An 83-year-old Edmonton man is calling for a review of seniors' care in Alberta, sharing his deaf wife's story to underline the need for more compassionate care.
Just because you’re at the beach doesn’t mean your healthy lifestyle goals have to go on vacation. In fact, it can actually be a lot of fun to get in a workout on the beach. If you pick the right activity, you’ll be enjoying yourself too much to even realize that you’re exercising. And beach cardio and strength training activities can seriously bust calories. Here are seven we love:
1. Jump in!
Whether it’s swimming, boogie boarding or kayaking, water activities can be a really fun way to burn calories. Even just leisurely swimming around the ocean for an hour can burn more than 300 calories. But add in some wave jumping and you can really boost that number. An hour of kayaking will help you build upper body strength while also burning 272 calories per hour. Boogie boarding can burn close to 140 calories.
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2. Toss a Frisbee
In general, an hour of Frisbee burns around 136 calories. But when you add in running through the soft sand—which provides some natural resistance—that number can climb. Make it fun and challenging by throwing near the water and diving into the waves. You won’t even realize you’re doing some serious cardio!
3. Dig & Build
If you have kids at the beach with you, chances are they’re busying themselves building a sand castle. This is a great opportunity for you to make childhood memories and burn some extra calories. If you do a lot of digging and transporting of wet sand or water, you could potentially burn more than 200 calories in an hour. The idea is to try to stay active instead of sitting the entire time. Maybe even do a few bicep curls every time you transport a bucket of water—or jog back and forth from the ocean. It may sound silly but it’s an easy way to maximize the calorie melt while still spending quality time with the family.
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Read More4. Spike a Ball
Beach volleyball is an excellent workout and can burn as much as 500 calories in an hour. Playing in the sand can make it much more challenging—and calorie smashing—than typical lawn volleyball and it’s easy to work up a good sweat even in a moderately paced game. Just be sure to drink plenty of water during this often-intense aerobic workout.
5. Play Paddleball
Like volleyball, playing paddleball or other beach racquet sports can also be a great calorie burner. An hour of paddleball can burn between 350 and 600 calories, depending on your level of competition. Any cardio that you can fit in while also having fun is a weight loss win-win.
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Read More6. Take a Walk
Walking for exercise can burn close to 200 calories an hour on a flat, firm surface—without any hills. But walking on the uneven sand boosts the burn. Adding weight also increases the effort so if you’re pushing a jogging stroller or even carrying your beach gear, you’ll burn even more. To add to your workout, consider doing squats each time you bend down for a shell. You’ll tone up while also collecting pretty treasures.
7. Water Jogging
Obviously a jog on the beach is going to burn a lot of calories—500 or more in an hour depending on your pace. But jogging isn’t for everyone and many find jogging on the sand to be especially challenging. If you fit that category, take your jog to the water! “Jogging” in the ocean—or pool—is easier on the joints and still burns close to 500 calories in an hour.
*All calorie estimations based on a 150 pound woman and sourced from the database at www.calorielab.com.
The post 7 Fun Ways to Burn Calories at the Beach appeared first on The Leaf.
Children, teens and young adults with private health benefits will no longer be eligible to receive free prescriptions through OHIP+, newly appointed Health Minister Christine Elliott announced on Saturday.
Eating food that’s been cooked over an open flame calls to mind warm days spent relaxing in the sun. Even on an ordinary weekday, grilled food makes a meal feel more festive. Grilling is a quick way to cook all kinds of healthy foods and it keeps your kitchen clean, too. Best of all, grilling adds delicious flavor without loading up on the calories.
You probably already use your grill to cook steak, chicken, burgers and hot dogs, but many other foods taste awesome when grilled.
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Read MoreLooking for some good BBQ ideas?
Consider these awesome options when you have the urge to cook out this season.
Tuna, salmon and other cold-water fish are PowerFuels, meaning they’re rich in protein and healthy fats. The omega-3 fatty acids that are abundant in these types of fish help protect you from heart disease. Look for thick, meaty “steaks,” because they hold up best on the grill.
Tip: Marinades add flavor to fresh fish and they help keep the food from sticking to the grates. Look for marinades that have little or no oil and are low in salt.
Shrimp, clams, and mussels are tasty sources of lean protein that are full of essential minerals. Shellfish cook quickly on the grill and give you that beach clambake flavor—even at home. Brush shrimp lightly with olive oil before grilling. Grill clams and mussels with the deep side of the shell down on the grate.
Tip: Cook shellfish over direct heat and avoid opening the grill cover too often so that you keep the heat in. You don’t want to slow the cooking time or the shellfish will get too chewy.
Instead of grilling another burger, try a meaty Portobello mushroom. This tasty vegetable source of protein is high in fiber and potassium. After cleaning the mushrooms and removing the stems (which you can use for another dish), marinate the tops in light vinaigrette for at least an hour. Grill them over medium heat for about seven minutes, then turn them over and cook for another five minutes.
Tip: Baste the mushrooms lightly with leftover marinade while they are on the grill to keep them moist.
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Wood-fired pies are so popular at restaurants and you can replicate that flavor in your own backyard. Then top your grilled pizza with your favorite vegetables, so it comes with healthy nutrients and fiber. Start with whole wheat pizza dough or flatbread brushed lightly with olive oil on one side. Place it side-down over indirect heat for one to two minutes, until the dough or bread starts to bubble. Remove it from the heat, adding low-sodium sauce, a sprinkling of fat-free cheese and grilled or roasted vegetables. Put the pie back on the grill for about five minutes, until cheese has melted.
Tip: Preheating is important whenever you grill, but it’s especially critical if you want pizza crust that’s crisp and not doughy.
Summer’s most popular vegetable becomes sweeter and richer in flavor when it’s cooked quickly over an open flame. Slice the tomatoes into halves, brush them with a bit of olive oil on the cut side and grill them over high heat for no more than two minutes. Use the grilled tomatoes with basil and a splash of herbed vinegar to make a side dish that’s high in nutrients and low in calories.
Tip: Use the meatiest tomatoes you can find for grilling. Paste varieties work especially well.
You can enjoy the savory, smoky flavor of flame-cooked food in a salad by lightly grilling heads of romaine lettuce, radicchio and other firm greens. Cut the heads in half, brush them with a little olive oil and place them right on the grates. Cook your greens on direct, medium heat for about two minutes, then turn and grill for another two minutes.
Tip: For a heartier dish, fill the grilled leaves with a whole grain or tuna salad.
Grilling citrus fruit brings out a bit of sweetness that contrasts its naturally tart flavor, while also adding a hint of smokiness. Squeeze charred lemon on fresh fish or vegetables, or use it as the acidic ingredient in homemade vinaigrette.
Tip: Cut lemons through the middle (not lengthwise) and place the cut side down on the grill, directly over the flame, for about three minutes.
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Read MoreThe post BBQ Ideas: 7 Foods That Taste Better Grilled appeared first on The Leaf.
Whether you’re on vacation, at a BBQ with friends, or juggling the kids now that they’re out of school, creating and sticking to your health goals can be pretty tricky.
To make things even harder, it seems as if summertime introduces a whole new line of tasty temptations that are basically calling your name! Did someone hear an ice cream truck?
To help battle these cravings, I’ve put together the Three C’s of summertime snacking to help you use snacks to reach your weight loss goals!
Having all three of my boys home for the summer while still working full-time results in life being a little crazy for me.
It seems as if I’m always rushing to a meeting, picking someone up from a playdate, or just trying to come up with a fun agenda for the day!
If you’re ANYTHING like me, we can definitely agree that convenience is KEY when it comes to summertime snacking.
If I plan or pack something messy or complicated, I know I’ll just end up ditching it for an easier option. That’s why I need something I can pack and eat on-the-go with ease.
Some of my go-to’s are cut up apples, IdealBars, carrot sticks, IdealChips, and almonds!
They’re all super easy to pack the night before, and perfect for me to eat while I’m driving, sitting at my desk, or playing with my boys.
It’s crazy and honestly a little depressing to find out how many calories some of our favorite summertime snacks actually have! It’s so important not to indulge blindly in these summer sweets, but rather to be aware of what we’re putting into our bodies. When we eat better, we feel better.
So instead of snow cones or ice cream, try opting for a colorful fruit salad or a “nice cream” recipe (see here).
Avoiding those sneaky calories and being aware of the nutrition provided by your snacks will help you stay on track and reach your weight-loss goals!
Everything seems more vibrant in the summer, so shouldn’t your snacks be too? I love to browse my local farmers market with my boys to pick out all of the colorful fruits that are in season.
Not only does this help teach them about eating healthy, but it’s also loads of fun! To fuel us for the upcoming week we stock up on berries, watermelon, and more!
I like to wash and cut up the fruit when we get home, then put them all into little baggies or Tupperware to make it super easy for us to grab them as we head out for the day.
My sons even enjoy doing color-themed days where we only eat fruit that matches the color they’ve selected. It makes things a little more fun, and gets them more involved in their snacking options!
Snacking can definitely be a major roadblock when you’re trying to lose weight, but it can also be your secret weapon helping you reach your goals!
Just make sure to pick wholesome, healthy snacks, and stick with my three C’s, and you’ll be set up for snacking success this summer!
The post Summer Snacking Made Easy appeared first on IdealShape.
The wrists and forearms are one of the most underdeveloped muscles on the body of the average person. You hear regular gym-goers talk all the time about how great of a chest day or leg day they had, but when was the last time you actually heard someone say that they were going to work on their forearms or wrists in their next workout? Probably not very often, and that is very peculiar seeing as both the forearms and wrists are commonly injured on most people when doing very regular everyday activities, such as picking up a heavy box or using your hands to help yourself up off the couch, as well as various exercises at the gym too. It’s insane that the forearms and wrists get ignored in the average workout program, especially once you really take the time to know its importance.
Being in the gym world, I hear from clients often about having soreness in their wrists & forearms and as a result, they usually struggle with bodyweight exercises such as pushups or dips. Most people who have that type of soreness or pain in those muscles usually want to strengthen them, but oftentimes don’t know what to do to build those muscles.
So with that in mind, we’ve provided you with a 2 day per week routine to help you to strengthen your wrists and forearms today!
These muscles are just like any other muscle, in that if you exercise them correctly, you can make excellent strides in decreasing any pain and reducing the risk of any future wrist or forearm injuries.
Perform the following routine 2 – 3 days per week for the next 4 weeks to help you to strengthen your forearms and wrists today:
Grab the handles on your Total Gym FIT and flex your wrist down as far as you can while holding yourself up on the sliding board. Hold your wrist flexed for 30 – 60 seconds with your elbows straight. (3 sets of 30 second holds)
Grab the handles on your Total Gym FIT and flex your wrist up as far as you can while holding yourself up on the sliding board. Hold your wrist flexed for 30 – 60 seconds with your elbows straight. (3 sets of 30 second holds)
Begin by grabbing the handles on your Total Gym FIT with the outside of your forearms rested on your thighs and palms facing upward. Now flex your wrist upward with the handles in your hand and slowly come back to the starting position to complete each rep. (2 sets of 25 reps)
Begin by grabbing the handles on your Total Gym FIT with the inside of forearms on your thighs and palms facing downward. Now flex your wrist upward with the handles in your hand and slowly come back to the starting position to complete each rep. (2 sets of 25 reps)
In as little as 4 weeks, I guarantee that you will see and feel the difference in your forearms if you consistently follow the above training program. Don’t wait until you are already experiencing pain in those muscles to begin working them, be proactive and start today.
As if the fun exercises listed above was not incentive enough for you to want to immediately start your strength training, then hopefully the following reasons will resonate with you. Here’s a top 10 list of why you should train your forearms and wrist!
1) To rehab and/or prevent injury in your wrists and forearms
2) To increase the strength and flexibility in your wrists and forearms
3) To help increase your overall strength by helping your other muscles
4) To prevent serious medical conditions such as osteoporosis and arthritis
5) To help you climb better
6) To develop a strong grip
7) To develop a strong, solid handshake
8) To provide you with a foundation for your other lifts at the gym
9) To give your forearms a stronger appearance
10) To help you with exercises such as pushups or dips
So there you have it, 10 reasons why you should exercise your forearm and wrists.
No workout program on earth should exclude wrist and forearm strengthening exercises because simply put, it is just that important to the performance of your body and achieving optimal levels of health and fitness.
The post Total Gym Wrist and Forearm Exercises appeared first on Total Gym Pulse.
My name is Angela Tuggle. I am a 47-year-old wife, mother of two beautiful daughters and Mimi to two precious grandsons.
My story really isn’t any different than a lot of women out there. I got married young and we started a family right away. Before you know it, everyday life takes hold and you find yourself so busy taking care of everyone else that you’ve neglected yourself. When I found out I was going to be a Mimi a couple of years ago, something clicked inside of me and I decided it was time to make some changes.
I started a diet program and walking. I had great success and lost 60 pounds, but then hit a plateau. I was watching television and a Total Gym infomercial came on. I listened to all the testimonials and decided why not give it a try. I have had my Total Gym for a little over a year now. Since I began using my Total Gym, I have lost an additional 40 pounds for a total weight loss of 100 pounds!
The Total Gym has made me feel fit, strong and alive. I have that youthful glow again. I have an abundance of old fashioned energy. I have confidence. I can truly say that I am in the best shape of my life. This is a look stunning, feel stunning, I’ve never felt so alive lifestyle. I’ve become who I’ve always been meant to be: Gorgeous, vibrant and unstoppable! I promise you are going to love it. Give Total Gym a try.
Favorite workouts/exercises:
Workout developed by a Total Gym user, not a fitness professional.
The post Total Gym Addicts, Angela’s Story appeared first on Total Gym Pulse.
