GeekSugar

Make Your Gym Time Count

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:30:00 PDT

When it comes to exercise you want to make the most of your workouts, especially if you are pressed for time. And these days, who isn't pressed for time.

Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your workout:

Warm Up Prior to Strength Training Session:
Just 5 minutes of cardio before lifting weights will increase blood flow to your muscles by about 55 percent and this makes your muscles contract better.
Added bonus: Warming your body up also lowers your body's perceived exertion of how hard your exercise session is, making you feel less taxed.

Work the Circuit:
Keep your workouts exciting and varied by creating a circuit for yourself by performing 3 to 5 several strengthening exercises, followed by short 3 minutes cardio segments. Pick 3 weight machines that work different parts of your body and intersperse with sets of abdominals, then cycle for 3 minutes. Next work your arms with free weights, sprinkle in lunges and squats then jump on the elliptical.
Added Bonus: Since circuit training is so fast paced and varied the chances of getting bored and stopping are much lower. Plus it is an efficient calorie burner that increases muscular strength and decreases body fat.

Mix Up The Cardio:
Cross train with at least two types of cardio. Try mixing running with swimming, or mix cycling with step aerobics. By incorporating different types of cardio you will increase your fitness level and work your body in different ways.
Added Bonus: Varying the type of cardio you do greatly decreases your risk for injury because you won't be over using just one muscle group.

Source

Maker Faire: Sparklab's Make Your Own Soft Circuit Kit

GeekSugar — Tue, 22 May 2007 07:00:43 PDT

Media designer Syuzi Pakhchyan embodies geek chic. Pakhchyan's studio Sparklab mixes culture, craft and technology by weaving circuitry into bags, jewelry, wristbands or bicycle safety jackets.

She displayed her tote bags decorated with circuits at this weekend's Maker Faire and drew a huge crowd of geeky girls (and guys!) intrigued by the totes as well as Pakhchyan's Do It Yourself kits which included a circuit which you can sew on to any fabric. "Do It Yourself" is the primary theme of the Maker Faire in general, so they were naturally a hit, but Pakhchyan's style and ingenuity were still standouts from the crowd.

To check out additional images of Sparklab's booth,

View 8 Photos ›

Healthy Dose Link Time: A Different Circuit Workout For Every Day of the Week

Michele Foley — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:14:32 PDT

17 boredom-busting circuit workouts to do anywhere - Peanut Butter Fingers
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10 nutrient-filled cereals to start your day with - Daily Spark
A visit to the Reebok headquarters - Fit Bottomed Girls
Paula Deen drops 30 pounds; see what healthy swaps got her there - Fit Celeb
Have your bread and eat it too! 300-calorie healthy, carb-centric breakfasts - Fitness
Interval training is all the rage, but does it really work? Experts weigh in - Prevention
Bring sexy back, even after a long day's work - Health

Jackie Warner's Calorie-Blasting Power Pyramid Workout

Zelana Montminy — Sat, 26 May 2012 14:53:57 PDT

Work your entire body pyramid-style with celeb trainer Jackie Warner in just 10 minutes. Each time-saving exercise combines two moves, making the workout efficient and effective. To build strength and torch calories, you'll work your muscles to exhaustion. Grab some dumbbells and get ready to work out with Jackie.

Looking for more? Tone your upper body in 10 with this workout for sexy sculpted arms, then stretch out and cool down for 10 minutes with our yoga flow workout. Put all three videos together for a 30-minute full-body workout!

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!

Torch Calories and Tone With This Circuit Workout

Susi May — Mon, 14 May 2012 02:40:46 PDT

What's not to love about circuit training? Combining heart-pumping elements of cardio with strength-training moves means you torch calories while toning muscles. It's just so efficient.

Here's a fun yet challenging circuit workout I did recently with my Equinox trainer Lauren. The workout has you performing each exercise for a minute, which means you need to keep a stopwatch handy, but you have the luxury of not needing to count.

Get the details of this circuit after the break.

6 Beach Workouts For a Sunny Memorial Day Weekend

Leta Shy — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:52:50 PDT

Hopefully this weekend will involve some fun in the sun, but that doesn't have to be limited to sipping a frozen cocktail on a deck chair. To get you inspired for an outdoor sweat session, we've rounded up some fun fitness routines for the beach - check off your daily workout for the day while enjoying the sun!

Fit and fast: Got 12 minutes? Do this simple CrossFit circuit workout as hard as you can. Bonus: after the intense session, all you have to do is take a dip in the sea!
Leg up: Want to tone legs and thighs? This leg workout from a FitSugar reader helps save your knees from too many squats - and you can do the moves while laying out in the sun.
On the ball: If you happen to have an exercise ball handy, this Kerri Walsh-approved full-body workout will get you in pro-athlete shape.

More beach workouts to inspire you after the break!

Kristen Stewart Test-Drives the Printed Pants Trend in Cannes

Allison McNamara — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:44:41 PDT

After a whirlwind circuit promoting her new movie Snow White and the Huntsman alongside Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart is now at the Cannes Film Festival, and made a very stylish first appearance in the South of France. Kristen tried out Spring's printed pants trend, choosing a pair of primary colored, statement pants by Balenciaga. She kept the rest of her outfit simple with a tailored blazer, white tank top, and classic black heels, while alongside Kirsten Dunst, who looked lovely in white. Watch today's Fab Flash for all the details. On Allison McNamara: Topshop blazer, H&M top, Lia Sophia necklace.

Wee! A Total-Body Playground Circuit Workout

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:58:20 PDT

Playgrounds aren't just for the kiddos. Why not use the equipment to do a little strength training after you run or bike ride through the park, or while your children are playing (might as well tone your tush rather than just sitting on it)? Check out this five-minute circuit workout to target your entire body from head to toe. For a full workout, repeat the circuit six times through for a total of 30 minutes. Note that some cities have rules about adults using playground equipment, so double check before doing this workout.

Triceps dips on a bench: Sit on a bench and place the heels of your palms next to your hips. Walk your feet away from you about six or so inches and hop your tush off so you're hovering in front of the bench. Slowly bend at your elbows and lower your upper body down toward the floor until your arms are at about a 90 degree angle. Be sure to keep your back close to the bench. Once you reach the bottom of the movement, slowly push yourself straight back up to the starting position. Repeat for one minute.
Push-ups with both feet on a swing: Stand two feet in front of a swing and place your hands on the ground. Step onto the swing so the tops of both ankles are resting on the middle of the swing. Walk your hands out as needed so your body is in the top of a push-up position. Slowly bend your elbows, lowering your chest toward the ground, and then straighten them, coming to the starting position. Do as many push-ups as you can for one minute (it's OK to do them slowly).

Keep reading for the rest of moves in this circuit workout.

Our (Yummy, Guilt-Free) Lunch With Jillian Michaels

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:16:25 PDT

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

Ever wish you had a personal chef to deliver diet-friendly meals right to your home? Us, too! That’s why we had to catch up with Jillian Michaels at her recent event at the W Residences in Hollywood to get the skinny on her new partnership with Freshology, a food delivery program that brings gourmet, calorie-controlled meals straight to your door.

"I've been wanting to get involved with something like this for a long time, but either the food sucked or it was packed with unhealthy preservatives," says Michaels. "It's not just calories - the quality of the food matters when it comes to health and weight loss, which is why I really clicked with the Freshology's commitment to fresh, clean food."

Teaming up with Freshology’s five-star chef, Michaels used her nutrition principles to create a total weight-loss plan that delivers healthy, wholesome, and delicious food with no preservatives, no hormones, no artificial sweeteners, and no trans fats. On the program, you’ll receive a twice-weekly delivery stocked with daily meals totaling 1,400 to 1,800 calories: breakfast (240 to 475 calories), lunch (230 to 470 calories), dinner (303 to 536 calories), and a dessert. The 28-day rotation ensures you’ll never experience taste bud boredom. And all the food is precooked, chilled, and ready to go, so at the very most, all you have to do is zap it in the microwave. For added "thinspiration," you’ll also get Michaels’s fitness DVDs, texts to keep you motivated, and a copy of her book, Master Your Metabolism.

Keep reading to see if Freshology passed our taste test.