GeekSugar

Air Conditioned Clothing: Very Geeky, Not So Chic

GeekSugar — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 09:00:07 PDT

I don't think it's very lady-like to talk about sweat, but I can admit when my mobile weatherman hits 80 I start to get a little, well, sweaty. While most of us respond to warm temperatures by shedding layers and drinking more iced tea, one company hopes people will take it one step further by cooling off with air conditioned clothes. Kuchofuku, a company that specializes in air-con lifestyle products, has introduced air conditioned pants and shirts for both men and women. The good news is they aren't as dorky as those hats with fans on the top of them and would probably be great in balmy weather. The bad news is they look like a cross between fishing gear and something your outdoorsy high school science teacher used to wear.

Source

Everyday Activities That Make Your Allergies Worse

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:45:18 PDT

Most of us are psyched for warmer weather, but allergy sufferers are cursing runny noses, congestion, red eyes, and itchy throats. You may not realize it, but here are the everyday things that can aggravate your symptoms.

Exercising outside is a no-brainer when temps start going up, but not so for those allergic to pollen. If you can't bear to skip outdoor workouts, try to exercise early in the morning when pollen counts are lowest. If you decide to exercise outside, be sure to wash your clothes to get rid of pollen and take a shower to rinse allergens out of your hair. If your allergies are really bad, invest in a gym membership or equipment for your home gym - exercising in the AC will make you breathe much easier.
Opening the window to get some fresh air? Don't you dare. Pollen and other allergens blow in where they come in contact with your eyes and nose. Keep the windows in your home, office, and car closed, and definitely don't use a window fan. If you're hot, turn up the air-conditioning.

Keep reading to find out other common things you're doing that can worsen allergies.

9 Ways Vodka Can Help You Save Money

Emily Co — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:22:38 PDT

Sorry to burst your bubble, but you're not going to save by drinking vodka! However, the liquor actually has a couple of household uses that will come in handy. Not to mention, you won't be splashing unnecessary money on products and you'll be doing the environment some good because it's less toxic. Invest in a bottle of cheap vodka to stretch your dollar in these ways:

Clean Your Clothes: First, do a spot test on the piece of clothing just to be on the safe side. If the material stays in the same condition, spray vodka on the outfit. It'll keep your clothes fresh in between laundry loads and kill any lingering odors. The liquor is also a good stain remover, so dab some on stubborn stains before throwing your clothes into the washer.
Get Rid of Mold: Spray it on the mold in your bathroom, and after letting it soak in for a good while, wipe it clean. The alcohol will kill the mold.
Air Freshener: Make a one part vodka and three parts water solution and pour it into a spray bottle. Start spraying away to get rid of any odor in the room.
Prevent Flowers From Wilting: Add a few drops of vodka into your flower vase to preserve your lovely bouquet. Vodka lengthens the life of the blooms because it inhibits ethylene production, which is what helps the plant mature, according to the Scientific American.
Repel Insects: Use vodka as an ingredient for a bug repellent. DIYlife.com recommends to mix it with apple cider vinegar and drops of citronella or eucalyptus essential oil. Spray it on yourself or areas you don't want bugs to come crawling, such as your patio furniture.
Polish and Shine: Take a piece of cloth, wet it with vodka, and clean your eyeglasses with it. Alternatively, you can also mix it with some water, then spray the liquid on windows and mirrors to make them shine. So long, Windex!
Glue Remover: Remove the sticky residue left from peeling the label off jars by rubbing the leftover glue with a soft cloth soaked in vodka. You can also use this to dissolve the sticky residue that Band-Aids leave on your skin.
Preserve Razor Blades: After shaving, leave your blades in vodka for a while to disinfect and prevent them from rusting.
Treat Dandruff: Mix one cup vodka with two teaspoons crushed rosemary, then strain the mixture through a coffee cup filter and let it sit for two days before applying it to your head and letting the solution dry.

Remember, getting an inexpensive brand is key - you don't want to shill out big bucks and waste money on something you'll be wiping your windows with!

Source: Flickr User Darwin Bell

Running With a Bun in the Oven

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:30:06 PST

When I became pregnant with my first, it was important to keep up with my healthy lifestyle. Running was always a big part of my exercise routine, so if you were an avid runner who now has a baby on the way, here are some tips for keeping up with your running routine.

As soon as you find out you're expecting, talk to your OB about continuing with running. Chances are your doc will encourage you to stick with it, but it's always good to be cautious when it comes to your growing baby.
Don't expect to do what you used to do pre-pregnancy. You'll probably need to slow down your pace, take it easy on hills, stick to even terrain to prevent falling, take breaks often, and decrease your distance.
Along the same lines, don't push yourself too hard physically. This is a time to maintain your fitness level, so signing up for your first full marathon isn't the best idea.
Listen to your body from day to day. Throughout your pregnancy, there may be days (or weeks) when you may not be feeling well or energetic enough for a four-mile run, so wogging - doing a combination of jogging and walking - may be a better option. Run (or wog) on days you feel like it, and walk on days you don't.
Your body is going through many changes physically with all the growing and expanding it's doing, so while running, stop if you feel a pull, twinge, pain, or cramp.

For more tips on running while pregnant, keep reading.

How to Beat the Summer Heat and Still Work Out

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:06:19 PDT

With all this rain we've been having on the East Coast, I'm so psyched that warmer, sunny days are here. It's finally starting to feel like Summer! It's been a shock to my system though, exercise-wise. I've been so used to running in breezy temps between the 50s and 60s that hot and humid 80-degree temps feel overwhelming. Running, biking, hiking, even walking feels harder in the heat. Here are some tips that have helped me get through my Summer workouts.

Be flexible about when you work out. I've become obsessed with checking the weather, and I look to see when the temps are going to be the lowest that day. Sometimes it's early in the morning, and sometimes late in the evening, so I rearrange my schedule to fit in exercise during the coolest time of day. A plus about morning workouts is a lot of my neighbors are watering their lawns, so I run through their sprinklers to stay even cooler.
Invest in some wicking clothes. I used to wear cotton tank tops and shorts, but they'd get sweaty, cling to my skin, and make me feel hotter. Wicking clothes pull the moisture away from my skin, so I really do feel cooler. Wearing a hat to keep the hot sun off my head and face also helps - just make sure the hat is wicking too and breathes.
Take a cold shower. I know it seems a little odd to shower before a workout, but the cold water cools me down. I leave my hair wet and pop it in a bun, and when I head outside water drips down my face and neck and it feels so refreshing. If you have short hair, carry a water bottle with you and squeeze a little on top of your head whenever you need a little cooling boost.

Those aren't the only tips; keep reading.

Escape the Heat With This Full-Body Pool Workout (No Swimming Required!)

Self — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 04:49:04 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar!

It's getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes, put on a bikini and jump in the pool. (That's how Nelly's song went right?) Sure, it's Summer . . . sun, high temps, and lots of sweating are expected. Heck I'm a born-and-raised Floridian; Summer is the only season I know! But just because this Summer's heat wave is causing a mass exodus indoors, doesn't mean you're bound to the treadmill, or even a gym for your workouts!

While air conditioning is great, extreme heat requires extreme cool-down measures like a refreshing dip in the pool. Even if you're not a swimmer, you can still get a full-body workout with these water exercises from Mark Hendricks, Group Fitness Manager at Greenwich Equinox in New York City. Plus, working out in the pool is so much fun, you'll forget all about the scorching temps. Just don't forget your sunblock!

So grab a noodle (floaties if necessary) and jump in!

Bonus: Find the most flattering swimsuit for your figure here.

Check out the heat-beating full-body workout after the break!

Get Your Partner to Exercise: No Nagging, Bribing, or Insulting Required

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:03:28 PDT

Fitness may be a priority for you, but your husband, boyfriend, or partner might be another story. If you wish your better half would include more exercise in their day whether it's to relieve stress, drop a few pounds, or as a way to spend more time together, I'm sure you've discovered that nagging, bribing, or insulting them are surefire ways to get them to shun sweating it out. Plus, it won't make you feel very good if you're constantly pressuring your partner to get moving. Your significant other is more likely to start working out and stick with it if he or she feels like it's their idea, so give these tactics a try.

Work the money angle. Mention that the gym you want to go to offers huge deals if you join with a friend. Who doesn't jump at the opportunity to save a little moolah?
Speak their language. If saving dough isn't exciting enough, lure your significant other with talk about air-conditioning, deals on massages, and huge TVs to watch sports and The Food Network.
Make it about your dog. If you have a four-legged friend, mention that you went to the vet, and your doc is really concerned about recent weight gain leading to a doggie heart attack. That'll pull on the old heart strings a little, and will certainly inspire regular walks or runs with Fido, but really, Fido will be walking or running them (wink).
Surprise, you're exercising! There's no backing down if you casually sign the two of you up for a Partner Yoga retreat, salsa dance class, or dodgeball team.
Throw them a compliment. Come home from the gym all upset and say, "I really wish you were with me to spot me on the machines because you're so patient and strong. I'd much rather have you help me than one of the random muscly dudes at the gym. Could you meet me after work tomorrow?" Flattery can work wonders and maybe once they show up, they'll do a few sets and like it so much that you'll have yourself a permanent spotter and gym buddy.

Keep reading for more ideas.

Natural Fixes For Allergy Season

FitSugar — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:14:08 PDT

Allergy season is in full force. For many sufferers, this time of the year is marked by runny noses, watery, itchy eyes, sneezing, sinus pain, and headaches. An estimated 40 million to 50 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies - so what can we do about them?

According to Dr. Oz, an allergic response to pollens is actually the sign of an active immune system, but before we go and toast to our runny noses, here are some natural solutions that often help conquer those pesky symptoms.

Heat therapy. Warmer temperature is a great way to relieve congestion because it helps get the fluid and congestion in your face and chest moving by helping to think it out. Try exercising more or investing in a humidifier.
Local honey. Many folks I know take a tablespoon of honey a day to combat allergies. The belief is that ingesting local pollen from honey builds resistance to the surrounding fauna. And while it may work for some people, remember that it's a home remedy that might not work for everyone, but is worth trying. If it doesn't help with your sniffles and sneezing, you're still getting vitamins B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Honey also contains antioxidants and vitamin C. All that and it tastes good, too!

Keep reading for more tips and helpful suggestions.

DrSugar Answers: Running and Yeast Infections

DrSugar — Thu, 13 May 2010 09:00:11 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! And she's answering your health-related questions.

Dear DrSugar,
I am training for my first marathon and have slowly been increasing my mileage and am experiencing an unexpected side effect: yeast infections. Not too sexy I know, but a painful problem. I know in my non-running life to wear loose cotton clothing to help prevent getting a yeast infection, but when logging miles that is just not an option due to chafing issues. I am hoping you can give me some preventative advice. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!
- A Runner

First of all, congratulations on training for your first marathon! What an accomplishment and I wish you all the best on your fitness goals! I will quickly review causes of yeast infections, then answer your excellent question, so keep reading.

DrSugar Answers: How Do I Know It's Heat Exhaustion?

DrSugar — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:00:15 PST

DrSugar is in the house, and she's answering your health-related questions.

Dear Doc Sugar,
Today while I was about halfway through my run, I noticed that I was starting to get some chills and had goosebumps. I was probably pushing myself a little bit harder than usual, but it's not like I've never pushed myself to the limit before. Could this have been a sign of impending heat exhaustion? What can I do to prevent this from happening again?
- Too Hot to Handle

I’m sure we’ve all experienced a workout that left us feeling like maybe we pushed it a little too hard. It’s hard to say if the symptoms you were experiencing were signs of impending heat exhaustion. Since you were able to ask this question, I’m going to assume that the symptoms went away and everything turned out OK. What I will discuss are the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion, the treatment, and also what heat stroke is. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, so to learn more, keep reading.