Healthy Living - 3/26/2012

HEALTHY LIVING Achoo!

Could this be the worst allergy season ever?

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GET ZUMBA-FIED

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For Spring

HEALTHY LIVING SPRING 2012

HEALTHY LIVING SPRING 2012

Editor’s Note

Healthy Living is a product of the Anniston Star Welcome to the new and improved “Healthy Living” magazine!

It’s spring, and we felt like giving ourselves a makeover.

We’ve added lots of big, bright photos.

We’ve included lots of tips on health, beauty, fitness and weight loss.

We’ve beefed up our pages with stories about local doctors and health providers.

Want to know what local spas have in store for spring?

Ever wonder why everybody’s allergies are so bad here in Calhoun County?

Ever wonder what a chiropractor does? We’ll let Dr. Dale Burgess tell you.

Ever wonder what goes on in the stripped-down gym at CrossFit Serious Fitness in downtown Anniston? Hint: It involves a giant tire.

Read on for these stories and more.

To celebrate our new makeover, we’re giving away a makeover!

One lucky reader will win a new look (hair and makeup) from the Spa at McClellan.

For details and entry form, see page 19.

Here’s wishing you health and beauty in the days ahead!

Lisa Davis Features Editor, Anniston Star

HEALTHY LIVING Achoo!

DESIGNER Patrick Stokesberry

TH RECIPES FOR HEAL

WRITERS Ann Angell Joe Medley Brooke Nicholls Nelson Erin Williams

TO ADVERTISE IN HEALTHY LIVING Janet Miller 256-235-9225 jmiller@annistonstar.com

Spa Trends GET ZUMBA-FIED

rst Could this be the wo allergy season ever?

For Spring

EDITOR Lisa Davis Features Editor, Anniston Star 256-235-3555 ldavis@annistonstar.com

PHOTOGRAPHER Stephen Gross

WINovAer

Make

Details

Inside

2

Copyright 2012 Consolidated Publishing Company

HEALTHY Living SPRING 2012

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HEALTHY Living SPRING 2012

table of

Contents Fitness 6

TOUGH ENOUGH?

8

ZUMBA-FIED!

10

CrossFit gym is where the Navy SEALs work out.

Can a longtime aerobics instructor learn to wiggle-jiggle thrust?

FLEET FEET

The right shoe can boost your workout, and your game.

Health 12

ACHOO!

14

MEET THE DOCTOR

15

RESOLUTION UPDATES

Could this be the worst allergy season yet for Calhoun County?

What does a chiropractor do? Let Dr. Dale Burgess tell you.

An update on readers who shared their New Year’s Resolutions with us.

Beauty 17

SPRING SPA TRENDS

19

WIN A MAKEOVER!

Girls, it’s time to get ready for the beach.

We gave ourselves a makeover, now you can win one, too!

Weight Loss 20

HEY Y’ALL, EAT THIS

23

RELAY FOR LIFE

Southern food doesn’t have to be all fat and butter a la Paula Deen.

A calender of events for the American Cancer Society fundraiser

HEALTHY Living SPRING 2012

NHC HealthCare

2300 Coleman Road ❖ Anniston (256) 831-5730 ❖ www.nhchealthcareanniston.com

Do You Suffer with Chronic Pain?

There ARE Other Answers to “Chronic Pain”

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We feature different, yet effective clinical regimens for treating patients with chronic and severe conditions. Conditions including:

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• chronic neck and back pain • peripheral neuropathy • fibromyalgia • restless leg syndrome • balance disorders/dizziness • weight loss/obesity

NHC Healthcare…offering skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services, “Short Stay” orthopedic program, and many more services to meet any need.

If you have any of the above symptoms, to name a few, you owe it to yourself to make an appointment at Burgess Chiropractic and Acupuncture Clinic today! We feature the LiteCure Laser, disc decompression therapy, chiropractic alignments, acupuncture and nutrition.

Burgess Chiropractic & Acupuncture Clinic

See why NHC Healthcare is Calhoun County’s choice…

VEIN & VASCULAR LASER INSTITUTE

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HEALTHY Living SPRING 2012

Fitness

Tough enough?

CrossFit gym is where the Navy SEALs work out

Photo by Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star

Casey Maddux hits a tire with a large sledge hammer at CrossFit gym in Anniston

HEALTHY Living SPRING 2012

By Joe Medley jmedley@annistonstar.com

How tough is CrossFit training?

Tough enough for Navy SEALs, Army special forces, law enforcement and other highenders to bet their lives on it.

Tough enough that this mid-40s guy – who has tried to stay in reasonably good shape over the years – couldn’t resist the urge to squat down in the middle of my maiden attempt and catch my breath.

And challenging enough to jar me from my comfort zone and make me want more.

That’s my takeaway from one hour’s paces in Anniston’s CrossFit Serious Fitness. It was an hour well spent with exercise physiologist/ owner Tom Muller as my instructor.

Emphasis on “spent.”

But that’s a good thing. It means I got pushed to my limits, or at least pushed in a way I had not been previously.

Not that I haven’t tried. I’ve lifted weights in some form most of my adult life. In recent months, I have turned to daily, 45-minute walks through my highly hilly subdivision, along with the Perfect Push-ups program.

But I wasn’t quite ready for the nonstop nature of CrossFit. The continuing rotation between exercises pushed my limits.

That’s the idea of CrossFit. It’s broad and specializes in not specializing. The idea is to develop general body strength and fitness useful in multiple sports or disciplines.

But first, I had to get my posture right.

It’s head up, back bowed, hips open and no slumping shoulders. Form is key.

Then came the warm-up: five circuits of body-weight squats, pushups, pullups and back extensions, followed by flexibility work.

And just when I’d felt like I’d done something, it was time for the WOD – Workout of the Day. Regular members work three days then rest a day, and each day’s workout varies. Oh, and you don’t know your workout until you show up and see it written on a grease board.

On this day, Tom hit me with a circuit of jumps, exercise ball lunge-presses and rowing machine work.

It was 10 standing jumps atop a nearly 2foot-tall wooden box, followed immediately by 10 lunging presses of a heavy exercise ball up a wall, then 150-meters on a rowing machine.

I got through the circuit three times, plus one jumping session, before time was up. I started gasping in the middle of the first circuit, but plowed on.

It’s constant resistance and full-body movement, hence the combination of general

body strength and conditioning.

It’s done with simple equipment in a spartan warehouse, with a garage door open to 14th Street. Providing motivatio n are Muller, music and wall flags representing the SEALS and other units that have visited.

If that’s not enough, well, you don’t want to look bad in front of your classmates, and I nearly crashed on the first jump. Thanks, Hayden, for the reassuring smile.

It’s $70 a month. I could see getting hooked.

Joe Medley is The Star’s sports columnist.

He can be reached at 256-235-3576 or jmedley@annistonstar.com. Follow on Twitter @ jmedley_star.

The CrossFit philosophy CrossFit was founded in California in 2000. There are now some 3,400 CrossFit-affiliated gyms around the world. The program is used by many fire departments, law-enforcement agencies and military organizations. This is the CrossFit philosophy, as espoused on the Anniston gym’s website: • “A regular gym has mirrors. We have trainers coaching you on your form.”

• “They have bicep curls and cable-crossover machines. We have squats and deadlifts that you’ll actually use in life.”

• “They have cardio machines telling you you’re going too fast. We have trainers telling you to speed up.”

• “They train for looks. We train for life.”

• “They have a 20-minute workout in 2 hours. We have a 2-hour workout in 20 minutes.”

SOURCE: www.crossfitseriousfitness.com

CrossFit Serious Fitness • 14 E. 14th St., Anniston • 256-405-8579 • www.crossfitseriousfitness.com • $70 a month; no contracts.

• Call to schedule a first free workout.

Photo by Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star

Richard Turner does some serious exercises at CrossFit gym in Anniston

8

HEALTHY LIVING SPRING 2012

ZUMBAFIED! Can a longtime aerobics instructor learn to wiggle-jiggle thrust?

Want to Zumba?

To find a Zumba class near you, go to Zumba.com and type in your ZIP code. There are 89 classes listed within a 25-mile radius of Anniston.

Types of Zumba There are six types of officially licensed Zumba classes: ▶ Zumba Fitness:Basic class set to high-energy Latin and international beats. ▶ Zumba Gold: Zumba for aging baby boomers. ▶ Zumba Toning:Combines body-sculpting exercises and cardio work with Zumba moves. Uses maraca-like toning sticks. ▶ Aqua Zumba:Knows as “the Zumba pool party.” Uses traditional aqua fitness moves (in the pool for a low-impact workout). ▶ Zumbatomic: For kids ages 4-12. ▶ Zumba Gold Toning: Zumba for aging baby boomers plus lightweight resistance training.

Photo by Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star

Jackie Acker leads zumba exercise class at the YMCA in Anniston

BY ANN ANGELL Special to the Star

After teaching fitness for two years shy of 30 years (yes, I started when I was 10), I have tried every imaginable type of fitness class – including some that are not in anyone’s imagination.

I first tried Zumba several years before it hit Anniston, while I was at a fitness conference. It just wasn’t my bag, so to speak.

When Zumba started to hit it big, Lora Nelson Pinson brought it to Anniston. Now, according to Zumba.com, there are more than 89 classes within a 25-mile radius of the city.

That is a lot of hip-shaking, gyrating, bootywiggling going on.

In case you have been under a rock, Zumba is a class that combines salsa and meringue dance moves with great Latin music.

The story goes that a Colombian aerobics instructor named Beto Perez forgot his regular music tape one day. All he had to play for his class was the music he listened to: Latin dance music.

The rest is history.

Now, I am all for anything that gets people up and moving. That is exactly what Zumba has done.

I see the most unlikely people coming out of a Zumba class. People you would never expect to be zumba-ing. It makes you want to go in there and see what it is all about.

So I did.

Thankfully, you cannot see what I had to see in that mirror. It might burn your eyes out of your head.

My Zumba talent is sorely lacking. I have rhythm, I can dance, but I cannot Zumba.

My old Latin teacher used to say there is nothing new under the sun that the Romans didn’t try first. Maybe she knew what she was talking about after all.

Many of the Zumba moves are very traditional hi-lo aerobics moves, with a little twist. They are some of the same moves we taught many moons ago. They are just Zumba-fied!

I understand how aerobics classes move to the music, and how important music is to the class.

But in Zumba, the music IS the class.

If you do not at least tap your toe in a Zumba class, it may already be too late for you. You may be dead.

At my Zumba class, I enjoyed the music. I enjoyed surveying the other wannabes to see who had it and who did not.

I am still not convinced that Zumba is the great workout that some people say it is. But maybe that’s because I don’t have the wiggle-jiggle thrust of people who seem to love Zumba.

For me, I didn’t really break much of a sweat (unless you count the sweat from embarrassment), and I didn’t feel like I do when I leave a spin class or a kickboxing class.

But it doesn’t really matter if you have the wiggle-jiggle thrust. It matters if you move.

I promise you, the instructors don’t care if you have it. They will not judge you. They want you to be there and they want you to have fun. That is what Zumba is.

It is fun.

That is why people keep coming back. As they say in Zumba-speak, “Ditch the workout and join the party.”

Ann Angell is program center manager at the Oxford Y for Now.

▶ Zumba Sentao: Coming soon! The newest workout will use chair-based choreography to build up core strength.

Source: Zumba.com

The Zumba story In the mid 1990s, a Colombian fitness instructor named Alberto “Beto” Perez forgot to bring his traditional aerobics music tape to class. So he played one of the tapes he had in his backpack: the salsa and merengue music he grew up with.

And a fitness craze was born.

Or maybe it’s a dance craze, like the Macarena.

Zumba folks like to say that Zumba classes let the music move you (instead of you counting reps over the music).

In 2001, Perez moved to Miami, formed a business and trademarked the word “Zumba.”

By 2005, a Zumba Academy was training and licensing instructors.

Next came Zumbawear, music CDs and a series of at-home fitness DVDs. In 2010, Zumba fitness programs were released for Wii, Xbox and PS3.

“Zumba” is pronounced “Zoomba.” It’s a made-up word, by the way.

It doesn’t mean anything.

SOURCE: Zumba.com Beto Perez teaches a Latin-inspired Zumba class a tthe Olympia Gym in Aventura, Fla.

Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald

HEALTHY Living SPRING 2012

Give Vein Disease a Swift Kick!

10

HEALTHY LIVING SPRING 2012

FLEET FEET

The right shoe can boost your workout, and

YOUR GAME

BY LESLIE BARKER GARCIA The Dallas Morning News

Working out has such potential for simplicity. You decide on an activity, set aside a time, find the right workout clothes.

Check, check and check.

Then you put on your shoes, and that dainty checkmark can easily become a big bold X: If you chose your shoes because they were a) the least ratty in your closet, b) the flashiest at the store or c) your best friend swears by them, chances are they’ll make your feet hurt.

And who wants to exercise with painful feet?

“Getting the right shoe is really important,” says Brian Conway, director of sports medicine for Ben Hogan Sports Therapy Institute of Texas Health Resources. “The No. 1 rule of thumb is that your shoes can’t multitask.”

In other words, there really are reasons (other than paying the salaries of shoe-company employees) that you shouldn’t swap out running shoes for tennis shoes, or basketball for lacrosse, or soccer for volleyball, or Zumba for racquetball.

With each sport, feet move in different ways, and shoes need to provide support or flexibility for such endeavors.

Thus, the $17.5 billion that Americans spent on athletic shoes in 2010, according to the National Sporting Goods Association.

“Where a running shoe needs to be flexible, a court shoe needs to be a little more firm because of what you’re trying to do,” says Conway. “In basketball, there’s a lot of forward, backward, sideto-side. You need a firm sole of a shoe to give support through those motions.”

A tennis shoe needs support to compensate for side-to-side movements and toe cushioning for the sport’s stopand-go movements, says Angie Brown,

director of rehabilitation services at Medical City Dallas Hospital.

“If it doesn’t fit and you’re constantly coming to a stop quickly, your foot can hit the end of it and get jammed into the toe area,” Brown says. “You’re getting blood under your toenail and you can lose the toenail.”

If you have a hammertoe — that is, toes curled under — or bunions, the pain and foot trauma could be even worse, she says.

As purchasing manager for Run On, Katie Pyle’s vocation is shoes. An athlete from a young age, Pyle has known the importance of buying sports-specific shoes. She would never have dreamed “of wearing a running shoe to compete in a basketball game or a softball cleat to a soccer game.”

Pyle says specific shoes give what every athlete wants: an edge. “It could be in the form of preventing injury or a better grip on the surface or increasing speed. Could you use a running shoe to play basketball? Sure, and you may even make a few shots.”

Similarly, “you could bring a Toyota Prius to go off-roading in rugged terrain. But the person who shows up in a four-wheel-drive Land Rover stands a better chance every time. That’s what a Land Rover is built for.”

Maybe nothing bad will happen if you don’t wear the right shoe. But you could end up paying a visit to a physical therapist.

“If your shoes don’t fit right, you can end up getting blisters and then jam your toe and then you start to run or walk funny because you’re compensating for the shoe,” says Brown. That could lead to pain or injury in the ankle, hip and lower back.

“It might start as knee pain,” she says. “’Why does that hurt?’ Because you’re walking funny. ‘Why am I walking funny?’ Because your shoe doesn’t fit.”

Photo by Sharon M. Steinman/Fort Worth Star-Telegram

DOES THE SHOE FIT?

Here are some tips on how to buy the right shoe: • Do your research on what type of shoe is best for your sport. You’ll have more of an idea of what to look for. This doesn’t entail asking friends what they wear, because your feet are not their feet.

• Seek help. At running stores, employees are trained to watch customers walk or run, and offer a selection of shoes most likely to fit according to their gait and how they move. Sporting goods stores have shoes arranged by sport.

• Bring your old shoes. The wear pattern on their soles can help experts determine how you’ve worn them down; i.e., if you pronate (walk inward on your shoes) or supinate (walk on the outsole).

• Shop at the end of the day. Feet swell; the pair of shoes that fits fine at 10 a.m. will probably be too snug by dusk.

• Try them on. Walk around the store. Jog up and down the aisles. If you just take them for looks alone, you won’t care about appearance once your feet start hurting.

• Buy the right size. Yes, even if it is bigger than what you think you wear. In running and walking shoes, you’ll need a pair at least a half to full size larger than usual.

• Make sure they’re comfortable NOW. Don’t tell yourself, “Oh, they’ll stretch.” You should be able to put them on and start walking right this very minute. Or playing tennis. Or sashaying through your aerobics class.

HEALTHY Living SPRING 2012

WHAT’S BEST FOR YOUR GAME?

Additional advice from experts on buying sport-specific shoes.

TENNIS The expert: Marty Berryman, tennis coach What to look for: Durability, good traction. “In tennis, you’re stopping on a dime and going in the other direction,” says Berryman, who’s coached for 34 years.

“You want a shoe to grip the court but to release so the athlete can move.”

What else to look for: “Make sure the cup inside the shoe that holds the foot doesn’t slip.”

Anything else? “Generally tennis players will be on the balls of their feet. Is there adequate cushion there?”

What he and the team wear: Prince T22 Prince

BASKETBALL The expert: Brian Conway, National Athletic Trainers’ Association What to look for: “You want a bend in the forefoot because you’re on your toes a lot,” says Conway.

What else to look for: A broad toe box, which, as its name implies, is where the toes are. “As you move and cut, your feet will spread out. If it is too narrow, your foot can’t work the way that is most beneficial.

“The heel counter is the curve in the back of the shoe. It needs to be a lot firmer and more snug than in a running shoe.”

Anything else? Lace-ups over Velcro. “Tightening the laces keeps your foot where it’s supposed to be.”

What he wears: He hasn’t played basketball for a while, he says, but his teenage son wears Nike Zoom Hyper Fuse.

SOCCER The expert: Eric Bell, women’s soccer coach, and Conway.

What to look for: Comfort. “Soccer shoes should feel like a glove on your hand,” Bell says. “They need to be a happy balance between snug and not too tight. You want to be able to strike the ball properly.”

Cautions Conway: “People try to get a smaller shoe because they feel like if it’s compact and they kick, the ball will explode off. But to play you have to be able to move. You can’t move if the shoe is tight.”

What else to look for: The proper shoe for the proper surface, Bell says. For a hard ground, you need a shoe with a molded, rubber-type cleat, he says. For soft ground, you need a shoe with metal studs for better traction.

Anything else? Quality, Bell says. “Look to make sure the craftsmanship is to your liking, as well as the material used to make the shoe.” In other words, check for details like even stitching. “If you’re buying a shoe and have money to afford a decent one, go for the more expensive because it’s made better,” he says. “It should last you a season.”

What he wears: Nike Tiempo Legend IV Elite

RUNNING

Nike

Nike

The experts: Kerry Little, Luke’s Locker training coordinator, and Duncan Cragg, shoe manager.

What to look for: A shoe that feels like an extension of your foot. It should support your foot so your toes aren’t cramped, yet fit snugly enough so you have to untie it to take it off.

What else to look for: A heel that fits snugly, but with a thumb’s width between the end of your toe and the shoe. If the heel slips, check out runnersworld.com to learn the simple but effective “runner’s loop” way of lacing your shoes.

Anything else? Plan on buying a new pair every 300 to 400 miles, Little says. One test: Turn your shoe over. Press on the midsole, what she calls “the sweet spot in the middle of the ball of the foot.” If it feels mushy, “like foam rubber instead of responsive rubber,” Cragg says, it’s time for a new pair.

What she wears: Brooks Ghost Brooks Ghost

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HEALTHY LIVING SPRING 2012

Health

Why are allergies so bad here?

There are five things working against us here in Calhoun County.

ACHOO! Could this be the worst allergy season yet?

BY LISA DAVIS ldavis@annistonstar.com

Itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, stuffy head.

It’s a lament heard more than once in these parts: “I never had allergies till I moved to Calhoun County!”

Allergies are indeed worse here — and one local doctor says this season could be one of the worst ever.

That yellow pollen that was all over the place in mid-March?

That was the trees blooming about eight weeks earlier than normal, because we had such a mild winter.

“This year is probably going to be especially brutal,” said Dr. Robert Grubbe of the Allergy & Asthma Center in Oxford. “It is so warm, so early.

“Last year was bad. Two years ago was actually worse. This is probably shaping up to be like two years ago.”

“Hay fever” is actually neither. It’s not a fever, and hay is not what causes it. Rather, it’s typically caused by the pollen of trees, grasses, weeds and molds.

In addition to these seasonal allergens, other things can cause allergy symptoms year-round. These include critters like cats, dogs, cockroaches and dust mites, which are microscopic insects that thrive in carpets, mattresses and pillows.

Grubbe warns that the dust mites could be particularly bad this summer, again because of the mild winter. Dust mites thrive in heat and humidity, and typically die back in the cold, dry winter months.

Not this year. “When people don’t use the heat very often, the dust mite population doesn’t die off,” Grubbe said.

The only bright point in all this is that the yellow pine pollen that’s coating your car is probably NOT making you sneeze. “Pine pollen is heavy and falls to the ground. Lighter pollen is more airborne, and that’s what you breathe in,” said Dr. Beatrice Smith of Anniston Ear, Nose & Throat. “You can be allergic to pine, but more often than not it’s another tree that you’re allergic to.”

STRIKE ONE: It’s hot.

Our balmy climate means that something or other is always blooming and pollinating. “Trees bloom in spring, grasses in summer, then weeds are the problem in the fall,” said Smith.

“If you live in the northeast, you might not see trees pollinating until April or May,” Grubbe said.

“Here, we saw tree pollen the first week in January.”

Same goes for grass pollen: “In the northeast, they might get six-eight weeks in the summer,” Grubbe said. “We’re probably looking at eight-10 months this year.”

STRIKE TWO: It’s humid.

The high humidity here in the south means we have molds growing year-round. “Mold can be inside or outside — anywhere it’s damp or humid,” Grubbe said.

High heat and humidity also causes dust mites to flourish.

STRIKE THREE: We’re next to a forest.

The Talladega National Forest, to be precise.

There are a lot of different types of trees growing and pollinating in the forest. “One part of having allergies is you have to be exposed to it. If you’re not exposed to palm trees, you won’t have palm tree allergies,” Grubbe said. “Here, there are so many different trees.”

In Europe, Grubbe said, the majority of people are allergic to only one, maybe three things. In the U.S., the average person with allergies is sensitive to 18-26 things.

STRIKE FOUR: We’re outside more.

Hey, the weather’s nice here, and we spend a lot of time outside. Where the pollen is.

“In the Northeast, when they’re staying inside because it’s cold and snowy, we’re already outside in the nice weather, playing golf, tennis, baseball and all that,” Grubbe said.

STRIKE FIVE: Allergies in general are getting worse.

“Statistically speaking, more people are developing allergies. I think it’s environmental – pollutants in the air,” said Smith. “You’re genetically prone to allergies, but more people who are genetically prone are developing them now.”

Added Grubbe: “Some studies say allergy rates are five times higher than they were 30 or 40 years ago. It’s typical hay fever, but also asthmas, skin allergies like eczema, and food allergies.”

HEALTHY LIVING SPRING 2012 COLD OR ALLERGY? Your nose is running, your head is stuffy, you’re sneezing and coughing. Is it a cold, or is it allergies?

It can be hard to tell, because many of the symptoms are the same. And the medications used to relieve allergy symptoms will also help with the congestion and other symptoms of a cold.

Allergies, though, don’t typically cause a fever.

“Usually, with viral illnesses, you have some kind of fever,” said Dr. Smith of Anniston Ear, Nose & Throat.

Doctors can tell the difference by looking in the nose, Smith added. If it’s a virus, the mucous membranes will be red, she said. If it’s allergies, the mucous membranes will be paler.

Also, allergies stick around longer. “If things go away after seven to 10 days, it probably was a cold,” said Smith.

THE NEXT BIG ALLERGY TREATMENT The next big thing in allergy treatments could be oral drops, also called sublingual therapy. An oral medicine replaces allergy shots. There are fewer side effects, and patients can give themselves the drops at home, rather than visiting the doctor’s office once a week for a shot.

Sublingual drops are widely used in Europe, and are being studied for use in the U.S. “In the next couple of years, we may have FDA approval,” Grubbe said.

“The disadvantage is that the oral drops would be for one or two or four allergens only. In Europe, the majority of people are allergic to one or two pollens. In the U.S., the average is 18-26 different allergens – making it difficult to put that many allergens in a drop formulation.”

HOW TO SAVE MONEY Dr. Grubbe recommends that if you are prescribed a name-brand medicine, check the manufacturer’s website for rebates or coupons good for discounts on insurance co-pays – sometimes up to $50 off.

POLLEN COUNT Allergy & Asthma Center in Oxford runs a Pollen Count hotline at 256-835-1639.

RESOURCES • Dr. Robert Grubbe, Allergy & Asthma Center, 324 Monger St., Oxford, 256-835-1909, www.aacllc.com.

• Dr. Beatrice Smith, Anniston Ear, Nose & Throat, RMC Physicians Center, 901 Leighton Ave., Suite 601, Anniston, 256-236-4426, www.annistonent.com.

An overview of allergy treatments AVOIDANCE As much as possible, avoid the pollen. Pollen tends to be worse from 6-10 a.m., so stay indoors during that time as much as possible.

ANTIHISTAMINE NOSESPRAYS Prescription antihistamines such as Astepro and Patanase are administered as nose sprays rather than pills. They work well on an as-needed basis, Grubbe said. “Say you want to cut the grass on Saturday morning, you can use one of these on Friday night to try and prevent allergy symptoms. Or somebody with cat allergies who is going to Grandma’s house, where there are cats, they can use this before they go.”

STEROID NASAL SPRAYS Examples of steroid nasal sprays include Beconase, Flonase, Nasanex and Rhinocort. These prescription drugs use steroids to decrease the swelling in the nasal passages. They do not cause drowsiness. They can take up to seven days to reach maximum effectiveness.

LEUKOTRIENE INHIBITORS Singulair is the best known of these prescription medicines, which reduce nasal swelling by inhibiting the production of the chemical leukotriene. They can work well for people who can’t tolerate decongestants (say Sudafed keeps you up at night, or makes your heart race). A generic – i.e., cheaper – version of Singulair should be available in August, Grubbe said.

ALLERGY EYE DROPS Eye drops can provide relief for itchy eyes, without the need for a whole-body medicine like an antihistamine pill. Antihistimine eye drops are available by prescription or over-the-counter. Steroid eye drops are available by prescription.

DECONGESTANTS These medicines can unstuff up nasal passages without causing drowsiness. They are available as over-the-counter pills (such as Sudafed) or nose sprays (such as Afrin).

EXPECTORANTS Usually used to fight coughs, medicines such as Mucinex can also thin and loosen the mucus that can clog up sinuses.

NETI POTS Nasal irrigation is a drug-free treatment. The idea is to wash water through the sinus cavities, flushing out allergens and reducing sinus congestion. This can be done using a Neti pot, a long-spouted pot invented in ancient India. A saltwater solution is poured up one nostril and drains out the other. (Sounds gross, but a lot of folks swear by it.) There are also squeeze bottles that work on the same principle. Both are widely available in drugstores and grocery stores, near the other allergy treatments.

LOCAL HONEY Other folks swear that eating a spoonful of locally produced honey every day eases allergy symptoms.

The idea is to build up immunity by eating honey made by local bees from local pollens. Grubbe disputes the effectiveness of this, pointing out that most people are not allergic to the flowering plants visited by bees. But honey is an immune-system booster, and if you think honey might help, Grubbe says try it.

ALLERGY SHOTS If none of the other allergy treatments work well, many doctors consider allergy shots, or immunotherapy. Patients are given shots containing small doses of the substances to which they are allergic. The doses slowly increase to build up the body’s tolerance. Shots are given at a doctor’s office, usually once a week for several years.

MASKS If you’re doing yardwork, consider wearing a mask.

Any type of dust mask will help keep out pollen, said Dr. Richard Grubbe. HEPA masks, usually sold in the paint section of home improvement stores, will work the best, but can also be very hot.

ANTIHISTAMINES Over-the-counter antihistamines are usually the first line of defense against allergies. Older antihistamines, such as Benadryl, can make you sleepy. Newer antihistamines, such as Zyrtec and Allegra, are nondrowsy formulas.

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HEALTHY Living SPRING 2012

MEET THE DOCTOR

What does a chiropractor do?

By Brooke Nicholls Nelson Special to The Star

Snap, crackle, pop! Are these the sounds your breakfast cereal makes in the morning – or your body?

If it’s the latter, you might benefit from seeing a chiropractor for an “adjustment,” a re-alignment of your spine.

For many people, just the thought of visiting a chiropractor induces fear. Chiropractic medicine has been around for hundreds of years, but misconceptions about the noninvasive therapy persist.

Local chiropractor Dr. Dale Burgess recently addressed those myths and answered a few questions about his profession at his office on McClellan Boulevard in north Anniston.

The silver-haired Burgess is an Anniston native. He attended Alexandria High School and Jacksonville State University before pursuing a career in chiropractic medicine at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.

Palmer College is named after Daniel David

Palmer, considered the father of modern chiropractic medicine.

According to the World Chiropractic Alliance’s website, Palmer coined the term “chiropractic” by combining the Greek words “chiro,” for hand, and “practice,” for practice. He established the college in the late 19th century.

Burgess is the owner of Burgess Chiropractic Clinic and has been practicing chiropractic medicine since 1978.

He is a holistic practitioner, one who considers all the needs of a patient. He is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Chiropractic Acupuncturists, one of only five in the state.

Chiropractors are schooled in the specific field of medicine: chiropractics. They are designated as “chiropractic physicians.” However, they are not licensed to prescribe drugs.

They must pass national board exams and licensing tests specific to the state of residence before they can practice.

Here are some highlights from a recent conversation with Dr. Burgess: Q: Why did you choose a career in chiropractic medicine?

A: When I was young, I had a few structural issues and was helped by a chiropractor. So, I was naturally drawn to the profession.

Q: What is your philosophy of practice?

A: To help prevent needless suffering.

Q: What are the most common reasons people visit a chiropractor?

A: Lower back pain, neck pain, headaches, disc problems, and neuropathies (dealing with nerves). We see a whole wide spectrum of problems that are not surgical issues, that can be helped without surgery.

Q: What is the process that patients go through during a visit?

A: Once they fill out the patient forms, we gather a thorough history before doing the exam.

We take x-rays, and then if they need to be referred, we will. Otherwise, we start their treatment right then. The main thing I do is check the nervous system, the main controlling system of the body. If irritated, you can’t heal at your fullest potential. If you remove the interference, your body can heal at the highest level.

Q: Generally, how many visits does it take before patients see results?

A: It all depends on their condition. For a young person with problems, usually only a couple of visits will bring results. For an older patient, say one with severe arthritis, they will be seen more often.

Q: What would you tell some-

one who may be having problems? How would you allay their fears about visiting you?

A: I’d tell them they should not be afraid. If they have been experiencing symptoms for over three weeks, they need to be seen.

Many people have no idea we can help them. For example, if they have a degenerative disc condition, they are often told, “You have to learn to live with it.” We can help most people through therapy. We may not always fix it, but we can help.

We can help them manage it and live a normal life.

Q: What is the age range you see?

A: Most of our clients are 4060 years old, but we see babies with colic, too. Most teenagers we see have sports-related injuries. We tailor treatments to the condition and to the age. You

Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star

Dr Dale Burgess gives a patient an adjustment in his office in Anniston. don’t treat a 20-year-old athlete like you do an 80-year-old.

Q: From what areas do your clients come? How do they learn about your practice?

A: They come from all over the area, from about a 100-mile radius. We still have people from our first year of practicing who still come to see us. The vast majority of patients are referred to us from our current

patients, by word-of-mouth.

Q: What are hot topics in the world of chiropractic medicine?

A: Food allergies, sensitivities and intolerance. All cause a lot of symptoms. There is more awareness about these right now.

Q: What is your favorite thing about being a chiropractor?

A: I get to do what I love.

HEALTHY LIVING SPRING 2012

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RESOLUTION UPDATE

She’s lost weight, lowered blood sugar In the January issue of Healthy Living, we wrote about local residents and their New Year’s Resolutions. Three months later, let’s see how they’re doing In January, Munford resident Anne Powers, 71, made a resolution to “eat healthier and exercise more.” Motivated by the desire to keep her blood sugar down, she said she felt she had a 100 percent chance of keeping her resolution.

So far, so good.

The upbeat Powers has made lifestyle changes that include eating a healthier diet and walking for exercise.

She walks when the weather permits and has started enjoying a lot more fresh fruit and vegetables.

Famous for her baking skills, she knew giving up sweets was going to be hard. “I’d love to have a big ol’ chunk of cake sometimes, but I satisfy that craving by eating sugar-free candy,” she said.

She has turned to the Internet as well, using the popular website Pinterest (www.pinterest.com) to find recipes tailored to her health needs.

Powers said she has realized that “it’s not a diet; it’s a way of life.”

On March 1, she went for a regular doctor’s visit. “He said I was doing excellent.” Her blood sugar was at a normal level, and she had lost a total of 30 pounds since October.

“I take it one day, one step at a time,” Powers said. “That’s the best way I know to do it. You have to have perseverance and want to do it. Otherwise, you don’t do very well.”

—Brooke Nicholls Nelson

Trent Penny/The Anniston Star

Get the

Trent Penny/The Anniston Star

AWARD WINNING

RESOLUTION UPDATE

He’s lost weight, taken up yoga

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In the January issue of Healthy Living, we wrote about local residents and their New Year’s Resolutions. Three months later, let’s see how they’re doing.

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After three months, Anniston resident Norman Williams, 62, is in the minority with those who have not broken their New Year’s Resolutions.

Williams has lost 10 pounds since January, and he plans to lose 50 more to reach his goal weight of 180 pounds.

Motivated by the heart attack-related death of his older brother at age 55, he said he believed he, too, would die in less than five years if he didn’t make some changes in his lifestyle and lose weight.

“Losing weight is slow,” Williams said.

“But if you lose it fast, it comes back.”

He knows that to be true because he lost a lot of weight more than 20 years ago, but has gained it back, plus more, in the seven years after he quit smoking.

In January, Williams stated he was “100 percent sure” he could make his goal. He still believes in himself, and he knows what he needs to do to achieve it.

“I need to get out and start walking more, but I’m still having trouble with my foot,” he said. Williams had foot surgery in May 2011. Recently, recurring problems with his foot forced him to retire from Tape Craft Corporation in Oxford.

Williams has incorporated a new activity into his fitness program – yoga. “It’s a lot of stretching muscles and it really helps. It makes me feel pretty good about myself.” He plans to start taking three yoga classes a week.

Williams offers this advice to anyone struggling to lose weight: “Find an exercise program and stick to it.”

Changing bad habits is hard. Williams still lives on “TV dinners,” but vows the next time he is interviewed about keeping his New Year’s Resolution, he will have lost 20 pounds.

—Brooke Nicholls Nelson

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HEALTHY Living SPRING 2012

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For women looking to revitalize not just their closets for spring, a day at the spa can be the perfect pick-me-up to wake up tired skin, hair, nails and more.

We talked with two local dermatologists’ offices about the top treatments for spring, new services to look forward to, and the one thing you should never leave the house without doing.

Prestige Medical Spa: Gel nails and a Botox birthday

2 5 6 . 2 41 . 6 7 7 2

1419 Hamric Dr. E. Suite 102 Oxford, AL 36203

Dr. Shelley H. Ray opened her dermatology practice in Anniston in 2001. She opened Prestige Medical Spa in Oxford in 2007.

Q: After a rough winter, what are most popular trends among women to revitalize their skin? Hair? Hands and feet?

A: Salt or sugar scrubs, followed by hydrating wraps for dry skin over the body. Microdermabrasion is great for smoothing rough, dry skin on the face.

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HEALTHY LIVING SPRING 2012 Haynes has practiced in Oxford for the past 15 years, and recently opened Haynes Medi-Spa on the top level of Salon Alon in Jacksonville.

Q: What are the top issues that women complain about when they come in for your services?

A: Problems with weight control, problems with skin (wrinkles, scars, discolorations, stretch marks, enlarged pores, etc). Sometimes, they just want to relieve stress with a massage or a hot stone relaxing facial.

Q: What are the top treatments or services that women tend to ask for in the spring?

A: Weight-loss services to get ready for beach/ summer weather. Treatments that women ask for in the spring are for stretch marks, waxing services, light-based makeups (such as mineral makeup), and services to improve the way their skin looks.

Q: What is the top issue that women complain about when they come in for your services?

A: Not knowing what the best treatment is for their skin problems. There are so many options available. We can help patients determine which procedure and/or treatment will work best for them.

Q: What is the one treatment or service that women tend to ask for in the spring months?

A: Cellulite reduction (SmoothShapes is a treatment for cellulite reduction), spray tans and leg vein treatments for spider veins.

Q: What new services is Prestige offering for spring?

A: Gel polish for nails. The nails do not chip, the polish does not come off. Your polish stays looking fresh and new for two or more weeks.

Also, Botox will be turning 10 in April. Prestige Medical Spa will be having a Botox Birthday Party from 5-8 p.m. April 10. We will be celebrating in full birthday party fashion, and will offer great specials on Botox and fillers and Vivité Skin Care.

Q: If you could offer one tip for readers to follow, what would it be?

A: SUNSCREEN at all times!

Haynes Medi-Spa: Power peels and sports massage Christa Heard, CRNP, has worked with dermatologist Dr. Stacy Haynes for five years. Dr.

Q: What new services is Haynes Medi-Spa offering for spring?

A: You can receive a 20 percent discount on our eMatrix laser (good for wrinkles, stretch marks, discolorations, etc.) by texting “ematrix” to 99000.

We also have a special on a PowerPeel, which is a combination of a chemical peel with a microdermabrasion (priced at $115); discounts on Botox ($12 per unit), and 10 percent off our weight loss and fitness program, which includes lipo injections.

Also, relieve your stress level with a Swedish or deep tissue massage. Athletes can receive a 10 percent discount for sports massages.

Q: If you could offer one tip for readers to follow, what would it be?

A: Enjoy being outside, but just protect yourself with sunscreen that blocks all three rays of the sun, and re-apply sunscreen frequently. Also, learn to take care of yourself physically with proper nutrition and exercise.

RESOURCES • Dr. Shelley H. Ray Prestige Medical Spa 1419 Hamric Drive East, Oxford 256-241-6772 www.prestigemedicalspa.com • Dr. Stacy J. Haynes Anniston Dermatology Center 1702 Hillyer Robinson Parkway, Oxford256-831-8100 www.drstacyhaynes.com • Haynes Medi-Spa At Salon Alon, 406 Pelham Road, Jacksonville 256-435-6707 Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times

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We gave ourselves a makeover here at Healthy Living magazine, with more photos, more local stories and tons of tips on health, beauty, fitness and weight loss.

We’re celebrating by giving away a makeover from the Spa at McClellan!

We’ll photograph the winning makeover for the summer issue of “Healthy Living.”

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HEALTHY LIVING SPRING 2012

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is answer three questions about stories in this issue of the new and improved “Healthy Living.”

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1. What is the name of the Colombian aerobics instructor who invented Zumba? (page 8) ________________________________________________ 2. What nearby forest causes lots of allergy problems for residents of Calhoun County? (page 12)__________________________________________ 3. What skin care product is celebrating its 10th birthday in April? (page 18) ____________________________________________________________

Name: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mail entry form to: Healthy Living contest Lisa Davis Features Editor Anniston Star P.O. Box 189 Anniston AL 36202

HEALTHY LIVING Makeover Contest

Entries must be postmarked by April 27, 2012.

A single winner will be drawn at random from entries with greatest number of correct answers. One entry per person.

No duplicate forms. Employees of Consolidated Publishing and their immediate family members are not eligible to win.

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HEALTHY LIVING SPRING 2012

Weight Loss

GO LIGHTER AND STAY SOUTHERN

Hey, y’all, eat this

Southern food doesn’t have to be all fat and butter a la Paula Deen

BY ANDREA WEIGL McClatchy Newspapers

Southern comfort food queen Paula Deen took a beating recently when she revealed she has Type 2 diabetes, three years after her diagnosis, and an endorsement deal with diabetes drug maker Novo Nordisk.

Listening to the fallout from the Food Network personality’s announcement, a person might think all Southerners eat is fried chicken, Twinkie pie and bacon-and-fried-egg-topped burgers between two Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

Not so, say Southern chefs and cookbook authors, who counter that the extremes make good television but don’t reflect the cuisine or how Southerners eat today.

“Over the top sells. This is what the Food Network wants. This is what Paula is serving up. I don’t think she’s maligning Southern food. I think she is misrepresenting Southern food,” says Chapel Hill, N.C., cookbook author Jean Anderson, who wrote the award-winning “A Love Affair with Southern Cooking.”

“There are many Southern recipes, classic recipes, traditional recipes, that are nutritious, that

are not overloaded with sugar, butter or eggs,” Anderson says.

For example: Fish muddles with fish, tomatoes and onions. That classic dessert of ambrosia made with fresh oranges, fresh pineapple and freshly grated coconut. The Southern love affair with pickling all kinds of fruits and vegetables, a process that adds no fat. Vegetable dishes celebrated during our year-long growing season: long-simmered greens, field peas over rice, juicy tomato sandwiches.

“Vegetables are so important in the South,” says Charleston author Matt Lee, who with his brother, Ted, co-wrote “The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern.”

Adds Ted: “It’s so hard to sell a television show on delicious Southern vegetables. Lord, we have tried.”

As for those fatty fried dishes that the South is known for? “Yes, we have fried chicken, fried green tomatoes and fried okra. We do have a lot of fried food,” says Virginia Willis, author of “Bon Appetit, Y’all” and “Basic to Brilliant, Y’all.” “If you go back, fried chicken was not an everyday event.

It was something reserved for Sundays. ‘Gospel bird’ wasn’t meant to be eaten every day.”

Tips for healthier Southern cooking: ▶ Replace the smoky flavor that bacon or ham offers by using roasted Serrano peppers. ▶ Another ingredient that can add smokiness to dishes: smoked Spanish paprika. ▶ If you must have meat as seasoning, use smoked turkey wings or necks. ▶ If you must have pork, use a country ham slice instead of a ham hock. It’s leaner and smaller. ▶ Try flavoring vegetables with sauteed shiitake mushrooms to create rich flavor. ▶ Instead of a mayonnaise-based dressing for coleslaw, consider an oil and vinegar dressing or try a red slaw using barbecue sauce as a dressing ingredient. ▶ If a recipe calls for mayonnaise, replace half with low fat sour cream or Greek yogurt. ▶ Many vegetable dishes call for a white sauce, which can be made with 1 cup fat-free evaporated milk, 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon flour. It makes enough for 4-6 servings of vegetables. ▶ Instead of cheddar cheese in casseroles, use Parmesan. It has better flavor and less is required. ▶ Instead of thickening a sauce with a roux of flour and oil or butter, try cornstarch dissolved in water. ▶ Acid and salt work the same way by enhancing flavors. Use acid such as lemon juice or vinegar first, then taste. You will end up using less salt. ▶ Opt for angel food cake. Bake in muffin tins, split apart and serve with fresh summer berries for a leaner shortcake. ▶ Instead of a graham cracker crust for a pie, try spraying the pie plate with vegetable oil and then sprinkling graham cracker crumbs. It removes the fat from the crust and works just as well.

Paula Dean illustration by Jason Whitley/The Charlotte Observer

HEALTHY LIVING SPRING 2012

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HEALTHY Living SPRING 2012

CHICKEN FINGERS

Cookbook author Virginia Willis notes that the brine should not scare people away from this recipe. When you calculate how much salt in the brine is absorbed by the chicken, there are 475 milligrams of sodium per chicken breast, well below the recommended daily allowance of 2,400 milligrams.

1/4 cup coarse salt 1 tablespoon sugar 2 teaspoons dry mustard 1 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon pepper, plus more to season 4 cups buttermilk 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 1/2 pounds) 2 cups plain or whole-wheat fresh or panko (Japanese) bread crumbs 1 cup finely chopped unsalted dry-roasted peanuts 2 large eggs Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, then set a large wire rack on the foil.

Make the brine: combine salt, sugar, mustard, paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large plastic or glass container. Add buttermilk and stir until the salt is dissolved. Immerse chicken breasts in the brine and marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes. (Do not brine any longer or the chicken will be too salty.)

Combine bread crumbs and peanuts in a shallow dish. Season with pepper. In a second shallow dish, whisk eggs until they are loose, not ropey.

Remove one chicken breast at a time from the brine and shake off any excess liquid. Transfer to a plastic cutting board and, using a chef’s knife, cut the breasts on the diagonal into strips or fingers.

(Yes, there is a reason I don’t cut them before I brine them; it makes them too salty.)

Dip chicken into the egg mixture, coating both sides. Place the chicken in the bread crumb mixture, sprinkle with crumbs to cover, and press so the coating adheres; turn chicken over and repeat the process. Gently shake off excess crumbs. Place coated fingers on the rack set on the baking sheet.

Bake until chicken is golden brown and juices run clear, 20 to 25 minutes.

Remove from the rack and serve immediately.

Serves 4-6,

SWEET POTATO GRITS

This recipe is made with milk and water, instead of cream, and only one tablespoon of butter.

2 cups water 2 cups low-fat or whole milk 1 cup stone-ground grits 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and grated Salt and pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger Pinch of ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon unsalted butter Combine water and milk in a large, heavy saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.

Slowly add the grits, whisking constantly. Add sweet potato. Season with salt and white pepper. Decrease heat to low and simmer, stirring often, until the grits are creamy and thick, 45 to 60 minutes.

Taste grits and sweet potato to make sure both are cooked and tender. Add ginger, cinnamon and butter. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and white pepper. Serve immediately. Serves 4-6.

—“Basic to Brilliant, Y’all: 150 Refined Southern Recipes and Ways to Dress Them Up for Company,” by Virginia Willis

LEMON-GLAZED SWEET POTATOES 2 pounds sweet potatoes 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, from about 3 lemons 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Heat oven to 325 degrees.

Peel sweet potatoes and cut them into 1-inch thick slices. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with butter. Arrange sweet potato slices in a single layer in the pan.

Mix brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl. Pour glaze evenly over the potatoes.

Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and bake until potatoes are fork tender, about 45 minutes. Remove foil and cook for 5 more minutes until the glaze has thickened. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

—From “The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern,” by Matt and Ted Lee

SKILLET GREEN BEANS WITH ORANGE

1 large navel orange 2 tablespoons canola oil 1 pound green beans, ends trimmed 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Freshly ground black pepper

Grate zest of the orange and reserve it.

Segment the orange and keep the sections and a juice in a bowl.

Heat canola oil in a large cast-iron skillet or saute pan over high heat, swirling it around so it coats the bottom thinly and evenly. When oil begins to smoke, add beans (in batches if necessary, don’t crowd the pan) and scatter 1/4 teaspoon salt over them. Cook, stirring only every 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until the beans are half blistered and blackened, about 8 minutes. Transfer beans to a serving platter or bowl. Lift the orange segments out of their juice, reserving juice. Scatter orange segments over the beans. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon orange zest over the beans and oranges.

Add vinegar, olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt to the bowl of orange juice and whisk until thoroughly combined. Pour dressing over beans. Toss and season to taste with remaining salt, black pepper and remaining orange zest. Serves 4.

—“The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern,” by Matt and Ted Lee.

HEALTHY LIVING SPRING 2012

RELAY FOR LIFE Events for the American Cancer Society fundraiser The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life began in 1985 in Tacoma, Wash., when a surgeon named Dr. Gordy Klatt decided to raise money for the cancer society by doing something he enjoyed: running marathons.

According to the Relay for Life website, Klatt ran around a stadium track for 24 hours, logging more than 83 miles.

Throughout the night, friends donated money for the honor of running with Dr. Klatt for 30 minutes. He raised $27,000 to fight cancer.

As he ran, Dr. Klatt was inspired to set up other 24-hour relay team events across the country. In 1986, with the help of Pat Flynn – now known as the “mother of the Relay� – 19 teams participated, and raised $33,000.

Calhoun County’s annual Relay for Life will be held May 11 at the soccer fields at McClellan. Here are some of the fundraising events leading up to the main event: • Miss and Mr. Relay for Life beauty and talent pageant, 10:30 a.m. April 21 at the Heflin Recreation Center in Heflin. Registration 4-6 p.m. April 20 and 8:30-10 a.m. April 21 at the center.

Send deposit and entry form in by April 10 and receive a discount on fees and receive a gift on stage. Contact Janice

at 256-463-2532 or email K-and-L@ centurytel.net or Kristy at 256-4544466 or kristydrummond@centurytel. net for more information. • The RMC Team Life “Run for Lifeâ€? 5K/ Fun Run, May 5 at McClellan Medical Complex. 7:30 a.m., fun run, 8:30 a.m. $20 for the 5K and $15 for the Fun Run, prior to April 20. After April 20 the cost will be $25 for the 5K and $18 for the Fun Run. Visit www.rmccares.org to register. • The deadline to pre-register for the Relay for Life of Calhoun County Survivor’s Dinner is April 6. The dinner, planned for April 12 at the Anniston Meeting Center, is open to all cancer survivors and two caregivers. Call 256403-6818 or email relaycc12@yahoo. com. • If you are a cancer survivor, you are invited to take part in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life event scheduled for 5 p.m. May 11 at the soccer fields at McClellan. You are invited to be a guest of honor at the “survivor’s receptionâ€? and lead the opening lap of this year’s Relay for Life of Calhoun County. Call 256-403-4947 to sign up and for more information.

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HEALTHY LIVING Fitness â–ś Health â–ś Beauty â–ś Weight Loss To advertise contact Janet Miller 256-235-9225 jmiller@annistonstar.com

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tgrizzard@glalifts.com www.glalifts.com

1227 Noble Street Anniston, AL 36201

256-238-1739 1021 U.S. Highway 431 N, Ste. 9 Anniston, AL 36206 Owner/Manager: Sandra Swinford

Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star

Cancer survivors walk the first lap during Relay for Life at McClellan.

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HEALTHY Living SPRING 2012

That(ugh!)heavy feeling in your(gasp!) chest could be a (awwrr!)heart attack.

Accredited Chest Pain Center