Tag Archives: los angeles

9 Places You Can Workout Next to a Celebrity in LA, New York, and Chicago

OMG! It’s really them! That moment you realize you’ve identified a celebrity in the wild, out amongst mere mortals, living “just like us,” can be rather thrilling. For those who live in LA or NYC, it’s all too common to dine next to the hottest faces and grocery shop elbow to elbow with leading ladies, but for people in the other 48 states, running in to a celebrity on vacation is one of the souvenirs you hope to collect.

If you’re planning an active vacation this summer, hit these workout hot spots and you’re likely to sweat right alongside an OMG-moment-worthy celeb.

Picture or it didn’t happen, your friends will say after your excited tweet. But should you even let them know you know it’s them?

“When I see celebs in the gym, I think it’s poor personal etiquette to approach them during their workout,” advised Dan Flores, RTSm, a master personal trainer based in New York City. “I value my personal gym time and would hate to be interrupted. I would approach them after they were finished and on their way out of the gym.”

— New York City —

heidi klum russell simmons

Central Park is no stranger to the rich and famous; in fact, it’s practically their cardio playground. Free to enter, take your morning run to one of the most famous landmarks in the world and you’re sure to spot a name or two worth bragging about. Heidi Klum, Russell Simmons, and Gwyneth Paltrow are on the extremely short list of A-listers you’ll run or down-dog along with!

The Mark Hotel has a state-of-the-art fitness facility that rivals any gym getting your membership fees. Book your stay here, and your workout may coincide with that of Oprah, Sarah Silverman, Larry David, David Beckham, Jennifer Lopez, and even dignitaries like the President of France! (more…)

Posted on June 16, 2023 by Natalie K

Los Angeles Adopts Meatless Monday for the Health of its Citizens

Los Angeles has become the largest city in the U.S. to partake in what’s known as Meatless Monday. It’s been a mostly social media-driven national effort by The Monday Campaigns to get people to eat vegetarian meals every Monday.

Friday, November 9, the LA City Council unanimously approved a resolution to adopt Meatless Monday for the city. The council resolution gives statistics showing that more than half of LA County residents are obese or overweight and states that reducing meat consumption can decrease the chances of having health issues. Councilwoman Jan Perry encouraged the motion due to growing health issues such as heart disease and cancer.

“We can reduce saturated fats and reduce the risk of heart disease by 19 percent. While this is a symbolic gesture, it is asking people to think about the food choices they make. Eating less meat can reverse some of our nation’s most common illnesses,” said Perry. “The issue is, how does a local municipality engage in this and how do we create change? If we do it one plate at time, one meal, one day, we are ratcheting down the impact on our environment. We start with one day a week and then, who knows, maybe we can change our habits for a lifetime.”

Here’s a list of a few restaurants/business in the L.A. area that plan to actively participate in the resolution every Monday (some may even offer Meatless Monday discounts). (more…)

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Danielle

GST Workouts Blend Yoga, Pilates, and Capoeira to Help Bodies Heal and Rehabilitate after Injuries

Let’s face it, sometimes physical activity can be painful. People can throw their back out from lifting weights or tear their ACL while playing basketball. One mishap in the gym, court, or playing field can leave your body damaged. And, getting your body back to its original state will take lots of physical therapy. Yet, after physical therapy your body might not be back at its prime as it was before you got hurt.

Grace SomatomorphicTM Technique, known simply as GST, is a workout that reshapes and heals your body for a better, stronger, and healthier you. After years of dancing took a toll on Anna Rahe and left her in pain, she was in need of therapeutic fitness but couldn’t find anything. So she created GST with her knowledge of fitness and its scientifically-supported research.

Anna wanted to teach others GST because it helps the body become pain free while toning to be more beautiful. “GST is also more than just a workout- it is a way of life. In addition, the process of GST directly engages the brain’s powerful desire and inclination for neuro-plasticity- to grow and change.”

GST’s philosophy is motivation, exploration, identification, excavation, assimilation, restoration, and transformation.

Motivation: Why do you want to better your health?

Exploration: Search for answers and try new things.

Identification: Understand what is wrong with your body and health.

Excavation: Dig and find new information that will help your restoration and transformation.

Restoration: Restore your body to its original health.

Transformation: Take your body’s health to the next level and transform it to a healthier better you.

There are four types of programs GST offers, each designed to heal and restore the body: Somatiques, Athletic, Body Shaping, and Pregnancy. The classes differ by the types of techniques that are used to heal and restore the body. (more…)

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Samantha

Flavored Milks and Other Unhealthy Foods Eliminated from Los Angeles School Lunches

Parents of children in the Los Angeles School District have something new to talk to their children about when discussing healthy lifestyle choices: the absence of flavored milk in school lunches. On Tuesday, June 14, 2024, the Los Angeles Unified School District voted 5-2 to remove flavored milk options from its school menus.

Many school districts – including Washington D.C. –  have passed similar acts in their efforts to make the meals they serve their students healthier while also combating childhood obesity. Los Angeles is the largest school district to ban sugar-laden, artificially flavored milks from their lunches. This district serves 650,000 meals a day at 1,000 different locations. In addition to removing milk from their menus, Los Angeles schools will be removing other unhealthy options such as corn dogs, chicken nuggets, and other fast food items. In their place, the district is adding more vegetarian options, such as spinach tortellini with butternut squash and California sushi rolls.

“Absolutely, by the fall the district will be a national leader,” said a senior advocate for the California Food Policy Advocates, Matthew Sharp.

(more…)

Posted on June 16, 2023 by Health Buzz

Los Angeles the Worst Jamie Oliver’s Seen in Food Revolution’s Season 2 Premier

The premier of season two of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution was better than I had hoped. It had everyone in my house shocked and engaged. I couldn’t keep up with the discussion on twitter because #foodrevolution was a trending topic with hundreds of tweets every minute. If you missed it this week, I will catch you up. Hopefully you can join the conversation tweeting live with us next week.

This season Jamie is in Los Angeles, but he has been banned from the LAUSD school system. Even after going before the school board, not like a celebrity but like any other citizen in a three minute slot, Jamie was dismissed unceremoniously. At one point, Jamie stated that his welcome in Huntington, WV, reportedly the unhealthiest city in the U.S., was warm compared to the cold shoulder he was receiving in L.A. Because he was not allowed in the schools, he asked school children and their parents to bring him food items from the school. Jamie stated that it was the worst school menu he had seen anywhere (and twitter seemed to agree). It was revealed that to save money, food is only prepared in one kitchen for all the schools in L.A. – the meals were only warmed in house.

(more…)

Posted on April 13, 2024 by Brooke Randolph

Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Season Two Premiers April 12th

I am excited to announce that we finally know when Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution season two will begin! After watching this preview for season two it seems that the delay may have been a result of the obstacles Jamie faced in bringing his revolution to Los Angeles, California.

When Jamie was told that his permits to work in the L.A. schools had been revoked, he declared war. I anticipate a lot of interesting public demonstrations in season two. I am hopeful that we will see that such grassroots campaigns are even more powerful than sharing his message with families with the assistance of the schools. I am excited that Jamie has continued his revolution despite setbacks and obstacles.

(more…)

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Brooke Randolph

L.A. Unified School District Declines Help from Jamie Oliver

Watching every episode of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution certainly sparked something in me to feed my children healthier meals. I have wished to have Oliver work in the school kitchens in my city, to help others see that the food choices they make for students have room for improvement. If that chance was offered to my city, I’d really hope that those in charge would accept the offer.

Not so for the Los Angeles Unified School District. They were offered a spot on the second season of The Food Revolution and turned it down.

Jamie Oliver’s first season of Food Revolution took on the city of Huntington, West Virginia, a city with the reputation for being “America’s Fattest City“. Oliver was met with criticism and outright hostility, although he was ultimately welcomed by those who were his biggest enemies. Now, in his second season, he has decided to take on the city of Los Angeles – the second largest city in America, and not just in population. It’s a great idea, except that the Unified School District wants no part of his plan. (more…)

Posted on November 7, 2023 by Carmen

Ryan Kwanten’s Drunk Workout

True Blood's Ryan KwantenTrue Blood heartthrob Ryan Kwanten may have a hot bod, but we’re not sure we’d recommend all of his workout habits. He recently bragged to Men’s Health that he can still get in a good workout while intoxicated. “I’ve been known to turn up drunk at triathlons and do very well,” said the Australian actor in his interview for the November cover story. We don’t really need to tell you why that’s not a good idea, right?

The rest of Kwanten’s workout we can endorse. Once a professional triathlete, he says he works out for his own physical and mental wellness, not just to look good for a role.

“I’m very rarely in the gym. My workouts are predominately outside, in nature.” He prefers to run on mountain trails outside L.A. or bike and swim on the beach. Kwanten also recommends engaging in a variety of physical actives. “There’s a lot to be said for muscle confusion,” he says. “The moment you have monotony, your muscles can fall asleep. Variety makes you much more balanced.”

(more…)

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Health Buzz

Announcing: Season Two of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution

Fans of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution are looking forward to season 2 to start mid-season. Although ABC.com offers very little information, it has been reported that they have ordered another six episodes for season 2 of Food Revolution, which recently won an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Show.

This season, Jamie will take on America’s second largest city, Los Angeles, California. The focus will include people of all ages in schools, offices, homes, and restaurants in L.A. Will the residents of Los Angeles respond differently to Jamie’s education about processed food and cooking lessons than the citizens of Huntington, West Virginia, who were offended by his ‘help’? L.A. certainly has a different reputation, but an obesity problem does exist in Los Angeles.

Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution from Fresh One and Ryan Seacrest Productions is loosely based on Jamie’s UK series, Jamie’s Ministry of Food and Jamie’s School Dinners, which helped reshape school food in Great Britain. Jamie is the author of several best-selling cookbooks, and his newest cookbook Jamie’s America: Easy Twists on Great American Classics and More! will be released by Hyperion in October. (more…)

Posted on September 9, 2023 by Brooke Randolph

Best Gyms in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a booming sprawling metropolis with about 17 million residents. No wonder traffic is horrible morning, day, and night.

The fitness business is going strong there, with thousands of personal trainers who are able to take advantage of the beaches, mountains, and amazing year-round weather to train outside of the gym setting. Although the majority of personal trainers freelance, others choose the gym setting to make a living. (more…)

Posted on August 18, 2023 by Matt

Best Places to Run in Los Angeles

biggest losers at runyon canyon

Former Biggest Loser contestants Bill Germanakos, Coleen Skeabeck and Dan Evans run Runyon Canyon with our senior editor Brandi Koskie. (photo by Bill Germanakos)

Over the next few weeks, I am going to cover the best places to run or walk in the nation. By best, I am talking about the safest and most scenic places that take your breath away while you enjoy your exercise. I am going to start with L.A. simply because I live there and I am familiar with the best trails and such.

First off, Griffith Park, is the nations largest inner-city park (surrounded by cities). Griffith Park consists of three golf courses, several trails, horseback riding, and plenty of room to play sports or picnic. Simply amazing!! (more…)

Posted on July 22, 2023 by Matt