Blog Posts by FitSugar

It feels like the dreary weather and shorter days conspire to zap my energy. How about you? You can fight back in the moment and the long term with these five strategies.

• Take a Walk, Schedule Regular Exercise - The stuffy office and the never-ending to-do list can squash your can-do attitude. Taking a walk is a simple way to refresh both your body and your mind. As a long-term solution to the daily fatigue is regular exercise. Moving about, getting your heart rate up, and challenging your strength will actually increase your energy. Fitness activities will also increase your overall stamina, making your work life easier.
• Drink More Water and Less Coffee - Instead of reaching for another cup of coffee, try drinking more water. Being even slightly dehydrated can make you feel sluggish. Sipping on a cup of ice water is bound to perk you up. While reaching for a cup of joe is sure to give you some pep, it might just keep you up at night. A troubled night's sleep sets you up

It's not every day that you see a pregnant woman going for a run, like Miss Kourtney Kardashian here. On her hour-long jog, I'm sure she got some stares and whispers. Not just because she's famous, but because she's got a big bun in the oven. They're probably wondering, is this safe for her baby, and safe for mom? Regular exercise is encouraged by doctors for those expecting, because it can help a woman stay healthy, and alleviate some of the discomforts like stiffness, back pain, leg cramping, or constipation. Working out can also prevent unnecessary weight gain, relieve stress, and get a woman ready to endure the physical challenges of labor. With that said, there are some guidelines a pregnant woman should follow when working out.

• Don't make any big changes to your exercise program once you become pregnant. If you were running regularly before you conceived, then it's safe to keep it up, as long as it feels good and you don't overdo it. If you want to start a new type of exercise,

I won't lie, the name caught my attention: Skinny Jeans Workout, a place where denim and my hamstrings collide. I find the fashion / fitness connection slightly amusing, but the 45 minute class left me more than slightly sweaty. It truly is a sculpting workout that borrows from a diverse array of fitness methods. We did lunges of all sorts, from the basic forward variety to the criss-crossing curtsy lunge. We did squat variations. We even did multiple Warrior 3s. My legs and glutes were worked from all angles ensuring that every fiber was taxed. There were sections of the workout that felt rather balletic too; these moves really worked the deep glute muscles that help lift the seat. The class kept moving, and my heart rate stayed pumping for most of the class. The first 35 minutes of the class are standing and there is an emphasis on standing tall and keeping your chest open, since part of looking good in your skinny jeans is postural. I have heard that slouching can make a person look

A balanced diet can boost your immune system and prevent you from getting sick, but if you happen to catch a cold or worse, the flu, a healthy diet is essential in helping you recover faster. Here are some foods you should eat when you're sick.

• Easily Digestible Protein - Getting enough protein is important whether you are sick or healthy, because it strengthens your body. Since your tummy may not be up for a steak, and you probably don't have the energy to cook, choose easily digestible proteins that take little or no time to prepare such as eggs, tofu, cottage cheese, fish, chicken, nuts, and beans.
• Flavonoids in Citrus Fruits - Even though vitamin C may not shorten the duration of your illness, don't ditch citrus fruits altogether. The soft white skin found on oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes contain flavonoids, which increase immune system activity.
• Yogurt - In a German study, the probiotics in yogurt have been found to shorten your cold or flu by

It's pretty easy to name a list of fatty foods - french fries, donuts, and cakes are a few that come to my mind. But what about fat-fighting foods?

Besides being good for you already, there's a growing list of foods that actually help burn fat. Check out our list of what to stock up on if you want to slim down.

• Turmeric - Turmeric, the spice that gives mustard and curry its yellow color, may slow down the growth of fat tissue. Swap out mayo for mustard, or try this healthy recipe for Indian-spiced chard with tofu.
• Raw Nuts - Raw nuts, especially almonds, help you metabolize faster because they're high in alpha-linolenic acid. And you'll eat less because the monounsaturated fats in nuts help satisfy your hunger longer. Snack on a handful each day, or try an almond butter sandwich for lunch.
• Cinnamon - The body takes quick spikes in sugar levels as a sign to store fat. The addition of cinnamon helps prevent those highs from happening. Grate some over your

I love a little bit of post-workout soreness. I wear it like a badge of honor, since I know it means I am becoming stronger. However, there's a difference between a healthy ache and pain that makes it agonizing to brush your hair, take off your bra, laugh, or get into your car. You can prevent this post-workout pain by never getting out of shape (that's my trainer Hannah's philosophy), or you can try the following suggestions.

• Before You Go to the Gym, Sip Some Joe - A recent study shows that ingesting a bit of caffeine before you hit the gym reduces muscular pain post-workout.
• Don't Skip the Warmup - Even if you're fit and have been exercising your whole life, you still need to warm up before working out. Before running, swimming, biking, or another type of cardio, do a light version of your workout for five minutes. Also warm up before strength training with five minutes of light cardio. Warmed up muscles are less apt to tear.
• Follow the 10 Percent Rule -

You probably have the makings of an awesome Halloween costume already and don't even know it. We scoured the web to present you with some of the best fitness inspired costumes out there and added our own suggestions. Most of these ideas have elements to them that any fitness fanatic probably has in their dresser or closet already. Check them out in the gallery.

If you have vampire fever like we do, vamp up any of these looks with fangs, fake blood, and pale makeup.

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Source: Flickr User deleted.scenes

Juicy hamburgers, crispy French fries smothered in cheese, brownie sundaes topped with ice cream - why can't we say no to these fattening foods? We can't help it, according to Health magazine. Dr. David A. Kessler, author of The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite says, "We're hardwired to hunger for fatty, sugary, salty foods because, back when our ancestors were foraging for every meal, palatable eats meant extra energy and a leg-up on survival."

Well thank you Mr. Caveman for my desire for greasy pizza and cheesecake. Not only do high-fat foods taste great, but when you devour them, a signal is sent to your brain that you're satisfied and happy. Your brain also forms long-term feel-good memories of the experience, which makes you crave it again and again. Even seeing or smelling certain fattening foods can spur pleasant thoughts that make us crave it. Well I guess old habits die hard. It does make me feel better to know that my brain's hunger for