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Push-Up Rut? Go Superman Style

Fitness

Superman
Photo: chanchan222, Flickr
Bored with hit the floor and give me 20? FitSugar suggests you spice it up by adding the Superman move before the grrr back up. Fly first, then push up.

A Superman push-up will have you stretching and strengthening your back and engaging your core -- before your tummy ever goes airborne. This video makes them look fairly easy, perhaps it's the music?

Get stronger than a locomotive and start out with 20 or count how many you can complete in a single minute.

Weight loss stalled? Kick your speed in gear and start interval training -- that's when you do an exercise at high intensity for a short period of time, followed by low intensity exercise for the same period of time.

Get Ready to Work Out the Night Before

Fitness

yoga
Photo: stevendepolo, Flickr
Do you pick out your work clothes the night before to minimize the morning rush? You might want to get your workout gear ready before the next day, too. FitSugar shares some thoughts on getting your stuff in order before your fitness alarm sounds.

First, you'll want to make sure you're caught up on laundry so you're not grabbing sweaty, stinky gym clothes. Then set out your favorite exercise outfit, sports bra, sneakers and change of clothes (for that quick post-workout change). If you prefer to get fit at home, put a DVD in the player and set out your mat, weights and other equipment so you'll be ready to roll out of bed and in front the TV. Prefer the outdoors? Charge your iPod and other gadgets, fill your water bottle and chill it in the fridge. If you're headed to the gym, make arrangements with your workout buddies and trainers in advance. Whatever your fitness venue, just aim to get your ducks in a row ahead of time, because the less stress you have on workout day, the more motivated you'll be to push yourself.

Speaking of motivation, did you know you can exercise your way to a better mood? Yep, carve out a little sweat time, and you might find yourself smiling more than usual.

Flax - Should You Go Whole or Ground?

Nutrition & Supplements

ground flaxseed meal
Photo: bobsredmill.com
Should you be pouring those whole flaxseeds into a grinder? Yes, ground flaxseeds are best, says FitSugar. Turns out the whole seeds sail through your system undigested, which means you miss out on all those great omega-3 fatty acids and cancer-fighting antioxidants packed in each seed.

Before grinding, make sure the lid is secure on the blender or coffee grinder or you'll be tripping over seeds for months. Even better, buy whole ground flaxseed meal.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge and sprinkle on your cereal, yogurt, smoothies, pancakes, soups, you name it. Check out these other high-fiber Bob's Red Mill products.


Design Your Own Yoga Mat

Fitness

yoga mat
Photo: mikecpeck, Flickr
Maybe your yoga mat is worn out and you need a new one. Or maybe it's just plain uninspiring. Either way, it might be time to start fresh by designing your own mat.

FItSugar recommends you visit yogamatic.com, where you can upload a photo or image onto a 100-percent biodegradable foam mat. A portion of what you pay will go to Global Green, a non-profit focused on preventing climate change, which makes this purchase a great way to benefit both the planet and your body. A clever gift idea, too.

And if yoga mats are your thing, check out this G2 version -- stretches are printed right on mat so you'll never forget how your bod should bend.

When you're done creating your own yoga mat, try making your own fragrant lavender bottles for a relaxing scent in any room of your house.

Get Fit in the Rain

Fitness

bike in rain
Photo: ndanger, Flickr
Summer showers might be pouring down where you live, but don't let them dampen your workouts. Exercising in the rain can be invigorating, says Fitsugar, and they share some tips for safely braving the elements. Here are a few:

Avoid the storms
. Steer clear of thunder, lightening, anything threatening. It's hurricane season (June 1 to November 30), so be aware of weather patterns in your area.

Cover up. Drizzle is nice, but you don't want to be soaked. Wear a lightweight raincoat made of breathable material, waterproof shorts, pants and footwear that repel water -- moisture is the enemy of a running shoe -- and a hat and sunglasses to keep droplets from your face and eyes.

Protect your electronics. Put your iPod and other devices in waterproof cases or leave them at home and enjoy the soothing sounds that surround you.

Want to Do the Splits?

Fitness

splits
Photo: StuSeeger, Flickr
When it comes to doing splits, most of us regard this feat as a smooth move or a hamstring ripper. Adults suddenly attempting horizontal scissors on the dance floor -- after too many drinks -- will probably pull up and grab their hammies like aging ball players on the way to first.

Whether you're having high school cheerleading and pommel horse flashbacks or simply want to split your hips like a Cirque du Soleil contortionist, check out this series of exercises over at FitSugar first.

Work it, baby. The dance floor crowd will be chanting your name if you pull it off. Open hips and flexible hamstrings will also benefit your other fitness faves. Just train slowly.

6 Steps to a Trimmer Tummy

Fitness

fitness class
Photo: J.C. Rojas, Flickr
If you're covering up your soft stomach this summer instead of baring it with pride, you might need these six steps -- FitSugar says that while there's no way to spot reduce tummy flab, these will definitely help you trim and tone.

Invest in Intervals. They're the best fat-busting exercise out there.

Strength Train. Work your whole body, and your abs will engage. If they don't, you'll fall over.

Beat the Bloat. Avoid salty and gassy foods and get enough fiber and water, too.

Practice Pilates. Every exhale is a chance to work your abs.

Eat Healthy. Consume a nutritious and low-cal diet to expose a toned belly.

Work on Layering. Build all the muscle layers of your abs -- the stronger they are, the better you'll feel about your mid-section.

Run Downhill the Right Way

Fitness

running downhill
Photo: Mat Honan, Flickr
Running up a hill may make you huff and puff, but your bod takes a pounding as you head down the other side.

FitSugar has a few tips to keep you cruising downhill the right way.

Don't lean back, lean forward and allow sweet gravity to pull you downhill as you imagine yourself perpendicular to the hill. Pay attention to your foot strike, too. Beyond dodging embarrassment and injury from a Jack and Jill tumble, be nice to those knees and quads with a smaller stride. Wake up your lower abs, too, it's time they pull their share of the load. Then there's the whole training piece -- the lower body needs conditioning for hills.

Shop for These 6 Summer Superfoods

Nutrition & Supplements

raspberries
Photo: [cipher], Flickr
Summer is in full swing and will be hanging around for a while still, which means if you haven't yet scored these six superfoods, it's not too late:

Blueberries -- they can help banish belly fat.

Cantaloupe -- you really should be doing more with melon.

Raspberries -- one cups provides a third of your daily requirement for fiber.

Red bell pepper -- good for your heart, lungs and eyes, and one cup of raw slices contains only 25 calories.

Spinach -- a super salad staple and great cooked too.

Tomatoes -- eat them four times a week and lower your cholesterol.

Fitsugar says these six are affordable and full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which are some pretty great reasons to start shopping the produce aisle.

Beet Greens for a Better Diet

Nutrition & Supplements

beet greens
Photo: kthread, Flickr
You might be accustomed to cutting off and trashing the greens that come on top of your beets, but you really should be eating them, because FitSugar says beet greens are incredibly nutritious. One cup contains no fat and just 39 calories, plus you'll get 220 percent of your daily allowance of vitamin A and 60 percent of your vitamin C.

FitSugar says these greens cook and taste a lot like Swiss chard, and they recommend you blanch them in water for few minutes, drain and then prepare with a little olive oil, salt and garlic.

Stretch at the Summer Concert

Fitness

concert crowd
Photo: Martin Pettitt, Flickr


Standing all day at summer concert-paloozas is rough on the body, especially legs, back and feet.

Keep your body loose enough to groove to the music with these six concert stretches over at FitSugar.

A pre-concert Curb Stretch will get your calves ready for dancing. Less subtle, the Hang-Over Hamstring Stretch keeps hamstrings happy for the night ahead. And the Illiotibial Band With Legs Crossed is perfect for sore hips -- or when you're standing in line for the loo.

What's your special summer concert stretch?



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The Skinny on Frozen Treats

Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

popsicle
Photo: willsfca/Flickr
Summer is here, and suddenly, all those goodies stashed in the grocery store freezers look mighty refreshing.

Do you know your frozen treats? Test your smarts over at FitSugar, where you'll learn whether or not bowls of ice cream, ice cream sandwiches, Klondike bars and popsicles are worth the diet diversion.

Fit in Fitness Late at Night

Fitness

woman exercising
Photo: Rance Costa/Flickr
Morning workouts are pretty ideal for most people -- you've got plenty of energy first thing, you get to check something of your to-do list right away and what a great way to start the day. But what if you just can't fit fitness in right after you wake up, or at lunch, or right after work? Sometimes, the only free hours you have for exercise are late at night. And that's OK (unless you have trouble sleeping, and then exercising at night might not be a wise move). FitSugar shares tips for moving your body long after your work day ends, and in the privacy of your own home.

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Kitchen Gadgets for Weight Loss

Diet & Weight Loss

measuring cups
Photo: bedbathandbeyond.com
Losing weight might be as easy as stocking your kitchen with the right gadgets. FitSugar recommends six tools to help you eat healthier, naming fruit and veggie cutters, steamers and the right measuring cups as definite diet helpers. There are three more featured finds in this photo gallery -- check them out, get shopping and stock your shelves with weight loss aids that really work.

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Ballpark Snacks - Watch the Sugar

Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

peanuts
Photo: Joe Crawford (artlung)Flickr)
Wouldn't a sno-cone have more sugar than a hot dog at the ballpark? Nope. FitSugar's ballpark snack breakdown shows the true nutritional story.

If you're watching your sugar, stay away from the nachos (131 grams), hot dog (50 grams) and pretzels (101 grams). Crack open roasted peanuts instead. They're higher in fat, but 30 large peanuts have only 6 grams of the white stuff.

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