Beyond the Basics: 5 Lunge Variations

I have a thing for lunges , and for good reason. Lunges help bring the booty, sculpt powerful legs, and create better overall balance. But if you tweak the move a bit, you’ll see even bigger rewards. Here are five variations of the classic lunge to get you started - your arms, tush, thighs, and legs are going to love you! View Slideshow ›

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Beyond the Basics: 5 Lunge Variations

DVD Review: Aerobarre

Filed under: Fitness , Reviews & Products Aerospace I’ve visited former boxing champ Michael Olajide’s gym and interviewed him as an expert for several fitness stories, so I already knew he was knowledgeable and creative. I’ve also met his partner, former ballet dancer Leila Fazel, who is just as experienced and passionate. Together they created this high-intensity hybrid of ballet and boxing that tones your entire body and improves your posture and balance . Olajide is an excellent instructor, and he offers continuous form tips interspersed with playful boxing jargon: “Don’t lean forward; maintain even distribution … that’s it, now you can’t be touched.” Level of Difficulty This workout is intermediate to advanced, but Olajide encourages beginners to try it and work up to it slowly. Still, it requires athletic coordination and endurance. Next-Day Soreness My back, arms, thighs and tush were moderately sore — just enough to know the routine had done its job. Who’s It For? If you’re used to high-intensity exercise like running and all-out strength-cardio or spinning classes , this DVD is the perfect at-home companion. Just be sure to use hand weights to get the full upper-body benefit and keep your heart rate high. One note: If you’re already an adept pugilist, this workout, which takes time to teach you how to move properly, may feel too rudimentary. Likes Both Fazel and Olajide are authentic, and it’s obvious: Both love their respective art forms and how they’ve blended them to “get all muscles involved.” I have “left-right” problems so even though I’m coordinated, I’ve always found boxing combinations tough to nail down. These two pros break it down simply and build on moves gradually in subsequent rounds, so I was able to master them all. This DVD boosted my confidence. I need a driving music track, and this one, like the workout itself, is an original hybrid, combining classical and urban house. It definitely helped keep me pumped! Unlike other exercise videos in which the instructor urges you on by making silly comments like he can see you if you cheat, Olajide’s voice-over talks to you and Fazel (who performs the routine) with an easy, cool intelligence. Dislikes I wanted more ab exercises . The cover boasts a bonus ab section, but there are only three moves and the round lasts just four and a half minutes. Bottom Line You get an effective, head-to-toe workout that’s a lot more fun than your usual squats and curls . But the best part is that once you do the routine a few times, you feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment at mastering new ways to move your body with power and grace. See how Padma Lakshmi boxed off her baby weight . Permalink | Email this | Comments

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DVD Review: Aerobarre

Fit Clips: Must-See Jump Rope

Filed under: Fitness Aerobics instructors and jazzercise devotees back in the ’80s had no idea how much joy their perfectly feathered hair, matching leotards and corny commentary would bring to us in the future! At That’s Fit, we’re rounding up a few of our favorite funny fitness videos . Some are the real deal, while others are purposely playful, but no matter what, they’re sure to bring a smile to your face. If you have a favorite, please share it with us! Jumping rope is pretty much an ideal workout . It works both your upper and lower body and gets your heart pumping quickly, and the equipment is totally portable, so you can do it anywhere. While most of us think we’re rockin’ if we can go for 10 or 15 minutes in a row (or maybe just one or two, depending on how skilled and fit you are), there are people out there who take jumping rope to a whole new level. And we’re happy to sit back and watch. Kings Firecrackers Not only is it hard to imagine learning and performing this amazing routine, but can you fathom what went into choreographing it? And the number of welts that must have been sustained during practice? The backs of our calves hurt just thinking about it. Double Dutch Holiday Classic This isn’t your mama’s double Dutch, that’s for sure. We love both the competitive aspect — the athleticism! the coordination! — and the dance portion. Can you picture any other sport or competition where people look like they’re having this much fun? Cincinnati Ropin’ Rockets Wondering how these jumpers learn and practice their moves? This montage shows a bit of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into these routines. There are no fancy costumes or cheering crowds, but we were blown away nonetheless. Plus, the little guy is such a cutie! Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Fit Clips: Must-See Jump Rope

Barre3: Madonna’s New Fitness Regimen

After calling it quits with trainer Tracy Anderson last year, Madonna has a new trainer. Heck, she has a whole new fitness method! For the last several months the singer has been working with trainer Sadie Lincoln, founder of barre3 - a vigorous workout that combines elements of yoga, Pilates, and ballet barre. Much like the Tracy Anderson Method, the barre3 workout promises clients a long, lean, and feminine physique. Madonna loves it so much that she’s been flying Sadie into New York from Portland. The pair has been working out in Mikhail Baryshnikov’s Upper West Side studio. While a ballet barre fitness class is nothing new - Bar Method , for instance - barre3 promises to be different. First of all, there’s a lot of variety built into the workout. If you take a barre3 class, the structure is always changing so students won’t get bored. The hour or so long class is broken up into 8-minute sessions that target different areas of the body. It’s vigorous, and focuses on achieving balance, strength, and flexibility. Have any of you tried the workout? I’d love to hear what you thought!

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Barre3: Madonna’s New Fitness Regimen

From the Tone It Up Group: Three Moves to Tone Your Body

If you enjoyed the stability ball workout and bikini boot camp video from the Tone It Up group, here’s a whole body toning workout video from Karena and Katrina. Hi everyone! It’s Karena and Katrina from Toneitup.com . Check out our Tone It Up video featuring three quick moves to tone your entire body in no time at all! These moves are fast, easy, and you can do them anywhere. Watch our video and then take a look at the printable version of the workout. To get the printable workout and more great tips from the Tone It Up girls, just check out the workout here . If you love the Tone It Up workouts, sign up for the Tone It Up community group , or share your own workouts in the FItSugar Community .

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From the Tone It Up Group: Three Moves to Tone Your Body

Have You Entered to Win a Puma Cardiac Watch?

Filed under: Fitness puma-time.com Keeping track of your heart rate is a great way to get the most out of your workout, but you can’t do it without the right equipment. This week, we’re giving away just what you need — a black Puma Cardiac watch with heart rate monitor belt! The Puma Cardiac has five modes: time, HRM ( heart rate monitor ), chrono, timer and alarm. Its four-button system lets you easily change from one mode to another and customize your settings as necessary, while the sleek design makes you look like a serious athlete, regardless of your running pace. You have to enter by Friday in order to have a chance to win, so head over to the original giveaway post today and tell us which function you’re keenest to use. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Have You Entered to Win a Puma Cardiac Watch?

Win a Puma Cardiac Watch

Filed under: Fitness puma-time.com You already know that keeping tabs on your heart rate is a great way to get the most out of your workout, but you might still be missing the tools you need to do that. We’re here to help. This week, one lucky That’s Fit reader will win a black Puma Cardiac watch with heart rate monitor belt! The Puma Cardiac has five modes: time, HRM (heart rate monitor), chrono, timer and alarm. Its four-button system lets you easily change from one mode to another and customize your settings as necessary, while the sleek design makes you look like a serious athlete, regardless of your running pace. The HRM function even allows you to set your preferred zone, which you can keep small if you have a specific heart rate goal or keep it larger if you just want to rev up your workout. We’re pretty sure just thinking about this giveaway has your heart pumping, so go ahead and enter! To enter, tell us what function you would use most on this watch. Are you interested in the HRM? The chrono mode that saves up to 99 laps? Do you just like to time your workouts? The comment must be left before 5 p.m. EST, Friday, July 30, 2010. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing. One winner will receive the Puma Cardiac Watch in black (valued at $100). Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. Click here for complete Official Rules. Winner will be notified by e-mail, so be sure to check next week to find out if you’ve won! Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Win a Puma Cardiac Watch

The Best Weight Loss Drink

Filed under: Diet & Weight Loss Getty Name a drink that can increase your alertness, prevent you from fainting after giving blood and even promote a teensy bit of weight loss. Think it’s it one of those “miraculous” multi-level marketing elixirs made of exotic juices that sell for about 40 bucks a pop? Well, think again. The drink I’m talking about doesn’t cost anything, yet most of us don’t get enough of it. I’m talking about water . Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center led by Dr. David Robertson have shown that ordinary water — without any additives — does more than just quench thirst. It has some other unexpected physiological effects: It increases the activity of the sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system, which raises alertness, blood pressure and energy expenditure (a technical term for calorie burning). You may be thinking, “But I don’t want to increase my blood pressure,” (unless you have very low blood pressure to begin with). Not to worry: The researchers found that water did not significantly raise blood pressure in healthy young subjects. However, it does promote weight loss. How much exactly? Robertson calculated that it might be as much as five pounds a year if a person drank three 16-ounce glasses of water a day and nothing else changed. “This is not going to be the answer to the weight problem in the United States ,” he said in a statement. “But it’s interesting that activation of the sympathetic system is enough to do that.” 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

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The Best Weight Loss Drink

Connie Went From the ‘Chubbies’ Section to Half Marathons

Filed under: Motivation Connie Before Name: Constance Lee DeGiorgis Age: 52 Height: 5 feet, 3 inches Before Weight: 186 pounds How I Gained It: I’ve been overweight for most of my 52 years. Growing up, cooking and eating represented good times and family celebrations. I was painfully shy so food became my friend. It seems unbelievable in today’s world, but back then, they marketed a line of plus-size clothing for preteen girls in the 1970s called “Chubbies,” which I wore. I was embarrassed to shop for clothes, and I dreaded it. My junior high and senior high school years were filled with continued shame and humiliation. Gym class was mandatory back then, and I would feign illness in order to avoid having to change into the horrifying gym uniform we were required to wear. Seriously, who designed those monstrosities? There was absolutely nothing flattering about the sleeveless royal blue and white striped polyester short jumpsuits — they only made us more insecure and self-conscious. I joined Weight Watchers for the first time when I was 16 and weighed 165 pounds. I lost 10 pounds, but quickly gained it back. As a college student, I managed to maintain an average to slightly above-average weight for about six years, but I never had a healthy relationship with food. All I knew how to do was either eat and be overweight or starve myself and be a normal weight. I met my husband when I was 19, and while he helped motivate me to keep my weight in check, that all went to the wayside when I became pregnant . I used the “eating for two” mantra as permission to eat whatever and whenever I wanted. I weighed over 200 pounds when our first child was born. When I was in labor and being admitted to the hospital, I made my husband leave the exam room when the nurse asked me what I weighed. Shame was nothing new to me. At the birth of our second daughter, I weighed 204 pounds. Raising our two daughters was the most amazing experience of my life, but it did not help my weight problem. Whatever they didn’t eat, I did. Plus, the stress of having two toddlers, working full-time and running a household added to my weight gain. The more I gained, the more depressed it made me , the more I ate and so it went. Over the years, I joined every support group and tried every fad diet that hit the market. If I was lucky to lose any weight at all, I quickly gained it back — and then some. I would also periodically sign up for an aerobics class but nothing held my interest. I became very depressed and believed there was no hope for being what I considered normal. I would try to convince myself to accept my weight and my appearance for what it was and be happy, but I simply couldn’t. I did not like myself, and that’s a terrible way to live life. Breaking Point: My breaking point arrived on June 14, 2007, a date which I now celebrate as my “rebirthday.” I was 49 years old, and I’d just had my “annual” physical exam that I had put off for three years because I didn’t want to be weighed. Afterward, my doctor sat down to have a talk with me. I was overweight, had high cholesterol and blood pressure , and was borderline diabetic . I couldn’t go up and down the stairs or bend over to tie my shoes. I felt 89 instead of 49. I was terrified of turning 50 in that condition. I wanted to live a long, active, healthy and happy life, and I didn’t want to become a burden to my husband or to our two daughters. Was that too much to ask? Did I deserve it? More importantly, was it even possible? I made the decision that day to take control of my life and become the person I always wanted to be. It was now or never. Connie After How I Lost It: On the way home from the doctor’s that day, I stopped at the pharmacy to refill my prescriptions. While I waited, I chatted with the pharmacist and joked about wanting a quick fix to make me thin. He suggested I try a new over-the-counter weight-loss pill Alli . I knew it wasn’t a magic pill, but I figured I had nothing to lose — except 60 pounds. Alli seems to receive mixed reviews , but product and program worked well for me. The tools they offered and the knowledge I gained helped me make mindful choices about the foods I ate. While on the program, I kept (and still keep) a food journal and recorded everything I ate, including the total calories and fat grams. I also kept track of when I ate and what I was doing. It sounds like a lot of work and effort, but really it wasn’t. I work at a computer all day so it was easy for me to keep a spreadsheet open so it only took minutes to record my food. The food journal was my key to success. I found I was surprised at the quantity of food I was used to eating compared with what the recommended serving sizes are. I used to say, “I don’t know why I’m fat because I don’t eat that much.” Once I saw in black and white everything I put in my mouth, there was no mystery. Journaling also allowed me a peek into the reasons behind my eating. Everybody knows we don’t just eat when we’re hungry, and I learned that I overeat when I’m bored or stressed. This enabled me to redirect my thoughts so when I felt the urge to eat and I knew I shouldn’t be hungry, I would acknowledge the desire to eat but tell myself I was going to get up and walk or have a drink of water instead. It sounds too simple, but it really helped me modify unwanted behavior and helps to curb mindless snacking. Along with journaling and making good food choices, I knew I had to begin some sort of exercise program. That was going to be a problem for me because deep down, I was a true couch potato. I decided to start walking , and for the first week, I walked around the cul-de-sac where I lived. It took me less than five minutes, but I knew if I did more than that I wouldn’t stick with it. Besides, I told myself it was better than doing nothing, and I was right. Eventually I added another 10 minutes to my walk and then started riding my bike around the neighborhood. I never did more than I felt like doing, but I was consistent. It wasn’t long before I was actually looking forward to my daily walks. Being outside reminded me of my childhood, but for once, it only brought me happy memories. As I gradually began to enjoy exercise, I did more of it. My hometown is the birthplace of an annual 10-mile road race called The Crim . It’s a world-class race that benefits Special Olympics and attracts runners from around the globe. For 15 years I lived in a house on the course, and each year, I would sit in my lawn chair with my cup of coffee and box of donuts and cheer the runners. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would actually one day join them. In the spring of 2008, I reached my goal weight of 130 pounds, and I felt like a million bucks. I went on to compete in the race that summer. This year, I will be 52 years old when I finish my third half marathon . I would be lying if I said it was easy to maintain my weight or that I was cured of the tendency to overeat and be sedentary. Like most things in life that are important, it takes work. But I’ve learned how to control my eating, and I know how fantastic it feels to be healthy and fit. Do not think you cannot change. You can do or become anything if you have the motivation, the tools and the determination. I hope my story will help someone make the decision that today is going to be their own “rebirthday.” Everyone deserves to be the best they can be. After Weight: 130 pounds Connie has maintained her 56-pound weight loss for more than two years now. Obesity is no laughing matter — find out how comedian Sonya stopped being the subject of her own “fat” jokes . 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Connie Went From the ‘Chubbies’ Section to Half Marathons

Fit Links: Heat Wave Fitness Tips, Safe Swimming and More

Filed under: Fitness There are hundreds of wonderful sites on healthy living to be seen all over the blogosphere. Here at Fit Links, we’ll introduce you to some that have caught our eye. Which fitness gadgets are worthy of the hype? U.S. News shares some expert fitness recommendations that could change your life . Don’t let the heat wave slow you down — here are some tips from Shape for making the best of your hot weather workout . What happens when a non-flexible body builder tries hot yoga? That’s Fit Canada shares one man’s experience as he taps into his inner yogini . Swimming is great exercise, but how clean is that public pool? Live Science has some suggestions to help you practice safe swimming . When it comes to weight loss, willpower alone won’t help — Health.come explains why and suggests some ways to re-ignite your losing potential . Read any good Tweets? Give us a shout on Twitter and let us know all about it! Permalink | Email this | Comments

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