FitSugar

Which Do You Choose: Holiday Party Edition

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:00:21 -0800

The month of December means holiday parties, and lots of them. Cocktail parties, office parties, even baby sitting co-op parties - all these events offer up trays of apps, drinks, and buffet dining. Don't let party foods fool you. Just because you eat an hors d'oeuvre off a napkin doesn't necessarily mean it is calorie-free. Take this quiz to see if you know which party foods to plate up.

Flickr User dionhinchcliffe

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Best Exercise Buddy? Dog vs. Human

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:00:26 -0800

If I haven't taken my pooch out for her daily romp, she'll let me know, either by dumping over the garbage can in the kitchen or by giving me that hopeful look. I can't not take her out for a daily walk or run because I feel like I'm letting her down. That's part of the reason new research from the University of Missouri shows that when it comes to exercise buddies, canines are better than humans.

In the 12-week study, 35 people were assigned a walking program for five days a week, while 19 served as the control group. Of the walkers, 23 selected a friend or spouse to exercise with, and 12 walked dogs at a local animal shelter. Those walking dogs were more consistent about keeping up with a regular routine, while those walking with other humans often skipped workouts. Researchers would hear one person say to her human walking companion, "It's hot today. I don't want to walk, do you?" On the other hand, those walking with dogs were eager to get to the animal shelter to walk their pooch because they knew the dog would always be excited to see them and go for a walk. The dog walkers also walked 28 percent faster than they did alone, while those walking with humans only had a 4 percent speed increase.

Pretty interesting, huh? I'm curious to know, what type of exercise buddy do you work out with more, a furry or human one? Tell me when you visit RunningSugar.

Source: Jupiter Images

Pink: A Bad-Ass on Stage and at the Gym

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:50:05 -0800

Pop singer Pink is the January cover girl for Women's Health. In the issue, which hits newsstands Tuesday, she opens up about her relationship with motorcross racer Carey Hart, her lip-synching competition, and how hard she works to look that good. If any of you have seen Pink perform lately, I'm sure you'll back me up when I say that she looks like she's in the best shape of her life. And even though she recently lost 20 pounds and is currently touring, the pop star hasn't strayed from her fitness routine! She said:

On her "man abs": "My man abs? They’re pretty full-on. It’s like that D’Angelo video [for "How Does It Feel"]; he’s got that V. I get a lot of flak for it. That’s where the masculine thing comes in, people saying it’s not normal for a girl to have [those]. But I’m OK with it. I think it’s because I was a gymnast for eight years, from ages 4 to 12. My body was made before my bones were fully grown. Gymnasts are short, stocky, muscular powerhouses."
To find out what else Pink said about keeping fit, read more.
How she stays fit on the road:"Ever hear of P90X? My brother and his wife are both in the Air Force; they do marathons and triathlons. I went [to visit them and she’s doing P90X]. I couldn’t keep up with her - and she’d just had her first baby four weeks ago. I was like, This is bullshit! I will perfect this thing! So usually, I wake up and do an hour of cardio, then an hour of P90X or yoga, then a half-hour of warm-up [during show rehearsal]. I do that six days a week.”
Her day off: I try to make it a show day so I’m still getting cardio. I have to be able to run up those stairs as many times as I do and be able to sing at the same time. I’m an asthmatic. I have to be on that treadmill singing to get my lungs right."
Why she likes working out: "I like results. I like feeling strong. It keeps my mental floor higher."
Does she have a trainer?: "No. I don’t work well with trainers. [Air quotes] 'Does not work well with others.'"
She knows she’s a 10, right?: "No, no, no! I feel like a seven and a half! I’m not going to lie and tell you when I look in the mirror there’s nothing I don’t want to fix. If they figure out how to stretch me and make me a little bit taller, then maybe I’ll get upwards of eight."

Source: Women's Health/Lorenzo Agius

Wear High Heels? Do These Stretches

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:30:55 -0800

With all the holiday parties and visits with friends and family this time of year, you're probably doing a lot of dressing up. Whether you wear heels solely on special occasions or rock them every day, here are some stretches to offer your tootsies a little relief from soreness or pain.
Source: Getty

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Weight Loss Sabotage: Eating "Light" Foods

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:47:43 -0800

When you go grocery shopping, you'll see a plethora of "light" packaged foods. From crackers to chips to salad dressing to beverages, many people trying to lose weight pack these items into their carts so they can feel good about eating healthier versions of the foods they crave. The problem is, these foods actually end up being just as unhealthy, but in a slightly different way. Companies can't just remove the fat or lower the number of calories without affecting the flavor. To compensate, they add extra sugar, sodium, additives, or chemicals. Or in the case of these Light Lays, they add fake fat (Olestra), which is believed to interfere with the body's absorption of important vitamins, and can cause diarrhea.

Light foods are just bad news, so it's OK to embrace real food that contains real fat. According to Women's Health, "many nutritionists recommend eating full-fat food in smaller portions to lose or maintain weight." Balance is the key. Enjoy the foods you love - like steak, French fries, and ice cream - in moderation, and don't get obsessed and go on a fat-free diet. Our bodies need certain types of fat in order to function normally, and they also help satiate your hunger longer, so you avoid overeating. Be a label reader and give foods made with healthy fats such as olive oil, nuts, and fish the green light. Limit the amount of saturated fat you consume by opting for lean meat and nonfat dairy products, and completely avoid trans fat, including hydrogenated oil. Only 20 to 35 percent of your diet should include fat, so shoot for 44 to 77 grams of fat a day (for a 2,000-calorie diet).