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Hauntingly Healthy Recipes for Halloween

Candy, candy, candy!  Tis the season!  Don’t let Halloween kickoff the holiday season by adding inches to your waistline.  Below are some healthy recipes that will help you feel as though you are cheating but will continue to help you focus on bettering your fitness and health!

Candy Corn Popsicles

candy corn popsicles Atlanta Personal Trainers

 

Turn yogurt and juice into a seasonal treat. Serve these on Halloween morning for a fun & healthy breakfast treat OR eat after your halloween workout!

Ingredients:
1 scoop vanilla whey protein mixed with 6 oz water or unsweetened almond milk
1 cup orange juice
1 cup pineapple juice
Popsicle molds

To make these dairy-free, use coconut milk and veggie based protein powder.
If you don’t have popsicle molds, use paper cups and craft sticks.

Carefully pour two tablespoons of protein mix into the bottom of your molds. Freeze for 20 minutes.
Pour the orange juice evenly into all the molds. Freeze for another 20 minutes.
Pour the pineapple juice on top of the orange juice.
Freeze until set.

Serving Size: Makes 6 popsicles
Pumpkin Shaped Vegetable Tray

Atlanta Personal Training

If you’ll be going to a Halloween (or any holiday) gathering, make sure to bring an appetizer or food option that will help encourage you (and others) to fuel up with the healthiest alternatives to typically snacking foods.

 

Ingredients:
large shallow bowl
2 small ramekins
1 cup low-fat ranch dip or dressing (or another variety)
3-4 (1-pound) bags baby carrots
1/2 cup sliced cucumber, each slice cut into triangles
Dip:
16 oz Greek Yogurt
Ranch dressing mix

For garnish:
Pepper strips, olives, nasturtium leaves, etc.

Directions:
Pour the carrots into the dish.
Pour the dressing/dip into the ramekins and nestle them into the carrots where the jack-o-lantern’s “eyes” should go.
Arrange the cucumbers on top of the carrots as “teeth,” and place two pepper strips above the “eyes.”
Add the nasturtium (a type of edible flower) leaves as the pumpkin stem, or use a wedge of cucumber, cut side down.
Just before serving, place half an olive on top of each ramekin of dip.

Serving Size: 1 tablespoon dip, about 1/2 cup carrots

Number of Servings: 20
Banana Yogurt Ghosts

Atlanta Personal Training

These fun frozen bananas are as simple as they are healthy. You’ll need just three ingredients.

Ingredients
1 banana, sliced in half
2 popsicle sticks or wooden skewers
1/4 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
1/2 scoop vanilla whey protein OR 1/2 pouch sugar free vanilla pudding mix
4 mini chocolate chips

Tips
Greek yogurt sticks to the bananas better than regular yogurt.

Directions
Carefully poke the banana onto the skewer.
Mix the yogurt and whey protein or vanilla pudding together.
Spread the yogurt mixture over the bananas.
Gently place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment or waxed paper.
Adorn with two mini chocolate chips as eyes.
Freeze until firm and serve.

Serving Size: 2 banana “ghosts”
Pumpkin Protein Cake Balls

Atlanta Personal Trainers healthy-cake-batter-paleo-dough-balls

Satisfy that chocolate craving with a high-protein, low carb healthy treat.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup protein powder (vanilla)
1/8 cup agave
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 cup pure pumpkin
1/8 cup almond butter
2 tbsp sugar free vanilla pudding mix
Lily’s chocolate chips sweetened with stevia (or sugar free chocolate)

Mix all ingredients together. Add little bits of water if needed. Dough should be thick like cookie dough. Form 1 inch balls and place on parchment paper. Freeze. Once frozen, melt chocolate chips and coat balls with a thin layer of chocolate. Freeze again and serve frozen or at room temperature. They stay fresh in the fridge for 5 days and in the freezer for 5 months.

Tip:  For an even healthier option, roll the cake balls in cocoa powder or cinnamon in lieu of the chocolate coating.

Makes approximately 6-8 balls.

 

Recipes adapted from Spark People

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Multivitamin Necessary?

Is a Multivitamin Necessary?

…Absolutely!

Here’s why:

Research proves that those who train intensely lose many critical vitamins and minerals such as zinc, copper, magnesium, copper, selenium, chromium, vitamin B, and vitamin C.  The primary cause of the loss is due to their increased use for energy production during the workout as well as for recovery and protein synthesis following the workout.  Being deficient in any of these vitamins and minerals will hamper your performance, fat loss, and muscle growth.  Many doctors and dietitians claim that a multi is not necessary is you eat a well-rounded diet, BUT even with the best of intentions, we all fall a little short one day or another.

For guys, one of my current favorites is Animal Pak.  For ladies, I like Opti Women although for both guys and ladies there are many other great one’s out there as well, just be sure to pick up one that covers at least 100% DV for most vitamins and minerals.

– BradUnknown

Source: Dr. Jim Stoppani

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Atlanta Personal Training Studio Offers Core Toning Class

Saturdays 10:30am Core Class

the best personal trainers offer low cost core bootcamp

Saturday, January 19th, Brad Kolowich Jr hosted his second core focused class of the new year. The turn out was great and the workout was even better. Upon entering the class, the energy in his private personal training studio was already great. People were hanging out, talking and enjoying connecting while sipping on some hot coffee. The mats, medicine balls and all necessary equipment was lined up and ready for us to get to work. Before beginning the class, the lights were turned down low and the music went up. A video image of the instructors was projected up on the flat screen above making it easy to see what was going on at all times, even from the lying position you tend to be in while focusing on working on your core. Brad coached us through a 30-minute intense workout that not only focused on shaping our midsections, but also include active rest exercises that worked the entire body from head to toe. By the end of the class my heart was pumping, my muscles felt a good burn, and I was sweating from head to toe.

However that wasn’t all…at the conclusion of the class we were “refilled” with samples of the studio’s in-house protein shakes, coffee/tea, and a packet of information that further coached us on what we can do outside of class to continue to shape our core. Blake B. (a regular attendee this past fall and currently) describes the class as, “Different every time, except for the burn. Work as little or as hard as you want, but beware with Brad’s encouragement you will do more that you thought. You will see results after just a few times.” Bettina J., also a regular attendee this fall and currently (seen pictured), dropped several inches in her waist which she attributes to dedication to attending Brad’s Kolowich Jr’s personal training studio’s core class and adhering to his team’s nutritional advice.

Core class takes place each Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m and is only $15 a session. Please email us if you are interested at inquiries@bradkolowichjr.com OR stop in and check it out!

-Mandy
ISSA-CFT, SFN

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Atlanta Personal Trainers Educate Clients on Pre and Post-Workout Nutrition

The Importance of Pre and Post Workout Nutrition

Personal training in Atlanta post workout nutrition ideas

Athletes must plan and time their meals and snack very carefully to reach their performance goals. But what about those of us who just participate in 30-60 minutes of exercise most days of the week?Maybe to your surprise, you too have to be careful about what you eat before and after workouts. At the best personal training studio in Atlanta, Brad Kolowich Jr Fitness, we encourage each of our clients to put these nutritional guidelines into place.

Usually, if you are eating a healthy diet and getting enough calories to support your activity level, you can rely on your own intuition, appetite, energy levels and experience to tell you what and when to eat before exercise. For optimal energy levels and metabolism it is recommended that your eat every 3-4 hours. Make sure your workout falls into that time window. Never come into a workout with Brad, Andy, or myself (Mandy) hungry or not only will you be counter productive in the results you are trying to achieve but you definitely won’t have the energy required to sustain the workout. The body works to build muscle (and recover) 24 hours a day, not just during that one-hour session at the gym. Luckily, smartly timed snacks can give the body the fuel it needs to gain muscle, burn fat, and recover as best it can.

After a tough gym session, post-workout snacks are an important way to restore energy and rebuild muscle too. Downed within 30 minutes after exercise, protein-packed shakes and snacks are a great way to rebuild tissue that breaks down during exercise. Refraining from eating a post workout meal OR indulging in high calorie/low nutrient foods can too be counter productive in seeing the results you are aiming for by exercising. After working out you need a protein and carbohydrate rich meal. Exercising depletes your body of stored muscle glycogen (carbohydrates), so post workout is the time to replenish this depleted muscle fuel. If you have a favorite high-carb food this is a good time to have them. Your body can digest refined carbs faster during your “refueling window”. However, don’t force yourself to indulge if you generally don’t eat processed foods.

Pictured above is one of our house specialty shakes, the Protein Frappaccino. In order to help our clients get that super important protein rich meal after their workout, we offer a variety of post-workout options for them. At Brad Kolowich Jr Fitness, we have weekly in-house protein shake specials. These shake specials change frequently, are generally inspired from the season or various special events occurring in the lives of our staff or clients, and ALWAYS deliciously packed with all the vital post-workout nutrients you need. For our “on the go” clients we also carry pre-packaged protein shakes, sports recovery drinks, in-house protein bars (frozen and great post-workout snack), and a variety of other beverages.

Brad Kolowich Jr and his staff of certified personal trainers provide their clients with the education, motivation and inspiration through training and nutritional advice to help their clients reach their full potential!

~Mandy Malool
ISSA-CFT, SFN

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How to Keep Muscle Mass While Sick and Achieve a Quick Recovery

How to Keep Muscle Mass While Sick
Thanksgiving is generally a time when we all worry about unwanted weight gain.  However, this Thanksgiving (as described in my Mom’s story below) our family was faced with a whole other challenge:  How to keep our hard earned muscle mass while sick with the stomach bug.  As personal trainer and nutritionist (and Brad a fitness model) our lively hood revolves around maintaining a lean and muscular physique.  Getting a gut wrenching stomach virus has the possibility to hinder the hard work we put in on a daily basis and set us back in our physical gains.  However, by following these five simple steps, we kept ourselves from falling into a huge setback.
In order to best prevent the loss of muscle during times of illness try theses remedies:
1. Believe it or not, when you are sick your metabolism speeds up (even if you aren’t moving) in order to help repair your body.  So, adequate nutrition is a MUST.  Start with a bland diet (bananas, rice, apples, toast) and add protein as you can stomach it.
2.  DRINK plenty of water and try pedialyte or gatorade to get vitamins, minerals and electrolytes back in your system.  Also, while your caloric intake is low, try drinking 5-10g of BCAA’s every 2-4 hours and 1-2g of buffered creatine (Kre Alkalyn) up to two times a day.
3.  Take a probiotic.  (IF you’ve had a run with the stomach virus, though you’ve cleared out all the bad bacteria in your system, you also cleared out all the good bacteria.  Take a probiotic to reintroduce those vital good bacteria to your system.)
4.  Eat or drink adequate protein.  Try a vegan based protein powder, Greek yogurt, and bland chicken (when you are able to stomach it).
5. REST and get plenty of sleep.  As mentioned above, your body is in overdrive working to overcome your illness and thus is going to need plenty of rest for your quickest recovery.
The story below was written by my Mother and Aunt, two other victims (of the 11) to our Thanksgiving fiasco, who also fought the good fight back to HEALTH and preserved muscle mass along the way by following these simple steps to recovery.
Script and pictures  by Nancy Blue (Nana) and Kathy Blue (Aunt Kathy)
You are now hearing the voice of Rod Serling…..
   Rod Serling
You unlock this door with the Key of imagination….
Beyond it is another dimension.
A dimension of sound…
A dimension of sight….
A dimension of mind….
You’re moving into a land of both shadow and substance…..
Of things and ideas…
You have just crossed over into ….                                 
                                                                        Twilight Zone PicDOO-DOO-DOO-DOO…..DOO-DOO-DOO-DOO…DOO-DOO-DOO-DOO—-
It was an ordinary day in Brevard North Carolina, much like any other day just before Thanksgiving…..
The weather was exceptionally nice for a late November day and the Blue family was busily preparing for a joyous holiday weekend of fun and feasting.
nana graham
As the guests began to trickle in from Dacula, Atlanta, and Cashiers, all were happy to be reunited and to share in the joy of the new baby Graham.
mandy brooke cooking                       table 1
Festivities were enthusiastically underway as pies, cookies, casseroles and a grand Turkey were lovingly prepared, and a beautiful table was set to perfection.
Yes….it was a picture perfect setting….you could say, just like a Norman Rockwell painting…until……IT HIT !!!
light-virus-1
The HORRIBLE, HORRENDOUS… the HORRIFIC…. HEBERLING 2-0-1-2 VIRUS….
Now officially documented by the CDC as THE H 2-0-1-2 … a sinister, insidious virus with NO KNOWN CURE !!
pukin pumpkin
First to fall was Nana… hardly finished with her Thanksgiving meal….she was hit hard…..
cute sick pumpkin
Followed shortly by Big Mike….it wasn’t a pretty sight!
2 sick pumpkins
Next to go were Aunt Mandy and Aunt Taylor, forced to huddle together on the bathroom floor, shivering in the night.
2 more sick pumpkins
And FINALLY…… the last to go…. Brad and Aunt Kathy.  We thought they were in the clear, but NOTHING escapes the deadly grip of
THE H 2-0-1-2 VIRUS !!!!!  Yes….it was a ghastly sight…..
survivor collage
And there were many casualties…….
family sneaking away                   germ graham
Then,as swiftly and unassumingly as the Heberling family came, they disappeared down the misty mountain road back home taking with them, their
secret biological weapon…..
sick supplies 
Leaving only some “Sick Supplies”…….
note
And a note which read…… ”We came…We infected… We ate… and… We left….We Love You!”
Hazmat Suit    hazmat_taining2 shokotan_hazmat_1  Hazmat wash down
Well, it is said that Love can be expressed in many different ways…..so next year….
the family will be ready for whatever expressions of “Love” may come their way !!!
village
And so…..until then….. “Village Under Quarantine For 30 Days” !!!
      Rod Serling
And so, my friends, goes another Thanksgiving in…..
                                                                                       Twilight Zone Pic
Happy Thanksgiving!
P.S.
We decided we better give Santa fair warning…
…Santa in Hazmat Suit
“ Well, here I am at the Heberling’s……good kid, that Graham, but germy…..”
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Workout While At Home for the Holiday’s

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

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The Best Snacks: Increase the Nutrition Value of Your Banana and Apple

I often hear my client’s say they are eating healthy clean snacks/meals and working out regularly yet continuing to feel a lack of energy and not seeing the results they desire. Many times, as we begin to unwind and examine their diet we begin to see the source of their complaints. Though they are making healthy (or healthier) choices than they previously were, their dietary choices for meals, snacks in particular, often lack important macro and micro nutrients that are vital in providing energy, muscular strength, and support the growth of lean mass growth and fat loss. According to Oxygen Magazine, choosing the best snack foods will stave off hunger, prevent fat gain and boost your training results.

A common go to snack for many is the always present, always reliable and easy to carry apple or banana. Portable and nutrient-packed, there’s no denying that a apples and bananas are healthy foods. But a single banana or apple may not provide the ideal mix of macronutrients to support your body-shaping goals and provide you with the energy you need to get through your day much less a tough workout.

With a few small changes you can easily upgrade a banana or apple to a super snack anytime of the day simply by dressing it up a bit:

high nutrient snacks

Making a mix of the best snack foods to reach your ideal body-shaping goals.




Morning: 1 cup of nonfat milk + 1/3 cup plain oatmeal + top with 1 small banana + 1/8 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds or pecans)
Afternoon: 1 medium banana OR apple + 3/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese +1 cup water
Pre-workout: 1 medium apple + 1/4 cup strawberries + 1 scoop whey protein
Post-workout: 1 small banana + 1 slice whole-grain bread + 1 tbsp almond butter + 1 cup water
Bedtime: despite its low calorie and nutrient dense qualities, fruit is not the best option at bedtime. Forgo the fruit and instead opt for 1 scoop of casein protein OR 1 cup of plain low fat Greek yogurt + 1/8 cup nuts (almonds, walnuts or pistachios) + 1 cup water

Atlanta Personal Trainer and Specialist in Fitness Nutrition
Mandy Malool
ISSA-CFT, SFN

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Atlanta Personal Trainers Brad Kolowich Jr. and Mandy Malool’s Favorite Fall Fat Burners

Atlanta Personal Trainer Fit Fall Fun

the Best Atlanta Personal Trainers suggest some fun fall activities that will keep you fit

Fun Fall Workouts

1. Walk to the park.
Walking in the park with our four legged friend Rocky is a favorite fit fall activity we love. The weather is perfect and you don’t need any additional equipment. Just throw on your favorite tennis shoes and hit the pavement. To burn some additional calories, pack a book bag with a blanket (the additional weight will up your calorie burn), ball and healthy snack/lunch.

Calories burned: approximately 340 (for a 150lb.person on flat terrain)

2. Play Ball
Grab some friends, family or even the family dog and head outdoors for a fun game of flag or touch football. Running around after the pigskin can help you shed up to 500 calories per hour. This will give you a cardio workout like no other, leaving you tired and ready to relax in front of some fall football. After burning yourself out playing the game, you can sit guilt free in front of your TV to cheer on your favorite team.

Calories burned: 520 per hour

3. Rake and jump
Raking and jumping in the leaves was an annual event at our house growing up. Little did I know the beneficial exercise we were all receiving from this exilerating activity. Raking leaves is an excellent upper body workout! The rotating movements of your body engages shoulders, arms, back and core. Just make sure your rotate sides to equal work both sides of the body.

Calories burned: 260 per hour (jumping and re-raking adds additional calorie burn J).

4. Hitch a Ride
Check out your local Chamber of Commerce in your area to find a stable close to you that provides riding lessons. Horseback riding is fun and works muscles you are not use to using. Surprisingly, it burns a great amount of calories and is the perfect way to get outdoors and enjoy nature and this beautiful season.

Calories burned: 470 per hour

5. Take a Hike
One of our favorite things to do in the fall is get up to the mountains and enjoy the scenic view and cool crisp weather the mountain have to offer. The uneven terrain on the hiking trails engages more muscles and causes you body to work harder than walking on a flat surface. The scenery, sounds and scent of fresh air are so beautiful you won’t even notice all the huffing and puffing you’ll be doing.

6. Go Pumpkin Picking
We like to have an annual pumpkin carving contest at our house each October. This year we are adding an active twist to our yearly adventure. We will be packing our crew up to head to the local pumpkin patch. You could spend hours looking for the perfect pumpkin, and while you do you will be putting in several hundred steps around the farm. To add an extra fat burn and strength workout, carry you pumpkin around the patch. Keep the pumpkin close to you body, if you think you’ve found a better one, squat and pick it up and set the other down. Great leg workout!

7. Race the Finish
Fall is a great season for running, and many local running/walking events take place in the fall. One favorite that is dear to our heart is Atlanta’s annual JDRF Walk which donates to helping cure type 1 diabetes (T1D). Brad’s younger brother, Jonathan now 23, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 13 years old. Since then, we have been avid supporters of JDRF. JDRF is now the largest supporter of helping improve the lives of all people affected by T1D by accelerating progress on the most promising opportunities for curing, better treating and preventing T1D. This year we will be walking in Centennial Park on October 20th. Go to www.active.com to find a cause you are passionate about and get active!

Calories burned: 460-680 per hour

8. Get Spooked
If fear is the reason behind your increased heart rate, you are not getting the same fat burning exercise as an intense workout. However, add walking, jogging or even better running to your fear and your calorie burn will reach all time highs. There is no better way to jump start this type of high intensity workout than running through a haunted corn maze or haunted house. This is a great way to enjoy the season, get outdoors, and for the thrill seekers get an adrenaline high along with getting physically fit. Walking through the frightful space can burn 150 calories and hour but running (or sprinting) will increase the burn to over 250 calories per hour!

Calories burned: 150-250 per hour

This weekend, pick an activity and try it! Send us a pic of you, your family and/or friends staying fit this fall!

In health and fitness,
Mandy Malool
Certified Atlanta Personal Trainer and Specialist in Nutrition
ISSA–CFT, SFN

adapted from www.sparkpeople.com

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Atlanta Personal Trainer presents :anyWhey Treats

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

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Atlanta Personal Trainer Shares 6 Pack Secrets

“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

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