Healthy Living June 2015

PLUS BE A SMART MOUTH

Organic food brings health benefits

A SPECIAL ‘KIN’SHIP

Foster children increasingly are placed with family members

LESSONS IN MANSCAPING

Grooming tips to help men look their best

Melissa was right to be concerned about her husband. Family history is a primary contributor to a person’s overall cardiovascular health. It’s never too early to ask your doctor for an assessment. Never too soon to ask for recommendations to help. The good news, after a thorough workup at ICE, their cardiologists were able to determine that his heart was in good shape. His cholesterol was high but it was manageable through medication. Melissa’s heart felt as if a great weight had been removed from it.

we’re on it.

At Promise Hospital, we’ve always been focused on patient care and patient satisfaction. That’s why we are proud to introduce our new Surgery Department, which features state-of-the-art equipment and is staff ed by hand-selected, certified professionals with an average of 20 years’ surgical experience. We provide a wide range of inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures, including orthopedic, general surgery, podiatry, pain management, cardiovascular and urology.

PROMISE HOSPITAL IS COMMITTED TO ALWAYS RAISING THE BAR HIGHER…

SCAN THIS CODE WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PROMISE HOSPITAL!

(Left to right): Barbara Moore, Carol McCurdy, Beth Emsley, Nivea Key, Benita Strickland, Lori Rockey, (as “surgery patient”) Deb Hutchins

CONTENTS

June 2015

FEATURING

// THE POWER OF POWELL

In Chris Powell’s world, morbidly obese people are not dead weights. He works tirelessly to help them take a load off their bodies and minds.

WRITER: JAMES COMBS

// FOOD FOR THOUGHT

If an unhealthy diet sparks fatigue, maybe it’s time to ask if what you’re eating is what’s eating you.

WRITER: GARY MCKECHNIE

PART 5 OF OUR SERIES EXAMINING FOSTER CARE

// NEXT OF KIN

Nearly 355,000 children in Florida live with their grandparents. Another 121,758 children live with other than their parents. Kinship c but rewards are immens

ive relatives nship care has its challenges, se, say two local families.

WRITER: MARY ANN DESANTIS

ON THE COVER MODEL: CHRIS POWELL

PHOTO: NICOLLE CLEMETSON

HEALTHYBODY

ANATOMY

IN EVERY ISSUE

WRITER: RICHARD T. BOSSHARDT, MD, FACS

LEG WORKOUT

54 NOTHING BEATS A GREAT PAIR OF LEGS

WRITER: PHIL STOKES

GROOMING

56 BE A FLY GUY

Good grooming means more than a haircut.

WRITER: RUTH ANN BYRD

RECIPE

58 A MAN WITH A PLAN

WRITER: PHIL STOKES

HEALTHYFINANCE

74 SETTLING A BRADY BUNCH

WRITER: JOHN T. MARSHALL

ASK DAVE

76 MAD MONEY CAN MAKE YOU SAD, HONEY

WRITER:

MENCOURAGEMENT 70

WRITER: JAMES COMBS

RELATE

WRITER:

WRITER: DAVE RAMSEY

WE, THE OVERWEIGHT, THANK YOU, THE THOUGHTLESS

I recently ran into an old friend, who, as always greeted me with a smirk and a little bitty dagger.

“Hey, you’re looking bigger [pause] and better than ever,” he said with a glance at my midsection. And a chuckle.

“Thanks,” I thought. “I didn’t realize I’d gained weight since I last saw you.”

Newsflash to all you “friends” with washboard stomachs: We, the overweight, already know we’re too heavy. We’re not happy that we need to lose 50, 60, 100 pounds. We don’t need you to remind us.

This may shock you, but I don’t enjoy being, yes, I’ll say the ugly word, obese. In fact, I hate it.

I’m trying to limit my calories and work out more often. So far, I’ve had limited success. Working a stressful, sit-down job may be working against me, but I will not make excuses. All I can do is try… and hope I don’t run into too many “friends” offering words of encouragement like, “Gee, your wife must be a good cook… Wow, you’ve really put on weight,” or my favorite, “Dude, you’re killing yourself eating that.”

Again, thanks for bringing me face-to-face with myself. I don’t have mirrors in my house.

The only thing worse than being overweight is having someone tell you there should be a “Wide Load” sign attached to your posterior.

So we, the overweight, go through life giving our fabulously fit friends the benefit of the doubt. Surely, they don’t mean to make us feel bad… do they?

Comments from strangers, now those are a little harder to swallow. I canceled my membership at one gym because I kept getting lectured by two old guys who obviously were in love with their trim bodies.

One guy never failed to greet me with, “I’ll tell you how to get rid of that spare tire. Push yourself away from the table.” At other times, his admonition was, “Stay away from the beer.” Thanks, I’ll cut back from the four beers I have each year to two. Okay, one.

I always felt relief each time I got in and out of the locker room without seeing Mr. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company… or his evil twin, Mr. I Used To Be Fat Like You.

Chris Powell, the subject of our cover story, experienced his share of snide remarks before he changed his lifestyle and his body. Every overweight person has.

We’re proud to present our exclusive interview with Chris. He understands that truly caring about people and treating them with respect is essential for success in the war against fat.

For all of you who haven’t figured out how to best help your overweight “friends,” I suggest you carefully read and ponder Chris Powell’s words.

Meanwhile, I’ll keep trying to lose weight — not because I want your approval, but because I want to be healthy and happy.

You see, this may come as a surprise to you, but I don’t really want to be like you. Sure, I’d like to have your lean, ripped body… but you can keep your tongue.

Gary Corsair Executive Editor gary@akersmediagroup.com

Comments or questions for our Editor? We want to provide you with the best quality publication, so your feedback is vital.

“The only thing worse than being overweight is having someone tell you there should be a “Wide Load” sign attached to your posterior.”

Your partners for life

Samuel J. Goss, D.O., FACC, is one of our invasive cardiologists at Cardiovascular Associates of Lake County. He specializes in cardiovascular disease, and performs various procedures in the diagnosing and treatment of heart disease, such as Diagnostic Catheterizations, Nuclear Stress Testing, Cardiac P.E.T. and Echo-cardiography. He is one of 6 cardiologists on our staff performing Targeted Endovenous Therapy, a radio-frequency ablation procedure for the treatment of varicose veins.

As one of the oldest and most experienced private cardiology practices in Central Florida, at Cardiovascular Associates of Lake County, we are dedicated to bringing innovation in cardiovascular care to our patients. Since 1992, we have been your partners for life.

THE MEN IN MY LIFE

Every month is special in one way or another. This month, because of Father’s Day, I have the men in my life on my mind.

Growing up, I always was a daddy’s girl. Being an only child and having a personality similar to my dad’s meant we spent lots of time together.

He was loving, hard working and raised me to be accountable for my actions and always be respectful. That really impresses me because my dad became a father at the young age of 20 and had the maturity and foresight to teach me to work hard and not act entitled.

Dad used to tell me that if I could find a man to marry who had integrity, could make money and had good looks, good luck!

Well, 22 years ago I met a wonderful man (not technically a man since we were just out of high school) who had all the characteristics guys his age didn’t generally have yet.

Joe had amazing work ethic, good looks and so much integrity. And he still does! In 22 years, he has never told a lie. I know that sounds crazy, but he doesn’t lie. He is humble, ambitious and a wonderful father.

To all the men out there who have kids or not, know that you are a mentor to someone. Live a life of honor; live as an example to others and display the true meaning of manhood.

I was just reminded on Facebook that manhood has fallen way off to the side of what it used to be and needs to be brought back around to where it once was. We have to raise up our boys to be honorable, respectful and ambitious.

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

DOUG AKERS vice president doug@akersmediagroup.com

JAMIE EZRA MARK chief creative officer jamie@akersmediagroup.com

SABRINA CICERI associate publisher sabrina@akersmediagroup.com

EDITORIAL // DESIGN // PHOTOGRAPHY

GARY CORSAIR executive editor gary@akersmediagroup.com

JAMES COMBS staff writer james@akersmediagroup.com

KATIE LEWIS staff writer katie@akersmediagroup.com

FRED LOPEZ staff photographer fred@akersmediagroup.com

CELIA JACOBSON intern intern@akersmediagroup.com

STEVEN J. CODRARO creative director steve@akersmediagroup.com

JOE DELEON senior art director joe@akersmediagroup.com

JOSH CLARK senior designer josh@akersmediagroup.com

MICHAEL GAULIN production director michael@akersmediagroup.com

RHEYA TANNER designer rheya@akersmediagroup.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS//PHOTOGRAPHERS

RICHARD T. BOSSHARDT, M.D., FACS RUTH ANN BYRD

MARY ANN DESANTIS MATTHEW GAULIN

JEFF GRIESEMER

JOHN T. MARSHALL

GARY MCKECHNIE SCOTT PERKINS DAVE RAMSEY MARCI SANDLER PHIL STOKES

SALES // MARKETING

TIM MCRAE vice president of sales and marketing tim@akersmediagroup.com

MIKE STEGALL senior account representative mike@akersmediagroup.com

MELANIE MELVIN director of client services melanie@akerscreative.com

DEB MATLOCK account coordinator deb@akerscreative.com

HEIDI RESSLER account representative heidi@akersmediagroup.com

DAVID COTÉ account representative david@akersmediagroup.com

ADMINISTRATION

AUBREY AKERS office assistant aubrey@akersmediagroup.com

SAMANTHA KURK receptionist samantha@akersmediagroup.com

DISTRIBUTION

SCOTT HEGG distribution manager scott.hegg@akersmediagroup.com

Sabrina Ciceri Associate Publisher Sabrina@akersmediagroup.com

Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon Fellow: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Let’s Tackle Your Hip Pain Head-on.

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.

Potential Benefits1:

CARL O. OLLIVIERRE, MD, FACS

When you’re ready to get back to enjoying life without pain, give me a call.

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

DON’T WEAVE A TANGLED WEB

June is National Internet Safety Month. Unfortunately, we live in a world where tech-savvy stalkers constantly are seeking prey. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) offers the following tips for children to follow when they are online.

Do not give out personal information, such as your name, address, telephone number and where you attend school. Never send a picture of yourself without your parent’s permission.

Do not write or communicate with someone who has made you feel uncomfortable or scared.

TURN THE PAGE TO HAPPINESS

Healthy Living has visited with Jean Sumner several times in the past and talked with her about her leadership roles with, nonprofit organization, World Wellness Education, and Eating in the Raw, a club in The Villages.

Jean has educated thousands of people about the benefits of raw eating, and now she is helping them discover a life to happiness. Her 104-page book, “Finding Joy: 52 Small Weekly Changes to Add More Joy to Your Life,” informs readers how they can

implement simple activities to live a more fulfilling life.

“The book gives them tips, such as spending more time in nature, writing thankyou notes and starting a gratitude journal,” said Jean, a resident of The Villages. “I’ve received wonderful feedback. Although you’re only supposed to implement one new activity each week, some people have told me they do several new activities each week.”

For more information, call Jean at 352.459.1655.

Do not meet someone you’ve met online without permission from your parents.

If you read anything on the Internet that makes you feel uncomfortable, please inform your parents. Online users are not always who they say they are. Be wary and trust your gut instincts. Someone who pretends to be a 12-year-old girl actually could be an older man.

High-Tech Health Care

A group of trained surgeons performing minimally invasive surgeries with the use of robotic technologies.

Da Vinci robot features a magnifi ed 3D HD vision system and special instruments that bend and rotate equal to the human wrist. The features enable our surgeons to operate with enhanced vision, precision, dexterity and control, through a minimally invasive incision.

One of the many procedures performed is the treatment for GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease). The most common signs and symptoms of GERD are frequent acid reflux and heartburn.

For more information regarding this minimally invasive procedure, along with other surgical procedures performed by the group, please visit our website www.MidFloridaSurgical.com

Clermont

1804 Oakley Seaver Dr. Suite A

Clermont, FL 34711

352.243.2622

10000 W. Colonial Dr. Suite 288

Ocoee, FL 34761 407.521.3600

CHEWING UP CANCER

Here’s what you can do with your diet to help prevent cancer:

• Eat natural whole foods in their original state.

• Include plenty of highquality saturated fats such as coconut, palm oil, etc.

• Eat organic foods whenever possible.

• Obtain fresh, organic produce and eat the entire fruit, including skin and seeds or kernels.

• Use only coconut or palm oil for cooking and cold-pressed extra virgin olive or flax oil for salads. Never cook with flax.

• Drink only pure spring water and freshly pressed vegetable juices.

• Use only high-quality sea salt that contains a natural balance of trace minerals.

Source: happycow.ne

A CLEAN SWEEP

Nearly 50 Florida Department of Health employees participated in the Florida Health Clean Up program. The team cleaned up North Lake Community Park, as well as a two-mile stretch along Highway 452 in Umatilla. Altogether, they collected 25 bags of trash totaling 48 pounds.

HAPPY HEALTHY FATHER’S DAY

Y Y

Forget a tie for his suit or a television set for his man cave. This Father’s Day, give Dad a gift that will help him remain young and healthy. Here are some ideas:

ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH Research shows that electric toothbrushes remove more tartar and plaque than manual toothbrushes. That big smile will keep him looking young.

PUZZLES, model airplanes and model boats. These gifts will challenge Dad’s mind. According to several studies, people who engage in mind-stimulating activities are two and a half times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s or dementia.

WATER BOTTLE This is a simple gift but an important one. Whether your father is an athlete or outdoorsman, chances are he doesn’t get the recommended eight glasses of water each day.

BLENDER With a blender, he can make delicious and nutritious smoothies at his office or at home.

Source: healthline.com/health-slideshow/ fathers-day-gifts#2

IT’S BEDTIME

South Lake Hospital recently added 18 inpatient beds. This is one of several expansion projects underway that allow the hospital to continue meeting the health care needs of South Lake County as the area’s population increases. Each of the hospital’s patient rooms are private and offer sleeping accommodations for family and loved ones.

http://www.shutterstock.com/ pic-194653070/stock-photofuture-woman-with-cybertechnology-eye-panel-concepth tml?src=VKaqQDqtFOLCwwOn1 zvD3g-5-85

DID YOU KNOW?

Umatilla was home of the Florida Elk’s Children’s Hospital, which was founded in 1933 to combat polio. The 100-bed hospital closed its doors in 1998.

TIRED, ACHING OR HEAVY LEGS?

If yes then you may have a more serious underlying leg problem. Many people walk around daily with obvious venous insuffi ciency, many don’t know it. If you are one of millions that can see varicose veins, swelling, skin discoloration and even lower leg ulceration then you have venous insuffi ciency until proven otherwise.

Venous insufficiency is a condition where the veins have stretched to a point that the valves which control blood flow direction, allow blood to go the wrong way. Why? Mostly genetics, pregnancy, sitting or standing for long periods, trauma, age, previous blood clots as well as other possibilities.

Treatment options are much better than years past. Support socks/ stockings do NOT fix the problem, but do help slow its progression. All treatments are in the offi ce, under local anesthetic, last 15-20 minutes and does not require any down time. A venous scan is performed to fi nd the problem,then a series of thermal and chemical ablation treatments are used to “close down” the problem veins. It may take more than one visit, depending on the extent of problem. Two things I tell patients, “1, I must treat the bigger problem under the skin, before I treat the surface problems.” “2, Its gonna take some time, If you can see bulging veins on the outside of the leg, then the inside is even worse.”

The reasons we treat venous insuffi ciency is not only for cosmetic reasons. By taking control and treating the bad veins, your legs will have better circulation back up to the heart and will decrease the risk of the unforeseen blood clots.

Follow

Bryan Carter, MPA-C

“If I look into a mirror and cannot see my abs I get upset I try to keep my body y fat t leve v l un u deer r 10 percent. t ”

PICTURE OF GOOD HEALTH

On Sundays and Wednesdays, Phil Stokes grills

12 chicken breasts, fills his oven with sweet potatoes and sautés kale in a pan. Quite an appetite, huh? Not exactly. Stokes packages the food in containers and brings them to work. Without fail, he eats three meals at the same times each day while at work.

He also religiously works out six days a week at three different gyms — Gold’s Gym in Mount Dora, Zone Health and Fitness in Ocala and 24/7 Fitness in Wildwood.

The 32-year-old Wildwood resident feels that investing in his health now will lead to long-term benefits.

SEASONAL APPROACH

WINTER: Phil increases his caloric intake to maintain muscle mass. Eating more protein, carbs and healthy fats help him pack on added muscle. He typically gains 10 to 15 pounds in the off-season.

SPRING: In an effort to achieve the beach-body look, Phil begins decreasing his caloric intake to

“I am very dedicated about staying healthy because I don’t want to deal with heart problems, diabetes or knee and back pain down the road,” says Stokes, a shipping clerk with Charlotte Pipe and Foundry in Wildwood. “I want to be in my 50s and not have to worry about missing work due to an illness or injury.”

So far, he’s on track. Stokes hasn’t missed a day of work since embarking on a healthy lifestyle six years ago. And he has gone two years without catching a cold.

“I sleep much better than I ever have, and I’m more alert during the day. I’m a single man, and I’m the only person who can take care of myself,” he said.

help the body burn additional fat. Beginning in May, he visits the beach at least two weekends each month.

A LEG UP

There’s a reason Phil works out his legs more than any other body part.

“Working out your legs releases a natural growth hormone. Also, when you work out

your muscle fibers in your leg, it kick-starts muscle growth throughout your system and also increases metabolism. Your overall strength increases,” he said.

ACQUIRED TASTE

In addition to chicken breasts, sweet potatoes and kale, Phil typically eats green vegetables, turkey burgers and tilapia.

WRITER: JAMES COMBS PHOTO: MATTHEW GAULIN

WANT SLEEP? GET MILK!

Looks like Granny knew what she was talking about

WRITER: FRED HILTON

Can’t sleep? Tossing and turning all night? You should follow granny’s advice and have a big glass of warm milk. You’ll sleep like a baby. Does that really work? Some researchers claim it does. “Drinking a glass of warm milk before bed will help you to sleep better — it’s not just an old wives’ tale,” says nutritional therapist Jo Lewis. “Dairy products are rich in the amino acid tryptophan, which helps in the production of the sleep-inducing brain chemicals, serotonin and melatonin.” Tryptophan is the stuff found in turkey meat that’s credited with causing you to nod off in front of the TV after stuffing your face on Thanksgiving.

That theory is endorsed by the website ZocDoc.com: “Your mother was right that drinking warm milk before bed can help you sleep … because milk contains tryptophan which is an amino acid which helps induce sleep. Also, many people find the ritual of drinking a warm glass of milk a calming ritual that helps them wind down to sleep.”

Others reject the theory of tryptophan in milk causing sleep. In The New York Times, Anahad O’Connor wrote, “Whether milk can induce sleep is debatable, and studies sug-

gest that if it does, the effect has little to do with tryptophan.” To influence sleep, tryptophan must reach the brain. O’Connor pointed to a study done at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that “showed that eating protein-rich foods — like milk — decreased the ability of tryptophan to enter the brain.”

In a blog for WebMD, Dr. Michael Breus wrote, “The jury is still out on exactly whether or not milk can encourage sleep. Studies of tryptophan’s impact on sleep have found only one phase of sleep — the first one, when you’re falling asleep — is enhanced by tryptophan. Other aspects of sleep, such as the amount of deep-sleep reached during the night, can be harmed by tryptophan.”

Tryptophan or not, O’Connor and Dr. Breus agree that warm milk very likely can help you sleep by calming you down and making you comfortable.

“Scientists say the routine of drinking a glass of milk before bed can be as smoothing as a favorite blanket,” O’Connor wrote.

Although not recommended, another sleep aid is a large glass of single malt scotch before bedtime. That’s how the expression “sleep tight” began.

“It may just be that the routine of drinking a glass of warm milk is like an old teddy bear that reminds you of home when your mom tucked you into bed at night,” Dr. Breus said.

POWER OF WELL

When people approach Chris Powell, they desperately need to get something off their chest.

It’s not just several hundred pounds of unwanted fat. They also talk to him about their lives mired in depression and despair.

Using an unorthodox approach, the 35-yearold personal trainer and life coach has helped dozens of morbidly obese individuals shed both pounds and personal demons. In one instance, he helped a man lose 401 pounds in 26 months. It became the largest and fastest natural weight loss ever documented.

That particular story captured America’s heart and catapulted Chris’ explosion onto the national fitness scene. Today, he serves as the trainer and host of the hit ABC show “Extreme Weight Loss,” where he travels the country and uses innovative techniques to help

extremely overweight individuals embark on a life transformation.

Viewers know him not as the screaming, in-your-face trainer, but rather a kind-hearted man who gently motivates obese people to lose weight and gain self-esteem. And for Powell, nothing could be more rewarding that.

“Being a part of their transformation and seeing them confront their fears truly inspires me,” he said. “We feed off each other and go through the journey together as equals. These people are truly courageous and incredible.”

Recently, Healthy Living Magazine conducted a 30-minute interview (Hey, he’s a busy man!) with Chris. He weighed in on his own life struggles, his rise to stardom and even provided a few insightful tips for our faithful readers.

In Chris Powell’s world, morbidly obese people are not dead weights. He works tirelessly to help them take a load off their bodies and minds.

WRITER: JAMES COMBS PHOTOS: ALLISON TYLER JONES+JAMES PATRICK+CRAIG SJODIN

Healthy Living: You’ve helped countless people overcome adversity, which is ironic since you faced adversity in your childhood. Could you talk about that?

Chris Powell: My father was in the military, and we moved around a lot. I attended five different elementary schools and three different high schools. No matter what school I was at, I always was the smallest kid. By the time I was in fifth grade, kids began picking on me because they figured going against me would be an easy win. It wasn’t fun to deal with kids who were bigger and stronger than I was.

in high school, we moved to Oregon. I attended Jesuit High School, which was a Catholic powerhouse in the state. I went out for the football team as a 5-foot-3-inch sophomore. I was the smallest kid by at least 30 pounds. The first day of practice we had to run through what is called a gauntlet, where three players line up on each side and try to hit you with pads and knock the ball loose. Every time I ran through the gauntlet I fumbled. After three days of practice, I remember the team huddling around a water fountain and my teammates pushing me out of the huddle. I didn’t feel like I belonged or was part of the team. It crushed my spirit. I ended up quitting the team.

HL: How did your parents help you cope?

CP: About a week later, I decided to lift the barbell just to see what it would feel like. Believe it or not, it actually felt good. I started lifting every day after school and began putting on weight. From there, it just kept going and going and going. After one month, I looked in the mirror and saw muscles. I felt strong and empowered. It gave me confidence. I began using the school’s weight room for an hour-and-a-half every day. I began buying fitness, nutrition and bodybuilding magazines and loaded tons of information into my brain. Before long, fellow students started approaching me and asking all sorts of questions about fitness. Essentially, I was like the trainer in the weight room. That’s where everything started.

HL: What you endured in your childhood obviously serves as a motivational tool when you’re helping others overcome their challenges.

HL: In what other ways did your short stature negatively impact you?

CP: I grew up loving football and that is all I ever wanted to do. After my freshman year

CP: One week after quitting, I came home from school and noticed that the living room furniture had been cleared out. In the middle of the room was a weight bench my parents purchased for me. At first I thought, ‘What am I supposed to do with this thing? I’m a scrawny runt so this won’t make much of a difference.’ For a few days, I would lie down on the bench to watch television.

HL: At what point did you use the weight bench for its intended purpose?

CP: Absolutely. I’m passionate about healthy living because that’s what gave me my confidence and self-esteem.

HL: Tell me about your early career before you became host of “Extreme Weight Loss.”

CP: In 2003, I landed a gig as the local fitness guy on a local news show called “Good Morning Arizona.” After about six months, I started receiving emails from people who were 500 and 600 pounds asking me for help. I realized there’s a subculture of individuals

CHRISPOWELL’S

CHRIS POWELL’S Favorite Exercise App:

“I like MyFitnessPal. As a matter of fact, I swear by it. I log all my food on there. When we faithfully track our caloric intake and nutritional value of food, we have a much better chance of reaching our health goals. It’s also free and very user friendly.”

living among us who we never see because they’re ashamed and pride themselves on being invisible. One of the emails was from David Smith, a gentleman who weighed 630 pounds. I had never worked with someone so large before. But I showed up at his house every other day, and he lost more than 401 pounds in 26 months.

HL: What kind of feedback did you receive?

CP: After David lost the weight, he posted before-andafter pictures of himself on MySpace. A couple different websites posted the pictures on their sites and it went viral over a week. Before you know it, countless doctors, as well as “Oprah” and the “Today Show,” all started reaching out to us and wondering how we did what we did. The Learning

Channel did a documentary on David titled, “The 650-pound Virgin.”

HL: Where did things lead from there?

CP: I was contacted by a friend of mine who is a casting director in Los Angeles. She said her boss wanted to talk to me. Her boss happened to be the CEO of the production company that produced “The Biggest Loser.” He told me

he wanted to develop a new show that focuses on weight loss but was different from “The Biggest Loser.” So, my ex-girlfriend and I drove to Los Angeles three different times in a span of four weeks and talked with the creative team. We mapped out all the details—from the theme to the weigh-ins. Three months passed before the CEO from the company called me and said they had sold the show

to ABC. I asked him who was going to be the trainer on the show, and he said, ‘You are. ABC saw you, and you’re the only person they wanted.’ That was five years ago and the show is still going today.

HL: What’s the biggest challenge in training someone who is morbidly obese?

CP: The hardest part is convincing them that they can make a big transformation in their lives. Most of them are broken and live in a dark place. Even though they see what we’ve been able to do with other individuals, they have a hard time believing that they can do it themselves because they have such a history of failure.

HL: For the ones who ultimately end up being successful, how long does it take for them to begin feeling confident?

CP: For some, it takes weeks; for others, it takes months. The important thing is realizing they can be fully committed to achieving a healthy lifestyle. When this happens, they begin achieving things they once thought were impossible. Then they begin wondering, ‘If I can do this, what else can I do?’

HL: Does having a strong support system play a role in determining whether they’ll ultimately be successful?

CP: Having a strong support system is critical. If

Photos opposite page: Young Chris went from runt to ripped after his parents bought him a weight bench. Left: Chris with co-host in TV and life, Heidi Powell.

a contestant’s family isn’t on board with them, it can clearly sabotage the entire process. We have to coach their families and immediate support systems to be supportive and understand the struggles that the person we’re training will endure. Honestly, diet and exercise are the easy parts. The emotional and psychological aspects, as well as the support system, are the two biggest hurdles we have to overcome. When those two things are conquered, we’re off to a very good start.

HL: Given their physical condition and low-self esteem, you are taking on

a tremendous challenge by training morbidly obese people. What makes you believe so strongly in them?

CP: Because I’ve seen plenty of them go from the darkest of dark to turning their lives around. That’s the most powerful thing in the world. I know what the human body, mind and heart are capable of doing.

HL: There have been some people on your show who you simply could not help. Why do you think that is?

CP: These people say they want to change, but they don’t want to take the first step. When we lay out realistic

expectations of the journey ahead and what it’s going to cost them, they’re not willing to pay that price. Life as they know it isn’t painful enough for them to want to change. Life as they know it has to become painful enough that the cost of living the same is greater than the cost of changing. Some just haven’t reached that rock-bottom moment where they desire a completely new life.

HL: Given that you’re a very busy man, what would you say to people who claim they don’t have enough time to exercise?

CP: It’s funny you ask. I am working on a third book and just got off the phone with my editor. I had to break a commitment with her and felt very bad. In instances like these where I break a promise, I confess, reassess and recommit. After apologizing to my editor, we mapped out what my schedule was like over the next two weeks and developed a plan so I can deliver the manuscript on time to meet her deadline. This always works for me, and it certainly applies to people undergoing a life transformation. They’re not always going to exercise and eat right each day. We’re all human and make mistakes. But when they confess, reassess and recommit, they’ll quickly be back on track.

HL: With that said, what are some cardio exercises for people who do face daily time crunches?

CP: They can do jumping

jacks, high knees running in place or burpies. Those three things are good workouts and get your heart rate up very fast.

CHRIS OFFERS THE FOLLOWING TIPS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BEGINNING A WEIGHTLOSS JOURNEY.

1) Eat within 30 minutes of waking up and every three hours afterward.

2) Drink an extra quart of water every day. Ultimately, you should be drinking one gallon of water each day.

3) With each meal, eat protein first. Protein makes you feel full and slows down your digestion, and as a result, prevents you from overeating.

4) Reduce your sugar and salt intake significantly. Also, try to eliminate foods high in sodium, such as canned food and microwave dinners.

5) Move for five minutes a day. Even if you simply stand up and march in place, that’s better than doing nothing. Remember, though, if you only march in place for four and a half minutes then you’re not ready for transformation. It’s not about the exercise; it’s about the commitment.

“I’m passionate about healthy living because that’s what gave me my confidence and selfesteem.”

—CHRIS POWELL

PHOTOS: SW PR Shop; Dr. Glover (high school) provided by Jeffrey Glover; Dr. Glover (current) by Marci Sandler of Marci’s Distinctive Photography; book cover courtesy of SW PR Shop/ Hyperion Books

The skinny ON CHRIS

Born: 1980 in Arizona

Education: Earned a degree in exercise science with concentrations in biomechanics and physiology from Arizona State University. He also is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).

Author: Chris has written two books, “Choose to Lose” and “Choose More, Lose More for Life.” Both are New York Times bestsellers.

Expert: Chris is a regular contributor to “Good Morning America” and “The Doctor Oz Show.”

Husband: In 2010, Chris married his wife, Heidi, who is co-host of “Extreme Weight Loss.” She has been a personal trainer for more than a decade.

Father: Chris and Heidi have two children together—a son, Cash and daughter, Ruby Anne. He also helps raise Marley and Matix, Heidi’s children from a previous marriage.

A HEAL G “ADJUS ”

Growing up, Je G f becoming a chi

effrey Glover dreamed of iropractor.

T here was only one oblem. He weighed 350 ounds as a high school enior in 1999. Patients ere not likely to ccept healt hy living d vice from a morbidly bese man. For that reason— ell as the r ude s t ares nd cutting comments

he occasionally endured a weight-loss journey dug in college. He started th pounds in less than two y

Glover embarked on uring his freshman year e Atkins diet and lost 180 years.

Most obese people wo Looking back, though, Glo weight-loss approach wa g workout three times a day y calories each day.

ould kill for those results. over readily admits that his s flawed. He would rigorously y but would only consume 500

“I was a 6-foot-4-inch g and looked like I just got said Glover, who today o p Leesburg. “I was extrem Also, clumps of hair wer g wasn’t consuming prope

To his credit, Glover n p p weight. Today, he realize and nutrition are the key He works out four times personal trainer. And, he y p y consists of grass-fed be avoids sugar-filled and p

h man who weighed 170 pounds t out of a concentration camp,” owns Glover Chiropr actic Clinic in mely skinny and my eyes were sunken. re falling off my head. Simply put, I er nutrition.” ever ballooned back up to his previous es that proper blend of exercise y ingredients to a healt hy lifes tyle. a week—two of which are with a e sticks to a healthy diet that primarily ef, lean meat and green vegetables. He rocessed foods.

e balance between exercise and diet,”

“There has to be a nice , he said. “You can exercise y y p at night, it’s all for naught exercise you won’t be in sh Th i

e all you want, but if you eat a pizza late t. You can also eat healthy, but if you don’t shape. There are varying pieces to the puzzle.”

Like Father, Like Son

Michael Rice, Jr. is living proof that dad knew best

The greatest gifts a father can give to a son are love and the benefit of his experience. Michael Rice, Sr. gave his son Michael both gifts when he recommended Dr. Qamar of ICE.

“I’d been going to Dr. Qamar for a while,” said Michael, Sr., who was experiencing frequent pain, fatigue and swelling in his legs. “I’m a diabetic and I know you can’t be too careful. I told Dr. Qamar about my legs and he did some tests. We looked at everything. I found out my heart’s in great shape, but I had blockages in my legs. We put stents in both of them and now I’m doing great. No pain. No swelling.”

Naturally, dad recommended Dr. Qamar when Michael Rice, Jr. started having problems.

“Both my dad and my grandmother had been patients of Dr. Qamar for a long time,” Michael, Jr. said. “When my problems cropped up — I started passing out and no one knew why — they were both very convincing. My primary

physician even recommended someone else, but based on my father’s and grandmother’s experiences, I went to see Dr. Qamar. The net of it all is I’m pretty sure he saved my life.

“After a few months of different tests, I fi nally did a tilt table test and at the 22-minute mark my blood pressure dropped from 80 to 10. They brought the crash cart in, dropped the table, pumped me full of liquids and wouldn’t let me leave the hospital until after I had surgery. The next day, I had a pacemaker. I was 35 years old, working construction and thought I was impervious. Then, to be told you need a pacemaker is quite a wake-up call.

“If not for my wife’s persistence and my dad’s insistence on Dr. Qamar, I might

not be here today. My dad and I have talked about it. He insists Dr. Qamar saved his legs and my life. I tend to agree with him.”

In effect, Dr. Qamar healed the younger Michael Rice physically and emotionally. Michael and his dad were always close, but the loving gift father gave to son — the gift of health — has brought them even closer together.

“I would say to anyone, life is precious. If you ever have something happening to you and you don’t know how it fits in the bigger picture; if you ever need a heart doctor, you couldn’t choose better than Dr. Qamar and his staff at ICE. He fi nds out what is wrong and he fi xes it.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

352.854.0681 // puticeonit.com

Locations: Ocala, Tavares, Summerfield, Williston and The Villages

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH.

You are going to want a urologist with the skills and experience to resolve your problem quickly. The good news, Advanced Urology Specialists has fifteen urologists—all with the expertise you need to focus on the toughest challenges. The better news, when the going does indeed get tough, you won’t have to go far for relief with eight offices throughout Central Florida to serve you. 855-298-CARE //

contents

FEATURING We are all connected

We are all simply a bundle of connections; physically, mentally and emotionally. How well we realize and embrace that truth will determine how healthy we are today and will be tomorrow.

DEPARTMENTS

3 from the heart

A personal message from Dr. Asad Qamar

4 ice spotlights

Meet one of our vein care specialists and learn what makes ICE Vein Care such a tremendous resource for the people of Central Florida in our Employee and Department Spotlights.

5 patient spotlight

We feature a father/son connection in our Patient Spotlight that illustrates just how important connections can be to a healthy, healing outcome.

15 the beat

New technologies and procedures give us fresh perspectives on the state of our health.

Making the connection

This next issue of IMPULSE is an exciting examination of “connections;” the ways we are all dependent on the inter-connectivity of the systems that sustain us as well as the ways that they impact our lives.

ICE itself is a study in connection. Just as our cardiovascular system connects to our respiratory system and our muscles connect to our bones, so do the disciplines of ICE connect with one another to impact the overall health of our patients.

We offer our patients everything from Cardiovascular to Primary Care to the highly specialized discipline of Vein Care and Limb Salvage. Why? Because it is all connected.

We Are All Connected goes a little deeper into that idea by examining the ways speci c connections can have an impact on our health as a whole. We lookt cardiovascular health and how it connects to primary care. We also look at health and the particular ways it can have a surprising impact on our over health.

When you are through with this IMPULSE our goal is for you to have lear n a little something about yourself, your health, and about how you are only strong as your weakest connection.

I hope that you enjoy this issue of IMPULSE as much as we all enjoyed bri n it to you. As always, I am so grateful to the physicians and staff at ICE for helping us all make a real difference by making connections with the patie and the people in our lives.

Asad U. Qamar, MD FACC, FCCP, FSGC, FACP, FSCAI Cardiologist

“Just as our cardiovascular system connects to our respiratory system and our muscles connect to our bones, so do the disciplines of ICE connect with one another to impact the overall health of our patients.”

MPAS

Tom Tran PA-C,

Tom Tran brings a unique and lauded background to the special challenges associated with venous disorders. He worked his way through college and went on to become a registered nurse in the intensive care unit at Shands hospital in Gainesville.

Tran accepted positions with several emergency departments throughout Florida before capitalizing on his interest in venous health by inventing a medical device — the Transcatheter Extractor — and starting his own company to sell his device throughout the United States. “I often removed a patient’s catheter through surgery,” he says, “This device allows for less downtime for the patient and takes them out of the operating room and into the doctor’s ofce.”

He was named Physician Assistant of the Year for the State of Florida in 2007 and appeared in numerous articles throughout the nation. Today, Tran lends his talents and vast experience to ICE, is actively involved as a board of trustees member of the Physician Assistant Foundation and is an adjunct instructor at Nova University’s physician assistant program.

DEPARTMENT Vein Care

Vein Care at ICE is a revolutionary resource for the treatment of PAD, problem veins, complications from diabetes, spider and varicose veins and the more serious vein disorders that can eventually lead to loss of a limb. For those in dire need, the numbers are frightening: almost one of every 200 Americans has suffered an amputation—about 97% of those to a lower limb. The real tragedy? Many of those losses could have been avoided with swift and adequate intervention. ICE Vein Care was created to do exactly that. ICE combines all of the myriad specialties involved with reversing the declining health of an arm or leg and matches them with the technology, facilities and staff necessary to get the job done. Examination rooms, labs, testing and treatment facilities plus, medical professionals hand-selected for their skills and dedication. All of it is focused on the singular mission to treat and manage peripheral vascular diagnoses. ICE will do whatever it takes to save a limb and give a patient their life back.

PATIENT

Michael Rice

(Sr. and Jr.)

The Rice family was reeling from a tragedy that took one of their members much too soon; Michael Rice Jr. lost his daughter—Michael Rice, Sr. his grand–daughter. Just then Michael Sr., who was a diabetic, began having trouble with his legs and Michael Jr. began experiencing unexplained blackouts. Something had to be done and ICE was that something. After Dad had stents put in both legs correcting his circulation problems, he urged Michael to go to ICE about the blackouts. A series of tests revealed that Michael needed a pacemaker and with that x, both broken hearts in this family could again focus on mending. “If not for my dad’s insistence on Dr. Qamar I might not be here today. He insists Dr. Qamar saved his legs and my life and I agree.”

Linguine

with Cannellini Beans and Summer Squash

INGREDIENTS

• 8 oz dried whole-grain linguine

• 1 tsp olive oil

• 1/2 of a small red onion, thinly sliced

• 1 small zucchini, halved, thinly sliced crosswise

• 1 small yellow summer squash, halved, thinly sliced crosswise

• 2 tbsp water

• 1/4 tsp pepper

• One 15.5-oz no-salt-added cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

• 1 large tomato, chopped

• 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil

• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

• 1/4 tbsp salt

• 1/4 cup shredded or grated Parmesan sauce

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare the pasta using the package directions, omitting the salt. Drain well in a colander.

2. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the onion for 3 to 4 minutes, or until tender-crisp.

3. Stir in the squashes, water, and pepper. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the squashes are tender-crisp, stirring occasionally.

4. Stir in the beans, tomato, basil, and vinegar. Cook for 3 minutes, or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Stir in the salt.

5. Serve the bean mixture over the pasta. Sprinkle with the Parmesan.

Fruit Salad

with Lemon-Mint Yogurt Dressing

INGREDIENTS

Dressing

• 1/2 cup fat-free vanilla yogurt

• 1 tbsp chopped fresh mint

• 1 tsp honey

• 1/2 tsp grated lemon zest

• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Salad

• 1/2 cup cantaloupe balls

• 1/2 cup blackberries

• 1/2 cup raspberries

• 1/2 cup fresh or canned pineapple chunks, packed in their own juice, drained (fresh preferred)

• 4 sprigs of fresh mint (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients.

2. In a medium bowl, gently stir together the salad ingredients except the mint, being careful not to crush the berries. Spoon onto small plates and drizzle with the dressing. Garnish with the mint sprigs if so desired.

our

Philosophers and quantum physicists make a point of saying “everything in the world is connected.” Spiritualists maintain “we are all one” and poets have been writing ICE was founded upon a vision of connection— linking the importance of patient-centered, compassionate care with the state-of-thene medical science today. ICE recognizes those connections and actively manages them to maintain the overall health of its patients.

oxygen-enriched blood throughout the body to carry nutrients and life-sustaining cells…Our digestive system extracts the nutrients from our food that all our other systems need to sustain them...And controlling everything is our brain, sending and receiving messages all along your

All of the disciplines represented within ICE— Cardiovascular, Primary Care, Vein Care—are as interconnected as the systems of the body to provide a more complete approach to patient health. A patient being treated for vein disease may really need the help so they can walk—to strengthen their heart. A cardiovascular patient may be having weight—enter nutrition

counseling from primary care. A routine check-up in one of our family care ofces may uncover a patient’s concerns about a sudden shortness of breath—which would prompt a visit with our cardiovascular team.

ICE provides the connections that help maintain a patient’s health, of course. But ICE is also deeply embedded within the community, connecting regularly with charities and citizens’ groups to keep the community healthy. Finally, ICE is tightly connected to the medical community itself; keeping tabs on the rising stars, the emerging trends, and the latest technologies to keep providing the superior level of care it has become known for.

Connections abound in the world around us. Not only in our relationships with one another but in the very real connections that we have within ourselves. Our entire physical, emotional and many would say spiritual wellbeing is connected to the systems and the health of those systems that comprise

physical bodies.

The Cardiovascular Connection

Dr. Qamar founded ICE in 2009 with a single location and a nurse practitioner and cardiovascular as its principle discipline. The cardiovascular connection to overall health is obvious. The heart pumps blood. Blood travels arteries and veins throughout the body. Without the oxygen and nutrients borne along by the circulatory system, the body couldn’t function—practically, the very de nition of connectiveness.

But Dr. Qamar made another important connection at ICE when he put the two sides of heart health together. The physical side—the hard-working, pumping machine connected to arteries and veins. And the emotional side—the compassionate heart that helps put patients at ease and speed recovery. Cardiovascular health is much more than providing a high level of medical competence and the latest machines and procedures. It's an acknowledgement that a healthy heart is key to our overall physical and emotional wellbeing. That’s why patients who sometimes come for a seemingly non-heart related problem will have their entire cardiovascular system examined—healthy veins and arteries are critical to overall heart health. And  nally, why the staff at ICE from Dr. Qamar to the receptionist take great pride in providing a level of compassion and comfort that is so welcoming, many patients describe it as feeling more like a visit to an old friend than a doctor's ofce.

THE HEART BRAIN

For centuries, the heart was considered to be the center of our thinking, feeling world. It was the source for all emotion, courage, and wisdom. Love was said to originate in the heart and countless sonnets were written to and about the fickle organ. Can it be that science is finally proving what centuries of poets and lovers have known all along?

In 1991, Dr. J. Andrew Armour introduced the idea of a “heart brain.” Dr. Armour, an early pioneer in neurocardiology, came to the rather startling conclusion after extensive research that the heart has its own, complex network of neurons, neuro-transmitters, proteins and support cells—similar to but separate from the brain. What’s more, in the book Neurocardiology edited by Dr. Armour and Dr. Ardell, the doctor draws even closer parallels between the brain and heart. The heart’s “little brain” has such an elaborate network—over 40,000 neurons strong—that it can act independently of the brain itself to “learn, remember, and even feel and sense.”

The Primary Care Connection

There is an undeniable connection between a healthy cardiovascular system and keeping it healthy through adequate nutrition, avoiding illness and disease, maintaining a healthy outlook and keeping to a schedule of regular check-ups with physicians trained to do all of that. ICE makes that connection real with its staff and facilities devoted exclusively Primary Care and Family Practice.

The original compassionate, patient-centered approach to care that ICE was founded upon applies perfectly to family practice. So, ICE established its family practice connection for patients as a complement to its cardiovascular services. ICE physicians and staff trained speci cally for primary care serve as the  rst line of defense for patients in need of regular checkups and medical services— everything ranging from common bumps and bruises to more serious ailments and illnesses.

A family practice is the ideal place to intervene and head off lifestyle habits that could be sabotaging overall health like smoking, poor eating and little to no exercise.

THE MIND/BODY CONNECTION

The National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) tells us “up to 65 percent of coronary heart disease patients with a history of heart attack experience various forms of depression. Though such emotions are not unusual, they should be addressed as quickly as possible. Major depression can complicate the recovery process…. Prolonged depression in patients with cardiovascular disease has been shown to contribute to subsequent heart attacks and strokes.”

On the positive side, according to the Cleveland Clinic, the mind/body connection is so strong there are mind-body exercises that have been proven conclusively to improve health. The key is the mind’s inability to distinguish between something

imagined and something real. When we remember something frightening, heart rates go up and the palms sweat as if we were really in that situation. But, imagine something pleasant, calming, soothing—and heart rates go down, stress hormones dissipate and we experience peace. Exercise those thought processes, cultivate periods of calm and inner peace and the body will respond by reducing pain and anxiety, enhancing sleep, decreasing the need for pain meds after surgery, reducing recovery times and actually shortening hospital stays.

Even stress. Life today can be a never-ending pressure cooker, with stress at home, on the job and other areas raising blood pressures and creating circulation problems.

According to the American Psychological Association, “how you respond to stress may be a greater risk factor for heart problems than smoking, high blood pressure, and

high cholesterol.”

Regular visits with a primary care physician can recognize those dangers before they get too serious and give patients the time and tools to correct them.

The Venous Connection

ICE made the connection between vein health and overall health as a natural outgrowth of its cardiovascular focus. Not only do healthy veins play a vital role in the efciency of the circulatory system as a whole. But veins that are unhealthy—which often occurs in the legs—can lead to signi cant health concerns for the entire body.

Even more signicantly, they can lead to serious problems like venous eczema, blood clots, skin ulceration, much more serious vein diseases, and in rare instances, skin cancers. ICE has designated examination rooms, labs, testing and treatment facilities, and a team of medical professionals dedicated to treating venous diseases and abnormalities. Many

VEIN DISEASES

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a condition often associated with varicose veins. According to the Vascular Disease Foundation, upwards of 20 percent of adults suffer from it. Vein blockages, damaged vein walls or valves in the veins that aren’t doing their jobs properly can all cause CVI. Blood pools. Skin becomes discolored. Skin ulcers can form. CVI can degrade the immune system to such an extent that the risks of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and obesity more than double.

The most common vein disorders are spider veins and varicose veins. Spider veins most often appear in the face or legs as a tiny web of red or black threads. They cause cosmetic concerns but spider veins are almost never a serious health issue. Varicose veins are a different story. At the benign end of the scale, they cause no problems other than in appearance. But if left untreated, varicose veins can be a constant source of discomfort.

patients come to ICE with venous complications due to diabetes. The rise of that insidious disease is directly related to the growing epidemic of limb loss in America. Studies show that almost one of every two hundred Americans has had an amputation—97% of those in a lower limb. What is tragic is that many of those amputations could have been averted with the types of treatment ICE Vein Care can provide.

Worse than that, CVI can also cause DVTs to form— deep vein thrombosis—a disease that creates blood clots in the large veins of the legs. DVTs can cause everything from severe discomfort and chronic weakness in the legs—to death. If a piece of a clot were to break off and travel to the brain or lungs it could mean a stroke or a pulmonary embolism. Over 300,000 American die every year from those— and the contributing factor in most cases? Vein disease.

to the ways they impact our overall health… to how what we do can have a major effect on all of it. But perhaps the most important connection we can make today is the one that links our health directly to the facilities and physicians of ICE. Why? Because of the connections within the ICE disciplines of cardiovascular, primary care and vein health. No matter where we rst involve ICE with our health concerns—chest pains, stubborn u, swollen legs and ankles, whatever the problem may be—ICE has the resources to treat both our specic health issues and our overall health at the same time.

More than 25 million Americans suffer from some form of venous disorder.

inter-connected whole are ending. There’s even a name for it: Integrative Medicine.

Medical schools are offering courses in it. Hospitals are offering new services to their patients to support it. Doctors are widening their treatment protocols to take advantage of it. Now, treatment for a patient who suffers a heart attack may also include sessions with a nutritionist to insure a healthier diet... Anti-depressants prescribed early on to combat a common side-effect of serious heart problems... Stress-reduction techniques to promote healing... Herbal medicine...Exercise recommendations like yoga or tai-chi.

The key is connection and acknowledging that treating a person as a whole instead of focusing on a singular acute or chronic condition can affect a person’s overall health.

TAKING THE MEASURE OF PAD

Doctors at ICE discover a correlation between “skinny legs” and PAD and develop an alternative screening method to x-rays that is just as accurate—a measuring tape!

Tissue Loss in PAD Patients Presenting for PTA

Taha Baig: Orlando, Florida // Asad Qamar and Abbas Ali: Ocala, Florida ICE

Background

At ICE, serving 25,000 patients across 10 counties in Central Florida, patients who underwent peripheral interventions (PTA) presented tissue loss. Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) has significant mortality and morbidity. Diagnosis is important to assess for further complications. In our studies patients with skinnier legs had severe bilateral PAD. Currently PAD is assessed initially with ABI but this method is inaccurate in diabetics. We investigate a simpler physical exam method to assess PAD with a measuring tape.

Methods

From patients undergoing PTA, 60 had usable images for analysis. Initial x-rays of maximum soft tissue in pixels were converted to cm and analyzed, calibrated against catheter of known size. Image J software was used for analysis. Patients with severe bilateral PAD had tissue loss of 9-11cm compared to cath lab staff volunteers. To verify the accuracy of these measurements, patients with both x-ray and tape measures were analyzed against controls. Amongst subjects with Xray and tape measurement available, regression analysis showed a very close correlation between circumference measured by either technique.

Results

Conclusion

Patients who presented for PTA to ICE had a significant tissue loss of 11cm on x-ray in comparison to staff volunteers; 4.5cm on tape measurement in comparison with controls. Our data suggests people with an increased risk of PAD can be effectively screened by a simple tape measurement and recommend taking maximum calf circumference of at risk patients, with <34cm as abnormal.

the beat

Skull printed on a 3D printer THE LATEST

A surgical team in the Netherlands tted a 22-year-old woman with a plastic, tailor-made skull printed from a 3-D printer. “We used to create an implant by hand in the operating theater using a kind of cement, but those implants did not have a very good t. Now we can use 3D printing to ensure that these components are an exact t. This has major advantages, not only cosmetically, but also because patients often have better brain function compared with the old method.”

Chemo is so yesterday

Latest news on the cancer-ghting front is immunotherapy — harnessing the body’s own immune system to ght the disease. “It’s not an overstatement to say this is a turning point in cancer research, especially for patients with melanoma,” says J. Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD, deputy chief medical ofcer of the American Cancer Society. “Treatments for cancers of the kidney, lung and pancreas could be up next.”

A brain debrillator

The NeuroPace RNS® system includes sensors implanted in the brain that can spot a seizure coming on and zap it before it happens — great news for the 840,000 epileptics who suffer uncontrollable seizures.

source: www p

How pregnant are you?

Clearblue has developed a better pregnancy test that not only provides a “Yes or No?” answer, but estimates how far along you are.

An Apple a day

Doing current tness trackers a giant one better, the Apple Watch — with your iPhone — logs your steps, your heart rate, and other health markers, to put a whole lot of health power on your wrist.

Image: Hadrian / Shutterstock.com

source: Dr. Bon Verweij, Leader of the team at University Medical Center in Utrecht

Image: Matthew Mientka

Finally a Hep C Cure — no really.

Hepatitis C kills 15,000 Americans a year. Treatment up to now helped a mere 30 to 40% of those infected with the disease. But today, a pill — FDA-approved Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) — cures up to 90% of Hep C patients when combined with another new drug, Simeprevir. “Before, it was like ghting a war with yswatters, but now the big guns have arrived.”

by the numbers

SOMEONE IN THE U.S. DIES FROM HEART DISEASE ONCE EVERY

90

seconds

SOMEONE IN THE U.S. HAS A STROKE ABOUT ONCE EVERY

40 seconds

85.6 million AMERICANS ARE LIVING WITH SOME FORM OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE OR THE AFTER-EFFECTS OF STROKE

27 percent OF ALL CANCER DEATHS ARE ATTRIBUTED TO LUNG CANCER It’s by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women.

Calling Dr Frankenstein!

First transplants of dead hearts into living patients

A team of Australian scientists was able to revive dead hearts from cadavers and successfully transplant them into patients. The hearts had stopped beating for about twenty minutes when they were treated in an oxygen perfusion machine and injected with a perservative to keep them “fresh.”

Zap your migrane!

Cefaly is a prescription device approved by the FDA that prevents

source: Douglas Dieterich, MD, Professor of medicine in the division of liver disease at Mount Sinai Hospital, NY

CARDIOLOGY

PRIMARY CARE

VEIN CARE

LIMB SALVAGE

PHONE 352.854.0681

FAX 352.854.8031

OCALA 4730 SW 49th Rd

OCALA 3515 SE 17th St Ste 100

TAVARES 2754 Dora Ave

SUMMERFIELD 10435 SE 170th Pl

WILLISTON 412 W Noble Ave

THE VILLAGES 1050 Old Camp Rd

THE VILLAGES 1950 Laurel Manor Dr, Bldg 240

puticeonit.com

Tavares Ocala

Williston

Summerfield

The Villages

“ADVANCED UROLOGY SAVED MY LIFE.”

LARRY EDWARDS

Larry Edwards waited for years for the proverbial “other shoe to drop.”

Why? “Cancer runs in my family,” he says. “My father had prostate cancer. My two brothers had prostate cancer. So, they were watching me pretty closely. When my doctor

found it in me, even though I was kind of prepared, you never really are. When you hear the words, ‘You have cancer’ it’s a shocker. My physician, Dr. Sher, gave me all the options. We talked about what would be best for me.”

Larry weighed all of his choices and made his decision. “I chose radiation at Advanced Urology, even though it was a bit of a drive. From the beginning the staff was so welcoming.

The nurses made me feel so comfortable. So, when I came in I wasn’t nervou at all. Advanced Urology started me off with an orientation where they to me what to expect, what the procedure would be like. My treatments — I had 45 treatments over a schedule of nine weeks were not bad at all. Once got on the machine it was all of 10 minutes or so. And I didn’t really have any si effects. None. Didn’t notice any real difference in my life. But when they were done, I got a clean bill of health.”

If he could tell anyone about his experience with Advanced Urology, what would he say? “There is n doubt at all in my mind th Advanced Urology saved my life.”

Advanced Urology has 8 convenient locations. Call 855.298.CARE or visit advancedurologists.com

From the beginning the staff was so welcoming.

The Future of Eye Care Is Clear.

From routine eye exams to the latest innovative procedures such as laser cataract surgery and eyelid surgery, managed treatment of macular degeneration and glaucoma, even allergy immunotherapy – you’ll find the experience, know-how and one-on-one service your eyes deserve from our board-certified ophthalmologists and friendly, devoted staff.

Lake Eye’s skilled doctors have years of experience and countless successful surgeries and procedures that have repaired and restored the vision of thousands of patients throughout Central Florida.

Each of our offices has a full-service optical department with a stunning selection of brand-name frames and lenses, making us your one-stop destination for anything and everything your eyes need to get and stay focused, healthy and comfortable.

Board-certified ophthalmologists (from left to right):

VINAY GUTTI, MD, SCOT C. HOLMAN, MD, SCOTT R. WEHRLY, MD, MARK J. VOCCI, MD and SHELBY TERPSTRA, DO

TAVARES | 352-343-2020

LEESBURG | 352-365-2020

THE VILLAGES | 352-750-2020

LADY LAKE | 352-350-2070 www.LakeEye.com |

FOOD for thought

If an unhealthy diet sparks an assortment of aches and pains and fatigue, maybe it’s time to ask if what you’re eating is what’s eating you.

WRITER: GARY MCKECHNIE

Of course, the amount of food you consume is only part of the issue. Your health is directly related to the quality of food you eat.

With so many farmers markets and health food stores throughout Lake County, it shouldn’t be difficult to fi ll your kitchen with organic fruits and vegetables from local growers. And local produce is often more affordable than foodstuffs stocked by local grocery stores.

Don’t live near a farmer’s market? Perhaps someone you work with does. Why not ask around. Eating healthier could become a company cause with employees purchasing fresh fruits and vegatables in bulk if someone is willing to take orders and do the purchasing.

With research and planning, you’ll be able to fi nd fi ltered or purified water and steroid- and antibioticfree free-range chicken, turkey, beef and wild fi sh. While that seems like a healthy grocery list, make sure you stay on course to hurdle the mental barriers prevent some people from changing their eating habits.

Veronica Rickard knows fi rst-hand.

With only minor variations, the records and network technician with the city of Mount

Dora began her workday with either a Chik-Fil-A spicy chicken biscuit breakfast or a McDonald’s Sausage McGriddle — each accompanied by a large sweet tea. Lunches rotated between pulled pork, cheeseburgers, more chicken sandwiches, baked beans and fries — with a large sweet tea. Wrapping up the day, her dinner plate was fi lled with barbecue ribs, steak, lobster, crab or pork chops. To balance the meal with a vegetable, she added coleslaw. And had a large sweet tea.

Rickard came to accept that her meals came with a side order of aching joints, sluggishness, muscle cramps, migraines, acid reflux, sinus infections, bronchitis, brain fogs, asthma attacks and recurring allergies.

“Oh, I knew it was bad, but I always ate like that,” she said. “McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Subway, Arby’s, Golden Corral — you name it, I was there.”

The warning signs were there, as well, as early as 2005, she recalled. But Rickard didn’t correlate her symptoms to her diet until January 2012 when she was diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine that occurs in genetically predisposed people. In part to her diet, the illness reached a critical juncture. Made aware of the link between what she ate and how she felt, she initiated a lifestyle change that now revolves around gluten-free meals. Gone from her diet is anything made with wheat, barley

or rye. Also absent are fast foods.

“For breakfast, I’ll cut up nine or 10 strawberries or mixed berries into yogurt,” Rickard said. “For lunch, I may have a hamburger without the bun and take out the lettuce and tomato to substitute for a salad. For dinner, I’ll have a chicken breast or shrimp and veggies.”

Goodbye gluten

With the change in diet came a change in health. Since January 2012, Rickard has lost more than 40 pounds, given up all medications and no longer is troubled by aching joints, sluggishness, muscle cramps, acid reflux, sinus infections, bronchitis, brain fogs, asthma attacks and recurring allergies.

For a list of organic growers in the area (and the state) certified under Quality Certification Services, visit Florida Organic Growers at www.foginfo.org.

It can be scary to forsake foods you know for foods you need. But by following the advice of Rickard, Wittman, Kent and Murray it may be easier than you think. In addition to a gradual transition — either introducing organic fruits and vegetables to your diet one at a time, or adding one healthy meal a day to your menu — just knowing where to shop is a good start.

Migraines now are infrequent.

“Ever since I went glutenfree, life has become life again,” she said.

But gluten-free foods cost more than fast food, you may say. That’s true — if you don’t count the increased medical expenses you may eventually pay for decades of eating processed food.

Besides, there are ways to mitigate the increased costs of eating healthy.

Wittman says the payoff of healthy eating can be both physical and fi nancial.

“When couples want to lose weight, I suggest that they split their meals,” he said. “You really don’t need to eat all of the food you order, and you’ll be surprised how quickly each of you can lose about eight to 10 pounds. Then put that money away and save it for something you want. I ran into a couple I had counseled years earlier, and not only did they still look great, by splitting meals they had saved about $2,700 that went toward a trip to Italy.”

“For breakfast, I’ll cut up nine or 10 strawberries or mix berries into yogurt…”

—VERONICA RICKARD

“Start small and work your way into it. Learn to enjoy fruits and vegetables…”

—SAMANTHA MURRAY

Going organic

Hugh Kent, of King Grove Organic Farm in Eustis, pointed out that to feed the general population, large-scale growers apply preservatives, pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers that flow from the crops to the food chain. Alternatively, organically grown and raised produce, fi sh, fowl and beef comply with strict USDA limits that adhere to its National Organic Program. Produce grown naturally and without artificial ingredients, chemicals and poisons leads to foods packed with what Kent refers to as ‘nutrient density.’

“What we’ve come to value in foods — their appearance, shelf-life and their ability to be shipped long distances — may make

the product look good, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best food for you,” he said. “Organics are totally different from what we are used to eating, but whether it’s blueberries or broccoli, studies show that the nutrient content of organics is far superior.”

Concerned by the price? Kent thinks the cost-tobenefit ratio strongly weighs in favor of organics.

“There are tremendous costs in maintaining an organic farm, so of course it’s way more expensive to grow this way,” he explained. “You’ll see that reflected in the cost of the product. But my take is that you should try it. Recognize the nutritional value and just pay an extra dollar or two for organic products. If you introduce one fruit or vegetable to your diet at a

time, you’ll realize you like it because our bodies know what is good for us.”

Let’s make a meal

Step into the Health Basket in Mount Dora, and you will fi nd a mini-market akin to a superstore. Packed into the sleek shop is a range of organic produce as well as fresh salads and smoothies along with natural, organic and gluten-free products. These include juices, cookies, ice cream and popsicles, beauty products, toothpaste and body scrubs. There are canisters of raw beans and nuts, soups, a variety of vegetable juices, wild honey, candy bars, cereals, energy snacks, energy drinks, yogurt, eggs and bags of all-natural chips with names like ‘Brussel

Bytes’ and ‘Kale Krunch.’

Ask Samantha Murray, of the Health Basket, why people should shift from the ease of comfort foods to the healthy eating lifestyle, and she has a short answer: heart disease.

Over time, the fattening foods, preservatives, processed sugars and transfats (called a “cholesterol double whammy” by the Mayo Clinic), gum up your body the same way cheap fuel and unchanged engine oil gum up your car’s engine. Over time, this can lead to heart disease, the No. 1 cause of death in America.

Murray agrees with Kent that when you adapt to healthy foods, you don’t need to go cold turkey. Or cold tofu.

“Make it a lifestyle change rather than a diet,” she suggested. “Start small and work your way into it. Learn to enjoy fruits and vegetables and whole foods — foods that you make from scratch. It doesn’t have to be three meals a day, seven days a week, but try to make at least one meal a day a healthy meal and you’ll start to see how good it makes you feel.”

It has been said that the best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago. The next best time is today. The same can be said of the switch to healthy eating.

Although it certainly is not a comprehensive list, here are a few local shops and farms that can assist you in your transition.

We believe that a person’s lifespan should be the same as their healthspan. LIFEGEVITY.

Many patients make their way to our practice from other cardiologists, primary care, or other specialists, who need electrical work on their hearts. They tell their patients that unlike most cardiologists “plummers”, that we are the electricians of the heart, heart electricians (cardiac electrophysiology). That would cover such things as atrial fibrillation and other heart rhythm disturbances, passing out, heart failure, palpitations, cardiac arrest, pacemakers, defibrillators, cardiac resynchronization, etc. A procedure we perform in specialized cath lab is ablation. This is where the short circuit that is causing the problem in the heart is diagnosed and removed, often resulting in a cure. A CURE.

The care in Heart Rhythm Associates, does not stop or begin with a procedure, surgery or a drug. It has been consistently scientifically proven that treating the cause of the heart disease results in better outcomes. This results to better outcomes.

We ultimately care about the best version of our patient. We partner up to fi nd this and help our patient achieve their goals. We have observed that this highly correlates with outstanding outcomes.

The society and patients are asking physicians to EVOLVE. Dr Rieders is a certified Psychology

Eating Coach; completed the course in The Light Body School for energy medicine, has interests in yoga, yoga nidra and Ayurveda, as well as other eastern traditions; a student of functional and alternative medicine; to name a few.

It’s interesting that the major complaint of patients is that their doctors do not listen to them. Roughly translated, “my doctor is not present.” It is more than that, a physician may be present, but may lack knowledge, training or true compassion. Through our approach, many of our patients get off all or most of their drugs and supplements, develop excellent health, and fi nd happiness. Heart Rhythm Associates will partner with their patients, and other health care providers, to benefit the patients.

Heart Rhythm Associates is located at 781 County Road 466 in Lady Lake. For more information, please call 352.751.6074.

When it comes to treating patients, we believe in challenging the status quo. We think and act differently. Everything we do is designed to help our patients add years to their lives. And even more importantly, add life to their years. The way we challenge the status quo is by diagnosing and treating the conditions that created the heart trouble; we have the training and the tools to do this. We just happen to provide incredible cardiac care.”

PART 5 OF OUR ONGOING SERIES EXAMINING FOSTER CARE

Next of Kin

Retirement for Rhonda Jones, of Clermont, isn’t what she expected, and not because she didn’t plan for it. Rhonda, a retired New York City policewoman, is among the thousands of grandmothers in Florida who care for their grandchildren. At 64, she is raising her deceased son’s 3-year-old twins.

“I don’t mind taking care of them,” she said. “It is fun and rewarding, although this wasn’t how I planned to spend my retirement. I focus on doing things with them. It’s not their fault they are here, and I want them to have a better life.”

Rhonda’s grandchildren — a boy and girl she’s cared for since they were infants — are among more than 23,000 children who live with grandparents in Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit, which

includes Lake and Sumter counties.

“I can’t believe the number of folks in the same boat as I am,” she said. “I’ve made friends with many other grandparents and kinship relatives through a weekly support group meeting.”

The Lake County Kinship Care Educational Support Group is sponsored by Kids Central, Inc., a community-based agency that works with the Florida Department of Children and Families (FDCF) to place children in foster or kinship care. The group helps grandparents and other relatives navigate the challenges that come with taking in a family member’s child. It meets Monday evenings at New Life Presbyterian Church in Fruitland Park.

“It’s a big change to take in a child. Our support groups offer informa-

tion and counseling,“ said Michelle Mongeluzzo, director of prevention services for Kids Central. “Our goal is to help stabilize these families so that the children do not have to be given over to strangers in foster care.”

Placing children with a family member or a close family friend is the optimal solution when children must be removed from their homes. Children are able to maintain family connections, often alleviating some of the loneliness and disconnectedness they feel when placed in foster care. In addition, a family relative is empowered to make decisions instead of giving that responsibility to a stranger.

The issues experienced by relative caregivers often are more challenging than those faced by non-relative caregivers. Finances are fi rst and

Nearly 355,000 children in Florida live with their grandparents. Another 121,758 children live with relatives other than their parents. Kinship care has its challenges, but rewards are immense, say two local families.

WRITER: MARY ANN DESANTIS PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ+PROVIDED

foremost. Caregiving relatives get less fi nancial assistance or, in some cases, receive no money from the state for the child’s daily living expenses. Caregiving relatives can get $181 a month per child or $242 for two children through Access Florida, if they qualify. That’s compared to a daily stipend of $17 per day — a little over $500 a month — for foster care providers.

Unfortunately, Rhonda does not qualify for Access Florida funds because she only has temporary custody. Although the twin’s mother is unable to care for the children, she has not signed adoption papers for Rhonda to legally adopt them. Rhonda eventually was able to get Medicaid for the children’s health needs.

Medical issues for children in kinship care are another challenge, especially for young families like Avery and Justin Finotti, who are in the process

of adopting her older sister’s daughter. The Eustis couple already had two children of their own when Avery’s sister gave birth in March 2014.

“My sister was estranged from the family because of her drug problems, and when I heard she was pregnant I said, ‘I don’t even want to know about it,’” Avery said.

Things changed, however, when Avery and another sister went to the hospital to see the baby.

“She was beautiful, and I immediately decided I would do whatever I could for her,” Avery remembered.

Born with a rare liver disorder, baby Ella spent two weeks in the hospital before going home with the Finottis. The baby’s paternal grandmother had called Avery and asked her to help. The grandmother had been contacted by FDCF, but she already was raising one of her son’s other children and couldn’t take on another.

“The grandmother gave me the social worker’s name, and I went from there,” Avery said. “It’s been a challenge because of Ella’s medical problems, which included a liver transplant, but I would say taking my niece has been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”

Dealing with the range of emotions experienced by families is another challenge no one can ignore. Anger, confusion and even grief are part of the process.

“You have to show a lot of mercy and grace for the family member who made bad decisions and caused the child to be without a biological parent,” Avery said. “I’ve come a long way with that and it’s helped me love my niece even more.

“There is a grieving process as well,” she added. “I had to come to the realization that my sister was not going to play a role in her daughter’s life.”

Rhonda also has experienced a range of emotions from frustration over dealing with custody hearings to daily joys like having her grandson look at his late father’s childhood photo and recognize how much they resemble each other.

“I enjoy being with them,” she said about the twins. “How many other people my age can say the last movie they saw was ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks?’”

Her grown children in New York and Chicago supported her decision to raise the twins by helping with gifts and money. They also have agreed to take the twins should anything happen to Rhonda. In the meantime, Rhonda gets a lot of emotional support from friends and her church.

Despite the challenges of starting over with new babies, both Rhonda and Avery agree the rewards are immense.

“You never know what good can come out of a bad situation,” Avery said. “I am so glad to have Ella be a part of our family.”

TREATING CANCER WITH EXPERT CARE

InterCommunity Cancer Center has come together for coordinated cancer care at a single location in our Lady Lake, Florida, facility. Leading Radiation Oncologist Dr. Herman Flink, has cared for patients in the Leesburg community for several decades and will continue to provide cancer care at the Lady Lake location, just a few minutes from Leesburg. Coming together at one location allows us to provide even more options for advanced technology to you, our patients. InterCommunity Cancer Center will continue to provide evidence-based, radiation therapy treatment ensuring the use of best practice guidelines in our patients’ cancer treatment. Together we can provide powerful outcomes for you.

922 Rolling Acres Road | Lady Lake, FL 32159 855.403.2519 www.icccvantage.com

Dr. Herman Flink Radiation Oncologist Double Board-Certified in both Radiation Oncology and Radiology by The American Board of Radiology

BODY

Did you know thahat approximately 2,350 me men will be diagnosed with innvasivve breast cancer in n 201155? Appproximately 440 of them m will die, accordding to thhe American Canceer r Soociietety. y

Don’t fret, thouugh Thhe organization says thhe liifeetitimme odds of men getting br b e east cancer are 1 in 1,0000

PHOTO: Shutterstock.com

ANATOMY

MAN BOOBS NO LAUGHING MATTER

Unwanted breasts common for 25 percent of older men

WRITER: RICHARD T. BOSSHARDT, MD, FACS

K, guys. Let’s talk breasts. Whoa! Before you get too excited, let me hasten to add that I want to talk about your breasts. Don’t look so disappointed; it will be interesting and useful, too. Trust me.

Let’s face it, men. While breasts look terrific on women, they are not a good look for us. We may have nipples, but we aren’t supposed to have actual breasts. Male breast development, called gynecomastia, can occur for a number of reasons and can be a source of distress, a sign of a medical condition or both.

reasons and can be a source of distres a medical condition or both.

Male breast often

effects of the female hormone, estro testosteron

common and is due to the effects of the mother’s estrogen, which can cross the placenta into the fetus during pregnancy, on the nascent breast tissue. This type of breast enlargement invariably goes away soon after birth.

verse occurs in women. If t

Male breast development often results from an imbalance between the effects of the female hormone, estrogen, and the male hormone, testosterone. Both sexes have both hormones, but in men, the effects of testosterone overshadow any estrogen effects and the reverse occurs in women. If the estrogen level is too high and/or the testosterone level is too low, breast growth can occur in men.

level is too low, brea in B

Breast development in males can be broken down into three periods of life: infancy, puberty and adulthood.

Male infants sometimes are born with visible breast development. This is

Breast growth also is common in adolescent boys. With all the hormonal changes of puberty, there may be breast development ranging from very subtle to obvious. (As if acne, a voice that cracks at the worst possible moments and hair sprouting in new, unusual places weren’t enough.) This can be very disturbing to teenage boys at a time when they are especially vulnerable to social pressures and teasing from peers.

Most of the time, this breast devel-

opment will subside spontaneously in a few months to a couple of years. Boys with significant breast development should have their testosterone levels checked. They also should be examined to be sure the testicles are normal and properly descended into the scrotum because there are some genetic conditions that may cause the testicles to fail to develop.

In middle-aged and older men, an estimated one in four has some degree of breast development — so-called “man boobs.” There are a large number of potential causes.

y ears. evelopment osterone should be examined ticles nded into the scrotum ay e-aged e elopment here auses.

The most common cause is obesity. Body fat, especially the so-called visceral fat around the abdomen, is biological-

ly active and can convert the male hormone, testosterone, into the female hormone, estrogen. Lower testosterone levels also accompany aging, so the combination of obesity and aging may result in breast development in middle-aged and older men. The first and foremost solution is to lose weight.

Excessive alcohol intake also can cause gynecomastia. Alcohol directly suppresses the production of testosterone. The liver breaks down estrogen, which can lead to elevated levels of estrogen in the body. Most long-term, heavy drinkers have some degree of gynecomastia.

Declining levels of testosterone is another cause. Some decrease in testosterone production with age is normal and usually isn’t enough to cause problems (though it can do so in some men).

There also are numerous medications associated with breast development, such as steroids, drugs to treat prostate and other cancers, anti depressant and anti anxiety drugs, some antibiotics and some drugs used to treat AIDS. Street drugs such as marijuana, amphetamines and heroin may also trigger breast growth.

Tumors of the adrenal or pituitary glands, thyroid problems, kidney disease and liver disease all can trigger breast development.

Breast cancer, while rare, does occur in men. Approximately 1 percent of all breast cancers occur in males. These tend to be diagnosed at a more advanced stage than in women, and the prognosis is

often poorer as a result.

The treatment of gynecomastia depends on the circumstances. If there is a specific cause identified, correcting it is the first step.

Your doctor can correct hormone deficiencies with hormone supplements. Have your doctor check to see if breast development is a side effect of any medications you’re taking, and if possible, stop them or prescribe an alternate drug. If you drink heavily, cut back, or better yet, stop.

If you are overweight, drop some pounds, and you just might lose the “man boobs.”

Unfortunately, once breast development occurs, it can’t always be reversed, even when the inciting cause is eliminated. In that situation, surgery becomes an option.

For young men with true breast development that doesn’t resolve itself within a couple of years, or when the problem is just too distressing, the best option usually is a traditional surgical removal through an incision along the edge of the areola. This leaves the best scar and provides the most complete removal of the breast tissue. Sometimes, if the areola is small, the incision will have to extend across the breast, which will leave a more visible scar. There may be an indentation under the areola, at least for a while. Young men are especially prone to hematomas — collections of blood in the space created by removal of the breast tissue — so small drainage tubes often are placed in the site for a few days.

For older men, traditional surgical removal is often recommended, but because the breasts here are often very fatty, another option is liposuction. Suctioning out f through tiny “stab” i an eighth of an inch a very popular p d in other areas ofhb d In the breast a h f more fibrous dl does not work ll h use of a lase hlb k down the faf l h made the pr d effective. On bl h liposuction, ll lder men, is thah k not retract, ev h f

laser, and they will be left with unsightly, loose hanging skin.

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en with very large breasts may actually need a full breast reduction very much like the operation done on women with overly large breasts. This is major surgery leaves extensive scars.

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As with so much in medicine, prevention is much better than cure. Keep your weight near where it should be for your height, limit or avoid alcohol, try to stay medications by staying healthy and fit and the odds are good that you won’t someday find yourself shopping for a “bro.”

NOTHING BEATS A GREAT PAIR OF LEGS

Ibegan training my legs using workouts I read online or in bodybuilding magazines. Then I added more movements to my leg routine and always pushed myself to get bigger and better at training my legs— not just doing three or four movements and calling it a day. Now, I do no less than five movements in a leg workout.

As rough or brutal the workout may be, I look forward to training legs now. And, believe it or not, my upper body has grown and gained more in strength because I train my legs heavier and harder.

Lifting, meal prep and the pursuit of reaching my goals has changed my life in many ways.

PHIL STOKES’ GUIDE TO GREAT LEGS

WORKOUT NO. 1

1. Warm up

2. Leg extensions, three sets of 20-30 reps using light to mid weights

3. Standing leg curls, three sets of 15-20 reps with light to mid weight

4. Abductor machine, three or four sets of to 20 working sets using mid to heavy weight

WRITER: PHIL STOKES WR WRITERER: PHIL

WORKOUT NO. 2

1. Squats. Start with a warm-up set of 20 to 30 reps, then two sets of 15 to 20 reps, then two sets of 10 to 15 reps and finally, two sets of eight to 10 reps

2. Stiff leg deadlifts, four sets of 13 reps with medium weight (You’ll really squeeze hams and glutes)

3. Heavy leg curls, three to five sets of eight to 15 reps

4. Hack squats, four sets of eight to 20 reps with heavy weights

5. Heavy leg extension, five sets of 10 reps (Do drop sets often)

6. Leg press with heavy weights, four to 10 sets of 12 to 20 reps

7. Lunges or box jumps (30 steps and 12 jumps) per set

GR BODY

BE A FLY GUY

Good grooming means more than a haircut

Many men don’t realize they need regular maintenance to look their best. They practice their golf swings, study the stock market and politics, and work long hours at the office to get ahead, but unfortunately, they don’t always take time to groom themselves. Follow these five easy tips, and you are guaranteed to look like the well-groomed man you deserve to be.

• Get regular haircuts: Don’t wait until you look like you need a haircut, and don’t cut it yourself. Have it professionally done every three to six weeks depending on hairstyle, length and growth rate. This is a small price to pay to look your best.

• Use your hairstyle and facial hair to enhance your face shape: This can help achieve the illusion of a square face and strong jawline, which is a desirable look for many men. For

instance, if your face is long and thin, wear your hair fuller at the sides and sport a beard shaped to square off your face. If your face is round, choose a hairstyle that adds height and wear a beard designed to provide a slimming affect. Triangular faces do well with a full beard to fill out a pointed chin. Pearshaped faces should wear a full hairstyle

face. Talk with your barber or hair stylist for detailed advice.

be aware of:

• Trim ear and nose hair with a round-shaped ear and nose trimmer at least twice monthly.

• No one likes Groucho Marx brows. Keep them neatly trimmed and waxed at least monthly.

• If you are prone to ingrown hairs or razor rash in any of these areas, consider permanent hair removal with electrolysis or laser. Both are effective methods to eliminate this problem.

and a shortly trimmed beard to slim the lower

• Get rid of excess hair, and I’m not necessarily talking about your beard and mustache. Good grooming includes much more than this. With so many options available for temporary and permanent hair removal, no one has an excuse to be grungy looking. Whether you choose shaving, waxing, trimming, electrolysis or laser, just do it. Here are a few key areas to

• Back hair regularly should be waxed or shaved. Waxing would require treatments every four to six weeks, while shaving probably will be a weekly chore depending on how fast your hair grows back.

• Chest and belly hair should be kept neatly trimmed.

• Pubic hair (yes, that’s what I said) should be kept shaved at the edges and neatly trimmed on a regular basis. There is no need for a bird’s nest down there.

• Spring for regular manicures and pedicures — they aren’t

but they will notice even more if you don’t. At the very least, keep nails clean and neatly trimmed. Take time to use a nail brush daily. Apply a moisturizing oil (vitamin E, coconut, grapeseed or almond) to the nails and cuticles morning and night.

just for women. This is an inexpensive way to pamper yourself and look good at the same time. Trust me, people will notice if you do,

• Proper skin care is essential. Because of men’s tendency to have large pores and high sebum production, they need regular exfoliation and targeted skin care. Invest in a good facial scrub and toner. Use them daily. Have a professional deepcleansing tuneup on a regular basis. Apply sunscreen daily to all exposed areas including the ears, neck and hands.

WRITER: RUTH ANN BYRD

RECIPE B

A MAN WITH A PLAN

WRITER: PHIL STOKES

I’ve been lifting for about seven years, eating clean for about four years and have been working at the same physical labor job for 14 years.

Lifting, meal prep and the pursuit of reaching my goals has changed my life in so many ways.

After going through a downturn in life at 25, I found myself drinking excessively every day, smoking a pack of cigarettes day and had awful eating habits. Out of shape, finding little nergy and looking for more than where I was in life, I turned o lifting weights and reading as much as I could online about weight training, proper diet and getting my health on track.

I never paid a personal trainer or took group classes. I read nd studied and had a hunger for making myself better.

A few years later, after a lot of trial and error, I figured ut what did and didn’t fit. Alcohol had to go. It was totally hindering muscle gains. I had already stopped smoking. Then I ealized what foods I needed more of and what I need to cut out.

But cheat meals are still key—for sanity, and to make sure my body doesn’t get completely used to all the super clean foods. Ironic, isn’t it?

Sweet potatoes, rice, oatmeal, kale and other green veggies re great sources of fuel. They all digest efficiently and fuel my days. My fats come from peanut butter and avocado. Proteins ome from peanut butter, eggs, fish, turkey, chicken, pork and beef. I like to keep a number different meats around.

I also eat green vegetables, turkey burgers and talipia.

My body will get used to eating the same thing continuously. do use protein powders with breakfast and post-workout hakes. But I always have whole foods along with them. Whole foods are the answer.

And, at least for me, preparation is essential.

On Sunday afternoon, I cook 12 chicken breasts on my grill, kale in a pan and sweet potatoes in an oven. I repeat my cooking ession on Wednesday night. Each meal is prepped in a container.

And I eat every day at the same times — 10 a.m., 12: 30 p.m. nd 3:30 p.m — without fail.

Phil Stokes

“ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, I COOK 12 CHICKEN BREASTS ON MY GRILL.“

1. PREPARE

2. COOK

3. STORE

When it comes to orthopaedic procedures as complex as total ankle replacements, reverse shoulder replacement and joint replacements of the hip and knee, why trust anyone besides a specialist?

Our board certified orthopaedic surgeons are specialists who are fellowship trained in their areas of expertise. They are known for their advanced skill, training and experience. It’s their names you will find scrawled on referral notes from physicians from across the state or featured on the front covers of a surgeon’s training manual. From conservative care for sports injuries to advanced ankle, shoulder, hip and knee replacements, trust the specialists trusted by other surgeons.

MIND

For some, summertime doesn’t mean endless trips to the beach or fun-filled pool parties with friends. Humidity and sizzling heat force many to “hibernate” in their air-conditioned homes.

Hopefully, that doesn’t mean the TV remote is their summertime pal. There are numerous mind-stimulating activities “shut-ins” can participate in. Here are a few indoor activities to consider:

*Crossword puzzles, sudoku or other brain teasers.

*It may be too hot to fish, but you can still consume store-bought fish. Fish contains essential fatty acids critical to brain function.

*Drink coffee. Research suggests a caffeine habit may decrease the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease by 30 to 60 percent.

*Get enough sleep. Studies indicate that a midday nap dramatically boosts and restores brainpower.

*Listen to music. Music has been associated with enhanced cognitive function and improved mental focus.

Sources: livescience.com/12915-10-ways-mind-sharp.html articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/17/ good-brain-health-tips.aspx

PHOTO: Shutterstock.com

HABITS MIND

FIVE KEYS TO SUCCESS

How far you go doesn’t have anything to do with how much you have

Everyone has seen successful people, either in the media or in real life, but most people don’t look past the glamour and glitz.

In fact, you may wonder what special something they have that sets them apart from everyone else. Don’t let the confident attitude and designer clothes fool you. Beneath the glossy exterior is an ordinary individual who has found a way to make a success of life.

The road map for success is built from habits and strategies that can be used by anyone. You can attain the success you desire by incorporating these methods into your lifestyle:

DON’T PROCRASTINATE. Procrastination is one of the biggest stumbling blocks to success. People who succeed do so by operating with urgency. They hit their goals on or ahead of schedule, and they tackle problems promptly. If you want to be successful, you need to operate with urgency.

BE PROFESSIONAL. Emotions are unpredictable. If you let your emotions sway your actions, you will face many challenges. Successful people don’t let emotions get in the way of progress. They have the ability to accomplish the tasks at hand in spite of — or because of — their mood.

BE ACCOUNTABLE. Most people would rather follow orders than take charge because it’s easier. And problems always arise, even in the most successful and efficient environments. Taking responsibility for mistakes, as well as credit for success, is a characteristic of successful people.

BE A TEAM PLAYER. No matter how accomplished you are, no one is an island. Successful working relationships are important to successful people. They have the ability to seek

out and identify the right partners and colleagues. They can lead a team to victory.

REACH FOR THE STARS. Successful people set extraordinary goals for themselves. They understand every success is a step toward another even greater success. You must have ambition to succeed. Success is built on effort and ambition, so aim high.

90% believe success is more about happiness than power, possessions or prestige.

67% associate success with achieving personal goals.

1in 5

respondents said wealth defines success.

66% defined success through “good relationships with friends and family.”

60% said success is “loving what you do for a living.”

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”

Winston Churchill

HERE’S HOW AMERICANS DEFINE SUCCESS, ACCORDING TO A “SUCCESS PROJECT SURVEY” CONDUCTED BY STRAYER UNIVERSITY.

DR. MARJERY LOPEZ Board-Certified in Internal and Pulmonary Medicine. Privileges at LRMC, The Villages Regional Hospital and Promise Hospital.

DR. JOSÉ DIAZ Board-Certified in Internal and Pulmonary Medicine. Privileges at LRMC, The Villages Regional Hospital and Promise Hospital.

MARIA BYRD, ARNP Certified in adult health, specializing in Pulmonary Medicine. Privileges at LRMC and Promise Hospital.

PILAR SMITH, ARNP Certified in adult health, specializing in Pulmonary Medicine. Privileges at Promise Hospital.

SPIRIT

“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure … than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory or defeat.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

PHOTO: Shutterstock.com

HANDS OFF SPIRIT

CHANGING THE MESSAGE

Change isn’t always easy, but when it comes to helping someone we love, we make the effort to change.

One such change, which slowly has been happening for a few years, is the way we think about protecting children from sexual abuse, abduction and victimization, such as human trafficking. Even though we may not want to believe a family friend or relative would hurt us or our kids, we have to face the facts and educate our children differently.

Parents are scared to death that predators will snatch their child off the streets and the “Stranger Danger” message has passed that fear on to our children.

However, this message has some problems. The primary concern is that 93 percent of sexually victimized children know their abuser. Yet, for decades, we’ve focused our energies on the much rarer 7 percent. The hard-to-swallow fact is 9 out of 10 people who molest children are not registered sex offenders, and 39 percent of the time, the abuser is a family member.

Instead of scaring kids with misguided fears, let’s empower them. We should

Empowerment, not fear, is the most effective method to help children avoid becoming victims of abduction and sexual abuse.

WRITER: JEFF GRIESEMER

teach them how to apply those skills whether they are dealing with a cunning stranger or a familiar face.

EMPOWERMENT, NOT FEAR

• Teach kids about the lures predators use to trick them.

• Teach kids how to recognize potential dangerous situations and give them specific action plans when possible.

• Establish open lines of communication within the family.

• Boost your kids’ confidence and help them to be able to assert themselves when necessary.

and understanding of personal boundaries. Predators test boundaries to see just how far they can go with a child. A child who recognizes and appropriately reacts can stop many molesters in their tracks.

• These and other tips can be found at childrescuenetwork.org.

Tragically, children are suffering trauma and abuse every single day. If ever there was a reason to change our message, this is it. Society must rise to that challenge to save our kids from the potential dangers of human trafficking and assault.

DID YOU KNOW?

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually victimized by age 18.

• According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 12.3 percent of women were age 10 or younger at the time of their first rape.

• A child is reported missing every 41 seconds in the U.S., according to the Child Resource Network.

• An estimated 1 in 6 runaways in 2014 was the victim of sex traffickers, the FBI reported.

give our children a respect

• Perhaps most importantly, g hld

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Imagine a world where kids grow up confident in t ppply p p p lb d d bl h f l d h t hld d d t y y p

Society must rise to that challenge to save our kids from the potential dangers of human trafficking and assault.

MENCOURAGEMENT SPIRIT

A THIN LINE

WRITER: JAMES COMBS

Admit it, my fellow brothers. We like our wives and girlfriends to look their best: Toned bodies, sexy legs, flat stomachs and beautiful hair.

Yet, we don’t hold ourselves to the same standards. While our wives are on the treadmill or at the salon, we’re at home on the recliner eating carb-filled food and sucking down a cold beer. This is a daily routine. And, many of us have the double chins, man boobs and bulging stomach to prove it.

How can you expect your lady to achieve the perfect look while you continue getting fatter? Has it crossed your mind she may want you to look good, too? And, if you’re stubborn about changing, she’s justifiably going to become upset. Remember, happy wife, happy life.

I’m the world’s worst. In the past, a trip to McDonald’s meant a Big Mac, large fries and a large Hi-C orange. Organic, raw and low-calorie foods. were foreign to me. I liked my food with grease, fat and tons of carbs.

I got away with eating like that in my 20s. However, now that I’m rapidly approaching my mid-30s, I realized it was time to make a change. After all, I’ve personally spoken with several people near my age who have suffered heart attacks. I didn’t want to become a statistic.

A co-worker and friend introduced me to the high-protein, low-carbohydrate Atkin’s Diet. He even bought me a copy of

Michael Eade’s fabulous book, Protein Power. Why not give this high-protein diet a try? I had nothing to lose—except fat, of course. I stuck to the diet religiously and walked approximately four miles a day. After the first week, I lost an amazing 11.6 pounds! In the first month-and-a-half I lost 30 pounds.

My life has changed for the better. I don’t rush to the nearest fast food restaurant at lunchtime. Instead, I eat several hot dogs (without the bun, of course) and walk for nearly an hour. My energy level has increased, as well. I no longer feel like slouching over my desk and taking a nap once 2 p.m. rolls around. And, instead of reaching for the remote control and becoming glued to my recliner when I arrive home from work, I now spend at least an hour and a half walking. People comment all the time how much better I look, which serves as a self-esteem booster and motivator to continue my weight-loss journey.

I’m not advocating a high-protein diet. It’s your job to discover which diet works best for you, and I’d recommend consulting your physician before beginning. Remember, though, that our female counterparts are way ahead of us in the “look good, feel good” department. Men, it’s our turn to become hungry about losing weight and making ourselves more attractive to the woman we love.

RELATE SPIRIT

WHAT ABOUT LOVE?

Many don’t know the difference between love and attraction

WRITER:

SCOTT PERKINS

In music and movies, we see characters fall in and out of love, unable to help how they feel or control their behavior. Overall, there is a message that love is uncontrollable.

IS THAT TRUE?

Many of the feelings depicted aren’t actually related to love, but instead come from the sense of value and significance reflected back to us by another. If we are the recipient of positive attention, we will feel built up. If someone does something nice, that creates feelings of value. When we are pursued, that attention adds to our feelings of significance.

We have a tendency to be self-centered when we define love: “I love her because she makes me laugh.” Or, “I love him because he is so generous with me.” When love is dependent upon another person’s actions and our expectations, it becomes easier to fall in and out of love. That is why love feels so out of control.

Whether you adhere to the Bible or not, we can learn from the Good Book’s definition of love. What we call love often is actually attraction. Love is much more than that and is much more difficult to give and receive.

If you’re struggling in a relationship and the problems are a list of things your significant other isn’t doing or should be doing, then you are not in love with that person — you are in love with the benefits they provide. There is a difference.

Or maybe your relationship has fallen into the barter system, filled with bargaining such as: “I’ll take you to your parents’ house if I can go out with the guys.” “You can golf if I can get a new TV.” “I’ll do the dishes as long as we have sex tonight.”

LOVE IS NOT SELF-SEEKING.

Being in love is more than what we passively receive from each other; it is how we actively engage in the relationship.

One quick way to know if you are acting lovingly or not is to examine motivation. Do you do things for your significant other expecting something in return? Love is not weighed down with expectations.

Love is a choice. It is intentional and takes discipline. Being vulnerable and controlling expectations is difficult, takes practice and is filled with both failure and forgiveness. But, becoming aware of the ways we are self-seeking and growing through that awareness is the joy of loving another.

Hopefully, your significant other isn’t self-seeking either. No one wants to be used as support for another’s sense of significance and value — that is an exhausting and destructive role. Love should beget love.

STATISTICS ABOUT LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS

• Men are more likely than women — 48 percent vs 28 percent — to fall in love at first sight.

• Couples who earn $20,000 or less argue less frequently than couples who earn between $250,000 and $500,000

• 57 percent of people in unhappy relationships still find their partner attractive.

• 33 percent of men and women have watched a television show or movie that affected them so much they considered breaking up.

Source: rd.com/slideshows/marriage-statistics-the-biggest- surprises-about-love-sex-and-more/#slideshow=slide2

Love does not dishonor others, it is not selfseeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

—From

the Book of Corinthians, chapter 13, verse 5

LAKE OB-GY ASSOCIATES

Dr. Alfred Moffett

Dr. Michelle WoodDr. Douglas Moffett

Dr. Lauren Britt

Dr. Kaitlin Lee

FINANCE

The year is already half over, which begs the question: “Are you on track to meet your financial goals?” If not, there’s time for you to get back on track.

Try remembering the 50-20-30 rule when it comes to deciding how to spend your paycheck.

*Half of your paycheck should be used for musthave expenses such as housing, bills and food.

*20 percent of your paycheck should be put into a savings or retirement account or set aside for unexpected emergencies that arise.

*30 percent of your paycheck can be used for niceties like Internet service, a fun night out with friends or additional channels for your satellite or cable.

Source: budgeting.thenest.com/much-shouldpeople-save-paychecks-21852.html

PHOTO: Shutterstock.com

ESTATE PLAN

SETTLING A BRADY BUNCH ESTATE

WRITER: JOHN T. MARSHALL

As a kid, I thoroughly enjoyed watching — and re-watching — “The Brady Bunch.” Recently, I tried to watch an episode and found I barely could tolerate five minutes of the campy writing, terrible acting and the worst fake grass in the history of television. This does not alter, however, my appreciation for the show’s attempt to address the dynamics involved with blending two families into one.

Couples in blended marriages have to deal with numerous issues, including fear that death of one spouse means the children of the deceased spouse will be disinherited, whether intentional or not. This is not an unjustified fear, but it can be avoided if the couple crafts a comprehensive estate plan that provides for the surviving spouse and ensures the deceased spouse’s children receive an inheritance.

As part of a comprehensive estate plan, the blended couple should consider using a marital agreement (commonly referred to as prenuptial or postnuptial agreements), which can reduce or eliminate each spouse’s marital rights to their spouse’s assets.

Although people often dismiss marital agreements as draconian, when used as part of a comprehensive estate plan they can be powerful tools that promote family harmony. Without a marital agreement, even with careful planning, children of the surviving spouse could end up with only 30 - 50 percent of the deceased spouse’s estate through the exercise of elective share, family allowance or other statutory marital rights.

Blended couples also should consider establishing an estate plan that utilizes a QTIP trust. A QTIP trust is established upon the death of the first spouse and provides the surviving spouse with a regular stream of income plus distributions for the surviving spouse’s health and other basic needs, if necessary. The QTIP Trust is a powerful tool because the assets of the QTIP trust are distributed to children of the deceased spouse and are not controlled or distributed as part of the surviving spouse’s estate.

Let’s put this in perspective. Mike and Carol each have three children of their own. Mike’s parents died and left him the farm and other assets he wants his sons to receive, but Mike loves Carol and wants her to be taken care of if he dies first. Mike and Carol enter into a marital agreement wherein Carol waives her statutory rights to any of the property Mike inherited. Mike then creates an estate plan that leaves the family farm and other inherited assets in a QTIP Trust. After Mike dies, the QTIP Trust distributes all the income generated to Carol, plus it pays for her health insurance premiums and copays. When Carol dies, Mike’s three sons inherit all of the assets held in the QTIP trust, whereas Carol’s daughters receive the assets of Carol’s estate. The stresses placed on today’s “Brady Bunch” families rarely are solved with cliché parental advice. Instead, careful and practical estate planning can reduce the fear and mistrust that otherwise may exist, and instead, foster healthier relationships for all family members both during life and after death.

ADVANTAGES OF A QTIP TRUST

• You can control distribution of property. That’s beneficial if you have children from a previous marriage because you can designate a portion of your estate to them.

• Even if you die first, you can pass assets onto your spouse without paying any estate taxes on them.

• None of the assets you put into the trust have to go through probate before they can be distributed.

• This type of trust is easy to set up, and you do not have to make all the decisions up front.

Source: finweb.com/retirement/5advantages-of-a-qtip-trust. html#axzz3YoxOVxbT

ASK DAVE

MAD MONEY CAN MAKE YOU SAD, HONEY

WRITER: DAVE RAMSEY

Dear Dave, Should you budget for mad money, or just carrying-around cash, when you’re trying to get out of debt?

—Aurora

Dear Aurora,

What really matters is the amount of mad money you allow yourself to have. Everyone needs a little pocket money. It’s probably not going to throw you off too much

if you put $10 or $20 in there. But $100 or $200? That’s a bit much when you’re scrimping, saving and supposedly working hard to get out of debt.

Think of it as a safety valve, Aurora. Everyone needs a break and a little fun now and then. Whether it’s grabbing lunch out, or going to a movie once in a while, you need to relax and let off little steam.

Just make it part of your regular monthly budget, and stick to the amount. Little things like this will help keep your total money makeover moving in the right direction without wearing you out!

— Dave

NEVER PREPAY FOR A FUNERAL

Dear Dave,

My wife passed away last year, and she was just 43 years old. I paid cash for the funeral and all the arrangements. Now, I’m getting solicitations from the funeral home, wanting me to prepay my own funeral. I’m 45 years old. Is this a good idea?

—Dave

Dear Dave,

God bless you and your family. I’m so sorry you have to go through this, but I’m glad to hear you were in good enough shape financially to handle the burden. That means you both were very wise with your money.

My advice is to pre plan, but don’t prepay. As you discovered, having to make important decisions in the midst of that kind of grief is a hard thing to do. Sometimes, people are so emotional during times like these that they make bad decisions. So, pre planning and making selections ahead of time is a great idea.

But it’s never a good idea to prepay for this kind of thing, and here’s why. If you live to an average age, for what you’d prepay today at age 45, you could invest the amount, be self-insured for that kind of thing, and in all likelihood have a ton of money sitting there when your time comes.

Events like this make you realize the need for proper planning, but don’t ever prepay them. Lots of people in the funeral industry don’t like me for this stance, but that’s just because they make lots of money on prepayment plans.

— Dave

CHOICE is clear the

For many, when sickness strikes or a sudden injury occurs, the automatic response is to go to the emergency room.

However, there are other choices, such as Lake Regional Urgent Care.

“We try to replicate emergency room services as closely as possible,” says Dr. Raymond Dominick, medical director of all three LRUC locations (Leesburg, The Villages and, most recently, Mount Dora). “I would say we can perform about 95 percent of the same services the ER provides — and at a fraction of the cost.”

In addition to fast, affordable, and first-rate medicine, Dr. Dominick has an extensive emergency medicine background, which speaks to his level of expertise and care. A board-certified internist, he earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

From managing ER’s in Pennsylvania to working locally at both Leesburg Regional Medical Center and Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, Dr. Dominick has spent the majority of his medical care in emergency medicine. He was even instrumental in establishing and developing the ER at West Marion Community Hospital in Ocala.

Dr. Dominick credits technology for changing the face of medicine. Now, emergency rooms aren’t the only place for immediate care.

“We have full labs, EKGs, X-rays, crash carts, pacemakers … LRUC is a true alternative,” he says. “I can do an EKG and in one minute tell if you’re having a heart attack. From there we can go right to the cath lab.”

For Dr. Dominick, medicine is his calling. He’s a longtime admirer of its process and his passion is evident in the quality of care he and his staff provide patients.

Dr. Dominick is also licensed to treat chronic pain and administer hormone replacement therapy. All locations are open seven days a week from 8:30a.m. to 7p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30a.m. to 5p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

JUNE 6

Ladies SelfDefense Class

The Grappling Mastery Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA Academy will teach free self-defense techniques to women. Current NAGA Pan American champion Brian Ruscio hosts the free class at 19051 U.S. Hwy. 441 Suite #220 in Mount Dora. Information: 352.702.5689 or visit www. grapplingmastery.com

JUNE 6

Cool Summer Mornings 5k Series #1

This walk/run begins on residential streets of Clermont and continues on the South Lake Trail. The event concludes with an awards ceremony. Start time: 8a.m. at Clermont’s Waterfront Park. Information: www. sommersports.com/Events

JUNE 8

Parkinson’s Disease Support Group

Emotional support and education for Parkinson’s Disease patients and their families. 1-2:30p.m. Conroy CREATION Health Center at Florida

Hospital Waterman, 1000 Waterman Way in Tavares. Information: 352.253.3685.

JUNE 9

Better Breathers Support Group

Interact with others who suffer from chronic

respiratory diseases while learning tips and techniques to better manage the disease. National Training Center, 1935 Don Wickham Drive, Clermont. 1-3p.m. Information: 352.241.7109.

JUNE 9

Newborn Care Class

Expectant parents learn the basics of newborn care such as bathing, diapering and infant CPR. They’ll also tour the Life Center for Women at Leesburg Regional Medical Center. 6:30-8:30p.m. Cost: $15. 600 E. Dixie Ave., Leesburg. Information: Contact Karen Lynn at 352.323.5960 or email KLynn@CFHAlliance.org.

JUNE 10

Chair Yoga With Nancy

Learn stretching and flexibility exercises, breathing and simple meditations. No special equipment required. Cost: $5 per person. Information: Call Eileen Tramontana at 352.357.7536 or email her at tinc.director@gmail.com

JUNE 11

Breastfeeding Class

Learn the basics of breastfeeding, such as getting started in the hospital, positioning and breastfeeding management.

6:30-8:30p.m. Cost: $15. Leesburg Regional Medical Center, 600 E. Dixie Ave. Information:

Contact Karen Lynn at 352.323.5960 or email KLynn@CFHAlliance.org.

JUNE 12-14

25th Annual Harvest Festival

Lakeridge Winery’s flagship festival celebrates grapes, which are said to reduce risk of cancer and decrease blood pressure. Enjoy a grape-stomping contest and live entertainment.

Cost: $2 donation to benefit Hospice Foundation.

10a.m. to 5p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11a.m. to 5p.m. Sunday. 19239 U.S. Hwy.

27 Clermont. Information: 1.800.768.WINE or visit www.lakeridgewinery.com

JUNE 17

Multiple Sclerosis Support Group

Multiple sclerosis patients reach out to others with

similar challenges and discuss improved lifestyle management techniques. National Training Center, 1935 Don Wickham Drive, Clermont. 10a.m. to noon. Cost: Free.

Information: 352.242.2350.

JUNE 17

Diabetes SelfManagement Support Group

Certified diabetes educator

Debra Dudley helps prediabetics and diabetics learn how to manage the disease. 5-6p.m. Conroy CREATION Health Center at Florida Hospital Waterman, 1000 Waterman Way, Tavares. Cost: Free. Information: 352.253.3685.

JUNE 20-21

Learn to Row

Learn how to row or rediscover the joys of rowing with the Lake County Rowing Association. Clermont Boathouse, 1050 Lake Minneola Drive in Clermont. Cost: $99 per person. Information: Call Wendy Burkett at 303.656.8816 or email emailmembership@ RowLCRA.org.

HONORING HEROES

Nearly 100 veterans and 50 surviving spouses were honored during a “Salute to Veterans” event at Lake Port Square in Leesburg. The local chapter of We Honor Veterans organized the event, which included a Color Guard and choir. Veterans received pins and certificates, while widows received flowers.

PHOTOGRAPHER: MATTHEW GAULIN

1. Dalores Proctor Cochel, Margret and Alice Harrison

2. “Somes”

3. Linda Dunn and William Haris

4. George Wanberg and Marcie Samuelson

5. Joe Rittenhouse

6. Julia Allen

7. Fred Crawford and Marion Larinoff

8. Honor Guard: Filter, Bowels, Somes and Crivello

SHINING STARS

The South Lake Hospital Foundation celebrated its inaugural Starry Night Gala. The elegant, fun event attracted more than 200 people—including physicians, business owners and community leaders—and featured live entertainment, food and beverages. Proceeds helped support the South Lake Hospital Center for Robotic Surgery, the Centre for Women’s Health and youth fitness initiatives on the LiveWell campus.

PHOTOGRAPHER: MATTHEW GAULIN

1. Becky and Frank Pierce

2. Cedric Thomas and Ralph Azuz

3. Suzette and Dennis Horton

4. David and Jenny Cote with Cindy and Tim Mcrae

5. Chuck and Angie Thompson

6. Scott and Janice Fisher

7. Amanda Sheick and Cathy Rixie

8. Jim and Diana Mcbrinn

9. Lance and Jodi Seull with Heath with Kristin Nileos

10. Rita and Vijah Pantanje

11. Perry and Heidi Ressler

12. Jerry Miller and Jannet Bolivar with Jordan and Theresa White

13. Kaley and Trevor Hasen

HOW “COOL” IS THAT?

Institute of Cardiovascular Excellence (ICE) recently held an open house to celebrate its new location at 3515 SE 17th St. in Ocala. Attendees toured the new facility and received refreshments. Several ICE physicians attended the event, including Dr. Norman Weinstein and Dr. Donald Liebelt. The new office is ICE’s seventh location.

PHOTOGRAPHER: MATTHEW GAULIN

1. Candy Riley and Brittany Kemp

2. Janine Bloom, Kimberly Scudder and Melissa

3. Orvey Cole and Kim Panzer

4. Roman and Charline Wright

5. Richard and Beth Balzer

6. Mrs. Maxwell and Marcy Melluccib

7. Merry Gee-Heffner and George Heffner

8. Shirley Green and Jerome Grenn with Dr. Lieblet

9. Deloris and Warden Lawson

10. Tom Tran, Ash Ali and Dr. Ali

WE’RE IN BUSINESS

The inaugural Business and Health Expo was held at the Tavares Pavilion on the Lake. Attendees had an opportunity to meet local business owners and learn about the wealth of products they offer. They also got to see inside the beautiful $6.3 million, 8,000 square-foot pavilion, which features a winding staircase and scenic pier over Lake Dora.

PHOTOGRAPHER: MATTHEW GAULIN

1. Ann Man and Susan Lynn

2. Tersea Copley, Emily wood and Cheyenne Stanaitis

3. Joann Keller

4. Shananne Cain and Kebra Campbell

5. Liz Anderson and Daniel Millian

6. Lisa Johnson and Bob Tweedie

7. Angila Chambliss

8. Bryan Fetter and Orlando Green

9. Tarin Lawrence, Gino Morales and Cierra Jackson

Impressions

When you feel like quitting, think of why you started.

“I was walking a mile by the end of the week and by week three I was riding my bike. Now I’m living my life again!”

MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED!

Over 30,000 patients treated & 13,000 surgeries performed.

SURGICAL OUTCOMES HAVE BEEN NATIONALLY FEATURED

FRANK BONO, D.O. + JAMES RONZO, D.O. BOARD CERTIFIED, FELLOWSHIP TRAINED

My amazing heart!

GEORGE SANDERSON “I’ve had three heart attacks. My first at 27. Dr. Bryce put in a defibrillator to fix me. After surgery they said I had a seizure in recovery but they took great care of me. I’ve been in a lot of hospitals. Florida Hospital Waterman is amazing! I can’t thank them enough. I am so blessed.”

Take our heart risk assessment at FHWATERMANHEART.COM