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A Cancer Survivor's Goal: 50 Triathlons by Her 50th Birthday

espnW — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:26:06 PDT

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

By Julia Savacool

It's a good thing Jenn Sommermann discovered triathlons when she did. "I was turning 40 years old, and my friend and I were looking for a way to commemorate the occasion," Sommermann said. "We decided to train for a triathlon." Because Sommermann was on the East Coast and her friend was on the West, the two trained together virtually, exchanging workout notes and messages of encouragement. Several months later, they competed in the Danskin Women's Tri in Seattle.

"That was it, I was in love with triathlons," Sommermann said. Little did she know, two years later the fitness she gained through the sport would help her win a battle against ovarian cancer.

It was December 2006 when Sommermann received her diagnosis. She'd been feeling out of sorts for months, but had been reluctant to see her doctor.

The symptoms for ovarian cancer are subtle: Bloating, weight gain, fatigue and indigestion are all indicators for the disease, but they are also common symptoms for many women during their monthly cycle. The main difference with ovarian cancer, explained Sommermann, is the symptoms don't go away.

It was by chance she discovered the cancer - she was pressing on her stomach one night and came across a hard lump. "I called my husband over, and he felt it, too," she said. "I knew this wasn't good." She went to see her physician immediately, and an ultrasound revealed a tumor about the size of an eggplant. "I had Stage 3 ovarian cancer," said Sommermann. "I was in shock. The disease is 94 percent curable if you catch it by Stage 2. But after that, the numbers are not in your favor."

Surfing gets Anastasia Ashley through tough times

Read more about Jen's inspiring story after the break.

Meatless Monday: The Ultimate Vegetarian Chili

OnSugar Blog — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:15:36 PDT

You've heard how meatless Mondays are good for the planet. Now, look to Cooking in Pajamas for a fast and easy vegan chili recipe.

Meatless Monday is back baby! It never actually went anywhere, I just kept forgetting to blog about it. In my quest to get healthy and lose a few pounds before my 20th anniversary trip in April, I have been testing out a plant based diet. I keep going back and forth on whether I want to include fish in my diet. I am thinking of limiting it to once or twice a month. While I decide, I am loving some of the vegetarian dishes I have made. For lunch yesterday I made a polenta pizza. . .a grilled slice of polenta topped with a slice of heirloom tomato, shredded mozzarella, garlic and basil.

This chili will knock your socks off. Not only is it healthy, it is a flavorful and spicy bowl of vegetables, beans, chiles, spices and wine. You can easily serve this to the die-hard meat eaters in your house, and it will be gobbled up.

This chili is also vegan, which means it contains no dairy products. If you are not into the vegan thing, feel free to top your bowl of chili with sour cream and sharp cheddar. The chili is quite spicy. As you see it has a jalapeño AND a chipotle chili. If you would like a more mild version, use half of the jalapeño with the seeds removed. Try not to cut back on the chipotle because it adds a deep, smoky flavor.

For her unique technique - which involves marinating tofu for extra flavor! - keep reading.

What to TiVo: Friday

BuzzSugar — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 23:59:37 PDT

8:00 Shark Tank (repeat)
9:00 Primetime: What Would You Do? (new)
10:00 20/20 (new)
11:35 Nightline (new)
12:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live (repeat)

8:00 Undercover Boss (new)
9:00 CSI: NY (new)
10:00 Blue Bloods (new)
11:50 Late Show With David Letterman (repeat, with guest Bill Murray)
12:52 The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (new, with guest Laura Linney)

8:00 The Finder (new)
9:00 Fringe (new)

8:00 Who Do You Think You Are (new)
9:00 Grimm (new)
10:00 Dateline NBC (new)
11:34 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (new, with guest Kristin Chenoweth)
12:37 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (new, with guests Guy Pearce and Eugene Levy)

8:00 Nikita (repeat)
9:00 Supernatural (repeat)

Mirror Mirror: Boring Boring

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 03:05:47 PDT

Mirror Mirror, the candy-colored vision of director Tarsem Singh, is the latest take on a classic fairy tale, with Lily Collins filling the shoes of Snow White and Julia Roberts as her nemesis, the wicked queen. But even with a solid cast and Singh's risk-taking aesthetic, the uneven script and undeveloped characters reduce it to a retread of an old story with a very pretty look. You know how it goes: the queen married Snow White's father, and after he dies, she sets about to get rid of anyone prettier than herself. That makes Snow White target No. 1, and when the girl is run out of the kingdom, she's forced to take shelter with a group of outlaw dwarves in the forest, becoming their caretaker of sorts. In this version, Snow White becomes their vigilante leader, while the perspective is largely from the wicked queen, who's trying to solve her financial problems by marrying rich Prince Alcott (the very dreamy Armie Hammer). While these twists are cute tweaks of the well-known tale, they don't make the story different enough, and the film drags on toward its obvious conclusion.

Singh is known for his bold, arresting aesthetic, like in films The Cell and Immortals, and he definitely has fun reimagining the setting of Snow White and her fairyland. It's clear that he's reining in the weirdness to give the film wider appeal, but some unusual elements sneak in there, like some creepy villainous puppets and a scene with the queen's downright gross beautifying routine. As polarizing as those scenes may be, the movie could have used some more weirdness, if only to give it a clearer angle. Sadly, the creativity is used up on the visuals, and the rest of the film suffers.

To find out why else I was disappointed by Mirror Mirror, just keep reading.

6 Films, 1 Superhero-Sized Movie Marathon

Kelly Schwarze — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 05:46:03 PDT

We're getting excited about our favorite Marvel superheroes getting back into costume for the release of The Avengers, but are we ready to devote over 700 minutes to the festivities? Tickets just went on sale for what's billed as The Ultimate Marvel Marathon on May 3. Spend the day - and we mean, All. Day. - with Tony Stark and the gang in a six-film movie marathon at selected AMC Theatres for $40.

Watch Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor 3D, and Captain America: The First Avenger 3D. That's 10 hours of comic book superheroes on the big screen before even getting to the main event, the midnight premiere of The Avengers. Sounds epic for die-hard comic fans.

Would you be able to sit through a full day of theater screenings?

5 Strange Ways Chocolate Keeps You Healthy

Prevention — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:02:26 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

This sweet treat may also boost brainpower, help you relax, and more!
By Mara Betsch, Prevention

Show your heart some love this Valentine’s Day by nibbling a few chocolates - and making them a regular treat throughout the year. A recent study found that those consuming the highest levels of chocolate had a 37 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease and a 29 percent reduction in stroke compared to those with lower chocolate intakes.

Though experts are quick to clarify that we should stick to moderate consumption of high-calorie chocolates, it’s hard to deny the cold, hard facts that chocolate can be a healthy addition to our diets.

Seven Surprising Ways to Sharpen Your Mind

Hundreds of studies have shown that dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants that promote heart health and may prevent many cardiovascular-related conditions, but we’ve dug up five more surprising health benefits. Read on for five new ways to justify your chocolate craving.

1. Chocolate May Help You With Math
Flavonols, compounds in chocolate with antioxidantlike properties, are thought to improve circulation, including blood flow to the brain. A 2009 study asked participants to count backward in groups of three from a number between 800 and 999. After drinking hot cocoa filled with flavonols, the participants were able to do calculations more quickly and accurately and were less likely to feel tired or mentally drained.

Learn a four more things chocolate can do for you after the break.

What to Do With Your Year-End Bonus

LearnVest — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:15:06 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

You’ve just been informed by your supervisor that you have a tidy bonus coming to you soon for all of your hard work this year. (And, of course, you totally deserve it.)

But whenever a large sum of money falls in your lap, you need to have a plan for it, so you don’t wake up a month or two later and realize that it’s all gone.

That’s no way to reward yourself for a job well done.

What You Shouldn’t Do

Rack up credit card debt in advance of your bonus expecting to pay it off.
Use it to treat your family and friends to oversized Christmas gifts.
Count your chickens before they hatch. Even if you’ve been told how much your bonus is, it will be taxed like regular income. Because of all the factors that play into it, don’t assume you know exactly how much will land in your account.
Plan your finances around the same bonus showing up next year.

Read on for more.

See Miranda and Orlando, Jay-Z, Kanye, and Beyoncé in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show!

Allie Merriam — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:37:15 PST

The Victoria's Secret runway extravaganza airs on CBS this evening! In honor of the big TV event, we're taking a look back at the show which was recorded at NYC's Lexington Avenue Armory on Nov. 9.

Between the musical acts and the amazing costumes on the angels, Nov. 9th was a night to remember. Candice Swanepoel was the first down the catwalk in the "Ballet" portion of the show, the first of six-themed sections that also included "Super Angels," "Passion," "Angels Aquatic," "I Put a Spell on You," and "Club Pink." They strutted, interestingly enough, to the song "You Make Me Want to Die" from Taylor Momsen's band, The Pretty Reckless! Candice was followed by Anja Rubik, Lily Aldridge, Alessandra Ambrosio, Chanel Iman, Doutzen Kroes, Adriana Lima, Miranda Kerr, and many more! This was a unique year from the company since they introduced at least 12 new models to the lineup.

It was hard to compete with the over-the-top outfits, gems, and wings, but the musical acts nearly did so. Kanye West was finally able to perform for VS after canceling his 2007 appearance after the sudden death of his mother, Donda West. He dedicated the event to her saying, "I lost my superhero, but now she's my superangel." Kanye went on to sing "Stronger" as the Angels walked by him on stage, then Jay-Z came out for an amazing duo on their Watch the Throne song "N*ggas in Paris." Beyoncé Knowles even came out to see Jay in action, taking a front-row seat only for the duration of the track. Jay and Kanye got the fashion crowd on their feet, and Orlando Bloom was seen doing a little fist pumping!

Orlando was front and center to cheer on his wife, Miranda. It was Miranda's first time on the VS runway since giving birth to Flynn at the beginning of the year. She took multiple turns down the catwalk and finally wore Victoria's Secret's $2.5 million Fantasy Treasure Bra. Orlando gave Miranda a couple of standing ovations, as one of the most enthusiastic famous attendees, which also included Stephen Dorff, Lake Bell, Maxwell, Jack Huston, Lala Vasquez, and Gossip Girl's Matthew Settle.

In addition to Jay and Kanye, Maroon 5 performed "Moves Like Jagger" and lead singer Adam Levine broke from the band temporarily to place a big kiss on the cheek of his angel girlfriend, Anne V. Earlier in the day while backstage, Anne V said she and Adam planned the moment. She said, "I'm a model, he's a singer, we're just doing our jobs and just happen to be together, so maybe we'll do a cute moment but nothing crazy. I'm very excited to have him next to me, it's very special." Nicki Minaj wrapped things up with a rendition of "Super Bass," with newcomer Karlie Kloss closing the show in her fluorescent wings.

Link Time - Jim Carrey Teams Up With Steve Carell

BuzzSugar — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:30:49 PDT

Jim Carrey joins Steve Carell in Burt Wonderstone - NextMovie
Find out when Die Hard 5 will hit theaters - The Hollywood Reporter
Get the scoop on Leonardo DiCaprio's next role - Moviefone
Director Joel Schumacher reveals his five favorite films - Rotten Tomatoes
See the first picture of the new Bachelor - Zap2it
First look at Chuck's final season - BuddyTV
The most iconic James Bond villains - Movieline
See which TV star wants to be on Dexter - Aol TV
Steal decorating ideas from ABC's Suburgatory - CasaSugar

Taylor Lautner Is Happy to Get In on the Action, but Not Singing

Allie Merriam — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:46:06 PDT

Taylor Lautner caused a stir in London today when he left the BBC Radio One studios. He's abroad chatting up his new movie following a lengthy press tour home in the US. His Abduction had a lackluster box office debut, coming in at just fourth place with $11.2 million. The reviews weren't particularly kind either, but that didn't stop many of Taylor's die-hard fans from turning out to see his turn as a teenage action star. It was a new realm for Taylor, but there are apparently a few genres he won't try. Taylor Lautner won't sing in a film! He said in a recent interview, "[Singing] is one thing that my fans would probably not support. If I ever start singing in a movie, they'll be like, 'Alright, I'm done.' . . . I'm terrible, terrible, terrible."