Ingredients

• 1 package (10 ounces) frozen cubed butternut squash, thawed
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• MUSHROOMS:
• 4 large portobello mushrooms, coarsely chopped
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• SAUCE:
• 2 cans (28 ounces each) whole tomatoes, undrained
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• LASAGNA:
• 9 no-cook lasagna noodles
• 4 ounces fresh baby spinach (about 5 cups)
• 3 cups part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1-1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Aerobic exercise versus anaerobic exercise has been one of the many great debates in the fitness world since the beginning of time. And there are many people that feel very strongly one way or the other. We’re going to take a look at each of these forms of exercise and determine for ourselves which one is better.

Aerobic Exercise

Aerobic exercise is essentially exercising in a way that your body is able to maintain an adequate oxygen supply to fuel your muscles. These exercises are not as intense, and are completed over longer periods of time. Think of long-distrance running, walking, recreational swimming, etc. Your body is able to keep up with the oxygen your muscles demand and doesn’t have to find fuel from another source. For years, this was the only form of exercise that anyone thought to do. Even the old aerobics tapes your parents kept in the basement involved aerobic exercise. It was the only real form of cardio until people started looking elsewhere for ways to lose weight faster.

Pros and Cons

The pros of aerobic exercise is that you are able to exercise for longer periods of time before becoming fatigued. For people who love to run long distances, like marathons and triathlons, compete in obstacle courses, etc., this is the exercise for you. It’s what you’ll be doing come race day so it’s how you train, for the most part, until that point. Aerobic exercises also work well to build your endurance level, which is necessary in any sport.

Many people enjoy aerobic exercises like walking because you can complete it over a period of time, at your own skill level and pace. However, running, especially over a long period of time, is very hard on your joints. Some would argue that aerobic exercises are not as effective because you are not working out as intensely when you do them, but they can be just as effective as anaerobic exercises over time.

Anaerobic Exercise

Anaerobic exercise, on the other hand, occurs with exercises that are higher in intensity and typically, shorter in duration. Think of the world of HIIT exercises or High Intensity Interval Training, or running sprints. This involves short bursts of high energy output to the point that your body cannot keep up with the oxygen demands and has to fuel your muscles some other way. The idea behind anaerobic workouts is that because your body has to use an alternate fuel source, it will burn fat faster to provide that energy.

Tons of people absolute love HIIT workouts because it is believed that you can burn more calories over a shorter period of time and in the world we live in today, no one seems to have time to workout. People also really like HIIT workouts because of the “after burn” effect. This occurs when your muscles run out of oxygen to meet their demand and they start to look for fuel elsewhere. Your metabolism kicks into high gear to meet that demand and because anaerobic exercise puts your body in this condition but only lasts a short amount of time, your metabolism keeps going until it thinks you body is at a regular state again. The idea is to ramp up your metabolism so much so that it continues to burn calories for fuel long after you’re done with your exercise, and that is believed to make your burn fat faster.

Pros and Cons

Obviously I’ve just mentioned some of the pros to anaerobic exercise: it saves you time and it can burn fat faster because of ramping up your metabolism. Some people think that anaerobic exercise is more effective overall because it works on your cardio endurance, as well as your muscular strength. But once again, HIIT workouts can be very hard on your joints and some people, especially those who are older or not already in shape, will have a lot of difficulty with anaerobic exercises.

Because anaerobic exercise is essentially working out to the point of reducing oxygen to your muscles, they can fatigue quickly, which can affect your endurance. Also, some people may feel as thought they cannot breathe while performing exercises and it can be difficult to judge when this is appropriate and when it becomes a problem.

Which One Is Better?

We’ve looked at some of the pros and cons for both aerobic and anaerobic exercise and quite honestly, as long as you’re putting in the time to exercise, it doesn’t really matter. Some would argue that anaerobic exercise is better for losing weight because of the intensity and “after burn” effect. But if you can’t do anaerobic exercise, then aerobic exercise is a great option. Besides, some exercise is better than no exercise at all.

I personally prefer aerobic exercise to anaerobic exercise because I can’t stand the feeling of not being able to breathe while I’m working out. I like to take my time, focus on what I’m doing, and really feel each muscle as I’m working it. If you would ask my husband though, he would say the exact opposite. He doesn’t feel like he’s getting a good workout unless he feels like he’s going to throw up after. Now that doesn’t mean I don’t like to get my heart rate up, but it takes a balance. A great cardio workout is perfect to add in especially when I’m short on time and it keeps me more physically balanced. Besides, you can’t beat the endorphin rush of a HIIT workout. It makes you feel amazing! But if you only ever train one way, how can you expect your body to perform well doing anything else?

Instead of worrying about getting both aerobic and anaerobic exercise mixed into your routine, focus on the exercises you enjoy. After all, if you don’t enjoy it at least a little bit, you won’t do it and then it becomes completely ineffective. It’s fine to stick to your favorites most of the time, but every once in a while, try something new or something completely different. If you normally like to bike long distances, try a HIIT workout at a gym. Or if you’re a gym junkie hooked on the HIIT world, get outside and take a long, easy jog. You’ll feel refreshed and may even find a new favorite activity you’ll want to mix into your routine more often.

We’re proud moms, but that doesn’t mean that all of our jewelry has to be engraved with our children’s names or that the only artwork we want on display is an abstract doodle by a 4-year-old. And it certainly doesn’t mean that we want another machine-washable “handbag.” This Mother’s Day, the items topping our real wish list aren’t exclusive to moms, they’re not necessarily practical, and they’re definitely not for sale at Babies”R”Us. Consider this a list of what we really want this year . . . or any day we need a reminder that while we’re moms, we’re also just women who love a good spa treatment.

Stylish Sunglasses

A Body Scrub Treatment

Nice Perfume

Artwork

An Ongoing Supply of Wine

A Future Heirloom

Unique Flowers

A Designer Handbag

A Decorative Object

Stud Earrings

A Memorable Experience

How to apply sunscreen

Surprising Health Benefits of Sleep

Sleep makes you feel better, but its importance goes way beyond just boosting your mood or banishing under-eye circles. Adequate sleep is a key part of a healthy lifestyle, and can benefit your heart, weight, mind, and more.

Sleep makes you feel better, but its importance goes way beyond just boosting your mood or banishing under-eye circles.
Adequate sleep is a key part of a healthy lifestyle, and can benefit your heart, weight, mind, and more.
Not anymore. Here are some health benefits researchers have discovered about a good night’s sleep.

Improve memory

Your mind is surprisingly busy while you snooze. During sleep you can strengthen memories or “practice” skills learned while you were awake (it’s a process called consolidation).  In other words if you’re trying to learn something new—whether it’s Spanish or a new tennis swing—you’ll perform better after sleeping.

Live longer?

Too much or too little sleep is associated with a shorter lifespan—although it’s not clear if it’s a cause or effect. (Illnesses may affect sleep patterns too.)  In a 2010 study of women ages 50 to 79, more deaths occurred in women who got less than five hours or more than six and a half hours of sleep per night.  Sleep also affects quality of life.

Curb inflammation

Inflammation is linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, and premature aging. Research indicates that people who get less sleep—six or fewer hours a night—have higher blood levels of inflammatory proteins than those who get more.  A 2010 study found that C-reactive protein, which is associated with heart attack risk, was higher in people who got six or fewer hours of sleep a night.  People who have sleep apnea or insomnia can have an improvement in blood pressure and inflammation with treatment of the sleep disorders.

Spur creativity

Get a good night’s sleep before getting out the easel and paintbrushes or the pen and paper.  In addition to consolidating memories, or making them stronger, your brain appears to reorganize and restructure them, which may result in more creativity as well.  Researchers at Harvard University and Boston College found that people seem to strengthen the emotional components of a memory during sleep, which may help spur the creative process.

Be a winner

If you’re an athlete, there may be one simple way to improve your performance: sleep.  A Stanford University study found that college football players who tried to sleep at least 10 hours a night for seven to eight weeks improved their average sprint time and had less daytime fatigue and more stamina.   The results of this study reflect previous findings seen in tennis players and swimmers.

Improve your grades

Children between the ages of 10 and 16 who have sleep disordered breathing, which includes snoring, sleep apnea, and other types of interrupted breathing during sleep, are more likely to have problems with attention and learning, according to a 2010 study in the journal Sleep. This could lead to significant functional impairment at school.    In another study, college students who didn’t get enough sleep had worse grades than those who did.

Sharpen attention

A lack of sleep can result in ADHD-like symptoms in kids.    Kids don’t react the same way to sleep deprivation as adults do.  Whereas adults get sleepy, kids tend to get hyperactive.  A 2009 study in the journal Pediatricsfound that children ages seven and eight who got less than about eight hours of sleep a night were more likely to be hyperactive, inattentive, and impulsive.

Have a healthy weight

If you are thinking about going on a diet, you might want to plan an earlier bedtime too.  Researchers at the University of Chicago found that dieters who were well rested lost more fat—56% of their weight loss—than those who were sleep deprived, who lost more muscle mass. (They shed similar amounts of total weight regardless of sleep.)  Dieters in the study also felt more hungry when they got less sleep.  Sleep and metabolism are controlled by the same sectors of the brain.  When you are sleepy, certain hormones go up in your blood, and those same hormones drive appetite.

Lower stress

When it comes to our health stress and sleep are nearly one and the same—and both can affect cardiovascular health.   Sleep can definitely reduce levels of stress, and with that people can have better control of their blood pressure.  It’s also believed that sleep effects cholesterol levels, which plays a significant role in heart disease.

Avoid accidents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in 2009 that being tired accounted for the highest number of fatal single-car run-off-the-road crashes due to the driver’s performance—even more than alcohol! Sleepiness is grossly underrated as a problem by most people, but the cost to society is enormous.  Sleeplessness affects reaction time and decision making.  Insufficient sleep for just one night can be as detrimental to your driving ability as having an alcoholic drink.

Steer clear of depression

Sleeping well means more to our overall well-being than simply avoiding irritability.  A lack of sleep can contribute to depression.  A good night’s sleep can really help a moody person decrease their anxiety. You get more emotional stability with good sleep.  If you think the long hours put in during the week are the cause of your anxiety or impatience,  sleep cannot necessarily be made up during the weekend.  If you sleep more on the weekends, you simply aren’t sleeping enough in the week. It’s all about finding a balance.

In a world of constant change and innovation we all are trying to stay up to date and current on anything in the news about health, aging, nutrition, and exercise.

Research shows that mixing up your workouts is a good idea. Not only do you add some variety, but you also give your metabolism a shot in the arm with a new class here and there.

If a regular workout routine works for you, why should you change up your fitness style? Here’s why it’s important to mix it up every now and then.

1. You don’t want to plateau. Adding variety to your workouts will keep your exercises from becoming ineffective. If you run at the same speed on the treadmill everyday for 20 minutes, your body will eventually hit a plateau. You will still be burning calories, but you’ll need to increase your resistance levels or speed if you want to really maximize results. This is why personal trainers always push their clients to do more reps each workout session, because it helps boost their metabolism and as your strength and endurance grows, so should your workout.
2. Your body needs time to repair itself. A friend of mine has the best workout routine: Mondays and Wednesdays she goes to yoga and Tuesdays and Thursdays she runs five miles. Because running can be hard on her body, she gives herself a day or two in between to recuperate. If you do the same intense workout each day, you won’t be giving certain muscle groups enough time to heal between each workout, and you increase your chances of being injured. Just make sure you have low-intensity workout days between your intense workouts to prevent your body from becoming overtrained.
3. Burnout prevention. The last thing you want is to get bored with something because you do it so much. Loved biking as a kid but now it only reminds you of your loathed spinning class? Here’s the thing: if you keep doing the same workout routine each day and your results start dropping, you’re more likely to get bored and give up on your fitness goals. To prevent this from happening, always keep your workout schedule mixed up so things don’t become repetitive and boring.

We have added some new fitness classes to our schedule for this exact reason.  We are even offering YOUR FIRST CLASS FREE so you can try it out and see for yourself how great you feel!  Come join Johnny for CORE CAMP – The class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6pm or Saturdays at 7am.  Karla and Sarah teach BODY BLAST – you and gravity on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 7am.  Just call the studio to sign up for your free class today!  562-595-7888

Too swamped with work, family, and life responsibilities? Do you struggle with fitting your workouts into your busy schedule, yet feel anxious about missing your exercise sessions and meeting your fitness goals? How do we get out of this bind? Fitting in your strength training and cardiovascular workouts takes careful planning. Dwell less and take action instead. Following the steps outlined in this article, you’ll save time and get closer to meet your fitness goals.

Step 1:  Select a time for a weekly planning session. In order to locate pockets of time for each upcoming week, get your calendar out; you won’t need more than 15 minutes to organize your schedule. To keep yourself reminded of the time you’ve designated, make sure this information is available on the calendar you’re most likely to look at daily.

Step 2:  Record all of your obligations for the week. Fill in everything you can think of that requires your time.

• Do you or someone in your family have a dentist appointment? An appointment with a hairstylist? A project to complete?
• Record it all

Step 3:  Look at the pockets of available time between activities or appointments.This is where you’ll schedule your daily workout routines.

• Highlight your open windows of time. Identify varying time slots in order to tailor your workouts to the available time you have. The more time you have, the better. No matter what time slots you have, there are resources available to fit your lifestyle:
  • 60 minutes or more?
  • 50 minutes
  • 40 minutes
  • 30 minutes
  • 20 minutes
  • 10 minutes

Step 4:  For optimal results, schedule 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise 3 to 4 times per week. Many people find cardiovascular exercise a daunting task because they try to get in way too much cardio. That’s right – too much! To achieve most fitness goals, you’ll want to do 30 to 50 minutes of cardio three times per week at your target heart rate. This means that you can get yourself changed, sneakers on, and complete your cardio workout in a total of 30 to 50 minutes!

• Be sure to pick something you’re willing to do. Without choosing what you enjoy doing, you can have a hard time getting motivated to do cardio.
• Write down “cardiovascular exercise” in time slots that give you 30 to 50 minutes of free time. Go ahead, fill in 3 of these slots:
  • If your knees bother you, choose a stationary bike, an elliptical machine, or go for a swim.  Take a 30 minute cycling class!
  • Is a brisk walk or run in your neighborhood appealing?
  • How about those stairs at the office? Walk up and down for the allotted time.
  • Do you prefer a class at a local club or town hall?
  • A video in your living room?
  • Don’t know what you like? Try some different options and find what you are most likely to stick with.

Step 5:  Schedule 30 minutes of strength/resistance training exercise at least three times per week. Taking that first step is often the toughest. Make yourself accountable by signing up for a personal training session, signing up for a Pilates Reformer class or partnering with a friend. 40 minutes of strength training is optimal; however, you can fit some exercises in as little as 10 minutes if you’re prepared to optimize those short bursts of free time.

• Have a set of dumbbells ready to go under your desk.
• Throw some tubing or bands in a desk drawer for easy access.
• Book 2 to 3 pilates reformer classes a week…these classes get the spine moving in every direction, strengthen the core, improve balance, agility and flexibility.  There truly is no better option if you are interested in making the most of your limited time.

Step 6:  Look your schedule over.

• Have you fit in 3 sessions of cardiovascular exercise for 30- 50 minutes each in your week?
• How did you do with strength/resistance training? Have you scheduled at least three sessions for the week?

Step 7:  Stick with your schedule for the week. Following through with your exercise plan will give you a sense of accomplishment. You can tweak your routine next week if necessary.

• When you’ve completed each workout, check it off on your calendar, PDA, cell phone, etc.
• Notice what works for you and what doesn’t so you can make changes when planning day comes around again.

Step 8:  Repeat each week. By sticking with a planning day and creating a schedule each week, you’re more likely to stick with your plan and reach your goals.

• At the end of each week, note what worked and what needs to be changed.
• If your plan worked well for you this week, repeat. If not, make the necessary changes.

YOU CAN DO THIS…SUCCESS IS YOURS!!!