37, Works out at Versatile Action Fitness Crosstown  FAV WAY TO WORKOUT:  Bar set high, music loud, and doing every set and rep as if it’s my last.  BIGGEST FITNESS MYTH:  Lifting weights makes you big and bulky.  BIGGEST NUTRITION MYTH:  You don’t need all three macros to achieve a complete body transformation.  MY TYPICAL WORKOUT DAY:  I’m in phase two of my fitness transformation, so I’m doing a total-body HITT, EMOM, etc.  MY ADVICE:  Push past what is comfortable; get comfortable being uncomfortable; only then are you well on your way to r ..read more

44; Acting Manager, Water Engineering and Operations for Memphis Light, Gas, and Water  BUCKET LIST: Now that I’ve qualified for Boston, I hope to make it there and finish in 2025! Also, I’ve always played with the idea of doing longer-distance mountainous trail races, but with work and life, it’s hard to train for everything — maybe sometime in the future.  UP NEXT: I’m thinking about doing some 5k’s this summer, trail races in the fall, and the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend.  FAVE FITNESS ACCOMPLISHMENT: Qualifying for the Boston Marathon for the first time. I didn’t start ..read more

Photo by D’Angelo Connell  46; Assistant United States Attorney for US Attorney’s Office, Western District of Tennessee  I LOVE TRIATHLON: I love the lifelong friendships I’ve made and the community atmosphere among triathletes. Biking and running are also great stress relievers.  BUCKET LIST: Kona was my bucket list race, so I need to find a new one. It might be a longer-distance running race in a beautiful location — I’m not sure yet!  UP NEXT: Ironman 70.3 Texas  FAVE FITNESS ACCOMPLISHMENT: Racing in Kona and the incredible, lifelong friends I’ve made in this crazy ..read more

By Lisa Abbay, MBA, RDN, LDN, FAND  Most Americans like to snack. According to Food Insight, a recent health survey revealed that three in four respondents reported snacking at least once daily. So, what is considered a snack? A snack is generally defined as any food eaten between main meals. As with anything, there are pros and cons to snacking. We don’t need to stop snacking; we just need to reevaluate or rethink what we eat and how much we eat.  Here are a few benefits and pitfalls for mindless snacking:  Benefits  It boosts energy if several hours pass between meals an ..read more

Firing up the grill isn’t only for beef, chicken and pork – you can prepare a tasty recipe over an open flame while skipping the meat with Grilled Apple Portobello Burgers. Simply substitute beef with thick portobello mushrooms and naturally white Envy Apple slices that maintain their beauty while cooking so your finished “burgers” look as delicious as they taste.  Ingredients:  1 Envy Apple  2 portobello mushrooms  1/4 cup olive oil, divided  1 tablespoon lemon juice  2 garlic cloves, minced  1 teaspoon oregano  1 teaspoon salt  1/2 cup herbed g ..read more

Cara Greenstein celebrates intentional and exceptional cuisine in her award-winning food and lifestyle blog, Caramelized, which offers recipes and restaurant reviews, food-focused travel itineraries, and endless tablescape tips. Follow @cara_melized on Instagram for daily inspiration and bookmark her recipes at Caramelizedblog.com.  Light and lean, these lettuce wraps perfectly accompany later sunsets and rising temps — a refreshing-meets-enriching bite of protein, leafy greens, and approachable flavors from your pantry.  Serves 1-2 / Makes four lettuce wraps  Ingredients:&nbs ..read more

Take to the sky with High Expectations Aerial Arts in Memphis, an aerial arts studio offering a broad spectrum of classes and performance opportunities for all ages, genders, and levels that celebrate the feats our bodies are capable of.  Studio owner Sarah Bolton grew up practicing ballet and modern dance and was involved in dance education for many years. Yet, everything changed when she discovered the magic of aerial arts with Val Russell at Push Pilates in Memphis 11 years ago.  “I instantly fell in love. It was so much fun and very hard. I couldn’t do much, but I accepted the ch ..read more

FAV WAY TO WORKOUT:  I love a 5 a.m. run through midtown before work — bonus if I catch the sunrise.  BIGGEST FITNESS MYTH: That exercise should always be intense, and you should be exhausted after a workout. Focus on quality movements and consistency, and play the long game so you’ll be less likely to burn out and hopefully avoid injuries.  BIGGEST NUTRITION MYTH: The myth that extreme diets are the only way to lose weight. No one should remove whole food groups; it’s not sustainable, and carbs and fats are delicious.  MY TYPICAL WORKOUT DAY: I run 8-10 miles in the mornin ..read more

61; 4th grade Math Teacher at Campus School  I LOVE RUNNING: Running builds tenacity and mental toughness that translates into every area of your life. It has also helped me manage my weight, reduce stress, and relax. I enjoy being outdoors, and every run is different, so it doesn’t have to be boring, and you can mix it up in so many ways. The Memphis Running Community also has a wonderful network of incredibly supportive people.  BUCKET LIST: I’d want to run Disney with my family next year. Yes, it’s magical!  UP NEXT: Germantown Half Marathon  FAVE FITNESS ACCOMPLISHMENT ..read more

72; Educator at St. Ann Bartlett School  I LOVE RUNNING: It is very rewarding. I have accomplished things I never thought possible just a few years ago and have made lifelong friendships. You can get started running with just a pair of good running shoes!  BUCKET LIST: I would love to do a race overseas someday!  UP NEXT: I will do the United Airlines Half Marathon in New York and the Oak Barrel Half in Lynchburg, Tennessee.  FAVE FITNESS ACCOMPLISHMENT: My favorite is being able to run again. In 2022, I was told to stop running because of back issues. I substituted walking ..read more