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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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4 Health & Fitness Hersam Acorn Newspapers September 30, 2010
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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September 30, 2010 Health & Fitness Hersam Acorn Newspapers 7
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
Learn to Skate& Keep in Shape!
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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September 30, 2010 Health & Fitness Hersam Acorn Newspapers 9
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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10 Health & Fitness Hersam Acorn Newspapers September 30, 2010