Healthy Living September 2016

MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN HEALTH & FITNESS

AT AGE 63

SHE LOST HER JOB

AND INSURANCE

TWYINE LITTLEJOHN WANTS TO THANK YOU FOR OUR COMMUNITY CLINICS

EFFECTIVE ACCOUNTABLE EFFICIENT

partners for life

Cardiovascular Associates of Lake County is one of the premier providers of cardiac care in Lake County and Central Florida. Founded by Dr. J. Henr y Lesmes in 1992, the practice bears a legacy of innovation, longevity, and consistency that our patients value

Our team of board-certified physicians uses state-of-theart methods to diagnose a wide range of cardiac and vascular diseasesHighlyinnovativethepracticeconsistentlybrings

diseases. Highly innovative, the practice consistently brings cutting-edge treatment to our patients.

As a full-service cardiology practice, Cardiovascular Associates provides complete care for any heart and vascular condition. The group also maintains privileges at the main area hospitals.

Individually, the highly trained cardiologists of Cardiovascular Associates possess unique capabilities that keep them on the cutting edge of advanced heart medicine. However, they collectively maintain a strong sense of camaraderie that provides patients a full continuum of care and a sense of ease at every office visit. Since 1992, we have been your partners for life.

YEARS OF SERVICE TO LAKE COUNTY & SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: Total Joint Replacement // Arthritis Evaluation // Non-Surgical Back Evaluation // Osteoporosis Evaluation // Physical Therapy Diagnostic Radiology // Sports Medicine // Shoulder Surgery // Foot & Ankle Surgery // Trauma & Fracture Management // Arthroscopic Surgery

J. Mandume Kerina, MD

Founder of TriCounty Orthopaedics.

Board Certified. Fellowship-Trained.

Advanced Joint Replacement Surgery

Isaac L. Mitchell, MD

Board Certified. Fellowship-Trained. Shoulder/Upper Extremity and Sports Medicine.

Claudia L. Thomas, MD

Board Certified. Fellowship-Trained. Orthopaedic Trauma and Spine, National Osteoporosis Foundation Member.

Cedric J. Tankson, MD

Board Certified. Fellowship-Trained. Foot and Ankle Specialist, Joint Replacement of the Ankle.

Alfred J. Cook, Jr., MD

Board Certified. Fellowship-Trained. Cartilage Rejuvenation, Shoulder Surgery, and Sports Medicine.

John T. Williams, Jr., MD

Board Certified. Fellowship-Trained. Advanced Total Joint Replacement Surgery, Chairman of Surgery at CFHA.

Dr.Dr.WilkerDr.Panzo MaizelDr.CharlesDr.GoldeyDr.BaumannDr.Bovee

18 // THE TOP 20 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

You voted, and we tallied. Here are the Top 20 Health Professionals in our area. These are the people you trust and go to time after time to keep yourself at your best.

30 // BUILD-A-BOAT WORKSHOP

They call it SCAMPY, and it’s a program to teach youths, ages 11-16, how to build boats.

WRITER: THERESA CAMPBELL

HEALTHY

LUSCIOUS

HEALTHY

GAIN

YOU GOTTA GET OUT

58 Find your way out of debt.

DON’T GET CAUGHT BY PHISHERS

46

20 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN HEALTH FITNESS IN EVERY ISSUE

COPING

THE COVER:

PHOTOGRAPHER: FRED LOPEZ

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

DIGITIZE YOUR LIFE.

GET YOURS. SHOW

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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

EDITORIAL // DESIGN // PHOTOGRAPHY

LEIGH NEELY managing editor leigh@akersmediagroup.com

JAMES COMBS staff writer james@akersmediagroup.com

THERESA CAMPBELL staff writer theresa@akersmediagroup.com

DEBBI KIDDY staff writer debbi@akersmediagroup.com

VOLKAN ULGEN art director volkan@akersmediagroup.com

STEVEN J. CODRARO senior art director steve@akersmediagroup.com

JOSH CLARK senior designer josh@akersmediagroup.com

MICHAEL GAULIN production director michael@akersmediagroup.com

FRED LOPEZ chief photographer fred@akersmediagroup.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS//PHOTOGRAPHERS

JAIMIE ALONSO LINDA COURTNEY FRED HILTON

YOU DID THIS.

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I introduce you to Healthy Living’s first annual Top 20 Most Influential People in Health and Wellness. When we do these types of features, we always receive emails or phone calls asking, “How did you select these individuals?” This month the answer is easy, we didn’t—you did.

In June, we published a call for nominations and asked our readers to visit our website to select individuals who inspired them. It could be your doctor, fitness trainer, nutritionist, or any person who has influenced you or others to live a healthy well-balanced lifestyle. It appears there are many people in our community who are inspiring to others because we received hundreds of nominations. Therefore, we narrowed the field by selecting the top 20 people who received the most nominations.

ROHIT RAUN MC WARFORD

SALES // MARKETING

TIM MCRAE vice president of sales tim@akersmediagroup.com

DAVID COTÉ advertising executive david@akersmediagroup.com

TARA INGALLS advertising executive tara@akersmediagroup.com

SYLVIA DUCOTE advertising executive sylvia@akersmediagroup.com

The next step was to have readers vote on who they thought was the most influential person, and offer that person the opportunity to be featured on the cover to represent the top 20. Our voting methodology was to post the top 20 on our Facebook page and have our followers “like” the person they felt was the best. Again, we received a tremendous response.

MIKE STEGALL advertising executive mike@akersmediagroup.com

TINA MORRISON advertising executive tina@akersmediagroup.com

MELANIE MELVIN director of client services melanie@akersmediagroup.com

ADMINISTRATION

DEB MATLOCK office manager deb@akersmediagroup.com

AUBREY AKERS advertising coordinator aubrey@akersmediagroup.com

The results are in, and I gladly present to you the best of the best in the field of Health and Wellness, congratulations to you all. And, a special congratulations goes to Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, for your overwhelming influence on our community.

If you missed the opportunity to nominate and vote for your favorite, please stop what you are doing, go to our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ Lakehealthyliving and “LIKE” our page. We offer many additional opportunities through our website and our social media pages for our readers to get involved in our editorial. Healthy Living is a magazine for our community and you.

Thank you to all of our readers who participated. We could not have done this without you.

SHAENA CHASTAIN receptionist shaena@akersmediagroup.com

DISTRIBUTION SCOTT HEGG distribution manager scott.hegg@akersmediagroup.com

Phone: 352.787.4112 // Fax: 352.323.8161 P.O. Box 490088 Leesburg, FL 34749 or 108 5th street, Leesburg FL 34749 www.akersmediagroup.com

y All contents are copyrighted © 2016 by Akers Media, Inc. DBA Lake County’s Healthy Living Magazine. All reproduction or use of content without written persmission is strictly prohibited under penalty of law. The contents of the Lake County’s Healthy Living Magazine are for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to be an alternative to professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider before starting any new diet or exercise program. The ideas and opinions contained in this publication do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of Akers Media.

Florida Hospital Waterman was the only Lake Countybased hospital to earn an “A” grade in the Spring 2016 Hospital Safety Score. The score grades a hospital’s overall performance in keeping patients safe from preventable medical errors, injuries, and infections within the hospital.

“Florida Hospital Waterman has consistently proven that our patient’s safety is our top priority,” says David Ottati, the hospital’s president and chief executive officer. “We are proud of the honor and our track record. The ‘A’ grade we have again received is a true indicator our team is dedicated to providing safe, quality, and compassionate care in a patient-centered environment.”

FOR EFFORT

TRIVIA TIME

Can you name the doctor who practiced in Lake County for nearly 40 years and was the longtime physician for Tavares High School teams?

Please make an educated guess before looking at the answer below.

Answer: Dr. Argin Boggus. He died in 1999 at age 70

SHAPING TOMORROW’S LEADERS TODAY

Central Florida Health received the Outstanding Professional Practice Experience Site award. The award, which was presented by the Florida Health Management Association, recognizes health care facilities committed to the future of the health information profession by accepting students for professional practice experiences.

Brandy Ziesemer, program manager at Lake-Sumter State College, nominated Central Florida Health for the award.

“We are so pleased that our students are offered quality professional practice experience right here in our own community,” Ziesemer says. “It is important for health information students to have meaningful exposure to the realworld application of what they are learning in the classroom.”

IN A CLASS BY ITSELF

Lake County Schools received bronze-level recognition as a Florida Healthy School District. The recognition, developed by the Florida Coordinated School Health Partnership, recognizes the hard work and dedication of school districts related to physical, mental, and social health of students and staff.

“We are so excited our school district was recognized as a Healthy School District,” says Aaron Kissler, administrator of the Florida Department of Health in Lake County. “We look forward to building on this accomplishment with them.”

EYE-OPENING KINDNESS

New Vision for Independence recently received a $2,000 grant from the Harper Family Charitable Foundation. These funds for vision rehabilitation services will aid seniors in Lake and Sumter counties who have low vision or blindness.

“We are grateful to the Harper Family Charitable Foundation,” says Chantel Buck, president and CEO of New Vision for Independence. “Their investments in New Vision’s rehabilitation services demonstrates a community commitment to removing blindness as a barrier to independence.”

New Vision is a nonprofit agency providing rehabilitation, education, and support services for people with low vision or blindness.

BE ON YOUR GAME

With the arrival of college football and the NFL seasons this month, Lake County residents will undoubtedly spend their weekends with family and friends watching their favorite teams. To avoid being sacked by calories, tackle those temptations for greasy pizza and fat-filled potato chips by trying healthier game-day options.

You and a few buddies may decide to throw some meat on the grill. Just be mindful of the meat you’re using. Consider extra-lean beef burgers, turkey burgers, or salmon burgers.

Admittedly, a game-day meal is not complete without sides. Skip the chips, potato salad, and french fries. Consider throwing corn on the cob or zucchini on the grill or serve vegetables with low-fat dip. If you’re going to make dip, use a low-fat dairy products such as sour cream, Greek yogurt or cream cheese as the base. Then add spinach or finely chopped vegetables.

Yes, football and beer go hand-in-hand. However, drink beer in moderation and consider water instead, especially if you’re driving home after the game.

Source: heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/HealthyEating/Nutrition/Havea-Heart-Healthy-Football-Season_UCM_430990_Article.jsp#.V08r1BUrI3g

After completion of surgical training, Dr. Armotrading began private practice in North Florida.

In August 2009 he joined Mid-Florida Surgical Associates and relocated to Ocoee, Fl to be closer to his family.

Dr. Armotrading proudly served as a Major in the US Armed Forces and received several military honors.

He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He spe-

cializes in General Surgery.

He in and treatment. a for

He has a special interest in breast diseases including minimally invasive breast procedures and treatment. He also has a passion for surgical oncology and new emerging techniques.

Dr. Armotrading is a member of the Florida Medical Association, Lake and Sumter Medical Society and The American Society of Breast Surgeons.

and The American

Joseph M. Armotrading II, M.D.,F.A.C.S

NEVER “BACK” DOWN

WRITER: JAMES COMBS

It was a testament to Calista Bennett’s character when she handled the unwelcome news with maturity and grace.

“You can never play volleyball or any other sports again,” a neurosurgeon warned her in June.

When teenagers are forced to give up sports, it’s mostly because of bad behavior or bad grades.

For Calista, it’s due to a bad…

Back? She was not in a car accident and was not born with scoliosis.

“It’s hard to believe this is real because people my age

typically do not have bad backs,” says Calista, a 16-yearold junior at Leesburg High School. “I’ve never seen any of my friends go through what I’m going through.”

The back problems started when she was a 14-yearold volleyball player for ST7, a Lake County-based club volleyball team. And even after two lumbar spine surgeries, the shooting pains and numbness in her right leg lingers on.

It may never let up.

“My surgeon told me that I’ll likely always deal with back pain,” she says.

Several magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests confirm that. Calista has spinal stenosis and a degenerated disc at the lowest lumbar level. Several discs above that level are already bulging.

After she underwent her first surgery—a laminectomy and foraminotomy—in April 2015, she returned to the volleyball court as an outsider hitter on the Leesburg High School varsity team. The pain returned, as well. This time, it was unrelenting.

Walking up a flight of stairs caused her right leg to drag. Driving produced radiating pain down her leg, forcing her to pull over on the side of a road and stand up to find relief. Lying in bed was the only after-school activity that didn’t leave her sore and achy.

She underwent a second surgery in June. This time, her neurosurgeon performed a discectomy, a procedure that involves cutting out the herniated part of a disc to relieve pressure off nerve roots.

Two surgeries in 14 months meant giving up the sport she loved. For Calista, volleyball was a family affair. Her parents traveled to every game, and her father stood in the stands and proudly videotaped all her outstanding plays.

“All I wanted to do is play volleyball at the collegiate level,” she says. “I wanted

to follow in the footsteps of my sister Mekenzie, who received a scholarship to play volleyball at Lake-Sumter Community College several years ago.”

Calista has accepted that she’ll never fulfill that dream. Today, she is undergoing physical therapy and taking things “one day at a time.” She remains focused—it’s just that she re-focused her goals. Now, Calista hopes to attend college and become a nurse to help others who, like herself, are hurting.

“Life can be difficult and challenging, but you’ve got to maintain a positive attitude and get through the tough times,” she says. “I’m so blessed to have a supportive family that listened to me when I was first experiencing my pain. Other parents would’ve told their kids to suck it up and keep going.”

DR. MARK ROTHSCHILD

DR. VATSAL INAMDAR

ERICA HARDEN, ARNP

BRYAN CARTER, MPA-C

DR. GEORG COUTURIER

SCOTT WOJCIECHOWSKI, PA

A- C

SCOTT W

OUT, DAMNED SPOTS!

WRITER: FRED HILTON

Most of you—probably all of you—have had spots before your eyes at one time or another. We’re not talking about seeing those cheesy cartoon stars and bells, like the ones that Wile E. Coyote sees when the Road Runner drops an Acme Corporation anvil on his head. The spots before your eyes are those weird-looking dots or lines that seem to wander around aimlessly and float across your line of vision.

Appropriately, they’re known as “floaters” and they usually go away when you try to focus on them. You’ve certainly seen them and they have probably increased in numbers as you’ve grown older. “Floaters are little ‘cobwebs’ or specks that float about in your field of vision,” according to the National Eye Institute. “They are small, dark, shadowy shapes that can look like spots, thread-like strands, or squiggly lines. They move as your eyes move and seem to dart away when you try to look at them directly.

They do not follow your eye movements precisely, and usually drift when your eyes stop moving.” They occur most often between ages 50 and 75, especially in people who are very nearsighted or have had cataract surgery.

So where do they come from?

“Floaters are caused by an irregularity in the vitreous ‘gel’ that fills your eye,” says the Eye Institute of New Zealand. “The irregularity casts a shadow onto your retina, blocking small areas of your vision, which you perceive as floaters.” These irregularities are caused by small flecks of protein called collagen. The ancient Romans called them “muscae volitantes,” or “flying flies.”

The good news is that, nearly always, floaters do no harm and no treatment for them is needed or recommended.

Sometimes, floaters can become so numerous they hinder vision. The problem can be resolved by a vitrectomy, a surgical procedure that removes

floaters from the vitreous.

On very rare occasions, eye floaters can be a sign of a more serious condition. If there is a sudden increase in the number of floaters, you should seek immediate medical attention.

This is especially important if the floaters are accompanied by flashes of light or a loss of side vision. These symptoms could be a sign of bleeding within the eye or a retinal detachment or tear. Without immediate treatment, you could have permanent vision loss.

You should also seek immediate attention if the spots are caused by an Acme Corporation anvil.

Sources

“Eye Floaters and Flashers,” Eye Institute, Vision Corrective Specialists, Auckland, New Zealand http://www.eyeinstitute.co.nz/the-eye/eye-problems-and-symptoms/eyefloaters-and-flashes.htm

“Eye Floaters: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment,” WebMD http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/benign-eye-floaters

“Spots Before Your Eyes,” Rand Eye Institute, Deerfield Beach, FL https://www.randeye.com/spots-before-your-eyes/

“What Are Those Dark Spots I’m Seeing in My Eyes?” by Dr. Michelle Calder-Cardwell, Urban Optiques Vision & Eyewear, Northville, MI https://www.vsp.com/eye-floaters.html

“Facts About Floaters,” National Eye Institute, the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services https://nei.nih.gov/health/floaters/floaters

MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE

IN HEALTH & FITNESS

Readers selected the Top 20 Health Professionals from many worthy nominees through Style’s Facebook page, and there were moments when the race for No. 1 spot was neck and neck before Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt emerged as the winner.

many were efore

NO 1 in the TOP 20 HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Dr. Jamin BRAHMBHATT

As co-director of the PUR Clinic he does personalized urology and robotics at South Lake Hospital. Dr. Brahmbhatt is also co-founder of Drive 4 Men’s Health. He recently traveled more than 6,000 miles during a 10-day period, making stops from Clermont to Orlando, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, Cleveland, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles to raise awareness for men’s health issues. He also gave a TED talk in London and told the crowd through his travels about men’s health, “I fell back in love with medicine again.”

He has been in the medical field nine years, and says his greatest career achievement was becoming a person of influence in the media, “where through my voice, I can help millions.”

Dr. Brahmbhatt says his profession is an extension of his life. “My patients are my family. I enjoy every moment I get to help them with their urologic problem—either through a surgery, a medication, or just lending an ear and listening to their concerns,” he says.

He credits his family as the secret to his success. “They are my pillars, my foundation,” Dr. Brahmbhatt says. “Having that core base allows for endless opportunities.”

He lists Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the popular doctor on CNN, as his hero in the health field.

Among Dr. Brahmbhatt’s favorite hobbies are traveling, photography, and enjoying food.

So what’s his favorite health food? “Protein shakes.” And his guilty food pleasure? “Vanilla ice cream with sprinkles.”

If he could have a drink with anyone, who would he drink with and what would the drink be?

“Mahatma Gandhi,” he says, and “water with lemon—helps prevent kidney stones.”

He enjoys most any exercise that is “anything but rowing.”

Dr. Brahmbhatt notes his pet peeve is slow internet speeds, and he reflected on the words of the late Steve Jobs for his favorite quote: “The ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world are the ones who do.”

pet s, and e uote: ugh to e woorld

CO-DIRECTOR, THE PUR CLINIC, CLERMONT

Kyndall TRUETT

EXERCISE SPECIALIST, BEWELL WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM

Your hero in health? Jack Lalanne, “the godfather of fitness.” He ignited a fitness culture light years before the world was ready. He simply stated, “Your body is your most perfect possession; you’ve got to take care of it.”Pet peeve: Tardiness.

Stacy MCLAUGHLIN

ADVOCARE, INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR, HEALTH AND WELLNESS COACH

Passion of your job? Love helping people accomplish their weight-loss goals and seeing their huge smiles when they fit into clothes they couldn’t before as well as feeling much better. Pet peeve: Giving up on yourself too quickly. Guilty pleasure: ROLOS!

Lori ESAREY

NURSE PRACTITIONER, TOTAL NUTRITION AND THERAPEUTICS, OWNER

Greatest achievement? My board certification in anti-aging and restorative medicine after returning to school in 2012 for an additional masters in nutritional medicine. Exams are never fun, but I passed on my first attempt. Also, helping a 500-pound gentleman lose more than 250 pounds and get his life back. Secret to success? Persistence and tenacity.

Karl RIECKEN

MA CSCS, CISSN, USAT-II/Y&J, USAW-SP, COORDINATOR, PERFORMANCE TESTING AT THE NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER

Ryan MCKENZIE

MCK

SALES AND FITNESS MANAGER, MVP ATHLETIC CLUB

Greatest achievement? I’ve worked with top-tier professional athletes, CEOs, and corporate groups. I’ve spoken in front of hundreds of people, but what really makes my day is seeing the connection between our team and that person brand new to the gym. To see them have that “Aha!” moment and finally believe in themselves and realizing, “I can do this!” Favorite quote: “You need to move well. If you can move well, you will move often.”

Greatest achievement? Seeing the success of past students, athletes, and interns on a consistent basis provides a steady stream of career achievements. Establishing the internship program at NTC is one of my favorites. Accomplishments are exciting for a time, but witnessing people grow and improve after being with you is exponentially humbling and thrilling. Favorite exercise: Whatever requires the greatest expenditure for the least amount of time. Currently, burpee-box jumps or maybe burpeebox jumps/pistol squats. Favorite health snack: I prefer not to snack. I think mealtimes are sacred and to be shared with good company, good cheer, and peace from the day’s stresses (in short, recovery). If I must eat between meals, right now I choose Vega Sport Bars or ONNIT’s Hemp Force protein. If you could have a drink with anyone, who would you drink with and what would you drink be? Andrew Taylor Still, MD, founder of osteopathic medicine. A smoky, single-malt Scotch whisky.

Summer YODER

Who is your hero? I guess it would be Jillian Michaels. People compare me to her because of my no-nonsense attitude at times. Don’t take that the wrong way—I’m not mean. We will always have an excuse for why we cannot do something. I tell my clients that they don’t tell me they can’t. I will observe, and if they can’t do something, then I will give them another option. Secret to your success? Giving myself permission to fail. Only with failure do we find success. So let’s not take things too seriously and move on. One will never move forward looking in the rearview mirror. Greatest achievement? Becoming 2007

NAGA Top-Ranked Female Grappler in both gi/an no gi divisions, like submission wrestling—choke holds, arm bars, and leg locks along with Judo (throws and takedowns).

NASM CPT FITNESS TRAINER AND MOSSA GROUP EXERCISE INSTRUCTOR AT MVP SPORTS CLUB IN THE VILLAGES.

Rose STASIOWSKI

FITNESS INSTRUCTOR/TRAINER, LIVEWELL FITNESS CENTER, CLERMONT

Your greatest achievement?

Working with the Wounded Warrior Project. They were learning about triathlons and came to train at our facility. Coming from a military family, I was very humbled and inspired by all the Warriors!

Jeffrey GLOVER

DC, GLOVER CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC, OWNER

Cyndi STAUDT

COMMUNITY WELLNESS COORDINATOR, GROUP FITNESS INSTRUCTOR, NTC/LIVE WELL

Greatest career achievement? Using fitness to break language and culture barriers on a mission trip to Thailand. I was ministering to young girls… recovering from intense emotional and physical abuse. They laughed, smiled, and sweated their way through a fun workout. Their caregivers said they had never seen them smile so much.

Bridget DESANTIS

dgetBri DESAN E

VICE PRESIDENT SALES & MARKETING / INTEGRITY HOME HEALTH CARE

Your secret to success? Having an attitude of gratitude and thanksgiving as well as doing and being my best. Thinking with a servant’s heart. Guilty pleasure: Shoes and all things pink.

Josh OLCOTT

CHIROPRACTOR OLCOTT CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS CENTER

Passion of your job? Giving people their lives back, whether it’s allowing Villagers to get back their daily activities or helping athletes heal to get them back on the field quicker. Favorite health snack: Bacon (ha! ha!)

Passion of your work? The fact that someone can walk into my office in excruciating pain and walk out feeling better, and knowing it was a direct result of the care provided in our office. Greatest achievement? Starting my own clinic. I overcame a number of obstacles to make my childhood dream a reality. I virtually started with nothing except a strong feeling God wanted me to open a clinic, and I was supposed to bring something special to my hometown community. It became possible by selling a car I had restored. I loved the car but I knew this was my destiny. Secret to your success: Put God first, and try to treat everyone as I want my parents treated. Favorite quote: “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.” Henry Ford.

Joanne KELLER

ARNP, NURSE PRACTITIONER, WOMEN’S HEALTH & WELLNESS PRACTICE

Lynn WRIGHT

PERSONAL TRAINER, GROUP FITNESS INSTRUCTOR, AND FITNESS TECHNICIAN

Passion of your work? As a mother of four daughters, I have gone through the roller coaster journey of weight loss. After going through all the “fad diets” and sporadic exercise, I figured out a healthy way of living I am now sharing with others. Most importantly, I want my daughters to learn by my example how to live a healthy life and not succumb to the peer pressure of “worldly body imagery.” I love seeing people’s lives change when they adopt a healthy lifestyle, and then love and live it!If you could have a drink with anyone, who would you drink with and what would you drink be? I’d have a drink with my stepfather, who just passed away in April so I could tell him what a difference he made in my life. He raised me and stepped up to be my dad when he didn’t have to. We would drink grape Kool-Aid (this was his favorite drink). Hobbies: Spending time with my family, working out, going to the beach, and riding roller coasters—the bigger, the better! Favorite health snack: Pistachio/almond/cashew nut mix.

Sijo PAREKATTIL

CO-DIRECTOR, THE PUR CLINIC, SOUTH LAKE HOSPITAL

Your greatest achievement? Creating new treatment options for men with chronic testicular and groin pain. Passion of your job? I love helping people and solving challenging medical problems. I also love surgery, especially robotic microsurgery. Secret to your success: Never give up. Favorite quote: “Be the change that you want to see.”

Michelle MCCLAIN

CROSSFIT LEVEL 1 AND KIDS COACH, NASM CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER AND YOUTH SPECIALIST, NOT THE NORM CROSSFIT

Your hero is the health field? My clients, the ones who come every day without hesitation and push themselves to do better each and every day, day after day. Those are my heroes because it’s their own lives they’re saving. Favorite health snack? Cucumbers, carrots, and green olives.

John THEECK DC

DOCTOR OF CHIROPRACTIC, LEGACY

CLINIC OF CHIROPRACTIC

Passion of your job? I love the idea of helping people achieve health naturally without the use of drugs and surgery. It is exciting to provide treatment alternatives patients may not have known existed. It is rewarding to encourage people to take ownership of their health. Favorite exercise: Wall balls—great conditioning that builds stamina and endurance. Favorite hobbies: sports, traveling, learning, being with people, and spending time with me.

Kimberly GROGAN

OWNER, GEAR FOR MULTISPORT ATHLETIC STORE

Your health field hero? Humble Doris Brown, 78 years old, who has been running and coaching since the 50s. In the early years, she was kicked off tracks and physically stopped in races by men. She paved the way for women like me in the running industry.

Favorite quote: “Be who you needed when you were younger.” Pet peeve: Breaking rules. Favorite health snack: Nuts or UCan shakes

Tyrell RACHEL

PERSONAL FITNESS

TRAINER, INFINITY FITNESS

Joy KRISTOFFERSON

GROUP FITNESS INSTRUCTOR

Your secret to success? Keeping a positive attitude and treating everyone with respect. Listening to all the needs and concerns of members and giving them modifications to help them perform exercise to the best of their ability. I try to make everyone smile and enjoy class. Pet peeve: hypocrites.

Zeus and I are a package deal.

Like many hospice patients, Judy believes that the companionship of a beloved pet is better than any medicine. That’s why Cornerstone became the first hospice in the state to implement Pet Peace of Mind—a national program designed to keep her and Zeus together through every step of her end-of-life journey. Cornerstone dedicated itself to being in Judy’s corner. And thanks to Pet Peace of Mind, Zeus could, too.

Youths, senior mentors bond over building wood boats

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL

orking inside a Tavares woodshop, Cody Woebse, 14, rubs his hands over the shiny, smooth varnished deck of a 12-foot mahogany outboard boat he is building from 1950s blueprints and under the guidance of his mentor, Jack Bingham, 80.

The age gap doesn’t matter. The teen, who aspires to become an engineer, and his mentor, a former military and commercial pilot, have bonded over their admiration for wooden boats.

“He’s my boy,” Jack says, beaming. “He’s very much into boats, and I enjoy seeing him just take to it. He just enjoys learning about everything, and he doesn’t quit.”

Jack and Cody were matched through the Sunnyland Chapter Apprentice Mentoring Program for Youth (SCAMPY), part of the Tavares-based Sunnyland Antique Boat Club, where Jack and a group of other older men serve as mentors, teaching youths, 11 to 16, boatbuilding techniques.

“As a mentor, we don’t build boats,” Jack says. “We’ll tell them how to read the prints and plans, and Cody wasn’t old enough to use a band saw, so his dad had to be involved, and some of the moms are involved, too. We’re not babysitters. It’s a family affair and that’s the way it has always been. It’s a great program with a family commitment.”

Cody became interested in SCAMPY after seeing a display of 8-foot, minimost hydroplanes made by the youths at a Tavares boat show.

“Besides getting a finished product of a boat out of it, you get all the experience from building the boat, get-

ting to work with different tools, and learning how to do painting, sanding, and varnishing,” Cody says, adding there are opportunities to interact with other youths and mentors.

“There is a lot of stuff that we do that I couldn’t before,” Cody says. “I couldn’t paint, I couldn’t varnish, and I sure couldn’t cut wood, so there is a lot of stuff that you learn to do that’s useful.”

The local SCAMPY program began in 2010. One thrilling moment for the young builders is launching their boats on the water.

“The bottom line is we are trying to get younger families into wood boats, so the older wood boats don’t die,” says Jack.

“We’re passing on the skills and the interests in wooden boats, and the students learn how the boats are built and taken care of,” says Kent Strobel, co-administrator of the program. “It’s a very maturing process. The students really love it, and they grow from it, and that is really nice to see.”

Just as Cody is working toward completing his second boat, so is Nick Mowers, who won the Junior Craftsman Award from the Antique and Classic Boat Society in 2015.

Another student, Dakota Taylor, had some woodworking experience when he joined SCAMPY. He chose to build a 12-foot wooden outboard under the guidance of his mentor Mike Yobe. Dakota had fun incor-

“There is a lot of stuff that we do that I couldn’t before,” Cody says. “I couldn’t paint, I couldn’t varnish, and I sure couldn’t cut wood, so there is a lot of stuff that you learn to do that’s useful.”

- Cody Woebse

porating his last name on the side of his boat, emblazoned “Professionally Taylored.”

There’s room for more mentors and students to join SCAMPY, and Kent says the group is looking to alter some of the boat designs for first-time builders, “to make it a bit simpler and a more practical design,” in comparison to the former 8-foot racing boats that only hold one person.

“It’s a quality activity that requires a commitment on the part of the student and the family,” Kent says. “We ask them to commit to completion of the boat, and that helps develop a work ethic and the maturing quality. It’s something you can make with your hands and your head, and I like that we are creating an

“Christian was highly regarded by Larry as a quick study and a careful craftsman,” Kent recalls. “He and Larry admired each other, and when Larry was dying in the hospital, Christian and his mother visited him.”

opportunity for teaching on the part of the mentors and learning on the part of the students and their families.”

The bond between mentors and families often develops into a deeper friendship, like what Christian Behm experienced with his mentor, the late Larry Hall, a retired shop teacher.

One touching moment for the Behm family was when Larry’s family gave Christian a number of Larry’s wood-working tools.

“They had gotten quite close and that relationship meant a lot to both of them,” Kent says. “As a mentor, Larry was doing what he did best and loved.”

To learn more about SCAMPY, call Kent Strobel at 802.793.3787.

Recover faster with minimally invasive hip replacement

More than 2.5 million Americans currently live with a hip replacement, most commonly to relieve the pain and immobility caused by arthritis.

According to Carl Ollivierre, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Florida Musculoskeletal Institute and on the medical staff of Central Florida Health—the parent company for Leesburg Regional Medical Center and The Villages® Regional Hospital—hip replacement surgery is more popular and more prevalent than ever.

“These days, people from their 40s into their 80s are getting hip replacement surgery because they want to enjoy a full, active life free from pain,” says Dr. Ollivierre. Unlike traditional hip replacement surgeries where the hip is accessed from the side or the back, Dr. Ollivierre performs surgeries using the more advanced anterior approach. The anterior approach is a tissue-sparing alternative that can mean less pain, faster recovery and improved mobility because the muscle tissues are spared during

the surgical procedure.

“Because I don’t have to detach muscles from the hip joint, incisions are smaller and there’s less trauma to the surrounding tissues, so recovery is faster with less chance of hip dislocation,” explains Dr. Ollivierre. “Patients are usually up and walking the same or next day, and able to go home after only one or two days in the hospital. It’s remarkable!”

True anterior approach hip replacement demands specific training and specialized surgical equipment and implants. Dr. Ollivierre was the regional pioneer for this procedure, being the first local surgeon to specialize in it.

Surgery is performed in stateof-the-art surgical suites on a customized operating table called a HANA arthroplasty table, which allows for precise placement of the leg. The hospitals also offer laminar flow operating rooms and the surgeons wear specially designed hoods that keep their airflow contained and reduce the likelihood of infection – a complication

avoided at all costs. Dr. Ollivierre works together with the skilled orthopedic teams at Leesburg Regional Medical Center and The Villages® Regional Hospital. The hospital programs focus on wellness and rehabilitation. With pre-operative educational classes, personal coaches, dedicated Joint Care Coordinators, and group therapy sessions, speedy recoveries are an everyday occurrence.

“If pain is significantly affecting your quality of life, it’s worth it to investigate every opportunity to get back to being active and

promoting better physical health and emotional well-being,” concludes Dr. Ollivierre. “It gives me great satisfaction to help so many patients achieve that goal.”

LEARN MORE…

To learn more about The Joint Center at Leesburg Regional Medical Center and The Villages® Regional Hospital, please visit us online at www.CentralFloridaHealth.org.

Sam Maruniak Class of '12

BESH Principal Duane Booth, Banker Bill Brooks, and Principal Rob Ern BESH Principal Duane Booth, Banker Bill Brooks, and Principal Rob Ern

BODY

“May you live every day of your life.”

— Jonathan

Swift

“My favorite thing to do is teach how to cook easy, healthy, budget-friendly meals with minimal ingredients!”

Jaime Alonso, certified health coach

EASY CEVICHE

Fresh seafood and fruit make a perfect pair! It is a delicious light meal or lunch.

SERVES 2

DIFFICULTY: EASY

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

• Put scallops in large bowl and add juice of lime, lemon, and orange.

• Chop red onion, tomatoes, and celery, and add to bowl.

• Add chopped cilantro and peaches.

• Mix well and place in refrigerator one hour before serving.

I received my initial training and certification as a wellness coach at Spencer Institute. I then continued my training as a health coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s cutting-edge health coach training program. During my training, I studied more than100 dietary theories, practical lifestyle management techniques, and innovative coaching methods with some of the world’s top health and wellness experts. My teachers included Dr. Andrew Weil, director of The Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine; Dr. Deepak Chopra, leader in the field of mind-body medicine; Dr. David Katz, director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center; Dr. Walter Willet, chair of nutrition at Harvard University; Geenan Roth, best-selling author and expert on emotional eating; and many other leading researchers and nutrition authorities.

My responsibility at TNT is to help you create a “sustainable” lifestyle change. Meeting you where you are in your journey and equipping you with practical tools to grow and learn new strategies; teaching you how to shop and meal plan; helping you create new ideas; and learning how to go out to eat are a few of the hands-on lessons you receive. I teach you how to live well for life!

1 Pound of bay scallops

1 Red onion

1 Bunch of fresh cilantro

1 Celery stalk chopped fine

1 Tomato chopped fine

1 Peach, chopped fine

2 Tablespoons each: lime juice, lemon juice and orange juice

A HEALTHY, QUICK, AND EASYTO-MAKE MEAL THAT’S READY IN MINUTES

A H EALTHY, Q U I C K , AN D EASYM EAL I N MIN UTE S

GET MOVING!

Top three morning routines for increased energy

WRITER: M.C. WARFORD

Starting the morning off right is key to being productive and energetic. Your morning routine has a big influence on how well you perform, both mentally and physically, throughout the day. Despite this, however, many of us get stuck in bad morning routines that have an adverse effect on our jobs, relationships, and general quality of life. The following three morning routines will give you the boost you need to do better and feel better for the rest of the day.

1

It may not sound like much fun, but a cold shower could be just what you need to get your energy levels up in the morning. Hot, steamy showers feel good and are relaxing, but the last thing you want at the beginning of your day is to relax! Instead, you need something to give you a shot of adrenaline, which is just what a cold shower does.

3 Take a Cold Shower

you feeling tired and drained. Instead, focus on foods high in protein, such as eggs and yogurt, which give you the energy your body craves first thing in the morning.

Morning Workouts

If you’re new to cold showers, then start slowly by simply taking your warm shower as you usually do and turning down the temperature at the end. Each day try to make the shower just a little bit colder than the day before, and you will eventually train your body to absorb (and take advantage of) that shock of cold water.

2

Eat a Healthy Breakfast

It is worth repeating—breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you start the day empty, then you won’t have the energy you need to perform at your best. However,when it comes to eating breakfast, be sure you eat right. Breakfasts that are heavy on the carbs and sugar (think doughnuts and certain cereals) won’t do much for you, and may just leave

Working out at any time during the day is a good habit, but in most cases a morning workout proves to be most effective for many reasons. First, you are more likely to stick to a morning workout than you are to an evening one. Evening workouts often get canceled for a variety of reasons, such as a long day at the office, exhaustion, or unexpected dinner plans. There are far fewer reasons to skip a morning workout. Second, working out releases endorphins that make you feel better and reduce stress levels—exactly what is needed at the beginning of the day!

The first couple hours after you wake up are the most important hours of your day. Your morning routine either gives you the boost you need to tackle the day or leaves you feeling tired and exhausted. By incorporating the above recommendations into your morning routine, you’ll have the energy you need to excel at work, at home, and everywhere else.

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MAINTAINING YOUR MOTIVATION

Working out on a regular basis can help anyone lose weight, get in better shape, and have more energy throughout the day. Also, those who work out consistently often report being able to sleep better at night. Although a consistent workout plan has many benefits, most people don’t remain committed to their goals. However, it does not have to be difficult to enhance your fitness. Take steps to maintain your motivation so you stay on track to success.

Keeping a workout journal

is a great place to start when you want to preserve your motivation. At the beginning of your journey, list your goals and write down how you plan to reach them. This improves motivation and keeps you focused. Write down everything you do each day to help you move closer to your goals and track your progress. If you skip a workout, write that down to hold yourself accountable.

Many people quickly give up on their goal to maintain their workout plan consistently because they push themselves too far at

the beginning. They want to see positive results as quickly as possible. It doesn’t work; pushing yourself too far results in burnout and discouragement. Instead, start slow and increase the duration and intensity of your workouts as your fitness starts to improve. For example, start by working out three days a week and gradually increase to five days a week.

One of the biggest reasons people fail to maintain a workout plan is they don’t enjoy the process. Find a way to make working out fun, and then achieving goals will be easier. You may need to try a few methods before you discover what

works best for you. Many people report positive results from listening to music as they jog or lift weights. No matter your level of dedication, anyone can quickly lose motivation and give up on fitness goals if they don’t have a proper plan. Staying focused on your goals and working out on a regular basis shouldn’t be stressful or overwhelming. The key is to find as many ways as possible to maintain motivation and keep your goals at the front of your mind. Although nothing guarantees success, keeping a fitness journal, starting slow, and making fitness fun can work wonders to help you stay committed to your fitness goals.

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MIND

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”

— Buddha

KEEP MAKING THE GRADE

You aren’t born with a fixed amount of intelligence. Regardless of the circumstances you are in when you enter the world, there are ways to train yourself to be smarter. Since intelligence plays a key role in most endeavors, it’s helpful to know there are habits you can adopt that will improve your decision-making ability and creativity. Here are some habits which have been scientifically shown to increase your intelligence:

1. Meditation

The benefits of meditation are proven by several scientific studies. Meditation lets you look within yourself and move through the world with more confidence and integrity. It also is a great stress reliever, and with a regular meditation practice, you become calmer and more focused when dealing with the stresses of your life.

2. Reading

If you want to get smarter, start reading. Reading broadens your perspective by allowing you to look at the world through the eyes of different authors. It allows you to empathize with people whose lives are vastly different from your own. Reading reduces stress and improves your knowledge on different subjects. Whether it’s learning how to code or acing an interview, there’s a book for it.

3. Take up an Outdoor Sport

Playing a sport, whether it’s tennis, basketball, or squash, gives you a rigorous workout. Playing regularly stimulates your brain and rewires neural pathways as you learn different skills and techniques. Sports teaches you how to deal with pressure and work with a team.

4. Maintaining a Journal

Writing is a profoundly cathartic process, and it also improves your intelligence. Writing lets you take a deeper look at your own thought process and how you deal with feelings and problems. It stimulates the areas of the brain responsible for creativity, imagination, and focus. There are several free platforms and apps online to help you get started with a website or blog.

These habits are scientifically proven to make you more intelligent.

WRITER: ROHIT RAUN

5. Traveling

Traveling is a great way to broaden your perspective. By getting out of your comfort zone, you reassess what’s really important in your life. Frequent travel gives you an appreciation for different ways of life and offers the opportunity to meet new people, try different cuisines and have different experiences. You come back from your travels inspired and ready to implement new ideas you thought of while you were away.

6. Cooking

Cooking is a skill everyone should learn. You never know when you might need to fix yourself a meal. In addition, cooking requires you learn how to multitask. You’re usually juggling a couple of different elements while preparing a meal. As you keep cooking, you’ll learn the art of experimentation. Your palate becomes more educated, and you channel your creativity to create lipsmacking meals for yourself and your loved ones.

7. Exercise

Exercise offers several physical and mental benefits. Regular exercise relieves stress and improves the quality of sleep. Studies show that neurogenesis occurs when you exercise regularly.

9. Playing an Instrument

Scientists at the Stanford University of California discovered that music enhances your ability to learn and memorize information. Playing an instrument stimulates areas of your brain that may not otherwise see much activity during your day-to-day life. Learning to play an instrument also teaches you the power of persistence. You learn to be patient while dealing with problems.

8. Learning a Language

Learning a new language involves analysis of complex grammatical structures and pronunciation. According to research published in the Annals of Neurology journal, taking up a new language, even during adulthood, can stave off the onset of dementia by several years. Studies performed by Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner show that people with high linguistic and verbal intelligence are better at problem-solving and decision making.

If you want to enhance your overall quality of life, take up some of these habits. Being smarter and developing different areas of your brain enhances all your pursuits. You can unwind with some fun hobbies after work and improve your intelligence in the process. It’s a total win/win.

Brain games are teasers, puzzles, and logistic tests you do just for fun. However, the digital puzzles and video games you find online or on your smart phone aren’t just time wasters—they can be a constructive form of entertainment. Whether you do one occasionally or spend a lot of time trying to beat your best score, here are ways brain teasers and games can help you.

1. They Can Improve Fluid Intelligence

Playing progressive memory-type games improves your short-term memory, which has been shown to boost intelligence. Research by Susanne Jaeggi at the University of Michigan found memory games can be a form of cognitive training. Playing a sequence of games that involved remembering

NO GAIN, NO BRAIN

5 Reasons to engage in brain games

positions and patterns helped children score higher on abstract reasoning tests, which measure fluid intelligence.

2. They Can Develop Your Reasoning Ability and Quick Thinking

Action and strategy games can improve cognitive flexibility, or “quick thinking.” A study by Glass, Maddox, and Love at the University of Texas found that cognitive flexibility increases when engaging in brain games that require handling multiple tasks such as adapting to in-game situations, resource management, and evading opponents. The research showed that constantly switching between tasks while relying on memory to solve problems enhanced cognitive flexibility—the ability to think

this biological process. Playing brain games keeps brain cells “elastic” and increases their longevity. Consequently, brain function improves, and declining ability can reverse.

5. They Help With Creativity and Problem-Solving

on your feet and make the right decisions in new or highpressure situations.

3. They Improve Your Memory

Brain games boost brain activity by triggering processes in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory. When you engage in a brain game that requires you to remember past activities and information, you exercise and subsequently increase the storage capacity of the hippocampus. You also train your brain to retain and retrieve information, resulting in better memory.

4. They Help Maintain Your Cognitive Function

Declining cognitive ability is a natural result of aging brain cells. However, exercising your brain correctly can reverse

Progressive brain games are fun to play because they always challenge you to improve or beat your best score, and the drive to beat your score or advance to the next level helps you think creatively. While trying to improve on the same task develops your verticalthinking ability, finding new shortcuts or strategies to beat the game improves lateral or creative thinking. Additionally, the increasing challenge of higher levels of difficulty improves problemsolving skills by making you develop strategies and solutions quickly.

Brain games are more than just entertainment—they provide numerous benefits, including the development of important skills. There is clinical proof they can improve brain function, increase memory capacity, and reverse declining cognitive ability. The challenges these games offer your brain are a healthy form of mental exercise that makes you sharper, faster, and better at solving problems in real life.

Dr. Uzoma Nwaubani offers a new life-changing treatment for women experiencing post-menopausal vulvo-vaginal pain.

After menopause, or even breast cancer treatments, it isn’t uncommon for women to experience bothersome vaginal discomforts such as dryness, itching, burning, and urinary incontinence and painful intercourse. Sadly, too many women have felt it necessary to suffer through these symptoms in silence—that is until now.

Dr. Uzoma Nwaubani of the Female Continence & Pelvic Surgery Center in The Villages now offers MonaLisa Touch, a cutting-edge novel fractional CO2 laser therapy that stimulates a healing process in

the vaginal canal. By reactivating the production of new collagen, complete tissue regeneration can begin to tone and re-establish elasticity in the vaginal walls that, in turn, will help improve one’s quality of life and personal relationships.

MonaLisa Touch is a safe, simple, in-office procedure that requires no anesthesia and has no downtime. Patients can expect to receive three treatments that are spaced six weeks apart. Many woman report symptom improvement after the very first treatment and even greater relief

after the second and third treatments. The entire procedure itself lasts less than five minutes and is virtually painless with no side effects.

After completing the full course of treatment, patients are typically asked to have a single procedure done annually for maintenance. This can be performed quickly and conveniently during an annual checkup.

For more information about MonaLisa Touch and how it can improve your gynecological health, call the Female Continence & Pelvic Surgery Center at 352.633.0703.

Female Continence & Pelvic Surgery Center

SPIRIT

“Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.”

— Christopher Reeve

FIX NG THE STATE OF YOUR CAREER

Meditation as a part of career wellness

WRITER: LINDA COURTNEY

Career wellness is a state of happiness and satisfaction in your career. Many people have a hard time achieving this state of mind. Stress, an overpowering manager, or too much work due in too little time contribute to discontentment.

Meditation has been shown to improve awareness and concentration as well as reduce stress. It can help on the path to searching for and keeping a career that brings contentment and happiness to the inner self, and meditating daily can aid the advancement of a career.

The act of meditating is quite simple in theory, but mastering it requires dedication. Anyone who wants to start this practice should consider finding a class to learn correctly. There are numerous types of meditation including focused, spiritual, mindfulness, mantra, or sound and movement.

During meditation, a person concentrates on a thought or object, or possibly just the act of breathing. When people visualize someone meditating, they often see someone sitting in the lotus position, but it also can be practiced while walking or performing yoga poses. Whatever position you choose, it should be comfortable, or you cannot relax and concentrate. When you clear your

mind of all clutter, awareness and serenity will follow. Practitioners recommend practicing this at least twice a day—in the morning before your day begins and in the evening between work and bedtime. However, once a day will suffice if that is all the time you have.

Many people suffer stress at work in one form or another; at those times, it can be helpful to take a short walk and meditate. The increased awareness helps you understand the problems causing the stress are not insurmountable. After clearing your mind, you’ll go back and approach whatever you are working on with more objectivity. In turn, your health will benefit. Health problems related to stress include depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, and muscle aches. Meditation helps you avoid them.

When your mind is clear, your concentration levels rise. A clear mind leads to greater productivity at work. You get things done faster and feel you can handle anything that comes your way. As you gain confidence on the inside, you exude it on the outside. In addition to respect from your colleagues and superiors, your reward may be the promotion you desire.

Julia Cameron’s bestselling book “The Artist’s Way,” and the accompanying website

juliacameronlive.com, are read by top executives as well as budding artists. Her teachings include morning pages, which she called meditation for Westerners. Participants are encouraged to write three pages of free-flowing text, preferably in the morning when the mind is clearest. This text can be anything that pops into your head. At times, you may draw a blank, and you will write that nothing comes to mind, and keep writing that thought until something does come to mind. No one else will read this, so grammar and spelling do not matter. Some days you may seem to get nothing out of this, but other days, your blocked creativity will be released.

Creativity is a skill that is useful in most careers to get things done and make proper day-to-day decisions. Many people swear by this method of meditation and perform it dutifully every day.

Anyone who believes stress is holding them back from truly enjoying their choice of occupations would be wise to incorporate meditation into daily practice. Even once a day can make a difference in stress levels and boost selfesteem. You may even discover things about your character and abilities you had no idea were lurking under the surface.

If you love singing, and fancy a new pastime, why not join your local choir? Don’t worry if you can’t sight-read; amateur choirs don’t usually mind, provided you sing in tune and have a reasonable voice. You’ll soon pick up the tunes and harmonies from the singers around you. People who join choirs tend to stay for years, reaping many benefits like these:

Relaxation

Singing is therapeutic. It releases tension and lifts the spirits, and when you sing with other music lovers, the combined sound can touch you with its power and eloquence, sweeping all your worries away. Meanwhile, the physical aspects benefit your body, making you feel even better. By standing tall, breathing deeply, and exhaling slowly, you are tuning up muscles from top to toe, including heart and lungs, and stimulating the

SI G, S NG, S NG!

circulation with oxygen and exercise. You’ll go home feeling fitter and calmer.

The Beauty of the Music

Singing in the bath is pleasing with the flattering acoustics of a small, tiled room. But nothing compares to the glorious music a choir produces, especially when performing under the baton of a fine conductor. Whether your pitch is bass or soprano, or somewhere in between, you’ll relish the sensation of your tones blending with others, and the magical effects they produce. If you have an accompanying piano or orchestra, the overall sound is richer still.

The Camaraderie

Joining a choir opens doors to new social opportunities. Friendships tend to spring up quickly within the different sections of a choir, and the whole group is inevitably drawn

together by their shared experience, passion, and commitment. The more often you attend, the more you’ll feel the warmth and buzz of the gathering.

The Conductor’s Charisma

A choir normally has someone in charge to organize concerts and programs and guide you along accordingly, and this role calls for a strong personality. Chances are your conductor will be a dynamic, entertaining character, who adds fun and sparkle to rehearsals and sets all laughing with witty asides and jokes. It’s reassuring too, to have someone at the helm, keeping order, leading the way, and ensuring everyone is happy.

A Positive Way to Fill An Evening

Joining a choir involves making a commitment,

and this, in turn, provides structure and purpose to your life. Rehearsals are usually held in the evenings, providing an upbeat alternative to sitting in front of the TV. Everyone from fellow singers to the conductor, and ultimately, the audience appreciates your presence at these weekly or monthly events on concert night. You’ll be serving your community as well as yourself.

If you’re nervous about joining up, look online for photos or videos of local choirs, to reassure yourself the singers are ordinary people like you. Check out the details of the nearest or most appealing one, including requirements and instructions for applying. If you think you might fit in, give yourself a little practice audition. Then head to choir practice before you have time to back out. It’ll probably be over in five minutes, and you’ll be singing your heart out with joy forever after.

FINANCE

“When you cease to dream, you cease to live.”

— Malcolm Forbes

5 WAYS TO GET OUT OF DEBT FAST

WRITER: RAHIT RAUT

Few things are more demoralizing than unmanageable debt. All it takes is a short period of unemployment, unexpected medical bills, or other expensive life events, during which you rely on credit cards to pay bills. Before you know it, the interest on those credit cards inflates your bills to such an extent that you can’t get out from under the weight of growing debts. This is a common problem, but that doesn’t make it any less scary.

Luckily, there are specific strategies you can use to dig yourself out of debt, possibly much faster than you hoped. Here are five ways to get out of debt fast:

Make an Honest Reckoning

It may be impossible to pay your debts until you make an honest assessment of how much you owe. Gathering all those statements, bills, and past-due notices is intimidating, but it’s a difficult necessary first step that will ultimately make you feel better when you face your debts head-on. Make a list of all your debts, including details—monthly due dates, monthly payments, total amount owed, interest rates, and where to send payments and correspondence. This can be a spreadsheet or a handwritten list in a notebook.

Begin Paying Cash for Everything

A common psychological effect of debt is to think since you’re already in over your head, adding a little more debt each month won’t hurt you. This thinking keeps you in debt longer than necessary. If you are serious about getting out of debt, stop adding to it immediately.

Paying in cash at the store, instead of whipping out your card, makes you more mindful of unnecessary spending. If you need to, hide credit cards in a file cabinet or safe and only use them for true emergencies.

Consider Implementing the Snowball Method

There are typically two approaches to paying off debt: one, tackle the debt with the highest interest first, which saves you money in the long run. If you’re having a hard time getting motivated to start paying off your

debts, however, consider the second approach—the snowball method. Look at your list of debts and start with the smallest one. Make minimum payments on other debts, and then throw any extra money you find toward eliminating that smallest debt. Once it’s paid off, move on to the next smallest debt, and so on. This approach makes debt repayment feel more achievable, and as you cross debts off your list, there is a sense of true accomplishment

Make Extra Income Each Month

If you are only making enough money to barely scrape by, it can be impossible to get debt under control. This makes it critical to find ways to turbocharge your income. Aim to make at least a little more each month than you did the last. Perhaps you are overdue for a raise but haven’t asked for one.

Maybe you have a hobby or skill you could turn into a side business. For example, sell your services as a freelance web design or sell homemade crafts online. Add a temporary weekend or evening job to help. Remember, the more money you make now, the quicker you will reduce your debt to relax later.

Send Settlement Letters

If you are behind on debt payments, creditors may settle your debt for less than you owe. For example, if you owe $2,000 on an old medical bill, and the hospital is no longer sure they will ever get that money, they may accept $1,200

(or whatever you can pay) in exchange for declaring the debt paid in full and updating your credit report to that effect. The key is to send a settlement letter (there are templates online) and only agree to a settlement plan in writing. Some creditors may say no or not respond, but you won’t know until you try.

Find Help if You Need It

If you try all of these steps and find yourself still overwhelmed by debt, you may need help from a professional debt management company. While some of these companies are legitimate, there are many that have shady business practices. Be sure to research the company and read reviews before signing up for anything. Debt management companies typically work to settle your debts with creditors, allowing you to make one monthly payment to the debt management company.

Being in debt is depressing, but if you follow these five tips, it can also be temporary. Soon you will experience financial breathing room and much less stress.

SCHEMER : SCHEME

0 0 1

TIPS TO 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1

Fraud, cheat, swindle, deceive, dupe—these are words often used for “scam”—a word too common in today’s world of instant gratification and information overload. Scams are schemes that dupe you out of your money, and the perpetrators can be very convincing. They prey on emotions, manipulating you into sharing personal information, or worse, convince you to give them money you will never see again.

How can you protect yourself against scammers who are out to get your hard-earned cash? The answer is knowledge. Equip yourself with information that protects your money and security when these opportunistic criminals attack.

Here are four ways to identify a scam:

1. Be Wary of Phishing Emails

An email from a person or company who contacts you out of the blue is a red flag. If the business is from a country you have never visited, the probability of the email being fraudulent is very high.

Check for grammar and spelling mistakes. Legitimate companies always proofread emails. Scammers, on the other hand, use cheap writing services or write the emails themselves in haste, resulting in lowquality content.

If a link is provided, never click it! Move your mouse over the link and check whether the actual URL (which should pop up on most email programs)

is similar to the written link in the content. For example, if the email is supposed to be from a bank and the URL points to a domain you’ve never heard of, something is fishy.

If there are attachments, never open or download them. They may contain viruses that can damage your device. This is true for any type of file.

2. Beware When Someone Asks for Personal Information

Companies (real or not) and individuals who ask for personal information are cause for concern. Though they may seem harmless at first—simply asking for your full name and address, for example—this information may be used to hijack your accounts and gain access to your money. The same information could also be used to open credit card accounts in your name, resulting in identity fraud.

If you receive a phone call, an email, or someone comes to your door saying they are a representative of your bank and need your personal information, do not give it to them. Banks and credit card companies already have your information—they don’t need it again. The only time they ask to confirm your identity is if you contact them, not the other way around.

3. Unbelievable Promises

Another red flag is when companies or people use superlative, over the top, and over-hyped language to

push their product or service. Be wary of expressions like: “No Strings Attached,” “Free,” “Overnight Results,” or “Absolute Best.” This language is designed to target emotions and your pocket, rather than your intelligence and rational decision-making ability.

There is absolutely nothing that is 100 percent guaranteed in real life. There are no 100 percent guarantees to weight loss, looking younger, or returns on investments. If big rewards are promised with very little investment, you know it’s likely a scam.

4. You Are Asked for Money Up Front

When there is an urgent request for money, you know something is afoot. Being asked for money up front is one of the easiest ways to spot a scam. Con artists only want one thing from you— your cash—and they know hundreds of ways of getting it. These criminals are incredibly imaginative in getting you to part with your money!

If an employment site asks you for a service fee up front, you have to pay for membership to access “secrets,” a product offered comes with a “free trial” at a cost, or a “charity” you’ve never heard of calls for a donation, then be on your guard against a very likely hoax. Research these offers thoroughly.

Protect your hard-earned cash by being equipped with the knowledge to protect yourself against potential scam artists. Take these valuable tips to heart and never fall prey to lawless scammers.

James J. Paraiso, DO.

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MEN AND FOOTBALL

Calm down, ladies. I cannot take credit for writing that. Please don’t go Tom Brady on me and deflate a football so you can successfully shove it up my derriere. Those words actually came from a Facebook meme.

I’ve interviewed numerous plastic surgeons, but I’ve never heard one talk about surgically removing a football from a man’s backside. From that, I can confidently conclude that no man in Lake County ever uttered those words to his wife.

That said, since college football and the NFL officially kick off this month, I thought it would be an appropriate time to examine man’s bizarre fascination with football.

You see, part of being a man means plopping down on Saturdays and Sundays to root for our favorite football teams. We cheer wildly when a defensive player makes a hardhitting tackle, and we even yell at the television to let a coach know he called a dumb play…as if there’s a snowball’s chance in Hades he can actually hear us or cares what we think.

tackle, and we even at a called a dumb if there’s a can hear us or cares what we think. And after we’ve hours

And after we’ve spent hours watching OTHER people making

tackles or throwing a football, male football fanatics proudly claim that “we” won or “we” lost. In reality, the only thing “we” accomplished is packing on a few pounds courtesy of the beer, chips, and salsa.

Our obsession with football also brings out the hypocrite in us. We may take an anti-gay stance, but we have no problem wearing the jersey of our favorite male football player with his last name emblazoned across our back. We drink beer and smoke cigarettes during the game, but then we blame our favorite football team’s struggles for slowly killing us. We tell our children to quit fighting, and then we engage in a childish myteam-is-better-than-yours argument with our buddy. We may forget today is garbage day, but we’ll never forget the two years Florida defeated FSU to deny the Seminoles a national championship (1996 and 1997, thank you very much).

which, to us, is more American than hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet. And it sure beats attending an art exhibit, going to a friend’s wedding, or spending a night out on the town dancing.

But we love our families more than anything. Please don’t forget that as we’re glued to the television set this month watching the Gators, Seminoles, Hurricanes, Dolphins, and Buccaneers. It’s just that every now and then it’s nice to escape the everyday demands of work and family obligations.

I’m a male football fanatic who’s not married. But if I were, I would NEVER tell my wife to be quiet until February. Not only is it wrong, but I’d also fear the painful repercussion mentioned above.

Well, I have to abruptly end this article. My beloved Kentucky Wildcats are only minutes away from their season opener against Southern Mississippi. No phone calls or text messages, please.

Yes, our super male fandom is odd, and we’re of it. We love the

Yes, our super male fandom is odd, and we’re proud of it. We love the sport,

I’ll be available first thing Monday morning.

“Attention, Ladies! It’s football season. Bring him a sandwich, get him a beer, get a hobby, and be quiet until Valentine’s Day.”

WRITER: JAMES COMBS

Ladies Legacy Luncheon

Friday, October 14, 2016

Schedule of Events

Special Guest Speaker Reservations

Phone Email

Proceeds support Florida Hospital Waterman Emergency Services

~ Mrs. Candace Huber ~

Candace Huber, RN, BSN, MPH is the Director of Mission Development at Florida Hospital Waterman. This includes the development of the Conry CREATION Health Center to improve the lifestyle and overall health of Waterman’s staff and Lake County residents. Candace has a BSN in nursing and Master’s degree in Public Health, specializing in Health Education. She is both a national and international speaker, having spoken at a World Health Organization Conference in Geneva, Switzerland on Faith Community Nursing. Prior to her current position, she was the Director of Community Outreach for Florida Hospital, Orlando, developing Faith Community Nursing and Congregational Health Ministry. These endeavors included multiple projects to effect and sustain health behavior change in the community. Candace believes that the CREATION Health model is a vehicle for engaging the community in adopting healthy lifestyles wholistically. “Anyone, wherever they are on the continuum of life’s journey, can receive real health benefits by implementing the 8 principles of a healthy lifestyle described within CREATION Health – Choice, Rest, Environment, Activity, Trust, Interpersonal Relationships, Outlook, and Nutrition.” Candace has been married to Chaplain David Huber for over 40 years. They have two sons, a daughter and two grandchildren.

5K Run/Walk

Join Florida Hospital Waterman for the 3rd Annual Pink Out 5k Run/ Walk. Proceeds help promote breast cancer awareness, diagnosis and treatment including mammograms for women in need.

Our First EveningSunset Run/Walk!

Thursday, October 13 Wooton Park

Tavares, FL 32778

Registration & packet pick-up: Wednesday, Oct 13 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Day of: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Race start: 6:00 p.m. Awards ceremony: 7:15 p.m.

ENTRY FEES:

Youth 17 and under: $20

Adults 18 and over: $25 Day of Race (check/cash only): $30

Sign-up by visiting FHWaterman.com. For details, call (352) 253-3685.