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Looking to Meet? Fitness Singles Online Dating Community

FitSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Online dating is no longer as taboo. I've been to at least a couple of weddings where the bride and groom met online. If you're looking for your soul mate, or at least someone who can keep up with your active and healthy lifestyle, then there's an online dating service right up your alley – Fitness Singles. Around since 2003, Fitness Singles might just be the fastest growing online dating community for sports and fitness lovers.

You can post your profile for free, but to check out other people's profiles, there's a fee (of course). A one-month membership is $29.95, with a six-month membership priced at $89.70. It's worth the dough if you find someone who loves you as much as his or her weekly Pilates class, right? Once you sign up, you can email other people near you who are interested in all sorts of activities including trail running, biking, hiking, sailing, rock climbing, surfing, dancing, swimming, yoga, and golf. Not only can you sign yourself up, but if you have a friend in need of a fitness partner, you can treat them to a membership too.

It's a great idea for health conscious people who want to be in relationships with others who share their healthy and fit way of life. So if you're looking to meet your future spouse, or just want a training partner for your next triathlon, why not check them out? Let me know if you do!

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Reader Review of the Day: Laura Mercier All Over Eye Color Brush

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:48 -0800

Laura Mercier is known for her lovely products, and her All Over Eye Color Brush ($30) is apparently no exception. Reader ElisabethR says:

"I have been fighting with eye shadow brushes for months. Every single one I bought was too small, too stiff, and didn't distribute color evenly on my lids. I finally broke down and bought this one. What a difference. It covers my eyelid beautifully with color, and I can blend right up into the crease. In a pinch, it works as a crease brush, as it fits perfectly into the crease of the eye. If you were trying to keep make-up brushes to a minimum during a trip, you could easily survive with this one. I can't recommend it enough. It's expensive, but you'll waste so much more money trying to go for cheaper, smaller brushes. I wish I had bought this one sooner."

Finally found something that works? Do us all a favor and write it up in the Product Reviews pages, then I might even feature your post. While you're there, check out the ever-growing number of reviews from other readers and see what other people have to say about the latest and greatest products.

Don't Get in a Fitness Rut: Add a High Intensity Workout

FitSugar — Wed, 30 May 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Are you getting into a fitness rut? Doing 3 sets of 12 reps of everything you do getting a little old? If so, think about incorporating a single set workout (high intensity training) into your routine every now and again.

Single set strength training (high intensity training) stresses muscle exhaustion in less time than the typical 3 sets. You probably currently lift 75% of your max resistance 10 times for three reps, but high intensity means lifting a higher percentage of your max resistance for a shorter period of time. For example, if your max (amount you could only lift once) is 10 pounds, instead of lifting 7.5 pounds 10 times for three sets, lift 8.5 pounds (85% of your max) until muscle exhaustion (until you can't do it again). It could as little as one rep, as long as one rep completely exhausts the muscle, but most people can lift 85% of their max 6 times.

Be sure not to go above 85% of your max (if your max is 100 lbs, don't go about 85 lbs) because that could lead to injury. Remember to breathe during the concentric (lifting) part. Always give the muscles you worked at least 48 hours rest before working them again. Also, it is always a good idea to use a spotter. Remember the name of the game here is quality not quantity so make sure that you're using proper form. I do not recommend doing a high intensity workout daily, but rather adding it once a week or so to spice up your workout.

Fit's Tip: Working at higher intensities also shortens the duration of your workout.

How Octomom Slimmed Down to 125 Pounds

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:00:37 -0700

Whatever your opinion of Nadya Suleman's decision to carry eight babies at once, most can agree that her quick slim-down is rather astonishing. When her octuplets were born nine months ago, Nadya weighed 270 pounds. In the latest issue of Us Weekly, she admitted she packed on the pounds by "eating everything in sight." Now this five-foot-seven single mom of 14 has lost 145 pounds and 39 inches off her waist and weighs 125 pounds.

How did she do it? To find out, read more.

With her previous pregnancies, the Octomom admitted she had no problems getting back to her pre-pregnancy size 1 or 2, thanks to her skinny genes. This last time around, simply delivering the eight babies in January helped Nadya lose 40 pounds instantly. Losing the rest of the weight, however, wasn't a walk in the park. This mama joined the local gym and sweats it out three times a week at midnight! Yep, after her children go to sleep, a nanny stays with them while she exercises late-night for 90 minutes. Since Nadya gets her cardio from chasing after the kids, her gym workouts are devoted to strength training. She does top-secret crunches (which she hopes to reveal in her own fitness video), tricep kickbacks, bicep curls, shoulder presses, and lunges. Her dumbbell of choice? A set of 12-pound weights. I don't know how she does it, but Nadya claims she gets by on only three hours of sleep a night. She can't possibly keep that up for too long.

A healthy diet also helped Suleman lose her baby weight. Her day is filled with five protein-based meals or snacks, including turkey, sushi, eggs, and lowfat cheese. She also includes whole grains such as oatmeal, and veggies by eating salads and stews. Her favorite snacks include Pinkberry frozen yogurt and cottage cheese with fruit.

Although Nadya needed help to get pregnant and deliver her babies, she boasts that she's slimmed down with diet and exercise alone, and didn't need any surgical help.

Britney Has Her Three Main Men at the Beach

PopSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Britney Spears hit the beach in Mexico over the weekend with her black bikini, sons Sean and Jayden, as well as boyfriend Jason Trawick. She enjoyed some much-needed relaxation after recently spending time in LA to work on her video for her new single, "3," which is currently at the top of the Billboard charts. She'll soon be off to finish up her Circus tour in Australia, but hopefully she'll fit in downtime Down Under, since she's such a pro at finding places to soak up the sun between shows.

To see more of Britney and the boys, just read more.

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Where the Wild Things Are: A Passionate Ode to Childhood

BuzzSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:30:00 -0700

There's been a bit of a controversy over how to market Spike Jonze's adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's book, Where The Wild Things Are. Is it for kids? Adults? Adult hipsters?

The answer is anyone who wants to feel what it's like to be a child, and not in the fun-loving, no-responsibilities way. As adults, we tend to forget the insecurity and fears we had as kids, which the film's young character Max is in the throes of. There's just enough exposition before the fantasy begins: Max has a single mom (Catherine Keener) and an older sister who has recently outgrown him. His first few acts at home show his innocence and the savage emotions under the surface. He knows it as being "wild."

Where the Wild Things Are isn't a heavy-handed allegory, or an edgy children's movie; it's a loyal tribute to the way kids think and feel. To see what else I thought of the film, just read more.

Max reaches the world of the wild things after throwing a particularly heinous fit, prompting his mother to yell, "You're out of control!" After running away, Max finds himself on a boat that finally brings him to a strange land. This is where the wild things are. The creatures Jonze has created are aesthetic wonders: creepy, hostile, and huggable at once. These aren't Jim Henson's Muppets, but real characters, led by Carol (voiced by James Gandolfini). The rest of the group is comprised of Lauren Ambrose as aloof KW, Catherine O'Hara as prickly Judith, Paul Dano as timid Alexander, Chris Cooper as Douglas, and Forest Whitaker as Ira.

Each creature has a fully realized personality, with flaws and varying temperaments; their faces are so emotive and their dialogue so human that their scenes with Max are as real as those with his mother. This group is not easily classified as friend or foe - they're dysfunctional in their relationships and don't always treat each other well. One of the most successful elements of the movie is the dialogue of the wild things, which is rooted in Max's head.

In many ways, screenwriter Dave Eggers's job was tougher than Spike Jonze's, because it's imperative to remember the way children think. Max's interactions with Carol and his new clan are made up of the kind of things a kid would hear from his parents and peers and then internalize. In fact, in the wild world, Max declares himself king to bring order, and he summons up speeches from the authority figures that he's pulling away from in his real life. Naturally, he's too young to recognize how his subverted position is significant.

Max's relationship with Carol is most telling. As the de facto leader of the group who can't handle sadness, loneliness, or jealousy, he acts out as a mirror of Max while still being his own character. The richness of Carol and the creature cast stays with you; when Max has to say goodbye to his friends, your heart breaks.

Jonze impressed me with his non-conformity; in another movie, Max would have demonstrated the grand lessons he learned from his time on the island, but in this one, he doesn't have to learn anything. He just gets to feel and experience and appreciate his emotionally fragmented new friends. It's devastating as a viewer, especially if you can put yourself back in that childlike place when your feelings were so raw and simple.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Ellen Works Out and Gets Back to Work as Meredith Grey

PopSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:00:00 -0700

Ellen Pompeo spent some time away from baby Stella to take a yoga class in LA yesterday. She stayed fit all through her pregnancy so it's not a surprise that she's already back to working out. The new mom will also be back to work on Grey's Anatomy soon so Seattle Grace won't be without Meredith for a single episode. Tonight is another special Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice crossover event, and if you're a fan of Ellen's show be sure to check out the Grey's Anatomy Junkies group in our community.

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Hump Day: I Feel Used When I Have Sex With the Man I Love

TresSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Welcome to Hump Day, TrèsSugar's sex advice column. Are you confused about sex? Do you have trouble having an orgasm? Is there something you'd like to try but you're worried it's too weird? Send your questions to TrèsSugar, and our friend Dr. Charlie Glickman from Good Vibrations will offer his sound advice!

Today's Question:

"After five years of being apart, I'm now re-dating my high school sweetheart whom I love. We lost our virginities to each other, and even during those five years we continued to have sex every now and then when we were single and managed to see each other. (We went to colleges in different cities.)

Now that we are together again, we've decided to wait a while before we have sex, but that does not mean that I don't find him attractive or that I don't sometimes just want to rip off his clothes. The problem is that one of the last times we had sex (about a year before we officially reconnected), I felt like a prostitute. I don't exactly know why, I just felt used afterwards and it was not enjoyable to me at all. I think part of the reason I say 'prostitute' is because he kept making me change positions and just seemed really into it for himself. I love him and I know that he loves me, but I think I'm having trouble getting over that experience. Even now, he will ask me to dress up for him so he can masturbate, which, as his girlfriend, I would normally be happy to do, but I just get that 'used' feeling again. I feel like a piece of meat, or just an object.

Of course he senses my change in happiness and it ruins the mood. I don't know exactly why I started feeling this way and I don't know how to get over it. I'm so afraid that once we start having sex, I will continue to feel this way. What's wrong with me? Please help!"

To hear what Dr. Glickman has to say, read more
First thing: there is nothing wrong with you or how you’re feeling. Whatever is going on for him, whatever his intentions or motivations, there is absolutely nothing wrong with how you feel. There’s a big difference between having uncomfortable feelings and having something be wrong with you.

Second thing: trust how you feel about this. Something in this situation doesn’t feel right to you, and whether that’s about him, you, or the two of you together, your feelings are there to tell you something important. Unfortunately, they don’t always give you a lot of useful information, but they are valuable for making sure that you know that something is going on. In my experience, the best thing to do is listen to that and try to figure out what those feelings are trying to tell you.

It sounds like you have some unresolved feelings from that first experience of feeling like he was using you. When old feelings linger, they can affect how we feel about present-day experiences. Sometimes, that’s because the current situation is a lot like the past one, and at other times, it’s because we project those emotions onto the present even when the circumstances are very different. Either way, the best approach is to create space to talk about them and figure out what you need. I strongly suggest having that conversation with him when you’re not in the middle of the emotion because that makes it easier to talk about what’s going on without getting lost in the feelings.

Since you said that you’re not sure what it was that made that so uncomfortable for you, here are a few questions that might be worth exploring:

What was it about that first time that felt uncomfortable for you? When he was into changing positions so much, what about that made you feel used? Was it how he did it? Something he was saying? If he had said or done something differently, would that have made it better for you? The more you’re able to answer questions like these, the easier it’ll be to talk about your experiences.

Also, I’m not quite clear from how you phrased it, but when he asks you to dress up for him while he masturbates, do you do that? In my book, that counts as sex and I’m wondering how that fits into your mutual decision to hold off on sex. I can totally see how a request like that could trigger that “used” feeling if the two of you are supposed to be waiting. If it feels to you like he’s pushing your boundaries or trying to get you to do something beyond your comfort zone, one of the best things you can do is tell him that you don’t want to do that. If he persists, that’s a big warning sign to end things.

It would be really easy in this sort of situation to imagine all sorts of reasons why he’s acting like this. And while any of those guesses might be accurate to some degree, I want to caution you to try to not jump to conclusions. For example, some possible things that might be prompting him to act like this could be:

Maybe he’s gotten interested in experimenting different ways of having sex and doesn’t know how to start the conversation with you about it, so he’s just going for it. Maybe he’s gotten into porn and is trying to act out what he’s seen on the screen. Maybe he wants to explore some fantasies, his or yours, and hopes that you’ll reciprocate with your ideas. Maybe he’s clueless about how these situations feel to you and thinks that you’re enjoying it as much as he does, at least until it’s obvious that you don’t. Maybe he’s being selfish about your sexual interactions. Maybe he’s hoping that you’ll speak up with ideas of things to do.

Of course, there’s no way to be sure what actually is going on for him unless you ask (and he’s willing to tell you). The longer these things build up, the bigger they get. So as challenging as it may seem to talk about it with him, it’ll be a lot easier if you do it sooner rather than waiting. Take some time to tell him how you’ve been feeling. Find out what his intentions were. Trust your feelings and keep your boundaries solid.

I know that’s all pretty vague and I wish I could give you some more concrete suggestions. But there are too many possibilities for me to be able to steer you more than that. This sounds like a really hard time for you and whatever you decide to do and however things work out, I hope you find the support that you deserve.

And no matter how you feel, there is nothing wrong with you.

Get on the Ball: Bridge Single Leg Lifts

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:00:00 -0800

If you're looking for a challenging way to strengthen and tone your quads and hamstrings, you're going to love doing single leg lifts on a exercise ball. All at once, you'll be working the quad and hip flexors of the lifting leg, but you'll also feel an incredible burn in the hamstring and glutes of the leg remaining on the ball. That's because it takes a tremendous amount of down pressure to keep the ball in place as you do your leg lifts.

To find out how to do this dynamic move read more.

Lie on your back and place an exercise ball under your calves. Place your hands on the floor for stability as you lift your bum off the ground.
Hold the ball steady with your left leg as you lift your right leg off the ball. Then lower it towards the ball, but don't let it touch, then lift your leg again. Keep both legs straight as you repeat lifting and lower 10 to 15 times.
Then lower your right leg to the ball and do the leg lifts with your left leg. Repeat again for a total of three sets.

If this is too challenging for you, build up to the exercise by bridging on the ball. Or you can put the ball in a corner so it is considerably more stable. The exercise will still be challenging for your legs.

Get on the Ball: Single Leg Squats

FitSugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Squats are so much fun. OK, maybe you don't love squats but you must admit they get the job done. If you have a stronger leg, or a dominant leg, chances are high you are not working your legs evenly and your weak leg is getting short changed. The answer is, of course, single leg squats. Doing them with an exercise ball is a great way to tone your booty, challenge your core as well as your sense of balance, and strengthen your legs independently.

Stand at a wall with your exercise ball at your low back with a considerable portion of the ball on your pelvis.
Walk your feet out away from you as far as they need to be so you can bend your knees to a 90 degree angle keeping your knees over your ankles.
Lift your right leg off the floor inhale as you bend your left knee to 90 degrees. The ball will roll up your back as you bend your knee. Don't tuck your pelvis – keep your sits bones pointed straight down.
Exhale and pull your abs toward your spine and straighten the left knee, coming to standing. Keep your right leg off the floor.
Do: 10 reps on each leg for two to three sets.

Single leg squats are a great corrective exercise and great for injury prevention if you are a runner. It is important to have balanced legs and single leg squats will help strengthen your weak leg.