FabSugar

Simply Fab: Bebe Reversible High-Waist Mini Skirt

FabSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:00:22 PDT

Don't you love it when fashion meets function? This Bebe Reversible High-Waist Mini Skirt ($89) is two skirts in one.

How cool, you can be party on one side with the wild zebra print and business - well, sort of - on the other with the simple contrast stitching. This would be perfect for the light traveler, no?

Simply Fab: Mood Tunic

FabSugar — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:00:22 PDT

At first glance, you'd never be able to tell that the Mood Tunic ($180) has multiple personalities. But while having varying moods can be seen as negative, the Mood Tunic is anything but. Believe it or not, it can provide you with 10 or so different stylish outfits. But be warned - it's complicated so be sure to watch the video and read the instructions. Even if this isn't your sort of thing, watch the video for the pure wow factor. Oh, and here's a fun fact: the brown solid Mood Tunic will make its debut on Miranda in the Sex and the City movie so keep an eye out!

Will Susan G. Komen's U-Turn Make a Difference?

Annie Scudder — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:40:00 PST

This morning, Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced that it has reversed its decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood's breast cancer screenings. Under pressure from its own affiliates, employees, and supporters, the breast cancer foundation released a statement that began, "We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives." It continued:

Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation. We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair.

Acknowledging the damage to its brand, it stated, "We urge everyone who has participated in this conversation across the country over the last few days to help us move past this issue. We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics - anyone's politics." The reversal fell short of an apology to Planned Parenthood for creating a policy that blatantly targeted the organization, and there is still evidence that staunchly pro-life individuals are running the show. But do you think responding to the public's outcry will bring people back on board with Komen?

Check Out These Adorable Multitasking Headbands

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 06:01:35 PDT

Hair accessory brand Little Fille has come out with some truly adorable reversible bands that allow you to create a ton of different looks with a single versatile piece. I love the idea - just find a band in a color that suits you, and all your hair-keeping needs are taken care of. If you're interested in seeing them in action, the brand has created this cute video detailing all the different ways you can wear its pieces. To see them in action, just keep reading.

Sweat and Tone! Cardio That Works Your Bum

Susi May — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:31:29 PST

Cardio is great for burning calories, but it can also help give you a shapely tush. Don't miss out on the potential to pull double duty in your workout.

Running: Hills are a great for building cardio endurance and toning your backside. Running on an incline targets the glutes and the hamstrings, so be sure to add hills to your outdoor runs. If you're more the treadmill type, use our rolling-hills treadmill workout.

Elliptical: If the elliptical is your cardio jam, work your glutes and hamstrings by focusing on the connection of your heel on the pedal. Pedaling backward also targets the back of your legs and butt, so remember to reverse direction often. Work the incline with this butt-toning elliptical workout.

Cardio Cycling: Sitting while biking won't do much for your booty, but once you stand to pedal, your glutes kick into action. Keep you butt over the bike seat while you lean forward to maximize the booty work.

Stairs: Think of the stair-climbing as a bunch of step-ups (a great strength-training move for toning the backside) strung together. As you climb the stairs, either on a StepMill or actual steps, your glute kicks into action. Put you mind where you want the action to be and actively engage your glutes as you straighten your leg while stepping up.

A Heart Design You Can Decorate With All Year Round (And It's on Sale!)

Elka Karl — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:00:07 PST

When it comes to Valentine's Day, heart motifs run the gamut from cutesy to over-the-top romantic. Personally, I prefer a more subtle heart pattern when it comes to home decorating. That's why I love this beautiful Hand-Quilted Reversible Queen Quilt (originally $500, on sale for $400) from Harabu House.

The quilt features a raj paisley design on one side, and a raj heart trinity design on the reverse. And while I can't image growing tired of either of these lovely designs, it's nice to know that you can instantly refresh the look of your bedroom by simply flipping your comforter.

The quilt is handmade by Raksha Bella, an eco-friendly company that designs certified organic cotton bedding that is hand block printed using non-toxic, low impact dyes. The bedding is produced by a group of fair trade women workers in India who are recovering from poverty - so not only is this a great looking product, it's a great feeling one as well. I'm a huge fan of organic cotton textiles, since their sale supports organic farming and growing cotton without using harmful chemicals. Whether you have a valentine this season or not, I think it's a great idea to splurge a little on yourself this Valentine's Day and introduce an organic, Fair Trade-certified, gorgeous new look to your bedroom with this quilt.

Mistakes You're Making on the Pilates Mat

Susi May — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:51:53 PST

Mat classes are the most affordable way to reap the benefits of Pilates. Taught across the country at gyms and private studios, group classes mean you don't have an instructor cuing and correcting your every move. Make the most of your time on the mat and be mindful of these common mistakes I've seen in classes over the years.

Not Going Deep
There are many benefits to Pilates, but getting in touch with the deep abs, aka the transverse abdominals, is, to me, the most important. If the deep abs are working, then all four layers of ab muscles will be working right along with it, making for a very stable torso. In class, use every exhale as opportunity to reengage your abs and pull them into your spine with a little lift up. If the abs are pooching outward, you're only working the top layer of the abs and training them to pull away from the spine - the opposite effect of what you want.

Momentum Is Not Your Friend
Deliberate pauses are built into the choreography of many Pilates exercises to prevent momentum from taking over the motion. The Pilates method was originally named Contrology (the study of control) to emphasize this very concept. Going slowly is key. Jayme Boyle, the group fitness coordinator and Pillates mat instructor at the SF Equinox, explains the importance of forgoing momentum like this: "Slower pace means you’re turning on stabilizing muscles and you’re creating more isometric contractions." And I have to agree. Pilates is not a race.

Keep reading for more common Pilates mat class mistakes.

Dr. Ornish on the Power of Love, Chocolate, and Snacking

Lauren Turner — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:59:25 PST

We had a chance to chat with Dr. Dean Ornish, founder and president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute, over the weekend at the Sundance Film Festival. He's a featured health expert in the new documentary, Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare, which examines the current state of our health care system and provides hopeful solutions based on lifestyle and dietary changes. A big proponent of chronic disease prevention through healthy habits, Dr. Ornish offered up some sound advice and simple changes we can all make to improve our health - chocolate included!

FitSugar: What do you think is the most simple, overlooked thing people can do for their health?
Dr. Ornish: Love more. What you eat, how you respond to stress, how much you exercise, whether or not you smoke, how much love and support you have. But of all those, probably the love and support. Study after study has shown that people who are lonely and depressed are 10 times for likely to die or get sick. You're more likely to smoke and abuse yourself if you're lonely and depressed. It's not enough to just work at a behavioral level and give people information; you have to work at a deeper level.

FS: Everyone has days where they don't want to exercise, how do you motivate yourself on those days?
DO: If I really don't want to, I don't, and then I'll do more the next day. What matters is your overall way of eating and living. So if you don't do something one day, do a little more the next. If I don't have time to meditate for an hour, I'll do it for a minute. It's not all or nothing at any age, and it's really up to you.

FS: People like to stick with their daily habits; how do you get individuals to change their behavior towards healthier choices?
DO: It's about helping people connect the dots between what they do and how they feel, and giving them the tools. Fear is not a sustainable motivator. You can scare people into changing for a few weeks, but not for very long. When you make changes, most people find that they feel so much better so quickly, it reframes the reason for changing from fear of dying to joy of living, and that's what makes it sustainable. Also, to realize that it's not all or nothing. Instead of saying this is good food and this is bad food, and don't ever eat meat, be a vegetarian - I never tell people that. I used to a long time ago and then I realized I was actually not only not helping people, but making it worse. It turns people off because even more than being healthy, people want to be free, so when you tell people what to do they stop listening. If you eat meat five times a day, eat it three times a day or have a meatless Monday and see how you feel. If you don't exercise one day, do a little more the next. Then you start to feel better and then it comes out of your own experience, not because some doctor or some book told you.

To find out Dr. Ornish's surprising favorite indulgence and his take on snacking just read more.

5 Ways to Make the Workday Healthy

Michele Foley — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:27:57 PST

With the amount of time we spend at work, it's important to make the day as healthy as possible. It may be challenging with all the sitting, stressful projects, and unhealthy office snacks. If work is starting to take a toll on your healthy habits, it's not too hard to reverse the effects. Here are five easy ways to make sure that work is one of the healthiest parts of your day.

Beat the Winter Dry Skin Blues

Sponsor — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:00:03 PST

Winter reality check: Skin loses more than 25 percent of its ability to hold moisture in the Winter, leaving you with dry, not-so-touchable skin (so not ideal for prime snuggle-weather). Seeing as there's plenty of Winter left, Dove® Winter Care Body Wash is here to S.O.S. (Save Our Skin)!

Dove® Winter Care Body Wash reverses the signs of dry Winter skin. How? We're glad you asked. Dove® Winter Care Body Wash cleans and cares for dry Winter skin like no other regular body wash. It is specially formulated with NutriumMoisture™ technology to nourish deep down to help heal dry skin and minimize roughness and flaking, leaving your skin cuddle-ready.

Check out the skin-saving body wash from Dove® here.