Venus Williams Holds Court and Talks Tennis

Venus Williams easily defeated her first opponent of this year’s US Open. Having been sidelined over the last couple of months, many fans were checking out both her form and her face - for indications of pain. The New York Times reported that she winced at least once but only needed an hour and 14 minutes to defeat Roberta Vinci of Italy, 6-4, 6-1. Last week the third seeded player of the grand slam event took time out of her busy schedule to chat with me about her love of the game. FitSugar: Do you do different kinds of prep when gearing up for different surfaces: grass vs. clay/hard court? Venus Williams: On grass I am looking for shorter points. On clay you have to get into the mentality of playing longer points, so you really have to be fit and have your legs strong. Really be ready to go the distance cardiovascularly. You have to push yourself even more for a clay court match. FS: Do you prefer one surface more than the other? VS: I love playing on all of them. I am an aggressive player and I do enjoy a quicker, more aggressive point. To be honest, I just like to play tennis. To learn how Venus’s relationship to the game has changed over the past 15 years, just read more. FS: You’ve been playing tennis professionally for half of your life, how has your relationship to the sport changed over time? VS: If anything, I have learned more and I have become more grateful to have the opportunity to do what I do. Lots of people would love to do this and don’t get the opportunity. I have this opportunity, and I continue to have it every day. I take it as motivation to play more, work harder, play better. FS: Do you feel the sport has changed much too? VS: Oh absolutely! It has changed a ton. That’s the nature of sports though; it always gets to another level. All sports do though. So it challenges me to get to another level. Or hopefully be part of taking the sport to another level. FS: Do you have a mantra when you play? What do you say to yourself to turn your game around when you feel you’re not playing your best? VS: Gosh. It’s always changing. Whatever I need at that moment. I tell myself “Oh you’re playing well” or “You’re playing horribly.” Or whatever I can say to myself to kind of make it happen. The worst thing that could happen is that you accept that it is a bad day and let it go. You have to fight against it. If anything it makes you better to know you can win on those days when you aren’t your best. FS: We just polled our readers asking if they air-dry their workout clothes made of technical fabrics. As an athlete and a fashionista, would you weigh in on the matter? VS: I don’t. Some of my specialty outfits yes, I had to have dry cleaned. But I throw the rest in the wash and they come out looking really good. I use Tide plus Febreze Freshness Sport on my clothes. The red clay is rough on clothes though. We also discussed her fitness routine; learn why Venus hates elbow planks but loves football here . Tell me who you’re rooting for in the US Open in the comments section below.

Read the original here: 
Venus Williams Holds Court and Talks Tennis

Kim Clijsters: Balancing Family and the US Open

Filed under: Fitness , Celebs & Entertainment Julian Finney, Getty Images Kim Clijsters returned to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center yesterday to defend her title at the US Open . After stepping away from tennis in 2007, Clijsters returned last year with her new daughter, Jada, in tow. Clijsters told That’s Fit that during tournaments like the US Open , she typically practices an hour or two a day and then hits the gym to follow a basic workout schedule. But during the off-season, her workout schedule can vary from four to six hours a day in the gym. She admits that training after pregnancy was frustrating at times. “I started from zero,” she said. “In the past, I would really focus on just the weak parts of my body, but this time I had to train everything again.” Now that the 27-year-old Belgian tennis star is also a mom, she said that her busy training schedule comes with trade-offs. “I have help from our nanny, my husband and other family members,” she said. “But, of course, I have days when I feel guilty about being away from [Jada].” Off the court, sports are a family affair. She met her American husband, Brian Lynch, while he was playing professional basketball in Europe. To relieve stress, they go mountain biking during the off-season and take their dogs for long walks. Clijsters said she also loves yoga and swimming to relax. Sports are in Clijsters’ blood: Her father was a soccer star, and her mother was a professional gymnast. But Clijsters said while sports, in general, were always a priority, tennis was always her first love. “Sports have always been important in my life. I feel better when I work out, and it has become a way to relax, get rid of stress and makes me feel good about myself,” she said. “So even if I’m not practicing tennis, I will always find a sport where I can challenge myself.” As for Jada, there is no pressure to choose professional sports, but rather to embrace an active lifestyle. “She can choose whatever sport she would like,” said Clijsters, “but we will teach her that playing sports and healthy eating is a good way of life.” Although Clijsters has extra support as a professional athlete, her love of activity and healthy living — and making it something the entire family is involved in — is a lesson all of us can learn from. Want to give your own tennis game a boost? Enter to win a Prince EXO3 Black 100 racquet! Permalink | Email this | Comments

See original here:
Kim Clijsters: Balancing Family and the US Open

"Biggest Loser" Season 10 Lineup Revealed

Filed under: Celebs & Entertainment , Biggest Loser Trae Patton, NBC “The Biggest Loser” has announced its contestants for season 10. There are 21 overall, and the theme this year is “Pay It Forward,” as “The Biggest Loser” ventures into seven communities struggling with weight problems. People from Detroit, Los Angeles, Portland, Atlanta, Phoenix, Oklahoma City and Boston competed in a 500-step contest and a one-mile race. The top two finishers from each location made it to the ranch to work with Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper . While the least-fit contestants from each city don’t necessarily get any of Michaels’ and Harper’s skills at the ranch, they will have the opportunity to join the show later in the season. “The Biggest Loser” contestants are … o.Jesse Atkins, 28, law clerk; St. Paul, Minn. o.Montina Cooper, 35, singer/songwriter; Houston, Texas o.Jessica Delfs, 27, bridal consultant; Tucson, Ariz. o.Richard Deroque, 54, pediatric physical therapist; Conway, Ark. o.Alfredo Dinten, 43, futures commodities trader; Staten Island, N.Y. o.Sandy Dolan, 30, stay-at-home mom; Fort Worth, Texas o.Brendan Donovan, 32, special education teacher; Boston, Mass. o.Tina Elliott, 58, retired homemaker; Boring, Ore. o.Sophia Franklin, 28, high school counselor; Germantown, Md. o.Patrick House, 28, sales representative; Vicksburg, Miss. o.Adam Hurtado, 26, nonprofit manager; Santa Ana, Calif. o.Allie Ishcomer, 22, student; Moore, Okla. o.Burgandy Keel, 35, stay-at-home mom; Eagle Mountain, Utah o.Shanna Masten, 38, math teacher; Pima, Ariz. o.Lisa Mosley, 31, sales representative; Norman, Okla. o.Mark Pinkhasovich, 31, bartender and recruiter; East Brunswick, N.J. o.Corey Pinkerton, 27, life coach; Fairbanks, Alaska o.Elizabeth Ruiz, 31, medical assistant; Lawrence, Mass. o.Aaron Thompkins, 29, graphic designer; Kent, Ohio o.Ada Wong, 27, project coordinator for high-tech company; San Francisco, Calif. o.Anna Wright, 39, administrative assistant and songwriter; Atlanta, Ga. Prevention has published a “Biggest Loser” Weight Loss Planner guide that shows 16 of the contestants. Their weight varies from 231 pounds to 468 pounds. Among the contestants are a military mom with five kids, a former college football player and a backup singer for Beyonce. Unlike other seasons that have focused on teams, and often focused on parents with their children, only two of this season’s contestants are over 50, and the vast majority are between 25 and 35. I am hoping for a season that is inspiring , works at a steady pace and puts the health of the contestants first. We at That’s Fit wish the participants luck on their life-changing journey, and we look forward to watching who will become the next Biggest Loser. To brush up on the show, check out the best lessons from season nine. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read more here: 
"Biggest Loser" Season 10 Lineup Revealed

The 12 Most Dangerous Supplements

Filed under: Jonny’s Take , Nutrition & Supplements Getty Images The September issue of Consumer Reports has a cover story titled ” The 12 Most Dangerous Supplements .” It deserves a comment or two, first about Consumer Reports in general and second about the specifics of the article. No one I know who is an expert in a particular field takes Consumer Reports’ recommendations in his field seriously. For example, car aficionados scoff at the publication’s car ratings, and stereo afficiandos find the publication’s recommendations for home stereo equipment laughable. When Consumer Reports talks about vitamins and nutrition, I roll my eyes, but I do turn to it for information on things I know nothing about, like buying a good washing machine. The current cover on “dangerous” supplements may sell magazines. The issue even contains some reasonable information, but it may also send the message that supplements are dangerous. The text of the article certainly supports Consumer Reports’ general belief that supplements are pretty much a waste of time. So I was surprised to find that there was nothing on the list of supplements to avoid that I really disagree with. The tone and message of the overall article, however, is a different kettle of fish. First the supplements themselves. The twelve supplements that Consumer Reports warns against are: Aconite Bitter orange (this is the ingredient a lot of manufacturers use instead of ephedra) Chaparral Colloidal silver Coltsfoot Comfrey Country mallow Germanium Greater celandine Kava Lobella Yohimbe Contrary to the impression left by the cover, there’s not a single vitamin or mineral in the bunch (unless you consider colloidal silver a mineral). And contrary to my own expectations, I can’t find anything on this list to disagree with (with the possible exception of yohimbe). Of course, a master herbalist who really knows his stuff and is treating a specific patient with a specific herb on this list for a specific purpose is a different story, but by and large, I think the editors are right: These are all products you don’t need to be taking. I was also pleasantly surprised by the accompanying list, “Eleven Supplements to Consider,” which I also found no fault with. These include: Calcium Cranberry Fish oil Glucosamine sulfate Lactase (an enzyme that helps digest milk) Lactobacillus (probiotics) Psyllium (fiber) Pygeum SAMe St. John’s wort Vitamin D The same issue of Consumer Reports contains an article on multivitamins (”most that we tested were fine”), which contains a bit more troubling information in the form of some not-so-subtle propaganda (as in, “you can get all the nutrition you need from food”). For one thing, CR emphasizes concerns that some of the vitamins tested contained either more or less of an ingredient than was listed on the label. The publication highlighted one case in which a guy got really sick from such a product (it contained two hundred times the amount of selenium on the label!), making it seem that the whole mislabeling issue is a much more common occurrence than it really is. It also reiterated the tired old party line about not exceeding the “recommended daily value” for nutrients, although not a single nutritionist I know thinks the “recommended doses” are worth the government paper they’re printed on. (One exception: Even Consumer Reports agrees that the ridiculous recommendation of 400 IUs daily for vitamin D isn’t enough.) It’s worth pointing out that the brands tested are all big-box store brands (Centrum, One-a-Day, Costco, Wal-Mart, Flintstones and the like). One reason I continue to support the companies and formulations you find on my website — and why I encourage you to purchase “Doctor’s Brands” that are generally available only through health professions — is that these brands are almost never among those found to be wanting in tests like the ones done by Consumer Reports or even the very responsible Consumer Labs. These “professional” brands (like Designs for Health, Crayhon Research, Vital Nutrients, Pure Encapsulations and even the consumer brand Barlean’s Organic Oils) are made by much smaller companies with enormous quality control, in much smaller batches, with much more expensive ingredients (magnesium citrate or magnesium glycinate as opposed to magnesium oxide, just to mention one example), and contain doses of nutrients that tend to be clinically meaningful. I meet the owners and scientific advisors to these companies regularly at conventions and conferences. I talk with them, I hear their passion, I look at their assays (lab tests for impurities and heavy metals) and I can — and do — recommend them with confidence. Jonny Bowden, author, nutritionist and weight loss coach, cuts through all the misconceptions about diet and fitness to help you transform your body, your health and your life. Visit his website to learn more. Permalink | Email this | Comments

See original here: 
The 12 Most Dangerous Supplements

Janet Ditched Her Negative Thoughts and Lost 200 Pounds

Filed under: Motivation , Success Stories Janet Before Name: Janet M. Samp Age: 53 Height: 5 feet, 1 inch Before Weight: 337 pounds How I Gained It: All my life I struggled with my weight — I have lived with being the butt of the fat jokes. I would lose weight and even keep it off for a while, then I would gain it all back as well as additional pounds. I’m pretty sure I have tried every diet that has ever been invented. Breaking Point: My breaking point came when I had a very big wake-up call. My mother passed away at the age of 62, and I realized that I didn’t want to follow in her footsteps. I wanted to live and be free of the burden of carrying all that weight around. I wanted to be healthy. I would do it for the right reasons. How I Lost It: I started by developing a diet of healthy foods I would allow myself to eat. I bought a treadmill , which I planned on actually using. I began with the commitment that I would be honest with myself about the food I ate and promised myself to give exercise a try. I also journaled each step I took and each mouth of food that I ate. The first time I walked on the treadmill, I could walk for only five minutes. It might not seem like much, but for me, it was a very proud five minutes. Every day I added a few minutes. It was hard but so very rewarding to know I was doing something that I had never thought I would be able to do. It wasn’t long before I was walking three miles a day. I put 3,000 miles on my treadmill over the course of two years before it gave out on me. I’ve never been so excited about buying a new piece of furniture as I was to buy my next treadmill! I even bought a sleeker, newer model. By the time the treadmill had given out, I had lost 100 pounds. Life was good, and I felt great. I felt skinny at 235 pounds — I wasn’t even concerned about losing any more weight. For the first time, I felt that I could eat what I wanted as long as I was reasonable with portion size . By not denying myself anything, I wasn’t feeling deprived, and I didn’t feel like I had to eat all of the good stuff in one sitting. I did eliminate fried foods and fast food from my life, however. They just don’t contribute anything to my healthy lifestyle. Janet Now I devoted the next two years to maintaining and exercising more, but then came a true test of my willpower . My husband and I decided to sell our home and build a new one. It took one whole long and stressful year and by the time we had moved into our new home I was fighting to keep my weight off. It also made me realize that I shouldn’t stop at 235 pounds — I wanted to take even more off my small frame. I was feeling panicked and desperate, and I decided that only one drastic step could help: I was going to have weight loss surgery . I made an appointment with my doctor for a physical and to discuss my options with him. He suggested that I try the Medifast diet before resorting to surgery. I was up for it — after all, I had only weight to lose. He said he would monitor me closely and offer all the support I needed. My intention was to try the diet for a month or so and see what happened; but that month turned into 12, and I lost another 120 pounds. That was one of the happiest years of my life. The feeling of losing weight I never expected to lose was very overwhelming to me. But the outside was changing so rapidly that my inside feelings weren’t able to keep up — I still felt like the fat person everyone would make rude comments about. In fact, I still have to remind myself that when someone looks at me that it isn’t because I’m the fattest person in the room. After losing 120 pounds, I was down to 115 pounds. I never even dreamed it was possible to weigh so little. However, it wasn’t a weight I could maintain. I gained 20 pounds quickly after I started to eat normal food again. But that was OK with me; my goal was never to be skinny, as it was all about being healthy right from the beginning. Because health was my primary focus, the first thing I did when I was off the diet was hire a personal trainer. He has pushed me, encouraged me and listened to all my complaints, and it’s worked. I’m happy to say I have never been physically stronger than I am at this moment in my life. I’m also working on eating only a clean, healthy diet. Through all my weight loss, the one thing I’ve discovered is that you may be what you eat, but you are also what you think. If I felt like a failure, I was going to fail. But now, when I start having negative thoughts, I remind myself that even when I slip up a little, I am a success, and I will always be a success story . After Weight: 135 pounds Janet continues to maintain her weight loss, and encouragement from her personal trainer always helps. Is the Medifast diet for you? Our expert reviewers have weighed in on whether they think it’s healthy . Permalink | Email this | Comments

See original here:
Janet Ditched Her Negative Thoughts and Lost 200 Pounds

Venus Williams Hates Elbow Planks but Loves Football

Having just turned 30, Venus Williams has been playing tennis professionally for half of her life. She is one busy athlete: gearing up for the US Open, teaching tennis clinics , selling her EleVen designs on Gilt , and promoting her new book Come to Win . Yet when I spoke with Venus recently, she seemed more like her sister’s namesake, serene. Easy to laugh while maintaining a thoughtful focus, Venus and I chatted about fitness, fashion, and football. FitSugar: Describe a typical day of training for you. Venus Williams: I get up in the morning and I go to the court for about two hours or three hours and then I go to the gym for another two hours or three hours. A lot of time I will stretch and do rehab for an hour. It’s kind of a nine to five thing with a full day of working out. I do anything like ride the bike, the elliptical, swimming, or sprinting things like that. And I do arms, legs, and core. FS: So what’s your fave core exercise? VW: (chuckles) I don’t know if I have a favorite core exercise. FS: Well then is there an exercise you love to hate. VW: I don’t like prone holds. Do you know what that is . . . it’s an elbow plank. I don’t like planks. I don’t like slow and tedious exercise. Ones that you have to do on both sides. Those really get me down. FS: How do you feel about running? VW: Running is OK. I like swimming a lot. Swimming is my favorite cardiovascular activity. Lately I have been swimming in the ocean too. The water has been real calm in Florida this Summer and it’s real flat. I call it lake Atlantic . . . get in and go for a swim. Learn how Venus feels about food when you read more. FS: What is your fave recovery meal and/or snack? VW: I don’t know. I am one of those people that eats to live and not lives to eat. So I don’t know. It is hard to choose. Probably beans and rice and blackened chicken. FS: Do you ever work out with Serena? VW: We work out at the same time, but we might be doing something specific to what we need. I might need something different from her. But I might see her doing a nice exercise and I am like “I am going to copy that.” FS: Both Marathoner Kara Goucher and basketball legend Lisa Leslie told me that if they could be an elite athlete in another sport they would choose tennis. If you could be an elite athlete in another sport what would you choose? VW: Football! FS: Why? VW: I don’t know. (laughs) I just love it. You get out there and talk trash. Run hard, you make the play. It just seems awesome! Stay tuned for more of my conversation with the fourth-ranked tennis star. We talk more about tennis, touch on fashion, and why Venus cleans her tennis togs with Tide plus Febreze Freshness Sport .

View post: 
Venus Williams Hates Elbow Planks but Loves Football

Are You Fit Enough for an Emergency?

I’m an action movie junkie. I like watching the heroes of the films do incredible things to escape a dangerous situation. Whether it is fighting off the bad guys in hand-to-hand combat or scaling walls, it is all fun to watch. Although it is all set-up for the movie, the actors still often train hard for their roles. Even though a majority of us would never encounter the crazy stunts portrayed in the movies, there is always a possibility that we may find ourselves in an emergency that would require us to run or swim fast and far enough to find safety. I stumbled across an interesting article today titled: “Can you save your own life?”. In it, it quotes Earle E. Liederman , (a fitness pioneer and well-known vaudeville strongman) whose philosophy was that a man should be able to swim far enough, run fast and long enough to save their life in case of emergency and necessity. How Fit Do We Have to Be? So what were Liederman’s requirements for being able to save yourself in an emergency situation? As quoted from the article: Be able to swim at least half a mile or more Be able to run at top speed two hundred yards or more Be able to jump over obstacles higher than your waist Be in condition to pull your body upward by the strength of your arms, until your chin touches your hands, at least 15 to 20 times Be able to dip between parallel bars or between two chairs at least 25 times or more I think having the strength and stamina to accomplish the things on the list above is a sign that you are in pretty good shape. Would you add anything to the list? Read the complete article here: Can You Save Your Own Life?

Read the original here: 
Are You Fit Enough for an Emergency?

Four Rules to Grow Younger, Stronger, Sexier

Filed under: Fitness , Fit After 40 Chris Crowley, Workman Publishing If you’re over 40 and still haven’t found that single motivator to convince you to embrace exercise , how’s this: the odds are in your favor that you’ve got another 40 years ahead of you, and if you’re not strong, that’s a really long time to feel frail and stale. This premise is the driving force behind the popular book series ” Younger Next Year, ” by co-author Dr. Henry S. Lodge. Here are some of his straight-to-the point directives for making your life extraordinary and youthful all the way through. Join a gym: Even though you may do non-gym activities like biking , skiing and running , you still need to drag yourself to a place twice a week to lift some weights so you can continue to build muscle. And FYI, curling three-pound dumbbells isn’t weight training . “The weights should feel heavy and challenging and require you to engage your legs, back, arms and core. You should also have access to a variety of machines and props so you can work your muscles in all sorts of ways,” said Lodge. Which is the best gym for you? “The one you’ll go to,” he said. “In most cases, the gym closest to your home or office is best. That said, if you don’t like that one, look farther away. Your muscles could care less where you go. Ideally you want a gym with members of all ages.” And if you’re self-conscious at first, the author promises you’ll eventually get over it. Work out — hard: “The ‘park further from the mall so you can walk more’ advice is stupid,” Lodge said. “Or it’s a viable strategy if you’re planning to die just short of your 70s. But for those of us who plan to live well into our 80s, a higher level of fitness is required.” It’s true: All the science says your level of brain function, energy, optimism and sex drive is directly tied to your level of fitness. “Sure, being a little bit fit is better than being sedentary, but why stop there?” said Lodge. “That’s like saying, what’s the least good life I can have versus what’s the best?” If you’re not sure what vigorous, respectable exercise means — and here’s a hint: It’s not a brisk walk — take a spin class. Celebrate your fit body and sharp mind: Obviously Helen Mirren knows she’s a knockout in a bikini, and I’m guessing it makes her feel young and incredibly cool. Do the same for yourself. Whether you speed through your first tri or just feel sleek walking down the street, take pride in how you feel and appreciate your efforts. I take particular note when I bound up the subway steps while everyone around me is trudging and how sexy I feel when I’m drenched in sweat after a five-mile run. Maybe for you it will be noticing greater performance at work or an increased libido. Working out translates to a better version of you by a huge margin. Just do it: You don’t have to like the investment; you just need to like the reward. “When it’s not fun, so what? You have to have the discipline to do unpleasant work sometimes. The bottom line is the payoff is enormous,” said Lodge. “Your body’s cell turnover provides you with brand-new muscle cells every 100 days. It’s like getting a new body every few months. Whether that body is better or worse than the old one is up to you.” Learn how yoga can also help you live longer . Permalink | Email this | Comments

View original here:
Four Rules to Grow Younger, Stronger, Sexier

Do You Air Dry Your Workout Clothes?

At a recent event sponsored by a large sporting goods company, the director of marketing admitted she always tossed her workout gear into the dryer, technical fabrics included. Many of us gasped - it seemed sacrilege. The dryer breaks down the wicking fibers; it burns the spandex. Most of the clothes I wear when getting my sweat on are made with engineered fabrics that “transfer moisture” or were designed to cling in just the right way. Pretty much, if the garment is not 100 percent cotton, I air dry it on a clothes line or drying rack set up in my bathtub. My husband thinks I am a little crazy, but I truly believe keeping my fave fitness clothes out of the high drier heat extends their life and helps them keep their shape. While I know I am not alone in my obsession with line drying, some fitness fanatics go for the drier due to ease, lack of space, or serious humidity. What about you? Flickr User horiavarlan Do You Air Dry Your Workout Clothes? I air dry all my workout clothes. I only air dry occasionally. I never air dry my clothes. My method is more complicated, so I’ll explain below.

See the rest here: 
Do You Air Dry Your Workout Clothes?

Win a Trip to Elizabeth and James’ Pop Up Shop in NYC and Meet Designers Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen at Fashion’s Night Out!

We already shared the huge news that Fab and Pop are teaming up with Elizabeth and James at its first ever Pop Up shop for Fashion’s Night Out, but things are about to get even more exciting! We’re giving away a trip to NYC for one lucky reader and the man in her life to attend the event, a his and hers shopping spree at the Elizabeth and James Pop Up shop - the amazing West Village location: 632 Hudson St. between Horatio and Jane - and a meet and greet with the designers, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, during the biggest night in fashion . To enter, create a look with Elizabeth and James clothing here . You can enter as many times as you want for a chance to win our grand prize of a trip to NYC. And that’s not it - we are also celebrating our fab partnership by introducing Elizabeth and James’s gorgeous wares in PopSugar’s Retail Therapy ! You can now dress your avatar in Elizabeth and James boots, dresses, and much, much more. Remember, you must be logged in to enter our giveaway . Check out the official rules and get started here . FNO and NYC await - happy styling! To see how to create a layout , just read more. Create a PopSugar account or log in to your account . Create a look with Elizabeth and James clothing in our Fab Stylist group . Using the bar on the right, add images you upload , bookmarks , the latest images from Getty, and Shopstyle items to create a magazine spread. The Rich Text Editor bar across the top will allow you easy customization of each post. Choose your Advanced Options including categories, tags, and publishing options. Click Create Post. Create an easy-to-use widget by just copying and pasting the code at the bottom of the page.

Read more from the original source: 
Win a Trip to Elizabeth and James’ Pop Up Shop in NYC and Meet Designers Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen at Fashion’s Night Out!

Next Page »