precautions to prevent those bugs from infecting you, and here's how.

Stick to the trail: Ticks hang out in moist, humid grassy areas, so you can decrease your exposure by hiking, running, or biking on the clear, dirt trail. Avoid tromping through high grass, piles of leaves, and bushes.
Sock it to me: Wearing pants is probably not an option when working out in the Summer heat, but you can keep your lower legs protected by wearing socks that cover your shins. It's not exactly the most attractive, but it definitely beats joint pain, dizziness, and a skin rash.
Go for the chemicals: I'm always a fan of using all-natural products, but when it comes to protecting yourself against ticks, when used properly, DEET is your best bet. Spray small amounts on your clothes, and choose products with low concentrations of DEET for your skin. As soon as you get home, strip down and hit the showers.
Know your enemy: While in the shower, it's a good time to do a tick check. Look for a small dark brown bug with eight legs, and check everywhere including your armpits, inside your belly button, and in your hair. If you discover an embedded tick, look to this video demonstrating a pain-free way to remove the tick without the use of tweezers. If it's removed within 24 hours, your chance of contracting Lyme disease is pretty small.