Exercise

What I learned on my summer vacation: hiking the "small" mountains of New England can be tougher than hiking the "big ones" out West. Why? Might be the rocks.

Labor Day. A holiday from everything. Even exercise. So just think about exercising. No serious sweat. Do that tomorrow. Thanksgiving's just 80 days away. And 30 more until Christmas. Think about that. And tomorrow's exercise.n

Seven Slower Stretches to maintain your comfort, flexibility and sanity when you're spending way too much time crammed into airplane seats and standing around airport counters hoping for a better way home.

If you sit in front of a computer or TV, chances are pretty good you're leaning forward. Hunching. Letting your shoulders go round. So here's something you can do right at your desk or on your couch to fix that bad posture habit.

Condition yourself for steep uphill hiking. And for carrying your water and your backpack. It's pretty simple: just walk around with your full pack. In a park. On a treadmill. Up stairs. You'll feel much better on your first day out on the trail.

The 12.5-mile Loop. Five or six hours. You set the Walking pace. Either Way, you'll burn about 2,000 calories. So the big question is where to eat. I point out some favorites along the Way that are great values.

The Dance That Ate. And Ate. And danced it all off with this 90-minute playlist. From soup to pizza to BLTs, dessert and sangria - for less than $9 per dancin' fool. Get to work on your guest list.

Ways to feel no pain back there. Exercises that might prevent future back pain. Things to know about current back pain. Better Cheaper pain relief. Comfort. Ease. Stand Better. Move Better.

Up at 8,600', you're eye level with the lower reaches of glaciers you barely see from lake level. From the knife edge of Sentinel Pass, you look across two valleys to the peaks surrounding the glacial Lake Louise. Very cool. Profoundly beautiful.