FabSugar

The Craziest of Crazy Shapewear

FabSugar — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:50:22 PST

Shapewear is useful, but let's face it: It's not something you want to flash your date 'cause it ain't pretty. Bubbles Bodywear has a whole collection of butt-lifters, tummy-suckers, thigh-slimmers, and breast-lifters that are hilarious, like this Pick-Me-Up Max-Compression Brief ($55). The huge pads help give shape to the bum, but they also make us laugh. There's plenty more where that came from - even a few pieces for men! - so get ready for a good time.

Have You Ever Worn Butt Pads?

FabSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:50:22 PDT

C'mon, 'fess up ladies.

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Give Yourself A Bangin' Booty

FabSugar — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 16:59:41 PDT

Destiny's Child aren't the only ones who can sing about being bootylicious. Now you can too! Here are two new ways to boost your butt without having to do thousands of lunges and squats.

Belive it or not, Wonderbra is getting into the butt-enhancing business. The company has created a special padded pair of undies, called Curves-Up Wonderbot, with removable pads that form a heart shape. These are meant for the ladies looking for a little bit of extra junk in their trunk; I never thought I'd see the day. So far, these have only been released in England, but look for them in November (retail price: about $38) wherever Wonderbra products are sold.

For one more booty enhancer,

The booty pads in the Frederick's of Hollywood Premiere Shapewear Bottom Kit are similar to the boob-lifting chicken cutlets that Dear wrote about a while back. The set, available here for $110, includes silicone gel derriere pads, a TLC low-rise short, a pair of Bottom Line Boy Shorts with a silicone strip to ensure a luscious lift, and Pick Me Up Derriere Bands that you pull right up to your bum to add lift.

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3 Reasons to Work Your Back in Time For Summer

Leta Shy — Wed, 02 May 2012 01:17:24 PDT

When it comes to looking your best on the beach, it's not all about how to build a six-pack or which exercises make your backside look the best in a bikini. In fact, having a healthy and strong back can make you feel your best on the beach in more ways than one. Here are some essential back exercises and why they will help you rock a swimsuit with confidence.

Stand tall and slim: Wanna look five or 10 pounds lighter without dropping a number on the scale? Stand correctly! Having bad posture pushes out your belly and rounds out your shoulders, making you look shorter and fatter in an instant, so it's important to add posture-building workouts to your bikini-ready routine. Stand tall with this standing reverse fly exercise and these eight back and shoulder exercises and stretches to combat any workday slouching.

Help banish the muffin top: While all the spot-training in the world won't melt away your muffin top, doing specific workouts that target your torso and upper back will create a slimmer, more toned look. If you're dreading showing off any of the extra padding you've accumulated around your waistline, try a few of our back-strengthening exercises to help you tone, like this video of how to do the Superman exercise and these exercises that will help you get rid of your muffin top.

Stay injury-free: A strong back helps keep you injury-free by preventing imbalances and unnecessary strain. If you're looking forward to an active Summer burning calories outdoors, start working on your back muscles to make sure an injury doesn't sideline your fitness fun. Get more bang for your buck with this butt-lifting, back-strengthening single leg dumbbell row or try these four spine- and torso-stabilizing exercises to keep your back healthy and strong.

4 Moves to Say Goodbye to Saddlebags

Self — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:54:13 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

If you're saddled with saddlebags, you probably think you got the short end of the family gene pool stick. But, lucky for you, those pesky fat deposits surrounding your hips, thighs, and butt are far easier to banish than, say, Great Aunt Hilda or your bossy big sister. "Saddlebags are largely determined by genetics, hormones, and age, but women can still affect the shape of their bodies through nutrition and exercise," says Rebekah Rotstein, a New York-based Pilates instructor who recently released the Pilates For Buff Bones DVD.

Not sure where to begin? Rotstein recommends utilizing large muscle groups rather than relying on spot training for fast results. "Pilates get results because it's a whole-body exercise program and works your muscles synergistically," she says. "Muscles aren't meant to function independently but as a team!"

Just remember to keep your expectations realistic. No workout in the world can turn you into Cameron Diaz overnight. "All women have padding at their hips, no matter how thin we are (even Diaz!)," says Rotstein. "It's what differentiates us from men and accentuates the curves you've got!"

To tone up those saddlebags fast, add these four moves to your regular workout routine. Check out the moves after the break.

Reader Holiday Gift Guide: For the Fitness Fan on Your List (or You!)

Fit Community — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 04:19:31 PST

Need a fitness-related gift for fit-minded friends or relative? FitFabCities has you covered. She's rounded up her favorite gifts from foam rollers to iPads.

Okay, I’m willing to admit I might be a little weird. Every year for Christmas I ask for some sort of fitness thing. One year it was a BOSU ball, then next it was boxing gloves and last year it was kettlebells, and every December 26th I bring my new haul to the gym where I can’t wait to try it out. (Needless to say last year the 35 lb. kettlebell proved a little tricky. I think the holidays are a great time to ask for a few fitness things you’ve been eying but your practical side won’t let you buy for yourself. I’ve compiled a few of my holiday must haves that are sure to make your workouts more fun and give you an edge when it comes time for those New Year’s resolutions.

Valslides $30: Jennifer Garner and Jessica Biel’s trainer Valerie Waters uses these to whip her clients into shape for big movie roles. I am obsessed with using Valsides for killer core exercises and sliding lunges that totally tighten up your butt and thighs. Plus you can use them in your living room or pack them and take them anywhere!

GymBoss Trainer $19.95: This is totally on my list this year. The Gymboss lets you set a repeating interval timer perfect for circuit training, intervals or running workouts (think 30 seconds on, one minute off). You don’t have to struggle to set your watch or look at it throughout your workout since Gymboss is small and clips onto your shirt.

Foam Roller $34: If you’ve ever had sore muscles you have to get one of these. It will open up your back and make those miles on your legs melt away. Simply a must for runners or, let’s be honest, anyone who uses a computer.

TRX Training System $199: Oh I LOVE this thing!!! BTW so do Jennifer Lopez, Gisele Bundchen and Superbowl MVP Drew Brees. This is a complete gym in a bag. You can do thousands of exercises, take it anywhere (all you need it a doorway or high place to anchor it), plus it’s only two pounds so you can totally pack it in your bag for business travel and vacations. This thing rocks. I can’t say enough good things about it so I think I’ll just have to devote a later post and video to my TRX devotion so you can get the full effect. Bottom line…if you’re OK spending a little more money you must get this thing. (Good news is you could probably give up your gym membership).

Lululemon Triumphant Tote $118: Not only is this bag waterproof but it’s also made of material that won’t cause your Lulu pants to pill when it rubs against them. Plus I think carrying a cute bag would totally be motivation to hit the gym, right? This bag even has a laptop pocket so it’s business and pleasure!

iPad 2 $499: All right, this is a big ticket item but if you’re thinking of one for Christmas I’ll tell you it is my workout secret. I load my favorite TV shows and movies onto the iPad and I actually look forward to my cardio sessions. Consider it a health care cost.

Happy shopping!!!

If you need some other gift ideas for those on your holiday list, check out these gift guides:

Women on the Run

Healthy Gifts That Won't Offend

Two-Wheelin' Friends

For the Active Man in Your Life

Gifts For the Outdoor Enthusiast

Free Online Fitness Journals to Track Your Progress

Heather Dale — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:30:58 PST

I like to think I'm disciplined with my weekly workout schedule, but sometimes I need some additional coercing to get my butt to the gym. Online progress tracking tools are great for keeping you motivated, and for holding you accountable if your healthy habits happen to take a nosedive. With the holidays just around the corner, many of us will be on the road visiting friends and family, making it increasingly difficult to keep up with our fitness routines. So we've rounded up five fitness tracking websites to help keep you on track - and they're all free!

Keep reading to check them out!

Work Out With Lady Gaga

Self — Wed, 25 May 2011 05:03:00 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Lady Gaga has finally dropped her latest masterpiece, and Born This Way was born to inspire our workouts. The '80s-inspired opus is full of gym-ready grooves, from Eurodisco to Latin rhythms. Let's get moving!

Gaga training sessions with Harley Pasternak consist of a 25-minute routine combining strength and cardio. The trainer has attributed her killer abs to an intense regimen of crunches, but we know the pop star is a fan of core-chiseling yoga as well. With her new album freshly loaded on our iPods (the fourteen songs clock in at exactly one hour), we took her daily drill to the next level.

First, we hand-picked eight tracks (35 minutes) to keep our feet pounding the treadmill - raising your heart rate for at least a half hour will melt fat so your toned muscles emerge. Warm up with the easy-paced "Electric Chapel." Lady Gaga's monster singles - "Hair," the Madonna-esque "Born This Way," club-thumping "Judas" and Bruce Springsteen-inspired epic "Edge of Glory"- all made our list. Then we added the Debbie-Gibson-meets-Donna-Summers jam "Marry The Night," the empowering, rave-worthy "Scheibe" and "Highway Unicorn (Road To Love)," with its "run, run" lyrics.

Read on for the rest of this energizing hour-long workout after the break!

Best Swimsuits For Your Body Shape: Maximize Your Bust

Noria Morales — Fri, 06 May 2011 13:20:26 PDT

We're kicking off swimsuit season 2011 with a five-part guide to picking the best swimsuit to flatter your body shape. Whether you want to maximize your curves, minimize a belly, or support a big bust, we'll pick the best suits and tell you what to look for. First up: small-busted women. You're baring all in a swimsuit, and having a little something up top enhances your curves, makes your waist and belly look smaller, and saves you from being the butt of pre-puberty jokes. Here's what to look for:

RUFFLES: A ruffle-trimmed bikini top adds much-needed volume. The flatter you are, the more ruffles you can add.

UNDERWIRE: Underwire does two things: it defines your breast shape, regardless of your shape, and it offers lift and support. Everyone's breasts are different, and an underwire bra helps mold them into a full, round shape. This is best on women with an A or small B cup.

PADDING: Padding doesn't have to be that obviously fake stuff. Some bikinis have ultra-thin padding that adds just a bit of volume without changing your appearance drastically. If you want to add volume, but are turned off by the girliness of ruffles, padding lets you choose more minimal styles.

AVOID: Too much coverage (it can make you look smaller) and bikini tops that are too big (you don't want it to swim on you, no pun intended).

Click through our slideshow to see our swimsuit suggestions, and click to buy!

Fit Over 40: Why Time Is Key (Even For Celebrities)

Self — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:22:42 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Halle Berry . . . these days, when a 40-something woman steps out in a bikini, it makes news.

Turns out, there's a scientific explanation for why we're so fascinated by these lean, toned, impossibly supple bodies. In some ways, these apparent genetic wonders are defying the aging process.

"Once a man or woman gets beyond their 30s, they're in a situation where unless they are really proactive about what they do from an exercise standpoint as well as eating sensibly, they are going to lose some muscle tissue," says Cedric Bryant, Ph.D., FACSM, Chief Science Officer for The American Council on Exercise.

Read the rest of this post after the break!