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3 Ways to Make Sure You're Using Your Fitness Gear

FitSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:50:42 -0700

It's great to keep fitness equipment at home, but the hardest part is getting motivated to use it. Here are three things you can do so they help burn calories instead of collecting dust.

Don't put equipment away. Many types of fitness gear can be folded up so they're out of your way, but if they're out of your sight like in your closet or under your bed, chances are you're less likely to set them up to use. So whatever you use the most, it's OK to tuck it in a corner so you don't trip and fall, but make sure it's still easily accessible.
Set up a small fitness area with all your equipment. Place a yoga mat in the corner for stretching, a set of dumbbells for strength training, and a stability ball for both stretching and strengthening. Seeing the equipment all set up is more inviting, so you're more likely to use it.
Buy equipment to complement the equipment you already have. If you're tired of your plain old resistance band, buy some accessories such as a door strap or ankle straps so you can mix up your routine. Or buy a fitness book or DVD to show you new ways to use the equipment you own. Put some spark back into your old favorites.

Do you have any other ideas? If so share them below.

Home Fitness Test: Resting Heart Rate

FitSugar — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 11:35:00 -0700

Sometimes it is a good idea to assess your fitness level. You don't need to spend a lot of dough and have a trainer put you through the wringer. There are some great tests you can do in the comfort of your own home. The test explained below you can do in the comfort of your own bed!

Resting Heart Rate Test
Assess: Level of Aerobic Fitness

The number of times your heart beats per minute, when you are at rest, indicates the strength and efficiency of your cardiovascular system. A strong heart is able to pump more blood with every beat, so you want a low resting heart heart (RHR). A lower RHR tends to correspond with a higher aerobic fitness level. Let's take seven time winner of the Tour de France Lance Armstrong as an example. Rumor has it that at the peak of his career Lance's RHR was only 32 beats per minute.

To see how to do the test just read more

Take your pulse first thing in the morning, by placing two fingers on your wrist.
Count the number of beats you feel in 60 seconds (or the number you feel for 15 seconds then multiply that number by four). When counting, do count the first beat as zero.
The number of beats you count in 60 seconds is your RHR.

What the numbers mean:

60 or less = Good
61-80 = Average
81-100 = High, but acceptable
101 or more = Abnormally high and not good!

The great thing about this test is that as your RHR lowers you know you are getting more fit!

Source

Fit Find for Yoga Props for Home Practice

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 13:00:00 -0800

I don't know about you, but since the new year I have definitely been increasing my home yoga practice. I have realized I need a few props to help me out with some of the more difficult poses. So let's go Fit Finding for a new yoga mat, block and a strap.

Here are a few online stores that might just have what we're looking for:
Yoga.com
Half Moon Yoga Props
Mat Mats Mats

Be sure to tag your finds with the phrase yoga props for home practice.

If you've never done a Fit Find, let me tell you it is so easy and fun. Just read geeksugar's bookmarking explanation and you'll be all set.

Namaste.

Fit Find Follow Up: Yoga Props for Home Practice

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 14:05:00 -0800

A couple of days ago I asked you all to help me Fit Find yoga props for my home practice. Since I need a block, a strap and a new mat I thought you all could help.

Here's my favorites, from Moni B. She found some soothing sage green props and threw in a matching bag for the mat. Love that.

View 4 Photos ›

If you are looking for some yoga props yourself, you should check out all the props.

If you want to know more about Fit Finds you should read geeksugar's excellent explanation of our bookmarking system.

Home Fitness Test: Abdominal Strength

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 04:00:00 -0800

People tend to neglect their abs in the Winter. Maybe it has to do with bikini season being so far off, or the vast number of layers we tend to wear in the cold. Well, here is an abdominal strength test that I suggest you try. Hopefully, it will inspire some joyous abdominal work.

Crunch Test
Assesses: Abdominal Endurance
Duration: 60 seconds

Lie on your back on a soft surface (exercise mat or carpeted floor).
Bend both knees to right angles and flex your feet slightly, lifting your toes off the floor.
Place your hands on your thighs.
Start your stop watch now as you perform basic crunches by lifting your head and shoulders up and off the floor, so the bottom tip of the shoulder blade is just off the floor. Your hands will slide up your thighs to your knees. Lower head back to the floor.
Repeat as many times as possible in one minute!

To see what your results mean just read more

12 – 22 = average
23 – 30 = good
30 – 36 = very good
37 or more = excellent

Well, how did you do? Let me know in the comments section below.
Interested in more at home fitness tests? Then check out these assessments you can do in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

Source

Home Fitness Test: Quad Strength and Endurance

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 09:30:00 -0800

Ski season is rapidly approaching and with it means sore quads. That is if you don't do any preseason conditioning. I would start with the simple assessment of the your quad endurance, which is also a great exercise to add into your routine.

Wall Sit Test
Assesses: Quad strength and endurance

Place your back against the wall, and walk your feet out and away from the wall about 3 ft.
Bend your knees allowing your back to slide down the wall.
Bend both your hips and knees to 90 degrees and adjust your feet as needed. Imagine you are sitting in an invisible chair.
Start your stop watch now and see how long you can hold the position. Don't forget to breathe!

To see what your results mean read more

76 seconds or more = very good
58-75 seconds = average
57-30 seconds = below average
30 seconds or less = poor

Interested in more at home fitness tests? Then check out these assessments you can do in the comfort and privacy of you own home.

Source

At Home Fitness Test: Core Strength

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 04:00:00 -0800

It is good to assess your fitness level from time to time. It helps you stay well rounded in your workout life. One element that is important no matter if you are a runner, snowboarder, or into lifting weights, is core strength. You need to have a strong and stable torso regardless of your favorite form of exercise.

To test your core strength is simple, and you can do it home; all you need is a stopwatch.

Core Stability Test

Start by lying on your stomach on the floor and place your elbows directly underneath your shoulders with your forearms on the floor making parallel lines.
Curl your toes under and press up into an elbow plank and start timing yourself.
Hold the plank for as long as you can.
Remember to breathe!

To see what your results mean just read more
Results

Strong: Holding the position for 60 seconds
Average: Holding position for 30 - 60 seconds
Needs Improvement: Holding position for less than 30 seconds means you need to strengthen your core

To strengthen your core you should add in some elbow planks to your routine as well as some side elbow planks.

Stop Hating the Gym and Start Loving It

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:50:43 -0800

If you are dreading moving your workouts indoors due to falling temperatures, let me help you learn to love, or at least tolerate, the gym. Here are some common reasons people hate hitting the gym, and solutions to help you overcome the hurdles.

I hate the gym because . . .	The solution
It's too expensive.	Go price hunting. There are so many different types of gyms that offer various services, so find one that fits your budget. Instead of paying $90 a month for a gym that has cardio machines, a weight room, classes, a pool, and a yoga studio, figure out what's most important to you and just pay for that. A gym down the street from me is only $10 a month for cardio and weight machines. Not bad at all.
It's too far away from my home.	If you can't find a gym close to where you live, try to find one close to where you work. That way you can head over on your lunch break or after work.
The cardio machines are boring.	Find a way to make them more enjoyable. I like to download audio books or podcasts onto my iPod. Listening really helps pass the time. Switching to different machines in one workout also helps beat boredom. Or try competing with a stranger.

To learn more ways to start loving the gym, keep reading.

Sir Rowf: Spoiled Sweet or Spoiled Rotten?

PetSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:00:13 -0800

Would you put Sir Rowf front and center in your home? The Royal Animal Candles ($32–$36) come in a horse, bunny and this dog - appropriately named for his regal appearance - but would your pups be happy looking eye to eye with this waxy invader? (And, definitely, don't let them take a nibble.)

Personally, I think the designs are super detailed but watching the animals melt away (on a two-hour burn time) sounds a bit sad . . . and messy. I can imagine this bust and pillar fitting somebody's wish list, is it yours?

GeekSugar's Gift Guide For Your BFF

GeekSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:15:20 -0800

Your BFF is not only by your side when you adopt a new tech treasure, but she's also there to send a supportive text when you just can't get your home network to function properly. Give your best girlfriend a gift that not only shows off her impeccable taste, but one that fits her geeky lifestyle as well. Check out my picks for your BFF right here!

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