NFit Woman March/April 2013

NFitWoman { VOW TO BE HEALTHY TIPS FROM TEAM FIT BRIDE {

A WOMAN’S GUIDE TO FITNESS

MARCH / APRIL 2013

NO FEAR CANCER SURVIVOR MARY ANN MITCHELL ON HER NEW LIFE AND BeFEARLESS STRENGTH TRAINING: NOT JUST FOR MEN SKIING LIKE AN OLYMPIAN WITH CHAMP CAROLINE LALIVE

AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY

IRONMAN AND INSPIRATION

Monica Caban ON TRAINING, LOVE AND GETTING BACK IN THE GAME

FIT FOR STYLE FEATURING “SURVIVOR” WINNER KIM SPRADLIN

NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

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ExpErt CarE You Can

trust

lori shirley-Wenzel, mD Internal Medicine Alamo Heights, Broadway (210) 824-5392

Dustin Deemer, PA Family Medicine Alamo Heights, Sunset (210) 824-5201

scott Horn, mD Family Medicine Alamo Heights, Sunset (210) 824-5201

Blaine Carmichael, PA Family Medicine Castle Hills (210) 541-8689

lewis Greenberg, mD Internal Medicine Castle Hills (210) 541-8689

Doris ling, mD Family Medicine Castle Hills (210) 541-8689

nishi thakur, mD Internal Medicine Castle Hills (210) 541-8689

Douglas Jenkins, mD Internal Medicine Downtown (210) 224-1771

lovelesh manocha, mD Internal Medicine Downtown (210) 224-1771

Geri Poss, mD Family Medicine Downtown (210) 998-3156

edward lin, mD Family Medicine Northeast (210) 653-2693

Daisy ramirez-estrada, mD Family Medicine Northeast (210) 653-2693

Abe rodriguez, mD Family Medicine Northeast (210) 653-2693

Gerald Heisler, mD Family Medicine Schertz (210) 656-5600

Ambur Brown, mD Family Medicine Schertz (210) 656-5600

ricardo escamilla, mD Family Medicine Southeast (210) 333-0798

erika Garza, mD Family Medicine Southeast (210) 333-0798

Cybele mathai, mD Internal Medicine Stone Oak (210) 494-2564

lubna naeem, mD Internal Medicine Stone Oak (210) 490-3800

Aaron King, mD Family Medicine Overlook (210) 497-2338

marium steele, mD Internal Medicine Overlook (210) 497-2338

Cesar Gerez-martinez, mD Family Medicine Westover Hills (210) 681-0126

sanjay Kumar, mD Internal Medicine Westover Hills (210) 681-0126

sveta singh, Do Family Medicine Westover Hills (210) 681-0126 01/2013

Your HeAltH is imPortAnt

We are committed to providing quality compassionate primary care to our patients including services such as physicals, sick visits and disease prevention.

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Primary Care Providers NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

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6709 Bandera Rd., Leon Valley, TX 78238

210.426.4329 210.647.4222 smashdance.net • vsf-sa.com • jnf-sa.com

march / april 10 feature

- Mary Ann Mitchell

12 mom on the go

- The ultimate team

14 a better you

- Keep it simple - Vow to be healthy - Capturing the heart of a man - Protect your pearly whites - Elevate your life

2013 âžť

contents

24 a new you

- Secret skin weapon

30 indoor fitness

- Cycling inside - Enrich your life

34 outdoor fitness

- Ski like an Olympian

38 success stories

- Flying high - An angel on a mission

42 mind, body & soul

- Spinning freely

44 spiritual

- Making peace

46 foodies

- Super-food spinach salad with wild-caught salmon

48 fit for style

- Kim Spradlin

52 nonprofit

- Improving the odds - The Bexar essentials

56 events

- Fighting the fight - Breaking new ground - San Antonio’s new elite - All-in-one experience

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ironman and inspiration

Monica Caban

shares her incredible journey of chance, fitness and love.

NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

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 publisher’s note

NFitWoman march / april 2013

Eliot Garza

For those of you who fell behind on your New Year’s resolutions to start

photo: julie hill for captured memories photography

exercising, eating better and losing weight, this is the best time to start working on accomplishing those goals again. Spring is always a wonderful time of year in San Antonio. The perfect weather and blooming flowers call us outside. Open your windows, take a deep breath and enjoy. There’s

a definite energy that fills the air in the spring weather.

Please take a moment and get inspired, as we did, by reading about Monica Caban’s journey after a lifechanging accident. She will share with you how she stays positive and is getting back in the game.

And flip to our men’s side and enjoy reading about David Lynd, who believes in no excuses. He manages

a multimillion-dollar corporation, yet maintains a fine balance by incorporating health and fitness into his busy schedule. It will make an impact!

NFit is growing stronger by the day because of you. I personally want to thank each and every one of you for making all of this happen, and for becoming part of the NFit family. Our presence is becoming well recognized, and our healthy future holds many promises to come.

We are currently planning our next quarterly fitness fair, and we are working fast and furiously on our NFit website – and for our loyal readers, we will soon have a yearly subscription you can sign up for. Stay tuned!

Again, thanks to our wonderful writers and contributors. You are all filled with wonderful and inspiring stories. I am very grateful for all of the effort and support you have given NFit and our readers. A huge thanks to our readers for continuing to support NFit, as well – I wish to hear more from you. We are continually trying to improve.

Look for us on Facebook and keep in touch. If you would like to be added to our newsletter list, please register online or send me a quick email at Liz@NFitSa.com.

Happy spring!

CEO / NSIDE Media Productions

liz whittaker Publisher

editorial director Kelly Hamilton

executive editor erin o’brien

creative director Elisa Giordano

graphic designers damaris fike cristina villa hazar

account executive c.j. george

International Marketing Account Sales Anabelle Rodriguez

executive assistant Ashley Gray

administrative assistant jose d. munoz

contributing writers dr. michael s. boss miki bowers cathy brandewie jennifer broome sean burton dr. marta dahiya bre’anna emmitt jennifer fritzsching-rulon kara george rita hernandez alice hollis deborah m. martin caitlin martone bethany reynolds luis santiago dr. andrew scraver

photographers Liz Whittaker Publisher liz@nfitsa.com

Michael Giordano greg harrison barbara holland www.getnside.com

For advertising information, please call 210.621.7301 or email liz@nfitsa.com.

For editorial comments and suggestions, please send emails to kelly@getnside.com. to reach us: 18402 U.S. Highway 281 N, Ste. 201 San Antonio, Texas 78259 Phone: 210.298.1761 Fax: 210.568.6630 Copyright © NSIDE Media Productions All rights reserved. Reproduction without the expressed written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

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NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

S

Staff kelly hamilton

erin o’brien

Editorial Director 210.630.8086 / mobile kelly@getnside.com

Executive Editor erin@getnside.com

Elisa Giordano

damaris fike

Creative Director 646.280.8785 / mobile elisa@getnside.com

cristina villa hazar Graphic Designer

anabelle rodriguez International Marketing Account Sales 361.685.3028 / mobile 210.298.1761 / office anabelle@getnside.com

Graphic Designer

Live Fit Now

C.J. George

Account Executive 361.232.2097 / mobile 210.298.1761 / office cj@nfitsa.com

ashley gray

Executive Assistant 210.560.7608 / mobile 210.298.1761 / office ashley@getnside.com

Jose d. munoz

Administrative Assistant 361.207.0241 / mobile 210.298.1761 / office jose@getnside.com

332 West Sunset, Ste 10, San Antonio, TX 78209 210.832.9412 / corepersonalfitness.net NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

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 advisory board

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April Ancira

edna de saro

Jennifer Broome

sean burton

marta dahiya, M.D.

claire ortiz

April Ancira is a San Antonio native. While pursuing her career with Ancira Automotive Group, she earned an MBA from UTSA in 2003. She enjoys involvement in various community activities such as Habitat for Humanity and frequently competes in triathlons and marathons when not spending time with her husband, Jason Thompson, and pleasantly exhausting toddler, Gunnar.

Edna De Saro is first vice president and marketing director of Lone Star National Bank.

As marketing director of one of the fastest growing banks in Texas, De Saro is involved in the development and implementation of all strategic marketing objectives that include corporate branding, public relations and market positioning.

Jennifer Broome is host and producer of “Swept Away with Jennifer Broome” and a morning meteorologist for KDVR Fox 31 Denver.

She is also a writer, spokesperson, blogger and fitness fanatic.

Sean Burton’s life is health and fitness. From an obese child to a fitness expert, Sean has seen his share of what it’s like on the other side of that fence, and he knows he possesses the knowledge and experience to help anyone get fit. Certified with the NSCA and NESTA, he has extensive training experience.

Burton knows what it takes to make your goal your new lifestyle.

SeanBFit in San Antonio, can make all the difference.

Dr. Marta Dahiya is a board certified radiation oncologist at Oncology San Antonio who specializes in cervical, uterine and breast cancers. She is active in the pursuit of finding strategies for the prevention and risk reduction of cancer, and frequently exercises because she finds that it keeps her mind and body connected and balanced. She enjoys educating patients and the community in preventive medicine through healthy lifestyle habits.

Claire Ortiz is an apparel and brand-leadership professional with more than 25 years of experience in design, development, operations, sales and strategic management.

Ortiz has spent the last decade in senior business and creative development roles, leading overall brand- building and global strategic planning initiatives. A veteran executive who has thrived as well in startup environments as in large global organizations, Ortiz is known and respected as a dynamic leader in the ready-to-wear apparel industry.

bre’anna emmitt

Jana Bounds

Lenore Kaiser

julie minnick

charlie marino

Bre’anna Emmitt is a Christian, a wife, a mother to three and a freelance writer. She aspires to one day master the fitness classes she regularly subjects herself to. You can usually find her each weekend ministering alongside her husband, Chris, at Community Bible Church.

As a consultant for one of the nation’s largest dermatology practices, Dermatology Associates of San Antonio, Jana Bounds has exposure to new and exciting developments in the rapidly changing world of non-invasive cosmetic procedures and products, as well as medical skin concerns such as advancements in the detection and treatment of skin cancers. Bounds believes your skin is an outside indicator of your internal health.

Lenore Kaiser, owner of Kaiser Medical Management, blog editor for the San Antonio Express-News, and fitness competitor/ model practices what she preaches and preaches what she practices. With 21 years in fitness and corporate wellness, she founded KMM, a corporate wellness provider. Kaiser has won several awards over the years for her dedication in bringing health awareness to our community.

Julie Minnick is a healthcare executive with over 20 years of diversified experience in health care administration. She currently works for Baptist Health System and is responsible for overall marketing, PR and business development initiatives for physician services within BHS. Minnick has a passion for the health and wellness of all individuals, and has a deep desire to motivate people to be happy and healthy.

Charlie Marino has been in the fitness industry since 1987. His specialization is in body sculpting, toning and overall wellness. Over the decades, he has seen many health trends come and go, and through them all, he has remained focused on what really works. Being healthy is not something you try for a few months; it is ultimately a daily choice. Marino, offers clients his expertise in the privacy of their home or at an exclusive training studio. He is the owner of ProFit Fitness: Fitness that Fits your Lifestyle.

Marie Ferdinandharris

NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

Newly retired from an 11-year WNBA career, three-time WNBA All-Star Marie Ferdinand-Harris jump-started the Marie Ferdinand Foundation, which was created as a testimony to her personal story of how she used sports as a vehicle to earn a scholarship to play for Louisiana State University.

Marie Ferdinand Foundation’s mission is to “teach kids to win in life, not just in sports.”

Ferdinand-Harris now lives in San Antonio and is passionate about instilling life skills and basketball fundamentals.

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NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

9

 feature

still

fearless!

BeFEARLESS founder and cancer survivor Mary Ann Mitchell continues to build a new life based on physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

by Cathy Brandewie Photography by Michael Giordano

M

ary Ann Mitchell is a survivor. After being diagnosed with an aggressive form of acute myeloid leukemia in December 2009, she was quickly referred to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, considered one of the world’s premier cancer centers.

While there, she underwent two rounds of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant – and just a few weeks following the transplant, separate procedures to relieve fluid that was pooling around her heart and lungs.

Mitchell also developed congestive heart failure, requiring heart surgery, where doctors cut a permanent one-and-a-half-inch hole in her heart lining, referred to as a pericardial window, so that fluid would freely flow away from her heart without further accumulation. Twice, she was advised to discuss her end-of-life directives and was told chances of surviving were slim.

Mitchell spent most of her hospital stay in an isolation room, limited to short walks around her room or hallway. Visitors, including her mother and sisters, had to be in complete protective gear to avoid possibly infecting her.

But three years later, Mitchell is building a new life that focuses on physical, mental and spiritual well-being. “A regular workout routine not only strengthens you physically, but also mentally,” Mitchell said. “It gives you a feeling of power and normalcy.”

Mitchell admits she had to get used to a “new normal.”

“You have to learn to accept that you will always have limitations,” Mitchell said. “You have a new normal, and you have to figure out what that is.” In many ways, her new normal has made her stronger in areas she never imagined.

She has a heightened sense of awareness and mental clarity, as well as the ability to see people and situations with what she calls,

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NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

“my new eyes. Along with the physical challenges to overcome, particularly in the beginning, accepting the new path that was laid out before me was tough, to say the least. It was important for me to get back to business in many aspects of my life.”

An active person before she became sick, Mitchell was eager to return to her routine of swimming and cycling and an alternating routine of cardio and weights.

But she soon realized that her muscle strength and endurance had been severely compromised by her illness, treatments and months of lying in a hospital bed.

Mitchell began working with a trainer to help tailor her workouts to her abilities and avoid injuries.

In the beginning, she could swim for only 15 minutes, but now she regularly swims for at least 40 minutes.

“Swimming not only provides physical benefits, it also helps clear the mind and relieve stress,” Mitchell said. “Once I get in a rhythm and experience the sound and sensation of the water, I begin to think differently. I have a greater sense of awareness and calm.”

Another way she achieves physical and mental balance is through monthly massages. The massages, coupled with physical activity, help her overcome insomnia, which is a side effect of the medications she must still take.

Mitchell is also cycling again.

With the encouragement of her nephew, an avid cyclist, and the cycling team he regularly rode with, her recreational riding has transformed into a more serious effort. BeFEARLESS has a full-fledged cycling team, solely sponsored by BMW of San Antonio, with a current count of 21 riders.

Mitchell is training in preparation for the 2013 Fiesta Wildflower Ride this spring. She will ride with the team representing the BeFEARLESS Foundation, the nonprofit organization she founded to provide BeFEARLESS gear emblazoned with the foundation’s brave name. The

foundation provides support for teen cancer patients and survivors who are receiving treatment for their cancer at M.D. Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital in Houston.

“Our foundation provides young patients with regular apparel they can wear instead of the hospital gown, branded with the message, ‘BeFEARLESS,’ and tag line, ‘Strength – Courage – Attitude,’” Mitchell said.

In addition to building a new foundation, Mitchell, an architect and interior designer, agreed last summer to allow her studio, Mitchell Design Consultancy, to be acquired by O’Connell Robertson, an architectural, engineering and interior design firm with offices in San Antonio and Austin.

“I was intrigued by the opportunity to work with O’Connell Robertson to expand their health care design business in the San Antonio area,” Mitchell said. “I did health care architecture years ago, and I thought my experience as a patient would enable me to communicate at a different level in truly understanding the needs of the patient and staff.

“The acquisition of my studio

by O’Connell Robertson was a thoughtful, yet easy decision for me to make. We share a similar

{

In many ways, Mitchell’s “new normal” has made her stronger in areas she never imagined.

commitment to service and integrity. It seemed to be a win-win opportunity.”

Mitchell is determined to carefully balance her work and personal life. In addition to growing BeFEARLESS, she mentors and lectures at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Mitchell also regularly visits and counsels young cancer patients, encouraging them to fight from within themselves. Inner strength is a powerful thing. Your mind can

convince your body to do anything – even heal itself.

“Many patients become depressed,” Mitchell said. “A well-rounded fitness routine is an absolute must-do because it makes you stronger physically and mentally, and it helps you remain engaged with other people.

It reminds you, you’ve survived.”

Mitchell will always face limitations. Still, she celebrates her life, health and spiritual growth.

“I have to be cognizant of my

}

new normal, which has limitations, and make adjustments accordingly,” Mitchell said. “But I survived, and a lot of people played a role in that happening. I have to faithfully honor that.” ✽

To learn more about BeFEARLESS, go to www.befearless. org. For more information on O’Connell Robertson, visit www. oconnellrobertson.com.

NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

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 mom on the go

Be the mom

you want your daughter

to be when she grows up.

The Ultimate Team

Mother-daughter fitness provides an excellent opportunity to both stay physically fit and spend valuable time bonding with your daughter.

by Bethany Reynolds

When my oldest daughter was 5, I taught an exercise class geared toward families called Mother Daughter Fitness. We put on our fitness apparel, grabbed our water bottles and headed to the gym. It was a fantastic way to spend an hour!

Once there, we would march, tap and grapevine – then do some very light weight lifting,

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NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

play games like “snatch the scarf” and have races that involved skipping and bear crawls and hopping on bosu trainers across the room.

We would usually end the class with team ab work, big hugs and words of encouragement.

Why were these simple exercises so important to our relationship?

First, it is team building at the very heart

of it. God gave me a wonderful teammate – handpicked just for me! My daughter and I are a team, and we need to learn to smile together and encourage each other. If practice makes perfect, we need to practice continually. We need an outlet to see each other’s strengths, to be a team and to give hugs and smiles freely.

There will be so many times when we won’t see eye to eye, and I want to make sure the positives outweigh the negatives. As a team, we can focus on the positive parts of our relationship.

One of my favorite exercise leaders is Denise Austin. According to her, “There will be difficulties to face on the way to being successful.

You can weather the storms.” Through God’s mercy, my daughters and I will weather every storm with grace, poise and determination. How can we expect to be a stronghold without the experience of teamwork?

Second, I want to teach my daughters to have a positive self-image. Their healthy bodies are gifts from above, and how better to say thank you than to move?

I love the mirrors in a group exercise room because they show your strength and form as you watch your muscles at work. You can see your biceps contract as you perform bicep curls or watch your shoulders get rounder when you press the weights overhead for an arnold press.

Seeing your reflection enables you to better concentrate on your balance. You can see and feel it when you stand on one leg as your body works so hard to stay upright.

As a leader of the class, I want you to focus in on your body and know what muscles you are challenging. We can all appreciate this strong form of the human body when we see ourselves exercise.

Plus, your body looks its best when moving, and I hope all of the men, women and children who take my classes see their body as a stunning work of art made to stretch and grow

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stronger with each movement.

Third, if we are made to stretch, move and grow, how better to do that than with friends in a group class setting? We need to build strong bones, build stronger muscles and build endurance. Let’s all sweat together!

I know it can be intimidating to join a gym, and the thought of going to a new class can be an overwhelming experience. By starting exercise classes at a young age and becoming familiar with the format of a group exercise class, maybe my daughters will never have that fear.

I want my girls to try all sorts of classes offered by our fitness center or any fitness center they may join someday. The style of Zumba, the thrill of Spin and the might of kickboxing are individual, to say the least. To never experience these favorable opportunities would be a failure. My hope is that you also let yourself win by choosing a new class format to try. Don’t be afraid of the “what if” – choose to be awakened.

Lastly, do for yourself now what you believe your daughter should do when she is an adult. Will she learn from your example to put herself last? I hope not. Can she be a strong mom both physically and mentally if you never teach her? No! So decide today to be the mom you want her to be. Try something new, let her see you appreciate your body and teach her to be thankful for her health and strength by being thankful today. May she admire you for your courage, your strength, your fortitude and your passion.

God willing, she will. ✽ For more information, visit www.facebook.com/momonthegosanantonio.

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 a better you

➻ Keep it Simple Wherever you stand in working on your New Year’s resolutions, a little sacrifice, consistency and persistence are all you need to make 2013 the best year you’ve ever had.

by Sean Burton When you woke Up this morning, you did one of two things. Either you followed your usual routine (you woke up, got your coffee started and got ready to take on the day), or you did something different from your normal routine.

We are a few months into the New Year.

Some of you have begun your resolutions to become a better you in many different ways, and some of you had every intention of taking your resolutions seriously, but haven’t done much with them or even started. It’s your time to make things better because you are the only one who can change anything for you. So you’re here: It’s 2013, and we are a couple of months into your new goals. Now what?

“Mirror” is a word for your New Year’s resolutions for 2013. Please keep in mind that we often get so caught up in what has happened in the past or what may happen in the future that we often neglect the now. Stop looking at the past – it’s done. Don’t worry so much about the future because it’s not here and it’s not guaranteed.

If you want to look at something for an idea of what is happening, you need only look in the mirror. The mirror never lies, and it will tell you exactly what’s going on.

“Simplicity” is another word I want you to think about when it comes to your New Year’s resolutions. This word is going to be the key

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NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

when thinking about how you will lose those 20 pounds, start that business, read more, drink less, etc. Keeping things as simple as possible not only lessens the complications of the process, but makes it so much easier to “keep your eye on the ball,” as they say.

Remember: We often become so distracted with the daily grind that it almost seems that

If you want to read more, pick up a book.

Want to stop drinking? Don’t buy alcohol or put yourself in a position where you would be tempted to drink. Want to live a happier life?

Surround yourself with people who bring you up and elevate your spirit.

Anything you want to do can be done if you just begin to do it. A little sacrifice, consis-

Anything you want to do can be done if you just begin to do it. things are going wrong when they are going too smoothly. We sometimes think things are too good to be true. Leave all of these expressions at the door, and always keep “simplicity” in mind.

Whatever your resolution may be this year, I trust that there is no reason for it to be more complicated than necessary. If you want to lose weight, don’t eat garbage or fast food.

Exercise at least three times a week, and stay consistent. It’s that simple.

tency and persistence are all you need to make 2013 the best year you have ever had. The only thing that can stop you is the choices you make every day of your life. ✽ For more information about handling your New Year’s resolutions, or if you want to talk about your health and fitness goals, please contact Sean Burton at 325-650-7538 or seanbfitpro@gmail.com.

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 a better you

Vow to be Healthy

Team Fit Bride helps brides, grooms and their bridal parties say, “I do,” to a healthy lifestyle in preparation for the big day.

by Kara George

My friend stared at me with a tired smile. As her bridesmaid, I helped fasten the last button on her wedding dress and she was ready to walk down the aisle. “I can’t wait to eat at the reception,” she said. “I’ve been on my juice diet for three weeks now. I wanted to make sure I fit into my dress and looked perfect walking down the aisle.”

Unhealthy preparations for the big day are becoming a common trend. From liquid-only diets to zero-carb diets, brides will try anything.

{

When you engage in unhealthy preparations for the big day,

you are only sacrificing your health and happiness.

Dropping 10 pounds in one week may sound tempting, but you are only sacrificing your health and happiness.

I vowed to myself that when my day came, I would be a healthy and fit bride. In 2011, C.J. popped the question and we planned a September wedding for 2012. I remembered the vow I had made to myself and was committed to a healthy lifestyle in the months leading up to my wedding day. I followed a clean eating diet, incorporated proper supplements and utilized a strength training and cardio plan.

On my wedding day, I was filled with energy

aaFocus on a clean eating meal plan and cut out the processed foods.

NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

}

We created Team Fit Bride in January 2013 to share the message of wedding health. With our Team Fit Bride program, we have been able to help brides, grooms and their bridal parties say, “I do,” to a healthier lifestyle. We work with each person individually to find the right program for his or her lifestyle. ✽

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aaFood is fuel. Make sure you are properly fueling your body for its daily activities.

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and I felt amazing! With proper nutrition, supplements and workouts, I was able to get in the best shape of my life. One month after we married, I decided to share my knowledge with others. I had already made a vow to myself, but it was time to make a vow to other brides – a vow to help brides get in shape for their wedding the healthy way.

I reached out to three of my close friends, who happen to be fitness professionals and brides.

aaPay attention to your portion sizes. Eat on smaller plates to help control your servings.

aaDon’t cut the carbs – eat complex carbs, including brown rice, sweet potatoes and quinoa.

aaTo help control your cravings, allow yourself one “treat” meal per week.

aaMake sure you are taking the proper supplements to give your body the nutrition it needs.

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17

 a better you

Capturing the Heart

of a Man

Three key ways you can learn to truly connect with a man and trigger the emotional switches he doesn’t even know he has

by Luis Santiago

Women, I’m sure you are familiar with the following scenario. You are in a relationship, and over time, the closeness and connection with your man slowly start to diminish. He starts to pull away and you wonder why, and what you can do to make him feel like he can’t live without you.

Believe it or not, the way to tap into the deepest part of a man’s heart is to learn how to build his trust in you. Learn to do this, and trust me when I say (pun intended) you will instantly set yourself apart from any of the other women he’s dated.

Most men are unaware of what they need emotionally, which is why they bounce from one relationship to the next searching for it.

I know because I was that guy. When I met my wife, something changed in me. It took time for me to understand what it was about her that made me want to be with her for the long haul. I realized what set her apart from all of the other women I dated was that she wholeheartedly trusted and believed in me.

When a guy feels this from a woman, he suddenly experiences a connection he’s never felt before, which makes him feel like he can’t live without her. Here are three key ways to connect with a man emotionally so his searching ceases with you.

Let’s start with some insight into the mind of a man. As I mentioned, for men to establish a deep emotional connection with you, we have to trust you. Yes, I know women need trust, too, but we build trust differently.

Understandably, the biggest fear for women when it comes to relationships is infidelity.

Therefore, women try to build trust with their partner by staying faithful. The thing is, men don’t

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The way to tap into the deepest part of a man’s heart is to learn how to build his trust in you.

NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

worry about their partner cheating like women do. Now, don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying it’s not important for you to be faithful. It is very important.

However, it’s only one of the factors we take into consideration when building trust.

So how do you show a man he can trust you? Well, think about how men build trust with each other. As an extreme example, I always compare it to a soldier in battle. A soldier knows his fellow soldier will have his back and potentially give up his own life to save him. He has to trust his counterparts, or he could lose his life.

If a man does not feel like you have his back, he will never develop a deep connection with you. Now, obviously you and your man are not in battle, so here are the ways to show your man he can trust you.

First, don’t expect him to change or ask him to change. I know you ladies don’t like to hear this, but let me clarify. A man will change for you if he wants to, but don’t have the expectation.

One of the biggest mistakes women make once they get into a relationship is assuming he is going to change his habits. If he hangs out with the boys once a week, plays video games or watches football all day on Sunday, don’t expect that to stop just because you are together now.

It doesn’t mean he won’t do those things less; just let him make those changes and decisions on his own.

You have to take him as he is right now – not because of what you think he will become. He will not trust you if he thinks you are trying to change him or keep him from doing things he enjoys.

Next, support everything he does when it comes to his career or any ideas he may have about things he wants to do. If he says he wants to go the moon, say, “OK, honey. I will be here waiting for you when you get back.” It doesn’t mean he’s going to do it, but hearing you say you support him is usually all he wants to hear.

Also, men feel a lot of pressure when it comes to how they support themselves and their families. If he wants to change jobs or start a new business, support him by telling him you believe in him and that you’ll be there no matter what happens. Doing this shows that you trust in his direc-

tion and leadership.

If you don’t, you need to ask yourself why and evaluate your relationship. A couple with a deep connection will always support and believe in each other no matter what their dreams may be.

And lastly, show your appreciation for everything he does for you – even the little things. Here’s a little secret, ladies: Men just want to make you happy. Yes, it’s true. If a man doesn’t feel like he can please you, he will become frustrated and resentful. He will think, ‘What’s the point of being with this woman if nothing I do makes her happy?’

So learn to express gratitude for all of the things he does for you. The more he feels you enjoy his efforts to please you, the deeper he will fall in love with you.

So ladies, apply this advice and stay consistent, and soon your man will start to take notice. Remember: We aren’t as in tune with our emotions as you are. We don’t grow up dreaming of getting married and having a family like you girls do.

It usually takes a strong, supportive, confident, fun-loving woman to bring out the emotional side of us to make us realize sharing true love is really what’s important in life. ✽

Luis Santiago, dating and relationship coach, is leveraging his dating expertise by joining Scenergy Dating, based in San Antonio. The service combines trendy mixers for singles, online dating, personal matchmaking and dating/relationship coaching.

For more information, visit www. luissantiago.net or www.scenergydating.com.

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 a better you

Protect Your

Pearly Whites It may not make the news as often as some other ailments, but bad oral hygiene can contribute to more serious health problems than you may realize.

By Dr. Andrew Scraver

Seventy-five percent of the U.S. population suffers from some degree of periodontal disease. Your teeth are an important part of your daily life. As a doctor, I know the importance of oral care in my life, but according to recent research, the majority of Americans don’t understand the damaging effects of bad oral hygiene.

Periodontal disease is not as popular in the media and the public’s agenda, but many would be surprised to learn the secondary effects of this destructive disease.

The periodontium, or periodontal tissues, are the supporting structures of the teeth. Periodontal disease is an infection of the structures that surround the teeth. The snowball effect begins immediately after eating. The leftover food debris decomposes in your mouth, in the crevices between your teeth, and develops into the commonly known compound called plaque.

This is the beginning stage, which is called gingivitis. This stage can either be very noticeable or go completely under the radar for some groups of people. Your gums become inflamed, and during brushing or flossing, you may notice bleeding and tenderness around the gum line.

Some people such as smokers and diabetics will likely not see bleeding due to the decreased availability of blood support to the periodontal tissues. This stage also contributes to bad breath due to the decomposing substance in your mouth, which is full of bacteria.

If caught at an early stage, the damage done to the gums can be reversed. The excess plaque buildup along the gums causes this inflammation, which may then trickle down into the bone – that’s when stage two begins.

Stage two, much like the preceding and following stages, is not very pretty. The periodontal tissue becomes irritated by the plaque and wants to move away from it, which leads to gum recession. The gum line begins to develop small pockets beneath the gum line, which in turn, collect plaque and food debris.

At this stage, even the best brushing and oral care may not take care of the problem. If you have not been routinely going to the dentist for regular checkups, visiting your dentist at this stage is highly recommended because the connective tissue and bone are compromised and only the tools and expertise of a doctor can reverse the damage.

Have you ever heard the saying that someone is “long in the tooth”? This old saying originates from visible signs during the

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75➻

percent of the U.S. population suffers from some degree of periodontal disease. third stage of advanced periodontal disease.

The connective fibers and bone at this stage are destroyed, and people may notice loose teeth or “long teeth” caused by the loss of supporting structures and gums around the teeth. In severe situations, I’ve witnessed teeth that have actually had such tremendous surrounding bone loss that it alters a person’s ability to eat.

What’s the No. 1 leading cause of death in the United States? According to the Center for Disease Control, the answer is heart disease.

Recent research shows a link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease mostly because of the fact that some of the same bacteria that causes periodontal disease also contributes to heart disease.

Three out of four Americans experience some stage of periodontal disease and are most likely unaware of the increased risk of stroke and other forms of cardiovascular ailments. More than 500,000 deaths a year are attributed to heart disease, and the numbers continue to increase.

Research shows that one of the reasons periodontal disease contributes to cardiovascular disease is evidence that bacteria that cause periodontal disease can release toxins into or travel through the bloodstream and help form fatty plaques in the arteries.

These harmful plaque deposits have shown to increase the occurrence of serious problems such as blood clots, which can block blood flow and cause a stroke.

Further research shows a different explanation, which says bacteria causes the liver to increase the levels of particular proteins, which inflame the blood vessels. Inflammation is linked to what eventually may lead to a heart attack or stroke.

According to the American Heart Association, “patients with certain heart conditions have a higher risk of endocarditis.” This is an infection of the heart that can be life

threatening. It happens when bacteria in the bloodstream attach to damaged heart valves or other damaged heart tissue.

People with certain heart conditions may need antibiotics before they have certain types of dental procedures. In any case, make sure to inform your dentist of any heart issues. You should be proactive about preventing periodontal disease with routine dental exams.

Twenty-six million Americans live their lives afflicted by diabetes. Research indicates that there is an increased frequency of gum disease amongst those with diabetes.

According to research conducted by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, researchers studied a representative sample of 9,000 people who didn’t have diabetes; out of the 9,000 people, 817 went on to develop the disease. Researchers found that individuals with elevated levels of periodontal disease were nearly twice as likely to become diabetic within 20 years, even after adjusting for age, smoking, obesity and diet.

There might be several factors that affect the increased probability of becoming diabetic. Diabetes slows down the circulation of blood in our bodies, which can also make the gum tissues more vulnerable to infections.

Also, advanced gum disease may have the potential to influence blood glucose control and contribute to the progression of diabetes.

Preventing gingivitis and periodontal disease is always your first line of defense.

Routine dental exams by a trusted dentist will help you avoid contributing to underlying disease and keep your pearly whites healthy for a lifetime. ✽

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 a better you

Elevate Your Life

Don’t just survive – thrive! Let Elevate Life, LLC, provide you with your own personal path to health and wellness.

by Dr. Michael S. Boss

The vast majority of Americans merely exist rather than live their lives with abundance. They are like a wilted plant: not sick and dead, but not thriving and living abundantly. I am Dr. Michael Boss, co-founder of Elevate Life. After more than 20 years of coaching people through poor health and the most difficult challenges of their life and carefully teaching them their own personal path to wellness, I joined the Juicer Heroes and we formed Elevate Life, LLC. Our initiatives set us apart from any existing wellness program. I have taken a forensic approach to individual wellness. We are all unique, so logically our needs, the way we respond and the essential building blocks for our wellness are as unique as we are. Don’t fall for the “one size fits all” approach I have seen crop up over the past few years. Whether you need a simple $99 evaluation or a comprehensive three- to

overall health of employees, making them more productive and happier, and improving the bottom line for our customers. ❱ Elevate Life Retreats: These three-, five- and seven-day retreats immerse you in all facets of elevating your life and those around you to a life of abundance! These all-inclusive retreats don’t starve you or drive you into the ground. They educate, inform and empower you, giving you all of the tools, information and resources you need for sustainable, abundant living. ❱ Elevate Life Weekly Wellness Seminars: This 24-week series of hour-long workshops will change your life. Join us as we debunk and dismiss long-held misinformation about how your

The mission of Elevate Life is to educate, inform and empower people to wellness.

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The Elevate Life Wellness Program is an innovative, masterfully effective and sensible way to understand your body and develop a complete functional wellness plan to improve and sustain your health and well-being. It is designed to allow you to live and thrive, not just exist. We focus on the fatal four: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and autoimmune disease. Our initiatives include: ❱ The Elevate Life Protocol: Our corporate wellness program is designed to improve the

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body works, and the how and the why it responds to good nutrition, exercise and positive coaching. ❱ Individual Elevate Life Wellness Program: This is the only health and wellness program of its kind, using a combination of resources and strategies utilized to reverse disease and faulty metabolic processes and restore vibrant health and function. Our forensic functional evaluation, wellness planning, program implementation, nutrition, exercise, education, coaching, supplementation and good old common sense in an easy-to-implement, engaging and affordable plan

allows you to elevate your life and live incredibly free and easy. Don’t fall for an expensive “one size fits all” program. ❱ Elevate Index: The current basis for health and risk factors in the United States is the BMI, which is a joke. So we have developed a true index of health and wellness: the Elevate Index. It takes into account your metabolic status, lifestyle, genetics, stress levels and other factors that truly affect your health.

Elevate Life is the vanguard of wellness! ✽

Michael S. Boss, D.C., FIAMA, has been a practicing chiropractor and health and wellness practitioner for more than 20 years. He has completed study and has treatment programs in the areas of functional health care, nutrition, acupuncture, exercise, hormone function and balance, chronic diseases, nutriceuticals and more. As the co-host of the Elevate Life Wellness Hour on 550 KTSA, Boss is currently writing his first book, and he manages the wellness initiatives of Elevate Life, LLC. Call for an individual appointment or come to one of our twice-weekly workshops. Let me be your coach to wellness! For more information, go to www.juicerheroes.com or call 210-233-9958.

Who are the Juicer Heroes?

Jason, aka KaleMan, and Josh, aka SuperFood, are two brothers who became passionate about juicing and healthy living as a necessity. In 2008, Jason began to experience several disconnected symptoms.

After visiting several doctors and having dozens of tests, no real diagnosis could be determined.

Jason spent hours on the Internet and finally discovered he had heavy metal poisoning attributed to his amalgam or the mercury fillings he had gotten as a child. This was further proven when he had the fillings removed; the procedure did not fully contain the mercury, and Jason’s face became swollen to the point he could not open his eyes.

This lasted almost a week. He then researched how to detox and discovered that juicing of greens was the only real method.

Josh, being the serial entrepreneur, saw a business opportunity and enlisted their father to help create the vision and business plan. The brothers committed and sold everything they owned to open the business. Once they found a location, they began to sell assets to finish the store. “The motorcycles were the toughest to let go,” Josh says. “Even the big screen, computers and couches were easier.”

Once they opened and realized how badly people needed healthy options, they convinced Dr. Michael Boss to leave his group. The Juicer Heroes and Boss formed Elevate Life to educate, inform and empower people to wellness.

You can reach the Juicer Heroes at 210-233-9958 or www. juicerheroes.com.

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 a new you

Secret Skin Weapon Zespa MedSpa offers celebrity-class skincare for everyone, allowing you to feel more comfortable in your own skin.

by Alice Hollis A few days ago, I visited my mom and found her browsing through a trendy magazine. “How do they get such beautiful skin?” she asked as she showed me a fullpage ad with a super close-up of some famous face. “With a computer, mom!” I laughed. She just shook her head.

All my life, I have actively shied away from the camera and avidly avoided any close-up photo opportunities. Since the days of my first pimple, my mom has been telling me to take care of my skin (and my teeth, but that’s for another day). Luckily for me, I’m pretty sure she never plunged her face into a sink full of ice water! I admit I’ve ignored my skin more than I probably should (but don’t worry – I never ignored my teeth).

So I decided that with the start of the New Year, I’d look into the beautiful skin myths and what might work for me (and my mom). My only requirements were that it had to be easy, painless and all natural (no neurotoxins, please).

I discovered a type of facial, which, to my dismay, has become the “in” thing among Hollywood royalty. While I tend not to jump on the “rich and famous” bandwagon, I was very curious about an all-natural facial using good old O2 (oh-two, commonly known as oxygen). The oxygen facial by Intraceuticals diminishes fine lines and improves skin tone. The

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results are instantaneous and cumulative.

The facial uses pure oxygen and an organic serum rich in minerals and nutrients, including hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid, I’ve learned, is something naturally found in the skin, but it is greatly reduced as the skin gets damaged by the sun and other unavoidable exposures to the elements, not to mention drained by Father Time.

The serum is delivered to the skin via an airbrush to the outer layers of the skin, where it activates the skin’s own regenerative abilities. Then, hyperbaric oxygen infuses the serum into the skin, enabling the deep skin layers to absorb those wonderful nutrients. The process hydrates and softens dry and tired skin, restoring that youthful suppleness faces over 40 may long for.

Intraceuticals has long been a secret celebrity skin weapon. Prior to a photo shoot, A-listers such as Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Lopez book an appointment for an Intraceuticals Infusion facial to look their absolute best for the cameras (and computers). Madonna avoids booking such

appointments by keeping three of her own Intraceuticals machines (one in Los Angeles, one in New York and one in London), and her own personal esthetician to give her a lift before every appearance.

A big plus is that the facials can be customized for different types of skin in different stages of life, which means I can treat mom, too. Yes, mom, you know who you are! The Intraceuticals treatment is customized for each person’s skin repair needs, and the serum is specialized to promote collagen synthesis and normal skin function.

Intraceuticals’ Rejuvenate plus Atoxelene infusion serums dramatically increase skin hy-

with the Rejuvenate serum, the results are instant – skin looks healthier, plumper and just plain beautiful. dration while smoothing wrinkles. With the Rejuvenate plus Atoxelene, skin appears lifted and plumper. After just one treatment, cheeks have that bounce, eyebrows are lifted and lips are fuller.

My favorite Intraceuticals treatment is the Opulence serum, which targets the skin’s hyper-pigmentation most often seen after extensive sun exposure and other skin inflammation. Yes, the mirror reminds me on a daily basis that I loved spending weeks on the beach courting sun damage and who knows what else.

Intraceuticals also offers a Clarity treatment for acne-prone skin. I may also have to try that treatment for those sudden monthly and/or stress-induced breakouts I tend to get as if I were 14 again. (Curse you, X chromosomes!) As with the Rejuvenate serum, the results are instant – skin looks healthier, plumper and just plain beautiful.

What’s even more amazing: These effects keep improving for up to 48 hours. It’s the perfect complement for those red carpet moments of our lives like family portraits and weddings. I just have to smile as I imagine myself having the best-looking skin at the school PTA meeting. Sure, it’s nice to have my husband compliment me, but its really nice when someone else’s husband compliments me.

Intraceuticals literally breathes new life into your skin, and the instant results are fantastic! The treatments are calming and relaxing, and my skin is rejuvenated while I lay back and drift off. With regular facials and an ultra-easy maintenance regimen, beautiful skin no longer need be a myth. My skin is plumper, and it looks younger and smoother. I’ve even caught my mom bragging about it when she thought I couldn’t hear her!

The refreshing oxygen facial also lifts the eyes and gives my lips a fullness I thought was only possible via needles. And I like the idea of oxygen much better than multiple injections in my face.

Plus, I don’t shy away from the camera like I used to, as I now feel much more confident in my own skin. “Mr. De Mille, I’m ready for my close-up.” ✽

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ď Ż cover story

re and after a fo e b th o b y n a m aban stays C An inspiration to a ic n o M t, n e id c life-changing ac journey to becoming s her positive and share nd getting back in the game. an Ironman a

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by Deborah M. Ma o an rd gio l ae ch mi Photography by by up ke ma d hair an lon intrigue colour sa

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t e e Sw

n o i t a Inspir

M

onica Caban became an Ironman on Nov. 5, 2011, after completing the course at Panama City, Fla., in 14:02:48. “It was quite a journey that I really didn’t understand until I was there,” she told me during our visit in January 2013. As she talks about her accomplishment, she is beaming, her blue-green eyes sparkling. She was most excited that her children, Kaitlin, 16, and Ethan, 13, were there to cheer her on and see her cross the finish line.

“I had been an absent mommy at times so I could train. I know they would snicker and say sarcastically, ‘Oh, mom can’t be here because she’s running,’ or ‘Mom’s gonna be late ‘cause she’s biking.’ I was often sweaty, and they were mostly irritated – that was, until the event. Then all they wanted to do was brag about how their mom was an Ironman.”

But all of that changed last October, just four weeks before the 2012 Arizona Ironman. The following is Caban’s story about how fitness and chance reunited love …

Caban said that after she crossed that finish line in Florida, her legs were a bit tight, but her body felt great and she was ready to do it again. “Ironman is the hardest thing I have ever done, but the hardest part was the training. My big day came and went, and I couldn’t believe it was over, but I felt like a rock star!”

She credits her coach, Dawn Elder, for that. On Sundays, Elder would send the weekly scheduled distances: Ride three times, run three times, swim three times. (Yes, that means training every day and doubling up on workouts twice a week.) Caban made friends during the training, always going out with a group or at least a buddy.

The routines phased in increasing distances for three weeks, then slowed for one week, then climbed back up and down and up again. One month before the event, Caban said, “Each weekly

schedule was filled with a last long day, including a six-hour 120-mile bike ride; a 20-mile-long run; a two-mile swim in the open waters of Boerne Lake; and an almost Ironman – 4,000-meter (twomile) swim, 120-mile cycle and a half marathon.

“Those workouts were grueling, but so invigorating! Dawn believed in me, inspired me and supported me through my journey. She pulled strength out of me and pushed me to not be afraid. It was such a great ride, and almost right away, we set our sights on the 2012 Arizona Ironman.”

Along with the physical training, Caban also learned the importance of nutrition. More than continuing her lifestyle of healthy eating, she would drink twice as much water as usual the week prior and carbo-load with a big pasta dinner the night before an endurance ride, run or swim.

On the event day, she’d have some caffeine before taking off, and during long rides, she would carry water packs so she could drink 10 to 12 ounces each hour to stay satiated and never feel thirsty.

Also, Caban told me how she would constantly replenish the electrolytes lost from sweating by consuming salt tabs and/or Infinit drinks, which have more calcium, magnesium and protein – essential nutrients for staying power.

“It is so important to keep yourself fueled on the road,” Caban explained. She finished the nutrition conversation giggling and saying, “We were just like little kids on the long rides – we so looked forward to the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches we’d get to eat along the way!”

Caban, 39, grew up in Harlingen, Texas (“I’m a valley girl” is how she put it). She has always lived an active life, from running and jumping on the playground to high school drill team and cheerleading, then tennis, scuba diving and snowboarding. After high school graduation, she moved to San Antonio for college, but wound up at (then) Southwest Texas State in San Marcos to study advertising. ➻ NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

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got e l p o e p y n “So ma ause c e b g in m into swim onica M o t d e k o they lo ion.” t a r i p s n i r fo

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S

oon, she met and married Erwin Caban. They settled back in San Antonio to raise their daughter and son. But after 10 years, in 2006, their marriage ended with a divorce. However, they remained amicable and maintained two households nearby so the kids could have somewhat stable living environments when staying with either parent.

“Two years went by,” she said, “and I felt the ‘mommy’ pounds coming on, so I started seriously running.”

Within a year, Caban completed her first half-marathon at the 2009 San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. “It was hard, but what a feeling of accomplishment!”

Next, she noticed her running magazines reporting that triathlons had passed marathons on the bucket list.

As a result, and ready for a new challenge, Caban set her goal for Ironman. She began the new journey in early 2010. She found Britton’s Bike Shop, Tri-sition Area and many other local resources for multi-sport athletes.

“There are so many great retailers and support people in town that I say patronize everybody – go from one to another, and back again.” Through the training, she began to make lots of new friends and workout partners, and she hired Elder.

Within that first year, Caban completed a full marathon, as well as several small triathlons. Her advice to those considering a triathlon is: Start with three months of intensive training and a quartertriathlon (35 total miles). Then build yourself from there. “Also,” she warned, “expect just about anything.”

She went on to explain that during her first Ironman, she made great time on the swim and cycle legs, but lost almost an hour’s worth of time during the run popping Imodium and Tums and having to stop 20 times at porta-potties along the run. Thankfully, water stations the length of the way kept her hydrated, and she finished victorious.

“The process and the feelings that came with each accomplishment certainly made me into a better person. I think I was kind of selfish before, but with the Ironman, I learned patience and gained respect for myself and for others.”

Plus, her achievements encouraged Erwin to take up running. And in June 2012, they started dating again.

At the same time, Caban was doing well in pharmaceutical sales, but had a great chance to take another job in medical sales. Unfortunately, within three months, her territory was eliminated and she was left with no job.

Instead of fretting, she figured that with her savings, she could take time to focus on her kids, train for the Arizona Ironman that was coming up in November and look for the right job instead of just another one.

As luck would have it, within six weeks, Caban had an interview set for Oct. 17 with an orthopedics company that was ready to hire her. That Wednesday, she

was looking forward to a productive afternoon, but with the contest only a month away, she stuck with her schedule and went for a morning bike ride with Veronica Kinney, also 39. Both experienced riders, they’d been training partners since Caban joined the group in 2010. Kinney has been a triathlete for more than a decade.

The route they took that morning was a familiar two-hour loop along back streets and highway frontage roads from Tri-sition Area on North Loop 1604 and Bitters to I-10 West into Boerne and back. Because bicycles are vehicles and have a right to be on the roadways, signs along the roadways alert drivers to watch for cyclists and share the road.

Although, because there are no designated bike lanes, Bexar County bike maps recommend that casual and youth riders not use the streets. Experienced cyclists are instructed to use caution. Nonetheless, it was a regular route they and their peers often rode, staying on the shoulder so cars could safely pass. And it was a clear day.

About an hour into the ride, around 12:50 p.m., they were on an open, flat stretch of the I-10 frontage road about one-and-a-half miles north of Fair Oaks Ranch Parkway in Leon Springs. Kinney said they were chatting as they rode almost alongside each other, when suddenly she heard a huge crash. And as her brain was trying to process the sound, within milliseconds, she saw Caban flying through the air.

An 82-year-old woman driving a pickup truck had hit Caban from behind. The woman said she had not seen the bicycle riders on the roadside.

A paramedic in a passing car stopped to render aid. An ambulance and medical help arrived within minutes, and Caban was transported to University Hospital. But after being thrown nearly 30 feet down the road and landing on her back, she suffered a severe spinal cord injury and lost the use of her legs.

And Kinney, who was used to riding 140 to 180 miles each week, has not been on her bike since.

But, Caban says, on that fateful day on Oct. 17, true love came out. Her hospital room was constantly filled with family and friends checking on her, hugging her and visiting with her. Even a representative from the company with whom she had the scheduled interview stopped by. Her parents, who live here in San Antonio, were ready to move her into their house following her hospital stay. But Erwin said to Caban, “I will be your legs for as long as you need. I want you to move into my house with our kids. We will take care of you.”

A month later, they were living as a family

under one roof, but Caban has had to use a wheelchair to get around. Her parents, other family members and friends have been crucial to her recovery – supporting her in the journey and taking turns with Erwin to help with transportation for physical therapy, doctor appointments and other errands.

Caban said that when she began rehabilitation therapy, she thought to herself, ‘I don’t know how to do this.’ But then she asked herself, ‘What do I know?’ She recognized that she knew Ironman and proclaimed that she would take it on as her new training. “Maybe I cannot yet bike or run, but I can swim!” And that she did. Within another month, Caban was beginning to gain back feeling in her hips.

Unfortunately, Caban remains unemployed and without health insurance. But her friends and training mates from running, cycling, swimming and the triathlete communities have raised tens of thousands of dollars to help with rehabilitation expenses. With events and social media postings, they are also raising awareness that cyclists are on the roadways and drivers need to pay attention.

However, just after Christmas, Caban encountered another setback, and since, has been suffering excruciating gastrointestinal pain related to her injuries. As a result, she has had to halt the physical therapy sessions.

“Although the pain is very difficult to bear,” Caban said, “the doctors tell me it’s good that I can feel it. The problem seems treatable, so hopefully I can get back to therapy soon. My job now is to get healthy. I’m anxious. And I am determined to walk again.”

Despite the heartache with the hurdles, Caban says she sees them as learning opportunities. That prompted me to ask, “How do you stay so positive?”

“When people talk to me, I have to put on the smile and show that I am strong. That helps both of us. And I can’t be angry; it does no one any good for me to hold a grudge. At the same time, I am human, and inside I’m scared. I am so thankful for all the people around who are helping me.”

Caban read me an email from her swim coach, Susan Ingraham, which told of people who participated in the Aquathon benefit held at Blossom Athletic Center just a few days before our interview. “So many got into swimming because over the years, they had looked to Monica for inspiration,” Ingraham had written.

Now, Caban says she is looking for inspiration. She went on to tell me about a Gulf War veteran she’s seen at Lifetime Fitness who’s in great shape, regularly lifts weights and “outswims all the other guys in the pool, and he’s a double amputee. I want to learn from him.

In the meantime, I hope my accident doesn’t

scare the 5K and 10K runners who want to try for a triathlon, or anyone who wants to try for Ironman. I want the sport to grow, and I say go for it!”

The accident was also the tipping point for the City of San Antonio to increase enforcement of the Safe Passing Ordinance. According to the San Antonio Express-News, it “calls for vehicles to give three feet of clearance to cyclists, runners, wheelchair users, construction workers and other ‘vulnerable road users.’ For commercial vehicles, the minimum is six feet” (Dec. 20, 2012, B-1).

Responding to the news, local cycling and multi-sport expert Marco Garsed (who owns Tri-sition Area with his wife, Lorena) said the ordinance is a good thing. “With over 300 miles of bike lanes and trails throughout Greater San Antonio, plus thousands of people riding every day, cycling has really taken off in this area. Drivers need to become more aware to share the road. We are so sorry that Monica is having to pay the price. Our thoughts and prayers are with her every day.”

According to Garsed, more than a retail outlet for triathletes, Tri-sition is a community resource for all athletes and coaches. In fact, he and Team Tri-Sition Area were instrumental in coordinating the bicycle fundraiser that helped Caban get through the initial stages of her recovery.

Kinney also believes the ordinance is a good thing. “Cyclists need to also obey the laws, and drivers especially need to pay attention,” she clarified. “That means no looking around, no texting, no distracted driving.” Caban also pointed out that the ordinance is good only inside the city limits, and that the smaller municipalities also need to educate their citizens.

As Caban and I were ending our conversation, she again read from Ingraham’s email, which said, “There are no backward days – only those that push you sideways.”

“At times like this,” Caban went on, “I have to tell myself it’s just a sideways day, and I’ll look toward the forward days.” ✽ Readers may follow Monica Caban’s progress at www.facebook.com/monicacabansroadtorecovery. With strategic communications, collaboration, lifelong learning and a healthy lifestyle, Deborah M. Martin is making a positive difference in our community. For more information, you may contact her at dmartincommunications@gmail.com.

Note: The Ironman Triathlon consists of a 2.4mile swim (usually in open water), a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2 marathon run, for a total of 140.6 miles to be covered within 17 hours or less.

NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

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 indoor fitness

Cycling Inside Continue working out and working toward your goals on those cold, dark days by cycling indoors on the trainer.

by Jennifer Fritzsching-Rulon

We are blessed in San Antonio in that we can cycle outside most of the year. I’m from the Midwest, where the winter is much colder than it is in San Antonio. I remember many rides on my trainer, rollers and spin class to maintain my cycling fitness before the triathlon season.

There are those colder and windy days when cycling outside just may not be so pleasant. When you go outside to cycle, the temperature feels 10 to 15 degrees colder than it really is. Sometimes we may not have enough layers on, or we may feel so thick with our clothes that we really can’t get much of a ride in.

So what do I suggest when the weather is poor or when it is dark? Get an indoor trainer, put your bike on it and ride inside. You will get a workout in, and you will get stronger on the bike.

As a coach, this is what I hear from athletes about training on a trainer: “It’s boring,” “I don’t get a hard enough workout in” and “it is too easy.” When athletes tell me these things, I realize they are not making quality time on the bike trainer.

Here are some specific workouts you can do on the bike to improve not only your cycling, but also your times in a triathlon or a cycling race.

One-legged drills: This drill teaches athletes to be consistent on the “circling” of the spin. Sometimes, when we look at athletes spinning on the bike, it is quite choppy. This is an important pedaling drill. Athletes unclip one foot and rest that foot on a chair or part of the trainer so they can only pedal with one

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leg. The bike needs to be in an easy gear for a comfortable higher cadence. A key to this drill is that it can be very difficult to get through the top of the stroke, 12:00 position. Athletes need to focus on smoothing this top transition. During the trainer workout, my athletes will do 10 x 30” right leg/30” both/30” left leg/30” both. In the beginning, this may be too long of a spin for individual legs, knowing that the hip flexors may fatigue. This drill activates your core muscles, which are important in an efficient and strong pedal stroke.

Spin-ups: Doing spin-ups on the trainer/bike helps athletes work on the smooth pedal strokes without bouncing on the saddle. The upper body needs to be silent and allow the legs to do more of the work. My athletes will do five by two minutes at 95 rpm, 100, 105, 110 max rpm, with 2:00 rest intervals at an easy effort and a normal cadence in between each set.

Tabata intervals: Tabata sit-ups, tabata jump ropes and tabata air squats – if you have ever done CrossFit, you have heard of tabata intervals.

Tabata intervals were first used in Japan

by Izumi Tabata, using two groups of athletes and comparing moderate highintensity training with high-intensity interval training. The athletes who did high-intensity interval training improved their anaerobic systems, as well as their aerobic systems. The athletes who did the moderate high-intensity training only improved their aerobic system and had little or no increase in their anaerobic

{

Riding on a trainer can be crucial to an athlete’s training, but I feel there has to be

& LIFESTYLE COACHING

a purpose to your training.

system. Tabata intervals are a total of four minutes. It is 20” work/10” rest x 8 rounds or 4:00. The 20 seconds of training should be so hard that you crave the 10 seconds of rest and have difficultly completing the four minutes of work. You can do tabata intervals during a swim or run, as well. Remember: You need to be at a level where you are working so hard that you can’t wait until it is done and can’t do another set of tabata intervals.

Big gear training: The goal of this is to develop strength and muscle recruitment.

Your muscles may not feel the best with this, but guess what? Training on a trainer won’t be boring. Athletes do three- to eight-minute repeats in a big gear at a cadence of 60 to 70 rpm with a 2:00 rest interval. For the last fourth of the workout, I suggest standing. Watching that boring movie on TNT won’t really boring during this drill.

Transition workout: A transition workout can be multiple transitions or single transitions.

When athletes are getting ready for a duathlon, I have them set up the trainer in the garage and have their transition race ready. The workout is 20-minute bike, 10-minute run, 20-minute bike, 10-minute run and three- to five-minute tempo bike,

ending with a three- to five-minute tempo run.

When athletes are doing a triathlon, I usually have them ride the trainer with some interval work and then transition to a 20- to 30-minute run. That transition needs to be fast because the clock will not stop in a race setting.

Riding on a trainer can be crucial to an athlete’s training, but I feel there has to be a purpose to your training every time you go for a ride or a run or workout in general.

Ask yourself, ‘Why am I doing this? What is my purpose? Am I working on drills, speed, intensity or power?’ Asking yourself these questions before you do your workout will give you a better sense of accomplishing what you need to accomplish as an athlete. ✽ Jennifer Fritzsching-Rulon, who recently received her master’s degree in kinesiology from UTSA, has been a USA Triathlon Level I coach since 2000, and she is a CrossFit Level I coach. She has coached many athletes to their first Ironman, as well as athletes getting ready for marathons, sprint triathlons and the 70.3 Half Ironman. Fritzsching-Rulon has done numerous triathlons, she is a four-time Ironman triathlete and she has participated in CrossFit and CrossFit competitions. If you are interested in having Fritzsching-Rulon coach you to your next goal, whether it is preparing for a triathlon or a marathon, getting stronger or improving your nutrition, contact her at www.jenrulon.com.

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31

 indoor fitness

Enrich Your Life

Strength training: A vital part of a fitness program you cannot skip to preserve your body and improve your overall health and fitness performance

by Dr. Marta Dahiya

Many people I know, as well as myself, consistently have a negative attitude toward weightlifting and strength training.

Most do not enjoy it, and even I did not understand the importance of it until recently.

Strength training enriches daily life by enhancing endurance, assisting in proper weight management and improving overall fitness performance.

By definition, strength training is a concerted effort to use resistance or weights to work a muscle group. Many have been misled into believing that maintaining an active job or doing housework is enough to keep muscles healthy and strong. An active lifestyle is beneficial to the body, but it takes a focused effort to work muscles by either using weights or personal body weight.

Many women accept a false representation of strength training and fear a muscular and bulky body. However, women do not produce

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NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

as many androgen hormones (hormone essential to muscle development) as men, and women must engage in heavy weightlifting to build this amount of muscle. A regular strength-training program can reduce body fat, increase lean muscle mass and burn calories more efficiently.

Muscle mass naturally diminishes with age, and as the saying goes, if you don’t use your muscles, you will lose them! Humans are a naturally active species; therefore, exercise must be a vital part of preserving our bodies.

Starting as early as 25, people who do not exercise lose about 0.5 to 1.0 percent (or about a pound) of muscle per year. This leads to tasks as simple as standing up from a chair, going up and down stairs and picking up something from the floor becoming more difficult with age. Strength training has been shown to mitigate this gradual deterioration of the body.

Strength training is necessary for all of the following reasons. It helps:

■ Develop and maintain bones. Strength ■

■

■ ■

training increases bone density and reduces the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

Control your weight. As you gain muscle, your body burns more calories, which can result in weight loss and decreased body fat. If you don’t initially rebuild muscle through exercise, every 10 years, you will need to eat 150 to 450 fewer calories each day to maintain your current weight.

Reduce your risk of injury and falls. Building muscle helps protect your joints from injury and contributes to better balance, which can help you maintain independence as you age.

Fight fatigue. As you get stronger, you will have more endurance.

Sharpen your focus. Research suggests

{

}

A regular strength-training program can reduce

■ ■

■

■

■

body fat, increase lean muscle mass and burn calories more efficiently.

that regular strength training helps improve attention and concentration in older adults.

Sleep better. It is easier to fall asleep quickly, enter a deeper sleep, awaken less often and sleep longer.

Improve cardiac health. The risk of heart disease is lower when the body is leaner.

Studies have prompted the American Heart Association to recommend strength training as a therapy for patients in cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Improve glucose control. Lifestyle changes such as strength training have a profound impact on helping adults manage their diabetes. In a recent study, 16 weeks of strength training produced dramatic improvements in glucose control that were comparable to taking diabetes medication.

Control depression and boost mood.

Strength training provides similar improvements in depression as anti-depressant medications. Currently, it is not known if this is because people feel more self-confident when they are stronger or if strength training produces a helpful biochemical change in the brain.

Manage other chronic conditions.

Strength training can reduce the signs and symptoms of arthritis and back pain. It will increase muscle strength and general physical performance, improve the clinical signs and symptoms of the disease and decrease disability. It is also an integral part of rehabilitation for neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and stroke, to name a few.

Research has shown that strengthening exercises are both safe and effective for women and men of all ages, including those who are not in perfect health. You don’t have to spend hours a day lifting weights to benefit from strength training. Two to three 20- to 30-minute strength-training sessions a week are sufficient for most people.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Finally, don’t be intimidated. Strength training is not as intense as bodybuilding or heavy lifting, and it does not require equipment or expensive gym memberships. It can be done at home or in the gym. Don’t wait anymore! It is not too late to add strength training to your New Year’s resolutions. ✽ Marta Dahiya, M.D., specializes in oncology, but is increasingly active in fitness and nutrition. For more information, please go to www.oncologysa.com or call Oncology San Antonio at 210-299-8000.

Note: If you are interested in reviewing a list of references, please contact us at NFit magazine.

Here are some options if you would like to try strength training: ■ Personal body weight. Try pushups, pull-ups, abdominal crunches and leg squats.

■ Resistance bands. Resistance bands are inexpensive, and you can find them at any sporting goods store.

■ Free weights. Barbells and dumbbells are classic strength-training tools, and home items can substitute until you can purchase a set.

Triathlon Coach ■ CrossFit Coach ■ Nutrition Coach ■ Inspiring Coach ■ Traveling Coach-travel to your home, business or a park for an AMAZING workout ■

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■ Weight machines. Find an affordable gym or save up to purchase your own for home.

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NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

33

 outdoor fitness

Ski Like An

Olympian

Fine-tune your ski technique before you hit the slopes this spring by following a few top-notch tips from three-time Olympian Caroline Lalive.

by Jennifer Broome

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NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

Steamboat Springs, Colo., is called Ski Town USA because it is home to more Olympians than any other town in the United States. One of the Olympians who calls Steamboat home is three-time Olympian Caroline Lalive.

In her racing days, she was nicknamed “Liner” because as she told me, “I like to go straight, straight line.” She averaged about 88 miles per hour racing. The fastest she was ever clocked was 94 miles per hour.

Now Lalive specializes in teaching women to be better skiers. She coaches women’s camps at Steamboat and is a coach at Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, which is one of the best sports clubs in the world for training Olympians and world-class ski and snowboard athletes.

Steamboat’s Champagne Powder was the perfect spot to get some tips from Lalive on being a better skier. The hardest part of skiing can be that first turn or just getting started at the top of a run.

“If you look at the run as a whole and think, ‘Oh, I’ll never get down that,’ you’re going to feel overwhelmed,” Lalive said. “You want to ski one turn at a time. Be where you are. Be in the present.” If you focus on one turn at a time, you can adapt to the »

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Stellar Skiing Caroline Lalive provides the following tips for skiing like a pro:

Women ski differently from men because our

center of mass is lower. terrain and snow condition changes you encounter on a run.

Women ski differently from men because our center of mass is lower. For men, the center of mass is in the shoulders, so they lean forward. For women, the center of mass is in the hips.

“For us women, we have to focus on bringing our hips up and forward,” Lalive said. Think ski tall. “If you’re getting that cue of, ‘Oh man, I’m feeling it in my legs,’ bring your hips up. Stand a little taller,” she told me as we skied down a run.

The next tip is to focus on one foot at a time.

“Everything starts from the snow up,” Lalive said.

“So when you want to make the turn, think about rolling ankles and knees.” That means being proactive in a turn by focusing on what is going to be your new downhill foot and pressuring that foot,

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NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

then switching the pressure into the other foot as you make your next turn.

Lalive calls it feeling independent sides and working each foot independently from the other.

You should actually feel the pressure change from foot to foot. In my training session, Lalive told me, “Just think about independent feet. As we track down, see if you can keep your shoulders straight down, allowing your lower body to do the work.”

So when you hit the slopes for some spring skiing, follow Lalive’s tips. You’ll be skiing like an Olympian in no time. ✽

You can get more of Caroline Lalive’s ski tips in her Steamboat blog at www.steamboat.com/caroline.

»» Focus on one turn at a time instead of analyzing the run as a whole. »» Stand tall with your hips stacked and forward while engaging your core. Think hips over feet. »» Focus on independent feet. Alternate pressure from one foot to the other as you make your turns. »» Keep shoulders facing forward and let the lower body do the work.

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37

 success stories

Flying High “She believed she could, so she did.” Living these words every day, Luly Guerra shares how she began an unforgettable journey not only to find herself, but to help others along the way.

Special to NFit

a journey begins “She believed she could, so she did.” This quote encapsulates an everyday, ordinary mother’s dream to be strong, inside and out. My journey began a little over three years ago, during a period of postpartum depression. I was looking for an outlet and a healthy way to deal with my overwhelming desire to find meaning during a time of loneliness.

I was 30 pounds overweight, I had never played a sport in my life and I was a fulltime housewife and soccer and dance mom to three beautiful children. To top it off, I had asthma, bad feet and a bad back, and I had recently been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (a form of muscular atrophy).

My search led me to take an interest in exercise. I rose to the challenge of learning all three disciplines (running, swimming and cycling), and started down the road to becoming a triathlete.

Running evolved into triathlons, then to Ironman

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NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

Triathlons and ultimately to my newest challenge: the road to the NPC Bikini Bodybuilding Competition.

My latest goal is to become an IFBB (International Federation of BodyBuilders) pro. I am currently training with Team Bombshell’s bikini competition team. My first show is on March 30 in Daytona, Fla., at the NPC competition, Battle of the Beach.

Training and finding my soul There was something about feeling physical pain that released a lot of emotional pain during my long runs and bike rides. During the sensory-deprived swims, I found myself having my best conversations with God. When all of the outer layers are peeled away during intense training, you find your soul exposed.

I not only found myself (the true me), but was also able to finally deal with a childhood trauma – abuse that had taken a piece of my soul. The relentless drive I had to prove my strength, I discovered, was a reclaiming of my power – a voice that was taken from a 2-year-old little girl.

XX is born As I shared my newfound passion and relentless pursuit of my goals on Facebook, including my journey to becoming an Ironman, I started receiving messages from women who were seeking selfimprovement and wanted to learn more about running, cycling, swimming, strength training and nutrition, or who sometimes just needed a supportive message and a positive outlook.

I wanted to pay it forward – to be an open ear, a cheerleader and a positive voice for women who were going through the same difficulties and life obstacles I experienced.

From this, my inspirational page and clothing line, XX, was born. XX is representative of all women. XX is not just a clothing line – it’s a spirit that symbolizes the relentless pursuit of finding one’s strength and courage, and thus, the beauty discovered during the pursuit of one’s dreams. An XX woman knows what it is to be

{ } When all of the outer layers are peeled away during intense training, you find your soul exposed.

broken down to nothing but her soul, and to emerge with wings and fly.

I have found that the vessel we are given is amazing. I am 40 years old, a triathlete, an Ironman and now an NPC competitor on the best bikini competition team. “She believed she could, so she did.” I live this quote every day. ✽ For more information, visit www.lulyguerra.com. You may also check out the Luly Guerra Team Bombshell/NPC athlete and XX pages on Facebook.

NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

39

 success stories

An Angel on a Mission Zumba instructor Corina Gutierrez overcomes huge personal obstacles and helps others discover the joy in fitness regardless of their abilities.

by Rita Hernandez

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NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

My job for Inspiration 4 Life is to be the eyes, ears and voice of those who are making a difference in other people’s lives. I know of this beautiful angel on a mission, and she has an amazing heartfelt story that will have you getting out your box of tissues. Not because it’s a sad story, but because it’s a story that will change your life forever.

Don’t you just love it when you make an instant connection with someone you haven’t even met? Well, this happened to Corina Gutierrez and me back on March 2, 2010. I love to share the stories of how I met the people I write about because it tells the story of the journey – the truth of how hard a person works to make things happen. It also helps us understand that if one person can be a Healthy Side of Life hero, anyone can – if you set your heart to it.

On March 2, 2010, Gutierrez sent me a message on Facebook in response to a project for Inspiration 4 Life. My reply to her was in total amazement. I say this because even before Gutierrez reached out to me, I had actually been thinking about her. It was an “angel on a mission” thing! I kept seeing “angel on a mission” on my Facebook, and I told myself, ‘I love that name. I need to see who this angel is!’ It only took two months for us to get together, and the rest was history.

Gutierrez was one of our original members of Inspiration 4 Life, and at one of our meetings, we had a round table introduction and shared our dreams and goals. I still remember the day Gutierrez first announced she wanted to become a Zumba instructor. Being in the industry, I was super excited for her.

This is where you will be blown away by Gutierrez’s story: Gutierrez has osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a genetic disorder in which bones break easily.

Sometimes the bones break for no known reason, and OI also causes weakness in the muscles (a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine). Gutierrez had been in and out of hospitals pretty much all of her life, due to fractures and respiratory issues. She had been taking physical and occupational therapy for seven years and hadn’t really seen any progress.

Gutierrez heard about Zumba, and since she loved to dance, she figured she would give it a try. She contacted a local instructor, explained her condition and

Gutierrez used her heart to

reach out and educate others who may be in the same situation as herself.

Rhonda Leifur 210.771.9153

www.WrappingWithRhonda.com

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For more information on Corina Gutierrez, you can visit her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ez2smile. You can also listen to past radio interviews at www.inspiration4life.org/liveaudio/ (episode 31), and watch past Inspiration 4 Life local hero segments on the KENS 5 Great Day SA Sunday morning 6 a.m. show at www. inspiration4life.org/media/ (Sept. 23, 2012).

For more information on Rita Hernandez, NFit magazine writer, or Inspiration 4 Life Healthy Side of Life heroes, you can visit www.inspiration4life.org or www.facebook.com/inspiration4lifeworldwide, or email her at rita@inspiration4life.org.

youtube.com/ user/t4mgym

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asked if she would be able to have her in the class. The instructor said, “yes.”

Gutierrez loved it from the day she started, and only a year after being a student, she became a Zumba instructor because of the great results she had. Her health improved overall. She toned up, her range of motion was better, her immune system increased, her respiratory issues lessened, her asthma lessened and she simply felt so much better overall.

Of course, this is where Gutierrez’s “angel on a mission” name comes in. She simply used her heart to reach out and educate others who may be in the same situation as herself. She was tired of being sick and in and out of hospitals, and she wanted to do something about it: Zumba!

One of Gutierrez’s missions for the past two years has been to bring awareness of the importance of fitness to wheelchair users. She gives people of all abilities the option to dance and shine while doing it. Gutierrez sees herself as a tool that demonstrates moves to people of all abilities so they, too, can do the moves to get fit and have fun while getting there. Gutierrez shows them they can dance, even in a wheelchair, if they just step out in faith and try.

I am so proud of Gutierrez and the amazing journey she has endured. It has been a privilege to call her my lovely friend. I love that she is out there inspiring others in our communities, doing what the Lord has called her to do.

This is a story that will surely get you moving! Gutierrez will be taking Zumba fitness to wheelchair users at the Abilities Expo in Houston sometime in August, and to the Abilities Expo in Chicago.

She will also be teaching a class to Miss Wheelchair Texas contestants in Houston in March. You go, Corina! Let’s Zumba! ✽

15909 San Pedro Ave., Ste 116 San Antonio, TX 78232

facebook.com/ Trans4mationsGym

210.490.4447

NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

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 mind, body & soul

Spinning Freely

Let go and allow life to surprise you.

by Miki Bowers

We want to control. We want to have a say in how everything in our lives unfolds. But wisdom will tell you to simply allow – to trust.

How often does our attempt to control work out for us? We want to look a certain way, but gravity eventually wins. We want our kids to behave in a manner that doesn’t embarrass us, but this breeds a relationship of judgment.

We want our bank accounts to have a specific balance, or higher, but then we create a fear of loss. We want the world to view us in a certain light, but those around us will see what they want to see.

What about when we feel like we do have it all together and life decides it’s time for us to slow down? We get injured or find out we’re sick – really sick. Or a loved one has a crisis that requires us to detour the way we go about our days.

Ultimately, we have no control. Life is going to play out in the way it is meant to go.

We can entertain the illusion of control at a

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Life is going to happen with or without our permission. great cost, but it is still an illusion. So what do we do?

We accept and allow. Life is going to happen with or without our permission. It doesn’t care about our plans, our deadlines or the expectations of others. When it’s time to shift, it’s time to shift.

The 29th verse of the Tao Te Ching reminds us that life comes in cycles. All cycles are necessary for life. There’s a time to be active and a time to rest, a time to be healthy and a time to be sick, a time to prosper and a time to struggle. Resisting any part of the cycle only causes suffering.

How do we know what happiness feels like? Because we’ve experienced unhappiness. How do we know of love? Because we’ve experienced loneliness. Sunlight is only recognized when we’ve been in the dark.

It’s an inevitable part of the process of this existence.

When you’re in a low cycle, accept what is happening. Understand that it means nothing about who you are – it is simply what is. Go into your fear about the situation and see that it won’t kill you. Only by leaning into the discomfort can you come out on the other side.

Healing (physical, mental and emotional)

Do you think you can take over the universe and improve it?

I do not believe it can be done.

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Everything under heaven is a sacred vessel and cannot be controlled.

Trying to control leads to ruin.

Trying to grasp, we lose.

Allow your life to unfold naturally.

Know that it too is a vessel of perfection.

Just as you breathe in and breathe out, there is a time for being ahead and a time for being behind; a time for being in motion and a time for rest; a time for being vigorous and a time for being exhausted; a time for being safe and a time for being in danger.

To the sage all of life is a movement towards perfection, so what need has he for the excessive, the extravagant, or the extreme?

– Tao Te Ching, 29th verse (Lao Tzu)

begins in pain. Allow it to be there without judgment.

In your high cycles, come from a place of gratitude. We tend to experience our good times with a lingering fear of losing them.

Without gratitude, the highs cycle through and we miss every second of them. Enjoy! Appreciate! Live!

Wisdom says to welcome and accept our lows (or pain), and not to attach ourselves to the highs. Both are the times of transformation that open us up to experience the joy of being alive. And both are temporary.

These cycles are a beautiful part of life.

They move us down the road to our best selves when we ride them with love. And this is the key. Regardless of the perceived source of our lows, we must respond with love to move out of them in a peaceful way. Anger about our situation only binds us. Loving is so much easier than being angry about life.

The most overlooked aspect of love is having love for ourselves, which is vital to healing in the lows and gratitude during the highs.

Love yourself wherever you stand in life. There is nothing to fix and nothing to do. Just be.

Coming from a place of gratitude and love regardless of our life situation opens so many doors to allow us to experience life at its best.

Life can’t hand you the best it has to offer until you believe you are worthy, regardless of your circumstances. And you are so worthy.

Namaste. ✽

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EDITORIAL ADVERTISING CATALOG PERSONAL

Miki Bowers’ vision is to live in a way that promotes spiritual and consciousness expansion. Her passion lies in helping others develop mental and physical habits that allow them to find their true self. In this way, one more soul is reconnected to the whole. She is an Ashtanga yogi, a writer, a consciousness coach, a mother, an ex-wife, a trail runner, a speaker, a ranch hand, an aircraft mechanic, a cook, a mystic, a listener, a healer and a bad ass. Find her at www.creatingstillness. com, or follow her blog at www.creatingstillness.tumblr.com.

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 spiritual

Making Peace Scheduling downtime in a FaceTime world

by Bre’anna Emmitt

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Have you ever been so desperate about something that you posted for advice on Facebook? The other week, I was at my wits’ end in a certain area of my life. Pining for a solution and hoping for an answer, I asked my Facebook friends for advice on keeping up with my laundry.

First, let me explain: We have three kids 5 years old and under.

The amount of laundry I do in a week would make Martha Stewart herself bawl her eyes out. I suppose

that would be the case even if we didn’t have three kids; however, I’ve never been that great about the laundry anyway. Needless to say, I needed help. ‘Everyone has laundry,’ I thought. ‘Certainly someone has a system that could work for me.’

In just a few hours of my post, I had more than 50 comments. There were some fantastic ideas to make laundry easier. But perhaps the one that helped me the most was from my friend, Becky.

{

“If you’re overwhelmed, simplify – whatever the problem may be.”

“If you’re overwhelmed,” she said, “simplify. Whatever the problem may be.” She went on to say that she got rid of the majority of her kids’ clothes, and since they now only have a few items, laundry is a breeze.

I took her advice, and it worked! The oncecrammed drawers are now half-empty, and with less to wash, laundry really is easier. It felt so great that over the next week, I went room-to-room cleaning out drawers, cabinets and closets. I donated more bags of clothes and toys to our local Church Under the Bridge than I thought possible. It felt so good to have room to spare in our closets and rooms.

Her advice went beyond that, however. It reached beyond the little dressers in my house and into my daily life. ‘What else overwhelms me?’ I thought. ‘What else needs to be simplified?’

The answer came without much pondering.

I knew deep down what needed to be simplified: my schedule. Maybe you’re the type who is on top of your schedule and only pens in the necessities. Or maybe your schedule is running you, and you and your family are so ragged that you’re all completely exhausted.

Or maybe you just need to get a schedule and quit flying by the seat of your pants.

I must admit I have been in all three of those situations, and probably more. As I thought about my schedule, I thought to myself, ‘Am I running my schedule, or is my schedule running me?’

This predicament reminds me of something said long ago – 2,000 years ago, in fact. It was Jesus who said something revolutionary (game-changing ideas were often what he was known for). During a time when it was illegal to do anything on the Sabbath (or the “day of rest”), Jesus spoke up and said, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.”

This 2,000-year-old idea was also game changing to me. As a culture, we have probably swayed to the opposite side of the

pendulum today. We are often too busy for an hour of rest, let alone a whole day. So what if replaced “Sabbath” in the former statement with “schedules”? We would get: “The schedule was made to meet the needs of the people, and not the people to meet the requirements of the schedule.” Ouch. Yeah, I felt that one, too.

The truth is, people practiced a day of rest for millennia, so why do we think we are simply too busy to do so now? And I don’t mean “rest” by engaging in meaningless fillers like Facebook, Web surfing and phone scrolling. I mean the type of rest that brings us perspective and peace.

What would happen if we intentionally planned our schedules so that we had some downtime? What if we used that downtime well – like reading meaningful books, visiting with those we love or simply enjoying the world around us?

It’s no question we live in a high-speed, text-me-now, hectic world. My encouragement for you today is to resist squeezing every last drop out of your calendar and plan ahead to just … make some peace. ✽

Bre’anna Emmitt is a Christian, a wife, a mother of three and a freelance writer. She aspires to one day master the fitness classes she regularly subjects herself to. You can usually find her each weekend ministering alongside her husband, Chris, at Community Bible Church. To read more articles like this, along with recipes, marriage topics and more, go to www.sozowomen. com. You can also contact Emmitt via Facebook or Twitter (@breannaemmitt).

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 foodies

Super-Food Spinach Salad with Wild-Caught Salmon

salad composition

• Organic spinach: Stem-less is preferred for best plate and serving presentation • Organic blueberries: 1/4 cup • Toasted walnuts: Dice or chop per preference and toast for two minutes at 400 degrees • Artichoke hearts: Packed in water preferred, or in oil OK – slice into quarters • Goat cheese crumbles: Feta is also fabulous! Select your preference, or omit if vegan or lactose intolerant • Homemade lemon ginger vinaigrette • Fresh boneless, skinless, wildcaught salmon filet: 4 ounces

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Lemon ginger vinaigrette

• Agave nectar: 1 cup • Lemon juice: 1 cup • Water: 1/2 cup • Extra virgin olive oil: 3 cups • Lemon zest (peel only): 2.5 tablespoons • Minced ginger: 1/3 cup • Ground ginger: 1/4 cup • Kosher salt: 1 tablespoon • Black pepper: 1 tablespoon Bring water to a boil. Combine all ingredients except olive oil into Cuisinart or mixer and blend for two minutes. Slowly drizzle in olive oil and blend an additional two minutes. Chill before serving.

Grilled or roasted salmon

On gas grill: Lightly dust both sides of filet with black pepper. Place on hot grill for two minutes. Flip filet and grill another two minutes. Test for medium doneness.

Roasted: Place filet in hot skillet and sear on each side for one minute. Remove and place in oven for eight to 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Test for medium doneness.

Salad

Toss all salad ingredients lightly with dressing.

Place freshly prepared salmon filet on top. Serve with side of focaccia bread with olive oil and rosemary.

NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

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KIM SPRADLIN

fit style

for

PHOTOGRAPHED BY MICHAEL GIORDANO

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Fashion Stylist: Grizelda Garza Fashion Assistant: Rachael Chadwick Hair: Justin Arrellano Makeup: Lucy Gonzalez

This page: Mint/turquoise twopiece bathing suit by VIX, necklace

by Kendra Scott Opposite page: Yellow/black floral print mini dress by BCBG from Julian Gold, Brian Atwood purple Beatris pumps from Julian Gold

âžť NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

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Kim Spradlin, 30, is the most recent winner of the CBS hit show, “Survivor.”

Always seeking out competition, Spradlin emerged, from five female finalists, as the sole survivor of season 24: “Survivor: One World.”

Not only did she outwit, outlast and outplay her fellow contestants, fans everywhere paid the highest compliment by voting her Sprint Player of the Season.

Spradlin has a love of adventure and the outdoors, having spent four summers as a white-water rafting guide in Colorado and a semester during college at an orphanage in Thailand.

Spradlin currently owns and operates Bella Bridesmaid, an upscale boutique in Alamo Heights. As a San Antonio resident, living a wellbalanced and healthy lifestyle has become one of her passions. She enjoys playing sand volleyball at Sideliners and kickboxing at Club KO, and she can usually be found at the farmer’s market at The Pearl on Saturday mornings.

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This page: Black/ nude leather lace dress by Catherine Deane from Julian Gold, blush suede heel by Valentino Garavani from Julian Gold Opposite page: Sports bra by Champion, coral yoga pants by Lululemon, tennis shoes by Nike NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

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ď Ż nonprofit

Cancer survivors exercising in the CTRC Fitness Center

Improving The CTRC Fitness Center helps cancer patients improve their chance of surviving and take back control of their health through exercise.

Special to NFit

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the Odds

a free exercise program for cancer survivors at the Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC) in San Antonio is aiming to help improve the health and fitness of survivors in South Texas.

Funded by a nearly $700,000 grant from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to Dr. Stacey Young-McCaughan, a researcher and professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, this program brings together experts from the fields of cancer research, exercise physiology, physical therapy and program evaluation.

The goal of this program is to provide individual fitness evaluations and exercise programs to 750 cancer survivors, their family and their friends. Since officially opening its doors on Sept. 28, 2011, the CTRC Fitness Center has registered more than 530 participants.

The CTRC Fitness Center is staffed by two exercise physiologists and a research assistant who have a combined 26 years of exercise program development experience. Program Coordinator Jeff Monaco holds a master’s degree in human movement with an emphasis in strength and conditioning. He is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist and corrective exercise specialist with nearly 10 years of experience working with a varied population.

Exercise Physiologist Sonya Arzola holds a master’s degree in kinesiology and has 14 years of experience in cancer and exercise research. Rounding out the staff is Research Assistant Virginia Tovar, who holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, is bilingual and has experience in cardiac rehab and with cancer survivors. This expertise ensures that each survivor receives the best exercise program based on his or her individual condition.

Upon their initial visit to the CTRC Fitness Center, participants meet with an exercise physiologist for a comprehensive fitness evaluation. This evaluation, performed in the center’s sophisticated exercise lab, includes height, weight and circumference measurements, as well as assessments of cardiorespiratory fitness, balance, flexibility and muscular strength.

After the initial evaluation, participants meet with the exercise physiologist again to receive their individualized exercise programs.

This program is developed from the fitness evaluation results, the individual’s cancer diagnosis, any current treatment protocols and the individual’s current level of conditioning.

The participant receives exercises designed to improve strength, cardio endurance, balance and flexibility that follow the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for cancer survivors.

Program participants are then welcome to perform their exercises in the CTRC Fitness Center, which offers treadmills, recumbent bikes and an arm ergometer, as well as strength and balance equipment. The center can also develop a home-based exercise program, and will provide equipment for participants to safely perform the exercises in their own homes. Participants are re-evaluated every four months.

When it comes to exercise and cancer survivors, people usually fall into two categories: those who exercised before their diagnosis, but

haven’t exercised since, and those who never exercised and don’t know where to begin. Regardless of your category, research has shown the overwhelming benefits of exercise for cancer survivors.

Benefits for survivors include improved muscular strength and endurance, increased cardiorespiratory capacity, increase in muscle mass, decrease in fatigue and overall improvements in quality of life.

Some individuals who are

{

The program brings together experts in cancer research, exercise physiology, physical therapy and program evaluation.

still undergoing treatment report that they are better able to tolerate their treatments and/or experience fewer side effects from the treatments when they engage in regular exercise.

Exercise has emotional and psychological benefits, as well. These can include improved mood, decreased depression and anxiety and more restful sleep.

The American College of Sports Medicine has published guidelines for exercise and cancer survivors. These guidelines state that survivors who are cleared by their physicians to participate in an exercise program should engage in two to three muscular strength training sessions per week, accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise per week and perform balance and flexibility exercises on all days other exercises are performed.

For all survivors, they recommend increasing the amount of daily activity and reducing the amount of time spent sitting.

A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event.

With all of the doctors’ appointments, treatment schedules, effects of treatments and more doctors’ appointments, you may feel as if your

life is now out of your control. Survivors who have engaged in a regular exercise program and experienced the benefits say they feel as though they have taken back some control over their life and their health. They often comment that exercise improves not only their physical well-being, but also their emotional well-being.

When they see the tangible effects of exercise, like being able to carry groceries up the stairs without getting winded or to take that long walk with a loved one, it brings back things in their lives that might once have been taken for granted, but were surely missed.

You don’t have to be Lance Armstrong or have even exercised before to start exercising.

Today is the best day to take back control of improving your health. Talk with your doctor to make sure it is OK for you to begin an exercise program, and then give the CTRC Fitness Center a call to schedule your initial evaluation. ✽ To learn more about the program or to sign up, call 210-450-1765.

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 nonprofit

The Bexar Essentials

Look out for your health and have fun while still staying safe this spring with sunshine and a sober driver.

➻

by Caitlin Martone

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as springtime in texas approaches and temperatures begin to rise, we focus more on getting healthy and back into shape for the summer. March and April bring us to beautiful beaches for Spring Break, to backyards for barbecues and the beginnings of sunbathing by the pool and to incredibly fun Fiesta festivities.

With all of this fun in the sun, most of us will reach for a cooling cocktail or an ice-cold beer – Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) simply asks that you designate a sober driver or find a safe ride home before the festivities begin.

Staying healthy doesn’t just mean your physical appearance. A healthy self should have the body’s best interest in mind, which includes staying safe and making smart choices. Here are a few alarming statistics to consider: ★Every day in America, another 27 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes. ★Almost every 90 seconds, a person is injured in a drunk driving crash. ★Drunk driving costs each adult in this country almost $500 per year.

MADD South Texas is dedicated to reducing these alarming statistics, especially considering we live in the third deadliest county in Texas for drunk driving – a ranking we must all work together to change.

By making smart choices, we can reduce the one in three (the number of people who will be involved in a drunk driving crash in their lifetime) and make Bexar County a safer place for our family and friends.

All too often, San Antonio news covers tales of tragedy due to drunk driving crashes. If everyone were to make a healthy choice after drinking, we would see these stories less and less.

We at MADD want you to gear up for Fiesta without becoming one of the 300,000 incidents of drinking and driving that happen in America each day.

Have fun, but drink responsibly this season. Drinking too much is not only detrimental to your judgment, but also to your body, causing possible damage to the brain, the heart and the liver. While you watch what you eat, don’t forget that cutting down on alcoholic beverages can help slim your waistline.

When you are out and about this Fiesta season, volunteer to be the designated driver and opt for a healthy nonalcoholic mocktail to help shave calories while saving lives. Host a fiesta with flair by planning a fun and safe evening. Include a fun low-cal mock-

tail as an alternative to alcoholic beverages, especially to those who are designated drivers.

Provide plenty of food to keep your guests from drinking on an empty stomach, but avoid too many salty snacks. Your sodium intake isn’t the only thing that will soar – salty snacks will cause you to drink more. If you are preparing an alcoholic punch, use a non-carbonated base like fruit juice. Alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream faster with a carbonated base.

Opting for these alternatives will keep your guests safer – but don’t forget to offer to call a cab if they have had too much. Stay healthy this spring in more ways than one, and help us make San Antonio a safer place! ✽

MADD’s Mocktails

Try some of our waist-friendly mocktail (nonalcoholic) recipes for a way to beat the heat, the bulge and a DWI.

Blueberry-Lime Mocktail Rita

This makes two servings at 125 calories each.

Ingredients - 2 cups ice - 1 cup frozen blueberries - 1 cup blueberry nectar - 1/4 cup seltzer - 2 tablespoons frozen limeade - 1 tablespoon lime juice - 1 lime wedge - Coarse salt Preparation Combine ice, blueberries, blueberry nectar, seltzer, limeade, lime juice and tequila, if using, in a blender and blend until smooth. Rub the rims of two glasses with lime wedge and dip in salt. Divide the margarita between the prepared glasses and serve.

Red Tornado

This drink is rich with health benefits that lower your blood pressure, boost you with vitamin C, reduce inflammation, improve lung function and give you a dose of antioxidants!

Ingredients - 2 large leaves of basil - 1 1/4 ounces beet juice - 1 1/2 ounces pineapple juice - 1 ounce apple juice - 3 ounces tangerine

Preparation Muddle basil; add ice and all of the juices. Shake vigorously and pour over ice or in a martini glass. Garnish with fresh basil.

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NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

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 events

Fighting

the fight

The American Heart Association kicks off National Heart Month and continues the fight to beat heart disease with the ninth annual Go Red For Women Summit.

1 2

photography by greg harrison

Too many women die each year because they are unaware that heart disease is still their No. 1 killer. In fact, heart disease kills approximately one woman every minute. The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women campaign kicked off National Heart Month with the ninth annual Go Red For Women Summit on Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at the Grand Hyatt.

Women have been fighting heart disease individually and together as part of the Go Red For Women movement for 10 years. More than 627,000 women’s lives have been saved, but the fight is far from over. Heart disease is still women’s No. 1 killer.

It affects more women than men, and it is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined.

This year’s Go Red For Women Summit, chaired by Trish DeBerry, featured Salina Rivera’s inspiring story of beating heart disease despite the grimmest odds.

Rivera shared her life-changing story with a record-setting audience of nearly 400 women and men.

In addition to Rivera’s story, attendees heard about the American Heart Association’s efforts this year to enact heart-health legislation at the state level, including asking for CPR to be a requirement for high school graduation in Texas.

Students from Johnson High School attended the event after also attending the American Heart Association’s lobby day on Jan. 30, where they shared with legislators how the first aid and CPR instruction they received at school helped them save a parent last year.

Dr. Rebecca Ford talked with participants about taking power over their health with naturopathic medicine. The Texas Beef Council presented on how to infuse passion into food and provided a great beef sandwich cooking demo and tasting after the luncheon.

And cardiologist Dr. Dianne Greiner and OB/GYN Dr. Carolyn Cavazos shared answers to audience questions about how doctors and patients can help each other catch and treat heart problems regardless of whether they see a cardiologist or rely on another specialty for their annual checkups.

Macy’s and Merck are national sponsors of Go Red For Women, and representatives were in attendance to help show support.

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1/ Rhonda Calvert, Carrie Baker Wells and KaRynn Liberto 2/ GRFW silent auction 3/ Methodist Health system 4/ NEISD students at luncheon 5/ Renee Flores, Carri Baker Wells and Trish DeBerry 6/ Texas Beef Council Chef Tiffany Blackmon 7/ breakout session attendees 8/ Cathy Amato and Debbie Marino 9/ conference attendees 10/ Cynthia Gibbs, Tina Pembroke, Salina Rivera and Janene Duke 11/ Salina Rivera and her mom 12/ Dr. Roberta Bogaev and guests

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 events

Breaking new ground San Antonio’s first blowout bar The One Beauty Lounge, celebrates its grand opening.

On Jan. 23, 2013, the Alamo Heights chamber and guests gathered in a ribbon cutting ceremony to bring in San Antonio’s newest and first blowout bar, The One Beauty Lounge.

Local celebrity Bridget Smith from Ken’s 5 Great Day SA was the guest of honor who helped cut the ribbon for the grand opening.

Alana Sarabia from WOAI San Antonio Living was in attendance, as well as a spokesperson from Spank Kosmetics and Miss San Antonio Chaney Shadrock.

There was delicious Italian food catered

by Sorrento Ristorante and Pizzeria in Alamo Heights, and a runway show featuring the edgy glam-rock designs by stylist Toni Jackson.

Makeup on the models was done by Spank Kosmetics and The One Beauty Lounge.

Owner Danielle Cunningham moved to San Antonio from California to start a blowout bar right in the heart of Alamo Heights. The One Beauty Lounge brings Hollywood glam to San Antonio. Cunningham’s goal is to show women how to look their best and have fun in an old Hollywood atmosphere.

Blowout bars are the newest craze in the beauty industry, established in Los Angeles, New York, Dallas and now San Antonio. The One Beauty Lounge is showing everyone in San Antonio how having a professional blowout saves you time, makes your hairstyle last longer and makes you look like a star.

What is a blowout? It’s a wash with the lounge’s best shampoo, deep conditioning and a professional blow dry. A good blowout can last up to three days.

The One Beauty Lounge specializes in makeup application and just recently launched their makeup line called The One Makeup. This new no-cuts, all-style concept is one of a kind in San Antonio. The One Beauty Lounge provides multiple services such as hair memberships, bridal packages, spray tanning, teeth whitening and more. The lounge also has a personal stylist on staff (Ashley Simpson), and it sells a collection of Jimmy Crystal jewelry and accessories.

Check out the website for The One Beauty Lounge for a list of services and prices: www. theonebeautylounge.com. You can also like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ theonebeautybar?ref=hl or follow them on Twitter at https://twitter.com/onebeautylounge.

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 events

San Antonio’s

new elite

Fitness pro Laila Facusse and her team celebrate the grand opening of Elite Physique Fitness Studio. photography by Barbara Holland/Blackstone Studio

Elite Physique Fitness Studio, located at 12540 Bandera Road, No. 201, in Helotes, Texas, had its grand opening/ribbon cutting on Jan. 5, 2013. After being in the fitness industry for more than 10 years, Laila Facusse decided to open Elite Physique Fitness Studio to create awareness and help people achieve their fitness and nutrition goals.

Facusse was voted San Antonio’s “Best Fitness Trainer 2012,” and her commitment to her clients is obvious in her attention to detail, her level of expertise and her willingness to devote herself to improving the quality of life for everyone at Elite Physique.

Our elegant, 5,000-square-foot studio is uniquely designed to provide excellent service to our clients with innovative fitness programs, as well as exciting and effective classes, including P90X group classes, Elite Indoor Cycle, PIYO Strength, Capoeira Luanda, Turbokick, Zumba, Cardio Hip-Hop, Piloxing, Elite Bootcamp and many more in a 2,500-square-foot professional floating-wood floor that eases impact and protects your joints.

Our amenities include towel service and showers. Elite Physique also has a shake and nutrition bar, where we offer protein shakes and healthy meals for the convenience of our on-the-go members. Join us today! For more information, call 210-257-5487.

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NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

events ď Ż

All-in-One

Experience

Younique Physique celebrates both its eightyear anniversary and its recent growth and expansion in services.

January 2013 marked the eight-year anniversary of the opening of Younique Physique Personal Training Studio, as well as the celebration of the expansion of services offered and extreme growth during 2011. As a result, Younique Physique will be operating under

Younique Fitness & Wellness, LLC. Owner Sonya Roemisch opened Younique Physique Personal Training Studio in January 2005 after working in the fitness industry in San Antonio for five years. She decided to branch off on her own so she could offer a

more private, focused experience where she and her team could provide more individualized programming to each client. They focus not only on improving the client’s fitness level and physical appearance, but also on teaching nutrition and overall wellness strategies to ensure the best possible results.

They are known for taking the time to educate their clients so they are able to make lifestyle changes for lasting results and improved health. Roemisch and her staff of certified and in-house-trained staff, along with her staff massage therapist, are able to provide an allin-one holistic fitness and wellness experience.

They work with women and men of all ages and fitness levels, but they specialize in body transformations, contest preparation and food sensitivity and allergies.

NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013

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The Future of San Antonio’s Southside

YOUR NEW HOME BASE

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NFIT WOMAN march / april 2013