Archive for May, 2011

GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO CLIMB THE INFAMOUS MANAYUNK WALL?

Find out at the International Cycling Championship's Wellness Challenge on Sunday, June 5

Posted by Jenna Bergen on 5/31/2011 at 11:39AM | No Comments

Ride like a pro at TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championship's 2011 Wellness Challenge.

Okay, maybe you’re not ready to compete in the TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championship just yet, but you can still experience the thrill of the course in the 2011 Wellness Challenge on Sunday, June 5. You’ll cycle the same 14.4-mile circuit that the pros compete on, which links the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with the hillside of Manayunk—including the grueling climb up the infamous, spectator-lined Manayunk Wall. The only difference: You’ll do it once, while the professionals will make the hilly loop 10 times. READ MORE

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WHAT GOLFER DADS WANT THIS FATHER’S DAY: A LOWER SCORE

Meet the local pro who can help him shed strokes while shedding pounds

Posted by Lauren McCutcheon on 5/31/2011 at 10:42AM | No Comments

Going to a golf-geared personal trainer to improve your golf game is a lot like going to … a personal trainer. He visits. You move. He watches. You meet again. You work out. Here’s the difference, though: After those workouts, you’re not just in better shape—you’re also a better golfer because everything you do in the gym is tailored to strengthening your score card. The result: Your scores are lower. Your handicap is higher. And, when you’re back at the clubhouse after a round, you’re happy, not frustrated, energized, not exhausted. READ MORE

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THREE SLIMMING SMOOTHIE RECIPES

Get ready to blend!

Posted by Maura Manzo on 5/31/2011 at 9:47AM | No Comments

Add a few chunks of fresh watermelon to your next smoothie for a healthy dose of Vitamin C!

As the temperature heats up, our bodies begin to crave foods with high water content—think fruits and veggies—to keep us well hydrated, especially as we become more active and spend more time outdoors. There’s no better way to do this than with smoothies. Whether on the go, for a fast breakfast, or a quick afternoon pick-me-up, these thirst-quenching, nutritious beverages will have you sailing through your summer days with tons of energy. Whether you want an extra dose of bone-building greens, need to fend off summer sniffles with Vitamin C, or attack free radicals with some very tasty antioxidants, we’ve got the smoothie for you. READ MORE

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RUN FOR YOUR MIND

Log three miles this Saturday to fight the stigma surrounding teen depression and other mental health disorders

Posted by Kathryn Siegel on 5/31/2011 at 8:00AM | No Comments

Raise money for mental health research at the 5K Run/Walk for Your Mind

All too often, parents and educators dismiss mental health issues like depression and other mood disorders in young people as mere adolescent angst and ambivalence. The Minding Your Mind Foundation battles these misconceptions by educating communities about early warning signs of mental health disorders and fighting the stigma surrounding them. On Saturday, June 4, they will host the 5K Run/Walk for Your Mind at South Ardmore Park to raise funds to support outreach programs and research being conducted at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Center for Neurobiology and Behavior. Top finishers in each age group will take home an award, too.  — Kathryn Siegel

$25 ($35 on-site), June 4, 8AM, South Ardmore Park, 1498 South Sussex Road, Wynnewood, mindingyourmind.org.

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BIKING, BEER AND THE BEACH

Sign up soon for a 65-mile ride that ends with your feet in the sand and beer in your hand (sure sounds good to us!)

Posted by Kathryn Siegel on 5/27/2011 at 9:00AM | No Comments

Ride for Philly's disadvantaged kids - and enjoy a beer - at the Irish Pub Tour de Shore

A few years ago, scientists at Spain’s Granada University found that carbohydrate-rich beer can serve as a viable alternative to your post-workout sports drink. Sound too good to be true? Test it out yourself at the 24th Annual Irish Pub Tour de Shore on July 31. The 65-mile bike ride begins at Philly’s Irish Pub on Walnut Street and winds through South Jersey before ending at Atlantic City’s own Irish Pub and Inn, where a beer-laden celebration awaits sweating cyclists. Proceeds from registration fees and each entrant’s minimum $150 donation benefit the Irish Pub Children’s Foundation, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to serving needy children throughout the region. Registration caps off at 1,300 participants, so sign up today before this popular event fills up! — Kathryn Siegel

$10 before June 1 ($20 after) plus $150 donation, July 31, 7AM, Irish Pub, 2007 Walnut Street, 215-568-5603, irishpub.donordrive.com.

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NEED A NEW HEART? DON’T GO TO TEMPLE

Why the hospital's transplant programs are in trouble with the state

Posted by Jenna Bergen on 5/26/2011 at 5:07PM | No Comments

Jenna Bergen

If you’re in the market for a new organ, Temple University Hospital may not be the best place to schedule your transplant. According to an article that ran in yesterday’s Inquirer, four of Temple University Hospital’s transplant programs — lung, kidney, heart and liver — have been cited by the Pennsylvania Department of Health “for failing to meet federal rules for participating in Medicare.” One major reason: The lung and kidney programs are above average for graft failures, which means the transplanted organ was viable for less than a year post-transplant. If patients didn’t receive a second transplant, there’s a good chance they’re no longer breathing. Among other infringements, the state also says Temple isn’t logging enough heart transplants to ensure its surgeons are experienced enough to handle such a complex surgery. And I think we can all agree that if someone is about to crack open your chest and plug in an entirely new battery, they better have done it far more than just a few times.

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PHILLY’S BEST OUTDOOR YOGA CLASSES

From earthy gardens to soaring decks and canopies nestled amid treetops, Philly has oodles of al fresco yoga options this summer

Posted by Kathryn Siegel on 5/26/2011 at 2:34PM | 6 Comments

This summer, don't miss Morris Arboretum's Yoga Out On a Limb class.

Elevate Your Practice
Take yourself high above the frustrations of daily life at the Morris Arboretum for four Sundays this summer at Yoga Out on a Limb. Jennifer Schelter leads this high-flying Vinyasa session on a tree canopy 50 feet off the ground, creating “a space of peace, flight, and adventure.” Try it for the first time on June 5 (see additional dates below) and get there early; spots are awarded to the first 30 arrivals. Members, $20 per session; non-members, $25 per session. June 5, July 10, August 7, September 11, 
8:30AM – 10AM, Morris Arboretum, 100 E. Northwestern Avenue, 215-247-5777. READ MORE

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ASK A TOP DOCTOR: “CAN I GET AN STD FROM TRYING ON A SWIMSUIT?”

Answer from Leslie B. Frankel, a gynecologist at Abington Memorial Hospital

Posted by Jenna Bergen on 5/25/2011 at 9:48AM | No Comments

“It’s extremely unlikely that anyone would contract a disease or infection like herpes or gonorrhea from trying on a bathing suit, because viruses and bacteria can only live outside the body for a short time. However, crabs are highly communicable. If you were to try on an infected swimsuit without wearing underwear that adequately covers your privates, you could wind up with very annoying guests.”

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IT’S TIME TO GET DIRTY

Fight through a mud-covered 10k obstacle course at this June's Mud Run to support thousands of MS sufferers

Posted by Kathryn Siegel on 5/23/2011 at 11:20AM | No Comments

Get dirty for a good cause at the Mud Run MS Philadelphia.

If your running buddies tell tales about past mud-filled, military-style boot camp runs and you’ve always wanted to share in the grimy glory, don’t miss this year’s Mud Run MS Philadelphia in Newtown Square. The slippery 10K race will challenge even the fittest runners with enough man-made obstacles to make your head spin—think crawling under wire and sticky mud pits. Sign up  to run with the serious competitors to run in the Trophy division on June 11 to have your course timed, or just splash around in the mud with family and friends in the recreational division on June 12. The event is rain or shine—though you may be praying for showers after this one. READ MORE

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RAW REVOLUTIONARIES

This Dr. Oz-approved team lost 50 pounds—and found tons more energy—by going raw. You’re next, Philly

Posted by Jenna Bergen on 5/23/2011 at 9:40AM | No Comments

Joel Odhner and Jennifer Richmond, owners of JAR Bar // Photograph by Jeff Fusco

If you’ve ever wished that pizza, fries and chocolate cake were good for you, wish no more. At Jennifer Richmond and Joel Odhner’s new Center City juice and raw foods café, JAR Bar (set to open this month), foods formerly known as junk can brighten your skin, loosen your pants, and do that oft-overlooked thing food is supposed to do: give you energy. READ MORE

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