Sharon Simpson Advertising Director sharon@lncurrents.com (704) 677-9159
(224) 223-9941
Welcome to the January Issue
By Lori Helms
he start of the new year brings some changes here to Hickory Living magazine, and I’m very excited and grateful to now be a part of what lies ahead. Having been guided by the extremely capable hands and talent of Kathy Wheeler since the magazine’s inception in 2008, I will try to fill the void she leaves here following her well-deserved retirement last month.
I have a lot to learn about this region, and that lesson has already begun by getting to know some of the area’s businesses in this month’s issue. What better way to waltz into 2025 than with a plan to put your best foot – or best “self” – forward? Dr. Chris DiOrio and his talented staff at Physi-
cian’s Plan are ready to help you do just that. Whether you choose to explore their medical weight loss services or give BioIdentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) a try, there is something for everyone looking to look better, manage their weight or generally improve their health. You can learn more about all Physician’s Plan has to offer beginning on Page 10.
Improving your health, however, doesn’t necessarily mean you need to give up on some of the more delicious things in life. This month’s recipe is a great example of that. Classic Shrimp Oreganata from the kitchen of our “What’s Cooking?” guru Kathy Dicken is a great combination of simple, light ingredients that result
in a full-flavored meal that’s easily and quickly prepared.
And it wouldn’t be January if we didn’t have a brief discussion about the dreaded new year resolutions we often make, but lest seldom keep. If you’re resolved to make one or two, but fearful of repeating previous years’ failures, turn to Page 16 for a little guidance on how to make those resolutions stick.
I look forward to learning more about the Hickory area as the year progresses. I guess I’ve already found my first new year resolution – to continue to bring you, dear reader, the information and stories you’ve come to enjoy. Wish me luck!
on the cover
Physician’s Plan: Your Trusted Partners To Look and Feel Your Best
By Amy Casil | Photos by Shane Greene Photography
Speaking with Dr. Chris DiOrio about what patients will experience when visiting Physician’s Plan, I was immediately filled with confidence that every person who visits the practice will be treated with the utmost care, respect, and professionalism. Dr. DiOrio said, “We’re a stay healthy practice that tries to keep you healthy.”
Dr. DiOrio is a master at explaining medical and aesthetic procedures. He shared the four primary types of services offered by Physician’s Plan: medical weight loss, aesthetics, med spa
services, and one of their newest services, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. There are new and exciting developments in each area, and he filled me in on many details.
Benefits of Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy
“As we get older, we want to continue to live well,” Dr. DiOrio said. He explained that as we age, women experience menopause, and men experience andropause, and both processes involve a loss of reproductive hormones over time. While people don’t want to have children at older ages, they do want energy,
Dr. DiOrio and Hickory’s amazing team
Dr. DiOrio and Medical Esthetician, Heather, consulting a patient for cosmetic injectables
vitality, and strong muscles, skin, hair, and bone.
Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) can assist men and women to feel healthier and live better as they grow older. Dr. DiOrio explained that the hormones used in hormone replacement therapy are identical to those produced by our bodies during our younger years.
BHRT can have benefits for both women and men. Some people have experienced better moods and improved sleep, as well as increased energy, along with improved skin tone and hair fullness and thickness. “We have confidence in the bio-identical replacement hormones,” Dr. DiOrio told me. The products are safe, Dr. DiOrio said, because they are like what your body produces naturally.
Feeling Better, Managing Weight, and Managing Health
“We now know that obesity is a disease,” Dr. DiOrio said, “just like high blood pressure and diabetes.” As a “stay healthy” practice, Physician’s Plan doesn’t just focus on weight loss, they work with patients to manage their weight and to reduce or control symptoms of metabolic syndrome, the interrelated
conditions that include high blood pressure, insulin resistance, excess belly fat, and several other conditions that can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and stroke over time.
Physician’s Plan’s goal is to help you to look better, feel better, optimize anti-aging processes, and boost your well-being mentally, physically, and yes - sexually - to feel your best. When the practice started back in 2005, they began by providing appetite suppressants to help people lose weight and improve their health. Those drugs are still used today, and are joined by the new GLP-1 drugs, which contain glucagon-like peptides. The new drugs include semaglutide, tirzepatide.
I asked Dr. DiOrio how these drugs worked, and he said that when we eat, we produce a natural form of GLP in our colon, and those who eat slowly, have enough time to process their meals and to get appropriate cues that they’re full. GLP-1 medications help to reduce appetite by providing an extended form of the drug that will help people feel full, and also slow stomach emptying. Our medical providers know the drugs, Dr. DiOrio said, and know how to assist people using them effectively and safely.
Pictured, top to bottom:
Dr. DiOrio reviewing lab results for Hormone Replacement Therapy
Come meet the Physician’s Plan Hickory team today
However, weight loss and wellness isn’t just about medication. Physician’s Plan provides a combination of counseling, behavior modification, consistent monitoring, activity and exercise maintenance, and dietary control. “We as doctors should be able to direct people to make small changes,” Dr. DiOrio said. Getting healthier and feeling and looking better happens one day at a time and one small change or improvement at a time.
“We don’t tell people what to do,” Dr. DiOrio said. “They come to us with a need and we’ll inform them what is available, and if we don’t know what’s best, we’ll get you to somebody who does know.”
Getting Started With Physician’s Plan
I spoke with Bobbi Jo Garrison, the Business Development Director and Operations Manager for the practice. Bobbi Jo said they have a complimentary discovery session which you can schedule via online or over the phone. The sessions last about half an hour and will cover your goals, concerns and needs. You can get an idea of which tools the practice has to offer best fit your needs, and also learn what your next steps to start your journey.
“It’s a team approach,” Bobbi Jo said. “Your needs are supported by many at the practice.”
I mentioned the many five-star reviews I’d seen while learning about the practice and Dr. DiOrio expressed surprise, and then said, “Well, everything we do comes from a position of caring. We care,” he said.
Dr. DiOrio began as an emergency medicine physician before starting buying Physician’s Plan in 2005 with his partner Kim Uyak and he said he still wants to practice some emergency medicine to stay sharp. He also wanted to thank all of the team members who work at all of Physician’s Plan’s offices. “We are in it together,” he said.
In addition to medical weight loss services and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), Physician’s plan offers aesthetics, which are provided by a medical provider, and med spa services, which are performed by Medical Aestheticians. Aesthetic services like Botox or other neurotoxin and dermal fillers like Juvederm can help prevent fine lines and replace volume naturally lost as we age. Our Med Spa couples results driven treatments with medical grade skin care to treat, protect and correct your skin concerns.
Pictured, top to bottom: Assistant Director, Wendy, performing a body composition for a weight loss patient
Our beautiful Medical Estheticians, Heather and Britne
A Caring and Empathetic Team You Can Trust
“It’s not what you do or say,” he said, “so much as it’s how you make people feel.” You can stop by Physician’s Plan’s office in Hickory or any of their other locations and learn more. If you’d like to be healthier, look better and feel more vibrant in 2025, Physician’s Plan is there for you.
STICK Make It
Resolutions for the new year you can keep
By Amy Casil
Do new year resolutions really stick?
Well, not really. According to Dr. Asim Shah, a professor of psychiatry at Baylor University, about 80% of people who make new year resolutions end up failing them. By the end of the year, only 9% of people have achieved their goals.
If this is the case, why make new year resolutions at all?
We all have things we’d like to change or improve in our lives. There’s nothing wrong with making resolutions for the new year, but the key is to make the resolution something we can build on day after day.
Make Short Term, Achievable Goals
The main reason that people fail their
new year resolutions isn’t a lack of motivation, or even willpower. Most people don’t achieve their resolution goal because it can’t be achieved in a short period of time. If you break down your resolutions into smaller, simpler and more achievable goals, the chances you’ll succeed are much better.
Realistic and Uplifting New Year Resolutions
Making a small change could uplift your life in a big way by the end of the year, one day at a time. Here are some ideas for realistic, doable new year resolutions:
1. Read more books: Have you been in the habit of watching television every night, even if you can’t find an interesting show? Try a book instead.
2. Start a gratitude journal: Take a few minutes at the beginning of your day to jot down what you’re grateful for, right then and there.
3. Cook new foods: Plan one or two meals a month that introduce a new recipe or cuisine to your repertoire.
4. Get better sleep: Whether it’s setting a regular bedtime, or limiting screen time or caffeine, we can all benefit from a good night’s rest.
The people who make goals and achieve them at any time of the year do it one step at a time, and one day at a time. The new year is a great time to make those small changes you’ve been thinking about and achieve them.
What’s Cooking?
Classic Shrimp Oreganata
Servings: 4 • Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
1.5 - 2 lbs. jumbo shrimp (21-25 per pound), peeled and deveined
2 Tbsp. dry white wine
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
3 Tbsp. panko or dry breadcrumbs
2 Tbsp. fresh minced parsley
1-1/2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. lemon zest
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Fresh lemon wedges, for serving
INSTRUCTIONS
Simple Yet Delicious
By Kathy Dicken
Photograph courtesy Kathy Dicken
Originating from the coastal regions of Italy, Shrimp Oreganata was brought to the United States by Italian immigrants and has since become a beloved dish featured on restaurant menus across the country. This classic Italian American recipe has gained immense popularity due to its simple yet delicious combination of succulent shrimp, fragrant oregano and crispy breadcrumbs. The use of readily available ingredients makes this recipe perfect for home cooks who want to replicate restaurant quality meals at home.
This lighter version of Shrimp Oreganata uses jumbo shrimp topped with a light mixture of breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. The dish is then baked on a sheet pan, allowing for an effortless cooking process and quick cleanup — perfect for busy weeknights or lastminute dinner parties. This convenient cooking method allows the shrimp to cook evenly, absorbing all the flavorful seasonings.
Shrimp Oreganata is ideal for serving during a casual weeknight dinner or at your next festive gathering. It captures many of the beloved flavors found in Shrimp Scampi, featuring garlic and a hint of lemon, but with the addition of a deliciously crunchy breadcrumb topping. Whether you’re hosting a large gathering or simply looking to elevate your everyday meals, Shrimp Oreganata is a reliable crowd-pleaser that is sure to impress. Pair it with a light salad and a glass of white wine for a complete dining experience that embodies the essence of Italian cuisine.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, and line a sheet pan with non-stick foil. Peel, devein and butterfly the shrimp open, leaving the tails on (if desired). Place the shrimp in a large bowl and toss gently with wine, salt and crushed red pepper flakes. Set aside.
Mix the breadcrumbs, parsley, Parmesan cheese, garlic, oregano and lemon zest in a mixing bowl. Add the shrimp in a single layer to the sheet pan or a rimmed baking dish. Spoon the breadcrumb mixture over each shrimp and drizzle the tops with olive oil.
Bake until the shrimp are cooked through, about 8 minutes, and then broil for 1-2 minutes until the breadcrumbs are golden brown. Finish each serving off with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Serve immediately.
Note:
To make the preparation of this recipe quick and easy, I often use frozen, peeled and deveined shrimp. They are available with shrimp tails on or off, your preference.
Kathy Dicken lives in Huntersville and is the author of the food blog, The Tasty Bits. For more meal ideas that are simple and delicious, you can follow her blog at www.thetastybits.com or on Instagram @thetastybits.
