PopSugar

Nintendo Wii Wiimotes Get Weighty

FitSugar — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0700

I'm a big fan of keeping hand weights by the TV for impromptu lifting sessions, and for all you Wii Fit devotees, the Riiflex Wiimote weights have a similar appeal. These snap-on weights affix to your Wii Remote and Nunchuck accessories to make workouts (or play) more challenging.

Available as a set of two 2-pound weights ($35) or two 4-pound weights ($40), the brightly colored dumbbells look comfy to hold and let you access the Wii's assorted buttons and triggers. Even if you don't have a Wii Fit, you can snap them on your Wiimote to make any Wii game work a little harder.

Interested? The Riiflex weights are available for pre-order, so grab yours now.

Fittingly Mad: "You Lost Weight-You Look So Good."

FitSugar — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 02:30:00 -0700

I have a friend from high school who was always on the heavier side. She wasn't extremely overweight, but she wasn't a skinny-minny either. For the past year, she's been working really hard, eating healthier, and getting in shape, and she's lost a lot of weight.

Last weekend we went to a mutual high school friend's engagement party, and when we got there, all I could hear was, "Oh you lost weight-you look so good." Of course, it made her feel ecstatic to have all those compliments and attention, but it really pissed me off.

Want to know why? Then read more

I know my friends meant well, but what kind of message is that? Losing weight and being thin equals looking good? So does that mean if you gain weight or you're overweight, then you don't look good? Why does there have to be so much emphasis on how we look and on being thin?

We all know keeping your weight down and exercising makes us healthy, but for most of us, that's not the main reason we diet and work our butts off. As women, we are bombarded with magazines, movies, and what we see on TV that tells us "thin equals beautiful," and we are so brainwashed that we even send that message to our fellow female friends.

Women need to support each other, and recognize the beauty that comes from within. We need to make an effort to send out a more positive message. Instead of focusing on weight and appearance, we can say things like, "You lost weight-you look really strong," or "You lost weight-you must have so much energy now." I agree that it's important to acknowledge the hard work a woman has done to get fit, but we need to encourage that kind of healthy lifestyle for the right reasons, and not just because it makes us look good.

Get Your Butt in Gear: Harbinger Weighted Fitness Balls with Straps

FitSugar — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 16:30:00 -0800

Harbinger Weighted Fitness Balls with straps are my new favorite work out toys. These fitness balls are like a combination between dumbbells and medicine balls. They come in weights of 6, 8 and 10 pounds and have a Velcro strap so that you can isolate specific muscle groups or body parts.

Why we love them: The straps make them versatile so you can easily train all parts of your body rather than just your arms, but they are still great for doing most arm work such as front raises and hammer curls. They are colorful and great for home use but relatively transportable for traveling as well. Buy them here.

Battle of the Baby Weight: LilSugar Takes Fit's Tests

LilSugar — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:00:19 -0800

It's a new year, and I want my old body back! Inspired by FitSugar's health challenge, I'll spend the next 12 months hitting the gym to burn the baby fat. If you're a mom who wants to bid your postpartum baggage goodbye too, set a goal and join the Get Fit For 2010 community group for support! Check out my updates here each week.

Battle of the Baby Weight: LilSugar Gets Fit For 2010!

LilSugar — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 04:00:15 -0800

It's a new year and I want my old body back! Inspired by FitSugar's health challenge, I'll spend the next 12 months hitting the gym to burn baby fat. If you want to bid your postpartum baggage goodbye too, set a goal and join the Get Fit For 2010 community group for support! Check out my updates here each Tuesday.

Do You Use Websites and Apps to Get Fit?

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:47:55 -0800

Owning an iPhone is pretty cool - in large part because there really is an "app for that," especially in the health and fitness category. There are apps that count calories, motivate you to do push-ups, map your runs, and provide yoga sequences. I dare you to think of anything fitness related and not find an app for it. Personally, using the fitness apps on the iPhone is sort of like having a scaled down personal trainer. I can develop personalized workouts and meal plans while also tracking my progress, but I don't have to shell out a bunch of money to do so. (That is, if you factor out the initial cost of the phone . . .)

Besides iPhone apps, websites are becoming another great way to monitor and track fitness goals. Sites like the DailyBurn, FitDay, and SparkPeople help you track weight loss, manage your diet, and also provide a community of support amongst their users. Technology has really changed the way people approach and reach their fitness goals.

Fittingly Mad: Dudes Who Drop Weights

FitSugar — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 03:00:00 -0700

We've heard that it doesn't pay to be macho when lifting weights. So why do so many people - sorry to say, it's primarily men - insist on slamming down their weights? More often than not, my gym workouts are rattled by the clanging of weight plates or the sound of someone dropping a giant barbell onto the floor. There are signs posted that specifically say "don't drop weights," since it's both rude and disruptive. Sometimes it hurts my ears so much I think I'd be better off wearing earplugs.

What really gets me is that these offenders are not only making a ruckus, they're also probably not getting the most out of their lifting. Though you should push your muscles to the point of fatigue when lifting, it's important to stop if you start to lose form. If you don't have the strength to lower the weights down gently, that's not a good sign - though I suspect that some folks do it just for dramatic effect.

The gym is a shared space, so I've considered saying something to the patrons who slam down weights. But I always chicken out. Do you think I'm overreacting or does this get under your skin, too? Have you ever said anything to anyone about it?

Source

Weigh In: Stopping Late Night Snacking

Fit Community — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 03:31:13 -0800

FitSugar reader kimmyk10 from our Weight Loss Support group needs your help. Can you offer her any advice on how to manage her late night snacking habit?

So I have been trying to eat better and count my calorie input/output for the past month or so; I am even keeping a food journal. I am usually pretty good throughout the day . . . that is until about 8 p.m. rolls around. I become this ravaging, hungry lady who will eat anything sweet in sight. I will sometimes undo my entire days worth of diet and exercise because my sweet tooth is so bad.

So I was wondering if you guys and gals have any pointers that you all use to avoid late night snacking? Or do you have any low-cal snacks that won't have me working out extra hard the next day to make up for my late night binging?

Are you also trying to shed a few pounds and need advice from fellow readers? Join the Weight Loss Support group for a community of folks - like kimmyk10 - who are facing similar daily challenges. Offer advice, healthy recipes, or ask a question - we're all here for you!

Get Fit For 2010: How I Learned to Love Running

Fit Community — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:00:42 -0800

Hurrah! We made it through another week of the Get Fit For 2010 giveaway. It's been great to read everyone's progress reports. Check out FitSugar user sfmalinali's inspiring post on how she found her love of running.

I just completed my first organized run - a 4-mile Run For Haiti event in NYC and I loved it! I finished in about 40 minutes, which is not too bad considering there were thousands of people running. I feel great and super ready and stoked for the half marathon I'm signed up to do in April.

I never thought that I would enjoy running. All my life I've been pretty active but running was my enemy. I played soccer for 10 years but hated running at practice. Since I was a defensive player, I hardly did any running during the games. If I did run, it was short and quick. It also helped that I was running for a purpose: to stop the ball or the player on the other team. Long distance running just sounded awful and boring, but look at me now - I love it!

To see how her weight loss is going and what she's given up for Lent, read more.

As for my weight loss, I have lost 10-pounds since January, which is great. The weight I gained from dealing with a heartbreak and moving has finally come off and I am ready to shed more. I am hoping to lose 10-15 more pounds before the half marathon.

I've been pretty good about eating but I definitely have my bad days. I think sticking to a healthy diet is the hardest part for me. I buy healthy food but it's so easy to eat unhealthy in NYC. Every restaurant delivers, and since I'm a grad student and also have emotional days, I end up eating out more than I should. Compared to last year, I don't do it as much so it is an improvement.

Overall, I feel great and I want to keep up this excitement. (I also gave up cigarettes for Lent. Hopefully it will continue even after Lent ends.)

Great job, sfmalinali! We'd love to hear about your exercise life, so join our Get Fit For 2010 community group and write a blog post about what workouts work for you! By participating, you'll not only be on your way to a healthier you, but you'll also be entered into the drawing for our weekly giveaway of a $100 Nike gift card as well as an awesome grand prize.

The Transformation of Kelly Osbourne

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:22:15 -0800

I have to admit that I've never been a fan of Kelly Osbourne, but after reading her interview in the latest issue of Us Weekly, I'm a convert. The singer talks in detail about the hard work she went through to transform herself from a size 14 to a size two. I love that Kelly did it in a totally manageable and healthy way, and has such a kick-ass attitude about everything she's been through. Focusing on a healthy diet and exercise plan, the 5-foot-2 star lost an amazing 42 pounds. Most importantly, she has let go of the shame she's carried for years because of her weight. Check out the highlights below.

How Dancing With the Stars changed her life. "He [DWTS partner Louis van Amstel] made me work out, practice six times a day and get fit. I fought him the whole time, but at the end of the show I realized he was right. It worked."
On working out. "After DWTS ended I followed the Bar Method and now I do that three times a week at least. Not every day. I don't have that kind of dedication. Working out sucks. You sweat and you stick, but then you're done - and then you see that just taking an hour three times a week can change you so much. It becomes addictive."

To find out what Kelly's eating and how her self-esteem has changed, read more.

On eating well. "You don't have to count calories. Just make sure what you're eating is good food. You can eat as much good food as you want if you're careful. I try to have no carbohydrates unless they're natural, such as apples. No bread, no pasta and real sugar . . . what that does to you is incredible. I lost five pounds in one week just by eliminating starchy carbs and soda."
Why dieting doesn't work. "If you want to lose weight for good, you need to make a commitment to a life change. You have to say, 'I'm just not going to eat that anymore. I'm going to change my bad habits.' Otherwise, you'll spend the rest of your life yo-yoing and you'll be miserable. By no means is it easy. Getting in shape is one of the hardest things I've ever done."
On loving who she sees today. "When I look in the mirror now, it's really different. For the first time, I look at myself and I'm really proud to not hate every single thing that I see. What has made this process so healthy and interesting to me is that it's been a whole transformation. It's like this feeling disappeared that I had carried around with me for so long."

To hear more about Kelly's amazing transformation, pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly, which hits newsstands today.