New Ways to Exercise

For my Fitness and Wellness class, we recently had an outside class assignment to go to two local gyms and take fitness classes. It was a really awesome experience because the classes were free and I found two new types of exercise I really enjoy! I'm going to tell you a little bit about each class I took and give a few tips for those of you who are interested in trying a class, but haven't before.

Step Aerobics

This class was an hour long and it was straight cardio with a short ab workout at the end. Normally, this type of class plays really upbeat techno or hip hop music to get your body in the mood to move. It involves using a small platform that you use to step up onto in various routines. The key for first timers is to find a gym with a good instructor. It was my first time and she made sure I kept up through the routines.

My tip: It was a great way to start off the day. Bring a few friends along and it will be a blast.

Spinning

If you prefer a more laid back, simple workout, spin is not for you. This class was about an hour long, and like the step class the instructor plays upbeat, loud music to motivate you through the workout. The class started out with just a simple warm-up, pedaling slow and then progressed through various circuits where you sprint, stand up and pedal and squat while pedaling. It was extremely challenging, but very rewarding and enjoyable.

My tip: Go with a friend so that you can both challenge each other throughout the workout. Also, buy a seat cushion if you don't want a sore bum the next day!

If it wouldn't have been an assignment for class, I probably never would have taken the extra time to try these classes, especially by myself. Getting out of your comfort zone is hard, but afterwards you may find new friends or things you love. I know I'll be back at those gyms to take more classes this summer to make sure I'm ready for beach season!

The gyms I tried were:

Anastasia Athletic Club and Alpha Fitness

Desserts You Can Feel Good About

We all have those days where no matter how hard we try, all we want to eat is chocoloate, and as a college student, the last thing I want to spend money on is food, yet I find food is usually where the majority of my money is going towards. Maybe chocolate isn't your guilty pleasure, but here are a couple recipes for your sweet tooth that wont put a hole in your wallet.

Strawberry and Cream Cheese Sandwich (1 serving)

1 TBSP. reduced fat cream cheese

1/4 tsp. honey

1/8 tsp. grated orange zest

2 slices whole wheat sandwich bread

2 strawberries, sliced

Prep time: 5 minutes

Combine cream cheese, honey, and orange zest in a bowl. Use a knife to spread the mixture onto the bread. Place sliced strawberries on top of the mixture.

Nutrition Facts (per serving):

128 calories

4 grams fat

8 mg cholesterol

18 grams carbohydrates

2 grams added sugars

4 grams protein

3 grams fiber

191 mg. sodium

"Cocoa Nut" Bananas (4 servings)

4 tsp. cocoa powder

4 tsp. toasted unsweetened coconut

2 small bananas, sliced

Prep time: 10 minutes

Place cocoa powder and coconut on separate plates. Roll each banana slice in the cocoa, shake off excess, and dip into the coconut.

Nutrition Facts (per serving):

80 calories

1 gram fat

19 mg. carbohyrdates

1 gram added sugar

1 gram protein

2 grams fiber

5 mg sodium

For more great snack and meal recipes visit http://www.eatingwell.com/

Time For Some Shuteye

Being busy college students, we face many challenges when it comes to getting enough sleep. As many of my friends have said, "I'll sleep when I'm dead." But burning the candle on both ends can lead to some serious health problems. Why It's Important -sleep deprivation robs your body the time it needs to restore itself -lack of sleep is also connected to gaining weight -sleep deprivation is tied to a higher risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attacks and depression Have you ever had a night that you've just laid in bed and stared at the ceiling; your body just refused to go to sleep? This is your bodies way of telling you one of several things: - your stressed

-you've had an excess of alcohol, caffeine, or even vitamins -your diet needs a change, try smaller amounts of sugar and dairy Tips for the night owl

Get some Vitamin D. As natural sunlight enters the eye it regulated and resets our biological clocks, while triggering our brain to release chemicals that are vital our moods and sleep.

Exercise. Studies show that getting some aerobic or anaerobic exercise 4 to 6 hours before you plan to go to sleep will promote the body into deeper sleep cycles.

GOODBYE caffeine and sugar. Caffeine blocks the neurotransmitters needed to make your body sleepy and Foods and drinks containing an excess of sugar can overstress our organs involved in hormone regulation and consequently disrupt our sleep cycles.

Don't rely on sleeping pills. Taking sleeping pills will only mask the underlying problems.