NEW JERSEY

It’s time to Talk about

Prostate Cancer

with Dr. Mutahar Ahmed

Renaissance Cyclist Defeating Cancer United & Iron Culture

RealFit RealFood

“There is no greater cause or time spent, than for an individual, family, community, or nation to become educated, informed and active participants in caring for their health”

Rodney Folmar, Sr.

From the Publisher

FORWARD

The pandemic has touched every area of our life. We have lost loved ones and continue to wonder how many lives may still be impacted. We have learned new ways to adapt to an uncertain world. Now, it’s time to look toward to a brighter future!

It is important as we continue to move forward that we take nothing for granted. Our livelihood, as well as our lives, can be altered in the blink of an eye.

One of the most important lessons we have had to learn through these difficult times is to care for ourselves and our loved ones. Our health and wellbeing rest in our own hands. We must always be observant and willing to learn as much as we can about maintaining our health.

Pre-existing conditions that were exacerbated by COVID have taught us to be ever vigilant in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of chronic diseases.

COVID has taught us that it’s up to us to make sure our health is managed properly. We need to continually look for ways to live healthier lives.

At Health Wellness & Fitness Magazine, our goal is to provide you with the information you need to make informed choices about your health.

We offer the latest health related news, information, and resources from the area’s top healthcare professionals, and organizations. Now that our world has reopened, and we continue to adjust to a “new normal”, it is up to each one of us to use the information we have as wisely as possible.

Let’s embrace what we have learned, remember those we’ve lost, and celebrate the new opportunities we have been given to live a healthier, happier life in 2023 and beyond.

Rodney Folmar, Sr. Publisher, HWF MAGAZINE GROUP

Publisher

Rodney Folmar, Sr.

Editor in Chief

Melissa Shelby

Content Creator

Sharon Cirillo

Writers

Wendy Begay, Julia Fischer, Daine Taylor, Carolyn Tolbert, Rodney Folmar, Sr., Jasmine Wheeler. Delete Enre Leney

Advertising & Digital Sales

Will Summer

Greg Baily

Graphic Design

William Hodges

Susan Holgram

Distribution

Kathy Wilson

Photography

Anthony G. Gallegos

Gill Associates Photography

Contact us contact@gmfmediagroup.com

Fax: 973-860-4524

hwfmg

healthwellnessfitnessmag

HWFMagazine1 healthwellnessfitness

HEALTH WELLNESS & FITNESS MAGAZINES ARE PUBLISHED BY GMF MEDIA GROUP, LLC. A NEW JERSEY BASED PUBLISHING, ADVERTISING AND MARKETING COMPANY.

The information printed in this magazine has been provided as a public service. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy; however, the authenticity cannot be guaranteed. All advertisements in this magazine have been furnished by advertisers. Typographic, photographic, and printing errors are unintentional and subject to correction.

The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice, or delay in seeking it, because of something you have read or seen on our web site. Never rely on information on our web site and/or in the magazine in place of professional medical advice.

in Our Community

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are reporting an increase in cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and RSV-associated emergency department visits and hospitalizations in multiple areas of the United States over the last few months. Emergency department wait times may be impacted as a result.

RSV is a common virus that typically leads to mild, cold-like symptoms in adults and older healthy children. However, RSV can be more serious in young babies, especially those in certain high-risk groups.

| More About RSV

RSV spreads through tiny droplets that go into the air when a sick person blows their nose, coughs, or sneezes. It can spread quickly in crowded spaces. For this reason, it’s important to keep children at home when they are sick to prevent the spread of illness, especially to vulnerable populations. Symptoms can differ by age. Older children may experience cough, runny nose, low fever and other cold-like symptoms, while infants under age 1 may have more severe symptoms including difficulty breathing. Symptoms for young children can also include irritability, decreased activity or appetite, nasal flaring or wheezing.

RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States.

Call 911 if you or your child are experiencing a medical emergency, otherwise consult your physician or pediatrician.

The organization works tirelessly with community partners throughout Morris and Somerset Counties to provide the valuable resources that cancer patients and survivors need, as well as promoting the prevention of cancer.

MORRIS SOMERSET REGIONAL CHRONIC DISEASE COALITION

from the New Jersey Department of Health. The organization works tirelessly with community partners throughout Morris and Somerset Counties to provide the valuable resources that cancer patients and survivors need.

Providing resources that allow cancer patients and survivors to get the healthcare and support they need emotionally is an important part of what the coalition is trying to achieve.

| Decreasing the Burden of Cancer

The primary goal of the Regional Chronic Disease Coalition is to decrease the burden of cancer for all residents in the region. The coalition primarily focuses on colo-rectal cancer (and other types of the most common cancers), HPV, tobacco control and promoting cancer screenings. The burden a cancer patient and their loved one’s experience can be extremely cumbersome, especially when they are dealing with the uncertainties associated with the disease.

The Morris Somerset Chronic Disease Coalition is one of many organizations or ‘coalitions’ that serve two counties each throughout the state of New Jersey. It receives 100% of its funding from a grant it receives from the Office of Cancer Control and Prevention

Programs are offered that encourage patients to move forward with their treatment plans, giving them the mental and emotional support, they need as they move through one of the most difficult times of their lives.

| Increasing Awareness as Well as Access to Cancer Screenings

“Our primary goals include increasing the awareness of cancer and also increasing access to cancer screenings”, said Lea Kimmelman, MPH, CHES, Health Educator/ Morris Somerset Chronic Disease Coordinator. Kimmelman has seen firsthand how important it is to encourage the community patients to receive the screenings they need as recommended by healthcare professionals.

By partnering with organizations like Zufall Health Center, the community is being educated on the importance of getting screened to detect cancer and get the support they need if diagnosed.

| Survivorship and What It Means for the Future

The Regional Chronic Disease Coalition offers resources and linkages to support those who are diagnosed with cancer, as well

as those who have survived the life-altering disease. Through the variety of programs they offer, the coalition can bring together patients from both groups together.

Through programs like Cancer Thriving and Surviving, Kimmelman and other peerleaders help cancer patients and survivors to self-manage the barriers they may sometimes face.

The coalition also encourages cancer survivors to become advocates that work with patients and encourage them to help others. Individuals who are living with cancer for many years bring a unique perspective to people who have just been diagnosed.

Coalition is one of many organizations in the Morris/ Somerset area that is working diligently to put unity back in community. The list of community resources available to the people who connect with the Coalition is extensive. Each one is committed to providing the highest quality care to the community at large and to every individual they serve, whether they are at risk for cancer, diagnosed, a survivor, or a family member. By working together, these resources can make positive

SYMPTOMS of a DON’T DRIVE

You wake up and feel some tightness in your chest. You think it will go away. But five minutes later, you also feel like you can’t breathe. You know you’ll need medical help fast. But is it better to drive yourself to the nearest emergency department or call 911?

“When in doubt, always call 911 and get checked out,” says Dina Tortorelli, the manager of cardiovascular services at Atlantic Health’s’ Chilton Medical Center.

Many people think they can get to the closest hospital faster by driving themselves, or by having a spouse, relative or friend drive them. But traveling by car actually increases your risks for poor health outcomes in many ways.

“Bad things can happen in cars,” Tortorelli says. “If you’re driving yourself to the hospital and your condition worsens, you could pass out and cause an accident. If someone is driving you, you could become unresponsive, and you won’t be able to get any medical help until you arrive at the hospital—or until the paramedics find you.”

| Time is muscle

In the event of a potential heart attack, the key thing to consider isn’t the amount of time it will take you to get from your house to the hospital. Instead, it’s the amount of time it will take you to get expert medical care.

“With a heart attack, time is muscle,” says Sherry Cicero, RN, Nurse Manager in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Atlantic Health’s Morristown Medical Center. “Mere minutes can significantly reduce the amount of heart muscle that will die due to a lack of blood flow to the heart.”

A review of patient cases at Atlantic Health System shows that heart attack patients who call

911 get treatment an average of 30 minutes faster than those who drive themselves to the hospital.

| What happens when you call 911

When you call 911 from anywhere in New Jersey and report symptoms of a heart attack, trained providers in Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support will get to you as soon as possible and begin treatment upon arrival at your home.

“Our paramedics will perform a 12-lead electrocardiogram (EKG), a non-invasive test

HEART ATTACK? — CALL 911

The pre-hospital care team will stay in constant communication with in-hospital providers while en route. “We’ll talk directly with your Emergency Department physician and explain your condition in detail so they can get whatever resources they need—such as a cardiac catheterization lab team— ready before you arrive,” Petersen says.

| When to call 911

You should call 911 as soon as you experience symptoms of a potentially serious heart problem. “Any pain from your belly button to your nose could be cardiac-related,” Petersen says.

While some people experience classic symptoms of a heart attack, such as feeling like an elephant is sitting on your chest, other people may have less severe symptoms, such as jaw, shoulder or arm pain, nausea or vomiting. “Women and people with diabetes tend to report symptoms less severe than men and put up with those symptoms longer,” Tortorelli says.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that heart attack pain is all-or-nothing. “In some cases, the pain can come and go over a few hours or even a few days,” Cicero says.

that can identify a heart attack, arrhythmias and other cardiac issues,” says David Petersen, Director of Clinical Quality for Atlantic Mobile Health, which provides pre-hospital ground and air transport for a wide range of needs.

If an EKG determines that you’re having a heart attack, paramedics will then administer medications, start an intravenous line and take additional steps to start saving your heart muscle. They will also respond quickly in the ambulance should your condition worsen on your way to the hospital.

No matter the exact symptoms, “if you suspect a heart attack, don’t attempt to drive to an ER or Urgent Care. Call 911 right away.” Petersen says. “The sooner you do, the better your outcome will be.”

ZUFALL HEALTH CENTER

Providing Primary Medical, Dental & Behavioral Health

Zufall Health Center is in essence a community health center. Anyone who needs health care can come to the facility, and no one is ever turned away because they can’t pay. Those who have insurance or can pay are served right along with those who can’t.

The organization serves approximately 40,000 patients each year, accounting for close to 176,000 visits. Primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care are offered to the patients who visit the facility for their health care needs.

| Serving the Under-served Populations

Zufall Health Center serves patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly. Patients include those individuals who belong to the most under-served populations throughout the area. These under-served populations include the homeless, individuals who live in public housing, immigrants, migrant farm workers, and veterans. Almost 50% of those served by the center do not have insurance or any other means to pay for the health care they need.

One in six black men will develop prostate cProstate cancer is a serious disease for men, especially African American men. African American men are at increased risk to develop prostate cancer compared to Caucasian men.

One in six black men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime. Black men are 1.7 x more likely to be diagnosed with and 2.5 times more likely to die from prostate cancer than white men.

The key to improving the survival rates for prostate cancer is early detection through the use of screening tests. This includes a digital rectal exam and a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test.

With a digital exam, doctors can identify abnormalities and swelling or inflammation that could indicate a problem. A PSA test determines the number of antigens from the prostate found in the bloodstream.

Bike to Fight

PROSTATE CANCER

By Rodney Folmar, Sr.

Men still do not put the importance or the emphasis on getting screened

While these tests are incredibly simple and easy to undergo, far too many men avoid the process and fail to schedule them with their doctors.

With black men dying from prostate cancer at such an alarming rate, these tests are vital when it comes to saving their lives. The main concern is that most men, black or white, don’t opt for a prostate exam as part of their wellness program.

“Men still do not put the importance or the emphasis on getting screened», says Shirley Spruill, Founder & Board Chair, Renaissance Cyclist Defeating Cancer United.

Renaissance Cyclists Defeating Cancer United is a charitable organization with 501c3 status. The organization is committed to increasing the awareness that prostate cancer has on African American men, their families, and the community.

The facts are clear. Early detection and education are two important factors in increasing the survival rate of black men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Renaissance Cyclists Defeating Cancer United raises money by hosting Bike-A-Thons, Walk/Rides, and other events. The purpose for the RCDCU BikeA-Thon is to raise money to increase the awareness of Prostate Cancer and the importance of early detection.

Through this show of support, men learn the importance of prostate cancer screening and how effective that screening is when it comes to saving lives.

Education and early detection are the most effective tools available when it comes to saving lives and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Being able to provide men with free screenings will make it easier for many men to get the answers they need.

Over the past years RCDCU helped over 2,000 men receive free prostate cancer screening with donations totaling over $27,000 to the RWJ University Hospital Foundation and RWJ University Hospital Somerset Steeplechase Cancer Center to help cover the cost for the screening.

$3000 was donated to the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey’s Holiday Gift Card Program to purchase gift cards for over 40 families battling cancer and facing financial difficulties to help make their holidays a little better.

“The data show that black men don’t appear to intrinsically and biologically harbor more aggressive disease” say Daniel Spratt, M.D., co-Chair of Genitourinary Clinical Research at U-M. “They generally get fewer PSA screening and are more likely to be diagnosed with later stage cancer”.

This dramatically reduces the number of viable treatment options available and subsequently lowers the patients’ survival rate. Early detection and education open the door to more treatment options and an improved survival rate.

With RCDCU’s assistance, men can learn more about the disease and at the same time receive free screenings that will provide them with more treatment options and a much higher survival rate.

For black men, this could mean a new lease on life and a healthier quality of life.

Most of the time if they don’t do the screening, when they determine that they have prostate cancer it’s too late

Robert “Cozy” Merrits 10 Mile Memorial Ride

Advances in Orthopedic Medicine

Orthopedic injuries are more common than people realize. A sore shoulder, torn ACL, or a stretched ligament are some of the most frequently reported injuries. A torn rotator cuff in the shoulder can occur at any time and may be caused by simple wear and tear.

With over 50% of the population over the age of 70 experiencing some degree of shoulder discomfort, it’s easy to understand how important the role of orthopedic medicine really is.

|

Advancements in Orthopedic Medicine

One of the latest advancements in Orthopedic Medicine is the bioinductive implant by Smith and Nephew called Regeneten.

This patch is unique in many ways. It is ideal for both partial and full-thickness rotator cuff tears, as well as many other injuries that involve torn tendon and ligament damage.

The smaller incisions mean less tissue damage that must heal, less pain, and a quicker, more effective healing process. This is ideal for older patients who may have trouble healing and getting back into the swing of their normal routine.

The use of the bioinductive patch makes it possible for patients to regain their mobility much faster allowing them to return to their day-to-day activities much sooner.

Once the patch is put in place, it will support the growth of new connective tissue. Over a period of a few months, the patch will begin to break down and be absorbed by the body leaving behind new, healthier tissue.

Compared to older techniques, the use of the patch allows for faster healing and fewer failures, especially when it comes to rotator cuff repairs. Instead of large incisions that have been used in the past, the procedure is minimally invasive allowing Dr. Wilkinson to apply the patch by making a few poke hole incisions.

Dr. Sean Wilkinson is a fellowship trained orthopaedic surgeon who sub-specializes in sports medicine procedures. Dr. Wilkinson has been working in his field for over ten years and takes his love of sports a step further. As a former baseball, swimming, crew, and rugby athlete, he has seen his share of injuries.

It’s this love of sports and his commitment to helping others that guided him down the path to his current career. Born and raised in South Jersey, he spent his summers at the beaches near Atlantic County, New

| Dr. Sean Wilkinson

Dr. Wilkinson is one of several specialists at Premier Health Associates.

Dr. Sean Wilkinson, DO

Jersey. He even worked as a lifeguard for several summers.

Dr. Wilkinson completed his medical training and spent his residency at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He earned his Fellowship in Sports Medicine at Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.

During his residency, he was able to work with several teams in professional sports, including those based in Philadelphia. He also had the opportunity to work with the Cincinnati Reds when completing his fellowship. In addition to the professional teams, Dr. Wilkinson also worked with high school and college athletes.

As with any sport, he witnessed many of his teammates incur injuries. These experiences gave him insight into the type of care athletes look for in an orthopedic physician and surgeon. It was during these years, that he began to realize the importance of quality patient care. It also showed him how imperative it was to be able to offer the latest advancements technology had to offer.

Dr. Wilkinson is one of several specialists at Premier Health Associates. As a multi-specialty group, Premier Health Associates offers several different types of care. Primary physicians will often refer their patients to this talented group of doctors who always put their patients’ care as their first priority. Dr. Wilkinson’s specialty is orthopaedic surgery with a strong focus on sports medicine.

Each doctor involved in the group has their own unique specialty to offer their patients. One thing that is common throughout every practice at the facility is the commitment to quality patient care.

Dr. Wilkinson, along with his colleagues, is continually looking for new ways to provide their patients with the care they deserve. Improving each patient’s quality of life is high on their list of priorities. They often work together to ensure that each patient’s needs are met. Working together ensures that the patient receives the care they need when they need it. When it comes to Dr. Wilkinson and his colleagues, patients are the top priority of everyone at Premier Health Associates.

| Premier Health Associates

Smith + Nephew’s REGENTEN Bioinductive Implant

SCANXIETY, FOREV ER CHANGED

by Julia Fischer

Unexpectedly, I began to have rectal bleeding. It was constant and consistent. My annual physical was scheduled just two weeks after I began to bleed. I was concerned, so I immediately told my primary care physician about my bleeding for the last two weeks.

He looked over my lab report. He said, “Unexpectedly, I began to have rectal bleeding. It was constant and consistent. My annual physical was scheduled just two weeks after I began to bleed. I was concerned, so I immediately told my primary care physician about my bleeding for the last two weeks.

He looked over my lab report. He said, “You’re not anemic. It’s probably hemorrhoids.”

Long story short, he reluctantly referred me to the board-certified colorectal surgeon that I wanted to see. I had to wait six weeks before they had an opening, and my first appointment was with his physician’s assistant. That long wait was torturous for me because the bleeding continued every day.

My appointment day finally arrived. My husband accompanied me because he knew that I was anxious. We were called back,

I hope you never hear the words that I heard. But if you do, I hope my story will bring you strength, courage, and hope. Here’s what happened to me.

“ YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES CALL HOSPICE OF FIGHT“

and the PA asked me to tell her what had prompted my visit. I described my bleeding, and I told her that I had a benign rectal polyp 15 years before. She asked if she could do a flexible sig exam, and I consented.

My husband went with me to the procedure room. We were not prepared for what she told us, “You have a rectal tumor. I’ve already given our surgeon a heads-up

I was about to enter the unknown world of cancer treatment and experience scanxiety for the first time. And I learned that when it comes to cancer, there is no modesty.

WHAT IS SCANXIETY?

Scanxiety is the worry, angst, and apprehension over getting a medical test or imaging procedure, like CT or PET scans or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

Cancer patients quickly learn that life-ordeath decisions hinge on the results of our scans. Here are some examples:

Staging scans — the scans when diagnosed to see if our cancer has spread to distant parts of our body.

Response-to-treatment — the scans during treatment to see if our tumor responds to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or radiation.

Follow-up after treatment — the scans after our treatment ends to make sure our cancer has not come back (recurred).

SECOND MEETING WITH SURGEON

We met again to learn the results of my tests. Waiting for this appointment was sheer agony. My husband and I decided in advance that we would go out to lunch after this appointment. Why? So that we could sit down in a neutral location and “digest” the news over coffee and a nice lunch.

Appointment time is here and in comes the surgeon. He greets us warmly and asks how we are? It’s just a bit of chit-chat.

Then he says, “I’m going to cut to the chase. The CT scans show that your cancer has spread to your lungs.”

that we need to do a colonoscopy ASAP. Be expecting cancer.”

Three days later, I had a colonoscopy. The biopsy of the tumor showed cancer. The surgeon explained to us that he was ordering a CT scan of my chest, abdomen, and pelvic and a rectal MRI.

My husband asked why I had to have so many scans. The surgeon said, “To learn more about the tumor size, if lymph nodes are involved, and if her cancer has spread.”

My heart sinks — stage IV. The scans showed 3 nodules in my right lung.

Then he says, “You have two choices. Call hospice or fight.”

And without hesitation, I replied, “I’ll fight.”

There was no way that I was going down without a fight. I felt fine, with no pain or discomfort, and my lab results were all normal.

He helped us decide on an oncologist, and he explained that most patients have

chemotherapy first to help shrink the tumor so that their surgery will be less complicated.

8 DAYS LATER

We meet the oncologist for the first time. She became a ray of sunshine — always upbeat, smiling, and compassionate. My husband suggested that I get a copy of my CT scans to bring with us if she wanted to see the actual images.

As we talked, she said, “I wish that I could see the actual lung scan for myself.” And I pulled the disk out of my purse. She took the disk and told us that she’d be back in a few minutes.

She returned with a smile on her face and said, “I disagree with the radiologist. I believe that only the largest of the three nodules is cancerous. The other two are probably scar tissue from a previous infection. If we are aggressive, we might be able to cure you.”

My husband told me later that he could see me relax when she said those words. HOPE — yes, that is what she gave me. And I said, “Sign me up.”

She laid out an initial treatment plan and told me that she would rescan me after five cycles of chemo. If my tumor shrank by about 20 %, she’d take my case to the tumor committee. Although the thought of strong chemo scared me, I was ready.

SCAN.XIETY THE ANXIETY ASSOCIATED WITH CANCERDETECTING SCANS

TREATMENT BEGINS

Chemo was not as bad as I thought. Scans after 5 cycles showed that my tumor was shrinking, so my case went to the tumor committee. The radiation oncologist recommended SBRT (stereotactic body radiotherapy) for the tumor in my lung and pelvic radiation to help prevent a recurrence. At the meeting, my surgeon believed that surgery after radiation might be “potentially curative.”

And so we followed the recommendations. Stepby-step, inch-by-inch, and day-by-day, we followed the pathway. After surgery, I did six more cycles of mop-up chemo to help prevent a recurrence.

NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE (NED)

These words — no evidence of disease — are the words that every cancer patient yearns to hear. It’s been six years, and I have scans every six months. Fortunately, I continue to remain NED.

I tell myself, “I can’t change the results. I’ll deal with whatever comes.”

That’s all that any of us can do. With our family, friends, and faith, cancer survivors not only survive, but we learn to thrive.

selling jewelry and other crafty items. There’s also a Build-A-Bear Workshop (which, much to this writer’s delight, was prominently displaying several Star Wars-themed items, including a buildyour-own Chewbacca!).

The redevelopment looks promising, though, with portions of it already begun, including the recent opening of DMK Burger Bar / Fish Bar, Goddess and the Baker, and Porkchop outposts.

It’s time to Talk about

Prostate Cancer

with  28

Dr. Mutahar Ahmed

Even though prostate cancer has a high survival rate when compared to other forms of cancer, approximately a quarter of a million people are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year and between 30,000 and 40,000 men die from prostate cancer annually. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cause of new cancer in men, responsible for more than 20 percent of new cancer cases in men. Prostate cancer is also responsible for ten percent of all male deaths due to cancer annually, ranking it second (behind lung cancer).

| DR. MUTAHAR AHMED

We sat down with one of the leading urologists in the greater New Jersey area, Dr. Mutahar Ahmed, to discuss the current recommendations, diagnosis, and treatment process in prostate cancer.

Dr. Ahmed was born in Bangladesh but emigrated to the United States at an early age. He grew up in Manhattan and the Bronx, attending New York City public schools. He graduated from New York University before completing medical school at SUNY Syracuse Medical School.

He completed his General Surgery and Urology residency at Rutgers University Medical School in 2003 and went into private practice with New Jersey Urology. Since he joined the practice, it has expanded and is now the largest Urology practice in the country.

| DIAGNOSIS

The key to effectively diagnosing and treating prostate cancer is adequate testing. Right now, the recommendation is that all men should get tested for prostate cancer either annually or biannually (every other year) starting at age 50. Individuals with risk factors that make them more likely to develop prostate cancer should start testing at a younger age. Examples of risk factors for prostate cancer include:

• African - American ancestry

• Obesity

• High-fat diet

• Older age

• A close family member with prostate cancer

The initial test for prostate cancer is a blood test called PSA (prostate-specific antigen). In the past, an elevated PSA (greater than 4.0 ng/mL) would lead to an immediate biopsy. Now, Dr. Ahmed says this is no longer the case. Even though a biopsy is a great way to diagnose prostate cancer, it is invasive, and not everyone with an elevated PSA necessarily has prostate cancer.

The PSA blood test is combined with a digital rectal exam (DRE) to screen for prostate cancer regularly.

| SCREENING

Instead, Dr. Ahmed and the American Urological Association (AUA) recommend that individuals with an elevated PSA get a screening MRI first, which most insurance companies should cover. There are numerous benefits of getting a screening MRI following an elevated PSA, including:

• If the MRI is clean, it could spare someone from an invasive biopsy

• If the MRI is abnormal, it gives the urologist a target to hit on the biopsy

• It can prevent a lot of emotional, mental, and physical stress by saving people from cancer treatment that is unnecessary.

• If a biopsy is required, the pathologist will stratify patients into a specific prostate cancer group using something called a Gleason score.

The Gleason score is a combination of two numbers added together and can range from 2 (1+1) to 10 (5+5). A Gleason score of 6 or higher places patients into a prostate cancer group:

• Group 1, Gleason Score 6 (3+3): This is a low-risk group with a very favorable result that requires active surveillance.

• Group 2, Gleason Score 7 (3+4): This is an intermediate group with favorable results. Patients in this category with a relatively clean biopsy, MRI, and digital rectal exam with a low PSA score might undergo active

surveillance; however, if the biopsy showed several cores of prostate cancer with an elevated percentage of positive cells in each core, this group might get treated.

• Group 3, Gleason Score 7 (4+3): This is an intermediate group with unfavorable results and requires treatment.

• Group 4, Gleason Score 8 (4+4): High-risk group that requires treatment.

• Group 5, Gleason Score 9 or 10 (4+5, 5+4, 5+5): This is a very high group that requires treatment. What is active surveillance? Patients undergoing active surveillance need to follow up with their doctor more often. They need a repeat PSA screen in 3 to 4 months with another biopsy in one year. If the results on the biopsy are unchanged, then the patient can return to the normal prostate cancer screening schedule.

| SURGERY

If a patient requires treatment for prostate cancer, there are two broad options. The first is surgery. Surgery is usually recommended for younger individuals. Most prostate cancer resections are now performed laparoscopically. A laparoscopic surgical procedure is performed using a handful of small incisions (5 to 6 incisions only a cm or two in size) instead

of a larger incision. This expedites the recovery process.

In New Jersey, Dr. Ahmed is one of two surgeons who can perform prostate cancer resection using a single incision at the back of the body instead of the front, sparing multiple incisions and reducing the risk of damaging the abdominal organs. Even though this new surgical approach was developed well into Dr. Ahmed’s career, he decided to learn this new approach because he believes it is better for his patients and their qualities of life. For example, patients can usually go home the same day as the procedure is performed, shortening the recovery process.

| POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

There are a few possible complications of prostate cancer surgery. Even though every attempt is made to spare the pudendal nerve, patients may have difficulty maintaining an erection for a few weeks following this procedure. Patients also have to go home with a catheter for a short period

of time. Most side effects and complications of prostate cancer surgery fade with time. The other treatment option is radiation therapy, which is recommended for older individuals or those with prostate cancer that has spread outside of a localized area. There are multiple types of radiation therapy, which will be discussed in detail with each patient before a decision is made.

While radiation therapy might not have as many immediate complications and side effects, the cumulative effects of radiation can add up over time. Patients can develop urinary and reproductive difficulties as a result of radiation.

A major concern with using radiation therapy in younger patients is that they could develop secondary cancers as a result. While radiation therapy is targeted to cancerous cells, some healthy cells are going to be harmed in the process. Even though these healthy cells will not become cancerous immediately, some types of cancer could develop decades down the road. Every patient will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of surgery

and radiation with their doctor if prostate cancer treatment is required. Surgery is usually recommended in younger patients while radiation therapy is typically recommended in older patients.

Finally, Dr. Ahmed wants all men to remember, prostate cancer is not a death sentence; however, it can be a death sentence if you don’t know what you have.

Therefore, all men should get tested regularly in accordance with the guidelines above. The earlier prostate cancer is detected, the better the prognosis, and not everyone who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer needs to be treated.

To learn more about prostate cancer, visit the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the American Urological Association. Learn more about Dr. Mutahar Ahmed here.

WE OFFER

• Web Site Design & Hosting

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

• Pay-Per-Click (PPC)

• Social Media Marketing

• Content Marketing

full-service Digital Marketing Agency for Doctors, Dentist, Medical Practices, and Health Care Professionals.

THE EVOLUTION

Wellness isn’t just a beautiful face or a strong body. It isn’t big muscles or clear skin. It is a state of wellbeing that is accompanied by a state of physical balance where the body functions as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Your body naturally strives to remain in a constant state of balance and well-being. Through bad choices, we tend to pull our bodies out of balance even though we look healthy and physically fit. In some cases, things happen outside of our control.

The demands of your job, financial restrictions, and simply a lack of motivation can cause you to become careless with your habits and behaviors. Once you begin to realize the changes that need to be made to restore your health, you need to have a guide to follow that will keep you moving forward.

MAKE A COMMITMENT TO YOURSELF

Before you start to formulate your weight loss plan and take the first steps on your journey, you need to make a commitment to yourself. Not even the best-laid plans will work if your heart isn’t in them.

You must make the conscious choice that this is what you want to do and that you will do whatever it takes to make it happen. Striving for good health and wellness will have its challenges and temptations. You have to decide how badly you want it and how hard you are willing to work for it.

CREATE GOALS WITH ACHIEVABLE MILESTONES

Create goals with achievable milestones. This can be walking 10,000 steps every day or counting how many days you can go without drinking coffee, soda, or alcohol. In terms of weight loss, set realistic goals. Nothing is more discouraging than setting a goal and not reaching it. Evaluate your needs and set your goals accordingly. Keep track of your goals and monitor your progress on a weekly basis. Don’t weigh yourself every day. Weight fluctuates on a daily basis and will

of WELLNESS

make you crazy if you try to gauge short-term changes.

Instead, do a weekly review of your goals. This gives you some worry-free time between evaluations where you don’t have to stress so much. Stick to your goals and continue to take each step one day at a time.

CREATE A DIET THAT FITS YOUR BODY AND YOUR GOALS

Learn as much about your body as you can. Some people thrive on a high-protein, low-carb diet, while others need just the opposite. Understand your body’s nutritional needs and plan your meals accordingly.

If you need to cut back on calories to achieve your weight loss goals, choose a supplement that will support your dietary needs. Once you have your nutritional needs in place, determine how you should eat.

Do you need three larger meals every day with multiple snacks? Or is it better for you to have six smaller meals throughout the day with only one or two snacks? Your lifestyle and overall goals, as well as your physical needs, will determine what type of meal schedule will work best for you.

ELIMINATE THE BAD, BRING IN THE GOOD

Eliminating the bad involves removing more than just unhealthy foods. This means

you need to eliminate negative thoughts, behaviors, and people as well. Embrace the power of positivity.

Take a close look at your thoughts and behaviors. Change your «I can’ts» to «I cans». Don’t look at things you want to do and have doubts. Accept the challenge! Step up and do what you need to do to make it happen. When it comes to the people you have in your life, don’t let another person’s negativity bring you down. If someone doesn’t have faith in you, find others who will. Create a positive support system and bring those people into your inner circle.

INCREASE YOUR ACTIVITY LEVELS

Many people confuse physical activity with exercise. Being active simply means to keep yourself moving. Don’t park your car close to the entrance of your destination. Park on the edge of the parking lot and walk the extra distance.

When you clean your house, don’t simply go through the motions. Turn on the music and dance your house clean! When you spend time with your children, go outside. Play a game. Throw a football around. Do something fun. Go for a hike or a walk along the beach.

The key is to keep moving. Don’t sit down and let life pass you by. Make a conscious choice to live every moment.

EXERCISE FOR STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE

Exercise for strength and endurance. It’s important to exercise at least three or four times a week for optimum heart and lung function. While you are improving your nutritional and dietary habits, you must also be willing to improve your exercise habits as well. Maintaining proper function is just as important to your overall health as your diet, how much sleep you get, and how mentally fit you are. You don’t have to be a powerlifter to be healthy.

You do, however, have to maintain enough physical strength to allow you to live your life comfortably. Being physically fit means less chronic pain and the energy you need to move through life like a boss.

EMBRACE YOURSELF

Above all, embrace yourself. Learn to love yourself for who you are. Meditate and learn to relax your mind so the stresses of the day don’t overtake your mind and cause you to doubt yourself and who you are.

Learn to love the person you are becoming. Honor where you’ve been by learning the lessons life has given you. Take that knowledge and continue to work toward the best you that you can be, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Your life is an adventure! Challenge accepted!

FAT IF WASN’T ENOUGH

By Staff Writer

There are few things worse than being so fat that you hate looking in the mirror. Shopping for clothes that are anything besides leisure wear is painful and don’t get me started on what it’s like to get winded when you bend down to tie your shoelaces. Even if you somehow manage to find clothes that you feel slightly confident in, you’ll quickly get thrown back down to earth when you realize that you have to purchase an extra seat every time you fly.

The embarrassment of having people stare at me as the airline hostess explained that I was making other passengers uncomfortable due to my size was the most horrifying thing I had ever dealt with.

Smoking is the only health risk related to cancer that is anywhere near as dangerous as being overweight.

While it was one of those moments where I realized that the weight was too much, reading about a recent CDC study on the cancer risks for overweight and obese people was the moment I decided to change.

| The Moment When I Finally Said Enough

Did you know that 2 out of every 3 adults in the United States is overweight or obese? While we may live in a time where people are more accepting of others, no one should be okay with tipping the scales so much that they are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than slimmer people.

The everyday annoyances that come with being fat, like the inability to climb a set of stairs without losing your breath or having to shop at specialty stores for clothing are many –but what about the health risks?

In the US, smoking is the only health risk related to cancer that is anywhere near as dangerous as being overweight or obese. In addition to heart disease, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, diabetes and other debilitating health conditions, cancer is a huge threat to people who are overweight and obese.

In fact, CDC studies have

shown that people who are overweight or obese actually make up about 40 percent of the people diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States. More specifically, there are 13 different types of cancer that overweight and obese people are more likely to be diagnosed with. That’s right, 13 different types of cancer. With numbers like that, I knew that I needed to make a change.

| How Can You Decrease Your Risk of ObesityRelated Cancers?

With all of the different everyday challenges I faced as a “fat” person, the wake-up call that I needed to get healthy began with that CDC study. While making healthy changes won’t transform your life overnight, gradual steps can instantly improve your overall health and reduce your risk for cancer and other obesityrelated health conditions.

The American Diabetes Association has some great info on losing weight at a healthy pace. They found that just 150 minutes of exercise each week and a 5 to 7 percent reduction in body weight via healthy eating can help to reduce your risk of developing diabetes by 60 percent.

But this doesn’t mean that you suddenly have to hit the gym 6 times a week and live off of salad. I found that tracking my steps each day with an app on my phone was a great way to get moving.

| Make More Healthy Choices

After I started moving more, I decided to make better choices surrounding food as well. To kick off my healthy eating experiment, I started counting my calories. This helped me to quickly understand that even when I was eating healthy, I was eating portions that were way too big. By working closely with my doctor on a diet and exercise plan, I was able to improve my heart function and reduce my risk of developing those 13 types of cancer.

If you are overweight or obese and the daily struggles of being fat haven’t been enough to motivate you to change, then maybe the fear of cancer will. While it’s not always easy, I can guarantee you that it’s all worth it.

https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/08/24/ obesity-linked-to-at-least-13-types-of-cancer/ https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/ p1003-vs-cancer-obesity.html

http://www.foxnews.com/ health/2010/04/07/dangers-overweight.html

Being overweight or having obesity are linked with a higher risk of getting 13 types of cancer.

ABOUT MARIE

Marie Urban is the owner of RealFit RealFood, a platform that serves as the culmination of her passions, including wellness, fitness and easy to follow food preparation guides. She holds a bachelors degree in Kinesiology and is a K-12 health and physical education teacher.

Real FitReal Food

by Marie Urban

When it comes to the perception of health and wellness nowadays, I feel like it is very difficult to distinguish what is real from what is fake. The intense societal push to attain unrealistic

From using filters and flattering camera angles on social media, to the consistent trend of photoshopping in magazines.

The intense societal push to attain unrealistic body standard, has had a real impact on how we view ourselves, and in turn, how we love ourselves.

There is a lot of pressure to have a “perfect” body, and no matter how hard we try, that pressure is hard to escape. And to top it all off, we need to balance maintaining that ideal physique with the rest of our busy schedules, kids, jobs, families, friends, etc.

The constant juggling act would be overwhelming for anyone to say the least, so is it actually possible to fit in healthy lifestyle choices like self-care, fitness and meal preparation into your regular schedule?

| THE ANSWER IS YES!

I used to ask my clients ‘how they feel when they look in the mirror?’ and most of the time their immediate response boiled down to a list of all the things they hated and wanted to change about themselves.

I ask this question because it would give me an insight on their emotional health and selfawareness.

I will never forget a time when a client actually looked in the mirror for the first time in a long time and started crying because she couldn’t believe who she had “become”.

She emotionally and physically couldn’t tackle it all, and because of that, her self-esteem crumbled, and so in turn did her health.

And it hit me, that day I changed my mind. I would no longer be the personal trainer that helped people just change their bodies for the better, but I would be the person that would help change how they thought about their bodies as well.

I needed to find a way to teach my clients how to tackle it all, because if they didn’t their bodies ultimately wouldn’t change, and neither would their mindset.

The challenge I have for you first is to get rid of that fictional image in your head of who you think you should be and who you think you should look like and start getting REAL!

First step in getting REAL is to set attainable goal. And I don’t necessarily mean pounds on a scale or a specific size, I mean a goal that motivates and creates a fire and passion for change.

A goal that every day when you wake up and set an intention, it’s to love yourself for who you are, no matter what stage you are in the journey. If you start there, the next steps will all fall into the right space.

In this five-part series, I hope to educate, motivate and guide you to find a place where every day you look in the mirror you are true to yourself and feel great about the person looking back at you.

MAINTAINING YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ESSENTIAL TO LIVING A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE, AND TO THAT END HERE ARE SOME SIMPLE TIPS AND HEALTHY HABITS YOU CAN TRY GOING INTO THE NEW YEAR.

20 &Wellness Fitness

Tips

for a Healthy 2023

Stand Up Every 30 Minutes While Working

It’s easy to forget to take breaks at work, however, frequent breaks can keep you focused and alert throughout the workday. Stand up every 30 minutes while working. Stretch, go for a short walk, or take care of a small task.

Exercise

Regular physical activity has many benefits for both your physical and mental well-being! It is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your health. Exercise can be done anywhere, including at home or at the gym.

Track Your Fitness

Check out one of the popular fitness tracking apps for your phone or smartwatch to help you understand how active you are every day, so you can set goals or adjust your lifestyle as needed. You can also try an exercise watch or fitness band, which can read your heart rate and tell you how many steps you take daily.

Drink More Water

Be sure to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day by drinking plenty of water. Depending on your level of activity and climate it’s recommended that men drink around 15.5 cups and women 11.5 cups of water a day.

Get Quality Sleep

Establishing a regular sleeping pattern is crucial for your well-being. This includes going to bed at roughly the same time every night and waking up around the same time every morning. Now, it doesn’t have to be so rigid, but try your best to stay within a 30-minute window each night and morning. You may even consider turning off all electronic devices an hour before bedtime.

Leverage Virtual Classes

Leveraging virtual classes will continue to be popular as people seek convenience and variety in their workout routines. You’ll be able to take classes from the comfort of your own home, which is incredibly convenient if you live in a cold climate or have transportation limitations.

Schedule Your Annual Physical

An annual physical is one of the best ways you can stay fit for your current and future self. It’s an important key to living a long, healthy life. No matter your age or stage of life, annual physical exams are essential to your ongoing health.

Take a Multivitamin

A balanced diet helps you maintain good physical and mental health. However, busy adults are prone to making unhealthy meal choices or skipping meals altogether, so they may not get enough nutrients on a given day. Taking a multivitamin is an easy way to fill nutritional gaps in your eating pattern.

Eat Veggies More Often

Whether you’re trying to lose a few pounds or just improve your overall health, vegetables are a key source of nutrients necessary for your success. Fiber-rich veggies are especially important, as they are critical for a healthy heart and strong veins. You may even want to throw in some citrus fruits high in vitamin C; like oranges, grapefruit, or clementines. While vitamin C-rich foods help promote collagen production, they also prevent wrinkles and dry skin. Who knew an orange a day kept wrinkles away?

Drink Smoothies

Make an occasional smoothie from fresh ingredients such as bananas, oranges, and carrots, or frozen items like berries or chopped greens. Whatever your taste, drink a smoothie to fill in the gaps in your daily nutrition.

Take Time to Enjoy Meals

It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to know when your stomach is full. You can consume a lot of extra calories in 20 minutes, especially when you are eating fast! Try different ways to train yourself to eat slowly. Chew each mouthful 10 times. Put down your utensils between bites. If you’re with others, take breaks to focus on the conversation.

Don’t Skip Meals

When you go without food for longer than three or four hours, your blood sugar drops.

This can lead to overeating and feeling too tired to be active. Instead, stick to a regular schedule of three healthy meals and two snacks each day.

13

Clean Your Hands Properly & Often

Did we really need to include this? After the last couple of years, this should now be second nature. Clean hands can prevent the spread of infectious illnesses.

Get Outside

Nature is a great remedy for stress. Sometimes, there is nothing better for your mental and emotional wellness than going outside. The American Heart Association says that spending time in nature can relieve stress, improve mood, and generally boost your well-being. During the workweek, consider stepping outside on your lunch break. On the weekends, participate in outdoor activities such as gardening, walking, or cycling.

whittling your waist without seeing the needle on the scale move at all. But you’re not necessarily thinking that when you’re standing there looking at that unforgiving number.

Take a Vacation

Meditate

When talking about health, it’s not just about your physical health, but also about your mental health and meditation is the best way to achieve that. Including meditation in your New Year fitness plan not just helps you gain a healthy mind, body, and soul, but also will help in overcoming New Year fitness challenges that you may face as the time proceeds.

16

Prevent Work Burnout

Burnout comes a lot faster when you’re spending 4 hours a day at a job that empties your tank than working 10 hours a day at a job filling your tank. Some other ways to prevent work burnout are taking breaks throughout the day, limiting your number of early mornings or late evenings, and completely unplugging while taking time off for personal days or vacations.

15 17

Don’t Depend on the Weighing Scale Too

Much

Weight loss and weight gain should make you feel active and healthy, and if it doesn’t, there is a problem. Factors like water retention and your menstrual cycle can make your weight fluctuate up to 10 pounds in a single day. There’s also the fact that muscle weighs more than fat, meaning you could be

Taking care of your body is one part of health and wellness, but it’s equally important to take care of your mental health. Whether you travel out of the country or stay somewhere closer, having some time away from work is good for you. You could even take a staycation or just explore new areas in the city you live in. You’ll thank yourself afterward, and your vacation or staycation will help you keep from experiencing burnout in your job.

Exercise Outdoors whenever Possible

Outdoor exercises with social groups will become more popular as people seek ways to socialize while getting their fitness fix safely. This trend combines the benefits of working out outdoors with the camaraderie of exercising with friends.

Breathwork

When many of us go on a health kick we spend money on workouts, new supplements and equipment, what we often don’t think of is the tools that come naturally with our body, one of those tools being the power of our breath. By learning to master your breath you can boost your energy, improve your sleep, reduce stress and anxiety. It is essentially a free bio hack that so many of us are not aware of and are not using. Additionally, different breathwork exercises can be used depending on your goal, be it that you want to boost your energy or you want to wind down for a restful sleep.

By Rodney Folmar, Sr.

The last thing Christine Gomes ever thought she would be doing was owning a CKO Kickboxing franchise in Lodi. A former athlete, working out was not on her list of to-do’s every day. Managing the dump truck business she owns with her brother is a full-time job that she enjoys. It took her sister Jackie to convince her to try her hand at owning a gym.

IT’S NOT A JOB, IT’S HOME

By: Rodney Folmar, Sr.

EXTREME EXERCISE MADE EASY

Once Christine had taken her first kickboxing class, she was hooked. It didn’t take long for her to get back into the swing of things. Once she took the leap and purchased her gym in Lodi, she began to immerse herself in the kickboxing culture. She said, “Kickboxing is a very intensive workout. What CKO has done is taken the philosophy of kickboxing and brings it to everyday people.” Workouts are adapted to each person’s skill level. Trainers don’t teach the class. They take the class right along with the students. Each person’s fitness journey is unique. Kickboxing offers a sense of accomplishment and a

renewed sense of self-confidence. Kickboxing soon became Christine’s way of giving back to the community. She found a way to help others find their fitness journey in a fun and exciting new way.

HELPING OTHERS ON THEIR FITNESS JOURNEY

Christine is a “people person”. She enjoys helping others. When she first started kickboxing, she enjoyed the culture and how it made her feel a part of a larger community. She realized quickly that she could take her newfound passion and help others achieve their fitness goals.

With the support and encouragement of her sister, she opened the CKO Kickboxing franchise in Lodi. By using heavy bags placed directly on the floor, she took her passion for helping others to the next level. It isn’t just about the exercise for Christine. It’s about meeting new people and learning about their fitness journey.

LAST

CHRISTINE

EVER

BE DOING WAS OWNING A CKO KICKBOXING FRANCHISE IN LODI.

IT’S NOT A JOB, IT’S HOME

Many people who visit CKO Lodi will often find Christine working out and interacting with her clients. Familyoriented from the start, she doesn’t consider owning the gym a job. It’s home. It’s where she is most comfortable and where she feels her best sense of self. It is the one place where she can embrace her passion and fulfill her mission to always help others. While CKO Kickboxing offers a unique and very rewarding workout, it’s the people at CKO Lodi that make the gym what it is. Christine Gomes’ perspective on helping others and being able to help each client find their footing on their own fitness journey is a reward that keeps her motivated and always moving forward.

THE

THING

GOMES

THOUGHT SHE WOULD

Being healthy or fit isn’t a fad or a trend, it’s a lifestyle.»

Living healthy shouldn’t be based on a fad or trend, it should be an ongoing, sustainable lifestyle. Diets and weight loss groups don’t work because they mass market themselves to everyone. It becomes the latest fad or trend and then everyone wants to jump on board in the hopes it will work miracles.

The problem is they don’t. People get discouraged and return to their old habits. Even though they are trying to live healthier, they often miss the mark. The stories that follow are about people who found their own healthy and sustainable lifestyle path and how they are sharing their ideas with others.

| Living Healthier but Missing the Mark?

The fact is, even though millions of Americans are taking steps to become healthier and more fit, obesity and other chronic health conditions are still a major problem among adults and children alike.

Heart disease, diabetes, and poor nutrition due to the consumption of processed/fast foods are still threatening the

lives of millions of Americans. The key is learning what works for YOU. Find your perfect fitness and nutritional plan. Learn about your body and what it needs to be vibrant and healthy.

| Find Your Motivation

THE HEALTH & WELLNESS IFESTYLE L

For every reason you have to work out, you can find ten more to keep yourself sitting in your chair. Making excuses only makes the problem worse. Many people get discouraged because past diets didn’t work for them. Fad diets are designed for quick results, not a sustainable lifestyle. For any exercise or fitness program to be effective several things need to be in play:

• You need to be ready to commit to being healthy

• You need to be motivated

• 3. You need to know what works for you

• Lastly, you need to be willing to work through the roadblocks that sometimes get put in your way.

If you’re ready to get healthy and create a sustainable, healthy lifestyle, then the ball is in your court. Go on the offense and take control of the situation. The only person standing in your way is you. Make a conscious choice and take your first steps on your journey to health and wellness.

“Being healthy or fit isn’t a fad or a trend, it’s a lifestyle”

REMEMBERING THE WILDCATS A Once

in a Lifetime Team

Youth athletics is a great way to teach kids valuable lessons about sportsmanship and life in general. Students learn the rules of the game, but they also learn the importance of teamwork.

When Mike Achilarre took over the Head Coach position of the 4th-grade team for the Morristown Wildcats in August of 2016, his goal was to take a group of young boys and build a solid team using respect and sportsmanship as cornerstones.

What he got, in the end, was so much more than he could have ever bargained for. What he ended up with was a team of exceptional young men who were able to come together to win four NJSYFL Super Bowl Championships.

FROM START TO FINISH

Even though Coach Mike Achilarre didn’t have any kids of his own on this Morristown Wildcats team, his love of the sport was his motivation for taking the coaching position. During the first year, it was a learning experience for all involved. With the way Morristown’s youth football league is set up, Achilarre knew he would have the option to be with these kids for many years as they moved up to the next levels.

He also could have the option to let them move up without him as his sons would be coming up in the following years. Being an athlete for most of his life, he began to put together a coaching strategy that involved several important factors. Focus, accountability, consistency, and “finishing what you start” were important lessons.

They were valuable on the field, but essential in

real life. As the first year came to a close, he began to see his boys start to become true sportsmen. After one year he knew how special this team was.

WHAT MADE THIS GROUP OF KIDS SO SPECIAL?

With youth athletics, teams usually have two or three exceptional players. This team, however, was different and it didn’t take Achilarre long to realize it. The boys with exceptional athletic skills began helping less advanced players improve. The boys were as close off the field as they were on it. There was no bullying and no chiding if someone made a mistake. The team was made up of 30 boys. Before the end of the second year was over, they were not just a team anymore. According to Achilarre, “We became a family. There were no egos. We had boys that were true leaders.” Everyone worked together, both on and off the field. They all contributed in some way. If a boy wasn’t on the field, he was cheering from the bench or helping the coach. In all of his years of playing, Achilarre had never seen a group of boys so committed to one another.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH LIFE LESSONS

As the second and third years were completed, both resulting in Super Bowl Championships, Achilarre was interested in seeing how the boys would continue to mature over time. The fun and competitiveness were contagious, but as an athlete himself, he knew there was much more to it.

He wanted the boys to learn life lessons that went along with both the sportsmanship and respect he was trying to instill in them. Weekly captains were chosen. Even if boys were not starters, they all were given the chance to be the team captain and help guide the team to victory.

Coach always preached that you don’t win with just the 11 players on the field, but with all 30 players on the team. If all the players don’t buy into a common goal you won’t be successful. In addition to teaching the boys how to be safe on the field, he also taught them how to focus and be committed to finishing everything they start.

Keeping their head up was not just a lesson about safety on the frontline, it was also a lesson about real-life that the boys all took to heart.

TAKING THINGS IN STRIDE

The mark of a true team is to be able to handle whatever comes your way with confidence and grace. When COVID

hit in 2020, there were many who thought the season wouldn’t happen. The Wildcats took things in stride and continue to do what they did best, play football.

Although the season was somewhat shorter and circumstances sometimes called for minor changes to be made, the boys maintained their focus and held tight to their confidence. If this was going to be their last year together as a team, they were going to make it a great one. By the end of the year, they had achieved their goals and another Super Bowl Championship was in the books.

4-TIME SUPER BOWL CHAMPS

The Morristown Wildcats ended up winning four straight Super Bowl Championships (2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020). Winning four championships is a feat that has only be achieved a few times since the NJSYFL began back in the 1970’s.

The team ended up with a four-year record of 41 wins, 5 losses, and 2 ties. Phillip Folmar was the Super Bowl MVP for all four years. At the end of the 2020 season, the boys will be moving on to high school, but they have set a great example for all the younger players in the Morristown Wildcats program.

The legacy left behind by his team of the last four years will give his future teams something to strive for.

Aiden Barber was the middle linebacker for the four-time, Super Bowl Champion, Morristown Wildcats. As a student-athlete, he is driven by the love of the sport and the desire to help his teammates be the best they can be.

His concept of teamwork matches that of his fellow athletes and together, they have built a winning team. For the last five years, the Morristown Wildcats have dominated their league.

At 165 pounds and 5’10”, Aiden Barber was a force to be reckoned with. From the time he joined the Wildcats in 4th grade until his final game with the team in 2020, Barber was best known for his hard-driving play and the number of big hits he made over the span of his youth football career. His family nicknamed him “Big Dog” for his aggressive play and commitment to stopping his opponents.

As a student, Barber enjoys math and taking on new challenges. While one of his

favorite hobbies is playing video games, he is passionate about football. He enjoys watching his favorite team, the NY Giants play and follows the career of his favorite player, Daniel Jones. Barber hopes to follow in Jones’s footsteps and also make a career out of playing professional football.

Like his other teammates on the Wildcats, Barber understood the concept behind what makes a winning team. The young men who made up the team left their egos and personal objectives outside the playing field. They came together and become one cohesive unit. They supported and encouraged one another.

These are the things the lessons Aiden Barber will carry with him throughout his life. When asked about what he enjoyed the most about being a 4-time Super Bowl Champion Wildcat, his response was simple and to the point, “Being a part of a team bigger than myself.”

Alexander Joseph Davis was a force to be reckoned with. At 5’7 and 170 pounds, he was the immovable object on the Morristown Wildcats front line. He plays center on the offensive line and defensive tackle on the defense.

In both positions, he has excelled and led the team in tackles. Davis took both offensive and defensive positions seriously learning what he needed to do in each and taking care of business on the field. His no-holds-barred play made him a fierce competitor that his younger teammates could look up to.

Davis is a fan of both the New York Giants and Saquon Barkley. Having played football since 1st grade, his ultimate dream job would be to play in the NFL.

He understands that the career of a professional athlete can be rather short. With this in mind, he is looking into other

careers to pursue as well.

Until that time, however, Davis enjoys spending his free time with his friends and playing on his Xbox. As a student-athlete, he understands the importance of keeping his grades up to set a good example for his teammates.

For Davis, the highlights of his time with the Wildcats include the final Super Bowl Championship game where he forced a fumble and Phil Folmar knocked down a pass with 30 seconds left in the game to ensure their victory.

The feeling of accomplishment after winning those games is something that Davis will always remember. He particularly enjoyed the feeling he got after playing a good game and earning a victory. Knowing that he did his best and did not let his team down was the greatest feeling of all.

Alexander Joseph Davis

Phillip Folmar | Anthony Nicholas Casale

Phillip William Scott Folmar is the type of studentathlete coaches hopes for. It’s essential to have athletic abilities. When a young athlete exhibits exceptional leadership skills, however, you have a winning combination that benefits everyone on the team.

Folmar was born in Arizona but currently resides in Morristown, New Jersey. His love for sports started at an early age, learning the fundamentals of each sport and striving to hone his skills whenever he had a chance.

As a young athlete, one of his goals is to continue to play professionally for as long as possible. He does, however, have other career goals as well, possibly of becoming a doctor or lawyer.

Folmar has a passion for athletics. As a student, he loves English and strives to do the best he can in all his classes. When it comes to sports, however, the young man is driven. He loves to work out and hopes to eventually become a professional athlete like LeBron James.

As a young athlete, Folmar exhibits many traits that youth athletic coaches look for. They look for athletic ability, of course, but Folmar offers the full package.

He has the ability to lead by example which makes him a positive role model for younger players who are just entering the league. He is accessible as a mentor and is always willing to help another athlete overcome an obstacle. He understands the need for encouragement and offers it to his teammates as often as possible.

Folmar has been involved in sports for about 10 years. As the quarterback/running back for the Morristown Wildcats, his athletic abilities and leadership skills came to light.

As an athlete, he earned over 134 touchdowns during his time with the team. His willingness to help younger players along the way made him a natural leader. His dedication to his team and commitment to sportsmanship earned hm the Super Bowl MVP award four years in a row.

At 5’8 and 147 pounds, Anthony Nicholas Casale was a hard-hitting linebacker for the Morristown Wildcats. He has been competing in both wrestling and football since the second grade.

Anthony was one of the more vocal members of the team. He is supportive of his teammates and always strives to be the best friend and teammate he can be. His commitment to his team family and dedication to the sport has earned him the Captain’s spot for the last four years.

As a student, Casale enjoys language arts the most and is working hard to maintain his grades. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his friends. When it comes to professional sports, his favorite player is Ray Lewis. He is also a huge fan of the New York Giants.

His love of the sport is quite apparent, and his future goal is to eventually be signed by a professional football team. His stats from

last year include two interceptions, three forced fumbles, three sacks, and 45 tackles.

As a member of the Morristown Wildcats since 4th grade, Casale has earned many valuable lessons. He has proven himself to be a born leader and loves helping his teammates reach their personal goals.

As a team, they have bonded as a family and created an environment where every player is given an opportunity to succeed. As both the team captain and the captain of the defense, Casale encourages his teammates to work hard and do their best at all times.

Casale and his teammates have become a family, forging the bonds of brotherhood that will last a lifetime. He is forever grateful to his coaches and his teammates for the valuable lessons he has had the opportunity to learn over the last four years.

He cherishes his time with the Wildcats and will continue to be a leader in every sport he competes in.

People normally choose to go to the gym because they want to feel better. People choose Iron Culture because they are driven, partly to feel better, but also because they see the owners giving 100% to members they serve.

Charlie Addessi and his partner, Arthur Imperatore, have been through the fire. These men have been through the fire and used fitness as a way to escape it.

| The Effects of the Pandemic

While many gyms fell on hard times during the recent pandemic, Iron Culture went through its own tempering process. After being open for exactly one year, the gym was forced to close its doors for six months due to the pandemic.

During that time, no member was charged a dime for their membership. At the end of the six months, they reopened the doors to the gym to find every member waiting eagerly to come back to the culture they were proud to be a part of.

In fact, the response was so dramatic, the gym actually doubled its membership. The comeback was so strong, the two of them were able to begin planning a second Iron Culture!

| Back to Basics

Charlie is quite clear on what has made Iron Culture such a success. “You have your big gyms that don’t offer a personal approach. You never know who the owners are. We try to be the opposite of that. We try to make sure each members’ experience is the best it can be and more. We invest ourselves in our members’ successes.”

By investing 100% in both the gym and its members, Charlie and Arthur have been able to bring positive change to so many lives.

| Making a Positive Change

Both Addessi and Imperatore have battled their own demons. For Charlie, it was being on the wrong path at a young age. For Arthur, it was the devastating loss of his son, Justin. Both men found a way to look past their struggles and began to make a few positive changes by bettering themselves through fitness.

Through a twist of fate, they found each other at a time when everything was finally coming together. Charlie was a busy trainer with a strong network in the Morristown area and Arthur was looking for a second career to invest in something that has great meaning for him. Together, they built a culture. An Iron Culture.

| Inspiration and Motivation

At the age of 19, Charlie was facing some serious struggles. As he began his recovery, he began to look at fitness as a means to an end. His fitness routines became his lifeline to a better future. It saved his life. He built his life around what enabled him to escape that lifestyle. It was that passion that drove him to want to help others. Arthur and Charlie believe they met for a reason. That reason was to build the machine that is now Iron Culture.

When Charlie looks to the future of Iron Culture, he remembers his path and how he got to where he is today. It’s all about the 3 pillars he believes goes into making a good gym: good atmosphere, good equipment, and good customer service.

With those three things and the people who are forging their own fitness journey at Iron Culture, the gym is sure to continue to be a huge success.

To survive the pandemic and the shut-down of gyms in NJ and come out on top, it’s safe to say the gym is sure to continue to be a huge success.

With owners who have come from the fire themselves, the people who call Iron Culture home know they have a strong foundation to build on.