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March, 2011 – Luncheon Will Highlight Environmental Awareness

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HARVEY OYER PRESENTS THE LAST EGRET AT THE SOUTH FLORIDA SCIENCE MUSEUM 

 

(West Palm Beach, FL) —South Florida Science Museum president and CEO, Lew Crampton welcomed local author and Museum board member, Harvey Oyer to the Museum recently to present his new book The Adventures of Charlie Pierce, The Last Egret. Following the afternoon multimedia presentation, Oyer was available to sign books for guests.  

 

“Harvey’s book presented us with a perfect opportunity to call attention to the Museum’s environmental focus,” said Crampton, “and the kids who attended loved going back in time to participate in Everglades adventures with Charlie.”

 

The Last Egret was chosen by the Palm Beach County School District for its first-ever Read Together program, where over 15,000 children will simultaneously read the book as a community literacy project.  The Last Egret, which won a Mom’s Choice Award, is currently one of the best-selling children’s books in Florida.

 

The book signing kicked off a collaborative educational effort between the South Florida Science Museum, the Palm Beach Zoo and the Marshall Foundation, culminating in an eco-focused luncheon and community events on March 25th.

 

As a first step toward building a solid collaborative relationship with like-minded environmental advocacy organizations, leadership from the three organizations will co-present Richard Louv, a high-profile environmentalist and author of the book Last Child in the Woods , scheduled to be keynote speaker at a luncheon on March 25, 2011 at the Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach.  The lunch is the first in a series of annual educational events planned by the three collaborators.

 

In addition, Louv will host a kid-friendly press conference at 10 a.m. and an evening meet and greet and book-signing at 6 p.m., open to the community.  Both community events will be held at the Palm Beach Zoo.

 

The South Florida Science Museum delivers entertaining and educational journeys through the many worlds of science and technology for curious minds of all ages. Located just off I-95 and Southern Blvd. in West Palm Beach, the Museum features more than 50 hands-on exhibits, a digital planetarium, fresh and saltwater aquariums, as well as natural history exhibitions. 

 

New happenings at the science Museum include the Bugz exhibit, an Amateur Radio Center open on weekends and holidays as well as aquarium feedings and shark/ray petting on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. Each year the Museum welcomes more than 125,000 visitors and reaches more than 45,000 students through workshops at the Museum and outreach programs to local schools. Established in 1961, the Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to exciting curiosity and furthering the understanding and appreciation of science and technology.

 

The South Florida Science Museum is located at 4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach. Museum admission is: Adults $11.95; Seniors 62+ $10.50; and children ages three-12 $8.95, children under three years and Museum members are free. For more information about the South Florida Science Museum or the upcoming March 25 Luncheon, please call 561-832-1988 or visit www.sfsm.org.

January, 2011 – Happy New Year

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January, 2011 – Happy New Year

January, 2011

                                                                                                                  

 

Dear Around Wellington Readers,kps-ferriswheel

 

Happy New Year!

 

There’s no better way to start the new year than with some good laughs, which you can rely upon in “As I Was Saying” by Alan Williamson. Check out his “Resolutions 2011.”

 

We’re happy to introduce two new writers to AroundWellington.com this month – Stephanie Karpf, DVM, with “Creature Feature” and Tom Copeland, who shares the column “By the Numbers” with Juan Cocuy. In “Creature Feature,” Karpf addresses a common, “outside-of-the-box’ problem that cat owners face. And in “By the Numbers,” Copeland gives us some hints about how to attain your New Year’s Resolutions within 30 days…really! 

 

Speaking of the new year, if you’re aiming for a healthier 2011, check out “Ask the Docs,” where Heather Loguidice explains cholesterol levels and how to manage them.

 

See what’s in store for you in this first month of the new year by clicking on “Astrology at Work in Your Life” by Karola Crawford. If your sign is Capricorn, you’ll find a little more detail about yourself this month.

 

A few months ago we had the pleasure of reading an interview with humorist Dave Barry, thanks to Marla E. Schwartz. This month in “Cultural Corner,” she interviews Dave’s brother Sam Barry and Kathi Kamen Goldmark about their book “WRITE THE BOOK ALREADY! The Tough Love You Need to Get Published Now.” They also get into the music on the side that this couple performs, along with some of their friends from the literary world. Fun stuff!

Be sure to visit the website on Jan. 10th when we will announce the winner of our “Holiday Joy” photo contest!  Thanks to all of you who participated!

 

Thanks to all of our wonderful writers, who made the January, 2011 online issue possible!  The articles mentioned above are just a “taste of” the whole menu of topics for this month. Please take a moment to explore, laugh, discover and read more!

 

Around Wellington in Pictures

As I Was Saying

Ask Dr. Z

Ask the Docs

Astrology at Work

AW Stories of the Month

By the Numbers

Cantankerously Yours

Contest

Creature Feature

Cultural Corner

Health & Fitness

Kids’ Corner

Lighten Up with Lisa

Mommy Moments

Photo Galleries

Press Releases

Teen Talk

Travel with Terri

Videos

 

 

Have a happy, healthy and positively joyful new year!

 

Cheers,

 

Krista Martinelli

Editor

AroundWellington.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January, 2011 – Fitech Comes to America

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January, 2011 – Fitech Comes to America

Health & FitnessCheryl Alker

 

Fitech Comes to America

 

Leading UK-based Fitness Company Expands into North America

 

By Richard Miles

 

Featuring “Health & Fitness” writer Cheryl Alker

 

Global wellness company Fitech has appointed Wellington resident, Cheryl Alker, to head up its expansion into North America. The company was founded over 25 years ago in the UK to measure police and uniform service fitness levels. Today, they are the leader in measuring health and wellness in 38 countries across the globe. Fitech’s products support the fitness, leisure, occupational health, educational and private medical sectors, providing invaluable fitness testing information and education for consumers and corporations.

 

Fitech V5 is a Web-based tool that is nationally and globally accredited for benchmarking physical, lifestyle, emotional, nutritional and exercise performance. The tool highlights areas of health and wellness concern in easy-to-read reports, enabling users to track progress.

 

Alker, who has over twenty years’ experience in the health and wellness sector in both the UK and the United States said, “I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead Fitech’s growth in such a major market as North America. We have started the recruitment process and plan on maintaining a team of twenty Regional Distributors across North America. The key task is to introduce our very affordable and industry leading technology to personal trainers,  gyms, chiropractors, physical therapists and corporate offices all over the continent, giving consumers from all walks of life easy access to all manner of data about their fitness and well-being, including cholesterol, aerobic capacity, body fat, flexibility, strength and so much more. All the testing is 100% scientific and consumers receive easy-to-understand reports that use traffic signal indicators of green, amber and red to highlight existing levels and areas of concern.”

 

What could a fitness assessment do for you?

Many of us have heard of the saying “knowledge is power” and nothing could be more true when that knowledge is applied to your health and well-being. We are all aware that we should be exercising regularly and eating a healthy and balanced diet, but how do we know that the exercise regime and eating plan we have chosen is right for us and will deliver the results we are looking for?

 

A full fitness assessment will take the guess work out of these important decisions by testing:

 

·         Percentage body fat

·         Cardiorespiratory system

·         Strength

·         Flexibility

·         Lung capacity and functionality

·         Blood pressure

·         Resting heart rate

·         Body Mass Index (BMI)

Not only should the above components be tested, but the results should be relative to your age, height, weight and sex.

 

When asked how a fitness assessment using Fitech technology could accurately determine results, Alker had this to say: “The Fitech system tests the five components of physical fitness; therefore, we can easily pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses. Let’s face it, the majority of us will gravitate to the things we do well as opposed to the things we find difficult. Apply this principle to your fitness regime and you get better at one component and worse at another. This can cause major imbalances and, in time, will start to work against you resulting in pain, discomfort, poor functionality and less than pleasing results.” Alker went on to point out that she deals with many people who work out daily and still do not have the body or fitness levels they desire.

 

For new exercisers who have no idea where to start, a fitness assessment is essential, as it will most definitely take the guess work out of your plan and give you a focused program on the type of training you should be doing. Another benefit to a non-exerciser is that you have a benchmark to gauge your progress. Statistics prove that the fall-out rate of new exercisers will be 50% in the first four to eight weeks and 75%/80% by week ten to twelve. Scientifically proving progress will give any new exerciser the incentive to continue.

 

“Seasoned exercisers and athletes also benefit from regular fitness assessments,” said Alker. “A runner for instance will quite happily spend hours a day focusing upon their times and distances run, and will undoubtedly score very highly on lung function and the cardiovascular part of the test, but at least 90% of the runners I test will score well below average in the flexibility section. Athletes will often find it very difficult to cope with the fact that they are not the perfect athlete they thought they were, and it often encourages them to pay attention to all the components of physical fitness. The upside of this recognition of weakness is often improved functionality, less injuries and improved times.”

 

We are what we eat

A fitness assessment will no doubt give you the answers with regard to fitness levels, but the Fitech system doesn’t just stop there. Fitech also offers cholesterol testing. “We all understand that we should get our cholesterol levels checked regularly,” said Alker. “But why and what do all the figures mean? How do our cholesterol levels affect our health and well-being? If we are told our levels are high, how do we bring them down?”

“High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke. As your blood cholesterol rises, so does your risk of coronary heart disease. If you have other risk factors (such as high blood pressure or diabetes) as well as high cholesterol, this risk increases even more. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chance of developing coronary heart disease. Also, the greater the level of each risk factor, the more that factor affects your overall risk.”

 

“When too much LDL (bad) cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with other substances, it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible.”

 

The test can be performed by your doctor, but doing so is often expensive with long wait times, and the results are very rarely given to you immediately. The Fitech test will provide results immediately, takes only ten minutes and advice is given on any areas of concern.

 

Will the health and well-being of your employees make or break your business?

The Fitech systems has been hugely successful in corporate wellness, and let’s face it – the future of your company is primarily dependent upon your employees. American industry loses $32 billion and 132 million workdays due to premature employee deaths related to cardio-vascular disease (high blood pressure, heart stroke, diabetes and obesity). Billions more are lost as a result of absenteeism and decreased productivity related to sickness and disability. The numbers are daunting to say the least.

 

For more than a decade, consistent research has demonstrated the effectiveness of an investment in employee wellness and corporate fitness programs. For every dollar spent on a corporate wellness program, a return in the form of cost savings of between $2.30 and $10.10 stemming from decreased absenteeism, fewer sick days, reduced worker’s comp claims, lowered health and insurance costs, and improvements to employee performance and productivity.

 

Why do business with Fitech?

·         Obese employees increase medical care and pharmacy costs 75% more than non-obese employees.

·         An estimated one million workers are absent every day due to stress.

·         Unanticipated absenteeism is estimated to cost $602 per worker per year, and the price tag for large companies could approach 3.5 million dollars annually. 

·         Premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose 6.1% in 2007.

·         Medical costs for obese employees are seven times higher than for non-obese employees.

 

Don’t leave yourself in the dark when it comes to your health or your employee’s well-being; arm yourself with the power of knowledge, Fitech knowledge.

 

The results will speak for themselves.

 

Cheryl Alker specializes in flexibility training, core strength, facial exercises and postural alignment. Her 27-year career began as a group fitness and personal trainer. She has lectured and directed fitness training programs in both Europe and the USA and, using the Fitech system, was an advisor for a British governmental health promotion program. Alker and her company continue to work with a select clientele, certifying health professionals in her results-based stretching program, educating consumers through public speaking and offering consultation to clients who wish to lose their muscular pain and gain flexibility to achieve full and active lifestyles. Her program has been accredited with the National Association of Sports Medicine, American Council of Exercise, National Strength and Conditioning Association and Florida Physical Therapy Association. In 2010 she was appointed the North American Representative for Fitech heading up a team of representatives who in 2011 will deliver the Fitech program across North America. For more information, please call (561) 889-3738 or visit www.stretchresults.com and www.fitechglobal.com.

January, 2011 – My Wild and Precious Life, 2011 and Beyond

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January, 2011 – My Wild and Precious Life, 2011 and Beyond

Wendell AbernCantankerously Yours

 

My Wild & Precious Life, 2011 and Beyond

 

By Wendell Abern

 

   

 

Dear Fellow Spring Chickens,

 

          I recently participated in an annual service entitled, “My Wild & Precious Life,” at River of Grass, the Unitarian Universalist congregation we joined nine years ago.  The service is built around Mary Oliver’s poem, “The Summer Day,” which ends with the question, “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” 

A member from each decade of life (pre-teens, teens, 20s, 30s, etc.) is chosen to talk for four or five minutes, answering the question – and making for a really fun Sunday morning. 

I represented the decade of the 70s, and will share with you here some of my observations from that morning, and others just as relevant.

First of all, I have now been a widow for a little more than a year.  We were married for 54 years – so now I’ve got to decide what to do with the next  54 years of my life (which I consider the middle third of my total lifespan).

The first thing I’m going to do is change a lot of misconceptions that people have about me.  Now I know for a fact that many women out there think of me as just another hardbody.  Well, there’s a lot more to me than my bulging biceps and rock-hard abs, so that’s one thing I’ll address right away.

In addition, I have created a list of resolutions for myself.  Not New Year’s resolutions … just things I intend to do, and not do, with the rest of my life.

For example:  I will not stalk Jennifer Lopez.

I will stalk Halle Berry.        

And I think by the time I’m 80, I’ll switch those around.           

I will double the times I eat fish to twice a year.

I will cut down the times I eat red meat to twice a day.

As a kind of sub-paragraph to that last resolution, I will continue a decades-long practice of not letting more than three days go by without eating a cheeseburger.

I will not join, frequent or even go near any establishment that begins or ends with the words, “Exercise,” “Diet” or “Health.”

Also … I have always made it a practice to make moral judgments only of people I dislike.  I’m going to continue doing that, even though it’s at a great sacrifice.  I mean, I am deprived of a lot of good, juicy hypocrisy.  And I really miss that business of criticizing someone mercilessly and raking him or her over the coals for something I’m guilty of myself.  You know, what’s more fun than that? 

          Another thing I will definitely not do is succumb to the burgeoning technology that is making of my life one giant headache.  No apps.  No Blue-Ray.  No plasma TV.  No kindle.  Nothing.

          And finally, I will devote the rest of my wild and precious life to keeping alive the names of some writers who influenced me enormously, a few of whom may have been forgotten already.

          Like anyone who has tried to write fiction, all of the giants left their imprints on me, from Shakespeare through Hemingway.  But a select few influenced me directly.  And besides their talent, they all had one thing in common:  they thought outside the box … long before the phrase even existed. 

Naming them makes quite an eclectic mix of styles and forms:  Jonathan Swift, Mark Twain, George Bernard Shaw, H.L. Mencken, Ferenc Molnar and Don Marquis.

Nowadays, some might remember the Hungarian playwright, Ferenc Molnar, because his most famous play, “The Play’s the Thing,” still gets staged every year or two by some theatre group. 

But few people today have even heard of Don Marquis.   

          Mr. Marquis was a journalist, humorist, poet, author and playwright who wrote a column for the New York Evening Sun in the early part of the Twentieth Century.  And it was in his column, “The Sun Dial,” that he first created the characters, Archy and Mehitabel.

          One day, Marquis wrote that he had discovered a giant cockroach in the newspaper’s warehouse, who claimed to be a reincarnated vers libre poet. 

The cockroach, Archy by name, wrote free verse poems by jumping off an old typewriter and landing on his head on specific keys to type individual letters.  He shared the warehouse with an old cat named Mehitabel, now in her ninth life; in her first life, allegedly, she had been Cleopatra.  Archy wrote about Mehitabel frequently.  

          Being a cockroach, Archy could not reach the capital letter key on the typewriter, so all of his poems were written in lower case with no punctuation marks.  Some revealed Marquis’s deliciously caustic wit.   He was frequently asked, for example, how Archy could throw the carriage of his typewriter (an act since rendered obsolete with the advent of computers). 

Marquis had Archy himself answer the question.  I reproduce here, exactly as it appeared in print, his free verse poem, “Back to the Starting Point:”

                             i see where one of your correspondents

                             asks how does archy get the carriage on his

                             typewriter back to the starting point again

                             when he wants to begin a new line i release

                             the spring with my left hind leg and butt the

                             thing over with my head yes i am bald but

                             my baldness is on the outside of my head not

                             on the inside like some i could name

           

          A cockroach and a cat.  Reincarnations.  Talk about thinking outside the box.  What a clever way for a poet to get his poems published!

When World War I began, Archy and Mehitabel had already become famous nationwide; by the early ‘30s, Marquis had compiled the poems into a three-volume collection.  When I attended the University of Illinois in the early ‘50s, the set was offered as elective reading in several writing courses.  I read all three books.  So did everyone I knew.

          Who has even heard of them now?

Well, some people will remember Don Marquis and Archy and Mehitabel if I have anything to say about it.  Seems to me that yanking old names out of the literary remainder pile, and re-presenting them to a whole new generation of readers, just might be the most worthwhile thing I can do with the rest of my wild and precious life.  And so, in subsequent issues, I intend to resurrect other forgotten works and/or authors also.  It certainly beats learning how to play a new video game.

 

Cantankerously Yours,

         

Wendell Abern

 

Wendell Abern can be reached at dendyabern@comcast.net.                        

         

January, 2011 – The 365th Night Reflection

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January, 2011 – The 365th Night Reflection

Teen Talksmile

 

The 365th Night Reflection

By Stephanie Courtois

The clock strikes twelve and a burst of joyful roars echoes throughout the room.  The adults toast their champagne glasses and the young ones holler with their noise makers. It’s a festive evening and a time for change.

          New Year’s is a fresh start for everyone. It is around this time, that a tradition tells us to kick bad habits and make this year better than the last. On average, a teen’s  resolution may vary from a variety of issues yet to be overcome such as losing weight, spending more time with family or getting straight A’s on a report card.

          At first, the tasks seem easy to conquer. Usually, it doesn’t take too long before people give up. The temptation is extremely desirable. Last year I had made a pact with myself to cease procrastinating when it comes to weekend homework assignments. Yet, on every Sunday night I continue to work strenuously trying to insure that all of my homework is finished for the next day. I could easily complete it on Friday or Saturday, but in my mind, it’s always impossible.

Resolutions take a great deal of effort to achieve. This is the big question for many; is it genuinely possible to stick to a New Year’s resolution throughout the entire course of the year? The answer to that is absolutely yes. Here are some tips that can help teens follow through on their goals.

For one, it is necessary that a sensible goal is set. Wishing to become valedictorian of the class is unrealistic if that person was not a conscientious student for the majority of high school. A better idea is to study an hour more for a science test to reach a higher grade.

          Secondly, think of alternative activities to make a distraction from the bad habit. Partake in extracurricular activities or study groups to enhance the effort.

Lastly, keep a positive mindset. Throughout the year, constantly be aware of the desired goal and envision the benefits of maintaining that resolution. Confidence is key when it comes to a teen’s mentality.

The commencement of a new year spawns the will for improvement in oneself. Whether that set resolution is sustained for the 365 days of the year or just the one is solely based on a personal decision. January 1st marks a time for a change. It is entirely up to you how long it lasts.

Stephanie Courtois is a junior at Wellington High School. She is involved in tae kwon do, French, National and Chemistry Honor Societies, and is the news editor for the school newspaper. She loves journalism and aspires to work for a magazine someday.

 

 

 

January, 2011 – AW in Pictures

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January, 2011 – AW in Pictures
 
jan-20111alexshaw20-20young20guitarist1
Alex Shaw and his guitar instructor from Boomer's Music play to a big crowd at the Palms West Chamber's Holiday Parade in Wellington. Photo by Christine Rose.

 

Janelle Dowley on the Two Men and a Truck float in the PW Chamber's Holiday Parade. Photo by Christine Rose.
Janelle Dowley on the Two Men and a Truck float in the PW Chamber's Holiday Parade. Photo by Christine Rose.
Roxanne Stein emcees at WinterFest, which was held at Wellington's new Amphitheater.
Roxanne Stein emcees at WinterFest, which was held at Wellington's new Amphitheater.
Vanilla Ice serves as the main emcee at WinterFest. Wild Eyes Photography
Vanilla Ice serves as the main emcee at WinterFest. Wild Eyes Photography.

January, 2011 – Cholesterol: What Do The Numbers Mean?

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January, 2011 – Cholesterol: What Do The Numbers Mean?

heather-loguidiceAsk the Docs

Cholesterol: What Do The Numbers Mean?

By Heather Loguidice, ARNP

 

Let’s all let out a collective sigh of relief now that the holidays are over.  Hopefully, your stress level has decreased as you packed away the last holiday decoration.  I am sure we have all over indulged in gooey sweets, succulent meats with gravy, loads of mashed potatoes, and loaves of bread with butter. I can feel my cholesterol going higher just thinking about all of the rich holiday foods that I have consumed over the past two months.

 

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in the bloodstream and in all your body’s cells. Your body produces all of the cholesterol that it needs via the liver.  Your diet also contributes to your cholesterol level.  Having too much cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease and stroke.

 

Cholesterol is broken down into low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad kind” and high-density lipoprotein, the “good kind”.  Too much LDL can clog the arteries causing reduced blood flow. If this clogged area ruptures, a blood clot may form or a piece may break off and travel in the bloodstream. If it travels to the heart, it causes a heart attack.  If it travels to the brain, it causes a stroke.  HDL carries bad cholesterol away from the arteries and helps protect you from heart attack and stroke.  Thus, high levels of HDL help to reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke.

 

Blood cholesterol for adults is classified by levels. Your healthcare provider must interpret your cholesterol numbers based on other risk factors such as age, gender, family history, race, smoking, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes. The American Heart Association recommends following the National Cholesterol Education Program ( NCEP) guidelines for evaluation of high cholesterol. Total cholesterol levels should be less than 200mg/dl.  Levels between 200 and 239 mg/dl are borderline high. Levels above 240 mg/dl are considered to be very high and doubles your risk for heart disease. Optimal HDL levels should be greater than 50 for women and greater than 40 for men.  Levels above 60mg/dl are considered protective against heart disease.

 

Your LDL goal depends on how many other risk factors you have. If you don’t have heart disease or diabetes and have one or no risk factors, your LDL goal is less than 160 mg/dl. If you have two or more risk factors without having heart disease or diabetes, your LDL goal is less than 130 mg/dl. If you have heart disease or diabetes, your LDL goal is less than 100mg/dl.

 

Triglyceride is the most common type of fat in the body. It contributes to your total cholesterol level. Ideally, your triglyceride level should be less than 150 mg/dl.

 

Therapeutic lifestyle changes to lower LDL cholesterol involves losing excess weight, exercising regularly, and following a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Increasing your intake of fiber, fruits, vegetables, chicken and fish can help lower your bad cholesterol. Avoid fried foods, limit red meat to once a week, avoid saturated fats found in butter and palm oil, and avoid processed foods such as cookies and doughnuts.

 

Red yeast rice is available over the counter as a product to help lower cholesterol. Red yeast rice is rice that has been fermented by the red yeast. It has been used in China for over 1000 years for medicinal purposes. Limited studies have been done in the United States looking at the effects of red yeast rice. It is believed to be safe in the long-term since it has been a food staple for thousands of years in Asian countries without reports of toxicity.  The products available in the United States do not contain high enough levels of red yeast rice to cause harmful effects. Patients with moderate to severe LDL levels (> 160mg/dl), and those who are at a high risk of developing heart attack or stroke are not candidates for red yeast rice.

 

Omega 3 fish oil is another natural way to lower cholesterol particularly when one has elevated triglycerides. The recommended dose varies from 1 to 4 grams per day depending on triglyceride level and risk factors. Fish oil can be obtained by eating fish such as tuna, salmon, anchovy, sardines, mackerel, and trout. Over the counter supplements are available, but make sure the product is purified to reduce contaminants such as mercury and dioxins. There is a purified form of omega 3 fish oil available by prescription called Lovaza.

 

Statins are prescription medication used to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Statins stimulate the body to process and remove cholesterol from the body. Their major effect is to lower LDL levels. Other prescription medications include bile acid binders, niacin, and fibric acids that can all be used to reduce LDL and, in some cases, raise HDL levels.  Always follow your healthcare provider’s orders carefully, and inform him/her of any side effects. You will have to have regular blood tests to evaluate your liver function and cholesterol levels when taking any of these medications.

 

If you would like further information or would like to have your cholesterol evaluated, please call us at Family Medical and Wellness Center (561) 721-1953.

Heather Loguidice, ARNP, works closely with doctors Glover and Vizcaino and is certified in Family Practice. Her experience spans 14 years and she has worked in Fast-Track ER’s and a few large Family Practice offices. Her interests include Women’s Health and Pediatrics and she has a wide range of experience in all Family Practice related matters. Heather is a big Gator’s fan; she lives in Boynton Beach and enjoys spending her free time with her daughter.

 

January, 2011 – Resolutions 2011

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January, 2011 – Resolutions 2011

As I Was SayingAlan Williamson

 

 

Resolutions 2011

 

By Alan Williamson

 

The dawning of a new year is an opportune time to pause and reflect on my life and how I can live it with more purpose, peace and enjoyment. But due to the hectic nature of the holiday season, my profound reflections are often pre-empted by thoughts like “Can I just get everyone moist towelettes this year?” and “Mmmm . . . cocoa brownie balls.”   That being the case, here’s the best resolutions I could come up with under such challenging circumstances.

 

Resolution # 1: I will beat a Kenyan in a short foot race and finally cross that goal off my bucket list. (I actually beat a Kenyan in a 50-yard race in a park last year but he was pushing a stroller at the time and may not have been aware I was racing him. Also, he may have been Cuban.)

 

Resolution # 2: I will find the time to go back to doing what it is I do best: teaching inner city kids to yodel.

 

Resolution # 3:  I will develop an alternative to the Internet called “The Infobahn.” It will have only a fraction of the content but will be 10 times faster.

 

Resolution # 4: I will revive my basketball career by finding a new agent. (While LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh got sweet deals to join the Miami Heat this past summer, my current agent landed me a non-paying gig on the Fort Lauderdale Parks and Rec Basketball League’s Loitering Lizards.)

 

Resolution # 5: I will make plans to throw a big party sometime. (Wait, did I say “big party”? I meant “discussion group with light refreshments.”)

 

Resolution # 6: I will work day and night to put together the Leno/McCartney reunion concert that the world yearns for. (I just can’t help shake the feeling that the concept is fundamentally flawed. Must talk to Jay and Paul’s people about their interest levels.)

 

Resolution # 7: I will lose 35 lbs. on The Chicken Pot Pie and Low-Fat Fudgesicle Diet and inspire millions to do the same by appearing in a series of national ads using my old pants as a parasail while being pulled over the ocean by a powerboat.

 

Resolution # 8: I will become utterly absorbed in a new and greater reality while still maintaining my availability to participate in happy hours, barbecues, card games and other traditional, old-reality activities.

 

Resolution # 9: I will only LOL when I find something LOL funny, which won’t be nearly as often as a lot of LOL people who will LOL without any provocation whatsoever. (Example #1: Just bought two cans of diced tomatoes, lol.” Example # 2: “Thought today was the 24th, not the 23rd, lol.” Example # 3: One of these days I’ll get to Wyoming, lol.) I hope that gratuitous LOL people everywhere will follow my lead and stop the insanity. LMAO (but not really).

 

Resolution # 10: I will finally learn my lesson and stop listening to TV weather people who give advice like “good day to hit that street fair downtown.” Instead, if they predict ‘no rain’ for the day, I’ll make it a point to load up on DVDs and wait for the torrential downpour.

 

Resolution # 11: I will use my extensive experience to work with governments, nonprofit agencies and international organizations to help developing countries build self-reliance and economic independence. I’ll get right on this right after I find a job.

 

Resolution # 12: I will do some serious soul searching and decide whether I’d rather be a big fish in a small pond, a small fish in a big pond, or a fish special on a menu of diverse offerings that may include Seared Peppered Scallops with Orange-Soy Glaze, Moroccan Chicken with Eggplant and Almonds, and Blackened Red Snapper with Creole Sauce. (SPOILER ALERT: The smart money’s on “big fish, small pond.”)

 

Resolution # 13: I will express my “inner werewolf” by not showering or shaving for weeks on end and throwing my head back whenever I get the urge and letting loose with a hearty “Aw, Aw – Awwwwooooo!!”

 

Happy 2011 everyone! Greet each day as a gift, enjoy the journey, and don’t forget to stop and smell the cocoa brownie balls. Oh yeah, and one last thing: “Aw, Aw – Awwwwooooo!!”

 

Alan Williamson is an award-winning writer with 27 years in the field of true fiction (advertising). A practical man who knows that writing for a living is risky going, he has taken steps to pursue a second, more stable career as a leggy super model. Alan can be reached at .  © 2010 Alan Williamson.

 

January, 2011- A Healthy New Year

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January, 2011- A Healthy New Year

Mommy Moments

A Healthy New Year

By Melanie Lewismelanielewis2

 

“No Child Left on Their Behind” – this is a movement sweeping the country to get kids up off the couch and from behind the computer and video games to get moving.  The key to success of the program isn’t the schools or teachers.  The key to the success of getting kids active, in my opinion, are the parents.  Parents are a role model.  Ever find your kids repeating what you’ve said?  Then you know exactly what I mean by being an influence on the formative years.  So, we stop and ask ourselves what are we doing to show that we take care of ourselves?  Do I smoke?  Do I take time to prepare healthy meals and snacks?  Do I exercise regularly?  Do I take my kids with me on bike rides, roller-blading or swimming?   If you’re in the habit of thinking a fun afternoon activity is going to the movies, it may take a bit more effort to launch into a new habit of going to the park or a game of baseball in the backyard.  “First we make our habits, then our habits make us,” says Charles C. Noble.  Make a healthier family by making healthier habits.

 

One way to determine exactly how you fall in the activity scale is to keep an activity journal for a week for each member of the family.  In that journal, whether it’s a formal spreadsheet or back of an envelope, note the number of minutes by day.  What studies have found is that people generally over estimate how much they’ve exercised.

Similarly, people tend to underestimate what they’ve eaten.  Keep an accurate and honest list of the daily eats.   You may find, like many counting Points Plus values or calories that they can consume a lot more than they think in a day. 

“Food is love,” another mom stated, as were talking about the holiday eating and vast amounts of food. She couldn’t keep herself out of the Oreo cookies and found herself with her face in the bag whenever there was procrastination to be done.  She said she HAD to have them for her kids. Why?  She said because they were a way of saying she loved them.  She associated food with being loved and a feeling of home.  Needless to say, her doctor had told her to lose 40 pounds and her parents were both overweight she admitted.  You’ll never guess… the pediatrician informed her that her kids needed to lose weight too.  For some this may be “tough love” on the parents. According to Bette Davis, “Discipline is a symbol of caring to a child. He needs guidance. If there is love, there is no such thing as being too tough with a child. A parent must also not be afraid to hang himself. If you have never been hated by your child, you have never been a parent.”  

The obvious answer to me was . . . just don’t buy Oreos.  If they are not in the house you won’t be tempted.  I banned Goldfish crackers after finding them too irresistible for me. There was some whining, but we found as long as a banana or an apple were present, that was just as easily consumed.  The media has increased the attention on a national obesity epidemic.  From the Freelibrary.com, “So far, a combination of factors are known to contribute to obesity and diabetes: Lack of physical activity, general sedentary behavior, low socioeconomic status, poor eating habits, and over-exposure to advertising of foods that are high in calories are all implicated.

However, I would say it has little to do with advertising for Happy Meals; the parents hold the wallet and the authority to determine what their children eat.  Albert Einstein wrote, “Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will – his personal responsibility.”  If you find happy meals a problem, you don’t need to stop at a fast food place. When on the run, plan ahead with a cooler of sandwiches, fruit and water.  Your wallet will also thank you for getting everyone nutritious food.  By continuing to ramp up your activity and make nutritious food choices, I wish you all a healthier New Year!

Melanie is the mother of 2 boys, 5 and 7 years old. They have a Ragdoll, named Percy and a Golden Retriever, named Rosie. She works part-time as a weight-loss consultant and is an independent Silpada Jewelry Representative:  http:/mysilpada.com/melanie.lewis

January, 2011 – Astrology at Work

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January, 2011 – Astrology at Work

ASTROLOGY AT WORK IN YOUR LIFE

 

January, 2011

 

By Karola Crawfordkarolacrawford2

 

 

    Happy New Year and Happy Birthday to Capricorn, the “Organizer.” What the world needs now are you Capricorns to help bring visions and disciplined responsibility into manifestation.  Your ruler is Saturn, which represents withholding and resistance to change; however, without Saturn, there would only be dreams and hopes as nothing concrete would ever carry out the desires of the dreamers and visionaries. You are the heads of the boundaries and rules department and will carry an event through to its finish.  The downside of this organized sign is the ability to build walls and keep change out; however, deep inside every Capricorn is an authority figure that really fears failure and therefore is sometimes afraid to act.  With the help of the placement of other signs in your chart, the ethical and moral part of your nature will cause you to act in the best interest of everyone involved.  Saturn is where you are most disciplined and where you will teach yourself and others the virtues of patience, endurance and responsibility.  Because of the fondness of boundaries, it is also the planet in charge of organization, structures and guidelines.  It teaches that the seeds that you have sown will manifest in the future and that you should respect your elders, learn from their values and do things right the first time.  There are definite lessons to be learned from thinking things out and then acting appropriately.

 

   Capricorn – With Pluto’s recent transition into your sign, you are able to make great changes and turn the whole thing around, though it may take time to see the final result.  Don’t underestimate your ability to affect large numbers of people.  You now have the floor!  Let final decisions rest until the end of this month though.

 

   Aquarius – Your sense of optimism and expansion will cause others to take notice.  Listen to your intuition since you have heightened awareness at this time and follow through by researching your point.  You can act in a few weeks.

 

   Pisces – Your sense of beauty is brought out into the social arena and unusual and sudden events may cause you to desire freedom above everything.  Expect surprises.

 

   Aries – Take charge and use your go-getter approach to be more organized and responsible this month.  Your fearless attitude will go far with the discipline and courage endowed to you by Saturn.  This is a great time to research new options.

 

   Taurus – With your heightened sense of joy and ability to create beauty and comfort in your surroundings, you can throw the best parties and dinners and appreciate the simple get-togethers of family and friends.  Teach others that beauty is all around them.

 

   Gemini – This month rethink those plans that you thought were finalized.  There may be changes that you had not noticed or something that you took for granted is not as it seems.  Your computers, telephones and writings may be challenges.

 

   Cancer – You are feeling comfortable and your emotional needs are being met more consistently.  The trade-off may be a less intuitive “mood”, but it may be easier to get quiet and still at this time.  Nurture yourself gently with a bubble bath and candles.

 

   Leo – Your creative best may require a rethinking just when you were ready to make final plans.  You will be appreciated for shedding light on some unforeseen details that others may have missed and win the confidence of others by revealing the missed error.

 

   Virgo – The planetary aspects bestowed upon you may feel as though you want to make major changes in your life and throw caution to the wind, when instead the changes required are to let go of your own rigidity and see the viewpoint of someone else.  Next month will prove that you did the right thing by slowing down.

 

   Libra – Your ability to balance events and charm people is the strong point that will shine through the events of this month.  Allow creativity to flow and lead others to beautiful surroundings and fine art.

 

   Scorpio – Your powerful organizational skills are being put to the test when you are asked to rejuvenate intense and inevitable circumstances for the sake of evolution.  The importance of your concentrated and transformational energy is what is required at this time.  Don’t hold back but give it a few weeks before you finalize any major changes.

 

   Sagittarius – Your sudden insights and futuristic thinking is emphasized this month.  Go out on a limb and be bold enough to find a new way to solve a problem.  You may inspire breakthroughs that help all of humanity.  Wait until next month to make it final.

 

Karola Crawford, MAFA, has been a certified Astrologer for 25 years. She has cast charts for clients all over the world and also practices Holistic medicine, Yoga, Shiatsu, Reiki, Auricular Acupucture and is an accomplished artist. Where does she get all of her energy? A grand trine in fire, of course. Karola can be reached at 561-234-6338 or by visiting the web site at www.shamanofvisionsforhealing.com.

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