Outside Workouts? YOU BET!

Melissa's Tip of the Week is designed to help you and your family live happier, healthier lives. View this email in your browser

The Weather is finally shaping up... The Arctic Vortex is over for now, and with milder temperatures comes the possibility of taking your exercise outdoors! So it's decision time...what fun activities are you going to try?  Think outside the box:  roller blading, cycling, running are just a few of the typical choices, but what about getting on your child's Rip Stick?  Get on the trampoline and jump around, play like a kid with your children or grandchildren by starting a good old fashioned game of Tag.  Try something new you haven't done.  This summer is your summer to LIVE! When considering outdoor activities, don't forget the safety, for you and your significant others.  Helmets and no Ipod while riding a bike are crucial to your safety on the road, and pay attention to your surroundings!  Cars are not necessarily looking out for you, so you need be watching for them.  Don't just protect your kids or grandkids, your safety is important, too.  If you get hurt, you can't take care of anyone else, so be aware!  Proper shoes for running, pads and a helmet for roller blading, and common sense will go a long way toward helping you enjoy your best summer yet!

Pilates Exercise of the Week, The Hundred!  Look carefully at the picture:  the only complaint I have about form is on the third picture.  You need to look toward your thighs, like in the second option--otherwise, well, you get the picture. You have the three options:  in the first, legs are in a table top, but the head is resting on the floor.  You use percussive breathing, and pump the arms lightly 100 times. Option two, the table top is still the leg option, but now you've added the C shaped spine in the upper body where the shoulder blades are up off the mat.  Pump the arms and breathe 100 times. Option three, the legs are at 45 degrees, add the C shaped spine, and pump the arms and breathe 100 times.  Great for the core!  Come to Pilates at 8:15 am Tuesdays and Thursdays at Northshore.   Strawberry and Spinach Salad TOTAL TIME: Prep: 25 min. + chilling MAKES: 10 servings Ingredients   1/3 cup olive oil   1/4 cup sugar   3 tablespoons white or balsamic vinegar   2 tablespoons sesame seeds   1 tablespoon poppy seeds   1 tablespoon chopped onion   1/4 teaspoon paprika   1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce   1 package (9 ounces) fresh spinach, trimmed   4 cups fresh strawberries, sliced   1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted Nutritional Facts 1 cup equals 141 calories, 11 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 23 mg sodium, 11 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 2 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 fat, 1/2 starch. Directions Place the first eight ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake well. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Just before serving, combine the remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Shake dressing and drizzle over salad; toss to coat. Yield: 10 servings.