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If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from lower back or neck pain, you know how debilitating it can be. Burning, shooting nerve pains and muscles in constant spasm make even the simplest movement an ordeal. Often, just finding a comfortable position is virtually impossible.
Traditional treatment starts with medication and bed rest and ends with the prospect of surgery – a painful, expensive, frightening experience. Treatments such as acupuncture, epidural injections, hot/cold therapy, massage and other "therapeutic" techniques may offer limited relief. Considerable research has produced a relatively new therapy that is highly effective in treating intervertebral disc problems. This treatment, known as Decompression Therapy, has opened the floodgates of new patients to Tri County Pain Management and Precision Pain Management Centers.
Decompression Therapy is a traction-based procedure that can relieve pain associated with disc herniation, degenerative discs, posterior facet and compression-related syndromes. It also enhances the healing process and renders quick, effective and amazing pain relief that enables most patients to return to a more active lifestyle! It is an FDA-cleared procedure, and most insurances cover traction therapy.
Decompression occurs as a result of an improved understanding of how to reliably cause the spine to "unload." The vertebral separation causes a vacuum or a centripetal force in the disc, which results in a "phasic change in pressure." This "vacuum effect" helps in the retraction (pulling in) of the extruded disc material.
When the disc retracts it can stop putting pressure on the spinal nerve or spinal cord. Thus the term "Decompression." Once the nerve is decompressed, a significant amount of patients will notice a decrease in arm/leg pain.
Someone who has previously not found relief through other treatments is a perfect candidate for this treatment. Decompression Therapy may also be useful in determining the overall prognosis of passive care and expediting the phase-in of rehab protocols. Clinical findings suggest Decompression will create a relatively quick initial response. Patients who do well tend to feel a sense of relief (which can be direct pain cessation or a centralization of pain and/or reduction to an ache or stiffness) within six sessions. Full relief, if attainable through this passive treatment, can be in as soon as a few weeks. (Occasionally a "stubborn" pain syndrome may continue to improve slowly over 15 sessions, though this is not the norm.) Often, patients will be treated in 4-6 sessions and notice enough relief to allow active rehab to begin. Their Decompression may continue (pre- or post-rehab depending on the methods chosen) for 4-6 further sessions before discontinuing or reducing the frequency. Typical frequency is 3-5 times per week. The extent and seriousness of the symptoms will determine if more than 3 sessions per week should be used. Treatments only take about 25-30 minutes, and again, most insurance companies cover them. For more information on how you can benefit from the Dynamic Traction System (DTS), call Tri County Pain Management Center 215-957-5400 or the Precision Pain Management Center at 215-657-9393.
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NeuroModulation Technique Makes Life Better for Asthma Sufferers A D V E R T O R I A L
By Jennifer Lader
Vince Putiri considered himself very fit at age fifty-five. His main exercise was running and he brought a lot of intensity to his workouts and to his job as a teacher’s union representative. But each day, he had to take a tablet of Singulair, for asthma. Deep in Putiri’s lungs, the already inflamed bronchial tubes would become constricted still further, making it difficult for him to breathe without the medication. Then his daughter, Amy, got a new job.
“She tells me she’s working for this homeopathic doctor who helps people get past allergies.” I said, ‘Wait a minute! I know about her, from an article about how she helped a girl with severe peanut allergies.”
“It’s a biofeedback tool that allows us to gain information from the body’s control system. It operates on an other-than-conscious level. It’s all in the questions you ask but, with training, anyone could learn to do it. What intrigued me was the method of addressing the symptoms. Dr. Rhodes helps the immune system and other systems work better,” said Putiri. “For me, my body had learned to react to triggers in a negative way. The respiratory system is both a voluntary and an involuntary system. Through the sessions with Dr. Rhodes, my body has been able to heal itself.”
Dr. Lisa Rhodes of Integrative Health Care, located in Fountainville, PA, does something that few others even attempt to do. Putiri explained, “She helps the body heal itself so that, with asthma, it doesn’t respond to triggers with an attack that requires medication to relieve.”
Dr. Rhodes has always been fascinated with how the body moves, with how it works. She went to podiatry school and took the usual route of clinical rotations and her residency. It was then that she realized allopathic medicine, which deals in things you can see and measure, didn’t have a lot of answers for chronic problems.
“I gravitated towards energetic medicine,” Rhodes said, “Here you’re dealing in vibrational energy, electromagnetic fields and meridians. Of course, it required a lot more training.”
Along the way, Rhodes discovered NeuroModulation Technique, or NMT. It combines energetic medicine with the typically Western concepts of how the body works, something in which she is well-grounded. Leslie Feinberg, D.C. developed NeuroModulation Technique, or NMT, in 2002 and 2003 in Oregon. Feinberg has trained many practitioners, including Rhodes. They can be located at www.nmt.md.
NMT hinges on muscle response testing. Rhodes scans the body for information by exerting a slight pressure on the forearm and gauges the resulting resistance or lack thereof from the body. She likened muscle response testing to a Geiger counter. 38 I PhillyFIT
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Once Rhodes identifies the body systems that aren’t functioning at full steam, she makes corrective statements and delivers a series of taps up and down the sides of the vertebrae of the spine to help the body integrate a new way of responding to internal or external stimuli. A session like this usually takes ten to twenty minutes and may be repeated every few weeks.
Putiri admitted, “If I hadn’t read that article, I probably wouldn’t have believed what my daughter was telling me about Dr. Rhodes’ work. But once I started the sessions, the number of things that triggered an asthma attack for me decreased. I was able to stop taking the medication. That was six years ago.”
“With asthma, the body has a hypersensitivity to substances it perceives as allergens. These can be ingestants taken through the mouth, inhalants that we breathe in, contactants where the substance is absorbed through the skin, injectants and infectious agents like viruses, bacteria or parasites,” Rhodes explained. “Asthmatics are often allergic to vitamin B complex, something that wheat and other grains are loaded with,” Rhodes said. Putiri had thought that, using NMT, he had discovered what most of his triggers were. He had moved into a maintenance schedule of sessions with Dr. Rhodes. Then he experienced a mystery flare-up of asthma.
I went to see Dr. Rhodes and she tested for triggers and asked, “Have you been near petroleum?” “You mean like car oil,” I responded. “No, petroleum in the environment, said Rhodes. I was knocking my head trying to figure it out when I realized that I had been down at the shore and they had sprayed for larvae. It was a petroleum-based spray! Here was an example of a trigger that Putiri said he is certain he never would have been able to identify and deal with on his own.
NMT can work for people of all ages. Three-year-old Cody had the restricted airways and reduced breathing capacity typical of people with asthma. His mother could hear what she called “spongy breathing” when she put her ear against his back. A blood test showed he was allergic to peanuts, dairy and dust mites.
Cody’s pediatrician prescribed a daily dose of fluticasone propionate, a steroid that nevertheless helped Cody participate in outdoor activities, eat better and sleep through the night. If he got a cold or the flu, he also took a thrice-daily dose of Albuterol through an aero-chamber to prevent a full-fledged asthma attack.
ure Cody’s lung capacity. He tested normal. Use of the steroid was discontinued. In the two years since, Cody has only used the rescue inhaler once when he and his siblings all came down with a virus that seemed to concentrate on the respiratory system.
Cody is now free of his dairy allergy and his mother said she hopes to deal with the peanut allergy in future sessions with Rhodes, who has also helped people with conditions as diverse as anxiety, muscular sclerosis and cancer. Allergies, with or without asthma present, constitute a large portion of the symptoms Rhodes sees. For Putiri, who is now retired and, at age sixty-one, enjoys a full life that includes rigorous exercise, NMT has been a life enhancer. “For anybody looking for another way of dealing with asthma, without medication and without the daily use of an inhaler, NMT is a wonderful way to pinpoint and resolve your triggers. I run marathons and the training is the most important part. At times, especially in humid weather, my breathing was labored. NMT makes life easier,” commented Putiri.
Lisa Rhodes D.P,M., LAc In 1991 Dr. Rhodes graduated from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. She completed her training with a residency in podiatric orthopedics t Temple University. Shortly there after Dr. Rhodes attended Eastern School of Acupuncture and received her license in acupuncture. Dr. Rhodes resides in Bucks County, Pa. has been practicing alternative medicine for over 10 years. She has been featured in Philadelphia Magazine, Natural Awakenings and New Visions Magazine, and presented at the Jaffe-Mellor symposium. 215-230-4600 Jennifer Lader is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Bethlehem, PA and enjoys connecting people with natural alternatives for health and healing.
Allergies Acting Up? Resolution of Allergy Symptoms Naturally. We have the medication free solution for you!
www.integrativehealthcarepa.com 215-230-4600 Follow us on Facebook.com/integrativehealthcarepa and Twitter @I_Health_Care
This went on for two years, until one January when his mother noticed that Cody’s cold, and resulting need for the Albuterol, never seemed to end and that there were constantly dark rings under his eyes. She resolved to find a way to help him. A friend showed her the article about the girl with the peanut allergy, so she contacted Rhodes.
“Steroids in particular cause a decrease in immunity,” Rhodes explained. “They suppress the body’s production of natural steroids and can also lead to weight gain, diabetes, fragile bones and yeast infections. The asthma medicines treat the symptoms, but they don’t address the problem.”
After a few bi-weekly sessions with Rhodes, Cody’s mother consulted with their pediatrician, who ordered a pulmonary function test to meas-
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More than just a sore stomach
PhysicallyFIT
By Dr. Carrie Goldkamp, VMD, DACVIM
I love my job as a veterinarian because I can help sick animals feel better. When I was a young child, I remember that a pet that was vomiting, losing weight, or having diarrhea might have been euthanized because fewer diagnostic and treatment options were available to animals at that time. The pet might have been assumed to have cancer and was deemed untreatable. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, much of the public was unaware of the existence of veterinary specialists, or veterinarians with extended education and experience in a particular medical condition, and there were not many specialists in the field even if a pet owner wanted to pursue specialized care. Over the past
twenty to thirty years, long strides have been made in veterinary care, allowing veterinarians to offer services comparable to what humans receive.
As a veterinary internal medicine specialist, or “internist” at the Veterinary Specialty Center of Delaware, I have been trained to diagnose and treat various diseases that affect our pets as well as to recognize diseases that are untreatable or have a poor prognosis. If your dog or cat is sick for an unknown reason, I am also the person who tries to find the cause. Similar to the show House on television, I
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work to find a diagnosis through physical examination, laboratory testing, imaging, and biopsies to solve mystery illnesses. The difference between me and Dr. House is that my patients do not talk, which makes the physical examination and communication with a pet owner all the more important. A diagnosis is not always found despite thorough investigation, but many successes do happen with a little extra sleuthing. The most rewarding part of my job is to find the cause of an animal’s illness, treat him or her, and watching a pet go home happy to his or her family. Veterinary Internists, or doctors working with the internal body systems, commonly see patients with a variety of diseases: gastrointestinal, infectious, immune-mediated, liver and pancreatic, kidney and/or urinary tract, endocrine, and respiratory. Below is an example of a non-cancerous intestinal disease often seen in dogs and cats called inflammatory bowel disease, or “IBD.”
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by persistent or recurrent gastrointestinal problems with evidence of inflammation on biopsy. Although the cause of IBD is unknown, it is believed that inflammatory cells infiltrate the gut due to an inappropriate response to food or bacteria. The small intestine and large intestine are most commonly affected, but disease can be seen anywhere in the gut. IBD is most common in middle-aged dogs and cats. Certain breeds have a predisposition to IBD, although mixed breed pets can be affected as well. What are the symptoms of IBD? The most common symptoms of IBD commonly include chronic vomiting and diarrhea, with severity of signs varying with severity of
disease. Other signs may include weight loss, decreased or increased appetite, and abdominal discomfort.
How is IBD diagnosed? A diagnosis of IBD is a diagnosis of exclusion and requires ruling out many other diseases that may cause gut inflammation. Systemic disease (liver, kidney, etc), intestinal infections (parasitic, bacterial, protozoal, viral, fungal), endocrine diseases, and cancer need to be ruled out for a true diagnosis of IBD. Tests that may be recommended may include fecal examinations, blood work, urinalysis, imaging (x-rays, ultrasound), thyroid testing (in cats), viral testing in cats (feline leukemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus), and endoscopic or surgical biopsy of the intestines. Biopsies can be obtained either endoscopically or surgically. Endoscopy is performed by a veterinary internist and allows examination of the inside of the gut using a long, thin, flexible (or rigid) tube which has a light and video camera. Gastroduodenoscopy allows examination of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine, while colonoscopy allows examination of the colon and rectum. Multiple biopsies of both normal and abnormal appearing tissue are obtained through the endoscope. Biopsy allows the pathologist to examine gastrointestinal tissue for inflammatory cells consistent with IBD and to rule out other diseases that may mimic IBD. Endoscopy is performed under general anesthesia and has the advantages over surgery in that overnight hospitalization is usually not required, recovery is quick, and there is a low complication rate. Surgery, on the other hand, allows the veterinarian to obtain full-thickness biopsies which may provide more information; however, surgery carries more risk of complication, and hospitalization with post-operative recovery is necessary. What is the treatment for IBD? Treatment for IBD may include the use of anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive drugs to decrease the inflammation in the gut, hypoallergenic or highly digestible diets to decrease reaction in the gut, and antimicrobials to decrease bacteria that may cause inflammation. Supplemental, or “adjunctive” therapy with vitamins and probiotics may be recommended. Therapy is tailored to your pet’s specific disease process as determined by blood and biopsy results, as well as clinical signs.
What is the prognosis? Early diagnosis is beneficial as therapy is more likely to be successful when signs are mild. Animals with more severe disease are more likely to have negative outcomes. Disease in many dogs and most cats will go into remission with appropriate therapy; however, approximately half of pets will relapse or have intermittent signs. What do I do if I suspect IBD in my pet? Talk to your general practitioner about referral to a board-certified veterinary internist. A board-certified internist has specialized training and equipment used in the diagnosis and treatment of IBD. Through appropriate testing, early diagnosis can be achieved, and unnecessary costs can be avoided. Early diagnosis with proper treatment provides your pet with the best chance of success.
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Dr. Carrie Goldkamp, VMD, is a board-certified Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and practices at the Veterinary Specialty Center of Delaware -- a full service veterinary emergency and referral center offering multiple specialties and specialized diagnostic technologies. VSCD is located on Churchmans Road in New Castle, Delaware, off of the I-95 highway, and sees patients from all over the region. Directions and more information are located at www.vscdel.com.
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PhysicallyFIT
Five Tips
for Summertime Pet Health
To most people your veterinarian is the person you go to for your annual wellness exam, or the doctor you call when your animal gets sick. While these are certainly important things that veterinarians do on a daily basis, one of the most important things we can do is to help keep your pet healthy before a problem even develops. As the summer quickly approaches, new threats and hazards are approaching for your pet. In an effort to help keep your pet healthy, here are five tips to help you keep your loved one's tail wagging throughout the summer season.
1) A Few Ounces of Prevention is Worth a Ton of Cure I cannot overly stress the importance of proper flea and tick prevention for your pets, especially as the warm weather approach. Ticks are most active in the Spring and Fall Seasons. Particularly in our area, Lyme disease poses a challenging risk for our pets. From 2008 through today there have been over 12,000 reported cases in Montgomery and Bucks County alone. Lyme disease is a complex subject and while there are a multitude of tests, treatment options, and vaccines veterinarians can use to help mitigate or prevent disease, none of them are a replacement for preventing the infection of your pet through proper monthly flea and tick preventatives. Most cases of Lyme disease are thought to be transmitted to our pets by adult ticks, which are slow feeders. The prescription tick control products are designed to kill these ticks before Lyme disease is transmitted to your pet. Please seek the advice of your veterinarian about which products are right for your dog and how to apply them properly. For more information on Lyme disease, visit dogsandticks.com to see the prevalence of tick-borne diseases by state or county, or the Lyme Disease Association's website at www.lymediseaseassociation.org.
Flea control is equally important when it comes to keeping your fam32 I PhillyFIT
ily pet healthy. Unlike ticks, once infested on your dog or cat, fleas will lay their eggs on the host (your dog or cat), which will then drop off onto carpeting, sheets and couches, and even between the cracks of hardwood floors. Once a flea infestation in your house has occurred, removing the eggs can be difficult, expensive, and time consuming. Today's flea control products are designed to not only kill any adult fleas that find their way onto your pet, but also to prevent any new fleas which may be developing from ever hatching. Once an infestation has occurred, proper flea control will break the life cycle of the flea but may take several months to do so. As such, preventing the life cycle from ever beginning is crucial to preventing an outbreak. Often times I am asked, "My cat is indoor only, do I still need flea control?" The answer to this question is a resounding, "Yes!� Even if your cat likes to sit on your window perch or explore the depths of your unfinished basement, they are at risk. 2) Heat Stroke, Sunburn, and Outdoor Hazards Summertime brings great opportunities for fun and exciting outdoor activities with our pets, but as the temperature rises so do the risks for your pet. Knowing the limits of how much exercise your pet can handle, providing plenty of cold water, and preventing dangerous situations is the key to good summertime health. Did you know that pets can get sunburn? While a dog or cat's hair coat provides some protection from the sun, their noses and other unprotected parts of their body can be vulnerable. Limiting exposure to the sun for prolonged periods and the use of pet friendly sun-screens can help prevent against sunburn. Some dogs can have reactions to topical sunscreen products, so be sure to apply only a very small amount to one area of your dog before even going out in the sun, to make sure your dog can tolerate it. Perhaps an even greater danger to your pet is heat stroke. While any
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dog is at risk, the elderly, over-weight, or breeds, which have difficulty panting effectively (pugs) are at greater risk. According to Dr. Lila Miller, ASPCA Vice President of Veterinary Outreach, "Symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. They can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over one hundred and four degrees." Should you note any of these signs in your pet, contact your veterinarian immediately. In the meantime, bring your pet to a cool, air conditioned location and place fans around him. Unlike humans, dogs do not sweat from their pores, but control their temperatures through panting so applying rubbing alcohol to their paw pads is an ineffective means of reducing temperature.
In addition to sunburn and heatstroke, toxic chemicals and hot surfaces can create challenges for loving pet owners. Asphalt pavements and sand can burn your pet's paws. Also, fertilizers and other chemicals used for treating lawns can be dangerous to your pet if ingested or after exposure. Try to keep your pet away from these hazards by limiting access to lawns recently treated and avoiding hot driveways, parking lots, and sidewalks.
4) Doggy Paddling 101- For many dog owners, one of the most enjoyable aspects of the summer is taking their dog to the park, pool, or beach. Many dogs enjoy swimming and playing in water, but some do not. It is always recommended to keep your dog supervised while they are playing in or around water, and to make sure that area is safe for them to play. Many veterinarians will also recommend a vaccine to prevent against Leptospirosis if your dog is likely to play in areas of stagnant water including muddy riverbeds, ponds, or around farms. If you dog is going to be taking his first plunge into the water, please do so carefully by encouraging him to start in the shallow end of the pool or just wade in the shallow bank of the river. Please be careful to not throw objects into the pool that your dog may lunge in after and always be ready to help them if they find themselves in a precarious situation.
5) Fireworks and Barbeques - As the Independence Day holiday approaches, many of us are preparing for our yearly celebration which will be packed with B-B-Q picnics and fireworks. Many of us plan to bring our loving pets with us or host the party ourselves. The loud noises associated with fireworks can trigger anxiety and fearful behavior in our pets which may last long past the July 4th celebration. It is also recommended to keep your pets away from fireworks as they may chase after them, posing a real danger from burns.
Barbeques also pose a challenge for pet safety. Pancreatitis is a condition which can be triggered by exposure to a single, high fat meal. This can be a one-time trip to the garbage can, or being fed "table scraps" by family members or friends during a celebration. Furthermore, diarrhea from dietary indiscretion is a common problem for our pets and that risk can be minimized by keeping our pets on their regular diet and limiting exposure to barbeque foods which their GI system may not be able to handle.
Summertime is a great time of year for our pets. Frequent park visits, trips to the beach, and family gatherings are all greatly enhanced by having our loving companions with us. Certainly, they also enjoy these things. However, keeping your pets healthy during the season can be a challenge. Hazards including hot cars, high temperature days, and increased exposure to other animals can place our pets in dangerous situations. The key to good summertime health is preparedness and a little knowledge can go a long way. As always, please don't hesitate to call your veterinarian with questions before a problem starts as an ounce of prevention is worth pounds of cure.
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Dr. Jeffrey Stupine graduated from the George Washington University in 1999. After enjoying a successful career as an equity trader, he went back to school to study his true passion of Veterinary Medicine. After completing his training at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2010, he now enjoys practicing at Buxmont Veterinary Hospital in Feasterville-Trevose. Jeffrey is a proud pet parent to Flooper, his dog, and Harry Potter and Joshua, his cats.
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DeliciouslyFIT
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Spicy Sesame Grilled Asparagus Nourishes: 4
Ingredients: • 1 pound asparagus spears ( buy thin green spears with as little white at the bottom as possible for this cooking method) • 1 T clear balsamic vinegar • 1 T honey or agave • 1 orange – squeezed for juice (about 1 T) • 2 tsp. low sodium soy sauce • 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 1 teaspoon sesame oil • Small pinch or red pepper flakes • Small sprinkle of sesame seeds
Methodology: • Cut asparagus bottoms – bend spears to see where they would break and cut just below this area, usually about 2 inches of the stalk. • Preheat outdoor grill or oven to 400 degrees. • Mix all other ingredients and set aside in a baking dish. • Rub grill grate with vegetable oil or baking pan with non-stick spray and place rinsed asparagus in a single row. • Grill asparagus about 4 minutes rolling constantly or bake for about 15 minutes. • Remove from heat and place in liquid mixture for 2 minutes. • Serve warm with some of the liquid mixture.
A Graduate in Nutrition and Science, John is also a Certified Trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine and a Certified Weight Management Counselor with the ADA. He has produced and recorded various exercise videos (originator of Kickaerobox) and nutritional DVD’s. You previously saw him as one of the trainers on the Dr. Phil Weight Loss Challenge on NBC and on Entertainment Tonight. Currently he is the personal nutritionist for PhillyFIT Magazine events such as the BASH, Workout-a-Thon and the Fitness Retreat. Visit him at www.weightlosscoaching.org or kickaerobox@yahoo.com.
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Amanda Jackson, 27, Personal Trainer Phoenixville.
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PHILLY’SFITTEST Darren Barto, 40, of Glen Mills, PA. He is a corporate fitness club manager.
Stela Rickabaugh, 44, personal trainer at WorkOut Plus in Quakertown. Photo by Alexis Rickabaugh.
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Sean Staskin, 34, in Horsham July/August I 267-767-4205 I www.phillyfitmagazine.com
From left to right: Ellen, Hannah and Jack Lynes, Allison Buddie and Ellen Maurer at the Pittsburgh Marathon. Shannon Grosso, 35 at the Oxford Valley Mall Zumbathon that she put together for the YWCA.
Michelle Olowolafe, Philadelphia
Anthony Palumbo, 20
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SEND US YOUR PHOTOS!
Dave McGlynn, 71, PT Transformations - Bristol.
Scott Sorkin, 37, owner of Tone Zone, a personal fitness studio in Conshohocken.
Ken Gardner, 40, fitness trainer and model in the Philadelphia area.
Luke Koval and Nick Belezza after competing in our first ever Physique Competition at the NPC Pittsburgh Championships. Timothy Kelly, Zenhaling Training
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An EXPO Beyond Your Greatest Expectations!
You’re invited to the 14th
COMING NOVEMBER 2012 Held inside BucksMont Indoor Sports Center 2278 North Penn Road, Hatfield
Date and details coming. Check online at phillyfit.com
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s s e n t i F & h t l Heayou can imagine! Fitness Celebrities Live Band & DJ • Workout Demos Pilates, Tae Bo, Karate, Yoga, Core Training, Zumba, Tai Chi, Boxing, Gymnastics, Spinning & so much more!
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80 Vendors showcase what they’ve got to help our local community get healthy and fit! Only $325 per booth!
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Mind Over Munch:
The Use of Hypnosis in Achieving Permanent Weight Loss
It’s time to overcome your fear of the dreaded bathroom scale. One of the biggest struggles burdening Americans is weight control. It is no secret that the key to weight loss is reducing calories daily by eating well and increasing physical activity. However, there is no quick fix. Fad diets, pills, and other shortterm scams advertised in the media aim at an easy, effortless means to weight loss, but people are starting to see through them as they gain weight back immediately.
What people really want is permanent weight loss and the key to success is changing the way you think about food through the power of the mind. Behavioral therapist, Dr. Steven Rosenberg, Ph,D., of Elkins Park, has been helping people lose weight for over thirty years. Through a combination of nutrition lessons and hypnotherapy sessions, Rosenberg has guided his patients to ditch their bad eating habits, and adopt healthy lifestyles to not only lose weight, but also keep the pounds off. Mindfulness is the foundation of healthy eating patterns. Rosenberg says, “Basically, how we eat is all originated in our minds. It starts at the head. The stomach is controlled by the brain, so how we think is critical to how we eat.”
Dr. Rosenberg has an extraordinarily high success rate, as his process promotes long-term behavioral changes. He works with individuals in assessing their diet and weight goals, and gets a feel of what they like to eat. He then assists in finding healthier alternatives to those foods, lower in fat and carbs, to give them the tools to fine-tune their eating behaviors. After they are made aware of their nutritional needs, Rosenberg begins the hypnosis sessions. He defines this process as, “Systematically desensitizing the individual from eating the junk they are used to eating. I tell them they don’t want it, they know better. You want to make the right choice.”
Rosenberg suggests not making any of your favorite foods forbidden; it is okay to integrate them into your caloric intake for
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the day, but the key is portion control. “If you want chocolate chip ice cream, by all means, have some, but just have a single half cup serving, not a half gallon.” Being mindful of what you consume is what you need to move your life in a healthier direction.
Weight loss does not have to be a struggle. When you eat foods you like, are mindful, and make healthy choices at the same time, you can enjoy feeling good about yourself and the weight loss will follow. Dr. R’s 5 Easy Steps to Effective Weight Loss: • Be Prepared: Have good food available to you. When you have healthy food around you, you will always find something you’ll like. Also, when going out to eat, check out the menu online first to see what kind of healthy choices you can make beforehand.
• Be Mindful of All Foods You Consume: When you go to bed at night, you should be able to recite to yourself each food you ate that day. • Eat Slowly and Chew Thoroughly: Savor the flavors. You’ll end up eating less because you feel more satisfied. Also, this helps digest your food better!
• Set Reasonable Goals: You can eat what you like and see results. Through mindful eating, portion control, and making healthy choices, you can lose however many pounds you’d like. Aim for one to two pounds per week, depending on your personal needs. • Be Positive: You have the power to change your life for the better! Believe in yourself! Don’t be hard on yourself! Dr. Steven Rosenberg, Ph.D. 8080 Old York Road #206, Elkins Park, PA 19027
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Kids and Performance Training By Julius King
People are still fighting the idea of letting their kids participate in strength and performance training. I’m not just talking about the parents of the little cyber potatoes either; this includes the travel teamers, the AAU’ers, and the rest of the all year around athletes. One of the main reasons for parents not allowing kids to participate is that they believe their child is not athletic or that the child does not like sports. Other parents swear that they don’t have time to fit it in with all the game and practices or that the kids don’t need it because they play so many games. Still other parents feel that their kids are too young to begin training. The irony about any of these excuses is that the kids are technically training every time that they practice or play a game. They are just doing so without the proper knowledge. Unfortunately, none of the aforementioned are good reasons to not allow children to participate in performance training. Just when you think your protecting them from injury, you’re not at all. You actually may be contributing to injury by not allowing your child to learn how to properly perform.
Now I know when you hear performance training you automatically think of sports right? This is not completely true. The programs are customized to fit each individual’s needs, so it could be for anything. For example, Emily is just starting to get involved in dancing for her middle school and has gone from doing nothing to practicing four nights a week. Great, Emily is more active! However her muscles will now be responsible for these new things and she has done nothing to help prepare for these changes. Even better, Aubrey has joined the band and is the lead drummer. Once again congrats! But Aubrey is now going to be experiencing a lot of repetitive shoulder, elbow, and wrist movements and will need some specific performance training to help strengthen the muscles involved in these activities. Then there’s Gregory, a very intelligent and clumsy young
man who just needs some fundamental balance and strength work. On the more intensive end of examples is Darryl, an eleven-year-old who has played more basketball games this travel season than a professional athlete who makes millions for beating up his body. And remember the pros us performance training to help them make it through the season! All of the above kids have their own reasons as to why they need to be involved in some type of performance training. Gregory’s program would involve a lot of balance, joint stability, and core strengthening exercises. This would help prevent falls and reduce the likelihood of injury due to these improvements. Aubrey’s program would be upper body focused and to build the muscle that she would need for drumming along with core strengthening for a strong lower back for long periods of sitting on a stool. Whereas Darryl’s program would be customized to teach him proper running and jumping, and transition mechanics, which would help him move more efficiently and reduce the chance of injury.
We have to stop thinking of performance training as a bad thing. We also have to eliminate the thought process that weight lifting stunts a child’s growth. That same growth plate could be damaged in a bad fall off a bike or while slipping getting into the tub. While we do not use heavy weights for younger kids, performance training for this age group does emphasize the use of body weight exercises. Great programs are created to protect muscles, bones and joints. If we fail to use performance training to help these kids, we will end up with a bunch of little wounded athletes. Our goal for instituting performance training is injury prevention, not injury rehabilitation! So no matter what their love may be, make sure
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GUIDE TO KIDS FITNESS you give your child the best chance to do it in a fun and safe way. For more information about performance training programs log onto www.allfitnessonline.com.
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As a graduate of Bloomsburg University, Julius received his Bachelors Degree (2003) in Exercise Science with an Athletic Training focus, and later (2005) went on to earn his Masters Degree in Exercise Science with a concentration in Exercise Physiology. While attending Bloomsburg University, Julius played wide receiver during the 1999 and the 2000 football season, in which the Bloomsburg Huskies were PSAC & Northeast Regional Champions & competed for the Division II National Championship. While earning his Masters, Julius served as a Graduate Assistant wide receiver coach and also assisted with the team strength & conditioning program. Following his graduation, he then went on to coach the wide receivers at La Salle University. As a performance coach, Julius brings a tremendous amount of experience. He has worked as a personal trainer, worked football camps, trained high school, college, and professional athletes, including four international basketball players from Hungary who were preparing for the NBDL (National Basketball Developmental League), an international Basketball player (Wykeen Kelly) from the USA who has been league MVP and won a scoring title in his first two years of playing international basketball, as well as an NFL offensive linemen (Jahri Evans of the N.O. Saints). Jahri Evans is a three time All-Pro Lineman and 2010 Superbowl Champion. Along with that, Julius has also trained individuals with special needs as well as senior citizens.
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No Excuses; No Limits By Mary Nearpass
Even the most motivated of us - you, me, Julian Michaels - can feel unmotivated at times. In fact, sometimes we get into such a slump that even thinking about making positive changes seems too difficult. But it’s not hopeless. With some small steps, you can get started down the road to positive change.
Yes, I know, it seems impossible at times. You don’t feel like doing anything. I’ve been there, and in fact I still feel that way from time to time. You’re not alone. But I’ve learned a few ways to break out of a slump and we’ll take a look at those today. One of the best ways for me to become recharged is to hear stories from extraordinary people, with great odds already set against them, getting out there and transforming their lives. We’ll take a look at four of them right now.
Tracy Smith:
A native of San Diego, California, Tracy moved to the Philadelphia area seven years ago. A quiet, shy, soft-spoken woman, she has a great job with the government. One of her co-workers is constantly talking about her trainer at the lunch table and how much of an impact he has had on her life. She actually looks forward to her training sessions with him because her body has literally been transformed.
Finally, one day Tracy was so sick and tired of hearing about this guy, Denny, and so sick of feeling dumpy and frumpy, that she decided to go and see this man. She said, “She has thrown money away before so this won’t be the first time.” Sound familiar?
Tracy began working with Denny on March 25, 2011. Her blood pressure was 140/105 and she had trouble running three miles per hour with a maximum amount of time being fifteen to twenty minutes. Today, her blood pressure is 102/71 and she has lost over forty-five pounds. She is fifty-two years old and far from finished. She has completed a couple of 5ks, loves to run now and continues to see Denny three times per week for half hour sessions, and one full hour incorporating “The Shredder” on Saturdays. Tracy calls it her fountain of youth. “The Shredder” is a workout routine that Denny designed for his clients. This is a high intensity workout that Denny has developed using the latest research on fitness and weight loss. The "Shredder" is a four-week series done three times a week. This is a workout - guaranteed to produce results. During "Shredder" workout, Denny shares recipe modification along with his findings of the latest information on health and nutrition. From what I could see after meeting Denny, you also get something you will not find anywhere else - MOTIVATION LIKE NO OTHER!
Mary Brawner:
Is a forty-five-year-old Director of Respiratory Care at a major Homecare Company in King of Prussia. She also is a single Mom of a twenty-year old daughter with autism.
Mary has always been into physical fitness but years ago, wanted to try something that would really provide for her the ultimate stress release. She found it in her Harley Davidson motorcycle. It provided her the feeling of being free while still being included in a brand new group of friends.
On October 9, 2011, all that changed in an instant. Enjoying a ride in the Quakertown area, Mary was hit on Route 663 with such an impact that she was thrown several feet from her bike. She suffered a compound fracture of her femur, and was airlifted to the Lehigh Valley Trauma Center where an emergency, above-the-knee amputation took place. She had to have four blood transfusions, suffered lung contusions, lacerations, fractured ribs and excruciating pain. Three days later, she was transferred to the ICU, then the Step-Down Unit, then a week of inpatient physical therapy followed by a week’s stay at the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Center in Allentown, working diligently on her rehab. 20 I PhillyFIT
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In the meantime, she had to make wrap-around services available for her autistic daughter while she was out of commission. A mutual biker friend referred Mary to Denny, who also lost his leg to a motor vehicle accident. He could actually understand all her fears of falling, loss balance, self-confidence and spirit all being low.
Mary began training with Denny on January 1, 2012. You can see her pictures working out with Denny on his website at www.noexcuses-nolimits.com.
Awaiting her new prosthesis via Orthologics, Mary knew she had a rough road ahead of her. With so much neurological damage, there would be astronomical pain. Slow and steady has become their mantra. Denny has had Mary doing many hanging exercises from bars to help strengthen and lengthen her axial skeleton. The other day, they both challenged two other trainers at the gym where Denny works, (www.KinetixSportsClub.com) to a one-legged plank. They not only beat out the trainers, but held their weight for over two minutes. Talk about feeling the burn!
So far, Mary is excited and feeling much calmer thanks to Denny about the road ahead of her. Denny plans to be there for and with Mary to the end. Keep your eyes open for the September/October 2012 issue as I plan to track Mary’s progress over the next several months to see how far she has come. Mary likes to describe herself as a wild mustang that could be ridden but never tamed. Now she feels like a wild mustang just ready to bust out of the coral and go to work! Can’t wait to see what she has accomplished in the fall.
About a year ago she went for her routine mammogram. The technician asked Colette to stay for a few minutes to make sure the pictures were sufficient. Next thing she knew she was having an ultra sound to get a better look. About two weeks later, March 23, 2011 and after a biopsy Colette received the phone call that no woman wants to receive. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. On May 9th, Colette elected to have a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction . She wanted it all gone and out of her. She wanted everything to go back to normal. Actually, this was an easy decision for her because she just wanted assurance that it was all completely gone. They also took twelve lymph nodes out of her left armpit. Testing from the surgery confirmed it was a stage II Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC). The tumor was about 1.5 cm. After surgery she was banned from the gym until the drains were removed. Then she was told she couldn’t do any strength training until she was cleared by her plastic surgeon and physical therapist. About three weeks after surgery, she started to work out with Denny.
Originally, Collette’s intent was to only do a handful of sessions with Denny until she felt comfortable with the weights again. She just wanted him to observe her for a while to make sure she didn’t overdue it. Collette was hooked, and her few sessions turned into working out with Denny at least once a week religiously. As she continued to increase her strength and cardio capability, she started to implement the “The Shredder”, running and weight training .
In October, her beloved father passed away. Consequently, she lost time at the gym, but found not being able to get to the gym actually made her feel more tired and cranky! She realized how much better her workouts made her feel, even in a very stressful and upsetting time. She returned to her workouts and hasn’t looked back since. Colette believes both of these experiences have made her stronger in ways she never would have imagined, and no longer takes her body and what it can do for granted . Presently, Collette feels she’s in the best shape of her life! She guesses the old saying is true that what doesn’t tear you down just makes you stronger! These are just three testimonies to the strength, fortitude and perseverance of some incredible women. With the guidance and motivation of Denny Chipollini, their belief in themselves and what they can accomplish has skyrocketed!
Colette Lapinski
A forty-two year old, single woman, who works in the financial services industry, puts in very long hours. She is constantly on the go between work and other commitments. Six years ago, she joined Kinetix Sports Club and regularly did her cardiovascular routine, but was becoming extremely bored with the same old same old. July/August I 267-767-4205 I www.phillyfit.com
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Denny Chipollini
In the fall of 1989, Denny was involved in a car accident that would change the course of his life. Driving on a wet highway, he lost control of his car and slid into the guardrail. The guardrail came into the car through the wheel well - severed his left leg and left his right foot hanging on by just an artery. Denny was able to calm himself by teaching himself right then and there to visualize. Doing this slowed the blood loss until help arrived and more than likely saved his life. Three and a half months in the hospital and fifteen surgeries later, doctors were able to save his right foot but Denny lost his lower left leg. The doctors told Denny that he would most likely never walk again and rehab would be pointless. Denny thought otherwise and set out to prove them all wrong.
In the spring of 1990, still laid up in the hospital, Denny started working out his upper body. Denny used the same "visualization" technique that saved him in the car to motivate him daily through his workouts. He visualized himself walking again. Denny was discharged home and for the next three years, with the support of his family, he continued his regimen the best he could. He started working out in a wheel chair then to crutches and finally using a prosthetic leg. In the fall of 1993 Denny entered a 5K in his hometown of Conshohocken, PA. Just four years after his accident Denny completed a 5K. Although he finished dead last, Denny's shining moment that day was when an eight-year old boy came up to him and said, "Mister, you're my hero.”
During this devastating time in Denny's life, he and his wife had welcomed their first child to the world, Nicholas. They were later to discover that Nicholas had his own struggle to face. Nicholas was diagnosed at an early age with neurofibromatosis, Tourette’s syndrome, and Aspergers, a type of autism. Denny realized that the attention and media he was generating through his own accomplishments could also bring attention to the struggles that his son Nicholas was enduring. Denny began speaking to audiences around the country about his experience and that of his son's. He also spoke about bullying and believing in yourself. Denny opened peoples’ eyes to the fact that we are all different in one-way or another and we should embrace each other’s differences in a positive way. Denny strongly believes that adversity can be overcome through positive thinking. He feels that adversity is a gift that we all have, but like any gift, it needs to be opened. Denny has devoted his life to helping people to use their gifts, not
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as a burden, but a springboard to take you further than ever before!
Denny has gone on to bicycle across Pennsylvania, skydive, complete three marathons in San Diego, Pittsburgh and New York, finished the Philadelphia Triathlon, and carried the Olympic torch in Philadelphia and the Paralympics Torch in Utah. Denny has made physical fitness a major part of his life and has taught his son and daughter to do the same. He is passionate about getting in shape and eating right. Denny will tell you that DIETS DON'T WORK - LIFESTYLES DO! Denny encourages his clients to dream and dream big! "When you eliminate the excuses from your life there is no limit to what you can accomplish." In short - No Excuses - No Limits.
People are gifted at the art of rationalization and procrastination. To put a stop to them ask yourself, 'If not now, when?' If you're honest, and I know you will be, you'll realize that now is as good a time as any to begin moving toward a better life. This is a simple method to adding a powerful boost to your goal-achieving project. Your excuses have no uses. Excuses are scapegoats. They cover up the truth so we don't have to face it. You and I both know this isn't the way to a happy and successful life. You can put a stop to excuses once and for all. Every time you catch yourself using an excuse to cover up the truth about why you aren't working toward your goal (e.g. I don't have the time), write it down along with at least three solid reasons why your excuse is completely wrong and never use it again. 1. Set goals Start with simple goals and then progress to longer-range goals. Remember to make your goals realistic and achievable. It's easy to get frustrated and give up if your goals are too ambitious. For example, if you haven't exercised in a while, a short-term goal might be to walk five minutes once or twice a day. An intermediate goal might be to walk twenty minutes three or four times a week. A long-term goal might be to complete a 5K walk.
2. Make it fun Find sports or activities that you enjoy, then vary the routine to keep you on your toes. If you're not enjoying your workouts, try something different. Join a volleyball or softball league. Take a ballroom dancing class. Check out a health club or martial arts center. Discover your hidden athletic talent. Remember, exercise doesn't have to be drudgery — and you're more likely to stick with a fitness program if you're having fun.
3. Make physical activity part of your daily routine If it's hard to find time for exercise, don't fall back on excuses. Schedule workouts as you would any other important activity. You can also slip in physical activity throughout the day. Be creative! Take a walk during your child's music lesson. Take the stairs instead of the elevator at work. Pedal a stationary bike or do strength-training exercises with resistance tubing while you watch TV at night.
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PhysicallyFIT
Loving Your Liver By Sheri DeMaris
Of all the organs in the body, the liver is the most susceptible to becoming full of excess energy and heavily burdened by the typical American diet, stress, lack of sleep and over eating especially before bedtime.
The liver is most affected by extreme foods, especially those that are too heavy or stimulating for the body. When we eat a diet rich in animal products that have a high fat content (such as beef, bacon, eggs, and cheese) the liver can become full, hard and tight. It is not able to perform its function of moving energy up and out.
The desire for a refreshing cool, sour slice of fruit after a hot day of activity could be your liver calling out for help in moving its energy up and out. Often when a heavy feeling occurs in our body we naturally reach for something to lighten the liver and refresh it. The bad news is we can damage the liver again if we reach for foods, which are too highly processed or stimulating such as alcohol, white sugar, coffee and/or hot spices.
Is your liver tight? Liver stagnation can also show up in the body disguised as physical and mental tension. One may feel as though one is stuck in life, unable to move forward in fulfilling ways. When the liver is imbalanced the emotion of anger develops. Liver health is associated with women’s health issues as well. A stagnant liver can contribute to fibroids, breast cysts, cancer of the reproductive organs, irregular menstruation, PMS, Candida, and thyroid problems. Once the liver becomes blocked the natural cycle of a woman hindered.
What foods can we choose to support the liver? Light, fresh grains and greens are the most helpful foods for the liver. Mildly, salty pickles are beneficial as well. For a healthier liver, try some of the following recipes: BARLEY SALAD 2 cups of spring water 1 cup of pearled barley 1 pinch of sea salt 1 carrot cubed and blanched in boiling water (make sure to retain 18 I PhillyFIT
its bright color) 2 stalks of celery, cubed and blanched in boiling water (make sure to retain its bright color) FOR THE SALAD DRESSING 2 lemons (juiced) 1 TBS of shoyu (natural soy sauce) 1 TBS olive oil 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1. Bring water to a boil and add salt. Add barley to water and boil for 35 to 40 minutes. Remove barley with a strainer and set aside to cool. 2. Add cooked carrots and celery 3. Mix lemon juice, shoyu and olive oil. Add pepper. Whisk thoroughly. Add to Barley/vegetable mixture. 4. Cover bowl and place in refrigerator for at least 20 to 30 minutes before serving.
GREEN ROLLS 1 bunch of Collard Greens, 1 bunch of Chinese cabbage 1 TBS Umeboshi Paste Sea salt Bring a saucepan of spring water up to boil. Add a pinch of sea salt. Boil each green separately until bright green in color. Allow to cool. Roll in a sushi mat with creative fillings or by themselves. Garnish with a dab of umeboshi paste. Filling ideas: Sauerkraut (rinse off excess salt), roasted pumpkin or sesame seeds, blanched root or round vegetables such as carrots, daikon, rutabaga, or turnips
LEMON APPLE PUDDING 3 cups of apple juice 1 TBS of fresh lemon juice 3 TBS Kuzu (or more to create a medium thick pudding) 1 tsp. grated lemon rind 1 TBS rice syrup 1 tsp. vanilla
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Pinch of sea salt Goji Berri garnish Dissolve kuzu in a small amount of cold apple juice. Bring apple juice, kuzu mixture and sea salt to a slow boil. Cook until kuzu turns clear. Add rice syrup, lemon rind and vanilla. Cook 2-3 minutes longer. Serve in individual cups with a garnish of goji berries.
Remember these following tips when cooking for a healthier liver: • Use a lighter, quick cooking style: Boiling, blanching, pressed salads •Use oil sparingly •Use moderate to low flame •Avoid pressure cooking and baking too much •Avoid overly salty tastes •Use foods with a natural upward energy (barley, dark leafy greens such as collards, mustard greens and green and white leafy vegetables such as bok choy and Chinese cabbage) •Use light touches of sour seasonings (brown rice vinegar, lemon juice, umeboshi vinegar) •Serve heavy fried foods (friend tofu, fried fish) with grated daikon. •Avoid too much dry cooked grain and a lot of dried baked flour products in the diet; these will produce stagnation in the liver. Sheri DeMaris, M.Ed., is a full-time guidance counselor, macrobiotic cooking teacher and TV host/producer. Her cookbook and instructional cooking DVD “Macro Magic for Kids and Parents” can be purchased by visiting www.cedartreebooks.com. Information about her TV show, cooking DVD, and upcoming appearances can be found on her website at www.teawithsheri.com
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The title of this article sounds crazy, but that’s what it is for us, the Mud Run Junkies (MRJ’s). The MRJ’s are a diverse group of men and women mostly in their late thirties and early forties from Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties who have realized the benefits of health and exercise and have chosen to challenge our minds and bodies in not just any mud run, but THE TOUGH MUDDER. It’s about turning back the clock, camaraderie, fighting through the pains of age, setting examples to our children and ultimately staying relevant in a society that has more excuses than ever.
We think we are speaking not just for the MRJ’s, but for everyone who is wired that way to put his or her body through this. Maybe it’s a realization, as you look around that you don’t want to become that person who is no longer relevant. We want to be that tangible inspiration to our children, family, friends, acquaintances, and to the masses. We want to be the motivating factor that actually makes the change, not one who just sits around and talks about it.
Kate Stopa, a flight attendant for US Air, and Michele Dougherty, a title insurance agent, started the MRJ team. The team was given its name by Shan Egan, a personal trainer and lead singer in a funk band. It was the ability to connect with those around them that generated such a huge interest in being a 16 I PhillyFIT
part of this fun, highly motivated, goal oriented team. We realized that we needed goals, something for which to train, so much so that we are already registered for the October Tri-State Tough Mudder. It was the, “What the heck are we gonna do now,” attitude.
Camaraderie is the key to our group. We start together and we finish together. This group meets regularly to do our “terraining”. We start our runs on groomed trails and transition onto “Mudder-esque” type land with mud, rocks, and roots, regardless of weather. In addition, we all train regularly, using high intensity cardio/plyometrics classes run by Shan Egan. He also puts us through regular strength training routines.
Of the seventeen current members, only one does not have children. There are eight women and nine men. We would like our children to embrace the lifestyle that we have chosen and the most effective way to do that is to lead by example. This is truly a “do as I say, and do what I do” attitude. We would all agree that we would like to have our children someday run Tough Mudder with us so they can strive for that sense of accomplishment, stay strong, and continue to be relevant. Someday hopefully they can raise their hands, and say, “I’m a shirt wearin’, flag bearin’, Mud Run Junkie!”
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PhillyFIT I 17
NutritionallyFIT
Wok This Way! By Rakhi Bhandari
One doesn’t have to be a genius to figure out why wok cooking has health benefits on so many different levels. As opposed to other cooking methods like sautéing, panfrying or worse yet, deep-frying, wok cooking involves minimal cooking oil. A few drops are usually just enough to coat the pan and get cooking. It also requires high heat; the wok’s large cooking surface absorbs heat and allows the food to cook quickly and evenly, keeping the essential nutrients sealed in. Vegetables, especially leafy greens like Bok Choy, Napa cabbage, kale, mustard greens, collard greens, chard and spinach keep their flavor and crunch and are ready in a matter of minutes.
These greens are bursting with Lutein, perfect if twenty-twenty vision is what you’re after. They also promote healthy hearts and provide you with other essential vitamins and minerals. The greatest advantage to wok cooking in my opinion is that the cooking is marginal and the range of options, limitless. Shrimp,
tofu, thinly sliced beef, pork or chicken, seafood and any vegetable can be thrown in with some sliced garlic, minced ginger, soy sauce and a dash of oyster sauce. Fried rice and wok fried noodles are other options. No matter which way you go, dinner’s ready in minutes. Mushrooms, especially Shitake or Portobello, canned bamboo shoots, peppers of the sweet and hot varieties, broccoli florets, scallions and carrots sliced on the diagonal all work wonderfully in a wok stir-fry.
Although the flavors of the food are robust in stir- fried dishes, I always up the ante with a few tricks. They happen to be a series of sticky bottles; a dash of these ingredient and the results are pure magic. It never hurts to have some help in the flavor department and I depend on sweet rice wine vinegar, dark soy sauce, Kecap Manis (sweet soy sauce) toasted sesame seeds, hot sesame oil, and oyster sauce.
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Crushed ginger root, garlic and dry red chilies also contribute greatly to the essence of the dish. Buying a wok can prove to be a tricky experience. Non-stick woks are not always to best and I often prefer the kind that sits somewhere up on a dusty shelf in a store in China Town. The most commonly used kind is made of carbon steel and requires seasoning before use. Getting proper instructions on how to do this is imperative as it will affect the quality of the food as well as the life of the wok. Once this is taken care of, cooking is a breeze.
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Woks have been around for thousands of years. The Chinese invented this roundbottomed pan and for good reason. They discovered and mastered the art of cooking great food in the most economical and healthy way so who am I to argue? So quit stalling and stir-fry yourself to good health!
Recipe for Wok Fried Leafy Greens: 2-3 cloves of garlic sliced 1- 2 teaspoons peanut or vegetable oil 1 dried red-hot chili pepper (optional) 6-8 heads of baby Bok Choy, leaves separated & rinsed individually ½ cup sliced mushrooms or tofu 1 teaspoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon oyster sauce ½ cup chicken broth 1 tablespoon corn starch 1 tablespoon chicken broth salt to taste
1. Heat the wok till it starts to smoke and add in the oil. Swirl the wok to coat the bottom with the oil. 2. Add in the sliced garlic and chili and as soon as they start to change color, add in the mushrooms/tofu and greens. Toss rapidly, add sauces and cook for a couple of minutes. 3. Heat the broth and add it to the wok. Combine the broth and cornstarch to a paste and add in. The sauce should thicken. Serve immediately.
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Egg Donors Needed Looking for healthy young women Margarita Grilled Chicken Kabobs
Nourishes: 6 Ingredients: Marinade: • ¾ cup tequila • 1/3 cup lime juice (fresh preferred) • ½ cup of orange marmalade • ½ T minced garlic • ¾ T dried cilantro (1-1/2 T fresh chopped) • 3 T fresh chopped basil • 3/4 T minced jalapeno • 2 tsp. chili powder • ¾ tsp. dried thyme • 1 T honey • ½ cup Canola oil
Kabob: • 6 - 4oz. boneless chicken breasts, cubed • 1 red pepper, seeded and cubed (can also include red onion squares) • 3 limes cut in medium wedges • Pineapple cubes, fresh • 2 fresh lemons for finishing
Methodology: • Mix marinade ingredients and set aside (use half for marinade and half for a pre baste) • Marinate chicken in a little more than half of the marinade for 2-4 hours • Thread large steel skewers alternating: chicken, pineapple, chicken, pepper, and lime until full. • Brush other half of marinade on food and grill on medium heat for 8 to 12 minutes turning several times until chicken is fully cooked (165 degrees). Squeeze fresh lemons over skewers and serve. Nutritional Profile Per Serving: Calories 295, Fat 8g, Carbs 29g, Protein 27g
A Graduate in Nutrition and Science, John is also a Certified Trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine and a Certified Weight Management Counselor with the ADA. He has produced and recorded various exercise videos (originator of Kickaerobox) and nutritional DVD’s. You previously saw him as one of the trainers on the Dr. Phil Weight Loss Challenge on NBC and on Entertainment Tonight. Currently he is the personal nutritionist for PhillyFIT Magazine events such as the BASH, Workout-a-Thon and the Fitness Retreat. Visit him at www.weightlosscoaching.org or kickaerobox@yahoo.com.
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PhillyFIT I 13
PsychologicallyFIT
NO BUTS! By Solomon Brenner
When talking to your children it is important to remember that subtle differences in your language can completely alter your message’s meaning in the child’s mind. One of these small differences is the meaning of “and” compared to the meaning of “but.”
The word and is a constructive word. The word but is a destructive word. When dealing with your children, but can be replaced with the word and in almost any sentence. For example: “I want to let you stay up later, but you’re not old enough,” versus “I want to let you stay up later and you will when you’re older.” Which sentence is negative and which is positive? Usually the phrase that follows the and or but is not what your child wants to hear, especially when fulfilling the role of disciplinarian. And serves the same purpose as the brakes in a car crash. The crash is bad news, and having the brakes prevents a much worse situation. However, but creates a car crash.
But doesn’t connect two statements, rather it divides them. It places stress on the second part of the sentence, and that is all your child hears. When complimenting a job well done and then following it with a but, describing what the child needs to work on, the child only hears the flaws. By using but you are projecting a negative image. If you replaced that but with and, the second part of the sentence would seem like a suggestion for improvement, rather than a criticism.
For example, compare these two statements: “Your reading grades are good, but you need to work harder in math,” versus, “Your reading grades are good, and if you work hard your math grades will improve, too.” While the first statement sounds like a criticism of your child’s math grades, the second both praises the work he has done and encourages him to try harder.
each other in a positive way. If you offer approval in one statement and the need for improvement in the other, but separates them into one positive statement and one negative, and the negative is the one that sticks with your child. Connecting the approval and need for improvement with and creates a bridge that is easy for your child to cross. They not only hear what they have done right, but also how they can progress from that to become even better.
When discussing or negotiating with your child, but acts as a roadblock that doesn’t allow either person’s opinion to be heard. By using but you are sending the message that you are close-minded to any idea but your own. No agreement can be reached if both sides continue to retaliate with a but. Using and allows room for progress. You and your child can build on what each of you is saying to reach a final solution or compromise. The correct usage of these three-letter words can make the difference between a fight and forgiveness. Though parents may not always realize it, their opinions and admonishments deeply affect their children, not only now but later in life as well. Children will respond to what you say. Whether they respond in a positive or negative way depends on how you phrase your comments. Communication is as important in parenting as it is in any relationship. Keeping all roadblocks down by eliminating the word but from your vocabulary will allow easy transitions between problem and solution, suggestion and achievement.
Contributed by Solomon Brenner Author of Black Belt Parenting: “The Art of Raising Your Child for Success" and Master Instructor at Action Karate.
But stands as a brick wall to divide the two statements, whereas and serves as a bridge to connect the two statements and relate them to July/August I 267-767-4205 I www.phillyfit.com 12 I PhillyFIT
Water is Our Friend
PhysicallyFIT
By Judy Hershman
People of all ages can benefit from water-based exercise. The popular image is little old ladies in bathing caps moving around slowly in the pool. However, all populations can find a challenge and better health in the water! It’s true that the older demographic often seeks a kinder, gentler style of exercise because, as the body gets older, the types of exercises that we do need sometimes requires us to be easier on the bones, joints and muscles.
Water aerobics classes can focus on a cardiovascular workout or a resistance workout. Swimming laps or a cardio-oriented water aerobics class works the cardiovascular system. But by simply adding hand paddles to the workout it can become an upper body resistance workout as well. If you want more resistance you can use aqua dumbbells, noodles or hand paddles for upper body training or water rings for lower body training. You can get the benefits of both without causing stress on your joints. Studies have shown that working out in the water also helps keep blood pressure down because the body’s cooling system is not being taxed, yet another benefit to exercising in the water. Water workouts are ideal for people with any form of orthope-
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dic injury including back problems and lower torso injuries. Exercises done in the water are great for people new to fitness or who are just getting back into a program for conditioning, cardio exercise and/or toning.
There are plenty of enjoyable water sports as well that can be used to help build the body. Sports such as water polo, water soccer and water volleyball, while competitive and fun, are very good for building muscle. The great thing about aqua fitness is that it tends to use the whole body as you train and exercise. Bodybuilding in typical fashion generally requires exercises involving free weights and machines that focus on a primary and secondary muscle structure. For instance when you do curls with either a dumbbell or a barbell, you are using the resistance of the weight to strengthen the bicep as you curl the weight up, and you are stressing the triceps as you lower the weight back down. Two muscles are exercised, and unhealthy strain is placed on the back, as there is little to no support behind it. The same exact exercise done under water with far less weight is more effective and safer as the water reinforces the back and
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you can use far less weight. Less weight means less pressure on the back. Because of the resistance from the water, the motion really works the muscle. The deeper you stand in the water during exercise, the more intense your workout. You can elevate the intensity even more by doing the workout in depths above your head with or without a floatation device.
For children of all ages, playing in the water and learning how to swim, has the same benefits as it does for adults. It helps them build strong bones and muscles and allows the body to be active while protecting the joints and bones which, for children, have not yet fully developed. Children who participate in water activities gain an appreciation for an active lifestyle, which is so important in this age of computer games. In addition, a child who learns to swim gains a sense of accomplishment and helps develop confidence in themselves that they will carry with them into other learning and playing activities. For the young, old and in between, water is our friend!
Judy Hershman is a registered Personal Trainer and Senior Aqua Instructor at the 12th Street Gym. For more info on Judy and more than thirty other top trainers at 12th Street Gym, go to www.12streetgym .com. Judy is also Co-owner of Kids On 12th, Center City’s largest and most creative children’s health and fitness center located in the 12th Street Gym.
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PhillyFIT I 11
MEN AT K R O W
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Learning and growing each passing day, my own sons are teaching me a thing or two about Brotherly Love. Today, they’re tighter than an eighties pop band but that wasn’t always the case as they are ten years apart. And let’s face it, when one was twelve, and the other was two, it wasn’t always a bowl of cherries (mostly pits). But now, when I see them working on themselves as a twenty-four year-old man, and a fourteen year-old teen, building personal character, pushing the limits of their comfort zones, it reminds me to do the same each day. How on earth did these young men figure out how to do what most adults have yet to accomplish? They have become, in two words—my muse. And to each other, they mean the world. What more could a Mom ask for?
“Who Can It Be Now?”
Once upon a time, there were two boys. Well um… two men - my men.
Last week I had a stunning “aha” moment. I realized the missing piece in both of my son’s lives. It was in front of me - in front of us - the whole time! Quite simply, they needed each other. Yeah, they’re brothers, true friends and very close. They’ve always been a great duo, but both were always missing something, which was impacting their respective lives. Honestly, it’s been the hardest thing of all as a watchful Mom when trying to guide and nurture them. There comes a point when Mom has to realize, she just can’t be all things, to everyone, no matter how much she lives and dies to be.
DEREK, 24
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DARION, 14 PhillyFIT I 5
Now, back to my epiphany. Derek and Darion, while quite opposite with regard to their general likes (one is a sports nut, the other a artsy-fartsy music nut with a love for cars) and dislikes (one loves head bangin’ old school rock, the other jams to Nicki Minaj) fundamentally held the missing puzzle piece for each one of their emotional deficits. There were so many times that I was tossing around the idea of getting a tutor for Darion, a mentor for Derek, someone, anyone who could build them up, cheer them on, help them duck life’s curveballs, as sometimes good ‘ole Mom, step dad and nanny don’t always fit the bill. I was left scratching my head for so long. Who can it be now? Who was going to champion their sports, or academic accomplishments besides us? Who was going to give them sage advice about girls, money, personal integrity, etc. In short, I was seeking a confidence builder, someone to lift spirits, create energy and fill in the gaps when I just didn’t fit the bill. My kids are surrounded by family members that love them, but something, just something, was still “off”.
I learned pretty early on that loved ones aren’t necessarily forever, but kids are. Seems like a simple idea, but it’s such a profound concept. So although some folks have come, and gone, there are still many chapters to be written in my sons’ books. I can hand them the pen, but they have to write it themselves. Who can it be? I’ll tell you, each other! Derek is now Darion’s unconditional cheerleader and Darion is now Derek’s dearest and most loyal friend. So if one is leaning towards sadness, the other is there to prop him up. If one is slipping into self-doubt, the other is there to talk turkey, redirect or just have an icy glass of Gatorade together.
At the core, my sons are quite similar, but on the surface, they seem to own totally different personality traits and physical attributes. One is tall with curly hair and totally ripped, the other is, well, short with straight hair, and jacked. What are the common denominators? These kids both are deep thinkers, loyal as loyal can be to their friends, and both have acquired killer bodies. I’m tellin’ ya, they’re FIT! I am working on getting these two in the gym together now too. I have a feeling they’d be each others best workout partner! Their motivation is health, not vanity and I’m really proud of this. They understand that a fit body is related to a fit mind and a fit mind makes better decisions, engages easily and well, is happier. It’s true, a body at rest tends to stay at rest, but a body in motion tends to stay in motion and my boys are always movin’. This is a good thing especially because we live in a world riddled with video games and texting. I want to be sure that my boys are working out more than just their thumbs!
“I Can See It In Your Eyes”
Darion, now fourteen and six feet tall, and wearing a size 14 shoe, is an athlete and quite the basketball player. But, for the longest time, something just wasn’t quite right. His game was suffering; something wasn’t clicking. Whatever it was, it was holding him back from his true potential—not only as an athlete, but as a man. 6 I PhillyFIT
I saw it in his eyes. He had to find the confidence to “dig deep” and start pulling his passion out of his belly, something young athletes hear often. But this had become a true problem for “D”, as we call him. But traditionally, no matter how loudly Mom yelled in the bleachers, it didn’t do the trick. When Derek now goes to Darion’s games, it’s different. Darion’s eyes light up and I catch him looking for his brother in the crowd. Once he spots him, he turns up his game a few notches so as to say, “Hey, look what I can do!” It’s a heart-felt motivator that makes me smile. Derek feeds off of the reward of knowing how important he is to his brother, and loves knowing his presence lends to this new layer of confidence. One day I decided to ask both Darion and Derek both the same question. I wanted to peel away the layers of the onion and make each one think about what life would be like without each other.
The question was simple – “What do you think about your brother?” Now, boys don’t really open up too much and I was fresh out of truth serum. I expected one-word answers and at first they were reserved, but I was soon shocked to get full-blown monologues. “Derek, what do you think about Darion?”
“What do you mean Mom,” he replied as he tossed a crinkled up ball of paper into the trash like a basketball at the final buzzer. “ I mean tell me how you feel. I want to know.”
“Ugh! Well, he’s pretty awesome. I like spending time with him. It’s cool because I always have someone to do something with 24/7. He’s like a friend that never has to go home. He makes me want to set a good example. I think I would be different without him. I would probably have twenty more tattoos and ride motorcycles to pass the day by.”
His voice trailed off and I could tell he was lost in his own private thoughts. “Mission accomplished,” I thought. I just wanted to hit pause and make my sons think about the importance of family, friendship and love. And as I said, with boys, that order is taller than the Comcast Center.
Derek had been through a lot as a teen. His group of friends had gotten mixed up with another not so good group of friends just out of school, which led to coming-of-age ‘trouble’. This was a shock as he was always the leader of the pack and on top of his game. He had excellent grades, played four instruments and won endless music and art awards. Unfortunately, Derek took a misguided, destructive path littered with vices, mood swings and irreverence. Those were trying times. There was nothing I could do to lasso him back, until “that” day when enough was enough and I put my “tough love” foot down. But Darion was there by his side through the ups and the very deep, dark downs. He was loyal and vigilant, knowing that Derek was going through some stuff. Darion was scared for his brother during those trying times, but his love was unconditional and never wavering.
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“Darion, What do you think about your brother?”
“What do you mean, Mom,” I had to laugh as Derek asked the same thing.
“I mean what do you think it would be like if you didn’t have your brother, or a brother at all?” I saw Darion’s face go pale and a palpable gloominess took his entire being hostage in a nanosecond. “Is something wrong with him? Is he sick?” “Oh gosh, no! I was just wondering if you think your life would be different without a brother, that’s all!”
“Oh (long pause), well yeah, I couldn’t imagine. I wouldn’t imagine. I wouldn’t have my new found basketball partner to shoot hoops with, take rides to 7-11 at midnight for snacks, and play “Call of Duty” til morning.” “And,” I probed. Sue me.
“And, I like our guy-talk and hanging out in the garage, while he works on all his cars, and stuff like that. It’s fun to have him at my practices and my games. I don’t ever want a day to go by without him actually!”
Soon after, Darion asked me where the old photo albums were. Sheesh, I hadn’t though of those in ages. My little one (okay, middle child and NOT so little anymore) was feeling nostalgic. It was working - all my introspective exercise torture. We paged through old photo albums until midnight and Darion fell asleep next to me like he did when he was a toddler after reading books. I found it hard to hold back happy tears at each page turn. My boys were turning into men before my eyes and the photos just documented that theory. I thought of Stevie Nick’s song, Landslide, and lingered in the lyrics. “Well, I've been afraid of changing 'Cause I've built my life around you But time makes you bolder Even children get older and I'm getting older too Oh, I'm getting older too…”
“Down Under”
Have you been feeling down? If you answered yes (and stats show that fifty percent of you will), then think about the exercise I illustrated. Yes, it is very MIRACLE on 34th Street. Sit down in a quite, safe place and think about what your life would be like without _________. Maybe it was a relative, teacher, coach, personal trainer, life coach, or a good friend that impacted your life in a profound way. My sons both went through periods of big change, pathos, depression and confusion. This got me thinking, everyone goes through some dark days. In a way, we’re all “Men at Work.” Each one of us needs to CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY; it’s an empowering feeling to opt in to your own daily fate. If you’re feeling a little blue, read my side bar. Admittedly, I am
republishing John Wesley’s words here (www.pickthebrain.com). John writes an amazing, very inspiring easy-to-read blog that I follow religiously. I like these suggestions because they’re all-natural and yes, I integrate all ten into my kid’s lives as much as possible! Gratitude is a life-lesson that for some, doesn’t come with a side of awareness. The first pickthebrain.com article was published to the website on November 22, 2006. Since then it has become one of the fastest growing self improvement sites on the web. PickTheBrain diverges from traditional “self-help” by taking a broader approach. Rather than sticking to a small set of topics, the site covers anything related to self improvement. Any information that people can use to live more prosperous, satisfying lives is a potential article. If we’re all “Men at Work”, then numbers one through ten should be what we’re all working on! 1. Understand the Emotional Cycle – Life is an emotional roller coaster. Some days you feel like nothing can stop you. Other days you feel utterly hopeless. Most of the time you’re somewhere in between. Understanding the pattern of positive and negative emotions will help you put your feelings in perspective. Next time you feel down, just remember that it’s a natural emotion that will inevitably pass. Knowing that a feeling of depression is only temporary makes it less dreadful.
2. Spend Time with Positive People – Nothing affects the way you think and feel more than the people you interact with. Thoughts (both positive and negative) are contagious. If you are surrounded by negative people, it’s only natural that you’ll start to think and feel the same way. To improve your outlook on life, spend time with positive people. Search them out and try to understand the way they see the world. Chances are their happiness will rub off.
3. Reflect on Past Success – In the wake of a colossal failure, it’s easy to forget everything you’ve ever done right. Take a few minutes to remember your past accomplishments and build yourself up. What made you successful before? What are your strengths? Frequently, this exercise will build self confidence, help you figure out what went wrong, and generate ideas for success in the future.
4. Focus on Gratitude – It’s human nature to measure ourselves against those ahead of us on the social ladder. Studies have shown that people care more about being richer than their friends than actually making more money. When you consider everything good in your life and compare it to the problems of less fortunate people, the issue that’s making you depressed won’t seem as serious. This gets back to my, “What do you think about your brother” questions! 5. Change of Scenery – One of the best ways to change the way you feel is to change your environment. When you get in a slump, you start to associate your problems with everything around you. It can get to the point where your environment is a constant reminder of your problems. This can be a dangerous cycle. The solution is to change things. Change doesn’t have to be radical. Cleaning up, adding more lights, or including pleasant decorations can completely change the mood of a room.
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PhillyFIT I 7
6. Break Your Routine - Going through the same routine, day after day, can be monotonous and depressing. It often leads to getting caught in a rut. To get out of it you need to temporarily change your routine. If you can, take a day off from work. Do something you don’t normally have time for or something you’ve never tried. In the long run, taking a day off every now and then to get out of slump will make you happier and more productive.
7. Interact with Animals and Nature – It’s funny when you consider how humans put so much importance on their own tiny problems. Animals don’t think this way. A little bird doesn’t mope around because it isn’t an eagle or because another bird beat it to a tasty seed. Animals live in the present moment and they show love unconditionally. Observing and interacting with them will help you get over your problems. 8. Get Moving – As Johnny Cash famously suggested, “Get a rhythm, when you get the blues.” Moving to a beat makes everyone feel better. The same is true for movement in general. Hitting the gym or going for a walk will help you shed the lethargy that comes with feeling depressed. The more enthusiastic your moments, the better you will start to feel.
You have to know when to walk away. Let things happen – good or bad.”
Cutting the cord wasn’t easy with either of my sons. I had made some pretty bad decisions along life’s journey that had me swimming in a pool of guilt. But one I will never ever regret, was keeping an intense bond with them. My instincts knew when it was “time” to help them really find each other. I always felt like I had to make it up to them, patch up my mistakes, love them hard, do more and root for them louder than my tonsils could endure. It was pee-wee league, but you would have thought it was the Olympics. Loving these kids with every cell of my being has always been the easy part. Letting others love them as much as I do has sometimes been beyond challenging. The fear of them getting let down or hurt is too much to bear. But I have a feeling that this duo (and I) have nothing to fear. All of our hearts and souls are super-glued together. My boys are safe and sound and so am I, knowing that they are eternally there for each other. By the way, it’s summer! There’s no better time to embrace the beauty of the season. Get out there and take some photos of your family. Share your .jpegs with me and I just may put them in the next issue!
9. Think About the Big Picture – As Carl Sagan made evident with the Pale Blue Dot, we’re insignificant creatures living in a vast universe on a tiny planet. In the long run, everything we do will probably be forgotten. Some might find this depressing, but it shouldn’t be. It means that all our problems are illusory. In a million years no one will remember what you did or didn’t do. What matters is the present moment and enjoying every second of life that we’re blessed with. 10. Do Something to Help Yourself – Above all, the best way to stop feeling depressed is to take action. What is your biggest problem? How can you alleviate it? Once you decide to stop moping and start moving forward you won’t have time to feel depressed. Action will occupy your mind and give you something to look forward to. Once you get some results, you’ll build momentum and positive thinking will keep getting easier.
“Overkill”
As I type, I feel pretty confident that my men have a shared adoration and admiration for each other as human beings and as brothers. I don’t force the issue any longer and I am standing back, just letting things happen. As a full-fledged, doting Mom, I know when I go into overkill as a cheerleader and brazen evangelist for my kids. I can’t help it. But, lately I’ve taken a step back (it was actually nice to take a break from the photo shoot this .) What happens organically is just magic sometimes. My friend Veronica, a mother of four and a grandmother of two explained it best to me the other day: “Being an ‘overkill mom’ is sort of like a deadbolt lock. When one door closes, the other door can’t open, and that thwarts growth. You have to let kids be kids.
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letterstothepublisher Dear PhillyFIT, The 13th PhillyFIT BASH was far more than what we could have imagined! The people that we met at this event were incredible and energized beyond what we were expecting. Young and old alike crowded the area and participated in a variety of activities that included aerobics, martial arts, and some new and wild machines that looked like they would bring a change to any workout. We look forward to the next PhillyFIT and the new fitness innovations that it will reveal! The Combat Factory Jami, I have been watching PhillyFIT Magazine grow for some time now. I can remember your launch when it was distributed to Training Zone Sports, which I co-owned here in Doylestown! You have been growing!!! Susan Pajer P.S. I was so sorry to hear of your dear father's passing. He was my son's bus driver for many years while he attended Lenape Middle School. Your Dad was so friendly and always waived hello in the morning or afternoon. My son was very fond of him. He is missed. Hi Jami, Love your magazine and stories. My name is Stela Rickabaugh, I'm 44 years old and I'm a personal trainer at WorkOut Plus in Quakertown. Thanks for the magazine! Everyone loves it! Hi Jami!! LOVE the PhillyFIT Mag! I'm a personal trainer and fitness nutrition specialist, thanks for putting out PhillyFIT! Amanda Jackson, 27 Phoenixville, Pa HI Jami, I read your May/June Publisher’s Page feature about friendship and keeping in touch. It really brought a little tear to my eye and a touch of sadness to my heart. I think we are all guilty of this, the feeling of wanting a little break from the chaos we all have in our lives. Sometimes, at the cost of our family and friends feelings. Friendships can be hard (very hard), I haven't spoken to one of my most favorite friends in almost a year and I can't tell you a reason why, I don't think we have any issues. I plan to reach out to her tomorrow and check in
thanks to you and your article. I could ramble on and on, but I just want you how well read your magazine articles really are, they make a difference in many peoples lives. Living the Dream, Steve Guenzel Dear Jami, Thank you for sharing your story in your May/June Publisher’s Page. I literally just put your article down on my desk and picked up a pad and pen to write to you. I am 40, and going through what appears to be a similar situation as you are, I can relate to your story. I picked up a copy of PhillyFIT for the first time about an hour ago, as I was walking out of WAWA. It caught my attention, something inside of me flipped right to your article and I was thinking, “Oh my God! No way! Am I the author of this story? I could have written it!” So, as I read, all I kept thinking was I wanted to share my feelings with you, please know out there in this world is another strong woman going through her own journey of finding how to trust herself and her choices after painful experiences have left her shattered too. Wish all the best to you Jami. Dianne (last name held for privacy) Hi PhillyFIT, Thanks for a wonderful event (13th PhillyFIT BASH)!! I was thrilled to be part of it and can't imagine all the hard work that you put into it! Heather Gannon Isagenix POSTED TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE: Jami, AWESOME Publisher’s Page in your May/June issue – So relatable! Jenny Griffin Jami - It is nice to read articles by someone intelligent (you) and when things seem to be going off track, just try to think of one of my many sayings, in this case the saying being "Life is just one big long practice session.” Tom Felock Hey PhillyFIT, We had a blast at the Bash! We just booked our second patient already, in 48 hours, that we met at the BASH!
Man, are we tired this morning! You guys did a great job. Thanks to PhillyFIT volunteers, Lloyd being a big help to me (got my tent up with me). Dr. Mike Burak Hi Jami, My name is Michele R. (last name held for privacy). We have met in the past, and I have wanted to tell you that I find your editorials that you write in each issue to be very inspiring. To me, it seems that we have shared some similar-type situations and some of the things that you have recently been try-
ing in your journey to healing have spoken to me. I am now trying some of these methods as well. It is comforting to see someone else trying some alternative methods and talking about it. It makes us readers feel like we aren't alone in our own personal trials and tribulations. So, thank you for sharing, it has meant a lot to me personally. Jami, Thank You for being you - your are a Champion for the fitness industry. Warmly,Carl Wagner, CEO Center for Advancement in Cancer Edu.
PHILLYFITfamily Published by: Jalynn Concepts, LLC Publisher: Jami Appenzeller Art Design: Buxmont Media Copy Editors: Heather Hoehn, Bev Appenzeller Cover Photography: Photo of Allison by Stacy O'Nell (SO Photography). Photo of kids by Lynda Berry Photography. Publishers Page: Photo by Joe Chielli, Church Street Studios Calendar Of Events: John Beeler Ad Sales: Jami Appenzeller jami@phillyfitmagazine.com Rita Henry ritahenry@phillyfitmagazine.com Distribution Manager: R.I.P. Jim Appenzeller
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Advertising Deadlines: Reservations for the Sept/Oct 2012 issue: Ad Reservation Due By: Aug 5, 2012 Ad Copy Due By: Aug 10, 2012 Inquiries: 21 Sunnybrook Dr. New Britain PA 18901
PhillyFIT Magazine is a news magazine with emphasis on health, fitness and leisure. PhillyFIT Magazine is printed bi-monthly, distributing magazines to more than 800 locations in the Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. Address all submissions of advertising, calendar entries, photos, inquiries and letters to the above address. PhillyFIT Magazine does not assume responsibility for unsolicited materials. PhillyFIT Magazine will assume that all unsolicited materials are being submitted for possible publication and should the material be published, no fee is due to the submitting party. It is our understanding that the submitting party holds models' releases on photographs submitted. PhillyFIT Magazine does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial content, nor does the Publisher assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. PhillyFIT Magazine reserves the right to edit letters to the editor and other submissions for clarity and space availability, and to determine suitability of all materials submitted for publication. Before implementing any exercise or diet modification mentioned in PhillyFIT Magazine, readers are advised to consult with their physicians. No reproductions of printed material are permitted without the consent of the Publisher. All rights reserved.
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