GeekSugar

The Canon DW-100: Portable DVD Burning Made Easy

GeekSugar — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 10:20:46 PST

Do you have hours of video footage that you wish you could easily transfer to DVD? Thanks to Canon and their new DW-100 DVD recorder, you can instantly burn your videos onto DVDs by simply connecting your video camera to this device. According to Akihabara News, this type of recorder is not new, although it is one of the first to record high-definition videos with AVCHD codec. You will also be able to plug the burner into any PC or MAC via a USB connection. Unfortunately you won't be able to pick one up before Christmas since they are set to be released in March 2008. No word on pricing just yet.

4 Time-Saving Tips For a Healthy Lifestyle

Leta Shy — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:18:40 PDT

Summers can be incredibly busy - between shuttling kids to and from activities to planning and going on vacation, all the activities that come along with the season can leave you pressed for time. Luckily, we've got a few suggestions for how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, even if you've only got minutes to spare.

Total-body in 20: Breaking up your workout in just 10- or 20-minute increments ensures that you'll break a sweat and burn calories without having to devote too much time out of your day. Even more efficient is making sure that your workouts target all areas of your body. For short workouts that you can do anywhere, check out our fast full-body workouts.

Home cooking: It's easier to cook healthily if you've already done the legwork. Shop for produce and other groceries at the beginning of the week so you can plan every night's dinners - check out one of our healthy dinner plans for the week here. You can also store individual servings of smoothies or sauces (using an ice-cube tray!) in your freezer to have at hand while whipping up a meal.

Read on for more time-saving tips!

5 Fitness Myths That Mess With Results

Prevention — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:31:20 PDT

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

By Jenna Bergen, Prevention

With so many people offering advice on weight loss, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. All too often I’ve overheard a hardworking gym-goer sharing a well-meaning but ill-informed tip with another exerciser. And I’m not the only one who’s heard fitness folklore being swapped on the training room floor. I spoke to top experts in the field to find out the common fitness myths they hear from clients. From the pseudo miracles of the "fat-burning" zone to the misguided magic of working out on an empty stomach, these fitness falsehoods should never be followed.

Nine Exercise Moves You're Doing Wrong

Myth No. One: Keep your heart rate in the fat-burning zone

If you've been exercising at 60 to 70 percent of your maximum heart rate in order to shed flab faster, you could be slowing your slim down. "The fat-burning zone is a complete myth," says Wayne Westcott, PhD, Prevention advisory board member and fitness research director at Quincy College. "While it's true that you burn a higher percentage of fat calories when exercising at a moderate pace, you burn fewer calories overall." For instance, if you get on a treadmill and walk at a 3.5 mph pace for 30 minutes, you might burn 250 calories. If you raise the speed to seven miles per hour, you’d burn 500. Bottom line? "It’s much better to go at the faster speed." Prefer the elliptical trainer? Make sure you're not making one of the top 10 elliptical trainer mistakes.

Myth No. Two: Boosting cardio is the best way to bypass a plateau

"The most effective way to lose weight is to include both cardio and weights in your routine," says Jari Love, star of the Get Extremely Ripped: 1000 Hardcore DVD. "One study found that when individuals cycled for 30 minutes a day, they lost three pounds of fat and gained a half pound of muscle in eight weeks. But individuals who cycled for 15 minutes and weight trained for 15 minutes a day lost 10 pounds of fat and gained two pounds of calorie-burning muscle."

Try This Workout to Drop Two Sizes by Summer!

Keep reading! We bust three more myths after the break.

Foolproof Ways to Motivate a Weekend Workout on Friday Night

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:34:42 PDT

You worked hard all week long, and all you want to do on Saturday is chill and do nothing. But if you lace up your sneakers and burn some calories, you know you'll probably feel good. If you have a tough time exercising on the weekend, here are some ways to get psyched about it, and do all the prep work the night before.

Choose your gear: The night before, choose your outfit and lay it right next to your bed, including any gear you need (charged iPods included). Seeing it first thing in the morning will inspire you to slip it on - getting dressed is half the battle.
Cue up that DVD: Before you go to bed, leave dumbbells, an unrolled yoga mat, or an exercise ball out. Or, pop in your favorite fitness DVD so it's all set to go. It'll be hard to walk out the next day with all those visual reminders.
Let music inspire you: Hop on iTunes and make a new cardio playlist that you can use during the weekend. When you get out of bed, you'll be so psyched to listen to it, you'll rush to get your sports bra on.
Make a date: Earlier in the week, call up a friend and make plans to hike, meet at the gym, or take a long bike ride together. When you make an agreement to meet at a specific time and place, it's tough to bail.
Pick a fun fitness class: Check out the class schedule at your gym or nearby studio and find a class to take. This way you can mark your weekend schedule before errands or social events prevent it from happening.

The Biggest Reasons Your Ab Exercises Aren't Working

Prevention — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:25:40 PDT

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

If you're struggling to see your six-pack, you could be making one of these mistakes.

By Jenna Bergen, Prevention

As the weather warms and Spring break approaches, we're all forced to do that same rather scary thing: unearth the bathing suit and take a good, hard look in the mirror. I did it just last week and was relieved to see that my job as the fitness editor at Prevention had kept my abs from going too far south. Still, given all the hours I clock at the gym, I wouldn't mind seeing a little more definition. That's when I realized I needed to fine-tune my game. If you've been putting in the effort and still don't have the abs you're after, take heart - you're not alone. Here are four top slipups that mess with your six-pack - plus expert fixes to get you back on track.

Your Form Is Sloppy
"The wrong form can turn an effective move into one that won't do anything for you," says personal trainer Jessica Smith Gomez, costar of the 10 Minute Solution: Best Belly Blasters. A few of the most common mistakes: pulling on your neck (which allows your abs to slack off), using momentum rather than muscle strength (again, a freebie pass for the abs), sagging your hips in plank, and not keeping them pulled in during every move. "You must control your abdominal wall to get any real benefit," says Erin O'Brien, creator of Kristi Yamaguchi: Power Workout and Strong Body Ageless Body. Not sure how you're doing? Check your form in a mirror.

Keep reading for two more reasons your ab exercises aren't working!

Simple Ways to Amp Up DVD Workouts

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:52:14 PST

Following along to a fitness DVD is a great way to get your sweat on for so many reasons: it's inexpensive, you don't have to leave your house, and you can exercise whenever it fits your schedule. That said, not all fitness DVDs offer the best workout. Here are some ways to get more out of your fitness videos.

Don't just work one body part: If the instructor is leading you through basic squats, grab a set of dumbbells and add shoulder presses. If you're doing bicep curls with a resistance band, throw in some lunges. Get creative by doing compound moves to burn more calories and work multiple muscles at once.
Move a little faster: During cardio workouts, pick up the pace and do double-time. Moving faster not only gets your heart pumping to build endurance, but it also burns more calories.
Do challenging variations: Instructors often demonstrate one move, and then they show how to make it more advanced. If you can think of a way to make it even harder - like balancing on one leg, standing on a Bosu ball, or using a resistance band along with your set of dumbbells - go for it.
Skip the break: If you're not too winded, do some extra push-ups or run in place instead of resting between exercises. Or if you're familiar with the DVD and you know which move is coming next, skip the rest and start in on the burpees a little early.

Easy Ways to Double Up on Workouts

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:03:07 PST

Some days one workout just doesn't seem like enough. If you feel like getting in double the workouts, either to increase your calorie burn, to work different muscles, or just because you love exercising, here are some easy ways to make it happen.

Bike to your 90-minute yoga class.
Hit your gym's pool to swim laps for 30 minutes and take a Body Pump class afterward.
Go for a run outside or on the treadmill and then grab your dog (or a friend) and take a walk around the neighborhood.
Take a hike and every 20 minutes go through these six tree stretches.
Do a strengthening DVD in the morning and hit an evening spin class.
After Zumba, head home and do this Full-Body Circuit Workout With Weights.
Go through a strength training routine using an exercise ball and after dinner, head out for a night of dancing (or a dance party in your living room).
If there's snow, go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing and stretch in front of the fire when you get home.

Make sure doubling up on workouts doesn't leave you fatigued, unreasonably sore, or low in nutrients. You might need to increase your calorie intake, lower the intensity or duration of your workouts, and get more rest. Varying your workouts is also a must to avoid overuse injuries.

5 Reasons Your Workout Isn't Working

Shape — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:44:13 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Have you been working out consistently for months (maybe even years) and yet the scale is creeping up? Here are five ways your workout could be keeping you from losing weight, and what our experts recommend to start shedding pounds again:

1. Your workout routine is making you eat too much.
Is your workout causing you to use the "I burned it, I earned it," excuse when it comes to your diet? "Studies show that people tend to eat more calories when they take up exercise," says Michele Olson, Ph.D., professor of exercise science at Auburn University Montgomery, and creator of the Perfect Legs, Glutes & Abs DVD.

Think your 45-minute morning run was enough to burn off that slice of chocolate cake on the dessert menu? Consider this: the average, 140-pound woman burns about 476 calories (at a 10-minute mile pace) running for 45 minutes. The average restaurant dessert clocks in around 1,200 calories (or more), so even if you only eat half of a slice, you'd still easily eat away your run - and then some - in less than 10 minutes.

The solution: Make your workouts count by pairing them with a healthy diet that stays within the appropriate calorie range your body needs in order to lose or maintain your weight. Olson recommends writing down what you are eating to keep track of calories consumed, and then subtracting the calories you burned, for your true daily number.

See even more reasons why your workout isn't working after the break!

Can't Make It to the Gym? 3 Ways to Still Sweat It Out

Michele Foley — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:21:55 PST

Even when we have the best intentions, there are days when getting to the gym is impossible. Mostly because we're dealing with a crazy schedule that involves balancing other obligations or appointments. On days where getting to the gym is not an option, but neither is skipping out on a workout, you do have options. Check out three ways to exercise even on days when you have to skip the treadmill!

Pop in a DVD: On days where you miss a class or skip out on a strength training session, a fitness DVD is often the next best thing. There are a wide variety of workouts to choose from, and the instructors do their best to keep you motivated while also educating you on good form. Because a DVD workout is structured, you often get more out of it than you would when attempting to make your own at-home workout. Need inspiration? Then check out some of our favorite fitness DVDs.
Head outdoors: Whether you run, cycle, or hike, one of the easiest ways to compensate for a missed gym day is to head outside for your workout. If exercising outdoors isn't your ideal, remind yourself that it can help prevent colds and flu by strengthening your immune system. On top of that, avoiding the gym for a day isn't always a bad thing: a fitness center is one of the germiest places a person can encounter in their day-to-day routine. It's also likely that you'll burn more calories, too. Without the assistance of cardio equipment, your body will have to work harder during its workout.
Squeeze in fitness wherever you can: Whether you take the stairs at work, do squats in the most ordinary places, or walk around when taking a phone call, find as many ways as you can to move throughout the day. You might be surprised to see how many calories you can burn from just five minutes of exercise.

Healthy Dose Link Time: Michael Pollan Says Junk Food Is OK

Michele Foley — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:34:52 PST

Food guru Michael Pollan says eat all the junk food you want - Mind Body Green
10 moves away from a tighter, toned tush - Shape
Why mini meals may be the key to weight loss - Fit Bottomed Girls
DVD review: Beverly Hills trainer Mike Donavanik delivers Extreme Burn - Vital Juice
Don't deprive yourself! Healthy apple pie and cake recipes for the holidays - Health
Easy ways to avoid Winter weight gain this year - Self