PopSugar Chicago

Eater's Regret: Your Fitness Pick For Burning Off Tom Turkey

Rebecca Taras — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:45:00 CST

Even before poking down the last forkful of sweet potatoes and stuffing, you were probably already thinking about the caloric expenditure you'd have to endure afterward. According to our most recent poll, you chose Shred415 (2156 N. Clybourn Ave., 773-360-8228) as your place to repent. The interval-style workout from Hollywood burns cals faster than your traditional sweat session. The Shred415 workout involves alternating cardio on Woodway treadmills (opt to walk, jog, or run) with weight training throughout the course of 60 minutes. While each class is a full-body workout, there are certain classes that focus more on those trouble spots we fret over: legs, tummy, arms, and back - pretty much anything that would affect the way you look in that little black dress, or bathing suit come Summer!

Drop-in classes are $24 each, but the more you sweat, the more you save! Discounted packages range from three to 20 classes, or there's an unlimited monthly option for $175-$205. Refer three peeps and you'll receive $24 toward your next class.

Monday Detox: Go Cycle Spin - Still Fab After Just 1 Year!

Rebecca Taras — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:45:00 CST

Why wait around for a chronological milestone (10, 20, 30 years . . . ) to celebrate an anniversary. Go Cycle Studio (501 W. North Ave., 312-878-4999) just celebrated its one-year anniversary (cocktails included), but that doesn't mean you still shouldn't honor thy cycle studio! Here are five reasons why you should start spinning your wheels!

The owner: Emmy Rigali has been a spinning instructor to local bigwigs and celebs at East Bank Club for the past 20 years. This gal is known for her calorie-torching techniques.
The space: Unlike some gyms that have a sterile environment, Go Cycle is a cozy studio boasting dimmed chandeliers and 20 state-of-the-art Keiser M3 bikes - nice ride!
The burn: Worried about how you're going to keep off those extra holiday pounds but don't think you have the time to exercise? Go Cycle's spin classes cut right to the chase. An average spin class burns 500-plus calories – that's more than a couple of cocktails!
The options: Go Cycle offers more than just cycling. Try the combination classes like Go Pump (40 minutes of cycling followed by 30 minutes of weights), Go Yo (40 minutes of cycling followed by 30 minutes of yoga), and Go2, a 45-minute cycling class followed by 15 minutes of abs and core work.
The coaching: New to cycling? No problem! Each class starts with an informative lesson for the newbies (you'll be a pro in no time!) and your first class is only seven bucks.

Monday Detox: 5 Reasons to Check Out the New Fitness Formula Club in the West Loop

Rebecca Taras — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:00:00 CDT

The chilly temps are already upon us, yet your workouts need not fade away with the Summer sun just because you have to move things indoors. To the rescue: the brand-new Fitness Formula Club (10 S. Clinton St., 312-902-2040) in the West Loop, the ninth FFC in the Chicago area. As with the newest addition to any family, it's easy to see why this newcomer is getting a lot of attention. Here's the scoop:

No Excuses: This sucker is positioned directly across from the Ogilvie-Northwestern transportation center, meaning the thousands of you who commute to and from the city each day have immediate access to the facilities making it easier to bypass the food court. Those who are city-bound can take advantage of free parking for two hours (the third hour is only $5.25.) Another perk? It's open 24 hours Monday through Friday.
Space: 52,000-square-feet of space means you won't be fighting for equipment. Because the work day was rough enough.
Equipment: State of the art cardio and strength training equipment from industry leaders like LifeFitness, Precor, Hammer Strength, and Free Motion. And to catch up on that fab reality television (we won't tell), there are personal viewing screens on the cardio equipment. There's also a six-lane, 75-foot lap indoor pool.
Classes: Truly something for everyone, you'll find everything from ballet sculpt, yoga, spinning, step, strength training. . . . I can tell you from personal experience that instructors Lois Miller and Antonio Coke had me sore for days after their challenging yet fun class style. No sense in wasting any of your precious time, right?
Spa: While you'll have to wait until next year for the outdoor sun deck, retreat indoors for a relaxing massage or Decleor facial within the cozy (think warm woods, fireplace) spa environs. I was impressed to see that the spa offers peels too! Unlike many other clubs that offer a lackluster selection of salads nutrition bars, FFC West Loop is home to the fourth location of Protein Bar, the popular health conscious eatery serving up a bevy of tasty (and satisfying) smoothies, sammies, salads, and wraps. Hungry for more? Check out the lowdown on the Protein Bar menu.

Source: FFC