My weight has been an issue for me for much of my life. I was a stocky kid off and on throughout my childhood. Just before my senior year of high school, I was able to lose a large amount of weight, a]]> Lou Murphy has lived with fitness buffs her whole life. Her son, LaVearal Maxeiner, who is a fitness trainer, had encouraged her for years to start a fitness routine, and her late husband, Dave Murphy]]> Brian Moore of Springfield is not your typical doctor. Instead of relying solely on medicine, he believes in being physically fit, and teaching patients that fitness is key to health. At age 54, he is]]> Science fiction would have us believe that one day in the future we’ll get all our food through little pills. Many of us have started down that path by opting for a handful of supplements in ord]]> So the economy has you rethinking that gym membership, and now you’d like to start working out at home – but you don’t know where to put all that cumbersome exercise equipment. Or pe]]> Most of us use our feet all day, every day – for work, for play, to get to our car , to get a drink of water, to get ourselves to the bathroom. With all of this walking, it’s not surprisin]]> You may approach the subject with the best of intentions, but nutritionists recommend you don’t talk to your teen daughter about dieting, and do not put her on a diet. “If you decide your ]]> If shedding those extra pounds is your top New Year’s resolution, health experts say you should start small – with your sweet tooth.According to the latest figures from the United States D]]> A peek inside the typical kitchen cupboard will give you a short history of American weight-loss fads. Every promise for a skinnier life, from fat-free to high-protein to reduced-carbohydrate foods, i]]> Strong diaphragms aren’t the cause celebre of the fitness world, but becoming a better breather can enhance your life – and your appearance – as much as a firm backside and killer th]]> It happened so subtly that I hardly noticed. From junior high through the beginning of college, I got fat. At just over six feet tall and weighing more than 270 pounds, I was positively obese – ]]> Lately, Dr. Craig Backs’ patients have been asking him if he’s all right. Backs lost more than 50 pounds over the past few months, but he’s not fighting cancer or some other disease.]]> This is an abridged version of a talk delivered Nov. 17 by Kathryn Pearson at the Sangamon County Medical Society’s Physician Wellness Conference. How are food, money and sexuality related to ou]]> Untitled Document The Frank J. Menolascino Award for Excellence, given yearly by the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed, was created to honor individuals ]]> I was lying on my back during the visualization exercise. The teacher we brought in from Detroit had the “yoga teacher” voice; you know, the calm, quiet, melodious voice. I had just eaten ]]> Here’s a simple step that you can take to get your goals back on track if you’ve found that they’ve been slipping recently.1. Start over. Get up. Continue. People find that being &ld]]> Springfield Bicycle ClubLearn about the club’s local and out-of-town rides and events for all skill levels. Each ride meets at a different location, time and day of the week. Visit spfldcycling.]]> Old city directories and phone books tell the story.Thirty years ago, fewer than five health centers, fitness clubs, gymnasiums – pick a noun – did business in Springfield. Twenty years ag]]> Brent Bohlen, a retired state worker and current exercise enthusiast, is an unlikely person to be speaking to doctors at a high-level conference on Alzheimer’s disease held this month at Souther]]> It only makes sense to turn a little patch of your property into a personal supply of organic food.Quality and cost control are the top reasons to do it – and avid gardeners will tell you that t]]>