Healthy Living February 2016

PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

CHANGE OF HEART

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Leesburg Regional Medical Center

Spending quality time with patients is a point of pride for Dr. Adina Ion, who practices internal medicine at Florida Primary Care Group, an affiliation of Cardiovascular Associates of Lake County.

“I consider it a privilege when patients trust me to make important decisions regarding their health care,” she says. “Therefore, I always make sure to spend quality time with them and never overbook.”

Dr. Ion treats many conditions, including diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney disease, and cardiac problems. She has practiced in Lake County since 2002. “I have worked directly with many of the doctors in the area, and as a result, it is easier for me to help navigate patients through the medical community when they have complex medical cases.”

John

ENTS

February 2016

FEATURING

22 // THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Life is too short to be miserable and dreary. Why not attempt to be happy and cheery? A constant state of happiness is not impossible to attain, even when you deal with some of life’s most difficult challenges. Healthy Living interviewed six Lake County residents whose lives are richer because they discovered a path to happiness.

WRITER: JAMES COMBS

30 // A CHANGE OF HEART

The perception that undergoing open-heart surgery leaves patients “cardiac cripples” is grossly misleading. In fact, De Burkholder of Eustis made a full recovery, leads a healthier lifestyle, and participates in numerous physical activities. He feels more alive than ever and has no intention of dying from a broken heart.

WRITER: JAMES COMBS

ON THE COVER

MODELS: SALMAE AND DE BURKHOLDER

ART DIRECTION: JAMIE EZRA MARK

PHOTOGRAPHY: FRED LOPEZ

PHOTOSHOP: JOSH CLARK

DIGITIZE YOUR LIFE.

GET YOURS. SHOW YOUR LOVE.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Order a subscription of your favorite magazine to be delivered directly to your home for just $72. Each subscription includes 12 consecutive issues of Lake & Sumter Style, Village Style or Healthy Living. Choose 2 or more magazines for $85 per year. To order, call 352.787.4112 or mail us at: Subscriptions at Akers Media, P.O. Box 490088, Leesburg, FL 34749.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: If you are a seasonal resident or have moved, send your address change request to general@ akersmediagroup.com or mail us at: Subscriptions at Akers Media, P.O. Box 490088, Leesburg, FL 34749.

BACK ISSUES: Order a single issue by mail for $7, or 2 or more single issues for $9. To pick up a back issue from our office, please call 24 hours in advance.

JUST BE HAPPY.

The definition of happy is feeling pleasure or enjoyment because of your life, situation, etc., according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. For me, it is something different. Happiness is a sense of peace and contentment, no matter what my life’s situation may be. Several years back I found myself in a journey of self-discovery, which I originally began as a search for truth in spirituality. Day after day, I read the Bible and self-help books written by Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle, Joel Osteen, and many others. What I discovered changed my life. I discovered peace.

I have always been a happy, positive, upbeat person—or so I thought until I learned how to be truly happy. I learned happiness is not just something you experience or a feeling you get when something good happens that quickly vanishes when something unfortunate follows. Happiness to me is the ability to find always at least one thing to be appreciative for even in the most challenging times.

Don’t get me wrong; there are plenty of things that happen to me every day I would rather not experience. However, when those things happen I choose always to look at the bright side of the situation or find a way to be at peace with my circumstance.

Happiness truly is a choice, which is why in this month’s issue we share ways to achieve happiness, and not just for the moment. Our goal is to help you understand how you can be happy each and every day. We believe there is truth in the saying, “You may not be able to control your situation, but you can choose how you react to it.”

Additionally, HL magazine is committed to continuing this message each month in our Healthy Spirit section. So when you are feeling a little down, pick up your issue of Healthy Living and be prepared to smile. I guarantee we always provide helpful tools for you to achieve a healthy, well-balanced, happy lifestyle.

So don’t worry, be happy.

Sincerely,

Kendra Akers

Comments or questions for our publisher?

Our goal is to provide you with the best quality publication, so your feedback is vital.

KENDRA AKERS publisher/editor-in-chief kendra@akersmediagroup.com

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EDITORIAL // DESIGN // PHOTOGRAPHY

JAMES COMBS staff writer james@akersmediagroup.com

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MICHAEL GAULIN production director michael@akersmediagroup.com

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PEDAL POWER

With near-perfect temperatures and low humidity, February is an ideal time to dust off your bicycle and enjoy the great outdoors.

If you’re looking for a scenic and challenging trail, consider cycling on the 13-mile South Lake Trail. Elevation changes put your endurance to the test, while the sights of rolling hills, sweeping vistas, and picturesque Lake Minneola are pleasing to the eyes. The trail is accessed at Clermont Waterfront Park.

The James Van Fleet State Trail is another popular cycling venue. The trail spans 29 miles into parts of Lake, Sumter, and Polk counties. Quiet and remote, this mostly flat trail offers scenic views of swampland, cow pastures, and dense forests. Cyclists can access the trail by driving west on State Road 50.

AN EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE

New Vision for Independence is hosting its sixth annual Low Vision Expo on Feb. 11 inside the Magnolia Room at Lake-Sumter State College.

People with low vision and their family members are encouraged to attend. Vendors who will display their products and talk about their services include Integrative Physical Medicine, Southeastern Guide Dogs, Cornerstone Hospice, Magnifying America, Community Health Centers, and many more.

New Vision for Independence provides support services for local individuals with low vision or blindness. Visit newvisionfl org/events for more information.

Our team…

…has the highest level of education and skill. …uses top-notch technology and equipment. …provides the best possible care to our patients. …is getting bigger. Meet

DR. ROBERT L. PURDON

Dr. Robert Purdon, a radiation oncologist for 30 years, loves being part of RBOI. While he feels honored to offer patients advanced technologies and techniques, the most rewarding part of the job is interacting and forming genuine relationships with patients.

DR. HERMAN FLINK

We’re excited to announce the addition of Dr. Herman Flink, a radiation oncologist for nearly 40 years who is board-certified in both radiology and radiation oncology. He completed his residency and fellowship at Johns Hopkins University.

THE VILLAGES 352.259.2200

OCALA 352.732.0277

TIMBER RIDGE 352.861.2400

INVERNESS 352.726.3400

LECANTO 352.527.0106

RBOI.COM

SEEK AND DESTROY

Florida Hospital Waterman

HEALTH: IT’S IN OUR BLOOD

The Rotary Club of Leesburg (Sunrise) will hold its 28th annual blood-screening event Feb. 20 at the Leesburg Community Building. The basic blood screening test costs $45. For an additional $25, men can also undergo a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.

Blood screening helps identify problems such as anemia, diabetes, liver disease, vascular disease, kidney disease, and other health problems. Funds generated are used for numerous community projects.

For more information, please visit leesburgsunriserotary.org .

A REASON TO SMILE

Life Time

Dental in Tavares recently offered free dental services to adults who otherwise could not afford them.

By participating in a worldwide charitable program, Dentistry from the Heart, Drs. Charles Reinertsen and Michelle Buechele offered cleanings, fillings, and tooth extractions to financially underprivileged patients.

TIME IS BRAIN

Stroke is a medical emergency as serious as a heart attack. Receiving medical attention within the first three hours may be the difference between life and death, a complete recovery, or a lifetime of disability.

That’s why Leesburg Regional Medical Center has an emergency fast-track system known as Code Stroke. With this system, a response team performs neurological exams, blood tests, and CT scans within minutes of a patient’s arrival in the emergency room. Thus, they are quickly diagnosed and promptly treated.

and epartrvice timecoordi-

“Calling a Code Stroke in our emergency department sets the wheels in motion to improve service time for stroke care and follows the important timeis-brain rule,” said Mary Beth Morris, stroke coordinator of Central Florida Health Alliance.

Cancer Institute is Lake County’s first cancer care provider to offer patients Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) for cancer treatment. SRS is a nonsurgical form of radiation therapy that delivers high doses of radiation to small tumors with expert precision. As a result, there’s less chance of surrounding healthy tissue being damaged, and patients experience improved outcomes.

“We are proud to be able to offer this treatment locally, which reduces the burden of travel on our patients and provides them with advanced care in coordination with their local community physicians,” said Anudh Jain, a radiation oncologist at Florida Hospital Waterman.

Medical Mysteries

DON’T BELIEVE THE TERRIBLE THINGS MORGAN FREEMAN SAYS ABOUT YOUR BRAIN

WRITER: FRED HILTON

The movie Lucy deals with a sweet young thing that inadvertently ingests mass quantities of some exotic drug and immediately starts getting smarter and smarter—using an ever-increasing portion of her brain capacity. Lucy’s growing brainpower enables her to do wondrous things, including time travel.

In the movie, Lucy is counseled by Samuel Norman, a brilliant neuroscientist played by Morgan Freeman. Norman solemnly intones: “It is estimated most human beings only use 10 percent of their brains’ capacity.” According to a recent survey, two-thirds of Americans believe we indeed use only 10 percent of our brains.

Sorry, folks, but we’re wrong. Writing in Scientific American, Barry L. Beyerstein of Simon Fraser University’s Brain Behavior Laboratory said he’s frequently asked if we really use only 10 percent of our brains. “The 10-percent myth is one of those hopeful shibboleths that refuses to die simply because it would be so darn nice if it were true,” he said. (If you paused to look up “shibboleth,” your brain usage is increasing already.)

Dr. Barry Gordon, a professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, agrees we use all of our brainpower. “We use virtually every part of the brain and [most of] the brain is active almost all the time,” he told Scientific American.

The most likely source of this myth is a statement psychologist William James made in an influential 1907 essay, “The Energies of Men.” In it, James wrote “as a rule, men habitually use only a small part of their powers which they actually possess and which they might use under appropriate conditions.”

Dale Carnegie mentioned James’ comments in the 1937 foreword to the popular selfimprovement book “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” The foreword was written by noted author and broadcaster Lowell Thomas. Thomas wrote: “Professor William James of Harvard used to say that the average person develops only 10 percent of his latent mental ability.”

Like Walter Cronkite a generation later, Thomas was the most trusted man in America so the notion stuck, despite the fact it was totally wrong.

And for those of you who were too lazy to look up “shibboleth,” it means: “an old idea, opinion, or saying that is commonly believed and repeated but that may be seen as old fashioned or untrue.”

Sources

“Do We Use Only 10% of Our Brains?” Dr. Eric Chudler, Executive Director of the Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering, Seattle, WA https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/tenper.html

“Do we really use only 10 percent of our brains?” Dr. Barry L. Beyerstein, Brain Behavior Laboratory, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada, Scientific American, March 8, 2004, http:// www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-we-reallyuse-only-10/“Busting a brain myth: We really do use 100 percent of our brains,” HUB, Health, Science & Technology, Johns Hopkins University, July 24, 2014, http://hub.jhu.edu/2014/07/24/ busting-a-brain-myth

“The Ten-Percent Myth,” by Benjamin Radford, Skeptical Inquirer, Committee for Special Inquiry, Center for Inquiry, April, 1999, http://www.csicop. org/si/show/the_ten-percent_myth/

“Fact or fiction: We use only 10 per cent of our brain,” FactCheck, Australian Broadcasting Commission, August 10, 2014, http://www.abc.net. au/news/2014-08-11/do-we-only-use-10-per-centof-our-brains/5648810

Surgical Privileges at The Villages Regional Hospital

A KICK AGAINST DIABETES

For 16-year-old Taylor Roukey, the injections and finger pricks are as much a part of the game-day routine as the warmup drills and postgame handshakes.

Taylor is a varsity player on Foundation Academy’s soccer team who battles Type 1 diabetes. Before a game, she consumes a sugary snack or beverage to keep her blood sugar level stable. During and after a game, she pricks her finger, puts the blood on a test strip, and runs it through a blood glucose monitor to check her levels. If it is too high, she administers an insulin shot. If it is too low, she drinks a Gatorade or eats a piece of candy.

She must also be mindful of how the combination of exercise and insulin drastically lowers blood glucose levels. As a result, she reduces her insulin dosages for 18 hours following a soccer game.

While this seems like tremendous responsibility for someone her age, Taylor has been battling to stay one step ahead of diabetes since being diagnosed at age 7. She has little choice. If left unmonitored or untreated, the disease is fatal.

Taylor, who plays striker

on her soccer team, loves running up and down the fi eld and taking shots at the goal. But she realizes her most important shots occur throughout the course of a day.

“I give myself insulin shots in my arms and legs,” she said. “If you don’t learn to take control of diabetes, then it will take control of you.”

That can-do attitude helps Taylor live a rather normal life for someone with her condition. In addition to soccer, the honor roll student plays on her school’s volleyball team and actively participates in CrossFit.

Taylor openly talks about her diabetes battle to inspire fellow teenagers. In fact, during National Diabetes Month in November, she enthusiastically shared her triumphs and struggles in front of 400 students who packed Foundation Academy’s auditorium.

“I really enjoyed doing that. Teenagers tend to bottle up their feelings when they struggle with life’s challenges. I wanted them to learn what I go through everyday and teach them how they can successfully cope with their own problems.”

Her inspirational

17-minute speech especially touched the heart of her father, Eric Roukey, a financial advisor in Clermont who attended.

“When I stopped crying, I realized what this girl goes through just to survive. I see what she endures on a daily basis, but to hear her say it in a compelling way was an awesome experience.”

Taylor turned 16 this

month and is experiencing the wonderful world of driving. She realizes that, for her, safety precautions entail much more than driving the speed limit or stopping at red lights.

“I can’t wait to get behind the wheel,” she says, “but I’ll never leave the driveway without having my glucose monitor, candy, juice boxes, and bananas in my car.”

WRITER: JAMES COMBS PHOTO: FRED LOPEZ

IN PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

of a job.

The constant demands ob likel

The death of a family member or friend.

A troubled relationship with a spouse.

These are problems everyone will face at one time or another. You may be unable to control your circumstances, but you can control how you react to them.

There are countless reasons why remaining happy brings joy to your life. Happiness protects your health, improves social relationships, and counteracts unwanted negative emotions. In addition,

being happy means you’re more likely to help others and have a more positive influence on your loved ones.

In this article, we’re delving into important elements of happiness— self-love, attitude, loving others, acceptance, gratitude, and laughter—and looking at each through the eyes of Lake County residents. While a few of them overcame considerable hardships and challenges, they ultimately emerged stronger because they refused to let negativity trump happiness.

Simply put, striving to lead a happier life is definitely something everyone should add to the to-do list.

WRITER: JAMES COMBS PHOTOS: PROVIDED + SHUTTERSTOCK

Being a “happy camper” will help you effectively cope with life’s daily struggles and challenges.

SELF-LOVE

An unhealthy obsession with body image as a high school student triggered Emily Middleton’s seven-year battle with bulimia.

“It started out as a body image issue, then it became a control issue,” says Emily, a resident of Eustis. “I would eat uncontrollably and then go vomit.”

For Emily, discovering the power of self-love proved one of the most important tools in her road to recovery.

“When you discover self-love, you celebrate all that is good about life and recognize your own worth, beauty, and strength.”

Today, Emily is helping others as an intake coordinator of The Recovery Village, a residential treatment facility in Umatilla for people suffering from drug addiction, mental health issues, and eating disorders.

“I feel incredibly blessed to work here because during my times of struggles I knew I wanted to help others,” she says. “I use my struggles to inspire people and help them experience hope and self-love. Loving yourself is the best way to permanently heal an addiction.”

ATTITUDE

A positive attitude helps you successfully cope with life’s daily challenges and is vitally important to overall emotional and physical well-being. That’s what Minneola resident Marla Khetem learned when she lost her uncle, Doug Richardson, three years ago to ALS.

“He was more like the older brother I never had,” says Marla. “When I was in second grade, I participated in a Girl Scout contest to see who could sell the most cookies. Because he was a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., he sold cookies to legislative aides and helped me win the contest. He was always a phone call away whenever I needed someone to talk to.”

Marla learned an important life lesson from her uncle: Attitude is everything, and always look for the silver lining even during challenging times. Marla followed that advice by not allowing death to take the joy out of living. In fact, she and her daughter, Mariah, raised nearly $6,000 for ALS research during the past three years.

“Every day, I try to be as positive as I can be in carrying his torch. As a result, this helps improve my outlook on life, as well as my attitude toward myself and others.”

LOVING OTHERS

Some people teach their dogs to heel. Eustis resident Ryna LaValle teaches her golden retriever to heal. And she has a doggone good time putting smiles on the faces of people who are sick or lonely.

Ryna is founder of Caring Canines Therapy Dogs, a nonprofit organization comprised of dog owners who take their pet dogs to nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, schools, libraries, and Camp Boggy Creek. The mere presence of a canine is therapeutic, lifting the spirits of a lonely elderly person in a nursing home, instilling confidence in a student to read a book, or comforting an Alzheimer’s patient in a memory-care unit. Those special visits are every bit as heartwarming for Ryna as they are for patients and students.

“I’ve always been a dog lover, and this is my way of helping other people,” she says. “Some of the patients we see at nursing homes seldom have any other visitors. When I show up with my dog, you can instantly see the expression on their face turn from a frown to a smile. Helping others brings me lasting happiness, and I’ll continue sharing my dogs until I can no longer do so.”

ACCEPTANCE

“You have breast cancer.”

Those were the horrifying words told to Altoona resident Vicky McGhee in 2009. Ultimately, she had both breasts removed, which took an emotional toll on her self-esteem and femininity.

“I no longer felt like me,” she said. “I did not like how I looked on the outside.”

In time, though, Vicky discovered a healthy balance between acceptance and anger. While she has numerous scars from two mastectomies, she views them as battle scars to remind her to live with courage and strength each and every day.

“When I finally accepted my cancer diagnosis and everything I had to go through just to live, I realized I was a stronger person that I thought. I found an inner strength and serenity that everything was going to turn out okay. I also found a new sense of joy and happiness in the little moments of life. Believe it or not, having cancer can turn out to be a very positive experience.”

GRATITUDE

Gratitude is something Keith Adee of The Villages experiences everyday. When he

“I use my struggles to inspire people and help them experience hope and self-love.”

– Emily Middleeton

“Every day, I try to be as positive as I can be in carrying his torch.”

– Marla Khetem ,

“I’ve always been a dog lover, and this is my way of helping other people.”

– Ryna LaValle

launched his website, Villages1.com, in 2006, he wanted people to have access to a wealth of information pertaining to The Villages and surrounding area. He never dreamed about making money off it. Then something magical happened.

“Before long, people began approaching me and asking if they could advertise on the website,” he said.

Between 2012 and 2015, his business doubled each year. And in 2015, his website attracted a record 1,800,000 visitors. Keith displays his gratitude by providing local food banks and soup kitchens with eight ounces of food each time a new visitor accesses Villages1.com.

“The Lord has been good to me, and I want to share that with people who are less fortunate,” Keith said. “I also wanted my sponsors to know that their money wasn’t just going toward advertising; it is going back into the community. For me, gratitude is important because I stop and think about all the wonderful things I have in life.”

LAUGHTER

Villager Pona Das and his wife Ginger love a good laugh. They believe it’s not only a good way of life to never sweat the small stuff, but they also know laughing carries health benefits.

“Laughing releases endorphins that help with pain, stress, and depression,” says Ginger. “It also helps expel dead air so you can get more oxygen.”

Pona and Ginger head up the Laughing Yoga Club in The Villages. Pona got the idea to form the club five years ago after visiting family in India. Laughing Yoga, or Laughter Yoga, was developed by Dr. Madan Kataria, a medical doctor from India. The concept is based on scientific evidence that the body benefits physiologically and psychologically from laughter, whether it be real or fake.

Every day, Ginger and Pona make it a point to laugh—and laugh often.

“We don’t wait for class,” Ginger says and smiles. “It’s been great because this club allowed us to meet new people and make new friends. We’re at a time in our lives where every day is a blessing and laughing helps us get through each day.”

10 HAPPY SONGS

1. “Happy Together”—The Turtles

2. “If You Wanna Be Happy”—Jimmy Soul

3. “Shiny Happy People” —R.E.M.

4. “Happy”—Pharrell

5. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”—Bobby McFerrin

6. “My Happiness”—Connie Francis

7. “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”—Blood, Sweat, and Tears

8. “Love Can Make You Happy”—Mercy

9. “Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen”—Neil Sedeka

10. “Oh How Happy”—Shades of Blue

CHARACTERISTICS OF BEING UNHAPPY

• Unhappy people hate their jobs.

• Unhappy people constantly worry about money.

• Unhappy people do not have active hobbies.

• Unhappy people think material possessions will make them happy.

• Unhappy people are lonely.

• Unhappy people do not like the town they live in.

• Unhappy people do not have pets.

• Unhappy people do not like themselves.

Source: care2.com/greenliving/10-things-unhappy-people-have-in-common-2.html

: )

UNHAPPY BY THE NUMBERS

6 The number of hours per day of socializing that leads to the highest levels of happiness.

5 The number of positive interactions that successful married couples have to every negative one.

1 in 3: The number of Americans who say they’re very happy, according to a 2013 Harris poll.

Happy employees produce 37% greater sales than unhappy employees do.

Employees who like their jobs have 10 times fewer sick days than employees who do not like their jobs.

Sources: happify.com/hd/happiness-by-the-numbers/snacknation.com/blog/ employee-happiness/

“Live with courage and strength each and every day.”

– Vicky McGhee

“Gratitude is important because I stop and think about all the wonderful things I have in life.”

– Keith Adee

“Laughing releases endorphins that help with pain, stress, and depression.”

– Pona & Ginger Das

DR. MARK ROTHSCHILD

DR. VATSAL INAMDAR

ERICA HARDEN, ARNP

BRYAN CARTER, MPA-C

DR. GEORG COUTURIER

SCOTT WOJCIECHOWSKI, PA

A- C SCOTT W

CHANGE OF

Open-heart bypass surgery. Those four words conjure up images of knife-wielding doctors making a rib-splitting slice down the middle of the chest. Most assume anyone who has undergone such an invasive procedure experiences a diminished quality of life and is living on borrowed time before another heart episode causes a patient to clutch his chest and fall to his death.

However, those who have experienced bypass surgery know otherwise.

Just ask De Burkholder, a 72-year-old Eustis resident whose arteries were so clogged his cardiac surgeon put in six bypasses. That surgery in 1999 left him with both a change of heart and attitude.

“I was only 55 years old when I had the surgery and felt I was too young to die. Although I tried to live a healthy lifestyle before my surgery, I knew I needed to take my health to an even higher level.”

Burkholder has spent the past 16 years doing that with steadfast determination. Today, he spins, shuffles,

and sidesteps as a ballroom dancer, spends several days each week tending to his beautifully landscaped yard, and frequents the Golden Triangle YMCA to engage in strength and aerobic training. In addition, he is vegetarian most of the time, allowing himself a limited amount of meat on special occasions.

“Other than heavy lifting, I can participate in most physical activities,” he says. “My level of physical fitness is much better than other people I know who are my age.”

Through bypass surgery, surgeons split the breastbone down the middle and separate the rib cage to access the heart. Veins are taken from an arm or leg and used to “divert the flow of blood around a section of a blocked or partially blocked artery in your heart,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

This enables patients to breathe better, work harder, and feel healthier. Instead of becoming cardiac cripples, bypass patients find themselves doing anything they want—running, bicycling, and working fulltime. Doctors support this increase in activity.

STORY: JAMES COMBS PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ

If you think your life is doomed after undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, you seriously need a change of heart

“Patients who have just undergone bypass surgery should begin exercising by doing little things, such as walking for five minutes and then resting,” says Dr. Mark Rothschild, a cardiologist with Heart of The Villages. “They should attempt to walk every day and gradually build up their endurance. Doing so is good for the patients and their heart.”

That mindset is a stark contrast to 50 years ago when patients were encouraged to slow down, lead sedentary lifestyles, and consider leaving work. However, studies indicated these patients suffered poor outcomes. Moreover, leaving a career they were passionate about created more stress than resuming their job.

“There used to be a time when doctors wanted bypass patients to remain in bed for two months,” Dr. Rothschild says. “Nowadays, we mobilize them as soon as possible and have them enter a cardiac rehab program, where they undergo supervised exercises.”

Of course, bypass surgery does not ensure patients will enjoy a life free of heart disease, nor does it prevent future heart attacks. In fact, the 20-year survival rate after bypass surgery is only 40 percent, according to a clinical study published in the European Heart Journal.

“Once you have coronary artery disease, you will have it for the rest of your life,” Dr. Rothschild says. “Bypass surgery doesn’t change that; it merely treats symptoms.”

That’s why patients such as Burkholder alter their lifestyles considerably to end unhealthy habits and

risk factors that re-clog the arteries.

BYPASS SURGERY: THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

Burkholder has been an avid exercise enthusiast for most of his adult life. Ironically, he was participating in a step aerobics class in 1999 when he first experienced extreme shortness of breath.

“It felt like I had a chest cold,” says Burkholder, who resided in Michigan at the time and worked as a purchasing manager for Ford Motor Company.

Several days later, he struggled to breathe again. An abnormal EKG prompted his cardiologist to perform a heart catheterization that revealed grim news. Of his three main coronary arteries, one was 100 percent blocked, while the other two had 75 percent blockage.

The result was shocking to Burkholder. He lived a healthy lifestyle, was not overweight, and only smoked for a brief time. However, his father suffered two heart attacks before undergoing bypass surgery in 1980.

“It appears my heart disease was genetically inherited. I was living on the edge of disaster. After the catheterization, they never let me leave the hospital. Before the surgery, doctors barely let me get out of bed unless I needed to use the bathroom. They did not want me doing anything. That’s how bad of shape I was in.”

Following his surgery, Burkholder began taking steps to resume a normal life. But they were unquestionably

DID YOU KNOW

About 80 percent of patients who underwent open-heart surgery were angina free five years after surgery, according to the National Institutes of Health. Angina is chest pain related to the heart.

the most difficult steps he has ever taken—literally.

“Because of the surgery I had no strength at first,” he explains. “I remember trying to walk outside on a fall day and I could only go one-tenth of a mile. My wife went to get the neighbor so he could help me make it back to my home.”

The surgery also took an emotional toll.

“I went from working fulltime and exercising several times a week to barely moving. It’s hard mentally when you go from one extreme to another like that. I wondered whether I’d get back to the level I was at.”

Through it all, though, Burkholder was determined to have a successful recovery. At his first follow-up appointment after surgery, his cardiologist issued a stern challenge.

“He told me that I should be walking a mile within one month. I ultimately met that goal. If it was nice outside, I’d go for a walk, and if the weather was nasty, I would walk on a treadmill in my basement. Meeting that goal was a big triumph, and that really encouraged me to continue pushing myself physically.”

Making dietary changes was another crucial component of his lifestyle change. After reading “Reversing Heart Disease,” a book written by Dean Ornish, he eliminated hydrogenated oil from his diet. Hydrogenated oil is a trans-fat that “increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke,” according to the American Heart Association.

“I feel fortunate that I can participate in all these physical activities.”

“Hydrogenated oil is used in baked goods because it extends the shelf life, but at the same time it shortens your life,” he says.

Burkholder also began monitoring his saturated fat intake and transitioning to a mostly vegetarian diet.

“The amount of time I spent at grocery stores doubled because I had to carefully read food labels. I didn’t mind, though, because I wasn’t going to go through that again. I decided that my physical well-being is more important than a steak.”

After moving to Eustis in 2003, he became a member of the Golden Triangle YMCA and eventually served as a group fitness instructor. For five days a week, he taught classes such as kickboxing, group cycling, deep-water aerobics, and strength training. Although he recently retired after nine years, he continues exercising there several times a week.

For Burkholder, ballroom dancing is another hearthealthy activity that keeps him

man, Burkholder shares his triumphs and struggles with others battling heart disease and inspires them to live full, healthy lives post-surgery.

“Cardiac patients can relate most to others who suffered from heart-related issues,” he said. “When they see how well I’m doing 16 years after my surgery, it provides them with hope and motivates them to live a healthier lifestyle.”

Adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle following open-heart surgery gives patients like Burkholder a new lease on life.

SURVIVING BYPASS SURGERY

on his toes. He and Salemae, his dance partner and wife, take private lessons in Mount Dora. On Saturdays, the couple attends dance night at Hawthorne, a retirement community in Leesburg, where they elegantly and gracefully perform the cha cha, fox trot, swing, tango, and waltz. Studies indicate ballroom dancing improves heart and blood vessel function of patients with heart disease.

“Not only does dancing help me keep physically fit but it also helps me keep my mind active because you have to learn all the steps,” he says. “I feel fortunate that I can participate in all these physical activities.”

Now, he’s encouraging other bypass patients to do the same. Burkholder is a member of Mended Hearts, a national support group offering hope to heart disease patients and their caregivers.

During his chapter’s monthly meetings at Florida Hospital Water-

“I constantly see people who are having a heart attack or on the verge of having a heart attack and near death,” said Dr. Duane Cook, a cardiovascular surgeon with Leesburg-Ocala Heart Institute. “I perform surgery on them, and two months later they come back and tell me they feel 10 years younger. They find life is worth living again.”

Dr. Mark Rothschild, a cardiologist with Heart of The Villages, shares some tips to help openheart surgery patients make a full recovery and live healthy lifestyles.

1) Join a cardiac rehab program, which helps patients increase cardiovascular fitness and the heart’s functional capacity.

2) Strongly consider the Mediterranean diet, which consists of eating plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables and whole grains.

3) Use olive oil or canola oil instead of margarine or butter.

4) When it comes to exercising, walk for a minimum of 30 minutes per day and gradually increase your time and distance. Listen to your body and don’t overdo it.

5) If osteoporosis makes walking difficult, consider swimming or water aerobics

BODY

“True life is lived when tiny changes occur.”

Leo Tolstoy

FULL STEAM AHEAD

Childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rather than participating in physical activities, too many children spend countless hours playing video games, watching movies, and surfing the Internet. To compound problems, fast food has replaced home-cooked meals for families who are too busy to shop or cook.

A Lake County woman hopes she has found the perfect recipe to combat this epidemic and help children lead healthier lifestyles.

Sara Meyer, a former kindergarten teacher in South Lake County for seven years and director of a foster care program in Ocala, recently formed STEAMFIT Academy. Her after-care program allows students enrolled in local public or

private elementary schools to learn about the importance of healthy eating and fitness by participating in hands-on courses such as nutrition, gymnastics, Zumba, public speaking, art, and martial arts. The Minneola-based academy opened January 4.

“We’re not a school or daycare; we’re more of a club-like atmosphere where we instill the importance of health into children at an early age. I want every child to understand what health truly is and how healthy minds and healthy bodies work hand-in-hand.”

Schoolchildren spend fourand-a-half hours at the facility, which features a kitchen with utensils and cooking supplies, an art room with easels, paintbrushes, and colored pencils, and an open area where students apply STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) concepts to build robots.

Because art is part of the curriculum, Sara added an “a” and affectionately named her company STEAMFIT.

On a recent morning, three boys and three girls gathered in the kitchen around a wooden table. Each student had a cup of warm water and anxiously awaited instruction from 18-year-old Mariah Wallis.

“Okay, I want you to drop your tea bag and green mint into the cup,” says Mariah, a South Lake High School senior who dreams of opening her own bakery. “Then add honey and begin swirling with your spoon. The reason we’re having you make green tea is because it helps prevent stomach problems. Green tea is also good for your teeth because it fights cavities and bacteria.”

After drinking their tea, students walk into a 1,000-square-foot gymnasium where numerous yoga

WRITER: JAMES COMBS

exercise mats cover the floor. Sara, who is the fitness instructor, orders the children to perform 10 jumping jacks and 10 push-ups.

“Okay, now lie on your mats.”

“Is it nap time?” a student asks.

“No, it’s relaxation time. I’m going to show you how to do the warrior pose. Lift your left leg and tuck it against your right leg. Then extend your arms with your palms facing the sun. This is a great exercise because it’s a total mind-body workout that increases your flexibility and strengthens your muscles.”

For Sara, the concept behind STEAMFIT originated while she served as director of a foster care program in Ocala. She dealt with children who were unable to read and displayed severe behavioral issues.

“Eventually, a program was started for those

children that included culinary arts training, track and field, and martial arts. We immediately noticed a difference in their attitudes, self-esteem, and behavior.”

She felt children in South Lake County could benefit from a similar program.

Because children are often more receptive to people their own age, Sara invited teenagers to come to the facility and serve as mentors. In addition, she formed a partnership with South Lake High School to allow high school students to intern at STEAMFIT.

“Our children feel very much at ease around high school students because there’s not too much of an age difference,” Sara said. For high school students like Mariah, it’s a privilege to teach children how to make fun-yet-healthy snacks such as banana snowmen and Grinch kabobs.

“It’s exciting to teach kids culinary skills and also how to eat in a much healthier way,” Mariah said. “This is a nut-free facility, a dyefree facility, and an almost gluten-free facility.”

Jessica Cattle is equally

excited about her role as STEAMFIT’s art instructor. A 2009 graduate of East Ridge High School, Jessica later attended the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota and is a commissioned artist specializing in printmaking. “My goal is to inspire and trigger their creativity,” Jessica said. “Exposure to the arts affects a child’s creative and academic growth in a positive way.”

STEAMFIT Academy is located at 307 N. U.S. Hwy. 27 in Minneola. For more information, please call 352.255.7350 or visit www.steamfi t.net.

ONE DEGREE OF CHANGE

Iinvite you to take a moment and imagine what your life will look like in your 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. Are you full of energy? Are you enjoying your grandchildren? Are you traveling the world? Do you see yourself healthy and happy? Unfortunately, for our society that is not how most of our retirement years look. Instead, our calendars are filled with doctor’s appointments, and we spend mornings counting prescription dosages for the day. A majority of us have difficulty getting around, and some may be wheelchairbound at an early age. What if I told you by making a onedegree shift in your lifestyle you can dramatically change what your golden years look like? Would you be willing do it? Really, sit with that for a moment. How much is quality of life worth to you? What are you REALLY willing to give up to enjoy a lifetime of health, energy, happiness, and enjoyment?

Now remember the commitment and thoughts you just had because the one degree of change I am going to ask you to make is eliminate one ingredient from your life—sugar! What are your thoughts now? Do they sound anything like these? Is she crazy? That is impossible! How does she expect me to do that?

Sugar has many dangers,

but the top three are heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. For years cholesterol was thought to be the cause of heart disease. Recently, a growing number of physicians, like Dr. Stephen Sinatra, feel inflammation is the real culprit. Inflammation is caused by a number of things, but eating sugar is at the top of the list. Obesity is at an alltime high in the United States. Why? Because we consume so much sugar. It is everywhere and in everything. The problem with sugar is that it drives fat storage and makes our brain think we are hungry, setting up a “vicious cycle.” Obesity leads us to the next danger, diabetes. For years, type-2 diabetes was solely linked to weight gain, but new research indicates sugar intake may also be directly linked to diabetes.

We can make a significant difference in the quality of our lives by making better choices. Choose not to consume products that contain table sugar (sucrose) and high-fructose corn syrup. Choose not to eat processed foods or drink soft drinks. In addition, pass up artificial sweeteners and instead choose natural sweeteners like raw local honey and Stevia. Replace sugar with whole foods

such as vegetables, nuts, avocados, fish, and olive oil.

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better do better,” —Maya Angelou

This choice to give up sugar will yield so many benefits! You will enjoy better health, have more energy, and age gracefully. The quality of your life is completely in your control. How do you see your future?

Live well, think well, move well, be well! Written by Dr. Kimberly Besuden, Chiropractic Physician and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner. She is a frequent speaker and contributor to articles on the subjects of wellness, health, and nutritional issues. Dr. Besuden’s knowledge of human behavior concerning nutrition and the most effective ways to make change happen have helped thousands of people and hundreds of organizations over the years. www.drbesuden.com

WHAT’S GOING AROUND

HAVE YOU HAD A COUGH with a high fever? Or a cough that caused breathing difficulty? Well, Pneumonia “season” typically goes hand in hand with wintertime cold and flu season. Pneumonia refers to an infection of the lungs.

Most cases are caused by a virus, like the flu, RSV in children or parainfluenza virus (which causes croup). Often, pneumonia begins on the heels of an upper respiratory infection, with symptoms of beginning after two or three days of a cold or sore throat. Since the cough from a cold and that from pneumonia seem similar, it is often difficult for the patient or parent to determine how serious the illness is. Pneumonia can be easily diagnosed with a chest X-ray. While it is a relatively common infection of the lungs, it can be dangerous

and is the leading cause of death from infection. The most common cases of pneumonia (known as “walking pneumonia”) can be treated with antibiotics at home, but depending on the severity, a person may need to be hospitalized.

SYMPTOMS OF PNEUMONIA INCLUDE:

• Fever

• Shortness of Breath

• Shallow & Fast Breathing

• Coughing (which may include mucus)

• Sweating & Chills

• Headache

• Muscle Aches

• Loss of Appetite

• Fatigue

The symptoms of pneumonia often mimic other illnesses like asthma and bronchitis, so people often wait before seeking medical care. This is a mistake as developed pneumonia can cause severe symptoms and complications. For those at high-risk like those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease, smokers, infants and the elderly — pneumonia can be life threatening. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a pneumonia vaccine for all people age 65 and older and anyone age 2 – 64 years that is considered high-risk for complications from pneumonia.

WHAT’S GOING AROUND

If you want to know more of What’s Going Around in this area throughout the year, visit CentraCare.org and sign up to receive weekly health email alerts.

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MIND

You have power over your mind –not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength

–Marcus Aurelius

GAMES MIND

HOW LEARNING SAVES YOUR BRAIN

Your brain is ageing. From age 20, progression goes downward. It’s not that your brain stops working, it just slowly starts loosing it’s razor sharpness. Your memory becomes a little less reliable, your brain a little less flexible, and everything takes a little longer.

Do you want to do something about that? Learn to stay sharp! Learning new skills and collecting new knowledge is one of the most effective methods for strengthening your brain’s performance and health.

When you learn, you’re challenging your brain to change. Learning requires your brain to construct new communication patterns, new neural roads and highways. You’re building new brain infrastructure. Recent studies have shown remarkable differences between people who lead intellectually active lives and those who were not active. The mental stimulation can be from work and leisure activities. In one study, the group of participants, who led lives with relatively high levels of intellectual activity, had a 32 percent slower rate of mental decline. The group that was less intellectually active was 48 percent faster to fall into dementia. This

WRITER: KIM BADEN-KRISTENSEN, FOUNDER OF BRAIN +

is really thought provoking, because almost 50 percent of people older than 85 develop Alzheimer’s. Almost 50 percent!

A major benefit of learning is that you build your cognitive reserve. This means that you’re improving your brain’s ability to resist damage and disease. You’re essentially building brain resilience by strengthening connections and cell structures. You’re putting money in the brain bank that you can withdraw when crisis strikes.

As you were growing up you had a steep learning curve. You kept learning during your formal education years and your first years on the job market, but then what? What are you learning right now?

The ugly truth is that many of us stop actively learning when we hit our 30s. We (rightfully) start feeling entitled to enjoy the fruits of our labor, or we start feeling too busy. The unfortunate byproduct is we let learning slide out of our lives, at the expense of our brain.

The conclusion is simple! You have to stay active and keep learning new things all your life.

Start early and grow a nice fat brain pension fund, it all adds up.

EXPLORE THE NEW AND COMPLEX!

How do you maximize the positive impact of your learning activities on your brain?

A key is to maximize the challenge, to the point where it is demanding, but doable. The more it requires you to think hard, to process the new information deeply, to reflect, to think out of the box and to get outside of your comfort zone, the better. If you concentrate hard when you learn, the brain benefits are maximized.

SUGGESTIONS

Learn a new language or a musical instrument.

Begin doing sports, go dancing, try rock climbing, or learn to play football.

Most sports require a high level of concentration and coordination. It engages multiple brain functions simultaneously. Even hiking on uneven terrain requires concentration and balance, and thus trains the brain.

ENGAGE IN HIGH-LEVEL THINKING, LIKE STRATEGY AND PLANNING.

Play mind-demanding games, like chess, bridge, strategic board or video games

You activate your higher brain functions by doing activities that require strategic thinking, judging, analyzing, reflection, and focused attention. Strategy and planning don’t have to be about business; they can also be about your life, your family, and your plans for the coming year, or maybe just for next Saturday.

In summary, stimulate your brain through challenging learning. Enjoy the benefits, including a decreased likelihood of neurodegenerative disease. The new and complex strengthens your brain much more than the familiar and simple. Build your cognitive reserve and you empower yourself. Make the decision to always learn new things for the rest of your life.

In the next Brain Health article we’ll uncover why socializing is a key ingredient in brain health. Learn more at Brain-plus.com.

Sources: (Valenzuela & Sachdev, Psychological Medicine, 2006; 36:441-454). (Valenzuela & Sachdev, Psychological Medicine, 2006; 36:1065-1073).

(Wilson R, et al. JAMA, 2002; 287:742-748).

SEVEN WARNING SIGNS YOU ARE IN A UNHEALTHY CODEPENDENT RELATIONSHIP

Acodependent relationship often is viewed as one of primary importance. While this may not sound like a bad thing and usually comes from intense love and devotion, codependency means a person will sacrifice their own happiness or well-being to sustain the relationship at all costs. This problem occurs most often with people suffering from low self-esteem. Unfortunately, the codependency exacerbates feelings of worthlessness rather than eradicating them.

In most cases, the other partner in the relationship is selfish and erratic, leaving the insecure partner feeling responsible for the relationship’s success. It is important to note that people who are

codependent do not always realize there is a problem, and may in fact feel proud of how they “hold the relationship together” with their strength and sensitivity. In addition, even codependent partners who know something is wrong often feel the current relationship is their only chance at happiness, and stay out of fear.

The key to breaking out of a codependent situation lies in viewing your behavior and thoughts more objectively, and learning how to prioritize your own needs. However, it can be difficult to face the reality of being codependent, so you may wonder how to determine if it is a problem for you. Listed here are the main warning signs you are in an unhealthy codependent relationship.

Being in the relationship requires significant sacrifice. How do you know the price is too high for the reward? An effective way to gain objectivity is to list everything you remember giving up to keep the relationship. Pay close attention to what you learn from your list. Have you changed your life to suit your partner? Are your needs often ignored? Does your life revolve around your partner’s priorities and desires? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, it is highly likely you are in an exhausting codependent relationship.

You have a difficult time expressing negative emotions even when you know you are right. If you are codependent, you may struggle to confess to being wounded because you believe these negative emotions are your fault. You may have become accustomed to being blamed for any feelings your partner doesn’t like or being told your anger or sadness is irrational, inappropriate, or even ridiculous.

When you’re not with your partner, you feel lost or frightened. Although it is normal and indeed healthy to miss your partner’s company when you’re not together, something is amiss if you’re feeling anxious and out of place without your partner. This is an indication of codependency and indicates you are relying on your significant other to a dangerous degree means you rely on your partner’s feedback to gauge your own emotions. To avoid being codependent, you need to acknowledge and believe you can survive after a break up. Admit that your partner is the center of the whole world.

You take the blame for your partner’s negative behavior. When your partner does something that hurts, disappoints, or makes you feel betrayed it’s vital that you recognize this is your partner’s fault and not your own. If you are codependent, you always find a way to view a situation in a way that makes you responsible for your partner’s bad behavior. This can be devastating to your self-respect.

1 2 3 4

5 6 7

You believe you are less significant than the relationship you are in. We know solid, loving relationships require both parties are willing to make sacrifices for each other at appropriate times. If you are the only one who sacrifices or if you feel you could endure unlimited emotional (or physical) pain to keep the relationship alive, you may be a codependent partner in danger of losing your worth and sense of identity.

You value your partner’s success more than your own. While you should support your partner’s ambition, you are also entitled to receive similar support in return. In a codependent relationship, you might believe your partner’s goals are more lofty and worthwhile than any you have, and be willing to miss opportunities for your own success to ensure your partner’s.

Your partner does not put forth the same effort to nurture and maintain the relationship. It is easy to become exhausted and overburdened if you are the only person fighting for the survival of the relationship. In a healthy relationship, both partners make sustained efforts to be close and keep each other happy. If you are the only one constantly seeking to improve and sustain the relationship, you may be codependent.

If these signs are particularly familiar to you, this strongly suggests you are currently in a codependent relationship. The good news is it doesn’t mean the relationship is unsustainable. Rather, it means if you both want to continue dating, you need to get relationship counseling to discover why you have this dynamic, and learn how to change your less healthy patterns of behavior. Unfortunately, not all partners of codependent people will admit things are amiss in the relationship. If your partner is not willing to meet you in the middle and create an equal relationship, you may be better off if you break up.

Stuart Force, John Roemmelt, Bill Ward, Jim Semesco, Jesika Pucino, Art Hilbish, and Matt Pierson.

SPIRIT

I believe that visualization is one of the most powerful means of achieving personal goals.

– Harvey Mackay

SPIRIT

THE LAW OF ATTRACTION HOW CREATIVE VISUALIZATION WORKS

Creative visualization has long been used as a personal motivation tool. A salesman may collage his dream vacation and hang it up in his work space. A woman on a diet may imagine herself at her ideal weight. Seeing something in our mind’s eye can inspire us to strive harder to achieve it. The law of attraction, however, takes

this principle a step further. It implies that when we take some time to envision our desires we are actually working to manifest them.

The underlying idea is that our thoughts give birth to the reality that we experience. Many old texts have alluded to this idea, and it has seen resurgence in the modern day with all of the law of attraction literature and other media that abounds. Ancient wisdom is being applied to our modern goals of good health, financial security, and romantic fulfillment, to name but a few of the many possible applications.

If you use creative visualization to help you realize your dreams, it’s crucial that you imagine their manifestation as vividly as possible. This adds emotional weight to your meditations. If you can actually see your desires unfolding then the resulting excitement and joy that you feel will be channeled into the creative act. This is potent energy that can be focused toward attracting what you want from the world. Some teachers of the law of attraction will encourage their students to act as if it were so. Focusing on a negative circumstance in your life will only reinforce it via your attention. Try to relinquish such worries and concentrate only upon your desire.

Then take a single action sometime during the day that is in line with that desire. This is a way of demonstrating your faith in the manifestation work that you

are doing. Remember that it is the strength of your own belief that will bring about the results you want. Don’t worry about how anyone else might approach this exercise. What matters is that you follow through with whatever may feel like a demonstration of faith to you.

The law of attraction works because our own thoughts and feelings are taking form in the physical world. Creative visualization is one tool that can enable us to become conscious creators of our own life experience. It allows us to focus upon our intent rather than upon all of the things that could go wrong. We have been creating our own reality all along anyway. Creative visualization is simply one way of doing so purposefully. In the process of doing this meditation we may be confronted with imaginative images that run contrary to what we are trying to create. These fantasies can indicate that we carry beliefs that run the other way. Becoming conscious of such beliefs enables us to perceive them for the stumbling blocks that they are. We can then work through them and let them go, thus stepping forward into a new and more expansive motif for our lives.

TRAIN YOURSELF TO THINK POSITIVELY WITH A GRATITUDE JOURNAL

WRITER: ROZ ANDREWS

Do you tend to look on the black side rather than the bright side of life? Are you often discouraged by the challenges you face? Do you suffer from low self-esteem? If so, starting and keeping a gratitude journal could transform your thinking and improve your life.

In a gratitude journal, you record all of the things in your life that you are thankful for. Keeping all of the positive aspects of your life at the forefront of your mind helps you to think more positively and to deal with challenges more effectively. It also boosts your self-esteem as it helps you to realize that you are a valuable person who has many good things.

For your gratitude journal, choose a hardback notebook with an inspiring or humorous picture on the front. It may be a good idea to select a notebook that also includes encouraging quotations as headers or footers on the blank pages. Alternatively, you could write in your own inspiring quotations at the top of some of the pages.

Kick start your gratitude journal by making a list of as many things as possible that you are grateful for in your life, past and present. Include anything that comes into your head. Do not focus only on major achievements, such as your college degree, or special events, such as your wedding day, but also include little things that mean a lot, such as a thoughtful gift from a friend or seeing a beautiful flower. Aim to reach at least 100 items on your list but do not be discouraged if this is not possible at the moment. You can add to the list whenever you wish.

that moment. Aim for at least five items on your list each day but do not worry if you are not able to do this on some days. Even recording just one or two good things on a particularly bad day will help you to look at the day more positively. Try to be specific when writing about who and what you appreciate. For example, instead of saying that you are grateful for your husband or wife, think of one or more things that he or she has said or done in the past day to enhance your life. Look for humor in everyday events. Try to see the funny side of things that happen to you and write this down in your gratitude journal so that you can remember the event and chuckle, rather than remembering it with negative feelings. If you have read something that was particularly inspiring, write about it in your gratitude journal. Whenever you find encouraging quotations, add them to your gratitude journal. Your aim should be to build up a collection of material that will help you to look on the bright side of life. When you are having a difficult day, take out your gratitude journal and read through some of your past entries. This should help you to see that, although life may sometimes seem complicated and problematic, there is still a lot to be thankful for. Reading your gratitude journal on these days enables you to realize that, on balance, your life is more positive than negative. A gratitude journal enables you to appreciate the good things in your life. It would appear that, as human beings, we have a natural tendency to focus on the negative rather than the positive. It is important, therefore, that we retrain our brains to focus on the positive aspects of our lives. A gratitude journal is an essential tool for doing this.

Once you have made your initial list, take out your gratitude journal as often as possible, preferably every day, and write down all the things you are thankful for at

NO.1 TIP FOR PARENTING: CONSISTENCY & FOLLOW-THROUGH

When I look around at parents, the thing I see very clearly is that people struggle to know what to do about their child’s behavior, attitude, defiance, etc. As a dad myself, I do not claim to have it all figured out but sometimes it’s easier to look at other people and see what would help. I believe very strongly this would help most parents.

SAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND MEAN

WHAT YOU SAY. Before making any promises to Disney World for getting all A’s, be sure you can follow through with it. Most kids see black and white, and if you break a promise, that can only mean one thing — “You lied to me.” This leads to questions of trust.

On the other side of this, if you say you are going to

discipline, do it. If you have no intention of disciplining for some sort of misbehavior, don’t say it. Again, children get this really fast and may not believe you will do anything about their conduct. If you know you have fallen short of this in the past, welcome to the club. Many parents struggle in these areas. However, realize that it is something that needs to change now.

Why is this a big deal? I gave you the first reason: trust. Your kids need to know what you say is what is actually going to happen. Therefore, I think we all agree we need our kids to trust us, believe in us, and know Mom and Dad are going to handle the situation. They will have that assurance if they trust you.

In our home there have been plenty of seasons of inconsistency. In fact, most of

the fluctuation was mine and not my wife’s doing. I also put her in an unfair position where she consistently became the “bad guy,” which is horrible for the parent who is actually doing the “right thing.” So, when there are two parents in the picture, both need to be involved and 100 percent supportive of one another, especially in front of the kids. When I became lax in my disciplinary follow-through, I noticed the kids would become lax in their motivation to follow their mother’s direction. But when I was consistent, they were consistently responsible. All of this results in everyone being happier, too (including Momma, because you know what they say, right?).

Another reason to stay consistent is the fact that the world isn’t doing any favors for our kids. When your kids

are grown and they make a mistake, there won’t be a police officer or judge that will say, “Okay Johnnie, I’m going to give you 17 more chances and then maybe I will take you to jail.” Nope. That isn’t how it works and we know it. But we continue to raise our kids this way. What’s difficult to swallow about this is we’re setting our children up for failure.

The Bible says in Proverbs many times that our children will bring us grief if we do not discipline them in love. That is the key when you do discipline; it is an act of love. I know you love your kids just as I love mine, and it is my belief that the biblical model of parenting is the only right one. It is the one that works for a reason. Our Father in Heaven is the greatest parent and teaches us these principles.

WRITER: PASTOR DAVID BRABHAM

THE RAYS OF HOPE

For years, pain and fatigue were constant companions of Ann Busby. A resident of The Villages, Ann suffered from fibromyalgia, as well as severe arthritis throughout her joints and spine.

“I could only make doctor’s appointments every other day because my energy level was so low,” she said. “Whenever I tried to push myself I’d end up in bed for two days.”

Fortunately, life changed for the better when she visited Rays of Hope in Lady Lake. That’s where she began receiving photobiomodulation (formerly known as low-level light therapy), which promotes tissue repair, increases circulation, and reduces inflammation and pain.

“My energy level has doubled,” said Ann, who serves as group leader of a fibromyalgia support group in The Villages. “I’m a big believer in light technology. I see it as a big boon to health.”

The Rays of Hope is owned by Valerie Gause, a retired nurse who first used photobiomodulation on an acute flare up of a degenerative neck condition that resulted in loss of function of the arm over a five-week period. If fact, she experienced dramatic improvement after only three sessions.

Photobiomodulation uses infrared light that stimulates cells to generate more energy and undergo self-repair. Photobomodulation has been proven to be effective on inflammation, swelling, wounds, nerve pain, muscle pain, and mild-tomoderate joint and back pain.

“I’ve also received anecdotal reports from clients that they’ve experienced increased energy levels and improved mental clarity, as well.

That’s the kind of side effects we want to see,” Valerie said. “Light therapy in no way should replace medicine, but it can provide therapeutic and preventative support in many cases. The wonderful part is the whole-body delivery system allows for convenience and affordability.” Understanding why light therapy is beneficial is much larger than space allows for this article. Valerie is more than happy to educate potential clients.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

RAYS OF HOPE

113 S. US Hwy 441, Lady Lake, FL, 32159 352.775.9976

TheRaysofHope.com

Pain

can cause you to miss out on life’s most important moments.

When it comes to hip replacement, I’m a big fan of the direct approach. I’m referring to anterior approach hip replacement, a specialized technique that accesses the hip from the front, causing less trauma to tissue than traditional hip replacement surgery. Patients are usually up and mobile the same day of surgery, and heal quicker with less discomfort. This procedure is truly revolutionary. How do I know so much? I was the first local surgeon qualified to perform it.

CARL O. O Board C Fellows

A hi m rec

CARL O. OLLIVIERRE, MD, FACS Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon Fellowship Trained, Sports Medicine

TACKLE YOUR HIP PAIN HEAD-ON.

FINANCE

Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.

–Jim Rohn

COLLECTION AGENCY CREDIT CHECKS AND YOUR FICO SCORES

WRITER: CIELE EDWARDS

If you’ve pulled your free credit report only to discover that a collection agency has been snooping around in your file, you aren’t alone. Many consumers are horrified to discover that collection agencies can and do pull debtors’ credit records on a regular basis. Fortunately, federal law governs the circumstances under which debt collectors can peruse your credit reports.

FEDERAL LAW AND COLLECTION AGENCY CREDIT CHECKS

A collection agency doesn’t have the right to pull your credit report without a legally valid reason. The Fair Credit Reporting Act protects the sensitive financial information your credit history contains. The FCRA only gives collectors the right to review your credit history if they do so in connection with a debt you owe. The right to access your credit reports is known as “permissible purpose.” If you do not owe a debt to the collection agency, it does not have permissible purpose and cannot legally pull your credit reports.

WHY DEBT COLLECTORS CHECK YOUR CREDIT

A collection agency may pull your credit history for a variety of reasons. If, for example, a debt collector does not have your current address to contact you about the debt, he may look to your credit report for that information. A collection agency might also review your credit history in order to determine whether or not you have assets or are currently employed. This information helps the

company decide whether or not it is worthwhile to file a lawsuit against you for payment.

CREDIT CHECKS AND YOUR FICO SCORES

When a company or individual pulls your credit records, the pull is either a “soft” pull or a “hard” pull. Soft pulls have no impact on your FICO scores. Credit checks you conduct yourself and those performed by employers, insurance companies and utility providers are all examples of soft pulls. Hard pulls, such as those conducted by lenders, can cause your credit scores minor damage. You can expect to lose anywhere from five to 10 points each time a creditor conducts a hard pull. Unfortunately, collection agencies generally conduct hard pulls. Although five or 10 points may not sound like much, repeated hard pulls from a debt collector can do considerable damage to your FICO scores over time.

Although an inquiry from a collection agency isn’t a positive feature on your credit report, it doesn’t remain on record forever. Unlike negative account trade lines, which can remain on your credit report for up to seven years, the credit bureaus remove hard inquiries after two years. The FICO scoring system that most lenders use to evaluate your creditworthiness, however, only takes hard inquiries into consideration for one year. Thus, after a year, a collection agency’s inquiry won’t harm your credit scores, even if the credit bureaus have yet to remove it from your credit report.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

WRITER: DAVE RAMSEY

Dear Dave,

I bought a piece of lake property not long ago, and the developer has first right of refusal if we decide to sell it. We originally looked at the property as an investment or building site, but I really don’t understand what first right of refusal means.

— Craig

Dear Craig,

A lot depends on the wording, but typically it means that you can sell property to another buyer subject to the developer not wanting to buy it back at that price.

If you decided to sell within the timeframe specified in the first right of refusal contract you’d have to notify the developer you have a written offer on the property. Then,

you have to give him a chance to buy the lot first at that price.

Or, you could just ask the developer — in writing — to waive his first right of refusal if this is something you want to do. They’re in the business of selling lots, not buying them, so it may be an easy deal.

—Dave

Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business. He has authored five New York Times best-selling books, including Smart Money Smart Kids.

“The Dave Ramsey Show” is heard by more than 8.5 million listeners each week on more than 550 radio stations. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com.

JANUARY 7

Stroke Support Group

This group offers an opportunity for stroke survivors to learn about local resources and interact socially while participating in group therapy. The group meets at 2:30 p.m. in the LRMC North Campus conference room. Information: 352.323.5658

JANUARY 12

Better Breathers

An American Lung Association support group to aid those who suffer from lung diseases. Participants learn tips and techniques to manage their disease. 1–3 p.m. National Training Center, 1935 Don Wickham Drive, Clermont. Free. Information: 352.241.7109

JANUARY 12

Mended Hearts Support Group

Mended Hearts offers hope to heart patients suffering from cardiovascular disease, as well as their families and caregivers. Noon–1 p.m. Florida Hospital Waterman, 100 Waterman Way, Tavares. Information: 352.253.3399

JANUARY 20

Multiple Sclerosis Support Group

Share stories and reach out to others facing similar challenges with multiple sclerosis, a disease that attacks the central ner-

vous system. 10 a.m.–noon, National Training Center, 1935 Don Wickham Drive, Clermont. Free. Information: 352.242.2350

JANUARY 21

Breast Cancer Support Group

A breast cancer diagnosis is a time filled with fear and uncertainty. Fortunately, you don’t have to battle breast cancer alone. Share your stories with others fighting the disease and learn effective coping strategies. 1:30–3:30 p.m. Florida Hospital Waterman, 4000 Waterman Way in Tavares. Information: 352.253.3605

JANUARY 23-24

Florida Rush Cup

Soccer teams from around the country compete to take home gold medals in their respective age divisions. This unique event is at the National Training Center, 1935 Don Wickham Drive, Clermont. 7a.m.–8p.m. Information: 407.654.5552

JANUARY 25

Amputee Support Group

It can be devastating to live with limb loss. Fortunately, amputees can share their trials and tribulations with other amputees, while helping one another cope in the process. 6–7 p.m. Florida Hospital Waterman, 1000 Waterman Way, Tavares. Information: 352.253.3892.

JANUARY 30

Health and Wellness Fair

Organized by New Beginnings, this health fair features medical vendors, short seminars on various topics, and free health screenings. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. in Wesley Center at First United Methodist Church of Clermont. Information: 352.404.6946

JANUARY 30

Mount Dora Health and Fitness Expo

Wallace Fitness is hosting a fun, free family event to promote health and fitness awareness. Activities include fitness demonstrations, weight loss education, live entertainment, prizes, contests, food trucks, and demonstrations by community health care providers, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., at Donnelly Park in downtown Mount Dora. Information: wallacefitness.com/expo

JANUARY 30

Spice It Up for Hospice Chili Cook-Off

This event includes a chili tasting contest, raffle prizes, and live entertainment by Todd Brown and the River Junction Band. Proceeds benefit the Lane Purcell Hospice House and Cornerstone Hospice patient care. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. in downtown Bushnell. Information: 352.742.6807

JANUARY 30

Florida Hospital Waterman’s 7th annual Celebration of Life Gala

This event will be held at the Westin Lake Mary, located at 2974 International Parkway. Proceeds raised from the event support Florida Hospital Waterman’s emergency department.

Information: 352.253.3270

FEBRUARY 6

Taste of Wellness

Attendees can win fun door prizes and visit with health and wellness providers. Enjoy great food, drinks, and entertainment. All proceeds benefit World Wellness Education, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at La Hacienda Recreation Center in The Villages. Information: 352.459.1655

Maqsood, Rajab Abu Khadrah, Fadi Rahhal,

Impressions

Happiness

is a choice. Your circumstances can affect it, but you are still the one who decides your happiness.

- Author unknown

Your heart is amazing! Give it some extra love this February.

February is American Heart Month

Join us as we celebrate the month with education and fun by attending one of our many events.

Women’s Hot Topic Breakfast

Friday, February 5, 8:30 a.m.

Tavares Pavilion on the Lake

Enjoy a heart-healthy breakfast and an open discussion of women’s health topics from heart disease to hormones, nutrition, stress and more.

NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY, SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY WEARING RED!

Amazing Heart Day

Friday, February 12, 7 to 9 a.m.

Florida Hospital Waterman Main Atrium

Featuring free health risk assessments (includes glucose, full lipid panel and lifestyle assessment) and a tour through the MEGA Heart, a walk-through, inflatable, interactive, educational model of the human heart. Registration and fasting required for screenings.

Cooking for a Healthy Heart

Wednesday, February 17, 5 to 6 p.m.

Florida Hospital Waterman Conry CREATION Health Center

Join us for a heart-healthy cooking demonstration in the CREATION Health Kitchen.

Treatment for Heart Arrhythmias

Presented by Miguel Bryce, MD

Thursday, February 25, 1 to 2 p.m.

Florida Hospital Waterman Mattison Conference Center

All events are free and open to the public. However, space is limited. Please register by calling (352) 253-3635 or visit FHWatermanHeart.com