Category Archives: Fitness

  Benefits, Community, Fitness, FREE, HIV, News and Happenings, Wellness

Aids Run Walk Chicago 2020

This month, the AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) is inviting Chicagoans to move “Forward Together” for the 19th annual AIDS Run & Walk. For the first time, the weeklong event – kicking off on Monday, Sept. 28th

CHOOSE YOUR WALK!

This year will feature 5K and 10K routes throughout various Chicago neighborhoods including Hyde Park, Uptown, the Loop and more to promote safety and minimize crowds. The AIDS Run & Walk will conclude at Soldier Field on Oct. 3 and raise vital funds and awareness for AFC, in addition to more than 20 community partner organizations that provide programs and services for those living with or vulnerable to HIV, AIDS and other chronical illness.

GRAB A FRIEND AND REGISTER NOW

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  Apparel, Deals, Fitness, Health, News and Happenings, Retail and Services, Wellness

Hästens Handmade Mattresses from Sweden now at Bloomingdales Chicago

Bloomingdales Now Proudly Representing Hästens Handmade Mattresses from Sweden

 

Hästens has a rich history running back through six generations and the journey to where they are now is one filled with passion, skill and the pursuit of making the best handcrafted beds in the world. The bond that ties all of Hästens together is their Spirit of Excellence, a way of working and thinking that brings you the best sleep you’ll ever have.

Hästens was born in Sweden in 1852 and from the day they made their first bed, natural materials have always played a fundamental role. In 1852 cotton, horsetail hair, wool and flax were superior to other materials and, surprisingly, even today… that remains the case. And, then as it is now, the best way to craft using these materials is by hand. This tradition of hand craftsmanship gives their bed makers a deeply rooted understanding and mastery of both their art, and the natural materials that are so crucial to its consolidation.

The Beds: 2000T – HERLEWING – EALA – MARANGA

Bloomingdales is so proud to now be representing Hästens in our Mattress Gallery located in our Medinah Home Store at 600 North Wabash Avenue. Please feel free to come in and feel for yourself what all the buzz is about! My name is Derrick Sorles, a Furniture and Mattress Specialist at Bloomingdales, please reach out and make an appointment and I am happy to showcase how Hästens Sleep Systems can change your life!

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  Benefits, Community, Fitness, HIV, News and Happenings, Non-Profits, Outdoors, Recommended, Wellness

AIDS Run Walk Chicago Sept 23rd

2018 AIDS Run & Walk Chicago Encourages Community to “Live True. Be You.”

On Sunday, Sept. 23, HIV advocates from across Chicago will live true at the 2018 AIDS Run & Walk Chicago. Held at Soldier Field, the 17th annual event will raise awareness and funds for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) and 34 CommunityDirect partners, with proceeds benefiting programs and services improving the lives of Chicagoans living with and vulnerable to HIV.

Approximately, 2,500 participants gathered last year to participate in one of the city’s most vibrant annual runs and walks. This year’s event will mobilize the community under the theme “Live true. Be you.”

“When individuals live authentically and are encouraged to share their truth and stories, it fosters a sense of community, understanding and acceptance,” explains Dustin Erikstrup, AFC’s Senior Manager of Special Events. “In this unpredictable political climate, it is important to live openly, unapologetically and free from stigma. AIDS Run & Walk Chicago provides that safe place for participants to express themselves freely.”

AFC isn’t the only beneficiary of this event; 34 community organizations serving Chicago’s South, West and North sides, as well as surrounding counties, are beneficiaries of the funds raised at AIDS Run & Walk Chicago as part of the CommunityDirect program. To kick off the race’s fundraising efforts, each participating organization will be entering their own team into the 5K walk or the 5K and 10K runs. Many CommunityDirect partners have been a part of AIDS Run & Walk Chicago for a number of years, which provides many opportunities for organizations to participate.

Recently, AFC, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Chicago Department of Public Health, and other statewide partners launched the planning phase for the Getting to Zero Illinois (GTZ-IL) campaign. The goal of this state-wide joint initiative is to end the HIV epidemic in Illinois by 2030 through partnerships with community-based organizations, health care providers, local government agencies and local members of the Illinois’ HIV community. If Illinois increases current rates of PrEP (a daily prevention pill that is up to 99 percent effective when taken consistently and correctly) and HIV treatment substantially, Illinois can reach fewer than 100 new HIV cases per year. The epidemic will then be unable to sustain itself, reaching, “functional zero.”

Approximately 43,500 Illinoisans are living with HIV, and AIDS Run & Walk Chicago provides the perfect opportunity to raise money to support those in the community and help end the stigma around HIV.

Since its 2001 acquisition by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, the event has netted more than $5 million to battle the epidemic. For more information or to participate, visitaidsrunwalk.org or call 312-334-0946.

The pre-registration deadline is just a few weeks away!

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  Fitness, Guest Author, Health, Recommended, Wellness

Chicago Personal Trainer Fitness Tips

personal trainers chicago right fit for you

Right Fit for You

Chicago Trainer Pat Charette will be a  new fitness contributor to BestGayChicago.com  with tips  to keep you fit!

For Pat Charette, healthy living is a passion and lifestyle. He helps promote and educate this lifestyle through sports nutrition, training, strength and conditioning, flexibility/mobility, and safe/effective supplementation. In college, Pat earned a degree in Sports Medicine which taught him how to train athletes as well as the general public.

He loves the fitness industry and looks at it as prevention, not treatment. Let Pat help you fully optimize your life! 

personal trainer Patrick Charette

THIS WEEK   on YouTube  he talks  about BURNING  BODY  FAT!  

7 Steps to help with Fat Loss!  of course – it takes  will power  too –  be  he  reveals  some tips  that you may not be doing…..  WATCH

 

The Client/Trainer relationship is very intimate. Personal Trainers not only help their clients get into tip-top shape, but many of them become a client’s friend and someone they confide in and trust. If you aren’t comfortable and can’t truly be yourself with your Personal Trainer, chances are you will not reach your full potential.

“Right Fit for You wasn’t solely created because of a fear of running into a close minded Personal Trainer, but because I wanted to provide the LGBT community with an online marketplace of Personal Trainers that the LGBT community can relate to– no questions asked, no insecurities. At the end of the day, Right Fit for You is all about ensuring a comfortable personal training atmosphere for the LGBT community from beginning to end. Every certified Personal Trainer profiled on Right Fit for You will not only will help you get into shape, but will also identify as LGBT or as a straight ally to the community.”  says  founder  Sam  Provenzano

right fit for you chicago personal trainers

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  Alternative, Fitness, Health, News and Happenings, Recommended, Uncategorized, Wellness

Cuddle and Touch for Emotional and Physical Needs

adam lippin cuddle cuddlist

We all want love, acceptance and connection with other people. We’re social beings, and this connection with others is part of our emotional, physical and spiritual DNA.

Touch plays an important role in building these connections, increasing scientific evidence clearly shows a connection that lack of touch can lead to depression, anxiety and a myriad of heath issues, and an inability to connect with others.

Most of us don’t get enough touch in our lives.

We’re touch-deprived, and most of us don’t even know it consciously. All we know is that there’s loneliness and stress and a deep sense of missing out. We feel this because there’s a biochemical yearning for something that is missing in our lives. And there is something missing: touch and the connection with others that it fosters.

“That’s why we started Cuddlist,”  says  Adam Lippin, Co-founder and  CEO  of  CUDDLIST.  “Safe, non-sexual, consensual touch fills a need that’s badly neglected in our society. Cuddling relaxes us and reduces stress at the very least, and on the deeper level it nourishes our soul and helps us get in touch with our higher self. Much like yoga and meditation, non-sexual touch is healing and transformative.”

Cuddlist brings together those who need touch (and that would be just about all of us!) with Certified, professional cuddlers who are experienced, safe, well-versed in cuddling techniques and follow a code of conduct that set the conditions for a great session. There  have been  LOTS  of press on this group  over the last year – check it out  HERE.

 

  THE   CHICAGO  NETWORK  IS  GROWING!

Become a certified CUDDLIST or  FIND a CUDDLIST in Chicago

 

While any two people can cuddle, of course, what sets Cuddlist apart is that we are  creating the marketplace for transformative cuddling, and we bring the professionalism and best practices that make it work; Cuddlist training is overseen by my co-founder, Madelon Guinazzo, and she both has years of experience as a full-time Cuddlist and knowledge of what works in practice.

cuddling-party-event-certified-training

While Cuddlist is something special, and fills an important gap in our world, I also want to share what it means to me personally.

“I’ve been a yoga and meditation practitioner for more than 20 years. Yoga has been an animating principle in my life that has seen me through college, drug addiction, the corporate world in New York, loss and death, and the birth of my son and my relationship with my amazing  spouse. I’m also a touchy-feely “hugger,” and when I go to shake someone’s hand I’m keenly aware how restricted touch is in our society.”

Most would agree that touch is therapeutic, and the rush of oxytocin we produce when we cuddle is great, but in my experience cuddling also can be something deeper.

American Buddhist Jack Kornfield, in his book, After the Ecstasy, the Laundry: How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path, talks about how the simple act of being present can be a deeply spiritual practice. I think cuddling, if non-sexual and approached without expected outcomes in mind, can help us be present and raise our spiritual awareness.

So while I’m a “hugger,” and I immediately see the value that cuddling can play as a corrective in our society, I also think it contains a deeply spiritual component.

Indian civil rights leader Mohandas Gandhi said we must be the change we want to see in the world, and I want to play my part by encouraging non-sexual touch and the emergence of what might be called cuddle yoga.

“Touch is important, and we don’t get enough of it. I want to change that, and that’s why I, along with my Co-Founder, started Cuddlist.  Will you join us?”

 

Are you ready to give yourself the gift of nurturing touch?

Book a therapeutic, non-sexual, cuddle session with a Certified Cuddlist today.

Find out more at CUDDLIST. Learn more;   FIND  a  CUDDLIST  and/or  become a CUDDLIST!

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  Deals, Fitness, FREE, Health, News and Happenings, Recommended, Sports, Wellness

LGBT Friendly Personal Trainers

chicago-gay-personal-trainers-2

The gym I go to is about 10%  gay.

And out of 10 trainers, I know one male trainer is gay.

I know that only because someone who trained with him, told me! Some of the other trainers at my gym might be LGBT friendly….but how does one know?  I don’t want to work with some obnoxious testosterone filled male jock who has a thing against gay people.

If you’re going to invest time, money, and trust in a person to guide you in the right direction, then you need to make the right choice. If you want to find the perfect person to help you, then you’re right to be picky. Choose a trainer who will cater to your personal needs and learning preferences. While some people want to be pushed to their limits by a drill sergeant type, others are going to work better with positive reinforcement and gentle encouragement. Your trainer should fit your personality and motivation style.

Chicago entrepreneur Sam Provenzano launched Right Fit For You (RightFitForYou.com). He says, “I just really felt that there was a need for Right Fit for You. The client/trainer relationship is very intimate. Personal Trainers not only help their clients get into tip-top shape, but many of them become a client’s friend and someone they confide in and trust. If you aren’t comfortable and can’t truly be yourself with your Personal Trainer, chances are you will not reach your full potential.”

 

Right Fit for You, is the premiere LGBT-Friendly Personal Trainer Referral Service!

 

Right Fit for You wasn’t solely created because of a fear of running into a close minded Personal Trainer, but because I wanted to provide the LGBT community with an online marketplace of Personal Trainers that the LGBT community can relate to– no questions asked, no insecurities. At the end of the day, Right Fit for You is all about ensuring a comfortable personal training atmosphere for the LGBT community from beginning to end. Every certified Personal Trainer profiled on Right Fit for You will not only will help you get into shape, but will also identify as LGBT or as a straight ally to the community.

Although our focus is primarily geared toward the LGBT community — anyone is welcome to utilize Right Fit for You as a means to find the right Personal Trainer who will fit all of their needs and budget. So whether you are just starting to work out or looking to gain some muscle or lose a few pounds, Right Fit For You can help!

personal trainers chicago gay lesbian

Step 1: Search through their Personal Trainer database

Search their personal trainer database at no cost! All of the trainers are hand-screened and confirmed to be currently certified. All you have to do is enter your zip code and radius, and browse through the database. You  should read the trainer bio’s and pick the Right Fit For You!

Step 2: Contact Trainer

Send your goals and contact information directly from the site to your desired trainer. If he/she has their contact information listed, give them a call or send them an email to schedule a consultation with your personal trainer and get started on achieving your fitness goals. Tell them you found them through Right Fit for You!

Step 3: Tell your friends about Right Fit for You!

 

It’s  easy  and FREE!    Check it out today!   RIGHT FIT FOR YOU.

*If you are a personal trainer, looking to join Right Fit For You, here is the link with more information.

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  Apparel, Benefits, Boystown, Cabaret, Celebrity, Center on Halsted, Fitness, FREE, News and Happenings, Theater in Chicago

Chicago Center on Halsted Events

gay chicago center on halsted

Something for everyone  at  CENTER  ON HALSTED  in  the upcoming weeks!

Limelight Series presents: An Evening with Pride Films and Plays – August 17th, 2015 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Join us as Center on Halsted’s Limelight Series presents: An Evening with Pride Films and Plays

Chicago’s Pride Films and Plays ‘utilizes stories with GLBT characters or themes and creates powerful theatrics and films that speak for the community and are essential viewing for all audiences.’  Pride Films and Plays, founded in 2010, has already established itself as a leader in the Chicago arts scene.  Come get to know the company that the Huffington Post recently called “a powerful and empowering entity.”

7:00PM-7:30PM

Mix and mingle with PFP & COH staff and the program’s artists

7:30PM-9:00PM

Performances including a sneak peak of Design for Living, a talk from author Rick Kinnebrew about his new play Ten Dollar House, music from James Nedrud, performance artist Katherine Hawbaker-Krohn, one of our favorite short films from the Queer Bits Short Film Fest, songs from The Boy From Oz, PFP’s current smash hit!

You don’t want to miss this evening of arts and entertainment as we get to know one of Chicago’s great theater companies!

For more information on Pride Films and Plays, please visit:

http://pridefilmsandplays.com/

Center on Halsted’s Limelight Series gives you a chance to spend an evening with some of Chicago’s most creative people and organizations.  Each event highlights the Windy City’s vibrant arts scene – from music and dance to literature and theater.  Join us as we take a closer look at the creators and leaders of Chicago’s cultural landscape.

FREE

Register & reserve your seat by clicking the following link:

https://community.centeronhalsted.org/PrideFilms

Say you’re attending on Facebook!

 

 

Salve Regina: A Coming of Gay Story – August 22nd & 23rd, 2015

A solo show, written and performed by Javier Rivera*, remounted specifically for Center on Halsted, following a sold-out run at the United Solo Theatre Festival in NYC

*Winner of 2014 Best Actor Award at United Solo

 

Born in Puerto Rico to an ultra-religious mother and a domineering father is not easy, especially when it’s likely you are a big Queen. There are not enough novenas to pray, or candles to be lit. In this situation only a miracle will do, or better yet… a holy intervention. Thank God for Madonna.

 

Follow the coming of age story of Javier, a young Puerto Rican man, as he triumphs and stumbles in his journey to self-discovery aided by the only person who ever understood him…

 

TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY!

 

Saturday, August 22nd @ 7:30PM

Sunday, August 23rd @ 3:00PM 

$10.00 (Tickets may be purchased online as well as at the door prior to performance – cash only!)

*All profits will go to Center on Halsted, helping to support future events like this one!

 

Click the following link to purchase tickets for Saturday’s performance: https://community.centeronhalsted.org/SalveRegina22

Click the following link to purchase tickets for Sunday’s performance: https://community.centeronhalsted.org/SalveRegina23

Say you’re attending on Facebook!

 

 

 

3rd Annual Feel Good Health Fair – August 29th, 2015 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

 

On Saturday August 29th, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Center on Halsted will host its 3rd Annual Feel Good Health Fair, a community health and resource fair with a focus on healthy living for LGBTQ individuals.

 

The Feel Good Fair will be hosted in the Irving Harris Family Foundation Reception Hall and Hoover-Leppen Theatre at Center on Halsted. This year the fair will feature free fitness classes throughout the day, product giveaways from health-related vendors, and nutritious cooking demonstrations.

 

The primary goal of Center on Halsted’s Feel Good Health Fair is to educate participants about making healthy choices and creating good habits for healthy living in the LGBTQ community. Vendors for the resource fair will focus on physical health, mental and social well-being. Participants are also encouraged to stop by tables to learn more about Center on Halsted’s programs and services.

 

The fitness class schedule for the day is:

10:00AM-10:25AM: Ballroom Dancing with Get on the Floor Dance Company

10:30AM-10:55AM: Yoga with The ATTIC*

11:00AM-11:25AM: Queer Tango with Paola Bordon

11:30AM-11:55AM: Zumba with Andrew Martinez

12:00PM-12:25PM: Ballroom Dancing with Get on the Floor Dance Company

12:30PM-12:55PM: Yoga with The ATTIC*

1:00PM-1:25PM: Queer Tango with Paola Bordon

1:30PM-1:55PM: Zumba with Andrew Martinez

 

*A limited number of yoga mats will be provided – if possible, please supply your own

It is highly suggested that you pre-register for the exercise classes by visiting the link below:

https://community.centeronhalsted.org/FeelGood

 

pandorra box

 

TKO – September 6th, 2015 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Center on Halsted brings you the hottest Labor Day bash!

TKO: greatest t-dance ever.

battle for your pleasure and a Technical Knock Out

jump in! groove to the killer sound of our dueling djs.

Billy Brown vs. Gina Kozar

mc Pandora Boxx officiates

 

sept. 6 2015 T-time: 3 – 6 pm

coh rooftop & indoors

 

$20 entry/one drink, cash bar

feat. our one-two rum punch

community.centeronhalsted.org/TKO 

 

Say you’re attending on Facebook!

 

 

Pride Films & Plays: LezFest – September 11th – 13th, 2015

 

More details to come!  Check back soon!

 

Queer Clothing Swap – September 13th, 2015 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Please join Center on Halsted and GenderQueer Chicago at the 3rd Annual Queer Clothing Swap! Trade in your skirts for a pair of slacks or your loafers for a pair of heels or maybe you’re just looking to update your wardrobe!

This event is free, but we ask that each participant bring at least 3 items of gently worn clothing (or shoes and accessories) to be donated to the swap. In exchange, you’ll have the chance to take home the new items you find! BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag). Please refrain from donating stained clothing, t-shirts and undergarments. While the swap is particularly intended for Trans* and gender-variant folks to have a safe and fun space to exchange clothes, the event is open to all queer-affirming allies!

Say you’re attending on Facebook!

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  Community, Fitness, FREE, Health, HIV, News and Happenings, Non-Profits, Outdoors, Wellness

AIDS RUN WALK Chicago 2015

aids-walk-chicago

AIDS Run & Walk Chicago is AFC’s grassroots fundraising event where people from all walks of life help change the story of HIV in our lifetime.

As beneficiaries of the event, AFC and our CommunityDirect partners are greatly impacted – beyond just the obvious ways.

AIDS Run & Walk Chicago stands up to the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS allowing progress to continue toward ending the epidemic. Run & Walk invigorates the sector by increasing awareness for the cause, growing our passionate community and allowing new leaders to emerge.

In 2014, AIDS Run & Walk Chicago raised over $394,000 net to benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

Over and above that, we granted $240,000 to our CommunityDirect partners. These funds allow us to continue saving and improving the lives of those living with or at risk for HIV.

SIGN UP TODAY!!

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  Doctors, Fitness, News and Happenings, Outside the City, Recommended, Seniors, Transgender, Wellness

Best Hair Replacement Techniques in Chicago

fue-hair-transplant-chicago

Many men and women are very self-conscious about thinning hair and hair loss.

While aging may be the most obvious culprit,  many doctors  suggest  that various factors may be to blame — ranging from a thyroid issue to disease to even  stress.

Dr. Yates Hair Science Group is a premier hair restoration practice located in Vernon Hills, Illinois led by Dr. William Yates. Dr. Yates, MD is the top hair loss doctor and hair replacement surgeon for the Midwest. He is a leader in new technologies and is  passionate about hair restoration.

He specializes in several hair restoration procedures and will work with clients to find the right method for their needs. “We are committed to the best technologies, products, and methods to complete and assist your hair regrowth or hair replacement goals,” says Dr. Yates. (All   of products to assist your hair regrowth goals can be easily shipped to your door).

chicago-natural-hair-restoration

Many people wonder what it is going to cost?

The cost of your hair transplantation depends on the amount of hair being transplanted and is generally considered plastic surgery, therefore is not covered by medical insurance. However, Dr. Yates understands the important investment in your future, life, and self-confidence and offers great financing options, from interest-free financing to longer term options. You can call their office to see if you qualify for a financing option.

I have personally seen some of the results in person – and YES, it looks totally natural!

When hair transplantation is done correctly by a proficient surgeon, the results look so natural that nobody would know you had a procedure. To achieve the best, natural, and attractive results, you need a meticulous surgeon with proven results. Dr. Yates prefers the advanced follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedure that involves harvesting individual follicles for the best results.

chicago-hair-smp-treatments-pigmentation

Dr. Yates is a published writer and international lecturer and teacher. His office offers state-of-art techniques and he is constantly working on ways to improve results. HE IS THE BEST!

 

“As a medical doctor I am trained to not make excuses but get the best results. I want hairloss not to be a burden but something we can conquer together.” – Dr. William D. Yates, MD

 

Board Certifications

    • American Board of Surgery
    • American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery
    • Critical Care/Trauma Surgery

Medical Memberships

      • International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery
      • Fellow, American College of Surgeons
      • American Medical Society

Call their office @ 866.810.6402  and send them a note through their site, to start the conversation on how they can help you!

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  Doctors, Fitness, Health, News and Happenings, Retail and Services, Wellness

Chicago Liposuction and 3D Abdominal Etching

lipo mens chicago best doctor

January usually brings New Years Resolutions and many men turn their attention to their bodies. Some resolutions include losing weight and/or adding muscle and looking and feeling fitter.

(left: Model photo)

With Summer coming, many people wish they could wave a magic wand and have abs! Or at least reduce the abdominal bulge and waistline inches a bit, to give us a slimmer and tighter body.

As we get older, it’s harder and harder to realize our fitness goals and our bodies may not respond to diet and exercise, the same way they did in our 20’s.

There are various techniques of liposuction and/or 3D Abdominal Etching that may be the answer to help you. Liposuction removes fat from your body using suction. In recent years, improved techniques have made liposuction safer, easier, and less painful. Liposuction is usually done as an outpatient procedure in a properly equipped doctor’s office or hospital. In general, it does not require an overnight stay unless a large volume of fat is being removed. Local anesthesia is used in some cases. And you may or may not be given a sedative to help you relax. The main purpose of liposuction is to reshape one or more areas of your body, not to reduce body weight. Liposuction is typically used on “problem” areas that have not responded well to diet and exercise.

High-definition liposuction or abdominal etching is a great way to improve the overall definition of the abdomen. For some individuals, their genetic makeup restricts them from attaining the chiseled abdomen appearance they desire. Abdominal etching, a technique specific type of liposuction, will thin the remaining fat on top of the stomach muscles and accentuate the natural break points in the wall. The resulting contour lines aid in the creation of the appearance of a muscular abdomen or “six pack”.

best plastic surgery men chicagobest plastic surgery men chicago abs

(Actual before and after photos of patient)

Established in 2010, the award winning cosmetic surgery practice of David A Shifrin MD, provides the complete experience by combining excellent surgical results with personalized care. Dr Shifrin has the training, expertise and experience to make your dreams of a healthy appearing, attractive body and abdomen a reality.

A native of Northbrook, Illinois, Dr. David Shifrin is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, respected for his work with cosmetic surgery and breast cancer reconstruction. Dr. Shifrin returned to his home town of Chicago in 2010 after years of training in the Midwest and South. His travels afforded him a learning experience with some of the most respected plastic surgeons. His academic accomplishments, which include multiple peer reviewed journal article publications and national conference presentations, and his love of teaching and mentoring led him to seek out an academic appointment with the University of Illinois at Chicago division of plastic surgery as an assistant clinical professor.

Dr. David Shifrin specializes in cosmetic surgery of the face, breast and body. He is a plastic surgeon who completed a highly sought-after integrated training program in Michigan, followed by two advanced fellowships. The first, at the Medical College of Wisconsin, concentrated on reconstructive microsurgery. The second fellowship focused on Aesthetic surgery under the mentorship of Dr. Joseph Hunstad, a world renowned plastic surgeon in the area of breast and body contouring.

Dr. Shifrin maintains multiple convenient office locations. He focuses his time at Shifrin Plastic Surgery, Downtown Chicago, on improving the aesthetic appearance of his patients through the use of state of the art skin care, botox and fillers and surgery. He prides himself on enhancing his patient’s physical attributes, blending his love of anatomy and science with his surgical expertise to artistically refine the outward beauty of his patients.

Dr. Shifrin is devoted to providing the best possible experience to those he cares for. He has been awarded Top Plastic Surgeon Chicago region 2012 and 2013 by Health Tap, Patient’s Choice Award and Most Compassionate Doctor Award in 2012, 2013 and 2014 by American Registry.

fit mens bodies lipo

(left: Model photo)

In addition to seeing patients at Shifrin Plastic Surgery (680 N. Lake Shore Drive), he currently practices with the Advocate Medical Group at Christ hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Dr. Shifrin looks forward to serving all of his patients with professional and personalized care.

If you like what you have been reading here, request a consultation with Dr Shifrin to learn more about how these procedures can help you achieve your desired appearance. You are encouraged to print your favorite photos and bring them with you during your consultation to help communicate your goals and expectations.

Keep in mind that each patient is unique. Plastic surgery is a blending of art and science and results are thus variable.

David Shifrin MD

CHICAGO: 312.590.3572

OAK LAWN: 708.684.4198

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  Apparel, Doctors, Fitness, Health, Movers and Shakers, News and Happenings, Recommended, Retail and Services, Wellness

Board Certified Hair Restoration Surgeon

best-hair-less-techniquesMinimally Invasive Hair Restoration
With (FUE) Follicular Unit Extraction And Surgical Robotic Technology

 

International lecturer and teacher, Dr. William Yates, M.D., Board Certified Hair Restoration Surgeon, breaks through the old stereotypes of hair loss and hair transplant and brings Chicago’s North Shore the very latest cutting edge technological advancements in the field, offering patients an array of state-of-the-art facial and hair restoration services. He is a world-renowned expert in Follicular Unit Extraction.

He is so passionate and confident the Follicular Unit Extraction technique is superior to traditional methods; he only performs this highly skilled technique for hair transplantation.

Dr. Yates specialized skills make him one of the elite surgeons to educate and train other physicians to perform this specialized technique both locally and internationally.

ARTAS-hair replacement machine

What is FUE?

While performed under local anesthesia, the hair or follicular units are individually harvested or punched from the back of the scalp or donor area in the hands of Dr. Yates using whatever instrument is best for his patient to obtain optimal results. He utilizes the most advanced ARTAS Robotic Hair Transplant System or various manual, hand-held instruments to delicately punch out each individual hair follicle.

The camera system and algorithms in place with the robot or Dr. Yates skilled eyes and hands, choose the most robust hairs to remove for transplantation. With the traditional strip method for hair transplantation, not only do you have to take all hairs (even weak hair), the patient also incurs a painful cut, stitches and scar that they have to live with and conceal the rest of their lives.

hair-regrowth-restoration-chicago-best

Dr. Yates utilizes state of the art biological solutions such as Hypothermosol and ATPv (adenosine triphosphate) to store, protect and ensure optimal survival of these valuable grafts while awaiting transplant into the balding areas of the scalp for both men and women.

The finishing touch is completed by Dr. Yates artistic ability to create a natural hairline and hair density in his patient’s areas of thinning throughout the scalp. He uses micro-incisions to create sites to place each individual follicular unit, which will grow into a natural, undetectable pattern over the next year.

The results – – Phenomenal, Natural, Permanent Hair that patients can style anyway they desire without a scar in the back of the scalp. It’s cutting edge methodology like this that separates Dr. Yates’ concierge practice from the cookie cutter competition, who still rely on the antiquated guesswork with a scalpel from when they started 30 years ago.

 

“It’s permanent and not many people can do it right,” says Dr. Yates. “This is the investment that lasts.”
WITH FUE THERE ARE NO TRANVERSE VISIBLE SCARS ACROSS THE BACK OF THE HEAD

If someone is unable to shave the back of his or her scalp for FUE, he also has an answer for this. Dr. Yates is able to creatively trim the hair so that the donor area is completely concealed and you can return to work immediately without any visible signs of a procedure.
Dr. Yates is also very skilled at restoring facial hair such as beards, mustaches, goatees and eyebrows.

He also performs recovery and repair work on patients who have had multiple, visible scars; old-fashioned and undesirable plug procedures; and creative body hair (beard, chest, back hair) harvesting for transplantation for individuals who are “tapped out” of donor hair in the back of their scalp.

 

dr yates illinois hair doctor

State of the Art

        Non-Surgical Options…

 

PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)
This therapy has been FDA approved and utilized for over 30 years for advanced wound healing. Now, we are seeing exciting results with PRP for hair growth. A patient’s blood is drawn and spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets to a specific concentration effective for hair growth. The platelets are then activated and injected back into the scalp at the level of the hair follicles. This process stimulates the body’s own growth factors and stem cells to slow hair loss, reverse miniaturized hair to produce a strong, visible hair again, and if used at the time of a hair transplant, it encourages faster graft growth. This has been very effective for both men and women.

Stromal Vascular Fraction or Stem Cell Therapy with Fat Transfer
Adult stem cells are most concentrated in our bodies in bone marrow and even more so in fat tissue or adipose. Dr. Yates is able to harvest these fat cells and concentrate and purify them in a centrifuge system. He then combines the fat cells with PRP to inject into the scalp to stimulate hair growth and stabilize further hair loss. This process offers even more benefits than just PRP alone by replacing the lost layer of subcutaneous fat in the scalp where the hair follicle thrives.

Scalp Micro-Pigmentation (SMP)
With SMP, pigment is used on the scalp to create the appearance of real hair follicles recreating hairlines, adding the appearance of density to thinning areas and covering unsightly scars. This advanced solution for hair loss replicates real shaven hair follicles on the scalp. The appearance is so realistic that it actually looks like you have hair. We know how the hair should look when pigmented, because that’s all we do everyday – HAIR! If someone has limited donor hair and has been told they were not a good candidate for a hair transplant procedure, they now have a great option! This is perfect for those who wear a very closely cropped hairstyle!

Hair Styling for Thinning Hair

Since hair loss affects so many people and everyone’s self-esteem, Dr. Yates even offers an onsite Licensed Cosmetologist with over 17 years of experience. She studied in Italy, Spain, Greece, Germany, New York, Miami and Chicago. She specializes in styling and educating patients to look their best if they suffer with hair loss.

 

Someone doesn’t have to be bald to feel the confidence shaking reality of hair loss. For many, it can appear as a lack of volume and expanding thinness. Slowly, their scalp becomes more apparent through the diminishing volume of their hair. Dr. Yates can stop that hair loss in its tracks and reduce the appearance of thinning hair for men and women using the most advanced treatments available in the industry.

 

When hair transplantation is done correctly by a proficient surgeon, the results look so natural that nobody would know you had a procedure. To achieve the best, natural, and attractive results, you need a meticulous surgeon with proven results.

The team at Yates Hair Science Group delivers the best care and quality everyday and are recognized leaders in the field.

213 N Stetson Ave,  Chicago IL  60601

PHONE: 312-261-0872 or visit them online at dryateshairscience.com

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  Benefits, Fitness, Health, HIV, Outdoors, Special Events, Sports, Summer Fun

AIDS Foundation Chicago Walk Run Sept. 14th

aids walk run chicago

PRE-REGISTRATION ENDS TOMORROW on September 3 for the 2014  AIDS Run/Walk Chicago!

Sign up to join our community of passionate individuals and partner organizations gathering to support vital services for those living with HIV/AIDS in the Chicagoland area!
www.aidsrunwalk.org

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  Beach, Fitness, Gay Beach

Tips for Getting Lean for the Beach Body You Desire

summer beach body fitness

It’s good to have  fitness priorities but you cant use them as an excuse for bad nutrition. Whether you want visible 6-pack abs or not, its important to stay lean. Or height / weight proportionate. Obesity is the #1 health problem in much of the world. Carrying more weight then we should be is NOT GOOD for your overall health. Good nutrition is  hard work and it is extremely important for our bodies. Its also very important to point out that are many health reasons to reduce your body-fat other than getting visible 6-pack abs.
mens fitness abs Swimwear-

Many of us want the perfect beach body. Or a better beach body than we may have now. Everyone has  different criteria for their “beach body”. Some want  a six pack while others just want to shed a few pounds of winter weight, lower their body-fat and look better in their swim suit.

beach body doing crunches six pack abs

“1,000 sit ups and still missing that perfect 6 pack?”  asks Chicago personal trainer and dancer Koby Grant (Koby G Fitness).

Hey,  if you can do 1000 sit ups – you are probably doing them wrong. I don’t know anyone who can do 1000 sits up a day and use good form.

If you are using good form, your abdominal muscles will start to hurt after a  while of working them. Focus on quality, not quantity. AND DIET.  If you can’t see your abs, it’s not an issue of “muscle development” at all. We all have abdominal muscles.  If you can’t see them, you simply have too much body fat covering up the ab muscles.

Maybe your goal is just to  get a better body or dropping a few pounds. Either way, it’s going to come down to diet and exercise. There are no shortcuts.

koby grant fitness trainer model dancer

“We imagine what our bodies will look like laying on the beach after we just left the gym. Going to the gym is not a guarantee of the perfect body but more of an opportunity to obtain that dream,” says Koby Grant, performer, fitness trainer and owner of Koby G Productions. (right and below).

“How much effort are you actually putting forth in the gym? Of that 100% effort level, where do you rank yourself? Creating short term goals is the best way to measure this. Creating yourself an obtainable, realistic short term goal is the best way to hold yourself accountable for how hard you’re working in the gym. For diet, beyond skipping pizza and ice cream, what gets you lean? what do you focus on? what do you stay away from? For a healthy well balanced diet, it is important to recognize that everything from fat to protein is an necessity for every diet.” Koby explained.

koby grant fitness trainer model chicago

“Moderation is key, mapping out your diet for the week ahead is one way to do this. Using an nutritional chart or from the guidance of a licensed nutritionist of course. One misconception of getting lean is by not eating, which I can not  stress enough is more dangerous and in the end will not achieve these goals.

Think of your metabolism, which is burning calories, as a fire. Starting at the beginning of a day, you don’t throw all the wood onto the fire to keep it burning through out the day, no, you slowly feed the fire wood through out the day to keep it burning. It as important to feed your metabolism a well balanced diet, to keep it burning all day long for that perfect beach body. Weight training + Nutrition + Cardio Program!”

 

Competitive Bodybuilder and  personal trainer Aaron Guy  says, “I tell people that abs are made in the kitchen. You can  do crunches and sit ups till you are blue in the face but it won’t, I repeat, won’t do anything to spot reduce the fat around your abdomen, which is necessary to reveal the coveted six pack.

A beach body starts with weight training. If you don’t have any muscle under all that body-fat then you’re not gonna be left with much when you start shredding for summer.

Try doing a weight lifting split and working each muscle group at least once a week. Stick to moderately heavy to heavy weight that allows you to maintain proper form and stick with 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps. That is the ideal range for increasing muscle cell size, otherwise known as hypertrophy. Remember that all of the “growing” you’ll be doing happens when you’re not at the gym and sleeping or recovering. So be sure to give yourself ample rest in between body parts and even a complete day off once or twice a week. Once you’ve worked on building a strong muscular foundation you can move on to cutting or what we often refer to as “prepping for summer”.

I would add several days of cardio into your routine on top of your lifting schedule. My favorite cardio is StairMaster because it not only burns a lot of calories but it also works on building leg muscles. Big leg muscles burn more calories and that increases your metabolism which in the long run makes you and effective fat burning machine. If you find the StairMaster too rigorous in the beginning start with 5-10 min a day and work your way up. I guarantee you that you can be doing 30 minutes in no time.

Swimming is also a great full body cardio option as well as rowing. In place of running I usually tell clients to walk on a steep incline on the treadmill as it is easier on the joints and also builds up those leg muscles I talked about earlier. I avoid the elliptical machine. I think its too easy and its definitely too easy to cheat on.

For diet I like to keep things simple. I like a high protein, moderate fat and low carb diet. All of my carbs come from veggies and fruit. I do not eat any carbs from cereals, breads, pastas or refined sugars. I drink unsweetened green tea or water and never drink soda or sports drinks or flavored waters with calories.

AaronGuy_PersonalTraining-chicago

My favorite protein sources are fish, chicken, eggs, greek yogurt and lean red meat. To incorporate healthy fats into my meals I eat lots of avocados and nuts, including peanut and almond butter and lots of olive oil and olive oil based dressings. Make sure that each meal contains a high level of protein including breakfast. Most people skimp on protein for breakfast. I also tell clients they should consume a protein shake with some carbs within one hour of completing a workout.

Remember to keep alcohol consumption to a minimum as it can inhibit weight loss. Also remember that after all this hard work you deserve a cheat meal here and there. So treat yourself once or twice a week but make sure its within moderation. It’s not going to derail all your hard work for the week and treating yourself every so often prevents the binging and over-consumption that generally results from extreme restriction over long periods of time. With all of these things combined you should be ready bathing suit season in no time.

 

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  Fitness, FREE

Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping OPEN HOUSE Sunday March 24th

SUMMER and BEACH season is about 12 weeks away? Are you ready? What if I told you, you can have a better body in 10 weeks?

Have you heard about Farrells and wanted to check it out? Do you have a friend, family member, a co-worker or neighbor who has inquired about FXB and wants to learn more about the program?  Do  you want to ‘try’ a class?  Do  you  have questions needing answered? Grab a friend and come to open house this weekend!

 

This Sunday, March 24th from 1PM-2PM we’ll be hosting an OPEN HOUSE here at FXB.

 

Be  prepared to do
‘mini-workouts’.  We will conduct a 15 minute warm-up, then a bags
demonstration followed by a few bands exercises.  Then, we will
transition into a question/answer period.

You will then have an opportunity to sign up for the Spring Session with a DISCOUNT!

 

Please RSVP for this event by emailing  JASON.

jasonhedden@extremebodyshaping.com

Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping

821 W. Blackhawk Street

Chicago, IL  60642

www.extremebodyshaping.com

www.facebook.com/FXBLincolnPark

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  Deals, Fitness, News and Happenings, Retail and Services, Uptown

World Gym DEEP DISCOUNTS Feb 14th

 How is that New Years resolution going? 

PUT DOWN THAT BAG OF CHIPS
 and get to WORLD GYM FEB. 13th!
Unbeatable prices one day only. 

2 for 1 pricing

Half Off memberships

New members get free fitness assessments
All fitness classes are FREE and led by local experts and designed to help all skill levels conquer goals on the path to ultimate fitness glory.
In 1976, it all began here. The iconic celebrity fitness scene. The serious, no-nonsense workout. The commitment to always remain a true gym, not a resort. A place where great shape is an authentic passion. Where you belong among friends. Where everyone’s a star, and you have the power to lift yourself to greatness. This is World Gym.
909 W Montrose Ave 
(773) 348-1212

Tell them you saw it here!

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  Deals, Fitness

Black Friday Deal One Day Only at Farrells Extreme Body Shaping

Black Friday Fitness Sale!
 We’re doing 50% off for all classes (except 5am, 6am). 
 Applies to 7am, 9am, 4:30pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm & 7:30pm.
Farrells Extreme Body Shaping   Enroll online!  with  promo code  FRIDAY
or stop by  –  right off the Red line NORTH AVE stop, south of the Apple Store

  • 821 W Blackhawk Street
  • Chicago, Illinois 60642

Phone (312) 624-9794
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  Deals, Fitness

How to Eat Anything You Want AND Lose Weight

Most of us are fighting the same fight when it comes to eating right
and exercising.  Sure, some fitness enthusiasts love their veggies with
the same fervor the rest of us hold for ice cream, but most of us impose
some level of discipline upon ourselves when we aim to improve our
fitness or shrink our waistlines.

     We make dozens of choices that lead to either shrinking or expanding each day:

  • Ice cream or cottage cheese?
  • A handful of m&m candies or a handful of almonds?
  • Bacon wrapped filet or sushi?
  • Mashed potatoes with gravy or a side salad?
  • Pepsi, Coke or Water?
  • Two scoops or one?
  • Would you like an Oreo cookie? Yes or no?

     If we can stay on the straight and narrow through a long series
of instant decisions, we’ll be rewarded by an almost imperceptably
smaller belly in few not-so-short days–significant mental effort for a
very slight reward. 

     Statistics prove that most of us are failing.  Americans are
getting larger each year, and while there’s a case to be made for
blaming various entities and industries for the problem, there’s also a
very good case for leaving the responsibility with each individual. 
Collectively, we are not very good at consistently making good food and
activity choices.

     You need a FUN DAY!  One day each week to indulge your
cravings.  One day each week to mentally relax and enjoy whatever foods
you want to eat whenever you’re motivated to eat them.  One day each
week to rest your body and your mind–an appropriate reward for a week
of hard work.

     Those who refer to Fun Day as Cheat Day are missing some
important information.  First, Fun Day is part of the program, and well
within the rules, so it isn’t cheating.  Also, beyond providing the
mental and emotional break most of us need when we work hard at
something for six consecutive days, Fun Day is good for us physically
too.

     Our bodies adapt.  The mysterious metabolism isn’t a randomly or
genetically assigned rate at which our bodies burn fuel.  Our metabolic
rate is a continually adapting rate based upon the production of
several hormones, our activity level and our food consumption. 

     Our favorite nutrition guru, Elaine Waldschmitt, explains it
this way, “The FUN day is an important part of the nutrition program. 
There are many regulatory hormones in the body.  Simply put, their job
is to survey what is coming in as calories, what is being burned as
calories out, and preserve the body in the most healthy way possible. 
So these hormones do a a little “regulating” for us.  If we always eat a
very low calorie intake (perhaps less than we burn as activity), the
hormones very slightly adjust our metabolism.  Also, eating “healthy”
will adjust the levels of other hormones that tell us to store fat,
become more efficient at our energy usage, etc.  So….. the FUN day
tells our bodies not to lower our metabolic rate too much.  It sort of
“re-sets” our metabolism to “high”, which is what we want!”

Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping

COME AND EXPERIENCE FARRELL’S EXTREME BODYSHAPING WHERE RESULTS ARE TYPICAL!!


Transforming Lives 10 Weeks at a Time!


CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION: (312) 624-9794

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  Fitness, Health

The Most Delicous Nutritious Snack – from Farrells eXtreme Bodyshaping of Chicago

You all know by now, Derrick and I are enrolled in Farrells eXtreme Bodyshaping, and are evangelists for the program!

I always knew I could not live on pizza and pasta and have the body I wanted! But I also am very unimaginative in the kitchen, and find myself eating a lot of the same things.

I have been a long time fan  of protein and nutrition bars – you just have to pay close attention to whats in them.  Some of them ARE NOT HEALTHY  AT ALL! Loaded with Sugar! And they can get expensive to eat every day.

So I was happy when Farrells owner Jason, gave me this super easy, very healthy, make at home recipe for chocolate protein bars! It literally takes 5 minutes to make a batch.

1 C. Peanut butter (you should be eating natural peanut butter without the trans fat)
a couple teaspoons of honey
1 C. rolled oats
1 TBSP.  baking Cocoa
1 1/2 C. Chocolate Protein Powder
1/4  c  water

All you do is take the peanut butter and the honey and microwave it for about 30-45 seconds.

Then add the oats and cocoa and stir it together a bit. Add the Protein powder and water and just mix and mash it all together. Sometimes a dash more water is needed – if it is not all mixed well and clumping together nicely.

Then I take a sheet of foil, and spray it with PAM or something similar. Dump the mixture onto the foil. Then I wet my hand, and smash it and smooth down and out.  I like mine about  1/2″ thick. Lay it in the fridge for a few hours and when it starts to harden up, you can cut it into pieces, which you can snack on all week.  It’s easy. And TOTALLY healthy.

At night, Derrick takes one small low fat yogurt and dumps it into a bowl.  Takes a bar and crumbles it over the yogurt and sprinkles on  a few almonds. It is the most decadent, healthy desert you have ever eaten!

FYI – Farrells is in the final days of accepting new members for their summer session – and if you mention this article, Jason will offer you a sweet deal on certain time slots!

. FARRELL’S EXTREME
BODY SHAPING
821 W. Blackhawk
Off Halsted, S. of North Ave.

312-624-9794
JOIN FXB.com

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  Deals, Fitness

Fitness, Work out and Nutrition Tips from World Gym Chicago


What are your goals and questions? 

Are you trying to lose weight?

Are you trying gain muscle? 

Everyone has different goals. And there a gazillion articles out there online and in magazines.

The idea for a better, leaner  body is simple.

Your body uses food for energy. It stores any excess energy as
fat. This means if you eat more food than your body needs for daily activities
and cell maintenance, you’ll gain weight.

To lose weight, you need to get your body to use up these stores
of fat. You only have 2 choices:

  • –reduce the amount of calories you eat
  • — or increase your levels of  cardio activity to burn more fat and calories.

This is why experts talk about weight loss in terms of diet and
exercise. Pretty simple.

The basic equation is this: the more muscle tissue you have, the more calories 
you will burn. This is why world class weight lifters must eat
thousands of calories a day to maintain their weight. Muscle is active
tissue, fat is not. Thus, muscle “burns” a significant number of
calories each day for its own maintenance. In her book Strong Women Stay Slim
, Miriam Nelson, a Tufts University researcher, showed that a group of women who followed a weight loss diet and did weight training exercises lost 44% more fat than those who only followed the diet. While aerobic activity  can help burn calories, muscle’s where it’s at when it comes to giving your metabolism a significant daily boost even at rest.

Use food as energy. Big is out. Small is in.

With the advent of “super-size” meals and increasingly huge portions at
restaurants, our concept of normal serving sizes is a distant memory. Be
mindful of the amounts of food you consume at a sitting. When
necessary, divide your food in half and ask for a take home bag. Split an entree with your date.  It is
all too easy to be a “plate cleaner” even when served enormous portions.
Learn to pay attention to your hunger level and stop eating when you
feel comfortably full, not stuffed. Many people in fitness believe 6 smaller meals every few hours are better then 3 big meals.

One of the best nutritional tips – eat good protein with EVERY meal. Delivering your body a constant supply of Protein throughout the entire day is essential for optimum muscle growth. Protein is made up of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of your muscles and body. Without them, it would be impossible to build, repair or even maintain muscle tissue.

Some foods contain complete protein, meaning they provide all of the essential amino acids necessary to build muscle. These include: Eggs, lean Meats (this includes lean pork,  Chicken and Turkey), Fish, and Milk. And many athletes have whey or soy protein shakes as well throughout the day, as one of their meals.

It’s really a simple formula to a better body.

Stop by World Gym at  909 W. Montrose  at Sheridan  and

talk to one of their trainers, for advice and guidance. 

Uptown. (773) 348-1212

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  Deals, Fitness

Farrell’s eXtreme Body Shaping Summer Deals in Chicago

We have been talking about Farrell’s for weeks now!  WE LOVE IT!  and GILT just announced an awesome special for  Farrells eXtreme Body Shaping Summer Classes! 

I am told there are still some  spots left, for that promotion, for certain classes.
 MENTION THIS SITE, BEST GAY,
and you could even get a further  25% discount,
 on certain time slots!!

This 10 week class  WILL set your metabolism on fire! And melt inches off your body.

FXB on Facebook

JOIN    FXB



CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION:
(312) 624-9794
 ask for Jason and mention us!

Farrell’s eXtreme Body Shaping
821 W. Blackhawk        Off Halsted,    
S. of North Ave.

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