Living Healthy Chicago

When Do You Prefer to Workout?

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:19:00 -0600

When I worked in the magazine industry, I didn't have to be in the office until 10:30 a.m. Instead of sleeping in, I took advantage of the late start time and went to the gym before work. At first, it was a struggle to get up at 6 a.m., change into workout clothes and head out the door on an empty stomach. But once my body got used to it, I started to revel in the fact that I was accomplishing something positive so early in the morning. Plus, I felt strong, healthy and detoxified all day long and was less likely to snack on unhealthy foods throughout the day.

Drink to Your (Mental) Health

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:14:54 -0600

Who says alcohol's bad for you? A new study says moderate drinking may prevent seniors from developing dementia. Overdo it and you'll pay for the consequences.

Bananas Do a Body Good

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:48:07 -0600

Bananas make for a sweet treat. They not only taste good, but they also help keep you healthy in some unexpected ways. Here's why you should add a banana to your diet every day.

Natural Sugar High: Got a sweettooth? Bite into a banana. The fruit is packed with sucrose, fructose and glucose

Mood Booster: Bananas contain tryptophan, a protein that naturally converts into serotonin

Sleepless from Seattle

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:39:57 -0600

Sometimes we forget just how much the body can do without sleep. Last week, I had one heck of a travel schedule. I woke up last Wed at 5:00am to catch an 8am flight to Seattle. I flew 4 and a half hours to Seattle to do an interview with an expert in Sustainability and Energy for a Webinar I was moderating.

Lou's Diet Diary: I Just Can't Stop

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:50:46 -0600

Monday night, I was invited to the 20 year anniversary at Gibson's restaurant. I knew I was going to eat like it was "the last meal," so I ran 3 miles before I got to the restaurant and it still didn't help. I really tried to be good as one can at a steakhouse like Gibson's!

I started with a glass of Pinot Grigio (not bad), then a dinner salad with vinagrette dressing instead of something creamy (still good). Ok, this is where I started to get bad but if you've ever been to Gibson's, the best steak on the menu and the best steak in the city is the W.R. Chicago Cut.

Do You Want to be on TV?

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:06:59 -0600

On Living Healthy Chicago, we love spotlighting our viewers.

In our "Get Inspired" segments, we like sharing stories about locals who have lost hundreds of pounds the natural way, by moving more and eating less.

Have you or someone you know lost serious weight? Let us know about your transformation and if you're lucky, your story might appear on Living Healthy Chicago!

Yogathon 2009 Comes to Chicago

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:03:05 -0600

The International Association for Human Values (IAHV) will be hosting Yogathan, Chicago's largest yoga event Sunday, July 5 at the Hilton Chicago. Whether you're a novice or pro, this event aims to help you relax, find inner peace and practice your favorite yoga moves.

Dr. Garg's New Clinic

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:00:43 -0600

If you've been watching Living Healthy Chicago, you're probably familiar with Dr. Narendra Garg. Dr. Garg treats varicose and spider veins at the Cosmetic Dermatology Clinic using a non-invasive laser technology.

Are you Chicago's "Ultimate Athlete"?

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:36:11 -0600

Calling all male athletes! Men's Fitness magazine will be hosting their second annual Chicago's "Ultimate Athlete" competition at North Beach this Saturday, June 20.

I Hate Getting Old!

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:10:55 -0600

I recently went to Las Vegas and "felt my age" afterwards. I'm now 45 years old and find it more and more difficult to bounce back after a weekend of "good times." I arrived in Sin City on Thursday morning at 10am. The night before, I slept only 4 hours in my bed in Chicago because of the early flight.

Anti-Gravity Yoga

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:06:28 -0600

Lots of viewers have been asking about Lou's Anti-Gravity segment. If you want to give this fun and innovative exercise a try, you can learn more at Crunch Fitness gyms around town. Click here to learn more.

Tips for Reducing Back Pain

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:30:26 -0600

I've been running more recently now that the weather is good. Unfortunately, the running has led to severe back pain! Recently, I was at the Illinois Back Institute shooting Living Healthy Chicago with Dr. Jeff. He noticed my pain every time I bent down to pick something up. I told him that running two straight days had made it difficult to STAND, let alone walk or run. Dr. Jeff gave me a couple of tips that I now use in my everyday life.

Mind Races When on Energy Drinks

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:20:09 -0600

Have any of you taken the new "5 hour energy drink?" Well, I have and here's a warning: it lasts longer than 5 hours!!!

Every time I do a game on ESPN, I jug 1 or 2 cans of Red Bull a half hour before I call a game. I want to be full of energy, on the roof of the stadium, full of excitement for the call. It works and leaves me satisfied with my call, but it also costs me a night's worth of sleep. It usually takes me a full day to get rid of the Red Bull in my system which means a sleepless night.

How Fit is Chicago?

Fri, 29 May 2009 14:56:12 -0600

A new report was released this week outlining America's fittest cities. Washington D.C. came in first. How do you think Chicago ranked?

Tips for Avoiding Boredom at the Gym

Wed, 27 May 2009 13:42:58 -0600

Getting motivated to go the gym is the first battle, but once you're there you need motivation to help make sure you stay! Here are some of my tricks for staying occupied at the gym. What are yours?

1. Make a killer mix: iPods and MP3 players make it so easy to create playlists for the gym. I have ten to twelve playlists that I rotate on a daily basis so I never get bored. My mixes contain everything from rap songs and dance tracks to slow rock songs. I add up-tempo beats for my tough cardio workouts and slow songs for my stretch routine.