FitSugar

Sightseeing + Running = City Running Tours

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:15:00 -0700

I am all about multi-tasking and amazed at the new strategies folks create to combine fitness with other activities. When I first learned about running tours in Rome, I was so excited by the concept that I almost bought a ticket to Italy. Thanks to City Running Tours I can stay stateside and jog to see the sights of New York, Chicago and D.C., with Austin and Denver coming soon.

This concept is great for the business traveler bored with the hotel treadmill, the vacationer in training for an upcoming race, or the recreational runner who wants to explore the sights and exercise at the same time. City Running Tours offers set tours, as well as customized runs to accommodate any athletic ability, style, training regimen or specific landmarks. Pricing is $50 per person for the first 6 miles and $4 per person for each mile after that. In the Big Apple prices are a little higher - $60 per person for the first six miles and $6 per person for each additional mile.

Buy your tickets online and hit the streets, see new sights, and get your heart rate up all at the same time.

Flirty Girl Fitness Opens in Chicago

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 12:30:00 -0700

Chicago’s very first women-only health and fitness lifestyle facility featuring classes that focus on empowerment for women will open this May.

Ellipticals, treadmills and stationary bikes will be replaced with brass dance poles, leather lap dancing chairs, a Coyote Ugly dance bar and a large lounge area at Flirty Girl Fitness. A few of the unique classes being offered include Pole Dancing, Striptease Aerobics, Chair Dancing and Hula Hoop’Lah. Not into the pole thing? You can also kick butt with Hottie Body Boxing and Flirty Fight Club classes which include boxing bags and pink boxing gloves! A Flirty Girl Fitness Membership is $120 per month and includes unlimited classes. For non-members a Drop-In Class is $20 a class and 6-Week Session Classes vary from $150-$185. Saturday Workshops are $40. Along with these classes, the club will also feature over 31 total classes, a Coyote Ugly Bar, Nike boutique and Health Café, Spa and private parties.

Perhaps a bachelorette party? Their specialty is a Luxury Bachelorette Party Package, which includes class instruction for the bride-to-be and her guests, cocktails, fine catering, makeovers, manicures, and gift bags that include a digital photo album of the evening for the bride-to-be. Then the whole party is whisked off in a limo to the hottest clubs in town with VIP access especially arranged for them by Flirty Girl Fitness.

Not in the Chicago area? Then check out Sheila Kelley's S-Factor for a different kind of pole aerobics.

Class Act: Trotting

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 03:00:00 -0700

I am always on the lookout for new and unique group classes. Recently I came across Trotting, which is an introductory running/walking fast (i.e. trotting) class that takes place outdoors. This class is great for any gymophobes that want to start running but refuse to do it on a treadmill. You'll walk, do intervals, run and even sprint in this class perfect for all fitness levels. Right now Trotting is only offered at select Crunch locations nationwide, but check out your gym for classes that are similar. Taking an outdoor group class is a great way to enjoy the increasingly warm weather. Yipee!

Self Magazine's Workout in The Park

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 04:00:00 -0800

Get your friends together for Self Magazine's Workout in The Park!

What: A full day of great workouts from Crunch Fitness, tips and FREE product samples.

When and Where:

April 28, 2007 - Balboa Park, San Diego (11am-3pm)
May 5, 2007 - Lincoln Park, Chicago (11am-3pm)
May 12, 2007 - Central Park, New York (11am-3pm)
May 19, 2007 - Lummus Park, Miami (2pm-6pm)

How: Tickets are available online for $20 starting March 15th, or you can get them at the door for $25.

Why: This is a great reason to spend the day in the park! Your ticket includes a one year subscription to Self and (yup, there's more) proceeds go to cancerandcareers.org, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Fertile Hope.

My Kind of Club: East Bank Club

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 02:00:00 -0800

Chicago has so many great things to offer from Navy Pier to Soldier Field, you get a lot out of this windy city (but not a Super Bowl win). From its famous deep dish pizza to its greasy bratwurst, Chicago is not exactly the picture of health.

However, that was before I discovered the East Bank Club. Membership to East Bank Club is more than just your average gym membership, it's like joining a super exclusive mecca to help shape your life. Every facet of the Club experience is met from the huge (20,000 sq. feet) cardio room, to the sophisticated and elegant feel to the salon and spa services, a complete Pro Shop, child care, a dry cleaners, a car wash and more. It's amazing that in a 450,000-square-foot mega-club, details do not go unnoticed.

One of the coolest parts about the club? The virtual bike rides with private televisions that display dozens of virtual courses that simulate outdoor bike rides. The bikes are equipped with handle bars that turn left and right, and you can even choose to compete against the person next to you. Log on to the web site afterward and you can gauge your progress or see if you made the leader board. How cool is that?

The price? Not cheap but not as steep as I had anticipated: There is a $500 enrollment fee and monthly fees range from $115 to $165. To check it out and learn more, visit The East Bank Club online.

Healthy Living in Luxury

FitSugar — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 02:30:00 -0800

Once you’ve discovered the joy of healthy living, you want to live that way every day. And now you can, just for a pretty (and I mean pretty) penny.

Canyon Ranch Living are luxury condominiums in all-healthy and invigorating environments for anyone who wants to feel great for life. Currently there are Canyon Ranch Living properties in Tucson, Miami and Chicago. These places are like dream homes and then some. Not only will you get to live in a beautiful, healthy community but you'll also be allowed privileges to every amenity, fitness choice and wellness opportunity at Canyon Ranch, the world’s premier health resort. Yes please!

A few highlights of the properties include beautifully appointed luxury condominiums, superb spa facilities and treatments, fully equipped gyms, fitness classes and activities, Canyon Ranch Living wellness staff, health and wellness opportunities and a nutritious award-winning cuisine.

To get more info (and to find a sales center), check out the Canon Ranch Living site. Be careful though, as I can imagine living there will bring many guests knocking at your door, like yours truly for example.

I'm Lovin It!

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 10:00:00 -0800

We all know that health officials have banned smoking in several cities throughout the United States with more on the way because of the harmful effects of smoking on everyone. But did we ever think that they would be able to ban fat? To find out if they have, read more

There has been a lot of buzz recently surrounding a healthy proposal breakthrough hitting the streets of New York City and Chicago. If this newest proposal gets approved, trans fats (think hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils) which are responsible for the premature death of thousands of people each year, will no longer be permitted in the cooking processes at restaurants starting July 1, 2007. So while we all STILL really have no idea what they are putting in our food behind those closed doors in our favorite restaurants, at least New Yorkers could have the piece of mind that the ‘secret ingredient’ is not trans fat.

Lessons From the White House Chef

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:00:07 -0800

Part of Michelle Obama's master plan to reform eating habits in this country includes the directive of a young chef named Sam Kass. Kass has been the Obamas' personal chef for several years now, and when the Obamas packed up and moved to the White House, he did too.

Kass, 29, plays more than cook at his current post: he is the first White House chef to have an actual desk in the East Wing and works alongside the rest of Ms. Obama's policy team with the title of "food initiative coordinator," meaning he's given the daunting task of getting the entire country to eat better.

To hear how Kass is trying to making the country healthier, read more.

How does one man do that in a country where the golden arches rule? In the latest editions of People and the Chicago Sun Times, Kass shares that moving past the obstacles won't be easy but "it's an unbelievable opportunity" that he couldn't turn his back on. In the last year, the chef has gotten closer to his goal by helping plant a garden on the White House lawn and educating children about the benefits of healthy eating. He's also discussing legislation with the Agriculture Department that would reform school lunch on a national level.

When it comes to feeding the first family, Kass and White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford serve up classic fare like burgers and tacos, but make healthy food swaps and use lean beef and low-sugar ketchup instead. As for dessert, it's a special treat served only on the weekends, and that order comes directly from Michelle herself.

Inspired by the Slow Food movement, Kass looks to the White House garden to inspire his menu, pushing forth the idea of eating local and by season. Right now, he's got his eyes on a bevy of sweet potato dishes and fresh salads, which should come in handy for the Obamas' first state dinner later this month.

Uno Is America's Healthiest Chain?

FitSugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Health magazine just unveiled a big feature on the healthiest restaurants in the US, which breaks down eateries by category, including sit-down chains, fast food, and independent restaurants. The magazine studied 43 chains (each with at least 75 locations) and ranked them based on the nutritional information provided.

It sounded intriguing, until I started perusing the list and found many of the choices downright puzzling: Uno Chicago Grill, known for its deep-dish pizza, is the first restaurant on the list of sit-down chains. Health lays out its reasons, but I'm still not sure I agree. To see the reasons and the rest of the list, read more
Like Au Bon Pain, Uno Chicago Grill has added nutrition kiosks to its lobbies, where customers can look up the ingredients and nutritional content of its foods. Here's more on why Health chose Uno:

Sure, its famous deep-dish (read high-fat) pizzas still hold court, but nutrition has become the word of the day with a completely trans fat–free menu and plenty of grilled entrees (including antibiotic-free chicken). Adding to the healthy variety: whole-grain pasta and brown rice, organic coffee and tea, and flatbread pizzas that have half the calories of deep-dish ones. Plus, you can add a salad to your pizza for half-price because, according to the menu, “We want you to get some greens in your diet.” Now that’s a blue-ribbon commitment to health.

Can we really award a "blue ribbon" for health to a restaurant known for its deep-dish fat explosions? While I appreciate the low-fat menu options and the transparency about ingredients, there's something that just seems wrong about Uno now being able to proclaim that it's the healthiest chain in America on its website. I think it would be better to reward individual dishes, or just make smart choices when you're eating out), rather than deeming a pretty unhealthy chain "healthy."

Check out the healthiest fast food joints here. Here's the full list of the top 10 sit-down chains.

Uno Chicago Grill
Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes
Mimi's Cafe
P.F. Chang's China Bistro
Bob Evans
Ruby Tuesday
Romano's Macaroni Grill
Chevy's Fresh Mex
Olive Garden
Denny's

What do you guys think? Does this list bother you?

Source

Irish I Were Running!

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:00:00 -0700

Chicago is renowned for its St. Patty's Day celebrations from parades to dying the river green, and you know you're going to be wanting to participate.

Maybe you're making a special trip out there or maybe you live in Chicago, but before you start celebrating too hard, think about taking a jog around the city. One company Fleet Feet Sports has a Lincoln Square jog already prepared on the morning of March 17th at 8:00 AM. Join the group that starts at Lincoln Square Fleet Feet Location for a Saturday Morning run/jog/walk along the very green Chicago River. You can go any distance you wish from 3 to 6 miles, and all paces and abilities are welcome on the run. Visit FleetFeetChicago.com for more information on the run.

Now all that green beer with corned beef and cabbage won't seem nearly as unhealthy.

Source