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Tips for turning into a Fit Miss this summer in Chicago

May 31, 2012 | Filed under: Chicago, IL,Lifestyle | Posted by: Macchiato

A new health initiative has just been launched for us ladies in the Chicago area that will help make us stronger, healthier and more beautiful, both on the inside and on the outside.

The pilot program created by Mercy Family Health Center’s Young Women’s Health Initiative (YWHI) in partnership with health practitioners from LaRabida’s Children’s Hospital, will attempt to guide Chicago’s young urban female population to fitness and a healthier lifestyle.

Miss Fit is designed to raise awareness on sensitive issues affecting teens and young women’s lives; educate on the importance of keeping a balanced diet; promote enrolling in physical activities for a healthy lifestyle; and generally improve the healthcare and wellness of urban women in the months before, during and after giving birth. With such a bold goal, the initiative will need perfect coordination and collaboration between practitioners and the community itself.

“In reviewing with Dr. Scott [YWHI Medical Director], the medical literature on the impact that obesity and weight gain surrounding pregnancy have both on the pregnancy itself and subsequent life course of the mother and fetus, we see many negative, sometimes longstanding, effects” says dr. Chandi White-Edmonds, DPT, a Certified Perinatal Fitness Instructor on staff at LaRabida Children’s Hospital, and Founder & CEO of Kinetic Energy Fitness and Therapy. “Research shows that excessive weight gain during pregnancy and adolescence contributes to the epidemic of obesity in the United States. With increased female adolescent activity and weight management throughout the pregnancy continuum as a common goal, YWHI is the perfect partner for this effort and our hope and intention is that these girls lead healthier lives long after they’ve graduated from Miss Fit.”

The fitness classes are held Saturday mornings at Mercy Medical Center and include aerobic, strengthening, and postural realignment exercises, as well as gentle stretching, pelvic floor training, and breathing and relaxation activities; educational classes feature nutritional counseling, weight management guidance, and general instruction on the physical and emotional changes that occur during and after pregnancy. Feel free to contact YWHI via phone 773-891-2500 or email: MissFit@YWHIchicago.org for any additional information.