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The Fit Persons’ Comfort Food

Top Trainers in Atlanta Gift clients with Healthy protein pancakes

At the Brad Kolowich Jr. Personal Training Studio in Atlanta, our personal trainers encourage and motivate all of our clients to follow a sound nutrition program that helps them to get the most “bang for their buck” in personal training results. We hold high regards to the fact that your must put in 100% in the gym and 100% into your nutrition plan. With slack in one area or the other you will never see your full fitness and health potential.

However, even as personal trainers, we too have cravings, desires and the need to have some traditional comfort foods (especially this time of year as the weather cools, family gathers and we are allotted a couple of mornings off to lie around in pajamas a little longer than normal). A Saturday morning favorite of mine growing up was indulging in a stack of warm fluffy pancakes! The typical boxed pancake mix is loaded with highly processed flours, sugar, sodium, and even hydrogenated oils (a.k.a. Trans fats). All of these ingredients add up to a whole lot of empty calories. So, this Christmas, in lieu of Christmas breakfast casseroles and stacks of boxed pancakes, we are encouraging our clients to try ramping up the nutritional content of their lazy morning breakfast and try our healthy alternative to traditional pancakes!

This jar contains all the makings you need to create a delicious, mouth watering batch of protein packed pancakes. This pancake combo is gluten-free, high in fiber, sugar free, and guaranteed to fuel your body for all your busy holiday festivities ahead. Each jar contains 1 cup of rolled oat flour, 1 scoop of all natural vanilla whey protein, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1/8 cup of carob chips. All you do is pour the contents of the jar into a bowl, add three egg whites, 1/4 cup of unsweetened almond milk and ½ of a smashed banana (optional). Pour the batter over a medium heated skillet and cook until brown on each side. We’ve attached all natural maple almond nut butter as a special topping for our clients. For other toppings try:

1 tbsp peanut butter + ½ sliced banana
½ chopped apple + 2 tbsp sugar free syrup
¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut + 2 tsp honey
¼ cup berries + ¼ nonfat Greek yogurt
1 poached egg + ¼ avocado

Get creative with various combos! The nutrient and flavor combinations are endless!

Written by,
Mandy Malool, ISSA-CFT, SFN

Atlanta Personal Trainer, Andy Keller, Helps Client Drop 5% Body Fat

atlanta personal training using carb cycling for fat loss and muscle growth

Dale, 48, began working with nationally certified personal trainer Andy in January of 2012. He currently maintains a strict training schedule at Brad Kolowich Jr Atlanta personal training studio getting workouts in with Andy 5 days a week while staying dedicated to his cardio sessions post-workout and on his off days. Since beginning personal training with Andy, Dale has lost a total of 5% body fat, and with a focus of building muscle mass put on 3 inches in his chest, and 2 inches in his arms and legs. In October, Dale, with Andy’s great coaching, decided to take on the ultimate challenge of carb cycling to help reach his fitness goals.

Carb cycling is a strategy in which you (as the term insinuates) vary the amounts of carbohydrates you intake on a day to day basis, which doesn’t allow the body to find homeostasis. This strategy can be used to obtain various results such as for muscle gain or rapid fat loss. Reducing calories and carbohydrates can cause the dieter to experience low energy, decrease in metabolic rate, thyroid hormone output, and reproductive hormone output and more. In other words, following a low carb, low calorie diet for too long means the fat loss will reach a plateau. So, you can trick the body by giving it higher calorie, higher carbohydrate intakes frequently enough so that is won’t ever get too close to starvation mode, but infrequently enough so that fat loss (and muscle growth) can continue on. This is the strategy Andy used to coach Dale to lose 2 ½ inches in his waist in one month. While loosing inches in his waist, Dale also lost overall body weight and gained muscle mass and overall strength. Dale is proof that with dedication to your workouts in and out of training sessions, trusting and abiding by the strategies your trainer is helping you too implement, and by being consistent with a nutritional and training program you can quickly reach fitness goals you never imagined possible. Congrats Dale AND Andy!

Home for the Holidays

Home for the Holidays Workout

In home workout for beginners, intermediate and advanced. Just grab a pair of dumbbells and get started.

Don’t let your fitness commitments go out the door as your friends, family and holiday parties begin to flood in. Between decorating, cooking, wrapping and shuffling from here to there remember to make room to squeeze you fitness routine in. By continuing with your regular workouts, you will have a jump start on reaching your New Year goals. This workout makes use of compound movements–exercises that use multiple muscle groups for maximum results–and its is designed for speed so you can finish it in 30 minutes without compromising your time invested in holiday festivities OR most importantly your results.

All you need is a dumbbell (10-15 llbs.) or medicine ball. Do as many reps as you can in 20 seconds. Rest for 10 seconds before moving on to the next exercise. Repeat the circuit 4-8 times.

1. Jump squat
2. Dumbbell single leg dead lift with a row (20 seconds each side)
3. Mountain climber
4. Walking lunge with torso twist
5. Alternating lunge jump
6. Dumbbell squat/front raise/press/curl
7. Jumping jack
8. Explosive pushups
9. Overhead Dumbbell crunch
10. Burpee

**As you become more proficient at this workout, you can bump up your interval to a 30 seconds on/15 seconds rest and after that 40/20 intervals.

Written by,

Mandy Malool ISSA-CFT, SFN

Do It Yourself Pumpkin Face Mask

As an Atlanta Personal Trainer, working out and lifting weights all day keeps my body looking and feeling great but doesn’t always leave my skin feeling smooth and hydrated. As the weather has cooled off this fall I’ve noticed yet again my skin beginning to dry out leaving me looking and feeling less than my best. This past weekend I put the highly talked about pumpkin face mask to the test. Pumpkins are the fruit of the season and are full of skin aiding vitamins and nutrients. Due to their high content of vitamin A (skin healing), vitamin C (antioxidant) and zinc, they are great for environmentally damaged and sensitive skin. And yes, this pumpkin face mask left my skin feeling smooth and moisturized. So mix up this recipe, draw yourself a warm bath, grab a cup of warm tea and relax tonight to end your Monday with some skin pampering bliss!

Ingredients:

2 tsp cooked or canned pumpkin
½ tsp honey
¼ tsp milk
¼ tsp heavy whipping cream or ½ tsp brown sugar

www.care2.com

Written by, Mandy Malool Atlanta Personal Trainer and Specialist in Fitness Nutrition

protein cake pops, Jezebel August 2012

Brad Kolowich Jr. Personal Training Studio boast many special features that sets it in a class of it’s own in the arena of training studio’s in Atlanta.  As mentioned in Atlanta’s 2012 August edition of Jezebel Magazine, one particularly unique quality at Brad’s studio is the inclusion of a line of healthy treats, :anyWhey Treats.  Baking and cooking has always been a hobbie/passion of mine (just ask my parents who had to instate the rule, “you make it you eat it and clean it”).  My combined passion for baking, health, nutrition and fitness birthed my new idea to create a treat that wouldn’t spoil your waistline, would satisfy cravings for sweet treats, provide the body with the necessary pre/post workout fuel to aid in recovery, boost metabolism and aid in the release of body fat while preserving muscle tissue.  :anyWhey Treat’s menu changes frequently at Brad Kolowich Jr. Studio’s.  Below is a sample menu.

protein cake pops, jezebel magazine 2012, brad kolowich personal training

: anyWhey treats
Featuring: all natural, healthy and energizing pre/post workout treats

Energy Boosting Protein Cake Pops, $2.00 each

for orders, contact Mandy Malool, mandy@bradkolowichjr.com

Nutrition (approximately per ball): Calories 57, Fat 2.75g, Carbohydrates 5g, Protein 6g

Protein Bars………$2.00 each
Peanut Butter Cheesecake
(Oats, Vanilla Protein, Peanut butter, Cheesecake flavoring)
Chocolate Almond Delight
(Oats, Chocolate Protein, Almond Butter, Coconut extract)
Lemon Bar
(Oats, Vanilla Protein, Almond Butter, Lemon Flavoring)

(Nutrition varies per bar) Approximately 100 Calories, 2g fat, 10 Carbs or less, 10g protein

AB-Attack” Fit Camp

Coming September 2012

30 minutes of intense Ab-focused training.

Guaranteed to help reshape your midsection!

Starting at $10/session*

September Fit Camp Schedule

1st Session begins September 11th @ 6:30pm

September 13th @ 6am and 7pm

September 18th @ 6am and 6:30pm

September 20th @ 6am and 7pm

September 25th @ 6:30pm

*5 session commitment rate September. $15/individual session purchase.

bradkolowichjr.com

Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos

2 Mahi Mahi Burgers from Trader Joe’s

4 Reduced Carb Whole Wheat TJ’s Tortillas (These are my favorite new find at TJ’s!  Each one only has 45 calories and 3 net carbs, and 7g of fiber!)

1/2 cup frozen fire roasted pepper and onion blend

2 cups broccoli slaw

1/4 cup fat free ricotta cheese

1 Tbsp Chipotle Mustard (Silver Spring makes a great one!)

Saute the Mahi Mahi burgers about 6 min on each side.  Once cooked add the broccoli slaw to the pan and season with spices as you wish (for an extra fat burning kick add some red pepper).  Mix the burgers and slaw together.  In a separate pan, spray with cooking spray and heat to medium heat.  While heating, in a small bowl mix the ricotta cheese and mustard.  In the heated pan add a tortilla and a put a dollop of the cheese mixture on the tortilla.  Heat for about 1-2 minutes and add some of the Mahi Mahi and veggie mixture to the totilla shell.  Enjoy while its hot!

Quick, easy and absolutely yummy!  Guaranteed to impress your Dad with this one…(He’ll never know if came from a box)!

Recipe serves 2.  Nutrition Facts (per serving, 2 tacos)

245 calories, 8g fat, 29g protein, 27g carbs, 16g fiber (this is more than half of your daily required intake!)

Mandy Malool

B.S.Ed, ISSA-CFT

 

 

Peachtree Road Race

Every year I ponder over ideas of what to do for my Dad for Father’s Day. My Dad is a simple and graciously giving man. He does so much for everyone (especially our family), all along expecting nothing in return. So every year when Father‘s Day comes around it is an agonizing battle in my mind to find that gift that seems grandiose enough for a man who has gives so effortlessly, yet his only wish is for others to be happy. As easy as it seems, for my Dad, like many others, nothing means more than the gift of spending quality time together. So this Father’s Day, think about spending some time doing something that will encourage the man that has cared so much for you to do the same for himself. Here is a list of ideas that will help to inspire your Dad to live a long and healthy life so you and your Dad have many more Father’s Day’s together!

1. Get him a massage–a massage is a great way to easy your mind, relax and relieve stress and sore muscles.
2. Men’s Health–give your Dad a 1 year subscription to Men’s Health or Clean Eating (if you Dad is the cook of the family, like mine).
3. Cook a Healthy Meal Together -According to the wisest man to ever live, Solomon, “…there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink and enjoy life.” (Ecclesiastes 8:15) So this Father’s Day, plan a healthy meal and treat your Dad to some good food, drinks and enjoy it together. Check out the Father’s Day Recipe ideas at www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/fathers_day.
4. Memory Box–Make a box of memories from your childhood. Have each family member add a special memory of Dad to the box. You could include pictures, foods, toys, funny memories, jokes, etc. Look through the box and share your fondest memories together. Sharing joy and laughter together relaxes your body, boosts your immune system, triggers the release of endorphins (the bodies natural feel good hormones) and laughter protects your heart by improving function of the blood vessels and increases blood flow (www.helpguide.org).

5. Plan a day hike, family tennis match, golf outing, participate in a walk/run such as a 5k for a charitable organization, go outside and “throw a few”…whatever you do, just get out and be active in whatever sport/exercise your dad is into and do it TOGETHER!

6. Surprise your Dad with a home visit or a visit to a personal trainer. A personal trainer can help show you and your Dad exercises and routines that will help you both to stay healthy for years to come! I know some good one’s if you need a recommendations 😉

Don’t waste another minute…Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 17th. So get a jump start and begin planning your healthy adventure with your Dad.

To many, eating clean means eating boring. Or too much time and preparation to be able to fit into our busy schedules. Well, this recipe is comparable to a favorite Chinese dish, Sweet and Spicy Chicken. The traditional recipe is loaded with sugar, fat and sodium. This healthy alternative is will not only satisfy your cravings for those classic Chinese takeout dishes, but it is also quick and easy to prepare. Brad and I prepared, cooked and ate this dish in less than 30 minutes yesterday! Try it out this weekend instead of ordering in!

Clean Chinese

Makes 2 servings
8-12 oz. of chicken breast
1 clove garlic
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 red bell pepper
1 cup mushrooms
12 Asparagus Spears
1 Tablespoon of low-sugar ketchup
1 Tablespoon spicy brown mustard
1 Tablespoon of Sugar Free Orange Jelly
Sesame Seeds for topping

1. Cut the Chicken into bite sized pieces and season with garlic and red pepper.
2. Set a skillet on medium-high heat and spray with a bit of cooking oil. Add chicken and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes.
3. Slice red bell pepper and set aside. In a separate small bowl mix ketchup, mustard and jam. Once chicken is cooked, add the mushrooms, bell pepper, asparagus and sauce. Lower heat and continue to cook for 5 minutes. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top and serve!

You can eat this over brown rice or quinoa to add some healthy, low glycemic carbohydrate (great post workout option). I however ate mine over spinach! Delish and easy!

His and Her's Lunch

Mandy
Personal Trainer, Studio Manager

Introducing, Your Best Cardio Friend

Have you ever had a difficult time getting motivated to get out of the house to begin that workout or outdoor cardio? For us, there was a simple solution to this dilemma. Four and half years ago, Brad and I added a new member to our family. It was most definitely love at first sight, but little did we know how much exercise Rocky would require and that our days of procrastinating on cardio sessions would be brought to a demanding halt. When feeling a little less than energized, there is no better motivator to get our feet to hit the pavement than those “human-like” golden eyes and occasional nose bearing nudges to the groin pleading for some outdoor attention to get us up and moving.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that you should get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week. As a general guideline, aim for about 30 minutes of aerobic activity a day. With a dog, you can easily reach this goal by adding several 10 minute walks/jogs to your daily regimen.

If that didn’t convince you, here are five more reasons (according to Runner’s World) to get a new 4-legged running partner:

1 People don’t have tails that wag
On days you’re dragging, Sparky can remind you that running should be joyful. His relaxed stride and frisky vigor are contagious. Dogs even look like they’re smiling

2 It’s better than bonding over a bowl of kibble
You like to run. And dogs are natural runners. You might be surprised how much you get out of sharing this common interest. It’s even better if you both take a nap afterward.

3 They don’t worry about negative splits
Human partners can get caught up in how many calories they’ve burned and their GPSstats, but a dog will remind you that the best workouts are the ones where you run free.

4 They won’t accept your excuses
When that tail starts wagging, it’s hard to say no. One University of Missouri study showed that people who exercised with a dog were more likely to stick with it than those who go it alone or with a human partner.

5 A tired dog is a good dog
Get Fido sufficiently tired, and when you get home, he’s more apt to snooze at your feet than terrorize the postman—or chew up your new Nikes.

If your own dog is not a venture you’re ready to take on yet, Rocky has become a well received fixture at Brad Kolowich Jr. Personal Training Studio. He is continuing to help motivate Brad and his trainers clients through the toughest of workouts and would always love to join you on the pavement!

-Mandy
Personal Trainer, Studio Manager, Rocky’s Owner

Rocky

Rocky, Studio Security