We all know plain scrambled eggs can do the job, but they get old. Here are a few thought starters to changing things up with your morning routine:
Nutrient-Packed Breakfast Solutions
By Kelly Schmidt, posted in Health, Nutrition, 1 Comment »
Chicago’s #1 Private Personal Training Gym
By Chad Smith, posted in Blog, Personal Training, Special Offer, Strength Training, No Comments »
If you’ve found our site from Gilt Chicago, welcome to Hard Pressed! Whether or not you’ve worked out with a Personal Trainer, check out this short list we’ve put together to illustrate what we do, how we do it, why we do it the way we do, and what you can expect when you come in to train.
- Hard Pressed’s “Magic”
- Rules of the Gym
- What we aren’t
- Why you should be lifting weights
- A typical workout (Take note of the quality of each rep.)
- A nifty slideshow.
- Some testimonials. Also, our Yelp! page.
What we do at Hard Pressed is fairly simple: Progressively overload your muscles in the safest way possible, and do it in the most efficient way possible. Make sure you train your whole body (Neck and Grip training!), and get on with your day. Every thing we do is 30 minutes, and yes we have a client list full of folks who didn’t believe that possible when they first came in.
Give us 30 minutes and we’ll show you how we do it. (You’ll understand by minute #5.)
That’s why our equipment – as well as Dan, Ron, Chad, and Nik – is Hard Pressed’s competitive advantage. We have enough tools and toys to train every client hard regardless of age, previous injuries, or mobility issues. And if you’re a “normal,” healthy adult, we’ve definitely got you covered.
After you’ve purchased the Gilt deal, either give us a call @ 312-285-3385 or use our online scheduling system to schedule your first “Gilt Session.” Please schedule 1 session at a time. Moreover, the Gilt City deal cannot be combined with any other offer.
When you come in for you first session, please try to arrive 5-10 minutes early so that you can change and fill out our Liability Waiver before you meet with your trainer. Because we need to discuss with each new client health history, injuries, goals, etc., expect to spend ~20 minutes of your first session actually training. Beyond that, expect to be working your butt off for 30 minutes every time you come in to Hard Pressed.
The fine print:
- 4 Workout Gilt Vouchers must be completed in 30 days from your first appointment.
- 8 Workout Vouchers must be completed in 60 days.
- We do not combine special offers.
- You may only schedule 1 Workout at a time.
- Valid for new clients only.
- One voucher per customer.
If you have any other questions, please email us at getstrong@hardpressed.me or give us a buzz at 312-285-3385.
The Paleo Infused RD
By Chad Smith, posted in Health, Nutrition, Weight Loss, No Comments »
I’ve discussed our aversion to talking food in the past. We’re Strength Coaches/Personal Trainers and although we do an okay (to better than okay) job at feeding ourselves, it’s not our area of expertise. I’d wager that most Personal Trainers aren’t really qualified to tell you what/how/when to eat. Yes, there are some simple fundamentals that serve as an adequate foundation of a healthy diet, but in my own personal study of nutrition I’ve found a shocking amount of nuance, individuality, and unfounded dietary mythology.
And smart, charming, funny, and charismatic though we may be, you aren’t at Hard Pressed to discuss the intricacies of food choices with us. We do however understand that your dietary choices are an enormous factor in your success – be it weight loss, weight gain, or improved health – and despite being unqualified to answer these questions, we want to help you find solutions. So.
Meet Kelly O’Connell Schmidt, RD LDN
Kelly is a Registered Dietician specializing in Primal Eating, food sensitivities and performance nutrition. Kelly embraced nutrition at a young age when she was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes. As a child she understood what smart food choices could do for our health. Kelly took off to Ohio University and now holds a Bachelors of Science in Dietetics and accomplished her Didactic Internship at Loyola University Chicago. You may find Kelly’s nutrition advice does not stem from conventional wisdom. She takes a holistic real food approach, which allos her and her clients to reach their optimal health.
Read more about Kelly at her site.
Going forward, we’ll be encouraging clients to contact Kelly with questions, comments, and concerns regarding nutrition, weight loss, weight gain, and – most importantly – using food to optimize health. In the future, we hope to have Kelly in the gym now and again for Group Presentations and individual consultations with Hard Pressed clients.
She’s so good that we’ll forgive her for Being an Ohio State Fan.
Anything But A Loser!
By Bernie Salazar, posted in Client Spotlight, Health, Weight Loss, No Comments »
A few weeks ago I went shopping, I spent about half an hour trying on clothes, which for a guy is like an eternity. Nothing I tried on was fitting the way I wanted it to, the skinny jeans weren’t making me look skinny, the shirts claiming to be made of stretchy material were stretching in all the wrong places, and to top it all off the fitting room mirrors must have been purchased from a fun house because the reflection made me look short and chunky.
Needless to say I left without buying a single thing. I was so disappointed in myself for having gained some of my weight back. At that moment a stream of negative emotions and negative self-talk began to pop into my head:
How could I let this happen?
We All Need Help, But…
By Chad Smith, posted in Health, No Comments »
We aren’t experts on everything.
We know Strength Training, and we know it well. We understand how train efficiently, effectively, and safely. We’re here to help you get your workout in, and get you on your way.
We are what people refer to as Personal Trainers, however we quite dislike that title (as I’ve discussed before). I’m not sure when but at some point your Personal Trainer become your Nutritionist/Dietician, your Physical Therapist/Doctor, your Therapist/Counselor, but that’s the . And while Dan may from time to time offer up life advice, I would urge you to seek a second opinion from a more qualified source.
But since we can’t really speak with authority on a great many topics, we’re going to help you find people who can. People who can answer your many questions thoughtfully, in detail, and who can and will give your non-weightlifting problems the time, energy, and respect they deserve.
So. Stay tuned for some announcements. We’ve found some great folks who have great information to share with you. And if you know someone who you think Hard Pressed needs to talk to, please let us know.