My New Outdoor Workout BFF: Switch Portable Speaker

It's finally spring here in New York (although you wouldn't know by today's icky weather), and it's been so inspiring to see all of the personal training sessions and boot camps going on in Brooklyn's Prospect Park every morning while I walk my dog. There is nothing like a good outdoor workout to get your day started -- especially a good outdoor workout with some rockin' tunes. That's why I'm loving Native Union's new Switch portable bluetooth speaker that syncs up with my phone to broadcast my music on the go. Now I seriously don't want to leave home without it.

Because, let's face it: Ear buds are great for running, but they get in the way if you're trying to do anything that involves different types of movements -- and they're kinda antisocial, at that. And they can be dangerous -- especially if you're working out near the road or at night. Instead, I see myself using Switch all summer while hanging al fresco with friends -- post-surf yoga sessions at the beach, backyard dinner parties, picnics and camping, and (oh, we're supposed to be talking about exercise, right?) impromptu dance parties in the park with the hottest new music out this month.

Switch is super lightweight and barely bigger than a beer bottle, but its sound really amplifies, even in wide open spaces, thanks to what the company refers to as its "active sub-woofer and enhanced bass-reflex system." The lil' nugget of a speaker plays up to 14 hours of music on a single charge (via your computer and a USB cable), and you can use it as a backup battery for your digital devices, too. Switch also has a microphone and a cool conference call feature for business purposes, but then again, who wants to talk about business? I'd rather just go find a grassy spot in the sun, sync Switch to my phone, open up my Yogify app and get my outdoor om on.

Do you use portable speakers to compliment your outdoor workouts? Tweet us your tips at @amandaemac and @SELFmagazine!

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Image Credit: Courtesy Photo

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RNY Gastric Bypass

Hi all! Anyone here have bypass surgery? Mine was 12-3-08. 353lb at surgery. 199 today. Have keep off so much but really want to loose more as it helps with pain. Any heavyweights out there with some good advice? What do you do to get your water and vitamins and activity in every day? What do you struggle with? I'd love to hear some lively discussion on this topic.

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Fearne Cotton at an exhibition in London

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Confused about logging activities

Hi All,

I've noticed the past couple of days that a lot of people are logging things like walking round the shops and dusting the house. Is it best to log every activity you do or just workouts or activities that you do for the exercise (like going for a walk)? or does it not even matter? I have a sedentary lifestyle (or somewhere around that, obviously everyone has busy days), i go twice a week to the gym for zumba class and try to take walks in the evening 1 hour or more (if the weather allows - been constant rain the past couple of weeks)... Anyway, I just wanted to know, do I need to adjust my calorie intake based on some days having more burn than others, and if so, is logging the activities the best way to work that out?

Thanks

Arwen

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Study Hints of Links Between HPV and Lung Cancer

Certain strains of the cervical cancer virus found in tumors from nonsmokers

By Robert Preidt

HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, April 10 (HealthDay News) -- Human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that can cause cervical and head and neck cancers, may also trigger some cases of lung cancer, according to a small new study.

Researchers examined 36 tumor tissue samples from patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who had never smoked. Smoking is a major cause of lung cancer, but the causes of lung cancer in nonsmokers can be difficult to pinpoint.

The investigators found that about 6 percent of the tissue samples showed signs of infection from two strains of HPV known to cause cancer. The strains are called HPV 16 and HPV 18.

Further examination of the tissue samples infected with HPV 16 revealed that the virus had integrated into the tumor's DNA, which the researchers said provides stronger evidence that HPV infection caused the tumor.

The study was scheduled to be presented Wednesday at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, in Washington, D.C. Study data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

If it is confirmed that HPV plays a role in some cases of lung cancer, the next step is to learn more about those tumors so they can be treated more effectively, said the researchers from the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. This study, however, did not prove a cause-and-effect link between the virus and lung cancer.

Lung cancer kills more than 1 million people a year. About 10 percent of lung cancer cases occur in nonsmokers.

"Given how many patients develop lung cancer, if even a small percentage of those tumors stem from HPV, that ends up being a large number of patients," study author Dr. Ranee Mehra, an attending physician in medical oncology at Fox Chase, said in a center news release.

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Missing Periods

I haven't had my period in a little over 3 months. I know I am not pregnant, but still haven't gotta it. I'm not anorexic.. My BMI is 25. I have however lost 50-52 lbs since November. Wondering if anybody can explain what's going on, and what to do. Although I don't want to have to eat more, since I'm still trying to loose the weight!

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Recipe of the Week: The Ultimate Grilled Cheese

Since today is National Grilled Cheese Day, I thought I would go to my favorite cheese peeps at Cabot to find the perfect recipe to celebrate accordingly. When I spotted this recipe, with its sharp cheddar and gala apple, I knew I'd found my ultimate grilled cheese. Bonus: It's only 480 calories. Enjoy one this weekend!

INGREDIENTS:

4 slices oatmeal bread1 tablespoon Cabot Salted Butter, softened2 tablespoons apple butter4 ounces Cabot New York Extra Sharp Cheddar, thinly sliced1 Gala apple, cored and thinly sliced

INSTRUCTIONS:

Spread one side of each bread slice with butter. Turn slices over and spread second side with apple butter. Place skillet over medium-low heat. While skillet is heating, top two bread slices with cheese and apple slices, then set remaining bread slices on top, butter-side-up. Place sandwiches in skillet and cook slowly, turning midway, until cheese is melted and bread is golden, reducing heat if sandwiches are browning too quickly. Makes 2 sandwiches.

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Image Credit: Courtesy of Cabot

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