Please join us in welcoming Amanda Angelopoulos, MS, RDN, LDN, CNSC, to FFC as a Registered Dietitian!
As a Registered Dietitian of 6+ years, Amanda has a variety of experiences under her belt. Three of those more recent years were spent within the walls of the intensive care unit of Swedish Hospital as a Clinical Dietitian. She has now decided to make the switch back to outpatient nutrition counseling.
Outside of her career for the past few years in the inpatient world, Amanda has found ways to stay active. She has filled much of her spare time with coaching soccer!
Amanda is passionate about performance nutrition but also medical nutrition therapy. Amanda has the tools and experience to help meet you where you are and get you where you strive to be!
Stop by her office (or visit this link) to see what nutrition services she has to offer at FFC – and see pictures of her new dachshund puppy (‘Garbanzo Bean”)!
Amanda is located at FFC Elmhurst, FFC West Loop and FFC Park Ridge. We are so excited to have you, Amanda!
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, and the pickleball craze has hit FFC! FFC Creative Director Josh Beaton shares his experience learning the sport and explains why it’s a great way to stay active and connect with fellow Chicagoans.
With the sting of sweat lingering in my eyes, I got into position. Squinting to see through the sun’s gaze, I heard the crack of the paddle hitting the ball. The game was on. Barreling toward me was a neon green wiffleball, spinning in the air like a major league pitch. I adjusted my stance and swung my paddle. Crack! The ball exploded off my paddle, barely clearing the net and flying toward the sideline. “Out!” yelled a player on the opposing team. The word echoed in my head. Followed closely by, “That’s game!” After muttering an apology to my partner, I walked off the court with my head down. This was defeat. This was pickleball.
If you’re unfamiliar with pickleball, it is a paddle-sport that is similar to tennis, ping-pong, badminton and other racket sports. Pickleball was invented in Washington State in 1965, and according to USA Pickleball, there are now around 4.8 million players in the US. Pickleball can be played outside, typically on a tennis court surface, or indoors on a basketball court. The court is smaller than an average tennis court, and the game can either be played as singles or doubles.
I came onto the pickleball scene recently. In February 2022, our Director of Fitness was telling a group of us at the FFC Corporate office how fun the game is. I have to admit, I thought pickleball was for senior citizens. I assumed this was just a modern version of shuffleboard or something. Little did I know, I would become addicted after one game.
A group of us from the office headed to FFC Union Station for a lesson on the rules of pickleball. Truth be told, pickleball rules are a bit confusing at first. There are areas that you can’t step foot in, new words to learn and rules about bounces. The serving order is also tricky. Because of these things, the initial intimidation factor is high, but it doesn’t take long for the rules to become second nature. In no time, you are tiptoeing along the “kitchen” line and hitting “dinks” to win the point.
To actually play the game, the learning curve is low. Hit the ball over the net without it going out of bounds. Seems easy enough, right? The thing is, pickleball is a lot like chess. It take minutes to learn and a lifetime to master.
Soon after our first lesson, I was on Amazon searching for pickleball paddles to buy for myself. After some intense research, I decided on a paddle and eagerly awaited its arrival. Once the box hit my doorstep, I was looking for ways to play more games throughout the city. Through the app Team Reach, I discovered many groups around Chicago that play pickleball in area parks and decided to head to meet up with a group in Rogers Park.
When I got to the park, I timidly approached the tennis courts where I could see the pickeballers playing. There were around 20 people already playing, and I thought I would sneak my way in and just watch for awhile. As soon as I stepped on the court, a game ended and someone asked, “Hey man, do you want to play?” I was scared, but also determined, so I said, “absolutely.”
I thought I would immediately be banished when the group saw how new I was to the sport. On the contrary, they were very welcoming and helped me when they saw me struggling. After losing the first game, I moved on to another court. Again, the players were amazing — not only in skill but also attitude. They never made me feel dumb for not playing at the level they were used to. After losing game after game and moving from court to court, I finally won a game. As a highly competitive person, I thought that would be the most important thing that happened. I was wrong. While I was moving around the courts, not only was I learning how to better play the game, but I was also meeting a great group of people.
Fast forward a few months and now a group of us in the office play every Thursday. Not only that, but I also play with the Rogers Park crew every Saturday and Sunday for four hours each day! It gives me some solid exercise, and I get to see the people I can now call friends. My game has gotten a lot better, and now I get to welcome people when they show up for the first time. I even joined a pickleball league that starts this fall, and I’m looking forward to seeing how I compare to other competitive players in the area.
I know what you are thinking…”Josh, I have social anxiety and I would be too scared to just walk up to strangers and ask to play with them.” I get it. What I have found is the pickleball community is one of the most welcoming and friendly groups out there. If you are interested in learning to play pickleball but feel nervous about joining a group, come to Rogers Park any weekend or FFC Union Station on Thursday mornings! I promise there will be a court and a few friendly faces waiting for you.
FFC Elmhurst, FFC Gold Coast, FFC Oak Park, FFC Park Ridge and FFC Union Station offer open pickleball play on their basketball courts. Lessons and tournaments are also offered from time to time. To view open play times, head to the Club Events section on the FFC+ app.
https://ffc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/pickleball-blog-1.png14002280Sydney Meyerhttps://ffc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Best-Gyms-In-Chicago-2025.pngSydney Meyer2022-07-20 14:58:552022-07-20 14:58:55What Is Pickleball? Learn Why This FFC Employee Loves The Sport
Corynne Cooper is the General Manager of 111 S. Wacker Fitness Center, managed by FFC. In part three of this three-part series, Corynne shares how her Olympic dreams lead her to collegiate athletics and how the sport of gymnastics has influenced her life.
Having spent so many years training, I of course had dreams of representing my country in the Olympics. However, we all know there are only a select few who make it that far. Nonetheless, I still went as far as I could. I competed nationally and internationally, mostly in the US and Europe. This sport provided a path for me to travel to places I may not have ever seen.
Around age 14, once I realized the Olympics was not in my future, I turned my sights to collegiate athletics. I had no idea of the expense associated with going to college, however, I did know I wanted to get a degree, and I didn’t want my parents to feel obligated to fund it.
Growing up, my parents made it very clear that they would fund our education, no matter what that meant for them in regards to their own lifestyle and retirement. However, while the Olympics did not happen, a college scholarship did. I accepted a full scholarship to the University of Iowa and was a four-year contributor to the gymnastics team. I competed in every single competition during my four year tenure.
It amazed me how different USA gymnastics was from collegiate gymnastics. USA gymnastics is amazingly intense, and in some cases, not team-focused at all. Collegiate gymnastics is more energetic – with fans screaming, school-colored pom-poms and the school’s fight song playing after a stuck landing. While Individual competition is important, collegiate gymnastics is heavily team-focused. We’re all rooting for each other to do well. There’s techno music playing in the background at a collegiate competition, rather than dead silence or elevator music playing at a USA gymnastics competition.
The sport allowed me to travel to different colleges across the country and also solidified a handful of friendships I cannot live without today. I have attended bridal showers and weddings and have even been a Maid-of-Honor on a few occasions. I have attended various baby showers and Christenings, and now that I’m older, I have been a part of so many moments related to their growing families – vow renewals, graduations, and house warmings.
While watching the Tokyo Olympics this past summer – or any Olympics for that matter – I felt a strong sense of nostalgia and competitiveness but also empathy. The life of a competitive gymnast is so difficult but also unbelievably rewarding. When I watch these pretty girls on the TV screen, I’m sure they all want to be there. They have trained countless hours to perform for less than five minutes. Think about that. A vault takes about 10 seconds, a bar routine is about 45 seconds, beam and floor routines are no longer than 90 seconds each. Thousands of hours of work. Repeating skills over and over and over again searching for perfection. All of this time and effort to perform and be judged in five minutes.
During the 2020 Olympics, there was a lot of talk about Simone Biles stepping back from Olympic competition. She was the reigning World and Olympic champion and the medals were there for her taking. How could she step away from the possibility of adding even more medals to her collection?
For those who may be confused by her decision, listen up. One of the main things gymnasts must have is something called “air awareness.” Air awareness is knowing where you are and what your body is doing while in mid air in the midst of doing your skill. The goal with just about every skill is to launch yourself into the air and land on your feet safely. Landing in any other way can result in deductions or injury. If a gymnast loses this awareness, it’s called the “twisties” or being “lost in the air.”
Some say it’s similar to vertigo, and a gymnast has no idea that this will happen. It’s a mental block that slaps you in the face. It’s doubtful a top athlete would plan to have this issue at the Olympic Games. Simone Biles did a vault, and to no fault of her own, she only did 1.5 twists instead of the planned 2.5 twists. Luckily, she landed on her feet, but it was obvious by the positioning of her body in the air and her face when she landed that something was wrong.
When you’re lost in the air, all you can do is hope you land safely and not on your head or neck. Momentum, gravity and prayer are carrying you at that point. Getting lost in the air breaks your confidence, and you don’t know if you can safely do the skill again. Is a medal worth a severe injury? Simone Biles made the decision to preserve her long term health and we have to respect that decision. She has a lot of life ahead of her after the sport of gymnastics ends for her.
Physically, gymnasts are strong, powerful, flexible, coordinated and have incredible air awareness. Mentally, gymnasts are disciplined, health-conscious, respectful, humble and hard-working. To this day, the things this amazing sport has taught me are embedded within my soul, as if I were born this way.
This sport, coupled with an amazing upbringing, has made me who I am today. I am respectful to everyone and have never talked back to an adult. And when I make a mistake, I’m still so hard on myself. Physically speaking, the athlete in me is still going strong. I still work out daily, two times per day actually. I will run myself ragged before I ever quit. I am up before 4 AM, seven days per week, and I’m constantly assessing my diet to see how I can become healthier. Once a gymnast, always a gymnast!
Even though my gymnastics career is in my rearview mirror, my competitive spirit is still there! I feel like I still compete every day, either with myself to beat my previous time, weight or reps, or with the oblivious person next to me in a class or on the treadmill. I recently raced my significant other up the bleachers. Well, I was racing…I don’t think he cared either way.
When gymnastics ended after college I relaxed a bit. It felt odd to wake up without a set plan. It was weird to not have a four hour practice every single day. I didn’t know what it felt like to spend a weekend at home, not traveling to a competition. It was difficult for me to adjust to not having every second of my day/week/month planned. While in graduate school, I decided to try powerlifting and Olympic lifting and competed for about five years.
While studying and competing in both of these circuits I took on bodybuilding as well. I won my pro card in bodybuilding in only my second show and competed professionally in bodybuilding for another 10 years! Again, traveling throughout the country doing shows, working booths at fitness events and being hired to do guest posing events. After bodybuilding I took on CrossFit and competed Regionally. I’m proud when I look back on the things I’ve done, but I also still feel unfinished. What’s next?
Post written by Corynne Cooper, General Manager at 111 S. Wacker Fitness Center – managed by FFC.
https://ffc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/6.png14002280Sydney Meyerhttps://ffc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Best-Gyms-In-Chicago-2025.pngSydney Meyer2021-10-25 08:45:582021-10-25 08:45:58Employee Spotlight: Once A Gymnast, Always A Gymnast by Corynne Cooper
Corynne Cooper is the General Manager of 111 S. Wacker Fitness Center, managed by FFC. In part two of this three-part series, Corynne shares how her career as a gymnast began and the tough love training that accompanies the sport.
As a child, my mother was focused on making sure we were well-rounded in our experiences. From an early age, I was involved in a number of activities – piano lessons, swimming, golf, soccer, softball, volleyball, ballet, and tap dancing. But my sport of choice was gymnastics. In situations where a practice or activity overlapped with gymnastics, gymnastics always won. I would skip any other practice for a chance to do gymnastics.
The story goes, as soon as I took my first steps, I began doing odd flips and jumps, as my mother would call it, around our living room. I turned the couch into a vault by running and launching myself over it, and every curb miraculously became a balance beam. When I knocked over a lamp and broke the glass on the coffee table in our living room, my mother said enough is enough, and she enrolled me in a park district gymnastics program just as I turned two. After about a year at the park district, the instructor pulled my mom aside and told her I was “fearless, oddly strong and gifted,” and she should consider enrolling me in a more structured, results-driven program. My mother did exactly that. She signed me up at a private gym and that began my 20 year gymnastics career.
Once at the private gym, I started taking basic classes one to two times per week as part of the “D team.” Athletes were divided up into A, B, C and D teams, with A being elite and D being beginner. As a youngster, D team practice would end around 4 PM, when the older girls would come in for their practice. I remember asking my mother to pick me up an hour later at 5 PM, after my own practice, so I could stay and watch the older girls on the “A team.” These were the “it” girls who made gymnastics their life. They practiced for 4 hours or more, six days per week, and they either left school early or were homeschooled and competed nationally and even internationally. I hung around their practices for several months and one fateful day, the head coach invited little old me onto the floor to train with the older girls.
After that day, he invited me again…and again…and again. Within just a few months, around age seven or eight, I began training with the coveted “A Team.” Because I was so young, my mother would not allow me to practice six days a week, for four or more hours per day, so she and my coach came up with a plan so I could slowly work my way up to that. The more I trained, the more I fell in love with the sport. There was something about the depth of the sport that kept my attention. The possibilities in regards to skills and choreography were endless. I became obsessed with the daily challenge and felt like each day was a chance to learn something new or perfect something I had been working on.
For the next 10 or so years, I trained – hard – and never stopped. I said goodbye to every other sport, as gymnastics became my sole focus. My father built a balance beam for me on our patio so I could practice, and I spent hours on that homemade beam coming up with dance routines and practicing certain flips. I would have teammates come over and we’d pretend to be Olympic gymnasts, competing in front of millions and winning the prestigious gold medal.Of course, there were times when I wanted to quit the sport, but somehow, I found myself packing my gym bag and limping back into the gym the following day.
My coaches, who defected from Germany to open my gymnastics school, were harsh. Very harsh. Practices were closed, meaning parents were not allowed to watch; we were all alone. Talking back or speaking up if you were injured or ill was a death wish. They made you feel guilty or inadequate for missing practice or for not being able to fully participate for any reason – illness, injury, family travel. Constant yelling and name calling, public weigh-ins, and outrageous punishments for missing a skill were the norm. Your punishment could include hundreds of pushups, multiple rope climbs or being kicked out of practice altogether but not being allowed to call your parents to pick you up so you could leave.
We spent so much time together as a team, traveling to various competitions and skill camps, that my teammates became like my sisters. Oddly enough, one of the main summer camps we went to as a team was at a gym in Michigan and was led by the gym’s head coach, John Geddert. Without diving too far into the topic, John Geddert was implicated in the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal that focused on his long time associate Larry Nassar. Geddert, who was charged with more than 20 criminal charges, committed suicide in February 2021. Larry Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for his crimes. The affected are now pressuring the Senate to hold the FBI accountable for botching this investigation which allowed the abuse to continue. The athletes are also asking for all enablers to be held accountable. This includes coaches and United States Association of Gymnastics (USAG) staff who did not act appropriately when they were told of the abuse.
Just as with these athletes, but on a much smaller scale, my teammates and I were in this battle together. Throughout my time in the sport, I saw many people leave due to injury, eating disorders or because they were unable to deal with the constant criticism and pressure. There were plenty of times when I left the gym firmly believing I would never return. Some days I wanted to quit more than anything. I remember one particular day when my coach basically yelled at me for four hours straight. I couldn’t do anything right and I remember feeling worthless. I wondered why I was in a sport that was so cruel. I remember crying to my mother, begging her to let me quit. Her response? “I already paid for this month’s sessions and that money can’t be wasted.” Let’s get one thing straight, due to my parents scarce upbringing, one thing they surely are not is wasteful. When the next month came about my mother would ask if I wanted to continue and by then I was back in love with the sport.
https://ffc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/5.png14002280Sydney Meyerhttps://ffc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Best-Gyms-In-Chicago-2025.pngSydney Meyer2021-10-19 09:13:462021-10-19 09:13:46Employee Spotlight: Training With The “A” Team by Corynne Cooper
Corynne Cooper is the General Manager of 111 S. Wacker Fitness Center, managed by FFC. In part one of this three-part series, Corynne shares her family’s history and describes how her parents were early supporters of her love of sports.
As a former gymnast and current fitness professional, I have been asked many times about my professional, personal and athletic background. There is no doubt that my participation in sports growing up has shaped who I am today, but my upbringing has played an equally – if not more – important role in the way I live my life.
Both of my parents grew up beyond poor. Unarguably impoverished, to be honest. They grew up in South Carolina during a time when they were given used and outdated textbooks in school, had to sit in the back of the bus or give up their seat to a white passenger, had to use a separate unkempt bathroom and water fountain, and they could only use the back alley door to enter businesses. My father, who loves westerns, would go to the movies with his friends, and they would have to use a back entrance and walk up an old creaky stairwell to make their way to the balcony. The entire theater could be empty, but to the balcony they must go, because African Americans were not allowed to touch the premium floor seats.
My father, along with his mother and father and six siblings, grew up in a happy home, but the living situation was minimal. My paternal grandfather was a janitor by day and factory worker by night, and my paternal grandmother was a cook at a social services facility. They had minimal space, furniture and beds and only certain rooms in the house had lights. They could only eat until their stomachs no longer growled — never truly feeling full, fearing they would run out of food. My father witnessed many days when his parents would not eat dinner to make sure their kids were fed.
My mother grew up in what some refer to as “the projects” – meager accommodations, to say the least. Her mother was a nurse’s aid and also ironed clothes for a white family who owned a farm in Charleston. My mother would make her own clothes and spent most of her days studying, knowing she had no intention of staying in her current situation. She was a straight A student, very inquisitive and very smart, but she most certainly could not afford to go to college. It wasn’t until her Pastor learned she would not be going to college that her life changed. My mother worked at the local church and the Pastor, knowing how smart my mother was and what she had to offer the world, said her mind was too great to waste. He offered to pay for her first year of college.
This was their life. When many around them were settling or struggling to get out of a life of poverty and oppression, they both always knew they wanted so much more. My parents are both first generation high school and college graduates. Neither of their parents (or siblings, except for one brother) even finished high school. My parents met in college, married after graduation (and have now been married for 53 years), rented a small bedroom in someone else’s home and took on teaching jobs in chemistry (father) and biology (mother).
My parents had a total of three children, although I am the only surviving child today. After serving in the Army, my father worked at an industrial gases firm (which is what brought them to Illinois) and became their top salesman. My mother stayed home with us while earning her Master’s degree. Once we were older and in school full-time, she went back to teaching. Both of my parents worked their way through their respective professions and both spent many years working in extremely high-level positions within their organizations. My father retired as a Partner and CFO of his firm and my mother retired as a Chairwoman and Senior District Administrator within the school system.
They provided an amazing life for their children. Every single one of our needs were met, and we had the majority of our wants. I have no clue how they did it, but they did. They moved us to safe neighborhoods without hesitation so we could ride our bikes and play basketball outside without worry. They sent us to amazing schools and stressed the importance of education. They took us on vacations so we had a sense of the different cultures and lifestyles in the world. They took us to church but also taught us about all religions so we were aware, unbiased and could decide on our own how/if we wanted to incorporate religion into our lives. We took music lessons and were taught multicultural appreciation in hearing music from different time periods and cultures.
While enforcing education (yes, “enforcing,” my mother was quite serious about our education), my mother always talked to us about being well-rounded, so she also enrolled us in just about every sport known to man – soccer, baseball/softball, swimming, diving, basketball, volleyball, golf, running, football, tennis, and gymnastics just to name a few! This kept us busy. We had zero time to spend loitering at the mall or skating rink. We also had zero time for relationships with the opposite sex. She wanted us to get good grades and pursue Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees, but she also gave us an outlet to exert energy and challenge ourselves physically, not only mentally!
Sports became a massive part of our lives – not only for my brother and me but for my parents as well. Parents, I’m sure you understand – when your child is on a traveling baseball team, for example, it’s a family affair. We had some sporting or music event/practice after school just about every single day and on weekends. By day, my parents were executives and by late afternoon, they became logistically choreographed chauffeurs driving us from practice to practice.
From the time I was 2 to the time I was 21, while running a household and excelling in demanding jobs, my parents did not miss one sporting event or recital. Not one! They were always in attendance no matter where our activities took us, and they were always energetically engaged. My parents were the ones who gave rides home to those whose parents could not attend or waited in the parking lot until the child’s parents arrived. They hosted pre and post game festivities and volunteered for fundraising events whenever possible. Yes, they were “those parents.”
https://ffc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/4.png14002280Sydney Meyerhttps://ffc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Best-Gyms-In-Chicago-2025.pngSydney Meyer2021-10-12 16:42:422021-10-12 16:42:42Employee Spotlight: How My Upbringing Shaped Me by Corynne Cooper
When I sat down to write a blog post about fitness, I had such a long list of topics. I could write about the physical, mental or mechanical aspects of exercise. I could write about all of the different categories of exercise: cardio, strength, therapeutic, mind/body, the list goes on. But the topic I kept coming back to was: What does the idea of fitness mean to me? What role has it played in my life and how have I come to be where I am today?
When I was younger, “fitness” itself did not have a particular meaning, nor did it have the importance in society as I believe it does now. When people talked about fitness, they were likely talking about going on a run or adhering to a strict diet. This isn’t to say people weren’t active; there just wasn’t really a title around it.
I grew up as a dancer. I danced almost every day, and I loved it, it was my passion, my dharma if you will. All I wanted to be when I grew up was a dancer, and that had nothing to do with being fit (or even being healthy for that matter). I just wanted to dance. I was quite young when one of my first dance teachers made a comment to me about holding my belly in. In hindsight, I now know exactly what she meant: navel to spine, gentle lift, use your core – all words I use today when teaching group fitness. But at the time – perhaps it was how she said it – what I heard was, “You have a fat stomach.” This was the beginning of my relationship with my sense of self: my self-awareness, self-perception, self-esteem.
I went on to dance throughout college, but my love for dance eventually turned into a mental challenge of how to look better, how to be better, how to be perfect in a world where perfect didn’t exist. It was a futile exercise, a hamster on a wheel. I was never going to look good enough or be good enough. After suffering from a chronic back injury and depression over my parents divorce, I felt overall emotionally and physically drained, and I left the dance world. It was a sad and challenging time for me as I watched what I used to love transform into something that gave me anxiety, self-esteem issues and potentially body dysmorphic disorder (preoccupation with an imagined defect in appearance).
With my dancing days behind me, I decided to continue with a side hustle I developed as a teenager. When I was 16, I got a job at Women’s Workout World. I went through a fairly vigorous training program to become a fitness instructor. This was my first introduction to “fitness” as the concept we know and love today. After leaving the dance world, I continued teaching aerobics classes anywhere I could: at health clubs, through my college, for my friends, etc. It was a relief to be able to do something that I loved without being in front of a mirror and subjecting myself to nitpicking my own appearance and performance (thankfully, instructors often face the students and aren’t themselves looking in the mirror). I had found something that made me feel competent and excited and slowly but surely, my self-esteem started to improve.
After I had my first son, I found a new love and passion in the world of fitness: yoga. For me, yoga was the perfect balance of musicality (breath), movement, and physical, mental and emotional health. Yoga has all of the aspects of dance that once inspired, moved and motivated me, without the mirrors or competition or judgement. Who knew there was such a thing?! I couldn’t get enough of it and decided to become certified to teach yoga.
Those of you who are familiar with yoga may know of the Niyamas (practices that refer to our inner world): Saucha (Purity), Santosha (Contentment), Tapas (Self discipline), Svadhyaya (Self-study) and Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender). Although the Niyamas are only one piece of yoga, it was one that resonated with me and one that I could reflect on, explore and practice daily. It was through yoga and fitness that I found myself and grew to accept myself. I stopped looking in the mirror and finding everything I hated about myself and started noticing things like how physically strong I had become, regardless of my weight or clothing size.
Those who know me have often heard me say, when my body feels good, my mind feels good. Through my fitness journey, from dance to aerobics to yoga, I have learned how to love myself from the inside out. Of course, there are still good days and bad days, and sometimes I find myself criticizing how I look, but those days and feelings are much fewer and farther between. Would I have gotten to where I am today without exercise and yoga? Perhaps, but this is where my journey has taken me. The journey of accepting being Perfectly Imperfect.
Post written by FFC Contributor and Group Fitness Manager Paige Bartley.
https://ffc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/paige-blog.png14002800Sydney Meyerhttps://ffc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Best-Gyms-In-Chicago-2025.pngSydney Meyer2021-04-29 08:00:372021-04-29 08:00:37Perfectly Imperfect: How The Idea Of “Fitness” Has Evolved Throughout My Life
Dry January seems easy enough: no alcohol for the month of January. Coming off of Thanksgiving, followed by all the holiday festivities, one would think the last thing on anyone’s mind is more indulging. With any new year comes the resolutions, the recommitting to eating better, making exercise a priority, sleeping more and drinking less. For me, Dry January represents discipline. Do I still have the ability to say no to something I prefer to say yes to?
I started doing Dry January a few years ago as a way of “checking in” with myself to be sure my choices to drink alcohol were because I wanted to and not because I needed to. In the fitness industry, we talk so much about managing work/life balance and how to make moderation with food and alcohol a real thing in our everyday lives. Am I taking my own advice?
The first week of January was a breeze. I was talking about my self-imposed 31 days “on the wagon” with others who were doing it, too. We would joke about being able to make it through. However, during week two, I was at a Saturday evening dinner with a big group of friends, and on a cold January night, all I wanted was a beautiful glass of wine with my meal followed by a Manhattan with dessert. I held strong, drank sparkling water then a hot tea. I woke up that next morning happy with my decision to not give in.
The guilt and disappointment is enough to keep me on the path, and saying that out loud brought me right back to my first semester of college. It was the first time I had truly been on my own, out of the family home, making decisions on what to eat and when to eat it. Initially the freedom seemed so exciting, then incredibly daunting. I thought, ‘I have no one telling me what to do, this sh*t just got real’!
My short-lived college career was not about going to parties and drinking; I did none of those things. What I did do is hit the gym daily, sometimes twice a day. I started to really lift weights and found a place that felt good. I missed the structure of home life; the feeling of losing control was overwhelming. To bring that sense of ownership and discipline into my everyday life, I began to limit my food intake, lost 5 lbs and enjoyed those around me saying how great I looked. I thought, ‘If I look great after 5 lbs, imagine if I lost 10!’
I did just that. As the weight came off, I felt empowered – and I’m embarrassed to admit this – but I felt a little better than those who could not control themselves. Little did I know, in my attempt to gain control over my young life, I actually lost control in the form of anorexia. As my outer self appeared to look better, my inner self was losing big time. I came through it with a better sense of self, understanding that perfection is a myth and every day is a struggle. Control no longer represented depriving myself. I learned that food is not a reward, and exercise is never a punishment.
Decades later, I still recognize my desire to be in control, but maturity has taught me to do so in a way that nurtures the body, mind and soul. Those dark thoughts of basing my worth as a person solely on how my body looks are still present, and always will be to some extent, but they no longer consume me. Making a career in the fitness industry can be ruthless. We are judged on our looks constantly. It is a very visual business that is only promoted through the rise of social media. My best piece of advice for anyone is to celebrate what your body can do, have faith in your abilities and lead with kindness.
As My Dry January came to a close, there was no full court press or sprint to the finish line. I did not dream of that beautiful glass of wine or my after dinner Manhattan. I am pleased that I finished what I started and grateful for the reminder that the only competitions I need to win are those I enter into with myself. The only voice that matters is my own.
As a career group fitness instructor, I may select the playlist and be the one with the microphone, but those that truly move me are all of you who come to class. We all have stories to tell and sometimes within an ugly truth lies a beautiful lesson. Find inspiration in everything and live with gratitude. Shoulders back, chest out and chin up!
Post written by FFC Contributor and Group Fitness Director Lois Miller
https://ffc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/beer-2280x1400-1.jpg14002280Sydney Meyerhttps://ffc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Best-Gyms-In-Chicago-2025.pngSydney Meyer2020-02-06 08:00:132020-02-06 08:00:13My Dry January: An Ugly Truth and A Beautiful Lesson
How many of you walk
into a Fitness Formula Club to meet with a trainer? One. Three. Five. Okay,
let’s cut to the chase. There are a handful of members who seek out a personal
trainer when they join a Fitness Formula Club. Every member has their own story,
and a specific purpose for being in the gym.
When you are paired up
with an FFC trainer, a consultation is set. This initial consultation is
catered to meet the demands of the client. An assessment is done of their
current physical fitness performance, goals for the future, and steps to take
to reach those goals. FFC trainers are coached to develop a relationship with
their clients. Obvious, right? Who wants to work with a trainer who is not
personable, and helpful? Nobody. A trainer is present to walk the client
through exercises, listen to their pain points, and even lend an ear to
whatever may be going on in their life.
Now think about this:
how often might you ask your trainer questions about their lives? More than the
common “How’s your day going?” or “Where did you go to school?”.
Fitness Formula Clubs
does a great job in showcasing trainers at each location by featuring their photos
with a list of certifications and areas of specialty. To take that one step
further, I decided to run around FFC Park Ridge with new trainer, Mike Meyers, to
learn about his purpose for training.
Beginning with the company as a fitness specialist, Mike recently moved into the position of full-time trainer. Previously, he had been teaching yoga with Core Power, but traded his yoga mat for a spin bike.
I always find getting to
the root of someone’s ‘why’ is important, so I asked all the questions I could
think of to learn more about Mike and his passion for training.
How did you become so
passionate about health & wellness?
Growing up, I
struggled with my weight. I was always known as the “fat” kid, and constantly
made fun of. I knew that this was something I wanted to change. I’ve always
been an active kid, and thought I would one day pursue physical therapy. As I
learned the course of my bachelor’s degree, exercise and operating at a healthy
weight has both physical and health benefits. This instilled in me a passion for pursuing a
healthy lifestyle.
What is most rewarding
in being a personal trainer?
As a personal trainer,
I’ve been able to watch my clients progress in a positive way, and towards a
lifestyle they’re proud of. There is nothing more rewarding than that. I often
hear from others that they think physical activity/working out has to be
torture. That they only step foot in a gym for the physical adaptations. The
fact of the matter is that the changes people experience through working out, go
far beyond that.
My clients experience
new-found energy, increase confidence in themselves and are able to implement a
healthy lifestyle for the future. Spotting these changes in a client is
incredible. When you work so closely with someone, knowing what brought them in
to train, and watching as they grow to accomplish their goals, is unbelievably
rewarding.
Why did you decide to
pursue a career with Fitness Formula Clubs?
I grew up in Niles, IL and remember passing by as the club was
being built. After obtaining my personal training certification through
W.I.T.S, an internship was offered to transition graduates into the personal
training environment. FFC was one of the locations on the list and I knew right
away I wanted to be there. I got in contact with Senior Director of Fitness Jon
Baraglia, and he connected me to fitness director Sarah Ashenden. Once I toured
the club and caught up with other personal trainers, I knew this was the place
for me. I fit in here.
Two days into my internship I became a fitness specialist. This
gave me the opportunity to absorb knowledge by having conversations with many
FFC Park Ridge trainers. I worked hard, did my best to learn as much as I
could, and in doing so I transitioned into full-time personal training a few
months later. I couldn’t be happier with my decision.
What are you currently
in school for? Why?
I’m in school working toward obtaining my master’s degree in healthcare
administration. After graduating from the University of Missouri with my bachelors
in health sciences and a minor in psychology, I was dead-set on physical therapy.
I pursued that career path by working for an Athletico clinic. My goal was to
gain experience, but after the second round of applications, and not being
accepted, I knew I had to start looking elsewhere. I had a gut feeling and
passion to remain in healthcare, but I wasn’t sure what opportunities were
available to me.
Interestingly enough (haha), I found healthcare administration
with Governors State University, which is MHA-accredited. The only reason I’m
with FFC is because I obtained my personal training certification through
Governors State University. I took the opportunity, not knowing where it would
lead. Everything happens for a reason. If you haven’t realized it by now, life
isn’t a straight path. Not everything you plan is going to happen. If the plan
I had set for myself a few years back panned out exactly how I thought, I
wouldn’t be here today, speaking with you. I wouldn’t have made all these
amazing connections with individuals at FFC. I’ve learned so much over a short
time frame, and I’m very thankful for the opportunity that was presented to
me.
What is your preferred
way to train? For yourself and with clients?
I train my clients very similarly to how I train in my everyday
routine. Before Fitness Formula Clubs, I was the classic HITT isolation guy who
ran 6 miles (as fast as I could). I didn’t allow myself to cross train or
stretch, and instead I’d use isolation lifts after running. I don’t suggest
following my old ways. I looked good, but my body didn’t feel good. At 22, I
threw my back out. I knew my body craved something different, by starting at
FFC, I was able to learn the importance (and the effectiveness) of functional
training and waving heart rates.
Functional training is placing focus on mobility, stability,
muscular strength, and finally explosion. It not only shows more effective
results, but improves everyday functioning. Learning correct movement patterns,
mobility needed for those patterns, stability to be in those patterns, and then
the strength to move properly within the patterns, helps prevent injury, and
increase the quality of life.
Be a genuine
individual. It goes along way. Many times, those coming into FFC for the first
time are nervous, and insecure about what they know. By relating to them on a
personal level, learning who they are, what they like, and what challenges they’re
experiencing is beneficial to the client-personal trainer relationship.
I explain to them that
it’s my job is to get them to their goals in the most productive and effective
way. I find it helpful to explain my story as well, by sharing my view on training
a client is often more receptive and willing to open up sooner. My client
relationships are the foundation of each session. It’s important to
communicate, trust, and challenge each other.
Do you have a
quote/mantra that inspires you?
“If you want change, you must create it.”
“And I have no control over which yesterdays I keep and which ones get deleted. This disease will not be bargained with. I can’t offer it the names of the US presidents in exchange for the names of my children. I can’t give it the names of state capitals and keep the memories of my husband. …My yesterdays are disappearing, and my tomorrows are uncertain, so what do I live for? I live for each day. I live in the moment. Some tomorrow soon, I’ll forget that I stood before you and gave this speech. But just because I’ll forget it some tomorrow doesn’t mean that I didn’t live every second of it today. I will forget today, but that doesn’t mean that today doesn’t matter.” ― Lisa Genova, Still Alice
Conclusion
If working with an FFC
trainer, I suggest you do the same – ask the questions. Get to know who you’re
training with. Every trainer has their own story, just as you and I do.
Post written by FFC Park Ridge Kids’ Club Supervisor Carolyn Perry; photos provided by Carolyn Perry.
https://ffc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Behind-The-Scenes-With-A-Trainer-Mike-Meyers-FFC-Park-Ridge-Fitness-Chicago.jpg7001140Sydney Meyerhttps://ffc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Best-Gyms-In-Chicago-2025.pngSydney Meyer2019-08-21 12:19:322019-08-21 12:19:32Get to Know Your Trainer: An Interview with FFC Park Ridge’s Mike Meyers
FFC group fitness instructor Steve Parkin has a pretty incredible story – and relationship with fitness and wellness. Check out this account below!
I was born and raised in Jamaica. As a boy, I took up running at the age of 10 and was soon scouted by primary schools to be a part of their track team. This began the journey for drive and discipline which later led to the realization as a teenager that fitness was a passion and path I wanted to take.
As a teenager, I became a regular at the local gym, where I studied martial arts and took up bodybuilding. I realized that being a part of the fitness world not only kept me in shape, but saved me from the alternative, which was being on the streets and exposed to a life of crime and violence. Not having the luxury of the caliber gyms we have here in Chicago, or being able to afford the memberships, I made my own weights out of car parts.
Impacting Others Through Fitness & Wellness
I became a fitness instructor and began sharing my passion for fitness with others. This work and commitment to achieving the highest level of personal fitness paid off when I was hired as a fitness coordinator at a premiere Jamaican resort, and asked to create a fitness program for guests. I developed a program for guests of all fitness levels at Sandals Beaches Resort, which included land and water aerobics and personal training services.
Through this work on the resort fitness program and my own personal fitness regimen, I realized that fitness and a healthy lifestyle had changed my life.
My life goal became helping others transform their lives through fitness. Upon entering the United States, ironically one of my first interviews for group fitness was at Crunch Fitness with Lois Miller. I didn’t get that job based on my broken English with no permanent residence status at that time, however, I DID get an opportunity at FFC and it brought my relationship with Lois full circle – who I enjoy working with today. FFC gave me a chance and 19 years later, I am still going strong.
Fitness is a Lifestyle, Not a Hobby
Today, I love sharing my enthusiasm for fitness with others as a group fitness instructor exclusively at FFC locations around Chicago including West Loop, Union Station, Gold Coast and Old Town.
I am certified in a number of different fitness associations, including the International Fitness Association, Aquatic Exercise Association, and Jamaica Aerobics & Fitness Association. I also currently have a certification with A.F.A.A for personal training and serve as a personal trainer to a large and varied clientele, ranging from individuals who are just beginning to incorporate exercise into their daily lives to marathon runners and other seasoned athletes who need cross training designed to enhance performance. Through my passion, motivation, and creativity, I have developed a large base of clients. On a personal level, I continue to adhere to my strict personal workout regimen, and now trains my young daughters ages 10 &13 to continue the legacy for fitness and good health.
https://ffc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Employee-Stories-Steve-Parkin-Formula-FFC-Chicago.jpg7001140Sydney Meyerhttps://ffc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Best-Gyms-In-Chicago-2025.pngSydney Meyer2019-08-07 11:07:092025-07-29 12:04:55Developing a Passion for Fitness & The Passport for Success It Became
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