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softball-related stories

We Love To Gawk At Fit Celebs: June 6, 2008

We Love To Gawk At Fit Celebs Weekly Roundup, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

Carrie Underwood recently displayed the best kind of fitness -- fitness of the body as well as the spirit. She took part in the 8th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge, showing off her batting skills while raising money for City of Hope, "an innovative biomedical, research, treatment, and education institute dedicated to prevention and cure of cancer and other life-threatening illness." Judging by the pictures, it looks like Carrie might really have some skills!

Janet Jackson is once again relying on a hardcore workout regiment to get into superstar shape before her comeback tour (scheduled to begin September 7). Six days out of the week, she spends an hour working out in the morning, loosens up for a bit, then dances ... for eight hours!

I remember reading about her fitness routine the last time she got her body into completely amazing shape -- it was really tough, but incorporated all kinds of fun things that she loved to do, like dancing and playing basketball. What a smart way to approach fitness!

Source

Good sports are winners, even when they lose

Fitness, Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements

I dare you to read this story without getting choked up.

Throughout their high school and college careers, student-athletes are told over and over again that sportsmanship is important. That's why, in many sports, the athletes and coaches shake hands before and after each game. However, what happened at a Central Washington University softball game is the greatest display of sportsmanship I've ever heard.

The game, versus Western Oregon, would decide whether Central would keep their Division II playoff hopes alive -- it was the second game of a double header, the first of which Western had already won. In the second inning, 5'2" senior right fielder Sara Tucholsky stepped up to bat with two runners on, and did something she'd never done before, not even in practice -- she hit a home run.

Elated, she sprinted to first base and rounded it, but as she did so, she realized she hadn't actually made contact with the bag. She turned to go back and felt an enormous pain as her knee gave out, and she collapsed right there on the base path.

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Chocolate bunny leftovers

Healthy Home, Womens Health, Healthy Kids, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health

For those of you who just celebrated the Easter holiday, there's a good chance that you have a chocolate bunny or two still lying around. The question now becomes, how long can you go without eating it?

Just in case you had any intention of caving, here are some quick stats that will likely make you change your mind.

A 6oz Solid Chocolate Easter Bunny contains 920 calories. Remember that figure. 920 calories.

To burn that many calories, you would have to do one of the following exercises (based on a 175 pound person):

  • 70 minutes of Step, high-impact aerobics
  • 70 minutes of running at 6mph
  • 70 minutes of jumping rope
  • 70 minutes of water polo
  • 70 minutes of competitive racquetball
  • 70 minutes of boxing, sparring
  • 140 minutes of softball
  • 140 minutes of walking at 4.5mph
  • 140 minutes of whitewater rafting
  • 210 minutes of Frisbee
  • 210 minutes of volleyball (non-competitive)
  • 210 minutes of weight lifting (general)

How harmless is that little, 920-calorie chocolate bunny now?

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Fit Factor: Teaming up

Many people who establish fitness routines do it alone, and that's very commendable. But let's face it -- sometimes exercising alone can be a drag. Not only do you not have anyone to commiserate with and share your triumphs with, but when you're going at it alone, you have no one to be accountable too and unless your ultra-motivated, that can lead to laziness sometimes. Team sports are a great way to get active and not only that, but you'll meet new friends and have lots of fun in the meantime. Here's a list of some fun team sports. Ask around and you'll probably find a league you can join in you're area.
  • Dragon boating: Dragon boating has become increasingly popular over the last few years, and most cities have an annual dragon boat festival in the summer. Dragon boating teams consist of 22 people, 20 of whom are responsible for rowing the team to victory, and while you might think you can slack off because there are so many people, think again. Dragon boating is hard work, and can burn up to 800 calories an hour. I first heard about it from a family friend who participates in races regularly. She is in her 70s and a cancer survivor, so I think that if she can do it, you can too.
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