Speak Up: What Olympic Sport Would You Compete In?

In a fun video , People asked a bunch of celebs what sport they’d like to compete in if they were Winter Olympians. The big winner? Curling! Although curling is an old-school game, it’s relatively new to the Olympics, debuting in 1992. It’s also seen a more rowdy crowd this year: much like you’d see at a football game, I’ve spotted rows of shirtless men in the stands wearing body paint of their team’s colors. Celebs like Matthew Morrison of Glee , Kelly Ripa, and Megan Mullally all say they want to “sweep” some stones across the ice. Some of the other celebs in the video include Jerry O’Connell, Valerie Bertinelli , and Robin Thicke. My favorite is Project Runway ’s Tim Gunn, who says he’d be a champion in the “hot chocolate drinking competition.” If I had the kind of talent these athletes do, I’d be torn between riding a snowboard halfpipe or being fearless enough for alpine skiing. How about you - what Winter Olympic sport would you compete in?

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Speak Up: What Olympic Sport Would You Compete In?

Daily Green: Lunch With a Side of Sustainability

Check out this great eco tip from the OnSugar blog The Green Life . I pride myself on having made the switch from plastic to reusable water bottles long ago but still find myself shamefully relying on plastic sandwich and snack baggies when packing lunch. Not sure what my options were, I spent a little time shopping around this weekend and found a huge market of sustainable alternatives to plastic. Options range from organic cotton to recycled, but all divert waste from our landfills while saving you money in the long run. Reusablebags  has a great selection with lots of different design choices and prices from $3 to $30+.  If you have the time I recommend the DIY approach. The crafty people at CraftyStylish can show you how to make a reusable sandwich  in a snap. For more tips on green living, start following The Green Life or start your own OnSugar blog . Maybe we’ll post your story here on FitSugar!

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Daily Green: Lunch With a Side of Sustainability

Speak Up: What’s the Worst Fitness Class You’ve Ever Taken?

When I first started getting into yoga over a decade ago, I went to every kind of yoga class I could find, to see which type was right for me. I also tried out different instructors , since it was clear that some were more experienced than others. One class I took was an Anusara -inspired class. The instructor was a lean and tall guy in his late 20s. He had extremely long hair that almost reached his hips, and he wore loose cotton pants with no shirt. He seemed very in touch with his friendly and spiritual side, as he made a point to greet every student individually with a hug and a “Namaste.” I’ll admit it was a little weird, but sweet just the same. The room was heated and as we began moving and sweating, I began getting whiffs of the worst BO I’ve ever smelled. It was slightly sour and earthy, and so distracting. I found myself looking all around, trying to figure out who forgot the deodorant that day. I attempted to relax and just breathe, when all of a sudden while doing Wheel pose, the shirtless instructor stood by my hands, and as he leaned forward to lift my shoulders up, I came to realize who the funky odor was emanating from. His armpits were inches from my nostrils, and as his long hair fell into my face, I had to hold my breath in order to avoid the piercing stench. He looked at me and said, “Breathe, don’t forget to breathe.” I was like, “Um I could if maybe you bathed regularly and slathered on some deodorant.” It was really too bad because I loved his style of yoga, but just thinking about inhaling body odor for 90 minutes kept me from ever taking his class again. Tell me, have you had a horrible experience in a fitness class? Was it the type of fitness you hated, the obnoxious people giggling in the back corner of the class, or was it the demanding or insensitive instructor? Tell me about your worst fitness class experience below.

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Speak Up: What’s the Worst Fitness Class You’ve Ever Taken?

Speak Up: What Healthy Habits Are Hard For You to Stick With?

Every time I go to the dentist, the hygienist asks the million-dollar question, “Have you been flossing every day?” I know she can tell by looking at my teeth and gums that the answer is no, but I think she asks just so I feel bad enough to actually remember to do it. I know it’s recommended to floss at least once a day , but for some reason, I can only remember to do it a few times a week, which is why flossing daily is one of my healthy goals for 2010 . Tell me, what healthy habit to do have a hard time keeping up with?

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Speak Up: What Healthy Habits Are Hard For You to Stick With?

Speak Up: Tips on Cutting Calories

With 2010 in full swing, many of us have jumped feet first into healthier lifestyles to slim down. Aside from regular exercise, getting portions under control during meal and snack times is a great way to reduce our calorie intake and help the scale budge. I’m sure many of you have tips tucked away in your healthy tool belt for cutting calories, such as using skim milk in your coffee instead of cream or lemon juice instead of salad dressing. Although you may save only a few calories here and there, those little bits really add up and can help you get lean. Help other FitSugar readers meet their weight loss goals by sharing your calorie-cutting tips below.

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Speak Up: Tips on Cutting Calories

Resistance Is Fruitful

This Christmas I was excited about all the fitness-related gifts I received, especially a new resistance band kit. It’s been raining a lot lately, and as a result I haven’t been able to ride my bike to the gym as much as I’d like. It’s a bummer, but using my resistance bands at home has kept me from going nuts. I use them to tone and strengthen as well as stretch . And even though it’s not exactly the same as getting to my yoga class or climbing gym, it works the same areas of my body  - hips, thighs, arms, back, you name it, it works it! What’s great about a resistance band is how inexpensive it is - you can easily find a good one for under $10 or a three-piece set for around $30. They’re small and store easily, making them ideal for traveling or tucking away in a desk drawer at work. And depending on your level of strength, there’s one for everyone - from light to super heavy tension and everything in between. Read why I think you should learn to love resistance bands when you read more. Besides using them in place of free weights for strengthening specific muscle groups (think bicep and hammer curls ), I also make exercises more challenging by incorporating a band into them. Squats, push-ups , and lunges become even more challenging with the addition of a resistance band. You’ll find that when using resistance bands, it’s easier to target smaller muscles and also mimic real-life sports scenarios. Because the bands offer tension in all directions, you can use them to mirror the movements you make in your sport and strengthen those muscle groups. I know that many of you want to tone and strengthen your bodies as part of your goals in our Get Fit For 2010 challenge. If you don’t already have a resistance band for yourself, go out and get one: I promise that you’ll see results!

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Resistance Is Fruitful

Speak Up: How Do You Avoid Getting Sick?

Washing your hands and not drinking from other people’s glasses are obvious ways to avoid germs. Since those little buggers are everywhere and swine flu and other awful illnesses are on our minds this season, tell me the creative ways you steer clear of coming in contact with germs to avoid getting sick.

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Speak Up: How Do You Avoid Getting Sick?

Speak Up: What Fitness-Related Gifts Did You Receive?

Merry Christmas everyone! I’m guessing by now you’ve unwrapped all of your presents - I hope you received everything you asked for. I know that there can be some controversy around receiving fitness-related gifts , but I was super excited to get a new down jacket for Fall and Winter camping trips, a resistance band, and an awesome Polar watch/heart rate monitor this Christmas. I also gave a friend a Shiva Rea DVD that she loves. How about you - did you receive any fitness-related presents this year? Tell me what fitness gifts you received in the comments section below. If you d

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Speak Up: What Fitness-Related Gifts Did You Receive?

Speak Up: Holidays, Family Visits, and Comments About Your Weight

If you’re like me, you don’t get to see your extended family too often, except around holidays. No matter what, I always get comments from relatives about how I look (that’s just how my family is). It makes me feel self-conscious, especially when the heavier-set women remark about my thin frame. It’s not that I’m super skinny at all, I just eat right and work out, and well, they don’t. Does this happen to you? How do you feel about this time of year, when you get together with family members and they comment about your figure? If you have lost weight and a relative notices does it make you happy or uncomfortable?

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Speak Up: Holidays, Family Visits, and Comments About Your Weight

Speak Up: Receiving Fitness-Inspired Gifts

Last year I gave my mother-in-law the Core Fusion Pilates DVD , and when she opened it, I could tell by her face that she was not pleased. With lips pressed, she looked over the front and back, placed it in her pile of gifts, and halfheartedly said, “Thanks.” It seems she believed I was implying she was overweight, but I just wanted to share my favorite fitness DVD with her - she often complains about having trouble fitting fitness into her life. I thought we were close enough, but I probably should have prefaced the present before she ripped open the paper. I guess fitness-inspired gifts are not for everyone. I, for one, love being on the receiving end of health- or fitness-inspired presents and have a few on my list, but how do you feel about receiving them? Would you be offended? Would it matter what type of gift or who the giver was?

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Speak Up: Receiving Fitness-Inspired Gifts

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