Issue Date: June 8, 2008
Adventures for singles
Solo travelers can hike, bike and more.
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Singles who want to bike, hike or kayak with like-minded solo travelers can turn to a host of adventure travel companies that have designed trips with this group in mind.
For all: OARS has rafting trips for singles on Idaho's Salmon River and Colorado's Green River. The World Outdoors takes solo travelers hiking in Yosemite National Park, while Backroads has a biking itinerary through the wine country of Napa and Sonoma.
For women: Companies such as Adventure Women cater to female travelers with rafting trips through the Grand Canyon and horseback riding in Yellowstone National Park. Country Walkers has a women-only fall foliage walk in Vermont. And REI Adventures offers women backpacking in Joshua Tree National Park or rock climbing in North Carolina.
More information: You can find a range of solo trips by joining Connecting: Solo Travel Network for a $50 lifetime membership fee.
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Get a beach-ready body
Armed with a proper diet and fitness strategy, you can tighten up trouble zones in just a matter of weeks and feel more confident about getting into those trunks or that two-piece. Here, David Barton, fitness expert and owner of David Barton Gyms (davidbartongym.com), shares some tips for seeing speedy results:
DO CARDIO IN THE MORNING. Levels of glycogen (stored sugar your body uses for energy) are low, so fat can be used for fuel.
ADD CARDIO INTERVALS. Run intensely for three minutes, walk for two, then repeat. By doing this, you'll trick your body into expending maximal energy -- and burning the most calories.
LIFT WEIGHTS. In the long run, no one gets lean with cardio alone. Doing strength training will result in a faster metabolism and a leaner body.
SHAKE UP YOUR ROUTINE. Your body responds well to unaccustomed activity; change exercise, speed, amount of weight or number of reps/sets.
EAT FIVE SMALL MEALS A DAY to keep blood sugar stable and tame hunger. Plus, satisfy carb cravings in the morning or after a workout, when the carbs you eat will replace depleted glycogen stores.
Contact Jorge Cruise, author of "The 12-Second Sequence," at 12second.com.
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Is your fashion eco-friendly?
From organic cotton to hemp clothing, eco-friendly fashions are all the rage. The problem is, it's hard to tell what really helps the planet and what's just hype. Summer Bowen, founder of eco-boutique BTC Elements, points out a few things to look for:
Durability. Seek items that must meet high quality standards. "Part of going green is making sure the clothing will last a long time in our customers' wardrobes," Bowen says.
Labels. Look for 100% organic cotton. Some items have as little as 5%.
Secondhand shops. "This is especially eco-fashionable, as there are no new resources being used," Bowen says.
Country of origin. Select clothing that is made in the USA. If not, it might be from a sweatshop.
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Fast, refreshing salad
Adding a little high-antioxidant mint gives this salad a pleasant taste surprise. Oranges, romaine lettuce and onions also are packed with health-protecting antioxidants.
Minty Orange Salad
1 Valencia orange, peeled and cut into chunks
3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chopped red onions
2 Tbs. chopped fresh mint
Dressing:
3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tb. balsamic vinegar
1 Tb. orange juice
1 garlic clove, crushed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients. In a medium bowl, toss salad with dressing.
Serves 4
Per serving: 174 calories, 9g carbohydrates, 2g protein, 15g fat (2g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 3g fiber, 7mg sodium
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