Start your holiday shopping season off right at the FFC Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, December 7 from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Come experience local vendors selling a full spectrum of arts, crafts, pottery, specialty foods, baked items, photography, floral designs, jewelry, candles, holiday decor, home decor, handmade crafts, books, and more! Admission is free to attend and guests are welcome. Enjoy raffles, prizes, snacks and more!
Join us for some winter fun at Winter Break Camp. The dates are as follows:
The camp is available for children ages 5-10 years old. There will be swimming, crafts/STEM, gym games, and much more. You can register for as many or as few days as you want. Register by Friday, December 6 for all 6 days to receive an early bird rate.
Stop by the Kids Club to register or for more info contact Dawn Brunner at dbrunner@ffc.com.
Bring your little ones, ages 18 months to 8 years, to the Sports Court for this fun family event and celebrate the New Year with us! This event will take place on Saturday, December 28 from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM. There will be New Year’s-themed games, crafts, a bounce house, photo opps and a balloon drop at NOON! Pre-register by December 21 to get a holiday discount of $5 per child of a member, and $8 per child of a non-member. The day of the event cost is $8 per child of a member, and $10 per child of a non-member. On the day of the event, check in at the front desk to pay and receive a wristband to get an included goodie bag. This is NOT a drop-off event. A parent must be present with children.
For questions, contact Dawn Brunner at dbrunner@ffc.com
Join us on Wednesday, December 4 for a cozy day of treats at FFC South Loop! Enjoy delicious Stan’s Donuts from 7:00 – 10:00 AM, and sip on hot cocoa all day long. Bring your favorite mug, snap a photo, and post it on our Facebook page to enter the coolest mug contest. Members can vote, and the winner will receive a complimentary Recovery Lounge session! Warm up, enjoy some sweet treats, and show off your most creative mug!
Contact Steph Hake at shake@ffc.com with any questions.
Get ready to sweat in style at FFC South Loop’s Ugly Sweater Workout Day! Join us all day on Wednesday, December 18 for a festive and fun-filled workout where everyone is invited to wear their most outrageous holiday sweaters. Whether you’re hitting the weights, cycling, or stretching in yoga, this is your chance to combine fitness and holiday cheer. Let’s make this holiday season merry, bright, and a little bit sweaty!
Celebrate the season with us! We’re hosting an all-day Holiday Cookie Exchange on Monday, December 9 & Saturday, December 14. Bring your favorite homemade cookies to share and swap with others throughout the day! It’s a fun way to spread holiday cheer, discover new treats, and meet fellow members. Simply drop off your cookies at the table in the lobby, and feel free to take some delicious new ones home! We can’t wait to see (and taste!) what everyone brings.
Questions? Contact Steph Hake at shake@ffc.com with any questions.
Calling all Members and Non-Members! Sign up a team (max of 5 people) to participate in our basketball tournament! Prizes will be awarded for the top 3 teams. Deadline to sign up is 12/5.
Member Team Price: $50 | Non-Member Team Price: $75
Stay tuned for more details! Contact jhancock@ffc.com with any questions.
Have a question about health, fitness, or exercise, that you can’t find an answer to? Join us on Wednesday, December 4 for a question-and-answer format Fitness Roundtable with experts in the field. Hear multiple perspectives on your questions, and meet other like-minded individuals at FFC. RSVP here.
Did you know that protein intake after a resistance training workout stimulates muscle growth for up to three hours? Make sure you are making the most of your gains by grabbing a protein smoothie at Local‘84! Add a health boost to supercharge your post-workout nutritional recovery.
There is nothing easy about training for a marathon; it requires dedication, discipline, and strategy. For Channing (Silky) Harris, a fitness enthusiast and weightlifter, Pilates at FFC turned out to be the unexpected key to completing the Chicago Marathon. Keep reading to learn how Silky’s journey with Pilates and running helped him cross the Chicago Marathon finish line.
Two years ago, Silky’s wife, FFC Pilates Instructor Raven Harris, encouraged Silky to try Pilates. Initially, he was skeptical. “I was so used to hitting the weights hard that Pilates didn’t seem challenging enough,” Silky admits. However, one class was enough to transform his perspective. “I instantly felt the full body engagement, and the endorphins would help me go right into my workout afterward,” he says.
After that first class, Pilates became a consistent part of Silky’s workout routine. Silky developed a custom training schedule: a biweekly private Pilates session, a weekly small Pilates apparatus class, and a weekly Pilates mat class.
Silky noticed the physical impacts of Pilates immediately. He attributes losing over 40 pounds while maintaining core strength and muscle definition to his regular Pilates practice. In addition to the visible transformation, the internal benefits were equally impactful. “The breathwork and calmness that Pilates introduced transitioned well into my deadlifts, bench press, and runs,” Silky explains.
Silky was inspired to run the Chicago Marathon after experiencing the event’s energy firsthand at Peace Runner’s cheer station, watching his friends run the race. He made the decision to run the full 26.2 miles the following year, determined to be a part of the atmosphere.
Training for the marathon proved to be a part-time job. The regimented routine included long runs on Sundays, midweek 3-5 mile runs, and casual Saturday jogs. Amongst the physical and mental challenges of marathon training, Pilates became the unexpected key to his success.
The post-run Pilates sessions were challenging, but incredibly beneficial. “Pilates after a long run was absolute torture,” Silky recalls, “but the refreshment my body would feel after pushing through a full session was always worth it.” He credits Pilates with opening his hips, improving his posture, and helping his body recover faster from long runs.
Pilates played a crucial role in protecting Silky’s body from injury throughout his marathon training and on race day. The focus on core stability and flexibility helped Silky safely attack this long-distance run.
On race day, Silky was ready. Any nerves he once had were replaced with excitement when he was once again surrounded by the energy of the Chicago Marathon. “It wasn’t as bad as once feared,” he states. “Chicago and the crowd’s energy really made each mile so much more electric than those quiet practice runs.” The combination of Pilates and endurance training paid off, helping him reach the finish line injury-free.
Silky’s commitment to Pilates remains strong. “I will absolutely be continuing Pilates,” he says. “It keeps my body feeling agile and ready for all the rigorous workouts I throw at it.” While he plans to take a break from long-distance running for now, Pilates will continue to be part of his fitness routine.
Silky’s Chicago Marathon story is a testament to the power of Pilates. Whether you’re training for a marathon or simply looking to enhance your overall fitness, Pilates at FFC can be the tool that keeps you strong, balanced, and ready to tackle your wellness goals.
Ready to stay fit and focused through the holidays? Join the FFC Holiday InBody Challenge and set yourself up for a stronger, healthier season! 🎄
The Holiday InBody Challenge is designed to help you stay accountable, motivated, and progressing towards your fitness goals this holiday season. In addition to checking in to a club 8 times during the challenge dates, you’ll also be required to complete a minimum of 2 InBody Assessments and achieve a positive increase in your InBody Score. An InBody Assessment is a body composition analysis that measures a variety of health metrics beyond just weight, including muscle mass, body fat percentage, basal metabolic rate and more giving you a comprehensive view of your health in just 30 seconds. Each InBody assessment results in an InBody Score which is a numerical value that represents your lean body mass based on your height and weight, compared to healthy averages.
Start Date: December 2, 2024
End Date: January 5, 2025
1. Opt-In – To confirm participation, visit the ‘My Dash’ screen on the FFC+ app and select ‘JOIN NOW’ on the pop up banner that asks if you’d like to participate. Please note, you must opt-in between 12/02-12/08.
2. Visit The Club – Check in to the club a minimum of 8 times during the challenge dates.*
3. Complete Your First InBody Assessment – Visit any FFC location to complete an InBody assessment. When taking the test, please type in your FFC Account Number on the InBody machine (where it says Input ID) followed by your Phone Number to connect your account (see screenshots below). Your InBody score following your first InBody assessment is your starting point for the challenge (please note: you make take the InBody assessment as many time as you’d like throughout the challenge dates. Your InBody score change will be calculated based off your first and last assessments of the month).
4. Stay Motivated – Receive tips, workout suggestions, and nutrition support from FFC experts.
5. Complete Your End-of-Challenge Assessment – Prior to the end of the challenge, complete a final InBody assessment and achieve a positive increase in your InBody score.
6. Track Your Progress – Keep tabs on your progress in the “My Dash” section of the FFC+ app. Once you’ve completed a component of the challenge, the metric will turn Green on the dashboard. If you completed two InBody assessments and did not receive a positive increase in your InBody score, the metric will turn Red, signifying you have not successfully completed this component and will need to retest until you see a positive increase to qualify.
7. Celebrate Your Results! – Once you’ve completed both components of the challenge, a button will appear at the top of the Dashboard that says “Complete Challenge”. Click this to submit your results and get entered into the raffle!
All participants that ‘opt-in’ to the challenge, check in to the club a minimum of 8 times, and successfully complete a minimum of 2 InBody assessments achieving a positive increase in their InBody score will be entered into a raffle to win a pair of lower level tickets to a Chicago Bulls game in January!
– Stay Motivated: Holidays are full of distractions, but this challenge will keep you focused.
– Track Real Progress: Weight is just one metric – InBody shows the whole picture.
– Challenge Yourself with Friends: Build community, cheer each other on, and stay accountable together.
Make this holiday season about health and wellness. Opt-In for the 1st Annual Holiday InBody Challenge between December 2 – January 5 and step into the new year with confidence!
*Must have and use the FFC+ app to participate. The challenge runs from December 2, 2024 – January 5, 2025. Participants must ‘opt-in’ to the challenge via the FFC+ app by December 8, 2024 to confirm participation. Participants that ‘opt-in’ to the challenge must check in to the club a minimum of 8 times during the challenge dates and complete a minimum of 2 InBody assessments and achieve a positive increase in their InBody score to be entered into the raffle. Only 1 club check in per day counts. Other restrictions apply. Raffle will be drawn by January 20, 2025.
Holiday eating begins with Halloween and continues through New Year’s Eve. With so much delicious food and drinks around, how can health be prioritized? As a Registered Dietitian, I am going to share six holiday eating tips to stay balanced, and to remind you to stay positive throughout the season!
If possible, plan healthy meals and snacks for the rest of the week to give yourself the flexibility to indulge during a holiday celebration. Keep your pantry, fridge, and freezer stocked with “go-to” healthy items like canned tuna, pasta sauce, nut butters, whole grain crackers, oats, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. (Check out our FFC nutrition page for more tips on how to stay on track with a healthy lifestyle when you don’t have time to meal prep!)
It is also important to remember that one indulgent meal on a holiday won’t undo all your efforts toward a healthy lifestyle. Try to celebrate the day rather than the season with indulgent foods and beverages. If you do indulge more than you planned, however, just give yourself grace and move forward!
Skipping meals can make it much harder to use portion control during celebrations. You’ll feel your best and be more in control of your food choices on a holiday if you stabilize your blood sugar throughout the day by eating a couple of times before your holiday parties. Earlier in the day, I like to have a meal with lean protein, healthy fats, non-starchy vegetables, and some quality carbohydrates.
For example, on the morning of Thanksgiving, I like to start my day with an egg or egg white omelet for protein, topped with sliced avocado for healthy fats that help keep me full. I add peppers, mushrooms, onions, and spinach for non-starchy vegetables, which not only keep me full but also provide essential vitamins and minerals. I round out the meal with fruit, which gives me a quality carbohydrate boost and great energy. Since I usually don’t eat much fruit during the Thanksgiving meal itself, I try to add one or two cups of fruit into my day for balance.
Exercise to balance your choices, but don’t view it as a form of punishment. Try to focus on exercise as a stress reliever rather than simply a way to burn off that extra piece of pie. A negative mindset around your workout routine can make it difficult to enjoy exercise at all. A regular workout schedule, with at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, is recommended for overall health and well-being. Even if you’re busy, try to fit in a 10-minute walk or some light stretching; anything is better than nothing! The goal is to move your body and find exercises you enjoy. For extra motivation and accountability, consider scheduling a personal training session on or after Thanksgiving to help keep you on track.
There are many ways to make easy, healthy food swaps over the holidays. For example, you can limit the amount of gravy you use, avoid eating the skin on the turkey, or serve your dressing and sauces on the side of the food so you are more in charge of how much you’re having. You can also start your meal by taking small spoonfuls to try the food, and go back for seconds if you decide you’re still hungry. For one of my clients’ Thanksgiving meals, their family is cutting all recipes in half to avoid excessive leftovers following the Thanksgiving meal! With any leftovers you do have, look into tasty, healthy recipes to make with them.
Studies show that not paying attention to what you eat can disrupt your hunger and fullness cues, and you won’t enjoy the meal as much if you’re not fully engaged. It takes about 20-30 minutes after finishing your meal to recognize fullness, so try to pace yourself by putting your fork down between bites and sipping water throughout. For desserts, use the “Three-Bite Rule”: the first three bites are typically the most enjoyable and can help with portion control, making the dessert experience more satisfying.
Remember to honor your hunger by checking in throughout the day, especially before a meal, and asking yourself, “How hungry am I? What do I want to eat?” As you eat, observe your fullness non-judgmentally—did you reach a comfortable satiety, or did you go past it, and by how much? Eating past the point of fullness happens, and that’s okay. Learning to be mindful about your hunger cues is a step in the right direction.
We all overeat from time to time. Just brush yourself off and move forward! Practice positive acceptance: if you overeat, simply acknowledge it and move on. Delicious food can be comforting, and comfort is what we all strive for over the holiday season!
Holidays are meant for spending time with family and friends and for being Thankful for all of the blessings we have. My goal of this article is that you take a couple of these tips that are most important to you and write them down before the special occasion. Keep in mind though, if things didn’t go as planned, don’t be too hard on yourself! Remember no one is perfect, and one day will not ruin all of your efforts for a healthy lifestyle.
Blog by: Alicia Edwards, MS, RDN, LDN
Join us for Parents’ shopping day at FFC Kids Club on Friday, November 29 from 1:00- 4:00 PM! We will have fun games and pizza while the parents enjoy shopping. Pizza, chips and juice boxes included. Event is for 3 months – 12 year old kids. Cost is $35 per child or $45 for two children for FFC members. Non-Members are always welcome for $5 more for each child.
Please register with Marianne mfrianeza@ffc.com by November 26.