In honor of American Heart Month this February, Avalon Park Group has partnered with Florida Hospital East Orlando to bring the first annual Florida Hospital East Orlando Mega Heart Event to Downtown Avalon Park on February 9 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. But this is no ordinary health fair. No, this is one health fair with a big heart. Literally.

Activities for the day include healthcare booths inside the first floor of the Keith A. Ewing Medical Office Building, featuring local Avalon Park health-related businesses, offering information and a chance for residents to get to know their local specialty doctors. Outside the building, however, is where visitor’s hearts will really get moving with Mega Heart - the world’s only inflatable, walkthrough heart that allows participants to actually explore the human heart firsthand.

“The heart allows everyone to really see the inner workings of the heart - from valves to what damaged tissue looks like and even where stints go in,” says Scott Felker, marketing manager for Florida Hospital East Orlando. “You’ll be able to walk through and really experience what makes our tickers tick inside and out with the Mega Heart.”  Cardiologists from the hospital will be present at strategically located sections of the Mega Heart to act as guides and answer questions as guests make their way through the inner-workings of the heart. The Mega Heart travels the country stopping at health fair events much like this one, however, this is the first time the heart will be making a stop in East Orlando. “We’re also offering complimentary EKG screenings to the first 70 people that sign up as a way to help educate the community on the various cardiovascular diseases that affect someone in this community every day,” says Felker.

Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are the nation’s number one killers, according to the American Heart Association. Since 1963 Congress has dedicated the month of February as American Heart Month to help educate the population about ways to prevent various heart diseases. “One of the great things about partnering with Avalon Park is that they are a health-oriented community,” says Felker. “They understand that heart education and health is key to a long, happy life and hopefully this will serve as just another motivator for people in East Orlando to continue to monitor their heart health and be sure they’re taking care of their body.”

“We’re thrilled to have the Mega Heart here to complement our existing lineup of healthcare professionals for the Florida Hospital East Orlando Mega Heart Event,” says Stephanie Hodson, marketing coordinator for Avalon Park Group. “This fair will serve as the first in a series of health related events to help our residents become more aware about these issues that affect each and every one of us.”

Residents like 27-year-old, Tina Jordan. “I just recently moved into Avalon Park and I’m thrilled they are taking the initiative to bring something like this so close to home,” she says. “Besides getting to know all of my future doctors, I’m most excited about being able to walk around in a giant human heart, that’s just something I never thought I’d be able to say.”

Avalon Park healthcare professionals are also excited to participant in the first annual health event for the community. “This is a great opportunity for the community to get a chance to find out about the providers and services they have right here in their area,” says Dr. Ken Tesinsky, owner of Avalon Park Eye Care. “We look forward to sharing the importance of health and preventative care with residents.”

Because Avalon Park is an area focused on community awareness and health, according to Hodson, these events are paramount in the continued growth and strength of the local population there. “It’s just another aspect to add to that complete healthy lifestyle that so many of our residents enjoy,” she says.

Article by Corey Gehrold

Fifty. It’s the age America considers to be “over the hill,” which always seems to have a negative connotation attached to it. For centuries, there have been different remedies to slow down or even attempt to stop the aging process. Although these cure-alls seem to be the answer for everyone’s desire to stay young, there’s only one real answer to live a longer life: staying healthy through exercise and a balanced diet.

Kim Naugle, a certified personal trainer and yoga instructor, suggests that people over 50 need to do some kind of cardiovascular exercise every week to live a healthy lifestyle.

“The American Heart Association now recommends no less than 10 minutes every day,” says Naugle. “The multiple benefits of cardiovascular exercise make it a must for everyone who is interested in longevity and enjoying a wonderful quality of life.” Naugle has even seen many of her clients go off of any blood pressure medication they’re taking after they start a healthy exercise routine.

The Renaissance Senior Center at South Econ Community Park offers an exercise room and weight room for anyone over the age of 55 with a medical clearance from your physician and an orientation class. Different fitness classes, such as Tai Chi and Zumba, are also offered for a small fee. While these classes are designed specifically for anyone over 55 and marketed to seniors, adults over the age of 18 are allowed to attend.

One class that is offered twice a week at the Renaissance Senior Center is yoga - an exercise that Naugle says is important for everyone, but especially for those over 50.

“Yoga is so wonderful for all age groups, because it is easy on the joints, but intense on building muscle and improving flexibility,” she says. “It is also great for building the core. Your back muscles are supported by the abdominal muscles, and the abdominal muscles are supported by the back muscles, so it’s important to keep both very strong.”

A problem that many Americans encounter as they get older is osteoporosis, a disease that wears down and leaves bones fragile. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, approximately 10 million people suffer from the disease, and about 34 million Americans have low bone mass, which puts them at greater risk for osteoporosis. Naugle suggests to start weight-bearing exercises in order to make bones stronger.

“We all start to lose bone density in our thirties, so people in their fifties should definitely start a lightweight training routine, even if it’s only twice a week,” says Naugle.

But exercise isn’t the only ingredient in order to live a healthy lifestyle; good nutrition is necessary also. Naugle suggests a diet that consists of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and plenty of water.

“All of these things can make longevity and a superb quality of life attainable to those at any age.”

Article by Nicole Lauber

If you’re one of the many people in East Orlando who enjoy visiting the great outdoors to spend quality time with your friends and family, you should consider visiting one of the many campsites located within a short 30 mile drive from where we call home.

For those of us like to keep things simple, or who are on a tight budget, camping is the answer. Put away those cell phones and leave your microwave meals in the fridge because we’re setting up camp, building a fire and swapping stories this weekend.

Lake Louisa State Park is one of the newer destinations for campers in the Central Florida region. Opening its gates in 1977 as a much smaller campsite, the decreasing number of citrus groves in the area meant that Lake Louisa was able to expand to today’s size of 4,500-square-feet. This particular campground features many activities for kids and adults. “We have numerous activities here including equestrian trails, hiking, Triathlons during spring and generally a lot of things that are great for almost all ages,” says Chuck McIntire, the park manager for Lake Louisa Campgrounds in Clermont. At Lake Louisa, some of the more popular activities include fishing and kayaking along one of the many eight named lakes at the park.

Don’t think camping is for you? You’d be surprised at the diverse amount of people that go camping for all sorts of different reasons. “Younger families are very common to see at Lake Louisa, but overall, there is a pretty balanced amount of campers that visit,” says McIntire.

Something unique to Blue Spring State Park for your family’s viewing pleasure is manatee observing. Blue Spring is home to a number of West Indian Manatees each year, from November 15 until March 1. These manatees swim to the spring when waters in other areas become too cold for them to be there, making this area a true experience. Because of this phenomenon, visitors are able to view these creatures from the wildlife overlooks and the summer spring docks during the winter. The spring prides itself on the manageability of its water temperature, a comfortable 72 degrees year round.

Another one of the many great spots to camp in the area is Wekiwa Springs State Park. Wekiwa is known for its vast landscapes and the rolling hills in the area. The park is home to its own distinct animal as well, the Florida Black Bear. At Wekiwa, the most popular activity for campers is canoeing or kayaking along Wekiwa River or Rock Springs Run, a healthy activity with plenty of great sights that really help put you in touch with nature. Many people choose to canoe solo; however there are many group options and guided tours available as well. If you are feeling adventurous, there are even campsites at Wekiwa that can only be accessed via canoe.

Many people who have never gone camping may have a somewhat skewed idea of what camping consists of, but veteran campers insist it’s about taking time for yourself. “Camping is more about relaxing, and getting away for a while,” says James English, an East Orlando resident who camps frequently around Central Florida. “Yes, you have to cook and grill your food, but camping should be more about enjoying yourselves and your activities.”

English says you should also consider what activities you plan on doing while you’re there and plan your trip time accordingly. “It all depends on the time of the year and what you feel like doing,” he says.

Security is always something to consider when you’re out camping as well, and it should never be ignored, even if the intruders aren’t human. “You have to remember that there are wild animals,” English says. “You can’t just bring Styrofoam containers and not expect something to happen. You must be prepared before headed out into the woods. A lot of it is common sense, but it’s fun. I really think everyone should try it at least once.”

Article by Amanda Ferencz

Lake Nona will take another step toward becoming one of the healthiest communities in America Sunday, February 28 as it plays host to the fifth annual Tour de Cure - the American Diabetes Association’s signature cycling event. Tour organizers anticipate more than 1,200 cyclists to participate in the festivities, raising in the neighborhood of $250,000 to support the mission of the ADA.

Designed with families, novice and avid cyclists in mind, the Tour de Cure will feature several course lengths and difficulty levels ranging from the 10 mile Family Fun course to the flagship 101 mile route stretching from the UCF Medical School Campus at the heart of the medical city in Lake Nona to  Avalon Park and back. The Tour also offers a 30 and 60 mile course for veteran cyclists as well.

“The main goals of the event are to help raise funds to change the future of diabetes and help stop this devastating disease,” says Cesar Cesareo, coordinator for the Tour de Cure event. “We want folks of all ages and skill levels to come out and enjoy a day of cycling for a great cause above all else.” This will be the first year the event will be held in East Orlando, as previous incarnations of the event were held in Clermont. “We’re excited for the longer courses with the beautifully scenic back roads that offer a fairly flat terrain and the famous head winds of that side of town that will offer a workout challenge for the most athletic cyclists out there,” he says.

The decision to move the Tour de Cure to Lake Nona was a natural one, according to Cesareo. “Lake Nona is striving to become America’s healthiest community which falls right in line with the mission of the ADA: to prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of all those people affected by diabetes,” he says.

With the new location, the event is presented with the opportunity for improved routes, ample room to grow and an additional family-friendly shorter route, something leisurely cyclists have been calling for. “With these changes the Tour de Cure will continue to cement its reputation as one of the premier cycling events in the Central Florida area,” says Cesareo.

Each of the event’s four courses will be fully supported with rest stops, food, water and a team of volunteers to assist with any medical or mechanical needs. The 10 and 30 mile courses will be completely closed off to traffic for safety purposes. As for the 60 and 101 mile courses, protection remains a top priority for organizers and cyclists there as well, with all of the recent news about bike and highway safety. “Our longer routes will feature a 15 mile police escort…and law enforcement at major intersections to ensure the safety of our riders,” says Cesareo. Rest stops on the longer courses will be placed roughly every 10-18 miles to ensure that no cyclist is left behind.

Cyclists will also be treated to special perks to start and finish their day of cycling for a worthy cause. “We offer our riders breakfast, lunch, massages, live bands, various entertainment and plenty of prizes,” says Cesareo. “Top fundraisers will receive additional special attention including served lunch, no line massages and special ‘Thank You’ gifts to reflect the fact that they went the extra mile, literally, in their fundraising efforts.”

Past riders have been keen to note that the event always has a unique way of making the riders feel special, from the professionalism exhibited by volunteers to the band that plays well on into the afternoon after the courses have seen their last cyclist cross the finish line.

Cesareo says: “Whether you’re an avid cyclist or you’re just looking for a leisure ride for fun, the Tour de Cure has something to offer everyone who wants to participate in this great event for a great cause.”

Article by Corey Gehrold

The year 2009 was a revelation for me. It’s when I took a step back and looked at my life. Even though my life changed for the better by becoming the market leader for Solantic Walk-In Urgent Care in 2008, something was still missing. It was in January of 2009 when I realized if I didn’t do something about my weight, I was going to end up with multiple health problems, just as every woman on my mother’s side of my family has. All I can remember is my mother telling me, “Please, don’t end up like me.” I knew that the reality of what my mother kept saying was coming true, and it was time to make a change.

One night as I watched “The Biggest Loser,” I kept hearing Bob Harper, the personal trainer on the show, say  to count your calories and workout, even if it was for 30 minutes a day. “Do something,” he said.  So I did.

I started working out on the elliptical 40 minutes a night. I chose the elliptical because I had reached my heaviest weight ever, 205 pounds, and because my knees hurt so badly, I couldn’t do what I used to love: running.

The funny, or painful, part about counting calories is realizing how many calories you should take in each day to reach your target weight. I planned for my calorie intake to be 1,200 calories a day, but if I burned 500 calories working out every day, I could have 1,700 calories, which made my goal much more bearable.

I lost 55 pounds in five months by counting calories, exercising on the elliptical for 40 minutes a day and riding a bike six miles a day.

May of 2009 was the best month ever, because I had lost enough weight for my knees to feel free again. I started running, and little by little, I worked my way up to running four miles a day. It was then I told Jennifer Thompson about my weight loss and how excited I was to be able to run again, and she told me about Team Burnham and the Walt Disney World Marathon. I continued to stay on my regimen, working out five to six days a week and counting calories, but for a new reason: I was working my way up to seeing if I could even fathom running 26.2 miles by January. What was I thinking? I had just started losing all this weight, and now I was tasking myself with running a marathon that wasn’t even six months away.

With the help of family and friends, especially from my husband (who thought I was crazy for waking up and running at 5 a.m. three to four times a week), my mom, my sisters, and of course, Team Burnham, I completed my very first marathon on January 10, 2010. Not only was I able to lose 70 pounds in one year, I was also able to run 26.2 miles.

If you want something bad enough, you have to go after it. If you don’t have illness in your family, don’t think you’re exempt from diseases like obesity, heart disease or diabetes. I know that without perseverance, sure will, and a little competitive spirit, I would still be 205 pounds, sitting on the couch watching “The Biggest Loser” and wondering why I couldn’t take my life back.

Article by Bea Kochheiser