If you’re ready for a challenge, try paintball! Paintball is exercise wrapped in fun with some strategy and skill on the side.
Paintball is basically your old neighborhood Capture the Flag, so you know the basics – try to get the other team’s “flag” back to your home base without getting hit.
Wear your old clothes, then rent time and equipment at a local paintball park. If you have teenagers, this is a great family activity, otherwise get all your friends together for a paintball challenge (boys against the girls is fun). It’s also a great family reunion activity option!
Be prepared for running, ducking and even crawling around the bunkers. You’ll get quite a workout!
Summertime is pesto time, so here’s a healthy non-dairy pesto that you can put together while the pasta boils. Be sure to serve a vegetable side dish – perhaps a quick stirfry of summer squash ribbons?
Try the leftovers cold, mixed with veggies, and served over a bed of salad greens.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ Bow Ties with Pesto adapted from The Engine 2 Diet, by Rip Esselstyn Green * Serves 4
3 cloves garlic, peeled
1 cup raw walnuts, lightly toasted in a dry skillet
3 bunches (2 cups) fresh basil, packed
1/2 cup soy milk, or other milk substitute (rice milk, almond milk, oat milk), or water
16 ounces whole grain bow ties, cooked according to package directions (reserve a little of the cooking water)
Blend the garlic and the nuts briefly in a food processor. Add the basil and liquid, and process to a thick consistency. Toss well with the pasta – use the reserved pasta water, a little at a time, if you need to thin it out.
Marilu is teaching The Role of Your Life workshop at the world-renowned Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health the weekend of July 2-5, 2010. That’s only a month away!
Treat yourself to an amazing health retreat and take the class with Marilu. There are also evening activities (a chanting concert and a salsa dance party are currently on the schedule for that weekend, as well as regular evening programs) and yoga classes for all experience levels. Oh, and the food is good, too. This is a great opportunity to experience one of the best health retreat centers in the world – with Marilu.
Register by calling 1-866-200-5203. Don’t delay – this is your perfect midsummer vacation!
Your bed makes a big difference in how you sleep. Are you getting the most from your bed?
Is your bed older than 15 years? You probably need a new one.
Do you regularly flip and spin your (traditional) mattress? It lasts longer if you do. Flip your mattress (top to bottom) in odd months and spin it (head to toe) in even months for even wear.
Is it the right firmness/softness for you? It’s a matter of taste here, but get the one that helps you sleep.
Are your sheets made from natural fibers? Synthetics are scratchier, as well as less breathable. 100% cotton is affordable.
Are your sheets a texture you like? Cotton, cotton knit, flannel, satin – you have choices. You can even change them based on the season (or celebration).
Do you have the right blankets? Change them with the season – lightweight cotton in the summer, wool or even a comforter in the winter.
Are your pillows giving you the right support? Get a pillow to match your sleep habits – back, side, and stomach sleepers have different requirements.
If someone told you that you could look younger, feel better, boost your energy level, and keep yourself healthy, wouldn’t you want to know how to do that? It’s simple, it’s cheap, and it’s as easy as getting a good night’s sleep.
~ Marilu Henner, Total Health Makeover , page 148
What is a good night’s sleep? It’s probably between 6-9 hours long (and that depends on your body, so be honest when you think about it). It’s uninterrupted – by sound, light, temperature, and needing to go to the bathroom. It starts as early before midnight as you can manage.
That last one may sound odd, but it’s true – the more hours of sleep you get before midnight, the more rested and refreshed you’ll feel from your sleep. If you can get to bed by 10 PM, that’s great.
Experiment with your sleep time and find what works best for you.
Online classes at Marilu.com are for members only. Just become a member and all classes are included! Even our ongoing 30-day Total Health Makeover® class that starts every Monday. Once you’re a member, check out the Member Message Boards (log in and check the Community tab). On the first day of class, you’ll get an email with all the class info. It’s that simple!
Here’s what’s coming up this summer…
JUNE Summer Fit + Style
Monday, June 7 through Sunday, June 13 with Coach Beth Miriam
Look hot this summer with clothes that fit your body and your style. Make a positive impact and first impression.
JULY Viva La Vegan
with Coaches JanB and VeganKrya (a dynamic vegan mother-daughter duo)
Loads of vegan recipes and info about vegan living! You don’t have to be a vegan to take this class – join Jan and Kyra and learn what it means to be a vegan.
Family-friendly pasta topped with a few vegetables is perfect for a lighter summer meal.
If your kids are young, chop the veggies in smaller pieces. Kids don’t like to eat veggies that fill their mouths – they like small bites. It’s a small thing that makes a big difference when feeding your children.
Remember, you can always add chopped greens when cooking the vegetables, to add more nutrients (and build on the “there’s green stuff in everything, so it’s never weird” plan).
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ Pasta Primavera Blue * Serves 4
1-1/2 cups vegetable stock (try Imagine Foods’ vegetable broth)
2 sprigs fresh thyme
pinch of salt
1/2 cup peeled and diced organic carrots
1/2 cup organic cauliflower florets
1 cup organic broccoli florets
1/2 cup finely chopped organic greens (kale, chard, spinach), optional
1/2 cup organic frozen peas
1 pound penne pasta
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 cup soy parmesan cheese (or try The Vegetarian Express Parma Zaan Sprinkles (soy-free))
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, bring 1 cup of the stock to a boil. Add the thyme and salt. Add the carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli (and chopped greens, if using). Cook about 6-7 minutes. Add the peas and cook until all the veggies are tender, about 2-3 more minutes. Turn off the heat.
Salt the boiling water and cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. When the pasta is just about done, reheat the vegetables over medium heat, stirring in the olive oil. Cook about 1 minute. Add the remaining 1/2 cup stock. Drain the pasta and toss with the vegetables. Top with the soy parmesan and serve with a tossed green salad.
