Wear Your Weights
Weighted vests help build strength and fitness Cindy Porcaro, of Downers Grove, works as a receptionist and is the mother of three adult children. She also prioritizes fitness. Porcaro enjoys walking, yoga, and weightlifting. Recently, she also started wearing a weighted vest, after hearing about it from a fitness influencer. “She said she lost 10% […]
Snow Sport Safety
Skiing and snowboarding offer a way to stay fit, and an adrenaline rush — but know your skill level to prevent injury Kirstin Brown started skiing when she joined her middle school ski club. School ski trips took her to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and other local resorts over the years. In high school, Brown began […]
Weighted Fitness
Military trainees have practiced rucking — walking with a loaded backpack — for centuries. And now, this intensive technique has turned fitness trend. Certain branches of the military, such as special forces, train for longer and more grueling rucks in a variety of weather, terrain, and operational conditions. After all, what better way to move […]
5 Things to Do Before Breakfast to Kick-Start a Great Day
We’ve all been there — hitting the snooze button several times before rolling out of bed, rushing out of the house, skipping breakfast — and still not starting work on time. You may not realize this, but your morning routine can determine the mood of your entire day. Luckily, there are five easy things that […]
Even Health Nuts Make These 5 Mistakes
No matter how much of a healthy food or exercise nut you think you may be, no one is perfect. If you can admit that, you’ll be on the right track to making positive changes in your daily routine. After you’ve figured out your nutrition or exercise holes, set small weekly goals to keep yourself […]
Battling Belly Fat
Trim the flab with at-home ab exercises If gym closings, added stress, and pandemic paralysis caused you to gain weight this past year, you aren’t alone. The Covid-19 weight gain is real. Some 61% of U.S. adults reported undesired weight changes during the first year of the pandemic, with an average weight gain of 29 pounds, […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: What to Drink to Stay Hydrated
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I know I need to drink while I exercise, but what is the best fluid? I’m wondering how much I should drink and if I need to drink special water, as someone mentioned alkaline water. Is alkaline water better at rehydrating your body than nonalkaline, or plain, water? ANSWER: Staying hydrated during […]
Fitness Classes Create Connection During Pandemic
Fitness instructor Courtney Aronson couldn’t believe her eyes. On a chilly day on the cusp of winter, Aronson watched as 24 of her students gathered at Studio Three’s outdoor exercise facility in Lincoln Park for a full-body workout class. Bundled up in outdoor gear, her students took their socially distant place on the turf and […]
Making Gyms Safer in the Age of Covid-19
After shutting down in the spring, America’s empty gyms are beckoning a cautious public back for a workout. To reassure wary customers, owners have put in place — and now advertise — a variety of coronavirus control measures. At the same time, the fitness industry is trying to rehabilitate itself by pushing back against what […]
‘More Than Physical Health’: Gym Helps 91-Year-Old Battle Isolation
Above photo: Art Ballard, 91, is a retired jeweler in Monrovia, California, who relies on a gym — which he calls “the club” — for his physical and mental health. “If I hit 100 years old, I would like to be taken up to the club on my birthday,” Ballard says. (Heidi de Marco/KHN) MONROVIA, […]
Straight Talk on Planking
The best exercise I do only takes a minute. Granted, it is often the longest and most grueling 60 seconds of my life. I sweat, I shake and I often collapse in relief when it’s over. But spending quality time in a plank pose always pays off. The plank pose is where you hold a […]
Step Up Your Health by Walking
Spending too much time on your tush can lead to numerous health woes. But here’s an easy fix: After an hour of sitting, walk around for two minutes. It could reduce your risk of early death by 33%, according to a report in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Here are three […]
Make Walking Part of Your Routine
There are days when just the thought of leaving the house seems like a huge effort. Days when you don’t feel like getting off the couch, never mind going to the gym. But guess what — if you got out of bed this morning, you jump-started your fitness routine just by walking down the hall […]
Gyrotonic: The Most Intelligent Workout You’ve Never Heard Of
The activities we do every day — hunching over a phone screen, unloading groceries from the car, reaching for an item on a high shelf — put a surprising amount of strain on our bodies. Move inefficiently and you could end up with overused muscles, tight fascia and injuries. Gyrotonic exercises can help. The Gyrotonic […]
Healthy Living for People with Disabilities
Adaptive approaches help address high obesity rates While obesity is one of the biggest health concerns in many communities, people with disabilities suffer from obesity more than their peers. Because of physical limitations, they can find it more difficult to eat healthy, control their weight and be physically active. This can start a vicious cycle, […]
A Quick and Effective Workout is Possible
Boost your metabolism with high-intensity interval training Above photo Terrence Terrell, personal trainer. Photo by James Foster Toby Fanning’s complacency peaked in June 2017. At that time, the 32-year-old was living in Chicago while his fiancée was abroad. He wasn’t eating all that well. He wasn’t disciplined about exercising. He needed a change. Fanning had always been in relatively good […]
Food and Fitness After 50: Never Too Late to Start
It seems that every week brings a new fad diet or a new missive telling you how to eat and how to exercise. Such information can be overwhelming, especially for those who have not been active for decades. But when implementing food and fitness strategies in your 50s, 60s and 70s, even small changes can […]
The Beat Goes On
Exercising your way to a healthier heart When it comes to taking care of your heart, you can’t underestimate the importance of staying active. Regular exercise — even if it’s moderate — can have a marked impact on your heart’s health. “Exercise helps the heart because it signals the heart to grow stronger,” says R. […]
Small changes to upgrade your health
Here’s a secret: It’s easier to outsmart human nature than to overcome it. To do that, try these easy-to-adopt habits to help you live healthier every day. Pack your workout clothes Keep a grab-and-go set of workout clothes or walking gear nearby at all times. That makes it easy to be spontaneous about working out […]
Customized Coaching
Personalized wellness plans target health and fitness By Megy Karydes Often, a doctor will dole out a recommendation to eat right and exercise. But it can be hard to know what actions to take. Should we be sweating it out with cardio or practicing restorative yoga? What if we’re recovering from cancer or have a chronic disease […]
6 ways to find a fitness buddy
Like many other activities, exercising is generally more fun when done with a friend. And a study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine suggests that exercising with a partner improves weight-loss results, too. Whether you’re trying to shed a few pounds or simply want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, here are some […]
The Danger of a Routine
The Danger of a Routine By Anthony Bonazzo When it comes to fitness, you often hear, “Well, it’s better to be doing something than nothing!” As a personal trainer, that makes me cringe. It’s like trying to learn a new language but only learning enough to say, “hello” and “goodbye,” and then every day, you only practiced […]
Laugh-In: Laughter Yoga Creates Joy, Well-Being
By Megy Karydes Yoga is nothing to laugh about—or is it? While the health benefits of yoga and meditation are well documented, laughter yoga goes one step further by incorporating the power of laughter with various yoga poses. The practice is based on the idea that voluntary laughter has the same physiological and psychological benefits […]
EatingWell: You can stick to your weight management goals
By EatingWell editors, EatingWell.com You’ve made the decision to take control of your weight, so congratulations! Now, take a few minutes to think about what you’ll gain from losing weight. Better health? More energy? A boost in self-confidence? Reminding yourself what you stand to gain by losing weight can be a powerful motivator. But first […]
The Dangers of Home Exercise Equipment
By Nancy Maes Earlier this year, Sen. Harry Reid was doing his regular strengthening routine at his home in Las Vegas. The ultrastrong exercise band he was using, which was reportedly attached to a door, broke with such force that it catapulted him backward and sideways, sending him crashing into cabinets. It could have made […]
It’s Winter: Take Your Workout Outside
Frigid Chicago winters often make us cower inside, afraid of venturing outdoors, especially for exercising. But the truth is, the bitter cold doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Last year, I learned to embrace the cold. Granted, it took a trip to polar territory—Marquette, Michigan, in the Upper Peninsula—to do so. But there, I […]
High Performers
Tech-savvy devices help with health and fitness By Megy Karydes Above photo courtesy of Athos Technology has the power to transform and even save lives. The latest health and fitness devices use state-of-the-art technology to help you get healthier faster than ever before, providing detailed data to fuel your efforts. Here are three pieces you’ll […]
Combating Childhood Obesity Through Food
Waistlines are expanding in the United States at every age. For the younger generation, it’s particularly alarming, as recent findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 17 percent of American children and adolescents are obese—and that’s triple the rate from one generation ago. More body fat in children equates to a […]
Cold Weather Exercise Alternatives
Commit to Getting Fat: A Resolution Reboot
By Anthony Bonazzo We’re into the second month of the New Year, and if your 2014 resolution to committing to the gym isn’t in full swing, it’s certainly fading away. But, it’s not too late for a resolution reboot. And here’s what I want you to do: Commit to getting fat. I’m not talking about […]
Obesity
The Little Known Truth About Being BIG By Alex Lubischer America’s obesity epidemic boils down to this: We do not move our bodies enough, and we eat too much food. Genetics can play a key factor, but at the macro level, the exponential spike in obesity over the past 100 years is far too rapid […]
The Prevention Column
Getting Started When You Think It’s Too Late By Anthony Bonazzo A lot of Americans have an all-or-nothing mentality, especially when it comes to fitness. Think of fitness like golf; it requires a daily commitment, and it’s never too late to pick up the game. If you’re currently living with health concerns related to being overweight or […]
The Prevention Column
Fitness Tips for the Traveler By Anthony Bonazzo Just because you are traveling, doesn’t mean that your fitness routine needs to go out the window. The old adage that “failing to plan is planning to fail” will ring true but can easily be avoided with minimal effort. First, call ahead. If you’re staying at a […]
The Un-sexiest Disease in the Room
Why is the idea of improving our heart health so unattractive to us? The problem with cardiovascular disease is that it’s not sexy. Upon first hearing this, it seems obvious, right? What could be sexy about bad cholesterol, hypertension or angina pectoris? But let’s take a moment to define sexy. We’ll use Merriam-Webster’s secondary definition: […]
Fitness Tips for Winter
With personal trainer, Anthony Bonazzo Chicago’s freezing temps can make working out in winter more daunting and even dangerous. Yet it’s important to stay active and fit during the deep freeze with proper preparation. We talked to personal trainer Anthony Bonazzo and got his top four tips for winter-fitness success. Bonazzo works at the Fitness Formula Club at Chicago’s […]
A Crash Course in Yoga
Suzanne Ko started yoga as an antidote. She was taking strength training and cardio-kick boxing classes. “My muscles were always in flexion with those types of exercises,” she says. “Yoga created a counterbalance because it lengthens the muscles and undoes the tightness.” Ko, a former interior designer, eventually launched SKo-Fit that offers a holistic approach to fitness. […]
Step-By-Step: Emily Randazzo’s Chicago Marathon Training Diary Part VI
Recap Over the last several weeks, we have been following 26-year-old Emily Randazzo as she trained for her first marathon. We learned what this kind of training can do to the body and the mind as well as a functioning social life. Now that the race is over, we wanted to share with you how […]
Step-by-Step: Emily Randazzo’s Chicago Marathon Training Diary Part V
The Final Push The last few weeks have proved mighty busy (and a little painful) for Emily. Two weeks ago, she ran the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) 20-miler only to realize a few miles in that she had outpaced herself. “I signed up for the 9-minute pace group when I first registered for the […]
Step-by-Step: Emily Randazzo’s Chicago Marathon Training Diary Part IV
Finding Serenity With only a few weeks left before the race on Oct. 9, Emily ran her first 20-miler over Labor Day. The weekend was busy with a friend in town, but she woke up on Saturday morning and, in 80-degree heat, started her run in Evanston. “Shawn moved up there because he is now […]
Step-by-Step: Emily Randazzo’s Chicago Marathon Training Diary Part III
Training Nutrition Last week, Emily was nervous about training while away in Kansas City, Kan., for her mother’s birthday. She got there on Friday, woke up early on Saturday morning, and she and her boyfriend, Shawn, hit the road for a five-miler. “It was crazy hot and is very hilly around my parent’s house, but […]
Step-by-Step: Emily Randazzo’s Chicago Marathon Training Diary Part II
Part II – Going the Distance The last time we checked in with Emily, she was recovering from a difficult 17-miler (most of it run through the rain). And even though she lost a toenail “it was black and blue and just fell off,” she was ready last week to get back on the run […]
Step-by-Step: Emily Randazzo’s Chicago Marathon Training Diary
Welcome to our new “Step-by-Step” column. Every two weeks, we will check in with 26-year-old Emily Randazzo, a consultant and resident of Lincoln Park, who is training for her first Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Oct. 9. Part I – The Starting Line Introducing Emily A longtime soccer player, Emily is used to physical fitness, […]
