Thrive-Freedom Pain Hospital – Fall 2012

thrive LIVE:: Healthy/Strong/Well

ThriveHealthMagazine.com

Spring 2013 — Issue 1, Volume 2

Candid Conversation With Valley Broadcast Icon

Pat McMahon

7

Questions On Eating Right, Living Healthy With Best-Selling Author

Dr. Andrew Weil

Mystery And Magic, Behind The Curtain Of

Cirque du Soleil

RESILIENCE

Talking Strength And Fitness With Suns Athletic Trainer Extraordinaire Aaron Nelson

Celebrating 10 years of service to the Greater Phoenix area.

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thrive | spring 2013

A N T H E M

P A R A D I S E

A R C A D I A

P E O R I A

B I L T M O R E

P R E S C O T T

D E E R

S C O T T S D A L E

V A L L E Y

G I L B E R T

S U R P R I S E

M C C O R M I C K

T U C S O N

M E S A

W E S T

V A L L E Y

P H O E N I X

spring 2013 | thrive

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contents

[ thrive | spring 2013 ]

Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil

See page 28

Features Cover story

22

Rising Suns

Phoenix Suns head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson, arguably the best trainer in the National Basketball Association, has revitalized the careers of aging superstars such as Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Nash and Grant Hill.

Created By Republic Media Custom Publishing And Medical Marketing Solutions

Departments

16

7 questions with

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Dr. Weil is a best-selling author and nationally recognized physician who has appeared on “Oprah” and “The Today Show.”

18

A ‘voice’ for the ages

Broadcast legend Pat McMahon might have the most distinctive voice on the airwaves today.

28

M agic and mystery

Aging but not surrendering, World-class athletes and acrobats share the secrets behind the magic.

General Manager: Cami Kaiser Manager Creative Development: Isaac Moya Editor: Jim Williams Managing Art Director: Tracey Phalen

Art Director/Design: Rachel Tullio Contributors: Rick D’elia Advertising: Brienne Chance Kelli Fawcett

©Medical Marketing Solutions, 2013

Thrive is published four times per year. To subscribe or receive more information, call 623-201-1700 or e-mail info@medmarketingsolutions.net.

The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.

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4 Guest Editor 6 Vitals 10 Rest 11 Move 12 Him 13 Her 14 Ask 32 Innovation 33 The Road Trip 34 Nutrition 36 Events 37 By the numbers Medical Marketing Solutions Editor-In-Chief and Content Writer: Rachel Meyer Contributing Editorial: Jennifer Gitt, Michael Hardesty Design: Evan Hoffbuhr

“With AdaptiveStim, I can set it and forget it.”

AdaptiveStim™, exclusively available with RestoreSensor™, is a first-of-its-kind neurostimulation system. With other systems, if you want to adjust stimulation to remain comfortable when you change position, you have to make manual adjustments using your programmer.

With AdaptiveStim, exclusively available with RestoreSensor, you can be active without having to adjust your stimulation setting. AdaptiveStim automatically adjusts it for you.

If you are considering neurostimulation for chronic pain or for more information, talk with your doctor about RestoreSensor and visit www.TameThePain.com.

Marty RestoreSensor clinical study patient Using AdaptiveStim exclusively available with RestoreSensor since 2010.

The Choice of

Continuous Motion

Scan to watch Marty’s story or visit our website at: www.tamethepain.com/Marty

Neurostimulation Systems for Pain Therapy Brief Summary: Product Technical Manuals and Programming Guides must be reviewed prior to use for detailed disclosure.

Indication for Use - Chronic, intractable pain of the trunk and/or limbs-including unilateral or bilateral pain. Contraindications: Diathermy. Warnings: Defibrillation, diathermy, electrocautery, MRI, RF ablation, & therapeutic ultrasound can result in unexpected changes in stimulation, serious patient injury or death. Rupture/piercing of neurostimulator can result in severe burns. Electrical pulses from the neurostimulator may result in an inappropriate response of the cardiac device. Precautions: The safety and effectiveness of this therapy has not been established for: pediatric use, pregnancy, unborn fetus, or delivery. Follow programming guidelines & precautions in product manuals. Avoid activities that stress the implanted neurostimulation system. EMI, postural changes, & other activities may cause shocking/jolting. Adverse Events: Undesirable change in stimulation; hematoma, epidural hemorrhage, paralysis, seroma, CSF leakage, infection, erosion, allergic response, hardware malfunction or migration, pain at implant site, loss of pain relief, chest wall stimulation, & surgical risks. For full prescribing information, please call Medtronic at 1-800-328-0810 and/or consult Medtronic’s website at www.medtronic.com. USA Rx Only Rev 0209

spring 2013 | thrive

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editor

[ Erika Feinberg, guest editor ]

Getting the most

out of life and your health

A

Erika Feinberg CEO and Chief Happiness Officer, ActiveForever.

“We enjoy offering equipment, supplies & device guidance to practitioners so they can offer the best care outcomes as possible.”

s the Thrive team works its way through the extraordinary interviews and tours involved with the creation of the stories ahead, you’ll notice a distinct common theme: substance and passion.

As I listened to their stories about what it was like watching and listening to Aaron Nelson, the award winning head athletic trainer for our Phoenix Suns, Arizona’s legendary Pat McMahon and Dr. Andrew Weil, guru of holistic health, I kept thinking of the word “passion.” Passion is what drives bad to good, and good to great. Living our lives with passion is the only way our ActiveForever and Thrive communities know how to approach our everyday missions.

Healthcare is tricky; ridden with rules, regulations, politics, and restrictions. It’s particularly challenging to navigate this environment for all parties involved. We also face the issue of having too much data at our disposal. No matter who you are, it’s quite a challenge to stay on top of it all.

On the practitioner front, you’ll keep seeing a phrase, “Integrated Health Care.”

It’s well worth paying good attention to it!

This concept encourages the practitioner to stay well educated, assess everything about

the patient, and also collaborate with other specialists. We are great advocates of this model of care, and we plan on digging deeper into this concept throughout the year.

We represent a generation of boomers who continuously question status quo.

I’ll go ahead and say it…I’m going to call this generation of care providers and this generation of care recipients the “Good to Great Generation.” Good just isn’t good enough. We want the best for ourselves, our employees, and our loved ones. We are willing to spend our precious cash to maintain our health, beauty, happiness and quality of life, yet we passionately pursue maximum value from our spending.

We have quite a journey ahead of us.

If you appreciate the content of the pages ahead, welcome aboard, and enjoy as we unfold answers to your questions, guidance for your health issues, and solutions to your physical goals. It’s our goal to make life better for you, and help you make life as great as it can be; for you, and for everyone you touch. Enjoy!

All my best, Erika Feinberg CEO and Chief Happiness Officer, ActiveForever.com

Join ActiveForever’s DiscoveryDigest emailing to stay abreast of our latest discoveries, event announcements and private launch specials. Enjoy shopping and learning online, or in our interactive retail and education centers. Care providers, schedule an educational in-service for your staff: 480-767-6800 or EDU@ActiveForever.com

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thrive | spring 2013

“Neurostimulation has worked wonders for me.”

After four back surgeries, Jason’s back pain was still persistent. A police officer, he was not able to go to work or even get out of bed. “It was the worst thing I’ve ever gone through, and it was a terrifying feeling to not be able to walk without being in pain,” Jason explains. Searching for relief, he eventually found a doctor who recommended neurostimulation, a therapy that uses mild electric pulses to block pain signals and help manage pain. According to Jason, within the first day of the evaluation period, the pain was almost gone. Now he’s able to ride a bike and walk—things he thought he’d never be able to enjoy again.

Neurostimulation systems are FDA-approved or cleared to manage certain types of chronic pain and have helped thousands of people, like Jason, reduce their chronic pain to a manageable level and return to a more normal lifestyle. The amount of pain relief varies with each individual, and complications related to the surgical placement and/or use of a neurostimulation system may occur.

Be sure to discuss the risks and benefits of neurostimulation with your doctor.

To read more stories like Jason’s or to request a free patient information kit, view our website, PowerOverYourPain.com/living.

Twitter.com/SJMNeuro YouTube.com/SJMNeuro

Indications for Use: Spinal cord stimulation as an aid in the management of chronic, intractable pain of the trunk and limbs. Contraindications: Demand-type cardiac pacemakers, patients who are unable to operate the system or who fail to receive effective pain relief during trial stimulation. Warnings/Precautions: Diathermy therapy, cardioverter defibrillators, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), explosive or flammable gases, theft detectors and metal screening devices, lead movement, operation of machinery and equipment, postural changes, pediatric use, pregnancy, and case damage. Patients who are poor surgical risks, with multiple illnesses, or with active general infections should not be implanted. Adverse Effects: Painful stimulation, loss of pain relief, surgical risks (e.g., paralysis). User’s guide must be reviewed prior to use for detailed disclosure. Rx only.

spring 2013 | thrive

St. JUDE MEDICAL and the nine-squares symbol are trademarks and service marks of St. Jude Medical, Inc. and its related companies. ©2012 St. Jude Medical. All rights reserved.

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vitals

[ Treatments and advancements in health care ]

getting the ‘buzz’ on

energy drinks Everything you didn’t know about the caffeine-filled mystery beverages

We’ve all been there. The clock strikes 3 and we reach for another cup of joe to get us through the afternoon slump.

But these days that caffeine may be taking another form — energy drinks.

While the labels on their brightly colored cans may be marketing what is inside as a nutritional supplement, in the end we may just be fooling ourselves.

Growing concern

Wake-up call

The energy drink industry is growing at an exponential rate. Sales are expected to reach $20-billion in 2013. However, crazy growth often comes with an inevitable backlash. Producers of the popular beverages are facing increased scrutiny over possible health risks and general lack of government regulatory standards.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is now tasked with investigating dozens of incident reports that include mention of energy drinks.

Many of these reports detail severe

It would seem then, that these drinks contain extreme amounts of caffeine that could send even the healthiest among us over the edge.

In reality, though, that is not quite the case.

Based on research from Consumer Reports and Mayo Clinic, some energy drinks

health reactions including heart attacks, seizures, and even death.

fitness fact

According to the FDA, 5-Hour Energy has been cited in 13 deaths over the last four years, while Monster Energy Drink has been cited in five deaths since 2004.

6

Caffeine in Drinks

actually contain less caffeine than the grande-sized drip coffee you get each morning on the way to work.

As many health experts agree, it is hard to believe that 200 or so milligrams of caffeine could cause deaths when people drink much more than that in their daily cup of coffee.

Because of this, further investigation is necessary, especially into other active ingredients found in energy drinks. These may include high levels of sugar or artificial sweeteners and amino acids, including stimulants like guarana, ginseng, and taurine, which has been known

5-Hour Energy: approx. 210 mg per 2 oz.

Monster: 160 mg per 16 oz. can Red Bull: 76-80 mg. per 8.4 oz. can Coca-Cola: 30-35 mg. per 12 oz.

One grande-sized Starbucks brewed coffee: Up to 330 mg. per 16 oz.

thrive | spring 2013

$20 billion Expected energy drink sales in 2013. to help boost athletic performance.

The catch is that the health effects of amino acids combined with sugar and caffeine simply are not known. As of now, energy drinks are not studied in clinical trials because they are regulated by the FDA as supplements, not medications. The agency says it does not have sufficient scientific evidence to justify changing how it regulates the caffeine or other ingredients in energy products.

Know the risks For now, it is recommended that you

exercise caution before consuming any beverage with high caffeine content. Read the label and look up any ingredients you do not recognize and be aware of any health conditions that may make you more sensitive to caffeine, sugar, or stimulants. The way our bodies react to such ingredients is highly personal. Some can drink several caffeinated drinks without consequence, while others may feel their heart racing after one small cup of coffee.

So before searching for your next caffeine fix, consider that the energy drink you choose could give you a lot more than extra energy. —Lauren Loftus

New School Lunches

Healthier kids or more rumbling tummies?

USDA Lunch Guidelines get first makeover in 15 years. What it all means for your child.

If you thought it was hard getting your second grader to eat his broccoli, think about what schools around the country are up against. They’re trying to do the same, 32 million times over.

The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 went into effect at the beginning of the 2011 school year, and marks the first major change to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s school lunch program in 15 years.

Goodbye fat, hello veggies!

In a nutshell, the new policy provides billions in new funding in an attempt to combat childhood obesity by making school lunches healthier. School cafeterias are now required to decrease saturated fat and sodium, and offer more whole grains and a wider selection of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Under the new guidelines, the USDA threw out the traditional food pyramid model of yore for a circular plate divided into five components: 1. protein 4. vegetables 2. grains 5. dairy.

3. fruits

The meal is further broken down by caloric limits, set by age groups as follows: Grades K-5: 650 Grades 6-8: 700 Grades 9-12: 850

Plate debate Despite being consistent with Mayo Clinic’s recommendations, the limits on food are sparking some student protests, particularly in high schools.

These protests include some teens organizing widespread boycotts of cafeteria food in favor of brown bagging their lunches, while others from a high school in rural Kansas went as far as releasing a YouTube video showing student athletes passing out from their unfulfilled appetites. Still, supporters of the school lunch program say students wouldn’t be hungry if they could figure out the age-old mystery of how to get children to eat everything on their plates.

It seems students are accepting trays piled high with the required amount of fruits and vegetables, but eating only the slice of pizza or chicken nuggets that appeal to them and

Did you know?

32 MILLION

The National School Lunch Program feeds 32 million children across U.S.

65%

of a million-plus public school students in Arizona participate in the program, which provides free or reduced-priced lunches.

throwing everything else away.

To combat this waste, some schools are adopting the ‘offer versus serve’ method, allowing students to choose what they want rather than forcing them to take something they’ll only throw away.

Emphasizing healthy eating To further ingrain healthy

eating in our nation’s children, the Obama Administration is working with schools to implement wellness programs in curriculum. Through these programs there will be a heavier emphasis on nutrition, health education, and physical activity starting at an early age.

Despite the student protests, the fact is that the school lunch program remains a very important source of nutrition for low-income children. About 67 percent of students across the country are eligible for free or reduced-priced lunches.

—Lauren Loftus

According to the Centers for Disease Control, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. spring 2013 | thrive

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vitals Take your

27.2%

shot

of adults 18-49 years have received an influenza vaccination during the past 12 months.

Separating myth from reality when it comes to the flu vaccine

Every year, the media bombards us with warnings of a flu pandemic, an extremely limited supply of vaccines, and high death numbers related to the flu. It’s easy to believe the media and get swept away in the panic, but it is more important to take a step back and handle the flu with the correct information.

According to Mike Cihlar, the COO of Mollen Immunization, the only correct information regarding the flu can be obtained from the Centers for Disease

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Control (CDC) or other established health organizations. It is also recommended that everyone 6 months and older get a flu shot each year, and it is especially important for seniors, children, healthcare personnel, and those who are in close contact with those groups.

Many people think that if they are a healthy adult, they don’t need to get a flu shot, but Cihlar cautions against this thinking.

“Healthy people can get the flu just like anyone else, and it can be serious,” Cihlar warns. “Also, a healthy but unvaccinated adult can pass the virus on to a more susceptible person, like a baby or senior citizen, even if they don’t actually become ill. That’s why Mollen conducts flu shot events every year starting in September for businesses, senior

homes, retail stores, and various other community organizations to get as much of the public vaccinated as possible.”

Some may be nervous that they will contract the flu after receiving the vaccine, but according to the CDC, the viruses that comprise the flu vaccine have been inactivated, meaning they cannot cause the flu. In fact, in blind studies, where some people received flu shots and others received saltwater shots, the only difference in symptoms was increased soreness and redness at the injection site among those who received the flu shot.

Mollen Immunizations suggests that everyone receive the vaccines that are recommended for them by the CDC, whether it is the flu shot, or any other vaccination.

Did you know?

How flu shots work: Flu vaccines (the flu shot and the nasalspray flu vaccine cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.

The seasonal flu vaccine protects against three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. Three kinds of influenza viruses commonly circulate among people today: influenza B viruses, influenza A (H1N1) viruses, and influenza A (H3N2) viruses.

Each year, one flu virus of each kind is used to produce seasonal influenza vaccine.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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rest

5

hidden and relaxing gems in Arizona

Put some ‘calm’ back in your life Everyone’s definition of calm may be different, but whether it is kicking back at a movie theater or hiking scenic trails, the important thing is that you truly enjoy it. Avoiding the crowds can also be an important part of achieving a sense of calm, and so we bring you some of the hidden gems of Arizona.

1 Lookout Mountain Preserve If you are an avid hiker, you know the crowds at the ever-popular Camelback Mountain can be tremendous, especially in the perfect early spring weather. Avoid the Camelback crush by heading to Lookout Mountain Preserve, which features both a 1 mile hike to the top and a longer circumference trail. Most rate the Summit Trail as moderately difficult, and the view from the top is well worth it. Enter 15800 N. 16th St., Phoenix into mapping software to navigate to the trailhead. For more information, visit phoenix. gov/parks/trails/locations/lookout/hiking.

2 Phoenix Film Society Not only is the Phoenix Film Society extremely affordable (memberships start at $99), it provides movie lovers the opportunity to see popular films weeks before they are available to the general public. Members in 2012 had the opportunity to preview Argo, Silver Linings Playbook, and Hitchcock among other popular movies. There are often special guests and open discussions prior to film screenings. For more information, visit PhxFilmSociety.com.

5 Kartchner Caverns

3 Wildlife World Zoo For a good alternative to the Phoenix Zoo, give Wildlife World Zoo a try. Wildlife World Zoo offers visitors the opportunity to feed giraffes and birds, touch sea life in several touch tanks, and enjoy a small petting zoo. Another advantage is that the zoo is constantly expanding, and now includes four aquarium buildings.

Plan on spending the entire day visiting, petting, and feeding the animals at Wildlife World Zoo. For more information, visit WildlifeWorld.com.

4 Musical Instrument Museum Showcasing instruments and musical styles from around the world, the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix should not be missed.

MIM features an audiovisual experience as visitors will see thousands of instruments and hear them being played through wireless headphones. The museum has frequent live performances and a cafe with an extensive menu, which makes the Musical Instrument Museum a great way to spend a day.

For more information, visit MIM.org.

As an Arizona State Park, Kartchner Caverns includes trails, an informational center, and tours of the caverns. If you’re near Tucson, a tour of Kartchener Caverns is highly recommended. Discovered in 1974, these pristine caverns have been well-preserved and maintained by volunteers and staff. Depending on the time of year, two separate tours are available, each offering a walk through a different section of the vast caverns. There are outdoor seats and a cafe, so a family picnic on an Arizona spring day might be the perfect way to calm down after a hectic week. Visit AzStateParks.com/parks/kaca.

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Relax, be happy To relieve stress, relaxation should calm the tension in your mind and body. Some good forms of relaxation are yoga, tai chi (a series of slow, graceful movements), and meditation. Like most skills, relaxation takes practice. Many people join a class to learn and practice relaxation skills.

Deep breathing is a form of relaxation you can learn and practice at home using the following steps. It’s a good skill to practice as you start or end your day. With daily practice, you will soon be able to use this skill whenever you feel stress.

Get comfortable. Sit in a comfortable position with your feet on the floor and your hands in your lap, or lie down.

Close your eyes.

Picture yourself in a peaceful place.

Perhaps you’re lying on the beach, walking in the mountains, or floating in the clouds.

Hold this scene in your mind.

Inhale and exhale.

Focus on breathing slowly and deeply.

Breathe. Continue to breathe slowly for 10 minutes or more.

Make it a daily ritual.

Try to take at least five to ten minutes every day for deep breathing or another form of relaxation.

Source: American Heart Association

move

Thinq Fitness

Tone It Up

iBody Fit

Free Trainers

ThinqFitness.com is extremely user friendly and has an extensive database of videos separated into categories like Short Workouts, Brides To Be, Dance, and New To Fitness.

Basic workouts like Step, Conditioning, and Aerobics are available, while the Stiletto Workout and the Ballroom Body Blitz workout may hold appeal for those bored with their routine.

ThinqFitness.com

Piloted by spunky Katrina and Karena, ToneItUp.com features a collection of online videos offering a mix of conditioning and cardio.

Some of the website features are only accessible with a paid membership, but there is a large volume of videos and recipes that are available for free. Users can also sign up for email alerts when new workouts are available.

ToneItUp.com

One of the most wellorganized online fitness sites, iBodyFit.com allows the user to narrow down the video lists by muscle group, available equipment, trainer, or type of workout.

New users can take the “How To Get In Shape” fitness tutorial before getting started to get a good idea of what iBodyFit is all about. Offering yoga, cardio, weight classes, pilates, and more, iBodyFit is a good place to start an online fitness video routine. iBodyFit.com

While not technically a video site, FreeTrainers.com definitely deserves a mention, as it is by far one of the most robust free online fitness services available. Offering customized cardio and strength workouts, workout calendars, meal plans, a recipe database, journaling and logging capabilities, and hundreds of online support groups, FreeTrainers.com is worth the time spent setting up and customizing your free account.

FreeTrainers.com

Newest fitness craze

Workout with your computer While there are plenty of advantages with a gym membership, there are likely just as many disadvantages. Some are turned off by the price, while others feel awkward working out in front of people.

Time constraints can also work against you — you might have 30 minutes to squeeze in some exercise, but driving to and from the gym takes time away from your workout. Free online fitness videos are becoming more popular, both on YouTube and private websites.

With a little bit of searching, thousands of videos are available and span popular fitness crazes like Zumba, pilates, and yoga. The best part is that you can do these workouts from the comfort of your home.

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him

75-80% of all people who commit suicide in the U.S. are men.

Depression affecting your manliness?

You’re not alone; depression affects more than six million men

While depression may be seen entirely as a female condition, depression affects more than six million men. In fact, that number is thought to be conservative, as most men with depression symptoms avoid going to the doctor to seek treatment for their symptoms. Depression in men frequently goes untreated, as men are commonly embarrassed or ashamed to admit that they are experiencing symptoms of depression.

Symptoms Depression symptoms are actually similar in men and women — interference in work and daily tasks, general disinterest, and disruption of relationships are all common indicators.

Fatigue, change in appetite (both an increase in appetite and loss of appetite), increase or decrease in sleep, and general apathy are also all extremely common.

The main difference, however, is how each sex expresses these feelings — while women tend to feel sad, gloomy, and sometimes worthless, men may become aggressive, hostile or increasingly irritable.

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thrive | spring 2013

The biggest difficulty with diagnosing depression in men is that they tend to focus on the physical symptoms of their depression, like fatigue, and appetite change, instead of the emotional symptoms, like mood or emotional changes. Societal and cultural expectations also affect admitting to depression for the male gender — it is not “manly” to feel

depressed, or sad, and men are generally expected to be in control, and not show emotion. These societal expectations are why most men exhibit aggression and anger as symptoms of their depression. In addition, men are far more likely than women to abuse alcohol and drugs and exhibit risky behaviors to put off a tough demeanor to avoid facing emotion.

Important!

The most important message is to show that it is acceptable for men to experience depression symptoms, and to seek clinical treatment for this disorder.

Remaining alive and well for your family is far more manly than covering up and hiding symptoms of depression.

Danger signs Undiagnosed and untreated depression in men can be dangerous, as depression can often lead to thoughts of suicide. Frighteningly and shockingly, 75-80 percent of all people who commit suicide in the United States are men. While more women attempt suicide, more men are actual victims, due to men using more violent methods like guns instead of swallowing

fatal doses of pills.

If you need immediate help, call 800-273TALK. This number is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is a good resource for men with depression.

For downloadable white papers and more information on depression and men, go to MenGetDepression.com/Resources.

her Emotional eating is likely something that every woman has encountered at one time or another, whether the eating was triggered by happiness, sadness, stress, or some other emotion. Food can satisfy a feeling, and often, there is a specific food that one craves with a certain feeling. While occasionally celebrating with a favorite food is perfectly normal, regular emotional eating can get out of control and can lead to weight gain, heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, and an unhealthy relationship with food, especially if emotional eating is always triggered by stress or sadness. Statistics show that 75 percent of all overeating is linked to emotional eating.

To effectively combat eating your feelings and decide if what you are feeling is emotional or true hunger, there are several questions to ask yourself.

What am I hungry for?

If you’re truly, physically hungry, several foods may sound appetizing, or you may not even care, as long as you can get something to eat. When you’re emotionally eating, you’ll crave one specific food, taste, or texture, and nothing else will be sufficient.

Was my hunger gradual?

Physical hunger comes on slowly and gradually, while emotional hunger is often sudden.

Can I wait to eat?

Emotional hunger is often urgent, making you feel like you need that food that you are craving right now. Physical hunger can usually be held off for awhile.

75% of all overeating is emotionally driven.

Am I really hungry, or am I just eating my feelings?

Am I eating even though I am full?

Emotional eating is often carried out even if you’re full, or after you become full, just to fulfill the craving for the taste or texture.

If you are physically hungry, it is much easier to stop once you become full.

Would I feel guilty if I eat what I’m craving?

Often, emotional eating can bring about feelings of guilt, whereas physical hunger will not.

Managing your emotions It is important to understand the root of your emotional eating.

If you are sad or stressed, try to isolate those feelings to understand why. While it may be easier said than done, try to avoid eating when you’re having the urge to emotionally eat by diverting your attention elsewhere — try to keep your hands busy.

If that fails, experts recommend finding low-calorie versions of your cravings. If you are craving the salty crunchiness of potato chips, consider pickles; if you’re craving the cold creaminess of ice cream, consider low-fat, low-sugar yogurt.

Regardless, frequent emotional eating can be the symptom of a bigger problem, so if you feel that it is a concern, be sure to talk to your doctor. spring 2013 | thrive

13

ask ask the

eX Pert

[ Ruchir P. Patel, M.D. ]

Q:

Why am I so tired during

the day even though I sleep 6-8 hours per night?

A: Ruchir P. Patel, M.D. Ruchir P. Patel is the medical director of The Insomnia and Sleep Institute of Arizona.

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thrive | spring 2013

This is likely the most common complaint that I see in my clinic, but at the same time, a complaint that has the largest differential diagnosis amongst sleep disorders. First off, we in sleep medicine like to differentiate “tiredness” into if one feels “physically fatigued” versus “drowsy.” The reason for this distinction is that “physical fatigue” may occur secondary to other medical conditions unrelated to sleep, but “drowsiness” is usually always due to an underlying sleep disorder.

If an individual averages good quality 7-8 hours of sleep per night then he or she should not experience daytime drowsiness. The symptom of drowsiness during the day is a sign that the brain did not receive enough “deep sleep.” If you give your brain a situation to recover lost sleep, i.e., sitting quietly at your desk after lunch, reading a book, or watching TV, then it will start attempting to recover lost “deep sleep,” thereby causing the feeling of drowsiness.

There are various intrinsic sleep disorders (i.e. sleep apnea, insomnia, kicking your legs while you are asleep) that leads your brain to being woken excessively.

It is normal for your brain to wake up 15-20 times per hour (for a duration of 1-3 seconds on average) but if there is any reason for the brain to wake up more than 15-20 times an hour then it forces the brain to spend more time in lighter stages of sleep and less time in REM (dream) sleep.

Ultimately, if you feel drowsy and physically fatigued during the daytime, despite feeling that you are obtaining decent quality of sleep, I would highly suggest you seek a consultation with a sleep specialist as it is very likely that you suffer from an underlying sleep disorder.

Q: A:

What is sleep medicine?

In a nutshell, sleep medicine is the field of medicine that is responsible for the evaluation and treatment of over 80 sleep disorders that include conditions such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, insomnia, sleep walking, excessive daytime fatigue and sleepiness, and circadian rhythm (“internal biological clock”) disorders. I am a part of a medical field of very few full-time sleep medicine physicians, but one that is desperately in need of more physicians. There are many healthcare professionals attempting to treat various sleep disorders. However, it is very important to remember that sleep apnea, in particular, is a medical disorder with significant risks to your health, and if it is not treated properly, can cause complications such as a major stroke, heart attack, or fatal cardiac arrhythmia.

Given my background in Internal Medicine, the vast amount of evidence showing that the quantity and quality of sleep one obtains nightly effects most major medical conditions ranging from hypertension to obesity is absolutely remarkable. All this evidence gives the much needed credence that sleep is actually an extremely important part of our lives.

Say Goodnight to Restless Sleep Introducing the newest and most advanced comprehensive sleep disorders center in Arizona, dedicated to the evaluation, diagnosis and long-term management of all sleep disorders in both adults and children.

The Insomnia and Sleep Institute of Arizona has been established by Ruchir P. Patel, M.D., a fellowship

This new comprehensive center is comprised of a full-time sleep medicine clinic staffed by Dr. Patel and a six-bedroom sleep laboratory that provides diagnostic services for the evaluation and treatment of over 80 sleep disorders ranging from sleep apnea to narcolepsy to circadian rhythm disorders and cognitive behavioral therapy as a method for treating insomnia without medication.

SleeplessinArizona.com | 480.745.3547 | 8330 E Hartford Dr., Ste. 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85255

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Q&A

Thrive: Tell us about the book.

What was your motivation for writing True Food: Seasonal, Sustainable, Simple, Pure?

Dr. Andrew Weil: I wanted to share recipes and concepts from our True Food Kitchen restaurants that are easy to make and give great results: delicious, appealing food that also conforms to the principles of cutting-edge nutritional science.

Q

: W hat’s your favorite recipe in the book?

A: Curried Cauliflower Soup — quick, easy, bursting with flavor, good hot or cold.

7 questions with

Dr. Andrew Weil Andrew Weil, M.D., best-selling author and nationally recognized physician, shares his motivation behind his new cookbook, True Food, how diet affects pain, and staples every kitchen household should have.

Dr. Weil received both his medical degree and his undergraduate AB degree in biology (botany) from Harvard University. Dr. Weil makes his home in Tucson.

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thrive | spring 2013

Q

: W hy are so many people obsessed with eating things that are bad for them?

A: People eat what’s cheap and what’s available. We’ve made the unhealthiest food cheapest and most available. Also manufacturers of fast food and junk food have invested a great deal of time, energy, and money into figuring out combinations of fat, salt, crunch, etc. that appeal to people everywhere. You can get addicted to it and forget what real food is like.

Q

: Millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain. What role does diet play in how we feel, and are there certain foods that can help ease pain or make pain more bearable?

A: To the extent that pain results from inflammation in joints and muscles, the anti-inflammatory diet that I’ve devised and is the basis of the recipes will definitely help. Turmeric and ginger are potent natural anti-inflammatory agents.

Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids are also anti-inflammatory.

:W hat is the theory behind integrative medicine?

A: The body has the capacity to maintain and repair itself. Good medicine should aim to stimulate or unblock that innate healing power. It should focus on health promotion and disease prevention, treat the whole person (body, mind, and spirit), attend to all aspects of lifestyle, and use less harmful, less costly, more natural treatments when possible.

Q

: You wrote this book with restaurant entrepreneur Sam Fox. Why Sam, and who’s the healthier eater of the two of you?

A: Sam knows the restaurant business; I don’t. When we met, our eating habits were very different. I eat fish and vegetables; he goes for cheeseburgers and steaks. It’s a partnership that works. I’ve had to compromise with him on many issues, and his eating habits have moved in my direction.

Q

Q

:W hat are healthy staples that every kitchen household should have?

A: Extra-virgin olive oil, grapeseed oil, a good array of dried herbs and spices, dried beans, whole grains, dark chocolate.

Q

:Y ou’re incredibly busy juggling teaching, writing, speaking engagements and such; how are you able to eat nutritiously and maintain a healthy lifestyle?

A: I grow much of my own food, cook for myself, and I’m a careful shopper. I get regular physical activity, meditate, follow my own advice. When I’m on the road it’s sometimes hard to maintain my routines, but I do the best I can. I always make time for rest and play.

The ‘dish’ on Dr. Andrew Weil Dr. Weil is the founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, where he is also a Clinical Professor of Medicine, Professor of Public Health, and the Lovell-Jones Professor of Integrative Rheumatology. He is also director of Integrative Health and Healing at Miraval Resort and Spa. Approximately 10 million copies of Dr. Weil’s books have been sold, including Spontaneous Healing, 8 Weeks to Optimum Health, Eating Well for Optimum Health, The Healthy Kitchen, Healthy Aging, and Why Our Health Matters.

Dr. Weil is a frequent guest on CNN, The Today Show and Dr. Oz, where he shares his insight on how to incorporate conventional and complementary medicine practices in one’s life to optimize the body’s natural healing power.

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A candid conversation with Valley broadcast icon Pat McMahon

A voice for the STORY By Rachel Meyer PHOTOS BY EMILY PIRAINO

ages

Effervescent, hilarious and fun only scratch the surface of Pat McMahon’s personality. n Time spent in the presence of McMahon and his wife of more than 30 years, Duffy, earns stories, anecdotes and mentions of the wildest span of people imaginable from Lady Gaga, to John Lennon, to Prokofiev. A fixture in the Arizona media community, McMahon put on the persona of more than 100 characters on the famous “It’s Wallace?” children’s show (later, called “The Wallace and Ladmo Show”), has worked at several radio and television stations, and now hosts a daily radio and television show. n Over the years, McMahon has earned respect not only through his work in the media, but also through his involvement in the community and the important causes he champions. His easy charm wins over anyone, and his way of weaving the important facts of key people into a story sweeps the entire room along with him. n McMahon is someone who truly found his calling as an entertainer.

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Words of wisdom McMahon is a talented interviewer, and there’s no big secret why.

“I do my homework!” he says, enthusiastically. “I had the chance to interview Gene Simmons — we all know him from the cable shows, and he isn’t really the smoothest guy in the world, but because I did my homework, we ended up talking about Israel, where he was born. It was wonderful.”

Duffy McMahon explains her husband’s talent in a different way.

“Pat isn’t the normal talk show host of today,” she says. “Like with Gene Simmons, most talk show hosts would want to focus on his cable shows, and his band (KISS). Pat was able to discuss Israel with him, and make it a unique interview.”

No matter the profession, McMahon says the ‘be prepared’ rules apply.

“Earn your money,” he advises.

“When someone hands you a check, look at it, and figure out, ‘did I really earn this? Did I seem passionate about this subject?’ My advice applies to any industry. Do your homework, and earn your paycheck; that’s the best advice I can give anyone.”

Veteran’s affairs and mental health While the McMahons are involved with numerous charities, there are two particular causes that they speak passionately about.

“There are more suicides in the United States military now than any time in history,” McMahon says. “In some months, there are more casualties at the soldiers’ own hands than in combat.

“Mental health in general is often overlooked. Regretfully, there are no telethons for the mentally ill, no poster boy or girl for the mentally ill. We still put them in closets, we still pretend that they’re just ‘nervous.’ It’s a sad state of affairs.”

“We try to label everything, and that can lead to wrongly diagnosed depression or anxiety, when sometimes, these conditions can’t be labeled,” Duffy adds, a champion for mental health and a psychotherapist. “There is a physical, mental, and spiritual 20

thrive | spring 2013

aspect to wholeness and wellness.”

“When it comes to our veterans, especially, there needs to be a heightened awareness,” McMahon encourages. “We need to not be afraid — either to address mental illness, or seek treatment for it. Education and information is a step in the right direction.”

The Beatles When asked about the Beatles, McMahon’s face lights up.

“The only time I am really ever a fanatical fan, is when it comes to the Beatles,” he says, segueing into several stories, before mentioning one that makes him laugh to this day.

“George Martin, the Beatles’ producer, said to me one time in an interview, ‘the thing the lads found most interesting is that they would release a single and in the UK and everywhere else in the world, it was judged on its own merits. But in the United States, we had a wager among the lads and I

as to when the first rumor would come out about the hidden drug meaning.’”

Talking health... ‘or not!’

McMahon was recently diagnosed with pancreatitis, but explains that it definitely does not define or limit him.

“I’ve been extraordinarily fortunate that I’ve spent all these years in good health. But you know, in all of the interviews I have ever done, on every medical condition you could possibly ever come up with, I have never, ever had the occasion to talk to any specialist about pancreatitis.”

McMahon pauses, smiles and injects some lightness: “I know logically what it is, since the first couple of syllables are ‘pan-crea-as.’”

Even as McMahon relays the story of the painful emergency room visit that earned him the eventual pancreatitis diagnosis, he jokes.

“This is hysterical — (someone on) the emergency room staff said, ‘I’d like to do a bit of medical history. Have

“In speaking about my condition, I have now found about six people who have said, ‘pancreatitis — my dog has that!’ n [laughing] So write this down — Pat is being tested for distemper and parvo.” n

you ever been a member of AA, or do you practice binge drinking?’ I said to them, if I’m a binge drinker, I don’t need practice!” McMahon pauses for a laugh and then explains that some cases of pancreatitis are caused by alcoholism.

Clearly ready to talk about other topics, McMahon effectively closes the discussion on his medical history and condition. “In speaking about my condition, I have now found about six people who have said, ‘pancreatitis — my dog has that!’”

Laughing, he leans back in his chair and directs: “So write this down — Pat is being tested for distemper and parvo.”

On ‘Wallace and Ladmo’ The iconic children’s show ran for 36 years, spanning 10,000 episodes that aired daily, Monday through Friday.

When talking about the show, it’s almost as if McMahon is still on set everyday — his excitement is palpable.

“Most kids’ shows were some guy with a sock on his hand. The biggest difference about the Wallace show is that we were funny — it was Saturday Night Live or Monty Python for kids,” McMahon explains about the show.

Because of the longevity of the show, it is difficult for McMahon to pinpoint a particular moment or character that he played as his favorite, but he explains that a daily moment was everything to him.

“I have to tell you the absolute candid truth — my favorite moment was every day, walking into the dressing room, and the guys and I would talk over what the characters would do, since I did all of the characters except Wallace and Ladmo. There was Gerald, Captain Super, Aunt Maude, Hubkapp and the Wheels, and countless other characters over the 30 years I did the show. So, to pick out one moment, that’s impossible.

“Really, it was the moment I walked in the door and said to Wall and Lad, ‘what are we going to do today?’ To make people laugh — not just kids, because their parents and grandparents watched the show — that was the greatest thing ever.”

EVERYONE’S talking about Molly

By Duffy McMahon WHO IS MOLLY AND WHY WOULD Madonna name her concert tour after her? Actually Molly isn’t so much a who as a what. Molly is the powder or crystal form of MDMA (methylenedioxy-methamphetamine), popularly known as Ecstasy.

Ecstasy had seemingly lost the popularity it had in the Rave Clubs of the 1990s until lately when Rap and Hip Hop stars such as Kanye West and Nicki Minaj expressed the blissful euphoria they get from Molly in their music. Madonna, a mother of a teenager, actually began a concert by yelling out to the audience, “HAS ANYONE SEEN MOLLY?” I guess she won’t be receiving the “Mother Of The Year Award.” I wonder if she wants her kids taking Molly?

As much as I hate to admit it, we live in a drug culture. If you thought Drugs, Sex and Rock and Roll was the mantra of the 1960s then today’s mantra is “More of the Same.”

You can’t get away from it. Just turn on your television and see the drug advertisement…have a problem sleeping…take a pill…have a problem with erectile dysfunction…take a pill… have depression…take a pill. I may be dating myself, but it wasn’t too long ago that you didn’t see teenagers talking about sex much less having sex on television. And if the Networks add one more Idol, X-Factor, Most Talented, Duet, Voice or any other “who can do more riff”

in their song show, I will cancel my cable.

Maybe this is why our kids want to take something that will give them that feeling of euphoria, emotional warmth and empathy— something that distorts their sensory and time perception. This is what Molly does. Sounds good doesn’t it?

On the surface maybe, but the Drug Enforcement Administration also notes that Molly can cause confusion, anxiety, depression, paranoia, sleep problem, muscle tension, tremors, nausea, faintness, chills, sweats and blurred vision. One major problem with Molly is that it interferes with the ability of your body to regulate its temperature resulting in increased body temperature (hyperthermia), which can result in liver, kidney and cardiovascular failure, along with severe dehydration. And since our mantra is “more,” the DEA reports that there has been a 123-percent increase in the number of emergency room visits involving Molly taken in combination with pharmaceuticals, alcohol or both.

It isn’t easy for parents to be aware of every type of drug or even aware of every drug nickname. But parents need to be realistic and realize their kids are just that kids and will be subjected to peer pressure and want to try what’s out there — just like they did. So do your homework and find out the nicknames for these drugs. After all you may realize when your child is talking about his aunt, it’s not a relative — it’s powder cocaine.

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inside the phoenix

suns training room Talking strength, fitness, and healing with Suns ATHLETIC Trainer extraordinaire Aaron Nelson

By Rachel Meyer

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thrive | spring 2013

Photos by Rick D’Elia

As the basketball season winds down, the staff of Thrive magazine had a rare opportunity to spend a “day off” with Phoenix Suns head athletic trainer, Aaron Nelson.

After a welcome into the training area rarely seen by arena staff let alone the press, Nelson generously gave us his time to explain the elite training programs that not only keep older, legendary players like Shaquille O’Neal, Grant Hill and Steve Nash in top shape and on the court, but sharpen and hone the skills of younger players.

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Extraordinary results Nelson has a multi-tiered approach to keeping his players healthy and on the court, with a unique focus on movement and efficiency. Grant Hill is possibly one of the greatest success stories to benefit from that focus in the Suns’ training program.

“The biggest overall change I’ve ever seen was probably Grant,” Nelson says. “I was a basketball fan growing up, and I remember watching when Grant first started playing. If you go back and watch highlights, he was ridiculous — the stuff he could do!”

Hill came to Phoenix after sustaining an ankle injury, staph infection, and several subsequent surgeries.

“When we got him (Hill), I was shocked that he was able to play an NBA game, let alone a basketball game with his kids. Physically, he was in shape, but movement wise, he was a wreck and didn’t move very well at all. The first time we met, we did about 45 minutes of ankle therapy and some corrective stuff, and he was overwhelmed with the results. That was actually the day he signed with us, and we just saw him progress after that.”

During his first year with the Suns, Hill missed games due to appendicitis, but then went on to play 82, 81, and 80 games during the next three 82 game seasons. During the shortened 2011-12 season, Hill only missed 15 games due to two knee surgeries. Given Hill’s age and medical history, these stats are nothing short of remarkable.

The program Due to the shortened season last year, recovery was the hottest topic in the NBA. “I had to come up with a proposal of what we were going to do to get our guys through 66 games in a short amount of time,” Nelson says of the 2011-12 season. “In 66 games, we ended up having the fewest games lost at 22, and 15 of them were Hill with his knee surgeries. Two were flu, the other five were all quad contusions.

We felt we were onto something and wanted to broaden it, and it became 24

thrive | spring 2013

the preliminary basis of what we continued to build on this year.”

A careful blend of healthy living habits and specific movement-oriented exercise keep the Suns the most played team in the NBA. “We’ve implemented quite a few resources into enhancing player recovery, and also in the performance area. Whether it’s sleep, nutrition, preparatory exercise, movement efficiency — we put it all into a scorecard form and look at guys daily to get them through,” Nelson explains. “We put a big emphasis on corrective exercise and movement efficiency.”

“They’re hands-on,” former Suns guard Sebastian Telfair says of the training staff.

“They make the plan work for you — they don’t put a workout on the board for everyone to follow the same plan, if you look, each player has different workouts and for different days. I just think the fact that they make the program custom for me really helps a lot.”

Nelson elaborates that everything in the body works together as a whole, especially when considering how the body moves. If the foot is striking the ground incorrectly, it can cause knee issues, which can cause rotation of the hip, which can lead to back pain.

Especially where athletes are concerned, constant inefficient movement can cause injury. Nelson and his staff work extensively with each player to ensure that they are using corrective exercise

Phoenix Suns strength coach and assistant trainer Mike Elliott works with former Suns guard Sebastian Telfair in the team’s weight room at U.S. Airways Arena in Phoenix.

SUNS FAST FACTS //////////////////////////// Aaron Nelson was named NBA Trainer of the Year in 2009.

The Phoenix Suns led the league last season in fewest player games lost due to injury and illness with a final number of 22.

The combined height of the Suns team is 100 feet.

Aaron Nelson’s tips for weekend

warriors

For the casual athlete, shoes are incredibly important. Find a shoe that eliminates or alleviates general knee or back soreness.

Phoenix Suns strength coach and assistant trainer Mike Elliott works with Markief Morris in the team’s weight room.

and manual manipulation to help each player move as efficiently as possible and reduce the risk of injury.

State-of-the-art equipment While some of the Suns’ training area looks like a standard gym, there are several pieces of equipment that give the players an edge in their training.

The main training area features cardio machines in a glassed-in room that simulates 10,000 feet above sea level, providing a more difficult and efficient workout, and an AlterG antigravity treadmill, which allows players to rehabilitate from injury or surgery with 80 percent of their body weight removed. A whole body vibration machine is available for the players to reduce pain, improve balance, and help improve muscle strength.

The Suns are one of the few teams in the NBA to utilize an on-site cryosauna, which promotes healing and improves energy. Dropping to 300 degrees below zero, the cryosauna provides blasts of nitrogen gas every 30 seconds for two and a half minutes.

The training staff still uses a cold plunge pool, but many of the players are beginning to favor the cryosauna over the plunge pool.

“After every game, we’d have eight guys all huddled in the cold tub for 12

Get plenty of sleep — the recommendation for athletes is 10 hours. Research shows that just resting for 60 minutes is also very beneficial to performance and recovery.

Nutrition and exercise are equally as important; proper nutrition is the fuel for effective exercise.

minutes, and it was funny because they could still talk, but they’d all be standing there, violently shivering,” Nelson says of the cold plunge pool. “In the cold tub, the body gets cold and you get that shivering and burning sensation from the ice. The body thinks it’s getting frostbit, so it takes all the blood and sends it out to the peripheral; your legs and arms. The mind is saying, ‘hey, the body is getting frostbit,’ so it sends blood away from the core out to the area that is exposed to cold.

“In the cryosauna, the science is biomechanical: at 180 degrees below zero, the body changes from frostbite to survival mode — the brain thinks the body is going to die, so it sends all the blood back to the core where the vital organs are in an effort to keep the body functioning. You get a huge amount of oxygenated blood in the core, and once you get out of the cryosauna, it goes back out into the peripheral limbs, so it’s a flushing of the system. Because there is a difference, if the guys want to do the plunge pool and the cryosauna, I’m okay with them doing both.”

Advice for weekend warriors While the average casual athlete or weekend warrior doesn’t have access continued next page >>

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>> continued from previous

to cryosaunas or anti-gravity treadmills, Nelson explains that there are several of his methods that can be implemented at home.

“You don’t need all of the fancy equipment,” Nelson says.

“You can do a self assessment, which would take five minutes, then spend ten minutes doing the flexibility part, which could include the foam roll and stretching. Then 10 to 15 minutes of corrective exercise and you’ve put yourself in a much better position to not only prevent getting hurt, but also increase your performance — maybe you’re able to jump a little higher or run a little faster.”

Nelson explains that the typical weekend warrior doesn’t understand the concept of corrective exercise or how beneficial it can be.

“We don’t move as much as we should,” Nelson says of the American adult population.

“Then when we do move, we’re not moving very well; we’re not efficient at it. Inefficient movement can cause injury. It’s all intertwined.”

“We don’t move as much as we should. Then when we do move, we’re not moving very well; we’re not efficient at it.

Inefficient movement can cause injury. It’s all intertwined.”

— Aaron Nelson, Phoenix Suns Head Athletic Trainer

Family health In addition to monitoring the health of an entire NBA team, Nelson also has the health of his children to keep in mind. ‘“Kids learn nutrition from us — they’re not going to learn it anywhere else,” Nelson advises. “By not educating kids in nutrition, that’s where we run into the obesity issue, and just as importantly, run into a fuel issue. Improper nutrition affects their bodies and the way they perform in school. If they’re overweight and tired, they’re not going to perform well in school. There can also be kids who are underweight but aren’t getting what they need nutritionally, so they sit in school tired and unable to concentrate.”

Nelson says his family also focuses on staying active and developing good balance from an early age.

“Their joints are loose and their bones aren’t fully formed yet,” Nelson says of children. “Teaching them balance now can make them stronger.

“You can ask them to stand on one leg and try to balance for 30 seconds, and you’re watching them go all over the place trying to keep balanced. It’s fun, they’re exercising and burning calories, and you’re interacting with them, and later you’ll be in the other room and they’ll still be trying the stuff you just taught them. You’re creating activity, good habits, and bonding moments — kids are fun.”

Whether you are a pro athlete, working with trainers in advanced programs, or a weekend warrior playing ball with your kids, it is important to remember to put an emphasis on a healthy lifestyle. If there is one lesson that can be taken from Aaron Nelson and his training staff, it’s that putting all the pieces of exercise, nutrition, and corrective exercise together can keep you active well into your older years.

Suns’ tips for kids ////////////////////////////////////

“When I was a kid, there was a program called Play 60 — it was something I did every day — got out and played football, played basketball and stayed in shape for at least 60 minutes a day.”

— Markieff Morris, Suns Forward

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“Be active, find the one thing you love to do and keep doing. Just play as much as you can. Get out there and have fun and enjoy it.”

— Mike Elliot, Suns Assistant Trainer

“When I was a kid, I wanted to be a basketball player, so I went to every camp, and watched a lot of basketball. If you love it, you have to find whatever path that’s going to get you there.”

— Sebastian Telfair, Former Suns Guard

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Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil STORY By Jimmy Magahern PHOTOS BY RICK D’ELIA

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and world-class Athletes and acrobats share the secrets behind the magic.

In an empty US Airways Center, during an afternoon rehearsal for the opening night of the Phoenix leg of Cirque du Soleil’s “Dralion” tour, 10 acrobats rehearse their routines for the popular hoop diving act of the show, where one acrobat after another dives like an arrow through small wooden hoops, piled up like the five Olympic rings stretched to their limit.

But there’s something in the stance of the third acrobat from the left, post hoop-leap, that signals an injury or pain to Colleen Creighton, performance medicine specialist for Cirque.

“Are you alright?” she calls to the young Chinese man, who silently nods “Yes.” “Liar,” Creighton mutters under her breath, shaking her head.

After four years of overseeing

the onsite therapy clinics for various Cirque du Soleil touring shows, Creighton has developed a keen eye for spotting injuries, which most of the traveling circus troupes’ members tend to hide. Do the performers ever lie about their injuries in order to ensure, in the grandest show business tradition, that the show must go on?

“Oh, all of them,” she says, with a laugh. “Every day of their lives.”

Painful truths “We work with people who all want to come back to work,” Creighton explains. “So if they think telling us the truth is going to keep them off stage, then they’ll lie to us. It’s the nature of the beast.”

While most mere mortals look at Cirque du Soleil performers as masters of physical strength and grace, spring 2013 | thrive

29

many of the performers in today’s premier circus are in fact second-acters; gymnasts, trampolinists, and tumblers who may, in fact, be beyond the prime of their careers — average age of the athletes is 32 — but are still looking for ways to continue performing.

“A lot of these people come from competitive sports, but they’re no longer in competitive sports,” says Michael Ocampo, 40, who himself worked for 10 years as an acrobat with Cirque Du Soleil before switching, after experiencing career-threatening back pain nine years ago, to acrobatic coach. “You’re doing what you’ve done all your life, acrobatics. But you’re doing it to make other people feel good for a few hours.”

“We work with people who all want to come back to work. So if they think telling us the truth is going to keep them off stage, then they’ll lie to us.

It’s the nature of the beast.”

— Colleen Creighton, performance medicine specialist, Cirque du Soleil

Defying age So how do these slightly-past-theirprime acrobats manage to deal with the pain of performing superhuman feats, night after night?

To some extent, they just accept it. “Get over it!,” Ocampo says. “If you have an injury, if you sprain your ankle, that’s different. We have therapists and strength and conditioning clinicians who can make sure the artists keep in shape for performances.

But if you have soreness or stiffness, it’s usually like, ‘That’s nice. Now, get out there and train!’”

There are certain regiments a Cirque du Soleil tour prescribes.

Ocampo leads performers through one yoga and three Pilates classes a week. And Creighton makes sure each athlete warms up with proper stretching exercises before a show. “If you don’t ease your body into it, you’re gonna end up hurting.” She’s not big on pain medicine — “a little Advil when they’re sore” — and prefers physical therapy. “In every city we go to, we hire a massage therapist, which helps.”

Find your comfort zone But mostly, the performers, who’ve each shown a dedication to continue working their bodies to the max, are encouraged to follow whatever works 30

thrive | spring 2013

What is Cirque du Soleil?

for them. “They train so much, and they know their bodies and their acrobatics so well, that injuries are actually super rare,� says Ocampo.

For Lorant Markocsany, 27, a Hungarian acrobat who performs in a nightly aerial ballet that’s a centerpiece of the show and also serves as a strength and conditioning coach for the troupe, what works best is a daily balance of strenuous exercise and common sense precautions. “I work out a lot, but I also do a lot of stretching and try to sleep seven to eight hours a night,� says

Markocsany, who also sticks to a healthy diet of meats, rice, and salads and avoids sugar, save for the occasional energy boost.

On tour, Markocsany devotes at least two hours per day to training for his act, but says that doesn’t always provide the best overall workout. “You kind of do the same thing all the time in the show. So at home, it’s good to work on different movements.�

Optimum performance A typical tour can be grueling — six to 10 shows a week, often for 10 weeks in a row. But even on vacations, the performers are advised not to rest too much. “Their bodies are so conditioned to the schedule that we’re on, that any change in that schedule makes a big difference,� says Creighton. Adds Ocampo, “If you do nothing, it’s really hard to come back.�

From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is a major Quebec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 artists. More facts: Cirque du Soleil’s Montreal headquarters is home to close to 2,000 employees.

More than 100 types of occupations can be found at Cirque du Soleil.

The average age of employees is 37.

The company’s employees and artists represent close to 50 nationalities and speak 25 different languages.

More than 100 million spectators have seen a Cirque du Soleil show since 1984.

Nearly 15 million people attended a Cirque du Soleil show in 2012.

Source: Cirque du Soleil

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innovations

3

innovations for the health revolution The latest advances in healthcare technology

Bariatric Surgery To Control Type 2 Diabetes While surgery for weight loss certainly isn’t new, experts are seeing remarkable results for patients with Type 2 diabetes. Approximately half of those who take medications for diabetes are not able to properly

control the disease and need another option.

Exercise and diet are certainly a good place to start, but once an individual is 100 pounds

or more over their ideal weight, losing the weight and keeping it off with diet and exercise is rarely successful.

Studies show that weight-loss surgeries have been effective at eliminating Type 2 diabetes, sometimes before the patient has even left the hospital.

Previously, weight-loss surgery has generally been offered as a last resort, but with the recent data, experts are strongly encouraging doctors to explore weight-loss surgery as a reasonable early treatment for those with poorly controlled diabetes.

Adidas MiCoach Pacer Whether you’re training for a 5k, marathon, or trying to lose weight through running, the MiCoach Pacer is a personal trainer that comes along with you.

The MiCoach features a stride sensor, a heart-rate monitor, and an online platform to manage your data. During your run, you can program the MiCoach to either gather your information for later syncing with your computer, or program the coach portion of the device to let you know if you’re running too fast or too slow.

For runners who also love data or want to improve their pace, the MiCoach is a great investment.

MiCoach.com

Smartphone ECG Soon, your doctor may be monitoring your heart with a device that plugs into his smartphone. The device, developed by AliveCor, allows for wireless single lead recording of rhythm strips that are then stored securely within the app and wirelessly uploaded for immediate interpretation using a web browser.

The device is designed to work with iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.

AliveCor plans on releasing a device for patients to record their own data at home to help their doctor get even more detailed readings at any time.

AliveCor.com

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the road trip At Freedom Pain Hospital, we are committed to making medical care more patient-friendly and less confusing.

We understand that the experience of chronic pain is different for each patient.

Rather than using a “one size fits all” approach to treatment, we take time to listen to each patient’s goals and use this information to create a treatment plan that is designed to meet those goals. We view treatment as taking an individualized Road Trip to Wellness™ with each patient. On this Road Trip, the patient is in the driver’s seat and our medical specialists are the co-pilots.

Getting started The first step in taking any trip involves planning. At Freedom Pain Hospital, planning for your personal Road Trip to Wellness™ begins even before you arrive for your fist visit. To get the most out of your first visit, we encourage you to bring a list of questions and concerns you would like to discuss with your doctor. Getting answers to your questions will not only educate you about your symptoms, but it will also help your doctor get to know you and understand what is important to you.

At your first visit, the process of setting your Road Trip destination begins. You will meet your specialist physician who will assess your history and symptoms. The results of this assessment will help the doctor determine what treatment options are available for you. As the driver on this Road Trip, your goals, objectives, and final treatment destination (e.g., decreased back pain or increased ability to cope with your pain) will be an essential part of charting the course.

Biopsychosocial approach Because Freedom Pain’s approach to treatment is based on both scientific research results and extensive experience treating chronic pain, we use a biopsychosocial model.

planning

the trip

A biopsychosocial model goes beyond the narrow focus of treating chronic pain as just pain symptoms. It broadens treatment to include a whole-patient focus (considering your physical, psychological, and social situation as well). After all, chronic pain is much more than physical pain. It also affects your sense of well-being, your motivation, your relationships with others, and your physical functioning. If chronic pain interferes with one or more of these areas of your life, it could slow your progress and interfere with your response to treatment.

We will assess your needs in these areas and provide ongoing treatment, education, and support.

This means you will have additional copilots on your Road Trip navigation team to help you maximize your treatment success.

In addition to the medical providers treating your physical pain, we have carefully selected specialists from other disciplines that will work with you to address the broader impact chronic pain has had on your life. Together, we will build the treatment team that best supports progress toward your destination and minimizes roadblocks along the way.

Communication

[ By Dr. Petra Peper, PhD. ]

to live with. The impact it has on your life can be difficult to put into words.

When there are gaps between what the patient is trying to convey and what the doctor understands, the risk of treatment going off course goes up. Pain-related emotional distress also tends to increase, making it even more difficult for patients to concentrate and put their thoughts and feelings into words.

Although there are many effective treatment options, it takes time and an open dialogue to determine what combination works best for you. We believe a successful Road Trip rests on the foundation of good two-way (doctor to patient and patient to doctor) communication. With your input, we will plan your Road Trip to Wellness™ based on a mutual understanding of your treatment priorities and expected outcomes.

DR. PETRA PEPER, PhD., is a health psychologist practicing in the Valley.

We understand that chronic pain is one of the most challenging and unpredictable diseases spring 2013 | thrive

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nutrition

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thrive | spring 2013

Three Cheese Mushroom and Tortellini Soup Ingredients:

Directions:

2 tsp butter 2 stalks of celery, chopped 1 small onion, chopped 1 carrot, peeled & chopped 2 cloves of garlic, minced 8 cups fat free chicken or vegetable broth 2 cups water 5 oz shitaki mushrooms, sliced 8 oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced 1 small Parmigiano Reggiano rind (optional) 9 oz three cheese tortellini (Buitoni) salt to taste 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper Parmigiano Reggiano, grated (optional for topping)

In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. When melted, add the celery, onion, carrot, and garlic. Cover and reduce heat to low and cook for approximately 8-10 minutes until vegetables begin to soften. Add the chicken broth, water, mushrooms, rind, and increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. When broth boils, add salt (to taste) and black pepper; stir to combine. Reduce heat to low, simmer until mushrooms are soft, about 20 minutes. Add tortellini and cook according to package directions for al dente. Once cooked, remove the rind, stir to combine, and garnish with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano if desired. Makes 12 cups.

Servings: 8 • Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups • Old Points: 2 pts • Points+: 4 pts Calories: 138 • Fat: 4 g • Carbs: 19.5 g • Fiber: 2.5 g • Protein: 7 g • Sugar: 2.5 g Sodium: 605 mg (without added salt)

Homolka is the brainchild behind Skinnytaste.com, a website born as a way to turn out healthy and satisfying dishes that don’t take loads of preparation time or sacrifice taste.

Gina Homolka is a self-trained home

Skinnytaste.com recipes have been

cook who focuses on healthy, light meals

featured on sites such as Glamour.com,

using whole ingredients.

Gourmet Live, The Kitchn, Finecooking. com, More Magazine, and Country Living,

GINA HOMOLKA Founder, SkinnyTaste.com

Skinnytaste.com was born as a way to

to name a few. Skinnytaste.com was

turn out healthy and satisfying dishes that

also the winner of the SHAPE Magazine

don’t take loads of preparation time or

Best Healthy Eating Blog 2011 and

sacrifice taste. Homolka wanted to create

The Homies: Best Home Cooking

meals that would help her lose weight

Blog for 2011.

while at the same time get her family excited to come to the dinner table.

Millions of visitors regularly visit Skinnytaste.com, which was recently awarded the 2012 Fitness Magazine Best Healthy Eating Blog, and Babble’s Top 100 Mom Blog award.

spring 2013 | thrive

35

events

Fitness, Fundraising, and Fun Family Events

Taste of the Nation Arizona

Tempe Third Thursdays

May 18 at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 6-10 p.m. http://ce.strength.org Participate in a fundraiser to help fight childhood hunger. The top chefs and mixologists will come together to donate of their culinary and drink strengths and help end childhood hunger in America.

Tickets are available at the door.

Ongoing www.millavenue.com/entertainmentand-events/events/third-thursdays Every third Thursday of the month, restaurants on Mill Avenue participate with specials and extended happy hours, and local musical talent performs.

The theme changes monthly!

Mumford & Sons June 5 at Desert Sky Pavilion www.ticketmaster.com One of the most popular bands on the radio today, Mumford & Suns bring their award winning act to Phoenix for the first time since 2011.

Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball Now through September www.arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com Come spend a day at the ballpark!

The Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field always put on a good show, and the ballpark showcases food and drink specials to make it an affordable day of fun for the family.

Arizona Rattlers Arena Football Now through July http://azrattlers.com Come spend an evening in the “Snakepit” with the reigning 2012 ArenaBowl Champions! Playing at US Airways Center, a Rattlers game is high-energy, action packed, and a great time for everyone – even skeptical football fans.

Flashlight Tour at the Desert Botanical Garden Thursdays and Saturdays now through September, 7 to 9 p.m. http://dbg.org/eventsexhibitions/tours-activities The desert becomes alive at night!

The Desert Botanical Garden advertises “be ready to be adventurous!” Flashlight tour participants often see desert tortoises, owls, snakes, and scorpions!

CONDUCTING

QUALITY RESEARCH

WITH A

PATIENT

CARE FOCUS

PARTICIPATE IN A RESEARCH STUDY Hope Research Institute conducts clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas. Call us today at 602.288.HOPE to learn more about enrolling in a research study.

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thrive | spring 2013

www.hriaz.com

602.288.4673

thrive

By the numbers Body facts

35.7% Percentage of children and adolescents that are obese

24

percent of adult Americans that are obese

17% The typical flu incubation period is between 24 hours and 4 days

The average person falls asleep in seven minutes

7

4-6 months

The fingernail of a healthy person takes 4 to 6 months to grow out completely

170 calories

1 in 1000 One in every 1000 babies is born with a tooth

10

The average adult head weighs 10 pounds

15,360 On average, a typical adult blinks 15,360 times per day

Lettuce averages at 5 calories per cup — basic ranch dressing can be as high as 170 calories for just 2 tablespoons! spring 2013 | thrive

37

Free to hope. Free to move. Free to live.

To start your journey to Freedom, call us today at 480.586.2220 4

thrive | spring 2013

www.FreedomPainHospital.com