FitSugar

Favorite Excuse for Not Working Out: I Don't Belong to a Gym

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 17:15:00 PDT

I hear it time and time again, "I'd love to workout, but I don't belong to a gym." Guess what? A lot of really healthy and fit people do not have gym memberships and a lot of people with gym memberships aren't so healthy anyway.

So if you've been using the no gym membership as an excuse, here are a few tips on working out without a gym:

Make the great outdoors your gym. Hit a park and do step-ups on benches. Hop on a bike and ride around town for 45 minutes. Swim laps in a lake or your local pool. Run in a park or at a local track. Use outdoor stairs for stair climbing. Toss around the Frisbee or football with friends in the park.
Make your home your gym. Rent exercise DVDs. Buy equipment for home use. Use household items as your weights. Use your stairs for step-ups, sideways squats and more. Pump up the music and dance while you clean. Do sit-ups and push-ups during commercials of your favorite TV show.
Make your everyday activities count. Take the stairs whenever possible. Bike (or walk) to work. Talk a few short brisk walks during your day. Sign up for a yoga class during your lunch break. Walk to your coworkers office instead of sending her an email. Join your kids in a game of tag.

There are so many ways outside of the gym for getting active. Belonging to a gym can simplify things because you're in, you're out and it's done but you can make it just as simple by thinking outside the box. I am sure you guys all have your non-gym ideas for getting fit, so share them in the comments section below.

Source

Do You Listen to Music When You Exercise Outside?

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:30:00 PDT

Sometimes, going for a run is just an excuse to listen to my favorite playlists on my iPod. The beat of the music keeps pushing me along and the lyrics entertain me. Other times, I like to run without music and listen to the birds chirping, my stride and my breath. I feel more aware of my surroundings too.

So I want to know...

Source

From the Fit Community: Leave Your Phone at Home When You Work Out

Fit Community — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:25:08 PST

FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV wants you to know: you're hurting your workout when you bring your cell phone into the equation. She shared her three reasons you should stay cell phone-free at the gym in our 10 Pounds Down! community group.

1. It’s hurting your workout (and could cause you to get hurt)

If you can text or talk on the phone during any part of your workout, you aren’t working hard enough. Exercise requires a mind/body connection (yes, even the time you spend on the treadmill) and your cell phone seriously disrupts the communication signals between your mind and your body.

Even if you think you are the most talented texter, or multitasker to ever walk the earth, don’t kid yourself - many studies have shown cell phone distraction as even worse than being drunk – so if you wouldn’t run that mile, take that spin class or do Pilates totally wasted, then your phone shouldn’t be out during your workout. Not paying attention during exercise is dangerous and can cause you to hurt yourself - in a big way. Not to mention, it slows you down! Even if you stop to text in between exercises, you are slowing down your flow - and your heart rate. Not a good way to get results.

Read more reasons for keeping your cell phone at home after the break.

Your Run Burned How Many Calories?

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:13:27 PST

Whether you run on a treadmill and glance at the display, or keep track of your run outside with a device, it's nice to know how many calories you're burning, especially if weight loss is one of your goals.

Here's a nifty chart to let you know what your pace and workout time translates to in calories burned. It can also help you figure out how intensely and how long you need to exercise in order to negate the cupcake you savored at lunch.

Do you know how many calories you burn after a moderate 20-minute jog at a pace of 10 minutes per mile? Find out when you after the break.

5 Workouts That Will Take You to the Max

Michele Foley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:04:30 PST

One way to shake up a humdrum fitness routine is by going outside the box - way outside. (And I'm not talking about hitting the treadmill after a stint on the elliptical.) Push yourself to the limit with a workout that tests both your fears and physicality. It's amazing what you can do once you set your sights on something.

What Do You Love Most About Your Gym?

Leta Shy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:29:13 PST

I love going to the gym. Planning a gym schedule each week not only makes me more apt to stick to my workout routine, but it also encourages me to focus on muscle-building exercises - which is my weakness, since I love to run outside but never want to strength-train at home.

Before I signed up for my latest gym, however, I found every excuse to skip the trek to my former club. It was more than a mile away and not convenient to any public transit, so the walk-workout-walk necessity made for a big time commitment.

Now that my new gym is mere blocks from my office, it's easy to squeeze in a short lunchtime workout or stop by after work. While I like the better layout and amenities (especially the classes!) of my new gym over my former one, its convenient location is the most important aspect of staying committed to my workouts. What's yours?

The Best Indoor Workout Classes (Because It's Freezing Outside!)

Self — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:35:01 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

There are lots (and I mean, lots) of reasons why my motivation to work out during the Winter plummets - from the snowy commute to freezing cold winds to the cold, dry air that hits my chest with such force that it becomes hard to breathe. (Ahem, there's a reason I sign up for races that are after September - this born-and-raised Floridian prefers to train outdoors during the Summer.)

But it is possible to sculpt, strengthen, and sweat (majorly sweat) without having to be freezing cold during the winter. So when the weather outside is frightful, head indoors for these top full-body workouts that will help ward off Winter weight:

Indoor cycling: Ruth Zukerman, cofounder of NYC's FlyWheel cycling studio, is heating things up indoors with her 45-minute, heart-racing classes. (Self favorite Jillian Michaels is even a recent investor in the company). "I wanted to be part of the most innovative and effective indoor cycling program, and that is FlyWheel. I am thrilled to join the FlyWheel team," Michaels said in a press release. What makes cycling such an effective alternative is that it's taking the fun full-body workout people love indoors, and instead of scenery, you'll stay motivated to challenge yourself thanks to encouraging instructors and a killer playlist. Flywheel has an awesome on-bike technology board that lets you compete against other riders in the class. Plus if you're looking to shape up before hitting the slopes, "indoor cycling is great preparation for all Winter sports, especially skiing and snowboarding. I know from personal experience that when I hit the slopes I don't tire out easily or suffer from the kind of après-ski muscle pain that most people do, and it's because of indoor cycling," Zukerman says.

Try this move: If you're riding an exercise bike at home or the gym, try some interval training. One thing we often do at Flywheel is a "Sprint Chorus," meaning we increase our RPMs to a sprint during the song's chorus and then revert to a cadence on the beat of the music as the chorus ends.

More best indoor workouts after the break.

How to Prevent a Bad Running Day

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:56:02 PST

Some days I slip on my sports bra and sneaks and I feel so light and strong - like I could keep going and going. Other days it seems like my legs are trudging through mud. What gives? We can't prevent bad running days entirely, but here are a few things you can do in order to have more good days than bad.

Get enough sleep the night before. Hit the hay early enough so you get seven to nine hours of shut-eye.
Make sure you're hydrated. Not drinking the appropriate amount of water before and during your workout can lead to dizziness, headaches, decreased energy and performance, dry mouth, and cramps. A few hours before running, drink about 15 to 20 ounces. Drink another eight to 10 ounces 10 to 15 minutes before heading out.
Eat before your run. Remember that food is fuel. If you're not working out for five or so hours, enjoy a meal that contains protein, fat, and carbs. Several hours before a run, eat a meal that's under 500 calories. Thirty to 90 minutes before you head out, enjoy a carb-loaded low-fat snack. If you're working out first thing in the a.m., fuel up with easily digestible carbs that are low in fiber. Getting too much fiber can cause major cramps during your run.
Hit the ladies room. There's no need to carry unnecessary weight with you, so if you can relieve yourself before your run, you'll feel much lighter and will be less likely to experience belly aches.

See more tips after the break!

Faster, Harder, Longer: How to Maximize a Treadmill Workout

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:29:43 PST

Numb fingers. Black ice. Risk of frostbite. These are all common reasons to skip running outside in Winter and take refuge in a warm, dry gym. Treadmills might feel safer, but you might even find the workout feels a little easier. Don't sell yourself short! Use these tips to upgrade your treadmill time and maximize the benefits of your run.

To Burn More Calories

Do intervals. Running at a consistent pace is great for longer training runs, but during your intense workouts, take advantage of intervals. By alternating between running a few minutes at a moderate pace and throwing in bursts at a quicker pace (or even sprinting), you'll burn more calories, build endurance, and become a faster, stronger runner. Not to mention, intervals have also been proven to fight belly fat. Here's a 30-minute treadmill interval workout for you to try.
Gradually increase your speed throughout your workout. You definitely don't want to start your run at a seven mile per hour (mph) pace since you need to give your body a chance to warm up. Start out with a brisk walk (4 mph) and every five to 10 minutes, give your speed a little push until you're running at a 5 to 8 mph pace.
Run longer. It's good to mix up the type of running workouts you do, so on days that you're not running intervals or building up speed, do a longer run at a consistent pace. If you run for 30 minutes (at a pace of 10 minutes per mile) you'll burn 270 calories. Forty-five minutes burns 405 calories, and even longer, an hour-long run burns 540 calories.

Keep reading to learn ways to tone your muscles and become a faster runner.

8 Life Lessons Learned From CES 2012

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:31:59 PST

This year's CES didn't just teach us about gadget trends and the future of the industry - it also taught us a few things that we'll remember in our everyday lives as well. Here, we offer up a few tips to take with you on your next journey to a big tech conference, or to keep in the back of your mind for life. Trust me: our pain is your gain!

Get plenty of sleep. Between long hours on the show floor and various industry parties (and afterparties), there's a good reason we'd love to see siesta lounges at CES. But if you can't nap during the day, be sure to get enough shut eye at night. This is true even for the real world, where you've got emails, shows, and news to catch up on. Put away the laptop at a decent hour and get your beauty rest. You'll wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day's to-do list.
Carry water. Downing coffee, cocktails, and Diet Cokes, coupled with the dry weather in the desert, and filtered air in the hotels and casinos can cause dehydration fast. Keep a bottle of water on you at all times. This not only keeps your skin fresh, lips hydrated, and head clear, but it'll keep you from overheating due to thirst.
Wear good shoes. Did I mention how much we walked at CES? Seriously, the biggest expo I've ever seen, it spans the Las Vegas Convention Center and surrounding hotels. It's not hard to walk six miles in a single day. Multiply that by three or four days, and you've got yourself a good workout. Dress your feet appropriately for CES, and everyday life, since it can save your back later down the road.
Get in the lunch line early. Hungry bloggers line up to get their lunches far before the 11:30 a.m. call time. Although we never saw a shortage of food, who wants to wait in another line when you're tired and hungry? This is another way to say "eat your lunch." Skipping meals can lead to headaches and crankiness, symptoms you don't want to experience when you're in a fast-paced and crowded space or in your office.

Check out the rest of the list when you read more.