When you think of the holidays, what comes to mind? Along with Christmas lights and reindeer, most of us associate the season with hours waiting at the airport or hair loss from those pleasant extended family visits.  For 2009, many experts are predicting that travel will go up compared to last year, although fewer people will travel by air due to budget concerns, reduced airline capacity and added charges.

A recent study reported by AAA says that for the recent Thanksgiving holiday, nearly 86 percent of Thanksgiving travelers chose to travel by automobile while only six percent said they planned to go by air. The projected decline for air travel for this past Thanksgiving is expected to be in the neighborhood of 6.7 percent, or 2.3 million travelers once the final figures are worked out. AAA said the amount of Thanksgiving travelers journeying by air has been declining for a decade.

Locally, Orlando International Airport is expected to beat the curve in passenger decline when they finalize their travel numbers from the Thanksgiving holiday. “Right now for Thanksgiving, we are down about 4 percent from last year, which is encouraging given what’s happened throughout the year,” says Carolyn Fennel, director of public affairs at OIA.

December air travel numbers are expected to increase compared to last year, but many people are still finding other means to move about the country including trains, buses and automobiles. “People are staying closer to home, not travelling for as long and not spending as much once they get there,” says Pat Tiffany, travel consultant with Travel Leaders. “Some airlines will run a special, but when you have a family of four that still gets awfully expensive.” Especially with airline baggage fees. “For about a year now almost every airline has been charging anywhere from $15-20 for the first bag and $25 and up for the second bag,” says Tiffany. “People are being very careful with their money these days, so sometimes it’s hard to justify that cost.”

Still, whether you’re jet-setting to your destination or having family come to stay with you during the holiday season, you’ll need to be prepared.

If you’re going to travel, the key is to make your plans early. Tiffany suggests being flexible about the dates and times you fly giving you more choices, saving you time and money. Midweek flights are the best option, and if you have to fly on a weekend, Saturdays are less hectic than Sundays at the airport. Remember that weather can also play a factor in your travel time. “Try to fly nonstop whenever possible,” she says. “If you do have to connect, try to avoid cities up north where there will be more weather problems.” There are less delays for flights earlier in the day, and, of course, arriving early allows plenty of time for security. Another way you can avoid delays and save money is by flying to nearby airports of smaller cities, like Sanford instead of Orlando.

If you have family travelling to you this year, remember to expect delays at the airport and on the road. “Even if traffic is down from years past, it will still be hectic getting in and out of the airport,” says Tiffany. She suggests meeting your incoming visitors in the departure area of the airport if they do not have bags to gather from the baggage claim area. “It will be a lot less crazed on the departure level and you’ll have a much smaller headache,” she says.

Most importantly however, remember not to sweat the small stuff. “When traveling, try to have patience and make the best out of time you spend waiting around,” says Tiffany. Even with numbers that are lower than in years past, travel can still be a stressful experience if you let it be. Whether by car, train or plane, remember what the holidays are for. You’ll be a lot happier when you get to where you’re going if you do.

Article by Corey Gehrold

Orlando, Fla. (October 8, 2009) - Today, Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) officially dedicated its new 175,000-square-foot scientific facility and marked the opening of Orlando’s Medical City as a life science center. Burnham at Lake Nona is the research anchor for the new development in southeast Orange County and the east coast campus of the La Jolla, Calif.-based institute.

The opening of the new research facility is projected to have a transformative effect on the region by fostering a medically-focused, knowledge-based economy. Burnham is a catalyst for the Medical City, which is becoming a hub for medical research that will advance scientific discoveries and lead to breakthrough therapies.

“We’ve established a foundation by bringing new expertise to the region and forging strong alliances that will enhance and accelerate scientific opportunities,” said Dr. John Reed, Burnham’s president and CEO. “Burnham’s collaborative approach has been very successful. We have generated research funding that has resulted in significant scientific discoveries. We’re transferring that model to the Lake Nona campus in Orlando, where scientists are conducting translational research in metabolic disorders, heart disease and cancer.”

In addition to Reed, dedication speakers included Florida Governor Charlie Crist; Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer; Orange County Mayor Richard T. Crotty; Rasesh Thakkar, senior managing partner of the Tavistock Group; Malin Burnham, philanthropist and  chairman of Burnham’s Board of Trustees; and Dr. Daniel Kelly, scientific director at Burnham Lake Nona.

Collaborating with clinical institutions is a key element of Burnham’s strategy to move discoveries from bench to bedside more quickly. Partnerships have already been formed with Florida Hospital, the Stedman Center at Duke University Medical Center; M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando; and the University of Central Florida.The day’s festivities also included a formal announcement confirming the University of Florida’s intention to build a research facility at Lake Nona.

“Our continued growth and new partnerships are creating opportunities to make key discoveries across disciplines,” said Dr. Daniel Kelly, scientific director and professor at Burnham Lake Nona. “Coupled with our sophisticated technology and drug discovery platforms, Burnham is poised for developing the innovative therapies of tomorrow.”

The state-of-the-art facility includes an ultra-high throughput screening center, one of only four NIH-funded comprehensive chemical screening centers in the country, complete with three robotic arms capable of conducting more than one million experiments per day. Sophisticated research platforms in genomics and metabolomics will enable scientists to define molecular and genetic “blueprints” of specific diseases. With advanced technologies, highly credentialed scientists and top-tier partnerships, Burnham is forming the foundation for a world-class discovery and translational research center.

People are seeing pink in October for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year local organizations are doing their part to make a difference by hosting several events designed to raise breast cancer awareness. Two of the biggest events are the Susan G. Komen Central Florida Race for the Cure and the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk of Metro Orlando.

Race for the Cure will be held on October 25 at Bright House Networks Stadium at the University of Central Florida in East Orlando while the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk will take place on October 31 at Lake Eola in downtown Orlando.

Being a part of events like these have been life changing for participants and staffers like Jennifer Bradshaw, executive director of Susan G. Komen Central Florida Affiliate. She participated in her first Race for the Cure as a junior in college before taking a job with the organization. “I was overwhelmed as we walked by all of the pink shirts that said Survivor,” says Bradshaw. “It was something that I was immediately drawn to, wanting to know how I could be more involved and how could I help more women wear the shirt that said Survivor.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, excluding skin cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.

“Cancer is something that has touched my family and me,” said Lisa Bertin-Queena, manager of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk of Metro Orlando. “I never, ever, ever want anybody again to hear the words ‘You have cancer.’”

Both events set out to raise awareness, to celebrate breast cancer survivors and to honor those who have lost their battle against the disease.

As the largest 5k series in the world, the Komen Race for the Cure series has had over a million participants since 2005; and for the Central Florida Affiliate, the Race for the Cure is its largest fundraising event. “Having 8,000 participants on October 25, 2009 will be an achievement for the Central Florida Affiliate because, not only will it be our largest Race for the Cure, but it will also signify that we have 8,000 people in the Central Florida Area all coming together, on the same day, for the same reason-to end breast cancer forever,” said Bradshaw. “That, in itself, is a powerful statement.”

Making Strides also hopes for a large turnout to surpass last year’s 15,000 participant mark, but meeting its fundraising goal has been a challenge with no registration fee or fundraising minimum required. “We are finding ourselves struggling a little bit this year to reach our goal,” said Bertin-Queena. “It really is our volunteers and walkers who bring the money to this event.”

In an added effort to help achieve their goal to raise $630,000, Mystic Dunes Golf Club is hosting the Pink Ribbon Golf Classic on October 9 with proceeds benefiting the walk.

A large percentage of proceeds from both Race for the Cure and Making Strides will stay in the Central Florida community to fund research and aid breast cancer patients. With donations raised at last year’s Race, the Affiliate was able to present 14 non-profit organizations with grants to provide much-needed breast cancer health education and support, mammography, screening, clinical breast exams and diagnostic evaluations, according to Bradshaw.

“Cancer is a disease that touches all over, and one day it could be your family,” said Bertin-Queena. “We don’t ever want to see that happen to anybody, but at the same time we want to be here if it does.”
Article by Aimee Hoyt

East Orlando has a new safety feature located in Avalon Park thanks to the Board of Directors for the Avalon Park Property Owner’s Association. The Security and Safety Center, located in Avalon Park’s Founders Square, is now open and will be used for meetings and briefings by law enforcement personnel as well as private community safety officials. The center has also allocated space for a Victim Service Center outpost.

The center is designed to be a place where residents and law enforcement can come together and coordinate efforts. “Center use will include law enforcement debriefings, Neighborhood Watch programs and meetings, as well as individual usage by police officers,” says Stephanie Hodson, marketing coordinator for Avalon Park Group. Currently staffed by an off duty police officer from 6-7 p.m., residents can call during this hour to ask questions, express concerns or report a problem in their community. The space will include two offices, a full kitchen, living area and conference room downstairs. “I didn’t really know the resource was there, but I’m glad it is,” says Avalon Park resident Michelle Stepinanko. “Anything that can be done to improve safety is a big plus.”

“The second floor is currently occupied by the Victim Service Center,” says Hodson. “Orange County residents who have been a victim of a crime can visit this center for important information and guidance.” The VSC will be staffed by a Victim Advocate Monday through Thursday to offer help and information regarding crisis intervention, safety planning, legal advocacy, therapy and more. “Using the services provided by the Victim Service Center, survivors learn to reduce their anxiety, build and mobilize their personal support networks, and access appropriate community resources with the assistance of highly trained Victim Advocates, like the talented staff at the Security and Safety Center,” says Nicole Quinn, executive director of the Victim Service Center.

“Avalon Park Group is always exploring opportunities to enrich the community, while at the same time, support non-profit organizations in Central Florida,” says Hodson. “This facility is a classic example of a win-win partnership.”

Article by Corey Gehrold

In case you missed it, “The Biggest Loser” kicked off their eighth season September 15 with their two hour season premier. This season’s contestants are among the biggest ever with weights ranging from 250 to 480 pounds. Returning for season eight are trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper.

Now, I must admit, in the past I rarely missed an episode. In fact, for the Beard family, watching “The Biggest Loser” had become a bit of a family ritual. Unfortunately it seems that with each new season the producers of the show have made a conscious decision to push the envelope of good taste and common sense further and further. With the premier of season eight, it would appear to me that they have pushed that envelope too far.

Season eight’s premier saw one contestant air lifted to the hospital unresponsive after the first challenge of running the final mile from season seven’s marathon proved to be too much for her. And then there was the gym workouts where Jillian demonstrated her apparently limited vocabulary by screaming and cursing repeatedly in the face of one of the contestants. Maybe Jillian, or perhaps more correctly the producers, feel that this type of trainer-contestant interaction is edgy and what America wants to see. Personally, I think her behavior was appalling and not representative of how real fitness professionals interact with their clients.

Just for the record, I understand that “The Biggest Loser” is reality television - and, as such, sensationalism will win over substance ever time. I do think it’s interesting however that realty TV has very little to do with reality. Yes, it may be provocative TV when trainer Bob leans over a contestant who looks as if they are seconds from passing out and screams at them “I’m saving your life. Now keep going,” but it’s lousy personal training.

Contestants vomiting from a workout really ought to be a clue to Bob and Jillian that their program design is poor and inappropriate. Instead, they seem proud of the fact that they made an out of shape, overweight contestant vomit. If Bob and Jillian worked in the real world, I have to believe they would do things differently. At least, I hope they would. The role of a personal trainer is not only to design an appropriate and safe program for their client; but, to empower that client to take responsibility for their health and fitness so that they can achieve their goals. I don’t know of anyone who is empowered by being put down and belittled by the very person who should be encouraging them most.

At Fitness Together of East Orlando I have trainers who understand this. Trainers who continually demonstrate they are some of the finest fitness professionals you will find anywhere, who consistently get more out of our clients than our clients think they have to give. And never have they done that by yelling, cursing or belittling a client. Part of encouraging and empowering our clients is ensuring that they have realistic expectations of what can be achieved and the time frames required. At Fitness Together we do not have clients losing 15 pounds of weight per week like you see on “The Biggest Loser” (that in and of itself is a topic for another article). What we do have are individuals who are learning week by week how to incorporate healthy lifestyle habits into their lives so that the results they achieve are maintained long-term - in the real world.

I won’t be watching anymore episodes of “The Biggest Loser.” I guess it’s time for the Beard family to create a new family ritual. Maybe instead of us watching others workout, it’s time for a little family workout. What about you?
Article by Glenn C. Beard, PT

Interested in learning how you can achieve real world results in an environment where you’ll be positively encouraged and empowered to achieve more than you thought possible? If so, call Glenn at 407-208-0620 to schedule a no obligation, free fitness consultation.Glenn is the owner/operator of Fitness Together of East Orlando. To learn more about his private 1-on-1 personal training studio or to take advantage of a FREE training session and fitness consultation visit www.FTorlando.com or call 407-208-0620. The studio is located at 11317 Lake Underhill Rd., Suite 500 (across from Legacy Middle School). You can also email Glenn at glennbeard@fitnesstogether.com.