Female athletes face some tough hair and beauty challenges, so read on for some revitalizing solutions.

Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard captured her first gold medal when she was just 14 years old, making U.S. swimming history as the second-youngest gold medalist ever. She competed in her second Olympics in 2004 in Athens and is heading to Beijing for the 2008 Games. At the height of her training, she’s in the pool four-plus hours a day. Find out how Shape Magazine helped get her hair back in peak condition.

You may not be in the water four or more hours a day - but if you’re a swimmer, you know the potential hair care problems.

The sun, coupled with chlorinated water, makes swimmers hair dry, brittle and in need of serious attention. For anyone who spends long hours in an outdoor pool, it’s critical to rehydrate the hair. It’s also a good idea to avoid overlayering too much to reduce exposure to lots of ends which eventually will split and look dull and frizzy.

In a quick search for great hair care advice, we came across some common hair-care myths. For example, do frequent trims make hair grow faster? No. Does switching shampoos make your hair healthier? No. Is brushing your hair 100 strokes each night good for your hair? No.

We also found out about some budget-friendly haircare products that can be purchased at the drugstore. These include Garnier Fructis Leave-In Conditioning Cream and Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask.

Redbook offers some surprising ways you might be taxing your tresses — along with easy fixes.  Outdoor elements (wind, cool temperatures) can be rough even for dry hair but when hair is wet, it’s actually more fragile and susceptible to breakage so beware.

Once you get your hair in great shape, you have to decide whether to wear it hair up or down. Marie Claire taps some beauty pros who share what’s absolutely essential to sport each look.

Pretty Tough Tip
Here’s our advice: If you’re a swimmer and chlorine tends to turn your hair green, try squirting lemon juice in your hair. Let it soak in for about two minutes then rinse out in the shower. No guarantees but it’s worked for us!

Filed under: Beauty, Fashion, Health, Swim by maddy
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June 24, 2008 - Summer is here. The sun is scorching and the temperature is climbing. How can you beat the heat this softball season? Check out seven ways to block the burn. 

• 1. No Run Sunscreen - Use a stick or spray sunscreen on your face instead of a cream to block harmful rays from ruining your skin and to avoid sunscreen from running into your eyes. (Editors Note: Also check out our own Xtreme Screen (R) Sun Defense - greaseless, water-resistant and fragrance-free)
• 2. Glare Beware -  Eye black strips block sun glare from messing with your game. Try the strips instead of the grease to avoid a mess.
• 3. Hats On - A visor or hat not only blocks the sun from beating on your face, but it also absorbs sweat from rolling into your eyes.
• 4. Under Armor - Developed by a college football player, Under Armor uses advanced technology to keep athletes cool and dry by keeping sweat off your skin. 
• 5. H2O - Yes, a water bottle is essential when it’s hot, but the right water bottle is key. Choose a water bottle that will keep your drink cool for hours at a time. The Polar Bottle is one that gets good ratings.
• 6. Pack a Rag - Toss a rag or towel in your bag. When you’re sizzling, try this. Dip the rag in cool water and place it behind your neck. Instant relief.
• 7. Attention Catchers - Since catchers wear the most gear, you must pay special attention to the heat. In between innings, cool off with water, a cold rag, and find some shade. Also, take off your equipment when you can so you don’t over heat. 

 What do you do to stay cool? 

Filed under: Health, Softball by keri mikulski
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LSD : Health nuts might be skeptical, but authorities agree that LSD does in fact do your body good. Short for Long Slow Distance, LSD is an hour-or-longer exercise session maintained at a conversational pace. Partakers can expect to build cardiovascular endurance and come away with a nice high. Keep your eye out for LSD at a gym near you.

Filed under: General, Health, Nutrition by jane
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So you’ve resolved to eat right this year and get regular exercise. Slimming down and getting healthier are common New Year’s resolutions, but following through on the commitment is an uncommon accomplishment.

There are many pieces in the weight management puzzle. Emotions, appetite, will-power, self-image, and confidence all play a part. The road towards healthier eating usually starts with some simple lifestyle changes. Make healthy eating and regular exercise part of your everyday life.

(more…)

Filed under: Exercise, Health, Nutrition by admin
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Studies show that an average 143 lb person skating at 10mps can  burn as much as 600 calories in an hour of roller skating. Most people average in the 6 mph range and will burn an average of 350 calories or greater. With most roller derby leagues, they practice for 2 hours totalling a caloric burn of over 1200 calories in a single practice.

Besides the sport of roller derby providing aerobic activity, it also provides the benfefits of muscle toning, strengthening and not to mention some nice bruises to show off to your friends and family.

Key benefits of roller skating:

• Low-impact exercise for joints
• High caloric burn
• Aerobically as good as jogging or cycling
• Involves all the major muscle groups
• Mentally uplifting

Where and when to roller skate:

• Roller rinks
• Parks and paved exercise pathways
• As a way to regain strength after an injury
• When you find exercise boring
• Winter or any day it’s impossible to exercise outdoors

Filed under: Exercise, Health, Roller Derby, Speed Skating, Sports A-Z by Roller Chick
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Nora Hunt-Lee is a rodeo athlete who knows something about what it takes to be a successful competitor. While in high school, she won seven California high school championships. Later she added 12 regional college championships and two professional world championship titles to her trophy case. Today she spends much of her time working with young rodeo contestants and working toward her doctoral degree in counseling at the University of Nevada-Reno. (more…)

Filed under: Health, Rodeo, Training by admin
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It can happen on a ski slope, the mountainside flying past in a timeless manner. It can happen on the crest of an uphill climb, as you realize you’ve stayed ahead of the other riders in the pack. It can happen on the field as you unite with teammates after a magnificent play.

We’re describing how a whole athlete feels, a person whose dimensions—mind, emotions, spirit—have developed in such harmony with the physical self that you can’t imagine them as separate anymore. You can achieve this mind-body state of grace by supplementing your usual cardio and strength workouts with disciplines such as yoga and/or meditation - practices that work not only your body but all facets of your being. (more…)

Filed under: Exercise, Health, Training, Yoga by admin
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Back in the Middle Ages, Crusaders tucked a confection made of flour, honey, shortening, nuts, and dried fruit into their tunics to give a lift during long marches. Fast forward to today and there are over 30 different energy bars available.

Energy bars work because they contain a mix of simple and complex carbohydrate, as well as relatively small amounts of fat and protein. Some brands boost fat and/or protein content based on different opinions about what works best during exercise. Many brands also add vitamins and minerals. Some include herbs, antioxidants, or stimulants such as caffeine. And some are little more than glorified candy bars. (more…)

Filed under: Health, Nutrition by admin
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Calories Burned in One Hour

If you are an exercise enthusiast or exercise to manage your weight, you probably wonder how many calories you burn. The following chart shows the estimated number of calories a 125-pound person burns while performing a variety of activities for one hour at a moderate intensity level. (more…)

Filed under: Exercise, Health, Nutrition by admin
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Dry skin is common in the winter when cold air outside and heated air inside rob skin of moisture. When your skin loses moisture, it may crack, peel or become irritated. Keep your skin healthy by following these five tips:

1. Limit baths and showers to five minutes and use lukewarm water.
2. Moisturize skin daily after you’ve showered or bathed. If you’re looking for a great skin moisturizer, try Gonzo Grapefruit Lotion.
3. Don’t put wool clothing directly on your skin. Put a cotton shirt or long underwear between skin and wool.
4. Use a humidifier in your home to add moisture to the air.
5. If you’re going to be outside, use a lip balm to seal moisture into lips and prevent them from chapping.

Filed under: Beauty, Health by jane
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