Kathy Ziprik has the cure for those days when her work stress gets to be too much. She rewards herself with a stop at the Henderson County Animal Shelter in Hendersonville, North Carolina. There she spends an hour taking five dogs on walks or plays with the pups who need extra attention to build their trust in humans.

Q: I want to start taking classes at my local gym. I've been told that I will burn more calories and get faster results if I take a "boot camp" class. Is this the right way to go as a beginner? I want to lose 50 pounds and get more muscle tone.

Walking may be the simplest and most popular physical activity. It's easy, great for your overall health and you can do it for free in a wide variety of locations.

Perfect for a summer barbecue, try this chicken for dinner, or search our recipes for more easy meal ideas.

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