health & fitness east 2010

8/8/2019 Health & Fitness East 2010

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Special Section to: The Valley Gazette I The Stratford Star I The Milford Mirror I The Amity Observer I The Trumbull Times I Fairfield Sun I The Huntington Herald I The Monroe Courier I The Easton Courier

September 30, 2010

HealthFitnessHERSAM ACORN NEWSPAPERS

Rx: Cancer Prevention, Treatment

Exercise Gains Strength

150 Pounds LostA New Person Found

Conscious EatingLose Weight From The Inside Out


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2 Health & Fitness Hersam Acorn Newspapers September 30, 2010


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September 30, 2010 Health & Fitness Hersam Acorn Newspapers 3

by Robin E. Glowa

Like a determined warrior, Diane Kamin-

ski has fought a great battle and emerged

victorious and very, very happy. Diane has

struggled her entire life with her weight. I

had been morbidly obese for most of my

life, she says. I began dieting at the age

of 12 or 14, and, over the course of my

life, I have probably lost 100 pounds two or

three times. Ive tried everything Weight

Watchers, the Grapefruit Diet, the CabbageSoup Diet you name it, Ive done it!

At five-feet, two-inches tall and 335 pounds,

Diane vowed once and for all to lose the

weight and become healthy. I was tired

of the struggle to walk, she says. I could

only go short distances and would get short

of breath. Shopping was a big problem. I

would have to be driven right up to the door

of the store. When I needed to do laundry,

I would go down to the basement and stay

there for the entire washing and drying cy-

cle; it was too difficult to go up and down

the stairs. I needed to get myself together

emotionally and physically.

Diane began to research surgery options.

Her online investigation led her to the Hos-

pital of St. Raphael in New Haven, a center

of excellence for bariatric surgery. Even

though Diane lives in Massachusetts, she

was willing to make the trip to St. Raphael,

based on the hospitals superior creden-

tials.

After Diane thoroughly investigated all

available surgical options, she chose gas-

tric-band surgery. This procedure, which in-

volves laparoscopically wrapping a silastic

(silicon and plastic) band around the top of

the stomach, creates a small upper pouch

and a larger lower pouch. Food passes slow-ly from the top to bottom through an open-

ing dividing the two areas.

This limits the amount of food consumed,

reducing appetite and slowing digestion.

The size of the opening can be adjusted by

injecting or removing saline from the band

via a tube from the band to a reservoir

placed beneath the skin during surgery.

I felt the gastric band was the right choice

for me, says Diane. I wanted a quicker re-

covery time and a less invasive procedure.

Im 62, and I felt for my age, this was the

way to go. I highly recommend that anyone

considering a bariatric procedure thorough-

ly research the options.

Jessie Moore, APRN (Advanced Practice

Registered Nurse) and bariatric-surgery co-

ordinator at St. Raphael, also stresses the

importance of researching bariatric surgery

options. First-time patients come to an

introductory seminar where the risks and

benefits of the procedures are presented,

giving an accurate picture of what prospec-

tive patients can expect. She continues,

Patients meet with the surgeons, dietitians

and psychotherapists to prepare mentally

and physically for the surgery. This is a

whole behavioral transformation, not just a

magic-pill surgery, and we want our patients

to have all the support of a multi-disciplin-

ary approach. You also want to be sure that

you have your procedure done at a center

of excellence, such as St. Raphaels, she

stresses. Certain standards must be met to

be designated a center of excellence, includ-

ing having highly qualified surgeons.

Ms. Moore notes, You have to want to sus-

tain the changes; this is a life-long journey.

Its not the surgery that is going to change

your life and your level of health, the person

accomplishes this, along with the assistance

of the surgery.

Diane is a big success, she says with en-

thusiasm. She works at it. You have to be

willing to make lifestyle changes, and she

is! We love to see her when she comes for

her checkups.

A big success may be a bit of an under-

statement. As a result of her 2006 surgery

and subsequent lifestyle changes, Diane

has maintained a weight of 175 pounds for

nearly four years. As the It Girl for suc-

cessful weight loss, the hospital features her

on a billboard on I95 to promote the bariat-

ric center, and she stars in a video on their

Web site.

Diane is a huge fan of her team at the hos-

pital. The people at St. Raphaels are amaz-

ing. I cant say enough about my surgeon,

Dr. Geoffrey Nadzam. He is my hero, my

angel. He is an exceptional surgeon and

was so encouraging.

My life has changed big time, Diane con-

tinues. I can walk up and down stairs! I

can go shopping! I went from a size 24/26

in dresses and pants to a size 10. Even my

shoe size changed from eight to a seven!

At first when I looked in the mirror, I didnt

recognize myself; it was hard for me, such a

drastic change.

I have to work at this every day, but its

worth it to me. I go to the gym; I go to yoga.

I pay attention to what Im eating. I start

each day with a protein shake for breakfast

and have four small meals during the day.

I have a bit of protein, lots of greens, salad

and a very small amount of starch. If I need

a snack, I will have a few almonds or wal-

nuts. Very occasionally, I will have a quarter

cup of Haagen Dazs for a treat.

You can hear the triumphant joy in Dianes

voice when she says, Im really happy with

my new life. I love the new Diane.

Hospital of St. Raphael, Weight Loss Services,

330 Orchard Street, New Haven; 203-789-

6237; srhs.org/obesitysurgery.

150 pounds lost ...

a new person found

Diane Kaminski is St. Raphaels It Girl for successful weight loss.

I CAN WALK UP AND DOWN

STAIRS! I CAN GO SHOPPING!

I WENT FROM A SIZE 24/26

IN DRESSES AND PANTS

TO A SIZE 10. EVEN MY

SHOE SIZE CHANGED FROM

EIGHT TO A SEVEN!


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by Lois Alcosser

What is the value of a statistic? According

to the American Diabetes Association, ev-

ery 20 seconds someone is diagnosed with

diabetes. Thats 4,320 people in a 24-hour

time period. Statistics can seem unreal, but

the real life story of 52-year-old Vita Cruz of

Waterbury is a different matter.

On Sunday, Oct. 3, the 2010 Walk to Fight

Diabetes in this area will start at 9 a.m. (reg-

istration begins at 8 a.m.) at New Canaan

High School, 11 Farm Road. People can

walk either three or six miles. There will

be hundreds of Red Striders people liv-

ing with diabetes, walking to build greater

awareness of the disease and to raise funds

for research and treatment. Vita Cruz will

be walking as a Red Strider Ambassador.

Here is her story.

In Oct. 2009, Vita joined the walk in mem-

ory of her brother, Bill Gonillo, former news

director for Channel 12, who died of dia-

betes in 2006 at age 44. At the walk, the

Diabetes & Endocrine Center of Stamford

Hospital does free diabetes screenings, and

just for the hell of it, Vita was screened

by Vera Milne, director of the center. After

the screening, Vera Milne asked Vita if she

wanted an ambulance to take her to the

hospital. Her sugar level was dangerously

high, 290 (a normal count is 80 to 120, ac-

cording to the American Diabetes Assoc.).

I told her Ive got to do this walk for my

brother, Vita said. After the walk, she was

hospitalized, and the diagnosis of diabetes

was confirmed.

The next day, she went to a Waterbury

Prime Care Medical and was lucky enough

to be treated by an excellent physician, Dr.

Diane Miller. Vita was an obvious case. She

was overweight (200 pounds). She was eat-

ing typical high-carb, high-fat, heavily calor-

ic meals. She admitted that she drank lots

of vodka.

That was October 2009. Dr. Miller was very

direct. She told Vita that she had to change

her entire lifestyle. She had to change her

eating habits, start exercising, stop drink-

ing. She had to start counting calories, read-

ing labels and eating smaller, more nutri-

tious meals five times a day. She absolutely

had to start exercising regularly, otherwise

diabetes could affect her kidneys, her heart,

shorten her life. I have two grandkids,

three- and six-years old, she told the doc-

tor, I dont want to die.

She gave up everything white in her diet

(no white bread, flour or rice). She joined

a gym and had a trainer for three months

who showed her the right way to exercise.

By January, her weight had gone down to

162. I havent had a sip of alcohol since

October 4, 2009, she said.

Was it difficult? Yes and no. She grilled

meat instead of frying it. She ate lots of

vegetables. My husband Luis is Hispanic,

she said, and he missed white rice. But he

started cooking the whole grain rice with

peppers, tomatoes, onions. Its delicious. I

dont fry eggplant anymore. I cube it, cook

it with vegetables and parmesan and pour it

over whole wheat pasta. Thats our eggplant

parmigiana!

Without the screening and the change in

lifestyle, Vita would have become seriously

ill. Going to the gym was difficult at first, I

wasnt used to it, she said. I couldnt lift

a leg, but I started and I havent stopped.

Now, I go to the gym four times a week, two

hours each time. I can not only walk and

enjoy it, I can run.

Her friends and family are amazed. She

looks 30-something, not 52, She is 144

pounds, from size 18 to size 8. Everybody

says my face is different.

She says the secret is one word: motivation.

Im totally motivated. Thats the only way

it works. Now, I can eat some fruit ... I can

have a cookie once in awhile. At my moth-

ers 80th birthday party, I had a piece of

cake. The doctor told me when I go off the

diet, I can put on three pounds, but once I

go back, I can exercise it off in three days.

I dont call it a diet, she said. I call it ideas

about food. I know just how many calories

Im eating and how many I have to burn to

maintain my weight. I have so much more

energy. I look so much better; I feel so much

happier. It used to be hard to get out of the

bed in the morning. No more.

Vita says she realizes that maintaining her

health requires lifelong management of dia-

betes. That means controlling her diet and

continuing her exercise. Geraldine Brown

of the American Diabetes Association says

that technically, Type 2 diabetes can be re-

versed, but it always requires lifestyle man-

agement. Vita is one of the most remark-

able role models Ive ever known, notes

Geraldine Brown.

Currently, diabetes is a growing epidemic.

Obesity, high-carb, high-sugar processed

foods and drinks often containing su-

crose, fructose and corn syrup together

can be disastrous.

Vitas doctor says, Im so proud of you.

Not one other person has changed their life

like you.

Im not like every other person, Vita an-

swered. Whats needed? More people like

Vita Cruz, 2010 Red Strider Ambassador at

the Walk to Fight Diabetes.

For more information: Geraldine Brown, 203-

639-0385, x3544 or [email protected].

Motivation ... the best prescription to fight diabetes

Vita Cruz is proof-positive of what motivation can do to fight diabetes, both as a patient and an ambassador for the association. Vita

with daughter, Michelle, and son, Jason, at her 50th birthday party. Vita and husband, Luis, celebrate her mothers 80th birthday

and her new look.

Charles French had triedeverything without success toend his severe back and leg painwhen he was referred to Dr.Patrick Guerin. When he firstentered our office on October31, 2008, he did so very slowlyand painfully on crutches, unableto do even the simplest of tasks,such as kneeling at church, with-out pain. After years of hopeless

back pain and sciatica (leg pain)and then after just a few treat-ments on the DRX 9000, he wastotally pain free.

Dr. Guerin has brought theDRX 9000 spinal decompres-sion system to Westport, CT.The DRX 9000 is a non-surgicaltreatment for chronic low back

pain, leg pain, disc pain and hip pain as well as numbness, tin-gling and weakness. The DRX9000 is the state-of-the-art tech-

nology used to treat degenerativedisc disease, bulging or herniateddiscs, stenosis, arthritis and facetsyndrome.

The DRX 9000 gently and pleasantly decompresses thediscs in the spine, alleviating

pressure on the painful nerves.The protocol for each conditionand patient is highly personal-ized. The process of decompres-sion permits discs to repositionthemselves and also allows fluidto return to the damaged areasso that they become healthyand pain free again. Patients are

extremely comfortable duringthe treatments and listen to softmusic, drift off to sleep, or evenwatch a movie during the treat-ment session.

After Mr. French completed

his treatments on the DRX 9000,he spent his winter in Floridarelaxing and enjoying golf onceagain. Before beginning histreatments he had an MRI ofhis spine, which showed L3-4right paracentral to foraminaldisc herniation. These findingscontribute to moderate centraland severe right greater thanleft foraminal stenosis at L3-4.When he returned from Florida, afollow-up MRI of his spine nowshowed disappearance of previ-ously demonstrated right forami-nal disc protrusion/extrusion at

the L3-4 level.Mr. French isnt interested in

the technicalities, just the results.I highly recommend Dr. Guerinand the DRX 9000 to anyone

experiencing back pain. It has

certainly helped me.Dr. Guerin states, I am veryexcited to offer the DRX 9000right here in Westport as the al-ternative to back surgery to so

many patients that had no choicebefore. In all of my twenty yearsas a health care provider, I canhonestly say that adding thistherapy to my practice has givenme the most personal satisfactionand joy I have ever experienced

by seeing my patients regaintheir health, their lives and theirhopes.

How do you find out if theDRX 9000 can help you?You have three options:1. Call our office directly at203-227-4474 and ask for Jess,Megan or Tina to schedule a noobligation, complimentary freeconsultation.

-- OR --2. If you would like a FREE spe-cial report detailing everythingyou need to know about Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression,

just call 1-888-289-5995 and

listen to the toll-free 24-hour re-corded message.-- OR

3. Go to:www.westportspine.com

Help Your Child Lose Weight and

Eat Healthy for Life!!!TransitionsTM Family Lifestyle Weight Management

System a clinically proven weight management system

To RSVP contact: 203-225-7514 ext. 301917 Bridgeport Ave Shelton, CT 06484 [email protected]

Come and learn... why diets dont work how to repair and boost

your metabolism how to stop food cravings the key to long term weight

and fat loss success!

Seminars to Begin in October.Please call for the next date.

Presented by:

6-week Sessions1 hour twice a week

for kids who want toexercise and have fun

circuit training specific strengthening cardio equipment sized

for for kids


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believable, that tell me that cancer was put in

their life for a reason, and theyre healthier

than they ever have been because theyre now

turning the mirror and looking in on some of

their lifestyle habits.

DETAILS

Yale School of Public Health is recruiting the

following people for a a two-year study toexamine the impact of exercise on cancer

survivors:

1. Women diagnosed with breast cancer

who are taking an aromatase inhibitor;

2. Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Contact: [email protected]; 203-

764-8426.

Linda T. Gottlieb: certified cancer-exercise

and personal-fitness trainer; movingth-

roughcancer.com; fittraining.net; 203-877-

5270; [email protected].

Milford Adult Education: On Oct. 12, 7 to

9 p.m., Moving Through Cancer, dont let

the diagnosis define you, taught by Linda

T. Gottlieb. Class is free to cancer patients,

survivors, friends and family; milforded.

org/adult_education.

Cancer Survivors : Check for survivorship

programs, including exercise and fitness

information, at local hospitals. The Con-

necticut Challenge Survivorship Clinic at

Yale Cancer Center is open to the public:

203-785-2273.

by Stacy Lytwyn Maxwell

Want to lose weight?

Drop the comfort

food. Instead, grasp

whatever you are feel-

ing anger, regret, sad-

ness no matter how

severe, because what

may seem unpleasant

may help you fit into those

jeans that hang dormant in

the closet.

Does the thought of embrac-

ing your feelings frighten

you? Your emotions wont

kill you, Fairfield-based psy-

chotherapist Alice J. Katz, MS,

reassures private clients, as well

as her students at Westport Adult

Continuing Education. Her books,

Conquering Compulsive Eating: A

Complete Self-Help Guide and Its

CONSCIOUS EATING

Lose weightfrom the inside out

Conscious continued on page 9

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Take a lesson designed for your needs

ALL AGES & LEVELSBeginner to Elite SkatingHockey Skill Development

Call Patrick 203-313-9879 Fairfield area


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Not Personal!: A Guide to Anger Management (goodliving-

books.com), provide the framework for her classes.

(Feelings) will pass, even if theyre negative, like unhap-

piness or anger. Its not necessary to feel better instantly,

she says. Emotions will never be as strong as they are

initially, even if you try and make them that strong.

As a cognitive psychotherapist, she believes that your

thoughts affect your feelings and actions and not, as

many people believe, the other way round. Part of Alices

job is to teach people how to think in their own best inter-

est and improve their emotional condition.

Alice explains that sometimes what people think are

choices may not be choices; theyre based on fear or

myths. One popular myth among weight-conscious

adults is, If I dont eat now, and I feel hungry, Im going

to pass out. In Alices sessions and classes, she squelch-

es these kinds of misconceptions by examining factual

evidence, such as people can go hungry for prolonged

periods before they faint.

Lack of self-esteem can further compound the problem

for overeaters. As they mindlessly feed their bodies, they

feed upon thoughts, such as Nobody ever loved me, so I

have to feed myself with food so I can feel better, because

thats how I love myself. Problem eaters, the therapist

says, may also have unresolved childhood issues.

While working with compulsive eaters and those who are

bulimic or anorexic, she discovered that anger was a ma-

jor issue, which inspired her anger management book.

A lot of eating was in reaction to feeling angry, mostly to

push it down.

Learning the art of assertiveness is the only healthy way

to express anger. She encourages journaling to uncover

core issues. Problems stemming from abusive and dys-

functional backgrounds may require intensive one-on-

one therapy.

To maneuver through todays labyrinth of temptations

super-sized servings at the local eatery, junk food at

the office and greased-up burgers at the drive-up is not

easy. Nevertheless, people can put the brakes on overin-

dulging. Alice explains that folks can get just as much

pleasure, and probably even more, from making healthy

choices. Our stomachs tell us when weve had enough.

With all the outside forces, including the notion that you

can overeat now and join a weight-loss program later, Al-

ice feels that very few people can motivate themselves,

and therefore favors seeking outside support. Apart from

professional therapy, Alice is an active member and strong

supporter of Fairfields Happiness Club (happinessclub.

com), whose members promote a positive lifestyle.

Resources and professional help aside, no one can moti-

vate people to change. Sometimes a health problem will

do this, otherwise, Alice says, It has to come from them-

selves.

Before Penny from Norwalk reached her goal weight,

she had to accept her weight problem. Only then, she

says, could she come to realize that I had to want to

change. I knew what to do, but I had to want to do it

enough to actually do it.

Before she did, the irony was that her instant-gratifica-

tion fixes put her on the path of yo-yo dieting, at one

point tipping the scales at 260 pounds. It took 50 years

to achieve her current weight. Ive had more than two

years at the same weight. I finally believe I can maintain

it indefinitely. Not that I am immune to binge eating, or

stuffing my face when facing anxious or angry situations,

but a balance has been struck so that most of the time

I make good eating choices and get exercise, and find

some other way to deal with my feelings ... If I can be at

this stage at age 63, I really believe anyone can do it if

they can find the right motivation from within and a sup-

portive program or group to help them from without. Itisnt easy, but its doable, she says.

Alice, on the other hand, has never experienced a weight

problem. I was always very thin, I still am. Im 75 now.

I feel great. I have no health problems. I take no medica-

tion. I have tons of energy. Its because I eat very healthy,

I always have ... all the things that I preach in all of my

classes, my counseling, are things I practice.

Alice doesnt comprehend why theres so much hoopla

about being thin. I never understood this whole drive in

our society to be thin. I like curves; I want to look like a

woman. I dont like angles.

Go ahead ... have a hissy fit over these statements ... re-

member, its good for you!

To contact Alice Katz: 203-259-8026; apalphi@optonline.

net; Web site, goodlivingbooks.com.

but do push yourself during exercise routines. Dont

give up because you dont feel like it or youre tired.

Push yourself to go a little harder a little longer be-

cause that is the point where losing fat and develop-

ing muscles begins.

Listen to music or read: Pump yourself up with your

favorite high-energy, fast-paced music to help boost

you through the workout. Or, if youre walking on a

treadmill or using a stair-climber, try reading so you

lose track of time while burning calories.

Be creative, change your routine: Youre more likely

to become bored and lose motivation by doing the

same workout every day. Use different weight ma-

chines and exercise techniques. Run one day, do

yoga on another, hop on a bike, try aerobic exercise,

Pilates or swim.

Where to workout: Your environment can have a big

impact on how well you focus on your routine. If you

prefer being outside, schedule a program around

outdoor activities. If the energy of working out with

others will help keep you motivated, join a health

club. If you wont be bored working out alone, in-

vest in videos or exercise equipment and exercise

at home.

Proper eating : Its hard to exercise on an empty stom-

ach, but you wont be motivated to exercise after

eating a large meal, either. For lots of energy, stick to

a healthy, balanced diet. Have a light, healthy snack

before a scheduled workout so that you dont feel

hungry.

Experts recommend that we exercise at a moderate

intensity for a minimum of 30 minutes most days of

the week. The decision to pursue a regular workout

should not be taken lightly. It is a lifelong commit-

ment, like bathing and brushing your teeth. Exer-

cise not only improves health and reduces stress,

it relaxes tense muscles and helps you sleep more

deeply at night.

After exercising, the release of chemicals called en-

dorphins into the bloodstream makes you feel re-

laxed and happy. Staying motivated means keeping

your goal in mind better health, fitness and hap-

piness.

Lorraine Dowdey is vice president of marketing at Yo-

gasports, specializing in workout and yoga apparel and

active wear for both women and men. Yogasports is at

304 Main Avenue, Suite 117, Norwalk; 800-793-2611;

yogasports.biz.

DETAILS

Westport Adult Continuing Education classes with Alice

Katz, westportcontinuinged.com:Eating for the Right

Reasons; Tues. 7 to 9 p.m., six sessions; Oct. 5 to Nov.

9.Anger Management: Mon. 7 to 9 p.m., six sessions;

Nov. 1 to Dec. 6.

Consciouscontinued from page 7

Open House


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