Not everyone who experiences anxiety has or will develop an anxiety disorder. Some anxiety is a regular part of life. Our response to stimuli that create anxiety helps us pay attention to potential danger and keeps us alert. However, for an estimated 11% of people worldwide who are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, anxiety is...Read More
What is PTSD? First, let’s talk about what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is, since it is sometimes misunderstood. It is a complicated mental disorder that develops after exposure to or experiencing a single or repeated traumatic event. It’s often associated with military service, but also occurs in individuals who witness or experience things like...Read More
Almost everyone loves a good cup of coffee in the morning. Four out of five adults consume caffeine daily. But caffeine isn’t just used to wake you up and start your day. Plenty of athletes (and your average Joe) swear by pre-workout supplements that contain a lot of caffeine. But what does caffeine even do...Read More
This weekend, we will “fall back,” and the days will get shorter and shorter. This leaves many of us missing the sunnier, warmer months, and that affects our mood. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects about 5% of adults annually, lasting around 40% of the calendar year. The worst months are usually January and February, but...Read More
“You can’t pour from an empty cup.” It’s a mantra mental health professionals use to remind you to take care of yourself. Practicing self-care is essential to maintaining balance in your life- mental and physical. “Filling up your cup” can mean many different things to many people, but the important takeaway is that you can’t...Read More
Me and my mom at Starved Rock State Park. We go every year, along with my two sisters, to honor Daniel, who passed away. Our family loves hiking! Hello everyone! My name is Jen Connelly. Many may not know this, but I write and create content for Fit St. Charles’ Facebook and Instagram, and I...Read More
Doctors recommend 7-9 hours of sleep each night for adults and 7-8 hours for older adults. Sleep is important for your physical and mental health; without proper sleep, your mind and body begin to suffer. Sleep is a regenerative period for your body, essential to any fitness journey. Here are a few reasons why sleep...Read More
Is half of your diet made of pre-digested foods? And yes, you read that right. Think of it like this- you are a baby bird, and your mother is graciously regurgitating food for you to eat. Doesn’t sound appealing, does it? Well, that’s what ultra-processed food is, and as you might imagine, it’s not good...Read More
Oh boy, we are already in the third month of the year. And, no, we can’t believe it’s March already, either! By now, most people who set New Year’s resolutions have long forgotten about them. In fact, about 80% of people stop trying to reach their goals before the end of January. Your gut reaction...Read More
No matter how experienced you are, no matter how many accomplishments, and no matter how many battles you have won, you will still face challenges. And that is exactly what we will discuss today- challenges related to long-term weight management and how to overcome them! Challenges can be intrinsic or extrinsic, but no matter where...Read More
