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News and Reviews
SOL Pops Good for the Soul/Sole?
While out on a walk about we found ourselves passing the local farmers market in downtown Portland. Needing a little refreshment we stopped and bought a SOL Pop. Upon investigation we discovered that these pops were not only delicious but they were developed here in Portland. Aaron Harmond, co-founder of SOL Pops (gourmet and wellness popsicles) has created 40 different flavors. The bars are really paletas, a frozen fruit bar that originated in Mexico. Most of the ingredients are not only organic but come from local farmers.
The pops are vegan because they use coconut for the cream-based pops. Additionally, the pops are sweetened with agave or fruit cider, which is great for diabetics as well as children. Each is only around 50 calories.
“SOL Pops have several different layers of meaning. ‘Sol’ is Spanish for sun, which is a homage to our culinary heritage in Latin America. ‘S.O.L.’ is also an acronym that stands to Sustainable, Organic, and Local,” says Harmond.
You can find SOL Pops at many of the local farmers markets in Portland. They will be available in July at New Seasons, Food Front, People’s Food Co-op and Whole Foods Market. You may also see the fleet of tricycle cooler bikes on the streets and in your neighborhoods just like the ice cream trucks. SOL Pops range in price from $2 to $2.50. Visit www.solpops.com for morew information. |
PROBAR
While looking for a new food bar for a trip, Walk About came across PROBAR, developed by Art Eggertsen, a natural food chef and snowboard fanatic. In the late 1990s, after a hard day of hitting the slopes, Eggertsen was famished and only had a bland tasting, rock-hard energy bar he would sooner feed to a squirrel than himself. In that moment he decided to create a better bar, one that tastes great and offers good nutrition. Made from whole, organic, raw food and 100% vegan, PROBAR is a natural choice.
PROBAR is now available at Whole Foods Market, Vitamin Shoppe, REI and more. They are also available online, with 13 flavors to choose from and more to come. As stated on the packaging, PROBARs are “The Whole Food Meal” made with organic ingredients. They come in great flavors like Sweet & Savory Sesame Goji, Sweet & Savory Cherry Pretzel, Nutty Banana Boom, Cran-Lemon Twister and more. Each bar weighs in at 85 grams and is around 380 calories. This may sound like a lot of calories for a nutritional bar but these are more than just a snack, they are a whole food meal.
Excited to try the many flavors, we were not disappointed. They were not too sweet and tasted like the description on the package. These bars are easy to pack in you fanny pack while training for your next marathon or in your backpack while out on that day hike. We were especially pleased to have brought them on our recent 10-hour flight to Vermont when no good food was offered. For moreinformation visit www.theprobar.com |
Edge Performance Fitness Opens In North Portland
Kate Fischer, former co-owner of Alamada Fitness, recently opened a new fitness facility in North Portland with business partner and long time supporter, Bill Amadon. Fisher has put together an amazing team of professionals, from personal trainers to an acupuncturist, chiropractor, yoga and pilates instructor, martial artists, and more.
Edge Performance Fitness opened its doors on June 1st. The new facility has a huge workout space, a member lounge, showers, and locker rooms.
“If your goal involves group training, group fitness, personal training, acupuncture, chiropractic services, or massage, we have the tools and the people here to support you,” notes Fischer.
Edge Performance Fitness is located at 1502 North Ainsworth St., Portland, OR.
For more information visit www.edgeperformancefitness.com or call 503-265-8685. |
Simple Secrets for a Great Walking Workout
While Walk About was attending the Big Sur Marathon Expo this April we noticed that there were many seminars offered to runners and one seminar called “Walking Your Butt Off,” presented by Lee Scott, for walkers. Her presentation was simple and made perfect sense. After the seminar we talked with Scott and received her DVD titled Simple Secrets for a Great Walking Workout.
The DVD starts with an introduction on the “Walking Athlete in You.” The next four chapters are called “Progression.” “Eyes Ahead, Arms Up,” is about posture and bringing your arms up, bending at the elbow. “Short Stride, Smooth Feet,” is exactly as described, using shorter strides while increasing your cadence. “Think Backward, Move Forward,” instructs on using your muscles in the back of your body to move you forward. “Get Hip to Rotation” covers interval training, which makes you stronger, and adding a little hip rotation to walk faster.
There are two special feature chapters, one called “Tackling Hills,” about keeping your eyes up, stride short, and heels down and “What to Wear” which talks about good shoes, wicking socks, and wicking clothing for both warm and cold weather. The DVD ends with a two chapter section, “At Home with Lee.” One is titled “Warm-Up, Let’s Go,” and the other “Cool Down and Stretch.” Scott offers a warm up that should be done before you go out for your walk and a cool down for after.
Also offered is an audio CD with a 30 minute and a 50 minute audio workout where Scott instructs you as you walk. She explains perceived exertion and how you should be walking at a higher rate for better fitness and covers the four chapters of walking.
To order this DVD package, visit www.wowpowerwalking.com. Scott has worked in the fitness industry for more than 15 years. She has been featured in Oxygen, Prevention and Chatelaine magazines. |
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