Jillian Michaels, of the popular weight loss show "The Biggest Loser" is striking out on her own on NBC's new show: Losing it with Jillian.  The show debuts June 1 on NBC 10/9 central.

There are a number of 24 hour gyms located throughout the city in order to make it convenient for people who want to workout at quieter times.  Getting in a workout at 9, 10 or 11 is something I can see.  But working out overnight?  Do people actually do that?  Apparently they do. 

Kangoo Jumps are a new and improved way to add a different and exciting twist to your current fitness routine.  Kangoo Jumps are designed to offer a trampoline-like weightlessness sensation that decreases joint stress. 

Join thousands of women at the 18th annual Workout In The Park on May 15th in Grant Park.  SELF Magazine invites women across the country to sculpt sexy bodies, look beautiful and feel their very best by taking part in the renowned outdoor health, fitness, and wellness festival this spring.  Workout in the Park encourages women of all ages to join the fun, action-filled day of invigorating exercise, beauty consultations, nutritional know-how, and exclusive freebies and giveaways.  We checked it out last year.  Here are some pics.

Believe it or not, we've been asked this question.  And it seems many people actually have other people's weight on their mind.  Consider Jenny Milk's post the other day on her blog, "Milkin' It." (A freakin hilarious blog that I highly recommend you all read, by the way.)  Jenny commented on a recent study that found that when people see a skinny person laying on a couch, they think they are "resting."  But if it's an overweight person?  People are more likely to see them as lazy.

It seems like every time I turn around there is a new study or information about how bad certain foods are for my body.  Conventional wisdom says if you avoid fast food, you're doing alright.  If you cut down on alcohol and soda intake, you're doing even better.  And that's all true - but it's not enough.  You've got to stay on top of almost everything in your diet.  Today's most recent sad food discovery?  Manufacturers add LOTS of sugar to food in order to make it taste better.   And...you guessed it...it's not healthy for us.

Staying healthy and fit can be really challenging at times. If you have an iPhone or some other type of smartphone, there are numerous health and fitness apps that can help keep your work out organized, fresh and fun.  It's important to change up your routine regularly and to keep it fun and exciting so you stay engaged.

Here are some of my fave health and fitness iPhone apps:

In case you haven't had a chance to check it out, Glee is a new TV show on Fox about the hilarious trials and tribulations of a high school glee club.  I am a huge dork...I mean, fan of this show. 

So who is Sue Sylvester?  Sue, played by Jane Lynch, is just the cheerleading coach/fitness fanatic you need to get your rear in gear.  Like an army sergeant from hell, she'll break you down until you're crying in your Wheaties like a little girl. 

In honor of the return of Glee (starting tonight (Tuesday) at 8:28 Central), Gina DiNunno over at TVGuide.com has put together a list of the top Sue Sylvester quotes (thus far).  Check them out here!

Every single time I go on a vacation, whether I'll be gone a few days or more than a week, I vow to myself that I will exercise. "I'll find the fitness center as soon as I get to the hotel," I say excitedly to myself. And I mean it. Really. What better time to exercise than on a vacation? You're relaxed and technically you should have all the time in the world. No schedules to obey, no meals to prepare. A perfect time to grab some time for yourself and workout.

Knowing the correct portion sizes of food is one of the easiest way to help lose those extra pounds.  But it can be extremely difficult to figure out what a serving size really is.  Most portions served at restaurants are two or three times more than a person should eat in one serving.  And the more you are served, the more you'll consume! 

We've put together a slide show of common objects that can help you approximate proper portion sizes for popular foods.  Be mindful of this when you're out or cooking at home and you'll be surprised at how much easier it is to maintain a healthy weight.  (Just so you know, the pictures in the slide show are NOT actual size.)

"Taste Worth Dying For."  That's the motto of Heart-Attack Grill, a restaurant that takes "watching what you eat" to a completely new level.

According to Wikipedia, The Heart Attack Grill was founded with the declared intent of serving  "nutritional pornography", food "so bad for you it's shocking."  The place offers four different types of burgers - from the "Single bypass" to the "Quadruple bypass" - a burger with literally thousands of calories and 19 layers.

Founder Jon Basso claims the idea came when writing a marketing thesis about fitness training studios, as he became inspired by stories about his clients cheating on their diets.

Check out our slideshow below to get a taste of this crazy place.  In some ways it seems like a place to visit once - just to say that you went (like Rock and Roll McDonald's).  On the other hand, millions of people in our country struggle with obesity - with detrimental effects.  Is this restaurant taking it too far?  What do you think?

I checked out the $5 Zumba class at Dance Spa last night.  Dance Spa is a new dance/fitness studio in Wicker Park opening today for regularly scheduled classes.  I've never taken Zumba before so I wasn't sure what to expect.  All I can say is wow. 

Dance Spa is a hot new dance and fitness studio opening in the Wicker Park/Bucktown neighborhood in a couple of weeks.  The studio is offering a sneak peek $5 Zumba class  tomorrow (Tuesday) at 9am and 7pm. This is the perfect opportunity to check out a new place and shake off those pounds from St. Patty's Day. 

Hey all!  Court and I are proud to say that we ran our first 8K (or 5 mile) race yesterday at the the Shamrock Shuffle!  I honestly never thought I would ever do something like this and although some may not think 5 miles is a lot - it definitely is for someone who isn't an avid runner like me. 

I normally only run about two or 2.5 miles at the gym a few times a week - so running for 5 miles straight was a big change.  Court beat me, of course, being the personal trainer that she is!  But we both finished around 50 minutes. 

I think I underestimated the toll that this race would take on my body.  I felt great after the race - and did the whole thing without stopping to walk.  (Not that I fault ANYONE for walking.  I think just finishing is a great accomplishment.) 

My body felt exhausted as the day wore on, and I actually started to get a pretty bad headache which continued throughout the night.  I'm thinking perhaps I didn't hydrate myself enough throughout the day afterwards, or maybe it was just the exhaustion after the race.  If any of my fellow fitness bloggers or readers have any thoughts - I'd love to hear them!

I definitely recommend this race to people looking to take the next step after a 5K.  It's fun, and a huge event in Chicago.  Just be prepared to run in the cold and pretty much on top of thousands of people.  That would be my only complaint - the race was just a wee bit crowded. 

But the free beer at the end sure did make up for it!

Congrats to everyone who ran the race!

 

 

Only two days until the 2010 Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago!  I'm told this 8K (Just about 5 miles) is one of the best ways to kick off the running season.  I've never run it before but I'm really looking forward to it.  Unfortunately, the weather isn't suppose to be that great.  

I never thought I'd see the day, but the weather in Chicago has finally started to warm up again!  In order to celebrate, Stacy and I decided to take our first run of the season to the lakefront path after work. 

There have been some recent stories in the news about some awful things that have happened to women while running alone outside, so I decided to put together some tips for outdoor running and exercise safety.  As the warm weather approaches, everybody loves to take advantage and be outside as much as possible.  Of course no one likes to think about these things, but if you're someone who likes to exercise outside, be sure you read through these running safety tips.

I think it's important to talk about the stress that comes as a result of today's economy in terms of how it impacts our health and ways that we can cope.  It's hard to go a day without hearing about layoffs - whether it's happening to you, your friends, or in companies that you are familiar with.  Along with the emotional turmoil that comes with a layoff - whether you are the one laid-off, or the person picking up extra work as a result of a lay-off - comes stress.

For my fellow ladies in the lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer community, there is an event coming up next weekend that you will not want to miss!  The Women's Action Committee, based out of the Center on Halsted, is hosting the first annual H.E.R. Day event, or Health, Education and Recreation Day for the LBTQ community on Saturday, March 13th.  Best of all, this event is completely FREE!

As a personal trainer and group exercise instructor, I've spent a fair amount of time in women's locker rooms.  I've witnessed many strange things, and I've heard lots of stories from fellow male co-workers about equally disturbing things going on in men's locker rooms.  I decided to help us all out by putting together a list of the top ten worst locker room offenses.  Take a look. 

I have some weird habits when I'm at the gym working out.  Some of these things I've observed other people doing, too.  Although they may seem strange to the casual observer, there is a method behind the madness.  Some of these habits really help me have a better experience and a harder workout when I'm at the gym.  

These may be the most ridiculous and absurd exercise inventions I've ever seen, but they're always good for a laugh.  If you do all of these exercises, you could get a total body workout (legs, core, and upper body) in approximately 15 minutes.  HA, yeah right.  If only it were that easy. 

It's restaurant week again in Chicago!  And you know what that means - food food and more food.  Restaurant week started Friday the 19th and continues until Sunday the 28th.  This awesome event allows you to try lunches at more than 170 Chicago restaurants for only $22 and dinners for $32.  Don't think you can't enjoy this event just because you're working on maintaining your weight.

I know that all of you are aware that exercise is absolutely crucial to getting in shape and staying healthy.  I've heard a lot of different excuses for not exercising (too many to list!). However, most often, I hear that you're afraid you'll look stupid, you fear trying something new, or you fear getting injured because you don't know the proper form for certain exercises.  These are fears you MUST get over. 

For those of you that didn't move your Leprechaun butts fast enough, registration has closed for the 2010 Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago.  Boo!

Hi everyone!  Welcome to The Fit List.  This blog is a place where we'll share information about staying healthy and fit in Chicago and beyond.  We'll give you tips about relieving stress, losing weight, toning up and motivating yourself to keep going.

 

Moksha Yoga in Chicago offers all levels and many different styles of yoga, as well as events.  Court and I checked out the Lakeview studio last Thursday for Candlelight Yoga.