Tag Archives: volleyball

Work it Off: 3 Warm Weather Workouts to Blast Away a 320-Calorie Bowl of Mac and Cheese

Portland houses the International Test Garden for roses, which basically means there are thousands of different varieties of the fragrant flower planted in a handful of large gardens around town. Thanks to our warmer than usual weather most of these are already in bloom, so earlier this week I decided to organize a picnic among the roses. To start I made a salad topped with strawberries straight out of my garden (those are already in season too!). For the main I made a tasty  dish with campanelli noodles, caramelized onions, fresh herbs, goat cheese, and a little bacon. While I thought of this as a fancy pasta dish my boyfriend pointed out that it was really just fancy mac and cheese. Tom-a-toes Tom-ah-toes, people!

mac and cheese

This dish was a hit and simple to make, but healthy it is not. For a 1/2 pound serving (which is a small bowl-full) this dish clocks in at 320 calories. Not awful at face value, but when you factor in the dish contains 7 grams of saturated fat and 850 mg of sodium—basically 35% of your recommended daily allowance of each—you can see why this was a meal I definitely needed to burn off, stat! (Here’s a healthy mac and cheese recipe to try, if the craving strikes.)

How could I melt away those 320 surplus calories? (more…)

Work it Off: 3 Ways to Burn Off a 387-Calorie Piece of Banana Cream Pie

banana cream pie

We just reported on the latest dessert trends, speculating that ice pops might be upsetting cupcakes as favorite sweet treat. But in Portland, pies are a pretty big deal. There are cream pies, fruit pies, and even savory pies, which are sort of like gourmet pot pies. And they are everywhere. At restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, and even a handful of pie-specific eateries.

This past week—last night to be exact—I gave in to the hype and ordered a slice of banana cream pie. And it was delicious. Real pieces of banana mixed in, a buttery crust that was definitely handmade, and a thick pile of whipped cream on top. Yum.

What was the damage? 387 delicious calories.

What were 3 ways I could have burned off the extra calories? (more…)

Red, White, and Blue 4th of July Activities to Get You Moving

by Kelsey Murray

The 4th of July is quickly approaching and along with lighting firecrackers and watching fireworks shows, many of us tend to eat a lot of high-calorie foods such as hamburgers and potato salad on this summer holiday. If you want to burn off these extra calories while still celebrating the holiday, try these red, white, and blue activities everyone will enjoy.

Red: For your red exercises, it’s time to regress to your childhood days. Find a red ball like the one you used to play with when you were younger. It could be a basketball, a tether ball, or even a baseball (the stitches are red) and then enlist a friend or family member to join you in the fun. Throw the ball back and forth, roll it down a hill and chase it, or just play a traditional game. Either way, using a red ball is a great way to get in some cardiovascular exercise this Fourth of July.

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Avoid Packing on the New Relationship Pounds

Dating – either as a single person or half of a committed couplecan make for a very exciting time. When you think of going on a date, most often you might envision dinner, maybe a movie, or coffee and dessert.

New relationships always seem to pack on the pounds. Many experts say it is because once you are comfortable, happy and secure in a relationship, you are not as diligent about your physical appearance. While in the beginning it is a nice feeling to be able to relax in a new and exciting relationship, a few months in, you may look in the mirror and wonder where all your hard work went.

Especially in the summer, dating can often involve activities and foods to keep your temperature down, but summer time dating doesn’t have to be a body buster. Instead of curling up with your cutie in a dark room, some ice cream and watching TV, here are some terrific summer date activities that will help you keep your cool, but won’t leave you running for a mu-mu to cover up your not quite ready for close up body.

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Best Gyms In Indianapolis

Indianapolis is Indiana’s state capitol and it’s largest city with a population of over 800,000 people. Indianapolis is the fourteenth largest city in the nation and the second most populated state capitol following Pheonix, Arizona. It’s climate is often compared to a humid continental climate with hot and humid summers and cold winters. Indianapolis is home to the Indianapolis Colts (football), Indiana Pacers (basketball), Indiana Fever (WNBA), and the Indianapolis 500.

Indianapolis is also home to some premier gyms. Look below to find the best gyms in Indianapolis.

  • Lifetime Fitness: Located on Castle Parkway, this facility has pretty much everything. If you are looking for an elite place to exercise, accompanied with a helpful and friendly staff, Lifetime Fitness is for you! (more…)

Olympic Volleyball Player Kerri Walsh Shares Her Fav Workout Gear

Kerri Walsh WorkoutFew things things inspire us to get moving like an Olympic athlete. Kerri Walsh, two-time gold medalist and mom, shares her favorite workout gear. Being properly equipped can make or break a workout, and we know Walsh spends a lot of time training, so she’s really got the insiders scoop.

Workout cloths should be comfortable and practical. “It is important that the clothing is made with a dry fit material to help with sweat,” Walsh says. But they don’t have to be frumpy. “When I am not feeling cute, I wear leggings to work out. I really love cropped leggings and a tank. Oh, and you cannot forget a good sports bra!” (more…)

Fun and Exercise at the Beach

dad at beachWhen you go to the beach, odds are pretty good that you go to relax. Lay on a towel, get some sun, maybe have a snack or two – make sure it’s a healthy one! But while you are relaxing by the water, there’s nothing wrong with trying to get a little exercise in while still enjoying the sand, fresh air, and surf. I went to the beach with my kids this past week, and while we all know that there’s NOTHING relaxing about that in general, I tried to spend half of the time active. I was mostly successful, thanks to the following tricks: (more…)

Outdoor Fitness Games For That Family Get Together

basketballFamily outings and reunions are very popular this time of year and sometimes can be rather boring if you’re not at the lake or other hot spot. I love being outdoors and playing games with the family to waste away a nice relaxing weekend. But make sure to stay well hydrated during the day to avoid any serious injury.

Top Outdoor Family Games/Activities

1. Swimming- Hit that local pool with the family; nothing better than a nice dip on a hot summer day.

2. Playing Catch- Playing catch with a football/baseball is a good way to bond with one another.

3. Volleyball- Set up a small volleyball net in the yard and get a quick game going; fun for all.

3. Basketball- Shoot some hoops or have a nice game of “HORSE”.

4. Croquet- Great game for the entire group; make sure to look up the rules because it’s more fun if you know how to play.

5. Horseshoes- Put a couple rods down and have a good round of shoes; great partner game.

6. Washers- Kind of like horseshoes and challenging as well.

7. Frisbee- Fun, fun, fun; it’s all in the flick of the wrist.