I started my day in Chicago with a nice lake-side run! This isn’t the first time I have run along Lake Michigan — when I was in Chicago for a visit in 2009 I ran in frigid temps early in the morning. And then I did another (much-warmer) run during the Healthy Living Summit in 2010! Yesterday’s run was about 3.5 miles and it was beautiful!
Afterwards, I popped into Whole Foods for coffee and a smoothie because it was right next to my hotel. This smoothie was kale, coconut, almond butter, dates, and cinnamon, and it rocked!!
After showering and packing up, I headed over to the Zeno Group office for my workday in this skyscraper!
Their office was super swanky, modern, and cool. And just look at the view!!
When Swanson Health Products asked me to come on board as their media spokeswoman, I knew I would be doing some interviews on healthy living and introducing their new line of probiotics, similar to the media tour I did with Quaker last year in NYC. But what I didn’t quite realize was that I’m going to be doing interviews on LIVE TV next week. Eeeekkkk!! In preparation for this, they flew me to Chicago to do a day of media training. I am so glad I was able to do this to prepare because I can’t imagine going into it without the rehearsals and recordings we did throughout the day. Please send me good vibes for next week!
For our lunch break, we had Mediterranean food from Roti. Wraps, salad, pitas, hummus, sauces. It was a great spread!
The rest of my day went like this:
1 hour + ride to the airport + 1 hour at the airport + 1.5 hour flight + 40 minutes racing across Philly airport + 1 hour flight to Cville + 20 minutes to wait on the bag they made me check on full flight + 20 minute ride home + shower. Exhausting!
Mazen and I are making pancakes together <3 And I am unpacking and re-packing for another short overnight trip later this afternoon! When it rains, it pours, but in a good way!
That is a LOT of traveling!!! Chicago looks beautiful- and such a fun city to be in! I want to make a trip there sometime soon.
I am sending you all the good vibes! You will be awesome. 🙂
Looks like it was a fun and productive trip to Chicago! I’ve only been to Chicago once, but didn’t get the opportunity to experience much of the city. I was on a brief trip over 12 years ago to visit a college that was located in the Chicago suburbs. Still, it was beautiful to be able to see Lake Michigan, since the campus was located right along the path of it.
That looks like a fun trip! And good luck, you will do well on your live interview next week!
https://jonandaudadventure.wordpress.com/
What channels are your interviews on? Would be cool to tune in!
I will let you know when I know! I know I’ll be on Access Hollywood Live and select markets including the Chicago News, Richmond, and more!
I know I’ve been critical of your supplement promotion in the past but I feel inclined to say it again for folks who are interested in taking any supplement that isn’t specifically suggested by a doctor for a deficiency. 1) Supplement regulation is broken. People using them should be careful. 2) When looking to improve health (particularly for those who are at the start of their journey) – use your money for food and exercise.
I have worked in the supplement industry for 20 years, and I am guessing you don’t know very much about many actual supplement companies, if that is still your take on it. There are MANY companies which adhere to strict scientific (especially in the case of herbs) testing procedures, as well as GMP certification, in which case facilities are subject to FDA standards. Also, doctors are generally not well-versed in supplements, and there are many things that people take which they aren’t going to get from food. (Probiotics are grown in labs, by the way, it’s an entirely scientific process.) There are forms of herbalism that have been around for hundreds, if not thousands (in the case of Traditional Chinese Medicine) of years. Doctors will likely know nothing about anything beyond western medicine, vitamins and minerals, and supplements are not just taken for deficiencies- they are often taken to aid the body in areas that it is challenged, and to prevent upsets in the body. I’ve studied TCM, Native American herbalism, as well as Ayurveda, and the idea that people (generally Americans, it seems) think they can just delegitimize the medicines of other cultures, which they know nothing about, is laughable. I am saying this because the whole “unless your doctorrr says you need it” thing is instantly rules out a whole world of potentially beneficial options- and yes, I am someone who has had a history of health issues that I was able to remedy naturally. Western medicine is one way, but it is not the only way. I realize you don’t know what you don’t know, but there are generations of people all over the world who have benefited from things that doctors can’t prescribe, and likely are not aware of, because that is not their area of expertise.
Wellllll put, Jillian! Glad you chimed in! 🙂
Doctor here. I am open to all types of medicine that have been shown to have benefit. If supplements are so beneficial, it shouldn’t be so difficult to prove without relying on anecdote. The truth is that research studies have shown no benefit to probiotics, the bacteria in these probiotics are already in your gastrointestinal tract, and research into commercially sold probiotics has shown that the bacteria in them are usually dead by the time you consume them.
Hi Jillian – I do recognize that that are supplement companies that adhere to safety measures. And those companies generally support more oversight and regulation because of the vast number of supplements that are now in the market. As you know, supplements are regulated as a food and not a drug so it is more difficult to control products in the market. Thus my statement that people should be careful.
And yes I oversimplified and I don’t doubt that there are remedies that people feel work for them – but I think the reality is that many people use supplements to address something they’re going through physically – when at baseline – they may not have yet truly addressed their diet and exercise.
How exciting! Chicago is one of my favorite places to run. My brother went to Northwestern and I always loved running along Lake Michigan. when I visited and the Chicago marathon is my favorite I’ve ever run!
That sounds so exciting! Congrats on the new gig 🙂
Wow, that’s so cool, Kath! Congrats!! You’re going to be awesome 🙂
The food spread looks so good! Treated like royalty! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Do you find chicago weather muchmore windy and hence cooler than other states?
So fun to see you in my hometown!!
I live right down the street from Bar Siena, and you are so right that Chicago living makes it way too easy to spend all your money on eating out, and to eat lots of unhealthy things!
Also wanted to say that the Whole Foods smoothies around here are from Real Good Juice Co, as your drink wrapper says, which is a local company. So it’s like you’re supporting local biz even at Whole Foods 🙂 Thought you’d like to hear that.
Have fun with the next trip!!
Yes that’s what drew me in! It was great.
You don’t need media training, Kath! You’re a natural! But, I guess it doesn’t hurt. 🙂 Btw, I was just in Chicago too! First time since HLS back in the day. That was a fun conference!
Yes that was a fun time!!
Hope you had a great time in out city!
Love the photos and the run on the lake. You’ll do great. Exciting!
You’ll do great, Kath! Make sure to post the videos! Start working on that cookbook, girl, I think you are headed for stardom! 🙂
Were the offices you were at in the Aon building by any chance? My husband works in that building and the view you posted looked familiar! Congratulations on all the new awesome things headed your way and I know you’ll do great on TV 🙂
I’m not sure of the building name but I’m sure it was super close!
You are going to rock those live interviews! Just breathe deeply before and pretend it’s a one on one convo. Good luck!! 🙂
Thanks!
Hi Kath,
Very nice and informative article. Thanks!