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The Body

Stay Protected out in the Sun!

This time of year all we want to do is be outdoors and enjoy the nice weather. Today, we know so much more about the sun and its effects on the human body, namely our skin. So there is no reason to head out for fun and not take the necessary steps to protect your health!
Always wear sunscreen when you head out. How protective it is depends on the SPF (sun protection factor). The higher the number means the fewer UVA and UVB rays are getting through that screen and penetrating your skin.
Cover your face when outside. On the beach, wear wide-brimmed hats and swimsuit cover-ups that extend down your arms and legs. The skin on the face is very delicate and can be damaged even easier than the rest of the body. For babies, completely cover them in the sun to prevent burns.
Reapply sunscreen as needed when swimming. If you are on the beach playing sports or resting, reapply sunscreen every two hours. If you are in the pool or ocean, reapply sunscreen when you get out for maximum protection. Use waterproof sunscreen when you are going to be in the water.
Stay hydrated. Skin is in its best protective mode when it is well moisturized. Part of that moisture comes from bringing in fluids to replace what we lose through sweat. Always carry bottled water with you. Cold water is absorbed better into the cells than warm water.
Protect your eyes with sunglasses. Your eyewear needs to have UVA and UVB protection so your retinas aren’t damaged by the sunlight. If you are playing sports or just lying on the beach, eyewear is needed.
If your headed out with the purpose of getting a tan here is some info about outdoor vs. indoor lotions. It is not a good Idea to use indoor lotions  outside of a tanning bed. Indoor tanning lotions usually don’t contain SPF.You will have no sun protection outdoors. Outdoor UV rays can vary daily even hourly in intensity.  It is recommended that you use a SPF lotion while tanning outdoors.Outdoor tanning lotions are not recommended for indoor use, as they can cause a film on the acrylic on a tanning bed and inhibit the tanning process.
Cruisin' Companions

LADY

This beautiful girl is Lady, a 2 year old Lab/Pittie mix. Isn’t her white coat with orange markings striking? Since she has been with us, Lady has been quite popular and has set up housekeeping with two different suitors. At present though, she’s living the life of a single gal in her very own “apartment” on our adoption floor. She keeps busy by practicing Open Paw and is near the top of her class in sitting. She also excels at leash walking and treat eating! She would love to continue her studies in the positive reinforcement field and would love to return to Animal Friends for obedience classes.
If you have a quiet home that can accommodate a low key gal like Lady, stop by Animal friends and fill out an application. She’d love to meet you.

The Body

Do you know just exactly what your Metabolism is and how it works?

Metabolism is the amount of energy (calories) your body burns to maintain itself. Whether you are eating, drinking, sleeping, cleaning etc… your body is constantly burning calories to keep you going.
Metabolism is affected by your body composition; the amount of muscle you have versus the amount of fat. Muscle uses more calories to maintain itself than fat. People who are more muscular (and have a lower percentage of body fat) are said to have a higher metabolism than others that are less muscular.  If you want to increase your metabolism the answer is EXERCISE….  If you’ve never exercised before, make sure you see a doctor before beginning a new exercise program (your problems with metabolism may be the result of a medical condition rather than your diet or lack of exercise). You can increase your muscle mass by doing some type of resistance work (i.e. lifting weights, using exertubes, rubberbands, dynabands, hand weights etc…). You can also decrease your level of body fat by doing some type of aerobic exercise at least 3 days a week for longer than 20 minutes. any activity such as walking, jogging, step aerobics, hi/low aerobics, biking, swimming etc. this will increase your heartrate into the target zone and keep it there for the duration of the exercise session. You also need to eat! – Do not diet, just watch the types of foods you eat. Try to eat a diet that is lower in fat (check the labels on the foods that you buy) and start adding weight training to your exercise program. Your muscle is the furnace and the fuel it burns is fat!
The Machine

Need to get Grounded?

Ok so it’s not a big secret that some of us gals are vertically challenged when it comes to riding stock bikes. That being said if your feeling like you need to get grounded then check these sucka’s out….
Made famous by the Burly Slammer Kits, the stubby Burly shocks are now available on their own! Measuring in at only 10.5” eye to eye, they live up to their name and are available in black or chrome for most Sporties and Dynas. Burly Slammer Shocks may be short, but they are well thought out and are travel limited to prevent tire/fender contact. Five position preload adjusters allow for fine tuning to rider weight for optimum feel. Fitment for 1988 and newer Sportsters as well as 1991 and newer Dynas and an MSRP of only $199.95. Check them out at your local dealer or the Burly web site.
The Body

The Importance Of Staying Hydrated

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We see it first hand out at motorcycle events and car shows, it’s a very hot humid day and people are walking around drinking soda’s or beer. This is not a great idea and here is why….
During hot and humid days, we lose excessive amounts of water from our bodies through perspiration. It’s very easy to quickly become dehydrated,  especially if you are involved in outdoor physical activities.
This is why it is so important to stay hydrated. The best thing you can drink is water. Water is essential for the well-being of the body. Under optimal conditions, the body can survive for 60 days without food, but only 10-18 days without water. You skin is made up of about 70% water, so any loss of body water equaling 2-3% of our body weight will begin to affect performance adversely. Loss of 4-5% of body weight results in reduced carrying capacity of the blood for nutrients, as well as reduced ability to remove heat from the body.
When out walking around or doing physical activity you might want to steer away from grabbing a “thirst quencher” or “energy drink”.  Most of these are good for replenishing certain types of nutrients that are lost through perspiration during extended outdoor activities greater than 60-90 minutes. However, most of them contain high levels of simple sugar. This is not what you need on hot, humid days — or any other time, for that matter. For the same reason, you should not rely on carbonated soft drinks, alcoholic beverages or caffeinated drinks to maintain your body’s liquid levels. These fluids can have a diuretic effect, increasing fluid loss.
Water is important in nearly all of life’s chemical processes, and the production, growth and life of skin cells depends on it. Water within the cells helps make your skin look smooth, firm and tight. It is important for the functioning of our bodies’ internal organs, as well.
Don’t forget to drink water before, during and after exercise. In hot environments, active people should drink about 16 ounces of water 15 to 30 minutes prior to working out. After a workout, replenish fluids at the rate of one pint of water for every pound lost.”  Also don’t forget water has no calories. Learn the facts about staying hydrated and don’t overexert yourself outdoors in hot weather without proper hydration. Drink plenty of pure, fresh water and you’ll beat the heat and stay healthy.
The Machine

My cars Check Engine Light is on: What should I do?

You’re driving along in your car or truck and suddenly a red light illuminates on your dash telling you to check or service your engine. As drivers, we are trained to respond to orders of this sort. When a light flashes “Low fuel,” we hurry to a gas station. When the tiny oil indicator comes on, we add oil. But “check engine”? Unfortunately, this indicator light is one of the most misunderstood indicators on your vehicle’s dashboard. But by ignoring this indicator, there are many dangers and potential financial risks, and it is vital to address.
After the fear and panic of the light’s first flash, the driver who doesn’t rush to a service center usually notices as the days pass that nothing at all seems to be wrong. However, by continuing to drive with the light indicator on, you may be exacerbating problems by driving with an issue. The light may mean many things. One frequent problem, for example, is that the emissions system is off kilter, and the car is polluting the air; another is that the gasoline cap is loose, causing the car’s computer to detect an unusual pressure level in the tank (tighten it and the light will eventually go off). But the glitches that activate the check-engine light are often nothing a driver would readily notice. As a result, the country is full of people driving around with check-engine lights aglow – often while trying to figure out how to shut them off.
If you continue to drive your vehicle with the check engine light on, you may experience a difficulty starting your car, a loss of power, and lost fuel economy. There is a reason why the manufacturer installed the check engine light and it is in your best interest to pay attention to what it’s telling you. As a general rule it is less expensive to have the check engine light code repairs when it first comes on.
If you choose to continue ignoring the service light, repairs can become costly and potentially create a cascade effect of issues. The most common check engine light is the old “forgot to tighten the gas cap” signal. Either you did not replace the cap after filling the tank, or you did not properly reseal the pressurized fuel system.
In late-model cars, a blinking light usually indicates an engine misfire so severe that unburned fuel is being dumped into the exhaust system, where it can quickly damage the catalytic converter, requiring an expensive repair. If that happens, you should reduce power and have the car or truck looked at as soon as possible.
According to a Consumer Reports study in 2009, “The customer is really, in the long run, potentially hurting their pocket book by leaving that light on and ignoring it,” says Jim Collins, a national training team leader for Ford Motor Company. In some extreme cases, the car’s computer may reduce power for you, as it tries to limit the risk of damage.
The check-engine light, formally known as a malfunction indicator lamp, is an indication of a failure somewhere, and the problem is often emissions related.
If you find yourself with a check engine light blinking your options are to get it looked at Right away, before you end up doing more damage. If you don’t have a shop you normally rely on for this type of work you might want to locate a Cottman Total Auto Car and transmission near you. Cottman can perform a FREE TransCheck 21 Plus(R) with a FREE computer scan. The TransCheck 21 includes checking the level and condition of the transmission fluid, road testing your car, and a diagnosis of the external transmission controls.  This free scan will give you the info needed to fix your car and stop that annoying blinking light.  Locate a Cottman Center near you.
Cruisin' Companions

BREE

Hi, and thanks for taking the time to get to know me! My name is Bree. I am a four year old red ticked English Coonhound. I came to Animal Friends because I’ve heard that it is a wonderful place to find your forever home.
There are a couple of things that I want to tell you about myself. Like most of my hound cousins, I have a lot of energy and love to run and play. If you’re someone who likes to get a lot of exercise, then I am the girl for you! It would be perfect if I could live somewhere with a fenced in yard so I can play safely with my toys.
The folks here at Animal Friends say that I am really a sweetheart, and who am I to argue? I know how to sit and will lick your hand if you let me. All the same, because I do like to run and jump, I don’t think a house with small children would be good for me.

Editors Note, I have personally walked and spent time with Bree and Yes, she is a Sweet pup!!!

The Body

Inner Peace

If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment ,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
…..Then You Are  Probably The Family Dog!
The Machine

How do you prefer to order your parts?

Hey guys can you help up out? We want to hear it from you. How to do you prefer to order your car or motorcycle parts? Dealership, online, or smaller aftermarket shop?  Please leave a comment below and fill us in on why,  share an experience that helped you with how you prefer to order your parts. Thanks!

The Body

Quick-N-Easy Summer Recipe

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This time of year who wants to be spending all their time in the kitchen? Here is a quick recipe thats very yummy so you can have more time outdoors enjoying the weather!
ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
4  7- to 8-inch whole wheat flour tortillas
1  cup coarsely shredded purchased roasted chicken
1/2  cup feta cheese
1/4  cup thinly sliced red onion
1/4  cup chopped cucumber
1/4  cup grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise
1/4  cup kalamata olives, halved
2  tablespoons whole flat leaf (Italian) parsley leaves
1  tablespoon whole fresh oregano leaves
1/4  cup bottled Greek vinaigrette salad dressing
directions
1. Coat one side of each tortilla with cooking spray. Place tortillas, sprayed sides down, on a cutting board or waxed paper. Sprinkle with chicken, feta cheese, red onion, cucumber, grape tomatoes, olives, parsley, and oregano. Drizzle with dressing. Fold tortillas in half, pressing gently.
2. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat for 1 minute. Cook quesadillas, two at a time, over medium heat for 4 to 6 minutes or until light brown, turning once. Remove quesadillas from skillet; place on a baking sheet. Keep warm in a 300 degree F oven. Repeat with remaining quesadillas. To serve Cut each quesadilla into three wedges. Makes 4 servings.