Summer: the season of get-togethers, cookouts, and staying fit BlackAmericaWeb.com

Summer is right around the corner, and you can almost taste it: sweet and tangy barbecue chicken and ribs, creamy potato salad, and syrupy sweet tea.

That’s right, cookout season is practically upon us, in all of its calorie-laden glory, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep the

pounds off with a sound fitness plan. The Curves fitness plan helps you do just that with three simple steps:

1. Exercise Right and Regularly.

Fight off those summer calories by raising your metabolic rate--the rate at which your body burns calories when you’re at rest--through exercise. Curves 30-minute total-body workout combines strength and cardio training to do just that. Their unique circuit alternates you through hydraulic resistance stations that tone you from top to bottom. In just 30 minutes you strengthen and tone muscle--which leads to a higher metabolic rate--all while burning additional calories by alternating through cardiovascular stations. Done 3 times a week, the Curves workout delivers proven results you can see and feel. That’s something you’ll appreciate during swimsuit season.

2. Don’t Skip Your Workouts.

With so much to do during the summer, it’s easy to make excuses to not exercise. Don’t fall into that trap. Schedule your workouts ahead of time, and bring a workout partner. A partner or personal trainer is your best bet to keep your focus, maintain your motivation, and help keep your schedule. At Curves, trainers are always there to teach, inspire and help you get the most out of the workout. And it won’t cost you anything extra. At Curves, you’ll also find plenty of support and camaraderie from other members, so you’ll have more excuses to stick with the program and continue seeing results all year long.

3. Skip the Fried Food and the Pound Cake.

They don’t call it "pound cake" for nothing--it can tack on the pounds. When you plan your summer cookouts, include some more sensible options like grilled chicken and steamed vegetables. Try to stay away from fried foods, mayonnaise-based sauces, or sugary desserts (like pound cake). They not only add loads of fat, but they usually come packed with cholesterol. And just because foods are healthy doesn’t mean they can’t taste good. Curves offers a sensible weight loss plan that includes a wide variety of great tasting, healthy food options. Like the exercise program, it’s a diet plan you can stick with that delivers proven results.

By sticking to this simple three-step formula, and with the help of Curves, you’ll not only enjoy the summer, but you’ll discover a fast, fun way to make a difference you can see and feel.

  

Fireworks could lead to trouble

Online stores and flashy full-color mailings sent unsolicited to homes have helped propel sales of illegal fireworks skyward, but members of Common Council say people who use the illicit protechnic devices are playing with fire.

"Possessing fireworks within the City of Milwaukee is illegal, and anyone caught with them or seen setting them off faces extensive fines and sanctions," said Alderman Terry Witkowski, co-chair of Common Council’s Fireworks Task Force.

Smoking at the zoo

If you want to light up at the Milwaukee County Zoo, you may have some difficulties. Smokers at the Milwaukee County Zoo now have fewer areas where they can light up as the zoo has banned smoking in all but five designated areas.

The zoo began to transition to a smoke-free environment last summer. This summer, zoo officials have established the designated smoking areas, which are across the Aquatic Reptile Center, across from the African Waterhole, in the Brown Bear Den picnic area, across from the train station, and across from the Birds Without Borders Deck.

Unemployment rate

Even though Wisconsin has fewer jobs than a year ago, the Milwaukee area added to its payrolls, according to a report by the state Department of Workforce Development.

The four-county Milwaukee area reportedly had a net increase of 6,400 jobs in the last 12 months, while the state 2,400 jobs from May 2006.

The Milwaukee area unemployment rate rose to 5% last month from 4.8% the year before. The statewide rate rose to 4.7% from 4.5%. The unemployment rate is based on household surveys and measures the degree to which active job seekers can’t find work.

Black-owned financial institute helps African Americans avoid mortgage fraud and predatory lending

BlackNews.com--The Paradigm Institute, based in San Antonio, Texas is reaching out to African American families nationwide to help them become homeowners.

The institute is offering free consultations on how to purchase a home, how to understand different loans, and how to avoid becoming a victim of predatory lending.

"Mortgage fraud is the fastest growing White collar crime in this country," says James Turner, founder and president of the Institute. "African Americans make up a lot of the victims, and they need to be educated on the matter."

Turner is a retired educator and a former city legislator. He also served five years as the past president and chairman of the Board for a HUD (Housing and Urban Development) City Housing Authority in Michigan.

In addition to helping people responsibly own homes, his institute also recruits individuals who want to become work-at-home mortgage brokers, mortgage consultants, and/or loan officers.

"Such a career allows individuals to become entrepreneurs and community activists as they too can help to educate people about mortgage fraud," Turners says.

For more information, interested ones should call (888) 785-9635 for a free consultation or visit www.paradigminstitute.org.