LIFT LESSONS

5 Lower Body Stretches to Work on at Home
April 8, 2020

5 Lower Body Stretches to Work on at Home

While the majority of us are working at home, it’s easier now more than ever to find yourself sitting around for most of the day. Spending extended amount of time in a seated position can wreak havoc on your hips and lower back, especially if you aren’t setting aside 30-60 minutes of movement/training a few times per week. Starting off your day with a little movement is an easy piece to add to your daily routine and will help alleviate...

March 25, 2020

How Detraining Affects Your Strength and Muscle Mass

With the COVID19 pandemic hitting the country and forcing us inside, it’s easy to get frustrated and come up with a number of excuses as to why our training should take a backseat. Although training at home may not be the most ideal solution, something is always better than nothing. If you think your “gains” you’ve been working so hard to develop over the last few months/years has been for nothing, I’ve got some good news for you… Previous studies...

Food labels – How to read to avoid unhealthy ingredients.
March 22, 2020

Food labels – How to read to avoid unhealthy ingredients.

Written by Jamie Sabel, Nutritionist Why does it seem like food labels and ingredient lists are written in morse code? We don't know the names of half the ingredients, and the ones that we are familiar with are often disguised under alias names.  The good thing, we don't have to worry about ingredient lists when we eat whole foods. But sometimes our schedules make it impossible to turn away from the convenience of packaged food items. Life gets busy, and...

5 of 1,000 Reasons Why Women Should Strength Train
October 30, 2019

5 of 1,000 Reasons Why Women Should Strength Train

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1365.0"] Schedule your last “first session'“ : Get Started [/caption] If you’re not, you’re missing out.  For some reason this topic still get resistance from the media even when there is tons of favorable evidence. It is ridiculous to think women shouldn’t strength train, but men should. Let’s hash this out right now…Burn more calories: Strength training builds more muscle mass. Having more muscle mass has been proven to increase overall daily caloric burn.Get “toned”: The term...

October 8, 2019

6 Back Stretches/Exercises You Need To Be Doing.

By: Jared Blincow, CSCS, Strength Coach LIFT Chicago The average person spends eight hours of their day sitting at a desk only to get home and sit on the couch watching tv, surfing the internet, or scrolling through their phone. This daily pattern can wreak havoc on your posture and is a popular culprit for a number of different injuries and might be the source of your chronic pain. The “rounded shoulders” (shown on the left) look is caused by...

September 19, 2019

7 Benefits to having a Strength Coach/Personal Trainer 

It’s educational. Sessions are much more than you just working out. You gain knowledge of what to do, how to do it, and how it benefits your health and fitness. You learn the most important things you need to concentrate on to be most successful and what things are fitness myths that are very irrelevant. Education is going to help you focus on your goals and develop a strategy to get there.They perfect your form. Don’t think it’s that important?...

April 8, 2019

REAL STRENGTH SERIES: LET’S RETHINK YOUR CORE TRAINING

Core training may be, simultaneously, one of the most overused and most commonly misunderstood concepts in the fitness world. Whether we are at the gym, taking a yoga class, or simply scrolling through social media, we see countless fitness influencers performing incredibly complex movements and slapping them with labels such as “functional” and “core” training. Some of the most common examples include people throwing themselves to the floor and jumping back up, swinging their legs to pull up over a...

4 Exercises to Help You Get to a Push-Up
March 1, 2019

4 Exercises to Help You Get to a Push-Up

When it comes to push-ups we tend to see a massive array of form choices and/or habits that create problems left and right for the trainee. Whether it is the “lazy seal”(hips sagging to ground), the “head nodder”, or the “butt up wonder” the form is wrong and may be dangerous. Progressing into a full push-up can be difficult, but definitely not impossible. Here are a few exercises you can do to hold fantastic form while building that push-up strength.Wait…we...

What People Are Saying About Lift Chicago

  • The best gym in Chicago area. Highly recommended. The sessions are super efficient and you are always working out under supervision of best coaches in town. It is super clean... read more

    Daniel Seyyedi Avatar Daniel Seyyedi

    Very spaced out, great welcoming staff and clean. My new go-to.

    Melinda Davis Avatar Melinda Davis

    I highly recommend Lift Chicago. I have been training here for a little under a year and love it! All of the trainers are extremely knowledgeable, motivating and welcoming. Every... read more

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  • I’ve been training at Lift for a year and a half - the workout, professionalism, facilities and trainers are the best of the best. Strength training at Lift has transformed... read more

    Alexi Zloof Avatar Alexi Zloof

    I have been coming to LIFT since the day they opened and have been training with Josh for years now. Nothing compares to the workouts and knowledge you’ll get from... read more

    Michelle Buckmaster Avatar Michelle Buckmaster

    I started attending the women’s lifting class and absolutely love it! It’s exciting, fun and welcoming for all different ability levels!

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  • Love the Lift classes- they are really unique, with 5 circuits and a mix of weight stations with some cardio, too (rope pulls, sleds, etc.). The coaches are the best... read more

    Carrie Sweeney Avatar Carrie Sweeney

    Very kind staff. They handle health precautions significantly better than other gyms I have been to since COVID began.

    McLean Richard Avatar McLean Richard

    I’ve been training at Lift since it opened, and with Pete prior to. Everyone here is always extremely professional and so very nice. They may not know it, but they... read more

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  • Great coaching in an excellent facility.

    Rick Sudekum Avatar Rick Sudekum

    Highly recommended. If you want a personalized, thorough, concise workout this is it. Each personal trainer is excellent for listening to your fitness goals, celebrates your achievements and accommodates any... read more

    Kristine Kinder Avatar Kristine Kinder

    Just had my first session with John and it was great. Very attentive and friendly. Paid attention to my goals and paced me throughout while directing my form ( chief... read more

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  • I started training at LIFT over a year ago in prep for my wedding. I have never looked or felt better! I have worked with almost every coach, and they’re... read more

    Cara j Avatar Cara j

    I started training at Lift over a year ago, after my daughter recommended it. I typically work with the same trainers, but it varies occasionally, and all have been careful,... read more

    karyn hurwich Avatar karyn hurwich

    Can't say enough good things about Lift! I started training with Abby after losing a substantial amount of weight and muscle tone and I can't thank her enough for her... read more

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  • When businesses understand what matters, it makes a world of a difference and Lift Chicago understood that it’s not just about providing a place to workout, it’s about creating a... read more

    Tausif Khiani Avatar Tausif Khiani

    One of the best workouts in the city. Always challenging and thoughtful workouts. Being able to see myself grow stronger and stronger week after week is all thanks to this... read more

    Maddie Pass Avatar Maddie Pass

    I’ve been training with Sarah at Lift for almost 2.5 years and it has been a great experience! I had never been able to maintain motivation for a consistent workout... read more

    ben schwertz Avatar ben schwertz
  • I have loved working out at Lift since my first visit and now go twice a week. I particularly like the welcoming friendly atmosphere - everyone is welcome regardless... read more

    Mary O'Broin Avatar Mary O'Broin

    I've been training at LIFT since they opened and the trainers here are second to none. They are highly skilled, consummate professionals, and just all around nice guys. ... read more

    Chris Jamerson Avatar Chris Jamerson

    I have been training at Lift for over a year and I can easily say it is the best personal training experience I have ever had. Josh and the rest... read more

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  • I’ve been training at Lift for almost 2 years and have gained so much confidence in my lifting and strength. Every trainer is approachable and knowledgeable, making for a very... read more

    Mary Harbaugh Avatar Mary Harbaugh

    Started working out here a couple years ago. Love the instructors and the variety of classes offered.

    Anthony Samson Avatar Anthony Samson

    Sarah H with WMNxLIFT is the best!!! I’ve been active my whole life and she is by far the best coach I’ve ever had. She’s attentive, extremely knowledgeable, and has... read more

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