So he finally popped the question. “He” being your BF, your BFF’s BF, your brother, the list goes on and on. According to the National Center for Health Statistics there were 2,733 marriages in Illinois in January of this year alone. So, we’re willing to bet that you or someone you know is getting married in the near future.

And, you know what that means- time to get your ass in shape. Whether you’re marching down the aisle or just know you’ll run into your ex at your friend’s reception, you absolutely want to look like the best version of yourself when the big day arrives.* But, you haven’t stepped foot in a gym in ages and you don’t even know where to start. We’re with ya, sister! So, we headed over to Equinox to check out two new classes that promise to jump start any workout routine.

Oh, please tell me he's the class instructor!

First on our list was Whipped!, a low impact approach to cardio fitness, which elicits high anaerobic intensity in quick bursts (30 seconds of performance, followed by 30 second of recovery). What does that mean, in English, you ask? It’s a butt-kicking 45 minute workout that gives you a stamina boost, so you’ll actually be able to keep up and finish the class, reaping maximum benefits.

The class is broken up into five stations, each targeting a specific area of the body. The ropes station was by far the toughest and is how the class got it’s name. Giant, heavy ropes are attached to the wall, while you stand at the end of the ropes and “whip” the ropes into various shape and directions. This apparently works areas of the body that are otherwise not targeted in a normal workout regime, which PLRG can attest to, as the next day we were sore in places of our arms and back that we didn’t know could be sore. Other stations include power lunges and squats, push up and plank variations and energetic jumps.

Overall we were big fans of this class. It really got our hearts pumping, but we were still able to keep up and finish our reps. There is a fun, almost playground feel to the set up, which makes it feel less like “work.” And, if you’re a bit self conscious it’s a great alternative to the traditional classes where everyone is lined up and staring at you/themselves in the mirror. In this class, everyone is working on different stations and moving around with the intervals, so the fear of the person behind you staring at your butt is eliminated.

The group fitness room at the LP Equinox.

The next class we tried out, Tabata, is so new to Equinox, that they haven’t even officially begun classes in Chicago (not to worry, they’ll be starting up Spring 2010). This method of working out has amazing health and fitness benefits. It’s basically interval training of 20 seconds of intense exercise moves combined with 10 seconds of rest and recovery, repeated 8 times for a a total of 4 minutes.

The class uses techniques and equipment you may already be familiar with (kettlebells, steps, stability balls) and works all areas of the body. But, by doing them in the 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off intervals, Tabata is scientifically proven to increase athletic performance and Vo2Max (your body’s ability to consume oxygen) and shed fat- in just weeks.

Tabata is also interesting, because you can use the theory behind it for any of your workouts. So, PLRGs don’t have to spend a fortune to experience its benefits. For example, when you’re on the treadmill run as fast as you can, like you’re running for your life, for 20 seconds. Then, step off to the sides for 10 seconds, then back to running as hard as you can for 20 seconds. Do this eight times and you’ve seriously amped up your cardio routine.

These are just two of the group classes offered at Equinox, but there are plenty of others to suit anyone’s fitness tastes, which is really what matters when it comes to getting into shape. No matter what gym you belong to, or even if you don’t belong to one at all, finding an activity that gets you moving, but is also fun is vital to staying committed to your fitness goals.

Best of luck to all of you soon-to-be buffed brides and sexy singles out there in wedding land!

*PLRG does not endorse crash diets, unhealthy exercise/eating habits or losing drastic amounts of weight before your wedding. It’s not good for you, your dress will need to be dramatically altered and let’s face it- the second you’re on that honeymoon you’ll start eating again and you’ll gain it all back and then some just a few months into your marriage. Trust us, we’ve seen this happen to alot of normally level-headed women. Oh, and if you’re losing drastic amounts of weight for someone else’s wedding, cut it out. What, are you trying to show up the bride!? ; )

(Lacey Brenly)

It’s a few weeks after Thanksgiving, and you’ve been fighting a silent war with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pecan pie (and if you’re from our house, a slew of adult beverages). You have less than two weeks before holiday cocktail parties begin and you don’t know if your body, or little black dress, can handle any more appetizers. So what can you do?

We caught up with integrative nutrition consultant, Donna Nelson, MS, RD, LD, to learn the ins and outs of the much talked about Elimination Diet. We know it’s not a good idea to crash diet, but from what we’ve heard it is actually more about eliminating the bad things from your body and giving your liver a break for a few days- not resorting to sucking on ice and celery for weeks on end.

According to Donna, after the holidays especially, there are “so many toxins in our system. But, the good news is that when the body has the right raw materials and support, it rids itself of toxic substances on its own.” Removing accumulated toxic materials enables the body to recover from imbalances, enabling it to work more efficiently while supporting healing.

Art is the elimination of the unnecessary - Pablo Picasso

Elimination* is the first step in any detoxification program and includes noshing on a ton of fruits and vegetables which not only contain fiber, but also nourish the intestines and liver, and they include a valuable source of enzymes.

Donna tells us in the 1st phase of this elimination to follow these simple guidelines:

Steer clear of:

• Gluten containing grains, such as wheat, rye, oats, barley and rye, soy, dairy and citrus fruits.
• Sugar and artificially sweetened foods.
• Limit red meats to once a week
• Caffeine and alcohol

Go right ahead and enjoy:

• Fruits and vegetables: Eat 5-7 veggies and 2-3 fruits a day. Excellent choices in vegetables are: artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, garlic, kale, onions and radishes. Excellent fruit choices are all types of berries, cherries and peaches. Stay away from bananas, prunes, figs and citrus fruits.
• Fats/oils: Use organic olive oil, coconut oil and organic flaxseeds. Try to eat a handful of raw almonds or walnuts daily.
• Fiber: Easily found in fruits and vegetables, but you can also add 2 T. of ground flaxseed to whey or rice protein drinks to make a healthy smoothie.
• Protein: Use high quality protein, such as whey or rice protein powders. Try to eat cold-water wild-caught fish, such as salmon, halibut and sea bass as often as possible. You can also eat beans and legumes. Choose organic chicken or turkey.
• Water: Drink plenty of water! Drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of water daily (i.e., a 200 lb. man requires 100 oz. of water, roughly 3 quarts).
• Activities: You can also benefit from yoga, hot yoga, sauna, steam baths and whirlpools. When engaging in any of these activities, increase your intake of water to make up for the sweat lost.

This elimination diet phase 1 can be done for a period of 1-3 weeks.

Ok, so you don’t want to go through this program? One quick fix way is to do a one-day juice fast each week for several consecutive weeks. You drink various vegetable juices in place of solid food to decrease the digestive stress load.

Donna Nelson, MS, RD, LD is a Chicago based integrative nutrition consultant who uses alternative medicine and holistic practices. She provides individual nutrition assessments and counseling. If you are interested in more information on detoxing, don’t be shy. You can reach her at djn2468@sbcglobal.net.

The Elimination Diet is adapted from : James B. LaValle, R.Ph., C.C.N., N.D., Cracking the Metabolic Code, (Laguna Beach, Basic Health Publications, 2004). p.247-251.

*Before starting this or any other nutritional program, you should consult your physician. Fasts are not for everyone. Diabetics, pregnant or nursing women, those with cardiovascular disease or chronic illnesses, such as cancer and autoimmune diseases should fast only partake in them under strict medical supervision.

(Lindsey Duda)

What good is paying for a gym when you’re so broke you and your hard earned body can’t afford to go out? Here are some easy at-home exercises to keep you fit this fall.

Old Faithful - pushups and situps. Make sure you have a mat or towel down for added comfort, and start with 3 sets of 10. Remember to relax your neck and let your arms/abs do the work.

Stairway to Heaven - start climbing. Chances are you live in a building that has stairs. Grab your ipod and take the stairs two at a time to workout that booty. On the way back down, try doing high knees.

Dancing With Myself - the heat is on. Pump up the music and dance. It sounds silly, but you’ll have fun, and work up a sweat to boot! If you need inspiration, check out YouTube for some good moves.

Can It - put your soup to good use. Start doing your regular gym weight routines, with soup cans. Curls, lats, etc. Just make sure you have a good handle on your can, and that it’s not expired!

DVD - call in a professional. You’d be surprised how cheaply you can get a DVD workout video. Go to the store and find something that targets your problem areas - and stick to a $10 price limit.

(Story by Sally Jackson)

We have heard rumors of a training program that you only needed to do 1-2 times a week for 20 minutes each session to get results. But, knowing that most times if something sounds too good to be true it probably is, we had filed it under the “ya right” category of our brains, along with Diet Pills, Big Foot, and Lip Plumpers.

Then, about a month ago, our PR gal, Lindsey introduced me to Estelle. Estelle talked about a 20 minute “class” she taught and I immediately thought it would be perfect for busy PoorLittleRichGirls. I e-mailed her to let her know how perfect a 20 minute workout (once a day I assumed) would be for our readers. When she responded with “the workouts at super slow are 20 minutes a WEEK” I felt like I had seen a Sasquatch with my own two eyes. Could it be the rumors are true? I had to check it out for myself.

I met up with Estelle to try out the SuperSlow program last Saturday and was pretty nervous, seeing as how I haven’t moved on purpose in quite some time. She immediately put me at ease and took some time to explain to me the theory, history, and practice of Super Slow. The SuperSlow theory was developed by Ken Hutchins over 20 years ago to assist those with Osteoporosis. Most people kill themselves at the gym doing rep after rep and running mile after mile on the treadmill, only to see little result and putting themselves at a greater risk of injury. SuperSlow is very different in that it is, of course, super slow. Instead of using 2-6 seconds to complete a rep, as most training does, SuperSlow requires each rep to be completed in 20 seconds (lift for 10 seconds, lower for 10 seconds). By slowing down the workout, you are forced to use your muscles to complete the reps, rather than momentum. Working the muscles to the point of exhaustion causes them to grow and build, which in turn causes your body to burn more calories, lower blood pressure, build bone density, reduce your risk of diabetes and the list goes on and on.

SuperSlow is also less intimidating and more personal than your average trip to the gym. Workouts are done one on one with a trainer in a room with no mirrors, music and there are no beef-heads or barbies to make you feel like you don’t belong there.

During our meeting, Estelle is able to rattle off a persuasive list of SuperSlows’s benefits. “If you go running say, you’re probably burning around 300 calories and that’s during the workout. If you add 3 lbs. of lean muscle mass to your body you will be burning about 10,000 extra calories a month and its even happening after [the workout] when you’re just sitting down!” she tells me. By that point I was psyched and ready for what I imagined would be the most torturous 20 minutes of my life. I started with a leg press. I immediately felt the muscles in my butt and thighs begin to burn. It was tough, but not unbearable and before I knew it my 2 minutes were up and we were on to the next machine. I eventually ended up on the floor for some sit-up like core exercises. As I came up from the floor Estelle said “you’re done.” I got up and scanned the room wondering what the next machine would have in store for me. Estelle snapped me back to attention “No, you’re finished. The class is over.”

Someone must be punking me I thought, as we walked out of the studio. I was amazed that in less than 30 minutes I could get such a great workout (I know it was great because I could feel my muscles quivering, already trying to recover from the intensity I had just put them through). I immediately scheduled another appointment for Tuesday evening (because SuperSlow is so intense you cannot go more than twice a week. Love that). Best of all, I walked out of there with a smile on my face and a ton of self-confidence, which is something I have never done with past workouts or classes. Estelle made me a believer in one session, and if you are serious about doing something positive for your health and well being you should giver her a call and try it for yourself.

Estelle is a certified SuperSlow trainer and you can find her at Citywide SuperSlow at 1901 N. Clybourne. To schedule an appointment give her a call at 630-730-1410.

(Story by Lacey Brenly, Photos by Neal Agustin)