The Generations of Fitness Issue by Austin Fit Magazine

AUSTIN FIT MAGAZINE

Reserve a table somewhere special this Valentine’s.

FEBRUARY 2012 + THE GENERATIONS OF FITNESS ISSUE

The Johnson Family LUCI BAINES JOHNSON BRIDGES GENERATIONS ON AND OFF THE TRAIL

The 2012 Forester comes with road-gripping Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive

BY CECILY SAILER

standard, 170-hp and 27 mpg hwy*. Love. It’s what makes Subaru, a Subaru.

Austin Subaru

200 W Huntland Drive | 512-323-2837

*EPA-estimated hwy fuel economy for 2012 Subaru Forester 2.5X models. Actual mileage may vary.

The Generations of Fitness Issue

For details visit wagathonwalkathon.com

EST. 1997 ISSUE #169

SunDAy, MARcH 18tH 2012 at Hill countRy GAlleRiA

EST. 1997 ISSUE #173

Help Austin Subaru support local area dog rescue groups! Register for Wagathon Walkthon, the 2nd annual 2.5 mile charity dog walk!

Fierce & Female: Pick-up basketball spans generations

Jason Simmons (literally) survives the Moonlight Margarita 5K

Monica Brant gets her mom’s butt kicked FEBRUARY 2012

DON’T YOU THINK IT’S TIME TO

BREATHE EASY Ask us how a little balloon can provide

INSTANT SINUS RELIEF THAT LASTS! Now offered as a quick, in-ofﬁce procedure

The physicians of the Nasal and Sinus Center have extensive experience and an exceptional reputation dealing with nasal problems and chronic sinusitis. As athletes themselves, they fully understand the importance of nasal breathing and its impact on performance. Call our office today to see how we can help you meet your goal.

Daniel P. Slaughter, MD

Christopher P. Thompson, MD

Zachary D. Wassmuth, MD

512.339.4040 | www.NSCAustin.com 12201 Renfert Way, Ste. 105 | Austin, TX 78758

AUSTIN VEIN CENTER

CONTENTS #FEB2012

Luci Baines Johnson photography by Brian Fitzsimmons

Commitments to Community service and fitness characterize each generation of the family [page 44]

Who says girls can't play basketball after college? [page 28] A local pick-up game stays competitive for all ages

Dying to Live [page 40] Jason Simmonsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and the runner who helped save himâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;tell the dramatic story of one Moonlight Margarita run

CONTENTS

CONTENTS #FEB2012

FitFinds

[page 22] These are the tests that try men's (and women's) souls

[page 56] Gear, apparel, gadgets, goodies

Soba Noodle Salad [page 58] No gluten in these noodles

[page 27] Dick Wilkowski's 30-year run

How's Your Heart Health? [page 35] Multiple initiatives in Austin can help you know your numbers

AFMDC Leaderboard [page 60] Current front runners lead both half and full marathon tracks

[page 39] Dr. Robert Clement untangles the facts of spider veins and varicosities

Swimming: A Family Aﬀair [page 66] Swimming—and competing— with your kids

Love Your Heart [page 68] How to calculate your heart rate range for training

Running: Family Style [page 72] Incoporating the whole clan into your workout

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

EDITORIAL INTERN Elizabeth Hitt GENERAL INQUIRIES info@austinfitmagazine.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@austinfitmagazine.com STORY IDEAS ideas@austinfitmagazine.com EVENT LISTINGS events@austinfitmagazine.com SUBSCRIPTIONS austinfitmagazine.com/subscribe 1905 N. Lamar Blvd., Ste. 105 Austin, TX 78705 P 512.407.8383 F 512.407.8393

Austin Fit Magazine assumes no responsibility for the content of articles or advertisements, in that the views expressed therein may not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or any magazine employee or contributor. This publication and all of its contents are copyrighted.

EVERY ISSUE 14 From the Publisher 18 Moore Fit Musings

VP, SALES & MARKETING Alex Earle

CONTRIBUTORS Dr. Keith Bell, Monica Brant, Nelo Breda, Paul Carrozza, Dr. Robert Clement, Patrick Evoe, Brian Fitzsimmons, Alexa Sparkman, Diane Vives, Anne L. Wilfong

[page 64] Pro Triathlete Patrick Evoe recounts his latest Ironman race and the lessons he learned

[page 86] How and why we all need to do push-ups

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Sarah Schneider

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Carrie Crowe

Best Days Aren't Always Perfect Days

MUSCLE MOVEMENT OF THE MONTH

ART DIRECTOR Weston Carls

[page 82] Mo and her mom pump up the jams

[page 52] Tricia Minnick tells her story of why you should say something

Power Up Your Push-Up

COPY EDITOR Carson Hooks

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Emily Nash, Amity Ponsetti

Obesity Intervention

photo by Brian Fitzsimmons

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Melanie P. Moore

KICK MO’S BUTT!

Pure Austin Fitness

Vain about Veins

PUBLISHER/CEO Louis M. Earle

ASSISTANT EDITOR Leah Fisher Nyfeler

AFM's Fitness Challenge

A Master Runner Leads the Pack

THE TEAM

76 Events Calendar 78 Rides & Races

90 By the Numbers

Austin Fit Magazine is the assumed name of its publisher, Louis M. Earle, who has no interest in the business of Denis Calabrese who operates an exercise program under the assumed name of Austin Fit, which trains individuals to improve their jogging or running skills to participate in marathons. The views, opinions and other representations published in Austin Fit Magazine are not those of Austin Fit or any of its directors, officers, employees or agents. PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

February.pdf

1/10/12

4:20 PM

NIKE LUNAR ECLIPSE+ SETTLE IN FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE.

TAKE EVERY ADVANTAGE

EvEn thE most innovativE tEchnology won’t hElp much if your shoE doEsn’t fit. so for thE niKE lunarEclipsE+, wE combinEd thE soft, smooth lunarlon cushioning runnErs lovE with thE pitch-pErfEct stability of dynamic support. thEn wrappEd it all up with thE nEw dynamic fit systEm, which tailors thE shoE pErfEctly to your foot and adapts to EvEry stridE. so thE fit’s pErsonal, and thE ridE’s pErfEct. niKErunning.com

Letter from the Publisher #AFMletter

Fit for all ages by Lou Earle, Publisher | photography by Brian Fitzsimmons

mazing but true…Austin Fit Magazine is now 15 years old and by company standards, we are just a teenager. While we have come a very long way, we still have a lot to learn and a great deal more to achieve. Not so long ago, fitness was a niche market with only the elite athletes and hobbyists paying much attention to our tome. But as time has passed, while we have grown and adapted, our environment has also changed. We are now solidly in the mainstream of Austin living—where we want to be. The reality is that health and fitness have become a real priority for many of us, Our whole society is beginning to learn that each of us is part of a critical health ecosystem. Our challenge is not only to navigate this environment to optimize our own personal health and fitness, but also to help change the system itself to support healthier lifestyles for everyone. At AFM, our place in this ecosystem is clear. Our mission is to help everyone live healthier, more fit lives by providing entertaining, relevant, and valuable information to our readers. We are passionate about this goal and we want to help drive this change in our society in every way we can! Our cover and feature this month reflect our continued commitment to broaden our reach to include all those who can benefit from living healthy lives. Luci Baines Johnson epitomizes a family who has made a huge difference in the very fabric of Austin’s lifestyle. Our beloved Roy and Ann Butler Hike and Bike Trail has become a mecca for everyone who appreciates natural beauty and being active. Not only does Luci continue to be a driving force in the Trail Foundation’s efforts to complete the trail, she also focuses her time, talent, and treasure on producing the annual LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour, a wonderful family event now in its fifth year that gets everyone out and peddling. When Luci talks about health and fitness, she talks about family, and that is a message for us all. The gift of good health has no age, and a healthy lifestyle should be shared with every generation. So to kick off our focus on bringing health and fitness to the masses, we are honored to grace our cover with Luci, her daughter, Nicole, and granddaughter, Claudia--three generations of fitness from a family that continues to make a real difference in Austin’s health ecosystem. It’s not easy to be something for everyone, but everyone has a right to be healthy and fit. At AFM, we are dedicated to bringing that lifestyle message to you, whether you are an elite athlete or a beginner, a senior or a tween, you’re all part of the generations that are changing our health ecosystem and building a better future for our community. Keep Austin Fit,

#TwitFIT Question: What's your favorite #fitness moment with your parents?

@davidgarza1 9:29 p.m. via Echofon "When my dad got to see me finish Ironman Texas, he came back into my life about 5 years ago. Hadn't seen him since I was 10" @LisaEirene 3:36 p.m. via Web "We hike! We all hiked in Tucson last year and had a great time!" @kngold21 3:10 p.m. via iPhone "25 years with the best track and cross-country coach, my dad!! I can't give him credit for my soccer skills tho." @emhLuv 11:23 a.m. via Web "When my Dad was in the DaddyDaughter drill team dance with me in high school. May not be the 'fittest' memory, but certainly the sweetest." @Loripavesi 11:41 a.m. via txt "When I placed second at the Arnold Classic with my parents and brother watching! And water skiing off our dock in Ottawa, CA" @LNOneill 12:25 p.m. via Web "Running on and Queen Mary ship/ hotel, Newport Beach with Dad, sister back in the 80s" @Mz_Keenah 12:47 p.m. via iPhone "I put my mom and some of her co-workers through a bootcamp session. I am now an ACE certified for group fitness!"

JOIN US! @AUSTINFIT 14

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

SMILES ARE OUR SPECIALTY.

25 years

SERVING AUSTIN

Westlake Hills Cosmetic Dentistry

Deano A. Sakos, D.D.S. CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION! General & Family Practice State-of-the-art equipment Metal free Dentistry Single Visit Veneers & Crowns

DEANO A. SAKOS, D.D.S.

Teeth Whitening Invisalign Corner of Bee Caves & 360 Beat the traffic with our early hours

512.327.8645

westlakesmiles.com

tickets start at $35

An EvEning with

DEEpAk ChoprA thE FUtUrE oF wELLBEing FEB 21 | 8pM | DELL hALL

theLongCenter.org | 512.474.Long (5664) tickets also available at the 3M Box office at the Long Center. groups 10+ call 457-5161 or email groupSales@theLongCenter.org

c_deepak_afmQScmyk.indd 1

20% DISCOUNT FOR STUDENTS & TEACHERS

NEW FOR 2012

Be Strong. Be Fit. Be Relentless!

Austinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Premier Outdoor Training Program Just got BETTER THE BEST OF CROSSFIT, KETTLEBELL, HIIT, AND TRADITIONAL SPORTS CONDITIONING IN A DYNAMIC OUTDOOR SETTING

www.relentlessATX.com

rbc_quarter_ad_010312.indd 1 1/3/12 6:16:13 PM

512.799.5699

1/3/2012 10:00:10 AM

COD E S U

M “AF

E AV

”

$ 10

GET DIRTY

HAVE FUN

DO GOOD

Moore Fit Musings #MFM

@Moore_Fit

Talking Bout My Generation by Melanie P. Moore, Editor-in-Chief | photography by Brian Fitzsimmons

generation, by definition, is a) a body of living beings constituting a single step in the line of descent from an ancestor; b) a group of individuals born and living contemporaneously. And, in terms of electronics for example, a generation is “a type or class of objects usually developed from an earlier type.” I know this because I have a “first-generation” Kindle which, next to my iPad2, looks almost as old as the typewriter I took to college in the early 1980s. Putting this issue together, we glimpsed threads of different generations and the way fitness has been part of the life tapestry for some amazing individuals and families. I was born a year too late to be a Baby Boomer. Yet the progression of fitness activities and awareness in the past few decades has made mainstream the diet and exercise enthusiasm that in 1978 was attributed only to an emerging and suspicious “class of workout fanatics,” according “An Intimidating New Class: The Physical Elite” in the May 29, 1978, issue of New York Magazine. The subtitle was “They Run. They Work Out. They Think They’re Better Than You.” In 1978 Mike Mentzer won the Mr. Universe title in Acapulco, Mexico, with the first and only perfect 300 score. Bodybuilders were their own tribe—experimenting with diet and workout intervals that seemed outlandish at the time. Today we find their methods either an earlier type (generation) of what we take for granted as sound practice or an extreme (wacky?) experiment as they tried to get the best results. Meanwhile, the New York Road Runners Club in 1978 had just tripled its membership over a two-year period to total 6,000. Today the NYRR Club serves 300,000 runners and boasts 60,000 members in 50 states. Meanwhile, over in Atlanta in 1976, Peachtree Road Race founding director Tim Singleton moved to Texas leaving Bill Nease in charge in Atlanta. Nease asked Olympian Jeff Galloway (who still owns the local Phidippides running store) to help. In 1977, according to Galloway, the Peachtree “had the best quality racing field of any road race in the world: Olympic Champion Frank Shorter, multi-winner of [the] Boston and NYC marathons Bill Rodgers, and four-time Olympic Gold Medalist Lasse Viren.” That same decade, in my rural south Georgia hamlet, we could still see the pre-juicer-salesman Jack LaLanne on television, enthusiastically encouraging all of us to do floor exercises in our homes, even incorporating a kitchen chair on occasion. There

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

was a small shop which had converted to a “ladies workout spa” where wooden arched boxes with rollers designed to roll away fat from the "problem areas" sat across from a row of electronic vibrating belt machines (the Walton Belt Vibrator); its EVERETT COLLECTION vibrations allegedly jiggled the fat from the thighs, waist, and buttocks. In the ‘80s, Jane Fonda’s exercise videos—featuring leotards and leg warmers—helped us all “feel the burn.” These “aerobics” were of course another manifestation of Dr. Ken Cooper’s revolutionary work at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas. In Hawaii in 1978, an argument arose among athletes about which of three disciplines required the greatest endurance. At that time, according to beginnertriathlete.com, Hawaii hosted the Waikiki Rough Water Swim (2.4 miles), the Oahu Bike Race (112 miles), and the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles). Originally events in themselves, they were rolled into one to become the ‘Hawaii Ironman Triathlon.’ A generation later, at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Triathlon made its Olympic debut—the Olympic distance of course. In Austin, you can’t sling a pair of goggles without hitting someone who has finished a triathlon of some distance and it’s likely you know more than one person who’s an Ironman finisher. The current generation of fitness certainly has more science, but less spontaneity. Today fitness has to be intentional. There’s less meeting up serendipitously to play a set of tennis and more scheduling to join a boot camp or running group. We struggle to make all the workouts, to fit it all in. Some of the changes have to do with safety, some with the equally impressive evolution of exercise and nutrition science. With our many “conveniences” and electronically-engaging but sedentary pastimes, we have no choice but to be more vigilant of our intentions than ever. Thank goodness we are a generation of “workout fanatics.” Otherwise, our passively distracted existence is a slippery slope to a next generation of bulbous beings like those in Pixar’s “Wall-E” movie, wheeled through screen-lined lives on mobile recliners, trapped in bodies too heavy and weak to help ourselves should we slide out of our motorized carts. I think I’ll go do some push-ups now.

Get your life back with

Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Symptoms Of Low T Moodiness Difficulty Concentrating Depression Weight Gain Declining Libido Erectile Dysfunction Loss of Energy

YES, WE ACCEP T INSURANCE! (512) 250-5300 agelessmenshealth.com 13435 US Highway 183 N. | Suite 302 | Austin, TX 78750

39 1/hr. MASSAGE* â&#x20AC;˘ NO CONTRACTS â&#x20AC;˘ NO MEMBERSHIP

Oak Haven Massage is now in Austin! We provide advanced level massage at a very affordable price, with no memberships or contracts. Our therapists are selected for their ability to do very deep, therapeutic massage. We invite you to come in to our new location and give us a chance to show you what therapeutic massage is all about.

(512) 351-7227 www.oakhavenmassage.com 620 at 183 next to Olive Garden

*first time visitors

austinFit_1-3.pdf

1/9/12

5:26 PM

AFM'S FITTEST CHALLENGE L

ast month, Austin Fit Magazine (AFM) announced the June 2012 challenge to find Austin’s Fittest. Here is a sneak peek at the ten events used to determine the fittest man and woman in our fair city. (Registration information and other details are coming soon.)

AFM required the tests to be measurable and clear as well as challenging in terms of speed, endurance, strength, and power. With expert advice from international combine consultants, the tests were selected. Here is the list, in the order competitors must complete them (because the order is part of the challenge):

Seated Medicine Ball Throw (upper body power)

Standing Broad Jump (lower body power)

CMY

40 Yard Dash (speed)

Cone Drill Arrow Head Run, Left/Right (agility) Softball Throw (precision) Pull-ups (upper body strength) Burpees (total body strength capacity) Hand Grip (strength) Intervals (speed and conditioning) One-mile Run (endurance)

Go to www.austinfitmagazine.com for details about these tests. You’ll find demonstration videos and be able to read more on our FITblog. Also, check out Diane Vives’s “Muscle Movement of the Month” in each issue for help in your training. Pick up next month’s issue for information about how you can get ready to take the challenge! afm

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

SECTION TITLE

Austin Cosmetic Dentistry A new approach to creating life-changing smiles.

Austin Cosmetic Dentistry is the result of our doctors devotion to delivering life-changing Smile Makeovers in an environment of luxury and complete comfort. Guests, who have often put off having much needed dental work, are reassured by the doctors extensive experience in cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry. They also appreciate the atmosphere of compassion and understanding that comes from doctors who have both had their own Smile Makeovers. Finally, they are relieved to learn how far dentistry has come in making guests completely relaxed and anxiety-free during every part of their treatment. Dr. John Christian Schiro and Dr. Arturo Garcia, are both graduates in the advanced level cosmetic and reconstructive courses offered by the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. (This highly specialized training takes years to complete.) Now, they have completed literally thousands of Smile Makeovers as well as hundreds of Full-Mouth Reconstructions. This vast amount of experience allows the doctors to back their work with an unheard of Last Time You Pay policy. In short, they will repair or replace any porcelain restoration that they place at no additional cost, even in the event of accidental trauma!

• Over 40 years combined experience. • Thousands of Smile Makeovers (ten or more teeth) completed. • No tooth preparation in many cases. • Express cosmetic cases can be completed in just 4 days. • Full-Mouth Reconstruction. • Sedation dentistry. • Last Time You Pay policy. • Convenient in-office financing. • Saturday appointments.

To Schedule Your Complimentary Consultation:

512.382.5888

A ustin C osmetic D entistry .com

Dr. John Christian Schiro Austin Fit 1-12.indd 1

Dr. Arturo Garcia 12/3/11 6:39 PM

40 mpg!

29 mpg!

AdditionAl

$500 DISCOUNT

Above & Beyond All Factory Incentives just by Presenting this Ad Upon Arrival to South Point Hyundai.

AdditionAl

$500 DISCOUNT

Above & Beyond All Factory Incentives just by Presenting this Ad Upon Arrival to South Point Kia.

A CHAT WITH DICK WILKOWSKI, MASTER RUNNER by Leah Fisher Nyfeler

f you run regularly in Austin, there are all kinds of people you come to recognize on the trail or at a race, yet you’ve never met them. They may get a nickname or you may learn their identities from race results. Some become welcome faces while others turn into arch nemeses. If you’ve been racing here over the last 30 years, you’ve seen Dick Wilkowski. Wilkowski (68) moved from New York to Austin in 1976 to work at IBM. In 1982, Wilkowski was “a little bit sluggish and a little bit overweight” when a friend at the office ran the Capitol 10K, inspiring Wilkowski to start walking and running. That October, he ran his first race, the St. David’s 5K, on the Roy and Ann Butler Hike and Bike Trail. Wilkowski recalled his time without hesitation: 26.41. “I caught the racing bug,” he said. When RunTex offered free training with Mixon Henry, around 1996, Wilkowski began serious workouts. During that period Wilkowski raced 20 or more events a year; now, he’s cut back to some 15 races annually. His favorite distances are the 10K (6.2 miles) and 10-miler because they “give you a chance to gather your thoughts and collect yourself.” While he sometimes runs 5Ks (3.1 miles), he prefers the longer distances because “a 5K is a lot of work; you gotta go all the way.” Wilkowski has completed four marathons (26.2 miles): two Austin Motorola marathons, one LaSalle Bank Chicago marathon (1997, for a Boston qualifying time), and the Boston Marathon in 1999. “That’s it,” he said. “Now, a half marathon [13.1 miles] is a big deal.” Wilkowski won his age group in last year’s inaugural half marathon track of the Austin Fit Magazine Distance Challenge (AFMDC). This year, Wilkowski and Austin-area athlete Walt Tashnick battled it out over the first two

races, separated only by seconds. At the 2011 ARC Decker Challenge, “[Tashnick] eclipsed me,” said Wilkowski. Tashnick is a new competitor; Wilkowski has had a fairly constant set of age group rivals over the last 30 years, primarily Jon Wisser and Greg Evans. After Decker, Wilkowski had a cumulative time of 4:10:44 to Tashnick’s 4:03:52, putting Tashnick ahead. However, Wilkowski is in the half marathon track and Tashnick in the full marathon track, which means Wilkowski is again first place in his age group. Wilkowski trained with Gilbert’s Gazelles but since 2008, he has run solo. He retired from IBM in 2007, returning to work the next month as a contractor. “Maybe when I retire for real, “ Wilkowski laughed, “I’ll get back to Gazelles and maybe do some yoga and stretching and Pilates.” Wilkowski has had few injuries (two bouts of plantar fasciitis and two hamstring issues, none of which lasted longer than six weeks), and he wonders what role his training schedule might play in that statistic. He only runs three days a week—four days a week during marathon training…maybe. “I don’t know how to explain…what I’ve been able to achieve with the race results and what not,” he said. Wilkowski’s still running 22-minute 5Ks, though that is slower than his personal best, set 10 years ago when he had what he calls a “second peak.” That year, at age 57, Wilkowski ran an 18.57 5K and a 1:28 half marathon (at 3M—a 6.45-mile pace), which he attributes to the marathon training he did the year before. Since then, [Wilkowski] has seen slower times. “It’s interesting,” he mused. “I expected times to drop incrementally, you know, little by little each year, but it’s like I went off a cliff about three years ago. I was 65, still pretty competitive, and I thought I was

running fast times. Then I got injured, I can’t blame that anymore, but after that, my time just went off the cliff. Before that, I used to run 19-minute 5Ks all the time. Now, if I break 22, I’m happy.” While many runners would be ecstatic to see a 22-minute 5K at any age, Wilkowski has known faster times: “I’m getting slower and slower faster and faster.” He has promised himself “when I do 26.41 [his first 5K time] again, that’s when I call it quits and hang up the spikes.” Now, Wilkowski sticks almost exclusively to the softer surface of the Roy and Ann Butler Hike and Bike Trail, running about 20 miles a week by mixing the loops and varying the directions. He mostly runs by himself. His wife, Vickie, and son, Chris, are very supportive. Vickie, who retired in 2009 after 30 years at HEB in the human resources department, doesn’t run but she works out every day on the treadmill. Wilkowski still loves racing and his goal for the AFMDC is simply to enjoy himself and stay healthy—his reasons for starting to run all those years ago. Regarding longevity in the sport, he quoted the late Dr. George Sheehan: “Every runner is an experiment of one.” Wilkowski suggested “tempering” running: miles and years add up, taking their toll, he said, and he reflected on his three-day-a-week routine: has it helped him achieve 30 years of running success? “It worked for me,” Wilkowski said, “Will it work for everyone? I don’t know.” In the meantime, Wilkowski looks forward to the final races in the AFMDC and swears, “I’ll give it one more shot after I retire….” afm

FITNESS DICK WILKOWSKI

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

PLAY LIKE A

COMPETITIVE GIRL—AT EVERY AGE A LONGTIME PICK-UP BASKETBALL GAME KEEPS PLAYERS ON THE BALL by Leah Fisher Nyfeler | photography by Brian Fitzsimmons

ecky Beaver, well known in Austin as a prominent and successful lawyer, is a friend and supporter of many philanthropic and cultural organizations in town, ranging from Ballet Austin to People’s Community Clinic to KUT Radio. Readers have seen her in print (Oprah and Texas Monthly, to name a few), on social pages, and quoted regarding family law. But it’s Beaver’s role as a mentor and athlete that brought Austin Fit Magazine to her office situated above Congress Avenue with a breathtaking view of the capitol and an amazing collection of modern artwork. Slim, poised, and perfectly coiffed, Beaver answered questions about her passion—an on-going, women-only, pick-up basketball game. The intensity and precision of her responses gave insight into the professional and athletic competitor within. Her warmth and humor reflected the vivacity with which Beaver embraces life, fitness, and being on the court. Beaver grew up playing basketball in Anson, Texas; basketball was one of the popular things for girls to do in smalltown Texas. Of the two girls in the family, “My sister was a natural athlete, and she did many different sports and excelled,” Beaver said. “I had to work really, really hard at one sport to get so I could barely do it.” She laughed and added, “But I love to play [basketball].” Fitness was a way of life in the house-

hold. “It was just one of those things that was never negotiable with my sister and me. Anybody worth their salt exercised and was outside and stayed physically active, physically healthy,” she recalled. Her father, a natural athlete, played basketball at Weatherford Junior College, junior varsity baseball at the University of Texas, and did 100 push-ups every day of his life. Her mother, age 90, still goes to the gym daily. Beaver described playing split court basketball in high school, “You had three guards and forwards on one end, and three guards and forwards on the other,” she explained. “I played center for my little high school basketball team. Loved it.” She took basketball as a physical education credit while studying at Texas Tech and, when she came to law school in Austin at the University of Texas, she played on intramural teams, even going to the National Championship. But finding a game got tougher once she left school. Some of Beaver’s basketball-playing friends were still associated with UT, so they played on the outdoor courts by the banks of Waller Creek. That came to an end when “at some point, since we were obviously older than average, someone ascertained we were no longer students, and [UT] began to be a little bit stricter about our participation,” reminisced Beaver. About 20 years ago, Beaver’s group was playing 3-on-3 half court at the YMCA.

They picked up more players and moved to an outdoor court in Travis Heights at the corner of Leland and Congress, playing early on Sunday mornings to beat the heat. “One day a man in his car pulled up, and he was just watching us play,” Beaver said. “We thought that was pretty weird because we were certainly not of a quality that would attract a lot of spectators.” That man was Charles Jackson, the assistant principal at Fulmore Junior High School, and he asked, “Would you women like to play indoors?” A lasting partnership was born. For more than 18 years, Beaver has opened the Fulmore gym on Wednesday and Sunday evenings for pick-up games. Women show up, brought by a friend, an acquaintance, a relative. Beaver noted there was a consistent group of eight to ten players when they started. Now, the game has grown to a list of 120-125 participants, all ages, all demographics, from all walks of life. “[There was] a girl last night who started playing with us when she was 14,” Beaver said. “There’s another woman who played at UT who’s on my Senior Olympic team who plays regularly; she’s 62. I’ll find myself playing now with girls who are literally 40 years younger than I am.” All are united by one passion: basketball. Like Beaver, most who show up played high school or college basketball. There’s an impressive level of skill, which Beaver attrib-

FITNESS PLAY LIKE A COMPETITIVE GIRL—AT EVERY AGE

DEFENSE!

"IT BONDS GOOD FRIENDSHIPS AND YOU GET TO KNOW PEOPLE YOU WOULD NEVER MEET BECAUSE YOUR PATHS WOULDN’T CROSS." uted to passion: “You get the people who are really interested in playing basketball.” Recently, there was a player from Austin’s semi-pro team, Austin Elite, and there have been players from both the French and Mexican National teams in the past. Despite the high level of experience, there are no prerequisites; any woman is welcome to play. There are players who never played on a school team. However, Beaver will encourage new players to watch a bit—“Figure out if you really want to be in this game. Because you don’t want to play if nobody’s ever going to pass the ball to you. People who don’t know how to set plays are going to get hurt, and we don’t want [that].” The partnership with Fulmore has been a good one. Beaver is the touchstone—she reserves the gym and is responsible for opening and closing it for games. She has a profound fondness for the school: “I’ve watched Fulmore grow and evolve through the years; [there are] really exciting things happening in the magnet program and with the student body now. It’s been a great place and very supportive of our team and our game.” The games go on every week; the only breaks are the times Beaver can’t open the gym, which are rare. “All those boards, all the organizations I’m active with, know that if they need me for something, they can’t schedule for Wednesday night,” she explained. There are no fees and no refs—players call their own fouls; it’s pure pick-up. “There’s a real commitment to make sure nobody gets hurt, so nobody goes out there intending to play rough,” Beaver stressed. That doesn’t mean the play isn’t fast and the competition fierce. Even she had a bit of a learning curve when it came to playing it safe.

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

“At some point, I figured out that it was okay if the person who was the starting center at Texas State a couple of years ago made the lay-up,” she said wryly. “I didn’t need to take that charge.” She laughed: “So there’s a revelation. As competitive as I am, it was really hard to get out of the way, but I need to live through this [game].” It’s evident in Beaver’s voice that one of her greater pleasures is the longevity of the game and the dedication of the regulars. “I love the fact that we’ve now got kids who are literally what the parents call ‘gym rats’,’’ she said. “They’re kids who were raised at the basketball gym who are now playing with us. Two of the women I met through basketball have had children and I’m their godmother. It’s a really special group. It bonds good friendships and you get to know people you would never meet because your paths wouldn’t cross.” She described players’ children as “the future generation” and pointed out that “the threeyear-olds now will be playing when I’m 70 and still driving this pick-up game. “ For a few of the women, the pick-up game isn’t enough. Beaver, her sister, and several other players are on a Senior Olympic team as well. The Senior Olympics are part of the National Senior Games Association (NSGA), a nonprofit arm of the United States Olympic Committee. Beaver’s team has gone to Nationals four times over eight years. Senior Olympic basketball is played every other year, on odd numbered years. The team will be going to Nationals in Cleveland in 2013, playing in the 60-64 bracket. “Texas has a very active women’s basketball Senior Olympics,” Beaver explained. “They fielded two teams in every age bracket but one, and they fielded one team at Nationals all the way up to the 80plus [age bracket] in women. It’s really fun to see everybody still playing.” Because the team is based in San Antonio, it’s hard to practice—but easier than the years based out of Dallas. Then, practice was virtually impossible, so the players made do.

Austin Fertility & Reproductive Medicine

A Family of Physicians Helping Couples Build Families of Their Own.

Locations Westlake Location 300 Beardsley Ln, Bldg B Suite 200 Austin, TX 78746

South Location 4303 James Casey St. Suites A & B Austin, TX 78745

512.444.1414 | www.AustinFertility.com

Evolve Personal Fitness & Gym...Where Transformation Happens.

South Austin’s Premier Personal Training Studio and Gym 7 day FREE pass, limited time offer

Fresh Raw Juicing and Cold Pressed Juice

3-Day Detox (Reboot your Body)

for

$99 ! 00

*Must Call to Schedule Cleanse 512-832-5533

12400 N Interstate 35 | Suite 121 | Austin, TX 78753 AustinJuiceSpot.com

•10 experienced certified/ degreed trainers and nutritionists available •Customized Wellness & Nutritional Programs •3500 sq. ft beautiful, all-natural & unique training setting •Indoor/Outdoor Fitness Bootcamps •Individual & Group Yoga Classes •On-site Muscle Activation Therapy •On-site Massage Therapy AND MUCH MORE!

EVOLVE PERSONAL FITNESS & GYM

INDEPENDENT PERSONAL TRAINERS WELCOME! Only $20 per month w/ no contracts or initiation fees EVER! NEVER over crowded! 5716 West Hwy. 290 • Austin, TX 78735 • 512-358-8433 • www.evolvepersonalfitness.com

“We’d meet before the [pick-up] games and and I’m very supportive of the Lady 20 years who are back playing at a really get people to play a round of 3-on-3 with us Longhorns.” Her analysis and verve high caliber.” to get in the mindset.” And then they’d play show the same intensity she brings to the On a gray Sunday afternoon Beaver again, at the pick-up game, for fun. game as a player. was at the Fulmore gym. She pulled out Beaver plays a lot of basketball—her “I’m delighted to see Cokie Reed getting a broom, brushing down the floor while aerobic workout of choice. Her full court, back on her game after her foot surgery. another player warmed up, making shots. bi-weekly games last about two hours. She’s fun to watch. She’s got great agility Players trickled in until the final few minBeaver also goes to the gym twice a week as a post player. I love to watch Ashley utes when a stream of women came through for weight and strength training. True to Gayle jump and block shots. I’m glad— the doors. On the hour, the group stood in her upbringing, her own family is physihaving been a center, it makes me really a circle assessing positions and assigning cally active. She has twin sons, one played happy when we’ve got good post play.” teams. Beaver opted to sit out to make three on the intramural balanced teams basketball team of five. The first GROUP FUN at Duke and game started—it is currently in was quiet and the law school at play was fast and Columbia where intense. Beaver he finds time for pointed out playthe occasional ers and gave brief pick-up game. bios. “Dee played Her other son is for Iowa. Marisa involved in wreshad a baby about tling, soccer, and a year ago. Did scuba diving. you get Colleen? Her daughter is She’s a swimmer, also active in too. We’ve got a sports and enjoys couple of coaches cross-country out here; Kerrie’s skiing. Beaver’s at Reagan.” Playhusband is John ers on the sideline Duncan, retired called out comeconomics proments and talked fessor. quietly to one an“Did you read other about recent Front row, left to right: Marisa Krisananuwatara, Mirsa Douglass, Dina Hernandez, Janis Bennett, Nina Wilson, Colleen Holloway, Dee James, Stacey Orakpo, Tosha Deckard, the article in the holidays, getting Yvette Pearson Back row, left to right: Cleopatra Hopkins, Cynthia Jackson, Kerrie Carter, Statesman that back in shape, and Stephanie Freeman Wright, Stephanie Jones, Becky Beaver, Tamra Thompson. Pam LeBlanc (mostly) about did about my husband?” Beaver asked. basketball. Another player showed up. She commented that “[Players are] a lot LeBlanc’s article, “Exercise helps patients “Well, hello,” said Beaver. A new rotation stronger and a lot taller.” She went on to say cope with Alzheimer’s disease,” ran in the was quickly devised. Beaver got into play, that, while she’d been a center in high school, Austin American-Statesman on October scoring some points and holding her own she would now be a short point guard. “Cen2, 2011. “He was the marathon runner,” defensively despite a nagging shoulder ters now are 6'3", 6'4", 6'5". Stacy Stevens she explained. “Once he got Alzheimer’s, issue. Time passed, games went quickly has shown up to play [at the pick-up game] things were going pretty poorly with him. or took awhile, players tired, some left, a couple of times. She was the center at UT I got him a trainer and she now runs with family in tow. The rotation changed again. the last time they went to the Final Four and him on Town Lake twice a week, three to Kids wandered by. “Off the court! Off the she can hold the ball in her hand. You’ve got five miles, and they work out (strength and court!” warned one little girl to her younger Brittney Griner (who’s 6'8") at Baylor who weight training) two other days a week. It’s brother. As the play slowed, the mood can dunk.” made a dramatic difference in the progreslightened and there was more teasing. By Beaver’s enthusiasm and passion built sion of the disease and slowing down the 5:30 p.m., a game had ended. Beaver, on the as she returned to the discussion of the cognitive deterioration. The impact on John pick-up game. She repeatedly emphasized sideline, gestured, “Who’s up for another has been dramatic.” game? Dina and I need to get in.” And so that the game was open to all, no matBeaver enjoys watching basketball. they headed out onto the court for one more ter when players last touched a basket“I’ve been going to [the Lady Longhorn] Sunday game. afm ball. “It’s like riding a bicycle,” Beaver games since they had a male coach and said. “Once you’ve learned what to do, played at Gregory Gym,” she laughed it comes back. A lot of people do come READ MORE ABOUT THE PICK-UP GAME ONLINE AT and added, “I’ve been a season ticket back and play. There are people on my AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM holder since the Erwin Center opened, Senior Olympic team who didn’t play for

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

Keeping the women in your family happy and healthy for over 15 years! At Premiere Lady Fitness we will make your workout everything you want it to be with guidance, support, motivation and best of all, results! Come by and check out our club, meet our happy members and try our outstanding programs like, Zumba, Pilates, Nia, Yoga, Strength Training, Kickboxing, Boot Camp and much more! Come in and try our ...

21 day risk free trial!

Start today!

North, 7028 Woodhollow Drive Austin, TX 512-418-9399 South, 6800 Westgate Blvd. Austin, TX 512-707-7700

www.premiereladyfitness.com

*Not to be combined with other offers. Days must be consecutive. Some restrictions apply. Offer expires 02/29/12.

OUR FAMILY HELPING YOURS Relief from: Back pain • Head and neck pain • sciatica Herniated Disc • sports injuries • Joint pain • cancer pain all types of pain

board certified anesthesiologists fellowship trained in pain management New patieNts caN be seeN the same or Next day Four locatioNs For your coNveNieNce

austin • south austin georgetown • bastrop 512-485-7200 painspecialistsofaustin.com

May 12, 2012 ArmadilloClassic.net Register early & save!

RELIEF FROM:

Back Pain Head and Neck Pain

Sponsored by

Newest LocatioNs KiLLeeN & KyLe Now oPeN!

Sciatica Herniated Disc Sports Injuries

Joint Pain Cancer Pain All Types of Pain

North Austin • South Austin • Bastrop Georgetown • Round Rock

512-485-7200 • 855-876-PAIN PAINSPECIALISTSOFAUSTIN.COM

Your Health

Protecting Heart Health For All Ages and Genders

he heartbreaking story and viral YouTube video of Westlake High School student Ben Breedlove’s death from a heart disorder has touched millions. Cardiac events can happen at any age and heart disease is an indiscriminate attacker. But there are ways to manage heart health—even for students. Much of what the Heart Hospital of Austin does is preventative. For adolescents, there are free heart screenings for student athletes between the ages of 14-18. The screenings include an electrocardiogram (EKG) and echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) which can expose hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This is a genetic condition that causes the heart muscle to thicken. According to Dr. Stanley Wang, clinical cardiologist and director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Heart Hospital of Austin, “HCM is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes and affects one in 500 student athletes every year. [HCM] does not usually have warning signs and can be life-threatening if it is not diagnosed.” The Heart Hospital will conduct two free screenings in 2012 for student athletes: Saturday, February 18, from 8 a.m. to noon, and Saturday, August 4, from 8 a.m. to noon. Part of the St. David’s Medical Center, the Heart Hospital is a leading cardiac program with a 24-7 emergency department. “There is a wide range of patient types at Heart Hospital of Austin,”

said Dr. Wang. “We “HCM is the leading cause treat patients of all of sudden cardiac death in types with conditions young athletes and affects ranging from bumps one in 500 student athletes and bruises to heart atevery year.” tacks.” He pointed out that “heart disease and heart rhythm disorders do not discriminate based on age or certain demographics—they can impact most any person.” Another diagnostic tool aimed at prevention is the HeartSaver CT scan. This test can show whether there is calcified plaque present in heart arteries. With this knowledge, people can “detect heart disease in its earliest and most treatable stages—long before you experience any symptoms,” explained Dr. Wang. The screening, which takes only moments, is available Monday through Saturday by appointment. The Executive Wellness program is another proactive step. Aimed at executives or VIPs, it combines an entire week’s worth of medical exams into one day. Dr. Wang elaborated, “The day begins with a doctor’s consultation to discuss the participant’s medical history, TURN TO PAGE 36 TO READ MORE ABOUT "YOUR HEALTH"

hile breast cancer has its own color, month, and dedicated events, it is cardiovascular disease that kills almost one woman every minute each year. One in three women is living with with some form of heart disease, and it kills more women than men. Seton Hospital is participating in a pilot program sponsored by Abbott Labs that’s using a new approach for collecting data on cardiovascular risk factors—surveying women through community obstetricians and gynecologists. “We are reaching out to gynecologists and obstetricians to TURN TO PAGE 36 TO READ MORE ABOUT "YOUR HEALTH"

YOUR HEALTH AUSTIN FIT MAGAZINE

FROM THE DOCTORS WHO CREATED PROACTIV® SOLUTION

Your Health

Clinically-proven skincare solutions from Rodan + Fields® that solve the most common skincare problems without a trip to the dermatologist. NEW CUSTOMER PROMO FREE SHIPPING & 10% OFF

“Best Anti-Aging Products” - Allure, InStyle, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar

FREE Body Lotion with Purchase of Any Regimen for Austin Fit Readers

Decide today how you are going to look tomorrow.

512.666.4602

www.RockYourSkin.com

followed by a physical exam and a series of screenings to gather detailed information about his or her state of health. The Executive Wellness evaluation extends beyond the typical physical exam and includes screenings such as an exercise stress test, carotid and abdominal ultrasound, pulmonary function test and cardiac CT scan.” Some factors in heart health are out of a patient’s control: age, menopause, family history, and race (African Americans, Mexican Americans, American Indians, HawaiDr. Wang encourages ians, and Asian Americans are at a higher preventitive heart screening risk). But Dr. Wang pointed out that there are many other factors leading to poor heart health that are within a patient’s control including being overweight, poor nutrition, low physical activity, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol, low HDL, or “good,” cholesterol, stress, poor dental hygiene, and untreated sleep disorders. Overall fitness is critical in preventing heart disease. “You should aim for at least 30 minutes to one hour of moderate exercise per day, including walking, cycling, jogging and swimming,” Dr. Wang said. “There is growing evidence that even small tweaks to your routine can improve your cardiac health. A 2011 study revealed brisk walking (a few times a week) improved blood flow by as much as 15 percent. “Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States,” said Dr. Wang, and the rise of obesity in American has certainly been a contributing factor. Research studies involving new medications, medical devices, and leading-edge therapies (including adult stem cell therapies) occur at Heart Hospital of Austin. Recognition of the role sleep disorders play in the development of heart disease has prompted the development of Heart Hospital of Austin’s Sleep Disorders Center.” afm For a detailed look at Dr. Wang’s list of modifiable heart health factors, visit the Austin Fit Magazine FITBlog at www.austinfitmagazine.com

make screening for heart disease a part of women’s regular exams,” explained Dr. Caitlin Giesler, Seton Heart Institute cardiologist. Cardiologists at Seton provide participating doctors with a survey; the patients fill out the survey, and results will be used to initiate further research about heart disease in women. Women who are identified as being “at risk” will then be referred to a physician who specializes in heart care. “Heart disease is still widely underdiagnosed and undertreated in women. With the right information, we can equip patients to take action to help reverse heart disease and reduce women’s risk of having a heart attack or other cardiovascular conditions later in life,” said Dr. Giesler. afm Dr. Giesler stressed that all women should “know their numbers.” For information about these numbers and other heart-healthy information, visit Dr. Giesler’s blog at www.setonheart.com/women

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

Are your legs tired? Swollen? Do you have varicose veins or spider veins?

D M

Absolute Dermatology & Medi-Spa

You may have Venous Reflux Disease! Millions unknowingly suffer from venous insufficiency when there is a simple, non-invasive treatment that is covered by most insurance plans.

Austin Imaging & Vein Center is offering a FREE screening by appointment only. Call (512) 726-0599 for your free appointment. Find out if you are at risk for venous insufficiency, and start the process today for better feeling, healthy legs.

The intelligent alternative to liposuction.

“I was skeptical at first, but after a course of eight treatments I have lost 9 inches over 3 measurements and have gone a dress size.” Louise, Beauty Therapist

Like us on facebook to receive great deals! Absolute Dermatology & Medi-Spa

www.ImagingAndVeins.com

www.absolutedermatology.com 1103 Cypress Creek • Cedar Park, Texas 78613 • (512) 257.7600

Make Your

OB/GYN

One of Aust in’s Best Specialties Include: ♀ Well Woman Examinations ♀ Routine and High Risk BOB ♀Minimally Invasive Surgery including da Vinci Robotics ♀ Pelvic Floor Reconstruction ♀In Office Procedures ♀ Fertility Diagnosis and Treatment ♀ Birth Control and IUD’s ♀ HPV Vaccine’s ♀ Bone Density Testing ♀ Digital Mammography ♀Ultrasound's and much more * 14 Of our Doctors were honored on the Best Doctors list, compiled by Best Doctors Inc., and published in the Austin Business Journal.

Call today to schedule your exam at any of our outstanding care centers: ♀ Austin Area Obstetrics,

Gynecology & Fertility

♀ Oakwood Women’s Centre ♀ Renaissance Women’s

Group

♀ The OB/GYN Group of Austin ♀ Women Partners in Health

Visit us today at

512. MY OBGYN (696.2496) www.centexobgyn.com

Take your mojo shopping. After all, you’ll need a new wardrobe for the new you. You’ll see the results this season with our clinically proven weight-loss intervention. Our program is designed to not only help you take the weight off, but teach you how to keep it off, long-term. Recommended by over 20,000 doctors since 1980, our program gives you the one-on-one nutritional and full-scale behavioral support tools you need for enduring health. It’s simple, safe, effective and sustainable. So meet your mojo at the mall and start shopping.

Schedule your FREE personal weight-loss profile online at MedifastCenters.com or call 888-420-8746 And ask about our best running offers 4 CENTERS IN AUSTIN Cedar Park | North Hills | Round Rock | Sunset Valley

Or scan this

Health #health

Vain about Veins by Dr. Robert Clement

You work out; you challenge your body to be the best it can be. You watch your weight and monitor your nutrition. You run miles and do lunges. You may have the fittest legs around but you may not be happy with the way they look. Unsightly veins, such as spider veins (small, red lines in clusters) or varicose veins (knotted, ropy, larger veins), may make even the fittest athlete feel uncomfortable about his or her appearance. Treating these veins may be purely cosmetic or it might be a matter of correcting a painful condition. Twenty-five percent of women and 18 percent of men suffer from varicose veins. While some cases are congenital, many cases are acquired; pregnancy, obesity, past trauma, and prolonged periods of standing (such as for work) can all contribute. While varicose veins can occur anywhere, they are most likely to develop in the legs due to gravity. As we age, we are more likely to see vein problems though very young people can develop varicose veins. Recovery time for most treatment requires a relatively short period away from strenuous workouts. Often, patients must wear compression stockings during recovery. For these reasons, many athletes choose to schedule procedures during a cooler month or prior to triathlon season. In this article, Dr. Clement provides the medicals facts behind a variety of treatments.

he venous system, especially of the legs, is a very complex and variable system. Arteries carry blood with oxygen while veins return oxygen-depleted blood to the heart. Valves in the veins make sure that the blood travels back to the heart. When the vascular valves in veins become incompetent, pressure shifts to the superficial veins under the skin and, with time, these veins become dilated. Doctors identify these dilated veins by size: varicosities, (four to five millimeters in diameter), reticular veins (one to two millimeters in diameter), and telangiectasia (one millimeter in diameter). Patients with dilated veins may describe symptoms that include feelings of heaviness, pain, itching, and swelling. Sclerosing therapy is the treatment of choice for smaller vessels (from one to as large as three millimeters in diameter). The solutions most frequently used in sclerosing therapy are sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) and polidocanol, each with a saline dextrose solution. The number of veins and amount of area that can be covered is limited by the amount of solution that can be safely used, which is usually a maximum dose of ten cubic centimeters of the sclerosing solution.

Larger veins (three to five millimeters) are best treated with endovenous laser or radiofrequency ablation. This treatment involves inserting an optical fiber into the vein; laser light within the infrared spectrum is shown, which causes the vein to contract, and the laser is slowly withdrawn. For the largest varicosities of five millimeters or more that are present and visible within a short segment of skin, resection (surgical removal) and ligation of the veins remains the best treatment. Sclerosing therapy requires two to four treatments to obliterate the veins. These treatments are placed at six- to eight-week intervals, and it may take up to three or four months for the final result to be visible. Post-treatment therapy includes wearing compression stockings for one to three weeks and avoiding intense exercise for two to three weeks (this varies with the size of vein treated). Almost all treatments can be done in office. In general, the first week of recovery is limited to walking. In the second week, patients should wear support stockings and can resume running anywhere from seven to ten days after their procedure. Even in the worst-case scenario of resection and ligation, recovery takes approximately four weeks. The potential complications are pigmentation matting, which is an expansion of the area injected, skin necrosis (death of skin cells), and pigmentation (coloring of the skin). The success rate for sclerosing therapy is over 90 percent (while the polidocanol solution has a slightly higher success rate, it is not statistically significant). Dr. Clement pointed out that surgeons are “the worst” for developing varicose veins due to the many hours spent standing still while operating. He highly recommended wearing compression stockings as a preventative measure. “I’ve been wearing them for years,” he said, “and I don’t have a single varicose vein.” For all those long-distance runners out there, this information may provide a brand new motivation towards wearing compression socks. Typically, runners wear compression socks in hopes that they make calf muscles more efficient and thus reduce fatigue, but they just may be a valuable aid in keeping your veins strong and beautiful over the years. afm

HEALTH VAIN ABOUT VEINS

he year is 2007. It is a cold January day, and I am unloading groceries from my car. My apartment is on the second floor, and after one trip upstairs, I am gasping for air. It is the day before my 37th birthday—it seems ludicrous to me that someone my age should be winded and exhausted by such a simple, everyday task. How had I gotten here? I had spent most of my lifetime as a physically inactive person. I had been at least 30 pounds overweight for the better part of two decades, with occasional bouts of yo-yo dieting. I hit my heaviest weight in 2000 and then again in 2003 when I weighed 337 pounds. I had a big life event in 2003—someone mistook me at a party for a fat, bald guy who was having his 50th birthday and I thought, “Holy crap! I’m 33 years old and if people think I look like this 50-year-old guy, I’m in trouble.” I successfully lost a lot of weight, but I didn’t exactly do it in a manner I’d recommend now. I drastically changed my eating habits—I basically ate nothing but salad—and I gave up the one liter of soda I’d been drinking every day. For the better part of three

by Jason Simmons

From Jason Simmons' point of view From Lori Bush's point of view

BEFORE

years, I kept most of the pounds off (my weight sometimes fluctuated by 10 pounds, but it stayed in that window). In this respect, I was healthier than I was at my heaviest because I weighed less…but I most certainly was not fit. I still smoked. While I counted calories, I was not considering nutrition as part of my diet. There was

DYING

by Leah Fisher Nyfeler

ori Bush, an Austinite, runner, and pediatric nurse, had completed the 2007 Moonlight Margarita Run and was waiting for a friend to finish. It was dusk; unable to see well in the twilight, Bush walked past the finish line, squinting at runners and cooling down from the hot run. About 200 yards from the finish, a runner on the other side of the street caught her eye as he fell. At first, she thought he’d tripped because he went down facefirst, “a straight-out fall,” Bush said. “Time passes slowly in an emergency,” Bush recounted. “I was waiting for him to get up, for people to notice he wasn’t moving. It dawned on me that nobody else was going to do anything.” At that point, Bush ran to the man’s side; he was on his face and on an uneven surface. She rolled the big man over and lay him flat, no easy feat for a petite woman of five feet and less than 100 pounds. She thought to herself, “[All] you’ve got [is] me, and it’s not your lucky day.” The man gasped, and Bush quickly ascertained there was no pulse. A trained nurse, she began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Bush was concerned that, because of her size, she was not strong enough to effectively administer CPR to such a large person. At that time, CPR required both chest com-

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

pressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing. She struggled over the decision to solely concentrate on giving effective chest compressions, afraid that her lack of strength was going to cost the runner his life. Bush had some bystanders take a pack the man was wearing, hoping to identify him. Amy and Matt Bush (no relation to Lori Bush) were those people. “We were just about to leave the event, less than a minute from walking back to the car, when a man collapsed across the street from where we were standing,” wrote Amy Bush in her online journal. “When he didn't get back up or even move, we all started yelling for medical help. … As I watched people checking for vitals, I realized it was Jason.” Lori Bush continued CPR, but she was tiring. Another man asked to help, identifing himself as a physician. Bush never saw his face and never knew his name: “Knees just came right beside me, like the answer to a prayer,” she recalled, “and he started breathing [while I did chest compressions].” Then, they switched positions. They worked together; the total time elapsed since Bush had rushed to the runner’s side was 20 minutes. She was exhausted from the strenuous compressions, her knees scraped and bloody from kneeling on the

absolutely no form of exercise in my life. After I made that disastrous trip up the stairs, I decided I was going to get healthy and take better care of myself. For my 37th birthday, the cigarettes went into the garbage; I quit cold turkey after 20 years of smoking. I bought myself a pair of running shoes as a birthday present and started walking and jogging, making little loops in my apartment parking lot. After a couple of weeks, I was able to do two miles and I moved out onto the street. Four months later, I was doing my first 10K. This was where I belonged! Exercise increased my awareness about what was going on with, and in, my body. It made focusing on better nutrition a lot easier. I realized that food was helping to fuel and repair my body. This changed my relationship with food and enabled me to make healthier choices. I found there is a distinct difference in eating for pleasure and eating with purpose. I was getting into the best shape of my life. Imagine my surprise when I woke up in a hospital bed three months later with people hovering over me. How did I get here? Why were these people asking me such stupid ques-

tions (“Who is the president?”)? After answering questions— and asking a few of my own—found out that I had been in an induced coma for four days. Why? I’d had a heart attack and died. And was dead for 47 minutes. My heart attack happened just as I was about to finish the Moonlight Margarita Run on August 2, 2007. I do not remember it at all—Versed has a way of doing that to you (Versed is the drug they induced the coma with, but it wipes days from your memory). An old piece of plaque in my arteries had broken loose, forming a blockage in my heart. My veins were cleaning themselves out, and unfortunately they got a little overzealous. This was merely a freak occurrence, something that nobody could have seen coming. I had looked and felt better than I had in years. I’d even had a doctor’s checkup a couple of months earlier. I was very fortunate to be where I was when my heart attack happened. I’ve been told that a nurse who had just finished the race turned around and saw me go down. She ran over and immediately started to perform CPR on me. She and another fellow worked for 27 minutes until the medics could

TO LIVE

Jason Simmons and Lori Bush

ground. “That 20 minutes was an eternity,” she said. The lengthy response time was due to the crowded race course and limited visibility in the dark. When EMS arrived, Bush thought, “I’ve got to get out of here; I obviously failed to save this man’s life.” She found her friend and left. Amy and Matt Bush stayed with their friend. “…[The Emergency Medical Technicians] had to revive him,” Amy Bush wrote. “…CPR, shock paddles, the whole scary affair, and it took them a while. You never want to hear people saying things like ‘he's not breathing’ or ‘I can't get a pulse.’ It was terrifying. But we kept our heads together and managed to use our extensive network of friends and relatives to get his mom's number. Once they got his heart going and stabilized him enough to move, we rushed to the ER to meet his family there.” Four months later, Lori Bush still had no knowledge of what happened to Simmons. “I couldn’t let it go,” she said. “Everyone was saying he’d died, was revived in the ambulance, but lost again. I had to know.” She tried her medical connections, but it wasn’t until she was contacted by the American Heart Association (AHA) that she learned he had survived. She was invited to a yearly AHA dinner that reunites survivors of heart incidents with the volunteers who HEALTH DYING TO LIVE

AFTER

reach me. It took the medics another 20 minutes before they got a heartbeat. At that point, the medics rushed me to the hospital where doctors induced a coma and put me into a state of controlled hypothermia. This ‘ice’ treatment is a relatively new approach, and the main concern was what damage might have been done to my brain while I was without a heartbeat for 47 minutes. But I surprised everyone and came back 100 percent. This near miss and my miraculous recovery gave me even more resolve to stay on a healthy path. You know the first question I asked the doctor? I asked him if I would be able to run again. I was glad to hear that I could – but I would have to wait a little while. The second day after I awoke from the coma, I was put into surgery for stints. That procedure went very well, and I was home soon afterward and back to work in my hair salon within two weeks. I was running (better than ever) after eight weeks. The doctor told me that, had I not been in such good shape (and had such skilled CPR), they would never have been able to save me – nor would I have made such a good recovery. I’ve continued to seek better fitness and to run. I came to find that healthiness, much like happiness, is a choice. I’ve chosen to be healthy and happy, and I have never regretted it. afm

From Jason Simmons' point of view From Lori Bush's point of view

assisted them. When she picked up her nametag at the event, she learned Simmons’ name for the first time. “I knew I’d recognize him,” she recalled, but she didn’t see him there. His nametag remained unclaimed. She went to the volunteers: “I’m not sure Jason survived.” From a glimpse of a card in Simmons’ pack or printing on a shirt, Bush knew that he’d been a member of the Austin Runners Club (ARC). She sent an email to the club: “I’m looking for Jason Simmons; can you just let me know he’s alive?” ARC assured Bush he was alive. More, they contacted Simmons. He immediately wrote to Bush, updating her on what had occurred after she left him. The two met for dinner with Simmons’ mother and grandmother. Simmons and his family were curious about the missing details. Bush completed the story for them. She revealed her emotions as she’d left the race: “I thought you were dead, and I was feeling a lot of guilt. How’d you get stuck with me? I wish I was bigger; I wish I was stronger.” She’ll never forget Simmons reply: “Obviously, your compressions were effective because it protected my brain.” Simmons had emerged from his coma with full brain health. He told her that it had been a last-minute decision to

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

DOWNLOAD AMERICAN RED CROSS' HANDS-ONLY CPR GUIDE ON WWW.AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM

"I thought you were dead and I was feeling a lot of guilt. How’d you get stuck with me? I wish I was bigger; I wish I was stronger." do the race. Originally, Simmons had planned a solitary training run on Cat Mountain. Bush believes fate put her there that night, watching for him at the finish. Bush is still running, though she’s had three knee surgeries. She focuses on the half marathon now (her marathon days— she’s completed five—are behind her). Currently she works for a biotech company in Austin. Letters she received from Simmons are in her “forever” file, and she spoke of their ordeal as though it happened yesterday. Bush said that there was a life lesson for her that evening, which she referred to as “a moment of ordinary people.” The lesson? “Don’t be a ‘Watcher,’ be a ‘Do-er.’” afm

THE BIGGEST RACE IN TEXAS

MARCH 3-4, 2012 FLAT CREEK RANCH HENLY, TEXAS

• USA CYCLING PRO XCT EVENT • FIRST RACE ON PRO XCT TOUR • UCI CATEGORY 1 RACE

• 100-PLUS PROS RACING • ALL CATEGORIES OF RACING • WOMEN’S RACING, KIDS CUP

REGISTRATION AND INFO AT WWW.MELLOWjOhNNYS.COM

0 pm am - 9:0 pm 0 0 : 1 1 ri: :00 Mon - F : 11:00 am - 6 n u Sat - S

Muscle Maker Grill is proud to open its first Texas location in the heart of downtown Austin, steps from the Capitol. Offering a variety of fresh gourmet dishes from Mexican and Italian, to American and Asian, people with all different palates can find their favorite dish, with a healthy twist. 906 Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78701 MuscleMakerGrill.com (512) 457-9400

Austin resident & restaurateur Matthew DeLeon opened Muscle Maker Grill after discovering one in NYC. Impressed by how good the food tasted and its high nutritional value, he knew Austin would be the perfect setting. Come on by for your next lunch or dinner, or post-workout smoothie. There will be great food with your health in mind.

facebook.com/MuscleMakerGrillAustin Eat in, Carryout, Delivery

GENERATIONS OF JOHNSONS WALK THE TALK OF FITNESS

Lady Bird’s legacies include Luci, Nicole, and Claudia By

CECILY SAILER +

P hotography by

BRIAN FITZSIMMONS

ach year thousands of runners, walkers, and bikers make their orbits around Lady Bird Lake—burning off indulgent calories, training for marathons, or trucking a younger generation around the trail for some fresh air and blue sky. This is merely routine for Austin’s active crowd, but their daily devotionals also serve as a fitting tribute to the former First Lady who spent much of her life beautifying Central Texas and promoting happy, healthy living.

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

Luci

Claudia Nicole

Of course, Austin’s iconic watermark is just one of Lady Bird’s legacies in Central Texas. Three others—Lady Bird’s daughter, Luci Baines Johnson, her granddaughter, Nicole Covert, and her great-granddaughter, Claudia Covert—also share their matriarch’s passion for the outdoors and her commitment to health (as well as her poise, good humor, and good looks). They say Lady Bird set a strong example within the family, and Luci says exercise allowed her mother to maintain strength in more ways than one. “I think she found exercise a very steadying force,” Luci says. “It provided her comfort and a platform from which she could maintain stability in a very demanding world. Lyndon Johnson was a force of nature, so I think Mother found swimming and walking a real source of sustenance.” During her years as First Lady, Luci says her mother relied on vitamins and massage, along with exercise, to maintain her physical health. She spent time walking when she could, but later began the at-home exercise routines popular in the 1960s, mostly because this allowed her to stay nearby when business called. Like many people, Lady Bird incorporated fitness into her life as she could, despite her endless commitments. But, given her druthers, Luci says, Lady Bird would have chosen swimming any day. “Everybody wanted a part of her, but in the water she was able to really have that alone time. On the exercise mat at home, someone could still come and get her. And they did. But when she swam, there was a sense of peace in that. She continued swimming even after she lost her balance completely. She swam 37 laps until she was 82.” Luci shares her mother’s passion for the water, she says, and her sense of athleticism—or lack thereof. “Mother was not an athlete in any way, shape, or form,

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

but she recognized the significance of exercise and passed that on to me,” Luci says. “I was not an athlete in any way or form. In fact, I was always the last person chosen for any team. I painfully remember my classmates bickering, ‘Why do we have to have Luci on our team? We had her on our team last time.’ I didn’t much blame them. But my ego athletically was pretty significantly diminished.” As Jazzercise, dance, and aerobics took root in the 1970s, Luci found individual exercise offered freedom from the competition inherent in other sports. “It was very relevant to me,” she says. In addition to her own personal fitness regimen, public and community health became a part of Luci’s life and career very early. For nearly 20 years, she performed visual screenings for Head Start, the national nonprofit that advocates for early childhood development and education. Luci attended nursing school and spent 20 years addressing issues in the field as chair of the University of Texas School of Nursing’s advisory board. She also volunteered her time and energy to national and local health institutions like the National Heart Association, Boston University’s School of Medicine, Seton Hospital, the Seton Fund, and Dell Children’s Foundation. “My father believed that in our great country, decent health care ought to be a right, not a privilege, for all our people. I share his dream and am willing to work for it as long as I draw breath,” Luci says. And it’s quite a legacy to carry. During his presidency, Lyndon Baines Johnson advanced the nation’s public health programs by authorizing the legislation creating Medicare and Medicaid, which provided federal health benefits for the poor and elderly. He also issued executive orders, in the wake of the Civil Rights legislation, which led to

SEMI-PRIVATE GYM Luci created a gym abover her residence for herself, her family, and her staff

APPAREL BY

LULULEMON M AKE-UP BY

LAUREN LUMSDEN, RAE COSMETICS

Title IX of the Education Amendments in 1972 offering equal protection for women in hiring decisions at public universities but Title IX is best known today for expanding opportunities for women’s athletics programs at the nation’s public colleges and universities. Today Luci carries that torch here in Central Texas, dedicating time to protecting and improving Austin’s preeminent “public gym,” the Roy and Ann Butler Hike and Bike Trail, which encircles the beloved lake now named for her mother, Lady Bird. She is also an avid cyclist in her own right. Inspired by her husband Ian Turpin’s love of cycling, the couple typically rides twenty or thirty miles together on the weekends. “When we married, he was dumbfounded I didn’t really know how to ride a bike. I may be the only person you know who didn’t really learn until they were over 50, but it is my greatest joy now. I’ve had accidents on many continents, but I gladly keep getting back on the bike.” In fact, Luci’s greatest personal achievement in the realm of fitness, she says, was completing a cycling vacation just six weeks after receiving treatment for Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The effects of GBS begin with tingling and numbness in the arms and legs and ultimately lead to paralysis, something Luci experienced in April of 2010. She credits her devoted medical team and her own

commitment to exercise for her recovery. “Prior to contracting GBS, I was exercising six days a week, and I believe with all that is in me that it was invaluable to my swift and complete recovery. That’s why my New Year’s resolution is to go back to a six-days-a-week exercise routine if I can make it happen.” Making it easier, Luci and her husband installed a gym in their home last year, which they share with their staff at LBJ Asset Management Partners. Here again, Luci’s personal commitment to health comes with an invitation to others to make time for exercise. As she says, exercise is about more than just good health—it helps her maintain a better outlook on life. “I’m happier, and I’m a better wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend.” For Luci’s daughter, Nicole, fitness is also a family and community affair. She played competitive sports at a young age and helped take her high school volleyball team to state. Her husband, Brent Covert, also an Austinite, is equally athletic, and their children— Johnson, 15, and Claudia, 13—have been involved in organized sports since they could tumble, swing a bat, or kick a ball. All the while, Brent and Nicole have been right there beside them, not just cheering but coaching. “We felt it was important for them to see us take an interest in their activities. It was something we could all do as a family,” Nicole says. She recalls coaching Claudia’s friends on basketball and volleyball teams, LIFESTYLE THE JOHNSON FAMILY

not to mold them into athletes, but to lend them a sense of belonging. “A lot of the time, kids are intimidated to participate because they’re not good at it, especially the girls,” Nicole says. “But if they know the coach, they might be more willing to join in. Some might never play again, but at least they were on a team. There’s something so valuable in that. With an individual sport, you don’t have to work with anybody else or get along with anybody.” For Claudia, her mother’s training paid off in more ways than one. Nicole’s expertise not only guided Claudia in basketball and volleyball but also solidified Claudia’s network of friends. “My mom’s very athletic,” Claudia says. “She had experience in high school and in middle school, so if she knew we were struggling with a serve or a lay-up, she had the experience to help us, and she was welcoming to all my friends.” With Claudia and Johnson now playing multiple sports, their days are filled with practices, games, and homework. But Nicole says this doesn’t come at the expense of family time. “We do find time to sit down and eat dinner as a family at least three to four times a week,” she says. “I think we all take for granted the time we have together, but I must say dinner at the Covert house is treasured by our family. No phone calls, no cell phones at the dinner table, no TV. Just family time.” For the Johnson clan, the commitment to family and the commitment to good health seem one and the same, as though both are hard-wired in their lineage. But Luci notes this wasn’t always the case. At a young age, she watched her own parents struggle to reform their eating habits and daily routines. “My father had his first heart attack when I was eight years old,” Luci recalls. “He quit smoking and removed fatty foods and desserts from his diet. He made sure ours was a shared sacrifice—a sacrifice a plump, little Luci was not so interested in,” she said. “He started swimming and walking and watched his caloric intake religiously.” By then Luci’s mother had already made calorie counting routine. But Lady Bird never completely renounced her love of fried foods, though her will remained strong, Luci says. “Fried was a part of her deep East Texas culinary tradition. She yearned for it when the menu provided it and spent a lifetime having to deny herself.” Hard-won as it may have been, this conversion toward healthier living took hold in the family,

MEALS ARE FAMILY TIME

"Dinner is treasured by our family. No phone calls, no cell phones at the dinner table, no TV. Just family time." —Nicole Covert engendering in Luci and Nicole, and later Claudia, an appetite for activity, though Luci is reluctant to take credit for passing on to her children the lessons her parents learned the hard way. Always quick to celebrate those around her, Luci claims her own four children enlightened her about healthy living. Not the other way around. “My office calls me the food and exercise police, but my children are the ones teaching me.” While Luci’s four children do wield impressive resumés in the realm of diet and exercise—collectively they are nutritionists, marathoners, tennis players, and amateur boxers—they credit their mother with their achievements, even if she won’t credit herself. As Nicole will testify, “My parents encouraged me and my siblings, from the time we could walk, to be active. My father was the athlete of the two, but my mother CONTINUED ON PAGE 50

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

bettysport is now available at your convenience. Visit our new website to buy online. www.bettysport.com Can’t make it downtown? Shop in the comfort of your home (or at work) and support local at the same time!

3 CAMPS IN 2 FEATURING

BRANDON MA Limited spac

SIRI LINDL0EY1,2

RSH & CHRIS

e available

SIE NOVAK

• All Three Disciplines... All Levels... All Distances • USA Triathlon Certiﬁed Coaches • Open to all Aspiring & Seasoned Endurance Athletes • Co-Ed and Women’s ONLY Weekends • Camp, Lodging & Meals... priced affordably

www.campmultisport.com

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48

was always our biggest fan. By the time we were two years old, we were swimming, on the ski slopes, playing sports, running outside, going out on Lake LBJ, riding bikes and horses, exploring the ranch.” Nicole also applauds Luci for keeping her grandchildren active, for demonstrating the joys of getting out, running around, and exploring the world rather than hunkering down for hours of air conditioning and video games. “Before my grandmother passed away, we would spend most weekends out at the LBJ Ranch,” Nicole says. “My mother and step-father would wake up early and take the grandchildren who wanted to go for bike rides, and they would ride for miles.” The more stories Luci and Nicole and Claudia tell, the more it seems fitness, to them, is about reinforcing family and strengthening the community that matters most. Half the reward of a workout comes from feeling stronger and relieving stress, but the other half comes from doing it together and making it fun. And, as is family tradition, this attitude goes beyond the family into the larger community. Perhaps the best example of this is the annual LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour. Launched in 2008, and sponsored by the Friends of LBJ National Historical Park, the Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club, the National Park Service, and the Western National Park Association, the LBJ 100 now gathers more than 1,000 cyclists together each spring for rides anywhere from 10 to 85 miles long, beginning and ending on the LBJ Ranch,

the very place where the Johnson tribe, over the decades, clocked hundreds of miles as part of their own informal cycling team. Luci says the event is a way for the public to enjoy the land her family loved most, and she says her husband, Ian, helped inspire the event’s formation. Today, the couple draws their own inspiration from the event they helped to organize. Luci notes the Texas 4000 riders, a group of young cyclists from the University of Texas who, in preparation for a 4,000-mile journey from Austin to Anchorage to raise money for the fight against cancer, use the LBJ 100 as a training ride. “I just love to hear their stories,” Luci says. “A lot of their stories are very poignant about why they make this sacrifice.” The event is scheduled this year for March 24, and proceeds benefit the improvement and maintenance of the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. At the end of the ride, all participating cyclists are invited to join a tour of the LBJ Ranch led by a true expert in Johnson family history—Luci, of course. And she is an exemplary storyteller. In all, the ride, the tour, and the celebration surrounding both, embody perfectly the Johnson’s outlook on fitness. As Luci says, “Our family memories are phenomenal, and so many of them are glued to some form of physical activity. I’d say, for us, fitness is a celebration of life—its potentials, its challenges, its fun, its majesty.” Or, as Nicole says, “It’s just fun. And we can do it as a family.” afm

THE 2012 LBJ 100 TAKES OFF ON MARCH 24

Luci, Will Rotzler, LBJ 100 founder and current Executive Director of the Tour de Gruene, and Yvonne Campos of the Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club of San Antonio, lead the riders in the National Anthem

Luci crossing the finish line

Luci with Gary Osborn his Emmis Communication teammates

PHOTOS BY CARYN CULLINAN OF CARYN-C PHOTOGRAPHY

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

Jessica Sharratt CrossFit Coach • Trainer

Desiree Ficker

Professional Triathlete

CREATED TO TAKE THE HEAT

LIKE THE WOMEN WHO WEAR IT

photo: Lucas Purvis

A perspiration resistant cosmetics line created specifically for active lifestyles

• 1206 W. 38th Street • 512.320.8732

A TOTALLY TRANSFORMED BODY IS WITHIN REACH. Our cardio ballet barre class will: • lengthen, firm and trim the thighs • lift the seat • flatten the abs • define the arms

GIFT C ARD

• melt away the fat • and more . . .

What is BeyondBarre? BeyondBarre is a balletbased, cardio-infused workout using precise muscle movements to sculpt, strengthen and stretch the body. www.pilatesbodiesaustin.com

7035 Bee Caves Road, Suites 205 and 207 | 512-306-1514

Give the gift of assage. $39

introductory rate for 1-hour massage

Find us at our 3 Austin locations South Lamar (512) 358-9300 Bee Caves Road (512) 306-0900 38th Street (512) 276-2481

Valentine’s gift cards available online at www.massageharmony.com

INTERVENTIO N?

OBESITY 52

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

It Shows You Care by Tricia Minnick

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Blogger and marathon runner Tricia Minnick shares her personal story of transformation regularly in her blog. For Austin Fit Magazine this month, she shares her first-person narrative to illuminate the emotional turmoil we think we’re avoiding when we do not directly address obesity issues with those we care about. Note that this is a personal narrative. If you or someone you know is experiencing physical, emotional, or mental obesity-related symptoms that may require professional attention, please see your physician for evaluation or referral to specialists.)

CAN’T THEY TELL? DON’T THEY SEE? ISN’T IT OBVIOUS?

t 278 pounds I was dying. Sure the weight was cutting my life expectancy, but really I was dying inside. Part of me was terrified my friends or family would mention my weight, but an even greater part of me was desperate for someone to say something about it. Visiting Disney with my family should have been something to look forward to, but instead I dreaded it. For me, it wasn’t the “happiest place on Earth;” it was a minefield of possible humiliation. Would I fit into the rides? Would that lap bar snap in place over my stomach? Would people laugh at me having to turn sideways to fit through the turnstiles? Would this be the day my family finally said something about what I had let myself become? On a crisp fall day, my family stood watching Minnie and Mickey sing and dance in the park’s opening ceremony. Despite the nip in the air, sweat trickled down my back as I frantically scanned the gates the crowds would be funneled through. Soon it was time to go in, and I braced myself for what was to come. Luckily, my son was in a stroller, so I was spared the embarrassment of having to try to squeeze through the turnstiles and was instead ushered through a larger opening made to accommodate strollers. One worry was out of the way, but there was still a full day ahead, fraught with obstacles. I carefully orchestrated which rides we would go on, not based on the enjoyment factor but on the simple criteria that I could fit into the seat. And then it happened. It was our turn to get on the ride. Too late, I realized those rockets were built for two, but I would have to ride in one alone. I tried to act like it wasn’t a big deal, plastering on a smile like I was actually enjoying myself, I was counting down the seconds until the ride would end. No one said a word about the fact that Tricia Minnick with her family at Disney World

"I TRIED TO ACT LIKE IT WASN’T A BIG DEAL, PLASTERING ON A SMILE LIKE I WAS ACTUALLY ENJOYING MYSELF."

HEALTH OBESITY INTERVENTION

p ©

4 for $40 in 14 THAT'S 4 CLASSES FOR $40 IN 14 DAYS! TWO LOCATIONS Westlak e Arboretum FIND OUT MORE AT purebarre.com 512.574.8644

Keep Austin Tucked!

p purelift barre tone burn ©

I took up as much space as two adults. We just headed to the next machine of torture. DON’T THEY CARE?

knew I was dangerously overweight. And probably, if someone had said, “Hey Tricia, you’ve put on a lot of weight,” I would’ve burst into tears. But when the tears dried, I might have looked beyond their statement. Reaching out to me, acknowledging the issue, would’ve showed they cared. DO THEY NOT LOVE ME?

TxHarmony is dedicated to providing quality Chinese healthcare in a relaxing and tranquil environment for conditions such as: Addiction Weight Control Asthma Fatigue Stress Headache Sinusitis And more!

Free!

30-minute consultation Kevin Luo, L.Ac. 4131 Spicewood Springs Rd , Suite I-1 Austin, TX 78759 512.795.8021 www.txharmony.com

have a very loving, supportive family. They show their love in a million ways, but once I became an adult, they refrained from mentioning my size. Weight is a tricky beast. There isn’t a set number on the scale that magically determines if you’re healthy or not. Weight-loss stories and plans are strewn across every magazine cover and dominate the bookshelves, but directly addressing someone’s weight is considered taboo in our society. Even knowing this, there was a demon whispering in the back of my head that if they really loved me, they would reach out to me. I don’t blame my friends or family for my poor choices, but once I had broken that cycle, I needed to know why they hadn’t said anything. When I was an overweight child, my family talked about my unhealthy habits, encouraging better portion sizes and more activity. When I started running through fad diets in my teen years, they tried to explain more sensible approaches. But when I became an adult, and I escalated from being overweight to becoming morbidly obese, there was near silence. My friends and family tiptoed around the issue, never stating the obvious. I asked why, and the answer was heartbreakingly simple: “We loved you so much we didn’t want to hurt you.” They were afraid I’d become defensive and put up a wall, pushing away the ones who cared about me. They knew I was struggling with some emotional issues and worried that by confronting me about them, they would push me over that figurative edge. They cared about me so much that they kept quiet. BUT CAN’T THEY SEE I’M HURTING?

T 54

he dirty little secret behind obesity is people aren’t feeding their bodies; AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

they’re feeding their hurts. Odds are the obese person didn’t get that way solely because he or she enjoys cheeseburgers. Sure, some people just love food, but there are others like me who use food to self-medicate until it almost becomes an addiction. Can’t forget a difficult childhood? Turn your focus to food; turn your thoughts to your next meal. Feel like you don’t deserve to be loved by others? Stuff your face until you’re obese and so uncomfortable with yourself you have an excuse to hide inside, never giving others a chance to reject you. If someone put a gun to my head right now and insisted on knowing where my deep-rooted issues come from, I doubt I’d survive. I don’t have all those answers. I know I grew up feeling worthless, somehow never measuring up to my own expectations. I was never pretty enough, thin enough, funny enough, smart enough, good enough. I can remember having these feelings as early as elementary school. I would daydream about the day when I would fit in, when I would finally measure up. That theme continued throughout adulthood; sometimes at unexpected moments those thoughts still echo in my head. Where those issues stem from is something I continue to deal with today. Even once we start healing our bodies, our minds may still need mending. Sometimes professional help is needed to finally be whole again. DRUGS ARE ILLEGAL, BUT JUNK FOOD ISN’T.

omparing food to drugs may seem extreme, but in my life as an obese individual, junk food was my drug of choice. I exhibited all the signs of someone addicted to an illegal substance. I was constantly planning my next “fix.” I often felt unable to resist the lure of a fast food chain, and I would even eat in secret. Like any true junkie, I was constantly telling myself “I could quit tomorrow if I wanted to.” A moment from my past floats forward: I’d dropped my husband off at work and had a sleeping infant in the backseat of my truck. I should have driven home to do some laundry or clean up the kitchen from breakfast, but instead I was sitting in a Taco Bell parking lot. I sat staring at that building, waiting for them to open, trying to find the willpower to start the truck and drive home. I didn’t need food; we’d just had breakfast. But I couldn’t resist. The employees turned the lights on, and I headed to that drive-

through window. As I ate my burrito, I could taste the salt of tears streaming down my face: I was no longer in control. IF YOU CAN’T SAY SOMETHING NICE, DON’T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL?

elling someone they’re eating too much isn’t nice…or is it? Maybe that statement alone isn’t, but what if it was followed up by action? “Tricia, I’m concerned about your current lifestyle. Let’s take a healthy cooking class together.” The key in reaching out to our loved ones is not just to say the words but also to offer support through action. Beyond offering to go on walks with your loved one or researching healthy alternatives to their favorite meal, offering emotional support is part of laying the foundation of help. After I’d lost 120 pounds and had a couple of years under my belt with my new healthy life style of moving more and eating less, I thought I had all the answers. After all, I spent my free time offering help and hope to an online community of readers struggling with obesity. Yet I didn’t take the time to offer that same support to a family member who reached out to me, saying, “I’ve gained a lot of weight.” Sad to say, I had already noticed this person’s struggle, but I had fallen into the idea that it’s too risky to discuss someone else’s unhealthy lifestyle. What if he gets upset with me? What if I hurt his feelings?

joke, and changed the subject. But I wanted to help, so it was time to think outside the box. I used social media to reach out. I wrote a blog post, without mentioning his name, knowing he would read it and hoping it would open a line of communication. I said: “I see you; I acknowledge there is a problem. I’m hurting because I know you’re hurting. I love you, and I’m here to help you in any way I can.”

• SPORTS CONDITIONING

JUST EATING A SALAD WON’T MAKE YOU HEALTHY.

• FITNESS AND WELLNESS PROGRAM

e all know there is more to being healthy than simply eating well—we must nurture our minds, bodies, and souls. Similarly, we can’t take a one-track approach when reaching out to a loved one. Opening a line of dialogue, one that stems from love not shame, is the first step. From there our words need to be backed up with action. Sign up for a family boot camp. Take that healthy cooking class. Lead by example. But most of all, take a risk, get involved, really be there for that obese person. afm

I’M HERE TO HELP.

1033 La Posada Dr. Suite 308 Austin, Texas 78752 (512) 284-7192; Fax: (512) 284-7203

www.EndeavorRehab.com

Neural Advancement Center

f my loved one were drinking his liver into oblivion, I wouldn’t hesitate to speak up. From now on, I plan to apply that same concept to those around me who are leading unhealthy lifestyles; their health is worth more than a few uncomfortable moments to me. I reached out to my family member with concern and support. I didn’t hurl accusations or make inflammatory statements. I didn’t shame him into accepting a healthier lifestyle. Talking to my loved one face-to-face didn’t work. He brushed me off, made a

• PHYSICAL THERAPY

Take Strokes Off Your Golf Game Quicken your Reaction Time Balance Your Mind so that You Can Focus

Free Yourself From Stubborn Addictions, Anxiety, Depression and Much more! Brainwave Optimization with Real-Time-Balance (RTB) is safe, holistic, therapeutic, non-invasive, gentle and relaxing, drug and chemical free.

PHOTO BY BRIAN FITZSIMMONS

HEALTH OBESITY INTERVENTION?

*First session is FREE when you mention this ad (512) 333-0990 www.ThinkHeadWay.com

ff fit finds

GADGET

yurbuds | Inspire Pro AVAILABLE AT: yurbuds.com, Amazon.com, Best Buy, Apple stores, and specialty running stores PRODUCT COST: from $59.99

he Inspire Pro sport earphones feature a 3-Button control and Dry Mic that allows easy navigation of an iPod, iPad, or iPhone. These sport earphones feature full iPhone 4S integration, allowing control of our product almost entirely with your voice, for an unsurpassed sport earphone experience. WHAT MAKES THEM COOL: Like all yurbuds sport earphones, the Inspire Pro features patented TwistLockâ&#x201E;˘ technology, guaranteed never to fall out. The model is designed to contour to the human ear so they are comfortable and provide consistent sound quality, even while in motion. Designed as true sport equipment, yurbuds are sweat proof, water resistant, and provide ambient noise protection, which allows outside sounds to be heard, such as passing cars.

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

One size does NOT fit all!

Gear / Apparel / Gadgets / Goodies

Feel the Comfort Hear the Difference Custom-Made Earbuds & Headphones

$60 off Custom-Fit Services

APPAREL

February special for ears of all Shapes, Sizes and Generations.

Zensah | Compression Leg Sleeves AVAILABLE AT: zensah.com, Texas Running Company PRODUCT COST: $39.99

ensah Compression Leg Sleeves are worn by athletes to aid performance and recovery. They help increase circulation, stabilize muscles, and keep your legs feeling fresh.

WHAT MAKES THEM COOL: Seamless, pin-point compression, and a variety of color options

RKAudiology 2003 South Lamar Suite 4

512.704.7447 n! e tio hit ca W o n L w Be Ne o @ C So

SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE

30K-60K-90K 30K-60K-90K TUNE-UPS TUNE-UPS ENGINES•BRAKES ENGINES•BRAKES TRANSMISSIONS TRANSMISSIONS EXHAUST EXHAUST CUSTOM MODSMODS CUSTOM COllISION, COllISION, pAINTpAINT & BODy & BODy

call for call for estimates estimates

FIT FINDS GEAR + APPAREL + GADGETS + GOODIES

30K-60K-90K 30K-60K TUNE-UPS TUNE-UPS ENGINES•BRAKES ENGINES•BRAKE TRANSMISSIONS TRANSMISSIONS EXHAUST EXHAUST CUSTOM CUSTOM MODSMODS COllISION, COllISION, pAINTpAINT & BODy & BODy

call call fo estimat estim

JEEP MASTERS JEEP MASTERS

JEEP JEEP MAST MA

www.jeepmasters.com www.jeepmasters.com 2617 soUtH 2617 soUtH first st. st. first

www.jeepmaste www.jeepma 2617 2617 soUt so first first st

326-3555 326-3555

To submit Fit Find ideas to the AFM Team, please email the following information to fitfinds@austinfitmagazine.com: Product Name, Brand, Where You Can Buy It, Cost, Category (Gear, Apparel, Gadgets, Goodies), Description, What Makes It Cool. Please also attach a high res (300 dpi) image.

SCHEDULED SCHEDULED MAINT M

326-35 326-3

Recipe #recipe

Soba Noodle Salad with Edamame and Napa Cabbage

DID YOU KNOW? In general, soba noodles are a combination of buckwheat and wheat; however, some are 100% buckwheat, which is gluten free.

by Anne Wilfong, RD, LD & Alexa Sparkman, MA, RD, LD photography by Brian Fitzsimmons

WHAT YOU NEED

NUTRITION

SERVING SIZE: 1 CUP

2 cups Napa cabbage, thinly sliced

Calories 195 Protein 7 g

2 medium raw carrots

MAKES APPROXIMATELY4 CUPS

6-ounce package of soba noodles

Carbohydrates 17 g Fat 13 g

Sodium 557 mg Fiber 2 g

1/2 cup cooked, shelled edamame 3 tablespoons sesame oil 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon sesame seeds 3 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions

HOW YOU MAKE IT 1. Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse well under cold water. Set aside. 2. While noodles are cooking, heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add sliced cabbage to skillet and cook until slightly wilted. 3. Using a vegetable peeler, peel carrots into paper-thin strips.

PRICE PER SERVING: $1.41 RESTAURANT PRICE: $5.99

4. Combine soba noodles, carrots, edamame, and Napa cabbage 5. Whisk sesame oil, vinegar, and soy sauce together. 6. Gently combine noodles with dressing and top with sesame seeds and green onions.

This recipe is brought to you by Whole Foods Market.

7. Serve immediately or chilled.

Registered and licensed dietitians Alexa Sparkman and Anne Wilfong, can provide reliable, objective nutrition information, separate facts from fads, and translate the latest scientific findings into easy-to-understand nutrition information. For more information about their nutrition counseling practice, contact Alexa or Anne at 512.257.0898 or SparkmanNutrition.com

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2012

Make this New Year all about the Lifestyle and NOT about the Resolution!

My Fit Foods....its not just 21 Days....Its A Lifestyle! Mike

to THIS!

went from that...

“I just completed the 21 day challenge and lost 16 pounds. I would deﬁnitely recommend My Fit Foods. It works because it’s not a diet, it’s just healthy food. I have more energy and have learned a lot about eating healthy.” - J. J. Klevenhagen

Healthy Carbs — Low glycemic carbohydrates

Fresh Veggies — all of our produce is delivered fresh daily

+ Custom Guidance on your meals helps you to build a healthy habit...eating and living fit! + Increase your energy levels + Lose body fat and build muscle + One on one consultation + Daily motivation and accountability

Lean Proteins — We use only 90% or leaner proteins

Over 50 meals to choose from. Cooked fresh and never frozen. 4200 N. Lamar (Central) | 323.2738 3201 Bee Caves (Westlake) | 329.0003 10740 Research Blvd. (North) | 372.8323 4301 William Cannon (South) | 358.0123 For online ordering and more information check us out at www.myfitfoods.com

KEEP AUSTIN FIT.

2011 Austin Fit Magazine Distance Challenge #AFMDC

@austinfit

AFMDC Leaderboard H

ere’s who’s out in front prior to the 3M Half Marathon on January 29, 2012. The times given are cumulative times from the first three Austin Fit Magazine Distance Challenge races. As of December 31, 2011, the AFMDC leaders split into two groups: half (runners complete a total of three half marathons, ending with the half distance at the Austin

AFM DISTANCE CHALLENGE

FULL TRACK LEADERS

HALF TRACK LEADERS

Name

Total Race Time

Overall Female

Lisa Buckley