Soot, screeching sirens and forbidding skyscrapers; is this your definition of the big city? Think again. The urban landscape might seem like the epicenter of everything that’s wrong with the world, but in fact cities are where some of the most interesting components of the green movement are currently taking place.

With everything from urban farms and electric cars, large cities are surprisingly livable, and now there’s another trend on the rise: urban hiking. Living the city life has long been equated with staying indoors and neglecting to feed …

Tags: cities , exercise , guide , guidebook , hiking , outdoors , outside , parks , travel , urban , urban hiking , urban parks , walking

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The holidays are behind us, and that means one thing – dreams of sugarplums dancing in our heads have turned to nightmares of cellulite chasing our posteriors. Because even the best eater is going to sample a homemade white chocolate chip mocha cookie when it’s offered piping hot from the stove, right? (This is me, raising my hand.) And the best eater might even have another cookie – or six. Who’s to say?

And besides all the awesome baked goods we may or may not have consumed over the holidays, there are also …

Tags: calories burned , calories burned from fast food , exercise , fast food , fast food calories , fast food execrises

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They chow down the same foods we healthy middle-aged women eat: Quinoa, lean proteins, fresh organic produce, water from chic reusable Sigg bottles. They drive hybrids and raise funds for good causes, shun the direct sun, and sometimes even wear secondhand fashion (couture, of course).

But tinsel town celebrities my age, like Demi Moore, who is featured on the cover of W Magazine this month, are not like me or any of my healthy, naturally beautiful women friends. No, unlike …

Tags: age , Daryl Hannah , Demi Moore , diet , exercise , fashion , fitness , health , Hollywood celebs , Kelly Clarkson , Kim Kardashian , Magazines , media , Meg Ryan , Meryl Streep , middle age , natural beauty , photography , photoshopping , plastic surgery , seniors , sun damage , women , youth

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I’m always looking for ways to burn calories while living life off the elliptical.

A Swiss friend tells me her mother always did core exercises while driving. I’ve tried those crunches behind the wheel, as well as kegel tightening during pregnancy and stretching the burgeoning turkey neck with a series of juts and releases of my chin in slow traffic. The neck thing is a bit pathetic. I’m certain passersby think I’m a crazed soccer mom with a terrible tick.

Truth be told, I prefer lifestyle burning in the seclusion of my own house, …

Tags: cardio , cook from scratch , cooking with kids , eco kitchen , exercise , fitness , food preparation , green cleaning products , Martha Stewart , reduction , weight

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Sweet dreams – got “˜em? Many of us don’t. For some, bedtime is a nightly battle of tossing, turning and exhausted frustration; believe me, I’ve been there myself. As with any of life’s imbalances, there’s usually an underlying reason for insomnia and although stress and tension are usually the root cause, there are natural solutions to help you get the rest you deserve. Try some of these ideas and see which ones work for you.

Before going to bed, stretch out.…

Tags: can't get to sleep , diet , exercise , health , remedies , remedy , sleep , sleep problems , sleep solutions

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Lights, treadmills, fans, air conditioning. Unless you pump iron at the Venice Beach outdoor gym
chances are you’re burning as many kilowatts as calories. Here’s how to green your fitness routine.

Does your health club have recycle bins near the sports drink vending machines?

If not, contact your city hall to see what steps must be taken to arrange for pick up or if the health club must hire a private firm. Meet with the owner or manager of the club to share your …

Tags: exercise , fitness , green , gym , how to , yoga

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You might get a buzz from hurtling down the ski slopes or exploring underwater worlds as a SCUBA diver. I know that I do. Yet while these sports bring me closer to nature and help me appreciate the beautiful planet I live on, they are not exactly green. Take into account the equipment, distance to travel to a suitable location and in the case of skiing, the construction and maintenance of necessary infrastructure in otherwise wild places.

I’ve been looking for new ways to enjoy nature without putting so much …

Tags: exercise , green sports , kayaking , travel , wellness

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