Photo of dumbbells on a weight rack
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The Great Weight Debate

Our group fitness schedule at FFC features a wide variety of classes, including yoga, dance, indoor cycling and a number of strength training classes. Depending on the class type, these strength training classes may utilize bodyweight movements…
Man at desk holding his lower back
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Combat Lower Back Pain With These Strengthening and Mobility Moves

If you have noticed aches or pains in your low back at some point over the past few months, you are not alone. This year has been filled with all sorts of changes, from transitioning to working from home to changing how we exercise or…
Woman running on treadmill wearing a mask
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Breathe Easy At The Gym With These Plastic Mask Inserts

FFC Elmhurst General Manager Scott Lewandowski is a 3-time Ironman finisher and 8-time Boston Marathon qualifier. When the statewide mandate for wearing masks while exercising indoors went into effect, Scott decided to try a variety of plastic…
Woman holding dumbbells and performing a lunge at the gym.
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Bring It In: 3 Safe Indoor Workouts To Do At The Gym

We get it. Returning to the gym right now can be intimidating. You might be wondering what it’s like to work out in a mask, how to transition your workout from the outdoors to the club or simply how to start exercising again after some time…
Man and woman walking in fall weather with dalmations.
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Can Walking Really Help You Lose Weight?

Be honest: how many of you were lacing up your sneakers and going on regular walks pre-COVID? I don’t mean your power walk to the train or your half walk, half jog to get to the office on time; I’m talking about a dedicated, intentional…
Girl wearing black dress holding a pumpkin
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Make Your Halloween Movie Night Extra Spooky With These Workouts

Grab your candy, popcorn and blankets, folks, because it's officially spooky movie season! If your family or friend group is anything like mine, you might find yourself watching a certain Halloween movie more than once this October (cough:…
Woman walking on a treadmill
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Goodbye, Chicago Summer: Move Your Exercise Routine Into The Club With These Two Cardio Workouts

Here in Chicago, we joke that the city only has two seasons: winter and construction. And with winters as notoriously brutal as ours, it's no wonder that Chicagoans wait all year for the fleeting 100 days of summer. The city comes alive in…
man running on treadmill
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Runners, Take Note: These 8 Exercises Could Help Prevent An Injury

Whether you run for 15 minutes to relieve stress or you're training for your 100th marathon, you are considered a runner in my books. Unfortunately, runners are quite injury prone because of the redundant nature of the activity, the lack of…
Woman using weight machine at gym
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Mask Required: Which Face Mask Is Best For Your Workout?

Welcome to our "new normal." Nowadays if you want to return to your favorite gym/health club for a workout, wearing a mask is most likely an essential accessory. “That sounds awful!” you say? Well, I am here to tell you it’s actually…
Woman in camel pose doing yoga on mat in home.
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Feeling Stressed? Learn To Cope With Mindful Movement

Incorporate Pilates, yoga or meditation into your wellness routine to reduce stress and anxiety levels. Read more below. Americans are no strangers to stress. In fact, the United States ranked as the world’s fourth most-stressed country…
woman with ipad watching yoga class at home
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Stream On: How I Found Value In Leading Classes Online

On Monday, March 16, I taught my final in-person group fitness class before we closed our clubs due to COVID-19. An otherwise full studio was left to only four students and me. As local government officials put our shelter-in-place order into…
Woman stretching on the floor of her living room with weights and phone nearby.
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How To Find The Perfect Workout For You On FFC On Demand

Having choices is wonderful. Having too many choices, however, can be paralyzing. The fitness industry was quick to adapt to at-home workouts and online classes, and here at FFC, we’ve been offering daily workout classes on our Facebook page…
Pregnanct woman sitting cross legged on rug at home
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Our 6 Favorite At-Home Exercises For Pregnant Women

Looking for safe but effective exercises to perform at home during your pregnancy? NovaCare Rehabilitation physical therapist Emily Grimm is sharing her favorite exercise routine that can be completed without any equipment from the comfort…
Man and woman outside in running gear stretching
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Sore From Your At-Home Workout? Try These Physical Therapist-Approved Stretches

While we are confined to our homes, we may find ourselves resorting to new forms of exercise as we develop a fitness routine outside the gym. Bodyweight workouts, running and yoga all come with their own sets of aches and pains, so we asked…
Man running outside in the sunshine
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Breaking Up Your Daily Fitness

As a technology and fitness professional, I have the pleasure of seeing two different worlds. On one end, I see the rapid rate of my Outlook inbox filling with email requests. On the other, I’m reading body language for proper form and signs…
Person holding a remote and pointing it at a television
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Turn Your Binge Watching Into A Workout With These Fun Challenges

Need a break from watching the news or scrolling through social media? As we adjust to finding our “new normal” during these uncertain times, it’s comforting to know that we can all seek out comedic relief in the same place: Netflix.…
Group of diverse women wearing pink
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Learn How To Lower Your Risk For Breast And Ovarian Cancer With Regular Exercise

FFC has partnered with Bright Pink for 8 years as the official training sponsor for Team Bright Pink. If you are interested in running the Chicago Marathon or a number of other endurance races, consider joining us on Team Bright Pink! As…
Image of FFC members working out together.

5 Common Form Mistakes Experts See In HIIT Classes

Are you performing these HIIT exercises correctly? Watch below to find out. According to American College of Sports Medicine, high intensity interval training has ranked in the top three worldwide fitness trends every year since 2014. In…
Mature active female in sportswear doing side-bends while training by riverside in urban environment on summer morning
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Smart Aging: Three Quick Tests to Assess Your Strength and Flexibility

Are you "actively aging"? Try these three tests to assess your strength and flexibility and to determine a game plan for your mobility as you age.
Image of a woman using a rowing machine with a personal trainer.

Why I Work With a Personal Trainer

Every one of us has different motivations for hitting the gym. Whether we want to be in better shape, improve our health or optimize our strength and speed, there are many ways to go about reaching our goals. Some may choose to work out on their…