FitSugar

I Tried It: Shape's "Drop 10 Pounds This Month" Circuit Workout

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:00:00 -0700

I like to head to the gym with a plan of action so I don't unconsciously skip some difficult exercise that I have not yet learned to love. I printed out Shape magazine's workout and headed to the gym.

The workout, from the article Drop 10 Pounds This Month, promised to burn 400 calories in 30 minutes. How could I pass up the opportunity to burn that many calories while strength training?

The circuit workout was created by Eric Von Frohlich, founder of RoadFit, and it is full of moves to improve balance, power, agility, flexibility, strength, and aerobic fitness. To see how the workout worked out for me, read more.

I really enjoyed this workout and felt pleasantly worked afterward, with sore hamstrings for a couple of days - that's a good thing in my book. For reasons unknown to me, the online printable version begins with exercise number two, so I decided to warm up with five minutes of cardio on an elliptical in lieu of exercise one. I was then only able to go through the workout two times due to time constraints (picking up my daughter from ballet), when it is recommended that you do the workout three to four times. Doing the eight-exercise circuit straight through the first time required a bit of reading to learn the moves. After resting the recommended three minutes between reps of the entire circuit, the second round went much faster.

In the 25 minutes I was able to devote to working out, including the five-minute elliptical warmup, I burned 200 calories. I am quite certain with two other rounds of the circuit I could have gotten close to burning 400. I love the plyometric moves, like jumping lunges, mixed with souped-up squats. Now that I know the routine, I will definitely be doing it again. This workout requires a medicine ball and a step - two things easily found at the gym, but not at my house. Try it and tell me how many calories you burn.

Fit Tip: Add Plyometrics to Strength Training

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:30:00 -0800

I'm constantly looking for ways to make my workouts more efficient and varied, and when I come across something that works, it makes me even more excited for my next workout. A workout that inspires me to work out again - yes, please!

Lately I've been mixing plyometrics into my strength training regimen and it has been a fun change to my typical workouts. Adding plyometrics will allow your body to burn more calories, just as it does when you add intervals of jumping or skipping to a walking workout.

Integrate jumping exercises like jump squats, jumping lunges, jump roping, or good old jumping jacks after you've finished a set of whatever you're working on with weights. Jumping intervals of 30 seconds to one minute will do the trick.

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Fit Tip: Add Plyometrics to Your Walk

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Walking is one of our favorite ways to get moving. This is good news because it's a great method of getting some movement into each and every day. If you really want to get the most out of your walks, then it's time to step it up. Literally.

Adding plyometrics to your walking routine will bring variety and intensity to easy walking. Plus, adding intervals of jumping or skipping will kick different muscles into gear and the more muscles working, the more calories being burned. So next time you're feeling like pumping up your walk, incorporate 30 second intervals of skipping or hopping and work your way up to one minute intervals.

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Do You Know Plyo?

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:45:00 -0800

All you fitness freaks (and I mean that as a compliment, ya know) I have a simple one-question fitness quiz for you that might just make you want to jump for joy.

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Take the quiz

Running and Endurance

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 11:45:00 -0700

Whether you are new to running and just want to increase the amount of miles you can do in a run, or if you are an experienced runner looking to improve your speed endurance – Runner's World has some advice for you. Here are three very different techniques to use to log the miles you want.

Gradual Adaption: This principle is simple and should sound familiar – you take one step at a time and gradually increase the amount of steps you take. This allows your body to adapt to the new stress you are putting on it. Add a distance, like a mile or a half a mile, to one of your runs a week.
Yasso 800s: Named after the avid runner Burt Yasso's training method. Running multiple 800s (two laps of a regulation track) in the minutes and seconds version of the hour and minutes of your marathon goal. So you need to run two laps in four minutes and 30 seconds if your marathon goal time is four hours, 30 minutes. Start at an appropriate pace and run four 800s in your first week (jogging in between for recovery), and add one lap a week until you are doing 10 laps a session.
Plyometrics: Try some explosive plyometric exercises focusing on your lower body. Form and quality trump quantity, so do few repetitions well or short rounds of the exercises. Selecting exercises that work the body in the same range of motion as running are preferable. So jumping forward and up onto a box (or step) will be more effective for your running than jumping side to side over a box. For video example of many plyo exercises check out Power Exercises from ExRx.net.

There are many different approaches to increasing your endurance and you should shop around and try an approach that works for you. If it is not helping your running, try a new technique. There are four more explained at my favorite foot race finder on the web, Active.com.

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Definition: Plyometrics

FitSugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Plyometrics: Also known as jump training, plyometrics is a form of conditioning aimed at created controlled impact and maximum power and is used primarily by athletes.

This method involves stretching the muscles prior to contracting them and done correctly it strengthens muscles, increases vertical jump and decreases impact forces on the joints. Consciously practicing the technique of landing from a jump in a controlled environment teaches your body how to "land" and your muscles memory will kick in when you cannot focus all your attention on your technique (because you are chasing a rebound or opposing team member). It is great for sports that involve jumping like basketball, volleyball and tennis, but is also really effective for training to ski moguls (especially jumping sideways onto or a "step"). Upper body plyometrics are used to condition for boxing (pack a power PUNCH) and pitching in baseball.

Designed to increase muscular power and explosiveness, plyometrics are not, however, for those who are in poor condition or have an orthopedic condition. Since so much jumping is involved plyometrics can be really hard on the knee joints.

Check out Force Sport Fitness Advisor for some animated explanations of plyo exercises.

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What to Expect at Your First Mammogram

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:30:30 -0700

Supporting your girls with a great sports bra is important for your workouts, especially jumping plyometrics. When you hit 40, you're going to need to take photos of them too. Yep, I'm talking about a mammogram. This soft tissue x-ray is recommended annually for every woman over 40, and if you are at risk for breast cancer (if your mother or sister has had it, for instance), you start the process at 35.

The procedure is actually pretty simple and quick, but there is a lot of smooshing of breast tissue involved. So it's good to go into the process with a sense of humor and to check your modesty at the door. Here are a few pointers to make your first mammogram as pain-free as possible.

Do not wear deodorant, perfume, or powder. These substances can interfere with the imaging of breast tissue and even show up on the mammogram as calcifications, which can alarm the radiologist reading your mammogram, rendering more images necessary. This translates directly into more squishing.
Wear separates to the appointment, so you only have to take off your top and not fully disrobe.
If you have long hair, wear it up. This way your long locks won't interfere with the machinery and you won't accidentally have your hair pulled.
Avoid wearing necklaces or dangling earrings. Or simply take them off and stow them while you are having the mammogram.

A standard mammogram is four images, two per breast. If you have breast implants, double the number of images needed. At your first mammogram, sometimes extra images are needed to get a better understanding of the baseline reading of your breast tissue. At some offices, the radiologist will read the mammogram while you wait, so you get the results immediately, which seriously decreases the stress of the entire operation. However, some clinics will send the results to your primary care physician. In that case, remember to call your doc for results.

Fitness Pros Weigh In on The Biggest Loser

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:00:38 -0700

Fall TV is back, and with it comes the return of The Biggest Loser. Now in its eighth season, the weight loss reality show has inspired many viewers to get off the couch and get to the gym.

Although it cannot be denied that the show has brought health and weight loss, or at least the notion of it, into millions of households across America, there are some fitness professionals who disagree with the tactics used. IDEA, an international organization of fitness and wellness professionals, published a long article discussing the fitness regimen used on the ranch. In the article, personal trainers weigh in on the show. Here are two similar complaints, voiced in the article by fitness professionals:

“There seems to be little concern for biomechanics, and many contestants who clearly have been avoiding even the simplest forms of activity for years are now doing explosive, full-body plyometric exercises. There is simply no sound reason for doing this."

"Speed is only appropriate when you’ve mastered the basics of movement. Many of the contestants on that show have no business jumping or doing explosive exercise."

Learn how Bob Harper, Biggest Loser trainer, responds when you read more.

Harper defends the show's workout regimen, explaining that there is a logical progression. But watching contestants while they learn the ropes doesn't make for exciting TV. The heavily edited two-hour show comes from hundreds of hours of footage. Harper also explains, in response to criticism for yelling at the contestants, that he and Jillian might care too much. Most paying clients do want to be motivated, but most likely won't stand for yelling.

While the ultimate message of the show is health and personal accountability, some trainers feel the message of extreme exercise might cause more harm than good.

What do you think? Are you a fan of the show? Will you be watching this season? Do you think the workouts are too over the top?

Photo courtesy of NBC

Gear Review: Cell Voltra Running Shoe by Puma

FitSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:30:17 -0700

I just took Puma's new running shoe, the Cell Voltra ($100), out for a test run.

The first thing I noticed was that the shoe is incredibly light. Being the curious sort, I put it on my digital kitchen scale to weight it. One shoe clocks in at 10.75 ounces - an ounce lighter than my Under Armour running sneaks.

The Cell Voltras capitalize on Puma's 10CELL technology used for building soles. Essentially, it's a layer system designed to create cushion and shock absorption as well as rebound. To see what I thought of these sneakers, just read more.

When I wore these shoes for strength-training workouts, to break them in a bit before wearing them on a run, I liked them. The front of the shoe felt thin, so I could really get a sense of the floor. The heel is nice and stiff, which seemed to provide support. But when I wore them running, I didn't feel like there was enough cushion on the ball of my feet since I strike mostly toward the front of my mid-foot. I felt like I was practically running barefoot. The insole was rather thin too, so my feet felt vulnerable. I think if you're a heel striker, this shoe might work for you, since the heel is stiff. I will definitely use this shoe for strength training and plyometrics, but not for running. Style-wise, I like how the shoe upper looks like a classic Puma - simple, with a flash of silver.

You can find these shoes at Finish Line.

Does anyone out there wear Pumas for running? Share your thoughts on your sneakers below.

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Get the Bod: Sandra Bullock

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:50:00 -0700

According to my pal Buzz, Sandra Bullock rocks the pencil skirt in her new film The Proposal.

This is no coincidence. According to InStyle Sandra wanted to "emulate her character and look buff and smashing in suits." Sounds like her hard work paid off. The lovely comedic actress doesn't shy away from variety; she mixes up her fitness routine. While in LA, Sandra incorporates Pilates, kick boxing, and weight training, including plyometrics, into her regimen. But back home in Austin, TX, she runs and rides her bike. The variety of fitness activities helps Sandra stay motivated and keeps workout boredom at bay. Always frank and funny, when asked if health was her sole motivation for working out, she replied:

"People ask, 'How do actresses do it?' Um, they pay us to do this in order to look good on film."

We could all take a page out of Sandra's playbook and work to keep our fitness routine fresh even if we don't have to wear pencil skirts on the silver screen.