Florida Agenda

Last week I wrote about calisthenics – a tried and true, surefire way to a simple, quick muscle pump. Calisthenics or body weight exercises consist of movements that use the weight of your body as resistance to work against. Using short bursts of intense training and just a few exercises, you can get an efficient muscle-building workout for just about all your muscle groups. In short, you can burn fat and calories and build muscle at the same time without leaving your home or office.

Just as push-ups and pull-ups can jack up your upper body muscle groups, so too, there are lower body calisthenics that can give you quads of steel and a butt to die for! Here are a few of my favorites.

There is no better weight training exercise for lower body than squats. Free squats are calisthenics done like barbell squats but without weights. The basic stance is feet-shoulderwidth- apart. A wider stance works the butt and inside of the thighs to a greater degree, and a narrower stance works on the outside of the thigh to a greater degree. Point your toes out laterally and do not let your knees extend over your middle toes when you squat. Now bend your knees and lower yourself with your back straight and head up until your thighs are parallel to the ground. Raise yourself up using only the power of your lower body to a position with legs nearly locked out. Perform as many of these as you like, no limit, as long as you keep good form.

Jump squats are great if you want to add a little extra punch to regular free squats. Perform these in the same manner as free squats except after you squat down, perform a jump forward as you come up. Land safely, squat again and jump backward as you come up. These are sure to make you break a sweat, even though you might feel a little silly doing them at first. Just do them; they work! For an extra kick, try interspersing a set of 12 to 15 jumping jacks between each set of jump squats.

Lunges are the best way to tighten and tone your butt muscles. If you want to pack on a little muscle to a flat or sagging booty and get a little cardio workout in at the same time, try walking lunges.

Find a flat driveway or parking lot, or a large somewhat empty room. Begin with feet together stance. Keeping your back straight take a deep exaggerated step forward bending your knees and getting them as close to the floor as possible. Push yourself back to the starting position and repeat with the other foot an exaggerated step forward. Do these walking lunges using perfect form, as many as you like and I will personally guarantee that you’ll have a booty like a 23 year old porn star! OK, maybe an exaggeration, but your posterior will surely get harder and take on that nice bubble shape in no time.

Remember, push-ups, pull-ups, jumping jacks, squats and lunges are exercises that you can do at home, in your workplace, or in a hotel room with no equipment. You can do them indoors or outdoors and in no time at all your muscles will feel pumped and ready for whatever activity or mischief comes your way. Enjoy! For more tips on how to get a good workout simply and efficiently using calisthenics, circuit training, or interval training, contact TrainerTomB@aol.com!

Tom Bonanti is a certified personal trainer and owner of Pump’n Inc Gym at 1271 NE 9th Ave, Fort Lauderdale. For more tips on how to get bigger beefier arms by summer, give me a shout at TrainerTomB@aol.com

By Andy Kress

There is no doubt that our thoughts, emotions, attitudes and moods, as well as control of our nerve and muscle function, are all centered in the brain. The food we eat directly affect all organs in your body, but none more so than the brain. The link between a poor diet and poor emotional health is not only real, it’s common.

Deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals are extremely deleterious to the body, and even more so to the brain. A varied diet of complex carbohydrates will supply the brain with amino acids to help it perform at its peak function. Eat too few, and risk depression, headaches and fatigue.

Because of the fortification of grains and abundance of food in industrialized countries, we don’t often see mental and emotion disorders due to famine. Unfortunately, there are still plenty of cases of mental and emotional disorders due to poor diet, anorexia, obesity and people with special nutritional problems, such as alcoholics, however. Having any one of these disorders can severe affect your moods and the way you act and react towards others.

All of the most basic brain and body functions in life are sustained by oxygen, water and food. Messing with your diet can cause these primal functions to literally short circuit. The brain works by chemical, electrical and hormonal interactions. Chemical neurons in the brain communicate messages constantly to each other. These compounds are synthesized as needed from amino acids and other components consumed through the diet.

Tryptophan, an amino acid, is found in all complete proteins such as meat, eggs and milk to aid the brain in producing serotonin. This neural transmitter regulates quite a few functions, such as sleep, pituitary hormone secretion and pain reception. Despite what you may have heard, there are no truths or evidence to prove food additives or junk food instantly affects your mood and the way you behave. Even with the justification of the “twinkie defense,” your diet does not control your immediate actions and reactions.

Only a poor diet prolonged over time can create the deficiencies related to emotional and behavioral disorders. But don’t think it can’t happen to you. It takes less than 90 days to see a significant change in mood and behavior if you deprive yourself of certain vital nutrients. Lacking B vitamins can cause memory loss and various other behavioral and emotional changes in a very short amount of time.

Eating a variety of seafood, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, liver, eggs, soybeans, whole grain breads, cereals, and pastas is a great way to give the body and mind what it needs for fats, amino acids and B group vitamins. Cutting down on sugary carbohydrates and replacing them with high protein at lunchtime is especially helpful.

Caffeine is one of the best-known mood altering dietary items. This stimulant can be found in teas, colas, chocolate and particularly coffee. Alcohol is the next best-known mood-altering substance and the most toxic on the organs and brain. Be aware that alcohol depresses many functions of the brain, causing depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, and unexpected irritability.

Knowing that what goes in your mouth in the way of food can directly affect what may come out of it in words, be wise in what you choose to eat. A varied diet of healthy foods will keep your moods and energy up. Choose poor ingredients, processed foods, or nothing at all, and be prepared for low energy, moods swings, anxiety, sleeplessness, and possible depression. P.S. If you must drink—eat. The merry part will handle itself.

Andy Kress is a nationally certified fitness trainer, yoga instructor, and nutritional counselor. He can be reached at 954-789-3930 or via email at: andyfitnesstraner@gmail.com

Last month, the Brian Neal Fitness & Health Foundation announced the beginning of its 2012 curriculum. The Foundation, a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization seeks out financially challenged local persons who are living with HIV/AIDS or other life-altering conditions, providing free gym memberships at Island City Health and Fitness in Wilton Manors, as well as an hour-long group workout once a week, along with biweekly lifestyle education classes. The curriculum covers important aspects of daily living, from diet and exercise, to making positive life choices.

“There are a number of terrific service organizations that assist our community,” acknowledges founder Brian Neal. “I established the Fitness & Health Foundation to fill a rare but critical void in the community to help people live a healthy lifestyle through exercise combined with nutritional and life coaching.”

After a successful career as owner of an Atlanta fitness facility, Neal moved to Fort Lauderdale six years ago and opened his own personal training gym.

“I realized my motivation for training people solely for profit was misplaced. Instead, I wanted to train people who did not access our programs for various reasons.” The Foundation was quickly conceived and after discussions with business and nutrition advisors, along with future members of the non-profit’s board of trustees, it was launched in April 2011.

“Broward County has one of the highest rates of new HIV cases in the country. Here was an opportunity to help people less fortunate and HIV positive,” Neal recalls. “Medications are expensive. With government cutbacks on funding, there is an extreme need to support those people within our community, by offering tangible services in the fitness, nutrition, and life coaching areas of life.”

Garry Smythe

Garry Smyth is COO of the Fifth Street Counseling Center and a Foundation board member. “The Foundation promotes a healthy lifestyle to people who otherwise may not have the opportunity or access to it,” says Smyth.

Initially, it was the Foundation’s intention to enroll 20 grant recipients for the Winter 2012 curriculum. That was before the organization received an avalanche of requests from applicants. Although Neal and the trustees were gratified by the overwhelming response of need from within the community, a crisis quickly developed in which the numbers of applicants—a literal embarrassment of riches—overwhelmed the available grant resources.

The decision was made that 41 grants—more than twice the original target—would be extended, with an additional 100 participants being enrolled in the online Health and Wellness Management Program and the Foundation’s Weekly Walk on Wilton (Drive) each Saturday at noon.

Reece Darham, managing director of Island City Health and Fitness, applauds the mission of the Foundation and the strides it is making to improve the health and well being of the community. “I can’t stress enough what an excellent opportunity this is to introduce people into a healthy lifestyle,” Darham emphasizes. “Brian and the Foundation are doing excellent work, and the whole community is the beneficiary.”

Team work: Life Coach Markus
Lutrzykowski (left) and Holistic Health
Coach Melissa Binkley (right) bring
years of experience and a willingness to
share their talents with a grateful, and
in-need, constituency.

The Foundation has likewise done extensive community outreach to raise awareness of its mission and to put a face on the important work in which the not-for-profit engages. In December 2011, Neal and supporters of the Foundation organized “Dancing with the South Florida Stars,” billed as a “night of music, merriment, and tripping-the light- fantastic” to support the organization’s fitness, nutrition, and life coaching programs. The event was held on Monday, December 12, at The Manor Nightclub and Restaurant complex in Wilton Manors.

Using a format familiar to fans of the hit television program “Dancing with the Stars,” ten partnered teams trained for over a month in the dance and aerobics studio at Wilton Manors’ Island City Health and Fitness to ensure they were at peak performance.

The teams, which were culled from a “Who’s Who” of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s “gay-lerati,” included entertainers as well as business and community leaders. The couples were, in numbered order: Jesse Durko and Andrea Lytle, John Zieba and Nicholette, Bobby Blair and Deja Devonair, Michael Driscoll and Cashetta, Bruce Bogan and Electra, Sean David and Dimitri, Reece Darham and Velvet Lenore, Billy Bowser and Misty Eyez, Dean Trantalis and Michelle Verdi-Knapp, and Vince Clancy and Liene Dilorenzo.

Afterwards, Trantalis, a former Fort Lauderdale city commissioner and the Foundation’s attorney, echoed the sentiments of other present. “The people! The energy! The fun! And of course the Brian Neal Foundation cause. The generosity of our community is overwhelming. And we all had a great time being a part of it.”

The next “Dancing with the South Florida Stars” fundraising event is scheduled for Monday, May 21 at 7 p.m., to coincide with the season finale of ABC’s hit television series “Dancing with the Stars.” Moving forward into 2012, founder Brian Neal has announced that Felix DeBruin, who helmed the not-for-profit Pet Project as that organization’s executive director for six years, has been brought aboard to serve as executive director for the Foundation effective this week.

“With Felix’s experience and in-depth understanding of the grant application process, we are extremely confident that more deserving persons will be able to benefit from the Foundation’s curriculum this year and for many years to come,” Neal offered. H For information about the Brian Neal Fitness & Health Foundation, and about making tax-deductible donations, visit: www.BrianNealFitness.org

 Brian Neal Fitness & Health Foundation Services Available

• Saturday, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Group Workout
• Saturday, 10:15-11:15 a.m. Group Workout
• Island City Health & Fitness gym membership
• Online Health & Wellness Program
• Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. Biweekly Nutrition Class,
Pride Center at Equality Park
• Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. Biweekly Life Coaching Class,
Pride Center at Equality Park
• Saturday, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Weekly Walk on Wilton (Drive)

By Andy Kress

Many Americans take supplements to aid in their diets—usually without the benefit of a doctor’s recommendation. Listen to the commercials and you can understand why. According to the ads, the average diet does not supply adequate nutrients. Swallow your nutrition in the form of a pill once a day, and good health will be yours. Or better still some think, take two or three or five. After all, if a little is good for you, then a lot must be better.

If blood tests confirm that you are deficient in certain vitamins or minerals, consult with your physician to discuss how to correct the situation. Make the call on your own with self-diagnosis, and risk doing more harm than good. It is your liver and kidneys that must correct your mistakes filtering out all the extras the body cannot store or utilize immediately. Overwhelm these organs with excess vitamins and minerals and you can expect to become familiar with the symptoms of hypervitaminosis—a toxic condition that can lead to severe health issues.

The easiest vitamins to over-consume are those that are fat soluble—Vitamins A, D, E and K. Elevated doses of vitamin A can cause liver damage, skin problems, fatigue and other harsh symptoms. Vitamin D when taken in high doses produces calcium deposits on the heart and blood vessels; it also upsets calcium metabolism leading to bone loss. Symptoms of Vitamin E overdose include nausea, abdominal pain and fatigue. Take too much Vitamin K and risk blood clots and jaundice. Compounding the problem, as the liver and kidneys work overtime to correct the situation, they mistakenly strip other vital nutrients from the body in the process.

The good news is that in the vast majority of cases, the easiest way to receive your nutrients and vitamins while improving your overall health is to eat a varied diet that coincides with the food pyramid or the newer MyPlate diagram, developed by the Department of Agriculture. These charts illustrate the proper mix of fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy and protein. Notice, there is no spot here for supplements, because none should be needed. In a varied diet, the body receives all of its needs for vitamins and minerals through its nutrition.

Any nutritionist will tell you that diet is the best source for fatty and amino acids, fiber, vitamins and minerals. While many supplements provide one nutritional benefit and lack others, eating the same dietary compound from a natural food source will provide additional energy, fiber and other components for nutritional balance.

Some of the most popular supplements also inhibit or delay the absorption of others nutrients due to the chemical additives and fillers used in these products. The chemicals fillers are highly foreign to the human digestive system compared to natural foods and take days–and even weeks–to process. Vitamin C supplements are the major culprit here.

Supplements can also have adverse affects on medication and vice versa.  Raise the red flag if you are taking oral contraceptives, blood pressure medication, laxatives, antibiotics, and some over-the-counter painkillers.

Should you fall into the category of “moderate or heavy drinker,” you are the exception to the supplementation rule. Alcoholics and heavy drinkers require supplementation to overcome the deleterious effects from a poor diet and nutritional drain over a prolonged period of time. The overconsumption of alcohol affects the body’s abilities to absorb nutrients and places the liver under more stress, leading to liver disorders.

As always, we leave the choice up to you. By knowing the facts about supplements, you discover that there is more of a science to proper diet than just popping a few pills in the morning. Choose correctly and it’s a win-win. Choose incorrectly and you could lose your life. Please read the labels and choose wisely.

Andy Kress is a nationally certified fitness trainer and nutritional counselor. he can be reached at 954-789-3930 or via email at andyfitnesstraner@gmail.com

By Tom Bonanti

You could not have made a better New Year’s Resolution than to dedicate more time to achieving a fitter, healthier, more beautiful body. Now that we are nearly finished with January, why are you still making excuses to put off going to the gym? Perhaps you need to be reminded that besides making you look better, regular exercise can also prevent obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease, and Type 2 diabetes. In addition to these bonuses, many people who suffer from anxiety and depression have found that regularly working out can significantly elevate their moods and boost their self-esteem.

Here are a few commonly held excuses for not exercising, and why you need to get over yourself and get to the gym today:

1. “I’m too damn busy to exercise.”
Well, that just doesn’t hold water with me. You must make time for those things that matter to you most – your family, job, social life, etc. Your health is just as important as any of these. Schedule your workouts into your daily activities and stick to it! Get up an hour earlier and take a power walk before going to work. Pack a gym bag and stop at the gym on your way home instead of going to “happy hour.” You must make time for those things that are important to you. Some of the busiest, most successful people I know are also some of the fittest and healthiest as well.

2. “Exercise is boring.”
Maybe you are the one who is boring. Doing the same things every time you hit the gym will produce diminishing results, and leave you bored and frustrated. Define your goals, change your workouts, and hire a personal trainer to help you come up with a new routine. Try yoga, swimming, or any of the classes offered at your gym or community center. Don’t be lazy or shy. There are a myriad of opportunities to become fit and healthy in sunny South Florida.

3. “I’ll put off exercising until it gets warmer.”
While you procrastinate, you also become fatter and more sedentary, and unhappy with yourself. There’s no time like the present to get up and get moving toward a new healthier lifestyle. Start with one morning power walk or one yoga class after work. You’ll see just how great you feel. And there’s no cure for those winter-time blue moods than stimulating and challenging activities.

4. “I can’t exercise because I have aches and pains and health issues.”
You should never begin a new exercise program before getting a check-up from your doctor or health care professional. Sure, herniated discs, arthritis, high blood pressure, etc., are serious issues, but not impossible to deal with. For the most part, exercise that‘s done right can help you build flexibility at the joints and manage the pain of arthritis better than some traditional treatment programs. Regular training with manageable weights, yoga, stretching classes, and low impact aerobic routines have been shown to decrease pain and increase overall fitness levels.

As the New Year unfolds, don’t get left behind by friends and co-workers who have already embraced the fitness lifestyle. Stop making excuses to yourself. Just get up, get moving and join the fun today. Contact Tom Bonanti at TrainerTomB@aol.com for more inspiration.

Tom Bonanti, is a certified personal trainer and owner of Pump’n Inc gym at 1271 NE 9th Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Email: TrainerTomB@aol.com     Facebook: TrainerTomB.      www.pumpnincgym.com

By Andy Kress

Rest and the quality of your sleep play a vital role in your all-around health. The impact sleep has in our daily life affects many areas and the people in it. Not only does the body internally react to too little or too much sleep, but the way you react with others in your environment is also impacted. When sleeping, the body’s physical and mental restorations take place, allowing you to feel refreshed and energized upon awakening.

The amount of sleep recommended for optimal performance is 7-9 hours a day. However, there are many different variables for how much sleep a person really needs. Age plays a huge factor in this total. Babies and young children require nearly twice as much sleep as the average adult. This is due to the amount of growth hormones produced. Childhood growth spurts take energy, which needs to be recharged through sleep. As we age, the nature of sleep changes, with less time spent in the deepest stage of sleep. This is when sleep disorders start to arise.
While much about sleep is still not fully understood, scientists know that the human circadian rhythms are established shortly

after birth and are maintained by two internal oscillators that act as your body’s natural clock. Some of the body’s natural chemicals help us stay asleep, it is our diet that plays the most essential role. Because hunger can tend to disrupt sleep, having a light snack before bed can help promote restful sleep. It’s a delicate balance, however. Having too much food tends to disrupt digestive health and creates discomfort, leading to insomnia.

Alcohol used in small amounts helps to initiate a more restful sleep. Be warned, however, that as alcohol is broken down and metabolized within the body, one’s sleep may become fragmented and less restful. Binge drinking does not incite a deep restful sleep as much as you may think. It actually creates the opposite effect, making the sleep less restful and fragmented during the deep sleep cycles.

Other beverages that you consume can disturb your sleep as well. Drinks high in caffeine normally have an adverse effect on your rest. Because the body builds up tolerance to caffeine, this is not true for everyone—particular heavy coffee drinkers.

Most people who consume caffeine before bed have trouble sleeping.

Tryptophan, on the other hand, is an essential amino acid that promotes dietary health and is a sleep inducer. It works by raising the levels of serotonin throughout the body, creating a natural sedative in the brain. This is one of the reasons foods or drinks with tryptophan are used as folklore remedies for restless sleep. A cup of warm milk or some hot caffeine-free tea with a spoonful of honey is guaranteed to help you get a few extra “zzz’s” the all-natural way. Because carbohydrates help facilitate the body’s ability to allow tryptophan to enter the brain, eating tryptophan-heavy turkey in a sandwich is a sleep-inducing combination. Likewise, herbs and spices are an organic alternative to help induce sleep. Valerian root is one of the most popular choices as a nighttime natural sedative. Most brew this in a un-caffeinated hot tea, along with other ingredients such as chamomile, lemon balm and peppermint.

Many of our poor diet choices before bedtime also affect our sleep. Eating foods high in fat and spice causes sleep disrupting heartburn and indigestion. Ditto: High fatty foods and sugary caffeinated beverages that have a deleterious effect on the hormones in your body as well. Disrupting these hormones can and will throw off your sleep cycle. Couple that with the unsightly weight gain and possible obesity that such a diet produces, and you have a lose-lose combination.
A healthy diet is the easiest way to ensure a good night’s sleep. Your body will thank you if you take the time to make healthy choices before you lay your head to rest.

Andy Kress is a nationally certified fitness trainer and nutritional counselor. he can be reached at 954-789-3930 or bia email at andyfitnesstraner@gmail.com

Everyone looks towards the New Year as being better than the last – I am no different. The year 2010 was what I thought was a rough one so I looked forward to 2011 with great optimism. After all, what could have been worse than 2010? I soon found out.

I was at most major community events. I lived in the gay community. I was out there photographing, videoing, writing and reporting on the community for the last 25 years for just about every gay publication in the area at one time or another.

I started feeling ill in the summer of 2010. I knew I was under a lot of stress especially after having helped plan the Stonewall Festival in Wilton Manors. This, following the very successful “Wicked Manors” the October before, the last year “The Drive” had been shut down to car traffic on Halloween.

By the time the end of 2010 rolled around, I was having every little symptom of being sick you can imagine, but none of them at the same time. Some days I would have the chills, some days I would be very tired, some days I would be light-headed, some days other little symptoms, or I would feel just fine. But the temperatures were colder than normal over the holidays, so I thought I was just fighting off the flu because everybody was coming down with something.

I attended New Year’s Eve festivities in the Shoppes of Wilton Manors with no problem but within a few days, all of the symptoms – plus many more – started to attack me all at once. So bad in fact, I was taken to the emergency room on January 10 and just in time since I collapsed while in the waiting room.

I was admitted and went through the normal pre-examination “vitals”: temperature was high, blood pressure was high. The nurse removed my shoes and stated, “oh my god.” I thought she was talking about foot odor but no, she pointed out that my feet were orange and very swollen. The next thing out of her mouth was “kidneys.” Emergency testing of my blood showed that indeed my kidneys had failed and the toxins had built up to critical levels. I met my first doctor who told me had I waited another 24 hours, I would have died. I went through quick surgery to make preparations for kidney dialysis.

I spent the next three weeks in the hospital as the doctors checked everything out. In addition to the kidney problems, they discovered bladder cancer. I was told not to be too concerned with the bladder at this time as it’s a very tough organ but they needed to rid my body of the toxins with dialysis and treatment first, then take care of the bladder. $233,000 dollars later, I went home, continued with dialysis three times a week and was scheduled to return to the hospital in April to remove the bladder. The doctor told me that, though it is rare, the kidneys have been known to come back to life to some degree in some cases, but warned me not to count on it.

At first, the dialysis was helping and, though I felt weak immediately after treatment, I was feeling much better. Then, I started feeling worse than ever before and started to lose weight fast – too fast – in fact, I lost 110 pounds in three months and my blood toxin levels started to go crazy and I was often feeling worse than ever. The doctors didn’t seem concerned, so neither was I.

When I returned to the hospital in April for the bladder removal, initial tests showed that my kidneys had started to function at a very limited basis. My left kidney was literally dead with only working at around 1% efficiency; my right kidney was now working at around 38% — enough to operate on their own. The reason I was feeling so bad was because both the kidney dialysis machine and my internal kidneys were fighting each other over control of my body. Though my kidneys were partially working, dialysis was no longer needed.

It was also decided that since the kidneys were working again, we should try to save the bladder and cure than cancer instead of just removing it right off. However, what was also discovered was that I also had bone cancer in my hip.

As the year progressed, I’ve been off dialysis and I’ve been going through chemotherapy for the cancers. This past October, scans, prods, probes and tests show that the bladder cancer is in remission, but the bone cancer has somewhat spread. Again, my oncologist has told me that there are different treatments for bone cancer that we haven’t tried yet. I am now going through the second regiment of chemo drugs which are rougher on my body.

Being cynical by nature, I’ve learned some important lessons this past year. First, I’ve learned to appreciate life and what life has to offer.

Things that I would normally stress over–and I can’t afford any stress, now–I’ve learned to brush off. Second, I’ve learned to take life slower, but then again, I really didn’t have much of a choice. Finally, I’ve realized what great friends I have and my huge support group.

There are those people that didn’t walk, but came running to my side as soon as I took ill like Brad Casey, Tim Yatteau, Ryan Dixon, Sheri Elfman, Dan Renzi and Robert Cieslak. There are also those who were able to give me great advice to follow concerning my mental and physical state like Terry DeCarlo, Paul Hyman, Peter Clark, and longtime friend Norm Kent. Florida Agenda publisher Bobby Blair never lost faith in me and, through it all, I never missed writing in a single issue of the newspaper and also accepted my new, limited physical abilities. (Learning to type on a laptop while lying in bed is a skill that everyone should acquire.) Then there are those that would regularly call or email to find out how I was doing like Nicky Rose, Pompano Bill, Shane Phoenix, Gary Resnick, Julie Carson, Dale Madison, Eric Reivik and there are dozens and dozens more that I just don’t have enough space to list.

And then, there are those that have purposely avoided contact me fearing the worse and perhaps fearing their own mortality. Recently I ran into Victor Cody who confessed to me that he has been afraid to see me not knowing how I would look and was surprised how much better looking I was then he thought and said how glad he was to see me again. For those of you who have avoided me not wanting to deal with reality of a person who was sick, don’t worry – I was one of you up to this year – I just couldn’t deal.

Then, there were the surprises. Shortly after this past Halloween on Wilton Drive, it was brought to my attention someone wrote on the local blog, “Wilton Drive Online,” about how disappointed they were over what has happened to the annual big event. Someone suggested that the person (which was me) who used to handle the party start doing it again. Someone else replied that the person who used to do Wicked Manors was named Bob – but he died. I, of course, replied myself saying that, though sick, I was still alive–all while laughing to myself about the situation. Then again, I laughed too at the appropriateness of a dead person running a Halloween party. Was I upset? No. In fact, I was flattered knowing that the community really appreciated the hard work put into large public events.

The other night, longtime friend Ellen Friedman, who has also had her health problems, took me out for a holiday dinner that I will forever remember. As we sat there talking, I told her that I didn’t realize how many people would have cared what happened to me and how many friends I really have. She said to me, which prompted this piece, “Bob, they’ve been there all along. You’ve just been too blind to see them.”

Though I am sick, I’m getting better slowly; sometimes painfully, but I’m not going anywhere. I wish I could go out more, but my body starts to wind down around two in the afternoon.

Each year, I write a feature in the last issue of the year for whatever publication I have worked for, getting New Year’s resolutions from people in the community, and though I would have like to have gotten many more for the last week’s issue of the Agenda than I did, I was too weak to continue.

One person, who I asked for his resolution a week ago, turned the tables on me and asked me what my New Year’s resolution was. I simply replied, “2013.”

By JARRETT TERRILL

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylo-coccus aureus) is a staph infection that is not easily treated with antibiotics.  However, it is relatively easy to acquire and spreads under the skin at an alarming rate.  Local emergency rooms are seeing a rise in the number of MRSA cases that they treat.

Last week, the Sun-Sentinel noted that “infections from a relatively mild variety of drug-resistant staph have been on the rise in South Florida in recent months,” seemingly downplaying the phenomenon by calling it a “weak strain,” and reporting that “no one is calling the jump in cases a serious danger.” This could be misleading, as the treatments required to treat the bacteria often involve surgery, intravenous medication, lengthy hospital stays, and sometimes even amputation. Those treatments are no guarantee that the infection will not reoccur.

The LGBT community in South Florida has certainly been affected by the recent spike in MRSA cases. What is not clear at this point is whether or not our community has been affected to a greater degree than others. It is known, however, that persons with HIV, children, and the elderly are at greater risk for opportunistic infections, like staph.

Historically, MRSA was thought to be transmitted primarily in prisons and hospitals, or by sharing intravenous drugs. That is seemingly no longer the case. One person in four is now known to be an asymptomatic carrier of staph bacteria, and one in 50 have a strain that is specifically classified as MRSA.

MRSA can be spread by skin-to-skin contact. Not all patients are sure how they acquired it. Like all bacterial infections, humidity and a general lack of cleanliness may be contributing factors. It is suggested by medical professionals that regular hand-washing and early detection will decrease the likelihood and severity of the disease.  MRSA may initially appear to be something harmless, such as an ingrown hair, cat scratch, or acne. The condition is made worse by attempts to puncture or rupture the site of infection.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “The biggest risk factor for MRSA infection is open or broken skin (such as a wound or surgical site); however, MRSA infections can occur even on areas of the skin where there is no obvious wound or break in the skin.” Experts say that keeping a clean, well-ventilated home will reduce the chance of infection.

Erin Carr-Jordon, a health activist in Arizona, was recently banned from McDonald’s restaurants in that state after she swab-tested their playground equipment and discovered traces of MRSA. “Contaminated items and surfaces” are also cited by the CDC as sources of MRSA infection.

By San Knew, MSW

Those of you who read this column regularly may tend to be surprised by what you learn. I like to think this is done with a combination of statistical science and wit (if I say so myself). But occasionally I find myself challenged to find the balance between tasteful humor and knowledge. This is one of those times. With that in mind, you may prefer to enjoy your morning coffee and bagel before reading on.

We are talking about yeast infections here, so get set. Most of us think that yeast infections (Candida) are primarily a female problem. It may surprise you, however, to learn that men can also contract or develop yeast infections. Penile, anal and yes, oral, are all types of yeast infections in men. Most commonly, penile yeast infections among men are transmitted sexually,normally after sex with a carrier female, which makes it surprising that yeast infections are not considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Men who engage in vaginal sex with an infected female partner can pass the infection to anyone (male or female). This is one means of the spread of the infection (anally and orally). The rate of infection is higher among uncircumcised men since the foreskin can trap in moisture. General symptoms of penile infection are identified as itching (similar to jock itch), burning during sex and urination, soreness, and redness

of the tip of the penis. Some men may also experience a white, clumpydischarge (not to be mistaken for semen).

Anal infection symptoms are usually isolated to itchiness and redness. Men who also engage in unprotected anal sex (even with an uninfected partner) may develop an infection. This can occur when bacteria in feces comes into contact with the penis, (another reason to avoid that “not so fresh” feeling).

Oral infection (thrush) is usually recognized by white patches covering the inside of the mouth. Patches may be on the insides of the cheeks, tongue, roof of the mouth, and lips and gums as it spreads. Partners performing oral sex on uncircumcised men are at greater risk, again due an increased likelihood of trapped bacteria.

Additional means of infection among men include the prolonged use of antibiotics and men with compromised immune systems. Antibiotics do not discriminate between bad and good bacteria, thus creating an ideal environment for the infection to cultivate. In addition, diabetic individuals are also likely to develop yeast infections due to high levels of sugar in the body – specifically in urine.

Fortunately, prevention and treatment for all these types of yeast infections are fairly simple. Your own personal hygiene is always a good place to start. Also, try being mindful to wash any areas of the body that can trap moisture (foreskin) and remember to completely dry these areas. Severe cases in partners can be identified easily, especially if you are taking the time to playfully “inspect.” Usually treatment includes a week-long regimen of topical cream and abstinence, the latter perhaps being the most difficult of the two.

Sam Knew, MSW is an educator and a local counselor. He can be reached at samknewmsw@gmail.com or
www.facebook.com/samknew

By Andy Kress

Photo: Salmon is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids

Fat. Just the sound of the word makes people shudder. We have been told one of two things about fat in this life: fat is horrible for you, or fat equals taste. No one can argue that fat equals taste, because so many of the foods we love are loaded with the stuff. The statement that fat is horrible for you is further from the truth however. If you know your fats and how they react with your body and internal system, then you will know that fats are essential to your diet and your health.

Most of us have at least heard about trans fat and saturated fat, as they are so glorified on the news, restaurant menus or product labels. In studies, trans fats have been linked to obesity, heart disease and other related health problems when over-consumed. Many cakes, pies, potato chips and other processed foods people love are loaded with fatty acids. These are found in the hydrogenated oils and margarine used in these products to extend shelf life and keep them from going rancid, wreaking havoc on our insides as we attempt to breakdown such foods.

Saturated fat is not far behind in doing its damage to our internal system. Many of the meats we choose to eat are high in saturated fats, even though you can’t always see them. Butters, cheeses and other dairies can be high in saturated fats as well, so read your labels. Palm and coconut oils are very popular here in South Florida. Since both are very high in saturated fat, these should be consumed sparingly.

Enjoy your treats, but use common sense and try to limit the quantity to the suggested serving size. Remember: trans fat and saturated fat are the first to show themselves at the waistline, the last place we want to see them!

On the other hand, some fats are not only good for you, they are absolutely essential for good health. Monounsaturated fats are needed in a well-balanced diet. Primary sources are olive and canola oils, nuts, and some seeds. Another excellent source (and the healthiest for you) is grown right here in Florida–our state avocado. The Florida avocado is twice the size as the Hass

avocado and half the calories, making this a wise choice for your body while helping to support your local economy. Polyunsaturated fats coming from products such as corn and other vegetable oils are common and healthy for you, as well as fish oils and oily fish. These foods have two essential fatty acids the body needs to function.

There are a couple of other fats not to be forgotten. Fatty acids that are derived from linoleic acids produced by Omega-6 and Omega-3 fats are crucial to a healthy diet when used in the proper amount. These two fats play a vital role in improving mental clarity, uplifting our moods and improving our overall sense of well-being.

Good sources of Omega-6 fats are in corn, safflower, sunflower and soy bean oils. Using any of these oils in cooking really bring out new flavors to that same old dish, so don’t be afraid to try something new and healthy.

Omega-3 fats come in a variety of different foods. Walnuts, evening primrose and rapeseed oils, as well as oily fish, such as sardines, mackerel and salmon are great sources of this essential fatty acid, which cannot be produced by the body.

Omega XL®, a supplement from Great HealthWorks (headquarted right here in Hollywood, Florida) is a very convenient and affordable way to ensure adequate Omega-3 intake, and includes 30-essential fatty acids in each small capsule.  Since it does not interact with any medications, this product is the safest supplement that you can find on the market, and the only one I personally take and endorse.

Fat. You didn’t cringe so much this time, did you? Now knowing your facts on fats can mean making healthier choices in the grocery store. Your body will thank you every day.

Andy Kress, CFT, SET, is a nationally certified fitness trainer and nutritional counselor in South Florida. He can be reached at andyfitnesstrainer@gmail.com or 954-789-3930.