337 Magazine Volume 6 Issue 2

A COUNSELOR'S ADVICE FOR TRYING TIMES

NO WAY OUT BUT THROUGH

SPRING ISSUE

She Means Business Brandy Landry on Doing Business Differently

Not Your Average Donut Shop NORTHSIDE DONUT SHOP USING BUSINESS TO GET PEOPLE TALKING

TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Local Fitness Center Focuses on Wellbeing of the Community

What You Can Control

FINDING YOUR CALM BY ORGANIZING HOME SPACES

We design with you in mind.

103 Foxtail Trail Featured in Parade of Homes 2019

Parish Architecture provides services in commercial and residential architecture, interior design, branded environments, and urban design. Our innovative design takes into consideration the current technologies and solutions that result in smarter and better-built environments. We create and develop the best possible solutions for your project by working with you every step of the way. We know all these things can be a big job and we are here to walk you through it all. Contact us today!

Letter from the Editor

By Abby Meaux Conques

“We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. At the time of this publishing, the current situation of our community, as well as the world at large, is chaotic. You may not be able to see it within the walls of your home, or even in your neighborhood, but I know that a few miles up the road from where I live, there are medical professionals working at a Level II trauma center that are running critically low on ventilators and having to reuse protective masks that aren't supposed to be reused, while dealing with patients who may carry and be suffering from what is arguably the most contagious viral disease known to our generation. Much of the Acadiana area is strongly encouraged to work from home and shelter in place. I think it's safe to say that no editor wishes that information be outdated post-publishing, but if this issue is being read in the near future, and all of the mentionings of life as we know it fighting COVID-19 is over by then, I would be ECSTATIC. Truth is, since this is a quarterly magazine, much of the work happens months in advance of the layout and design of the final product. That being said, many of the articles published in this issue stemmed from interviews completed weeks or a month ahead of the days that we are currently facing. A few weeks ago I was excitedly gathering information on spring activities and upcoming local artist workshops. Now, everything in the near future, at least through Easter (but I'm anticipating beyond) is collectively cancelled.

Today, gone are the days of sitting at the table of your favorite restaurant and working out at your local gym. It's all very surreal, and went from 100mpg to zero extrememly fast, but that's our reality right now.

So as a magazine, how do we share our stories right now? For the articles which were written beforehand, they were carefully modified to include messages of hope that one day (soon) we can go back to simple everyday activites like working out in a gym which we feature...and we can go back to them with a new found appreciation. We tailored our wellness articles to have specific content in sharing tools to boost our immune systems and to mentally get through these tumultuous times. Let's be real...this is taking a mental toll on all of us...as humans, as children, and as parents.

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On a personal and professional level, (and thankfully in conjunction with owner agreement) I believe that being authentic and real is paramount. Never before has it been so imperative to be true to your essence in the depths of your soul, and parts of articles refined in this issue reflect just that.

For some people, our current situation means they've never leaned into their faith so hard. For others, this situation brings them back to a faith lost. And yet others, it's a complete recalibration...a "back to zero."

A start from the bottom up. A "let's get simple and look at what would devastate us if we lost it" mindset.

What is important to you, really?

Are we devastated that our gyms are closed?

Sad, yes...devastated? We'll live. But I implore you to think about irreplacable things... those people in your life that light you up and make your little world a more pleasant place. Currently we have to watch our every move to ensure that we don't jeopardize our own health, but also the health of the ones we love. Let's be honest...we will lose people we know. We may have already. If that's not a shake to the core for you, then I don't know what is. If the most important thing to you after we're on the other side of this is still your Porsche, then I don't think there's anything that could penetrate your heart's surface, nor change your worldy view.

There's so much we don't know right now... so much uncertainty. But there is one thing that I do know. I know that there are many humans out there, all over the world, who have been through some extremely tough times. I know that this has beefed up their shell of being able to handle curveballs proverbially thrown. I know that humans are resilient. I know that given the "orders" to slow down and shelter at home with the family unit have made families hug each other tighter, pay more attention to each other's needs, and really take an inventory of what ultimately matters to them.

I believe that once we're collectively on the other side of this, many things will be done differently in all facets of life, and old ways of doing things will be forced to be different, because we know they work. I think that we will see different ways of doing business and that people will realize the greater value of

supporting local businesses rather than harboring big brand loyalty. I think these will be the welcomed lessons silver lined in all this.

I believe that the sheer toughness of this situation will instill fortitude in those who face disappointment in these times. It may be an unimaginable life-altering disappointment like human loss, and not being able to have a proper funeral. It may be a loss of a long-time career, or not being able to walk on stage for graduation. We will be disappointed. The disappointment, and being able to sit with it and navigate through it, will ultimately give us all the precious gift of strength to handle the many tough situations that will undoubtedly occur in our lifetimes. It will move us away from the idea that we need to shield our children from feeling pain, and offer consolation prizes to make sure everything is even steven. And you know what...they will be better for it.

Disappointment will give us a place to pull from when it's necessary to be strong. As a (very) wise friend of mine told me recently, "These are big lessons in building resilience... and it will serve you for a lifetime. Surrender." When my thoughts begin to spiral, the word "surrender" has become my mantra.

So for right now, I am surrendering my fears and holding on to the hope that things do change in the future; that we find better ways to do things. May we choose gentler ways to treat each other, live our lives kinder, and know that each others' lives are so precious. May we focus on what really enriches us and aids us in being better humans on the back end of all this, and that ultimately, none of this disappointment was in vain.

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CONTENTS OWNERS/PUBLISHERS 337 Media Editor / Creative Director: Abby Meaux Conques Graphic Designer: Abby Meaux Conques Ad Design: Abby Meaux Conques, Heidi Roy Digital Media: Abby Meaux Conques, Heidi Roy

337 CORRESPONDENTS Brandon Alleman, Jules Bruchez, Adam Chauvin, Abby Meaux Conques, Amelie Harding, Jennifer Lolli, Renee Ory, Allison Saltzman, Olivia Savoie, Yvette Quantz

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS / ARTISTS Kimba Azore, Kody Chamberlain, Adam Chauvin, Abby Meaux Conques, Mike D Photography, Renee Ory

CONTACT US 337magazine.com

Editorial: editor@337magazine.com Advertising: advertise@337magazine.com

LIFESTYLE 6 She Means Business Lafayette's Brandy Landry on Doing Business Differently

HOME + STYLE

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13 Finding Your Calm in an Organized Home Space

FOOD + DRINK 14 Immune-Boosting Tips to Stay Healthy in Acadiana 15 Adam Eats: Big Things in a Small Town 16 Not Your Average Donut Shop 18 The Northside Vegan

WELLBEING

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22 No Way Out But Through 24 Intermittent Fasting (IF) & Calorie Restriction (CR) – Healthy or Not? 26 It's a (Wo)man's World: 5 Female Fitness Myths 28 Getting Grounded in Tumultous Times 32 Taking it to the Next Level

LEGACY TRIBUTE 34 Millard “M.P.” Dumesnil: A Man on a Mission

ARTIST PROFILE 36 Kody Chamberlain: Campaign for Community Creativity

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HAIR + SKIN HEALTH 38 Healthy Skin at Home

ART 40 Artist Image: Kody Chamberlain

38 All pages within 337 magazine are the property of 337 magazine. No portion of the materials on the pages may be reprinted or republished in any form without the express written permission of 337 magazine ©2020. The content of 337 magazine has been checked for accuracy, but the publishers cannot be held liable for any update or change made by advertisers and/or contributors to the magazine. 337 Media, LLC is not responsible for injuries sustained by the reader while pursuing activities described or illustrated herein, nor failure of equipment depicted or illustrated herein. No liability is, or will be, assumed by 337 magazine, 337 Media or any of its owners, administration, writers or photographers for the magazine or for any of the information contained within the magazine. All rights reserved.

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She Means Business Lafayette's Brandy Landry on Doing Business Differently

By Abby Meaux Conques

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE D PHOTOGRAPHY 6

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P R O F E S S I O N A L P R O F I L E

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ccomplished business owner, interior designer, and public speaker, Brandy Landry, doesn’t fit into just any mold you want to put her into: and that’s exactly the way she prefers it.

Brandy offers her professional interior design services as an independent contractor for the residential construction realm as well as workplace development. Her design career began in interior decorating, but after working on some projects which included new and renovation construction, she realized that designing for those facets of the industry lit her creative pilot light. Her specialty grew to today’s main focus on new construction.

She serves as Principal Interior Designer for Open Doors Louisiana, a non-profit that creates safe and affordable housing for residents in need. “We bring the houses down to the studs and build them back up, I enjoy the meaning behind that...a fresh start... complete transformation….a safe place for someone,” she said. “I came from a family of skilled carpenters; I think that’s where my love for construction stems from - I’ve always been comfortable in a workshop,” she mentioned.

Her accomplished list doesn't stop there; she acts as a Personal Branding Strategist and Communication Trainer for entrepreneurs with her business, iBrandYou360. “I show people how to monetize the power of their personality in business...how to be creative and innovative without boundaries...and that’s it’s possible doing so by not going the traditional route,“ she said.

Brandy is a widely sought after public speaker and keynote speaker for various conferences, events, and graduation commencement ceremonies. She also enjoys spending time speaking to what the general public might deem “at-risk” youth. “I’m not what people expect from the traditional 'business woman' as it relates to my non-traditional appearance and delivery style, but I think that’s what makes me relatable! I enjoy speaking at what people call ‘at-risk’ schools...but I don’t consider them at-risk, I consider them ‘opportunity schools.

These are the places where there’s an opportunity to make a difference!”

With the vast array of leadership skills that she has meticulously molded over the years of her professional career in the corporate world, Brandy continuously looks for ways to give back to those around her.

Recently, she formulated an all-female, by invitation

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group of full time volume producing women called Iron 2717, with the name stemming from the Proverbs verse and passage about iron sharpening iron. It’s a newly formed mastermind group for female volume-producing entrepreneurs. They meet weekly and look to network, grow, and create solutions for their business with like-minded individuals. “I always yearned for a strong supportive group of women who I could also serve as support to. These ladies are my business besties,” she said.

I sat with Brandy in her office and she opened up to me about what she has endured to get to the professional level in which she finds herself today. “Growing up, I was a larger than average, taller than average, dark-skinned, African American girl. In South Louisiana, that has never been the accepted norm. I’ve always had to create a lane for myself,“ she explained. She told me she always had to sit in a makeshift desk during her schooling to sit comfortably and often times her mother had to sew clothes for her since she found it hard to find anything to fit her stature.

“Instead of getting down about it, I would just tell myself ‘You’re just a big girl in a small world,” she told me. After getting to know a bit about her, making the best of things seems to be one of her (many) fortes.

When it comes to her professional life, she takes that uplifting outlook on life and seems to mold the world around her, instead of modding herself to fit in the world. She explained to me, “I show up to speak with bright colors. I’m just different, but I enjoy standing out. I like to be in my own lane because there’s no traffic there.” That’s exactly what she seeks to instill in her clients and the groups that she speaks to. “There’s value and authenticity in being adaptable and finding the power in your own personality.”

Brandy enjoys paving the way for others. When I asked how she approaches a way in doing so, she explained, “In South Louisiana, there aren’t many African American Interior Designers, so I enjoy treading the water that most won't tread to show people ‘Hey, you CAN do this. You have a place in this industry.' I think people in our African American culture are very creative and often get mistreated and overlooked in the South to the point that THEY end up not believing that they are worthy. My objective is definitely not about becoming rich, I’m focused on leaving a legacy.”

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Brandy grew up in what she likes to call an "inverse diverse" situation. She grew up in a black family living in a white neighborhood. I was always a little too black for white people and a little too white for black people. I had to learn to just show up as ME. ALL of ME! ” She believed that having the feeling of not fitting in anywhere gave her the resilience to figure out her own way to do things. One of her favorite sayings is,”Don’t try to fit in. You were created to stand out!”

That’s what she prides herself on being able to bring to the business world. I asked what advice she gives clients who go to her with questions on how to brand themselves. “I know that discomfort is the place where you grow. That’s what I teach.

I want people to be uncomfortable...and be uncomfortable in shifting the paradigm.

Not being afraid to challenge the status quo is where growth happens - once people get comfortable about not being so concerned about “fitting the norm”, that’s where the magic happens! Just make sure your heart is in whatever it is that you do! The caveat is you shouldn’t be doing it for you alone; you always have to be doing something for the greater good,” she explained.

She discussed how her parents influenced the way she lives her life today. “My Mother was always doing some sort of project, showing me how to be creative and to see things through from start to finish. My Father was my business role model and cheerleader, he always told me, ‘Don’t be average, be excellent.’” Another phrase from her Father that stuck with her was, “Remember why you started.” She confided in me that she thinks about that phrase every morning when she wakes up. “That quote gets me out of bed every morning.“ I mentioned to her that many people see her as an influencer, and I asked her what she thought about that. “My favorite Robert Frost quote comes to mind, ‘I am not a teacher, but an awakener.’” She explained further that aiding others in having their own realizations of their abilities is what fuels her. “All I can do is lead by example.

I enjoy being the person that I didn't have when I started on this path of self-discovery and business; I didn’t have a Brandy Landry.”

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Brandy thinks that people put too much emphasis on titles these days. “In the school setting I was never taught what to do with my creativity. I learned differently. Most of the very valuable life-shaping skills that I learned were self-taught. This way of learning is what I now know to be called an autodidact, a self-taught person. There’s value in teaching yourself because in the end, YOU are your biggest investment. But I never had anyone to tell me that. I’m here to tell people that.”

I posed the question of if she has any regrets professionally. “My only regret is not discovering my purpose earlier to enjoy it for a longer time...but, I remind myself, ‘I’m not a minute late, I’m right where I need to be at this time.’”

Brandy shared with me a few key bits of advice that she tells her coaching clients about doing business differently.

1. People buy into your personality, not your product. This is a difficult one for people to ascertain, but it’s true. A person who’s passionate about what they do or sell or offer will always get other people thinking, hey, maybe that will work for me, too.

2. Everything that we’ve done can be used for something - even the bad experiences or our out-of-steps. You can use those things to teach others and to help them to navigate through tough things.

3. You have to MAKE things happen for yourself. You have to hustle! You can’t cheat the grind. There’s no magic seat at the table, you have to create your own table. Always be strategic and intentional in what you do.

4. Be authentic & be consistent. Just be you.

At the time of my meeting with Brandy, life was still trodding along as the normal life we had come to know and expect. I wanted her view on the current situation in terms of the ailing economy and what advice she’d have for her business-owning clients during these unprecedented times of uncertainty, so I reached back out to her, and here's what she had to say: "Uncertain times like these show us who we really are at heart. These times make us reflect on self in very peculiar way! We see things that we don't typically see when all the hurriedness is in the midst. These times also show us who other people are. It’s easy to be nice when times are good. These times remind me of exactly what I love to say so often about not building business based on business. Build business based on relationships. I have built some of the most valuable and rewarding friendships in the business world from letting the focus be on the relationship and not the business! Continue loving people and supporting them during this difficult time. Remain Resilient, focused, and open to change! Change is definitely on the way!"

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Classical & Distinctly Christian Education

We are excited to offer a part-time enrollment option for homeschool students in the Acadiana area (7th & 8th grade).Spots are limited.

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Bank of Sunset & Trust Co. Dependability and service since 1906 The first two bank employees: Mr. Robert Castille (left) and Mr. Frank S. Berry

$4,400.33 DAWN OF A NEW ERA Back in 1906, the general public favored silver coinage to paper money, especially in the Sunset area. This was problematic as the nearest banks that supplied the coinage were in New Orleans or Opelousas.

Hauling the weighty silver coinage by horse and wagon was the preferred method by area merchants. During one such haul, two bags of coins, each containing $1,000 in silver, broke through the wagon’s bed and fell to the roadway.

The driver was unable to lift the heavy bags and was forced to wait on the side of the road for help to come along. It was the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back;” and the residents of Sunset decided the town would benefit from a bank of their own.

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The entire cost of the Bank of Sunset’s original building, including lot and vault door. This is less than one-third of what vault doors cost today.

STILL IN SERVICE The original Bank of Sunset building has since been donated to the Town of Sunset and served as the Sunset Town Hall until 2011. What a way to honor the founders’ legacy!

MOVING INTO THE FUTURE From it’s modest, one-location, $10,000 beginning, the Bank of Sunset now serves the Sunset, Grand Coteau, Lafayette and Broussard markets.

The Lafayette location recently opened the doors to the gorgeous new home mortgage office, and secure online features such as mobile banking, online bill pay, direct deposit and direct billing, continue to evolve bank wide.

Sunset Branch 337-662-5222 Grand Coteau Branch 337-662-3855 Lafayette Branch 337-234-5220 Home Mortgage Office 337-703-3144 Broussard Branch 337-837-5220 Bank of Sunset & Trust Co. Officers A FASCINATING LOOK INTO THE DEPRESSION In 1921, a young man named Robert Castille joined The Bank of Sunset at only 16 years old and for a whopping $10 per month. During The Great Depression, he and other bank officials spent many hours assuring frightened depositors that their money was safe.

To affirm this personal assurance more dramatically, stacks of cash were piled within view of the teller windows and bookkeeping department so that nervous depositors could see the bank had an ample supply of money available.

TOTAL COMMITMENT The present strength of the Bank of Sunset and its steady growth can be attributed to the talent and dedication of its directors, officers and staff. It is upon these high ethical standards and total commitment to the financial needs of the community that the Bank of Sunset will continue to offer even greater services and products.

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H O M E + S T Y L E

Finding Your Calm in an Organized Home Space

By Renee Ory

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he opposite of calm is stress; thankfully, we have a choice in our homes, outdoor spaces, and garages. After a day of work, driving home could be an opportunity to enter a restful soothing respite that envolps you the minute you enter your parking spot or garage. Yes, even your garage. Your garage could be your downstairs attic with shelving of clear plastic containers and hanging devices for bikes and garden tools. One wall could feature cabinets for extra pantry/kitchen items, and gardening equipment to continue the peaceful entrance into your home.

Once entering your home, soften your living space by clearing surface areas. Place books on small shelves. Put remotes in a serving tray next to coasters or magazines. In your office area utilize, wall bookcases or a storage compartment for important documents and extra office supplies. Consider custom, pull-out drawers inside your cabinets for your kitchen and bathrooms.

Added shelving in the utility for an overflow of pantry items will eliminate the need to return to the store frequently.

By addressing your mail daily, you can clear it from collecting on the dining room table or kitchen countertop.

Possible options: shred, recycle, or place in an area designated to revisit later. Make your weekends yours again by creating a place for everything. By implementing order in your home, you’re creating freedom and peace, all of which assist in a balanced lifestyle.

Uncertainty is part of our daily lives now. Calmness and certainty go hand-in-hand. By knowing your keys are hung on the key holder when you enter, keeping your reading glasses in the outside pouch of your bag, you create a certain level of certainty in your life. What about rain boots? Yes, they’re in the utility room, tucked underneath the bottom storage shelf. Reinforcing these small changes ensures you’ll be able to retrieve anything at a moment’s notice.

Multi-tasking is a myth for many. It creates anxiety in that your focus is divided, taking more time than necessary. Take a deep breath and tackle one thing at a time, your list will diminish with ease. Even if your thoughts are scattered, accomplishing the kitchen countertops first, then simply returning kitchen items to the pantry and the small appliance storage will energize you. Next, move to the living area to fold blankets, fluffing pillows in their designated areas, and recycle already-read magazines and

newspapers. Moving on to the bathrooms and bedrooms will complete the sweep of tidying up with a sense of relief and once-again inviting space.

Calmness is a state-of-mind, easily cultivated once your priorities are clear to you and your family. “Let it Go” can have a double meaning.

One is to get rid of the clutter by donating to charity or giving to friends and family. Another take on “let it go” could be the emotional win of deciding what’s important to you in the moment; is it complete order or a respite in your armchair?

A great takeaway from your organizing effort is the calm and ease you will feel when we can get back toa semblance of life and you’re looking for that clear plastic bag to take to sporting events or the black cashmere shawl for an evening out.

Giving your possessions a home eliminates wasted time and frustration and extends valuable time and energy better spent on things you love. Bring calm, peace of mind, and organization to your home by calling in Amazing Spaces.

AMAZING SPACES is an Acadiana-based Professional Organizing Company transforming homes and offices since 2003.

Offering a full line of closet and storage systems. Call Renée Ory (337) 296-5506 for appointments and visit the website at AmazingSpaces.org V OL U M E 6 IS S U E 2

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F O O D + D R I N K

EAT FIT ACADIANA

Immune-Boosting Tips to Stay Healthy in Acadiana

by Yvette Perrier Quantz, RDN, CSSD, LDN Eat Fit Acadiana Operations and Marketing Dietitian There’s no doubt we have entered a scary time that is having a global impact. While there are so many uncertainties, the role of self-care is something we can’t ignore. The principles of good nutrition, regular movement, and healthy thoughts are more important than ever to practice on a regular basis.

Here are some simple but impactful ways you can nourish a healthy mind and body during times of stress and uncertainty.

EAT MORE PLANTS

By eating more plants, like vegetables, fruit, beans, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, you're feeding your body with natural, immune-boosting foods. Kale, Collards, Cilantro, Arugula, Broccoli, Carrots, Yellow and Red Peppers, Butternut or Acorn Squash all are rich in antimicrobial properties. Raw, steamed, boiled, and sautéed are best. Roasting kills most of the vital antimicrobial properties.

HYDRATE. HYDRATE. HYDRATE.

Staying hydrated is essential. A simple tip, divide your weight in half, and that is the number of fluid ounces you need to stay hydrated. Add slices of orange or grapefruit with fresh rosemary for a flavor-infused treat. Increasing fluid and Vit C to help stimulate bowel function, washing out bacterial and viral exposure.

MINIMIZE REFINED FLOURS, SUGAR, AND ALCOHOL.

Focus on eating whole foods to promote a healthy gut and immune system. Limit added sugar from desserts, sodas, and other sugar-sweetened items. Minimize or avoid alcohol, especially those with high sugar content such as wine, daiquiris, and rum-based drinks.

STAY ACTIVE

Participate in regular physical activity. Even if you are unable to go to your workout class, there is an abundance of ways to stay active during this time. Check out YouTube for at-home workouts, take a run or walk outdoors, go for a hike, or get creative!

PRACTICE YOGA AND MEDITATION

Carving out time to practice yoga or meditation can be beneficial to both your mind and body during this time. Yoga is an effective way to destress because it helps you disconnect from the outside world while reconnecting with your mind and body.

DRINK KOMBUCHA

There is nothing like a batch of fermented bacteria and yeast to create a happy place in your digestive tract. I know this sounds a little strange, but seriously kombucha is a natural probiotic, which contributes to a healthy gut. A healthy gut means a more productive day, and getting things checked off your list is a sure way to enhance positivity. Kombucha is an excellent alternative to soda and can be an easy mid-afternoon "pick me up."

FIND JOY AND GRATITUDE IN EVERYDAY MOMENTS

Research shows that expressing gratitude can decrease both depression and anxiety while setting an overall positive tone for the day.

Eat Fit Acadiana items meet the nutritional criteria designated

by Ochsner Health System, supported by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation and Lafayette General Health.

Download the Eat Fit app to find participating Eat Fit restaurants throughout Louisiana and visit our website EatFitAcadiana.com to learn more.

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Yvette Perrier Quantz is a registered dietitian with a passion for inspiring and empowering people to nourish themselves with foods, words, thoughts, and actions that fuel them for better living. As Ochsner's Eat Fit Acadiana Operations and Marketing Dietitian, Yvette works with local restaurants to bring healthy menu items into the community.

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ADAM EATS

BIG THINGS in a

SMALL TOWN

by Adam Chauvin follow @adamceats on Instagram and Facebook

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ust about 1/2 mile north of Interstate 10 in Henderson, Louisiana there is a large, 19th century classic red barn dressed with white accents and huge white letters as signage for “CRAWFISH TOWN USA”. Less than 10 minutes away from here is an eye care office in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. Consider the extra trip if you miss the barn.

Chef Johnnie Gale took over as executive chef around October 2019. On February 29, 2020 the ACFNO (American Culinary Federation of New Orleans) announced that she would be honored as a best chef of Louisiana 2020.

At Crawfish Town USA, she offers Cajun fare such as this classic seafood platter; catfish, shrimp, crawfish boulette, stuffed shrimp, oysters, coleslaw, hush puppies and french fries. It can be ordered grilled or fried.

Look for other classics on the menu as well as spins on Acadiana’s famous Cajun cuisine; salads, appetizers, poboys, burgers and boiled seafood that is in season. Be sure to keep an eye on their social media accounts for daily specials that recently included; grouper, triple tail, New Orleans style BBQ shrimp and a Charbroiled Oyster Soup bread bowl that would have been hard to pass up if it were available during this recent lunch visit.

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Not Your Average Donut Shop

F O O D + D R I N K

Northside Business Owner Offers Fresh Donuts, Hot Takes

by Abby Meaux Conques

FRESH GLAZED DONUTS

The Acadiana area is no stranger to donut shops. This story isn’t the back story of all the shops that have connections, family ties and name changes, or using the same recipe. That’s already been said. After all, doesn’t competition keep us on our toes?

I first saw changes in the business when I noticed these (according to many facebook commenters) “controversial” marquis sign messages. Are they controversial to me? Personally, no. I think they’re a business owner expressing authentic thought.

"Taste the relish to be found in competition -- in having put forth the best within you." -- Henry Kaiser

Some marquis messages include, “Put down your guns and pick up some donuts.” Also, “There is more to life than taking someone else’s, y’all.” What message dons the sign as of this writing? “Give and forgive, y’all. It’s that damn simple.” My personal view on the messages is that if there’s any time to be authentic, I think these weird, turbulent times when people are holed up in their homes, fearful, are the perfect times to do so. I encourage you to tap into your authenticity as well.

What I want to bring to light is what THIS particular donut shop is doing in our area. Let me first preface this by saying that if my childhood were to be wrapped up into three area businesses, they would be Meche’s on Willow Street, Keller’s Bakery and Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe. Am I biased? Probably.

Walking into that shop reminds me of frequent morning donut dates with my darling Dad, and I have a visceral reaction when I walk through those doors. But let me also tell you this, the things that I noticed that the current owner of Rickey Meche’s on Willow Street doing, Blaine Peltier, is something to be talked about.

The bottom line is that this is a business owner in a part of town that people desperately want to see thrive, but feels like it’s been long forgotten about with new builds both further south and further north as opposed to revitalization of an area that used to be bustling with activity just one generation ago. And what will things be like after we’re on the other side of this Coronavirus situation?

BLAINE PELTIER, OWNER RICKEY MECHE'S DONUT KING E. WILLOW STREET LOCATION

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PARTIAL COLLECTIVE POEM BY LAFAYETTE PARISH JUVENILE DETENTION TEENS

Before Peltier owned the Meche's Willow location, he served as a guest artist in residence at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and worked at Meche's on Guilbeau Road. There was a point in time when Meche’s owners were looking for a buyer for the Willow Street location and approached Peltier to see if he was interested. “My first instinct was ‘do it’...I’m a believer in sometimes needing to listen to your own instincts,” Peltier said.

I sat at a table with Peltier in his Willow Street location on a Monday morning, Creedence Clearwater Revival playing over the speakers, employees dancing and singing jubilantly, customers walking in with smiles on their faces...yes... on a Monday. I asked him how he felt about the community at large during that moment. “There’s a definite shift going on right now...I’m just trying to be a catalyst for it,” he said. There are a few different ways Peltier wants to bring attention to the community that he’s dedicated to see positive change in. One notable change to his business are the wrap-around murals on his building.

“About a year ago, Alex Johnson coordinated an artist to come and paint conversation-starting pieces on the building,” he said.

Johnson is a Spoken Word Poet and founder of Lyrically Inclined, a group that hosts a variety of spoken word events throughout the community. Johnson worked with teenagers from Lafayette Parish Juvenile Detention. They collectively wrote a poem about their view of life as it stood at the time of crafting the poem; Johnson performs the poem as spoken word in the area.

Justin Robinson painted the poem along two sides of the building and painted other meaningful artistic imagery around the other sides. The drive thru side of the building has an image that pays homage to a beloved late Meche’s employee, Jeannine Robin, known as “the kolache lady.” On the front of the building there’s a lighter piece of a Herculean figure holding up a giant strawberry-glazed donut with sprinkles.

DEDICATED MURAL OF THE LATE JEANNINE ROBIN "THE KOLACHE LADY"

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The back side of the building is frequently seen by people waiting in the drive thru. There, you can find various social media icons on devices held by different hands. “It’s to show how consumed we are with social media. Even in the drive thru, people tend to check social media instead of simply waiting for food prepared for them; we constantly have the want to be distracted - if they look up from their phones and see that mural, it’s to make them think, and it served its purpose,” Peltier mentioned.

His offer of his blank building as a space for artistic representation of voices in the area serves as a way for people in the community to communicate their raw feelings. Such an expression is paramount, especially in these times. As of this writing, our community is in shelter-in-place mode, schools cancelled until next academic year, and the future uncertain with this viral threat. When we’re on the other side of this situation, Peltier plans to partner with a University of Lafayette Student Action Organization group to collect paperback books for prisoners. He intends to trade a warm Meche’s donut per donated book. “I just want to infuse a different energy...an uplifting vibe here,” he said.

As of now, he’s just trying to incite a sense of normalcy, one donut at a time, as food businesses can operate from a drive thru window to serve the community. He’s committed; the latest Facebook post from Meche’s reading, “Machine's down so we cuttin' up old school. Come grab some hand-cut imperfect perfection. Here until noon or until our arms fall off #hereforyall.”

Here for us, indeed.

ROBINSON'S SOCIAL MEDIA PAINTINGS ON DRIVE THRU PORTION OF BUILDING

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The Northside Vegan

F O O D + D R I N K

By Abby Meaux Conques

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hat’s not a sweet little title for this article, that’s her business name, and thought it was perfect. Kimba Azore (otherwise known as The Northside Vegan) is an educator in many facets.

I met with Kimba in the Principal's office of the school where she currently teaches. “You sit in the Principal’s chair! I’ve sat in that chair already,” she said. Kimba served as interim Principal at another small Christian school on the Northside of town. During that time, she was trying to manage her blood pressure while keeping her Type I diabetes in control.

She turned to a vegan diet to try to get her gut in on helping her body to regulate itself. “Once I switched to a vegan diet, I felt better overall and even got to taper off of some of my medications," she said.

She cooked vegan meals and bring them for her lunch at the school she oversaw. “The kids would always ask me, ‘What’s that?’ ‘What are you eating?’” she said. “Some of them didn’t know how vegetables grew,” she said. To show the students how she got her vegan food, she started a community garden at the school so they could witness what hard work growing your own vegetables yielded: a sense of accomplishment and healthy food.

Once Kimba’s friends and family learned of her new diet, they began asking her questions and requested samples of her home-cooked vegan meals. “I realized I needed to go a bit bigger to reach more people and participated in a pop-up shop at the Wurst Biergarten last summer,” she explained. That’s how the Northside Vegan concept came to fruition. “I almost went with ‘Fightingville Vegan’, but I wanted to encompass more areas from this side of town; it’s always been about community and health,” she explained.

That’s where Kimba comes in, doing community demonstrations on how to cook and season the vegetables in a creative way so everyone can use them to their full advantage. She even distributes recipes to food buyers. When I asked about what types of plates can be made with the vegetables bought at the pop-up market, she sputtered off a simple recipe that made me want to try a vegan dish right then and there. “I recently showed patrons how to prepare a stuffed sweet potato. I combined nutritional yeast, hemp seeds and vegetables and stuffed a baked sweet potato with that,” she said.

I asked her what she wanted people to know about the food she prepares for pop-ups. She told me, “My biggest thing is to give people options; I want them to discover different ways to eat...I’m not trying to turn anyone vegan,” she said playfully. She continued, “In all seriousness, I would like to get people to at least try vegan meals to give your body a rest in digesting meats. You don’t have to become fully vegan...just try some meals.”

Kimba was still able to pay homage to different well-known Northside areas. She named each of her vegan burgers after familiar Northside neighborhoods. “You have the most popular burger, the V-zay, (a single seasoned vegan patty, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, "cheese" and special sauce, on a Hawaiian bun) you have the Mccomb which is double the V-zay, the Zip, Truman, The Block,” she explained. “Right now I’m doing a bunch of pop-ups,” she explained. When I asked what her ultimate vision was for the future she said, “A brick and mortar store with a produce section that anyone can afford.”

Recently, the Northside had an uptick of availability of fresh organic and locally grown vegetables with the McComb Veazey Homegrowers Community Farm (think community garden) and the Veggies-on-the-Go pop up market (think farmer’s market) at the McComb-Veazey House at 419 12th Street in Lafayette. “This side of town is considered a food desert with limited or no resources for good-quality fresh food that’s affordable; when we lost Wal-Mart on the Thruway, everyone lost a spot to buy organic produce,” said Azore. These types of farmer’s markets and community gardens bridge that gap, but growing good vegetables can only go so far if you don’t know how to prepare it in a tasty way.

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As we ended our conversation, we talked about the side of town that held such a big place in our hearts, she left me with this: “The Northside is a viable spot. It’s so worth investing in. The people are loyal on this side of town and each neighborhood has a rich history that needs to be passed down.”

Before we all experienced the shelter-in-place ordinance, the Northside Vegan had a full calendar with food pop-up events. We look forward to attending them once our new way of life starts to resurface; we implore you to to attend them as well.

Until then, The Northside Vegan is offering meal prep and meal coaching as she works alongside a registered dietician. Check out the Northside Vegan Facebook page for updates and recipes...and go to a pop up when life gets up and running again.

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KIMBA AZORE, OWNER OF THE NORTHSIDE VEGAN

THE PEOPLE ARE LOYAL ON THIS SIDE OF TOWN & EACH NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A RICH HISTORY THAT NEEDS TO BE PASSED DOWN. 19

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W E L L B E I N G

No Way Out But Through

By Allison Saltzman, LPC

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e find ourselves in a situation that is unprecedented in our lifetimes. There is no way around the coronavirus. We all have to deal with it. There is no way out but through. We are being nudged to change how we individually and collectively deal with outer events and our internal processing of those events. The medical professionals have to treat the sick. Those who have become sick have had to fight for their health. The essential personnel have to uphold the basic structure of our society. The rest of us have to stay home.

Regardless of our position during this time, fear is often a factor during times of transition. Fear and worry are infectious, infiltrating our consciousness. It takes over, stimulating negative habits in our thinking, emotions, and actions. This cripples our ability to respond effectively to life’s challenges.

When we have no way out of something, it forces us to face parts of ourselves that we are usually able to avoid. Our “stuff” is as varied as our histories are. Our “stuff“ is our pain. Many are afraid of the uncertainty this has brought to our planet, our future, and how this will affect our individual lives.

We do not know what is on the other side of this coronavirus crisis.

In these moments where “life as we know it” is no more, it makes us stop doing what we always do. I believe we have something to learn from this collective experience.

The first place to start is, “What do I have to learn from this experience?” Wherever you are struggling right now, that is the guidepost to where the learning is for you.

Perhaps there is a part that is afraid to be alone, or afraid to get sick, or afraid of death.

Perhaps there is a part that is scared to not have enough, not do enough, not be enough.

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Perhaps there is a part that is terrified of uncertainty and cannot trust that life will work this out somehow, that “this too shall pass.”

Most of us have strong patterns of worry and fear.

It is important to realize that most of what we fear or worry about, we have very little control over. It may be difficult to believe that we actually do have control over our thoughts. It is possible to stop worry and fear, by no longer feeding it.

Try going 5 minutes without worry. Just dismiss any worry that appears for a short period of time. You will quickly see that it is possible to not worry. It is inevitable to be affected by what happens in our world, to our bodies, to the people we care about. Worry and fear do not have to be the predominant experience. Getting rid of worry and fear do not happen overnight. It takes practice and commitment.

Our fears can be disempowered. New, loving patterns of thought can be empowered: “I love and approve of myself no matter what.”

“No matter what happens, I do the best I can.”

“I respond to life’s challenges the best way I know how, trusting that new solutions will present themselves to me.”

Miranda MacPherson is an author and speaker who teaches a practice called ego-relaxation. I find myself going back to this teaching as a basic self-care tactic right now. She defines the ego as the part of us that sees itself as separate.

Miranda explains ego relaxation as “a softening, a melting, an allowing…allowing a letting go.” She warns that the way is ego relaxation, not ego annihilation. We do not have to cut out parts of ourselves that are scared, angry, or insecure. She says, “The one who is trying to become enlightened is the very one being asked to surrender the reins of control.” Surrender is quite a challenge sometimes.

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When I think of allowing, this experience comes to mind. My mother got a large splinter stuck in her finger while she was working in her flowerbeds. During that time, I had become interested in holistic health and I asked if I could try something.

I put one of the products that I was learning about (which was rich in antioxidants) on a bandage and secured that to the area where the splinter went in. After a day or so, her body encapsulated the splinter and brought it to the surface of her finger where it was removed with no difficulty. It was fascinating.

to be released. However, the human will is strong and we can resist this process of surrender, relaxation, and letting go of our “stuff”. If we focus on the fear or the “infection” within us, then we strengthen that infectious process. Sometimes emotions come to the surface that we did not know were still there.

Often we try to bury them back in.

The more we try to avoid, the more stuck we feel. When we become willing to feel everything, ironically we start to feel the cool breeze of freedom.

Like the body has the ability to bring a splinter to the surface of the skin, the inner self has the ability to bring our inner fears, insecurities, or flawed personality traits to the surface

No matter what your outer experience looks like, you can change your inner experience.

Spend some time cultivating inner peace.

Go inward, listen to a guided meditation Be the gatekeeper of your thoughts, do not entertain negative thinking Your mind will find something to focus on so give it something that generates peace: a spiritual teacher or leader, gratitude for what you do have, gratitude for what you are learning from the experience, curiosity about what will be born of this time (individually and collectively)

Practice common sense precautions: follow all of the issued guidelines in protecting yourself and

others, but do not give in to fear or spend your time obsessively checking the crisis updates (know that you are doing everything you can)

Participate in the solution in whatever way you can: prayer and meditation for the well-being of all, lovingly caring for your responsibilities, making equipment, collecting supplies for those who are more skilled in making equipment, dropping necessities to those who should not get out at all…whatever you can contribute

In spare time, attend to something you have not had time for, this might turn out to be a very creative time for you There is no way out of this epidemic but through it. And our starting point is within ourselves. Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, an Indian spiritual teacher, said “When I look inside and see that I am nothing, that is wisdom. When I look outside and see that I am everything, that is love. Between these two poles, my life flows.”

In this world crisis, both of these truths are necessary. We must realize that the separate person we see ourselves to be is really nothing at all. We must also realize that we are one with everything, we are all connected.

A few minutes of letting go of everything and setting an intention for pure guidance can strengthen your ability to receive. It is not a waste of time and a few tidbits of pure intuition can go a long way. You may not be aware of connecting to or receiving anything, and that is okay.

You are developing a new way of accessing deeper truths and your essential nature. And the ego will likely resist in some way. Do your best to relax the ego, trusting that your intuition is developing. This can only help us respond more intelligently and compassionately to the needs we face.

We, who are nothing, can make a tremendous difference within ourselves and collectively. We can access a greater power within us; it is just different from our usual way of thinking then responding. It involves connecting inwardly and accessing intuition.

Allison Saltzman, LPC is a psychotherapist whose passion is rooted in helping her clients cultivate joy and practice the art of being fully present in their lives. She founded Connected Counseling, a group counseling practice in Lafayette, La, which provides services to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Connected Counseling is about living well in all areas of life, offering Cognitive Behavior Therapy, mind-body techniques, Play Therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions.

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W E L L B E I N G What I have always asked people is, “Unless you plan to do this until you process through a physical death, what are you going to do when you stop fasting or restricting calories? Further, will your physiology be able to effectively rebound from this calorie deficit/fasted state that you have created for yourself?

One of the ways that my wife and I discuss things in our household is that when we take a given stance on something, we try to present an argument in favor of that which we are against. This typically ensures that at least some level of open-mindedness is maintained and helps to bring a larger, more holistic approach to our discussions. In that spirit, I can see several potential mechanisms by which IF and/or CR can be beneficial for health and longevity.

Those benefits are as follows: 1. The restriction or decreased consumption of PUFA (poly-unsaturated fats) 2. The decreased consumption of potential problematic amino acids - tryptophan, cysteine, and methionine 3. The potential for less consumption of garbage food (synthetic sugar, additives, pesticides, metals, etc.)

Let’s unpack this shall we.

PUFA’S (POLY-UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS) Let’s start with PUFA’s. The poly-unsaturated fats are those which are found to be liquid at room temperature commonly known as vegetable, seed, fish, nut, seed, soy and other oils, including olive oil (which is the better of the lot and when used in a first, cold-pressed form and used cold has some benefits).

Intermittent Fasting (IF) & Calorie Restriction (CR) – Healthy or Not?

by Brandon Alleman

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ntermittent fasting (IF), or what is more akin to “time restricted feeding,” as well as caloric restriction (CR) seem to be all the rage these days in the world of nutrition and wellness.

Is this really the “be-all-end-all” to everyone’s health issues? Is this really the best way to shed those unwanted pounds – because, let’s be honest, that’s the main reason anyone makes any change in diet these days. Further, and likely infinitely more important, does this do anything for improving health and longevity? These are questions that require a little more than the “on the surface” claims to fame often spouted by so-called experts. So, let’s dive in!

PUFA’s are all unstable especially when heated. The most unstable oils in general use and over recommended are the omega 3’s - particularly DHA and EPA. I’ve seen the nonsensical recommendation of omega 3’s, etc. for well over 15 years now. Some recommendations being as high as 3g per meal in an effort to supposedly decrease inflammatory potential and stabilize blood sugar via a decrease in the glycemic load of the meal.

One, among many, of the key problems with this approach is that increased DHA levels are known to occur in the obese and diabetics (Madison Sullivan et al., 2018) and this increase is associated with reduced mitochondrial enzymes (metabolic enhancers).

Although these fatty acids are marketed and promoted as being healthy and safe, legitimate research has documented that unsaturated fats (PUFAs) can create the following issues: IMMUNOSUPPRESSION BLOCKING GLUCOSE FROM ENTERING CELLS TO BE USED IN ENERGY PRODUCTION (RANDLE CYCLE)

The general theory of IF and CR is that you fast or eat less than some randomly assigned amount of calories and that has the capacity to slow down metabolism, ensuring that you produce less oxidative stress, autophagy ensues, and this allows the body to “cleanse” itself thereby normalizing weight and allowing you to drink from the fountain of youth.

CREATING HYPOGLYCEMIA THROUGH LOWERING BLOOD GLUCOSE VIA HYPER STIMULATING THE BETA CELLS OF THE PANCREAS / HYPERINSULINEMIA

All kidding aside, I will say that it is true that fasting and CR can probably enhance your health when you are prone to overeating, but not in any other case or for any other reason. Might you lose a few unwanted pounds…in most cases, probably so. The weight loss usually being the result of the fact that you are in a calorie deficit.

INCREASES VASCULAR TENSION

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INCREASES THE BIOLOGICAL ACTIONS OF ESTROGEN VIA BLOCKING ESTROGEN FROM SEX HORMONE BINDING GLOBULINS (SHBGS) SUPPRESSES CELLULAR RESPIRATION (ENERGY PRODUCTION) AND INHIBITS OPTIMAL THYROID FUNCTION

CREATE DIGESTIVE STRESS INHIBITS THE CONVERSION OF GLUCOSE TO GLYCOGEN AND FAVORS THE PRODUCTION OF LACTIC ACID

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That is not even a comprehensive list. The detrimental effects of excess PUFAs reach far beyond this list, but hopefully this paints a clear picture. If you have followed my work/writing at all, you know that in my opinion, due to the direct and indirect effect of PUFA’s on thyroid function, consuming them is not in the best interest of someone who truly cares about his/her health and well-being.

This makes the mitochondria less stable with a decreased ability to support the action of cytochrome oxidase, a critical cellular respiratory enzyme. This leads to decreased mitochondrial respiration, decreased oxygen utilization, increased lipid peroxidation (PI) for energy production, and a life-long decrease in metabolic rate.

A very well-respected researcher on the thyroid, A. J. Hulbert completed a large body of work on the role of thyroid hormones and fatty acids in ‘membrane fluidity’. Interestingly Hulbert proposes that mammals and birds with a high metabolic rate and greatest longevity often have this key feature in common. They generally have low saturation of PUFAs as determined by something called the peroxidation index (PI).

It makes less than no sense for someone with a stressed physiology to further magnify the stress response by fasting – and fasting in my world is anytime one is not meeting the calorie, nutrient, and metabolic needs of their body.

The opposite is true for animals with high PUFA saturation and PI – they exhibit decreased longevity.

The exception of course is that time when we all fast, which is during sleep.

“There’s an inverse relationship between the peroxidation index of skeletal muscle phospholipids and maximum lifespan of mammal and bird species of different sizes.” (A.J. Hulbert)

I’ve never had an issue with the narrative that it is a good idea to avoid eating for 1.5 to 2 hours prior to bed. realize for some this is not possible – full disclosure, I only make it about an hour. If you then combine this with 7-8 hours of sleep that should take place each night, you have an “intermittent fast” of 8.5 to 10 hours every single night – which is what we are designed for.

There is something that permeates the scientific community called the rate of living theory. Basically, this says that increased metabolism generates an increase in ROS (reactive oxygen species). As such, slowing metabolism down, produces less ROS and that is supposedly beneficial and productive.

This is in part another reason for the buzz around fasting, intermittent fasting, and/or time-restricted feeding – metabolic rate decreases. Of course, that suggestion is nonsense and this is where many people get confused about efficient thyroid function (utilization in particular), enhanced metabolism, and potential oxidative stress.

As an interesting side note, refeeding fasted subjects and those on a ketogenic diet are well known to depress thyroid hormone responsiveness, thyroid hormone receptors and glucose tolerance (Boelen, Wiersinga, & Fliers, 2008)(Garbow et al., 2011)(Kose, Guzel, Demir, & Arslan, 2017).

As the ratio of consumption of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids increases, SOD increases as does mitochondrial uncoupling. Remember, cell membranes are largely composed of the fatty acids that one has consumed up to a given point in lifespan.

Lipid peroxidation and high levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) are observed with excess PUFA consumption (Chen & Li, 2016).

SOD can be counteracted by glutathione (SOD/G ratio) but the capacity is diminished over time. This enhances the reductive state and perpetuates the gain of electrons, which are a hallmark of damaged physiology. This also creates a shift in energy production away from the efficient oxidative metabolism of glucose and decrease metabolic pliability. Hulbert notes that a 24% decrease in PI, is associated with doubling of lifespan.

It is interesting to note that at birth an infant’s mitochondria contains a phospholipid called cardiolipin, which contains the saturated fatty acid palmitic acid. As the baby is fed foods that contain PUFA’s, the palmitic acid in cardiolipin is replaced with unsaturated fats.

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STRESS + STRESS = MORE STRESS

This includes skipping meals, restricting calories, going long periods of time without food, etc.

OVERARCHING CONSIDERATIONS The stress response activates COX (cyclooxygenase) enzymes (which make inflammatory prostaglandins), aromatase (makes estrogen), enzymes that promote a histamine response, serotonin, nitric oxide, the cytokines, and stress hormones of the adrenals and pituitary.

The more stressed your physiology is the more prone your physiology becomes at activating stress hormone pathways, decreasing thyroid utilization and function, decreased insulin response, and perpetuating an inflammatory state.

For the vast majority of people, fasting, calorie restriction, etc. will simply magnify the stress response.

A BETTER WAY FORWARD Restriction of PUFA, methionine and other agents which reduce Metabolic Pliability need to be compared with so called decreased rate of living theories to ascertain what really increases longevity.

It is beyond nonsensical to continue to perpetuate and promote rates of living theories that create more disorder and chaos than order and pliability. Doing so simply leads to a slow death of cellular function and ultimately, decreased longevity.

Energy production and conservation is the basis of thriving in this Life and for overcoming ALL threats, and it must be conserved in readiness for future needs.

Fasting (outside of that which occurs during sleep) in any capacity is not the answer for health or longevity in my opinion.

Brandon J. Alleman is a skilled Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, Holistic Health Practitioner, and Level 3 CHEK Practitioner with extensive concentration in human biomechanics and physiology.

He owns Innate Movement and Wellness in Lafayette's Oil Center 25

it's a (wo)man's world 5 Female Fitness Myths

By Jules Bruchez Now that we are deep into 2020 it's clear that when it comes to the fitness industry, women are much more involved in weightlifting and making a conscious effort to better themselves through weight training.

Sadly, there are still many myths and misconceptions that linger through the halls of gyms and households deterring women away from getting the results they eagerly look for.

As a certified Strength Coach and personal trainer for the past 20 years, I’m going to explain the 5 Biggest Female Fitness Myths.

With no specific order, let’s get to it and debunk these myths to help women get into better shape.

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WOMEN SHOULD NOT LIFT A LOT OF WEIGHTS Women simply don't possess the human genetics in order to become big and bulky like men do.

This is the exact reason why I can give the exact same workout to a man and woman and see significant changes in muscle mass with men versus women.

There is one simple reason for this factor and it will never change. Women simply do not have enough testosterone in their bodies to build that much muscle mass. On average, in adult males, levels of testosterone are about 7 to 8 times as great as in adult females. As the metabolism of testosterone in males is more pronounced, the daily production is about 20 times greater in men.

Also, studies have proven that strength training can have a positive effect on bone density, which will decrease your risk of osteoporosis later in life.

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WOMEN SHOULD TRAIN DIFFERENTLY THAN MEN The basic principles of weight training are simply the same for males and females. You should start with bodyweight exercises. Once you can accomplish proper form and proper body mechanics in a safe manner, you can begin to use external loads (weights). From there you should focus on compound movements first, then move onto isolation movements.

You should not look to train your body by muscle groups, but more in the manner of movement.

Your workouts should revolve around a pushing movement, a pulling movement, a leg movement (squat or hinge) and a carry and rotation movement.

I currently put a larger emphasis on glute and low back training simply because I feel it's the powerhouse from which all movement starts. I don't train these muscles specifically for aesthetic purposes, but more towards a safety factor. Regardless of if you are a male or female, these are the objectives of each workout that you should be performing. These are the basic foundation principles that will allow you to have an effective workout.

The only time you see workouts different from others is when you specifically train someone for their muscle imbalances or mobility issues.

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HIGH REPS FOR A TONE BODY The majority of women want to be lean. This is the main objective when it comes to working out, second is health.

Lifting heavy weights is a necessity for building proper muscle mass and bone density. How often do you see a woman carrying children in their arms for long periods of time? Or pushing around the grocery cart and carrying diaper bags and five bags of groceries at the same time? Women are always picking up heavy things like car seats. They are actually picking up heavier stuff than men do all day.

Low weight with high reps are inferior compared to building muscle with heavier weights and lower reps. Women should look to use reps as low as 6 and as high as 12-15 per set.

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YOU NEED MORE CARDIO TO GET LEAN We have all seen it in gyms; treadmills for miles, step climbers, row machines...various kinds of cardio equipment. They all do serve a purpose, but they are not necessary for getting lean.

It’s true that if you choose to start doing some type of exercise, (regardless if it’s walking or running) you’re going to burn up more calories. To add to that, if you put your diet in check and make sure that you are recovering properly, you will see some results and weight reduction.

But the results that you get are not always going to be exactly what you want. You should never choose to do cardio over strength training.

Adding cardio to your program with the absence of strength training will cause muscle mass reduction.

Having more muscle speeds up your metabolism because it burns calories at a faster rate than fat.

It’s quite simple. People start exercising to improve body composition. Simply running or walking without any strength training is not going to help tone up your body and build any muscle. While running and walking is great for the heart, you will not only achieve the look that you want, but the results will come much faster when incorporating a weight training regimen.

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TOO MUCH PROTEIN TURNS TO FAT Any trainer will tell you that if you don’t have your diet set in place, nothing is going to happen.

“You simply cannot outwork your bad habits “ "Eating too much protein will turn to fat" is a myth that comes from the recommended serving of protein being about 50 grams a day. While this may be true for someone who does not engage in exercise, it is not for someone who is exercising and weight training.

The Center for Disease Control recommends 56 grams of protein per day for men and 46 grams for women.

Eating protein is essential for building muscle, especially when strength training is involved. Working out causes muscle to break down; eating protein causes the body to create muscle turnover, which rebuilds the body’s broken tissue and creates more muscle. This cannot be done without the addition of more protein in your diet.

High protein intake is often talked about with men who are trying to bulk up. But women need the same thing in order to build lean muscle mass. Females don't possess the genetics to get bulky like males, but the more muscle mass you have, the more elevated your metabolism becomes.

The National Strength and Conditioning Association recommends you consume between 1 1/2 and 2 grams per kg of body weight per day and to “maintain or slightly increase protein intake" when following a hypocaloric diet. So even if you’re only a 50-kilogram (110-pound) female, you should still take in between 75 and 100 grams of protein each and every day.

I have been personally training people for 20 years in the Lafayette area and these 5 are probably the biggest myths that hold women back when it comes to succeeding in the gym.

There’s a lot of confusion and misunderstanding out there and I hope I was able to shed some light on some of these confusing issues.

If you are interested in having real programs backed with science to get the results you have been looking for, I recommend going to Facebook and following the OutPerform Training Academy page. There you will have updates on fitness trends and how to download my app.

You can train with me remotely at anytime, from any home gym.

Jules Bruchez is a graduate of the University of Louisiana of Lafayette holding a Bachelor's Degree in Behavioral Science and a minor in Visual Arts. He has three different Strength Coaching certifications and serves as a Bio-Conditioning coach specializing in Heart Rate Variability Training. He's the creator of the Outperform Training Academy which offers one-to-one personal training and online training with a holistic approach.

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W E L L B E I N G

Getting Grounded in Tumultuous Times

By Jennifer Loli, LMSW, LMT

D

uring this epic time in history, our lives have been altered forever. Not only has the day-to day routine dramatically shifted, but in times of a crisis, we often have the feeling that we are in quicksand, and soon the earth will devour us in an instant.

Emotions, existential questions ruminate, and fear sets in. Suddenly, we begin to question who we are and what the meaning behind all of this is. Not only do we grieve the loss of all of the lives that have been impacted by this pandemic, we grieve our hopes, desires, and plans. At a time like this, it seems inconsequential to grieve that vacation you finally booked for yourself because, you know, people are dying. Perspective is important and so is honoring your own unique story.

Your pain is real, your worries are embedded in the uncertainty of this time, and it’s sensible to feel disoriented a bit. Hello, fellow human, I feel you...even though we are more than a healthy 6 feet apart.

As dynamic human beings, rituals are important for us to connect to the sacredness of ourselves, the universe, nature, and each other. Rituals can help us redirect our energy and regain our sense of self; finding the compass to our center.

The one thing we do have power over right now, is how we show up for ourselves and develop positive coping strategies.

Since washing your hands 372 times a day is a prerequisite for survival right now, I invite you to consider this as an act of letting go.

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As you physically lather up your hands, wash away the worries, your long day, and of course, your annoyance with your mate you just spent 21 days with. This 20 second ritual is an opportunity to rid yourself of all that you cannot carry on your mind or heart anymore. Feel the water carry away the frustration from attempting algebra again, bye y = mx +b.

Apply a body oil, lotion, or cream of your desire and mindfully massage this into your hands. Massage helps to engage the parasympathetic nervous system which is all about resting and digesting. Something as simple as implementing a few minutes of massage can communicate to your body and mind that it is time to decompress and let go. Turn inward and tune in to how it feels to give yourself love and attention.

As you partake in these rituals, breathe. I am not talking about that shallow breath you just took reading these words. Really connect to long deep breaths but you know, 100 feet away from all things Covid-19. Feel the air being drawn in through your nose and deeply into your chest and fill up your abdomen. Long, deep breathing also invites the parasympathetic nervous system to be the guiding force right now. You can place your hand on your abdomen as you feel it expand and retract. As you exhale through your nostrils, allow that breath to extend a bit longer, ridding your body of all things unnecessary. Exhale the grief, disappointment, and shame you may carry. Exhale this collective pain. Inhale and feel yourself expanding your potential for greatness and inner love. After a few minutes, assess how you feel.

This is you showing up for yourself.

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ADAPTING TO LIFE AND WHAT TRANSPIRES IS INEVITABLE.

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Draw your attention to your feet.

No, not your toenails or the need for a serious intervention with a small tool such as a dremel. Place both of your feet on the ground and feel them touching the earth. Whether you are sitting or standing in any situation in life, you can direct your focus on feeling your feet and the earth supporting you. Notice your toes, the arch, and heel planted into this moment. You are grounded here on this earth with us. When the mind becomes engulfed with repetitive thoughts, remind yourself to feel your feet.

You are supported.

Since you have potentially stocked up on food, the ritual of eating is another opportunity to connect and support our bodies and minds. Acquire root vegetables such as parsnips, beets, sweet potatoes, carrots and turnips. Anything that grows in the dirt takes on the earth element; think rootedness and grounding qualities. Chop them up and mix with olive oil and some herbs. Bake them and indulge in flavor, taste, and again, your intention to nourish your strong body.

Eating foods grown in the earth helps draw your energy downward, from your racing mind to your grounded feet.

What you are consuming in your diet can also help bring you back down here with us, instead of up there in your head. Food for thought.

Adapting to life and what transpires is inevitable. Change is a guarantee, time and time again.

Finding moments to regain a sense of connectedness can be found in the simplest of acts.

I understand the privilege of having running water, two feet touching the earth, oils and creams and stocking up on food. Having the ability to use our lungs to breathe during these times today is a privilege. Breathing mindfully is a tool we can all access if reminded.

You are equipped innately to regain a sense of centeredness. You’ve got this.

Jennifer Loli, is a Natural Therapeutic Specialist, Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Massage Therapist #8912, and Certified Yoga Instructor. Utilizing various healing modalities and massage therapy has been the heart of her professional world for over 13 years. She recently lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico for over 11 years and taught pregnancy massage, and various classes in massage therapy before returning to Lafayette, LA in 2018. Teaching is one of her biggest passions, as well as working with dynamic people to assist the mental, physical, and emotional aspects of healing and fulfilling life goals. She provides integrative bodywork in the Lafayette area and you can connect with her at (337) 233-6168 to set up an appointment.

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Taking it to the

NEXT LEVEL Local Fitness Center Focuses on Wellbeing of the Community

by Abby Meaux Conques

If you think Lafayette recently acquired another run-of-the-mill gym with Next Level Fitness + Nutrition, you should take another look.

If Next Level Fitness + Nutrition is new to you, you’re bound to hear more about it soon. The Next Level name has three current locations in the Acadiana area with a fitness center and two nutrition bars; as soon as we’re on the other side of this virus debacle, a fourth location (another fitness location) is set to open in New Iberia.

The original location is a nutrition club and gym combo located at 210 Production Drive in Lafayette next to Walmart on Pinhook Road. It’s a 4,500 square foot facility focusing on sports training with the team behind the name being exceptional elite athletes with Business Management degrees, professional trainers with multi-level certifications, nutrition coaches, and licensed physical therapists. This is, by no means, your average training facility.

You’d think this is a spot where only elite athletes can train.

The crazy thing is, no matter your fitness level (even if you’re a complete beginner), your age, gender, or physical ability, there’s something for you. The fitness center prides itself on their age-diverse and culturally-diverse clientele.

PRE-WORKOUT FUEL AT NUTRITION BAR

NOT YOUR AVERAGE FITNESS CENTER In trying to keep their expansive offering list in the simplest of forms, they offer sports training, spin classes, boot camp classes, tone fitness classes, self defense classes, zumba classes, yoga, HIIT classes, kickboxing, and even CuRobiks (a mixture of calisthenics, aerobics and line dancing method by multi-platinum recording artist, Cupid).

The fitness club was started with the sole intent of having the desire to help people (depending on fitness level) either get healthier in the most effective way possible or to fine tune athletes to gain small differences which have big effects. The team behind the brand always wanted to be able to help kids in some facet. They’re athletes whose life identities were based in sports; some from as young as the age of five. Once you go through all of the formidable years of playing sports, and you’re able to play competitively beyond that, all days playing that sport are seen as blessings from the athletes that run the fitness center. Playing at elite levels made them realize that no human can compete forever, so once 32

GYM EQUIPMENT ACCESS

their high-level playing days were done, they knew that they were called to serve others in realizing their ultimate potentials.

Next Level offers individual and group classes, always led by certified instructors, most of them having multiple level instruction certifications. What sets this fitness center apart from other gyms is their attention to detail. When speaking to the Director of Operations for the Next Level Company, Amber Bessard, she was able to illustrate the gravity of meticulous instruction in training classes. “We don’t simply teach general classes. We coach clients how to get effectively faster, how to fall properly for protection, how to be explosive, understanding the importance of balance, improving stability, how flexibility aids the body in working better.” She continued, “Then we have the nutrition side...we have Herbalife specialty drinks and immune-boosting supplements to keep your body firing on all cylinders...putting in work when your body is at rest. We have nutritionists and wellness coaches that can meal plan for optimal health. We even offer healthy breakfast options at our nutrition bars. We’re a complete elite facility.”

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CLIENTS AND NEXT LEVEL TEAM 2020 PRAYER FOR PROSPERITY

Even though their first location opened less than a year ago, they have clients experiencing great results. “We have clients ages 3 - 79; many of our clients up in age are so happy when they can decrease medication. They light up when they tell us their doctor praised their lowered blood pressures. That’s what it’s all about...those life-changing results,” Bessard mentioned. They offer a variety of programs where you can pay per class or opt for a membership.

Since all fitness and age levels from 3 on up are accepted, most programs also offer modifications for people with limited mobility issues, making the facility a collectively inclusive one.

The fitness club offers toddler and kid classes with fun drills to help them retain the information that will help give them an edge when they get to competitive level sports. Older kids and high school kids get specific instruction that shows how effective small tweaks to training have big effects. This is especially important to kids who want to see playing time at the high school and college level.

Personally, I was amazed when I watched a video on the Next Level Facebook page where they showed a split screen side-by-side result where a teen athlete has a false step to take off for a sprint versus a corrected step. That seemingly small difference bought fractions of a second - the difference between being chosen for a team during a combine or not. They share improvement videos on the site regularly, indicating the vast difference in performance with an incorrect arm swing while running compared to a corrected arm swing. Why would this be important? Think stolen bases in a State Championship game. This is the kind of direction that high-level athletes can offer younger generations.

With this level of guidance, Next Level recently became the Official Training Facility for the Louisiana Christian Community College (LCCC). This school is currently on track to become Louisiana’s first Junior College. Next Level even participated in a scholarship program for athletes and hosted the LCCC’s recent combine.

LCCC SIGNING DAY AT NEXT LEVEL

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MORE THAN FITNESS FOCUSED One of the impressive things about this facility is their commitment to community on top of what they offer as a fitness center.

Every month, the facility offers a special event for all members as added value. “One month we had a Financial Fitness course where a financial advisor came in and spoke to people about beneficial financial moves. We incorporated movement breaks where the class got up and participated in fitness-related activities to get them conscious of taking breaks while being seated for lengths of time,” Bessard explained. “We want to make sure we give them tools that they can incorporate in everyday life.” They also hosted a “Mapping It Out” event where members created vision boards. Bessard added, “Every goal should start with a plan. The Vision Board workshop was successful...we have entrepreneurship seminars where other professionals come in and share information with our clients. We want to help people as a whole, not just related to fitness goals. Everyone should have a chance to succeed.” For the kids, they offer gaming tournaments to incorporate a sense of community and a safe place to gather.

MANDATORY DOWN-TIME During these times of federally suggested stay-at-home orders, Next Level is keeping their clients moving by hosting a virtual #NextLevelStayAtHomeChallenge where they challenge members to post a video or go live on social media completing their daily fitness challenge. Clients who participate in the challenge are eligible for a FREE month of classes & 8 FREE personal training sessions or Elite Sports Sessions once fitness businesses can resume operations.

Once the all-clear is given for gyms to reopen, Next Level definitely deserves a look into if you’re looking for an elite experience with a company whose focus is on the whole-person and not just the fitness side.

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RACONTEUR SPOTLIGHT MILLARD “M.P.” DUMESNIL

A Man on a Mission

by Olivia Savoie

M.P. VISITING THE ORIGINAL, OLD BRIDGE

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oday, Millard “M.P.” Dumesnil is a 91-year-old with a big smile and contagious laugh. He is also as adventurous as ever. In 2020 alone, he has already returned from a trip to Israel and another to aid the people of Honduras. At home, he awakes early each day and heads to work as a contractor.

M.P. was raised on the then-gravel University Avenue in Lafayette. At just 18 years old in 1947, he went into business as a contractor and, after having scraped together his childhood savings, constructed his first house. After that—aside from the interruption of two years of military service—he built houses. Then, beginning in 1960, he turned his attention to the municipal business and became a leading contractor of sewer plants, elevated tanks, pump stations, pipelines, and more. All the while, he raised a big family of eight children alongside his wife, Flo. He also took on another incredible challenge: mission work.

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M.P. says, “It all started with a meeting some 60 years ago.”

M.P.’s good friend, Louis Michot, invited M.P. and his wife to meet a missionary priest from Mexico, who was studying agriculture at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (presently ULL). Upon meeting the industrious, dedicated Father Verplanken and both hearing stories and seeing pictures of the plight of the people he supported in and around Creel, a small community in Copper Canyon, Mexico, M.P. and Louis partnered with Father Verplanken to aid the Tarahumara Indian Mission. Since Father Verplanken faithfully stayed at the same mission for the rest of his life, the partnership lasted well over 40 years.

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M.P. says, “We helped fund a church. I don’t see how he [Father Verplanken] could do this, but he [along with the locals] built the whole church. The next project was to get us [Louis and I] there fast. Father built us a gravel-strip runway.” After that, the trio solved a litany of other problems—such as running water 600 feet up, starting a medical clinic, building a hospital, opening schools, and even transporting a large generator to the site, among other things. M.P.’s knowledge of construction, paired with the dedication of others, greatly benefited the people of Copper Canyon.

M.P. acknowledges that Father Verplanken had a profound impact on his being a missionary. He says, “I am thankful that God used Father Verplanken’s example to inspire my productivity.”

During that time, M.P. recalls, “I met another priest, Father Francis Schexnayder. He developed an orphanage on an island off the coast of China.” Along with other supporters, M.P. says, “I furnished him supplies and finances. I’d advise him on construction and help him with the next step for his ideas.” Father Schexnayder, like Father Verplanken, was so dedicated that he stayed with the same mission until his death. So, his and M.P.’s partnership was a long one also.

Another mission project M.P. worked on was aiding an organization that developed a plan to build homes for those in need around the world. By providing sacks to first be filled with concrete and mud and then stacked, as well as other materials and detailed plans, the organization helped individuals construct many houses. M.P. says he is grateful to have had “financial and construction input on that.”

Around 2012, another opportunity presented itself, and M.P. rose to the occasion. He began working with yet another priest friend, Father Louis Richard, who was hoping to aid the people living in the mountains of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, through an organization called Mission of Hope. M.P. says he set out to help “these beautiful people who had nothing.”

In 2015, donations were gathered to fund the construction of a new bridge, which would not only help coffee farmers get across, but also protect the children trying to get to school. After consulting with a local friend who was a bridge-building expert, M.P. took on the task. He oversaw the construction, making several trips to Honduras.

Later, in 2016, he oversaw the construction on a new school for the local children, as well as the rehabilitation of the existing, formerly dilapidated school, which transformed into a computer lab. He has since completed other projects, including getting electricity into the clinic that medical and dental missionaries work in on annual trips. M.P. says, “I hope to return again for years to come and help with the Mission of Hope’s needs.”

When asked what doing mission work has meant to him, M.P. says, “Now I look back at my life and say, ‘How can anybody keep from doing these things?’ It [mission work] has become a part of my life; I can’t stay away from it.” He encourages others to get involved with helping those in need, saying, “Giving is what God meant for us to do as far as our part of discipleship in our lives… I love being reminded what Christianity is all about: helping those in need.”

M.P. looks forward to overcoming new challenges in the future and remaining productive. He says, “God is leaving me here for a purpose. That purpose, for Him, is taking care of other people.”

When asked why he has chosen to participate in the specific mission work he has, M.P. says, “Opportunities happen. Of course, God makes them happen.”

Acadiana native, Olivia Spallino Savoie, interviews locals in their homes, writes their life stories, and works with her team to create lasting family heirlooms in the form of published life story books. The books Raconteur produce typically range from 50 to 150 pages and contain precious memories from early years to the present day. Olivia loves to walk down memory lane with each storyteller and create a keepsake that will be cherished for generations to come.

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A R T I S T P R O F I L E

KODY CHAMBERLAIN: CAMPAIGN FOR COMMUNITY CREATIVITY Local Artist / Writer on Cultivating Creative Projects

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or what might be the first chance in a while, we all have idle time on our hands with this universal virus situation we are currently navigating through. When we look back at what was “normal” for us before, was it really all that amazing?

Did you spend most of your time on social media or creative projects? I’d be willing to bet more time was spent on social media for the majority of us.

With this gift of time, and opportunity to explore what’s really possible in this life, we should tap into our creativity, for both pleasure and for growth.

When I had coffee with Lafayette Comic Writer / Artist (along with some film and tv sprinkled in for good measure), Kody Chamberlain, our area was on the cusp of a major change to life as we were used to experiencing it.

by Abby Meaux Conques

You could feel a bit of tension in the air, people conscious of not shaking hands and hugs were a definite no-no; you thought twice about the way you opened a door.

This is all new for us.

FROM CHAMBERLAIN'S CRESCENT FLAME

For that time I spent speaking with Kody, I forgot about the outside world for a bit and listened to stories of how different creative projects came to (national) fruition for him and the detail it takes to compose an entire board game from a graphic design perspective.

That is the power of creativity and art.

It’s a world in itself to get lost in.

Chamberlain sees art as a means of communication. Since we’re all alone, together right now, why don’t we utilize a different method of communication when our daily lives are completely disrupted? We can communicate ideas, feelings, and thoughts in a creative way, and put depth to what we feel and what we’d like each other to see just as we do.

“People go into debt to get a degree, but art and design are skill sets and trades that you can earn a living off of. If you can learn to communicate where art and language come together, that’s the core of communication,” Chamberlain said. He continued, “If you want to understand the importance of art and language communication utilized effectively, all you have to do is look at one of those escape plan cards in the seat pocket of airplanes.”

Chamberlain is an Advertising Design graduate from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL) and worked in a variety of fields in that arena upon graduating (copyrighting, advertising agency work, illustration, etc.)

“I always preferred pen and paper,” he said of his 2008 leap to a formal full-time comic career. “I’d say 80% of my work uses traditional media,” he explained. “Software companies are great at marketing to people that art needs to be digital, in my opinion, traditional ways of creating are just as great, if not better.”

During his stint working for other agencies prior to contracting out work, he attended larger comic expos and conventions. “Other people had these printouts of their work and I wanted to stand out, so I hand stitched these portfolio books and walked around with them, handing them out to higher-ups who had booths. Many were impressed when they saw the time I put into my ‘portfolio’,” he mentioned. That’s how he got to working on Chapter 4 of 30 Days of Night, the comic that eventually became a movie based on Chapter 1 of the series.

The proverbial ball continued rolling since then, with Chamberlain being a sought-out artist for assorted projects from TV to film and beyond.

Last year was a big year for Chamberlain as he was the official artist for Festival International de Louisiane.

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He was also contacted by NBCUniversal to create a comic-inspired segue between segments on the red carpet for the 91st Academy Awards. It was a big year for comics at the Oscars with the honoring of the late Stan lee, and movies up for awards such as Black Panther and Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse.

In between all those years, new projects were born such as tv series pitches, pilot creations and screenplays. Other notable projects are his well-received comics, Sweets and Punks...not to mention a whole bunch of projects and logo designs in between.

Many of his projects fared extremely well at competitions and notable film festivals such as the Austin Film Festival and the Sundance Sundance Labs.

More recently, his graphic design work is featured on an original board game called “Maniacal,” an intricate game of super villains that involves critical thought and wit. He meticulously designed various aspects of the complex game, including the play board, game pieces, cards, dice, etc. The game is available online for order as well as here locally at the Carencro trading card store, Cajun Gamer.

These days, Chamberlain continues to work remotely on national assignments and thoroughly enjoys time at home with his wife and his son. One thing he would like to see more of in the creative community is networking. “There’s nothing like that around here right now...there used to be...but not lately...where creatives can get together and just hang out...bounce

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ideas off each other...have creative conversations,” he said. Upon life returning to a somewhat semblance of what it used to be, he would like to implement very informal monthly creative meet-ups, possibly downtown Lafayette before ArtWalk.

Chamberlain also had a class offering in the works before the shelter-in-place order that will be revisited as soon as people can gather publicly again. The class he will hold is titled “The Art of Story” and is a weekly class divided by kids ages 10-15 and older teens to adults. The class will serve as a skillset-obtaining class where the main focus is the collision between art and story. One could use this class as a fun, creative outlet or to learn a trade that could serve in the professional sense that could eventually earn income in the comic, animation, storyboarding, concept design, web comic or character development realms.

During this time of highly-suggested quarantining, Chamberlain poses a call to creatives on his Artist Facebook page, "For those of you stuck at home or facing boredom between news cycles, a creative project might be a good idea. Maybe try your hand at a novel, toss a t-shirts up on Cotton Bureau, or just something fun and productive to do with the kids." being able to express ourselves creatively may be just what we need right now.

To be on the up and up with classes Chamberlain is offering or with his professional developments, visit his site at www.inkhousecreative.com.

(FAR RIGHT) DESIGN WORK FOR THE 91ST ACADEMY AWARDS

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S K I N H E A LT H

HEALTHY SKIN AT HOME

By Amelie Harding

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he last few weeks have felt like an alternate reality that we are trying to blindly maneuver through while keeping our most loved ones safe and support the ones that are sick. A lot of us are beginning to feel the effects of this life-changing event both mentally and emotionally. We find ourselves looking for ways to incorporate some sort of normalcy and routine in our daily lives.

It almost seems silly to worry about something like our skin right now but any distraction helps, and it’s never a bad thing to indulge in a little self-care.

These hours and days at home feel like an eternity, so here are a few do-it-yourself face masks and other skin care concoctions that make for a great activity with the kids or a nighttime pampering just for you. Conveniently, all of these ingredients can be found in your refrigerator, pantry, or spice rack.

I hope you find some time to relax, recharge, and feel like yourself for just a bit in the coming weeks. Acadiana is full of resilient and strong people and I wouldn’t want to walk through this anywhere and with anyone else .

Hang in there and be good to yourselves. This too shall pass. Be safe.

HOMEMADE HAND SCRUB 1⁄2 cup coconut oil 2/3 cup raw sugar (or any sugar on hand) 10 drops of your favorite essential oil(s) 1 jar or food storage container Mix together all ingredients into a paste.

Apply to hands and scrub well before rinsing with warm water. Save the remaining for future use.

We have all been washing our hands and using more alcohol-based sanitizers than ever before these last few weeks, resulting in severely dry and itchy skin.

Use this hand scrub as an excellent source of dead skin removal (sugar) and nourishment (honey and oils). For sensitive or reactive skin types, skip the essential oils.

Use this scrub nightly until skin conditions improve and for even better results, follow with your favorite lotion or ointment before bed. Try to stay away from synthetic fragrances and/or products that contain alcohol, as these can defeat the purpose by drying you out even more.

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SKIN TIGHTENING MASK 1 egg white 1 1⁄2 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice (For oily skin, substitute 1 tbsp aloe vera) 1 tbsp honey Mix ingredients together in a whipping motion until slightly frothy then allow to set for at least 25 minutes, during which time you can expect to experience an intense tightening sensation.

Remove with warm water.

Egg whites have long been used to tighten and smooth skin texture while the citric acid in lemons are a great natural exfoliant and skin brightener. This mask can be applied up to three times a week.

WAKE UP! COFFEE FACE MASK 1⁄2 cup milk 2 tbsp ground coffee 1 1⁄2 tbsp raw honey Mix ingredients together into a paste, apply in circular motion to entire face and neck, scrubbing away dead skin cells (try not to eat it). Leave on for 20-30 minutes then remove with warm water.

Milk contains lactic acid, which is a great exfoliant along with the coffee grinds while honey adds a natural moisturizing and soothing component to this treatment.

What a great way to start the day!

EXFOLIATING & BRIGHTENING FACE MASK 1/3 cup plain yogurt 1 tsp turmeric 1 tbsp raw honey Mix ingredients together and apply to skin and neck. Leave on for 20-30 minutes then remove with warm water.

Yogurt is loaded with lactic acid, so it serves as a great exfoliant while turmeric has long been used to minimize hyperpigmentation (“dark spots”) and, finally, honey makes skin soft and supple. This is a great mask to use multiple times a week and can be refrigerated in-between uses.

Amelie Harding is a medical aesthetician, owning and operating Amelie Aesthetics Studio in Youngsville, LA where she offers a wide variety of customized facial treatments, along with threading, waxing, and eyelash services. Amelie was born and raised in Lafayette and is a proud single mother to two children, Zoe (16) and Henry (8).

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Sweets Kody Chamberlain www.inkhousecreative.com 40

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