Learn Your Burn: Labor Day Activities

This long Labor Day weekend, many of us have been taking advantage of the Summer sun, finally getting to that home renovation, or maybe just relaxing. No matter what you’re doing, busy holidays may mean taking a break from your grueling workout routine. Not to worry, your leisure time can still be a calorie buster . Find out how many calories your holiday plans have been whittling away. All calculations are based on a 130-pound woman. Source: Flickr User owlhere View Slideshow ›

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Learn Your Burn: Labor Day Activities

Smarter Eats: Meat Safety

Veggies and grains take up most of the real estate on my meal plates, but when it comes to protein, I enjoy the lean varieties of fish and chicken. But I am no stranger to beef and pork, either. Though I make my best effort to shop with a grocery list, I can end up at the supermarket without a game plan and eyes bigger than my stomach. When faced with an overabundance of produce, I tend to make tons of salad and sides, but when it comes to having too much raw meat, I know I can freeze it. To eliminate the risk of food-borne illness from meat that has made a turn for the worse, I follow these rules of thumb : Fish and poultry should be cooked or frozen with two days of purchasing. Same goes for ground meat and uncooked sausages. Cook beef, lamb, and pork within three to five days of purchase or freeze. When freezing, keep meat in butcher paper since the sticker will have the information about the cut of meat and the date purchased, but do use the added protection of heavy-duty plastic wrap or a freezer-grade plastic bag. If you’re barbecuing this holiday weekend, brush up on your food safety tips for your kitchen prep, grill, and buffet.

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Smarter Eats: Meat Safety

Do You Overindulge on Holidays?

The Fourth of July is filled with so much barbecue goodness. It’s hard to resist overindulging on all the homemade hamburgers, BBQ ribs, and creamy potato salad. I definitely overate this weekend, but I’m OK with it, since it was a holiday. I won’t let a little splurging throw me off track completely. What about you? Are holidays a reason to eat whatever you want, or is it just another day of healthy eating for you? Do You Overindulge on Holidays? Of course! What’s a holiday without some yummy food? It depends on the holiday. No way. I always stay on track no matter what.

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Do You Overindulge on Holidays?

Run on the Fourth of July

Celebrate Independence Day by participating in a fun run or road race. The Fourth is the biggest road racing day of the year . In fact, the day boasts the largest road race in the world - the Peach Tree Road Race in Atlanta, GA, where 55,000 runners will take to the streets. Some races feature picnic fare themes like the Watermelon 5k Run or Walk in Winter Park, FL, or the Fourth of July Pickle Run in Media, PA. But the Firecracker 10k in Santa Cruz, CA, celebrates the holiday with a postrace pancake breakfast. There are over 400 events on the Fourth, including some cooling open water swims, and they’re all listed at Active.com - so surely you should be able to find a run near you. Let freedom ring run!

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Run on the Fourth of July

BBQ Condiment Breakdown

When it comes to barbecue fare, ketchup mustard, and relish are necessary accessories for most grillables. If you like to dress up your dog with condiments take a few moments to learn how many calories those little dollops add to your meal. Learn the nutritional stats on all the fixings when you read more. 2 tbsp Calories Fat (g) Sodium (mg) Carbs (g) Fiber (g) Sugars (g) Protein (g) Heinz Ketchup 30 0 380 8 0 8 0 Heinz Organic Ketchup 40 0 380 10 0 8 0 Simply Heinz Ketchup 40 0 380 10 0 8 0 Heinz One Carb Ketchup 10 0 380 2 0 2 0 French’s Classic Yellow Mustard (2 tsp) 0 0 110 2 0 1 0 Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard and Country Mustard 28 0 680 0 0 0 0 French’s Honey Mustard (2 tsp) 20 0 60 1 0 0 0 Kraft Mayonnaise 180 20 140 0 0 0 0 Bread and Butter Pickles (1 slice) 6 0 54 1.5 .1 .7 .1 Sweet Pickle Relish 39 .1 243 10.5 .3 4.8 .1 Frank’s Red Hot Sauce (1 tsp) 0 0 200 0 0 0 0 Chili Sauce 20 2 70 10.5 0 0 .1 BBQ Sauce 21 .5 231 3.6 .3 1.1 .5

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BBQ Condiment Breakdown

Fourth of July: Find a Race!

Filed under: Fitness , Running Curtis Compton, Atlanta Journal-Constitution / MCT What do your Fourth of July plans include? A barbecue? Fireworks? Maybe watching a parade and snagging a few pieces of candy? While all of that sounds fun, you might be surprised to learn that July 4 is actually the biggest race day of the year , according to Active.com. What that means is that there’s likely a race near you that will tickle your fancy. Are you a sucker for tradition? If you’re in the Fairport, N.Y. area, be sure to check out the Fleet Feet Firecracker 5-mile . Established in 1976, this is one of the oldest Fourth of July weekend races out there, but take note: This race is on Saturday, July 3, not on the official holiday. If you like running with a large group, why not join in the AJC Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, Ga. (pictured here)? It’s been the largest 10K race since the late 1970s with 55,000 participants. (Fun fact: the race requires 3,400 volunteers and 700 porta potties. Yikes!) Of course, there’s nothing like keeping it local on a fun-filled weekend. You can search for races near you on Fourth of July weekend (or any time) by filling in the search fields on Active.com . Narrow the choices by sport, date, and how far you’re willing to travel! If you plan to get active this holiday weekend, ready up on these summer running mistakes to avoid. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Fourth of July: Find a Race!

‘Rescue Me’ Star Callie Thorne Ended Knee Problems With Exercise

Filed under: Fitness , Celebs & Entertainment Jim Spellman, WireImage.com Callie Thorne is a workout convert. For most of her life, the 40-year-old star of FX ’s “Rescue Me” could never find a regime that resonated with her. She’s tried everything over the years, from at-home Tae Bo DVDs to yoga classes, but nothing stuck. After hitting the gym with a personal trainer and concentrating on building muscle, she has found that gaining strength, rather than worrying about her waist size, keeps her coming back for more. Thorne talked to That’s Fit about her hard-won love of fitness, plus what we can expect on the new, and final, season of the show. That’s Fit: How did you used to approach working out? Callie Thorne: I was the last person you would find in the gym. I don’t like classes; I always thought people were staring and judging me, thinking “she’s completely a spazz attack.” I felt like I was being punished, and after getting sore or sweating, I would just think, “this is not enjoyable to me.” TF: What changed for you? CT: I realized that I’m not doing this to make me thinner, but I’m very much concerned with being stronger. I always thought I had bad knees . I used to play soccer, and my knees, elbows and shoulders would get really really achy, and it was very painful. I would struggle if I was sitting down on the ground. I just thought that pain was something I had to live with my whole life. I thought it was age or soccer, so I never put any thought into making any sort of change. In fact, I was just really, really weak. And now, it’s completely gone. It’s a completely different feeling each day, and I love feeling that change in my body. TF: What do you do in the gym? CT: Free weights and cardio on the bike or the treadmill — never the elliptical . I’m constantly afraid of punching myself in the eye on the elliptical! I do lunges with and without weights, as well as step-up lunges. At the end of each sessions, we do MAT muscle work, where my trainer tests the different muscles and joints. I can’t wait to get to the end of the session to see my progress. TF: What about your diet? CT: It’s getting better. I love drinking nutritional protein shakes with my sister and her family. If left to my own devices, I could eat a bag full of Goldfish for dinner and be fine. TF: What’s new this season for Sheila on “Rescue Me”? CT: For six seasons, her entire existence has revolved around manipulating and blackmailing people. And for so many years, everything was blowing up in her face. This season, it’s her attempt at a completely different angle. Her son Damon is now in the firehouse. She thinks she is settling into a life of a selfless mother, but she’s really still crazy and up to her old tricks. It doesn’t work, but in the most wonderful ways. Thorne is not alone. Find out how you can manage pain through exercise. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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‘Rescue Me’ Star Callie Thorne Ended Knee Problems With Exercise

Jillian Michaels: Don’t Always Suck It Up

Filed under: Diet & Weight Loss , Celebs & Entertainment NBC Jillian Michaels traveled to Springfield, Tenn. this week on “Losing It with Jillian” to help the Vivios, a family that thrives on football and community and where even mom, Laverne, is over six feet tall. But a setback in the health of the father, Mark, has created a family crisis — but here comes Jillian to help them live healthy and more connected lives. You can get fit whenever you want. Mark has had heart problems for the past year and recently underwent his eleventh procedure to try to stabilize him. He has been restricted only to walking for exercise. “You can get fit and healthy under any and every circumstance,” Jillian told him at the first family workout. The rest of the Vivios were getting busy with cement blocks, truck tires and sledgehammers — and even 14-year-old, 330-pound Elijah was pulling a tractor with Jillian along for a ride across the field. Jillian was impressed with the workout . “Most families don’t make it five minutes,” she said. “I’m killing them and they’re taking it. They’re rockstars.” You can leave obesity behind. Jillian sits down with Elijah for a heart-to-heart and talks about her own struggles with weight. “I was a fat kid , too. Did you know that?” she asked. “It was right about your age that I got help. My mom got me into martial arts and I had people that I could turn to that would support me.” Elijah said that his mom would help him and Jillian encouraged him to open up more with both parents, especially his dad. Suck it up. Mark was forced to close his roofing business due to his medical problems. He is now driving a school bus to help pay tuition for his older boys in college. Jillian has a sit-down with him about his past sporting glory. ” Football has some really good life lessons,” said Mark. “If you’re tired during the day, you suck it up and keep going. I got that from my father, too.” Jillian asked if his father ever said I love you to him. “To this day he still can’t do that,” Mark said. “I don’t think this suck it up thing is working so well,” said Jillian. Jillian is as tough as they get, but she also shows that tough doesn’t have to come at the expense of sharing emotions. The fall of man . A bridge on the property washed away three months after it was built by Mark. This coincided with his heart problems and the family has since started referring to the remains of the bridge as “The Fall of Man.” The Vivios come together in the field to demolish the bridge’s remains and begin to build a new one. They also begin to set their goals for the eight weeks that Jillian will be away. Find a way, even a small one, to take back control of your life and your health may follow. They all set weight goals, and Elijah tells his Dad that one of his goals should be to stop saying, “Suck it up.” Eight weeks later, the family reconvenes at a brand new bridge and walks across one by one to show off their results. Laverne has lost 31 pounds, Elijah is down 50, and Mark has dropped 56 pounds and his heart has stabilized. They christen the bridge and get the requisite $50,000 to help them get back on their feet. “Reclaiming your life, being an inspiration to yourself and your community, and paying it forward is so important,” said Jillian. Amen to that. See how Jillian has helped other families reach their weight, and life, goals. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Jillian Michaels: Don’t Always Suck It Up

Predict the Oscar Winners and Win a Prize Package!

The Oscars are just a few days away, and we have everything you need for the big night! First, check out our brand-new printable ballot -  download by clicking here . It’s the perfect addition to your Oscar night, whether you’re having a big bash or just want to compete with your friends. Plus, Yum has all the details on the Governors Ball menu and party planning tips for your own Oscars bash. You, too, can be a winner: if you’ve yet to fill out my Oscar ballot , then you’re missing out! You could win a huge DVD prize package, so be sure pick your choice in each and every category to be eligible to win. Need help choosing? Get hints with my category breakdowns . The grand prize includes limited-edition items from four Oscar nominated films: Up in the Air , Star Trek , The Lovely Bones , and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen , courtesy of our friends at Paramount Pictures ! That’s not all - the winner will also receive the ultimate Oscar movie collection: a 30-plus DVD package from Paramount of past Academy Award-winning films including such favorites as American Beauty , Gladiator , Forrest Gump , Ghost , The Godfather , Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark , Sunset Boulevard , The Curious Case of Benjamin Button , Saving Private Ryan , There Will Be Blood , Titanic , Love Story , Roman Holiday , Fatal Attraction , Witness , Romeo and Juliet , and much, much more! All you have to do to enter is click here and start making your Oscar winner picks . You must be a registered member of the PopSugar Network to join in, and if you’re not a member yet, that’s OK: just go here to sign up . Check out the official rules here , and you have until noon PST on March 7 to enter - so start predicting your winners now!

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Predict the Oscar Winners and Win a Prize Package!

Valentine’s Dessert: Frozen Raspberry Creamy, Dreamy Pie

Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special someone, friends, family, or you’re soloing it this Sunday, this holiday just isn’t the same without delving into a sweet, creamy, dreamy treat. Of course, I know you also don’t want to burst out of your new Valentine’s Day outfit, so here’s a frozen dessert that’s full of fresh flavor and a luscious texture that screams decadence, but won’t break the calorie bank. To learn how to make this frozen raspberry pie, keep reading

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Valentine’s Dessert: Frozen Raspberry Creamy, Dreamy Pie

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