Get Healthy Magazine

A PublicAtion of the times

LOSE TO WINHow Valparaiso’s Marci Crozier, her daughter Courtney, and others have lost weight in a victorious way

ALSOKids and Weight LossExercise as Medicine

Defying Excuses

MAY/JUNE 2011NWI.COM/GETHEALTHY

You could be out living your life instead of living with a chronic wound.The Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center at Porter can help.

A wound that hasn’t healed after 30 days is one you shouldn’t ignore. It can keep you

from enjoying life the way you used to. So don’t wait any longer to get the help you need.

The Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center at Porter offers convenient, outpatient treatment

with a specially trained staff and advanced techniques to help heal chronic wounds

of any type. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call 219-477-5242 today.

802 LaPorte Avenue, Suite 103 • Valparaiso, IN 46383

porterhealth.com

51127_PORT_LYL3_10_4x10_5c.indd 1 11/30/10 3:55 PM

PB GET HEALTHY | nwitimes.com/gethealthy 1may/june 2011 | GET HEALTHY

2 GET HEALTHY | nwitimes.com/gethealthy 3may/june 2011 | GET HEALTHY

8what’s new

Upgrades at local hospitals, and innovative

new health products

10survivor spotlight

A determined woman with cerebral palsy

is on her way to an

independent life

14the body

shop

More doctors are making house calls,

and the health benefits of mud baths

16on your mind

How to let go of limiting beliefs, plus advice on making your career goals

happen

24food & fitness

Why doctors are starting to prescribe exercise as

medicine, and the ultimate

weight loss diet

26green life

Why asthma is on the rise, and how to test your home for lead

32ask the expert

Two doctors talk about eating

disorders and the importance

of intensive outpatient therapy

4 letter from the editor | 6 health care advisory council | 12 well-being events

8 GET HEALTHY | nwitimes.com/gethealthy

what’s newBy Kathleen Quilligan

HEALTHY PRODUCTSWEAR A HUG After being diagnosed with cancer, Brenda Jones remembers the embarrassment and cold of waiting to see her doctor while wearing the thin, skimpy hospital gown provided. She decided to create an alternative for cancer patients that was not only warm, but modest. The New Jersey woman developed HugWraps, making it a nonprofi t product, with the mission to “put a smile on the face of cancer patients, to give back dignity, and to provide additional support during a diffi cult time.”

The cost of a thigh-length women’s HugWrap is $50 plus the cost of shipping. The cost increases for special order sizes, longer lengths, men’s sizes and special fabrics. There is also an additional cost for pockets, which can be used for surgical drains or insulin pumps. HugWraps are available online at hugwraps.com.

COUNT YOUR DISHESDanuta Highet developed the Dish Diet as a tool to teach her autistic daughter to eat properly and control portion sizes, but it grew into a sought-after product when she joined forces with cofounder Roberta Cahn.

The numbered dishware system includes fi ve plates and four bowls designed to help control portion sizes. The Dish Diet dishes are all dishwasher and microwave safe, and included with the plates is the e-book Watch Your Plate, Not Your Weight, which explains the program and offers healthy eating and lifestyle tips. The Complete Dish Diet Plan is $69.99 at dishdiet.com.

ON-THE-GO WORKOUTTimes are tough, and personal trainers are expensive, but sisters Amie Hoff and Beth Michaels don’t believe that’s an excuse not to work out. Based on Hoff’s expertise as a fi tness consultant, they created FitKit, a complete workout in a portable case that includes workout gear such as a jump rope, pedometer and fl at resistance band.

Hoff, who was the personal trainer on the fi rst season of the MTV series Making the Band and was also voted Best Personal Trainer twice by Allure magazine, developed fi ve different FitKits—for travel, home, offi ce, dorm and golfi ng. Each FitKit contains the same materials, but is accompanied by different exercise libraries and workouts.

The FitKit is available at FitKit.com for $29.99. For an additional $19.99 per year, you can subscribe to the FitKitClub, which offers a 6-week exercise and nutrition plan, recipes, articles, and an Ask the Coaches feature.

CULTIVATING CONFIDENCEIt’s never been easy getting through junior high and high school, and with the recent trend of cyberbullying, being a teenage girl just got even harder. That’s why RaeCole invented the Gift of Confi dence, tangible items to help a girl get through some of life’s most diffi cult times by helping her body image, confi dence, personal empowerment and self-esteem. The Gift of Confi dence helps open up conversation into potentially embarrassing topics for a young woman.

The kit includes affi rmation cards, a meditation and empowering techniques CD, calming spray, energy rub, a calendar with stickers to track your cycle and a guide for the gift giver. The Gift of Confi dence is available online at raecole.com for $69.95.

Local Health NewsNEW NICU The NICU at Franciscan St. Anthony Health Crown Point, with 12 beds, opened in March. It’s located in the Birth Place on the hospital’s seventh fl oor. Addressing the crowd at the blessing and dedication, Franciscan Alliance Northern Region CEO Gene Diamond said the NICU is the fi rst step in expanding the hospital’s services to women and children. “It looks like a 12-bed unit,” says Sudhish Chandra, the medical director of neonatal services. “But I’m here because it will be much, much bigger than this. It’s a real possibility.”

Administrators and unit staff say it will fulfi ll a need for the community, reducing the number of infant transfers to other hospitals, separating babies from their mothers. The NICU boasts technology unique to the hospital, but Chandra says his favorite thing about the facility is something totally different. “The best thing is when [the babies] come back for a reunion,” he says.

FAMILY BIRTHING SUITESIndiana University Health La Porte Hospital hosted an open house in March to tour the new Family Birthing Suites on the hospital’s second fl oor. The open house marked the near completion of phase one of the IU Health La Porte Women’s Services construction project.

The 10,000-square-foot space includes ten suites that allow the mom to stay in the same room her entire stay. Two of the suites include whirlpool tubs for water labor and birthing, plus there are three medical observation and exam rooms and an upgraded nurses station.

The construction project, which includes four phases, tentatively will be completed in early 2012. Phase two includes a new C-section room, recovery room and newborn nursery. Phases three and four include two additional birthing suites, a waiting room, staff locker rooms, lactation room and two OB/Gyn patient rooms.

NEW LOOKPinnacle Hospital hopes to make patients’ health care experience unique and less institutionalized with its physician-owned facility.

The hospital boasts warm-hued walls, concierge-like services, and meals prepared with help from a registered dietician. Beginning in March, patients and their family members were able to use Barnes and Noble Nook e-readers with access to more than 500,000 books at their bedside. Also available are chairs in each room that fold out into beds for visiting family members, and free Wi-Fi Internet.

For more information call 219.796.4041 or visit pinnaclehealthcare.net.

le


survivor spotlight

One of the reasons Victoria Grzelak chose to move to her apartment in Valparaiso a year ago was because the

complex has a swimming pool. It has always been a dream of Grzelak’s to learn how to swim. That in itself might not seem like a big deal, until you consider that this 22-year-old woman only recently learned how to walk.

Grzelak has cerebral palsy and was raised by her grandmother in Hammond, where she attended school but never set foot in a doctor or dentist’s offi ce. Without any plan of care, Grzelak, in order to ambulate, moved about in what is described as an “army crawl.”

Grzelak was placed in the care of Dungarvin when she was 18, due to her grandmother’s health issues. Dungarvin is a national organization of privately owned companies that provide support services to people with cognitive and developmental disabilities. It was there Grzelak met Cathy Peters, who became her community service program counselor.

Peters says there was no medical care they could track for Grzelak during her time with her grandmother. “I think that generation did the best they know,” Peters says.

Dungarvin respects and responds to choices of people with disabilities, Peters says, and when someone like Grzelak arrives, she gets to pick a couple of goals the organization can help her accomplish. “We had meetings to address those goals and in the fi rst one, [some] of the things she said she wanted to do [were] learn to walk and learn to talk better,” Peters says.

For the fi rst time, Grzelak had a plan of care. She underwent a complete evaluation for the acute rehabilitation facility at Porter Hospital in Portage, where she entered therapy with arms and legs contracted from nonuse.

After two months of extensive physical,

occupational and speech therapies, Grzelak walked with assistance of a wheeled walker. “She could crawl a little bit, but that was about it,” Peters says. “Now she does just about everything by herself.”

Grzelak was assisted by the special braces and shoes she received from American Limb & Orthopedic Company and a gait trainer developed especially for her by Midwest Orthotic Services. “Each time you go somewhere they have to determine if they’ll take her case and determine if it’s going to work,” Peters says.

Along with regular visits to doctors, Grzelak also underwent a seven-days-a-week home exercise program in addition to physical therapy at the Education & Rehab Center, an outpatient unit of Porter. “There wasn’t a lot of a break,” Peter says. “It had to be really hard-core therapy.”

As of March, Grzelak’s home exercise was down to fi ve times a week and Peters says she “pretty much has graduated” from physical therapy at the ERC. “The situation now is giving her a break to enjoy it all and see where it will lead,” Peters says.

Grzelak says she’s excited about the possibilities and being able to do things on her own at her apartment. “I like to clean the house and I like to make popcorn,” she says. She couldn’t do anything like that before.

“Tori couldn’t come as far as she did if she didn’t want it,” Peters says. “Her need to progress is just totally amazing.”

Grzelak also works part-time at Opportunity Enterprises. “I think Tori is defi nitely headed towards a job in the community eventually,” Peters says.

But fi rst there is a swimming pool that awaits her. “That’s our next goal,” Peters says.

In October Cathy Peters was honored in Washington D.C. by the American Network of Community Options and Resources. Peters won the Direct Support Professional Recognition Award for the state of Indiana for her impact on people with disabilities. -Rob Earnshaw

FEET

Woman defies odds and learns to walk and talk

PHOTO BY TONY V. MARTINCathy Peters [left] is Victoria Grzelak’s community service program counselor through Dungarvin. Last fall, Peters won an award from the American Network of Community Options and Resources for her impact on people with disabilities.

On Her

“Tori couldn’t come as far as she did if she didn’t want it ... Her need to progress is just totally amazing.”

survivor spotlight


the body shop

SPA REVERIE3634 N 700 W, LaPorte219.861.0814spareverie.com

At Spa Reverie in LaPorte, mud wraps are an important part of the detoxifi cation regimen, which also includes massage and healthy eating. “Even if you’re living

a clean lifestyle, you still have toxic buildup through the foods you eat, the air you breathe, and the water you’re drinking,” says Reverie owner Beth Warren. “Your skin is the largest organ on your body, and that’s going to absorb the most, and it’s going to release the most toxins. The mud draws out toxins through your skin.”

The process begins with a thorough exfoliation of the skin, followed by the application of warmed mud. Warm linens complete the wrap, which is left on for about ten minutes before a gentle massaging shower to remove it. “It’s very relaxing,” Warren says. “People really enjoy it, and your skin is so soft. It looks and feels great after a mud wrap.”

Detoxifi cation is also aided through steaming and massage. “Some people fast,

a juice fast, or fruit fast, for ten days, seven days,” Warren says. Exercise is a good detoxifying activity, too. Reverie encourages people to avoid alcohol and caffeine, to eat as healthily as possible, and to drink pure water.

Toxic elements are just another stressor on a person’s physical well-being. Stress is another. “We operate on a high stress level,” Warren says. “We’re stimulated constantly.” Constant stress increases cortisol and adrenaline in the body, creating a state many people see as toxic—a state linked to heart disease and obesity, even many autoimmune diseases.

The spa offers overnight and weekend stays to help people not only detox, but de-stress. They provide meals that are “very clean,” in a calming environment. Televisions and other electronic devices are banned (yes, even cell phones), and the focus is on cleansing and rejuvenation. “You come back stronger and more clear-minded,” Warren says, “and then you can do what you want to do better. You can deal with things better when you’re not overwhelmed.” -Terri Gordon

A little MUDdoes a body good

Since ancient times, people have recognized the healing properties of the mud surrounding Israel’s Dead Sea. Its “salts” are a complex mix of minerals purported to draw toxins from the body and nourish the skin. Folks travel from around the world to soak in the water and bathe in the mud. Many spas and resorts import the mud and incorporate it into their treatments.


on your mind

FINDING YOUR CAREER PATH

letting go of limiting beliefsInside every one of us lurk insidious limiting beliefs set to detonate when we attempt a goal. You start doubting yourself; you think you aren’t talented or worthy enough to achieve the goal, so why bother? It’s all a waste of time. This sabotaging self talk keeps you from your greatest good.

“We think these thought patterns are protecting us, but in truth they are blocking us,” says Randi Light, MS, CH, certifi ed hypnotherapist and healing coach at East Wing Studios Community Wellness Center in Chesterton and New Buffalo Hypnosis in New Buffalo, Michigan.

Light says limiting beliefs come from the subconscious mind. They were created by experiences that happened years ago, even as far back as childhood. “Because the subconscious stores everything that happens, it also stores it at the age you were when it happened,” she says. “You understood the world differently as a child, so a limiting belief you began at age 5 can still rule your life. Under hypnosis you can go in and reframe that experience from an adult perspective. Your memories are pictures and sounds and feelings encoded in your nervous system. You can change a bad memory, drop things out of it and put in new positive ones.”

Light says another exercise is to write down the thoughts that block you, such as, “I can’t lose weight.” Then write the empowering belief and its benefi ts: “The truth is I am capable of losing weight. The benefi t is

I will be healthy.” If the limiting belief seems too scary to face, Light suggests singing it in a silly voice. “Make it goofy and get it out of the way so it’s not a big deal anymore,” she says.

Light says sometimes people often don’t even know what their limiting beliefs are. “A person might start doing affi rmations, such as ‘I am strong and capable’ but then feel a negative emotion,” she says. “This is a good thing, because now she knows what the limiting belief is and can work on getting rid of it.”

The Oscar-winning fi lm The King’s Speech is all about letting go of limiting beliefs. The Duke of York doesn’t believe he can overcome his stammer. His breakthrough comes when his therapist speaks these beliefs out loud and Prince Albert reacts by shouting that he has a voice; he has a right to be heard. He fi nally recognizes his limiting belief and fi nds the courage to face it. And like Prince Albert, facing and conquering your limiting beliefs will help you live your life to its greatest potential. -Sharon Biggs Waller

What if you were told you had to eat your most hated vegetable eight hours a day, fi ve days a week, until age 65? Chandra L. Gary, regional director of career services for Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, poses this question to clients who come to her for career advice. “Many times people choose a career for the wrong reason—prestige, money, acceptance,” she says. “If you don’t love what you do, then it’s like eating Brussels sprouts all the time.”

But Gary says people are often confused about their career path, so she asks them, what if you were wealthy, but still had to have a job? What would you do? “Someone might say, I would be a nurse,” she says. “And we break it down. What is it about nursing that interests you? Often they don’t think

about other areas of health care that they might like. So I get them to really hone in on their goal.”

The next step is working out how to achieve that goal. For those changing careers, Gary fi nds a way to make it work without sacrifi cing too much. “We all need to pay the bills, so we’ll see what classes will fi t around the work schedule,” she says. “They might need a few classes to fi ne-tune their skills. If it’s a complete change, then a four-year degree might take six years to complete with a full-time job. Or they can explore online, weekend or night classes. Or choose an accelerated program.”

Gary warns people against jumping from one situation to another out of desperation. “It’s okay to ask someone for help, such as a career counselor or a life coach if you feel lost. And it’s never too late to change careers. I believe everyone has a career DNA that is unique to him or her. Putting your whole heart behind your career choice will give you the greatest personal fulfi llment.” -Sharon Biggs Waller


According to Dr. Omer Ansari, a family practice physician at Westchester Medical Group in Chesterton, the answer is simpler than you think. Ansari treats many patients who need to lose weight—from those who are simply overweight to those who are morbidly obese. And guess what? He doesn’t recommend much more than a simple program of lowering your calories (and not by much) and upping your exercise (starting as slow as need be).

As far as the food goes, “It’s a matter of drinking water [two to three cups before every meal], good nutrition and portion control and planning,” Ansari says. “And exercise gives you increased energy and it feels good.” Not to mention that it burns calories—anywhere from three (for slow walking) to seven (for brisk walking) per minute!

Ansari does not recommend many changes at once. Maybe food control should start before the exercise starts, or vice versa. “Things can be increased in small steps—down the road it will all be there.”

Ansari recommends simple Internet searches in the beginning as well. He says there are many good sites that will tell you exactly how overweight (or obese) you are by plugging in your height and weight into simple calculators. These sites will also determine how much weight you have to lose, and how many calories you should eat per day. That

number shouldn’t be too low, he warns. “Do not stop eating.”

Ideally, Ansari recommends getting 150 minutes of exercise per week. “Walking around the house taking care of kids does not count,” he says. It has to be somewhat vigorous exercise, such as brisk walking.

The diet should be very balanced as well, he says, between carbohydrates, fats and protein. Popular fad diets that encompass no carbohydrates at all, or some other wacky imbalance of nutrients, can cause illness and malnutrition if sustained for more than a week or two, Ansari says. He recommends 20 to 30 percent of the diet be fats, 30 to 50 percent carbs (more than that may lead to the risk of developing diabetes and high cholesterol) and the rest protein. He also recommends taking a vitamin supplement with iron and calcium.

“Eat at home, stay away from processed foods, add more fruits and vegetables,” Ansari says. “And exercise! It’s a gift to yourself.” -Bonnie McGrath

food & fi tness

THE BEST WEIGHT LOSS DIET IS THE SIMPLEST ONEWith all the ads, the quick fi xes, the high-protein/no-carb routines, the meds, the operations, the no-fat, low-fat, over-the counter claims, the high-profi le testimonials, the health clubs, the prescription pads and the low-calorie starvation diets, what’s a dieter to think . . . let alone do?

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green life

Asthma on the Rise

HOW TO TEST YOUR HOME FOR LEAD

According to the Mayo Clinic, the number one cause of lead poisoning in children is lead found in the home, in paint, dust, soil and water. Children

under the age of 6 are most susceptible to lead poisoning, and the CDC estimates some 250,000 children have lead levels in their blood that exceed safe limits.

What can you do to make sure your home

is safe and free of lead? Dave McCormick, director of Indiana’s Lead and Healthy Homes Program, says the fi rst thing to do is contact your local health department. “They do water source and paint source testing and will take soil samples,” McCormick says. “They use what is called an XRF machine. It looks like a policeman’s radar and it can easily test paint.” He also advises to contact your local community action program, which will come out to do regular testing.

To begin the inquiry in your home, McCormick says there is also a lead test product on the market that you can purchase from your local hardware or home improvement store. “A lead check test is a swab that looks like a cigarette and comes

in a tube,” he says. “You swab the cotton applicator on the suspected area and if it turns red, then you have the presence of lead. It won’t tell you how much, but it is a good initial test.”

If you think your child has already been exposed to lead, getting quick care is essential to preventing physical and mental damage. “Children under the age of 6 can receive a blood lead test through the county health department, Head Start, WIC, or primary care physicians,” McCormick says. “It’s the easiest way to tell, and the earlier [it’s detected], the better chances are for intervention. There are proven interventions to reduce the blood levels in the child, but immediate action is required.” -Heather Augustyn

Asthma—that dangerous wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest that affects some 17.5 million adults and 7.1 million children in the U.S.—is on the rise, according to CDC statistics. Since 1980, the number of children with asthma has more than doubled, but scientists and doctors are still debating the cause.

Dr. Jeffrey Gatz, MD, doctor of internal medicine and pediatrics with St. Anthony Health in Valparaiso, says that his offi ce has many child patients with asthma, and causes are diffi cult to determine. “We’ve always seen a lot of asthma, and I don’t know if anybody knows the cause,” Gatz says. “People have talked about environmental causes, such as air quality, and we have seen cases of mold exposure where the child is wheezing like crazy. But most of the time, we don’t know why the asthma occurs, and we think it is likely [due to] multiple factors.”

Dr. Kenneth Blumenthal, DO, an allergy and asthma specialist with Allergy Asthma Care, P.C., says he often is asked what causes the increase in asthma rates. “The jury is still out why, and there are different theories,” Dr. Blumenthal says. “There is a very low incidence of asthma in underdeveloped third world countries, compared to western cultures like the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand. They think this is because our immune system, by nature, through thousands of years of development, has learned to fi ght off infestation with bacteria. But today we use antibacterial soap, antibacterial cleaners, and antibiotics, so we have created a sterile, clean environment. But we still have a system designed to fi ght and so these systems are hypersensitive and overreact. There also has been some research about vitamin D and defi ciencies in the role of allergies and asthma. It’s all emerging.”

But there is one good side to the increase in asthma cases, and that is the technology to respond to these cases. “There is no doubt there is an increase in asthma, but there are fewer people dying and less hospitalization, and it’s probably because there is better care,” Blumenthal says. “We treat it with anti-infl ammatory medication on an ongoing basis, so we have gotten better in terms of preventing a lot of the complications from asthma. There are still 4,200 deaths a year, but that’s down from 5,000 a few years ago.” -Heather Augustyn


Seeing a growing number of girls and even boys facing eating disorders, Caryl Rosen, PhD, and Charley Lerner, MS,

LMHC, added Elangeni, an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), to their joint private practices in Munster. Elangeni combines Rosen’s 14 years of experience treating eating disorders with

Lerner’s specialty in addictions counseling. The program, which the husband-and-wife team says is unique to Northwest

Indiana, applies an addiction treatment model to eating disorders as well as utilizing traditional therapies.

Q: What behaviors constitute an eating disorder? Rosen: The combination of restricting and binging, with different purge patterns, makes up the basics of an eating disorder. Symptoms include fears of being fat with obsessive calorie counting, distorted body image, depression and anxiety. Purging takes different forms, including vomiting, using laxatives or excessive exercise.

Q: What are the signs of an eating disorder?Rosen: Weight loss and fake eating, which is pushing food around on the plate, and secretiveness about where they are disappearing to after meals.Lerner: In order for a kid to start doing these behaviors, they have to alter their lifestyle, and this is also consistent with people who have addictions. The girls develop covert activities: they bring a radio into the bathroom and turn it up or turn the shower on so you can’t hear them purging.

Q: What can trigger an eating disorder? Rosen: There can be a particular event: being told as they enter puberty that they’re fat. Their bodies are changing and they feel ashamed of the changes. Sometimes girls will start dieting and then it gets out of control and they can’t stop.

Q: How does the addiction treatment model apply to eating disorders? Lerner: They need to learn new patterns of behavior to deal with emotions

that we all experience. They’ve been dealing with these emotions by restricting, binging and purging. Why do these girls go off into eating disorders when we all have these emotions? It’s the same thing as with an alcoholic. Why does one person reach for his twelfth drink and most people are satisfi ed with zero, one or two? It’s about coping skills.

Q: Why has there been a shift in treating eating disorders toward the addiction model?Rosen: We better understand brain chemistry and how neurotransmitters play a role in what an illness looks like. Feel-good neurotransmitters called endorphins are released by binging, purging and restricting. People who have an eating disorder become addicted to the release of these endorphins.

Q: What does your IOP involve? Rosen: The program is a series of groups four days a week for six weeks. We start with a community meeting where we share a meal and work on eating in a more mindful way. We talk about how it feels to eat and what their relationship with food is like. We’re helping them learn new behaviors. We’re helping them learn that that urge to purge is a feeling that can go away. Other meetings touch on developing healthy coping, looking at body image, building a support system and relapse prevention. We utilize NIA, healing through sensory-based movement, and we bring families together for a meal on Saturdays.

We work as a team with their physicians, other medical professionals and our dietitian to offer comprehensive care.

Q: When does someone need an IOP? Rosen: There’s both the step-up and step-down piece. If they’re not getting better in therapy or they’re leaving a residential facility or have been hospitalized, they need support as they come back out into the world.

Q: How can I help prevent the onset of an eating disorder? Rosen: Be very aware that girls growing up need to feel good about themselves and their bodies and to feel empowered. It’s about being proud of what your body does, not how it looks. Get girls involved in sports where they can feel a sense of self-acceptance around strength and team play and camaraderie—soccer, softball, swimming, tennis—these are sports where what their size is really isn’t relevant.

Q: Why did you choose the name Elangeni?Rosen: It’s an African Zulu language word meaning a place in the sun, which we think of as a place of hope, healing, wholeness, health. -Lesly Bailey

ask the expert

CARYL ROSEN and CHARLEY LERNER

Getting to the root of eating disorders

ELANGENI900 Ridge Rd, Ste C, Munster 877.526.8825

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may/june 2011

18 LOSE TO WIN Want to lose weight? We have advice from those who’ve been there. Plus, how to get your kids involved, and solutions that abolish all excuses.


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I had never watched the show before, so I was surprised to see how emotional an experience it was for all of the contestants. Not only did they work their butts off (literally) in the physical sense, but they were forced to face their inner demons about the non-obvious things that may have led to weight gain in the first place.

And of course discipline is no cake walk. You don’t wake up one day and suddenly become a disciplined person. Rather, you wake up every day and choose to practice discipline or not. It’s a constant battle and, as we saw from the Biggest Loser contestants, it can be exhausting.

But there is a starting point to weight loss, and as Courtney Crozier tells us on page 19, that point is when you simply “change your mind.” It’s when you decide that living a healthy life takes priority over living an unhealthy one. These gripping and motivating nuggets from Courtney and her mother—whom everyone on the show clearly looked up to—were what captivated the hearts of the viewers and hopefully sparked others to “change their mind.”

So many times, though, we make (seemingly legitimate) excuses as to why we can’t lose

weight. The cost of joining a gym these days—added to the high cost of gas to get there!—is enough to keep most people home on their comfy couches. But there is a way to work around that and many of the other excuses you may have, with some simple and very doable tips from experts on page 20.

Of course, a person’s health habits are developed in childhood, so for you parents, on page 21 we stress the importance of getting your kids active now so they might have a lifetime of health ahead of them. We know, however, that sometimes weight loss becomes an obsession for young women especially, so be sure to check out page 32 for our

interview with Drs. Lerner and Rosen, who have recently opened an intensive outpatient program for patients with eating disorders.

We also have stories on weight loss diets (page 24), career advice (16), and the health benefits of mud (14), among others.

Weight loss is as much an emotional struggle as it is a physical one, and we at Get Healthy are here to cheer you on. You can change your mind and choose health. It is our hope that this issue provides you with some resources and just the right amount of motivation to get started on a healthier path.

JULIA PERLA HUISMANMANAGING EDITOR

letter from the editorWhen I first heard that Marci and Courtney Crozier, a mother-daughter team from Valparaiso, were chosen to be contestants on NBC’s The Biggest Loser—and that the mother happened to be general manager of the gym I belong to—I was thrilled, and I eagerly tuned in almost every week.

Publisher — BILL MASTERSON, JR.Associate Publisher/Editor — PAT COLANDER

Managing Editor — JULIA PERLA HUISMANDesign Director — BEN CUNNINGHAM

Designers — APRIL BURFORD, AMANDA DEPRISCOAsst. Managing Editor — KATHRYN MACNEIL

Niche Assistant — LAVETA HUGHES

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from Get Healthy magazine.

Get Healthy magazine is published six times each year by Lee Enterprises, The Times of Northwest Indiana, Niche Division, 601 W 45th Ave, Munster, IN 46321.

volume 6 | issue 3

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HEALTH CARE INFORMATION’S MIGRATION TO ONLINE

Hospitals and physicians learn the benefits and challenges of electronic record-keeping

The subject was medical records at the most recent Northwest Indiana Health Care Advisory Council meeting in February. And there were two experts on hand to talk with local executives about compliance. Allison Bryan, field operations manager for the Indiana Health Information Technology Extension Center at Purdue University, made the main presentation about accessing the financial incentives out there for physicians and hospitals converting to electronic record-keeping.

Bryan’s topic is part of a push by the federal government to implement the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, passed in 2009. The law requires the conversion, with incentives phasing out over time and penalties in place by 2016. Federal dollars will pay for planning and training. According to the law, medical professionals and hospitals need to become “meaningful users” of technology in record-keeping, and the Purdue Extension Center is positioned to help meet the legal requirements to access those funds. Dr. Alex Stemer, president and CEO of Medical Specialists Centers of Indiana, expressed some concerns about the eligibility requirements’ compatibility with the shrinking time for basic doctor-patient care. (The 2009 law has multiple goals, but one is to facilitate the easy transfer of patients’ medical records from one doctor and facility to another by standardizing as well as digitizing the information.) Ultimately this is considered a time- and cost-saving process, but until a critical mass of compliance is reached, it is difficult to evaluate the success of the program.

U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, who attended the meeting, said the federal government has been partners in health care for years, citing Medicare and Medicaid and the stimulus package, before last year’s affordable health care reform legislation. “None of it is without controversy, and none of it is without problems,” Visclosky said. The congressman stressed that there are e-records specialists available to bring resources and skills for consulting and training with health care professionals. As Bryan explained, her group is responsible to help medical practices and hospitals implement and maintain processes to ensure they are in compliance. She said that some of the requirements have already been adjusted because users were having difficulty meeting the standards.

This meeting was part of a continuing series of leader breakfasts through the Times’ One Region, One Vision initiative started in 2008 in multiple categories including health care, education, good government, legislative partnerships and economic development. We will continue to meet and report our progress through the summer with the next issue of Get Healthy coming in June.

PAT COLANDERASSOCIATE PUBLISHER AND EDITOR

NORTHWEST INDIANA

HEALTH CARE ADVISORY COUNCIL

John Gorski Community Healthcare System

Donald Fesko Community Hospital

Lou Molina Community Hospital

Mary Ann Shachlett Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana

JoAnn Birdzell St. Catherine Hospital

Janice Ryba St. Mary Medical Center

Gene Diamond Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc.

David Ruskowski

Saint Anthony Medical Center

Daniel Netluch, MD Saint Anthony

Medical Center

Carol Schuster, CNO Saint Anthony

Medical Center

Thomas Gryzbek St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers

Jim Lipinski St. Margaret Mercy

Health Centers

James Callaghan, MD Saint Anthony

Memorial Hospital

Trish Webber, RN, MBA Saint Anthony

Memorial Hospital

Jonathan Nalli Porter Hospital

Ian McFadden Methodist Hospitals

Denise Dillard Methodist Hospitals

Lilly Veljovic Pinnacle Hospital

Beverly DeLao Hammond Clinic

Rob Jensen Hammond Clinic

C.D. Egnatz Lake County Medical Society

John King, MDCrown Point

Anton Thompkins, MD Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute

Willis Glaros Employer Benefits Systems

Adrianne May Hospice of the Calumet Area

Debbie Banik, COO Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute

Tom Keilman BP

John Doherty Doherty Therapeutic and Sports Medicine

Dr. Alex StemerMedical Specialists Center

of Indiana

Paul Chase AARP

Dr. Pat Bankston Indiana University School of Medicine Northwest

College of Health and Human Services, Indiana University

Northwest

Phillip A. Newbolt Memorial Health System

Nitin Khanna, MDOrthopaedic Specialists of

Northwest Indiana

Seth WarrenSt. James Hospital

and Health Centers

State Representative Charlie Brown

State Senator Ed Charbonneau

State Senator Earline Rogers

______________

MARKETING AND

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Mylinda Cane Community

Healthcare System

Angela Moore St. Catherine Hospital

Kelly Credit Porter Hospital

Mary Fetsch St. Mary Medical Center

Marie ForsztCommunity Hospital

Joe Dejanovic Saint Anthony

Medical Center

Ellen Sharpe Saint Anthony

Memorial Hospital

Maria Ramos St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers

Stacey Kellogg LaPorte Regional Health System

Sister M. Aline Shultz Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc.

Colleen Zubeck Medical Specialists Centers of Indiana

Michael Shepherd St. James Hospital

and Health Centers


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what’s newBy Kathleen Quilligan

HEALTHY PRODUCTSWEAR A HUGAfter being diagnosed with cancer, Brenda Jones remembers the embarrassment and cold of waiting to see her doctor while wearing the thin, skimpy hospital gown provided. She decided to create an alternative for cancer patients that was not only warm, but modest. The New Jersey woman developed HugWraps, making it a nonprofit product, with the mission to “put a smile on the face of cancer patients, to give back dignity, and to provide additional support during a difficult time.”

The cost of a thigh-length women’s HugWrap is $50 plus the cost of shipping. The cost increases for special order sizes, longer lengths, men’s sizes and special fabrics. There is also an additional cost for pockets, which can be used for surgical drains or insulin pumps. HugWraps are available online at hugwraps.com.

COUNT YOUR DISHESDanuta Highet developed the Dish Diet as a tool to teach her autistic daughter to eat properly and control portion sizes, but it grew into a sought-after product when she joined forces with cofounder Roberta Cahn.

The numbered dishware system includes five plates and four bowls designed to help control portion sizes. The Dish Diet dishes are all dishwasher and microwave safe, and included with the plates is the e-book Watch Your Plate, Not Your Weight, which explains the program and offers healthy eating and lifestyle tips. The Complete Dish Diet Plan is $69.99 at dishdiet.com.

ON-THE-GO WORKOUTTimes are tough, and personal trainers are expensive, but sisters Amie Hoff and Beth Michaels don’t believe that’s an excuse not to work out. Based on Hoff’s expertise as a fitness consultant, they created FitKit, a complete workout in a portable case that includes workout gear such as a jump rope, pedometer and flat resistance band.

Hoff, who was the personal trainer on the first season of the MTV series Making the Band and was also voted Best Personal Trainer twice by Allure magazine, developed five different FitKits—for travel, home, office, dorm and golfing. Each FitKit contains the same materials, but is accompanied by different exercise libraries and workouts.

The FitKit is available at FitKit.com for $29.99. For an additional $19.99 per year, you can subscribe to the FitKitClub, which offers a 6-week exercise and nutrition plan, recipes, articles, and an Ask the Coaches feature.

CULTIVATING CONFIDENCEIt’s never been easy getting through junior high and high school, and with the recent trend of cyberbullying, being a teenage girl just got even harder. That’s why RaeCole invented the Gift of Confidence, tangible items to help a girl get through some of life’s most difficult times by helping her body image, confidence, personal empowerment and self-esteem. The Gift of Confidence helps open up conversation into potentially embarrassing topics for a young woman.

The kit includes affirmation cards, a meditation and empowering techniques CD, calming spray, energy rub, a calendar with stickers to track your cycle and a guide for the gift giver. The Gift of Confidence is available online at raecole.com for $69.95.

Local Health NewsNEW NICUThe NICU at Franciscan St. Anthony Health Crown Point, with 12 beds, opened in March. It’s located in the Birth Place on the hospital’s seventh floor. Addressing the crowd at the blessing and dedication, Franciscan Alliance Northern Region CEO Gene Diamond said the NICU is the first step in expanding the hospital’s services to women and children. “It looks like a 12-bed unit,” says Sudhish Chandra, the medical director of neonatal services. “But I’m here because it will be much, much bigger than this. It’s a real possibility.”

Administrators and unit staff say it will fulfill a need for the community, reducing the number of infant transfers to other hospitals, separating babies from their mothers. The NICU boasts technology unique to the hospital, but Chandra says his favorite thing about the facility is something totally different. “The best thing is when [the babies] come back for a reunion,” he says.

FAMILY BIRTHING SUITESIndiana University Health La Porte Hospital hosted an open house in March to tour the new Family Birthing Suites on the hospital’s second floor. The open house marked the near completion of phase one of the IU Health La Porte Women’s Services construction project.

The 10,000-square-foot space includes ten suites that allow the mom to stay in the same room her entire stay. Two of the suites include whirlpool tubs for water labor and birthing, plus there are three medical observation and exam rooms and an upgraded nurses station.

The construction project, which includes four phases, tentatively will be completed in early 2012. Phase two includes a new C-section room, recovery room and newborn nursery. Phases three and four include two additional birthing suites, a waiting room, staff locker rooms, lactation room and two OB/Gyn patient rooms.

NEW LOOKPinnacle Hospital hopes to make patients’ health care experience unique and less institutionalized with its physician-owned facility.

The hospital boasts warm-hued walls, concierge-like services, and meals prepared with help from a registered dietician. Beginning in March, patients and their family members were able to use Barnes and Noble Nook e-readers with access to more than 500,000 books at their bedside. Also available are chairs in each room that fold out into beds for visiting family members, and free Wi-Fi Internet.

For more information call 219.796.4041 or visit pinnaclehealthcare.net.

explains the program and offers healthy eating and lifestyle


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survivor spotlight

One of the reasons Victoria Grzelak chose to move to her apartment in Valparaiso a year ago was because the

complex has a swimming pool. It has always been a dream of Grzelak’s to learn how to swim. That in itself might not seem like a big deal, until you consider that this 22-year-old woman only recently learned how to walk.

Grzelak has cerebral palsy and was raised by her grandmother in Hammond, where she attended school but never set foot in a doctor or dentist’s office. Without any plan of care, Grzelak, in order to ambulate, moved about in what is described as an “army crawl.”

Grzelak was placed in the care of Dungarvin when she was 18, due to her grandmother’s health issues. Dungarvin is a national organization of privately owned companies that provide support services to people with cognitive and developmental disabilities. It was there Grzelak met Cathy Peters, who became her community service program counselor.

Peters says there was no medical care they could track for Grzelak during her time with her grandmother. “I think that generation did the best they know,” Peters says.

Dungarvin respects and responds to choices of people with disabilities, Peters says, and when someone like Grzelak arrives, she gets to pick a couple of goals the organization can help her accomplish. “We had meetings to address those goals and in the first one, [some] of the things she said she wanted to do [were] learn to walk and learn to talk better,” Peters says.

For the first time, Grzelak had a plan of care. She underwent a complete evaluation for the acute rehabilitation facility at Porter Hospital in Portage, where she entered therapy with arms and legs contracted from nonuse.

After two months of extensive physical,

occupational and speech therapies, Grzelak walked with assistance of a wheeled walker. “She could crawl a little bit, but that was about it,” Peters says. “Now she does just about everything by herself.”

Grzelak was assisted by the special braces and shoes she received from American Limb & Orthopedic Company and a gait trainer developed especially for her by Midwest Orthotic Services. “Each time you go somewhere they have to determine if they’ll take her case and determine if it’s going to work,” Peters says.

Along with regular visits to doctors, Grzelak also underwent a seven-days-a-week home exercise program in addition to physical therapy at the Education & Rehab Center, an outpatient unit of Porter. “There wasn’t a lot of a break,” Peter says. “It had to be really hard-core therapy.”

As of March, Grzelak’s home exercise was down to five times a week and Peters says she “pretty much has graduated” from physical therapy at the ERC. “The situation now is giving her a break to enjoy it all and see where it will lead,” Peters says.

Grzelak says she’s excited about the possibilities and being able to do things on her own at her apartment. “I like to clean the house and I like to make popcorn,” she says. She couldn’t do anything like that before.

“Tori couldn’t come as far as she did if she didn’t want it,” Peters says. “Her need to progress is just totally amazing.”

Grzelak also works part-time at Opportunity Enterprises. “I think Tori is definitely headed towards a job in the community eventually,” Peters says.

But first there is a swimming pool that awaits her. “That’s our next goal,” Peters says.

In October Cathy Peters was honored in Washington D.C. by the American Network of Community Options and Resources. Peters won the Direct Support Professional Recognition Award for the state of Indiana for her impact on people with disabilities. -Rob Earnshaw

FEET

Woman defies odds and learns to walk and talk

PHOTO BY TONY V. MARTINCathy Peters [left] is Victoria Grzelak’s community service program counselor through Dungarvin. Last fall, Peters won an award from the American Network of Community Options and Resources for her impact on people with disabilities.

On Her

“Tori couldn’t come as far as she did if she didn’t want it ... Her need to progress is just totally amazing.”

survivor spotlight


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well-being eventsBecause dates and times are subject to change, please call ahead to confirm all event details. If you would like to submit a health-related event to be considered

for listing in the Get Healthy calendar of events, please send the information at least 6-8 weeks in advance to [email protected].

compi led by LAVETA HUGHES

FITNESS

ONGOING Ballroom Dancing, 10:30-11:30am Wed, Pruzin Center, 5750 Tyler St, Merrillville. 219.980.5911. activenwi.com. Instructor Robert Lenten teaches various ballroom dances based on class participants’ interest. Partner not required.

ONGOING Chi Gong, 9:30-10:30am Thu, Cancer Resource Centre, 926 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.3349. cancerresourcecentre.com. This ancient Eastern healing art of breath, movement, non-movement and meditation will be taught through a one-hour session of warm-ups, positions and focused movements.

ONGOING Class Pass Program, Community Hospital Fitness Pointe, 9950 Calumet Ave, Munster. 219.924.5348. comhs.org. Those who want to participate in some of the classes offered at the Fitness Pointe, but are not members, can take advantage of select group exercises including Aqua Flow, Bike & Tone, Pilates, and Punch & Crunch Low II.

ONGOING Group Cycling, call for dates, times and to register, Southlake YMCA, 1450 S Court St, Crown Point. 219.663.5810. slymca.org. Four group cycling classes are offered at the Southlake YMCA: indoor group cycling, 45-minute group cycling, 30-minute express group cycling, and more. All classes are indoors and meet for five weeks to offer participants the challenge of a low-impact, yet high-intensity, workout.

ONGOING Laughter Yoga, 6pm, 3rd Thu of the month, Community Center, 111 E Old Ridge Rd, Hobart. 219.973.3273. These free yoga classes are taught by a certified yoga instructor.

ONGOING Running Club, 6pm Tue, 5:30am Thu, 6:30am Sat, Duneland Family YMCA, 215 Roosevelt St, Chesterton. 219.926.4204. dunelandymca.org. This program is for all skill levels—beginning, intermediate and advanced. Participants should dress for an outdoor run. Saturday runs are held off-site.

ONGOING Senior Aerobics, 9:30-10:30am Tue, Thu, Pruzin Community Center, 5750 Tyler St, Merrillville. 219.980.5911. Merrillville residents ages 50 and older can stay fit at this free aerobics class.

ONGOING Yoga, 4:30-5:30pm Wed, St. Mary Medical Center, 1500 S Lake Park Ave, Hobart. 219.805.5180 (Lake County) or 219.548.9395 (Porter County). comhs.org. The basics of yoga will be the focus of this class, which uses gentle yoga to release stress and increase flexibility and strength.

ONGOING Y-Run, 6-7pm Mon, Southlake YMCA, 1450 S Court St, Crown Point. 219.663.5810. slymca.org. Participants will be provided with a specific training program, and the group will meet once a week to run and discuss stretching, hydration, finding the right running shoe, nutrition, and avoiding/treating injury. May 15: 31st Annual Hub Run 5K Race.

THROUGH APR 21 “Bump” Pilates! 7:30-8:30pm Thu, Crown Point Civic Center, 101 S East St, Crown Point. 219.661.2271. This intense Pilates course focuses on strengthening muscles, increasing flexibility and improving posture, and it incorporates the use of an exercise ball and hand weights. Participants will need a yoga mat and/or a towel for each class.

THROUGH MAY 10 Pilates, 6:30–7:30pm Tue, Schererville Town Hall Community Room, 10 E Joliet St, Schererville. activenwi.com. This mat-based class helps strengthen major muscles, improves flexibility, and focuses on core strengthening. Suitable for all levels, the class begins with basic Pilates and advances to intermediate exercises. Participants should bring their own mat.

THROUGH MAY 10 Zumba, 9:30–10:30am Tue, Gotta Dance Studio, 121 E Joliet St, Schererville. activenwi.com. Dance your way to fitness with Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves. Zumba is fun and energizing for participants of all fitness levels.

THROUGH MAY 12 Zumba, 6:45-7:45am Thu, St. John Township Center, 1515 Lincoln Hwy, Schererville. activenwi.com.

THROUGH MAY 23 Sittercize, 10-11am, Schererville Town Hall Community Room, 10 E Joliet St, Schererville. activenwi.com. Designed for senior citizens and those with mobility impairments, this class focuses on engaging muscles while seated. Each week includes a warm-up, a cardio workout, stretching, balance exercises, and a cool down.

THROUGH MAY 27 T’ai Chi, 9-10:15am Fri, Schererville Town Hall Community Room, 10 E Joliet St, Schererville. activenwi.com. Suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels, T’ai Chi is a slow, med-itative and low-impact approach to increasing energy, reducing stress, controlling weight and blood pressure, and improving mental clarity and wellness. Comfortable clothing recommended.

THROUGH MAY 28 Couch to 5K Beginner Program, weekly group training runs 10am Sat, Sunset Hill Farm County Park, 775 Meridian Rd, Valparaiso. 219.241.3979. New runners can prepare for the Field Station Frenzy 5K on June 5 at Coffee Creek Watershed with this eight-week training program. The cost of participating

in the program includes the race entry fee, a detailed weekly training schedule, expert advice, weekly focus tips and check-ins, and weekly group training runs followed by discussion. An intermediate program is also available for runners who have finished a 5K.

APR 21-JUL 21 Thursday Night Men’s Lower Division Softball, 6:30-10:30pm Thu, Rohrman Park, 6750 Rohrman Rd, Schererville. activenwi.com. Participants will have a chance to win a trophy and cash prizes of $250 for 1st place and $100 for 2nd place. There will be 12-14 games for the season.

MAY 17-JUN 21 Zumba, 6:45-7:45am Tue, St. John Township Center, 1515 Lincoln Hwy, Schererville. activenwi.com. Dance your way to fitness with Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves. Zumba is fun and energizing for participants of all fitness levels.

CLASSES/SEMINARS

ONGOING C.H.O.I.C.E.S. Natural Birth & Parenting Network, 7pm, first Wed of the month, Hebron Community Center, 611 N Main St, Hebron. 219.996.5188. indianabirthchoices.com. This free community program brings together midwives, doulas, childbirth educators, chiropractors, breastfeeding consultants and new and expecting parents. No need to preregister.

ONGOING Diabetes Management Classes, Crown Point. 219.757.6268. stanthonymedicalcenter.com. After completion of this four-week course, recognized by the American Diabetes Association, participants will have learned all aspects of diabetes care. Afternoon and evening sessions are available, as are individual appointments for glucose monitoring or insulin administration, and free blood glucose screenings.

ONGOING Meet and Greet, Kids First Pediatrics on 30, 1130 Joliet St, Ste 103, Dyer. 219.322.8534. In these free meetings, board certified pediatricians Dr. Tae’Ni Chang-Stroman and Dr. Parul Pathak will meet with any parents one-on-one to answer questions about their child’s health and choosing them as physicians. Please call the office for an appointment.

ONGOING Moving Forward, call for dates and times, St. Catherine Hospital, 4321 Fir St, East Chicago. 219.852.6287. comhs.org. This five-part series helps stroke survivors and their caregivers learn to prevent future strokes through risk detection and management.

ONGOING Weight Management Class, 6:30pm, 2nd Mon of every month, Hammond Clinic Specialty Center, 7905 Calumet Ave, Munster.

219.836.5800. hammondclinic.com. Those interested in weight loss through bariatric surgery should attend this ongoing weight management class. A physician referral is required to attend.

APR 20 How to Use Hearing Aids Well, 3:30-4:30pm, Community Hospital Fitness Pointe, 9950 Calumet Ave, Munster. 219.836.3477, 866.836.3477. comhs.org. If you wear a hearing aid, don’t miss this free class that teaches attend-ees how to use hearing aids more effectively, plus provides information about hearing loss, hearing aid options, technology, benefits and limitations.

APR 27 Arthritis—Issues in the Tissues, 6-7pm, St. Mary Medical Center, 1500 S Lake Park Ave, Hobart. 219.836.3477. comhs.org. Donna Wieczorek, R.N., Joint Care Coordinator, dis-cusses causes of arthritis, how it affects the joints, and the role of physical therapy and exercise.

APR 29 Introduction to Alzheimer’s Disease, 10-11:30am, Central Library Meeting Room B&D, 1919 W 81st Ave, Merrillville. 888.303.0180. lcplin.org. This free informational and interactive session focuses on understanding the disease process of progressive dementia. This session is followed by Advanced Issues & Strategies in Alzheimer’s Disease.

MAY 3, 16 Lap-Band! Is it Right for Me? various locations, 6-8pm May 3, Jun 7, Community Hospital Fitness Pointe, 9950 Calumet Ave, Munster; 6-8pm, May 16, Jun 20, Patient Tower, St. Mary Medical Center, 1500 S Lake Park Ave, Hobart. 219.836.3477. comhs.org. General Surgeon Paul Stanish, MD, FACS, will discuss new surgical options for the treatment of obesity, decisions relating to gastric by-pass surgery, and the affordabililty of surgery versus the cost of obesity on your health and well-being.

MAY 9 Acupuncture and Weight Loss, 6:30-7:30pm, Community Hospital Fitness Pointe, 9950 Calumet Ave, Munster. 219.836.3477. comhs.org. Learn how acupuncture heals a multitude of ailments, such as pain in the muscles and joints, infertility, depression, anxiety and many more.

MAY 18 Hearing Loss and Intervention, 3:30-4:30pm, Community Hospital Fitness Pointe, 9950 Calumet Ave, Munster. 219.836.3477. comhs.org. A licensed audiologist discusses the effects of hearing loss and possible intervention methods. Learn about hearing, how it affects our lives, and how to improve hearing health.

MAY 19 Golfers! Swing into Spring, 4-6pm, Community Hospital Fitness Pointe, 9950 Calumet Ave, Munster. 219.836.3477. comhs.org.

well-being eventscontinued on page 28



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SPA REVERIE3634 N 700 W, LaPorte219.861.0814spareverie.com

At Spa Reverie in LaPorte, mud wraps are an important part of the detoxification regimen, which also includes massage and healthy eating. “Even if you’re living

a clean lifestyle, you still have toxic buildup through the foods you eat, the air you breathe, and the water you’re drinking,” says Reverie owner Beth Warren. “Your skin is the largest organ on your body, and that’s going to absorb the most, and it’s going to release the most toxins. The mud draws out toxins through your skin.”

The process begins with a thorough exfoliation of the skin, followed by the application of warmed mud. Warm linens complete the wrap, which is left on for about ten minutes before a gentle massaging shower to remove it. “It’s very relaxing,” Warren says. “People really enjoy it, and your skin is so soft. It looks and feels great after a mud wrap.”

Detoxification is also aided through steaming and massage. “Some people fast,

a juice fast, or fruit fast, for ten days, seven days,” Warren says. Exercise is a good detoxifying activity, too. Reverie encourages people to avoid alcohol and caffeine, to eat as healthily as possible, and to drink pure water.

Toxic elements are just another stressor on a person’s physical well-being. Stress is another. “We operate on a high stress level,” Warren says. “We’re stimulated constantly.” Constant stress increases cortisol and adrenaline in the body, creating a state many people see as toxic—a state linked to heart disease and obesity, even many autoimmune diseases.

The spa offers overnight and weekend stays to help people not only detox, but de-stress. They provide meals that are “very clean,” in a calming environment. Televisions and other electronic devices are banned (yes, even cell phones), and the focus is on cleansing and rejuvenation. “You come back stronger and more clear-minded,” Warren says, “and then you can do what you want to do better. You can deal with things better when you’re not overwhelmed.” -Terri Gordon

A little MUD does a body good

Since ancient times, people have recognized the healing properties of the mud surrounding Israel’s Dead Sea. Its “salts” are a complex mix of minerals purported to draw toxins from the body and nourish the skin. Folks travel from around the world to soak in the water and bathe in the mud. Many spas and resorts import the mud and incorporate it into their treatments.


“More people, particularly senior citizens, are diagnosed with multiple, often severe and debilitating chronic illnesses and as a result have great difficulty leaving their homes. So the need [for in-home care] is escalating,” says Constance F. Row, executive director of the American Academy of Home Care Physicians (AAHCP).

In the ten years the Maryland-based organization has been in existence, Row notes that the number of Medicare-tracked house calls has more than doubled. And that’s just part of the picture, since a person doesn’t have to be a senior to obtain in-home medical care.

Merrillville physician S.B. Sinha, MD, will come to a patient’s home to take blood pressure, check on medication dosages/interactions and perform a routine checkup, even give flu shots. While Dr. Sinha’s in-home medical practice is a recent addition to the Northwest Indiana health care picture, he is not alone. A Chicago-based firm, Mobile Doctors, also provides in-home health

care services to patients in Northwest Indiana.This is not some kind of fancy, artisanal service

reserved for the wealthy. According to Dr. Sinha, the cost is comparable to that of an office visit. With new mobile medical technologies they can even conduct many of the same tests and procedures once possible only in a doctor’s office. And both Dr. Sinha and Mobile Doctors accept insurance as well as Medicare and Medicaid payments.

For supportive short-term or intermittent services such as wound debridement, catheter care, physical or occupational therapy, etc., the Indiana University Health LaPorte Visiting Nurses Association also makes house calls. Costs for many of these services can be covered by private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, according to director Suzanne Manthey. -Donna M. Chavez

For the first time in a very long time the number of doctors making house calls is on the upswing. Many physicians—primary care doctors, mainly—are making home visits the foundation of their practice.

care services to patients in Northwest Indiana.This is not some kind of fancy, artisanal service

reserved for the wealthy. According to Dr. Sinha, the cost is comparable to that of an office visit. With new mobile medical technologies they can even conduct many of the same tests and procedures once possible only in a doctor’s office. And both Dr. Sinha and Mobile Doctors accept insurance as well as Medicare and

For supportive short-term or intermittent services such as wound debridement, catheter care, physical or occupational therapy, etc., the Indiana University Health LaPorte Visiting Nurses Association also makes house calls. Costs for many of these services can be covered by private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, according to director Suzanne Manthey.

For the first time in a very long time the number of doctors making house calls is on the upswing. Many physicians—primary care doctors, mainly—are making home visits the foundation of their practice.

More doctors making house calls

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Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit all want something that Northwest Indiana has: a cancer treatment center certified as one of the best in the nation by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The new Advanced Center for Cancer Care across from Purdue North Central is a nationally proven leader in technology, treatment options, clinical research, complimentary medicine, support options and patient care. Best of all, it’s just down the road. If you or someone you love is facing cancer, ask for the Advanced Center for Cancer Care.

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on your mind

FINDING YOUR CAREER PATH

letting go of limiting beliefsInside every one of us lurk insidious limiting beliefs set to detonate when we attempt a goal. You start doubting yourself; you think you aren’t talented or worthy enough to achieve the goal, so why bother? It’s all a waste of time. This sabotaging self talk keeps you from your greatest good.

“We think these thought patterns are protecting us, but in truth they are blocking us,” says Randi Light, MS, CH, certified hypnotherapist and healing coach at East Wing Studios Community Wellness Center in Chesterton and New Buffalo Hypnosis in New Buffalo, Michigan.

Light says limiting beliefs come from the subconscious mind. They were created by experiences that happened years ago, even as far back as childhood. “Because the subconscious stores everything that happens, it also stores it at the age you were when it happened,” she says. “You understood the world differently as a child, so a limiting belief you began at age 5 can still rule your life. Under hypnosis you can go in and reframe that experience from an adult perspective. Your memories are pictures and sounds and feelings encoded in your nervous system. You can change a bad memory, drop things out of it and put in new positive ones.”

Light says another exercise is to write down the thoughts that block you, such as, “I can’t lose weight.” Then write the empowering belief and its benefits: “The truth is I am capable of losing weight. The benefit is

I will be healthy.” If the limiting belief seems too scary to face, Light suggests singing it in a silly voice. “Make it goofy and get it out of the way so it’s not a big deal anymore,” she says.

Light says sometimes people often don’t even know what their limiting beliefs are. “A person might start doing affirmations, such as ‘I am strong and capable’ but then feel a negative emotion,” she says. “This is a good thing, because now she knows what the limiting belief is and can work on getting rid of it.”

The Oscar-winning film The King’s Speech is all about letting go of limiting beliefs. The Duke of York doesn’t believe he can overcome his stammer. His breakthrough comes when his therapist speaks these beliefs out loud and Prince Albert reacts by shouting that he has a voice; he has a right to be heard. He finally recognizes his limiting belief and finds the courage to face it. And like Prince Albert, facing and conquering your limiting beliefs will help you live your life to its greatest potential. -Sharon Biggs Waller

What if you were told you had to eat your most hated vegetable eight hours a day, five days a week, until age 65? Chandra L. Gary, regional director of career services for Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, poses this question to clients who come to her for career advice. “Many times people choose a career for the wrong reason—prestige, money, acceptance,” she says. “If you don’t love what you do, then it’s like eating Brussels sprouts all the time.”

But Gary says people are often confused about their career path, so she asks them, what if you were wealthy, but still had to have a job? What would you do? “Someone might say, I would be a nurse,” she says. “And we break it down. What is it about nursing that interests you? Often they don’t think

about other areas of health care that they might like. So I get them to really hone in on their goal.”

The next step is working out how to achieve that goal. For those changing careers, Gary finds a way to make it work without sacrificing too much. “We all need to pay the bills, so we’ll see what classes will fit around the work schedule,” she says. “They might need a few classes to fine-tune their skills. If it’s a complete change, then a four-year degree might take six years to complete with a full-time job. Or they can explore online, weekend or night classes. Or choose an accelerated program.”

Gary warns people against jumping from one situation to another out of desperation. “It’s okay to ask someone for help, such as a career counselor or a life coach if you feel lost. And it’s never too late to change careers. I believe everyone has a career DNA that is unique to him or her. Putting your whole heart behind your career choice will give you the greatest personal fulfillment.” -Sharon Biggs Waller


Quality medical care... By professionals whocare about you.

We proudly announce the opening of a family practice office serving all your healthcare needs located inside Pinnacle Hospital. Dr. Donald Pesavento joins a growing list of family practice providers in Northwest Indiana. Patients and providers alike will benefit from:

As the number of people who need primary care increases, we are pleased to offer Dr. Pesavento’s expertise and experience to the community.

Dr. Pesavento is accepting new patients and most insurance accepted.His office is located at 9301 Connecticut Drive, Crown Point.To make a referral or for an appointment, please call 219-796-4114.

• Quick response/New patients are seen within one week• Consults/Surgical Assistance available as needed• Commitment to providing patients with the best possible care• Increased patient satisfaction; timely communication with specialist• Imaging/Lab - available on site• Heart Disease Prevention• Onsite Surgical Center• Onsite Colonoscopy

We proudly announce the opening of a family practice office serving all your healthcare needs located inside Pinnacle Hospital. Dr. Donald Pesavento joins a growing list of family practice providers in Northwest Indiana. Patients and providers alike will benefit from:

As the number of people who need primary care increases, we are pleased to

Dr. Pesavento is accepting new patients and most insurance accepted.

To make a referral or for an appointment, please call 219-796-4114.

• Commitment to providing patients with the best possible care• Increased patient satisfaction; timely communication with specialist

Pinnacle is conveniently located on 93rd Avenue,just east of Broadway in Crown Point.

Providing patients with immediate, safe and quality medical care from highly-trained physicians with on-site laboratory and radiology services.

We measure your wait in minutes not hours. Walk-ins welcome and no referrals are necessary!

9301 ConneCtiCut Drive • Crown Point • 219-756-2100 • www.PinnaClehealthCare.net

Preventative Care at Pinnacle• Cancer Screenings• Health Screenings• Cholesterol Checks• Laboratory Testing• Counseling on Diet and Exercise

You’re tired of being overweight. You’re sick of

feeling uncomfortable. You’re done with trying to squeeze

into clothes that don’t fit. You’re ready for a change, and

you’re ready for it now.

But where do you start?

We’ve rounded up some great ideas on how to kick off your

weight loss, using small, incremental changes as well

as big, swooping ones. The benefits are endless . . . your life really can change

for the better.

Marci and Courtney Crozier, of Valparaiso, were selected as contestants on season 11 of NBC’s The Biggest Loser. Marci [left] began the competition at 238 pounds, Courtney at 323.

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‘Biggest Loser’ contestants share the secrets they learned at the ranch

Marci Crozier believes her 22-year-old daughter Courtney might have the secret to weight-loss success.

“What Courtney said to me is, ‘It takes a while to change your body, but it takes a split second to change your mind.’” Both Croziers, of Valparaiso, agree it’s that split-second decision that is the hardest part of losing weight—simply getting started.

Selected from thousands of applicants, the Croziers competed on the 11th season of NBC’s The Biggest Loser, a weight loss reality show that pits contestants not only against each other to win $250,000, but also mentally against themselves as they battle the reasons why they overeat. Marci was voted off the show in March after having lost 76 pounds; Courtney had lost 92 pounds when she was eliminated in early April. The contestants spend the season in Malibu, California, at Weight Loss University Ranch, but Marci and Courtney both believe the ranch and the trainers on it aren’t necessary to shed pounds.

For Courtney, the weight loss began before she was on the show, thanks to a turning point on her 21st birthday. “The only reason I lost weight was because I changed my mind,” she says.

Her mother says when Courtney told her she was ready to lose weight, it was a moment she had been praying for for 15 years. After dropping 100 pounds before going on The Biggest Loser, the reality show was

the next step for the two, where they learned tips and made lifestyle changes they plan to continue even after the show ends in May.

Marci believes weight loss is a formula: the right food is 15 percent, exercise is about 30 percent, but the most important part is

motivation at 55 percent. Although initially the workouts, which she said are usually the scariest part, made her sore, the physical changes made it worth it. “Once I started working out and feeling better and better, it got a little easier,” she says. “I found my sweet spot and it’s still working.”

The women say they weren’t really tempted by junk food on the ranch, but know that will be a factor now that they’re back to their normal lives. They say it’s important not to deprive yourself of the foods you enjoy, but to eat them in moderation. “Starving yourself is a dumb route to go,” Courtney says. “Fifteen hundred calories of good, clean, healthy food is different than 1,500 calories of fast food.”

Marci, 49, is the general manager of Omni 41 in Schererville, and says it is the responsibility of health clubs to make unconditioned people feel welcome. “It’s up to us as clubs to let you know you can be comfy here. It is my responsibility and privilege to pay this forward.” -Kathleen Quilligan

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Courtney lost 92 pounds during her 14 weeks on the series.

Marci was eliminated in week 10 after reaching her goal weight of 162.

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EXCUSESHow to lose weight, no matter what

Everyone has an excuse when it comes to weight loss. There are the traditional laments like “the weather is too cold,” “at my age I just can’t keep off the pounds” or “there is no time.” In recent years, there are new excuses, like “it’s my thyroid’s fault” or “with this economy, it’s too expensive to buy healthy food.” • Here, some local experts will help debunk these myths and give advice for ways to lose weight no matter what the circumstance.

Excuse:“I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.” If you can’t afford a gym membership or exercise classes, there are many great free and low-cost alternatives, says Carlos Celis, regional wellness specialist for Franciscan Alliance. Consider checking out exercise DVDs and fitness books from your local library.

Beth Stritar, registered dietician at Franciscan St. Margaret Health, also has solutions for those who believe healthy food is too expensive. She reminds people to look at the nutrient value of the foods and drinks they consume and find ways to cut out the calorie wasters and add more healthy choices. For example, she says the cost per serving of low-fat milk is less than that of sugary beverages. And the price of fresh produce may seem high, but not when compared to cookies or candy, she says. “If you cut those out, you’d have extra money for

fruits and vegetables.”Stritar says another suggestion is to eat out less.

Eating at restaurants cuts into your budget and adds extra pounds. “They give big portion sizes. If you cut out eating out and eat at home even one day a week extra, you’d save money to be able to buy healthier versions of meals.”

Excuse: “I DON’T HAVE TIME.” Stritar says lack of time is the most common excuse she hears when it comes to weight loss. She knows everybody is busy, but offers some tips for squeezing in exercise and cutting calories and costs.

By parking your car at the farthest spot in the parking lot you can add extra steps to your day with no expense and little time. If you subscribe to on-demand cable, you likely have free exercise programs at your disposal.

Celis says most people have the time to lose weight, they just don’t utilize it. If you surf the Internet or watch TV, you have time to exercise. He

suggests exercising during commercial breaks—walk in place, jump rope, climb the stairs. Those additional minutes of exercise will add up each day.

Waking up 20 to 30 minutes earlier in the morning might sound tough, but Celis says this is a good option for those with little time. You can offset the morning wake-up call by going to sleep earlier. Lunchtime workouts are another option. If you have a job with regular hours, squeeze in a lunchtime workout at a nearby health club, running trail or fitness facility.

If all weekday efforts fail, Celis encourages people to focus on weekends. “Block off a bigger chunk of time to offset your lack of exercise during the week,” he says. He also advises people to have a weekly planning session on a Sunday evening or night.

“Instead of finding time for exercise, adopt the attitude that you must make time. Schedule your workouts in your weekly planner in the same way you would an appointment.”

Excuse: “IT’S TOO COLD/RAINY.”Even in bad weather, you can walk at an indoor facility like the shopping mall or a community

center, Celis says. Taking the stairs is also a free indoor activity. “You will increase your heart

rate and burn more calories than walking on a flat surface.”

Excuse:“I HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION.” Celis says if

you have one or more medical conditions slowing you down,

you should still work on maintaining a healthy weight. Consistent exercise provides many benefits besides

weight loss, including stress reduction, increased

energy, better sleep, improved muscle and joint strength and flexibility, improved mood and a stronger heart. “All these positives definitely outweigh even the slowest weight loss.” -Jennifer Pallay

21may/june 2011 | GET HEALTHY

People couldn’t pass by her without attempting to pinch her adorable chubby cheeks. Her parents stood by proudly, as their adorable little girl was admired by everyone who saw her. But soon, the little girl once admired grew into a big girl whose extra weight was something now looked down upon by today’s society.

“She” is one of the countless American children currently living with the struggle of being overweight. In fact, obesity among both children and adults has become one of this country’s biggest crises to date. Studies show that currently one out of every six children fall under the category of obese. Fingers are often pointed at a number of factors, including lack of exercise, eating habits and good ole family genes.

“Being told you are too big to do this or too big to fit into that, especially when you are a child, can be devastating,” says family nurse practitioner Natalie Eddy of Porter Memorial Hospital in Valparaiso. “It’s important to engage everyone in the conversation of weight loss, and start making the small changes that will make a big impact, such as switching to low-fat milk or making more low-calorie snacks.”

Dr. Michael Nirenberg of Friendly Foot Care in Crown Point says he has witnessed an increasing number of young patients coming into his office complaining of foot and heel pain, many of whom are overweight.

“It really becomes a vicious cycle, since the child is in pain, so they don’t end up exercising, and therefore, they end up gaining weight,” Dr. Nirenberg explains. “Many overweight children that I see end up dealing with a flat foot that becomes quite painful.”

Often, these symptoms can be minimized with an orthopedic arch support. Yet Nirenberg agrees with countless other medical professionals who say exercise is key. Freddy Requena, chief instructor at Southlake Fitness and Martial Arts in Valparaiso, explains that something such as Tae Kwon Do can give overweight children support not only physically, but also emotionally.

“Of course, the physical component of martial arts is important and can challenge these children and get them

moving,” says Requena, who teaches children ages 3 and up. “But, we also concentrate on the importance of self control, moderation and eating healthy foods. They learn they need to have focus to not only break a board, but also to make these kinds of important decisions in their life.” -Tricia Despres

WEIGHT LOSS WHEN THEY’RE

The importance of healthy habits for kids

“Being told you are too big to do this or too big to fit into that, especially when you are a child, can

be devastating.”

Natalie EddyFamily nurse practitioner Porter Memorial Hospital


Dr. Jay Platt has served Northwest Indiana for over 19 years with quality oral surgery care. Choosing an oral surgeon is an important decision. Our team is composed of experienced professionals who are dedicated to your care. Dr. Platt attends 80 or more hours of Continuing Education per year and provides many Continuing Education seminars to the surrounding dental community. Dr. Platt has extensive training and expertise in placing dental implants, preserving and rebuilding the jaw, and treating conditions that affect a person’s face, teeth and mouth structures. Dr. Platt has placed thousands of implants over the past 20 years. We have a state-of-the-art Cone Beam CT Scanner in our office which provides full-cranial anatomically correct 3D images enabling us to better plan for patient care and treatment. We offer a no-cost consultation and a complimentary CT scan if necessary for patients who are treated by Dr. Platt.

Do You Need to go to an Implant Center?You have undoubtedly seen and heard t.v. and

radio ads promoting implant centers which are springing up all over the country. Many of them

are advertising the convenience of having everything under one roof: the surgeon,

the prosthodontist, the dental lab and a CT scan. It is certainly convenient for the

patients and the doctors providing treatment to have everything in one location; however, convenience should not be the primary consideration with implant treatment. The most important factors should be the experience of the treating clinicians, especially since surgical procedures are involved, so that each patient receives the optimal outcome. Some implant centers claim to be the leaders in implant dentistry and to have more experience than other clinicians. It is implied that because of the volume of implants placed

and restored they are more experienced. However, the volume of implants placed in some cases is for all of their centers. The truth is that some of

the doctors in these centers are very experienced and some are not any more experienced than their colleagues in the area. Some implant centers have general dentists placing and restoring implants who do not have near the training or experience as specialists. It is important to remember that this “advertising” is intended to “sell” the benefits of those particular implant centers, and you should take this into consideration when evaluating your various options.

Dental


All-on-4-ImplantsYou may have also heard about “All-on-4” implant treatment. It is a specific treatment option that is not appropriate for all patients. It is a suitable treatment option for those patients who are missing all of their upper and/or lower teeth, and who have adequate bone conditions

to support an arch of teeth with only 4 implants. For these select patients fewer implants would be required, no bone grafting would be necessary, and so it is typically less

costly than other implant procedures. However, consumers should know that only certain patients are candidates for this procedure. Furthermore, there are other treatment options for the lower jaw that involve only two implants fastened to a denture and are therefore, even less costly than the “All-on-4” procedure. Bone grafting and larger numbers of implants are often required to replace either the upper or lower teeth. Patients who have lost a great deal of bone from wearing

dentures for years are not good candidates for the “All-on-4” procedure, as they usually need bone grafting. For example, if patients have lost a lot of bone in the

upper jaw, then the “All-on-4” procedure would not provide sufficient lip support, so their mouth would appear flattened. Although this is a concept that is very appealing to

consumers, many experienced surgical specialists prefer to recommend traditional treatment options to their patients that are documented with long-term clinical data. This could include bone grafting and more than four implants for each jaw.

No Need to Change Dentists!Unlike some “one stop shop” dental implant centers that make you use their dentists; we work with

you and your current dentist. We are very fortunate in that in Northwest Indiana and Northeastern Illinois, there are many outstanding restorative clinicians. Dr. Platt works with most of them on a

regular basis. We would encourage you to seek treatment from your current dentist whom you have a long standing relationship with. If you do not currently have a dentist, we can refer you to one that we

work with frequently.

Please feel free to contact one of our implant coordinators, Monette or Jennifer (who have both had dental implants placed by Dr. Platt), if you have any questions about treatment or to schedule a no-cost consultation.

IMPLANTS

322 Indianapolis Blvd.,• Suite 100 (Behind Steak N’ Shake) • Schererville, INInterest Free Patient Financing Available

We Welcome neW patients Mon.-Thurs. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. • Fri. 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

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According to Dr. Omer Ansari, a family practice physician at Westchester Medical Group in Chesterton, the answer is simpler than you think. Ansari treats many patients who need to lose weight—from those who are simply overweight to those who are morbidly obese. And guess what? He doesn’t recommend much more than a simple program of lowering your calories (and not by much) and upping your exercise (starting as slow as need be).

As far as the food goes, “It’s a matter of drinking water [two to three cups before every meal], good nutrition and portion control and planning,” Ansari says. “And exercise gives you increased energy and it feels good.” Not to mention that it burns calories—anywhere from three (for slow walking) to seven (for brisk walking) per minute!

Ansari does not recommend many changes at once. Maybe food control should start before the exercise starts, or vice versa. “Things can be increased in small steps—down the road it will all be there.”

Ansari recommends simple Internet searches in the beginning as well. He says there are many good sites that will tell you exactly how overweight (or obese) you are by plugging in your height and weight into simple calculators. These sites will also determine how much weight you have to lose, and how many calories you should eat per day. That

number shouldn’t be too low, he warns. “Do not stop eating.”

Ideally, Ansari recommends getting 150 minutes of exercise per week. “Walking around the house taking care of kids does not count,” he says. It has to be somewhat vigorous exercise, such as brisk walking.

The diet should be very balanced as well, he says, between carbohydrates, fats and protein. Popular fad diets that encompass no carbohydrates at all, or some other wacky imbalance of nutrients, can cause illness and malnutrition if sustained for more than a week or two, Ansari says. He recommends 20 to 30 percent of the diet be fats, 30 to 50 percent carbs (more than that may lead to the risk of developing diabetes and high cholesterol) and the rest protein. He also recommends taking a vitamin supplement with iron and calcium.

“Eat at home, stay away from processed foods, add more fruits and vegetables,” Ansari says. “And exercise! It’s a gift to yourself.” -Bonnie McGrath

food & fitness

THE BEST WEIGHT LOSS DIET IS THE SIMPLEST ONEWith all the ads, the quick fixes, the high-protein/no-carb routines, the meds, the operations, the no-fat, low-fat, over-the counter claims, the high-profile testimonials, the health clubs, the prescription pads and the low-calorie starvation diets, what’s a dieter to think . . . let alone do?

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“Take some exercise and call me in the morning.”

Sound funny?How about this? Your doctor

takes out a prescription pad and scribbles, “Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday—30 minutes of brisk walking; Tuesday—one hour of yoga; Thursday and Sunday—20 minutes of weightlifting.”

None of this should sound odd, according to those in the health care community. The same standards that have always applied to prescribing “real” medicine are starting to apply to prescribing exercise as a “cure.” Doses for prescribed exercise may change—as a medical condition improves or as one gets stronger—just like with traditional medication.

All that matters is whether exercise is the best route to getting well, losing weight or heading off debilitating health problems, experts say. Doctors depend on the patient taking her “exercise medication” just like any other pill, shot or spoonful.

Exercise lowers blood sugar, staving off—or helping to control—diabetes, according to Lynn Zeiler, a health and wellness specialist and manager of the IU Health LaPorte Hospital Wellness Center. It also lowers cholesterol, increases good cholesterol, helps lower blood pressure, strengthens the heart and

lungs and helps overall cardiovascular and pulmonary health. Exercise helps reduce pain for those with arthritis, reduces the risks of falls as we age, and helps bolster health all the way around. It increases energy, improves mood, and even adds an extra defense against certain types of cancer.

And for weight loss and maintenance, exercise may actually be the best medicine. And it can be done anywhere and anytime, even while sitting. In fact, Zeiler teaches a class called “Chair Yoga.”

“Not only does exercise burn calories, it ups the metabolism, increases energy and acts as an appetite suppressant for some people,” Zeiler says.

In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine has instituted a nationally recognized initiative, “Exercise is Medicine,” and has also published a book called The Clinician’s Guide to Exercise Prescription with Harvard Medical School’s Institute of Lifestyle Medicine and the American College of Preventive Medicine.

“Your next prescription may not be as costly as your last,” says an ACSM press release about the initiative. That’s yet another benefit of a prescription for a brisk walk, a set of curls and some dumbbells. -Bonnie McGrath

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According to the Mayo Clinic, the number one cause of lead poisoning in children is lead found in the home, in paint, dust, soil and water. Children

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What can you do to make sure your home

is safe and free of lead? Dave McCormick, director of Indiana’s Lead and Healthy Homes Program, says the first thing to do is contact your local health department. “They do water source and paint source testing and will take soil samples,” McCormick says. “They use what is called an XRF machine. It looks like a policeman’s radar and it can easily test paint.” He also advises to contact your local community action program, which will come out to do regular testing.

To begin the inquiry in your home, McCormick says there is also a lead test product on the market that you can purchase from your local hardware or home improvement store. “A lead check test is a swab that looks like a cigarette and comes

in a tube,” he says. “You swab the cotton applicator on the suspected area and if it turns red, then you have the presence of lead. It won’t tell you how much, but it is a good initial test.”

If you think your child has already been exposed to lead, getting quick care is essential to preventing physical and mental damage. “Children under the age of 6 can receive a blood lead test through the county health department, Head Start, WIC, or primary care physicians,” McCormick says. “It’s the easiest way to tell, and the earlier [it’s detected], the better chances are for intervention. There are proven interventions to reduce the blood levels in the child, but immediate action is required.” -Heather Augustyn

Asthma—that dangerous wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest that affects some 17.5 million adults and 7.1 million children in the U.S.—is on the rise, according to CDC statistics. Since 1980, the number of children with asthma has more than doubled, but scientists and doctors are still debating the cause.

Dr. Jeffrey Gatz, MD, doctor of internal medicine and pediatrics with St. Anthony Health in Valparaiso, says that his office has many child patients with asthma, and causes are difficult to determine. “We’ve always seen a lot of asthma, and I don’t know if anybody knows the cause,” Gatz says. “People have talked about environmental causes, such as air quality, and we have seen cases of mold exposure where the child is wheezing like crazy. But most of the time, we don’t know why the asthma occurs, and we think it is likely [due to] multiple factors.”

Dr. Kenneth Blumenthal, DO, an allergy and asthma specialist with Allergy Asthma Care, P.C., says he often is asked what causes the increase in asthma rates. “The jury is still out why, and there are different theories,” Dr. Blumenthal says. “There is a very low incidence of asthma in underdeveloped third world countries, compared to western cultures like the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand. They think this is because our immune system, by nature, through thousands of years of development, has learned to fight off infestation with bacteria. But today we use antibacterial soap, antibacterial cleaners, and antibiotics, so we have created a sterile, clean environment. But we still have a system designed to fight and so these systems are hypersensitive and overreact. There also has been some research about vitamin D and deficiencies in the role of allergies and asthma. It’s all emerging.”

But there is one good side to the increase in asthma cases, and that is the technology to respond to these cases. “There is no doubt there is an increase in asthma, but there are fewer people dying and less hospitalization, and it’s probably because there is better care,” Blumenthal says. “We treat it with anti-inflammatory medication on an ongoing basis, so we have gotten better in terms of preventing a lot of the complications from asthma. There are still 4,200 deaths a year, but that’s down from 5,000 a few years ago.” -Heather Augustyn


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A Community Hospital physical therapist will discuss common golf injuries, prevention techniques through proper stretching, and a golf specific strength training program designed to improve driving distance.

MAY 24 Stroke Symposium, 8:30am-1pm, Patient Tower, St. Mary Medical Center, 1500 S Lake Park Ave, Hobart. 219.836.3477. comhs.org. A neurologist, cardiologist, dietitian and rehabili-tation coordinator will discuss signs, symptoms and causes of stroke. Topics will include preven-tion, nutrition, physical activity and medications. Vendors and free screenings are also available.

MAY 26 Stroke Awareness Fair, 9am-1pm, Community Hospital, 901 MacArthur Blvd, Munster. 219.836.3477. comhs.org. This event will offer stroke education booths provided by a variety of health care specialists and leaders in the area of stroke prevention, detection and treatment. Infor-mative stroke awareness lectures will be given by neurologists and health care professionals. Free stroke screenings will be available.

JUN 9 Alzheimer’s Symposium, 4-6pm, St. Catherine Hospital Professional Office Building Conference Room, 4321 Fir Street, East Chicago. 219.836.3477. comhs.org. Neurologist David Rosenfield, MD, will discuss the causes, diagnosis and treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. A local attorney will discuss issues regarding finances and legal obligations when Alzheimer’s strikes.

JUN 21 Grandparent Class, 6-8pm, Auditorium, Community Hospital, 901 MacArthur Blvd, Munster. 219.836.3477. comhs.org. Review basic baby care while learning some of the new practices and recommendation for infant care.

SUPPORT GROUPS

ONGOING After Care Breast Cancer Support Group, 7-8:30pm, 2nd and 4th Mon of every month, Cancer Resource Centre, 926 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.3349. cancerresourcecentre.com. Women who have completed their treatment for breast cancer can gather to share experiences and address concerns twice a month.

ONGOING Better Breathers Support Group, 2nd Tue of every month, Ingalls Wellness Center, 2920 W 183rd St, Homewood. 708.333.2300. ingallshealthsystem.org. Anyone with breathing and lung-related health issues is invited to attend this free support group.

ONGOING Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance, 6pm, 1st and 3rd Wed of every month, Porter-Starke Services, 701 Wall St, Entrance C, Valparaiso; 7pm, 2nd and 4th Mon of every month, Methodist Hospitals Southlake Campus, 8701 Broadway, Merrillville. 219.462.3689. porterstarke.org. This unique support group is a peer-directed discussion, with patients being treated for depression or bipolar disorder and

their families helping form a comprehensive common denominator of the support needed.

ONGOING Emotions Anonymous, 7pm Wed, Spiritual Care Services, Saint Anthony Memorial, 301 W Homer St, Michigan City. 219.879.8659. saintanthonymemorial.org. This weekly, twelve-step program is made up of people who work towards recovery from emotional difficulties, including depression, anger, grief, boredom or compulsive behavior.

ONGOING Fibromites Unite, 10am, 4th Sat of every month, Saint Margaret Mercy’s Dyer Campus Classroom F, 24 Joliet St, Dyer. 708.539.9896. smmhc.com. This monthly support group is for people who suffer from fibromyalgia.

ONGOING Gluten Intolerance Group of Northwest Indiana, 7-8pm, 2nd Mon of every month, St. Mary Medical Center, 1500 S Lake Park Ave, Hobart. 219.588.9829. comhs.org. This free support group is for those with gluten intolerances, including celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis and other sensitivities.

ONGOING MS Support Group, 11:30am-1:00pm, 3rd Fri of every month, Center for Advanced Clinical Studies Conference Room, Methodist Hospitals’ Southlake Campus, 200 E 89th Dr, Merrillville. 219.738.4926. methodisthospitals.org. No registration is required for this free support group for friends and family of people with multiple sclerosis.

ONGOING Pain Management Group Therapy, 9-10:30am, 2nd and 4th Tue of every month, St. Catherine Hospital, 4321 Fir St, East Chicago. 219.392.7722. comhs.org. This free group provides an opportunity to learn a variety of coping skills and techniques of pain control for those with chronic pain.

ONGOING Parenting Together, 11am, 2nd Tue of every month, Bellaboo’s Play and Discovery Center, Three Rivers County Park, 2800 Colorado St, Lake Station. 219.963.2070. mybellaboos.com. This new support group allows participants to visit with other parents and discuss interesting topics—including phobias, discipline, physical fitness, children’s literature, safety, separation anxiety and more. Parents can attend with or without their children, but those who attend without their children will need to leave promptly after the meeting.

ONGOING Rehabilitation Club, 3pm, 1st Thu of every month, Omni 41, 221 S Rt 41, Schererville. 219.322.1600. smmhc.com. The group is open to anyone with multiple sclerosis or Par-kinson’s disease, or who has had a stroke, spinal cord injury or other injuries requiring therapy, and their caregivers, family and friends. Partici-pants can share stories, talk with other patients and caregivers, and ask questions of therapists.

ONGOING Shared Experience, Crown Point.

219.757.6008. stanthonymedicalcenter.com. This support group for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer offers participants the chance to share experiences—joys and triumphs—and methods of coping in a nonjudgmental environment with others who are facing similar circumstances.

ONGOING Stroke Survivor Support Group, 7pm, third Thu of every month, Trinity Lutheran Church Teacher’s Lounge, 250 S Indiana Ave, Crown Point. 219.663.0265. Individuals who have survived a stroke are invited to join this new support group. Registration is encouraged by calling 219.663.0265.

APR 25 Diabetes Support Group, 5-6:30pm, St. Catherine Hospital, Center for Diabetes, First Floor Center, 4321 Fir Street, E Chicago. 219.392.7722. comhs.org. This group offers emotional support, assists in reducing anxiety of new diagnosis, helps develop stress coping skills, and much more. Offered in Spanish and English. Additional date: Jun 27.

APR 25 Lupus Support Group, 6:30-8pm, St. Mary Medical Center, Patient Tower, 1500 S Lake Park Ave, Hobart. 219.743.4826. comhs.org. This group is for those dealing with lupus and any other autoimmune disease. Additional dates: May 23, Jun 27.

MAY 3 Memories, 5:30-6:30pm, Daybreak Behavioral Health Services Office, St. Catherine Hospital, 4321 Fir Street, East Chicago. 219.836.3477. comhs.org. This support group is for parents and family members who have lost their unborn child or a child at a very early age.

MAY 12 Good Grief, 5-6:30pm, Daybreak Behavioral Health Services, St. Catherine Hospital, 4321 Fir Street, East Chicago. 219.836.3477.

comhs.org. This support group is for those suffering from the loss of a loved one.

MAY 17 Alzheimer’s Support Group, 6-7:30pm, St. Mary Medical Center, 1500 S Lake Park Ave, Hobart. 219.836.3477. comhs.org. This group is for patients, family and friends dealing with Alzheimer’s. Additional date: Jun 21.

MAY 25 Healing Hearts Education Group, 1:30-3pm, St. Mary Medical Center, 1500 S Lake Park Ave, Hobart. 219.836.3477. comhs.org. A support group for patients and loved ones dealing with heart failure. There will also be informative sessions on educational topics related to heart failure.

NUTRITION

APR Thursday To-Go Lunch, 11am-1pm, ev-ery Thu, Miller’s Senior Living Community, 5911 Lute Rd, Portage. 219.764.0628. millershealthsystems.com. Seniors can enjoy a lunch that consists of a grilled meat sandwich, chips, cookie and a soft drink or bottled water. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Association.

KIDS

ONGOING Healing Hearts for Teens, 5:30-6:45pm Mon, 600 Superior Ave, Munster. 219.922.2732, 708.895.8332. This free six-session support group, sponsored by Hospice of the Calumet Area, is for youth ages 13 to 17 who have experienced the death of a loved one and need support for their grief.

MAY 15 HUB RUN

2pm, Historical Courthouse, corner of N Court and W Joliet St, Crown Point. 219.663.5810. slymca.org.

The Southlake Branch YMCA, with support from the City of Crown Point, will host this 31st annual event.

The 5K competitive, chip-timed course and 2K fun walk/run course will start from the Courthouse. Other activities include a live band,

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well-being eventscontinued from page 13



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We know the birth of a baby is a special time for the whole family and we offer accommodations that provide both privacy and the comforts of home for this very personal experience. At the Family Birthing Center, one of the region’s most experienced medical teams focuses on what matters most, the health and well-being of every mother and every baby.

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ONGOING Yoga for Kids, 10:15-10:45 (ages 4-6), 11-11:30am (ages 7-10) Sat, Valparaiso Family YMCA, 1201 Cumberland Crossing Dr, Valparaiso. 219.762.9622. valpoymca.org. Boys and girls ages 4 to 10 can learn traditional yoga poses in fun and educational ways at this yoga class taught by certified Yogafit instructor Anita Beaudoin.

THROUGH MAY 10 Karate Classes, 5:45–6:45pm Tue, St. John Township Community Center, 1515 W Lincoln Hwy, St. John. activenwi.com. Wado-Ki-style karate classes improve coordination, discipline and self-assurance while helping participants stay fit and strong. This program, designed for children ages 6 to 15, runs all year long in eight-week sessions. A Little Dragons karate class, for children ages 4 to 6, is also offered on Tuesdays from 4:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

SCREENINGS

ONGOING Blood Pressure Screen-ing, 10:30-11:30am, Central Library Red Desk, 1919 W 81st Ave, Merrillville. 219.756.0744. lcplin.org. Blood pressure screenings are pro-vided by Spring Mill Health Campus.

ONGOING Blood Profile Screening, 9am-noon, Wed and Fri, call for dates and locations. 219.762.3196 or 219.769.2258. comhs.org. A 12-hour fast is necessary before this screening, which checks cholesterol, HDL/LDL ratio, glucose and triglycerides and provides results in only a few minutes.

ONGOING Peripheral Arterial Disease Screenings, call to register, Community Hospital Fitness Pointe, 9950 Calumet Ave, Munster. 219.934.2830. comhs.org. This 15-minute screening checks for any indication of Peripheral Arterial Disease and blockages in leg arteries.

ONGOING Personal Training Initial Assessment, call to register, Valparaiso Family YMCA, 1201 Cumberland Crossing Dr, Valparaiso. 219.462.4185. valpoymca.org. This consultation features a fitness assessment of body composition, resting heart rate, blood pressure, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance. Participants must fast from food, caffeine and activity for four hours prior to the testing.

ONGOING Pulmonary Rehab “Breath-less” Support Group, 11am-noon, last Mon of every month, Spectrum of St. Mary Medical Center, 1354 S Lake Park Ave, Hobart. 219.947.6574. comhs.org. Patients of pul-monary rehabilitation can find answers and someone to listen at this free support group.

ONGOING Scoliosis Screening, by

appointment only, Southlake Campus, Neuro-Science Institute, 200 E 89th Ave, Merrillville. 219.738.4926. methodisthospitals.org. Get checked for spine curvature by making an appointment for this free screening.

ONGOING Sleep Apnea Screening, Duneland YMCA, 215 Roosevelt St, Chesterton. Portage YMCA, 3100 Willowcreek Rd, Portage. Valparaiso YMCA, 1201 Cumberland Crossing, Valparaiso. 219.764.4567. porterhealth.com. No appointment is necessary for these free sleep apnea screenings performed by Porter’s Sleep Disorders Institute. For dates and times, call 219.764.4567.

APR 28 Diabetes Screening, 8:30-10:30am, 4-6pm, Community Hospital Fitness Pointe, 9950 Calumet Ave, Munster. 219.934.2830. comhs.org. Eight million Amer-icans have diabetes and are undiagnosed. This is a simple glucose (sugar) screening for detection. A minimum two-hour fast is recommended prior to the screening. Registration is required. The screening is free.

MAY 4 Bone Density Screening, 9-11am, Radiology Dept, St. Catherine Hospital, 4321 Fir Street, East Chicago. 219.836.3477. comhs.org. This screening measures bone density at the heel. It cannot be used for the diagnosis of osteoporosis or to measure progress over time. The screening provides information about risks and help determine the need for the central bone density test of the hip and spine. This free screening is for women only. Additional date: Jun 15.

MAY 11 Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Screening, 2-4pm, Community Hospital, 901 MacArthur Blvd, Munster. 219.836.3477. comhs.org. Participants will undergo an examination of the head, neck and mouth.

MAY 12 Coronary Health Appraisal, 8-11am, Cardiac Rehab, St. Catherine Hospi-tal, 4321 Fir Street, E Chicago. 219.836.3477. comhs.org. This screening determines risk for heart disease and other related medical condi-tions. Screening includes a Metabolic Syn-drome assessment (waist measurement, blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Triglyc-erides and glucose). Additional date: Jun 11.

SPECIAL EVENT

JUN 5 Cancer Survivor’s Day Celebra-tion and Luncheon, 1-3pm, Waterfall Cafe, St. Mary Medical Center, 1500 S Lake Park Ave, Ho-bart. Luncheon, 3-5pm St. Catherine Hospital Pro-fessional Office Building Conference Room, 4321 Fir Street, E Chicago. 219.836.3477. comhs.org. This national event celebrates and honors the strength and courage of those who have lived and continue to live with cancer.

well-being eventscontinued from page 28

So, when arthritis pain in her hips began preventing her from stepping foot on the deck, working the lines, or bouncing across the Lake Michigan waves, she feared the worst.

Thanks to professionals of St. Mary Medical Center’s award-winning Joint Academy who guided her through two hip replacements, Nancy is back on the water!

In celebration of the Joint Academy's one year anniversary, St. Mary Medical Center salutes the more than 350 patients like Nancy whose lives have been changed by our expert care.

From minimally invasive hip surgery to knee replacement, St. Mary Medical Center has received some of the highest marks in the country. Extensive pre- and post-operative education, group therapies, family participation in private patient suites with dedicated staff, ensure each patient receives the best care possible. Using this collaborative approach to care and the latest surgical techniques, patients are usually home within two to three days.

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Seeing a growing number of girls and even boys facing eating disorders, Caryl Rosen, PhD, and Charley Lerner, MS,

LMHC, added Elangeni, an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), to their joint private practices in Munster. Elangeni combines Rosen’s 14 years of experience treating eating disorders with

Lerner’s specialty in addictions counseling. The program, which the husband-and-wife team says is unique to Northwest

Indiana, applies an addiction treatment model to eating disorders as well as utilizing traditional therapies.

Q: What behaviors constitute an eating disorder? Rosen: The combination of restricting and binging, with different purge patterns, makes up the basics of an eating disorder. Symptoms include fears of being fat with obsessive calorie counting, distorted body image, depression and anxiety. Purging takes different forms, including vomiting, using laxatives or excessive exercise.

Q: What are the signs of an eating disorder?Rosen: Weight loss and fake eating, which is pushing food around on the plate, and secretiveness about where they are disappearing to after meals.Lerner: In order for a kid to start doing these behaviors, they have to alter their lifestyle, and this is also consistent with people who have addictions. The girls develop covert activities: they bring a radio into the bathroom and turn it up or turn the shower on so you can’t hear them purging.

Q: What can trigger an eating disorder? Rosen: There can be a particular event: being told as they enter puberty that they’re fat. Their bodies are changing and they feel ashamed of the changes. Sometimes girls will start dieting and then it gets out of control and they can’t stop.

Q: How does the addiction treatment model apply to eating disorders? Lerner: They need to learn new patterns of behavior to deal with emotions

that we all experience. They’ve been dealing with these emotions by restricting, binging and purging. Why do these girls go off into eating disorders when we all have these emotions? It’s the same thing as with an alcoholic. Why does one person reach for his twelfth drink and most people are satisfied with zero, one or two? It’s about coping skills.

Q: Why has there been a shift in treating eating disorders toward the addiction model?Rosen: We better understand brain chemistry and how neurotransmitters play a role in what an illness looks like. Feel-good neurotransmitters called endorphins are released by binging, purging and restricting. People who have an eating disorder become addicted to the release of these endorphins.

Q: What does your IOP involve? Rosen: The program is a series of groups four days a week for six weeks. We start with a community meeting where we share a meal and work on eating in a more mindful way. We talk about how it feels to eat and what their relationship with food is like. We’re helping them learn new behaviors. We’re helping them learn that that urge to purge is a feeling that can go away. Other meetings touch on developing healthy coping, looking at body image, building a support system and relapse prevention. We utilize NIA, healing through sensory-based movement, and we bring families together for a meal on Saturdays.

We work as a team with their physicians, other medical professionals and our dietitian to offer comprehensive care.

Q: When does someone need an IOP? Rosen: There’s both the step-up and step-down piece. If they’re not getting better in therapy or they’re leaving a residential facility or have been hospitalized, they need support as they come back out into the world.

Q: How can I help prevent the onset of an eating disorder? Rosen: Be very aware that girls growing up need to feel good about themselves and their bodies and to feel empowered. It’s about being proud of what your body does, not how it looks. Get girls involved in sports where they can feel a sense of self-acceptance around strength and team play and camaraderie—soccer, softball, swimming, tennis—these are sports where what their size is really isn’t relevant.

Q: Why did you choose the name Elangeni?Rosen: It’s an African Zulu language word meaning a place in the sun, which we think of as a place of hope, healing, wholeness, health. -Lesly Bailey

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CARYL ROSEN and CHARLEY LERNER

Getting to the root of eating disorders

ELANGENI 900 Ridge Rd, Ste C, Munster 877.526.8825

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Once upon a time, the thought of using robots to assist with surgeries was no more than science fiction. Now introducing...

da Vinci Robotic SurgeryLATEST TECHNOLOGY in Northwest IndianaThe da Vinci Si Surgical System is the latest version of the technology availablein Northwest Indiana. It offers the world’s first robotic surgical system with 3-D vision, which makes for twice the effective viewing resolution and unsurpassed clarity of tissue planes and critical anatomy.

ADVANTAGES for patientsn Significantly less pain n Less blood lossn Less scarring n Shorter recovery timen Faster return to normal activities

CURRENTLY available proceduresn Prostatectomy (removal of all or part of the prostate gland)n Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus)n Pyeloplasty (reconstruction of the kidney pelvis)n Nephrectomy (kidney removal)n Salpingo Oophorectomy (removal of a fallopian tube and ovary)

Franciscan Alliance now offers this state-of-the-art technology at three of its hospitals in northern Indiana.

For a physician and hospital near you call theFranciscan Alliance Health Resource Center at 800-931-3322.

www.stanthonymedicalcenter.com n www.asksam.org n www.smmhc.com

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