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Archive for the ‘Fat Loss’ Category

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

One of the frustrations I hear from clients is how to get enough veggies into a daily diet when you are on the go and don’t have time or an appetite to eat breakfast. Eating wraps with lettuce, cukes and red onions is one way. Eating salads, of course is great when you have time. But for that early morning pick me up or when you don’t have time to eat a full meal, I suggest you try Orgain.

Orgain

Orgain is a meal replacement drink that tastes like a milkshake but includes veggie juices, is low sugar and low-fat and is packed with protein! It comes in 3 flavors: Creamy Chocolate Fudge, Sweet Vanilla Bean and  Iced Cafe Mocha.  Fat is only 7 grams for Vanilla and Fudge.

From the product website-more factoids about Orgain:

Organic Ready-to-Drink Nutritional Shake
- USDA Certified Organic
- 16 grams of Organic Whey Protein
- Organic Complex Carbohydrates from Brown Rice
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids from DHA
- Organic blueberries, bananas, acai berry, apple and raspberry
- Organic kale, beets, spinach, carrots, tomatoes
- Organic Pomegranate and Green Tea Extracts
- 24 Vitamins and Minerals
- Antioxidant equivalent to 10 servings of fruits and veggies per serving
- Lightly sweetened with Organic Brown Rice Syrup and Organic Evaporated Cane Juice (only 13 grams of sugar per drink)
- No caffeine, preservatives, gluten, corn syrup, saturated fat, hormones or antibiotics!

You can buy it at Whole Foods Market for about $3.50 per drink or by the case at Amazon here for about $33 for 12.

Orgain was founded by a practicing medical doctor and cancer survivor, Dr. Andrew Abraham. Read his story and the story of Orgain here. (Click on About Us and Founder.) Orgain also donates a share of the proceeds to people struggling with cancer that don’t have the funds to afford adequate nutritional or medical care.

I say, “Thank you Dr. Abraham and thank you Orgain!”

Note: I have absolutely no affiliation with Orgain now does my company, Working Well Massage. I just think it’s a great product and I buy it for my boyfriend and friends!

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By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

US Navy 050203-N-4729H-005 Navy Delayed Entry ...

Image via Wikipedia

For anyone that’s ever dieted or struggled to keep excess fat off, you know that conventional wisdom (increase activity, decrease calories) has tended to recommend very caloric intake for losing weight. But living on super low-calorie diets is not only not sustainable int he long-term, but it’s very difficult to maintain even for short-term results. Now scientist shave found the way to lose weight is not as strict and severe as we once thought! And the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has produced a wonderful new tool that allows you to more accurately estimate how many calories you need to consume and how you need to adjust your activity level to lose unwanted fat. This tool is called the Body Weight Simulator and is accessible here.

To use the Body Weight Simulator, you need to enter your Base Weight, your activity level and your age and height. The tool does the rest, providing you with an estimate of the number of calories you need to reduce each day to lose weight for the short-term as well as the number of calories you need to reduce to maintain the loss for the long-term. I tried the simulator myself and the number of calories I’d need to cut to lose 10 pounds in 6 months is just much smaller than most diet plans would have me reduce. (About 270 per day versus 500-1000 calories per day.)

The tool also provides graphs and charts that show the progression of weight loss, body fat % change, and activity level change.  Try it yourself and see how reasonable the new calorie goals and activity levels can be for your own fat loss plan!

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By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

I came across this blog post, “athletic body diversity reference for artists” via the Facebook page of my friend, Bodhi Haraldsson, Register Massage Therapist and author of the blog, MTABC – Evidence-based massage therapy resources.
The blog post. “athletic body diversity reference for artists” is written by an artist but it shows all the different types of healthy fit bodies the Olympic athletes have.  It’s a great example of how we all have different genetics and this manifests in different body types. being fit doe snot mean we all look the same or have the same types of muscle development. A long distance runner and a football player may both be fit and strong, but their muscles will develop differently.  Check out the blog post and view the pictures for yourself! Photos  are from “The Athlete” by Howard Schartz and Beverly Ornstein.

A sample photo is shown below. Click this link to see the blog post and all the other photos!

Photo from “The Athlete” by Howard Schartz and Beverly Ornstein

Related posts:

• The Athlete by Howard Schartz and Beverly Ornstein
Athletic Body Diversity – Photo-shoot of various Olympic-level athletes by Howard Schartz and Beverly Ornstein titled

“The Athlete” – Understanding body type diversity

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By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

I broke out our Wii the other day and my boyfriend and I played some Wii tennis and bowling. While Wii Sports can be fun, they don’t provide as fun or as active of a workout as Wii’s The Biggest Loser does. For fans of the Show, you may be familiar with some of the trainers and advice. However, the game itself looks like a lot more fun than the standard Wii Fit or Wii Fit Plus workouts. To check out the video of the same showing some of the exercises and visuals, go to the Amazon webpage and click on the video. The game is available from Amazon. com for about $15.00. Click here to order from Amazon.

For a sample of one of the workouts in its entirety, nutwiisystem made this excellent video.  Check it out and you will get a realistic idea of what the Biggest Loser game offers you:

Here’s what you get with the program (from the Amazon website):

Note: You will need to purchase or own a Wii Balance Board to use this game.

  •  A daily calendar for day planning and 50 healthy recipes from The Biggest Loser Cookbook.
  • A complete workout containing over 88 exercises, including upper and lower body, core, cardio and yoga.
  • Option of a 4, 8 or 12 week program with avatars of contestants from the prior seasons of The Biggest Loser.
  • Multiplayer functionality allows you to train with a friend and compete in weekly challenges.
  • The game includes four tools to reach your fitness goals:
      • Fitness Program – This is where you establish your goals, make a plan and compete for the title of The Biggest Loser. Pick from a 4, 8 or 12 week programs.
      • Health and Lifestyle Tool – Encouragement and tips from former Biggest Loser contestants and trainers, and some of the best recipes from the Biggest Loser cookbooks.
      • Exercise Routines – Select from a collection of routines that match your skill level and let you focus on every part of your body. Through it you can also create your own routine that fits your schedule and focuses on your favorite exercises.
      • Challenge Events – Take the exercises you’ve learned and put them to the test in a series of fun but competitive events against some of the former contestants that you’ve seen on The Biggest Loser show. In Single Exercises, you can find your weakest exercise and conquer it or refine your technique to get the most out of your time.

     

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By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

From the "Healthy is the New Skinny.com" Website

“Healthy is the new skinny!”  according to  Kate Halchishick in O magazine. In the article, plus size model and beauty Kate Halchishick allows herself to be photographed nude and then artists show what they would have to do to surgically alter her body to fit Barbie doll proportions. See full article here.

What a wonderful message for young women and even older women everywhere. I personally believe in a fitness focus over a fatness focus. By focusing on staying fit and healthy, your body will naturally become healthy and reduce fat content. But not in an extreme manner–in a realistic manner. Our bodies are all different. We start with our genetic code and then do what we can via our environment. For some people, like me, I can work out all day long and I will never become tall. Many people resort to plastic surgery to “correct” the body that their parents gave them through genetics. But this sets a disturbing trend for younger people. Bravo to Kate Halchishick for showing how absurd the body proportions of a standard Barbie Doll are to try to emulate. Check out the full article and pics on the Healthy is the New Skinny website here.

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By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

As part of my ongoing effort to let people know about the Wellness Club team at Whole Foods Market in Lincoln Park, I spoke with Heather Sulic, Wellness Club Team Leader and massage aficionado! I’ve been working with Heather closely these past few months and I must say, she really knows not only how to implement a good nutrition program, but also how to run a fun and active Wellness Club! Meet Heather and read more about her take on the Wellness Club and what is offered there.

Heather Sulic, Wellness Club Team Leader

1. Why did Whole Foods decide to open the Wellness Club at the Lincoln Park store?

We are piloting a Wellness Club in 5 stores throughout the U.S.  Lincoln Park was chosen because it’s a cutting edge store with a great space and loyal customer base.

2. Aside from nutrition classes, what other programs does the WC offer?

Our program offers everything you need for optimal wellness. In addition to nutrition, we educate members on lifestyle change and the psychology of eating habits.  Chef Katie will also teach you how to cook great-tasting healthy dishes. We also offer services to get you active and help you to slow down, whichever you need!  Each day we offer multiple fitness and yoga classes.  We also have massage on site–great for stress relief and pain management.  All of the classes are included in the membership and massage is offered at a discount for members, only $65 for one hour! And, members receive a 10% discount on about 4000 items throughout the store.
3. Can I take classes and get massages at the WC if I am not a WC member?

Yes, most of our services are available a la carte. Yoga classes are$15 a class for non-members, for example, and  massages for non-Wellness Club members are $80/hour.

5. Does the Wellness Club have a changing room?

Students can change their clothing to fitness gear in the men’s and women’s restrooms. For massages, clients can change in the massage room when the massage therapist steps out of the room before and after the massage.

6. I sweat a lot when I exercise. Does the Wellness Club have showers?

We don’t have showers or a locker room.  Our fitness classes are designed for increasing functional fitness-moving through a complete range of motion, building strength, working on core and stability.  We don’t offer cardio classes.  We do have a wide variety of fitness clubs in our local network though.  These businesses are offering discounts and free services for our members who’d like to get some sweating in too!

7. Where do I put my shoes, winter coat and stuff during yoga class at the WC?

Yes, we have cubbies for your shoes and a coat rack.

8. Do you have childcare at the Wellness Club? Some moms like to take fitness classes and get massages but have a toddler/baby etc.

We don’t have childcare services.  However, we will be featuring many classes that you can participate in with your child.  Cooking with Kids classes and Kids Movement classes will be starting soon.  And Kids Science Labs and Fantasy Kingdom, two kid friendly businesses nearby, would love to see your kids while you make use of our Wellness Club services.

9.  Is the WC program vegan?

The Wellness Club program is Plant Strong meaning we advocate eating predominantly whole or minimally processed plant foods.  However, we do have some meat and seafood items that are included in the discount program.

10. How do I get the 10% discount card? Is it free?

Membership includes unlimited classes (yes, yoga too!), discounts on massage onsite and discounts from local businesses in addition to the discount at Whole Foods Market.  For a limited time only memberships are available for a $1 start-up fee and only $49/month!

11. What could I expect from you as a coach to help me incorporate healthier eating into my current diet? How about fitness?

I’m really focused on finding out where you’re at now and what your goals are.  My job is to give you manageable steps to help you move from point A to point B with lots of stops along the way to celebrate successes.  When it comes to fitness, I’m passionate about explaining the “why” behind what you’re doing.  If you’re going to put the effort in, it makes sense to be getting the most bang for your buck.  Too often people spend a lot of time and energy at the gym and end up injured or discouraged because they don’t know how to work out properly. I want to help with that!

Who is Heather Sulic, Wellness Club Team Leader?

Heather has a degree in Secondary Education and has been teaching in various capacities throughout the 12 years that she has worked with Whole Foods Market.  She spent many years in Store Leadership and as a Human Resources Coordinator.  Heather is a Certified Personal Trainer and also holds a certification in Plant Based Nutrition from eCornell University.  Whether it’s one-on-one or in a classroom setting, Heather’s coaching focuses on thorough education and her goal is to help individuals excel in their healthy lifestyles.

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By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Where can you get unlimited yoga and fitness classes Chicago for $49 a month and $1 down? (Discount applies until November, 2011. Then the initial processing fee goes up.)

The Lincoln Park Wellness Club at the Whole Foods Market in Lincoln Park!

Whole Foods Market Wellness Club Yoga Room Equipment Awaits You In Lincoln Park

And how many yoga studios in Chicago also offer:

• Free cooking  and nutrition classes?

• A 10% discount on over 4000 items in the grocery store?

Last time I checked, none. And yes, I am a Wellness Club member. And happy to say I have already gotten discounts on my groceries, had several discounted massages and I am a  yoga  fan!

Stop by the Wellness Club at the Lincoln park Whole Foods Market at

1550 N. Kingsbury, Chicago, IL 60642

on the Mezzanine (Balcony) over the in store restaurants. You may just run into me there!

For more info, click here to go to the Wellness Club webpage.

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Body Fat meter

Body fat meter. Image via Wikipedia

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

I am a big believer in being clear about our goals so that we don’t waste a lot of time pursing a fitness or nutritious goal that isn’t realistic or attainable. To me, saying “I need to lose weight” is inaccurate. What most people really mean is that they want to reduce their total body fat. If we wanted to simply lose weight, it wold mean we would lose muscle, fat and bone mass across the board. And that is NOT healthy.

I cam across a good article on fat loss and weight training myths. Check out this article for some great ideas on spot reduction, lower abdominal myths and the myth that high repetitions burn more fat from exrx.net, Fat Loss & Weight Training Myths

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Potato chips

Image via Wikipedia

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

A recent study, Changes in Diet and Lifestyle and Long-Term Weight Gain in Women and Men, published in the New England Journal of Medicine led to some not so shocking conclusions:

Over a 4-year period, weight gain was most strongly associated with:

• potato chip intake (1.69 lb)

• potatoes in general (1.28 lb)

• beverages sweetened by sugar (1.00 lb)

• red meats (unprocessed: 0.95 lb,  processed: 0.93 lb).

And to support what nutrition experts have been saying for years now,  weight gain was reduced by those that ate more of the following foods:

• vegetables (−0.22 lb)

• whole grains (−0.37 lb)

• fruits (−0.49 lb)

• nuts (−0.57 lb)

• yogurt (−0.82 lb)

While this is not earth shattering news, it is important research. For one thing, the study compared weight gains over a 4-year period. This means that weight gain is likely not caused by seasonal factors and is more likely accounted for by actual types of foods participants ate. In addition, the study gives further support to the adage that we should eat our vegetables, add a little colon caring yogurt to our diets and cut down on red meat and potatoes.

The study also found support for the other well known adage: Exercise helps you reduce or maintain weight loss.  According to the study, “Other lifestyle factors were also independently associated with weight change (P<0.001), including physical activity (−1.76 lb across quintiles); alcohol use (0.41 lb per drink per day), smoking (new quitters, 5.17 lb; former smokers, 0.14 lb), sleep (more weight gain with <6 or >8 hours of sleep), and television watching (0.31 lb per hour per day).”

Link to the full article about the study here.

Take this short fun quiz to test your own knowledge of nutrition facts here.

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By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Recently I was asked about self-defense classes in Chicago and if I knew of any classes that led to further study in martial arts. I took Karate in High school but it’s been years since I took any martial arts, so I decided to do some research and see what I could dig up.

A Thousand waves Self Defense Classes

First off there is a fantastic post by Jesse Ouimet, “Top eleven – best self-defence martial arts” on his blog, These Go to Eleven. Click here for the full post. I found it interesting that in some of the comments, people said that what is considered “best” for Mixed Martial Arts self-defense and what is the best style for a woman trying to fend off a male attacker twice her size varies greatly. Commenters agreed that Israili Krav Maga and Karate were likely best for females looking to fend off attackers, while MMA fighters liked fighting styles that had more grappling and floor moves (since MMA fights usually end up on the ground). But a small woman would not fare as well if they fight went to the ground. Makes sense to me.

As a form of exercise, most martial arts can be excellent in providing cardio and strength training. At the same time, one reason I don’t practice martial arts is that there can be a lot of joint wear and tear. Hey, I like my joints! I want them to work for me as I get older, and as a massage therapist, I am very protective of my hands and wrists. So punching and sparring subjects my wrists and hands to too much abuse. (And yes I know that if my form was perfect I’d have less joint concerns. Yet who has perfect form when you are learning a new skill?

Mark MacYoung

Marc “Animal;” MacYoung’s No Nonsense Self Defense serves up some witty, funny and fitful food for thought about the difference between martial arts and fighting. To this writer, all types of martial arts are good for self-defense. He explains quite a bit about how to look at self-defense, what it is and the motivation behind it. It’s a good read. Click here for No Nonsense Self Defense. This is a great site for info on martial arts  in general, street fighting, and self-defense.

In Chicago, there are a number of different Martial Arts studios and styles taught. Link to Yelp listing here. Some of the more self-defense oriented classes are listed below.

Krav Maga Illinois
2200 Skokie Valley Rd
Highland Park, IL 60035
(847) 433-0405
www.KravMagaIllinois.com


POW! Mixed Martial Arts School

950 W Washington Blvd
(between Peoria St & Sangamon St)
Chicago, IL 60607
Neighborhoods: Near West Side, West Loop
(312) 829-7699
powkickboxing.com

Offers Krav maga boxing, Muay Thai, and Jujitsu.

A Thousand Waves for Women has a self defense course AND offers ongoing classes in Seido Karate to men and women as well as children.

Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center, NFP
1220 W Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
Neighborhood: Lakeview
(773) 472-7663

Self Defense Centers
2151 W Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL 60618
Neighborhood: North Center
(773) 539-2900
www.selfdefensecenters.com/

Hours: Mon-Thu 9 am – 9 pm , Fri 9 am – 8 pm, Sat 9 am – 4 am

Yelpers say:  It’s practical, hands-on self-defense training that’s based on Kenpo, a type of martial art.  Not only do SDC offer very affordable private lessons and packages, but this includes UNLIMITED group classes Mon-Sat.

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