Arthritis Walk set for Saturday at TU

Arthritis Walk set for Saturday at TU
The Arthritis Walk will be held at the University of Tulsa, 800 S. Tucker Drive, on Saturday. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the walk starts at 10 a.m.

Ditch Stress for Good with Yoga and Meditation

Ditch Stress for Good with Yoga and Meditation

Ditch Stress for Good with Yoga and Meditation

05/31/2013 - 12:08pm by The Greatist Team

Yoga isn’t just about getting limber and loose — studies show that the ancient practice can actually turn off genes that cause stress and inflammation. Chronic stress causes illnesses and other physiological damage, so grab a mat and get your downward-dog on.

Do it Today: This month, boost the immune system and de-activate stress genes with regular yoga practice.

BYO "Mat":

Locate a yoga studio anywhere with Lululemon’s Om Finder app.

Office Stress:

A recent study showed that almost a third of Americans are stressed at work.

 

Eliminating TB in South Africa

Tuberculosis (TB) in South Africa is at 'horrifying' rates, say experts, but the good news is much research is being done in this field. Read more...

High pain drug doses cause heart attack

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PTown Stand Up Paddle Boarding and PEAR!

PTown Stand Up Paddle Boarding and PEAR!
My memorial day started a little later than most and was dedicated to my triathlon training primarily. On Saturday, I woke up and went for a swim using a workout that Josh Crosby gave to me. Marni, one of the Oakley gals, is also a triathlete and gave me some pointers so I was excited [...]

My memorial day started a little later than most and was dedicated to my triathlon training primarily. On Saturday, I woke up and went for a swim using a workout that Josh Crosby gave to me. Marni, one of the Oakley gals, is also a triathlete and gave me some pointers so I was excited to hop in the pool! Afterwards, I headed down to the Cape for some fun! On Sunday, I went for a quick run before heading to Ptown! 

The weather was not in our favor. It was super cloudy and cold! A family friend was opening up a new business called Provincetown Aqua Sports on Monday so we went to check it out before hand. They offer kayaks and stand up paddle boards which I’m most excited about. If you are looking for a fun day trip from Boston in the summer and don’t have a car, it’s easy to take the ferry to P-town for great restaurants (Victors is my favorite), fun bars (too many to recommend just one) and now a little beach exercise. 

I was trying to convince out friends to offer yoga on the Stand Up Paddleboards in Provincetown. They seems to think the idea sounded crazy so although it’s popular in California, maybe the East Coast isn’t right for it just yet? If you are a yogi who goes to Ptown in the summer, let me know if you would try it! I just might have to go down and teach something myself. 

On Monday back in mid Cape, I finally was able to take my mom’s bike for a spin on the roads. I had not yet tried it and will be using one for my race in June. It is super light and easy to ride but I was passed by two people who were going MUCH faster than I was. I’m curious if I’m using the gears wrong now. I have a month to figure it out. 

Josh also gave me a training program for the bike and run legs of the race. He suggested at least once a week doing two disciplines. I was sent a Pear Sports heart rate monitor recently which goes with a free app you can download on to your iPhone. The app gives heart rate monitored coaching, including intervals and when you should raise or lower your heart rate. It’s so sophisticated it knows how intense you are working out at any given moment and makes suggestions. 

I was too impatient to do the calibration test so I was struggling to meet the recommended heart rate zones as it does not know my fitness levels. You recallibrate every few weeks to get the target heart rate accurate. As you can see in the blue shaded areas above, I did an interval brick bike and run. I rode the bike for about 40 minutes and then ran for 15 minutes with intervals during each segment. The blue is where my heart rate was supposed to be. 

You do need at least an iPhone 4s or newer or iPod touch. I have neither but have been so excited to try out the app that they sent me an iPod touch to try it out. I have to send it back but hope to get a new iPhone when they release the next version. I’m excited to continue using Pear and trying out the different workouts given by various instructors. They have a few tri training plans as well as strength workouts, long runs, and even stretches. Since this is an iPod, my pace and distance was not calculated. 

The calories are not accurate as I forgot to enter my personal info. This was based on a man who had the iPod before me. He was 6’0, a year younger and weighed 200 lbs so it’s more calories than it should read. Have you heard of Pear? It’s free to download on you iPhone but you need a heart rate monitor that syncs up. 

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2014 deadline for nations' greenhouse gas plans

2014 deadline for nations' greenhouse gas plans
All countries should outline their long-term plans for curbing greenhouse gases next year to revive the stalled fight against climate change.

Oakley Progression Session in Dallas Forth Worth, TX

Oakley Progression Session in Dallas Forth Worth, TX
My 36 hour trip to Fort Worth, Texas was as memorable as it possibly could have been! We paid a visit to the Stockyards, a touristy place that feels like Old Texas to an outsider. You can see my Instagram for more pictures. The other Oakley ambassadors to join me in the picture below were [...]

My 36 hour trip to Fort Worth, Texas was as memorable as it possibly could have been! We paid a visit to the Stockyards, a touristy place that feels like Old Texas to an outsider. You can see my Instagram for more pictures. The other Oakley ambassadors to join me in the picture below were Marni, Lacey, Christine and our Oakley go-to wonder woman Chelsea. We met up with the rest of our crew at the restaurant.

The restaurant we ate dinner at boasted that their cows were “corn fed.” I wanted to slip them a note that this is probably not something to brag about seeing as cows should be eating grass and it’s probably pure GMO corn. But nevertheless, I felt compelled to try the beef and it was good. I ordered a filet Mignon with shrimp. The shrimp were my security blanket since the last few times I’ve ordered it, I have not liked it.

We woke up Friday morning for the Oakley Progression Session, a search for our next Oakley Ambassador! The event was advertised in Shape Magazine. It was held the day before their adventure 5k race, the Diva Dash. Two hundred people were invited to the OPSFitness event and broken up into 4 groups. Michelle Lovitt, on the left below, is a celebrity trainer. She’s appeared in many magazines and has trained/traveled with many celebs. I could have spent all day picking her brain regarding exercise physiology. Christine to my right is a coach at the winter Oakley Progression Sessions which sound amazing. She helps teach the participants how to get better at snowboarding. I guess the OPSFitness event in the winter is like $250 BUT you get new goggles from Oakley, yoga, lunch and dinner for 2 days, a lift ticket to the mountain it’s held at, lessons, and more winter gear (this is from memory). I need to go to this event next year for sure. Lastly, Lacey on the right is an amazing yoga instructor at Core Power which I reviewed this winter. She rocks.

Lacey teaches her 45 minute yoga class under this cool tent that became the safe haven during the little downpour we experienced. 

Oakley also DRIVES this trailer across country to the Diva Dash OPSFitness event! It’s been to Boulder and San Diego over the past few months. Inside is a retail store featuring the hottest new Oakley styles.

After Bootcamp with Cari and Carrie, the participants either went to listen to Marni’s nutrition talk, had lunch at a gluten-free vegetarian foot truck (who knew this existed in Fort Worth!?) or they got to hang out at the social media tent with me, Michelle and Christine while waiting for their opportunity to interview to be the next ambassador.

About half way through the event, there were a few lightning bolts spotted and claps of thunder. Not gonna lie, but it was a little nerve wracking but we were fine under the tents. Probably not the safest, but we survived! I was jealous of the gals under the yoga tent who got to experience a pretty cool shavasana with real rain as the backdrop. If you recognize Cari below, that’s because she has shot a bunch of videos for ExerciseTV and appeared in a bunch of fitness magazines. I used to do her workouts all the time OnDemand in my apartment when I was working full time for Diet.com. The rain only lasted a few minutes at a time and I was told it was typical weather for the area.

The food truck was amazing. Everyone got complementary lunch from it. If I lived here, I would eat at this thing everyday. I had a salad and some bbq tacos. There was a mango and and avocado ceviche tostado which I wanted but it ran out before I could have a taste! If you live in the Dallas area, go to this food truck even if you are not vegetarian. SO GOOD!

At the end, we had a group picture right before the winner was announced. I was a sweaty mess thanks to the 80 degree weather with lots of humidity. I got so dizzy during the Bombshell Bootcamp I thought I was going to throw up! Congrats to Layla the winner who I will get to hang out with in NYC in a couple weekends for the Oakley 10K Mini. 

I flew back Friday afternoon after the event so that I could be back in town for Memorial Day weekend along with the other ambassadors. My flight was delayed 2 hours and we experienced the worst turbulence ever. I’ve flown a lot but I have never been so scared in my life. I wish I didn’t have to fly for a long time, but I’ll back in the air in just 3 weeks.

Happy to be taking the train to NYC for the 10k! Have you even been to Texas? Did you think it had healthy options? And before you say it, yes I know Austin is different!

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Justices decline to hear Planned Parenthood funding case

By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a victory for Planned Parenthood, the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to consider whether the state of Indiana can prevent the nonprofit, which is the country's largest provider of abortions, from receiving federal Medicaid funding for any medical services it offers to low-income people. Supporters of the law, which was blocked by an appeals court, had wanted to prohibit any government funding of Planned Parenthood's medical programs, such as cancer and HIV screenings, because the group also provides abortion services. ...

Continue reading...

Hundreds of emergency personnel to back Comrades runners

While 18 000 runners prepare for the 2013 Comrades Marathon, Netcare and Netcare 911 have been hard at work ensuring their medical needs will be fully met. Read the full article.

New obesity drug could launch in 2014

Danish drug maker Novo Nordisk said it could launch a obesity treatment called liraglutide in the US in 2014. You can get the whole story here.

Type 2 diabetes progresses faster in kids

Type 2 diabetes progresses faster in kids
New research suggests that type 2 diabetes is often more aggressive in children and can lead to serious complications later in life.

New bird flu may be capable of human to human spread - study

New bird flu may be capable of human to human spread - study

By Lavinia Mo HONG KONG (Reuters) - The new H7N9 bird flu virus can be transmitted between mammals not only via direct contact but also in airborne droplets, and may be capable of spreading from person to person, Chinese and American researchers have found. A study published in the journal Science and presented at a briefing in Hong Kong on Friday found that three ferrets - an animal often used for research on flu - that were in the same cage as ferrets infected with H7N9 had contracted the disease. ...

Bird flu strain can go airborne

A deadly strain of the bird flu virus can be transmitted between some animals through the air, scientists said. Read the full article.

Doctors 'print' on baby's airway tube, save his life

Doctors 'print' on baby's airway tube, save his life
Doctors have saved an Ohio boy by 'laser-printing' an airway tube so he can breathe.

BTG says interventional medicine buys could boost sales to $1 bln

By Paul Sandle LONDON (Reuters) - British pharmaceutical company BTG announced two deals on Thursday that it said could create an interventional medicine business with potential sales of $1 billion. Chief Executive Louise Makin told Reuters the deals would more than double BTG's revenues in the fast-growing market of targeting specific areas rather than administering drugs to the whole body. BTG added to its liver cancer treatments by agreeing to buy the targeted therapies division of Nordion Inc for about $200 million, adding Therasphere radioactive glass beads to its chemotherapy beads unit. ... For complete story, click here.

Americans still making unhealthy choices

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5 Tips For Barre Beginners

If you've never tried a barre class before, then read these beginner tips, shared by our friends at Self!

With all the trendy barre studios popping up everywhere, it may seem like ballet-inspired workouts are just the latest fitness fad. But in fact, barre classes have been around since the '50s, when former dancer Lotte Burke opened her first studio in London.

Fast forward half a century(!) and Burke-inspired barre classes are more popular than ever. And tomorrow, Exhale Spas nationwide are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their signature class, Core Fusion Barre, with a day of free classes! Never taken a barre class before? Core Fusion cofounder Fred DeVito offers five things you should know.

1. Think quality over quantity. "This is not Insanity; this is not CrossFit," says DeVito. "We're not about how many reps you can do in a minute or how many pounds you can lift." Rather, most barre classes focus on precision and proper form; you'll do smaller, slower movements, but you'll definitely feel them because you're isolating specific muscle groups you're not used to using.
2. If you're doing it right, then you're going to shake - and feel that burn. "You're not going to look supergraceful doing these moves, and it's not going to feel easy - even if you think you're in good cardiovascular shape." (Don't be fooled by those tiny little hand weights; they really do get heavy!) Luckily, students are instructed to focus in on themselves, not to watch other people around them. "You can't be intimidated by what you look like - or by hard work," says DeVito.
3. Dress the part. "We encourage people to wear grippy socks, with little rubber nubs on the bottom; we sell our own and almost every other barre studio sells their own, as well. This keeps you from slipping when you're on the barre, and it's more sanitary than going barefoot." (Real fashionistas may want to check out in-studio footwear, too!) Another apparel tip: don't wear short shorts. You'll be doing a lot of inversions and open-leg poses, so capris or full leggings are a better bet. (More on what to wear to barre class here.)

Keep reading for more beginner barre tips. Get the whole story here.

World not ready for mass flu outbreak

The world is unprepared for a massive virus outbreak, the World Health Organization warns amid fears that H7N9 bird flu striking China could morph into a form that spreads easily among people. Read the full article.

Lose Your Gut in Less Than 4 Weeks

Lose Your Gut in Less Than 4 Weeks
Check out this great combination of nutrition & workout tips to help you burn some serious gut fat in less than 4 weeks.

Lose Your Gut in Less Than 4 Weeks

If you want to lose your gut once and for all, listen up – I have a great combination of tips that come together to help you burn some serious fat in less than 4 weeks.

As a personal trainer and health coach, I’ve never recommended extreme measures when it comes to dieting and weight loss. I believe in a safe, healthy, and practical approach to fitness.

That being said, it is possible to see serious results in just a few weeks. You just need to get intense and commit yourself to your goals. Today, we’re going to target your gut and help you shed some serious belly fat in less than 4 weeks.

Here’s what you need to do…

How to Lose Your Gut in Less Than 4 Weeks

To do it right and see results fast, start all of these strategies TODAY.

Get Your Diet Under Control

First thing’s first, you need to get your diet under control. Although exercise is important for burning fat (which we’ll get to in a minute), diet is where it all starts. You need to do the obvious things – cut out fattening, fried, and fast foods, and reduce your daily sugar intake. Once that’s clear, you need to take things one step further and reduce your carbohydrate intake to 2-3 servings per day. This is a sure way to see fast results without starving yourself.

Next, I want you to start taking an omega-3 fatty acid supplement. Omega-3s are actually a good type of fat for weight loss, as they boost your metabolism and actually redistribute fat away from your gut and waistline. My top choice for omega-3s is Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega.

Generally speaking, you want to make a major shift in your diet by eating only whole foods (no more processed stuff) and eating foods that boost your metabolism. To help get you started, read my article on 5 Foods to Boost Your Abs Diet here.

The last change I want you to make to your diet is to start taking 7-Keto, a scientifically proven and naturally based fat loss supplement that combines a number of fat-burning ingredients, including green tea extract. Check it out here – 7-Keto LeanGels. Trust me, I’ve seen some amazing gut-busting results with this one!

Exercise Regularly and Wisely

Now that your diet is under control, you need to start sweating. If you want to lose your gut in less than 4 weeks, you need to engage in a regular exercise program that incorporates cardio, total body weight training, and a targeted abdominal routine. You have to improve your body’s ability to burn fat, and this is the best way to do it.

Here’s what I want you to start doing every week for the next month:

• Monday: 20 minutes of cardio / 40 minutes of weight training (chest & triceps)
• Tuesday: 30 minutes of cardio / 30 minutes of abs and core
• Wednesday: 20 minutes of cardio / 40 minutes of weight training (back & biceps)
• Thursday: 30 minutes of cardio / 30 minutes of abs and core
• Friday: 20 minutes of cardio / 40 minutes of weight training (legs)
• Saturday: 20-30 minutes of cardio outdoors (e.g. running)

For a great abdominal and core workout routine to use, try my Total Ab Workout in 30 Minutes. Stick to this plan, and you’ll see your waistline (and the rest of your body) transform in just a few weeks!

And that’s my 4-week plan for losing your gut and trimming your waistline. With this killer combination of healthy diet and exercise, you’ll be looking more toned and lean in no time!

Have any questions or feedback about how to lose your gut in less than 4 weeks? Please leave a comment below…

Noise and air pollution hardens arteries

Noise and air pollution hardens arteries
New research suggests that both air and noise pollution may boost the risk of heart disease.

Fever reducers don't slow recovery

Fever reducers don't slow recovery
A review of past research finds that fever-reducing drugs have no effect on the speed of children's recovery from an infection.

Scientists explore future tropical rainfall

Scientists explore future tropical rainfall
A new study, looks to the past to learn about the future of tropical climate change.

Doping in professional sport

Worldwide, governments and professional sporting bodies have expressed their outrage that the use of banned performance-enhancing drugs in professional sport has yet again come to the fore. Source

Drinking Soda Can Increase The Risk Of Kidney Stones

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/soda-day-ups-kidney-stone-risk-study-article-1.1346882
Drinking Soda Can Increase The Risk Of Kidney Stones
The study, published Wednesday in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, finds that drinking sugar-sweetened drinks makes the painful stones more likely to develop.

Healthy Monday Tip: Treat Depression With Exercise

People who have been diagnosed with depression may have a new treatment to consider.  Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have developed specific exercise guidelines for major depressive disorder (MDD).  While mental health professionals have previously acknowledged the healing potential of physical activity, this is the first time that a specific prescription for both the type and duration of exercise has been created.  The guidelines are presented in the May Journal of Psychiatric Practice.

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This Week on POPSUGAR Girls' Guide: DIY Party Poppers, Easy Manicure Ideas, Data Backup Tips, and More!

This Week on POPSUGAR Girls' Guide: DIY Party Poppers, Easy Manicure Ideas, Data Backup Tips, and More!

In case you missed it, here's the past week of POPSUGAR Girls' Guide at a glance! Leave us some comments (we'd love to know what you think), and make sure to subscribe to PSGG on YouTube so you never miss another episode.