A conversation you never want to have with your doctor is just the one Julie Schaffner had to endure. Editor’s note: The staff at Make It Better was saddened by the news of Julie Schaffner’s passing on Dec. 31, 2010. Her interview here is an ongoing testament to her dedication to family, work and the […]
Women diagnosed in the earliest stages of ovarian cancer—before the cancer has spread outside the ovary—have a 93 percent chance of surviving beyond five years. Not bad, right? But here’s the problem: Less than 20 percent of all cases of ovarian cancer are detected early, because the disease has only subtle symptoms at first and […]
A group finds dream analysis can change reality for the better. For nearly two decades, Tuesday nights have been sacred to a group of five North Shore women who gather each week to plumb the depths of their dreams. Originally brought together as strangers, their common bond was a desire for the deep personal […]
Try the Sideways Plank Twist. When most people think “core,” they think abdominal muscles. They try endless sit-ups and crunches to flatten their bellies and smooth their mid-section, but crunches alone won’t give you the perfect core. Instead, try this plank twist to work all the muscle groups from the hips to the shoulders […]
We loved running in January, when the crunch of the snow underfoot made us smile. We had fun with ice cleats in the February cold. But now we just want sun and warmth. Until spring arrives, you can keep motivated by adding these accessible adventures to your running. Be One with Nature Two nice options are the […]
Which body part is the slowest to wake up each morning? Is it your achy low back, tight hamstrings, or like me, tender calves and feet? Gone are the days when you could spring out of bed, throw on your clothes, down a strong coffee, and head out for a hard workout. Your muscles need time […]
When your time is crunched instead of your abs, it’s easy to want to pass on working out.
Heart disease doesn’t just attack overweight, middle-aged men with high cholesterol.
Paddle injuries aren’t inevitable; warm ups and simple stretches can make a difference. The platform tennis craze is sweeping the North Shore. So, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that overuse injuries are following in its wake. Regardless of fi tness level, this fast-paced game can bring infl ammation and degenerative changes, especially if […]
OK. It’s time for me to fess up. I haven’t actually exercised since I ran the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12. Seriously. At first I told myself it was to let my body heal. And then it was because after running 26.2 miles, nothing seemed like it was good enough. I mean if I can’t […]
