Workout Rx

We found four readers whose official fitness conditions could be labeled “burnout” and asked them to keep a workout diary for a week. Then we called in a major-league expert—the director of conditioning for the Chicago White Sox—to help our readers reinvigorate their fitness routines for the start of the new year.

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Jaime Battaglia
24, River North, sales

Goal
To tone up before her summer wedding

MONDAY One-mile walk to and from Ogilvie and later another mile to the el to meet friends for dinner. At night: 20 minutes of Pilates while watching TV

TUESDAY Off

WEDNESDAY Brisk hour walk

THURSDAY Ten squats while brushing teeth

FRIDAY Ten squats while drying hair

SATURDAY Pilates tape for 45 min.; walk one mile shopping. Climb four flights of steep stairs to a party.

SUNDAY Another mile walked shopping

PER WEEK Three hours, 19 minutes

THE EXPERT Jaime’s workout is too light, says Thomas. To torch more calories while she walks, she should practice intervals: Alternate 30 seconds each at regular, fast, and slow paces. After Pilates, she could finish with a few minutes of bicep curls.

Michael Campione
34, Edgewater, marketing manager

Goal
To lose 50 pounds

MONDAY Ten-minute walk to el; evening gym workout consists of a 2.5-mile jog on the treadmill, plus weight training on chest, arms, and abs.

TUESDAY 50-minute walk at lunch

WEDNESDAY Off

THURSDAY Ten-minute walk to el; repeat Monday’s gym routine.

FRIDAY Repeat gym routine.

SATURDAY Five-mile jog on the treadmill—too tired from the week for more

SUNDAY Repeat gym routine.

PER WEEK Six hours, 10 minutes

THE EXPERT Michael should change up his gym routine to avoid a plateau, Thomas says. Try a metabolism-boosting cardio circuit: Run a half mile; then switch to weight-bearing exercises concentrating on two areas of his body, like a set of chest presses and fast squats. After the next half mile, do ab work and lunges. Repeat.

Photography: Joe C. Moreno

This article appears in the January 2009 issue of Chicago Magazine.

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