Growing Bolder 2014

THE MAN WHO CAN DO (ALMOST) ANYTHING ■ SINGING THE PRAISES OF DETROIT HOPE • INSPIRATION • POSSIBILITY

®

March/April 2014

HOOP

DREAMS

Now Battling Parkinson’s, NBA Veteran John Gabriel Needs One More Magic Act.

1GB_Mar14_Cov TOC.indd 1

2/17/14 5:02:23 PM

Dr. Robert Masson, founder of the NeuroSpine Institute, combined his skills in microneurosurgery with his passion for sports to create the field of sports spine surgery. Inventor of iMas, an intepedicular minimal access surgery of the lumbar spine, he is responsible for the education, product development and research for Synthes Spine in iMas productis and techniques.

All spinal surgeries are not created equal. The NeuroSpine Institute’s renowned minimally invasive surgery means shorter downtime for patients so you can

GET BACK TO

YOUR LIFE

Dr. Mitchell Supler brings 17 years of experience to NeuroSpine Institute. Dr. Supler graduated with honors from the University of Florida College of Medicine in 1989, receiving the Lyerly Award for excellence in Neurosurgery.

He completed his residency in Neurosurgery at the University of Florida in 1996, having trained with Dr. Masson. Dr. Supler was trained by Dr. Albert Rhoton, the father of microneurosurgery while at the University of Florida, in advanced microneurosurgical anatomy and surgery.

;WQ`]S\R]aQ]^WQ Ac`US`g 1][^cbS` /aaWabSR <Sc`]\OdWUObW]\ 4Zc]`]aQ]^WQ Ac`US`g 3\R]aQ]^WQ A^W\OZ 2SQ][^`SaaW]\a /`bWÂż QWOZ 2WaQ Ac`US`g ;W\W[OZZg 7\dOaWdS A^W\OZ @SQ]\ab`cQbW]\a AQ]ZW]aWa Ac`US`g BV]`OaQ]^WQ Ac`US`g

% $ @Se 1W`QZS ESab =`ZO\R] 4:

" % $"' &#&# eee \Sc`]a^W\SW\abWbcbS ]`U

ORLCM_120700_NeuroSpine_FP.indd 1 1GB_Mar14_Cov TOC.indd 2

12/14/12 11:23:04 AM 2/17/14 12:17:51 PM

Cornerston

Family Caregiver... We Care for You!

of or ts s, ss e n, as

7 e d y n d y. n y d as n, y a, al

Uncertain and Anxious?

Tired? Stressed?

Do you neglect yourself... need “me” time?

Hospice cares for your loved one and you! ❖ Home visits to manage patient’s pain and symptoms ❖ Emotional and spiritual support for everyone ❖ 24-hour assistance and advice ❖ Patient Bathing and Personal Care ❖ And so much more for those facing serious illness

Patient with caregiver wife and Cornerstone Hospice Social Worker

Information Referrals (888)728-6234 and (866)742-6655

www.cornerstonehospice.org www.SeriousIllness.org/Cornerstone Medicare, Medicaid, most commercial insurances accepted.

11:23:04 AM

1GB_Mar14_Cov Cornerstone Hospice TOC.indd FP GB.indd 3 1

2/17/14 4/24/13 12:17:57 3:31:45 PM PM

contents

6 FROM THE EDITOR 8 GROWING BOLDER WITH...

10 MOVE FORWARD, GIVE BACK

A businessman finds his true calling.

By Jackie Carlin

12 ONE MORE MAGIC ACT John Gabriel battles Parkinson’s and takes the fight to Central Florida.

By Marc Middleton

16 5 QUESTIONS A world-record holder finds purpose on the high seas. By Jackie Carlin

18 BEHIND THE SCENES Start your week right with GB TV and radio. By Jackie Carlin

20

AIN’T LIFE GRAND Want to start a successful business?

Hit the garage. By Key Howard

22 BOLDER ARTS Songwriter hopes “The D’ renews Detroit’s spirit. By Jackie Carlin

25 ROAD TO RECOVERY Low impact cardio may keep “angry” nerves quiet. By Robert L. Masson, M.D. “Avatar is nothing

The Avatar Course Puts Happiness and Spiritual

more or less than an escape from a mind trap, that you have

Awakenings in

been caught in for

Everyone’s Grasp.

so long, you have

March 15th-23rd Resurfacing Workshops Starting Daily Westin Lake Mary Orlando North

forgotten what freedom feels like.” From The Avatar Path, The Way We Came

For a free intro by phone

by Harry Palmer or in person Tia Greno 716-633-0715 Laurie Kammer 860-823-9743 Meredith Greno 716-633-0715

4

26 MASTERS SPORTS Sandy Scott wants to be the best at whatever he does — and he usually is.

By Bill Shafer

28 BOLDER NUTRITION Busting sugar myths: It’s obesity, not the sweet stuff, that’s the real issue.

By Dr. Susan Mitchell

30 THE TAKEAWAY My motto for solving life’s problems?

“Funk the dumb stuff.” By Bill Shafer On the Cover: John Gabriel surrounded by his family. Clockwise from the top: Amelia, a University of Florida junior; Jack, a freshman at Lake Highland Prep; Dorothy, his wife; Meredith, a senior at Lake Highland Prep. Photo by Alan Fraebel (afraebelstudios.com).

GROWING BOLDER

Avatar Course.indd 1 1GB_Mar14_Cov TOC.indd 4

MARCH/APRIL 2014 2/17/14 12:14:25 PM 2/17/14 5:03:15 PM

225

Vi

At De apply condi

Grow

Is today the day you begin the next phase of your life?

NEW MODELS NOW OPEN & NEW HOME SITES AVAILABLE Full time on-site Lifestyle Outdoor firepit & Director

30,800 sq. ft. clubhouse New Single Family Homes Call to RSVP at 866-671-3330 225 Ridgewood Lakes Blvd. | Davenport, FL 33837

Tour 8 Model Homes & Clubhouse Visit delwebb.com/dwo for driving instructions.

TechnoGym Fitness Center Resort-style pool & spa

amphitheater

Fishing pier & miles of walking trails

Billiards, arts & craft room, and ballroom

Indoor heated pool & spa Guard-gated privacy Tennis, pickle ball, bocce Active-Adult Living ball and basketball courts

At Del Webb communities, at least one resident must be 55 years of age or older, no one under 19 (18 in certain communities) in permanent residence, and additional restrictions apply. Some residents may be younger than 55. This material shall not constitute a valid offer in any state where prior registration is required or if void by law. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Contact a sales consultant for details. CGC1515415. ©2014 Pulte Home Corporation. All rights reserved. 2/7/2014.

1GB_Mar14_Cov TOC.indd 5

2/17/14 12:18:08 PM

Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained

From the Editor

B

y the time you read this, I’ll be trying to keep up with a group of cancer survivors as we attempt to reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. I’ll be videotaping the 2014 Survivor Summit for a 60-minute documentary and special reports for Growing Bolder Magazine as well as our TV and radio shows.

It’s no secret that we love sharing the stories of those who bravely battle in the face of life’s most serious setbacks. Too many of us are overwhelmed and back down when confronted with life-changing events. We all need role models who show us what’s possible if only we dream, believe and persist.

John Gabriel, the well-known NBA executive who is now battling Parkinson’s disease and is featured in this issue, is a perfect example. Gabe is sharing his story with Growing Bolder Magazine readers in hopes of helping others with Parkinson’s.

Mt. Kilimanjaro is, in many ways, the perfect metaphor for a major life struggle. At first glance, it’s so far away, so huge, so foreboding and unattainable that the thought of conquering it is overwhelming.

But slowly, step-by-step, with the support of one another and the guidance of those who have been there before, we’ll press on. Eventually what once seemed impossible will be within our reach. Will we all reach the summit?

The odds are against us. The summit rate on Kilimanjaro is only about 30 percent, 1,000 people a year need to evacuated and 10 people a year die on the mountain.

But statistics won’t stop us from trying. Just as statistics don’t stop any survivors from battling to beat the odds associated with their disease. As we learn every day from those we feature in this magazine and on our TV and radio shows, Growing Bolder is about the journey and not the destination. It’s simply about giving yourself the chance, the opportunity to reach the summit.

It’s about taking the first step toward a better life — and then the second and then the third. We know it won’t be easy, but that’s what makes it so exhilarating. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Marc Middleton, Editor-in-Chief marcmiddleton@growingbolder.com

6

GROWING BOLDER

1GB_Mar14_Cov TOC.indd 6

Editor-in-Chief Marc Middleton Managing Editor Bill Shafer Associate Editors Katy Widrick, Jackie Carlin Contributing Writers Wendy Chioji, Jill Middleton, Bess Auer, Dr. Susan Mitchell, Key Howard Additional Photography Alan Fraebel, Fernando Medina/ Orlando Magic, Liliane Hakim Photography, Dan Byles, Colin Leonhardt (www.birdseyeviewphotography.com.au), Doug de Mark Digital Development and Production Jason Morrow, Pat Narciso, Josh Doolittle, Mike Nanus

407-406-5910 1 Purlieu Place, Suite 139 Winter Park, FL 32792 growingboldermagazine.com

Group Publisher Randy Noles Art Director Laura Bluhm Senior Associate Publisher Lorna Osborn Associate Publisher Kathy Byrd Growing Bolder is a publication of Florida Home Media LLC, publishers of Orlando Life.

407-647-0225 2700 Westhall Lane, Suite 128 Maitland, FL 32751 orlando-life.com

MARCH/APRIL 2014

2/17/14 12:18:55 PM

1GB_Mar14_Cov TOC.indd 7

2/17/14 12:19:08 PM

Growing Bolder With...

Shannon Miller

Richard Simmons

Olympic Gold Medalist

Fitness Guru

37

“Every cancer journey is different, and not all of them turn out as well as mine did. I was very fortunate that they caught mine early. It’s really a matter of living every day to the fullest, because you just never know what’s going to happen. I don’t rush through life and get to the next goal as much as I used to. Now I stop and smell the roses. Yes, I want to be healthy and fit, but I take an ‘everything in moderation’ approach because, frankly, life is too short to give up chocolate and pizza. It’s OK to enjoy each and every day.”

At 33, Olympic gold medalist Shannon Miller was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Four years later, the mother of two is cancer free and helps other women focus on their health through her company, Shannon Miller Lifestyle.

GB EXTRA

Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to listen to our full conversations with Vicki Lawrence, Shannon Miller and Richard Simmons.

65

“Even though I’m a clown, my work is very serious. I’ve never lied to anybody. Over the years, people have said, ‘It’s easy, it’s quick, drink this, do this.’ You have to get to the point of, ‘Do I want to live or do I want to die?’ It’s that serious.

A lot of people don’t like looking in the mirror, but I think it needs to get to a point where you look in the mirror and you thank God you’re alive and that God gave you another day. Then you need to make a list of people who love you. Each day, you have to give yourself compliments in the mirror. This is the process of finding self-worth.

You have to forgive yourself for gaining weight, and you have to move on and try to be the best person you can be. You can’t waste a day, a minute, a moment. You have to live your life.”

Nearly 40 years ago, Richard Simmons opened his first weight-loss studio. He’s helped people drop an estimated 12 million pounds. His new program, Project H.O.P.E., focuses on exercise and nutrition.

65

Comedian and Actress

“My motto is, life is much too serious to be taken seriously. I think you need to keep your sense of humor and laugh, otherwise you’ll slit your wrists. And if you’re a mother like I am, you’re going to have to clean up the mess. So it’s best to just keep laughing.”

by M

Ja P th co le th

Gan vaca and repo eigh millio whe

Walk char of hi 15-y

Thes and fami they and of ch out o situa Cens that hear

Her career got its start in the most storybook way imaginable, and now, nearly four decades later, Vicki Lawrence’s most well-known character may be needed now more than ever. She’s bringing “Mama” back to life by spearheading the release of Mama’s Family on DVD for the first time. She’s also debuting a “two-woman” stage show, Vicki Lawrence and Mama.

GROWING BOLDER

Wh

Hoffm over relat but n child estim

Vicki Lawrence

8

D

MARCH/APRIL 2014

YCLF_Feb 2GB_Mar14_GB With.indd 8

2/17/14 5:03:51 PM

DYING YOUNG:

What Our Favorite Actors Teach Us about Protecting Our Minor Children

by Mary Merrell Bailey, Esq., Partner, Your Caring Law Firm James Gandolfini, Paul Walker, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Other than acting, what do they have in common? Each died suddenly and left behind minor children to inherit their money.

Gandolfini, age 51, died of a heart attack on vacation. He was divorced and remarried and had a child from each marriage. He reportedly left his 13-year-old son and eight-month-old daughter more than $7 million each that the children will control when they turn age 21.

Walker, age 40, died in a car accident at a charity event. He never married the mother of his child. TMZ reports that he left his 15-year-old daughter $25 million.

Hoffman, age 46, died of an apparent drug overdose at home. He was in a long-term relationship with the mother of his children, but never married her. He leaves three children, ages 10, 7, and 5, and an estate estimated at $35 million.

These actors were larger than life onscreen, and their wealth unimaginable. But their family situations sound pretty familiar, don’t they? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that more than 40% of children in the United States are born out of wedlock, so Walker’s and Hoffman’s situations are not unrealistic. And the U.S. Census Bureau claims that the median age that women become widowed is 59.4, so hearing of these actors’ deaths at such

YCLF_FebruaryAdvertorial_final.indd 1 2GB_Mar14_GB With.indd 9

“early” ages shouldn’t be as shocking as it is. The hard truth is that, to protect your minor children, you have to be prepared for the unexpected.

From an estate planning perspective, James Gandolfini’s estate plan was surprisingly unsophisticated. Because he had a will-based, as opposed to a trust-based, estate plan, the details of his plan are public record.

Would you want the general public to know how much wealth your 13-year-old and eight-month-old children were inheriting if something happened to you? Wouldn’t you be concerned that your children could be targeted by financial predators if everyone knew that your children were in complete control of their inherited wealth at the raw age of 21? Wouldn’t you sleep better at night if you limited your young children’s unfettered access to significant amounts of money and put a structure in place to give them guidance and support by loved ones and professional advisors? It is puzzling why James Gandolfini did not appear to do this for his children.

Paul Walker had a trust-based estate plan.

His pourover will is public record, but his trust document is not. Specifics about the terms of his daughter’s inheritance are unknown, because the details are located inside his trust document and the trust document is private. Financial sharks most likely will not be circling around Paul Walker’s daughter at a certain age. They do not know with certainty that she will have access to a lot of money without a lot of oversight, as they well might be watching the Gandolfini children when they turn age 21. Bravo, Paul Walker.

As a parent, you have to do a lot of things that you might not enjoy. Changing diapers.

Listening to “The Wheels on the Bus” playing in the car over and over and over again. Staying awake until you hear your child return home from the football game after-party. But you do these things because you love your children. Planning your estate is another one of those things that you should do to help protect them in case of your untimely demise. None of these actors knew they would die young. Learn from them. Make an appointment to meet with a qualified estate planning attorney. You will be glad you did.

Mary Merrell Bailey, Esq. CPA MBA MSTaxation MSAccounting, is a partner with Your Caring Law Firm, a boutique law firm in Maitland offering probate, wills, trusts and guardianship services, as well as business succession, asset protection and estate planning. Merrell and her partner, Hallie Zobel, offer clients throughout the Central Florida region compassionate, sound legal counsel on very private family matters. Visit www.

YourCaringLawFirm.com or call (407) 622-1900.

2/7/14 3:26 PM 2/17/14 12:20:01 PM

Move Forward. Give Back.

Leading by Example

Businessman Finds True Calling: Making a Difference.

A

by Jackie Carlin

munity that I didn’t really know existed. I was surprised, fter a successful three-decade career with a maand in some cases appalled, and said we need to do somejor accounting firm, Gerald “Jerry” Hilbrich retired thing to make things better.” and became the embodiment of his personal phiOne of the many ways Hilbrich is making his community losophy: Those who make a good living are obligated to better is through his work at the Edyth Bush Charitable give back their time, talent and treasure to make the comFoundation. Over the past 40 years, the foundation has munity better for everyone. distributed more than $100 million to local nonprofit orAmong his many leadership positions, Hillbrich is ganizations. the only person to have Since 2009, Hilbrich chaired United Arts, the says the organization United Way and the Comhas focused its giving on munity Foundation of four key areas — clothCentral Florida. ing, housing and feeding He’s the current chairpeople and providing job man of the board for the retraining.

Edyth Bush Charitable “In early 2009, we were Foundation, and he’s inundated with requests transformed the business for basic human needs, practices of nearly every and we’re still operating organization he’s served, on that basis,” he notes. resulting in enhanced “Obviously things have stability and increased improved since 2009, financial support. but there are still a lot of “I don’t just live here, services that are needed this is my home,” Hilbrich out in the community.” says. “I want Central FlorIn this day and age, ida to be the best commuAndrew Watt, president and CEO of the Association of Fundraising when money is tight and nity it can possibly be. If people are starved for there’s something I can Professionals, Gerald “Jerry” Hilbrich, Peggy Hilbrich and David Odaleaders, our community do to make it better, then howski, president of the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation is lucky to have someone that’s what I’ll do.” like Jerry Hilbrich willHilbrich, who was reing to step up. cently honored with the Association of Fundraising Pro“You have to lead by example,” he states. “I always say, fessionals Lifetime Achievement Award, says he wants to ‘Don’t do as I say, do as I do.’ Hopefully people will sit up dispel the myth that you need a lot of money to make a and take notice of that.” ■ big impact.

“Just get involved,” he says. “Find something that you’re passionate about and that’s important to you and try and GB EXTRA get involved to make things better.”

Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to learn more Hilbrich says that in many ways, he gets more out of about the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation and to nominate someone making a difference in the volunteering than he gives. community who you think we should feature in an “Volunteering has broadened my perspective and opened upcoming Move Forward. Give Back. my eyes,” he adds. “It’s shown me some aspects of the com-

10

GROWING BOLDER

9GB_Mar14_Move Forward Give Back.indd 10

MARCH/APRIL 2014

2/17/14 12:25:43 PM

9GB_Mar14_Move Forward Give Back.indd 11

2/17/14 12:25:55 PM

MAGIC ACT

ONE MORE

5GB_Mar14_Feature.indd 12

2/17/14 12:26:54 PM

Strengthened by Family and Close Friends, John Gabriel Battles Parkinson’s and Takes the Fight to Central Florida.

by Marc Middleton

GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM

5GB_Mar14_Feature.indd 13

J

ohn Gabriel will never forget the moment in 2010 that would change the trajectory of his life forever. “Of all things, I was reading a Michael J. Fox piece in a magazine,” he recalls. “I noticed a quiver in my ring finger. Eventually I got a little bit of movement in my foot.”

As the quivers and tremors became more pronounced, Gabriel knew something was wrong and hoped it wasn’t Parkinson’s disease.

“It’s probably one of the few times you wish something bad on yourself,” he says. “You’ve heard about Parkinson’s and you say, ‘God, give me a small tumor somewhere. I’ll take it so that at the end of the day it’s something that can be taken care of with an operation.’”

Gabriel and his wife Dorothy immediately set off across the country getting second, third and fourth opinions from experts and specialists. It didn’t take long to get a diagnosis: “Pretty much to a man they said I had PD.” Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder that destroys dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, robbing those who are afflicted of the ability to control normal movement. More than 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, adding to the more than 1 million who are already living with PD. As Gabriel came to grips with his condition, he asked the difficult questions that confront everyone with an incurable disease: “Will this take my life at some point in time? Will I see my children grow up? Will I see my grandchildren?

Those are the first questions, the ones that really mean something. You don’t ask, ‘How long can I still work?’ Everything falls into place. Everything falls into perspective.”

For nearly two years, only Gabriel’s family and closest friends knew of his diagnosis. As Director of Scouting for the New York Knicks, he was uncertain how his colleagues in the NBA would react. So he did what nearly all newly diagnosed PD patients do — he tried to hide the symptoms.

“If I had a board meeting and my knee was quivering and my foot was shakGROWING BOLDER

13

2/17/14 12:27:00 PM

ing, I made sure I got in early and made sure my legs were under the desk,” he recalls. “Sometimes I’d sit on my hands.

Early on, you try to mask it a little bit; you try to cover up a little bit.”

Gabriel had no problems performing his job, but when it was no longer possible to hide the symptoms of his disease, he called a meeting of the Knicks staff and asked them for “one big favor — would you continue to treat me like you always have? Everything else is fine. I may be a little slower and shake a little bit but above the shoulders, I’m still the same guy.”

He’s still the same guy who earned a reputation as one of the sharpest minds in all of basketball. Gabe, as he’s known to his friends, ran a one-man landscaping business in 1982 when he talked his way into a job with the Philadelphia 76ers, quickly proving himself invaluable to General Manager Pat Williams.

When Williams moved to Orlando to bring an NBA expansion team to Central Florida, Gabriel was his very first hire in 1987.

“John’s presence was invaluable,“ Williams recalls.

14

GROWING BOLDER

5GB_Mar14_Feature.indd 14

“Helping with the season ticket efforts, hiring a head coach, getting a scouting operation set up — he was in the middle of everything.”

As he did in Philadelphia, Gabriel rose quickly in Orlando, eventually replacing Williams as general manager when his mentor was promoted to vice president. In one 15-month period, Gabriel made 57 player transactions, clearing salary cap space and masterfully creating a path for the Magic’s return to greatness after Shaquille O’Neal left for Los Angeles.

In 1999, Gabriel gave Doc Rivers his first head coaching job, cobbled together a heart-and-hustle team of no-name players that thrilled the fans and nearly made the playoffs.

He was named NBA Executive of Year.

But the NBA is a “what have you done for me lately” business, and when the Magic endured a long losing streak in 2003, Gabriel was out — moving on to the Portland Trailblazers and then the Knicks.

He’s been in the NBA for more than 30 years and understands the game like very few.

“Hopefully I can stay in the league and continue doing what I do,” he says. “But if not, I’m not afraid to turn the page and start a new chapter and get into something else.”

No matter what he does professionally, Gabriel will lend his many talents to raising awareness about Parkinson’s.

“Once you accept the diagnosis, you move on looking for

PHOTO: RYAN HUMPHREY

In 1999, Gabriel gave Doc Rivers (far right) his first head coaching job. Pictured here signing rookies Ryan Humphrey and Rashard Griffith in 2002, the two built a “heart-and-hustle” team that thrilled fans and nearly made the playoffs in the wake of losing superstar center Shaquille O’Neal.

MARCH/APRIL 2014

2/17/14 12:31:01 PM

Gabriel and his family, including wife Dorothy as well as son Jack, a freshman at Lake Highland Prep, and daughters Meredith, a senior at lake Highland Prep, and Amelia, a junior at the University of Florida.

answers. What do I do next? What’s the next step? What’s happening that may help my situation?”

Eventually, he began to consider what he could do to help others and to eventually find a cure. Toward that end, he’s joined the board of the National Parkinson’s Association of Central Florida, and is spearheading the promotional efforts for Movement Day on April 5.

On Movement Day, everyone is invited to Cranes Roost in Altamonte Springs, where you can walk a mile or run three times around the lake.You can also take part in tai chi, yoga

PHOTO: ALAN FRAEBEL

Parkinson’s 101

In the majority of Parkinson’s cases, symptoms start to appear after the age of 50. However, in about 4 to 5 percent of cases, the sufferer is younger than 40. When signs and symptoms develop in an individual between 21 and 40, it’s known as “young-onset Parkinson’s disease.”

Despite decades of intensive study, the causes of Parkinson’s remain unknown. In some people, genetic factors may play a role; in others, illness, an environmental toxin or other event may contribute to PD. Aging is an important risk factor; there is a 2 to 4 percent risk for Parkinson’s among people over age 60, compared with a 1 to 2 percent risk in the general population.

PD progresses slowly, and while the disease itself is not fatal, complications from it are the 14th leading cause of death in the United States. There is no cure for Parkinson’s, but there is great hope as scientists and researchers are making great progress in identifying new treatment options that improve the quality of life for those with PD.

GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM

5GB_Mar14_Feature.indd 15

or any other kind of dance in other to raise funds and awareness for Parkinson’s disease.

Gabriel has also become actively involved with the University of Florida Center for Movement Disorders, where he’s a patient and an advocate.

“They have some of the finest doctors in the world there,” he says. “They’ve proven to be very, very successful in reducing the tremors and the effects of Parkinson’s.”

This is not Gabriel’s first major health scare. He survived a private battle with prostate cancer while still with the Magic, and in 2004 he was working in his backyard when he was stung repeatedly on his arm by wasps.

No one was home so he staggered to the street, gasping for air and looking for help. He was picked up by a stranger just moments before passing out and woke up in a hospital two and a half days later after nearly dying from anaphylactic shock.

Gabriel knows there are challenges ahead, but with the help and support of his family and friends he remains characteristically optimistic.

“All in all, there’s not time to be down about things,” he notes. “I’ve got a lot to look forward to in my life. I have a beautiful family that I love very much, and I look forward to making the most of each and every day. I still work out. I still run. I play football with my son. I hang out with the girls.”

Gabriel doesn’t know exactly what tomorrow will bring, but says he’s not yet run out of magic — and is committed to making a difference for those who are currently battling and those yet to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

“Twenty-five years ago, at a delicatessen in Orlando, I helped Pat Williams create magic and bring it here to Central Florida,” he says.

John Gabriel is ready to bring magic to Central Florida one more time. ■

GB EXTRA

Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to watch our interview with John Gabriel and to learn more about the National Parkinson Foundation’s Moving Day, which will feature events in Central Florida and across the nation.

GROWING BOLDER

15

2/17/14 12:31:07 PM

5 Questions

5

Questions

Roz Savage was a management consultant living an uninspired life. As an exercise, one day she wrote two versions of her own obituary — the one she wanted and the one she was heading for. After pondering the dueling accounts of her life, she made a huge change. She quit her job and began to row across the ocean. She has now set four Guinness World Records for rowing, in the process becoming the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. She’s also become one of the world’s top environmental advocates, a motivational speaker and an author. Her new book is called Stop Drifting, Start Rowing.

Drifting or Rowing?

World-Record Holder Finds Purpose on the High Seas.

Your adventure-seeking life famously began when you wrote your own obituary at the age of 36, and didn’t like what you saw. It’s been 10 years since you did that exercise, and as we know, you’ve been on some incredible adventures since then. How would you rate your obituary now?

The 10 years since then have really made me believe in the power of visualization. When I wrote that fantasy obituary 10 years ago, it was so far removed from where I was then, I couldn’t even begin to see how I would bridge the gap. And yet, oddly, it felt incredibly authentic to me. So somehow, little by little, my actual life has aligned itself with the fantasy version.

16

GROWING BOLDER

4GB_Mar13_5 Questions.indd 16

■■■ Your book, Stop Drifting, Start Rowing, is about having big dreams and making them happen at any age. What’s the difference between those who are actually successful at reinventing themselves and those who aren’t?

That’s a tough one. It would be easy to say that anyone can reinvent themselves provided they have enough commitment — plus determination, dedication and discipline. But I don’t want to sound harsh on those who haven’t been able to fulfill their dreams for reasons beyond their control — family reasons, illness, injury or whatever. The important thing is to differentiate between reasons and excuses. It’s not easy to follow your dreams. I had to give up my job,

PHOTO: DOUG deMARK

by Jackie Carlin

MARCH/APRIL 2014

2/17/14 12:34:36 PM

photoS: (top left) colin leonhardt; (top right) dan byles

income, relationship and home to follow mine. The important thing is to know you have choices — probably more choices than you realize. nnn You’ve rowed more than 15,000 miles and spent 500 days alone in the open sea. Was there an a-ha moment — a takeaway about the meaning of you life?

There have certainly been lots of a-ha moments, but I’d say they were really revelations about how to regulate my thoughts, emotions and responses more than about the meaning of life. I feel really fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend that much time alone at sea to learn how to deal with my demons. As to the meaning of life, I don’t think it’s something you find, on an ocean or otherwise. I think it’s something you create for yourself, according to your own values and priorities. My personal meaning of life is to be happy, and feel that I’m leaving the world a slightly better place than I found it. nnn You say that happiness and meaning are accessible to anyone at any time, and that we all don’t have to row 15,000 miles achieve it. What’s your No. 1 piece of advice to someone wanting to find happiness?

I’m always a bit wary of giving advice, being terribly bad at taking advice myself, but here goes. For too long, I tried to find happiness by reference to other people, and what I thought would make them happy. I think this might be a largely, but not exclusively, female phenomenon. So I paid too much attention to what I thought would please my parents, schoolteachers, boyfriend, husband, friends, bosses and colleagues. Eventually I had to take a step back and ask myself: What would make me feel I had lived a good life? That led to the obituary exercise. So I guess the advice is: make sure you’re living life according to your own definition of success. Trying to always please others

Roz Savage says the time she spent at sea gave her the opportunity “to learn how to deal with my demons.” Savage, the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, has spent more than 500 days aboard a small boat, traversing some 15,000 miles. will lead you down all kinds of wrong paths. nnn Tell us how you’ve seen the environmental movement change over the past 10 years. What do you think is the biggest current threat facing our world? What are the most encouraging changes you’ve seen?

Over the last 10 years, my perception is that the environmental movement has started to realize that its messaging needs to be more sophisticated and more attractive.

Throwing science or dogma at people hasn’t produced the desired result, and in fact it’s turned a lot of people off.

When you look at the world of advertising, it has some really interesting lessons to offer about how to create deep cultural change and to make us want things we didn’t know we wanted. The biggest threat facing our world is, without a doubt, humans. Too many of us are consuming too much, while billions go short. We need to focus on creating a quality of life — which is not the same as a standard of living — for all people, while still allowing room for the other species that share our planet. It’s all very do-able, but will require some intelligent long-term planning. We are supposed to be an intelligent species — we can do this. n

GB EXTRA Want to learn more about Roz’s adventures?

Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to watch our recent Skype conversation with her and to see more photos from her solo rows across the world’s oceans.

growingbolderMAGAZINE.com Growing BOlder 17

4GB_Mar13_5 Questions.indd 17

2/17/14 12:57:25 PM

Behind the Scenes

Bolder Sundays

Start Your Week Right With GB TV and Radio!

By Jackie Carlin

G

rowing Bolder is getting bigger and bolder in 2014 — and we want you to come along for the ride. On these pages you’ll find updates on some of our projects, and learn how we’re finding new ways to spread our message of hope, inspiration and possibility to more people than ever. We wouldn’t be here without your support. Thank

you for being a crucial member of Team GB. The best is yet to come!

Bolder. It’s RLTV, the only cable network for adults 50-plus.

You can catch premiere episodes of Growing Bolder on Sundays at 11 a.m. and Monday through Thursday at 3 p.m.

The network recently began airing on AT&T U-verse, joining several other major cable providers who distribute RLTV programming. Visit rl.tv to check local listings to find RLTV in your area.

Surviving & Thriving in 2014 In its first season, Surviving & Thriving, our show dedicated to shining a spotlight on those who’ve overcome tremendous Olympic champ and sports commentator Rowdy Gaines is flanked by Growing Bolder hosts Marc Middleton and Bill Shafer.

The fun begins in Central Florida Sunday mornings on WKMG Local 6. Two episodes of Growing Bolder air backto-back, beginning at 5 a.m.

At 7 a.m., tune in to 90.7 WMFE-FM, either on your radio or

obstacles to come out stronger than ever, generated a lot of attention and even earned an Emmy nomination.

This year, it’s going to be bigger and better than ever.

We’re proud to announce a new long-term partnership with Florida Hospital

live online at wmfe.org, for new episodes of the Growing Bold-

to tell the stories of those who are surviving life’s toughest

er Radio Show, our 60-minute weekly interview program.

struggles and inspiring the rest of us in the process.

It features in-depth conversations with some of the

The one-hour specials will air once a quarter on WKMG

world’s most fascinating authors, health experts, celebri-

Local 6, and will be hosted by two-time cancer survivor

ties and record-breaking masters athletes.

Wendy Choiji. Stay tuned for more details and to learn how

And there’s a new home for all-new episodes of Growing

your stories could inspire others.

See Yourself Growing Bolder

Want to see yourself in Growing Bolder Magazine? Send us a photo of you doing your thing and a short description of how you’re Growing Bolder. Send it and your contact information to gbmagazine@boldermediagroup.com or send c/o Growing Bolder Magazine, One Purlieu Place, Suite 139, Winter Park, FL 32792. You can also post your photos and comments on our Facebook page: facebook.com/growingbolder.

18

GROWING BOLDER

8GB_Mar14_Behind the Scenes.indd 18

MARCH/APRIL 2014

2/17/14 5:04:16 PM

Smash Stereotypes What does 65 look like to you? Maybe it’s time you turned your thinking upside down. Constance Whiston of Kansas submitted this fun playground picture to our Facebook page, saying this is what 65 looks like on her — thanks to her dedication to Les Mills group exercise classes.

Constance shared this piece of advice: “Exercise beyond what you think you can do, leave white food alone and cultivate optimism. Have lots of friends and serve. That will keep you around for a long time.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Her picture inspired others to send us their pictures, too, including George Bussey, who told us this biking photo is from last summer in Colorado, before he moved back to Hawaii.

“My plans for 65 are to bike up Haleakala (10,000 vertical feet and 35 miles), and then attack Mauna Kea, at 13,990 vertical feet and about 47 miles,” he wrote.

George isn’t the only one who’s redefining his 60s.

Constance Whiston

“Sixty-five feels great to me. I’m still doing triathlons.

I love the multisports for a good workout,” writes Vi-

Vinette Tichi

nette Tichi of Seattle, Wa. We also heard from a 62-year-old Harley rider and

a 71-year-old headstander. All of these examples of what’s possible are having a real impact on our other Facebook users.

“I’m inspired by the comments. I am only 58 and feel like crap. You all give me hope,” one fan told us.

How are you redefining aging? Email us at gbmagazine@boldermediagroup.com or submit a picture on our Facebook page (facebook.com/growingbolder) George Bussey

and we might feature your story on an upcoming episode of Growing Bolder.

growingbolder.com Growing BOlder 19

8GB_Mar14_Behind the Scenes.indd 19

2/17/14 12:37:25 PM

Ain’t Life Grand

Garage Bands

Want to Start a Successful Business? Hit the Garage!

by Key Howard

I

love success stories — and the more unusual, the better. It’s long been maintained that what’s needed to jump-start our economy is more garages. After all, it was in the proverbial garage that some of our greatest inventions and most successful companies were born.

It all began in 1896 when Henry Ford started experiments with a gasoline engine in the kitchen. Needing more room to work, one of his neighbors let Henry use a nearby shed. And that’s where the horseless carriage was born.

When young Walt Disney moved to Hollywood back in 1923, guess where he created the first cartoons featuring Mickey and Minnie? In his uncle’s garage, of course.

In the 1920s, in a former gas station and garage in Monroe, La., a man by the name of Charlie Woolman began an aerial crop-dusting venture, buzzing cotton fields and battling the boll weevil. His interests eventually shifted to ferrying mail and passengers. And from that garage, Delta Airlines was formed.

In 1940 Ruth and Elliot Handler rented a garage to make giftware from a new wonder plastic called Lucite. Also in that garage, Ruth dreamed up the Barbie doll and Mattel,

20

GROWING BOLDER

11GB_Mar14_Life is Grand.indd 20

the iconic toy company, had its genesis.

So next time you’ve got a hot idea you’d like to explore, I suggest you start your operation in the garage. You’ll certainly be in good company. ■ Key Howard is an award-winning actor, producer, director and musician who has appeared in movies, on TV and on stage in Las Vegas, where he worked with Bob Hope, Nat King Cole and Dinah Shore. He also spent several years as the musical conductor for comedian Don Rickles. Key now draws upon his rich and colorful career in a series of vignettes called “Ain’t Life Grand” for Growing Bolder TV and the Growing Bolder Radio Show. Like Paul Harvey, Key uses fact and fiction to entertain audiences with tales that reflect humor, family, personal responsibility and integrity.

GB EXTRA

Want to see more “Ain’t Life Grand” moments? Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to watch Key’s segments for Growing Bolder TV and to listen to his Growing Bolder Radio Show reports.

MARCH/APRIL 2014

2/17/14 5:04:53 PM

11GB_Mar14_Life is Grand.indd 21

2/17/14 12:38:17 PM

Bolder Arts

Motor City Melody

Songwriter Hopes “The D” Renews Detroit’s Spirit.

By Jackie Carlin

I

f you think not being able to read music or play a single note should keep you from becoming a Grammy, Emmy, Tony and Webby award-winning songwriter, then you need to meet Allee Willis. Allee is famous for writing the theme song for the sitcom Friends as well as September and Boogie Wonderland for Earth, Wind & Fire. She also wrote Neutron Dance for the Pointer Sisters and the Broadway musical version of The Color Purple.

In fact, Allee’s songs have sold more than 50 million records.

She’s also a painter, a set designer, a writer and an awardwinning filmmaker. Her latest project is a love song to her hometown of Detroit, a Motor City sing-along called “The D.” “The song was written so every single Detroiter who wanted to be on the record could be on the record,” she says. “It’s the first record in history where the original

artist is thousands and thousands of people.”

With a crew of 15, Allee visited more than 50 locations and let people do their thing. School choirs and theatre groups sang and the Detroit Bass Players and Metro Detroit Area Guitar Players wailed away, giving the music a “big bottom sound” that rattled the walls.

Some spun hubcaps while others breathed fire. And Allee even found herself dancing with dogs. “Whatever your talent is, if you wanted to exhibit it, this was the time.”

Some famous Motowners even joined in on the project.

Among them: Martha Reeves, Mary Wilson and Lamont Dozer, part of the famous Motown songwriting trio Holland-Dozier-Holland that wrote hits for The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers and many others.

When she was finished, Allee had 4,000 separate vocal and instrument tracks and more than 2,000 hours of footage. Now comes the tricky part — she’s in the process of

PHOTO: MARYANNE BILHAM

Allee Willis, whose songs have sold more than 50 million records, recruited famous friends and thousands of everyday Detroiters to participate in her music and video project.

22

GROWING BOLDER

3GB_Mar14_Arts.indd 22

MARCH/APRIL 2014

2/17/14 12:40:09 PM

turning “The D” into a song, a music video and a featurelength documentary.

Allee, 65, says she’s been waiting her whole life for a project like this.

“I never got to do what it is that I think I’m best at doing,” she says. “I’ve had achievements in a lot of separate fields, but I always, from the very beginning, saw myself as a multimedia artist in the true sense of the word.”

She’d been looking for a “big idea” that allowed her to combine all her talents.

“It’s always been a bit frustrating for me,” says Allee.

“But I just kept pushing until someone gave me a chance to finally do it on the scale that I know I’m capable of doing it. And I guess that’s what this Detroit project was.”

Allee had grown tired of what she considered to be the “excessively undeserved” bad rap with which her hometown had been saddled. Plus, she adds, she saw a lot of similarities between her own life story and that of Detroit.

Says Allee: “I think it’s potentially a model city for this century, the same way it was for the last, because it’s really dealing with the realities of what happens when you lose everything.

And as a self-funded artist, I know what that’s like.”

She’s already witnessed “The D” project bringing a renewed sense of pride to Detroiters. And she hopes it tells

Mumford High School in northwest Detroit was one of many locations where throngs gathered to sing along to “The D,” a song celebrating the Motor City. Proceeds from the song, video and documentary will benefit local arts organizations. the real story of the Motor City to the outside world.

“Whenever I would go home, I wouldn’t see this city that everyone else was seeing falling apart,” Allee says. “You have to really drive in Detroit to find those buildings with those blown-out windows. Otherwise, it’s gorgeous and it’s filled with the most soulful people in the world who just don’t give up.”

This isn’t Allee’s first time experimenting with a massive collaboration.

“I started developing a social network on the Internet in 1992, which was excessively early for something like that,” she notes. “I was always interested in, ‘What’s a song if a trillion people are collaborating on it, not just two?’ With Detroit, it’s almost like I’ve got that collaboration with a live city.”

Allee is living proof that the only person putting limits on your potential is yourself.

“I don’t know how to read, write or play music,” she says. “I don’t really know how to do anything I do. I just always want to do it so bad I would figure out some way to do it. Luckily enough, I was able to knock a few of them out of the park, so

growingbolderMAGAZINE.com Growing BOlder 23

3GB_Mar14_Arts.indd 23

2/17/14 12:40:26 PM

Bolder Arts

I got a reputation for doing things in an unorthodox way.”

Allee is currently looking for sponsors in the Detroit area to help her finish “The D.” To date, it’s been produced on virtually no budget. Any money raised after the documentary is complete will go back to the City of Detroit to help support two arts charities.

She says efforts are also underway to make “The D” the official theme song of Detroit.

“After all,” she says, “nothing raises spirits like a good song.” ■

24

GROWING BOLDER

3GB_Mar14_Arts.indd 24

Lily Tomlin, Martha Reeves and Mary Wilson were among the celebrities helping to bring Willis’s “big idea” to life. She hopes “The D” will be adopted as the official song of Detroit.

GB EXTRA

Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com to see all the behind-the-scenes pictures from “The D” sing-alongs and to watch a sneak preview of the documentary. Plus, find out how you can help support Allee’s project and the two arts charities that will be the beneficiaries.

MARCH/APRIL 2014

2/17/14 12:40:39 PM

Road to Recovery

Movement Matters

Low-Impact Cardio May Keep “Angry” Nerves Quiet.

By Robert L. Masson, M.D.

I

t happens far too often. A healthy, active, mobile adult comes into my office clutching a spine MRI that shows terrible narrowing or disc problems that may have been present for decades.

And yet, the patient is convinced that the situation is urgent and that spinal surgery will be required.

In the absence of a specific injury, I typically discover that he or she has recently done something uncharacteristic, such as a home improvement project or some spring cleaning. That activity has caused the pain.

As I navigate treatment options, the most important thing that I look for is a major neurological symptom such as weakness, profound numbness or bowel and bladder changes. Most have none of these; just nerve pain, numbness or tingling — with or without back pain.

In most cases, I discover a narrowing that’s causing the nerve to be inflamed. The MRI often will show this stenosis, or narrowing, but what isn’t as obvious is that the “angry” nerve may also be swollen, which further compounds the longstanding narrowing.

Treatment is easy in most cases. The goal is to maximize nerve healing and reduce nerve swelling. Anti-inflammatories reduce swelling, and avoiding activities that vertically collapse disc space prevents mechanical reinjury of the

nerve at the tight spot.

Muscle relaxants, massage and therapy treatments give the nerve a little more room by reducing the muscular spasms that aggravate disc-space collapse. Steroids by mouth, epidural or spinal injection can also help reduce the swelling within the nerve. Chiropractic treatment can improve mobility in many cases.

Rest needs to be reinterpreted.Activities that trigger nerve pain should be avoided, but the body needs to keep moving to avoid stiffness, weakness, postural compensation and progressive loss of fundamental, preventative strength.

I strongly encourage low-impact cardio exercise that doesn’t stimulate or activate nerve pain. There’s no one perfect exercise, but water-related activity, recumbent bikes, stair climber machines and elliptical trainers often allow for aerobic exercise even with a pinched “angry” nerve.

In extreme cases, when the pain is relentless and conservative treatment and rest don’t help, surgery may be necessary. One thing is certain — losing strength and physical conditioning long-term guarantees that the spine condition will progress.

In short: To help alleviate nerve pain, avoid activity that makes the pain worse. But don’t avoid activity altogether.

During the recovery process, movement matters. ■

Robert L. Masson, M.D., is an internationally recognized neurosurgeon specializing in spinal injury and sports spine medicine. He also is the founder of the NeuroSpine Institute, recognized as a global referral center for complex minimally invasive spine reconstruction. He is an international consultant for minimally invasive neurosurgery and one of the world’s leading advocates for athletic spinal injury being recognized as a recoverable sports injury.

GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM

12GB_Mar14_Road Recovery.indd 25

GROWING BOLDER

25

2/17/14 1:08:00 PM

Masters Sports

“Challenge Yourself” He Wants to be the Best — and He Usually Is.

O

by Bill Shafer

Sandy admits that he’s “incredibly competitive — I def the many things Sandy Scott has done in his mand of myself to not just be the best that I can be at life, he has never built a brick wall. The knowlsomething. I will work at it until I can be the best at that edge might have come in handy. His whole life endeavor, period.” has been about breaking through them. He’s just about to His competitive hunger has kept him jumping from one break through another. challenge to the next. He’s been a chess champion, an Sandy is one of the fastest 74-year-old cyclists in the airline pilot, a software designer, an author, a pitchman world. After wiping out and breaking his neck in his first and has tried nearly every race eight years ago, he’s hobby imaginable. Now, at won nearly every event he’s 74, he’s ready to try someentered and set numerous thing new. all-time records — often “Currently, I have imfinishing with the fastest mersed myself in photogtime of all age groups. raphy and I am about to He’s riding faster now enter a very large contest than he did when he was in sponsored by Canon,” he his 60s. Which is why it was says. “My entry is being such a surprise when he anreviewed by a jury and I’ve nounced this month that he been told by three different wouldn’t race again. pros that the shot I sent is But if you know Sandy, the best they’ve ever seen. it’s really no surprise at all.

To me, that’s life — a brand “I find it boring that I know new adventure. ” when I show up that I’m goAnd that’s not all. He also ing to win.” he says. has his sights set on a new The challenge was gone physical challenge. Lanky — and Sandy thrives on at 5-foot-11 and weighchallenge. He has all his ing 155 pounds, Sandy is life. As a young police officonsidering competing in cer, he applied for the much more dangerous motorcycle Sandy Scott is always looking for a new adventure — and strives weightlifting. to excel at everything he tries.

“I think it would be an patrol. interesting challenge try When he took up skydivto win a state championship at such an unlikely activity ing, he insisted on only non-tethered, non-tandem jumps. for my natural talents,” he says.

“Danger actually attracts me,” he says. “It makes me feel To keep himself motivated, Sandy is even blogging about even more alive.”

The danger doesn’t have to be physical. For years Sandy was driven by financial danger.

GB EXTRA “I was incredibly irresponsible in saving for retirement,” Want to see how fast Sandy really does ride? Head he says. “So I taught myself stock trading, spending all day to GrowingBolderMagazine.com to watch videos of Sandy in action and to read his blog, sandyin front of three screens from morning to night. To this day, scott.growingbolder.com.

I manage three trading accounts and beat the hell out of my one ‘professionally’ managed account.”

26

GROWING BOLDER

6GB_Mar13_GB Sports.indd 26

MARCH/APRIL 2014

2/17/14 5:05:29 PM

Having mastered every athletic endeavor he’s tried, Scott has turned his attention to photography. Direct Eye Contact With a Cormorant (left) was chosen as the editor’s favorite recently

by Outdoor Photography magazine, and is entered in an international juried art show. Portrait of a Great Blue Heron (above) is entered in a photo contest sponsored by St. Petersburg’s Boyd Hill Nature Preserve.

his weightlifting training at sandyscott.growingbolder. com.

But what if he fails? What if he hurts himself? What if he doesn’t like it? Sandy says it’s important to have “what ifs” in your life, as long as you turn them around: “Just flip them over, because to me, a ‘what if’ is, what if I win another championship?’ What if I set a new record?

What if I meet a whole new group of great friends? Don’t use your ‘what ifs’ to limit yourself. Turn them around to challenge yourself.” n growingbolderMAGAZINE.com Growing BOlder 27

6GB_Mar13_GB Sports.indd 27

2/17/14 1:06:39 PM

Bolder Nutrition

Busting Sugar Myths

It’s Obesity, Not the Sweet Stuff, That’s the Real Issue.

G

by Susan Mitchell, PhD, RD, FAND

oogle the word “sugar” and more than 147 million results pop up. You’ll find plenty of information, but much of it is just plain wrong. Let’s bust some myths on sugar.

Sucrose (white sugar), high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), fruit juice concentrate and agave syrup are very similar in their processing methods.

Once these sugars are absorbed in the body and reach the bloodstream, they all look alike — fructose and glucose molecules.

They deliver the same sugars, to the same body tissues, within the same time frame.

When someone tells you that sugar is different from HFCS, which is different from agave syrup, this is a myth. To the body, sugar is sugar. Agave syrup is not healthier than sugar, fruit juice concentrate or HFCS. Another myth blames sugar as the cause of obesity. Numbers from the Economic Research Service show that we consume 458 more calories per day now than in 1970. Dr. Susan Mitchell These calories come from added fats, grains and cereals, and added sugars.

The total calories from added sugars, however, have dropped from 18 percent to 14 percent. No one food ingredient is to blame for weight gain and obesity. In fact, obesity is a calorie/exercise imbalance. Portion distortion has resulted in serving sizes that border on obscene.

Did you know that one-third of cancer deaths each year are linked to diet and physical activity, including being

overweight or obese? Obesity increases the risk of many types of cancer.

A very popular myth is that sugar increases cancer risk and actually fuels cancer cells. Sugar can increase calorie intake, resulting in weight gain. Therefore, sugar may be associated with cancer risk for that reason.

Plus, added sugars provide zero nutrients that could lower cancer risk. Cutting back on foods such as cakes, candy, sweetened cereals and sugar-sweetened drinks can help reduce calories, reduce obesity and leave room for foods packed with nutritional value.

Obesity — not sugar — is the issue.

Research is looking at the connection between body weight and the effect on hormonal and inflammatory factors tied to cancer. So, next time you read hyped information about sugar, weight and cancer, remember: ■ Sugar, fruit juice concentrate, agave syrup and HFCS are nutritionally equivalent.

■ To the body, sugar is sugar. Which added sugar you use is a personal choice.

■ Total calories consumed determine weight. Obesity is tied to disease such as cancer.

■ It’s diet and lifestyle over time that influences weight and health status.

■ Substituting healthy, nutrition-packed foods for nutritionally vacant foods can both cut calories and decrease cancer risk. ■

Covering the health topics that impact your daily life, registered dietitian nutritionist Dr. Susan Mitchell communicates health messages thru digital and traditional media. Listen to her weekly radio segment every Monday at 7:40 a.m. on Orlando’s 102.5 WLOQ and iHeartRadio. She writes the blog “How Big is Your BUT?” and “BUT Busters: No Excuse Tips to Eat Smart-Live Smart.”

From interviews with national talk radio personalities like Sean Hannity and consumer warrior Clark Howard, Mitchell is known for her smart, sassy straight talk about nutrition, food and fitness. susanmitchell.org.

28

GROWING BOLDER

7GB_Mar14_Nutrition.indd 28

GB EXTRA

Visit GrowingBolderMagazine.com for links to Dr. Mitchell’s podcasts and her Pinterest page, which is full of healthy, easy-to-make and delicious recipes.

MARCH/APRIL 2014

2/17/14 1:10:59 PM

GROWINGBOLDERMAGAZINE.COM

7GB_Mar14_Nutrition.indd 29

GROWING BOLDER

29

2/17/14 1:14:26 PM

The Takeaway

“Funk the Dumb Stuff” That’s My Motto for Solving Life’s Problems.

by Bill Shafer

I

t’s a song by Tower of Power. It should probably be added as the eleventh commandment. Thou shalt funk the dumb stuff!

So simple, yet this one little phrase can save relationships, avert heartaches, smooth stresses and totally change your outlook on life. Just think of all the “dumb stuff” we don’t funk.

Wars have been started, marriages ended and friendships fizzled from things as simple as having a bad day and saying something you didn’t mean. Or by simply misunderstanding what someone else has said.

To put it kindly, we are a culture of overreactors. We are fastidious read-into experts. We think we know what others are “really” saying even better than they do.

Good times can evaporate from our memories in an instant; not-so-good times are etched there forever. Someone can do a hundred nice things for us, but the second they slip up with a snarky comment, a perceived slight or a misunderstood oversight — it’s all over!

Just like in the fairy tale: someone can be nice enough to give us a whole stack of mattresses, but if there’s a pea under it, we’ll feel it. And we won’t like it!

Then, we’ll dwell. We’re excellent dwellers. We’ll take one negative incident, crawl inside and live there. After dwelling, we hunker down. Dig the foxhole. Build the wall.

No way I’m peeking over the top. Reach out? Not me, I’ll show you! People have held grudges for years, family members have been estranged for lifetimes. For what?

Life presents so many real challenges. We’ll all have unexpected heartbreak and tragedies to deal with. It’s family and friends that help us push through. We need all the love and support we can acquire. Yet we’re so quick to chop a whole tree down just because we didn’t like a leaf.

So, how do we know if it’s “dumb stuff” or legit? The answer is, it’s all dumb stuff. We make it legit by overreacting to it.

So, avert the drama, save yourself a ton of stress and stop letting others affect your outlook. Just think of those four little words.

Funk the dumb stuff. ■

30

GROWING BOLDER

GB EXTRA Want to learn more about Bill Shafer’s life mottos?

Check out his new blog, bill.growingbolder.com.

MARCH/APRIL 2014

H100-13-11 10GB_Mar14_Takeaway.indd 30

2/17/14 2:25:33 PM

Turn your healthy choices into healthy habits.

Download the new Healthy 100 Habits app from Florida Hospital, and choose from more than 100+ habits that will keep you living to a Healthy 100.

This app doesn’t just help you lose weight or eat better. Healthy goals could also include spending more time with family, setting aside time for spiritual renewal and making sure you get a full night’s rest.

Which healthy habit will you create?

H100-13-11459

FREE for iPhone™ or Android™ devices

H100-13-11459_GrowingBolderMag-Nov/Dec.indd 1 10GB_Mar14_Takeaway.indd 31

10/1/13 1:38 PM 2/17/14 2:25:25 PM

10GB_Mar14_Takeaway.indd 32

2/17/14 2:25:17 PM