FitSugar -- Healthy, happy you.

Fit Travel Tip: Plan for the Weather

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Good intentions of exercising while traveling can lead to less than positive results if you don't keep an eye on the weather changes.

During a recent trip to Florida, I brought all my workout gear with the high hopes of doing workouts on the beach during my vacation. On the first day I went out, I was exhausted and dripping with sweat within minutes and had to stop. The Florida heat and sun were too much for my San Francisco blood to handle; I hadn't even considered the heat as a potential problem. So instead of doing the three mile jogs on the beach I had intended, I opted for one hour walks with a lot of water and frequent breaks. If you're heading for a vacation this Fall and Winter and plan on exercising, be sure to plan for a different climate than what you're used to. Be it too hot, or too cold, conditions may require you to alter your existing workout. And always listen to your body, if you feel fatigued or short of breath at any point, slow down and reassess your workout.

Source

Fit Travel Tip: Inquire About Fit Amenities at Your Hotel

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:00:00 -0700

I recently took a trip out to Lake Tahoe and stayed at the Hyatt Regency there. I've always been a fan of Hyatt hotels because they tend to have great gyms and fitness programs for their guests. With its new StayFit program, most Hyatt gyms are open 24 hours a day so you can work out whenever you want. Now, the Hyatt is also offering some pretty sweet in-room fitness amenities.

Since we were traveling with the girls, we booked a suite because for the space factor. When we arrived to our room, I was delighted not only by the super-spacious room, but also the stationary bike inside it! Sometimes it is nice to escape to the gym, but I often have trouble fitting it in. With a stationary bike in my room, I had no excuse not to exercise. Later I asked the front desk what to do in the future if I wanted a room with a bike, and they said to ask if there are any available.

The whole experience made me think that it pays to be proactive when it comes to your fitness needs, especially when traveling. If I had not lucked out, I would have never even known that having exercise equipment in your room was an option. My guess is that most hotels offer many more fitness and health amenities than meets the eye, you just need to ask the front desk or concierge so you can take full advantage and stay fit while on vacation.

Source

Fit Travel Tip: Running From the Paparazzi

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Traveling to LA anytime soon? Then you can head for the Hollywood Hills and still keep your body red carpet ready.

Running from the Paparazzi is a 4-mile running tour that goes from Wilshire Boulevard to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, then through Hollywood and past eclectic shops on Robertson Boulevard. You'll be able to do some quick window shopping, celeb watching, and calorie burning all at the same time.

The cost for this 4-mile tour is $60 per person, which includes an exclusively designed Running From the Paparazzi T-Shirt, bottled water, fresh fruit, and ends with a sweet reward: A frosted cupcake!

Source

Healthy Travels: Boston Logan International Airport

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0700

With McDonalds lurking in every terminal, airports pose a potential threat to the average healthy person.

On my recent travels I had a few hours to kill in the Boston International Airport and I was pleasantly surprised to find that there was an abundance of healthy choices — I know this because I was looking for fries (even I have a weakness for them) and couldn't find them. Every terminal offers up healthy eats — I was able to score hummus and veggies — and you can also get in a workout.

The Hilton, which is connected to the airport via Skybridge, offers $10 day passes to its health club. They'll even sell you a disposable bathing suit for $8 if you want to do a few laps in the pool. How refreshing? Had I discovered this earlier, I would have utilized the opportunity to get in a quick workout instead of wandering the terminal looking for something to do, which ended up being stuffing sour patch kids down my throat.

If you're not going to be at the Boston Logan Airport any time soon but will be traveling, be sure to check out if the airport you'll be visiting has a gym. You'd be surprised by how many offer access to exercise facilities.

Source

Fight Jet Lag: Don't Eat?

FitSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:00:00 -0700

If you're getting ready to cross time zones, new research suggests that fasting may help you deal with jet lag. While it's true that light regulates the circadian rhythm, an internal clock that determines when you sleep, wake, and eat, there may be a second internal clock that takes over when your body thinks food is scarce. It takes 16 hours of fasting to kick this clock into gear, and manipulating this clock by denying yourself food may help to adjust to a new time zone. Scientists experimented with this concept by offering food to mice only during times when they were supposed to be sleeping. Eventually, the mice that adjusted to this new eating schedule remained awake at nighttime in order to eat. Since we are mammals too, scientists think this strategy may work on humans as well.

It may be worth a try if you're traveling across the globe, but personally, I think not eating is a bad idea. Not only will it screw up your metabolism, but it'll make you cranky, dizzy, and give you a headache, which will only worsen your symptoms of jet lag.

Source

5 Things: Dealing With Jet Lag

FitSugar — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 08:45:00 -0800

We've all experienced the excitement of travel and the difficulty of jet lag. Jet lag seriously messes with your body clock (circadian rhythm), which is programmed for regular cycles of day and night. Depending on how many time zones you cross, it may take several days to get your internal clock back on schedule. Some symptoms of jet lag include daytime drowsiness, foggy mind, irritability, difficulty concentrating, headaches, trouble sleeping, and swelling in your hands and feet.

Here are some things you can do to deal with jet lag:

Reset your watch to the time zone you'll be traveling to, so you can mentally prepare your body for the new time.
The air in the plane cabin can be really dry, which will make you feel sleepy, so drink water throughout the flight. Also avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine right before and during your flight since they'll dehydrate you and mess with your sleep schedules more.
Walk around and do seated exercises as much as you can to improve your circulation, which will hopefully prevent stiffness and swelling.
If you're taking a red-eye, make the cabin as dark as you can so you can try to sleep. Wear eye shades and earplugs to help you tune out the activity around you.
When you arrive in the morning, try to stay awake, and go to sleep at that time zone's normal bedtime. It'll be tough, but you'll get a better night of sleep than if you took a little afternoon cat nap.

Source

Healthiest Airports For Your Holiday Travels

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 09:30:00 -0800

Many of us are still traveling for the holidays. Whether it is on our way home or back out for a fun New Year's trip, we're spending lots of time in airports. The Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine has rated some of the nation's top airports in terms of health. Each airport's score was determined by dividing the number of restaurants offering at least one healthful option by the total number of restaurants — a restaurant was rated as healthful if it served at least one low-fat, high-fiber, cholesterol-free breakfast, lunch, or dinner entrée.

To see if an airport you'll be visiting makes the list, just

The 10 Best Hotel Gyms of 2007

FitSugar — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:00:00 -0800

Whether or not a hotel you'll be staying at has a good gym is pretty much a crap shoot. A "well-equipped gym" could end up being mismatched hand weights with a treadmill from '89. Lucky for us the AthleticMindedTraveler has searched over 3,500 hotels across the United States to find the top ten with the best gyms.

So without further ado, here's the list:

Houstonian (Houston)
Renaissance ClubSport (Walnut Creek, Calif.)
Park Hyatt at the Bellevue (Philadelphia)
Four Seasons (San Francisco)
Embassy Suites Lakefront (Chicago)
Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine (La Jolla, Calif.)
Westin Atlanta Perimeter North (Atlanta)
Grand Hotel (Minneapolis)
Broadmoor (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Venetian (Las Vegas)

Have any of you been lucky enough to stay at any of these hotels? If you used the gym, tell me about it in the comments section below.

Source

Fittingly Mad: "We Don't Have Room For Your Sneakers."

FitSugar — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 02:30:00 -0800

Over Thanksgiving I made the trip out to Philadelphia to see family. My husband convinced me that it was going to be way too cold to work out while we were there, so after much discussion and hesitation, I ditched my sneakers. Keep in mind that I bring my sneakers almost everywhere, but I let my hubby win this battle. He reminded me that since we were staying at a relative's house, it was not like I would have the option to hit up the hotel gym. I did bring some workout clothes so I could do stretches in my room, but left the sneakers at home thinking that he was right and there was no way I was going to brave the below-zero temperatures to run for one day.

Thanksgiving day comes along and I go outside for some fresh air and it is 70 degrees outside! I almost died. I would have absolutely loved to take a jog outside, especially since all the leaves were this gorgeous shade of yellow. What's even worse? Turns out that my relatives had just purchased a brand new elliptical machine for their home that I would have loved to try out. Me, I am sneakerless — awesome.

I was really very mad at my husband for being so against me bringing my sneakers and I was bummed at myself for not going with my gut. Next time, even if my husband kicks and screams about the valuable space they are taking up, my sneakers are coming along. Even if it is predicted to be freezing cold, you never know what is going to happen.

To me, being able to fit in a workout when I can is worth having to take only one scarf rather than two. Guess what is on my Christmas list from my hubby? Well Reebok Travel Trainers, of course!

Source

Best Bites in Flight

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:30:00 -0800

One of the toughest parts about traveling is figuring out what to eat when in the airport and even while on the plane. With airlines not offering much when it comes to food these days, our choices are limited. What's even more limited? Healthy food choices. Luckily the Diet Detective has deciphered through all the food on major airlines in an effort to find the best options in flight.

Here are highlights:

United: Go for either the Rightbite or the Smartpack snack box. The Smartpack is all natural, trans-fat free, and vegetarian friendly, but it has a lot of food and can be high in calories for one person, so you would have to share it.

There's many more so

Get in Gear: Traveling Trainer

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:30:00 -0800

The holidays are approaching faster than ever. With the holidays come traveling for many of us, and with traveling comes not working out as we normally would. I like to try to keep up a workout as best I can when I am traveling but it's not always easy, and I'm not about to lug my dumbbells to Philadelphia for Thanksgiving.

One way to help keep it easy (and light) is by getting a Traveling Trainer kit ($39.99). This exercise travel kit is like a personal trainer in a bag. It's an easy, safe, and effective program and the kit comes complete with a few resistance tubes of varied resistance, a door attachment, a 26-minute exercise video, an exercise instructional guide, a diner’s guide, and Michael Sena’s (author of Lean Mom, Fit Family) personal-training workout programs. All of that comes in a lightweight nylon bag easy to pack in your suitcase or trunk, travel ready. Plus, you can even use the resistance tubes when you're not traveling.

Nozin Nasal Swabs: Prepared or Paranoid?

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:45:00 -0700

I'll be the first to admit that I am a little freaked out by germs, especially when on an airplane. I don't know why; maybe I saw Outbreak one too many times. Point is that I tend to get a little excited about gadgets that aim to keep me germ free so my heart kind of went pitter patter when I learned about Nozin Nasal Sanitizing Swabs ($9.95 for a pack of 10). Basically the swabs are Q-Tips preloaded with a germ killer made from a proprietary formula of pharmaceutical grade ethyl alcohol, natural ingredients and plant-based compounds known to have virucidal activity. Just a FYI, it's not an antibiotic so germs will not build resistance. I am seriously considering investing in a pack for holidays, which is going to involve spending hours and hours on planes for me. What do you guys think—are nasal swabs a sign of being prepared or over paranoid?

Nozin Nasal Swabs: Prepared or Paranoid?

Prepared

Paranoid

Other—tell us below

Fitness Travel Tip: Stretch It Out

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:30:00 -0700

For some of us, a vacation does not always entail hitting the gym for rigorous workouts. If your idea of a vacation is lounging around and relaxing, take it as an opportunity to work on your stretching. If feeling good is the goal of your vacation, I can assure you that 10-15 minutes of stretching will get you well on your way to feeling good.

If your vacation is over and you haven't been stretching, you best start adding it into your routine. Take advantage of the lingering warm weather to lengthen those muscles.

Source

Enjoy Your Travels: Adjust to Time Change

FitSugar — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:30:00 -0700

One of the hardest things about traveling over the holidays is adjusting to the time change (if your travels require one). The key to feeling good is to get adjusted to the new time zone quickly. One thing I suggest is to set your watch (to the new time) on the airplane before you take off (from your origin). This way you'll start to adjust to the time change well in advance.

If you're always saying, "Well sure it's 9 am here, but where I live, it's only 6am. No wonder I'm so tired...," your brain is going to have a hard time adjusting -- Especially since you keep reminding it of how offset things are. Instead of focusing on the time, focus your energy on eating healthy, exercising and relaxing.

Source

Staying Fit While on A Cruise

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 10:15:00 -0700

Unless it's a fitness cruise, most cruises are notorious for being horrible for your health. This could be due to the ever present buffets or the laziness that being on a giant ship evokes.

Regardless of your reasons for gaining a few extra pounds while cruising, if you're planning a cruise this year, be sure to use these tips on staying fit on a cruise:

Eat 5-6 meals: Get out of your 3-meal rut. It's healthier to eat 5-7 small meals per day than 3 large traditional meals. Take advantage of the all-day food access by having more, but smaller, meals.
Grab a snack: If going on a day excursion off the ship remember to grab something healthy like a banana or an apple at the breakfast buffet so you can conveniently snack on it later.
Sushi is the same price as French fries: Many landlubbers eat junk food because it's cheap and easy. On a cruise, the food and its preparation are included in the price. Hence, healthy choices are as accessible as the 99¢ menu back home. Room service is often free as well.
Buffet tips & tricks: Buffets: Many people think "buffet" is a French term for "fat." This can be the case if you aren't careful. Start with the healthiest items you enjoy first. Odds are you may fill-up before you can get to the "danger" items. Danger items include: hamburgers, eggs benedict, pizza, creamy pastas, waffles with whipped cream, anything fried, sweets. Power foods include: oatmeal, almonds, salmon, turkey, sashimi, whole wheat bread, eggs/egg whites, edamame, peanut butter, fruit, low fat yogurt.
Drink plenty of water: While the food is included, sodas are not. Sodas can be expensive onboard the ship- often $2 per can. Sodas are full of empty calories; this is an ideal time to kick your 4 can-per-day Coke habit by drinking lots of water.

There are five more tips, so

Traveling Overseas: Check with the CDC

FitSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:30:00 -0700

If you are planning a vacation overseas in the upcoming weeks or months, you should really check out the Center for Disease Control Travelers' website.

You can look up your country of destination and see what is going on health wise in the region. For example, there have been recent measles and mumps outbreaks in South East Asia. So if you are headed there you'll want to double check that all your vaccinations are in order. The Travelers' site offers a complete schedule of recommended vaccines for your travels, as well as health items you should pack, things like mosquito nets and iodine tablets.

I have found it better to be safe than sorry and that being prepared makes traveling less stressful.

Bon Voyage!

For the Fit Traveler: Clothesline

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 11:00:00 -0700

One thing that always bugs me when I am traveling is what to do with my sweaty workout clothes. Most of the time I am not away long enough to have my things laundered (plus I refuse to pay $20 to have my sports bra washed at a hotel). I always bring a lot of extra gear but I like to air out my sweaty things.

I know hanging them on the shower is an option, but they always get damp if anyone takes a shower, and I get the feeling that housekeeping is not always wiping down the rod. Hanging them over the furniture seems inappropriate so I need a solution. I am loving this Lewis N Clark Travel Clothesline ($6.99) because it's small enough to pack while the stretch cord and suction cups let you use it almost anywhere. The key is finding something to stick it on, which can be a challenge, but for under ten dollars, it's worth a shot. But it from Amazon.com.

Anything to make working out on the road easier is OK in my book.

WHO Is Worried About Your Legs?

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 02:00:00 -0700

WHO is worried about your legs? The World Health Organization (WHO) that's who. Summer is the season of travel with long flights to exotic places, and long flights puts you at risk for Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).

Although the danger of developing DVT — normally in the form of a blood clot in the calves — is small, it increases if people are immobile for long periods in cramped conditions. Add the fact more and more people are flying and you can see how the incidence of DVT is rising.

The WHO strongly encourages anyone taking a long flight to exercise their legs hourly by walking or contracting the calf muscles (pointing and flexing their toes). Passengers on long flights should avoid sedatives and alcohol because they make people more likely to be immobile for long periods of time.

Here's a list of other risk factors:

obesity
genetic conditions
age (although being young doesn't mean you're not susceptible)
use of oral contraceptives
being shorter than 5-foot-4 or taller than 6-foot-4

The last risk factor is interesting to me and researchers believe that height affects passengers in different ways. Short people are less likely to be mobile on a flight because their feet dangle, whereas taller people because they are more cramped.

Source

Walking Tours: Podcast Walking Tours

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:45:00 -0700

Oftentimes when we travel, we miss opportunities to see the city while still being able to burn off a few extra calories.

Instead of paying an arm and a leg to ride a crowded and sticky double decker bus that keeps you sedentary for hours on end, think about downloading FREE walking tours for your iPod (or any mp3 player). They're great options for anyone who likes to learn about a new place but doesn't like to sign up for the full tour. Here are my picks:

PodGuides.net is a great site that offers a few walking tours of fabulous places like the opal coast of France to the Saint Louis Science Center. The cool thing about PodGuides is that it is a combination of a map of a certain place with numbered dots on it and a series of audio tracks which you can download for your iPod. It's a great way to turn on your iPod and get moving, all while seeing some beautiful sights and burning off a few extra calories too.
JourneyPod.com is another option for walking around with your iPod on in a new place. JourneyPod takes you through more trendier spots in CA, NY and CT, giving you the scoop on what's what and where.

5 Ways to Stay Fit While on Vacation

FitSugar — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 08:45:00 -0700

We all know that vacationing can make for a huge set-back on your quest to get fit. I know vacationing is supposed to be a time where you can just feel good and relax, but relaxing can be difficult if you are feeling each pound add up, one by one, day by day....

WebMD, along with Dawn Jackson-Blatner, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, has come up with these five simple ways to stay fit while on vacation:

Plan Ahead to Fit in Fitness: Vacations should be an opportunity to re-energize, refresh, and relax -- not an excuse to take a break from health. When planning your vacation, opt for locations that will allow you to engage in physical activities you enjoy. Keep in mind that physical activity is the ticket to enjoying extra calories without weight gain.
Be Prepared: When you travel, whether by plane, train, or automobile, be prepared with healthy food so you won’t have to eat whatever is available. Start the day with a nutritious breakfast, then pack easy and satisfying snacks or a small meal, such as a turkey sandwich with lettuce and tomato on whole-grain bread, a piece of fruit, and some cut-up veggies with hummus.
Avoid Dining-Out Disasters: Eating out may pose the biggest challenge for avoiding vacation weight gain. "It is easy to control calories if you stay away from fried, crispy, or creamy foods; hold extras such as cheese and mayo; top salads with low-fat dressings; drink water instead of sodas -- simple things that can shave calories and make room for the special treats," says Blatner.
Indulge in Moderation: Deprivation is no fun when you're on vacation. Instead, "the name of the game is moderation when it comes to controlling calories from treats and alcohol," says Blatner. So have one scoop of ice cream instead of the sundae, or split that decadent dessert with a dining companion.
Pare Down Portions: Even when you're on vacation, portions count if you want to avoid weight gain.

To read the full article, check out WebMD.

Source

Fit Traveler: Fitness Cruise

FitSugar — Tue, 01 May 2007 15:45:00 -0700

Needing a getaway but don't want to do something that will be counter productive to your fitness efforts? How about a cruise? No, seriously...

What: Tom Holland's Fitness Cruise
Where: The ship, Carnival Valor, departs port in Miami, FL to the waters of the Grand Cayman, to the exotic ports of call of Roatan Island, Belize, Costa Maya and back to Miami.
When: March 2, 2008
Why: Tom Holland, a well known personal trainer who has worked at Reebok Sports Club, Equinox, Crunch, The New York Sports Clubs and the Cardio Fitness Center, has put together this fitness cruise. During the cruise, he has daily workout sessions planned that complement the ship's activities and ports of call. Along with your daily workout sessions, you'll have time to talk with Tom directly about your own fitness goals, concerns, etc.

For more information and to sign-up, visit QueenslandTours.com.

Fit Traveler: Hilton Garden Inn's Stay Fit Kit

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Staying fit while traveling is important in keeping up your routine and staying with your exercise momentum. Luckily some hotels are making it easier than ever to workout while on the road.

The Hilton Garden Inn has created the Stay Fit Kit, which allows you to workout in the privacy of your guest room or in the fitness center. It offers an isometric and core body workout by accommodating three (3) areas of training: Yoga, Pilates, and Core. This kit includes: a Pilates band, a Yoga mat, strap and bricks, an 8 lb abs ball, 3 lb hand weights and a resistance rope.

The Stay Fit Kits are currently available for complimentary check-out at the front desk at every Hilton Garden Inn. Each Stay Fit Kit includes instruction cards that detail exercises for each piece of equipment. However, if you're not into self instruction, there is also in-room 25-30 minute fitness programming (available for purchase) to go along with the kit.

No more excuses, working out is truly getting easier than ever, anywhere.

Door Strap: Workout Anywhere There is a Door

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 03:00:03 -0800

You're either going to love me for this or not, but this little tiny tool will give you the ability to workout almost anywhere. Well anywhere that there is a door....

The SPRI Door Attachment ($3.95) works with any resistance band (or tubing). All you have to do is close the indicated end in a door and put your band through the loop. First and foremost I love this product because it's cheap, but also because having the attachment basically doubles (maybe even triples) the things you can do with the bands. Great for chest, back and shoulder training at home or while traveling. Buy it directly from SPRI online. It's rare that you could get a workout for the same price of a Venti from Starbucks, so try it out!

Relax Already While Traveling: Airport Spas

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 09:33:00 -0800

Traveling can be such a pain in the neck so next time you're at the airport, stop by one of these airport spa/massage destinations for a quick treatment or even a massage to get that pain out of your neck.

JFK International Airport (NY): The Oasis Day Spa is New York’s first full service airport spa (in JetBlue's Terminal 6). There, you’ll be able to get a manicure, pedicure, and facial treatments.
Baltimore-Washington International Airport: Destination Relaxation -- one is a chair-massage station on Pier B and the other is a full-service store on Pier D that offers table and chair massages, as well as foot and hand rubs.
Chicago's O'Hare International Airport: The Backrub Hub offers neck and back massages in Terminal 3 (by the American and Delta gates). It's a little weird because you're out in the open, but good if you're not embarrassed easily.
Denver International Airport: A Massage Inc. where you can get a haircut or massage (chair or table) at the location on Concourse B. The other is in the Main Terminal.

There's a few more, so

Athletic Minded Traveler

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 15:15:00 -0800

How often has that “state of the art” gym turned out to be a closet-size room with a few old machines? No wonder it is a tough task to keep fit while on the road.

The creators of the Athletic Minded Traveler have become so frustrated with the cluelessness of the hotel and travel industry about the needs and desires of athletic-minded travelers that they decided to do something about it. Their mission is to uncover the best places for healthy-minded individuals to stay, workout, eat and enjoy while traveling. Like many good things, it is not free but definitely affordable as subscriptions to the site are only $2.95/month or $19.95/year -- well worth it if you're traveling in 2007. Check out the site for more information.

The Portable Miracle Ball: Pain Relief in a Sphere

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 02:30:00 -0800

Something aching in you that only a miracle will heal?

The Miracle Ball Method ($12.9, is a healing kit containing two miracle balls (grapefruit sized) and a how-to book. The work itself is simple. Take a sore back: By resting your aching back on the balls and letting your body sink into them, you're un-working (so to speak) the muscles that are causing you pain. The creator, Elaine Petrone demonstrates how relief can come from proper breathing done in collaboration with a wide range of movements such as placing the balls under the back, head, knees, hip, elbow (or wherever you have pain) and then resting, rolling, or rotating on them. You may also find that relief can come in surprising ways such as lower back pain may be helped by placing the ball under your neck. Not only does the method relieve pain, but it also relives tension and stress -- Something we all feel.

Buy the kit on Barnes & Noble.

The Fit Traveler

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 11:30:00 -0800

I've said it before and I'll say it again, staying fit while on the road is tough.

Fit For Travelers ($14.00) by Eide is a great tool for anyone on the go. The book includes a free stretch, exercise band with a guide explaining and illustrating 20 exercises. Great, but the band is one more thing to carry, right? Well, the book has a hard case binding with a pocket for storing the band. The program delivers a decent full-body workout, including upper body, lower body and targets areas like the thighs and abs. Diet tips help round out this program along with the lay-flat design of the book. Try it out, it may be just what you need to keep motivated on the road. Buy The Fit Traveler on Amazon.com.

Airport Gyms For Your Travels

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 10:23:27 -0800

Nothing is worse than a long layover at the airport. It is such as waste of time and I just sit there thinking about all the things I could be doing during that time.

Airport Gyms, Exercise on the Fly is a FREE listing of all airport gyms, airport exercise clubs and airport fitness centers available in and around select popular US (and Canadian) airports today. It is great because if you're an active traveler that would rather spend an hour in the gym (versus an hour in the terminal watching television), or would rather take a yoga class (versus wandering through trinket shops and fast food places), airportgyms.com can help you find a gym in, near or around common airports. Check it out AirportGyms.com before your next travels.

Fit's Tip: Not many airports have actual gyms in them, so most of the time you'll be directed to airport hotels (connected or not to the airport) with fitness centers in them. I would be sure you have a good chunk of time before heading on over as it may be a trek getting there.

Sight Jogging in Rome

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 03:00:00 -0800

Are you lucky enough to be taking a trip to Rome any time in the near future? I am jealous. How then, you lucky dog, are you going to combine staying fit with seeing all of the amazing things Rome has to offer?

You may want to check out Sight Jogging, which is a new, entertaining and different way of combining tourism and exercising. Sight Jogging is a unique fitness and cultural opportunity to have highly-experienced trainers, (who speak different languages), guide you through Rome.

The trainers make the programs and running pace according to the clients’ age and fitness level. During the run, the fit/tour guides show you the highlights along the route. The routes can be chosen among a list of selected ones, considering difficulty and main kind of interest (whether artistic, historic or naturalistic). The price is right too, a 4 person tour costs only 140 Euros. For more info, check out SightJogging.com.

Fit's Tip: Don't worry about packing your heart rate monitors, they'll lend you one.

Best Hotel Gyms

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 04:02:29 -0800

A lot of us are (and have been) traveling this holiday season but the fact is that many of us travel a lot period, not just during the holidays. If you're constantly on the road, maybe your resolution was to work out when traveling.

Athletic-Minded Traveler has put over 3,000 hotels nationwide to the test and come up with a list of The Best Hotel Gyms in the U.S. The selection criteria included facility size, equipment quantities, multi-sport options (e.g., lap pool, sport court, etc.) and overall ambiance. To be considered as a hotel gym, the facility must be located on hotel property or within an adjacent building.

To see the list,

Feeling Adventurous for 2007?

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 08:31:17 -0800

In 2006 you played it safe and stayed close to home. For 2007, you have vowed to become more adventurous and take a walk on the wild side. And I'm not talking about washing colors and whites together ladies!

Adventure Women Inc. is a travel company for active women over 30. Their adventure vacations are for women traveling solo, or with sisters, mothers, daughters and friends.

Adventure Women offers a variety of trips year round like the Alaskan Wildlife Safari and Bear Viewing (June 9 - 16, 2007) which includes deluxe lodges and comfortable adventure camps, flying by bush plane to spectacular Bear Camp for bear viewing of Grizzlies and cubs in their natural habitat, whitewater rafting on Alaska’s rivers, sea kayaking on Resurrection Bay, hiking on a glacier, exploring Homer and Kachemark Bay and much more! The cost is a whooping $3,895 but well worth it if you're looking to add adventure in your life.

Check out the other tours and more on AdventureWomen.com.

Who's the BOSS?

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 17:30:00 -0800

Didn't quite make the cut on this season of Survivor but still think you'd be pretty good at surviving in the wild? Or maybe you're training for the possiblity to be on next season? Well, then I have the trip for you!

BOSS, the Boulder Outdoor Survival School, is an adventure trip anyone could use but especially if your name is Gilligan or the Skipper. In fact, the people at BOSS were behind the scenes in the movie Cast Away with Tom Hanks.

The courses range from 1 to 28 days in length in Utah, Colorado, and Mexico, and clients range from 18 to 70 years old. Courses currently include several target-specific divisions: field courses, skills courses, explorer courses, and custom courses. But why? Well the founder felt that our society had lost its edge when it came to facing and overcoming the pressures of modern life -- so he created a wilderness program featuring specific physical and mental obstacles that would produce more adaptable and resourceful people.

This would make a great gift for my husband -- After all he is always trying to convince me that his proper corporate lifestyle is just a cover-up for the true mountain man he really is. You're going to pay to learn how to start a fire without matches (or a lighter) as courses range from $300-$3000. To learn more check out Boss-inc.com.

Don't Get Delayed on Burning Calories

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 15:40:00 -0800

What is the worst thing about airplane travel this holiday season? (Aside from the fact that I can't bring a bottle of my beloved Penta on board.) The delays. UGH, the delays are the worst! Sometimes I sit there and caculate how much longer it would have really taken me if I had just driven. Now instead of just sitting there and getting mad, I have turned my bitterness into energy and I pass the time by powerwalking during any long layovers. Think about how big most major airports are -- you can walk miles! No one will think you're weird (or even notice you) because it just looks like you're trekking to get to your plane.

Fit's Tip: If you are really into this idea, try and use a backpack, or something you can easily move around with, as your carry-on bag.

Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 14:00:00 -0800

Bedbugs are just plain gross. They haven't been a big issue since WWII until now.

It's being reported that bedbugs are making a comeback across Manhattan. Why are they back? Some theories claim that the recent rise in world travel is bringing the bedbug back. Bedbugs aren't discriminatory in where the stay, so don't think the nice hotels are free of them.

Gross.

To check a hotel before staying there, go to the bed bug registry, which is an online site devoted to keeping track of known places infested with bed bugs (this includes apartments and hotels).

Fit's Tip: When staying at hotels anywhere, always use the suitcase stand provided in the room. Those little buggers can (and will) travel into your luggage especially if it is sitting on the floor or on the extra bed you're not using. Before snuggling in, check the bed for signs (they like to hide in little crevices) and before leaving, check your luggage. If you notice bites, contact the hotel's customer service and consider seeing a dermatologist.

A Horse is NOT Just a Horse

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 14:37:00 -0800

Feeling unbalanced and disconnected from your inner self? Who doesn't feel that way these days? Kate Boswoth seems to make time for the horses, but should you?

If going to the derby doesn't sound like your idea of a relaxing trip but you would like to pack your bags for a unique, life-changing experience, then

FITSUGAR SNEAK PEEK: Yoga Paws

FabSugar — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 11:35:41 -0800

Hey guys: Get excited, because FitSugar is coming soon! See below for a sneak peek.

Yoga is one of the ultimate stress relievers. Traveling, however, is one of the ultimate stress inducers, and isn't it ironic that it is often very hard to practice yoga while you are traveling?

Taking your yoga gear with you while traveling is tough, especially if you typically use up every inch of your suitcase and have to struggle with those iffy do-I-really-need-these items. In most cases, the yoga mat won't make the cut. Thankfully, there is a product out to make yoga on the road a little bit easier: Yoga-Paws, available for $29.95 here. Yoga-Paws resemble fingerless mittens and socks with the toes and heels cut off. They are made from a smooth, non-stick material (much like your yoga mat), and they are compact and light enough that you can throw them in just about any bag or drawer, and you won't need to carry your awkward yoga mat around.

Fit's take: This is a great idea! Anything to get you moving while traveling is a good product. The only thing to keep in mind is that some yoga poses get very complex and might still be reserved for a soft mat in case you fall on your face.

Want to learn how to fit into those skinny jeans? Need to find a totally fab pair of running shoes that you can actually run in? Dying to know if dipping into your clothing budget in order to eat organically is worth it? Read about all of this and more on our next site, FitSugar!

FitSugar is coming soon. Sign up to receive an email notification as soon as we launch!