Dr.Dreams A Health,Medical & Wellness Blog » Exercise

Shawn Johnson Talks Weight Loss and Learning to Love Her Body

Sean Duffy — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:05:26 +0000

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar! By Shawn Johnson Shawn Johnson is blogging for espnW throughout her training for the Olympics in London this summer. Follow hers other Olympic hopefuls’ journeys on espnW.com . Four years ago, I was standing on an Olympic podium, wearing a gold medal, and still thinking to myself how I could have been better. It had nothing to do with my performance – it was all how I looked. Back then, I always felt like I could have been a few pounds lighter. But the irony is, when I look back at the pictures, I look unhealthy and too thin. It’s easy to get into a trap as an elite athlete, because you’re made to feel that you’re never perfect, that you can always be better. That’s how you improve in your sport, but it’s also tough because you aren’t satisfied with yourself ever – it’s second nature not to be. I’d always think, “Just get a little stronger, a little lighter,” until it was completely ingrained in my mind. Shawn Johnson takes us inside training camp It’s easy for people to blame gymnastics for this mentality, but I feel like the sport has improved a lot. The horror stories we heard from generations ago (think Joan Ryan’s infamous book Little Girls in Pretty Boxes ), you don’t hear at all anymore. But I do believe it can improve further and that good nutrition could be a key to all of this, if it were only taught at a young age. Many gymnasts go into the elite level at 13 or so, and a 13-year-old isn’t going to go to the library to read some book on nutrition! She needs to be given the right information on how to eat well. Otherwise, it’s not until she’s out of the sport that she realizes the damage she’s done to her body by not eating enough over the past 20 years. Shawn Johnson in the driver’s seat I see all the success we have as a country where the gymnasts aren’t 100 percent healthy, and I imagine how amazing we could be if we were doing it in the healthiest way possible. I don’t think it’s a failure on anybody’s part; the education just isn’t there right now, and it’s just not thought about in our sport. My parents have told me since I was little, “You’re given your body for a reason. It’s OK to be different. Being unique is a good thing.” But I always struggled to believe it. I’m stocky, muscular and short, and I wanted to be thin and flexible so bad! My mom would say, “You’re not made that way, and you’re not going to become that, so you have to learn to accept and love the body you’re in.” Well, some people are born with that appreciation, and some people have to work really hard to get there. Put me in that second camp. Read on for more on what Shawn Johnson has to say about body confidence and how she feels in her gymnastics leotard.

See more here:
Shawn Johnson Talks Weight Loss and Learning to Love Her Body

An Ocean of Possibilities: Healthy Seafood Recipes From Around the World

Dr Dreams — Fri, 25 May 2012 08:45:55 +0000

Memorial Day is almost here, and for many, that means celebrating with a barbecue featuring quintessentially American foods like burgers and hot dogs. But if you’re looking for something light and flavorful that doesn’t belong in a bun, here are five grilled seafood recipes from around the world to add to your festivities! View Slideshow ›

Go here to see the original:
An Ocean of Possibilities: Healthy Seafood Recipes From Around the World

Sugar Shout Out: Bring a Tasty Dip to Your Next BBQ!

Sean Duffy — Fri, 25 May 2012 06:55:12 +0000

Yummy dips to spice up your Memorial Day feast! The hairstyle you’ll want to wear every day this Summer Weigh in on weird wedding products Creative thank-you gifts for teachers 15 pieces that are perfect for Memorial Day – and the rest of Summer, too Perfect outdoor dining finds for an unforgettable Memorial Day gathering See Edward, Bella, and Jacob in Breaking Dawn Part 2 posters Earn extra cash when money is tight Dare to detox? Sugar editors try 3 popular juice cleanses Have you tried Facebook’s new camera app? Shop The Great Gatsby looks before it hits theaters Nicole and Heidi hit The Paperboy premiere with Zac and Matthew Video: Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart spotted kissing in Cannes!

Originally posted here:
Sugar Shout Out: Bring a Tasty Dip to Your Next BBQ!

No Time to Mix? The Healthiest Ready-to-Drink Cocktails

Sean Duffy — Thu, 24 May 2012 23:16:05 +0000

Since carting around multiple bottles, glassware, and fresh ingredients isn’t always practical, here’s a buying guide to the healthiest ready-to-drink (RTD) bottled cocktails. And while these won’t taste as good as our homemade 150-calorie margarita recipe or when mixing alcohol into one our favorite all-natural cocktail mixes , RTD cocktails are a simple solution to drinking whether you’re camping, hiking, or heading outdoors to a picnic. View Slideshow ›

More here:
No Time to Mix? The Healthiest Ready-to-Drink Cocktails

4 Time-Saving Tips For a Healthy Lifestyle

Dr Joe — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:18:40 +0000

Summers can be incredibly busy – between shuttling kids to and from activities to planning and going on vacation, all the activities that come along with the season can leave you pressed for time. Luckily, we’ve got a few suggestions for how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, even if you’ve only got minutes to spare. Total-body in 20 : Breaking up your workout in just 10- or 20-minute increments ensures that you’ll break a sweat and burn calories without having to devote too much time out of your day. Even more efficient is making sure that your workouts target all areas of your body. For short workouts that you can do anywhere, check out our fast full-body workouts . Home cooking : It’s easier to cook healthily if you’ve already done the legwork. Shop for produce and other groceries at the beginning of the week so you can plan every night’s dinners - check out one of our healthy dinner plans for the week here . You can also store individual servings of smoothies or sauces (using an ice-cube tray!) in your freezer to have at hand while whipping up a meal. Read on for more time-saving tips!

Read the original post:
4 Time-Saving Tips For a Healthy Lifestyle

Healthy Dose Link Time: Meet Masala Bhangra’s Founder, Sarina Jain

Martin Neumann — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:46:29 +0000

Grab a sari and start shaking! The fitness trend you haven’t tried – The Daily Beast Feel like there’s a bun in the oven? Ways to banish belly bloat – Fab Fit Fun When it’s a grab-and-go kind of day: the best breakfast bars – Fitness 45-year-old Olympian Dara Torres on staying healthy while aging – Blisstree How you can beat the breast cancer odds – Prevention Eight easy moves that strengthen and stretch all at once – Shape Be inspired by this serene yoga spot – it’s like being in the forest! – Houzz A look back at some of the weirdest fitness products ever made – HuffPost Healthy Living

Read the original here:
Healthy Dose Link Time: Meet Masala Bhangra’s Founder, Sarina Jain

A Reader Recipe: Protein Coconut Macaroons

Dr Dreams — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:33:25 +0000

FitSugar reader eatingbirdfood made some low-carb protein coconut macaroons that would be great for an afternoon or post-workout snack. She posted the recipe in our Healthy Recipe group . These macaroons are low in sugar and carbs and made with Tone It Up’s new protein powder, Perfect Fit Protein. Learn how to make this low-carb treat after the break!

Original post:
A Reader Recipe: Protein Coconut Macaroons

Nighttime Fasting: A New Way to Lose Weight?

Martin Neumann — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:09:52 +0000

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar. This week Shape turns to Cynthia Sass , a registered dietitian with master’s degrees in both nutrition science and public health. If you couldn’t let anything cross your lips from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m., but you were allowed to eat anything you wanted for eight hours a day and still lose weight, would you try it? That’s the apparent bottom line of a rat study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, which recently stirred up the weight loss pot. Top 50 Summer Diet Foods for Weight Loss Scientists put groups of mice on different diet regimens for 100 days. One group of rodents ate healthy food while animals in two of the groups chowed down on high-fat, high-calorie feed. Half of the junk food eaters were allowed to munch whenever they wanted to while the others only had access to feed for the eight hours they were most active. The conclusion: even though they ate a fatty diet, the mice who were forced to fast for 16 hours were almost as lean as those who ate the healthy fare. Interestingly, the round the clock junk food eaters became obese and developed health problems, even though they consumed about the same amount of fat and calories as the time-restricted junk food fed mice. See if a nutritionist thinks nighttime fasting works after the break!

Go here to see the original:
Nighttime Fasting: A New Way to Lose Weight?

5 Shorts For Your Summer Workouts

Martin Neumann — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:07:42 +0000

Bring on the sweat! As the temps rise, you need clothing that keeps you cool while you exercise outdoors. Here are five types of shorts to complete your warm-weather workout outfit. Just pair with these lightweight tank tops and hit the road! View Slideshow ›

Original post:
5 Shorts For Your Summer Workouts

Inversion Issues: How to Remedy Common Shoulderstand Complaints

Martin Neumann — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:35:20 +0000

You’re loving your yoga class from Half Moon to Pigeon Pose , but as soon as you get to Shoulderstand , you’re less than psyched. Although a basic - challenging, but basic – pose, Shoulderstand can put you at risk of strain and injury when done incorrectly. Turn this pose into your favorite by checking out these common complaints and ways to remedy them. “I Can’t Breathe” If you’re well endowed or carry extra weight in your belly, then gravity causes added pressure on the lungs and throat, making it tough to take in a deep breath. A supportive bra and fitted top can help, but if you still have trouble breathing, then changing how you do the pose will make a huge improvement. Instead of stacking your pelvis and feet directly over your shoulders, hinge at your hips slightly, pressing them away from your face so your feet extend slightly behind your head. Still can’t breathe? Do a variation called Legs Up the Wall ; rest your lower back on your mat or, to give your hips a little lift, rest your lower back on a folded-up blanket or flat bolster. Continue reading to learn how to alleviate neck pain and feelings of unbalanced while in Shoulderstand.

Read the original:
Inversion Issues: How to Remedy Common Shoulderstand Complaints