SavvySugar

7 Fitness Tips From Olympian Dara Torres

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:50:19 -0700

Swimmer Dara Torres is one woman who's inspired me to stay active and healthy for years to come. At 41, she won three silver medals swimming in Beijing, so she's living proof that you only get fitter with age. Here are some tips from a Self magazine exclusive interview with Dara Torres, to help you stay healthy as you age.

Set a fun fitness goal. Dara says, "Even if you don't quite believe in yourself yet, if you set a goal that's not too tough to reach, then meet it, that will motivate you to set another one and continue that cycle."
Triple your warmup time. Instead of the recommended five minutes of warming up, Dara does at least 15. She says it "helps prevent aches" and make her feel "as spry as she did when she was 17." Warming up gives your muscles a chance to ease into your workout, which will reduce your chance of sustaining an injury. The longer you warm up, the better.

There are five more tips, so keep reading

How Money Are You: Highest Earning American Athletes

SavvySugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:30:58 -0700

We tune in for the entertainment (and maybe for a little eye candy), and the highest earning American athletes know they're appreciated. These guys might suffer from injuries here and there and endure grueling training schedules, but they certainly aren't hurting for cash. In fact, their income is so high that Sports Illustrated compiles an annual list it calls the Fortunate 50. Can you guess who scores the most money and what type of athletes are more likely to rake in cash ? Take the quiz!

Take the quiz

Guess Who?

FitSugar — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 04:30:00 -0800

We don't usually see him with a football, but which athlete is about to throw the pigskin?

Guess Who? Supportive Parents

SavvySugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:30:31 -0700

Whose parents mortgaged their home more than once to keep their daughter in the gym?

Something to Think About When You're Watching the Olympics

SavvySugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:30:07 -0700

I've always been kind of obsessed with the Summer Olympics - not in a sporting-an-Olympic-torch-t-shirt kind of way, but I wholeheartedly enjoy and appreciate watching the athletes whose careers are, in fact, sports. The competitors have spent most of their lives working toward the ultimate event that is the Olympics, and many would not have been so successful without their parents' emotional and financial support.

Here's how dedicated one Olympian's parents have been to her sport: Seventeen-year-old Charlotte Craig's father is building a house which he's hoping to sell to help finance her participation in taekwondo. Charlotte's parents spend $400 every month driving the 130 miles round trip to her lessons, four days a week. They've also shelled out about $15,000 a year traveling to taekwondo tournaments. Charlotte's success can be attributed to her dedication to the sport, but her parents certainly deserve a shiny medal for their steadfast support.

Source

Speak Up: Who's Your Favorite Current Athlete?

FitSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:30:00 -0700

Spring and Summer are busy seasons in the wide world of sports, and the Olympics are just around the corner. Exciting competitions like Wimbledon and the US Open, not to mention the ongoing baseball season, definitely make for good entertainment.

The athletes are fun to watch and inspiring, too, so I was wondering . . .

Celebrity Sports Fans

FitSugar — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:50:35 -0800

The days of the rock star/model couple are over - now it's all about the athlete. I mean, who wouldn't want a fit and healthy partner by their side? A toned physique and rock hard abs don't hurt either.

As their social worlds start to collide, more athletes and celebs are playing the field off-court too. Good luck charm or courtside distraction? You decide.

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Celebrating Black History Month

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:30:45 -0800

The 20th century was marked with passionate black athletes who asserted their civil rights to play professionally without segregation. Here is our tribute to some of these women who paved the way, as well as those who have risen to the top of their game.

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Athletic Minded Traveler

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 15:15:00 -0800

How often has that “state of the art” gym turned out to be a closet-size room with a few old machines? No wonder it is a tough task to keep fit while on the road.

The creators of the Athletic Minded Traveler have become so frustrated with the cluelessness of the hotel and travel industry about the needs and desires of athletic-minded travelers that they decided to do something about it. Their mission is to uncover the best places for healthy-minded individuals to stay, workout, eat and enjoy while traveling. Like many good things, it is not free but definitely affordable as subscriptions to the site are only $2.95/month or $19.95/year -- well worth it if you're traveling in 2007. Check out the site for more information.

Male Athletes Struggling With Eating Disorders

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0800

A leaner body has advantages in some competitive sports, but it looks like some male athletes may be taking lean a little too far. Recent deaths among wrestlers attempting to make certain weight classes have raised awareness about eating disorders and male athletes. This issue is not just limited to wrestlers. Increasingly, doctors are seeing unhealthy eating disorders develop among cyclists, triathletes, and cross country skiers.

While training, athletes may lose weight and notice that their thinner bodies allow them to move faster. When competing, their sleekness may help them place higher, which can inspire them to want to lose even more weight. That's where dieting and training may become a dangerous mix. If a male athlete loses enough weight, he may become injured and his training will become over training, creating lackluster performance. Hopefully this negative cycle will convince the athlete to improve his nutritional habits. However, if he in fact does have an eating disorder, the athlete may come up with other reasons as to why his performance is lacking, denying his eating disorder. Professional treatment may be necessary to help these men learn the balance between being athletic and being healthy.

Source