FitSugar

Nike+ Gym Equipment Coming to a 24-Hour Fitness Near You

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0700

In March, Nike and Apple announced they were working to integrate their Nike + iPod system with cardio equipment. The idea being that you could hop on a treadmill, elliptical, stair stepper, or stationary bike, track, and record your workouts in the same way that the Nike+ Sports Kit for the iPod works. The largest chain of gyms in the US, 24-Hour Fitness, just announced that in July, they'll be the first to offer this new Nike+ iPod compatible gym equipment. You'll see them in gyms located in New York, San Francisco, Miami, Denver, Portland, and Salt Lake City.

This is great news for people who love to mix up their cardio routines and want to know exactly how many miles they've gone and and how many calories they've burned. They'll be able to upload their data to the NikePlus.com website to keep track of all their workouts. Hopefully, in the near future other gyms will offer these NIke+ iPod compatible cardio machines, too.

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Nike RockStar Workout @ 24 Hour Fitness: Dancehall

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:25:44 -0700

Do you often think it would be great if your workout could improve your nightlife as well as your health? You know, like directly translate to making you not only svelte but hip too. Well the latest class in the Nike Rockstar series - "Dancehall" now offered at 24 Hour Fitness, might be just what you are looking for.

The new Dancehall workout was choreographed by Jamie King who has created moves for Madonna, JLo, Britney and Shakira. Now you can move like a rockstar too!!! The Caribbean style moves, inspired by the latest music videos and dancehall steps, will not only challenge your sense of coordination but your heart rate as well. If you want a little primer before heading to class, you should check out the video. They look incredibly fun - the video is truly motivational.

If you don’t like step or dance aerobics this class might be frustrating for you at first. The challenge, however, will keep you motivated and engaged as you get or stay in shape. Learn the moves at the gym and then take them out for a night on the town (another great way to burn calories).

If you aren't a member of 24 Hour Fitness yet, don't worry, right now you can try it out for 10 days for FREE. To get your free 10-day pass, check out 24hourfitnessoffers.com.

Fit's Tip: To find a class at a club near you, check out this class schedule and locator. Remember ladies - ROCK ON!!!!

24 Hour Fitness: Camp24

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 15:14:49 -0700

I wanted to give a shout out to 24 Hour Fitness and say thanks for sponsoring the pages of FitSugar. They even gave me a t-shirt and they would like to give you 10 free days of their group series classes. Talk about Spring Training. So, if you're looking for a group class that is a well rounded workout and fun, Camp24 is a great bet.

Camp24 is 24 Hour Fitness's answer to boot camp. Your trainer is the drill sergeant and you're there to do as he/she says (don't worry, it's not that scary). You can pace yourself, or go the limit in this ultimate circuit workout, though you'll definitely be encouraged to go the limit. Improved cardiovascular abilities, muscular strength and endurance are to be gained from this class that, I would say, is suitable for all levels. You'll be using dumbbells (you pick the weight), a step and a mat throughout the class. There are a lot of 3-minute interval circuits -- For example 3 minutes of jumping jacks, 3 minutes of bicep curls, 3 minutes of dips, etc.

I've got to say, I feel great! My arms feel fatigued which means they got a fabulous workout and I can't imagine how my booty is going to feel the next few days. My favorite part about Camp24 is that there is not much thinking involved; the trainer tells the class what to do and when to do it. You're not left wandering around the gym wondering what you should do next and how (and why), which can be a downfall for many of us. What's more? I was forced to work parts of my body that I often neglect (like my deltoids).

If you aren't a member of 24 Hour Fitness yet, don't worry; right now you can try it out for 10 days for FREE. To get your free 10-day pass, check out 24hourfitnessoffers.com.

Fit's Tip: If you're used to doing long cardio workouts, then you need to engage your arms as much as possible during the cardio intervals to really get that heart rate up.

Desperate Housewives Rundown, "The Coffee Cup"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:30:00 -0800

Some shows bring out big guest stars for November sweeps, but Desperate Housewives is getting back in touch with its sexy side instead. Susan tries to set a new record with Mike while Bree narrowly escapes an Orson interruption when she's with Karl. Meanwhile, Lynette's pregnancy secret is finally out and Nick Bolen continues to be creeptastic all over town.

Now that Mad Men's long gone, I'm hoping the housewives will kick things into higher gear for my Sunday nights. Ready to get into it? Just read more.

Susan: Susan manages to avoid jail time for shooting Katherine, but the cheeky judge sentences her to garbage pick up for all of her "trash talking" (get it?!). Katherine and Susan's little courtroom drama re-enactment is ridiculous (as is Susan's cleavage baring dress for the hearing) but unfortunately the catty antics don't stop there. Katherine taunts Susan and her orange jumpsuit, prompting Susan to turn the tables on her rival. Katherine has a hissy fit and reveals that she and Mike once had sex five times in one day, which of course gets Susan all worked up. When her endless array of lingerie and come-ons still can't land Mike in the sack more than three times in 24 hours, Susan has one of her typical annoying tantrums. Mike comforts her in what's meant to be an "aww" inducing moment, but I was too busy rolling my eyes. Usually Susan doesn't bug me this much, but I couldn't be more over the love triangle.

Angie and Bree: Gaby usually has the best lines of the show, but it looks like Angie is right on her tail - "Have you seen Avenue Q? With the puppets? Now that's theater." Anyway, Angie's now got herself a balancing act between giving Nick grief about his affair with Julie and being too involved with Bree's life. After Orson admits to Angie that he suspects Bree is having an affair, Angie immediately tells Bree. Though she refuses to spy on Bree, Angie still gets all tangled up in the web when she plays Rear Window - looking on as Orson enters the house while Bree and Karl are upstairs getting it on. Angie intervenes and saves the day, but how long before she asks Bree to return the favor. Also, when Orson is discussing the plot of Madame Butterfly, is he insinuating that he might kill himself when he inevitably finds out about Bree's affair? Personally, both Karl and Orson kind of bug me so I'm just as torn as Bree is about which man to choose.

Lynette and Gaby: The latest update in Lynette's secret pregnancy? Menswear. But that's just the tip of the iceberg, when she and Gaby start squaring off over one of Lynette's colleagues. Gaby convinces Carlos to transfer Terrence, the colleague in question, to Florida so that Juanita can take Terrence's daughter's spot at a Catholic school. Realizing that she won't be able to take maternity leave without Terrence, Lynette turns the tables and convinces Terrence to reject the transfer. The tables turn on Lynette when Gaby discovers that she's pregnant - and Carlos is pissed. He gives Lynette an ultimatum - take the spot in Florida, or quit. Though Carlos's anger is understandable, I think I'm on Lynette's side here. Carlos had been complaining about another co-worker's pregnancy, so Lynette had every right to be scared to tell him. I also think it's a bit rich for Gaby to admit how selfish she is but then point fingers at Lynette for keeping her secret.

How'd you feel about the scandals this week? Are you on Team Orson or Team Karl? Do you think it was Nick who kills the coffee shop girl at the end? Sound off!

Ryan Gosling Is 24 Hour Hotness

PopSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Ryan Gosling looked smokin' as he enjoyed a protein shake on the way out of 24 Hour Fitness in LA yesterday. Seems like he's pretty dedicated to keeping those big guns of his in shape with weight training. Whether Ryan is beefing up for a role or just wants to keep looking sexy in those t-shirts, no complaints here about a guy who understands the importance of sharing his manjoyment with the world. Now we'll just give him the benefit of the doubt that he really is single and the hand-holding we saw him doing recently was all innocent, since apparently the woman in question is married.

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Demi and Ashton Go to the Ball, While Casual Mark Talks Kids

PopSugarUK — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0700

At the GQ Gentlemen's Ball last night Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher cuddled up on the red carpet in front of photographers, showing off their glam looks. Ashton looked dapper in his suit and Demi looked uber-toned and fit in her black and white dress. The couple are working together on November 9 when they both take part in the 24 hour plays project on Broadway! Kid Cudi, Emmy Rossum, Josh Lucas and Olivia Palermo also dressed up for the occasion, while inside the ball Mark Wahlberg was looking a lot more relaxed and casual in his t-shirt. He revealed that his pregnant wife Rhea Durham is expecting a girl, so he'll have two girls and two boys in the family - awww!

To see more photos from the event, just read more.

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A Serious Man: Seriously Hard To Wrap Your Head Around

BuzzSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:00:10 -0700

I like the Coen brothers. I loved No Country For Old Men, I still enjoy quoting Frances McDormand lines from Fargo - I even appreciated their most recent project, Burn After Reading despite lukewarm reviews. So I went into A Serious Man with high expectations. Perhaps a bit too high.

The Coens go incredibly dark and thought-provoking this time around, and unfortunately without any big-named stars attached like Clooney a la Reading or O Brother, Where Art Thou?, A Serious Man probably won't live on as one of their more memorable films for viewers. In fact, many people will probably feel put off by it. To see what I mean, read more

A Serious Man opens like a horror movie, which isn't surprising given the Coen's propensity for heavy themes (and often a few stab wounds) in their stories. The music is a big player, creating tension that doesn't let up for the audience even when the screen goes to black. But the antagonizing score fits well within the nightmare existence of Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg), a professor and devoted family man in '60s suburbia. First, his wife announces that she's leaving him for a touchy-feely close-talker; his unemployed brother spends entire 24-hour periods in his bathroom; and one of his foreign students is threatening to sue him. Really, the only thrill Gopnik ever gets in life is when his neighbor Mrs. Samsky sunbathes nude.

Poor Gopnik is a wound-up guy, and you feel for him and with him. (It's true; I had to decompress after this movie.) His world is spiraling out of control, so he seeks out three rabbis for a solution. Does Gopnik get the enlightenment he seeks? Not exactly, and neither do we as the audience.

There's not a single bad thing I can say about any of the actors. Each one was believable and charmingly offbeat in their role. The Coens are brilliant with character nuances - even some of the small two-minute parts managed to get laughs - but the larger picture just seemed murky from the get-go. The first five minutes of the film starts with a man in a village who accidentally invites a ghost home for dinner. It's all in Yiddish with subtitles, and it's almost like watching a stand-alone play, but I'm still not sure what it had to do with the rest of the plot, other than the Jewish religion and setting a dismal tone. So right away I felt semiconfused, but entertained nonetheless - which is pretty much how the duration of it went for me.

The film does have some great scenes - I loved the interaction between Gopnik and his foreign student, and his wife's new boyfriend Si is particularly funny - but trying to piece it together is a bit like banging your head against the wall (just like in the movie's trailer). I get that Gopnik's life sucks, but other than that, it's hard to tell exactly what we're supposed to glean from the story. I think that was sort of the point the Coens were trying to make - Gopnik doesn't get the answers he seeks, and neither do we.

Go see it if you're a hardcore Coenaholic, and enjoy the funny scenes without trying to analyze it too much. But if you prefer to dissect your movies, I'd say rent this one at home, because you may need to watch it twice.

What movies are you seeing this weekend? Review them in our Movie Review Group!

Photos courtesy of Focus Features

Pet Airways Makes First Flights Today: Are You Buying In?

PetSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:25:10 -0700

No people allowed, people. That's the policy on the Pet Airways fleet offering main cabin travel for pampered pals only. Although it began taking reservations when it launched with an introductory one-way fare of $150, prices now range from $250–$300 and take off from regional airports close to five US cities - New York, Washington, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles - and seats are selling fast. While times are limited, and cross country trips take about 24 hours with an overnight stay-and-play, there are plans to expand to 25 cities in the next three years.

I can understand trepidation about flying a pup as cargo or checked baggage, but this airline flies up to 50 pets in a cabin specially fitted with crates, making a nice alternative for people with larger pets, provided your departure and arrival locations fit with their offerings. What's your take?

Source: Pet Airways

You Asked: Long Runs and Headaches?

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:00:40 -0700

Dear Fit,
I have been running for two years, consistently 30-minute runs, three mornings a week. A friend of mine who's training for a half marathon convinced me to sign up too, and I'm really excited about my first race. It's in the Fall, but I've already started training, and have been increasing my runs to an hour. I feel great while running, but a few hours afterward, I get this pounding headache that lasts at least an hour. Any ideas as to what could be causing this or how to prevent it? I want to cure these headaches before making my runs even longer.

- Pounding Pavement and Pounding Headache

First of all, congrats on signing up for your first half marathon. It's an amazing goal to have, and since you're so excited about it, I can understand your frustration about having headaches. I have a few ideas as to why you're getting these headaches, so read more.

Dehydration can be one cause of headaches. You need to hydrate not only right before you work out, but also a few days before. You'll know your body is well-hydrated when you urinate pale yellow or clear urine at least six times a day. An hour before you head out for your run, drink 16 to 24 ounces of water. You also need food for fuel, so don't run on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. Eat something small that's low in fat, easily digestible, and contains 40 to 100 grams of carbs about 30 minutes before heading out. Yogurt and a banana is a great choice.

Since you're running longer than 30 minutes, you also need to hydrate during your run. A general rule is to take in six to eight ounces every 20 minutes. You also want to fill up on electrolytes. Drinking Smartwater or Gatorade or eating Luna Sport Moons will keep up your performance levels when you're sweating a lot or exercising for long periods.

After your run, drink 20 to 24 ounces of water or a sports drink for every pound of water you've lost. Continue sipping your beverage until your urine is light yellow or clear. Also be sure to eat something that contains 100 to 200 grams of carbs and some protein within 45 minutes of working out.

If you're drinking and eating enough, your headache might be caused by poor running posture. Make sure your shoulders and hands are relaxed and your torso is in line with your hips. Wearing lightweight sunglasses and a hat can keep sun out of your eyes, since squinting can also cause headaches. Or if you have allergies and sinus congestion is causing your headache, allergy medication could prevent your post-run headaches. If none of this helps, I'd see a doctor to make sure it's not a more serious problem.