The Do Anywhere Cardio Stair Blast

Many of my clients travel or sometimes miss the gym. They all want to know what they can do at home, or at the hotel to stay in shape. One easy solution is STAIRS. Walking up and down steps is one of the best ways to get your heart rate up and increase your metabolism. Try this 10 minute workout and blast away at least 100 calories. Best thing is, you can do it anywhere!

0:00 – 2:00 Warm up by walking up and down the stairs. Raise your arms over your head with each step.

2:00 – 3:00 Step up and down on the first step with your left foot; grab small weights and do bicep curls for an extra burn. For the last 30 seconds, climb the full flight of stairs.

3:00 – 4:00 Repeat minutes 2-3, stepping up with your right foot.

4:00 – 5:00 Stand facing the stairs; skip a step with your right foot while driving your left knee as high as you can. Make sure to really drive that knee up while swinging your arms.

5:00 – 6:00 Repeat minutes 4-5 while stepping up with your left foot and driving your right knee as high as you can.

6:00 – 7:00 Run up and down the stairs. Don’t give up, you are almost finished!

7:00 – 8:00 Do alternating front lunges onto first step; make sure your knee does NOT go past your ankle.

8:00 – 9:00 Walk up stairs skipping every other step; walk down and repeat.

9:00 – 10:00 Cool down.  Place right heel on second step and lean forward to stretch your hamstring, hold for 10 seconds, switch sides. Next, stand on the first step with your heel falling off the edge stretching your calf, hold for 10 seconds, switch sides.

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Quinoa – The Gluten Free Superfood

Trying to find a protein source for my vegetarian clients is not always easy, especially those who are not big fans of cottage cheese or yogurt. However, a relatively new grain to Americans known as Quinoa is one of them. This is a food choice that everyone should be adding to your menu.

Packed with protein and loaded with fiber, Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is one of the most nutritious foods that you can eat and by far the world’s most nutritious grain. The protein in Quinoa is considered to be a complete protein due to the presence of all 8 essential amino acids. Most importantly (to me), Quinoa is gluten free which makes this a nutritious and flavorful alternative grain for those with gluten sensitivity.

I have recently replaced my side dish of rice with it and could not be happier. It has a little bite to it, like al dente pasta, and a nutty flavor. I had to eat it more than once to really start to appreciate it. You do not have to quit rice and potatoes altogether, but start adding Quinoa to your meals and before you know it; it will be your favorite side dish. Not only that, Quinoa makes for a great protein breakfast. Just mix it with honey, almonds and berries!

You can find Quinoa in your local grocery store or already cooked and ready to eat at the Whole Foods salad bar. Go ahead and give it a try.


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The Benefits of Working With a Personal Trainer

The Benefits of Working With a Personal Trainer

My Workout Partner

My Workout Partner

So many people wonder why some people in the gym use a personal trainer. I know that when I get a chance, I work out with my friends, and I ALWAYS work harder than if I worked out alone (Rob kicks my butt but I can say that I kick his too!). I also know that you would be surprised with the results you achieve having someone push you a little more than you would push yourself. I asked my clients why they initially went looking for a trainer. Here are some of the most common answers that I heard from them.

Motivation: With our busy lives and work schedules it is easy to lose motivation or stick with your exercise plan. When I work with my clients, I give them structure with their workouts and encourage them to make healthy choices in every facet of their lives.

Individualized program: Every client comes to me for a different reason. I tailor the day’s workout to meet their specific needs. Some want to lose weight, some want to tone their arms, and some just want to get moving. Whatever the reason, each client has his or her own individualized goal that we work towards.

Efficiency: I am often asked by friends, “Why aren’t I seeing results? I work out over an hour and half every day?” The answer if efficiency. I help my clients focus on results and stop wasting their time doing inefficient workouts.

You are new to exercise: Many clients of mine have never lifted a weight before. If this is the case, a personal trainer is the way to go. There are so many possibilities with machines, weights etc. I will introduce you to a very simple and effective routine that will build your confidence around the gym equipment and before you know it you will have the knowledge to decide what is right for you.

Break through plateaus: You are already in pretty decent shape, but you’ve been there for years. If you are stuck in the same routine and want to break out of a rut, I am the perfect solution. I will show you new exercises, routines, and before you know it you will jump right through your plateau.

Workout at home: Many personal trainers, including myself,  make house calls. If you are not the type or have zero interest in going to a gym, but have a hard time knowing what to do on your own at home, I make house calls. You would be surprised what a great workout you can get with very little equipment and space! We can workout right in your living room or even take it outside.

Lose Weight: If your goal is to get in shape and lose weight, I can help you achieve both at a faster rate than if you tried alone. I will hold you accountable to show up and train and also go through your diet and make sure you are eating the right type and amount of foods to get you there.

Do not let the cost of training deter you. I have many packages available and you can also train with a friend to save money. Don’t feel as though you have to train three times a week, even working out with me once a month can give you new ideas and motivate you to work hard until we meet again!

Please visit my website www.terra-fitness.com or email me with any questions.

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Cathedral of Learning Steps & Why My Legs Hate Me!

imagesWednesday’s are my half days. I take time off personal training and spend it with my two best friends on our bike. However, with the change or weather and to mix it up, we think of other ways to torture ourselves. So we decided to run The Cathedral of Learning Steps at the University of Pittsburgh. In theory it sounded fun. Actually, it was fun, for me at least. I started with a goal of 7. I was not trying to kill myself and wanted to accomplish everything in about an hour and a half. I dug my ipod out and started at it. I kept track of my total time for each trip up to the top. I wanted to try to stay consistent with each climb.

The first two are always the hardest, after that you kind of get into a groove. I carried my water the first time up but at the top decided to I hide it on the 36th floor. I really did not want anything in my hands.

The stairs are very warm and it was freezing out. I started to take off layers after the second trip. Rolled my pant legs up a bit and took my jacket off. I didn’t stop the entire way up. One step at a time, one foot in front of the other. The ipod did help but many times I just like to be alone with my thoughts.

mail-4I came across a sign that says the stairs are not meant for exercise. Really? I didn’t know there were another use for them!!

When I made it to floor 9 someone was making popcorn. I don’t even like popcorn but it smelled great and changed my thought process for a few floors. Should I stop and grab a few? Would I be able to eat them while climbing??

Floor 20 kind of gives you false hope. You think you are over half way up (36 floors) so every time you come around the next set of steps you start looking at the numbers as if they are going to start to skip a few floors. Is it really only the 21st floor because I was hoping it would at least say 23. I had to remember, one foot in front of the other.

mail-3I made it to the top 7 times, I reached my goal. I could have kept going (that groove thing I mentioned) but I decided to call it a day. I also stayed consistent with my times. I climbed the Empire State Building 2 times today, to have some kind of reference. It is hard to believe I have lived in Pittsburgh for so long and this was my first time on the stairs. I will not be my last either. Send me an email if you have any questions, it would make an amazing training session! tlbroski@gmail.com

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Gluten Free Week & Why I Do Not Eat Bread

Working as a personal trainer in Pittsburgh, Gluten Free has become a very popular phrase as of late. There are isles in the grocery store as well as shops that cater exclusively to gluten free eaters. My favorite is Gluuteny, located in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh. I am there at at least twice per week picking up bread and a pastry or two.

Some people choose to not eat gluten, some however, do not have the choice. If you asked any friend or family member what my favorite food is anyone would tell you bread. I could live on it, and I did,  for many years. There is nothing more that I crave than a big fluffy pizza, roll, or anything that I can douse with spray butter. Perhaps because of this my body started to reject it. Although I have not officially been diagnosed with Celiacs Disease, I have a very strong allergy to it. My mouth literally waters when I am out to dinner and a big bowl of bread sits in front of me. It’s no t like I am going to die if I eat it but the side effects, which I will not mention, just outweigh the benefits. I have learned to eat brown rice pasta, quinoa, and sometimes make gluten free pizza. I just basically suck it up. After two years it has become easier and just a way of life for me. My biggest concern was that I would not have enough energy to ride my bike and be as active as I am. I can say that I have never felt better and actually ride my bike faster and farther than I ever have. If you have any questions about what it is like to live a gluten free life please feel free to email me with any questions that you may have. I look forward to hearing from you!

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Holiday Pie’s – Which One Should You Indulge On?

Holiday Pies

Holiday Pies

Oh the choices! They are all on the table, you cannot resist or it just happens to be your cheat day. In either case, which pie is the healthiest for you to indulge in? Let’s take a look at the most common and even find out how to cut a few calories while we are in the process. Enjoy, just work it off the next day!!!

PUMPKIN: 316 calories, 14g fat, 21 g sugar

Of all the pie choices, pumpkin is known as one of the healthiest. There is only one layer of crust on the bottom and if you leave a few bites behind you can cut a few calories. Make sure you use Fat Free Cool Whip!

PECAN: 503 calories, 27 g fat, 34g sugar

This is a huge amount of calories for one piece of pie. Trim at least 100 off of the total by peeling off a few (5 whole ones) pecans, you will not even know they are gone.

APPLE: 411 calories, 19g fat, 34g sugar

Stay away from the crumb top, by eliminating this you can save about 100 calories. An apple a day keeps the doctor away right? Well…I am not so sure this counts!

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE: 454 calories, 33g fat, 25g sugar

Opt for a chocolate-cookie crust instead of graham cracker and skip the whipped cream to save 25 calories per slice.

Keep in mind that the “average woman” should only consume around 1,500 -2,000 calories per day. One piece of pie is 25% of your daily calorie needs. It is fine to indulge every once in awhile but be sure to make healthy choices with the calories that remain!

(Women’s Health Magazine)

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Cyber Monday – Let the Online Shopping Begin!

Today is the start of the online Holiday shopping season. You know you are sitting at your desk and the last thing you want to do is work so check out these online sites for some great gift ideas.

For the fitness buff in your life findgift.com is perfect. Click on the Exercise and Wellness tab at the bottom of the page. They have books, pedometers, portable exercise equipment for travel and much more. When you are done there, stop by Monthly Gift Clubs. Fruit of the month, wine of the month, you name it, they have it. You can compare prices and be sure to find a gift for someone on your list. Dick’s Sporting Goods is offering 25% off any one item. Take advantage of the chance to buy those expensive running shoes that you have had your eye on and save big while doing it. You can always throw in personal training sessions as well!!!

Don’t forget to get moving. A weekend full of food, drinks and football leads us all down a path we do not always want to take. Don’t wait until next year to get back on track. You could gain close to 10 pounds by then if you throw away your fitness now. Take the steps, carry your shopping bags, walk 10 minutes at lunch. It all adds up. something is ALWAYS better than nothing!

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Thanksgiving Day Workouts

Is your gym closed tomorrow? Are you panicked over what to do before turkey dinner? Do you want to try and burn off the over 2,00o calories the average American eats at a Thanksgiving meal? Well….here are two ideas to get you moving.

SPINNING

Turkey Day Spin

Turkey Day Spin

Too cold to bike outside? Head over to Shadyside Spin for a Thanksgiving Day ride. Join them for either one of their two morning classes.

WHEN: 9:00 am-10:00 am and 10:15-11:15am

WHERE: 5932 Penn Circle South (above Starbucks by Whole Foods)  412-361-SPIN

HOW MUCH: $15

HIKING

hiking

Turkey Day Hike

I came across a cool website today, meetup.com. It’s a site where you can find places to “meetup” and do hikes, bike rides, and all kinds of fun outdoor activities. Tomorrow they are hiking at Duff Park in Murrysville.

WHEN: Thanksgiving morning

WHERE: Duff Park, School Road S., Murrysville

HOW MUCH: Free, just sign up on the website.

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2009 Turkey Trot

images1

Wake up, go for a run…..or maybe a walk and then EAT great healthy food for the rest of the day! Ha Ha, but at least you will feel good about getting out and moving before the stuffing begins. The YMCA of Pittsburgh will be having their annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. All ages and abilities are welcome. Visit the YMCA website to sign up now.

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Great American Smokeout : Take the Challenge

terraFITNESS Smokeout Challenge

terraFITNESS Smokeout Challenge

Today is the Great American Smokeout! Quit smoking for one day and see how you feel. You can do it! Your body and family will be there to thank you.

Check out how quickly your body responds when you quit!

20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops.

12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.

1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.

1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.

5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.

10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker’s. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease.

15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker’s.

(US Surgeon General’s Report, 1990)

For even more information on how and why you should quit, visit http://www.cancer.org

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