Blog Posts by FitSugar

Source: How to Work Out Smarter at Home

Working out at home is convenient, but if you're not careful, it's easy to phone it in. After all, the only person holding you accountable while you exercise in your living room is yourself! Don't fall into that trap - read our tips on what you should do to work out smarter at home.

• Snack early: Exercising on an empty stomach can make you want to stop before you start, while sweating it out on a full one can also dampen workout goals. Eat something with simple carbs and a little protein before you change into your workout clothes so your stomach will have a few minutes to digest before you begin. We like these pre-workout snack ideas for the morning.
• Know what you're going to do: Don't waste precious time deliberating about your workout for the day. Queue up the DVD, bookmark the website, or plan out your circuit before the morning so you don't have to spend minutes you could be exercising trying to figure out how to do it. You should

POPSUGAR FitnessSource: 20 Secrets to Flat Abs

It may not be a secret that the best way to a six-pack is a healthy diet (even if it's no diet at all) and regular exercise, but there's a right way and wrong way to a flat belly. Read on for the ultimate guide to getting flat abs.

• Know the Formula: Getting flat abs in time for Summer isn't about starving yourself or living at the gym. Reducing belly fat involves a mix of smart eating and effective exercise. Make sure you eat enough food to keep your body from experiencing hormone imbalances; eating too little (fewer than 1200 calories a day) reduces the amount of the fat-burning hormone leptin in your body, which will slow down weight loss. And if you're just exercising without changing your diet, you'll spend a lot of time at the gym with little result. Read more about the dieting and exercising formula for reducing belly fat here.
• Posture Makes Perfect: Doing regular posture-building exercises pack a double punch when it comes to

POPSUGAR FitnessSource: 6 Mistakes to Avoid at the Gym

Squeezing in a gym session can be tricky, so you want to make your time there worthwhile. In order to strengthen your muscles effectively and prevent injury, make sure to avoid these six common workout mistakes.

• Not Warming Up or Cooling Down: Be sure to take at least five minutes before and after your workout to warm up and cool down. Ten additional minutes can help prevent those frustrating keep-you-out-of-the-gym injures.
• Showing Up on an Empty Stomach: Your car won't run without fuel, so why should you? About 30 to 90 minutes before hitting the gym, make sure to eat an easily digestible snack that's 40 to 100 grams of carbs with a low amount of fat. It's a good idea to keep the fiber content to a minimum, since high-fiber foods can be difficult to digest. Toast with nut butter, a banana, cheese with a couple crackers, or yogurt are great pre-workout choices. Definitely don't chow down immediately before your workout, as that

POPSUGAR FoodSource: 8 Recipes That Celebrate Pear Season

During Fall and Winter, it seems like there's a different variety of pear to enjoy every day of the week. With warmer weather peeking around the corner, now's the time to celebrate the plump fruit, which is packed with antioxidants, minerals, and fiber to help aid in digestion, boost your immune system, and strengthen bones. Read on for eight versatile pear recipes to make now!

• Banana Pear Bread: Don't throw out those over-ripe pears; throw them into your latest batch of banana bread instead! This pear banana bread recipe uses walnuts as well for a delicious grab-and-go breakfast treat for chilly mornings.
• Kale, Carrot, and Ginger Smoothie: Adding a ripe pear to this kale, ginger, carrot smoothie adds a slight sweetness as well as a good dose of fiber to help keep you full.
• Pear and Edamame Crostini: Whether your hosting a get-together or just need a tasty new snack idea, keep this pear and edamame crostini recipe

Source: 3 Morning Mistakes That Slow Down Metabolism

Metabolic rate is affected by several factors including age, weight, and genetics. Although there's not a whole lot you can do about those things, there are still choices that can cause metabolism to fire up or fizzle. If losing weight is your goal, avoid these metabolism-slowing mistakes in the morning.

• Eating too late: Skipping breakfast is one of the worst things you can do for weight loss since it causes your metabolism to slow down. When you don't eat, the brain sends a message to the rest of the body to conserve energy, signaling it to hold onto the stored fat that you're trying to get rid of. Eating within an hour of waking sparks the metabolic process called thermogenesis that turns the food you eat into energy. And no - a cup of coffee does not count as breakfast! Instead choose one of these high-protein breakfast ideas under 350 calories. Make sure to eat throughout the day to maintain blood sugar levels

Source: 10 Things to Know Before Your First Time - Yoga Edition

The scene can be intimidating at a yoga studio, so if you're new to yoga, read these 10 insider tips to help you feel more confident, comfortable, and prepared when entering class for the very first time.

• Don't take class on a full stomach: Trying to do yoga right after mealtime will hinder your practice. In order for your body to twist and hop into poses, the stomach can't be digesting something heavy. Yoga teacher Kristin McGee suggests eating an hour before practice, but if you aren't able to and are starving, she suggests having a banana no less than 20 minutes before class.
• Arrive early: Head to the studio at least 10 minutes before the scheduled class in case there's paperwork to fill out or if you want to ask about any introductory discounts for new students. Arriving early also gives you a chance to set up in a prime location, and perhaps even connect with the teacher. Be sure to say it's your first

POPSUGAR FitnessSource: Healthy and Helpful: 30 Cooking Tips For Your Kitchen

If you grew up in a house where red meat and butter always took center stage in your kitchen and on your plate, healthy cooking techniques might feel a bit foreign. Whether you're a seasoned chef looking to make conscious changes or a kitchen novice, there's a healthy and helpful tip on this list for everyone.

• Pair Two Grains Together: If you're not a fan of a grain's texture, adding in an additional grain you like can disguise the texture a little, making it more palatable. Be sure to pair grains with similar cooking times. You might need to experiment with adding extra water or increasing the cooking, but once you perfect cooking two grains together, you'll never look back.
• Make Your Own Spice Mixes: Instead of relying on sugar or salt to flavor your food, get creative and make your own spice mixes. Look to ready-made spice mixtures in the supermarket to inspire your personal creations. You'll be able to season

Source: How to Stay Healthy During Your Winter Workout

The blustery cold weather and snowy landscape may not deter you from sticking to your New Year's resolutions, but it's important to take the right precautions to minimize the risk of getting sick. Battling an illness takes time and energy that could be spent doing other things, not to mention the possibility of it derailing your fitness goals. Whether you exercise indoors or brave the outdoor temps, don't forget to prepare with these useful tips for staying healthy.

• Clean equipment thoroughly: Fellow gym-goers are supposed to wipe down equipment after they're done, but just as a precaution, sanitize it before you use it. Or better yet, bring your own gear such as yoga mats, blocks, resistance bands, and even dumbbells to decrease your chances of coming in contact with other people's germs.
• Use a towel for your sweat: Gyms are festering with germs in the Winter, and since touching your face is one surefire way to get