Christina Stiehl

Shape • 20th July 2021

Is the Afterburn Effect Too Good to Be True?

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has become the "it" way to work out over the last few years. Fans of this super-efficient workout swear by its ability to torch calories, burn fat, and build muscle, all in much less time than, say, a 5-mile moderate-intensity run.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 28th June 2021

Kick Off Summer With Sweat's 2 Weeks to Strong Workout Plan

Two weeks of 15-minute workouts led by Sweat trainers designed to help you torch calories, build full-body strength, and burn fat.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 2nd June 2021

Sweat App Announces Beginner Program: Meet the Badass Trainers Leading the Workouts

If it's been a few weeks, a few months, or even a few years since you've had a consistent workout plan, the Sweat app has you covered. The platform announced an all-new beginner fitness offering called Move Again, which features three new trainers and four new fitness programs.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 24th May 2021

This 15-Minute Bodyweight Tabata Workout Is Low-Impact, but High-Intensity — Get Ready to Sweat!

We love the Sweat app for the heart-pumping, sweat-inducing HIIT workouts it offers. But the high-impact moves like burpees and jump squats aren't for everyone, especially if you have joint pain or live in an apartment and can't jump around. Luckily, new Sweat trainer Samantha Ortiz-Young has a low-impact HIIT program for the app as part of its new beginner workout offerings. Many people think low-impact means low-intensity, but that's so not the case! This bodyweight-only HIIT workout is Tabat

POPSUGAR Fitness • 26th March 2021

Ayesha McGowan Broke Barriers In Cycling. Now, She's Inspiring the Next Generation.

Professional cyclist Ayesha Rosena Anna McGowan, creator of A Quick Brown Fox, started out riding a bike when she got two bikes for Christmas one year. Now, McGowan rides for Liv Racing and is the first Black American woman on a professional road cycling team. She uses her platform to advocate for BIPOC cyclists and those who are interested in racing and amplify the message that representation matters.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 25th March 2021

Target Your Legs, Butt, and Core With This Quick 15-Minute Dumbbell Workout

Cardio is great for burning calories, but you get more bang for your buck when you add in strength training to your routine. Building muscle with strength workouts, especially with weights, not only burns calories during the workout, but will help you build muscle, burn more calories at rest, and torch fat.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 1st February 2021

In 2021, I'm Supporting More Small Fitness Businesses — Here's How You Can, Too

If 2020 has taught me anything, it's that small businesses are the backbone of the community. It's what makes New York City the greatest city in the world: and each week as I watched restaurants, bars, and independent shops close their doors for good, leaving once-vibrant city blocks dark with empty storefronts, it reminded me how important it is to support the local businesses in your neighborhood.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 30th November 2020

Power Through Winter With Sweat's 2-Week Low-Impact Barre and Yoga Workout Plan

We're not saying to give up your favorite HIIT and high-impact workouts altogether! But we are saying if you are looking to change up your workout routine, there are other effective ways to get your heart rate up, break a sweat, challenge your body, and achieve all-over strength. Luckily for POPSUGAR readers, the Sweat team created an exclusive two-week low-impact workout plan for us consisting of original barre and yoga workouts.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 1st August 2020

This Boxing Champ Created a Full-Body Strength and Cardio Workout You Can Do at Home

If you're a fan of boxing classes, you may be missing the cathartic release of putting on a pair of gloves and punching something heavy if your studio is closed right now. Luckily, you don't need any equipment (except maybe a mat and a towel) to get in a good boxing-inspired, full-body strength and cardio workout.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 29th June 2020

Crush Your Summer Fitness Goals With Kayla Itsines's 4-Week No-Equipment Workout Plan

Kayla Itsines paved the way for bodyweight-only workout plans with her BBG series, and has continued delivering with at-home workouts on her Sweat app. With more than 12 million followers on Instagram and the countless workouts she helped develop, Kayla knows how to keep people motivated. And luckily for us, she developed this four-week, bodyweight-only workout plan exclusively for POPSUGAR readers.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 24th February 2020

I Tried Barry's Ride, and It's Like If Your Favorite Cycling Class and HIIT Class Got Married

One of the biggest perks about being a fitness editor in New York City — aside from all the protein powder and low-carb snacks — is the opportunity to check out new fitness classes before they go mainstream. In this case, I got to try the new pop-up from Barry's called Barry's Ride that's currently only available in LA and NY.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 13th December 2019

I Tried Orangetheory's New Technology With the Apple Watch, and It's a Game Changer

As one of the world's fastest-growing fitness studios — there are 1,300 locations in over 23 countries — Orangetheory Fitness has a loyal following of people who are dedicated to the hour-long HIIT cardio and strength-training workouts. And while OTF has its own proprietary technology with the use of heart rate monitors for you to track your heart rate throughout the workout, the company said the number one request they got from customers was the ability to use their Apple Watches to sync up to the class. Now, Orangetheory has delivered.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 5th November 2019

I'm Training For a Half-Marathon, and This Is What My Week of Workouts Looks Like

Remember when I wrote about how much I hate running? And how I would probably never sign up for a long-distance race again? Well, never say never. I'm officially running the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Las Vegas in a few weeks, which means I've spent the past few months training. I've curated the perfect running playlist, stocked up on cute running gear, and continuously upped my mileage each week (hello, nine-mile long runs!).

POPSUGAR Fitness • 28th May 2019

After Getting Sick With GERD, Alicia Recovered and Gained 25 Pounds of Muscle — Here's How

When Alicia Rancier, 30, (@alicewolves on Instagram) went away to college, she fell off her healthy habits. Previously an athlete, she traded in her weightlifting sessions for study sessions and turned to fast food for all her meals. Not only did this cause her weight gain, but her health took a turn for the worse. After being diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Alicia's weight dropped significantly, and not in a healthy way. Determined to get her health back on track, she st

POPSUGAR Fitness • 8th May 2019

I Hate Running, but Here's Why I Do It Anyway

I have a confession: I hate running. Yes, I'm a fitness editor. Yes, I frequently attend running-based fitness classes such as Orangetheory Fitness and Barry's Bootcamp. And yes, I (begrudgingly) ran a half-marathon a few years ago of my own free will. But it's not my favorite form of exercise.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 31st March 2019

A Trainer Explains Why Weightlifting Is the Most Important Type of Exercise For Losing Belly Fat

When it comes to losing belly fat, your mind may immediately think of doing dozens of crunches or spending hours on a cardio machine. And while these moves may help you burn calories, they're not the most effective method of burning body fat. In fact, you'll want to hit the weight room and grab some dumbbells or a barbell.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 25th March 2019

If You're Looking to Build Muscle, Two Trainers Say This Technique Is a Must

We can't tout the benefits of strength training enough: it can help you burn calories, build lean muscle, get stronger, boost metabolism, lose weight, and even sleep better. And while it's important to find the right weight to challenge yourself, you can't stick to the same weights and rep sets forever if you want to see progress.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 21st February 2019

The 11 Biggest Fitness Myths Trainers Wish You Would Stop Believing

If you're the kind of person who would rather hit up a workout class than binge a show on Netflix or who constantly reads up on the latest fitness trends, then you probably know a lot about working out and how it affects your body. But do you?

POPSUGAR Fitness • 12th February 2019

Yes, Women Can Build Lean Muscle Quickly — These Experts Explain How

Walking into the weight room and seeing a woman lift a barbell with heavy weight plates and crush 150-pound squats is incredibly inspiring. And while some women are afraid of looking "bulky" (cue eye-roll), you can add muscle tone and definition with strategic training and nutrition.

POPSUGAR Fitness • 4th February 2019

Get Your Heart Rate Up With This 5-Move Cardio Circuit You Can Do Anywhere

When I think of doing cardio, I usually stick to my standard go-tos: the treadmill, the StairMaster, and indoor cycling. And while these forms of exercise are all well and good for getting my heart rate up and burning calories, they're far from the only ways I can get in my cardio workout.