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Author: Dashia Milden
Merrell’s Rock-Plated All-Terrain Sneakers Are Now Over 60% Off for Labor Day
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In This Story
Why We Love This Deal
Cabin fever has soared due to deadly high temperatures, but the weather has started to mellow out ahead of Labor Day, and it’s sent adventurers on a shopping frenzy for outdoor chairs, electric mountain bikes, and outdoor survival kits for weekend camping trips. Those who just want to get on the trail with a good pair of hiking sneakers need to take a look at Merrell right now, where a premium pair of trail shoes is over 60% off in five fun colorways during the brand’s Labor Day sale.
The Merrell MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx is on sale for $79, a 64% discount off the normal $220 price once you enter code EXTRA40 at checkout. That code, by the way, works on other already-on-sale Merrell offers, and explains how guys are scoring Moab 3s for $65, waterproof Moab 2s for $73, and newer tech-forward pairs like the Gore-Tex Speed Arc Matis at just $103.
Merrell MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx, $79 (was $220) at Merrell

What Shoppers Should Know
- Sizes Available: From 7 to 15
- Color Options: 5
- Key Tech: Grippy Vibram outsole and BZM-8 rock plate
- Best Use Case: This is an all-terrain shoe that will perform well on the most rugged of trails.
This is a Merrell shoe built for the most rugged of trails. Naturally, that means a grippy Vibram outsole, but what else is there? The shoe incorporates a Merrell BZM-8 rock plate, which helps shield the foot from rocky trails but is fashioned in such a way that the flexibility and mobility you’ve trained for are yours to keep.
Another thing that’s worth noting about the shoe here is the ability to opt for style and flair. Men’s hiking shoes have held to the rigorous black, brown, gray, and overall drab color palette far longer than other categories of shoes, and those options exist here, but there are more flashy options if you’re so inclined. There’s a reason peacocks show their feathers, and the Mantis or Mantis/Blossom colorways of this shoe are going to bring attention to the fact that you’re the outdoorsy, adventurous sort.
Related: Merrell’s Super Tough Moab 3 Tactical Waterproof Boots Are Nearly 50% Off for Labor Day
What Shoppers Are Saying
One adventurous traveler said, “Super comfy and breathable. They traveled with me to Bristol Bay, Alaska, and got many good comments.” That’s the power of flair and a good shoe combined.
We did mention this shoe is great for all-terrain wear, too, right? Another shopper provided an alternative: “I walk approximately 5 miles a day in a clinical setting, and these have been a great choice. Comfortable, breathable, and extremely lightweight with awesome arch support. Plus, the color pops with scrubs!”
The Merrell MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx is down to just $79 when you use code EXTRA40 at checkout. Again, this code works to bring an extra 40% off any already on-sale item in Merrell’s store. Here are some other great options to choose from:
Shop More Merrell Deals
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Author: John Alexander
Kentucky Sports Betting: Best KY Sportsbook Promos & Apps
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Best Sportsbook Promos & Bonus Bets – September 2026 Top Offers
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Manchester City Reportedly Reaches Deal With Chelsea For Enzo Fernández
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I’m a Registered Dietitian With Over 15 Years of Experience. This Is Exactly What I’d Eat for Dinner to Lower Blood Pressure
If your doctor has guided you to begin taking measures to lower your blood pressure, dinner is as good a place as any to make the necessary heart-healthy changes. People develop high blood pressure for a number of reasons, but diets high in sodium, fats, and sugar are often major contributors. Since high blood pressure is one of the biggest risk factors for heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems, making the necessary lifestyle changes, starting with what you eat for dinner, is an important preventative measure.
For a dinner that helps support healthy blood pressure, Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN, ButcherBox lead nutritionist, suggests pairing a piece of wild-caught salmon or a lean cut of crate-free pork tenderloin with roasted broccoli or Brussels sprouts and a side of beans or lentils. Keep the seasonings simple with fresh garlic, cumin, and olive oil.
“This dinner combination gives you omega-3s, magnesium, potassium, and fiber all on one plate, which are all nutrients with real research behind them for supporting healthy blood pressure,” Shapiro adds.
Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation, promote the relaxation of blood vessels, and improve blood vessel function. About 3 grams daily of omega-3 fatty acids, consumed through food or supplements, appears to be an effective amount for helping lower blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. A 3-ounce serving of cooked salmon provides roughly 1.5 to 2 grams of omega-3s.
Potassium, found in foods like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, beans, and lentils, helps lower blood pressure by easing tension in blood vessel walls and flushing excess sodium in the body. Magnesium, also found in beans and lentils, relaxes the smooth muscles in your blood vessels and counterbalances calcium. Studies have found that magnesium intake of 500 mg to 1,000 mg per day may reduce blood pressure as much as 5.6/2.8 mm Hg.
Fiber, however, is the real unsung hero for lowering blood pressure. One study found that every additional 5 grams of fiber consumed per day was associated with an estimated 2.8 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure and a 2.1 mm Hg reduction in diastolic blood pressure. For reference, a full one-cup serving of black beans contains about 15 grams of fiber, while a cup of broccoli provides nearly 3 grams. Men up to age 50 should aim for 38 grams of fiber per day, making this combo an easy way to get a substantial hit of your daily needs in a single meal.
Experts
- Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN, ButcherBox lead nutritionist
Sources
- Consuming about 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids a day may lower blood pressure. American Heart Association, 2022
- How Potassium Can Help Prevent or Treat High Blood Pressure. American Heart Association
- The Role of Magnesium in Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease. The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 2011
- Recommendations for the Use of Dietary Fiber to Improve Blood Pressure Control. Hypertension, 2024
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Author: Kelsey Kryger
Former WWE World Champion Confirms In-Ring Retirement
Last week, women’s wrestling legend Mercedes Martinez announced her retirement from in-ring competition after suffering a torn ACL in the midst of her farewell tour. This week, another notable women’s wrestler has confirmed her own retirement, three years after her last match.
Former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella Has Officially Hung up Her Wrestling Boots

Wrestling fans last saw Carmella (real name Leah Van Dale) in the squared circle in March 2023 as she competed in a 10-woman tag team match at a WWE live event in New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Her final televised bout pitted her against Bianca Belair on Monday Night Raw just days before.
On the latest episode of “Hot Mom S–t” featuring comedian and author Laura Clery, the former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion, 38, confirmed that those were indeed her last in-ring outings as she now considers herself retired from professional wrestling.
“We worked together, so we met through work,” Carmella said, referencing her marriage to WWE commentator Corey Graves. “It was a very similar kind of situation. Like we worked together all the time, and then we were home. I related a little bit to your book when you were saying, ‘Our dates were all about half romance, half business planning.’ We did that. I’m retired now, so it’s definitely a little bit different…I was a professional wrestler. I can’t wrestle anymore. I’m a mom. I have kids, so that’s kind of like I’m ‘retired.’”
Following her live event appearance in MSG, Carmella went on hiatus from in-ring action, with her real-life pregnancy later revealed as the reasons why. She and Graves welcomed a son into the world in November 2023.
By February 2025, “The Princess of Staten Island” was reportedly no longer under contract with WWE after a 12-year tenure. That October, she then gave birth to her second child, another son.
Related: WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus Reveals What Will Determine How Much Longer She Wrestles
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Author: Ella Jay
Sony’s New ULT Tower Max Wireless Party Speaker Delivered Massive Sound I Felt in My Chest
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Author: David Carnoy
Lindsay Clancy Jury Deadlocked: What Happens If They Can’t Reach a Verdict?
The Lindsay Clancy case has polarized America, so perhaps it’s not surprising that her jury is deadlocked too.
Clancy is standing trial in Massachusetts for the strangulation deaths of her three kids. She admits taking their lives; at question is whether she should be held criminally culpable or placed in a mental institution instead. Defense attorneys argue that postpartum psychosis and a cocktail of prescription drugs contributed to her actions.
But what happens now that the jury has indicated it might hang?
The Judge Asked the Lindsay Clancy Jurors to Keep Trying
Judge William Sullivan has asked the jurors in Clancy’s case to keep trying, according to People. This has happened in past cases. The jury is deadlocked, they’re asked to keep trying, and they then reach a verdict. However, in other cases, they remain deadlocked.
Juries must be unanimous to convict. The jury had already deliberated for 17 hours before telling Sullivan that the panel could not reach a verdict.

(Photo by Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
What are the options?
- According to People, the jury is considering charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and manslaughter.
- The jury could also acquit Clancy of murder by reason of insanity.
- Sometimes juries compromise on a lesser charge.
If the jury still can’t reach a verdict the judge would declare a mistrial. Prosecutors could try Clancy again, if they chose. They would not have to do so. They could choose not to try her at all or could try to negotiate a plea agreement with her, according to NewsNation.
According to CNN, it’s not clear whether the jury is deadlocked on all charges.
Who Are the Lindsay Clancy Jurors?
Their names are not known to the public, but the Clancy jury consists of nine women and three men, according to News Nation.
The Judge May Read Lindsay Clancy’s Jurors a ‘Dynamite Charge’
If the jury still can’t reach a verdict, the judge may make one final attempt to prod them to reach one by reading a special set of instructions called the “dynamite charge,” according to CNN.
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Author: Jessica McBride
The Case for Rotational Stability: Why Trainers Say It’s the Ultimate Key to a Bulletproof Spine
If you’ve ever loaded a heavy barbell onto your back, there’s a good chance a family member has warned you that you’re going to ruin your spine by the time you’re 40. The visual of a back giving out under weight is a classic fitness fear, but the odds of that actually happening are pretty low.
Here’s what’s actually happening under the bar when you lift. Your spine doesn’t just sit there taking a beating. Your intervertebral discs act like fluid-filled hydraulic shock absorbers that compress under load, rebound right after, and adapt to stress over time just like your muscles. At the exact same time, your abs, lats, and lower back contract together to build a rigid, protective cylinder around your core.
“Spinal injuries don’t always happen under a heavy barbell, they happen when you twist to grab something from the back seat, catch one of your kids off-balance, or reach across your body with a suitcase in one hand,” says Jesse Padilla, a certified personal trainer and Head of Sales & Partnerships at Fitbod. “Those are all lateral and rotational loads, and if your core has only been trained to brace straight up and down, it’s not prepared.”
Related: The 6 Move Core Routine That Fixes Weak Abs (Without Endless Crunches)
Why Rotational Stability Is the Secret to a Bulletproof Spine
Heavy loading isn’t the enemy, but if you want a back that can handle real life without hurting when you pick up a bag of groceries, basic situps aren’t going to cut it. That’s where rotational stability comes in. Instead of just bending back and forth, your core’s real job is its ability to resist unwanted twisting. Mastering anti-rotational exercises is how you build a spine that stays strong, stable, and completely pain-free.
“Training rotational stability, your ability to resist forces trying to twist or bend you, builds a spine that’s more resilient in the gym and more durable in real life,” Padilla says. “It’s the difference between a core that looks strong and one that actually holds up.”
Think about when tweaking or throwing your back out is most likely to happen in everyday life. Sure, you can herniate a disc or tweak your lower back if you squat too heavy without bracing properly, but more often than not, it happens during random daily tasks like sleeping in an awkward position or swinging a golf club a little too hard. These injuries happen because your muscles aren’t strong enough to control external loads across different planes of motion.
“When the core is not strong, the body compensates for this deficit by relying on the muscles of the lower back for help,” says DJ Ayotte, MS, CSCS, CPT, Studio Manager at Limitless Fitness Epping. “Through this compensation, improper movement mechanics are built, and over time these improper mechanics lead to improper function of the spinal muscles and ultimately injury will occur through either repetitive motion or attempting to lift too much weight before the body is properly ready for it.”
How Rotational Stability Protects You in Daily Life and Sports
Rotational stability is important for everyone, whether you’re carrying your kids in from their car seats, swinging a golf club, or loading a heavy barbell on Saturday mornings. But Mark Kovacs, PhD, CSCS, and CEO of the Kovacs Institute, says it’s especially critical for anyone who regularly plays rotational sports, like hitting a ball at your Thursday night softball game or playing a round of golf on the weekend.
“Anti-rotation training is important for everyone, but it can be especially valuable for rotational athletes,” he says. Golfers, tennis players, baseball players and other rotational athletes produce tremendous rotational forces when they swing, throw or strike a ball. They certainly need the ability to generate rotation, but equally important is the ability to control and decelerate that rotation. The best rotational athletes aren’t simply good at producing rotation…they’re very good at controlling it.”
The Best Rotational Stability Exercises for a Bulletproof Back

Beth Bischoff
How to Do Palloff Presses
- Attach a D-handle to a cable machine or loop a resistance band around a post at chest height.
- Hold the handle or band at your sternum with both hands and turn so your left shoulder points toward the anchor point, stepping far enough away to create clear tension.
- Stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart, lock your hips and shoulders square, and press your hands straight out in front of your chest while fighting the urge to let the weight twist your torso.
- Hold that fully extended position for two to three seconds, feeling your whole midsection brace, then slowly control your hands back to your sternum.
- Finish your reps, turn around so your right shoulder faces the anchor point, and repeat on the other side.

Beth Bischoff
How to Do Horizontal Wood Chop
- Set the cable machine to chest height.
- Grab the D-handle with both hands, arms extended, and stand in a split stance perpendicular to the machine.
- Turn your shoulders and hips at the same time, while keeping your arms straight throughout.
- Pivot your feet and twist your hips as you move the cable to the side.
- That’s 1 rep.

How to Do Renegade Rows
- Start in a high plank with a dumbbell in each hand and your feet set slightly wider than shoulder-width.
- Brace your core and row one dumbbell toward your rib cage while keeping your hips as steady as possible.
- Lower the weight, place it down, and repeat the row on the opposite side.
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Author: Madison Freeman

