FN Magazine - Transformation Issue

THE TRANSFORMATION ISSUE FIT NATION / SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

FIT NATION / SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

THE POWER TO CHANGE TWO LOCAL ATHLETES WHO BEAT THE ODDS

SHREDDED SHOULDERS IN FOUR EASY MOVES!

FAST FOOD YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO EAT

WUNDERKINDS THE BRIGHT FUTURES OF TWO HIGH SCHOOL STARS

MARCH/APRIL 2014 FITNATIONMAG.COM

HOW TO COME BACK FROM AN INJURY YOUR NEXT DOCTOR’S VISIT, DECODED March/April 2014 | 1

2|

March/April 2014 | 1

2|

CONTENTS MARCH/APRIL 2014 features 24 TAKEN BY STORM In order to pursue his dream of playing professional football, Rodney Beamon lost more than 50 pounds.

28 CARTER’S JOURNEY One local family’s journey to both physical and emotional health.

18 THE YOUNG AND THE RELENTLESS TWO HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES ARE FIGHTING THEIR WAY TO THE TOP, EVEN THOUGH THEIR RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS DON’T RECOGNIZE THEIR INDIVIDUAL SPORTS.

regulars 6 GEAR - What’s in His Gym Bag? Tennis ace Ross Boling shows us his must-have gear for hitting the court.

8 GEAR - Fit Tech Could a smart scale change the way you think about losing weight?

10 FUEL - Try This A protein packed, Costa Rican-inspired breakfast is just minutes away.

12 FUEL - Dine Smart We’re in love with the new Organically Twisted food truck, here’s why.

16 HEALTH – Decoding Your Doctor’s Visit What does all of that medical jargon mean?

Your biggest questions, explained.

32 TRAIN - Trending Now

8

Leave those minimalist shoes at home, maximalist shoes are the hot new trend.

36 TRAIN - Monthly Workout Sexy shoulders are a must for wearing tank tops. Here’s how to sculpt yours in four easy moves.

38 Fitbook Pictures from the HITS Triathlon and the Naples Daily News Half Marathon.

43 Calendar Races, rides and more upcoming events.

ON THE COVER: Sixteen-year-old

24

superstar athletes Jordan Griffith (left) and Adrian Dougherty (right) are both talented students and talented athletes. (story, p. 18).

Photography by Brian Tietz

36 March/April 2014 | 3

SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN

I

t’s been a rough two months for the local endurance community. In mid-January, tragedy struck the HITS triathlon when 57-year-old Don Green went into cardiac arrest during the swim.

I think it’s fair to say that every single one of us, myself included, knew that Green could have been any one of us.

Then, just a few weeks later, local cyclist Chuck Kelly— whose wife we featured on these pages just last issue—was hit by a car while on a routine, weekday group ride. Again, that could have been me; it could have been anyone.

During the HITS triathlon, my husband had a funny encounter with one of the on-course police officers. The officer (who was just one of many, many members of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office who did a terrific job throughout the weekend) was stopping traffic so that bikes could pass. As my husband flew by, the officer yelled, “you guys sure chose a dangerous sport.”

FIT NATION / SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

PUBLISHER/CEO Stan Dougé

PRODUCTION

FN Media Group

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Alfredo Escobar

MANAGING EDITOR A.C. Shilton

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Anne Reed

ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER Dana Leigh Smith

EVENTS

It’s true. We did.

Chelsea Garlock

But what struck my husband was the fact that he could have said the same thing back to the police officer, substituting in the word “job” for the word “sport.” Ultimately, that officer chose his line of work for the same reason we chose this sport: Because we believe in it.

BRAND MANAGER

Leigh Purse-Williams, Mason Bellamy

ADVERTISING SALES We do this sport—despite its risks—because we believe that our bodies are meant to move.

Because we know that “wheeee” feeling you can only get while riding a bike is good for the soul.

Because we believe in the constant pursuit of a better version of ourselves. Sweat and hard work are our religion, and we worship daily.

This is our transformations issue, and it’s full of stories of people who believed in their bodies and invested in their goals. Undoubtedly, there were costs associated with the decisions they made, but each one of them had faith; each persevered because they believed.

Recently I was offered a job at a local, well-established media outlet. The job would have come with a fair amount of safety and security—something that a startup like FN simply cannot offer.

I mulled the offer over for a full week before deciding to stick with FitNation. Why? Because I believe in it. I’m certainly taking a risk, but I have no doubt it will be worth it.

As you flip through the pages of this issue, I hope you’ll consider what risk you’re going to take this month. I’m certainly not urging you to live recklessly. Instead, I’m suggesting you take a step in an unfamiliar direction—one that takes you towards whatever it is that you believe in.

Until next issue,

(239) 330-3922 ads@fitnationmag.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Carl Egbert, Debra Orringer, Bryan Raymond, Dana Leigh Smith, Jill Wheeler, Rebecca Youngblood

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sammy Duffy, Erik Kellar, Sharon Mammono, Brian Tietz

ADVISORY BOARD

Connie Ramos-Williams President and CEO, CONRIC PR & Marketing | Publishing Founder, Southwest Florida Parent & Child Magazine; Advisory Board, Dress for Success Southwest Florida Kendra Sutton Strategic Marketing Consultant, WINK TV; Board, PACE Center for Girls; 2013-14 Lee Chair, Love That Dress!

AC Shilton

Derek Carlson CEO and Founder, Derek Carlson Real Estate Group; Realtor, RE/MAX Affinity

P.S. On a sad note, with this issue we say goodbye to our fabulous associate editor, Anne Reed.

Anne has been instrumental in getting FN to the place it is now, and her enthusiasm, humor and meticulous editing eye will be missed.

Lisa Grant Owner and Designer, Design 2000 Melissa Waring Bates Owner, Addicted To Fitness

CONNNECT

4|

fitnationmag.com twitter.com/fitnationmag facebook.com/fitnationmag

Patrick Ruff Broker-Associate Realtor, John R. Wood; Board, Naples Pathway Coalition (NPC)

GET IT FIRST AT

Active Living advocate Lorna Jane Clarkson is the founder of award-winning active wear brand Lorna Jane. Celebrated as a fashion design icon and renowned for her Active Living philosophy, Lorna's journey began over 20 years ago when she revolutionized the fitness clothing industry.

In 1990, Lorna Jane Clarkson cut her first leotard pattern from the floor of a small studio in Australia. Frustrated by the lack of stylish and functional exercise clothing on the market, the then-fitness instructor began to sew fitness attire out of her own need for active fashion. Her designs quickly gained a strong following when she wore them to her classes, and she soon found herself spending all of her spare time designing and sewing to keep up with demand.

Remaining true to her roots, the fashion visionary drew inspiration from her personal journey to motivate the next crop of fit and fearless women to embrace an active way of life. In just two decades, Lorna's innovative spirit has transformed her Active Living philosophy into a global active wear brand.

Available at these Fit2Run stores:

BOCA RATON, Town Center at Boca Raton ESTERO/FT. MYERS, Coconut Point Mall LAKE BUENA VISTA, Downtown Disney速 West Side MIAMI, Dadeland Mall

ORLANDO, The Florida Mall SARASOTA/BRADENTON, University Center TAMPA, International Plaza

www.fit2run.com

ROSS BOLING GEAR

Director of Tennis at Heritage Bay Golf and Country Club.

by Rebecca Youngblood

P: SHARON MAMMONO

WHAT’S IN HIS GYM BAG?

R

oss Boling describes his nearly halfa-century-long career in tennis as a “charmed journey.” Starting tennis at age 14 (old by most tennis pro’s standards), he initially wasn’t good enough to make his high school team.

With no other coaching or lessons other than his own determination, he says that he “just blundered into the game like Forrest Gump, showing up at the right moment.” Through sheer determination he landed a scholarship to a NCAA Division I school, eventually moving on to play professional tennis after college.

Even after retiring from the sport professionally, Boling continued to accrue athletic achievements. One of the highlights of his personal career was being ranked as the best tennis player in the U.S. in the 45-over category in 1998. This ranking led him to be chosen to represent the U.S. team in the Dubler Cup, Boling’s greatest honor. But although

6|

Boling’s personal tennis history is overflowing with success, he states that his greatest satisfaction and accomplishment in the sport has been his ability to give back as a tennis pro.

“It was an interesting thing when I got to be the age where I appreciated all of the different places tennis has taken me, and there is no end in sight. Good stuff just kept happening, and the game is still taking care of me. If you respect the game, the game will take care of you,” he says.

‘Heroes’ by David Bowie; ‘Fighter’ by Christina Aguilera; and ‘Gangham Style’ by Psy. These tunes really get me going.”

Here’s what he never hits the courts without:

AN INDEX CARD WITH COACH LOMBARDI’S FAMOUS DEFINITION OF MENTAL TOUGHNESS

ARNICA A homeopathic compound that relieves and revives sore muscles and joints. “I used to live in Laredo, Texas. The best arnica is found across the border in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

Every time I’m there I walk across and stock up.”

A FULLY LOADED IPOD “It always has my favorite tunes, including

LIFE EXTENSION MIX “It’s the greatest multivitamin on the planet formulated by the Life Extension Foundation.”

ACCELERADE “It’s an energy drink that keeps me going all day, teaching, training or competing.”

“Mental toughness is many things. It is humility because it behooves all of us to remember that simplicity is the sign of greatness and meekness is the sign of true strength. Mental toughness is Spartanism with the qualities of sacrifice, self-denial, dedication. It is fearlessness, and it is love.”

November/December March/April2013 2014 | 7

DRAWN TO SCALE GEAR

If you dread stepping on the scale, try one of these “smart scales” which provide more than just a measurement of weight. by Dana Leigh Smith

FIT TECH

S

cales can be a discouraging health measure, which is why for years, health experts advised us to simply stay away.

But as it turns out, stepping onto a scale regularly can help keep us trim. A 2013 Brown University and University of Tennessee study found that people who weighed themselves daily lost more weight than those who stepped on the scale less often.

“Stepping on a scale each morning can help people to visualize themselves at their goal weight which helps them make healthy choices throughout the day to get there,” says Libby Mills, MS, RDN, LDN, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Spokesperson.

But there’s a reason why run-of-the-mill scales are so many people’s arch nemesis: They appear to have minds of their own, showing no movement—or even showing a weight gain, even when your clothes seem noticeably looser.

“Many things influence weight, from water retention to increased muscle mass. Just because the number on the scale goes up or doesn’t budge does not necessarily mean you’ve

8|

packed on fat or you’re not making progress,” explains Mills.

IRONMAN BODY COMPOSITION MONITOR

BY TANITA, $140

Luckily there’s a new generation of high tech scales that can measure several of the variables that could be influencing the number on the scale. Many models also have added features that help keep tabs on other areas of health, and can help improve your athletic training, too.

Here are our top picks:

You put in long hours of training to get faster and stronger, but it’s hard to tell sometimes if your training strategies are working. This scale goes beyond pounds and BMI, by measuring body water percentage to ensure proper hydration, muscle and bone mass to help keep you strong, and basal metabolic rate to help you plan an appropriate training diet.

ARIA™ WI-FI SMART SCALE

BY FITBIT, $130

THE SMART BODY ANALYZER

BY WITHINGS, $150

This sleek and smart accessory measures weight, body fat percentage and BMI (so you can tell if extra pounds are from fat or hard-earned muscle). It also acts as a personal health coach.

According to Fitbit, the scale is designed to help users focus on long-term trends rather than short-term blips by automatically syncing and displaying stats with online and mobile tools.

Whether you’re trying to build muscle or shed pounds, this scale will help you stay motivated by emailing weekly progress reports, sending alerts when you’re nearing your goals and congratulating you when you achieve them.

This cutting-edge scale makes traditional models look like ancient artifacts, providing a comprehensive look into your health and the surrounding environment. The Smart Body Analyzer measures heart rate (a high or low reading can signal a health problem or overtraining), and surrounding area air quality (a helpful asthma risk indicator) in addition to weight and body composition. All of these vital stats are uploaded via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to the corresponding free app, helping you visualize trends in your health and boosting early selfdetection of potential health issues.

March/April 2014 | 9

COSTA RICA SPECIAL FUEL

Sunburst Café dishes up an easy, protein-packed way to start your day.

by Anne Reed

P: SHARON MAMMONO

TRY THIS

F

or 16 years, Sunburst Café has been a beloved breakfast spot in Naples. Jerome Tocio greets everyone who enters, but he’s more than just a happy co-owner; Jerome also makes the pastries and muffins that people rave about at the café.

Perhaps what the restaurant is best known for is its flexibility with dietary constraints. Egg whites with chicken breast and veggies? No problem. Better yet, you can have your healthy meal while your kiddos chow down on chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream.

Sunburst focuses on quality ingredients and, as Theresa Tocio, co-owner, jokes, “The only thing that comes from a can is the black beans!” For this recipe, Tocio said that canned beans just work best, so why go through the extra steps of soaking beans overnight and cooking them when you can take an easy shortcut? Lots of fresh ingredients plus outstanding coffee make this a favorite for regulars; and once you eat at Sunburst, you’ll be a regular.

10 |

The Costa Rica Special started—as many menu items do—as something a regular customer ordered. Someone else saw it and asked for it. That kept happening and eventually the dish became a part of the menu. With 12 grams of protein from the two eggs, and 7-10 grams of protein from the beans, this breakfast will keep you going all the way to lunchtime.

COSTA RICA SPECIAL (SERVES 1) ¼ cup cooked brown rice (1/4 cup uncooked rice plus ½ cup water, cook according to directions)Sunburst Café uses Uncle Ben’s Converted Brown Rice, as it has a texture similar to white rice but still has the fiber of brown rice.

Prepare the rice according to the package directions and heat the beans. While the rice and beans are cooking, heat a small skillet over medium high heat and prepare your eggs (scrambled, over easy, or fried, and don’t forget to use a non-stick cooking spray to keep your eggs from sticking). In a separate skillet, heat a tablespoon of olive oil and add your vegetables; lightly sauté them. Plate your meal by layering, starting first with the rice, then topping it with beans, vegetables, and finally the eggs. Serve with a side of salsa or a splash of hot sauce.

½ cup black beans, heated.

Fresh vegetables (2 tablespoons each peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, or your choice, grilled or sautéed).

2 eggs, cooked (for this recipe we opted for sunny side up, but you can scramble, poach, or fry the eggs).

Don’t want to make it?

Check out Sunburst Café 2340 Pine Ridge Rd., Naples For more info, call 239.263.3123 or visit www.sunburstnaples.com

Riding can be unbearable...

We’ll help you get the most from it

www.trekbikesflorida.com

Sales Service Group Rides Events Fitting November/December March/April2013 2014 | 11

Estero | Naples | Ft Lauderdale | Sunrise | Ft Myers (coming soon)

TASTIEST THING ON FOUR WHEELS FUEL

Finally, a great food truck pulls into Southwest Florida!

by Anne Reed

T DINE SMART

he food truck movement is growing across the US, but growing slowly here in Southwest Florida. On the day we met up with Chef John Hart, the owner of Organically Twisted Food Truck, his vehicle was one of three food trucks outside the Collier County Municipal Government Complex. While the other two were selling traditional gut-truck fare (hot dogs and fried food), Hart’s was stocked with farm-fresh produce just begging to be made into fresh salads and sandwiches.

The idea for Organically Twisted really started with Hart’s background. A chef with 35 years of experience, Hart took his love of healthy eating and combined it with his love of fresh, seasonal produce. His goal is to change the way people think about food. In fact, he can hardly keep himself from educating people about local ingredients as he crafts orders in the truck that he and a friend built together.

Hart is a consummate storyteller. When we arrive, he holds up a greenish looking vegetable shaped like a potato. “Do you know what this is?”

Stumped, we shake our heads.

Hart slices it open then holds it up for us to see: A gorgeous, pink and white crisp interior surrounded by a pale green rim—a watermelon radish!

It’s big and bulbous and beautiful, and Hart seems totally enamored with it. But as quickly as he’s stopped to show us the vegetable, he’s back on his way, working feverishly in the back of his truck. Perhaps the only thing Hart loves more than talking about fresh produce is preparing it. We tried out four of his best dishes (lucky us) and here’s what you need to get if you go.

P: ANNE REED (2)

First up we tried the Guammus Cone—that’s a mix of guacamole and hummus. Hart starts with a pretzel cone that is lightly salted and fills it with guammus. He tops it off with fresh yellow, orange, and purple carrot sticks, red pepper, slices of watermelon radish, and a few kale leaves. He calls the kale leaves “teenage leaves” because they’re smaller than typical kale leaves—something he achieves by planting the kale plants close together. The leaves, which are high in vitamins A and C, and are a good source of protein and fiber, were not bitter

12 |

and provided the perfect vehicle for dipping.

Local dietician Allison Duffey, RDN, CSG, and LDN, and owner of Healthy for Life Nutrition Consulting LLC in Naples, pointed out that the “combination of the hummus and the guac is a great idea, but people might not know that while they are getting a great source of protein and fiber, it will be higher in calories due to the fat content- even beneficial fats have a lot of calories.”

Despite this fact, my friend and I jockeyed for position to finish the pretzel cone and the rest of the guammus. This item has become a staple on Hart’s menu, though your dipping veggies may differ depending on what’s in season.

Next we tried the Zucchini Feta-Cini. Raw zucchini is shredded into thin strings, then marinated in balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

The marinade made the zucchini strings soft enough that they were tender, like pasta, but because they were raw they kept just a touch of their crisp texture and never felt soggy, which I loved. Zucchini is packed with vitamin A, an immune booster and vitamin C, an antioxidant. The zucchini was mixed with cherry tomatoes, which popped with flavor and were a nice compliment to the sweet-tart flavor of the balsamic marinade, and finished with feta sprinkled over the top for a little saltiness. My friend opted for a cheese-less version, which Hart keeps on hand for his vegans. This is beautiful food done simply but it is absolutely delicious. It’s a must-try.

For main courses we had to try the Curry In A Hurry, which two friends had recommended.

Hart starts with organic cooked chicken and adds sweet grapes, cilantro, honey, shredded carrots, Vegenaise (a vegan mayo) and a little spice. I opted to have mine rolled, which makes for perfect food truck noshing. The chicken was perfect and tasted like chicken should taste- no fillers or extra broth added. The overall taste was sweet, not very spicy, with just a hint of curry. The grapes were a surprise and I loved the crunch the shredded carrots added. After I finished half of my sandwich I set it down and my friend—the vegan—picked it up. “That’s the curry one” I said. “It’s got chicken.”

He was so focused in on trying it that, after two bites, he asked what he was eating. I felt horrible—my friend had not eaten meat in two years. His review? “That’s chicken? I didn’t

Curry in a Hurry isn’t vegan, but it is delicious.

realize it was in there. It’s good!”

My now temporarily un-vegan friend ordered the Bitter-Sweet, which features thinly sliced apples, honey-chili pecans, greens, and normally comes with gorgonzola cheese. Hart adapted the dish for my friend and took out the cheese (he ordered before his above lapse happened), adding cooked sweet potato instead.

The result was amazing – the crisp apples with the soft sweet potato and slightly bitter salad greens were an awesome combination. The stars for me, though, were the pecans. Pecans are rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid and can help decrease LDL (bad cholesterol) and increase good cholesterol (HDL). In this dish they added a little spicy kick amidst the backdrop of greens, sweet potato, and sweet apples. Our nutritionist pointed out that this was another great vitamin A dish. And the sweet potatoes? “Eaten with the skin is best, but even without, you have an incredible package of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and believe it or not, even some protein,” explained Duffey.

dates along the bottom. It has a light pumpkin flavor and was topped with a thin glaze, which is sweetened with organic honey. The presentation was gorgeous, as Hart topped the cake with more of the candied pecans and borage flowers. While we pretended to be too full to eat the entire thing, we promptly ate the entire thing—and we bet you will too!

Interested in catching up with John Hart and the OT food truck?

You can find him on Fridays in front of the Collier County Courthouse from 11:00 am2:00 pm and on Saturdays at the Shoppes at Vanderbilt Farmers Market (located on the corner of Vanderbilt Beach Road and US 41) from 8:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. To find out more, visit his Organically Twisted Facebook page.

Here is where we could have stopped. And probably should have stopped. But Hart’s regulars kept walking up and asking if he had Mama’s Pumpkin Bread on the menu. I had to know more. And I’m glad curiosity got the best of me, as it was, by far, the standout menu item. Hart could not- and would not- reveal the recipe, only telling me it’s his mom’s secret recipe. The bread is more like a dense cake and is very moist, with raisins and perhaps

March/April 2014 | 13

April 12-13: Miromar Lakes Beach Club 10160 Miromar Lakes Boulevard, Miromar Lakes, FL

www.openwaterfestival.org

Come out and watch, learn, or compete!

Open Water Swim Events for All Ages and Skill Levels Open Water Swim Clinic

Saturday, April 12th: 2:00 PM-4:00 PM Hosted by world renowned Coach's Rick Walker and Denny Ryther and USA Swimming National Team Members Alex Meyer and Emily Brunemann.

Learn open water swimming strategy and technique.

Cost is $15 payable the day of the clinic.

Crippen 10 & Under 500 Buddy Swim.

Saturday, April 12th: 6:15 PM The little ones get to race a 500 meter swim either solo or they can have a buddy swim with them for support.

Register on Active.com

Crippen Sunset Mile Open Water Benefit Swim

Saturday, April 12th: 6:30 PM 1 mile sunset swim with all proceeds going to the Fran Crippen "Work the Dream" Foundation.

Register on Active.com.

Registration includes Goody Bag, T-Shirt & Swim Cap.

Open Water Festival Race (5K)

Sunday, April 13th: 11:20 AM A chance for local triathletes and open water swimmers to race the same course as the pro's.

Register on Active.com.

Registration includes Goody Bag, T-Shirt & Swim Cap.

2014 Crippen Cup 10K Marathon Invitational - Saturday, April 12th: 9:00 AM-1:00 PM

A professional race with the top USA and International swimmers vying for a $10,000 cash purse.

Come and out watch the best open water swimmers in the world compete!

Florida Open Water Championships & All Star Challenge - Sunday morning 8:00 AM-12:00 PM Come out and watch the kids compete for their LSC (Local Swim Club).

14 |

WELL MIND, WELL BODY Therapist and Life Coach Jill Wheeler answers your hardest brain-based questions.

Q: When my husband and I go out to run together it always turns into a race—and if he wins, I get mad and beat myself up about it. How can I turn down my competitive spirit and just enjoy our time running together?

A: In the game of love, someone once told me that you couldn’t keep score with someone who is on the same team.

Which is generally good advice—but a little friendly competition can be a good thing.

Some of my best athletic achievements were at the behest of a friend or a loved one’s urging.

No doubt it can be a great motivator to have your partner get you up and out for a run when you would rather roll over in bed.

A great way to appreciate your partner—even if they’ve just run circles around you—is to openly acknowledge them. Tell them specifically what you admire; their strength, skills, speed, tight buns and abs, whatever it is. Next, (and most important), acknowledge yourself and all that you appreciate about yourself. Chances are many of those qualities we look for in a partner are ones we admire about ourselves or aspire to cultivate.

While having a healthy competitive spirit is essential to endurance races and training for big events, it is also helpful to connect with the bigger picture of contentment, satisfaction and feeling good about yourself, regardless of whether you are winning or losing. If you are approaching every training run, workout and race with the belief that “I am good enough” and

by Jill Wheeler

I will do my best, there really is no losing.

Ultimately, you either win or you learn. Ask yourself what you learned during your run.

Maybe you could use more rest? Perhaps have more fun?

My final words of advice: Keep getting out there and enjoy and appreciate your abilities for what they are. They are uniquely yours and no one can compete with who you are!

Jill Wheeler, M.A., LPC, Therapist, Life Coach, Leadership Consultant, Writer, Yoga/SUPyoga Instructor, Adventurer, Athlete, lululemon Ambassador and Owner of the Wellfit Institute.

STAGE YOUR COMEBACK

Four tips on how to get back on track after injury.

A

nyone who likes to push his or her body to its limit has probably had to deal with an injury or two. I have had to come back from two major surgeries in the last six years. Each presented me with a new set of challenges and tested my efforts to regain my fitness and compete. But knowing these four things helped me come back as quickly and as safely as possible.

1. DO YOUR HOMEWORK With both of my surgeries—a meniscus repair in 2008 and sports hernia in 2012—I did a lot of research to find the best doctor for me. It was important that they understood I was an athlete and that I was interested in returning to competing. I believe this helped me get the best care.

by Carl Egbert

2. BE DILIGENT WITH YOUR REHAB Rehabbing an injury stinks but it is a necessary evil. Make all of those tedious exercises part of your daily routine and follow what your protocol calls for to the letter. Cutting corners with your rehab can cause problems down the road.

3. BE PATIENT WHEN YOU ARE CLEARED FOR ACTIVITY I struggled with this when I came back from my knee surgery. I was in a rush to regain the fitness I’d lost. As a result, I suffered yet another setback. The second time around I understood that I had to use a one-day-at-atime mentality. Like it or not, as we get older it takes longer to regain fitness, so it is of the utmost importance that we be patient.

4. SET GOALS AND CHALLENGE YOURSELF After my sport hernia surgery I realized that I had to shift my focus from running to triathlons.

Since I was no longer able to run the volume and intensity necessary to run the times I wanted, triathlons—with the mix of training required—seemed like the logical solution. Over the next few months I competed in a few shorter triathlons with modest success, so I set a goal of doing a Half Ironman. I enjoyed the challenge of finding the right balance between the three disciplines and ended up completing the Miami 70.3 in 4:41.12, coming in under my goal time of 4:45. Having a goal kept me focused during those first few hard months returning to training.

Carl Egbert USA Track & Field Certified Coach Manager & Co Owner Naples On The Run

March/April 2014 | 15

WHAT’S UP, DOC? HEALTH

Can’t Understand What Your Doctor is Saying? We’ve Got You Covered.

by A.C. Shilton

baseline we’ve established. If you’ve gained or lost a significant amount of weight, we want to know what’s going on.

FN: When you listen to us breathe, what are you listening for?

Dr. Rob: We’re listening to your rate of respiration, which should be between 10-12 breaths a minute. And with your pulse, we’re checking to make sure it’s within a normal resting range. Of course, we do account for what we call “white coat hypertension,” where some people’s heart rates will be raised just by the stress of being at the doctor. But with listening to your heart and checking your pulse we can detect things like a cardiac arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation.

FN: What about my temperature; isn’t it always around 98.6 degrees?

Dr. Rob: Again, it’s about establishing a baseline.

Some people have naturally high or low temperatures. But if you come in when you’re sick with a higher than normal temperature, we know that your body is trying to fight something.

That can alter a treatment plan dramatically, especially in children.

G

enerally you like to think you’re pretty health savvy (after all, you are an avid FN reader). But what is it about being in a doctor’s office that suddenly makes you feel like a complete health-noob? Hearing a nurse prattle off seemingly esoteric numbers can overwhelm anyone without a medical degree—even those of us who pay close attention to health news. So we asked bestselling author Dr. Rob Kominiarek, DO, FACOFP to help decipher what your doctor is really saying. Here’s a cheat sheet for your next physical.

Dr. Rob: We’re taking two measurements, systolic and diastolic pressure. We’re basically measuring what the pressure is in this closed system and higher pressures are bad and lower pressures are good. Systolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries when your heart beats.

Diastolic pressure is the pressure in your arties between your heartbeats. When they give you a reading, systolic is the top number and diastolic is the bottom number, and both are measured in millimeters of mercury. For my patients I like to see 115 over 72, that is ideal, but 120 over 80 is considered average.

FN: So why do doctors even take these vital sign measurements?

FN: What about weight? What are doctors looking for?

Dr. Rob: Really what we’re trying to do is establish a baseline. So if we see a big blood pressure change or a change in your body temperature or your pulse we can make note of it and try and figure out what’s causing it. Establishing a baseline for a patient is really important.

Dr. Rob: We have specific tables that show based on what your height is, the range your weight should be. We’re working on a range because your weight can fluctuate three to five pounds throughout just the course of the day. Really we’re checking to make sure you’re within a healthy weight range because being overweight can set you up for a range of conditions. And again, we’re looking at your weight versus the

FN: Let’s talk about blood pressure; what do those numbers mean?

16 |

FN: And what about when you bang on our knees to test our reflexes, what’s that all about?

Dr. Rob: Good question. The patellar reflex test lets us know that your neurological system is working. Basically when we tap on the knee it follows the arc up the spinal chord and lets us know that the neurological system is intact. If you have a type of neurological disease, we’ll see less of a reflex or a really exaggerated one.

FN: How about the numbers on a cholesterol test, what do they mean?

Dr. Rob: That’s actually more complicated because the numbers depend on what type of lab equipment is being used. There are two types of cholesterol, your LDL—which is bad—and your HDL—which is good. Basically you want to look at the two numbers and your relationship of good to bad and the burden that it’s putting on your heart. But it’s difficult because different labs use different systems to measure. This is one of those tests where it’s best to ask your individual doctor to explain your results based on what lab was used.

March/April 2014 | 17

18 |

The

Young And The

RELENTLESS Two Stellar High School Athletes Have

Their Eyes Firmly Trained On Rio In 2016

by Debra Orringer Photography by Brian Tietz

When we think of outstanding high school athletes, we invariably think of the star football quarterback, the high-flying basketball forward or even the lithe crosscountry phenom.

But two local 16-year-old athletes will make you wonder if we aren’t actually offering our children enough athletic options. Both are excelling in their chosen disciplines, and both are finding their ways to the top of their respective sports without the benefit of organized school teams, coaches or uniforms.

March/April 2014 | 19

HEAVY METTLE Adrian Dougherty sports a little kettlebell necklace that she wears proudly. At age 14, her mother signed her up for CrossFit, working with coach Josh Wright—whom her mother trusted. She wanted Dougherty to avoid the girl “stuff” entering high school, and to have confidence, responsibility and great health.

Dougherty joined up and excelled from her very first WOD. The day after Dougherty’s 15th birthday, Daniel Comargo, an Olympic weightlifting athlete and coach, came to the gym. When Comargo met Dougherty, he encouraged her to begin competing. She went to a qualifying event to see what Olympic weightlifting was all about.

“I was overwhelmed and nervous. I even wanted to quit!” Dougherty says, remembering the qualifier.

But Dougherty didn’t quit. She stayed strong and true to her goals, and she has been competing ever since. Recently she was ranked eighth in the nation for the Youth Olympics Team and 13th in the nation for the Junior Olympics.

The top seven youth athletes will go to Peru to compete in the Pan American Championships.

Dougherty’s goal is to keep her ranking and go to Peru, and then continue on to the Youth Olympics in China.

Not everything in Dougherty’s young career has gone totally smoothly, however. The competitions consist of two specific Olympicstyle lifts: the snatch and the clean and jerk.

Each athlete gets three attempts on each lift. However, the weights are increased each attempt and once a weight has been put on the bar, it cannot be removed.

20 |

At the most recent American Open Competition, Dougherty’s scheduled lift for the clean and jerk was 75 kilos, 78 kilos and 80 kilos. (If you don’t want to do the math, that’s 165 pounds, 171.6 pounds and 176 pounds.) A mistake was made, however, when setting her weights. On her last lift, the bar was loaded at 82 kilos—not the 80 she’d trained for.

Dougherty knew the mistake going into the lift.

When they called her name, she says she was super nervous, but she took a deep breath, found her center and did the lift successfully.

“One of the judges was the coach of Team USA’s Weightlifting!” she exclaims. “It was totally amazing! I was shaking for 10 minutes afterwards because I was so freaked out!”

This one lift not only got Dougherty her ranking, but it also scored her a personal invite to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado.

“I knew she was strong,” says Wright, “but that was such a huge jump in weight. It truly was an incredible lift”.

What’s a typical day like for Dougherty?

She attends advanced classes at Fort Myers Highs School all day long. Two days a week she competes on the school’s math team.

(Yes, competition is in her blood). She comes home after school and eats dinner, does some homework—she dreams of someday being a doctor—and then she heads out to train. Her training can last anywhere from 60 minutes to two hours. “The amount of time depends on how much socializing I do”, she says, smiling. Then she’s home for the night, finishing homework and getting some much needed rest. Dougherty also volunteers once a month and works a part time job at a donut shop every weekend. (Indeed she sometimes shows up at the gym with hair smelling like donuts). And somewhere in there, she still finds time to hang out with her friends.

Dougherty’s mom keeps her daughter’s food healthy and balanced so she doesn’t have to think about nutrition. “I appreciate her so much. She’s such a wonderful mom,” says Dougherty. Supportive but not overzealous, her mom keeps her job as mom—and lets Wright do all the coaching.

CrossFit and weightlifting competitions have helped Dougherty become an extremely happy and confident person. “I am mentally stronger

because of CrossFit. I can do what I want and CrossFit has helped me form into an amazing version of what I want to be.”

Recently CrossFit received a lot of media attention when an unfortunate accident left an athlete paralyzed, but Dougherty and her mother both insist the sport has been nothing but good for the emerging high school star.

“There are injuries in every sport and if you don’t make the right decisions on your exercises, you could get hurt. CrossFit is a growing sport and not many people know that much about it so it gets a lot of attention; but if you look at football and basketball there are major injuries all the time,” says Dougherty. She adds that in the few years that she’s trained with CrossFit 239, the only injuries she has seen are some minor muscle strains. “The gym at CrossFit 239 puts emphasis on safety and technique to prevent injury.”

While Adrian dreams of a career as a doctor, she’s got athletic dreams too. When asked if she’d consider training for the Olympics she smiles a small, enigmatic smile and says, “Oh my God, that would be sooooo cool!”

March/April 2014 | 21

A STAB AT GREATNESS

Just a few zip codes away, 16-year-old fencer Jordan Griffith is preparing for his next competition. While Dougherty’s sport requires brawn, Griffith’s requires lots and lots of brainpower.

“Fencing is an elegant sport of speed, strategy, strength, passion, intensity and agility. I’ve described it as physical chess” says the eloquent high school sophomore.

Griffith and his father, Johnn Griffith, recently returned from Budapest, Hungary, where he represented the United States as a member of the U.S. Fencing Association’s National Team.

He is currently ranked 14th in the nation in the “Cadet” category.

Griffith started fencing at age 11 when he went to a fencing summer camp and fell in love with the sport. “It’s all me,” he says, “I’m not dependent on others.” Although, that doesn’t mean that Griffith doesn’t enjoy team sports—he also competes on his high school lacrosse team.

Griffith has his eyes trained towards Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020 as a part of Team USA. He and his father travel extensively to competitions.

22 |

Hungary’s competition was in October of 2013 and then it was off to France in November of 2013. There are several local competitions as well, averaging two to three each month in the U.S. Through these competitions, Griffith is quickly climbing fencing’s ranks.

However, Griffith’s priorities are always his family first, then his education (where he’s a straight-A student), and finally his sport.

“My Dad is the most influential person in my life,” he says, adding, “He is always helping me, teaching me and encouraging me.”

Griffith’s schedule is busier than most adults’.

He is in school until the early afternoon, and then it’s off to either homework or lacrosse practice. Griffith goes to the Naples Fencing Academy to train with his coach, German Paz, an internationally renowned fencing coach, every night until 9 p.m. When he returns home, he finishes studying—with his hopes riding on entrance to the U.S. Air Force Academy and a career as a pilot.

His straight A grades don’t just stop in school, either. The U.S. Fencing Association (USFA)

tracks ratings for its members. Griffith earned an A rating (on an A-E scale) at the recent North American Cup. In Budapest, the U.S. Olympic Coach approached him, after realizing that as a relative unknown, he’d placed sixth overall. The U.S. coach then helped coach him against other competitors from Romania and France.

“He told me I have a beautiful lunge,” says Griffith, grinning.

Griffith loves the mental precision of the game; the hand-eye coordination; the patience and the fact you need to keep a mind of steel. “I stay calm and collected. No fear.

“Why do I love fencing?” he smirks and explains simply: “Because I get to run with sharp objects and stab people for a living.” It’s a funny answer, but don’t think—even for a minute—that he, or his weightlifting counterpart Dougherty— aren’t serious about their sports. These two may be young, but they’re as tough and as serious about success as they come.

En Garde!

Six Weird Facts About Fencing

1 2

Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic Games, was a fencer.

3

The target area when using a sabre, which was originally a cavalry weapon, is from the waist up. This is because it was considered un-chivalrous to injure an opponent’s horse.

4

Fencing is one of only four sports to be included in every modern Olympic Games, since the first in 1896. Fencing was also a sport in the original Olympic Games in ancient Greece.

5

The 750 gram weight test used to ensure a touch is scored with sufficient force is based on the amount of tension required to break the skin.

6

Famous Fencers: Bruce Dickinson, the lead singer of Iron Maiden, Neil Diamond, Prince Albert of Monaco and movie star Jerry O’Connell.

The tip of the fencing weapon is the second fastest moving object in sports; the first is the marksman’s bullet.

March/April 2014 | 23

W

TAKEN BY STORM

HOW TO GO FROM 340 POUNDS TO A SUCCESSFUL ARENA FOOTBALL PLAYER IN 300 REALLY DIFFICULT STEPS.

BY A.C. SHILTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAMMY DUFFY

24 |

W When Matt Booth says “flip,” 26-year-old Rodney Beamon flips.

“Flip, flip, flip,” calls out Booth rhythmically.

Across the field, 285-pound Beamon complies, switching the direction that he’s running in— backwards to forwards to backwards again—with the grace of a pirouetting ballerina.

It’s hot on the soccer pitch in Fort Myers where the two are practicing. Sweat streaks Beamon’s clenched-with-concentration face. Underfoot the grass is still wet from last night’s sprinkler soaking and he has to place his feet with care to avoid slipping. Still, this morning’s workout is nothing compared to what Beamon has already been through.

HELL AND BACK Beamon’s bulging right arm bears a tattoo of a cross with Philippians 4:13 inscribed in it.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

These are words that Beamon lives by. All day, every day.

But if Christ is testing Beamon, he’s certainly giving him one rigorous exam. Last year, Beamon signed on to play with the Tampa Bay Storm, a professional arena football team. Getting signed to the team marked the end of a decade of grueling work and more than one man’s fair share of disappointments.

From the beginning, the cards were stacked against Beamon. Even as a child, the NFL was always his dream. He started playing football young, but his genetics didn’t cooperate. He was talented but tiny.

“I was 5’7” through my junior year, so I started, but I didn’t get to play varsity. The summer before my senior year I grew like six inches and finally played varsity.”

But even then, the position Beamon really wanted to play was taken. He’d always wanted to play defense, but the only open spot for him was as center—on the offensive line.

“The coach basically gave me an ultimatum. ‘You play center or you don’t play.’”

Because Beamon was so late to playing varsity, by the end of his senior year he had no “film” to show recruiters and, even worse, no recruiting trips lined up. So he tagged along with a friend March/April 2014 | 25

who was checking out a junior college and ended up enrolling.

After two years, Beamon transfered to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He played well, and his senior year he had a few really standout games. But then the head coach left right before the school’s scheduled pro day—when scouts from the NFL come to scope out top talent.

With the school’s program in disarray, not a single scout showed up. Once again, Beamon was left empty handed.

Then an arena football team in New Orleans called. With no real other offers on the table, Beamon packed up his car and drove to Louisiana.

He arrived only to find that this team was in total disarray too.

“It was me chasing my dream. I didn’t look into it as close as I should have and when I got there I realized it wasn’t right for me. It didn’t turn out too well,” he says.

Unhappy with his team situation, Beamon stopped paying attention to his training. He’d always been worried about being big enough for the game, so 26 |

he kept up his relentless eating habits but stopped hitting the gym. When he could take the team’s disorganization no longer, he quit. He drove from Louisiana to Southwest Florida—where his grandparents lived—figuring he could crash with them while he figured out his next move.

When his grandmother saw Beamon she was shocked at how much weight he’d gained. “She said to me, ‘You don’t look like a professional athlete.’

That really turned on a light bulb in my head,” he says. “I realized I had to make a change.”

She urged him to get a personal trainer but he said he didn’t have the money. When he stepped on the scale, however, and saw that he had hit 340 pounds, he realized she was right. He needed help.

LONG DAYS, LONG NIGHTS, LONG WORKOUTS And so Beamon entered the lowest period of his already frustrating path towards pro football.

Working two jobs—one at Ross and one at the Dollar Tree—in an effort to save up money, Beamon often logged 20-plus hour workdays.

When his car was repossessed, he’d occasionally

just log those last four hours in the gym between shifts if his grandfather couldn’t pick him up.

“People would say, ‘I swear you live at the gym,’ and I’d say, ‘you have no idea.’”

It was at the deepest dip of this low point that Beamon would meet the man who would help him finally achieve his goals: Matt Booth. A Fort Myers-based personal trainer and coach, Booth actually started his career as a track coach. In 2003, however, when the NFL lockout happened, he suddenly found a whole bunch of players here locally looking for someone to help them stay in shape. He’s worked with football athletes ever since.

Through the gym grapevine, Beamon met Booth.

Booth invited Beamon to tag along to a workout, saying “We’re running on Monday, bring your sneakers, I’ll see you there.” Beamon showed up only to find out that “running” meant doing sprints up the ramps at Hammond Stadium.

“I was probably 325 pounds at the time and it was me and three other guys. I was trying to hold my own, but oh, I was dying.”

Booth remembers the workout well. “I didn’t think he was going to come back. But when he showed up the next day, I knew this was going to work out.”

Car-less but giddy, Beamon called Booth. Booth canceled all of his appointments for the day and drove straight over to pick up Beamon. The two headed up Interstate 75.

For the next year the two trained together relentlessly. Beamon continued to burn the candle at both ends working two jobs and training with Booth. Meanwhile, at home, Beamon’s grandmother put him on a diet. He continued to drop weight and continued to improve. Booth found a guy who could help Beamon produce some film for recruiters, and the pair put together a highlight reel. They sent it off to the Tampa Bay Storm and waited.

THE STRENGTH TO KEEP DRIVING

“We got a call saying that they liked my tape but that they had to see me play in person,” says Beamon. At the next open tryout, Beamon was there. He ran, he blocked, he tackled. He thought he did a good job. But as the weeks wore on without a callback from the team, he started to lose hope.

When Beamon practices, you can tell that this is a man who hasn’t yet given up on the NFL. Indeed, he makes it clear that even though he’s come a long way, he’s not done yet.

The day the team camp was set to start, Beamon was working at Ross. He figured he hadn’t made the cut. Then his phone rang. It was an 813 (Tampa) area code. He snuck out of the store to grab the call. It was the coach; they wanted him if he could be there and ready to play by 6 p.m. that evening.

Back on the field, now with one season with the Storm under his belt, Beamon is just as dedicated as ever. He sprints when Booth says sprint, pushing so hard that he has to double over afterwards. He ducks left or right as Booth calls out directions, grunting slightly each time he changes direction.

He never asks for a break.

“When I saw that scale hit 340 pounds I thought my career was over. I thought it was a wrap,” he says. “There were so many days when I didn’t want to get out of bed, where I could have called Matt every name in the book. It was a grind and there were a lot of people who doubted me. But now it’s starting to happen, I’m starting to see it unfold before my eyes. It’s like Phillipeans 4:13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

March/April 2014 | 27

I

It’s been three weeks since I said I’d have this written. Until this point, I’d never missed a deadline. But here I am, re-negotiating once more. It’s become clear that the story I planned to write—about my husband Carter’s massive weight loss and lifestyle changes—isn’t just a transformation story. Instead, it’s a story about our marriage and all the fun, frustration, work, love and pain that goes into sharing your life with another person.

Hunger and Fulfillment

HOW ONE MAN LOST IT FOR GOOD AND GAINED EVERYTHING IN THE PROCESS

BY JILL WHEELER PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIK KELLAR

28 |

Originally I planned to write only about the nice things. About how proud and happy I was for Carter’s athletic transformation. But 15 years of studying Buddhism has taught me that when you are open to life—truly, authentically open—you feel it all: the good, the bad, the ugly. Like any commitment to weight loss, our marriage has been a journey and recommitment has been a common theme.

I met Carter in Boulder, Colorado in 2000. I was in my workout clothes. I’d just taught a dance class and was sweaty. I had not an ounce of makeup on.

I made my way to the bar to order a drink from a bartending friend. Carter—who owned the bar—said, “You can have anything you want.”

I replied, “I like this guy.”

That was true Carter from our first encounter.

Carter likes to make people happy. He’s a giver. At 21 he owned his own music venue and bar, and when I met him at 26, he owned Tulagi, a historic Boulder nightlife institution.

He was the life of the party with an entourage of buddies, and he always made sure all of his friends were taken care of.

A mutual friend had promised both of us that we’d love each other, and he was right. I loved the guy immediately—but as a friend. Although Carter and I had many things in common, there were two things Carter was missing: athleticism and fitness.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t ski, hike or bike; he was just not putting the time, effort and passion into an active lifestyle and—at almost 300 pounds—he was bigger than any guy I had ever dated.

Now, as big as his body was, so was his personality. Over the course of a year, I found myself falling in love with him. He had an adventurous spirit and at the drop of a hat we would find ourselves in Mexico, New Orleans or in the mountains.

Within months of being together, he started to change and as he did, my love for him only grew deeper.

What inspired his change?

Round one – The Wedding

The efforts began about 10 years ago. Carter’s first round of weight loss occurred 6-8 months before our wedding. He dropped about 60 pounds and looked and felt great. We ran the 10k Bolder Boulder together, mountain biked, hiked and occasionally logged miles on long trail runs. His eating habits became shockingly disciplined and horribly boring. He was going for the Atkins thing—his regime was egg whites for breakfast and a ridiculous amount of sliced turkey (at least a pound a day). He worked out a lot, often two treadmill sessions daily. I was always impressed with his dedication to eating the most boring foods. I craved his discipline, but secretly wondered how sustainable it was to eat just for sustenance and not pleasure (something I knew little about).

Low period, gaining it back

As Carter became more active, especially with running, he was forced to face the fact that he has the worst feet ever. Bloodied hammertoes were the norm after a run and he elected for an intense foot reconstruction surgery. While I was growing big with baby number one, so was he, post-surgery. Between work and being a first-time father, he wasn’t dedicating the time to working out. By mid 2005, he was basically back to where he started.

Boredom, Job, Kids, You Name It

Carter was giving so much to our young family that he didn’t focus on himself. It’s not that he never worked out, but it just wasn’t his priority.

Truth is, a guy his size with a genetic makeup like his needs to keep the pedal to the metal.

Otherwise the pounds creep back.

In early 2007, we relocated to Florida with an infant and a toddler. The move, coupled with a new group of friends and near-constant socializing created the perfect storm for dietary recklessness. We were always eating on the go or eating out, attending charity events with endless buffets. There were far too many sleepless nights. He grew bigger, and I grew increasingly unhappy.

How do you tell someone you love that you want him to change the way he looks?

It’s hard. It killed me, but I had to do it.

Carter does what he wants, when he wants, in his own time. But my honesty started the dialogue and I felt relieved. He started to care more. Progress was slow, but he began working out and riding his bike again. He maintained.

We maintained. Slow and steady.

Round Two

Between 2010-2013, Carter became motivated to be healthier for his family, not only because of what I said, but also because he wanted to prove he could do it again—lose even more weight and keep it off this time.

Carter is an all or nothing kind of a guy. That just works for him. Once he realized he liked pushing himself physically, the overall desire to be healthy was sparked. He biked regularly, and by 2011 he cut all alcohol out of his regular diet.

One day he simply said he wasn’t going to drink anymore and then, just like that, he stopped. He dropped tens of pounds in weeks and became even more motivated.

Carter’s been called a beast, a machine, a force, but mostly he’s become kinder, happier and less anxious through all of this.

To date, he has lost 110 pounds. From the beginning of the time I’ve known him, it’s more like 130. Total weight lost since his biggest days before I knew him—as a dreadlocked, postboarding school, traveling Deadhead—is closer to 140.

Impressive. Really impressive.

How did he do it and how does he keep it off?

He will tell you it’s nothing but determination.

No gimmicks. No excuses. He exercises almost every day, which means he pushes himself until he feels like he will vomit, until he tastes blood in his mouth.

And he’s totally committed.

Carter was inspired toward a plant-based diet when we heard vegan ultra-runner Scott Jurek speak in 2012. Carter began to think about food as energy and reducing the extra energy needed to process a meat-based diet. After reading Jurek’s “Eat & Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness,” Carter went on to read Rich Roll’s “Finding Ultra” and Brandon Brazier’s “Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life.”

Once he became vegan, he read “The China Study” and watched the documentary “Forks

Over Knives,” which sealed his commitment to staying vegan.

To top it all off, he marked his commitment to conscious use of suffering by inking it on his forearm. “Make Use of Suffering” may be dark to some, but for Carter it’s a commitment to move toward the lightness of being in body and mind. It reminds him that whatever is going on in his life, he can always use pain to push himself.

In the past few years, Carter has challenged himself in more than a dozen triathlons, including a Half Ironman, several multi-day biking races and a couple of half marathons.

He’s an avid kiteboarder and recently summited the prominent 19,347-foot Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador. He’s even opening his own indoor cycling studio, Time Trial Cycle, to help others realize their goals the way he has.

And all this is just the beginning.

We recently celebrated our 10-year anniversary in the Cayman Islands. There on those beautiful sandy shores, we were reminded how much we both love adventure travel, kitesurfing, our healthy vegan lifestyle, and—of course—each other. Though Carter’s journey was started by my honesty, in the end it was a path he had to find—and travel on his own. But now that he’s arrived, I look forward to walking together— in sickness and in health—for many decades to come.

March/April 2014 | 29

INTRODUCING THE FRESH FOAM 980.

Experience the indescribably soft, yet stable shoe you’ll have to feel to believe.

THIS IS THE SCIENCE OF SOFT. THIS IS #RUNNOVATION.

New Balance Naples 8799 N. Tamiami Trail

SW corner Vanderbilt Beach Rd. & 41, near Steinmart

M-F 10-5 | SAT 10-4 Naples

30 |

239-596-8788

NEW YORK STYLE

(LIKE CHINESE FOOD OR PIZZA)

WEBSITES }

MOBILE APPS } FACEBOOK PAGES } AT FLORIDA PRICES } ( Y O U

G E T

T H E

BLOGS, E-COMMERCE, PORTFOLIO, REAL ESTATE, ETC - ALL MOBILE READY ANDROID & IPHONE - BECAUSE NO ONE REALLY USES A BLACKBERRY ANYMORE. DRAMA FREE

H I N T )

WE DON’T SUCK EITHER - WE PROMISE

239-471-4125 www.CODEMASONSINC.com

March/April 2014 | 31

GO BIG OR GO BIGGER TRAIN

TRENDING NOW

32 |

HOKA ONE ONES Have Runners on Cloud Nine.

by A.C. Shilton

I

t feels like just a few months ago we were working on a piece about minimalist shoes.

Suddenly everyone wanted to fly barefoot down the road like a Tarahumara runner. After all, we were all born to run, weren’t we?

Apparently not all of us. A few studies (and a lot of anecdotal injuries) later, it turns out barefoot running really isn’t for most of us. Most notably, a 2013 study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise showed that runners who added barefoot running—even gradually—to their running routines showed signs of early bone injuries after just 10 weeks.

On the (bare) heels of all this research a new trend has emerged: The maximalist running shoe. First on the scene—and so wacky looking it has garnered the most attention—was the HOKA ONE ONE. Designed by ultra-runner Nicolas Mecmoud and a group of his former colleagues from Salomon Footwear, HOKA ONE ONEs are meant to let runners run farther with fewer injuries and less recovery time.

“I love my HOKAS,” raves Kimmi van der Veen, manager of Fit2Run’s Estero store. Van der Veen says that she has a self-diagnosed collapsed

metatarsal, which makes long runs painful.

“The HOKAS really made it possible for me to tackle marathon number two and now they’ll get me to marathon number three.”

Boasting two and a half times the midsole volume of a normal shoe and 35 millimeters of cushioning in the heel, HOKAS were quickly adopted by the ultra-running crowd. But more recently, “normal” distance runners have been trying them too.

“At first I was a little skeptical,” says 62-yearold Punta Gorda resident Steve Viera. “I just wondered, are these going to feel like a giant sponge? I wondered how they would hold up.”

But a calcium deposit that was causing Viera pain made looking past the shoe’s spongelike aesthetics easy. “Now I use my HOKAS exclusively,” he says, adding that he’s been able to go from walk-running three miles to walk-running up to eight miles. “I just feel really comfortable in them. You’d have to show me something even better to switch out of these at this point.”

both men and women, each offering different amounts of cushioning, however, all are geared towards a neutral running stride. This worried van der Veen, who is a mid-foot striker, but she says that after a run or two in them, she was sold.

And despite having all that material, she swears the shoes stay cool, even on sweaty summer speed work days. “The Bondi 3s have a very aerated tongue and the soles don’t seem to absorb too much sweat. You know, I never though about them being hot, even during the summer, so they really don’t get any heavier with sweat than a regular shoe.”

And, she says that based off of sales at her store alone, the shoes are here to stay. “We’re seeing a lot of loyal customers and I’m hearing a lot of testimonials from runners who thought they would never be able to run pain-free.”

Want to try a pair? Fit2Run is hosting a HOKA ONE ONE demo event on Wednesday, March 5, 2014. Runners can try the shoes during the store’s weekly 6:30 p.m. 5k fun run. For more info, call 239-947-2786.

HOKA ONE ONE now has seven models for

March/April 2014 | 33

"Life isn't predictable, neither is your training"

"Break the routine with BBF"

BBroFitness@gmail.com

239-289-7223 BellamyBroFitness.com

APRIL 12, 2014

BONITA SPRINGS YMCA

Teams of two race through a challenging course of obstacles at the YMCA, ending in a giant mud pit!

Ages 13+. Check-In 7:30am.

SIGN UP AS A TEAM! Register by March 31: $80/2 Person Team Register after April 1: $90/2 Person Team

SPACE IS LIMITED! REGISTER TODAY! CALL: (239) 221-7560 VISIT: Bonita Springs YMCA, 27200 Kent Road ONLINE: BonitaSpringsYMCA.org 34 |

MINI S ’ D I K NGE E L L A CH es 5-12 !

Ag /Child 0 1 $ y Onl

PROGRAMS WE OFFER Indoor/Outdoor Group Fitness Company Employee Fitness Private Training Online Training 764 Vanderbilt Beach Road Naples, Florida

10 Good reasons to see

dr. Loan LaM VIsIt our New offIce & spa IN NapLes! If an injury or problem from your toes to your legs has you off your feet, call Dr. Loan Lam. She takes the time to fully diagnose foot and ankle issues, and focus on the bigger picture.

Because sub-standard care is something no patient should ever stand for.

NapLes

2500 Tamiami Trail N. Suite 206 Naples, FL 34103 (239) 331.7144

Marco IsLaND

MyDrLam.com

Personal Training • Tanning • Juice Bar • Full Gym

Get Fit. Get Active.

Get RESULTS.

40 Heathwood Dr. Suite E Marco Island, FL 34145 (239) 331.7144

4880 Davis Blvd. Naples, FL 34104 239.732.5899 / www.RoyalFitness.net March/April 2014 | 35

SERIOUSLY STACKED SHOULDERS TRAIN

Four moves that will make your shoulders the envy of the gym.

by Bryan Raymond

MONTHLY WORKOUT

I

P: BRIAN TIETZ (10)

n gym life, strong shoulders enable us do eye-popping amounts of pushups while giving us the clout to wear tank tops. But in real life, strong shoulder matter too.

Because we use our shoulders all day long for lifting groceries, mowing the lawn and a whole host of other chores, it’s worth it to invest a little time in strengthening them.

Here, Bryan Raymond from Fort Myers Fitness 24/7 shows us four easy exercises for total shoulder domination.

THE DUMBBELL INCLINE REVERSE FLY Start off by setting your incline bench to a moderate incline. Kneel on the bench so that your chest is resting against the inclined portion. Holding dumbbells in each hand, slowly—using your shoulders, not your hands!—raise your arms up towards the ceiling.

Squeeze on the way up and hold for four counts at the top of each rep. Repeat for three sets of 15 then 12 then 10 if you’re going for definition, and three sets of 12, 10 and 8 (adding slightly more weight each time) if you’re going for size.

36 |

THE DUMBBELL SHOULDER FLY Start by sitting on top of an exercise bench with your feet planted on the floor in front of you, arms by your sides with dumbbells in each hand. Raise the dumbbells straight out to the side. Keep your arms straight at the top and hold for a count, then return back to the starting position.

Try to do three sets of 15-12-10 or 12-10-8 (adding slightly more weight each time), depending on your goals.

BARBELL UPRIGHT ROW Stand up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart. Grab the barbell with an overhand grip (you should be looking down at the backs of your hands on the top of the barbell). Raise the bar up towards your chin, elevating and contracting from your shoulders and traps, until it is at collarbone level. As soon as you reach the top position, hold for a count. Finally, lower the bar back to the starting position.

Aim for three sets of 15-12-10 or 12-10-8 (adding slightly more weight each set) depending on your goals.

Meet Bryan Raymond DUMBBELL CROSS-LATERAL RAISE Start by standing up straight behind an incline bench with one foot forward. Keeping your abs tight, hold a dumbbell in the same hand as the foot that’s slightly forward. On the opposite side, lift your arm out in front of your body with your palm down. Raise the dumbbell up and across in one fluid movement. At the top of the movement, the dumbbell should connect with your raised arm. Your raised arm is really just a guide to see how high to raise the arm with the dumbbell. Once you reach the top position, hold for a count, squeezing your shoulder muscles.

Then return back to the starting position.

Aim for three sets of 15-12-10 or 12-10-8 (adding slightly more weight each set) depending on your goals.

Bryan Raymond has been competing in and coaching for NPC Fitness and Figure Competitions since 2006. He’s also the owner of Fort Myers Fitness 24/7 where he trains both clients wanting to compete in figure competitions and clients simply wanting to see results.

WORKOUT TO GO Print this and other gym-ready, step-bystep workouts online at fitnationmag.com.

March/April 2014 | 37

FITBOOK HITS SERIES TRIATHLON //

P: PHOTO CREDIT (XX)

See more photos photos from from this this and andother other fitness events events around aroundSouthwest SouthwestFlorida Floridaatat facebook.com/fitnationmag. Tag yourself while you’re there!

38 || fitnationmag.com

PHOTO CREDIT (11)

JANUARY 11-12, 2013 NAPLES, FLORIDA

FITBOOK NAPLES DAILY NEWS HALF //

PHOTO CREDIT (11)

JANUARY 19, 2014 NAPLES, FLORIDA

See more photos from this and other fitness events around Southwest Florida at facebook.com/fitnationmag. Tag yourself while you’re there!

March/April 2014 | 39

YOUR

AD HERE od/// o h r o b h g i e N r /// You / Farm/// // Visit us at these farmer markets: Ave Maria Farm Store Friday 10am - 6pm Sat & Sun 10am - 4pm 3rd St South Sat 7:30 - 11:30am

Locally grown, organic produce

/// Sign up for our farm fresh e-newsletter on our website ///

Marquesa Plaza (corner of Pine Ridge Rd./Livingston Rd.) Sun 9am – 2pm / / / or / / /

www.collierfamilyfarms.com 5321 Ave Maria Blvd, Ave Maria, FL 34142

Come out to the farm and pick it yourself!

Your potential customer could be the one reading this ad and not you!

EMAIL: ads@fitnationmag.com PHONE: 239.339.3924

239-207-5231

FIT NATION / SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

40 |

MAKE

T H E OCEAN YOUR YOGA

MAT STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD

YOGA SUP YOGAFIT PRICING

$15 if you bring your

own board/paddle

$35 if you need to rent a board/paddle Private groups available upon request

To book a class go to: meetup.com/SUP-YOGAFIT

or call 239-405-7155 for more info.

www.sweetwateroutďŹ tters.com

March/April 2014 | 41

42 |

CALENDAR MARCH

22 Move for Music 5K, Fort Myers.

3dracinginc.com

1 GCR Gold Medal Club 5K Race, Naples. gcrunner.org

22 Special Olympics Summer Area Games, Naples. specialolympicscollier.org

1 Special Olympics Summer County Games, Naples. specialolympicscollier.org

22 Beach Bum 5K, Naples. gcrunner.org

Wellness for the senses

29 Gasparilla Criterium & Cycling Festival, Tampa. tampacrit.com

Facial Treatments

2 Hooters Half Marathon, Fort Myers. hootershalfmarathon.com 8 TSC Color Me Free 5K Fun Run, Naples. peaceloveandlemonade.org 8 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Estero. komenswfl.org 15 March Mudness Mud Run, Naples. themudblast.com 16 Marco Island Half Marathon, Marco Island. marcoislandhalfmarathon.com

29 Tampa Bay Crit 3k Beer Dash, Tampa. tampacrit.com 29 Scope for Hope 5K, Fort Myers.

21stcenturycare.org 29 The Fast and the Furriest 5K, Estero.

3dracinginc.com 29 Miracle Limbs - Courage in Motion Benefit Bike Ride, Naples. trekbikesflorida.com

at Riverchase Plaza full spa salon all under one roof

Lie back and enjoy

Men & Women with first class German products including skin analysis

Professional Hairstyles Perms, color, highlighting, foil, etc.

Spa Pedicure, Manicure Massage Therapy MM31725

we also use organic products

20 FN Sunset Yoga on Vanderbilt Beach, Naples. fitnationmag.com/events/sunset-yoga

11220 Tamiami Tr. N, Naples, FL 34110 www.hair-beautycare.com

239.653.9419

ELIMINATE PAIN PREVENT INJURY Improve performance and overall health

APRIL 5 10K Run for Music, Naples. gcrunner.org 6 4th Annual Tour De Marco, Marco Island. http://naplespathways.org 12 Sparkle Sprint, Naples. GOTRCC.org 12 Gruesome Twosome, Bonita Springs. swflymca.org

Danny Porcelli DC 7955 Airport Pulling Rd N Suite 203 Naples, FL 34109 239.260.5907 WWW.XOCCHIROPRACTIC.COM

HEADACHES NECK PAIN BACK PAIN SCIATICA SHOULDER PAIN TENNIS ELBOW GOLFERS’S ELBOW CARPAL TUNNEL PLANTAR FASCIITIS KNEE PAIN METATARSALAGIA FIBROMYALGIA

12 Open Water Festival, Fort Myers. openwaterfestival.org 13 FGCU Eagle Sprint Triathlon, Fort Myers. blogs.fgcu.edu/campusrec/ 17 FN Sunset Yoga on Vanderbilt Beach, Naples. fitnationmag.com/events/sunset-yoga 19 Head and Neck Cancer Awareness 5K, Fort Myers. 3dracinginc.com

March/April 2014 | 43

INVICTUS

DARWIN COLIGADO | CHICAGO, IL

photograph by MARY CAROL FITZGERALD www.marycarolphotography.com

Want to see your active lifestyle photos in print?

Send them to info@fitnationmag.com.

44 |

March/April 2014 | 45

46 |