The Most Wonderful Time To Eat Lunch

In case you were wondering, TRX is amazing and awful and terrible and awesome all at once.  For 25 minutes, all I could think was "KEEP GOING." My body is definitely not in the shape needed to go at my normal break-neck effort without petering out! I started very strong but by the end, I was doing my best just to not barf/pass out/what have you.  I made it to the end of the class, though! I got the DOMS bad, man; I've been so sore for two days straight! Despite the serious abuse, the soreness only makes me want to go harder.  I can't wait to hit the next class I can!

TRUE FACT: Clocks are jerks.

I also had a really big lesson this week in meal timing. There were a few days where I really struggled with my calorie goals because I'd be so hungry. This wasn't "I want to eat because it is an activity I enjoy" hunger, it was my body telling me I needed more nourishment.  I reflected on the days I struggled by reviewing my entries in MyFitnessPal and realized I'd been hungry for a long time before eating on those days.  I also had eaten when I wasn't really hungry but had time to do so.

For the past few days, I tried something different.  Instead of worrying about when I should be eating, I simply ate a small meal or snack when I was actually hungry. I also made sure that I was eating protein and fiber in each sitting (which can be tricky if you don't eat red or white meat!). The results are like a light switch! Suddenly, my calorie goals made sense and were easily achievable. I felt kind of silly because it is such a simple solution but I'm very glad for the epiphane.  Especially since I'm totally a jerk when I'm hungry (sorry, Mr. Husband!).

I did some Google-Fu and found that there really isn't a sciencey reason to eat small meals.  There are pros and cons for it that are all based on individual preference.  Eating small meals throughout the day doesn't speed metabolism, encourage weight loss in any way, or reduce insulin spikes.  For people who struggle with portion control it can actually encourage over-eating. For people who are not mindful of micronutrients, it can lead to poor decisions. 

Truly, the advice all boils down to what works for you.  Eat when you're hungry.  If you're not sure if you're hungry, drink a little water then wait 20 minutes.  Eat something packed with protein or fiber to increase the satiety you feel from your meal.  If you end up eating 6 meals that add up to your daily calorie goal, so be it!  If three scheduled meals works best for you, excellent! Just listen to that awesome bod of yours!

Aerobic or Anaerobic? That is the question.

I slept like a baby last night. In fact, despite my deep-seeded hatred for Daylight Savings Time, I managed to pass out before 10:00 pm.  Admittedly, stress was a small factor but the much larger culprit here was our topic of discussion today: CARDIOVASCULAR EXERCISE!

Let's get our lab coats on, kiddies! I'm about to spell out the difference between Aerobic and Anaerobic Cardiovascular exercise! 

Thanks to For Dummies!

The easiest distinction between Anaerobic and Aerobic Exercise is intensity which can be gauged with air! Aerobic workouts use oxygen to create energy.  Anaerobic workouts use the absence of oxygen to create energy.  If you can hold a short conversation without getting out of breath while you exercise, you're likely working aerobically.  Weight-lifting (intense) and sprinting are good examples of anaerobic exercises because, unless you're some kind of wizard, you should be out of breath performing these. 

Interval training actually uses both by employing high-intensity intervals and lower-intensity "rest intervals" in the same workout. At first, it can be hard to have such an inexact indicator as your own breath.  It may help to know that your Maximum Heart Rate is used to be more exact. Aerobic workouts generally fall at between 50-80% of your MHR. Anaerobic workouts are generally between 80-90% of your MHR. To calculate your MHR, there are a wealth of resources online! Try HERE  HERE or HERE.

Both forms are extremely beneficial to your health and will make your body feel better. The most benefit to your heart, lungs, and bones is from aerobic exercise as it maximizes the amount of oxygen in your blood and allows for more efficient removal of waste products like carbon dioxide and lactic acid.  There is perhaps nothing more beneficial to your health as it has such widespread positive impacts to vital body functions.

Anaerobic exercise beefs up your endurance for aerobic exercise, increases muscle tone and gives you the chance to get that "runner's high" from the release of endorphins.

Endorphins ("endogenous morphine") are endogenous opioid peptides that function as neurotransmitters.^[1] They are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in vertebrates during exercise,^[2] excitement, pain, consumption of spicy food, love and orgasm,^[3][4] and they resemble the opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a feeling of well-being.

THERE IS A LEGAL, FREE OPIATE-SUBSTITUTE, PEOPLE! That said, I don't recommend going at exercise like a heroin addict on a binge. 


I'm feeling super-motivated! Megan mentioned a TRX  class tonight and/or tomorrow morning that could fix that "not feeling like I was in a car accident yesterday" feeling. From the videos online, it looks like I'm in for an anaerobic endorphin treat!