HealthNEWS
January 2014
for Boomers and Beyond
Medication Interactions: How to Reduce Your Risk Americans are taking more medicines than ever— in the 65-and-older group, 65 percent use at least three medications and 38 percent use five or more, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. These drugs improve and save lives. But they can have a dangerous side, too. They can interact with each other, which can lead to serious, even lifethreatening, problems.
What is an interaction? Basically, drug interactions fall into three categories:
1. Drug–drug interactions. These occur when two or more drugs interact with each other.
2. Drug–food/beverage interactions. These happen when drugs interact with something you eat or drink.
3. Drug–condition interactions. These occur when medicines have a bad effect on a medical condition—affecting blood sugar in people with diabetes or blood pressure in people with hypertension, for example. Why are these interactions a concern? Because they can affect the body in many potentially dangerous ways. First, they can make drugs less effective—drugs either don’t work well or don’t work at all. For example, antacids can limit the body’s absorption of heart medicines, antibiotics and blood thinners. Second, they can cause unexpected side effects. These might include dizziness, an irregular heartbeat, heartburn, fatigue or nausea. Finally, they can increase the action of drugs in the body. This can cause an overdose or a toxic effect. What you can do. Thankfully, there
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
are steps you can take to reduce your risk of drug interactions: • Keep an up-to-date list of all medications you use, and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Include prescription drugs, herbal products, vitamins and supplements. Remember to include all medicines, including those you take sometimes (like antacids) or for a short time (like antibiotics). • Use one pharmacy. Pharmacists are specially trained to spot potential interactions, but they need a complete picture of your medical conditions and the drugs you take. • Read labels and patient guides each time you use a drug. Pay special attention to sections that detail warnings and possible side effects. • Ask questions: Can I take this drug with the other medicines I use? Should I avoid certain foods, beverages or other medicines? What signs of drug interaction should I watch for? • If you experience something that doesn’t seem right, tell your doctor. Ask if it could be a side effect of or a bad reaction to a medicine you’re taking. • Finally, work with your doctor to try to reduce the number of medicines you take. You are more likely to have a drug interaction if you take more than three a day.
Keep an up-to-date list of all medications you use, and share it with your doctor and pharmacist.
r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
January 2014
BOOM!
3
4 BOOM!
January 2014
riverregionboom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
BOOM!, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Contents
January 2014
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
Volume 4 Issue 6
Carl Bard
Thought Relationships Taste Inspiration
Humor Advice Health Community
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis
3 Jackson Hospital’s Health News 6 Publisher’s Letter 8 MATCH MADE Adventures in Online Dating 12 BOOM! Cover Profile
page 16
16 What is Beauty? Dr. Michael Bowman
Features 15 Your Marriage Ways to strengthen
Departments 10 This and That Interesting Stuff
18 Do The Impossible It’s never too late
25 Cloak of Invisibility Becoming invisible as we age
20 Things that Matter: Planning the Descent, Lee Lawrence 22 Obesity and Hearing Loss: is there a link? 24 Buyer Beware: Part 2 Leigh Anne Richards
28 {12} Things
Solutions for bored Boomers
30 Greg Budell
The Nut Behind the Wheel
27 Art & Soul: MACOA
BOOM!
COVER PROFILE page12
page 11
page 27 page 15 BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine is published monthly by River Region Publications, 6398 Eastwood Glen Pl., Montgomery, AL 36117. The phone number for voice and fax is 334.523.9510. Copyright 2014 by River Region Publications. No part of this publication can be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
January 2014
BOOM!
5
publisher’s letter
Just Say No The mission of BOOM! is to serve the folks of the River Region age 50 plus with information and ideas to inspire new experiences, better quality of life and new beginnings.
Can you name it? You know that one thing you’d like to improve on, eliminate, accomplish or just begin by the end of 2014? It’s easy to do; lose 20 pounds, take 12 road trips in Alabama, visit 20 museums, be measurably healthier, read a book every week…fill in the blank.
Publisher/Editor Jim Watson, 334.523.9510 jim@riverregionboom.com
Associate Editor
Jim Watson, Publisher
Kelly Watson
If you want to achieve your one thing or ten in 2014, here is what the experts offer: first, establish the motivation for change and set a clear goal; second, you need to monitor your behavior toward that goal; and the third component is willpower or self control, the most critical step in achieving your outcome. Psychologists describe self control as the ability to delay gratification, resist short-term temptations, the capacity to override unwanted thoughts and feelings and the ability to be “cool” instead of “hot” when it comes to our behavior. In other words, “just say no” and you’ll achieve far more than one thing in 2014!
kelly@riverregionboom.com
Contributing Writers Sandi Aplin Lynne Blackwell Dr. Bettie Borton Dr. Michael Bowman Greg Budell
Our one thing for January’s BOOM! was to feature someone who has accomplished a great deal in the fitness community. Her name is Lynne Ellen Kershaw and she is our BOOM! Cover Profile for January. Lynne Ellen is an extraordinary woman who has overcome challenges to become a leader in her field of fitness. I think you’ll enjoy reading and sharing her story this month.
Marla Jo Fisher Lynne Ellen Kershaw Ted Ketchum Lee Lawrence
Leigh Anne Richards
For more inspiration, Marla Jo Fisher writes about doing the impossible, which many of us sometimes give up on even thinking about. Don’t settle. Are you married? At any age marriage is a very dynamic experience, but as we grow older together we can forget how to fill that experience with positive emotions. We include some simple but worthwhile ideas on what you can do to strengthen your marriage. Act on it, your spouse will appreciate you.
Cover Photography Kim Bethea The Studio @ EastChase thestudioateastchase@gmail.com
www.thestudioateastchase.com 334.239.3196
Advertising
Lee Lawrence is a new writer for BOOM! who offers financial advice from a practical point of view. This month he points out the value in saving for retirement of course but he wants you to really think about your financial decisions after you retire, what he calls, Planning Your Descent. Get to know Lee and he will help you find your financial way.
We have so much more to enjoy in the River Regions best reading experience for the 50+ community such as Greg Budell, Dr. Bettie Borton, Dr. Michael Bowman, Leigh Anne Richards, Sandi Aplin, This and That, 12 Things, Match Made online dating, Jackson Hospital’s Health News and more.
Jim Watson, 334.523.9510 jim@riverregionboom.com
Design & Layout Lake House Graphics
Distribution Network Delivery
Printing Publications Press, Montgomery, AL
Finally, Thanks to all of the readers of BOOM! and the businesses who have invested marketing dollars this past year to reach out to you. More and more people in the River Region understand the value of our 50+ community as we begin a New Year with only one thing in mind, better ways to serve you. Happy New Year!
334.244.0436
January 2014
Jim jim@riverregionboom.com 334.324.3472 cell/text 334.523.9510 office
Please Recycle This Magazine, Share with a Friend!
6 BOOM!
We can all name the one thing or ten of them but the truth is we can’t begin to get after that one thing unless we strengthen our willpower, which is our ability to resist short-term temptations in order to meet long-term goals. It’s our self-control.
riverregionboom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
January 2014
BOOM!
7
MATCH MADE adventures in online dating with Mia Hunter
Resolution (noun) – a firm decision to do or not to do something. I’m not great with New Year’s resolutions. I go in with the greatest of intentions, really I do. I mean it when I tell myself I am not going to get a triple grande nonfat latte EVERY day. Or that no matter how warm my bed is, I AM going to get up and walk for 30 minutes before work five days a week. I know I need to stick to my resolutions because they are good ones. But sometimes, well, most of the time, the rigidity of the word “every” sideswipes my intentions, and I am a Resolution Failure. But one resolution we can make, stick to and really enjoy is being the best we can be and getting out there to find someone special. As much as we would like it to be real, rarely does the scenario include Mr. Perfect-For-You knocking on your door with roses and a tool box, although it did happen to my aunt, and she fell in love with her air conditioning repairman. (He also raised crawfish, and I was sad when THAT relationship ended.) We have to initiate wonderfulness. We are females, we are in charge and we are the kind of movers and shakers that change lives. Changing our own should be right up there occupying the penthouse of Priority Towers. Being out and about during the holidays gave me lots of opportunity to notice couples. And it seems that really and truly,
8 BOOM!
January 2014
riverregionboom.com
there is someone for everybody. Tall, short, fat, skinny, from metro to redneck and runway to frump queens, there was lot of hand holding and sweetness among the masses. And during intermission at a concert at the Fox, Amy Grant told us to greet our neighbors, so I took it as an opportunity to ask people how they met their significant others. Out of six couples, four met online. Who knew????? All said there were plenty of duds in their online dating history but they stuck with it. I was reminded of a few duds of my own…like the one who claimed to be 6’ and athletic but who must have jumped in the dryer and shrunk before the date because when I met him he may have been 5’5 and needed ironing. Yikes. You have to make a resolution to stay with it even if you have a bad run. My friend Tinkerbell was once a lonely single woman, licking her wounds from a marriage gone bad without warning. I took chicken soup and cheese biscuits because heck, that combo will cure anything. And I let her be sad and waffle around for a week or so, and time was up. I sat her down, helped her do her profile, and less than
nine months later she is about to marry her true Prince Charming. He’s for real, ladies. He was on Match.com. And he is not the lone wolf. Maybe your road to the castle will take longer. Mine is. But lordy, how I am enjoying the trip! When you travel slowly down a new road, you tend to notice all kinds of things you would not see if you were in a hurry. Train travel is more scenic than the Concorde. The journey to finding a mate in our 50’s should be by train. You can see beautiful things, scary things, and raw things. You take travel notes. You notice more. You are more immersed.You pay more attention to what’s outside your window. You don’t want to miss a thing. Yes, keeping a resolution is not the easiest thing for most of us. Maybe you are super focused and disciplined and are already out running five miles before daylight. Send some of that mojo my way. But the resolution to find my perfect mate – that’s one I am sticking to. The ride is breathtaking, even though the stops to refuel are sometimes long, and some passengers are annoying and need better haircuts. Each person has something to give. And as Tinkerbell taught me, it is always good form to leave each person you meet a little bit better than they were when you met them. Mia Hunter is a mother, grandmother and equestrienne. Born and raised in the River Region, she stays busy writing, riding her horses and feeding her creativity. She is still looking for Mr. Right. Send all comments to Miahunter58@gmail.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Join us at Frazer for a year of preaching through this life-changing book that will show you exactly who Jesus Christ is. “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” –John 20:30-31 THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 2014, Pastors Tim Thompson and Patrick Quinn will be preaching verse by verse through the gospel of John in all of Frazer’s Sunday morning worship services. Jesus made the remarkable claim that He came to give you life—real, abundant, overflowing life right now, and eternal life in the world to come. This teaching series will lead you to the heart of who this Jesus is and what it means to believe in Him.
Frazer Church: find hope, Follow Jesus • Sunday worship 8, 9:30 & 11AM 6000 atlanta Hwy. Montgomery • frazerumc.org • 334.2728622 • The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
January 2014
BOOM!
9
i
This & tHAT
30A SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL The 5th annual 30A SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL--set for January 17, 18 and 19. Taking place at venues along Florida’s scenic Highway 30A and the northwest resort neighborhoods of South Walton, the event will feature performances from such esteemed artists as Kristian Bush (Sugarland), Loudon Wainwright III, Ani DiFranco, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Richard Thompson, Shawn Mullins, John Oates, Rusty Young (Poco), Jonathan Edwards, Craig Fuller (Pure Prairie League), John Gorka, Mary Gauthier, James McMurtry, Bob Schneider, Glenn Phillips Band, Matthew Sweet, Jeffrey Steele, Jim Lauderdale and Tinsley Ellis, and more. The event will feature 150 songwriters and over 200 performances at more than 25 venues along Highway 30A in beach communities including WaterColor, WaterSound, Alys Beach, Gulf Place, Rosemary Beach, Grayton Beach, Seacrest and Seaside. For more info visit 30asongwritersfestival.com
The Grandkids Would Love It, The Fresh Beat Band Ask your grandkids about the Fresh Beat Band – Nickelodeon’s preschool music group and stars of the series of the same name. Fans have one more chance to see them live at Birmingham’s BJCC Concert Hall, Thursday, January 9th 6:30 pm. In 2013, more than 400,000 fans rocked and rolled with their parents (and hip grandparents) making it one of the year’s most successful concert tours!!! This will be a fun night for all ages and a great way to get to spend time with your little music fans. For ticket information visit www.bjcc.org or call 205.458.8500
Men Are Just Happier People What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth. The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don’t have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100. People never stare at your chest when you’re talking to them. New shoes don’t cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, He or she can still be your friend. Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.. Everything on your face stays its original color.. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck. You can play with toys all your life. One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.. You can ‘do’ your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache. You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives On December 24 in 25 minutes. No wonder men are happier.
10 BOOM!
January 2014
riverregionboom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
BOOMERS, share your stuff with BOOM! We Love to Bring BOOMERS Together, send info and pics to jim@riverregionboom.com
LOL
Callaway Gardens’ Southern Gardening Symposium Friday, January 24 to Sunday, January 26, Callaway Gardens’ Southern Gardening Symposium has been the South’s premier gardening event for a quarter of a century. Whether you’re a professional gardener or just a beginner, there’s simply no better place to immerse yourself in the world of gardening in the South than among our woodland paradise! You’ll enjoy a weekend full of gardening lectures from renowned speakers, educational workshops (optional pre-conference) and an opportunity to take home outstanding garden plants from our Gardening Marketplace. You also will have the chance to win unique plants, garden items and private garden tours in our silent and live auctions. Visit callawaygardens.com
Marketing Firm Donates Expertise To Montgomery Non-Profits
Stamp Idea Group, a Montgomery based full-service advertising, interactive and media firm, will donate over 500 hours of creative services to aid nonprofit organizations in an intense 24-hour creative blitz known as CreateAthon®. During this annual event, Stamp provides services to selected non-profits that could include strategic marketing planning, brand development, copywriting and design on projects such as websites, print advertising and collaterals, broadcast advertising such as TV and radio as well as social media. In celebrating their 12th year of involvement with CreateAthon®, Stamp will accept applications immediately. Deadline to apply/nominate is January 10, 2014. The next CreateAthon® event will be held at the firm’s Montgomery office on February 27-28, 2014. Please visit StampGivesBack.com to apply or nominate an organization in your market. The nominated organizations will be contacted and invited to apply for free marketing services. Stamp will then choose non-profit organizations from the River Region community to participate in this year’s CreateAthon®. One additional non-profit will be selected by the public through Stamp’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/StampIdeaGroup. Contact Leah Evans, leah@stampideas. com with questions at 888-244-9933.
Alabama Road Trips, Fun Travel in 2014 Alabama Road Trips gives the reader 52 unique ideas for travel within the state of Alabama. Set a date and pack light. Take a camera. Most of all, be open to creating new memories as you savor the senses in Sweet Home Alabama. Author, Rick Bragg sums up the book in his foreword: “This is a book about road trips, about the things you can see and eat and do in my state, from Florence to Foley,” Bragg writes. “In these pages are stories that make you hungry, or make you want to get up and go, or, like me, make you remember, and maybe hunt for your car keys. It reminds me of things that made my life richer, and, on almost every page, makes me realize what I have missed.” Available on Amazon.com The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
An Evening with Bill Cosby in Birmingham Saturday, January 18th, 8pm Bill Cosby is, by any standards, one of the most influential stars in America today. His humor often centers on the basic cornerstones of our existence, seeking to provide an insight into our roles as parents, children, family members, and men and women. Take advantage of this great opportunity to see him in person – you will leave uplifted!!! For ticket information visit www.bjcc.org BJCC Arena, 2100 Richard Arrington Dr.
Jeff Foxworthy at Auburn Arena Thursday, January 23rd, 8:30 pm He followed in his father’s footsteps working for IBM in Georgia, but on a dare from friends, he did a few minutes of comedy at an Atlanta comedy club. A few months later, Foxworthy quit his job and started on the stand-up comedy road. His comedy originally centered on family situations, but he soon hit upon his successful “You might be a redneck if...” tagline, which he says signifies “a glorious absence of sophistication.” Following two successful albums, Foxworthy joined the growing trend of stand-up comics with their own TV sitcoms. Jeff also has a daughter attending Auburn, who will surely be in the crowd watching Dad entertain with his “Redneck” wisdom. Ticket info can be found at www.ticketmaster.com r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
January 2014
BOOM!
11
BOOM! COVER PROFILE
Lynne Ellen Kershaw, Fitness Innovator This month’s BOOM! profile is Lynne Ellen Kershaw. Lynne Ellen is the owner of Core Vibes Studion, located at Metro Fitness in Montgomery. As with many entrepreneurs, she has a passion and love for what she does because she understands the benefits of her fitness training because she has experienced it. Lynne Ellen is a leader and advocate for Pilates and Gyrotonic training in the River Region and the Southeast. We visited with Lynne Ellen recently and she shared some of her life’s journey with us. Hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as we have.
BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography, i.e. where you’re from, education, what brought you to the Montgomery area, did you raise your family here, schools, married, family, etc? Lynne Ellen: I was born and raised in Montgomery, attended Jefferson Davis High School and the University of Alabama. I have 3 children and am the proud grandmother of a 1-year-old grandson. I will be 60 years old next summer, but I move and feel better than when I was 30! BOOM!: As the owner of Core Vibes Studio, located inside Metro Fitness, would you share how you started your business? What makes Core Vibes Studio so unique?
12 BOOM!
January 2014
riverregionboom.com
Lynne Ellen: I am really glad that, when I started CoreVibes 12 years ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into! Had I known, I would have been much too intimidated to even attempt it. I was a stay-at-home mom, and had been through a divorce, a bout with thyroid cancer, and menopause. I realized my children would soon be grown and gone, and I had no career to fall back on. I started doing Pilates more than 20 years ago because of my constant pain from severe scoliosis. Pilates dramatically improved my pain, changed my body and I loved it! So, after 2 years of Pilates certification training, I decided I was the perfect person to introduce Pilates to the River Region. MetroFitness enthusiastically and graciously welcomed me. Two years after opening the studio, I began the certification process for Gyrotonic®, another total body system
of exercise. CoreVibes is proud to be the only fully equipped Pilates studio in the River Region and the only Gyrotonic studio in Alabama. Of the 10 Pilates Method Alliance certified instructors in Alabama, 3 of us are at CoreVibes! (The PMA is the gold standard of Pilates certifications.) We are also the only certified Gyrotonic instructors in the state. BOOM!: Can you help us Boomers understand the importance and value of Pilates & Gyrotonic as we get older? Can anyone benefit from them? Lynne Ellen: Pilates and Gyrotonic are total mind-body exercise systems. What makes them distinctly different from other forms of exercise is the attention to alignment, breath and the quality, not the quantity of the movements. Most important, however, is the involvement of the brain! Our brains have “maps” for our posture, for every joint, and for the movement of every joint in our bodies. When things don’t move well and when posture is poor, the brain sends pain to get our attention. Moving with good posture, purpose, proper breath, and active attention equals moving without pain!
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Everyone can benefit from this sort of exercise! Our youngest client was 10, and our oldest is 89 years young. We have a wide range of clients. Professional and amateur athletes recognize our training improves their technique, strength and agility. We also help clients with back, neck, and shoulder pain, and others who simply want to look and feel their best. We take an individualized approach to help each client meet his or her goals. BOOM!: Many Boomers are experiencing a renewed sense of purpose, new goals, new careers, especially if they’ve experienced the empty nest syndrome of their kids moving on. How would you describe this sense of renewal in your life? Any advice for the rest of us seeking renewal?
for a 59-year-old grandmother from Montgomery! I think that’s pretty cool!
as involved with community and civic activities as I would like to be. In the studio I am the main instructor, the cleaning lady, the marketing director, the bookkeeper, the “therapist,” and the receptionist! I am a member of the First United Methodist Church and have special connections to Churchill Academy and the Alabama Dance Theatre. BOOM!: If you weren’t helping people with their fitness goals, what kind of work would you be doing? Any dream jobs?
Daughter Katie Kershaw, Lynne Ellen, grandson Harrison & daughter Cameron Steineker
My advice for renewal or reinvention: find something you are passionate about, keep learning, keep moving and above all, have fun! BOOM!: What are you most passionate about?
Lynne Ellen: I am living my dream job! BOOM!: As you’ve aged, how have your ambitions changed? Lynne Ellen: My current personal ambition is to be the best mother and grandmother I can be! I was very close to my grandmother and cherish my special memories of her. My grandson adds a dimension to my life that gives me incredible joy. You always hear about how wonderful it is—well, it’s even better than I ever imaged!
Lynne Ellen: See above—and the grandson! Lynne Ellen: Reinvention would be BOOM!: How do you like to relax more appropriate! I and wind down from a hard day’s was very lucky to be Lynne Ellen’s Scoliosis spine work? a stay-at-home mom Professionally, my fellow instructors and and to be involved I are honored to Lynne Ellen: My with all of my children’s activities. have amazing daughters laughed Deciding to start a business was the first clients who when they read this thing I had ever done just for me. My, choose to share question, as would what a journey it has been! their fitness most people who know goals with us. We me well. I am a “worker My 2-year Pilates certification began in are dedicated bee.” I wish I could say Atlanta, then New York, and Phoenix. to continually I relax, but I always My Gyrotonic certification took another educating have multiple projects. 2 years of intense studies in New York ourselves When I’m not working and Miami. I have studied for the past and providing with a client, I am 7 years with the Postural Restoration cutting- edge reading, studying, and Institute, a brilliant program primarily for fitness and pain thinking about them! Physical Therapists . My current passion relief to each and is Z-Health. Z-Health bridges the latest every one. The BOOM!: As a busy breakthroughs in neurology and exercise possibilities are professional, do to help people make unprecedented endless! you have time to be progress in pain management, athletic involved in community, performance, and overall wellness. Just BOOM!: Give us civic or other activities? last month, I attended a Z-Health course Pilates instructor, Paula Chang with client three words that with a professional tri-athlete, a coach describe you? Lynne Ellen: A for the German Olympic soccer team, downside of owning and operating a and a world champion power lifter small business is not being able to be from Australia—impressive company
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
January 2014
BOOM!
13
Lynne Ellen: I need 4! Dedicated, curious, pain-free and incredibly blessed! BOOM!: Do you have any hobbies or other activities that grab your attention? Lynne Ellen: Learning, learning, and more learning! BOOM!: What future challenges do you have in operating Core Vibes Studio? Would you like to expand? Offer new services? Lynne Ellen: Again, the possibilities are endless! One of our instructors Paula Chang created a “Yoga on the Reformer” class. It is so popular there is almost always a waiting list. Another instructor Pamela Kennedy is personally training for a 100-mile cycle race and has become an expert on special dietary needs for athletic training. Coming soon are specialized workshops on breathing, as well as others for the visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems—the 3 systems that govern our lives. (On a side note, I have tossed my reading and driving glasses with some simple vision exercises. I can even thread a needle again!) The first workshop will be “Breath 101” on Saturday, January 18. Your brain and every organ in your body need optimal oxygenation. You breathe about 22,000 times a day, so if you aren’t breathing correctly, that’s a
14 BOOM!
January 2014
riverregionboom.com
lot of bad breathing! Call 334-396-3131 for registration information. This year, I am introducing Gyrotonic to Birmingham, and I’m very excited about the possibilities. Stay tuned! BOOM!: What’s your secret to creating a successful fitness routine? Do you encourage the use of technology in your instruction? Lynne Ellen: If you don’t love it, don’t do it!!! Do something that makes you feel awesome. More is not always better and “no pain, no gain” is not the answer because you cannot trick your nervous system into “liking” pain. If you sit at a desk all day, stand up several times an hour and walk around. Learn some simple eye exercises to relieve the strain on your visual system. Move your spine in twisting, arching, curling and sidebending motions. Many years ago Joseph H. Pilates said, “You are as young as your spine.” The best technology is with you all the time and it’s free—your BRAIN! Use
it for mindful movement! Your brain craves variety so don’t do the same thing everyday. Change your routine regularly, always think about your posture and the quality of your movements, and have fun! Ever wonder why all that time on the treadmill or the elliptical never changes your body????? And, please come see what we can do for you at CoreVibes Studio!
If you have any questions for Lynne Ellen, you can reach her at 334.396.3131 or info@corevibesstudio.com. We want to thank Lynne Ellen for sharing her fitness expertise and participating in this month’s BOOM! Cover Profile. Thanks also, to Kim Bethea from The Studio @ Eastchase for her professional photos. If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please send them to jim@riverregionboom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Strengthen Your Marriage The trend of long-married couples calling it quits has been growing. However, there are some steps couples can take to keep their relationships going strong.
togetherness can be beneficial, too much time spent together may lead to feelings of suffocation and the perception that each member of the relationship is no longer his or her own person. Individuals can remedy this by doing more things on their own, whether spending time apart with friends or engaging in hobby time without your spouse. After all, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Brief periods of separation can make the time married couples do spend together feel more meaningful.
According to the AARP, divorces among people over the age of 50 have doubled since 1990. According to Susan Brown, codirector of the National Center for Family & Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University, one out of three Boomers will face their golden years unmarried. There are a number of reasons why divorce rates have skyrocketed among the over-50 set. Understanding just why these divorces are taking place and taking proactive steps to alleviate some of the divorce triggers can be a recipe for a happy marriage that continues throughout a couple’s golden years. * Increase accountability. Ours is a transient society where families no longer bat an eyelash over moving great distances away from other family members. As a result, Boomers may feel like they are not connected to children or grandchildren. With this in mind, they may feel less attached to their marriage or their responsibilities or believe that no one will get hurt by a divorce. Keeping families close and remaining in frequent contact can increase accountability and reduce the propensity for divorce. * Get things out in the open. A major reason for a failed marriage is years of avoiding significant issues rather than addressing problems. Couples should make time to talk to each other about anything that might be bothering them rather than letting too many things slide. If these conversations turn into shouting matches, there is always the option of bringing in a third party to serve as a mediator. * Spend time apart. After retirement, couples may find themselves spending hours upon hours in each other’s company. While
* Recommit to your vows. After 30 or more years, the vows you shared on your wedding may be a distant memory. Some people may have different views on the permanence of vows, putting personal happiness ahead of the happiness of the couple. Take stock of what you promised one another on your wedding day and stick to those words. * Become a comedian. Laughter has a way of dissolving a tenuous situation. Focus energy on laughing at mistakes instead of pointing blame. Couples can make fun of themselves and resolve to not take things too seriously. * Act like you’re dating. Couples often become complacent after many years of marriage. They may forget about the little details that made the relationship fun in the early years. The personal notes and cards and other surprises may fall by the wayside after being together for some time. Make an effort to go on dates, write love notes and think of what was appreciated by your partners when you were in the dating stage. * Practice selflessness. Sometimes all that is needed to rekindle a relationship is a selfless act that shows how much you care for your partner.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
We Love Women Over 50!
If your Target Audience are Women with Money and Desire, then BOOM! readers are your customers; because 70% of our readers are Mature Women, 75% of US wealth is owned by Mature Women age 50+, and Mature Women spend 2.5 times what the average person spends and they spend it on Beauty, Grand Kids, Pets, Fitness, Gifts, Restaurants, Healthcare, Financial Services, Caregiving, Classes/Lessons, Home/Garden, Concerts, Entertaining, Travel & More!
r WOMEN r MONEY r DESIRE
Reasonable Ad Rates, Complimentary Ad Creation, 12,500 Readers, Locally Focused Content, 300+ Locations, Complimentary Digital Editions
Let us know if we can help you find better customers, call 523.9510 or email jim@riverregionboom.com r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m January 2014 BOOM!
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
15
What is Beauty? Presented by River Region Facial Plastics
I recently saw an online video which gave me pause for thought. If possible, please take a moment right now and search the YouTube or Google for “Body Evolution Model before and after.” If you can’t watch the video right now, I will attempt to describe this dramatic video: The one minute video opens with a backstage view of a modeling photo shoot. An attractive young woman strikes a pose on a small stage. Then, in fast forwarded motion, we see the relatively dramatic metamorphosis that make up, hair styling, and lighting can make. The shutter clicks, and we see a photograph of a beautiful model that appears fit for a magazine... But then a tool bar appears on the left side of the screen, and the digital manipulation of the photo begins. No part of the photograph remains untouched. An already beautiful face is transformed...larger eyes & pupils, smaller nose, enlarged lips, and digitally smoothed skin. Next, the model’s already alluring proportions are further changed: she loses two dress sizes, gets longer and thinner thighs, elongated calves, more refined feet. Finally, all of her skin is airbrushed to a flawless bronze sheen. I certainly understand and accept the benefits of professional makeup artists, hair stylists, and special lighting studios. However, the dramatic and almost physically impossible changes demonstrated in this and other videos online turn these advertising images from photographs into ultrarealistic cartoons. Those exaggerated characteristics created on the model in the video (enlarged eyes and bust, tiny waist, and extended legs) are the same as a female cartoon or caricature (i.e. Barbie doll or Jessica Rabbit). The problem is that these manipulated
16 BOOM!
January 2014
riverregionboom.com
images look like normal photographs and so our brains assume that they reflect an obtainable reality. There is certainly skill and artistry needed to create/manipulate these photographs. However, these photographs are advertisements which insinuate: “Use this service, wear these clothes, or buy this product and you can look like this.” As such, there is an implicit deception in these photographs. After watching that video, I had to think about facial rejuvenation and how it relates to this kind of digital manipulation. In contrast to the exaggerated and unrealistic changes seen on the manipulated photographs, our success and the satisfaction of our clients at River Region Facial Plastics (RRFP) has been dependent on our ability to communicate and deliver realistic and natural looking improvements in appearance. I go to great lengths to make sure that each and every patient has appropriate expectations about my recommendations so they know what to expect after any intervention, from skin care to a Quicklift. In addition, our interventions at RRFP allow our clients to look in the mirror and enjoy what they see. Our personal choices in personal hygiene, clothes, hair are external manifestations of our persona. To varying degrees, our outward appearance does reflect on our inner qualities and beliefs. Furthermore, our outward appearance certainly
impacts our interactions with those around us. For the same reasons many of us take a little extra time and effort to ensure we are properly groomed and prepared for work, church or some other event, many people choose the treatments and procedures we offer at RRFP in order to help them look their individual best. Most of our patients report that they just want their external appearance to more closely match the more youthful vitality and energy they feel on the inside, and that is a very obtainable goal. We can help everyone look refreshed and rejuvenated no matter what their age, but we don’t want to turn a human being into caricature. In summary, we at River Region Facial Plastics strive to help people love their face by delivering beautiful, natural results. On the contrary, I fear that our current advertising culture is pushing all of us into pursuing these unrealistic images as a goal to be attained, especially for young women. Using these “photographs” as a benchmark for human beauty is bound to damage self-esteem. I hope we will see Madison Avenue and the fashion & beauty industry ditch the digital manipulation and embrace natural human beauty.
Yours in good health, Dr. Michael Bowman 334.270.2003 In order to keep this column relevant we want your input! Please call or email us with your questions or suggestions for next month’s column! 334.270.2003 or Doctors@RiverRegionFacialPlastics.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
January 2014
BOOM!
17
One of the problems with birthdays is that it becomes progressively more difficult to find famous people who hadn’t amounted to much yet when they were your age. And every time you turn on the TV, there’s another pesky child prodigy on the news to remind you that, not only are you falling short, but your kids are, too. Neither of my children played a Mozart violin concerto at age 4. OK, I admit it, they never played Mozart in any fashion, even on the kazoo. They never even listened to Mozart, at least not voluntarily. I suppose every parent has felt that sharp stab of envy when a friend, or even worse, an enemy, boasts about how their child just got a perfect score on the SAT, or won a national contest, or even was potty trained at 12 months. But it’s even worse when you feel that you are not living up to your own expectations for how you thought your life would turn out. No matter how rich and famous you are, there’s a good chance you thought you’d be even richer and more famous by now. Or if you’re rich and famous enough, you hate your thighs or you’re a closet alcoholic or your spouse is cheating on you. Let me tell you something though: It’s never too late to make your life better. When people sit around and moan that they’re too old to change, I can’t help rolling my eyes. Colonel Sanders was 65 and had just gone through bankruptcy when he opened his first Kentucky Fried Chicken. Peter Roget was retired and considered a little weird and creepy, what with all the word lists he kept making obsessively. That is until age 73, when he published his Roget’s Thesaurus, which used every one of his lists and is still in print today.
18 BOOM!
January 2014
riverregionboom.com
By Marla Jo Fisher
as evidenced by the fact that you’re reading this right now. And, believe me, these days especially, I don’t make much money but my job is pretty darn sweet. The reason I succeeded was emphatically not because I’m more talented than other people. Believe me, I’m not. I just had tremendous determination to succeed, and the willingness to learn and take criticism. And that doesn’t go away with age.
One of my favorite authors, Laura Ingalls Wilder, did not publish her first book until age 64 and kept writing her “Little House on the Prairie” series until she was 76.
My grandfather owned an auto repair garage all his life. He sold it when he retired and added a room onto his house to have a little business that he’d always enjoyed, restoring antique guns.
I wasn’t quite that old, but I quit a lucrative job in the entertainment industry in my 30s to become a newspaper reporter, a fairly strange thing to do, making $300 a week. Because I’d always longed to write, and everything else seemed like failure by comparison.
To everyone’s surprise, Grandpa ended up making more money from his little gun shop than he ever made fixing cars, because he did it with passion, and low overhead.
It was hard. I had to buy all my clothes at the Salvation Army. I lived on Top Ramen and frozen burritos. I had to work 12 hours a day with a bunch of young kids fresh out of college who didn’t even know who Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young was. I had an editor who screamed at me for my lack of knowledge until the veins popped out on his neck. But I did succeed in becoming a writer,
Occasionally, middle-age women tell me wistfully that they wished they’d had children before it was too late.
He even beat cancer and kept going until his late 80s. I’m convinced it was because he was doing something he loved every day.
Hello. I adopted my two kids when I was 46 years old, due to the fact that I had spent all those years being busy changing careers. As the cartoon says, “I can’t believe I forgot to have children.” Yes, it was bloody hard chasing two little kids around when I was already starting to feel a little creaky in the joints. But what was the alternative? Sitting around making doilies? Since I’m not married, adopting kids gave me an instant family. Sometimes, it’s been hell. I don’t put everything that goes The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
on in our household into my column. That would violate our privacy. Kids are messy and problematic and make you cry. They are also the source of nearly all the joy in my life today. And the reason I get out of bed and start working every morning. And, hey, they’re finally old enough to do some real chores around here. Whether or not you have kids or like what you’re doing with your life, I just want to tell you that you have so much more control over your circumstances than you think. And it’s never too late to get out there and do it. I’m thinking about Nelson Mandela right now, because I’m writing this just after he died. Think about him. Imprisoned for 27 years. Then he became not only the president of a country that formerly wouldn’t even let him vote, but also a leader venerated around the world. “There is no passion to be found playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living,” he said. And, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Try to do one thing that’s impossible for yourself today. (c)2013 The Orange County Register Distributed by MCT Information Services
BUCKET RESOLUTIONS This year, over 100 million Americans will make New Year’s resolutions. And, 88 percent, according to researcher Richard Wiseman, will fail. Why? Turns our brains aren’t cut out for resolution-ing. According to recent research by professors at Stanford University and Florida State University, keeping resolutions requires a significant amount of willpower - an amount your brain can’t handle. The pre-frontal cortex of our brains responsible for willpower is like a muscle. It has to be trained to do heavy lifting. The key to keeping resolutions is to focus on shifting behavior, creating new habits. And, when you limit yourself to one or two things, you’re much more likely to succeed. Your bucket list is a good place to start. Last year, psychiatrist Carol Lieberman resolved to ride her horse in a challenging three-day equestrian event that included dressage, cross country jumping and stadium jumping. “And, I actually did it,” she tells PINK. “It was one of the most challenging experiences I’ve ever conquered.” Publicist Angela Betancourt also had a transformative experience crossing an item off of her bucket list in 2013. “I told myself I was going to go on my first humanitarian trip with a non-profit organization, a dream I’ve had since I was a teenager,” Betancourt tells PINK. And, in August, she traveled to Peruvian Amazon jungle with the Community Health Council, where she helped the poverty-stricken community of Belen. Jen Smialek of popular blog the Happy Homeowner, took a solo trip around the world in 2013 - her largest bucket list item to date. “I had a short window of travel due to work commitments,” she says, “but I visited 13 countries in six weeks and literally circled the globe.” It was an amazing experience that changed her life forever. “In 2014, I’m planning to do a road trip across the USA.” It’s never too early to begin training your pre-frontal cortex for the New Year. By L. Nicole Williams, littlepinkbook.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
January 2014
BOOM!
19
Things that Matter
With Lee Lawrence
Things that Matter: Planning the Descent I have been an outdoors type all of my life. I was an avid back backer in my college days and am an avid trail rider in the present. As a young adult I owned a commercial llama packing company, “Over Mountain Packing and Equipment Company”. In that capacity I guided groups from Colorado to North Carolina. While I was addicted to the great outdoors, part of my fascination for the life style was the skill set required to stay in the mountains for weeks at a time. Survival skills, safety initiatives, and simple hygiene were a challenge in severe weather, hot or cold. I learned to keep emergency items such as flashlights, matches, and rain gear, in the outer pockets of the panniers for easy access. Breakable items such as lanterns needed to be packed on the trail side of the pack so that the llamas did not bump them against trees and potentially break a valued piece of gear. Weight was always a challenge and hours were spent pre-trip removing food from cans and repackaging in zip locks or plastic containers. Clothes were stored in waterproof bags as was sleeping gear. First aid kits, water purification units, and safety equipment were inventoried and stored in memorized pockets. Each and every item was inventoried, weighed, and packed in a specific pocket on the pannier. The precision, expertise and planning required to have a safe, enjoyable, and successful trip was certainly part of the pleasure. I had learned early, “Things That Matter”! I frequently read articles that surround my love for the outdoors and recently read a piece that grabbed my interest. It showcased an activity that makes
20 BOOM!
January 2014
riverregionboom.com
my packing trips sound like a Sunday stroll in the park. The article described the mapping, planning, and rigorous training required of climbers that are attracted to the challenges of mountains like Everest. The logistics of such a trip far exceed what we would perceive as normal planning. Conservation of food, oxygen and personal strength becomes critical to survival. The article also highlighted some rather interesting facts. The climb up, while grueling, was far more successful than the trip down. Surprisingly, most deaths were experienced in the descent. Reportedly, in the excitement of reaching the peak and obtaining the primary goal of making it to the top, the climber lost site of a secondary goal, the descent. In the enthusiasm of the climb, too much strength and oxygen were consumed resulting in a shortage for the final trip down. What could have been a successful climb ended in failure, a result of not planning effectively for the secondary goal of descent. Again, you learn “Things That Matter! As I assist clients entering retirement I frequently see similar planning. All efforts and strategies have been directed toward maximizing account values. The accumulation phase for retirement has been the primary goal, governed more often than not by rate of return. They plan well for the trip up the mountain. Like the climber, the retiree is eventually faced with the trip down. The formula for a successful descent is uniquely different from that of the ascent. Strategies for retirement (our descent) frequently require retention of assets, guaranteed life income, tax protection, and legacy planning over rate of return. The retiree in his enthusiasm for accumulation and the climb up has put little or no thought into the strategies
for retirement and often finds himself ill prepared and poorly positioned. Frequently, retirement decisions are made as independent issues and not part of a comprehensive plan. Inappropriate and irreversible pension options may have been selected. Questions on how and when to maximize social security benefits remain unanswered. Availability of distribution alternatives such as guaranteed life time income remain unknown. Tax consequences that commonly affect 401(k)s, IRA’s and other qualified plans are not thoroughly researched resulting in available tax strategies such as Legacy IRA’s and trusts not being utilized. With the mountain climber, planning for the trip up was important but not planning as well for the trip down resulted in disaster. The same holds true for financial/retirement planning. The initial phase of accumulation is important and should be mapped out using all of the tools and skills available. Just remember that only by planning for and negotiating the obstacles during the trip down can we complete the climb down and enjoy a successful retirement. Planning equally for the descent as well as the ascent are. “Things That Matter”! Lee Lawrence Signature Financial Solutions LLC 8128 Old Federal Road Montgomery, AL. 36117 334-546-7597 Lee Lawrence is an investment advisor representative of and securities are offered through USA Financial Securities. Member FINRA/SIPC. A Registered Investment Advisor. 6020 E. Fulton Sr., Ada, MI. 49506. Signature Financial Solutions LLC. Is not affiliated with USA Financial Securities.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Retirement. Too much emphasis is put on the hike up.
Too much emphasis is put on the hike up. The climb down the mountain is where it can get interesting.
Dear Lee,
We’ve reached the
of the retirement
top
mountain. Please he
us with our descen
t.
lp
Request our COMPLIMENTARY Retirement Survival Guide by calling us at (334) 819-7001.
Helping you with “the things that matter.”
Retirement Income Management Retirement Tax Portfolio Management Proactive Risk Management College Planning Financial Estate Distribution Planning
Lee Lawrence 8128 OLD FEDERAL RD., MONTGOMERY, AL 36117 | 334.819.7001 | WWW.SIGNATUREFINANCIALSOLUTIONSLLC.COM
Lee Lawrence is an investment advisor representative of and securities are offered through, USA Financial Securities Corporation, Member FINRA/SIPC. A Registered Investment Advisor. 6020 E. Fulton St., Ada, MI 49301. Signature Financial Solutions, LLC is not affiliated with USA Financial Securities. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
January 2014
BOOM!
21
Healthy Hearing
By Dr. Bettie Borton Au.D.
Obesity and Hearing Loss: is there a link? Data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that more than one-third of all adults in the U.S. are considered Dr. Bettie Borton Au. D. overweight. Excess body weight has a negative impact on our cardiac and circulatory systems. Another major risk factor resulting from being overweight is diabetes, namely Type II diabetes, which is ranked as the seventh leading underlying cause of death in the U.S. Type II diabetes is an established cause of heart disease and stroke.
Current research has given us an additional incentive to stay active and healthy – maintaining our hearing health. A recent publication in the American Journal of Medicine suggests a relationship between obesity and hearing impairment. A similar study out of Brigham and Women’s Hospital suggests increased levels of exercise are related to decreased risks of hearing impairment. “We often think of hearing loss as an inevitable part of the aging process, but these findings provide evidence that potentially modifiable risk factors, such as maintain a healthy weight and staying physically active, may help in the prevention of hearing loss or delaying its progression,” stated researcher Sharon Curhan, M.D., SC.M., of the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Through their compilation of data of over 68,000 women, researchers discovered correlations between increased Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference with hearing deficits. Specifically, women classified as obese (BMI 30-34) had a 17% greater chance of having hearing
22 BOOM!
January 2014
riverregionboom.com
impairment when compared to women classified as having normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9). A 25% greater chance of hearing loss was found in subjects with a BMI of 40 or greater. Similarly, women with a waist circumference of 80 - 88 cm had an 11% greater chance of having hearing impairment when compared to women who had a waist circumference of less than 71 cm. Women with a waist circumference larger than 88 cm had a 27% greater chance of having hearing deficits.
Physical activity appeared to lessen the risk for hearing impairment. The subjects who exercised most frequently had a 17% lower risk of hearing loss when compared to the subjects who completed the least amount of exercise. Findings suggest that walking as little as two hours a week decreased risk for hearing loss 15% more than walking less than an hour a week. Although this study does not establish a causal relationship, only showing an association between hearing loss and excess body fat, this isn’t the first time the two have been connected. A 2013 study published in The Laryngoscope suggested that obese teens have a virtually doubled risk of unilateral low frequency hearing impairment when compared to teens of normal weight. The researchers of that study hypothesized a probable reason for this relationship is inflammation from obesity; additional reasons include Type II diabetes and heart disease. Why does excess body fat impact hearing?
Blood circulation in the inner ear is the likely factor affected by obesity and its comorbidities. Our inner ears contain fluid, nerve endings, and auditory hair cells. Healthy hair cells perform the vital function of identifying sound before it is transformed into an electrical signal and sent to the brain
for interpretation. Damage to these hair cells causes irreversible hearing loss. Adequate blood circulation and oxygen are required for the maintenance of these hair cells. Since obesity negatively impacts the integrity of our capillaries, the hair cells struggle to obtain oxygen.
High blood pressure can be caused from having excess weight or being classified as obese. This excess weight puts a strain on our heart to effectively transport blood throughout our bodies. High blood pressure can lead to an increased risk of stroke and hearing loss. Even if high blood pressure doesn’t result in hearing loss, it can cause or exacerbate tinnitus, or ringing in the ears. If you’ve realized that you need to lose some weight this year, please seek advice from your physician before starting any type of weight loss regimen. The subsequent health benefits will be music to your ears.
If you’ve noticed increased difficulty understanding and identify with the aforementioned risk factors for hearing loss, contact Doctors Hearing Clinic, a HEARINGLife Company, for a complimentary hearing consultation. For more information please contact Doctors Hearing Clinic at (334) 3961635.
Content adapted from Healthy Hearing website and an article, Obesity Linked with Hearing Loss, from Huffington Post published November 26, 2013. Dr. Bettie B. Borton is a licensed audiologist in Alabama, was the first board certified audiologist in Montgomery, served as National Chair of the American Board of Audiology, and has recently assumed her position as President of the American Academy of Audiology. Co-authored by Dr. Brittany Spahr and Casey Gonzalez, Doctoral Extern, LSU Health.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
barbarabondsrealestate.com
Leigh Anne Richards
Tammy Griffin
Lucile Waller
Lynn Mathison
Susan Alred
Dr. Thomas Cawthon
Thanks for Gracing Our Covers in 2013 Allison Posell
Leah Leal
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Sharon Wilson
Betty Roberts and Dale Gulledge
Rhea Kirk
r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
Susan Fisher
January 2014
BOOM!
23
Fitness over Fifty
By Leigh Anne Richards
Let the Buyer Beware: Part 2 Look at any magazine as you stand at the checkout line at the grocery store. Eat this to lose weight, don’t eat this to lose weight, take this supplement Leigh Anne Richards to lose weight, and on and on we go. Diets are a major source of consumer fraud, or quackery. The basic guidelines for healthy sound eating were discussed by Mike Polis, RD in our November issue so we are aware of basic nutrition and what we should be doing. Avoid diets that emphasize one nutrient at the expense of others, diets that require the purchase of special products, or diets that are proposed by individuals lacking credentials. As we embark on a New Year, many of us decide our resolution for the New Year is to lose weight or get healthier. Let’s beware and be smart in this attempt. Don’t be fooled by something that sounds too easy and too good to be true. What about supplements? The designation of “herbal” or “natural” on supplements does not ensure safety or efficacy. Many health and nutrition supplements emphasize the word herbal because it relates to plants and people assume plants are natural and therefore healthy. There are literally thousands of herbal products and most medicines are derived from plants. However, the fact that herbs are natural does not necessarily mean they are always safe. A prominent example of this is the herbal stimulant ephedra that was used in weight loss supplements. Over 150 deaths and thousands of adverse reactions were attributed to Ephedra before it was banned in 2004. Consumers need to be careful about claims made from herbal products. Current legislation does not protect food supplement customers. Food supplements are not considered to be drugs so they are not regulated. The
24 BOOM!
January 2014
riverregionboom.com
FDA relies on the consumer to report problems rather than performing tests on the products. When reports of the product are filed, the FDA investigates. For this reason, the only way that dangerous products and unscrupulous manufacturers can be identified is if the consumer reports the problem to the FDA. Most Americans favor more regulation of the supplement industry. More than 80% of adults indicate the FDA should review supplementation before they are offered for sale. Some Important Facts about Food Supplements: > The government does not test food supplements to ensure effectiveness or safety > Beginning in 2007, the FDA began requiring manufacturers to accurately label the content of supplements and to ensure that products are what the manufacturer claims. > Little is known about long term effects of most supplement use. > People who sell supplements are not required to have special training. Be wary of third party information that cites research out of context or inaccurately. Consumers should review the evidence carefully before using supplements. There are problems that can arise that are associated with supplements. The following are some problems that have been found: 1. Postsurgical problems such as bleeding, irregular heartbeat, or stroke. 2. Dangerous interactions with medicines- examples: St John’s Wort. 3. Allergic and other physiological reactions can have negative effect on decision making. 4. Recall because of dangerous effects associated with contamination. 5. Deceptive Advertising- Example: Exercise in a Bottle, Fat Trapper. 6. Banned by several sporting groups 7. Contents may not be what they appear to be and dosage information is unknown. Example: The International
Olympic Committee studies 240 different supplements and found that 18.8 percent of the products contained steroids. The cost of supplements is substantial. Since the Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act was passed in 1994, the annual sales of food supplements nearly tripled, totaling more than 20 million each year. The cost of food supplements in a bottle (pill, powder) is very high. For instance, a protein supplement can cost as much as $1 per gram. The cost per gram in good REAL food, such as chicken breasts is typically a few cents per gram. Protein bars have a high cost per gram of protein and are sometimes high in empty calories (sugars) and/or fat. We as consumers also need to be wary of what we read. Not all books provide information that is sound, reliable and scientifically accurate. Many “movie stars” or Fitness personalities write books and articles. Just because they have good physiques does not qualify them to advise others. Websites are the same way. Currently three fourths of teens and young adults seek information on the Web. Many health websites contain misinformation. One general rule is to consult at least two or more sources to confirm information. Governmental sites are valid sources because they contain sound information prepared by experts and based on scientific research. Professional organizations and universities can also be good sources of information. Let’s all be good consumers and remember there is no magic bullet. Investigate before you buy. Information adapted from Concepts of Fitness and Wellness, Charles Corbin, 2013 Leigh Anne Richards, MEd, Certified Personal Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, General Manager- MetroFitness. For any questions or comments, contact Leigh Anne at LAMetrofit@aol. com The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Boomers’ Cloak of Invisibility
It was dusk, so the young 30-something who held the door for her friends and then entered our church in front of us can certainly be forgiven for letting the door swing shut behind her, just as my wife reached for it. The young woman was happily occupied in conversation with her peers. My wife, with her silvery gray hair, was simply not on this young churchgoer’s radar. Nor, apparently, was I. She clearly did not see us. We were, for all practical purposes, invisible, the kind of invisible that accompanies other hints of pending mortality, such as sore knees, weak eyesight and hearing, multiple trips to the bathroom each night, or going to bed feeling fine and waking up injured. Invisibility comes with the territory of getting old. I began to detect my own looming disappearance in the years shortly before I retired from teaching. Though I was no longer surprised when my high school students neither saw nor heard me until I repeated a thing 25 times, it was a shock when I realized that many of my fellow teachers were younger than my own children, and that they were about as interested as my students were in what I had to say.
By Ted Ketchum There’s yet another dark side to aging and invisibility when it comes to family. I spent a lot of time with my aging parents, but often did so with one eye on the clock. As they grew ill my parents needed more time and more “me” than I felt I could give; conversations grew repetitive, their home grew too warm, and I grew too tired. The longer I stayed, the more it seemed that I had other, more critical things to do. I could have done a much better job of being present for them. Today I sometimes detect that trapped look on the faces of our own children and grandchildren when they visit. When I, as my dad used to do, begin sharing a story that seems to me to bear yet another retelling, someone usually says, “Yes, we’ve heard that.” They’ve carved out their own very active lives and are clearly torn on some occasions between spending more time with Mom and Dad and rushing home/away from here to get on with those lives. The young lady at church meant no harm, but old people don’t always remember that. We didn’t carry enough money for all the panhandlers we encountered in Seattle and Victoria, but they are still our brothers and sisters. And while aging families may simply be struggling with the differing agendas of life’s chapters, the hunger of parents for family connection is acute. In each case we need to remember that in looking at or failing to look at someone, there’s more going on than just the seeing or not seeing. We mustn’t forget the subjectivity of seeing or not seeing. To see others is to see ourselves, and conversely, to not see, to treat others as invisible, makes us invisible ourselves. We should proceed accordingly. Ted Ketcham, 65, is a retired high school English and journalism teacher. (c) 2013, The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.) Distributed by MCT Information Services
At faculty meetings I felt like Rip van Winkle searching for a familiar face. Who were these young people and what had they done with all the teachers? And why did some of them seem to look past, rather than at me? I’ve learned to accept that younger people don’t always notice me. I don’t take it personally. Furthermore it’s very freeing to let go of needing to participate in a front-row sort of way. Letting go of the need to be so visible is part of what makes retirement enjoyable. This occasional invisibility also has another benefit, that of learned empathy. In Seattle and Victoria, B.C., recently we encountered many homeless people. Some pushed their carts about with no apparent purpose; others asked for money as we passed, and others virtually demanded it by stationing themselves squarely in our path and extending their hands, causing other pedestrians to go around and bottling things up in the process. How did we deal with such annoyances? Mostly by steadfastly avoiding eye contact. Because to look at them, where they stood and how they appeared, conferred upon them visibility, and once you see them you have to make a decision. You either give them a little money and attention, or deny their connection to you by pretending they do not exist. What haunted me, after several days of pretending not to see certain people, is the shared awareness of how it feels to be among the ignored. For both the truly destitute and for the malingerers, that repeated daily experience of being invisible must be soul-crushing. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
January 2014
BOOM!
25
Fe at u re d A r t i st This Month, John Mazaheri A true intellectual with an Nationale Supérieure des Beauxunquenchable desire for knowledge, Arts. He graduated with a degree this literary critic in printmaking has written five (equivalent to books, the first MFA). He taught being published Printmaking in a in 1995 in New college, from 1976 to York. Three 1980, and French at are written in the French Institute in French and two in Tehran. He returned English. The last to France to obtain one titled, George his Master’s degree Eliot’s Spiritual in French Literature Quest in ‘Silas from the University Marner’, was of Aix-en-Provence published in 2012 in June 1984. He and in England. He his family moved to has also published the United States in about thirty-five August 1984, where articles in French A Ballad in Winter 60h x 36w , Oil on canvas he taught French for and English in a few years at the He says, “I have always loved scholarly journals in America and University of Massachusetts/Boston and practiced abstraction, but Europe on French and English and at Clark University, in Worcester, sometimes my work does not seem literatures, as well as on Christian MA. He earned his Ph.D. in French truly abstract, probably because the (Protestant) theology. Literature from Brown University in inspiration comes from nature. My Providence, R.I., in 1989. In June subjects are the sky, the horizon, Mazaheri says, “The essence of art of that same year, he and his family the ocean, deserts, and mountains, is always abstract, whether this art moved to but my is representational or not. I must Auburn, intention also admit that without harmony Alabama, is not to and beauty, art loses its meaning to where he represent me. Obviously the latter terms are joined the them in a purely subjective and relative. Also, French conscious my paintings can be happy or sad, Faculty at way. I just like my days.” Auburn want to University. He express my John and his wife Goli live in has taught feelings and Auburn. They have four children there since emotions and two grandchildren. then. He said through that “New form and A Departing Dream 48h x 60w oil on canvas England is color.” beautiful Visit Gallery One Fine Art 423 Cloverdale Road, Montgomery, AL with lots to do, but it is very cold in He did his High School in Paris, Gallery Director Sandi Aplin wintertime and I prefer the winters France, at the Lycée Henri IV, from sandiaplin@aol.com in Alabama.” 1965 to 1970; then, from 1970 to 334.269.1114 www.galleryonefineart.com 1976, he studied art at the Ecole John Mazaheri joined Gallery One Fine Art in May of 2010. He is a very prolific painter and has a wonderful grasp of composition and scale. Mazaheri’s landscape abstract paintings have a quiet strength, calm but churning, like watching the clouds before a thunder storm. Most of his paintings are oil and acrylic on canvas, but he also enjoys drawing with watercolor, pen, and ink.
26 BOOM!
January 2014
riverregionboom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
By Sandi Aplin
Art & Soul
MACOA’S Ninth Annual International Tasting Responding to passport-style invitations to support the Montgomery Area Council on Aging’s holiday fundraiser, more than 400 guests spent Sunday afternoon, November 17th, on a multi-stop journey that didn’t require a departure from the River Region. The Ninth Annual International Tasting took place at the beautiful Southern Homes and Gardens on Vaughn Road where guests socialized among the stunning flora in the green house and shopped discounted items in the store.
Many other past and current MACOA board members attended and helped coordinate the event including Board Chairman Dottie Blair, Mary Cleland, Joe Guillot, Sam Johnson, Phelps Reid, Joy Skelton, Katherine Trumble, Barbara Duke and Sarah Spear. All decked out for the holiday season, this is the fourth year the fundraiser was hosted at the East Montgomery nursery, floral and gift shop.
Joy Skelton. In all, the tasty dishes represented unique fare from over 15 countries.
All proceeds for the International Tasting benefit MACOA’s Meals On Wheels program. The funds ensure that MACOA can continue to deliver a hot, noon-day meal to over 420 seniors, five days a week. This service, and the many others that Other generous MACOA provides donors included to area seniors, Martha’s Place Sue Groce and Joy Skelton help older Restaurant, Asia individuals live Bistro, Bates more independent, dignified and House of Turkey, Shashy’s meaningful lives. Deli, Jan’s Beach House Grill, China King, Designs by For more information, Debbie, Bobby and Lynelle Sieu Tang Wood and Dottie Blair The call 334-263-0532. Roy, Jackie Morgan, Mary boarding pass for this benefit Cleland, Shi Ping Jia, Barbara Duke, Sandi Aplin, Director of Gallery One Fine Art provided the opportunity to stop at Harry Nelson, Peggy McKinney and A free lance writer living in Montgomery, Alabama tasting stations where more than www.galleryonefineart.com 30 dishes were served to represent the popular items of countries around the world. Along with tasting interesting and delicious food items, the guests were entertained by interpretive dancers, instrumentalists, vocalists and artists. Many dishes were prepared by Sieu Tang Wood and her family, local restaurants and friends of MACOA for the event. Sieu Tang Wood and Sue Groce, both past MACOA board members initiated the tasting benefit nine years ago. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
January 2014
BOOM!
27
January 2014
{12 Things} for active boomers and beyond
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
The Twelfth Night Celebration 315 Clanton Street Friday January 3, 7-9pm Celebrate the close of the joyful holiday season with song, dance and festivities with the Montgomery Chorale and friends. Twelfth Night marks the “true” end of the Twelve Days of the Christmas Season. This performance incorporates the joy and community that characterizes the American celebration of the season with music, food, dance, dressing up, family, friends – the things that make the holidays special. Seating is limited so get your tickets now! For more information visit montgomerychorale.org or call 334.265.3737
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
Great Expectations at the Capri Theater 1045 E. Fairview Ave Friday and Saturday, January 10 and 11 The 8th cinematic adaptation of Great Expectations, Mike Newell’s take on Charles Dickens’ classic novel arrives with a freshness more fitting of the first such attempt. Not shying away from the setting’s less glamorous elements, the director’s version goes heavy on squalor that attains an unexpected level of beauty through modern, picturesque imagery. From the meager seaside residence of and his blacksmith uncle Joe to the crumbling mansion of Miss Havisham and crowded, muddy London itself, half of the film’s charm is in its detail. The other half is in its cast and, as reimaginings of British classics should, Stuffy filmmaking this is not and, perhaps more important, it’s the kind of adaptation that makes one want to read more by its author. Showtimes are 7 and 9:30pm. Visit capritheatre.org for more information.
28 BOOM!
January 2014
riverregionboom.com
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
SAME AS IT EVER WAS: A TRIBUTE TO TALKING HEADS Zydeco, 2001 15th Ave. South Friday January 10, 9 pm Love the Talking Heads? Same As It Ever Was does it right. This 7 piece outfit of Knoxville musicians came together out of their mutual love for the music of this iconic band in the summer of 2004 and have not looked back since. Over the past 11 years, they have performed extensively and now have the entire Talking Heads catalog at their fingertips. They bring it!!! For ticket information call 205.933.1032
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
Black Jacket Symphony presents “Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy” Montgomery Performing Arts Center, 201 Tallapoosa St. Friday, January 10, 8pm Black Jacket Symphony returns to Montgomery once again for what will be another sold out performance, this time bringing Led Zeppelin to the stage. Black Jacket offers a unique concert experience by recreating classis albums in a live performance setting with first class lighting and video. With no sonic detail being overlooked, the musicians do whatever it takes to musically reproduce the album Following the album performance, the band takes a short intermission and returns to play a collection of greatest hits by the evening’s artist. It’s a different way to experience some of the great rock music of our lifetime. Visit mpaconline.org/events for more information
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
C.S.Lewis “the Great Divorce” Alabama Theatre, Saturday January 11, 4pm and 8pm From the producers of the stage hit The Screwtape Letters comes the highly anticipated theatrical adaptation of another great C.S.Lewis book. In this Dantesque celestial journey from Hell to Paradise, Lewis draws some of the most fiercely funny characters ever created. It is a provocative exploration of human nature – C.S. Lewis at his best. For ages 13 and up For more information visit alabamatheatre.com or call 205.252.2262 The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
“Goodnight Moon” Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 1 Festival Drive January 11-February 1, various times You’ve read the story to your kids and grandkids a thousand times. Now this classic bedtime tale comes to the stage with sweet sounds of music and wonderful characters! Bunny’s room magically comes to life as he sings and dances thru nursery rhyme scenes of dancing bears, the Cat and the Fiddle, the Cow Jumps Over the Moon, and a stellar voyage thru the constellation. Goodnight Moon will keep all kids 3 and up (and grownups) mesmerized! For more information visit asf.net.
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
An Evening with Rick Springfield MPAC, 201 Tallapoosa St. Saturday January 18, 8pm Rick Springfield has been writing and performing music for more than four decades. An accomplished actor as well, be has performed on Broadway, headlined in Las Vegas, and starrd in numerous movies and television series. Most recently, he played a twisted version of himself in Showtime’s hit Californication. And yes, he still wishes he had Jessie’s Girl! Visit mpaconline.org/events for tickets.
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
Montgomery Symphony Fellowship Series Wilson Auditorium, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Sunday, January 19 2:30 pm This performance of the Fellowship Series will feature two Artists in residence, violinist Delyana Lazarova and cellist Ahrim Kim, performing with a number of guest artists to present a special afternoon of chamber music. This is a relaxing way to spend a Sunday afternoon, so bring a friend and come listen to these talented musicians. For more information visit montgomerysymphony.org
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
Blue Man Group Montgomery Performing Arts Center, 201 Tallapoosa St. Monday and Tuesday, January 27 and 28 Experience the Phenomenon. Blue Man Group is best known for their wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts which combine comedy, music and technology to produce a totally unique form of entertainment. With no spoken language, Blue Man Group is perfect for people of all ages, languages and cultures, This unique experience is a form of entertainment like nothing else! Visit mpaconline.org/events for ticket information. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus BJCC Arena, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N. Wednesday thru Sunday, January 22-26 Behold the living legends!!! The circus is in town! This year’s show, LEGENDS, brings the unbelievable to children of all ages. Experience fabulous family fun as amazing performers from around the globe perform awe-inspiring feats of daring, spectacles of strength, and thrills of wonder to summon the mysterious and mythical creatures of the past! Elephants, tigers, horses and the best clowns in the business are all part of this, the Greatest Show on Earth. Make plans to bring the whole family.Tickets can be purchased at bjcc.org.
AUBURN, ALABAMA
Rascal Flatts in Concert Auburn Arena, Beard-Eaves Ct. Friday January 24, 6pm Since their musical debut in 2000, Rascal Flatts has sold over 21 million albums, 25 million digital downloads and delivered 14 #1 singles to the top of the charts. Rascal Flatts is the most awarded Country group of the past decade, earning over 40 trophies from the ACAs, ACMs, AMAs, CMAs, People’s Choice Awards and more. As one of the hottest-selling acts on tour in any genre, they’ve sold over 7 million concert tickets, and counting. This concert is to benefit the Hudson Family Foundation which is committed to making a positive and long lasting difference in the lives of children who have a genuine need for assistance with regard to specific physical, emotional or financial circumstances. For more information go to hudsonfamilyfoundation.com. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
Henry Cho Comedy Club at the Stardome, 1818 Data Dr, Hoover Thursday and Friday January 30 and 31, 7:30 pm “Im an Asian with a Southern accent,” remarks Cho. “to a lot of people, that right there is funny!” Cho’s many comedy credits include NBC’s “Bob Hope Comedians Special”, MTV’s “1/2 hour Comedy Hour” and VH1’s “Stand up Spotlight”. Good clean fun and plenty of belly laughs. Come see for yourself!! For ticket info visit stardome.com or call 205.444.0008. It ’s a Great Time to Be Booming! Please submit any events/pictures to jim@riverregionboom.com r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
January 2014
BOOM!
29
By Greg Budell
The Mayor of BOOMTOWN
“THE NUT BEHIND THE WHEEL” Ever study your car buying history? Mine is riddled with stupidity.
Marriage and family compelled more practical purchases. I traded the last ‘Vette, a 1990, for 2 new Toyotas for me and my wife.
I pondered mine as the delightful Kim Travis was delivering my second Ford Fusion Hybrid from Ben Atkinson Motors. She brought the car to me, and we did the paperwork in my living room. Nice!
BOOMers more than anyone know how much the car buying process has changed. Our reasons for buying a particular car have changed as we continue to grow up (which I now believe is a lifelong process).
My Dad bought me my first car when I graduated high school - a turquoise ‘66 Volkswagen bug, complete with AM radio (not a big deal - most FM stations in those days were still playing classical music so who cared?). There was no AC - but it did come with roll down windows. The one feature the “Bug” did not come with was automatic transmission. Pops had to teach me that and it was during those harrowing hours - stalling in the middle of busy intersections - that I realized my father not only knew the “F” bomb word - but used it, too!
My next car was a brand new Chevy Vega, a car produced at the height of American Automotive Malaise. On a wintry Midwestern night, while driving back to Chicago from Detroit, I heard the Vega make a terrible, metallic grinding noise. Thank God there was a Chevy dealer in Paw Paw, Michigan. They fixed it, and Chevrolet refunded the $600 repair because the car was under recall for the problem - a rod that drove itself through the oil pan!
When I got out into the world of professional radio broadcasting, my ego told me a Vega could no longer adequately describe who I was. I was in a Pontiac store in 1975 when I discovered the Trans Am. I couldn’t really afford it but I had to
30 BOOM!
January 2014
riverregionboom.com
have it. One of my friends in Styx, who I was working for at the time, said it looked like a “Grease Mobile.” In other words, I may as well get a leather jacket and a duckass hairstyle to complete the look. He ruined the Trans Am for me! The next step up on the Me-mobile ladder was a Corvette. New ‘Vettes in those days ran about 8K so I had to look used. I found a banana yellow 72 and traded the Trans Am for that. I was high when I drove that car off the lot, not on drugs, on the car! The thrill eroded quickly. Super-banana had a 454 engine (automatic…lol) and got about 6 miles to the gallon. Its life came to a tragic end when a hot ash got between the driver’s seat and console and completely burned out the interior. I made this grisly discovery when I was leaving the house to golf with buddies. The car was air tight so the fire roared until the oxygen was consumed leaving an interior, featuring melted plastic stalactites from the rear view mirror and seats that only offered the surviving coils. From that point forward, it was one Corvette after another. I was so dumb. The 70s and 80s Corvettes were built like other American cars of that era… like crap. I was out in a brand new ‘78 one fine Chicago night during a heavy snow. The car had all of 800 miles on it. I pulled the lever for the wipers down to clear the windshield and the frickin’ thing SNAPPED OFF!
Most of my subsequent car purchases were unmemorable. My last Miami radio foray attracted the attention of a local Lexus dealer who hired me to do ads for them. They liked them so much (they really did work) they put me in a new Lexus every 3 months! Lexus was nice but for my money, slightly overpriced and overrated. Like the ‘Vette, they were a good Memobile. Lexus said “look at me! I have a new Lexus! I must be doing something right!”
My beginnings in Montgomery were on the humble side. Before the 2010 Fusion, I had a used Audi A4. I immediately took it to Florida to visit my daughter and thought it was a mighty fine road car. On the trip back, near scenic Wildwood, Florida, I saw smoke pouring out the back end. Two hours later, after spending time boiling alive in the July sun, a tow truck delivered me to a scenic Wildwood garage where I learned I could have a new engine for $4000. I called the dealer, raised hell, and he kindly took care of everything, probably because I inferred I would turn him into Osama Bin Car Dealer on the air. Along came Ben Atkinson Motors. I bought Ford because they didn’t take a bailout and in 2010 that was important. It still is! Also, Ben Atkinson has to be the best human being in the car business. When I saw the 2014 on their web site, I knew it was going to be in my driveway. So as we hit Point A in 2014, I have a great car to get me to Point B. A car that says “I have grown up”!
And the windshield wiper handle did not break off the first time I used it! Happy New Year!
Greg Budell lives in Montgomery with his dog Hershey. He’s a 25 year veteran of radio who hosts the Greg & Susan morning show 6-9 am and Happy Hour 3-6 pm on NEWSTALK 93.1, Greg can be reached at gregbudell@aol.com The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
r i ve r reg i o n b o o m . co m
January 2014
BOOM!
31
32 BOOM!
January 2014
riverregionboom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine