Welcome to Weekend Wellness! This is the eighth edition of tips and ideas for four of my favorite F-words – finance, fitness, food & fun. Read on for advice on exercising safely in summer heat, check out some great posts from around the web and a try a delicious cold soup recipe.

The Four F’s

Finance – Check Your Subscriptions

Ever signed up for a free trial or introductory offer subscription, or perhaps even a paid subscription service that you had every intention of canceling before they charged you for a full billing cycle? Then you forgot to cancel?

Yep, happened to me last month. Got dinged $11 for another month I didn’t plan on. Arghh. The subscription is now canceled.

While I was at it, I placed our Hulu subscription on hold too. Since we do not have cable, we use Hulu quite often, but not as much in the summer so I also just put that on hold for 12 weeks for a savings of $23.97! I feel a little bit better.

How about you, any subscription services you are being charged for that you could cancel or place on hold? Just $8 a month adds up to $96 a year, that’s a nice chunk of change you could be saving instead.

Fitness – Exercising Safely in Summer Heat

With the heat increasing in most areas of the U.S. it’s important to be careful when exercising. Exercising safely in summer heat is possible with a few precautions. Since physical activity is harder on the body during warmer weather and you may need to adapt your body gradually to the increased heat, by increasing the number of minutes spent in the heat over 5 – 10 days.

Try exercising in the cooler parts of the day, wear breathable clothing – the less, the better, and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Drink non-caffeinated beverages at least every 10-15 minutes. When the temperature rises above 80 degrees or the humidity is over 80%, it may be best not to exercise outdoors.

When you do exercise pay attention to signs of overheating or exhaustion, such as muscle cramps, extreme fatigue, dizziness, vomiting, breathlessness, confusion or disorientation. Should you experience any of these symptoms, stop exercising, drink plenty of cold water, and find a cool place to relax.

Also, don’t forget the sunscreen (thanks, Mrs. Groovy for the reminder!) and consider wearing a hat to further protect your head and face. Check out this resourceful article – Sunscreen, Are You Doing It Right? – from Meagan at PurelyEasy.com

Food & Fun – Berry Picking

In the Mid-West we are getting into the berry season, and something many of us look forward to is picking them fresh at a local farm. The typical peak season offerings are listed below, but of course, it varies so check your local market.

• Strawberries typically ripen from late May to late June or early July
• Blackberries, mid to late June
• Blueberries and raspberries in July

No one needs an excuse to eat berries! Great by the handful, in smoothies, on salads, on oatmeal, in pancakes, as dessert, the options are endless, and they are so good for you. Get picking!

Featuring

Rob, at Mustard Seed Money, puts out some great content every week and his – Comprehensive Guide to Debt – is no exception.

Over at Adventure Rich, Mrs. AR talks Marathons and Mortgages and tells how “sticking to the plan” pays off.

I loved this post, which arrived in my inbox this week, from Courtney Carver, of Be More With Less. It’s good advice for all of us.

Wishing you a healthy weekend, have fun and remember to watch the weather so you are prepared for exercising safely in summer heat. Be Well!

Amy

Cold Cucumber Soup

4-6 Servings

Ingredients

3 large cucumbers, peeled and coarsely chopped

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 clove garlic, minced

2 cups water

2 cups plain yogurt

3 tbsp. white wine vinegar

Salt 3/4 tsp or to taste

Pepper 1/8 tsp or to taste

Instructions

In a blender, combine all ingredients and puree until well mixed. Chill and serve. Garnish with chopped green onions or tomatoes.

Notes

Note: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. It is provided to educate you about nutrition, exercise, and personal finance, and as a self-help tool for your own use. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. This information is to be used at your own risk based on your own judgment. For my full Disclaimer, please view here.