Tag Archive for: West Loop

Retro stylized view of Chicago street with subway.

10 Hidden Lunch Spots Near Chicago’s Loop

Work in the Loop and tired of your usual lunch spots? Try one of these 10 hidden gems near The Loop to add some variety to your midday meal!
Mature entrepreneur suffering from neck pain

Q&A with Massage Therapist Tony Ryan

Ah, the mysteries of getting older. While I think the process has a lot of perks, the gradual increase of aches and pains is definitely not one of them. Luckily, the growing trend of self-care has proven to be a great motivator in paying more…
Add this to your skin care routine: reasons to see an esthetician

Add This to Your Skin Care Routine: 5 Reasons to See an Esthetician

Do you have a skin care routine? You should! If you do, does it involve an esthetician? FFC West Loop esthetician Ari explains 5 reasons why.
Man stretching
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Sports Fitness Training: Ballistic Training & Plyometrics to Bridge the Gap Between the Gym & Court

Ever wanted to understand the difference between ballistic training and plyometrics? FFC West Loop master trainer Matt breaks them down.
Member stories: How Mary May overcame a health challenge and got back into fitness

Member Stories: Finding a Routine & Overcoming Health Challenges at FFC

I’ve been a member of FFC for almost 20 years. Living in the Lakeview neighborhood, I frequent the Boystown and East Lakeview locations at least 5-6 times per week, primarily in the morning. In the past few months, I’ve also started working…
Registered dietitian vs nutritionist - what's the difference and what a registered dietitian can do for you

Registered Dietitian vs Nutritionist: The Difference and What a Registered Dietitian Can Do For You

Feel pain in a tooth? Your first thought might be, “I need to go to the dentist”. Need help with your taxes or finances? You’d probably go see an accountant or financial planner. Car need a tune-up? Take it to the mechanic! All of these…
Food safety temperatures and other basics for preparation to stay healthy!

Food Safety Temperatures & Other Basic Tips For Preparation

According to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), "Each year, 1 in 6 Americans get sick from eating contaminated food." It’s important to know that foodborne illness is the most common during the months of November and December. Many of these…
5 reasons you actually do need a facial

5 Reasons Why You Actually Do Need a Facial

Imagine a soothing massage. Now imagine that, but for your face. Usually thought of as a pampering practice, facials are actually a very important aspect of skincare. Here’s why you need a facial, plus wellness benefits associated with a facial. Jess,…
Becoming Tri-Fit: The Fitness Support Network I Found at FFC

Becoming Tri-Fit: The Fitness Support Network I Found at FFC

Last summer I, a thirty-something British woman, relocated from London to Chicago. I have an extensive background in marathon and ultra-marathon running, but by the time I arrived in Chicago, at the end of June 2017, my fitness was at an all-time…
How to prevent dehydration - keeping up with water intake
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How To Prevent Dehydration: Keeping Up with Water Intake

Water makes up 60% to 65% of our total body weight. When we exercise, we lose water through sweat - this water needs to be replaced. Even a 2% loss of body weight through sweat (i.e. 3 lbs of loss for a 150 lb person) can put you at a disadvantage.…
Man stretching his legs

Yoga For Guys 101: As Told By An Inflexible, Weight-Lifting Dude

Many of us dudes have been there. Peeking through those glass doors, observing the mysticism that is a yoga class as we finish our last set of curls. Yoga for guys? Not a chance. A class full of side bending, head standing, lotus-posing girls…
Image of personal trainer at FFc club

Common Misconceptions About Personal Trainers – There’s More Than Meets the Eye

When you enter the fitness area at the FFC West Loop club, you may get the instant impression that there are a lot of personal trainers. They seem to occupy much of the open space available and at times, can have their clients doing some…
Ways Pilates makes you mentally stronger and why you should try the workout - Pilates Chicago

4 Ways Pilates Makes You Mentally Stronger And Why You Should Try It

If you have heard anything about Pilates, you have probably heard it makes your core stronger, gets you toned and increases your flexibility. Something you may not have heard is that Pilates makes you smarter - as in more intelligent, improved…

Member Stories: An Inside Look Into the Fitness Routine of a Training Olympic Athlete

  In May of 2009 I had received word from my parents that my mom had gone in for a check-up due to recurring headaches, and that the MRI showed a couple of lesions on her brain. After a hard, five-month long fight (during which she maintained…
How FFC Helped Me Win My First Bodybuilding Competition

How FFC Helped Me Win My First Bodybuilding Competition

I first came to the US in 2009. Having grown up in New Zealand, I was not used to the portion sizes of various fast food options in America. Despite my effort to maintain my weight, poor diet and the lack of an exercise routine slowly took a…

Learning From Failure – How Boxing Changed My Life

My name is Charise Horn. Fitness has always been a huge part of my life - especially in the last few years. In January 2013 I decided to change my lifestyle for the better. I was 250 pounds, depressed, my confidence was to the floor, I was trying…
How FFC helped me with my fitness transformation

Member Stories: How FFC Helped Me With My Fitness Transformation

My weight has gone up and down for the past 20 years. I would lose weight and be somewhat fit, but over time, I would gain it all back (and then some). I must have repeated this cycle three times over the past 15 years. I knew it was time for…
How FFC helped me make a doctor-recommended lifestyle change

How FFC Helped Me Make a Doctor-Recommended Lifestyle Change

On June 6, 2016, I joined the FFC West Loop gym. At that time, I was very bulky and I had no motivation to work out or go to the gym daily. I needed a lifestyle change. When I began my membership, I was provided a trainer from the FFC front…
10 best types of pushups and how to master them FFC fitness tips

10 Best Types of Push-Ups and How to Master Them

The push-up is commonly associated with military conditioning, gym class, and some martial arts. For many, they can feel like an impossible or even gruesome exercise. If you feel similarly, we hope you will feel empowered to incorporate this…
Try this now: tips on foam rolling for fitness recovery

You Have to Try This Now: Foam Rolling

Perhaps you've seen some members at the gym rolling around on long black cylinders and wondered what they were doing. Or you have been foam rolling for a while now and wonder if you are doing it right or what the science is behind it all. I’m…