An Apple a Day December 2015

december 2015

Wellness For Life

The Best Neighbors Ever Neighbors Emergency Center Brings Unparalleled Care to Your Neighborhood pg. 12

For over a decade now, The Laser & Aesthetic Center of the Permian Basin has been doing much to beautify the population of our beloved community. We want to ensure that all the residents of the Permian Basin feel their best, and in order to do so, we feel you need to look your best. We are experienced in caring for patients with various cosmetic issues, and in optimizing patient outcome. We would be privileged to assist you in achieving your inner and outer beauty.

All consultations are free.

Dr. Robert L. Chappell, Jr. M.D.

Our Specialties

• Coolsculpting • FotoFacial • Fraxel Dual • Laser Hair Removal • Spider Vein Removal • Thermage • Botox • Dysport

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Dr. Ritchie O. Rosso, Jr., M.D.

2847 E. 11th Street Odessa, TX 79761 • 432–580–8060 • www. lacpb.net

Changing the Experience of Surgery When medication and non-invasive procedures are unable to relieve symptoms, surgery remains the accepted and most effective treatment for a range of gynecologic conditions. For generations, open surgery has been the standard approach to many gynecologic procedures and is still used today.

With the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System, Dr. Van Riper operates through just a few small incisions.

The da Vinci System features a magnified 3D highdefinition vision system and tiny-wristed instruments that bend and rotate far greater than the human wrist.

As a result, da Vinci enables Dr. Van Riper to operate with enhanced vision, precision, dexterity and control.

Dr. Van Riper has extensive experience using the da Vinci Surgical System.

He is your trusted expert for minimally invasive surgery with a faster recovery time.

Pregnancy—Including High Risk • 3D Sonograms • Gynecology • Urogynecology Urinary Incontinence • Bladder Problems • Pap Smears/Physicals Menopausal Treatment • Tubal Ligation • Contraception Laproscopic Surgeries • da Vinci Robotic Surgical System Minimally Invasive Surgeries • Outpatient Hysterectomies

James Van Riper, D.O., FACOG Board Certified OB-GYN

Jackie Lehr, MSN, RNC Board Certified Nurse Practitioner

Accepting New Patients 410 N. Hancock • Odessa, TX 79761 432–337–4782

OUR ADVERTISERS front inside front inside 1

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Occasions Fine Jewelry Laser & Aesthetic Center James Van Riper, D.O., FACOG Freedom Buick GMC Truck Midland Memorial Hospital The Odessa Family YMCA The Springboard Center MCH Joint Care Center First Physicians ORMC Cooking with Kim Earlene Smith Other Remedies Furst Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery National Cooling, Heating & Plumbing Permian Basin Chevy Dealers

Wellness For Life

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To advertise, contact Mary at 432–550–7339 Publisher Mary Hunt, Ha! Publishing Editor Evangeline Ehl Publication Manager Mary Hunt Sales Cam Feldt, Mary Hunt Writers Kim Clinkenbeard, Joy H. Coleman, Wendy Hilliard, Tatum Hubbard, Ben McCampbell, Alycia Preston, Alyssa L. Sinclair, Earlene Smith Photography Michael Horton, Neighbors Emergency Center, Mark Swindler Design Sarah Fleck, Chantel Miller

24 4 Yoga for Balanced Holidays

14 Holiday Cheer From Studio 7

6 Giving Back in the Basin

20 Get Fit with Kim: Back To Basics Part 2

9 Nordic Walking Have a great story idea for An Apple A Day? Submit your idea online at www.anapplemag.com.

3527 Billy Hext Road • Odessa, TX 79765 432 550 5998 • 866 550 7329 fax 432 550 7346 www.hapublishing.com The information in this magazine is not meant to treat, diagnose, prescribe, or cure any ailment. Always check with your physician before taking any products or following any advice you have read. Always consult your physician before you start, stop, or change anything that has been previously prescribed. All content herein is the property of Ha! Publishing and may not be reprinted or reproduced in any medium without the written permission of the publisher. Some art work is used at the sole discretion of the advertiser and is not created by Hunt Advertising.

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Unique Christmas Customs From Around the World

22 Health & Beauty: All About Eyes 24 Recipe: Christmas Hot Chocolate

The Best Neighbors Ever

ON THE COVER Neighbors Emergency Center strives to be “The Best Neighbors Ever,” bringing compassionate, expert medical care to Midland and Odessa.

READ MORE ON PAGE 12 an apple a day december 2015

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yoga for balanced holidays

by Alyssa L. Sinclair

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ectic gift shopping, long drives, traffic, busy airports, inclement weather, and navigating family dynamics: it may leave you feeling panicked in anticipation of the holiday season. Add that to overeating, and we are left not feeling our best during a time that should be dedicated to enjoying family, resting, and resetting before the new year begins.

This yoga practice is an opportunity to reconnect and find a sense of balance in the midst of the busy holiday season. Standing and balancing poses have an amazing ability to force us to drop into our bodies and be completely present, while twists and forward folds aid digestion and relieve low back pain. Remember that a strong feeling of stretching is normal, but to stop if you feel sharp joint pain, or if a doctor has instructed you not to do certain movements. Before you begin, find a quiet room, and dim the lights if possible. A mat is not necessary, but may be helpful.

CORPSE POSE Begin lying down with your eyes closed. You can place a small cloth over your eyes to soothe your nervous system. Place one hand on your heart and one on your stomach. Connect to the feeling of your beating heart and your breath rising and falling. Try to steadily count ten breaths.

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KNEES TO CHEST POSE Draw your knees in. This pose aids in digestion and massages the low back. Feel free to rock side to side, gently massaging the sacral area.

TWO-KNEE TWIST Drop both knees to one side and let your opposite arm open to the other side. Hold here for five breaths. This pose promotes digestion, opens the chest, and relieves back stiffness. After repeating on both sides, rock or push yourself up to a seat.

SEATED FORWARD FOLD Find a tall seat by scooting back a bit, or sitting on a folded blanket. Extend your spine up before folding forward. Try to keep your chest lifted—don’t round too much just for the sake of reaching the toes. If you feel a stretch, you are folding enough, even if it’s just a few inches. Hold for five to seven breaths.

Find your way to hands and knees.

DOWN DOG You are on all fours, with your hands beneath your shoulders and knees beneath hips. Curl your toes Continued on page 15

PIONEER SPIRIT | CARING HEART | HEALING MISSION Every organization, like a building, must rely on a well-constructed foundation. It upholds and strengthens us. Midland Health is built upon the values of Pioneer Spirit, Caring Heart and Healing Mission. These values define and guide us as we begin to light the way toward our ultimate goal, to make Midland the healthiest community in Texas. midland-memorial.com

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Giving Back in the Basin

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o words can really describe Christmas.

The time around Christmas and New Year’s is a magical time. It’s a time to savor present joys and to remember the past with a humble heart, receiving again the wondrous gifts of hope, love, and forgiveness. There are those, however, who have not seen hope or love in a long time.

Below are listed some of our area resources who try to bring Christmas to those in need. They always need your support.

ROCrageous Sidewalk Ministry, an outreach ministry of Odessa Christian Faith Center, has scheduled Kidz Christmas at 2 pm December 12.

Families can enjoy a dramatic presentation like “The Grunch” or “Toy Store.” Each child will receive a present and a stocking filled with Christmas goodies, while parents will receive gifts filled with coupons to restaurants and stores in our community. Call 368–714, email ocfc@ocfc.org or visit ocfc.org.

The Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity, 1412 W. Illinois Ave., Midland, has scheduled Wrapping Around the Christmas Tree 2015, an annual gift wrapping party, from 9 am to 8 pm on December 9. Come

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by Joy H. Coleman

and wrap gifts for the underprivileged children of the community. Call 432–934–7414 or email stephanie@311ministries.org.

The Compassionate Friends of West Texas has scheduled the 2015 Worldwide Candle Lighting from 6 pm to 8 pm December 13 at CrossRoads Fellowship, 6901 E. Highway 191. Light a candle for all children who have died, that their light may always shine. Candles, cups, and refreshments will be provided. Call 208-–7353 or 703–1130.

Odessa Bible Church, 2110 E. 10th St., has scheduled a Rooted Fantastical Extravaganza Christmas Party from 6 pm to 8:15 pm December 16. Call 337–3944 or visit www.odessabible.org.

The Salvation Army in Midland and Odessa is accepting applications for the Angel Tree program.

Started in 1985, the Angel Tree program provides certain necessities like food, clothing, and other such items, along with toys, to families who need help. The Salvation Army wants local community members to adopt a Christmas angel. They provide the information on the children, their size and what they need and would like for Christmas. Then the information is put onto an angel card.

That information is sent out to the community and local businesses with the hope that they can lend a hand. The need is high: More people are reported coming in than last year. A lot of them are single parents, but there are also those who’ve have their working hours cut or were laid off.

Once the gifts are bought, community members don’t wrap the gifts. Instead, they bring them to the Salvation Army and the parents wrap the presents themselves. This allows them to feel like they have a part in their child’s Christmas. Even if they couldn’t afford to buy the gifts, they can wrap them, and make them special for their kids and put them under the tree.

To help make this a bright Christmas for a child in the area, in Midland, you can find the Salvation Army angel trees at either WalMart location, Midland Park Mall, Johnny Carino’s, Olive Garden, and Ashley Furniture.

In Odessa you can go by Music City Mall, West Texas State Bank, American State Bank and Southwest 66 Credit Union. Make sure you contact your corresponding Salvation Army office to find out when those gifts need to be turned in.

When applying to the Angel Tree, bring a picture ID, a form of identification for everyone in the household (Social Security card, birth certificate, Medicaid card, school ID, Matricula Consular, state-issued ID, or other form), birth certificate for all children applying, proof of residence, proof of all sources of income for the last 30 days (including paycheck stubs, SSI, food stamps, and other income), proof of all household expenses (including rent or lease receipt, all utility bills, phone bills, childcare fees, car payments, insurance, and other bills).

Those who wish to apply for the program can come from 9 am to 11:30 am and 1 pm to 4 pm Monday through Thursday or 9 am to 11:30 am Friday at the Salvation Army, 810 E. 11th St. Contact Jared Wilson at 432–333–7786.

Coats for Kids Every year the Odessa community works together with CBS/Channel 7 to collect children’s coats for those in need locally. They do this by working alongside local elementary schools, Salvation Army, Frost Bank, and All American Chevrolet.

H-E-B Feast of Sharing, an annual free holiday community dinner, has been scheduled from 4 pm to 8 pm December 4 at Ector County Coliseum, buildings D and E, 4201 Andrews Highway.

Hope for Christmas: A Holiday Tour of Homes, an annual fundraising event for Addy’s Hope Adoption Agency, has been scheduled from 6 pm to 9:30 pm December 4 in Odessa and Midland.

For tickets, visit www.addyshope.org.

Toys 4 Tots in Fort Stockton has started. This is a program where people can donate unwrapped, new gifts to the First National Bank at 1000 W Dickinson Blvd. The gifts will be distributed to less fortunate children in the community near Christmas.

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for youth development for healthy living for social responsibility

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NORDIC WALKING

by Wendy Hilliard

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f you’re wondering what to ask Santa for Christmas this year, you might want ask him for a set of Nordic walking poles. The specially designed poles weigh in at a mere eight ounces but are heavy hitters when it comes to exercising the upper body. Planting and pushing the poles while walking recruits 90 percent of the body’s muscles. The poles transform a regular walk into a total body, fat-burning low impact workout.

Walking is one of the most popular forms of exercise. Over 80 million people in the U.S. use walking as their primary mode of exercise. It lowers blood pressure and bad cholesterol, reduces stress, increases weight loss, and enhances immunity among other benefits. It’s convenient and can be done anywhere. The only drawback is the lack of upper body engagement.

Compare this with Nordic walking, just one mile of trekking with poles, contracts abdominals up to 1,800 times, and the latissimus dorsi muscles or “lats” up to 900 times. In addition, using the poles reduces impact stress on the hips, knees and ankles. Once you get over the way it looks and master the movement, Nordic walkers can burn from 20 up to 46 percent more calories.

On a very breezy, chilly November morning an intrepid group of guinea pigs risked looking “dorky” for the sake of fitness and tried Nordic walking.

“It’s more challenging than I thought it would be,” said Odessa Family Y CEO Edward Moreno. “It takes some coordination. I really had to think about what I was doing. I couldn’t talk and walk at first.”

Moving opposite arms and legs simultaneously may sound easy, but it takes some effort to synchronize the pattern. Not to mention it looks odd walking with poles.

“I thought it was just going to be walking with sticks. The first time I tried it I had to stop, slow down and think about what I was doing. I think I was self-conscious about the way I looked.

Continued on page 17 an apple a day december 2015

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We heal better together.

Together we can achieve great things. That’s the philosophy behind our hip and knee replacement program at the MCH Joint Care Center. It’s a comprehensive approach to care where patients, healthcare professionals and family share in the recovery journey as a team. We want the first step you take after surgery to get you one step closer to going home.

mchodessa.com • (432) 640-6000 500 W. 4th Street • Odessa, TX 79761

Unique Christmas Customs From Around the World

by Ben McCampbell

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hristmas is celebrated all around the world, but the customs of Christmas vary so much around the globe that in some places you might wonder what holiday they’re celebrating. To Christians, the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth is one of the two most important events of the year. (Easter is the other one.) Many of the traditions of Christmas, such as gifts, angels, carols, nativity scenes, etc., are derived from and symbolize the events surrounding Christ’s birth. But others? Well, you wonder.

The Bible doesn’t say anything about when Christ was born, but biblical scholars think it was probably in the spring. So why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25? Possibly because there were pagan festivals already going on in late December, and the (Catholic) Church wanted converts. So they sort of co-opted the festival season early in the 4th Century A.D., adding the observance of Christ’s birth to the celebration of the winter solstice and a couple of raucous Roman festivals. Sounds a bit less than reverent, but it’s pretty accurate. And some of our current Christmas customs stem from it.

Do people throw Easter parties? No, but they invite family and friends over for parties during the Christmas season, and of course there’s the company party. Perhaps the ancient pagan winter solstice festivals are still an influence.

There’s always lots of good food served at Christmas parties, so let’s go around the world and see what is served during the season. In Slovakia, it’s not so much served as it is thrown! The most senior man of the house takes a spoonful of loksa pudding and throws it at the ceiling. The more of it that sticks, the better.

My brothers and I did that with peas and mashed potatoes one evening when our parents were at the movies, and we had to repaint the kitchen.

Families in Denmark leave a bowl of rice pudding for Nisse, a devilish elf, so he will be nice to them.

If they don’t leave the pudding, presents may be stolen before the children awake on Christmas morning. On Christmas Day in South Africa, they eat deep-fried fuzzy caterpillars of the Emperor Moth. Kind of like eating a soft fried toothbrush.

And here’s one that shows the power of advertising­—in Japan on Christmas Eve, they feast on Kentucky Fried Chicken! It’s the result of a 1974 advertising campaign by KFC that worked really well!

In Japan on Christmas Eve, they feast on Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Leave it to the French to do the Christmas Eve banquet. It’s called Reveillon, and the idea is to eat as much as possible and stay awake until after midnight, then top the meal off with 13 different desserts. Yes, 13—one each for Jesus and the 12 Apostles. And probably a serving of Alka-Seltzer, too.

One last suggestion for eating during the holidays. If you’re going to spend Christmas in Greenland, you might want to eat before you go. They eat mattak, which is raw whale skin served with blubber. If that doesn’t suit your fancy, then try kiviak. It’s a delicacy Continued on page 18

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The Best Neighbors Ever

by Alycia Preston

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eighbors Emergency Center is a Neighbors will also be opening a new center in new name in healthcare that has Odessa located at 2731 N. Grandview Ave. at begun to make its mark throughout the end of this year. The Medical Director at the the communities in Houston and Neighbors Emergency Center in Odessa is Vik Wall, Austin. Founded in 2008 by a group of emergency MD, FACEP, FAAEM. room physicians, Neighbors Emergency Center is a network of free-standing emergency rooms Neighbors Emergency Center operates as a freethat provides a more personalized ER experience. standing emergency room, providing their patients In contrast with traditional emergency rooms, with the same level of service as hospital-based Neighbors Emergency Centers strives to practice emergency rooms. In addition, free-standing emeran efficient way to provide emergency care to the gency rooms, such as Neighbors Emergency Cenpublic by operating with a defined model of Purpose, ter, operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Mission, and Vision. NEC has grown greatly in the 365 days a year, and are staffed with qualified past seven years with emergency physi15 locations throughout cians. Patients favor Neighbors believes in Texas, including the Neighbors Emergency emergency centers providing extraordinary care Center because their located in Midland locations provide excelthat is dedicated to making and Odessa. lent convenience,and they have little to no lives better every day.

Our Midland Neighbors wait time. Neighbors Emergency Center has Emergency Centers recently opened, and is located at 5409 West provide a higher quality of care because they elimiWadley Ave., Midland Texas 79707. The Midland nate hospital overcrowding, while providing efficient location is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, emergency care. as all the Neighbors Emergency Center locations are. The Medical Director of Neighbors Emergency What differentiates Neighbors from other freeCenter Midland is Neill Slater, MD. standing emergency rooms is their sincere culture of caring. The organization is rooted in and driven 12 december 2015 an apple a day

by a purpose that sets them apart from the healthcare industry as a whole. Neighbors Emergency Center’s purpose drives their vision which is inspired by their patients, culture, and community. Neighbors Emergency Center has taken it upon themselves to completely reimagine what emergency care is capable of. Neighbors believes in providing extraordinary care that is dedicated to making lives better every day. Neighbors Emergency Center operates around an unfaltering vision to be “The Best Neighbors Ever”— this means providing unparalleled medical care driven by compassion, respect, and dedication.

This dedication translates wholly into the leadership team and physicians at Neighbors Emergency Center. Fueled by passion and enabled with experience, the leadership team drives the purpose to make lives better and they embody the patientcentered culture of Neighbors Emergency Center.

The patient-centered business model comes from a place of collaboration that involves the corporate leadership team, as well as a broad range of employees that represent Neighbors everyday. Each emergency center operates independently, but they are very much a part of the Neighbors family.

The Neighbors Emergency Centers take pride in only hiring board-certified physicians to care for patients. This allows them to serve with the dedication and knowledge patients should expect from their physicians. By doing this, they provide nothing less than the high-quality patient care they believe all emergency facilities should maintain.

The hiring process targets physicians to join a team that is confident in the passion of creating a patient-focused experience with the proper medical knowledge and clinical judgment to diagnose, treat, and save lives. Having this standard has led to Neighbors Emergency Center creating a pool of quality physicians committed to a successful business model.

The Neighbors Emergency Center leadership team includes Chief Executive Officer Setul G. Patel MD. As President and CEO, Patel has helped grow the

Above: Rendering of the Odessa Neighbors Emergency Center.

Page 12: The Grand Opening of the Midland location.

company with simple philosophies—take care of the patient and take care of the people who deliver their care. His leadership style is mission-driven and vision-focused, and he believes sound business principles lead to value delivery and organizational success. Through a hectic administrative schedule, Patel still finds time to see patients through clinical shifts in the ER several times a month, exemplifying the philosophies he promotes.

Neighbors Emergency Center also prides themselves on their community involvement throughout the cities they provide healthcare in. Neighbors Emergency Centers most recent community involvement is their participation in Toys for Tots, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Program dedicated to collecting new, unwrapped toys throughout the holiday season to distribute to less fortunate children in the community. By providing multiple drop-off locations throughout Texas, Neighbors Emergency Center hopes to spur involvement and give back to the communities they serve. Neighbors is also involved in McDonald’s Houston Children’s Festival, local education foundations, and sponsors multiple community and school sports leagues.

In addition to community service, Neighbors Emergency Center is proud to share the recognition they have received for providing quality, accessible Continued on page 17 an apple a day december 2015 13

Holiday Cheer From Studio 7

by Tatum Hubbard

Presented by:

Join Us!

Weekdays 4:30 pm on CBS7 Saturdays 12 pm on MyTV 16 Each week in her growing lifestyle program, CBS7’s Tatum Hubbard shares creative solutions to help make our lives a little easier, add some “get up and go” to our days or simply…put a smile on our faces. Local experts and businesses join the show with fresh perspectives and newfound designs to inspire us all!

Family of Partners

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ow about a holiday haven that will twinkle all the way through December 25th to the splendor of New Year’s Eve? This time of year signals a flurry of shopping, giving, cooking, tree trimming, and decorating. We make all kinds of lists (or at least I do!) for gifts, groceries, school parties, work celebrations, holiday events we want to attend, and…lists for cleaning out the hidden nooks and crannies of the house that our out-of-town guests will see! We leave notes for our hubbies, “Honey, will you please get the Christmas boxes out of the attic?” We dream about redecorating the guest room before our sweet Mom (or best friend from childhood) comes to share the holiday! We spend a lot of time preparing all the different areas of our lives for what we hope will be the best holiday experience for our family and friends. With inspiring and easy ideas on all things holiday, we can help turn your hopes into happenings!

We’re excited for you to share in the ideas we’ve found for trimming your tree, decorating your home, and setting the table for holiday dinners.

We’ve been twinkling, shimmering, and gleaming for weeks as we work toward gathering everything delightful to help you choose what’s right for your own creating, decorating and celebrating. I can’t wait for you to see the projects coming across my desk—our little Studio 7 living room in the corner of CBS7 is brimming over with new ideas, vintage remakes, designer secrets, and just some good ole’ moral support! I am drawn to something Norman Vincent Peale said, “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.”

Please join me Mondays at 4:30 pm! We’ll show you how to make it, tell you where to get it, and be right there with you both to celebrate life’s victories or face the day when everything feels overwhelming! The rest of the week we pop into the 4:30 pm newscast for a “Daily Dose” of everything we couldn’t fit in on Monday! If you missed Monday, no worries! Studio 7 replays on Saturdays at noon on MyTV 16!! Oh! I almost forgot! We’re having so much fun in our new “Wedding Wednesday,” all about the bride and groom and everything wedding.

We post all of our weekly segments to our Facebook page and web page—so every bit of content past and present is available at your convenience. If we’re not covering something you’d like to see, message me and let me know! I’ll share pictures on Facebook of what I find and choose for my own home, and I hope you’ll do the same! My wish for you is a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays touched with wonder and filled with love.

Continued from page 4 under, and begin to press your hamstrings back, lifting your seat toward the ceiling. Your arms will be extended and you will be in the shape of an upsidedown V. It is okay to keep your knees bent here. You should feel a stretch down the backs of your legs as your heels draw down, but the priority is to find a lengthened spine. If you have tight hamstrings, this means bending your knees deeply. Relax your neck as you count ten steady breaths. If you’re feeling really tight, it’s okay to come down to your knees for a break and try again. This pose opens up the whole back of the body and strengthens your core and arms. Come down to your belly next.

foot is behind you, pointing to the side and perpendicular to the front foot. Check that neither foot is crooked, that your back leg is straightened, and that your front knee is bent and pointing straight-ahead, not falling in or out. Extend your arms in a straight line. This is your Warrior 2 pose. Repeat this mantra in your head: I am steady, I am strong. If you are having a lot of trouble balancing here, take your feet wider to either side and try again.

TRIANGLE From your warrior, straighten your front leg. With arms extended, you will tip the front arm down until it reaches your shin, your back fingers now pointing to the ceiling.

Stack your shoulders and rotate your chest open, while keeping your legs strong. This is a twist, promoting digestion and openness through the torso and stability through the legs.

Hold for three breaths.

This yoga practice is an opportunity to reconnect and find a sense of balance in the midst of the busy holiday season.

COBRA From your belly, place your hands beneath your shoulders, palms facing down and fingers pointing forward.

Spread your fingers and draw your elbows back to your ribs. Gaze straight ahead, and lift your chest and shoulders up slightly. Feel you are leading with the center of your chest.

You are using the muscles of your back and are gently supported by your hands, not gripping your palms. This pose opens the chest and strengthens your back. Try to relax your face and soften your gaze. Once you find your Cobra, hold for three to five breaths.

MODIFIED LIZARD Drop your back knee down, and place your palms inside your front foot. This should give you a deep stretch through both the hip flexor of your back leg, and the outer hip of your front leg. Stay here for seven to ten breaths.

TREE Stand at the front of your mat. Bend your left knee and place the sole of the foot either on the ankle, inside the shin, or inner thigh (not on your knee). Bring your hands to your heart in prayer. Find a point to gaze at. Repeat the mantra: I am steady, I am strong. Hold for as long as you can, up to ten breaths.

Repeat the above poses on the left side.

Rest your forehead to the ground, and let your arms go at your sides. Then come to your hands and knees. Repeat Down Dog and Cobra Pose one more time.

Finish by saying, “Thank you,” to yourself with a full exhale. Return to this practice when you need a moment to slow down, and find quiet and steadiness in the midst of a busy time.

Repeat the following on the right foot first: WARRIOR 2 Come into a wide stance. Your feet should be about three to three and a half feet apart. Your front foot is pointing straight ahead and your knee is bent at ninety degrees over the ankle, while your back an apple a day december 2015 15

Continued from page 9 But once I got brain, arms and Deana Glenn. “I day. I could tell and shoulders.”

the rhythm and connected my feet, it was fun,” said Y member was surprised how I felt the next I worked my upper back, arms,

Currently, it’s estimated that over 10 million people world-wide participate in Nordic walking. This sport is for everyone. Cross country skiers use it as a way to train in the off season. Older adults like Nordic walking because it The poles transform a regular provides stability and improves balance. walk into a total body, fat-

American Tom Rutlin is named the father of burning low impact workout.

Nordic walking. In 1985 The poles have he suffered a running carbide tips that come injury and discovered a clever way to continue a equipped with cute boots, giving Nordic walkers fitness routine. Rutlin placed rubber tips on the a variety of terrain choices. Pole tips can remain bottom of his ski poles and in an instant, created booted and used indoors or on tracks, or remove total body walking. the boots to expose the tips and the poles can be used on hiking trails.

Big hair and crazy clothing styles of the 1980s changed, and so did Rutlin’s poles. He refined them A free Nordic walking clinic is tentatively scheduled to be more ergonomically friendly and a new fitness for January 13th, 2016. Space is limited and a program was born. One 80’s relic that is actually reservation is required. For more information still useful is the once ubiquitous fanny pack. It’s contact the Odessa Family Y at 432–425–4001. a convenient, hands-free way to carry cell phones, keys, and other small accoutrements while poling.

Continued from page 13 emergency care. These awards include # 4 Fastest Growing Business

by Houston Business Journal’s Fast 100 (2015), #3 Best Places to Work

by Houston Business Journal (2015), Houston Chronicle #1 Top Places to Work (2015), #1 ER for Pearland and Lake Houston in Living Magazine (2014–2015), Best Emergency Care in Houston Community Newspaper (2015), and Best ER in the Baytown Sun (2014).

You can check-in online before your arrival at Neighbors Emergency Center, and you will always be greeted immediately by the friendly staff. Neighbor Emergency Center strives to fulfill the vision of being The Best Neighbors Ever. Come in today and see the difference.

OPEN 24/7

5409 West Wadley Ave., Midland Texas 79707 432–699–2601 www.nec24.com

an apple a day december 2015 17

Continued from page 11 of about 500 dead auk birds—beaks, feathers, feet, and all—stuffed into a seal skin, buried for seven months so it’ll ferment, then served during the holiday season. No, it’s not cooked. And we complain about fruit cake?!

There’s a lot of superstition in Norway. Like Halloween in the U.S., Norwegians believe that evil spirits are out and about on Christmas Eve to taunt the living. Since this also includes witches, all the brooms and mops are hidden so the witches and evil spirits can’t rise from the grave and steal them to fly around until dawn. Then the men fire guns in the air to further scare off the goblins.

In Bavaria, the men take it an explosive step further. Wearing the national costume of lederhosen, they fire mortars into the sky. Nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a mortar!

Christmas mass-goers in Caracas, Venezuela, travel to the church on roller skates.

Europe must be full of evil creatures that come out during the holiday season, because they are feared throughout the region. In one small town in Switzerland, there is an age-old pagan celebration to ward off evil spirits which has evolved into a tradition called Klausjagan, which means “chasing the Klaus.” Villagers walk around cracking 8-footlong whips with the intention of harassing Santa Claus, who seems to be the innocent victim. (If I was Santa Claus, I’d be taking names!) Then there’s a procession of 200 locals dressed in illuminated stained glass-style bishop hats which glow in the dark, creating a beautiful scene. The celebration concludes with about 1,000 participants making as much noise as possible with cowbells, horns, and other instruments.

18 december 2015 an apple a day

But the strangest and most troubling tradition of all may be Krampus. Originating in Austria, but also found elsewhere in central Europe, Krampus is a Christmas demon who beats naughty children with branches and rusty chains. On the night of December 5, Krampus-costumed men with horns and cloven feet roam the streets looking for little kids to punish. Ah, the wonder of Christmas!

There are plenty of other interesting Christmas customs around the world. Christmas time in the Czech Republic must stir the romantic feelings of young Czech women. They stand by a door and throw a shoe over their shoulder. If it lands facing the door, she will marry soon. On December 4, Czech women place a cherry twig under water. If it blooms before Christmas Eve, the young woman will marry in the next year.

This one takes some skill—children in Great Britain write their wish lists to Father Christmas (our Santa Claus) and then instead of mailing the letters (though some do), they throw them into the back of the fireplace, hoping the draft carries them up and to the North Pole. If the letter catches fire before it flies up the chimney, the child must write a new letter. Pity the non-athletic kids who might spend most of the holiday season writing the same wish list over and over after watching letter upon letter go up in flames.

We can thank Mexico for the poinsettia, the beautiful red-flowered plant we decorate with at Christmas, and there is a nice legend with it, which is this: a brother and sister who were very poor brought their gift for the Christ Child to the church on Christmas Eve. It was but a bouquet of weedy branches they had picked by the road. While the other children laughed at the meager gift, a miracle began to unfold. Clusters of red star-shaped flowers began to spring from the plain stems of the bouquet.

The flower became known as Flores de Noche Buena (Flowers of the Holy Night), and became associated with Christmas. It was named after the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, who brought it to the U.S. in the 1820s.

Some people feel stressed during the holiday season. Not the Estonians—they gather the family and head for the sauna on Christmas Eve. Finns place lighted candles on the graves of their loved ones, making cemeteries in Finland candlelit wonderlands in the snow. Instead of decorating their Christmas trees with tinsel and ornaments, folks in the Ukraine drape their trees with artificial spiders and webs. And Christmas mass-goers in Caracas, Venezuela, travel to the church on roller skates.

Speaking of travel, Santa Claus may ride a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer over North America on Christmas Eve, but during the night he frequently switches modes of transportation. He rides a kangaroo in Australia, paddles a canoe in Hawaii, rides a horse in the Netherlands, travels by a donkey in Switzerland, and is dropped from heaven on a golden cord into the Czech Republic.

told me that when his kids were young, they would experience the typical letdown in the afternoon from the excitement of Christmas morning. He and his wife would place small gifts in out-of-the-way places and have the kids find them. It extended the joy of giving and receiving to the whole day. When the staffer at An Apple A Day contacted me about writing this article, she said that her mother always hid a pickle-shaped ornament on the Christmas tree; the child who found it got to open the first present. She didn’t know the origin of the custom, but it turns out to be a German tradition.

You probably have your own family traditions in your household. Some may be passed down through the family, some may come from where your ancestors lived. Some you may start yourself. However you celebrate this season, we at An Apple A Day wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Not all Christmas customs are national or regional.

Many are observed by families. A friend in Florida

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BACK TO BASICS PART 2

I

t’s easy to get confused and discouraged when trying to wade through all the information out there about health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness. In the November 2015 article, I gave you the first two basic points to consider when trying to adopt or adapt a healthy lifestyle and wade through all the information available. Please refer to that article for the first two points. Below are the remaining basic points to consider.

• Chew your food thoroughly. Rushing through meals is not only distracting and leads to overeating, but it also does nothing for your digestive system. As stated previously, if you are not properly digesting your food (which starts in the mouth), then you cannot get all the nutrients from that food. And undigested food leads to gas, bloating, indigestion, constipation, etc. which in turn lead to many diseases and weight gain.

• Size matters. Overeating is going to wreak havoc on your digestive system and your waistline.

And it doesn’t matter if you are overeating healthy food either. Eating the proper portions matters with all foods you consume. Your body is only capable of digesting and using a certain amount of food at a time. Overworking your organs will eventually lead to back-up and problems sooner than later. If you regularly suffer from indigestions, gas, bloating, or acid reflux; that’s a sign that you may be overeating.

• Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. The human body must have water to be able to digest food, lubricate joints and soft tissues, transport nutrients, and removes waste and toxins from the body. Water is best, but if you struggle with drinking throughout the day like I do, try to incorporate hydrating foods into your diet.

I get a lot of my water intake through eating vegetable soups (I get my vitamins and minerals here too!), watery foods like 20 december 2015 an apple a day

If you want to live a healthy and happy lifestyle, take a look at what you consistently do daily and then take the necessary steps to change. watermelon and cucumbers, green smoothies (more vitamins and minerals!), and herbal teas.

But nothing is as good as plain ole’ water. I do make sure to drink water throughout my day as well.

• Catch some rays and more ZZZZs. Sunshine and sleep go hand-in-hand. Most of us are inside sitting all day. If we don’t get enough sunshine—15 to 20 minutes a day of direct sun light—then our bodies don’t get proper

usable amounts of vitamin D (for bone health) and cannot produce proper amounts of the sleep hormone melatonin. Without the production of melatonin our sleep suffers If you will walk 15-20 minutes after lunch or after work, you can aid digestion, get your rays, and get a little extra exercise in at the same time. One of the best things about living in West Texas is the weather. I do my workouts and train clients outside most days. And since rain is random, we don’t shy away from a rainy day either!

• Be your own advocate. Much of what I teach my clients is how to read their own bodies: which foods digests well; what hunger feels like; what fullness feels like; the difference between muscle soreness, fatigue, injury, tiredness, and just lack of motivation; what feeling good actually feels like! Most people I work with don’t remember what it feels like to have energy and feel good. Either they never have or they have forgotten. But one thing I tell them is, “You are living in that body—no one else. Only you know for certain how certain

things feel. If something is not working, even if it’s supposed to be working, then speak up.

Everyone is different in their body chemistry and not every medication, food, exercise, supplement…works well with everyone.”

I want to remind you that your lifestyle is made up of your habits. And your habits are made up of what you do consistently every day. If you want to live a healthy and happy lifestyle, take a look at what you consistently do daily and then take the necessary steps to change anything that does not fit into your definition of a healthy and happy lifestyle.

If you need specific help in any area of nutrition and fitness, please contact me. I’m happy to give you resources or professional help and direction.

Special thanks to this month’s contributor: Kim Clinkenbeard, CPT, FNS getfitwithkim@cableone.net

Cooking With Kim Winter 2015 & 2016 Cooking Class Schedule December 3rd - “Christmas Day Brunch” January 7th - “Detox: Solutions to the Holiday Bulge”

Learn my tips, tricks, and recipes for getting your diet back on track after indulging during the Holidays, vacation, or any time.

January 14th - “Knife Skills 101”

Start the year off right by learning and mastering skills that will help you save valuable time and money in the kitchen so you can make your family’s health a priority!

January 21st - “Home Cooking”

Healthy comfort food that will keep them coming home.

January 28th - “Spa Day”

Learn all my beauty tips and tricks (recipes included) for healthy skin and hair. Good food is just as essential on the outside for your skin as it is on the inside. These recipes are part of my daily face and body routine—so you know they are super easy, fast, & much cheaper than store bought.

GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALTH THIS CHRISTMAS! GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE! Payment and registration required prior to class. I accept all major credit cards, checks, and cash. To register and pay, or ask questions, contact me at 432–557–5001 or getfitwithkim@cableone.net. Classes are filling up quickly, so hurry and reserve your spot!

health & beauty ALL ABOUT EYES

W

e are well into the Christmas holidays. From now through New Year’s there surely will be several events for which you will want to look your very best. A lovely dress is nice as is a wonderful hair style; however, nothing is more memorable about a woman than are her eyes.

Just think of all the poems and songs about eyes.

Luminous, sparkling, glowing, and sensuous are a few descriptions that one calls to mind.

Just how does one achieve eyes that are truly memorable? Of course, it is a great advantage to have eyes that are large, perfectly shaped, of a striking color, and widely spaced. However, no matter how perfectly or imperfectly you have been endowed by Mother Nature, there is so much you can do to enhance the beauty of your eyes. The most important step in achieving beautiful eyes is by keeping them rested and protected from the sun and from strain. Good sun glasses and limiting your time on the computer are important. A good night’s sleep can do wonders for anyone’s eyes. Use eye drops when your eyes feel uncomfortable or are red. My doctor recommends the Systane brand. Morning and evening use a moisturizing cream specifically formulated for the fragile eye area. The best eye creams contain peptides and retinol which help to control wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness around the eyes.

With rested clear eyes, you can venture into the cosmetic possibilities of enhancing the appearance of your eyes. In my opinion, the greatest beauty invention is mascara because nothing does more to open up a woman’s eyes than do long, dark, thick lashes. There are many, many different kinds of 22 december 2015 an apple a day

mascara available. Some are for lengthening lashes while others aim to make lashes thicker by adding fiber. There are also many lash colors. The best way to decide what is right for you is by experimentation.

Always strive for a smooth application. Clumpy or flakey lashes are distracting. Many women add false lashes for the ultimate experience in glamour.

These lashes can be put on at home or in a shop which applies individual lashes with a special glue.

These lashes are really lovely and remain in place for about two weeks.

They, however, are too expensive for many a girl’s budget.

Eye liners can be used to enlarge the appearance of a woman’s eyes. I have read many guidelines on how liners should be applied and what shade of liner is best for one’s eye color. Generally you use a liner along the length of the upper and lower lashes. However, my advice is to do some different applications on your own and, if you can afford to, go to someone who is trained in make up application to advise you. Also avail yourself of the myriad of information found in beauty magazines.

Eye shadow adds to the depth of eyes and can accentuate the color of the iris. A smoky gray or brown, used sparingly for day with a touch of color for evening, can be appealing. Once again, test and evaluate and ask for advice. Always check your make up in natural light. What looks great under dressing table lights may not be appealing in strong daylight.

The eye brows served the purpose of protecting the eyes at one time. Look at drawings of cave men with their low foreheads and shaggy brows. Today a woman’s brow is more simply a beauty statement.

We keep them tamed and arched to emphasize the eye itself. There are professionals who can give advice on the shaping of brows and the width and color best suited for your face. There are also printed guides. Today many women find satisfying results from having their brows colored through a permanent make up process.

Eye make up, when skillfully and sparingly applied, enhances a woman’s appearance and creates the focal point for her entire face. It is up to each woman to discover what is right for her.

My wish for you is that your Christmas is filled with peace and joy and that you experience the holiness of this season.

Earlene Smith Executive Consultant 432-563-0682 432-553-9957 earlenes@cableone.net

“Changing skin.

Changing lives.”

I love to hear from you at earlenes@cableone.net.

And remember to smile. A smile is an instant face lift.

Special thanks to this month’s contributor: Earlene Smith earlenes@cableone.net

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Christmas Hot Chocolate

by Kim Clinkenbeard, CPT, FNS

1 cup, plus 1–2 tablespoons milk of choice (regular dairy milk, almond milk, rice milk…) *Note if you use coconut milk it works best to do ½ cup coconut and ½ cup of another milk 1 rounded Tbsp. unsweetened cacao powder 2 tsp. raw date sugar (or sweetener of choice) ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract Dash cinnamon, optional Small candy cane, optional Place 1 cup of milk in a small pot over medium low heat. Meanwhile, place cacao powder, date sugar, cinnamon, and extra tablespoon of milk in a small bowl. Whisk until a paste/thick mixture forms and powder is absorbed. Add additional tablespoon of milk, if needed. Whisk cocoa mixture into milk mixture. Heat till hot but not boiling. Stir in vanilla extract. Pour into a mug and add the candy cane and fat free whipped cream if you like. Enjoy!

This recipe serves 1, but can be multiplied easily. It can also be made in the microwave.

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Midland Memorial Hospital Scharbauer Patient Tower 400 Rosalind Redfern Grover Parkway

Fit Family Fitness 3404 N. Midland Dr.

Midland Memorial Hospital West Campus 4214 Andrews Hwy.

Flat Belly Organics 3326 N. Midkiff Rd.

Palmer Drug Abuse Program 1208 W. Wall St.

Graham Pharmacy 1601 W. Wall St. HealthSouth 1800 Heritage Blvd.

HEB Pharmacy 3325 W. Wadley Ave. Midland Memorial Hospital 2200 W. Illinois Ave.

24 december 2015 an apple a day

St. Joseph’s Home Health 30 Village Circle Walgreens Drug Store 3221 W. Wadley Ave. 215 Andrews Hwy. 4313 Andrews Hwy. 3201 N. Big Spring St. ODESSA Albertsons Pharmacy 1350 E. 8th St. 4950 E. 42nd St. 2751 N. County Road W.

First Baptist Church 709 N. Lee Furr’s Music City Mall Harmony Health Food Shoppe 3110 E. University Blvd., Ste. A Heaven Bound Daycare 507 Elliot HEB Pharmacy 3801 E. 42nd St. Hunt Advertising 3527 Billy Hext Rd. Medical Center Hospital 500 W. 4th St. Mission Fitness 8050 Hwy. 191

The Odessa Family YMCA 3001 E. University Odessa Regional Medical Center 520 E. 6th St. Permian Basin Rehab Center 620 N. Alleghaney River of Life Health Food Shop 2601 N. Grandview Ave. Smith’s Shoes 5101 Twin Towers Super Shapes 5000 E. University Blvd.

University Pharmacy and Medical Supplies 4850 E. University Blvd.

Walgreens Drug Store 801 Maple Ave. 2161 E. 42nd St. 1305 W. University Blvd.

1707 W. 8th St. Walmart Clinic 4210 JBS Parkway 2450 West Loop 338 Wendover Family Medicine 4222 Wendover, Ste. 600 Westview Medical Clinic 1220 W. University Blvd.

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