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Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 RA) medications have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, with an estimated 12.5% of American adults prescribed them as of 2025.1 This number is only expected to grow thanks to the recent introduction of GLP-1 RA pills and with approval in the pediatric population. There is no doubt that when taken appropriately and supported with the right diet and exercise routines, these medications do work to control blood glucose, pro

Runners are always looking for a way to maximize performance. Whether it is through the addition of strength training, adding recovery movements, managing rest, or optimizing nutrition tactics, there are ways to get faster other than just running. Of course, the backbone of strength, speed, endurance, and recovery is nutrition. Food is the fuel that makes the car go, and if there is not enough gas in the car, you cannot get very far. That is why the first thing I like to work

“Gut health” has remained a hot topic in the health and wellness space in the past decade. In 2012, The Human Microbiome Project revealed groundbreaking research into the bacterial ecosystem that exists inside of human beings. Scientists discovered more about intestinal diseases, the relationship of the gut-brain axis, and how the composition of our gut bacteria influence health outcomes in the mid-2010s than ever before. This research project opened a window into the complex

Running should come naturally to us, right? For most people, the progression is sit, crawl, stand, walk, run. For some who do not spend hours each week running, it is that simple, but for those of us who do spend that time, running is not always that simple. If we don’t have the proper balance and form when running, our body can break down more quickly and we can become more prone to fatigue and even worse, injuries. While sometimes overlooked, proper form is essential to imp

Growing up as a swimmer (my parents literally put me in the pool the day I learned to walk), swimming always came second nature to me. As a young swimmer, best times came easily, which truthfully, is probably what made me fall in love with the sport in the first place. I loved the challenge of seeing how fast I could go or how far I could swim. I thought that as long as I swam as much as possible, I would continue to improve. Unfortunately, I was wrong. If only it were that

About Me Hello Skim Community! My name is Katie Large, and I am a 2023 graduate from the University of Chicago. Ever since I was a young child, I have been enveloped in the world of sports. I was involved in almost every sport as a child and played three sports in high school, which inevitably led to my collegiate lacrosse career at UChicago. Throughout my experience as a young female student athlete, I struggled with my mental health. I constantly was anxious and self deprec

Sometimes the hardest part of improving your health is starting Day 1. It is easy to think about all the things we can do to improve our health, but to actually put those plans into action can be the biggest challenge. It can be overwhelming or intimidating to put plans into action, because what if we fail? The thought of failing is a true fear, but it is one that we should not let deter us. The fear of failure is common in our clients starting their health journey, which is

"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light." – Aristotle In a modern day “tech-filled” world surrounded by artificial light – from early morning alarm clocks and blue light during late-night scrolling, our bodies seem to be paying the price. Blue light exposure, irregular routines, and indoor lifestyles have disrupted the circadian rhythms our ancestors relied on for physical and mental wellbeing. Light is not always a bad thing, but the wrong light

The benefit of working with a registered dietitian (RD) includes receiving medical nutrition therapy, which differs from working with just any nutritionist! If you are not familiar with the difference between an RD and a nutritionist, you can read more about what distinguishes the two here! ( https://www.skimwellness.com/post/why-work-with-a-registered-dietitian .) But what does medical nutrition therapy mean, and why might you benefit from receiving this type of therapy? Acc

Pre-teen athletes are often overlooked when it comes to sports nutrition, however this group is actually one of the most nutritionally at-risk age-groups for a variety of reasons. For one, this is an incredibly diverse population: some are just starting to explore sports, while others train for hours each day. Regardless of activity level, all pre-teens face increased energy demands due to growth alone. When you add in the demands of athletic training, nutrient needs rise eve

Access to information has never been easier with social media, artificial intelligence, Google, and similar resources right at our fingertips. It is so convenient to pop a question into Chat GPT and have the answer within seconds, or to look up a hair tutorial on Tik Tok and save the trip to the hair stylist. You can even ask google to show you a recipe that meets your macro goals and it will provide you with the recipe, grocery list, and nutrition facts. So when it comes to

Article Review: “Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials” Have you ever finished up a run or a HIIT workout and sense a sudden pang of adrenaline – as if you could conquer anything? Typically, when most individuals think about mood and addressing anxiety or depression, it is an automatic thought to think “medication” or “therapy.” Movement is o