Weight Lifting, Garden Pizza, Great Butt

Tip of the Day: Weight Lifting

It helps belly fat, stress, and can even prevent heart disease and cancer. This method of exercising is man's best friend in the gym, but women tend to be a little afraid of lifting weights. I can tell you now that, unless a woman takes a ton of supplements/steroids, she is not going to bulk up. Women aren't built to bulk up like men do. Lifting weights is also known to burn 40% more fat! "When Penn State researchers put dieters into three groups—no exercise, aerobic exercise only, or aerobic exercise and weight training—they all lost around 21 pounds, but the lifters shed six more pounds of fat than those who didn't pump iron. Why? The lifters' loss was almost pure fat; the others lost fat and muscle." (womenshealth.com) Another thing, and I've said this in a previous post, but lifting weights (strength training) will cause you to keep burning calories up to 36 hours after you've worked out! That's a reason to make weight lifting a significant part of your week, don't you think?
Healthy Recipe: Garden Pizza

This a perfect, summery recipe! Just 375 a serving (this makes 4)

• 4 whole baby or 1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 8 fresh basil leaves
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• Yellow cornmeal, for dusting
• 1 pound Easy Whole-Wheat Pizza Dough (recipe in previous post)
  
• 4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
• 1 medium yellow bell pepper, diced
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

1. Grill zucchini until marked and softened, about 4 minutes. Thinly slice. Reduce heat to low.
2. Process tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt and pepper in a food processor until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.
3. Sprinkle cornmeal onto a pizza peel or large baking sheet. Roll out the dough (14 inch circle) and transfer it to the prepared peel or baking sheet, making sure the underside of the dough is completely coated with cornmeal.
4. Slide the crust onto the grill rack; close the lid. Cook until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes.
5. Using a large spatula, flip the crust. Spread the tomato mixture on the crust, leaving a 1-inch border. Quickly top with mozzarella, bell pepper and the zucchini. Sprinkle on Parmesan.
6. Close the lid again and grill until the cheese has melted and the bottom of the crust has browned, about 8 minutes.

Exercise: Great Butt

Check out this great butt workout!! I plan on using this starting next week paired with the "Running for Beginners" (in previous post)

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/glute-workout

*Running for Beginners (from previous post)
I started my running program on Monday, and I have to say that it is going so well! By the end of the 6 weeks I should be able to run 30 minutes with no stopping. I can't wait!!