Albany's First "Guys Only" Fitness Boot Camp Coming In June

Gentlemen ... listen up! Boot camps aren't just for women ... but for some reason they have been geared and marketed only for women all around the Capital Region (and almost everywhere else, for that matter). I have to admit, I've done the same in the past. I target women with my marketing. Maybe it's because they care more about what they look like, or maybe it's because they like that type of a workout more. Or ... maybe it's because they have such a higher threshold for pain that they can endure that type of a workout a little better!

Honestly, I doubt any of those reasons are 100% true. I think that guys, plain and simple, don't want to workout with women because they feel like they'll have to take it easy during their workout because they can physically do more. And ... I do think that women care more about what they look like, especially when it comes time for fitting into a bikini in the summer.


Most guys could care less what they look like in a bikini, with the exception of my friend Steve. He's hardcore about fitting into his man-kini. I'm hoping he'll make a guest appearance in one of our May fitness boot camps sporting something crazy :)

So what I'm going to be doing in the month of May is putting together the Capital Region's FIRST, and ONLY, "Guys Only" Fitness Boot Camp. I'm going to be using the same philosophy that we've used to create our killer Fitness Team Challenge Boot Camp, to assemble a 6-week fitness boot camp that will push the "men" of the Capital Region to the limit. Members can expect to pack on pounds of new, hard muscle and cut away stubborn fat. They will drop their body fat % up to 8 - 10% over the course of 6 weeks!

I will only be taking the first 20 guys who sign up for this camp, and we'll be creating the beginning of what will be the Capital Region's most revolutionary fitness experience to come along in decades ... check back to updates!

Yum In Your Tum: Broccoli Gratin with Red Pepper and Parmesan

I snagged this goody from the New York Times. As summer gets closer and closer and we have access to fresh vegetables, this dish seems like a great, and easy, way to enjoy broccoli and red peppers. The best part is, this recipe not only tastes great, but is HEALTHY!

Ingredients:

1 large head broccoli, about 1 1/2 pounds, florets separated from the stems, stems peeled and coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, or a mixture of Parmesan and Pecorino Romano

2 tablespoons dry or fresh breadcrumbs

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Oil a 2-quart baking dish or gratin. Steam the broccoli flowers and stems until tender, about five minutes. Refresh with cold water.

2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet, and add the red pepper. Cook, stirring, until it softens, about five minutes. Add the garlic. Cook just until it smells fragrant, about half a minute, and stir in the broccoli. Toss together so that the broccoli is coated with oil and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat, and arrange in the baking dish. Mix together the Parmesan and breadcrumbs, and sprinkle over the top. Drizzle on the remaining olive oil. Place in the oven, and bake 10 to 15 minutes until the Parmesan has melted and the mixture is sizzling and beginning to color on the top. Serve hot or warm.

Yield: Serves four to six.

Advance preparation: You can assemble this several hours before baking. Don’t drizzle on the olive oil until ready to bake.

Nutrition (per serving, based on four servings): 164 calories; 9 grams total fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 16 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 159 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during cooking); 8 grams protein.