FitSugar -- Healthy, happy you.

Fitness Gear You Can Fit in Your Suitcase

FitSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:30:00 -0800

Just because you're traveling doesn't mean you have to give up your workouts. Here are some great ideas for gear that's lightweight and won't take up much room in your bag.

Do You Exercise While on Vacation?

FitSugar — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 03:30:00 -0800

During the Winter months, many people get away from the cold weather and hit the beach and sunshine. Taking a Winter vacation is beneficial for your mental state and a great way to relieve stress. It's a time when you can do what you want to do, whether it be something adventurous like surfing or just reading a book by the pool. Working out may or may not be part of the equation, so I was wondering . . .Source

Do You Exercise While on Vacation?

No way, I'm on vacation!

I try to do a little.

Yes, I like to keep up my regular exercise routine.

Can't tell you since I haven't been on a vacation in a long time.

None of the above and I'll tell you why in the comments section below.

To the Tropics For Scuba Diving or to a Snowy Mountain Resort?

FitSugar — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 02:00:00 -0800

As Winter drags on, I am having escapist fantasies. I am dreaming of a vacation that takes me out of my daily routine. Some days I think I'm ready for a week of scuba diving in the tropics. Other days, I am ready to head for the slopes for a week of skiing. A girl can dream, right? I am curious about you. Would your dream vacation take you . . .Source

To the Tropics For Scuba Diving or to a Snowy Mountain Resort?

Tropics for diving!

Mountains for skiing!

Other – share the details in the comments section below.

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!

Take a Vacation Already

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 08:45:00 -0700

Have you taken a vacation lately? Americans receive, on the average, only 14 annual vacation days contrasted with 24 days in Great Britain, 26 days in Germany, 30 days in Spain and 36 days in France. Yet, on the average, Americans only take 12 days and that just makes me sad. If you earned those days why not take them. In fact taking a vacation is good for your physical as well as your mental/emotional health.

Most jobs mean stress, and stress is just not good for your health. Stress produces physiological changes in your bodies, including higher blood pressure and a surge in stress hormones, such as adrenaline, which can cause blood to clot and increase the risk of a heart attack. Convinced yet?

It's not clear whether vacations cause better health or whether they are just an indicator of healthier lifestyles. But taking time off does appear to have physical and mental benefits according to recent studies. Women who vacation frequently are less likely to become tense or depressed. Now are you convinced?

So go ahead, take a vacation already. Do it for your heart.

Source

The Beach Is a Workout Waiting to Happen

FitSugar — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 23:30:00 -0700

Who doesn't love spending time at the beach? Cameron is one starlet that takes advantage of all the beach has to offer. I love that she doesn't just lounge on the sand, but plays in the water practically non-stop. Which is great since I believe the beach is a workout waiting to happen.

If you are lucky enough to live near the ocean or will be vacationing soon by the shore, you too should take advantage of all the beach has to offer. If you want a hard core workout try the Beach Body Workout on the beach. But let me tell you, there are more casual and playful ways to burn some extra calories while hanging out at the shore.

Here are some ideas:

Walking in the Sand: Sand provides way less traction than concrete sidewalk or asphalt roads. So take advantage of your disadvantage and walk the beach. Do walk in both wet and dry sand to challenge your body in different ways. There will be good people watching to entertain you too. Who knows maybe you will even see some wildlife.

Walking in the Surf: Just walking in ankle deep water is a great challenge. Add the ebb and flow of the tide and you have yourself a great lower body workout.

Playing in the Waves: Jumping up and down in the surf is great fun and a challenge to your entire body. Diving under waves and swimming against the tide is a great way to workout with the ocean providing extra resistance.

There's more to do at the beach, and there are more photos of Cameron frolicking in the waves. So just

Is your next vacation all about R&R, sightseeing or adventure?

FitSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 07:30:00 -0700

I hope you are planning a summer vacation!!! It is always great to have something to look forward to.If you are taking a vacation I am wondering if it will be all about rest and relaxation - massages and margaritas on the beach. Or is it all about adventure like rock climbing in Yosemite or canoeing in the boundary waters. Possibly, you are going sightseeing - Mt. Vernon and the Smithsonian, or even more exotic the Louvre and Versailles.

Is your next vacation all about R&R, sightseeing or adventure?

Rest and Relaxation

Adventure

Sightseeing

Other - Tell me below

P.L.O.W. - School's Out

FitSugar — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 03:30:00 -0700

Looking for a little summer time music to heat up your workout? Here's a little play list I came up with and I hope you enjoy it.

"Hot For Teacher" - Van Halen 4:42
"School's Out for Summer" - Alice Cooper 3:30
"Hot Fun in the Summertime" - Sly and the Family Stone 2:38
"Good Vibrations" - Beach Boys 3:37
"Vacation" - The GoGo's 2:59
"Don't You Worry About a Thing" - Stevie Wonder 4:40
"Around the World" - Red Hot Chili Peppers 4:00
"Hot In Here" - Nelly 3:38
"Paradise City" - Guns and Roses 6:46
"Drop It Like It's Hot" - Snoop Dogg 4:32

Total PLOW = approx 35 minutes

If you have any songs you would like to add on the theme of summer, vacation or heat - leave the title in the comments section below.

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

Get Your Butt in Gear: UV Rash Guard by O'Neill

FitSugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 10:15:00 -0700

Nothing is worse than snorkeling for hours on the first day of your vacation and spending the rest of your precious days in paradise dealing with a very sunburned back. What you need to pack for your sunny, swimmy vacation is a rash guard.

You may be saying to yourself "Fit, I am not worried about a rash. It is a sunburn I am trying to avoid." To this I will say, lightweight rash guards are made from fabrics with high UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) factors, to keep your skin extra protected for long hours in the water. They are like a sunscreen swimsuit for your upper body.

Originally developed for surfers to prevent rashes from the sand and surf wax combo, rash guards are designed to move and swim in making them a much better option than swimming in an old tee shirt. Obviously they provide much better sun protection and this one, designed by O'Neill has a UPF rating of 50 plus. It even has a utility pocket with a drain hole - they think of everything.

Buy one directly from O'Neill for $49.95. Rash guards come in both short and long sleeve styles so your forearms can stay protected too.

Jet Lag Is a Drag

FitSugar — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 04:45:00 -0800

Flying gets you where you want to go, but sometimes it seems like your body has to catch up to where you are. Because we fly up to almost 500 miles an hour, we can arrive in different time zones after a fairly short flight.

I'm sure you've experienced jet lag before. It totally screws with your body and your mind. Some symptoms include the obvious - daytime drowsiness, foggy mind, irritability, difficulty concentrating, headaches, trouble sleeping, and swelling of your hands and feet.

Your body clock, also known as the circadian rhythm, is programmed for regular cycles of day and night - and this cycle gets totally disturbed. Depending on how many time zones you've crossed, it may take several days to restore the circadian rhythm.

Other factors that can make jet lag worse are the cabin pressure that your body is not used to and stale dry air.

Want to know what you can do to help your body adjust? Then