In 2010, Andrea Mason opened her first barre3 studio near her alma mater, Oklahoma State University. “I wanted to provide this community with something that I personally fell in love with in Portland, and also bring a part of Portland with me to OKC.” Three years later, Andrea is teaming up with Lindsay Parks to open a third studio location in the Oklahoma City area, barre3 Midtown. Andrea and Lindsay are amazing instructors, and their passion for barre3 and for the Oklahoma City community is contagious.

I partnered with Andrea to open barre3 Midtown because “I wanted to support her in her vision to impact the health and wellness of people in Oklahoma. When barre3 OKC opened in 2010, Andrea and barre3 changed my life in countless ways.” I also LOVE the thriving Midtown community. It’s within walking distance of huge office buildings and minutes from OKC’s botanical garden.

Co-owners of barre3 Midtown Andrea Mason and Lindsay Parks 801 N. Hudson Ave. OKC • 405.702.4333

other studios located at:5800 N. Classen Blvd. OKC • 405.463.3343 | 1189 E. 15th Street, Ste. 124 Edmond • 405.513.6393

VISITwww.thriveok.com

to view the digital issues of Thrive

like us on facebook for details on FREE 1 yr. gym passeswww.facebook.com/okchealthandwellnessgroup

Copyright © 2014 by Thrive Oklahoma, Health and Well Being and Green Apple Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the expressed written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Thrive Oklahoma Magazine assumes no responsibility for the content of articles or advertisements, in that the views expressed therein may not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or any magazine employee or contributor. Content in this publication should not replace the advice or your physician. This publication and all its contents are copyrighted.

Publisher / CEOAngela C. Slovak, Ph.D.

Creative DirectorBarbara Kardokus

Creative Design StaffKristen McEuen

Editorial ManagerJan Collymore

Staff WriterPaul Fairchild

Lindsay Welchel

For advertising info callThrive Magazine at 405.210.8205 or e-mail

thriveokinfo@gmail.com

Contributing Authors

Katie Morris-Henson

Robin Fernandez, NCC

Jimmy Conway, MD

Brian Stalcup, PhD

Cody Elledge, DC

Chef Robin Obert

Jeremy Minihan

Bailey Minihan

Jessica Sanchez

Molly Gordon

Brooke Cayot

Gina Kelly

Andrew Speno

Photo Support

Georgia R. Reed

The Oklahoman

Paul Drinkwater, NBC

Dan Ray Photography

Thrive Staff

Subscribe today online at

www.thriveok.comOnly $18.00 a year to your door

On the Cover.... Jeremy and Bailey Minihan co-own Size and Shape Fitness and operate out of the Four Star Fitness locations. The Minihans lift each other up dai-ly and work together to reach one common goal—changing lives. The Minihans know their individual strengths and passion. Bailey loves working with women, specifically the mommies. Jeremy is focused on teaching, training, developing and building beautiful physiques for both on and off-stage clients.

TM

4 Thrive Oklahoma

Publisher, Thrive Oklahoma Magazine

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I was recently honored to accept on behalf of Thrive Oklahoma Health and Wellness magazine the Oklahoma Psychological Association Award for excellence in public information and education. This kind of recognition after another year of hard work publishing in this very competitive arena has opened up new doors for us.

Our ever-growing readership recognizes the quality of information consistently presented in ThriveOK. Our staff has great respect for the multitude of healthcare professionals we rely on to help us bring high quality health information to Oklahoma in an easily accessible format.

I recently sat down with former INTEGRIS Health CEO, Stan Hupfeld to discuss his unique perspectives on healthcare at both the national level and right here in Oklahoma. Although I never thought of ThriveOK as a medical publication, the variety of health-related topics we present do seem to venture into that category. Luck-ily, health applies to everyone no matter what age you are. Hopefully, the Affordable Care Act will ensure more people will have access the healthcare professionals that are right for them.

In Stan’s new book titled, Political Malpractice, he dissects our current health care system and exposes the fal-lacies and prejudices of both political parties. He explains that, if we are willing to make hard choices, we can indeed cover the uninsured, control costs and not bankrupt the country. I especially love the analogy he uses throughout the book of his daughter taking his credit card to the mall and giving it to the sales associate, then telling her to select anything she feels she might need. Does that paint the picture of total healthcare disconnect, or what?

In this issue we explore an Oklahoma City mayoral candidate’s personal journey to sobriety. We’ve also asked our colleagues at OPA to share their expert insights on personal addiction. Whether an addiction is to food, sex or drugs it can become a major problem if the root cause of the emotional-physical conflict is not addressed.

I hope you enjoy this diverse, yet well-rounded fitness edition of ThriveOK Health. Please send us your com-ments and health concerns directly to me at thriveokinfo@gmail.com

Be well,

From the Publisher’s Desk

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16 Fuel Your Fitness by Jeremy Minihan

24 Edmond’s Own Biggest Loser by Paul Fairchild

30 Ed Shadid Overcomes Addiciton by Andrew Speno

36 Feeding Our Future in OKC Public Schools by Angela C. Slovak, PhD39 Kevin Durant’s Newest Venture by Lindsay Whelchel

Community Corner14 35 Years of Fitness in OKC by Brooke Cayot15 10th Degree Black Belt for OKC’s Jim Butin by Jessica Sanchez27 Armstrong Auditorium Ballet Festival28 50 Years of Love by Robin Fernandez

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Features

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Mind / Body Connection

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Recipes

Living Well

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12 Provoking A New You by Robin Fernandez

10 Will Power To Workout by Jennifer Sweeton, PhD

19 Glorious Glutes In 8 Weeks by IFBB PRO Bailey Minihan

20 Take Care: Be Pain Free by Gina Kelly, SPTA

21 Harmony Healing 22 What’s In Your Protein? by Jimmy Conway,MD

23 Attention Fitness Seekers by Molly Gordon

18 Bailey’s Bomb Pot-O-Stew

38 Chef Robin’s Crunchy Hawaiian Chicken Wraps

32 Addiction Doesn’t Live Under A Bridge by Katie Morris-Henson

34 Impact of Addiction On Families by Brian Stalcup, PhD

40 The Athletic Type: Noah Zuhdi by Lindsay Whelchel

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42 Physical Stress by Cody Elledge, DC44 Fiscal Fitness in 2014

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Determination. Self-control. However you describe willpower, you know it is critical for self-improvement. Unfortunately, a lack of willpower is often the reason New Year’s resolutions fizzle fast. But before you criticize your own resolution failures, it can be helpful to understand more about the nature of will-power and how it can be strengthened.

1. Make a Plan. When you know you might be faced with temptation that flexes your willpower muscle, make a plan. Focus on what you will do (I will start with a serving of broccoli), as opposed to what you will not do (I will not eat that brownie). By planning ahead you eliminate the need to make split-second decisions about temptations, which may deplete willpower. Research shows that those who enter tempting situations with a plan succeed more than those who do not.1 Also, by concentrating on what you will do, you focus less on the forbidden behavior. When individuals focus on the forbidden, they are more likely to deplete willpower and give into it.2

2. Pursue one goal at a time. Because willpower can be depleted with short-term overexertion, it is impor-tant to pace yourself. If you want to quit smoking, tackle that goal before committing to a strict diet and rigorous exercise routine. Focus on just one goal until it becomes habit. Once you’ve successfully avoided cigarettes for a few months, for instance, this behavior change no longer requires strong willpower.3 At that point your willpower becomes free to focus on a new goal.

3. Imagine your future self. Many temptations elicit impulsive, emotional responses that are difficult to over-ride with logic.4 The solution? Health psychologist Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D. recommends writing yourself a letter, from the perspective of your future self. Detail the ben-efits of reaching your goals, describe what it feels like to have succeeded, and thank yourself. This exercise brings imagined future rewards into the present, encourages self-improvement without self-criticism, and can help bolster willpower.

As you set goals for the New Year, remember these willpower-

boosting tips to keep your resolutions thriving in 2014!

Think of willpower as a muscle. Like muscles, willpow-er is exhausted by, and strengthened through, exercise. As you lift weights during a workout, your muscles begin to fatigue and lose strength. This is also the nature of willpower. As demands pile and we “muscle through” them, willpower weakens. However, since willpower functions like a muscle, it can also be strengthened. To buffer yourself against willpower depletion requires practice – exercise, if you will! Here are some research-supported techniques to incorporate into your own willpower workout.

by Jennifer Sweeton, PhD

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4. Feed your brain. Though counterintuitive, one of the best ways to stick to a diet, or any other goal requiring will-power, is to eat! Willpower quickly expends brain energy, leaving you drained. Just as you need a fueled body to lift weights, you need a glucose-fueled brain to exert willpower. As blood-sugar levels in the brain drop, so does willpower. However, when given a dose of glucose, depleted individu-als experience a strong boost in willpower.5 Thus, refueling your brain with a healthy snack is a fast, great way to restore willpower.

5. Practice mindfulness. Richard Davidson, Ph.D., a renowned neuroscientist, has identified a brain region - the prefrontal cortex – that is important for the development of willpower.6 The prefrontal cortex is involved in planning, regulating emotion, managing impulses, and making deci-sions. According to Dr. Davidson, an excellent way to build the prefrontal cortex, and willpower, is to practice mindfulness techniques. These may include meditation, breath awareness, or guided imagery. Research has found that practicing mind-fulness exercises may strengthen the prefrontal cortex and improve willpower. For instance, after adopting a mindfulness practice, a group of smokers in one study experienced reduced cravings.7 Moreover, these individuals’ brains changed after regular mindfulness practice; findings revealed reduced acti-vation in the areas of the brain involved in cravings. With mindfulness we have the power to change our brain for the better!

References: 1. Gollwitzer, P. M., & Sheeran, P. (2006). Implementation intentions and goal achievement: A meta-analysis of effects and processes. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 69-119.2. Adriaanse, M. A., van Oosten, J. M. F., de Ridder, D. T. D., de Wit, J. B. F., & Evers, C. (2011). Planning what not to eat: Ironic effects of implementation intentions negating unhealthy habits. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 37, 69-81.3. Baumeister, R., & Vohs, K. (2007). Self-regulation, ego depletion, and motivation. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 1, 1-14.4. Metcalfe J., & Mischel, W. (1999). A hot/cool system analysis of delay of gratification:dynamics of willpower. Psychological Review, 106, 3-19.5. Gailliot, M. T., & Baumeister, R. F. (2007). The physiology of willpower: Linking blood glucose to self-control. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 11, 303-327. 6. Begley, S., & Davidson, R. J. (2012). The emotional life of your brain: How its unique patterns affect the way you think, feel, and live—and how you can change them. USA: Penguin Group.7. Westbrook, C., Creswell, J. D., Tabibnia, G., Julson, E., Kober, H., & Tindle, H. A. (2011). Mindful attention reduces neural and self-reported cue-induced craving in smokers. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 8(1), 73-84.

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Ontology may be defined as the study of the nature of being. In this potent style of coaching, the premise is to observe your self in language, the body, and moods or emotions. Self-observation allows for the emergence of new ways of being, thereby developing the ability to take new actions producing powerful and transforma-tional results. Ontological coaching models and tech-niques are utilized and revered by major corporations like IBM, the U.S. Military and NASA.

Take a typical New Year’s resolution – the desire to exercise more often. Perhaps you purchased a gym mem-bership to jump start the new you in 2014. You go to the gym two or three times the first week; once or twice the second; skip the third; and then your participation quickly wanes. With self-observation, you can start to notice crucial information to help shift your actions.

Observe yourself with compassion without that criti-cal voice and with curiosity or humor. Piece together answers to your questions and formulate new actions, producing new results. Perhaps you notice that you go to the gym after work when you are tired and hungry. What happens when you have a protein shake and go to

the gym in the morning instead? Maybe you just don’t like the FEEL of the gym – the metal machines, the pounding music, the chilly air. You may discover a warm yoga class, with soothing music, spa-like environment, and stretchy clothes, better suits you. Or maybe you enjoy running, but you are not enticed by going it alone – the combined energy and camaraderie of a run-ning club is exactly what you need.

Notice the language you use inside your head and out loud to others. Observe your tone and your mood/emotion as you speak or write a text/email. When someone speaks with you, are you following the conversation? Do you keep bringing your focus back to listening, or are you thinking about an earlier meeting, distracted with driving, or daydreaming about your upcoming vacation? Observation will help you notice your current actions and state of being so you are equipped with the ability to pur-posefully take a different action.

In this New Year, incorporate a powerful method of taking new action in every aspect of your life. Whether in business or our personal life, we are all familiar with the “definition of insanity” – we keep doing the same thing over and over; we expect different results, but end up with the same old out-come. To break this cycle, practice ontological coaching to provoke BEING different so you can DO different.

By Robin FernandezLeadership Coach, Nature of Being

You will be amazed at the ensuing new results!

Robin Fernandez

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Dr. Robert E. CooperFellow of the American Academy ofOptometry, Board Certified405.946.4398Dr. Cooper Eye Care - 3330 NW 56th StreetOklahoma City opposite Baptist Hospital at Northwest Medical Center

What time of day do you have the highest motivation to go to the gym?

Does your energy increase when exercising alone or in a group class?

Is your self-talk supportive or a hindrance to getting you to commit?

Does your body feel better in a cool environment (gym) or a warm one (yoga studio)?

Do you enjoy the atmosphere and activities offered in your gym or would you be more enthusiastic going to a tennis club, attending dance classes, swimming, or biking/running outside?

Robin Fernandez

14 Thrive Oklahoma

The INTEGRIS PACER Fitness Center opened its doors in No-vember 1978. It is recognized nationally as the first hospital based fitness center in the country. PACER is an acronym for Prevention of Atherosclerosis and Coronary disease through Education and Rehabilitation.

This long standing OKC icon of health and fitness originally opened as a cardiac rehabilitation and aerobic conditioning facility designed to help coronary patients return to a normal lifestyle following cardiovascular surgery and for prevention of future heart problems. Thirty-five years later, it has grown to be a full-scale fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment and amenities.

Nancy Shidler, Director and ACSM Health Fitness certified ex-plains, “There are more than 100 group exercise classes each week ranging from yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, spin, cardio fusion, power core and more.” Upstairs, specially designed workout rooms maximize member safety and comfort. Qualified staff are available for fitness evaluations and equipment orientation for new members or guests on a day pass .

The fitness center has grown from 186 members to more than 3,500 members through the years. John Rigler, 76 enjoys working out at PACER and has been doing so ever since the grand opening in 1978. He participates 3-5 days a week and spends about 2 hours there at a time. He’s never been a heart patient and hopes to keep it that way.

INTEGRIS Health is Oklahoma’s largest health system with hospitals, rehabilitation centers, physician clinics, mental health facilities, independent living centers and home health agencies located throughout the state. INTEGRIS PACER Fitness Center is located at 5520 N. Indepen-dence Ave. OKC, OK 73112. Call 405.949.3891 For more information, visit www.integrisok.com.

by Brooke Cayot

John Rigler is 76 years old now and still enjoys working out at PACER Fitness Center. Rigler has been a mem-ber ever since the grand opening in 1978.

No other man in martial arts history has had first hand experience in the bare knuckle era of the 1960’s. Jim Butin has published his career stories in a new book, Karate Stories. A book of memoirs from what Butin calls, “The blood and guts era of tournament karate.”

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Master Pat Burleson and Governor Mary Fallin present Butin with the state’s certificate in recognition of achievement for the level of 10th degree black belt.

The young Jim Butin achieved black belt level by June of 1968. Butin competed in and won every major tournament that was prevalent in his state, Oklahoma and Kansas. Butin has won more than 150 awards, all in fighting divisions. Butin was inducted into Karate’s Official Legion of honor and the Butin name is listed in four Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Jim Butin’s name can also be found on the list of Who’s Who of Martial Arts. Butin’s most recent award and highest honor was received in July 2013 - the honor of 10th degree Black Belt – the ultimate level in martial arts.

Over the course of Butin’s martial arts career, he’s had the opportunity to travel the world and compete with the best. Winning the silver medal in the first World Tae Kwon Do Championships held in Seoul, Korea in 1973 was filled with a series of amazing events. Butin also competed in Europe, 1974 with another famous U.S team which included Joe Lewis, Jeff Smith, How-ard Jackson and Bill Wallace against Germany and the Netherlands.

In 2004, Butin was honored by the Oklahoma Metro Library system during the Summer of Champions with his own trading card. Other honored Oklahoma sports greats among Butin include Jim Thorpe, Mickey Mantle and Barry Sanders.

“In have been blessed to be a part of martial arts his-tory in the U.S. since 1966,” says Butin. Today, Butin owns and operates National Karate and Tae Kwon Do in Oklahoma City. He offers extensive youth classes and activities for all levels. This is a unique opportuni-ty to train alongside one of the few masters with actual fight experience.

Jim Butin started his Tae Kwon Do training in November 1965 at the age of 16 under Master Pat Burle-son in Ft. Worth Texas. Master Burleson’s lineage comes from his association with Allen Steen of Dallas and Jhoon Rhee, who is considered the Father of American Tae Kwon Do.by Jessica Sanchez

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veryone has great intentions. Many will sign up at the gym, even buy new gym shorts and shoes. Day one is rough but we leave feeling accomplished and

energized. Day two through twenty-something are similar in energy and motivation but somewhere between months two and four-- the focus, dedication and stick-to-itiveness slowly begins to blur and eventually fade out.

Soon enough you become swallowed-up by hectic sched-ules, work functions, and after-school activities. Before you know it, its summer and that beach body is still back in high school where you left it. As the summer’s heat en-velops Oklahoma, outdoor morning runs and rides are soon replaced with lake lounging campouts, poolside BBQs, and ice-cold long necks. Bam- Labor day passes, white pants are back out and we’re on to fall football, beer and holiday parties and so the cycle continues.

Lack of VisionThis is paramount. For example, in a new client consulta-tion we will typically ask, “What is it that you want to accomplish and why now?” Often the client responds, “I want to lose thirty pounds, my clothes are tight, my back hurts, my cholesterol is high, I have no energy, I’m un-happy with the way I look,” and on and on. . . .

Ask your self now: What will you look and feel like thirty pounds lighter? Tell me about the new wardrobe you’ll be purchasing when those skinny jeans you have on fit like

wide-leg cargo pants? Envision the freedom from back pain, the look of disbelief on the doctors face when he sees your new cholesterol results and the discount you’ll receive on health insurance premiums are some of the many rewards of hitting the restart button this year.

However, most people will never achieve their fitness ideal. Not because it’s too difficult, but because they don’t take the time to think about what it looks or feels like to become ideal-ly fit. It’s challenging to imagine, but the power of this vision is immeasurable. If you want to change your body, your health and your life—you need to know two things—where you’re at now and where you’re going. Without that you’re already lost and you’re GPS is out of batteries.

Fear and Lack of Accountability Psychologists say that FEAR translates into: Fantasized Experiences Appearing Real

• The inexperienced gym-goer may conjure dramatic scenarios where an exercise is being done incorrectly and other gym members may show disapproval.

• Fear of doing an exercise move incorrectly and being embarrassed when someone tries to correct us, may be something we avoid it all together.

• We don’t know where to start, how much weight to use for strength training, how many repetitions, or which exercises to do in what order.

• We may think that certain exercises are only for men or women.

• A woman may worry that lifting weights or drinking protein shakes will make her appear bulky and too muscular.

• Other times gym-goers see someone doing an exercise that looks interesting but we don’t know what it is—and instead of asking we keep quiet in effort to not seem ignorant or uniformed.

Those who are familiar with the turf, though veterans in the arena, often stick with the same training split they read in the latest muscle mag after seeing that it worked for Gerard Butler. Surely, if he can get ripped shredded abs, and a full chest and big arms with this workout and meal plan, I can too, right? No, not necessarily.

Once we surpass the fear, we approach the accountability as-pect. Sometimes we’re tired, overwhelmed with work-related stress, have projects due, or would rather drink wine and sit by

Another year has vanished and with it went last year’s resolution to finally reach those fitness goals. Looking back, does it seem as though this has become a pattern?

Why do our best intensions fail? Because of these 5 things:• Lack of Vision• Fear and Lack of Accountability• Lack of Goal Setting• Habitual Workouts• Distractions

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the fire place, so we decide not to do the gym thing.

What to do? Hire a trainer or get a workout partner -two heads are certainly better than one. If meeting a train-ing partner at the gym you would feel compelled to go and less likely to skip. The benefits include structured, scheduled accountability and a little friendly competi-tion. Perhaps you’ll never regret going to the gym and be happier you did throughout your day. Be sure to schedule gym times and appointments for your workouts and don’t cancel.

If you want to take your fitness the next level this year, you’ll have to take a chance, try something completely different that is exceedingly more challenging and infi-nitely more rewarding.

Lack of Goal SettingGoal setting is comparable to map-questing your vacation drive through California. You’ll want to stop and see all the sights and treat yourself along the way. Your goals in this case would be your destination and all the tourist stops along the way.

Your goals, no matter how short term or small, need, to be recognized and celebrated. So often we are overwhelmed by the end result we give up before we ever get close to reaching it. Don’t do that! Set reasonable, yet challenging goals that are measurable and have a definitive time and date for which they will all be achieved. For example, I will weigh 185 pounds by March 5th, 2014 at 9am. Create multiple short, moderate, and long-term goals, all with definitive achievement dates and times.

Tip: Write down all your goals in detail. Describe what you are doing as if you are already there, how it feels, and how you plan to reward yourself. Read your goals two or three times a day.

Developing new and exciting goals as often as you are reaching them will prevent boredom. Boredom is where passion dies and you may become

stuck. Once your passion for your purpose is lost—so are the milestones along your journey. Not only do you fail to reach your destination, but your maximum genetic potential. Loss of momentum will land you in the ditch.

Habitual WorkoutsWe live within the walls we subconsciously construct for our-selves based on preferences and our experiences. Innately, we are most comfortable being predictable creatures of habit. We take the same route to work everyday, order the same skinny latte at the corner drive-through, sleep on the same side of the bed, and brush our teeth from left to right, top to bottom—each day every day. We know what we like, we like what we do…so we do what we know. Makes sense - right. Then why aren’t we happy?

Consistency can yield compla-cency. And once you become overly consistent with your work-out routine, your progress stops. You may no longer set goals thus forget about reaching them. Boredom sets in and then you quit. Stop recreating the same experience day after day yielding the same results prolonging the dissatisfaction.

Tip: Break free of the boundaries you’ve built. Vary your exercise routines and your cardio work-outs. Change everything from the order in which you do the exercises, the number of sets, add intervals, drop sets, ascending

www.sizeandshapefitness.com

“I read my goals each morning upon waking and at night before going to bed. When I travel—I take them with me. Carry your most important goal hand-written on a note in your wallet so you see it everyday and are constantly reminded of the state of mind you will occupy once you reach it.”

continued on page 18

sets, try grouping different muscle groups together, and Google new fitness trends and workouts.

Find something new and stick with it for a designated period of time. This will give your body ample time to respond to the new stimulation. Yes, we want changes immediately and instant results, unfortunately that’s not how this works. Try the new program or system for a minimum of six weeks. Track your progress with weekly photos, weight-ins and measure-ments taken at the same time of day, wearing the same clothing, and in the same lighting. Keep an exercise log and track your workouts, what weights you use, the duration and how you feel before and after the workout. Looking back on previous work-outs will prove to be encouraging as you see your strength and endurance improve.

DistractionsYou’re finally ready to hit the gym. You’ve got sweet new shoes, a friend to workout with and hired a trainer. No more fear of the unknown, you have a workout partner, you’re focused, and excited about the new routines, expectations, and upcom-ing goals. And then something happens. It doesn’t really matter what it is—but it’s not your fault and its completely unavoid-able. We all know the situation, we’ve all experienced it. And for simplicity’s sake, lets call it what it is—an excuse. If this continues to happen it will also result in another year of resolu-tions tossed out in to space never to be seen again. So, there are two options here: Progress or regress. That means decide to start taking 100% responsibility over your life or don’t.

One thing is for sure, if you want this year to be different, if you want this year to be your defining year, starting today you have to assume the position that you will take credit for everything that does or does not happen to you. No more blaming outside circumstances, playing the victim card, or thinking of reasons why you cant or haven’t tried until now.

Tip: Recognize that your response to an event in your life will always yield an outcome. You are responsible for this outcome. You are never a victim of a circumstance you yourself didn’t help create. So, instead of blaming the event and being dis-satisfied with the result—change your response. You only have control over two things in your life—your thoughts and your actions.

You can decide to stop making excuses, and begin to focus on your life’s health and fitness vision, set goals, schedule yourself gym time, therapeutic massages, eat healthier, get adequate sleep and to drink more water. You have the fleeting opportunity to accept 100% responsibility today and make this year truly unsurpassable.

This is comfort food for sure - without the guilt. Make this dish ahead of time and enjoy a warm hearty meal when you’re on the go. This full flavor, low sodium meal is sure to please!Ingredients2 Tbsp coconut oil 3 to 4 lbs roast (grass fed), cut into 1-inch pieces3/4 tsp cracked black pepper1/2 lb button mushrooms, thinly sliced (optional)3 Tbsp Pamela’s gluten free bread flour mix or brown rice flour1 or 2 tablespoons Better Than Bouillon organic beef base 15oz can tomato sauce (use no sodium added) 1 large Japanese or regular sweet potato, cubed1 bag frozen organic mixed veggies (365 Brand has peas, car-rots, green beans)1 bag frozen 365 Mediterranean Mix (365 brand has squash, carrots, green beans and onions)1 bag frozen cut green beans1 Tbsp fresh parsley leaves, chopped1/2 tsp dried thyme1/2 tsp dried oregano1/4 tsp dried basil1/8 tsp ground allspice15 oz. water (add more as needed while it’s cooking to achieve desired consistency)Mix the flour and beef bouillon (depending on how much flavor you prefer and the amount of beef you use), tomato sauce, herbs, spices, water, and coconut oil into the slow cooker. Add meat and mushrooms. Cover the slow cooker and set the temperature to high. Cook for 1 hour.

Add the potatoes and water. Continue to cook the stew for another 6-7 hours on low stirring occasionally. During the last hour of cooking, add the frozen veggies and replace the lid. Once the stew is cooked, stir in parsley and serve im-mediately.

Bailey Shuck-Minihan

Starting Over Continued from page 17

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“My very own IFBB Women’s Physique Pro certified Glorious Glute and Thigh Blast Workout. I do these to get ready for stage competitions” Bailey Shuck-Minihan

Workout Schedule Do these in the following order:

Week 1: Do sets A & B only followed by 8 min Stair Master

Week 2: Do sets A, B & C followed by 10 min Stair Master (increase the speed)

Week 3: Do sets A,B,C, & D followed by 15 min Stair Master-

Week 4: Do sets A, B, C, & D (increase the weight on all exer-cises) followed by 18 min Stair Master (increase the speed)

Week 5: Do sets A, B, C, & D-1 followed by 20 min Stair Master

Week 6: Do sets D-1, C, B, & A followed by 20 min Stair Master (increase the speed)

Week 7: Do sets C, A, D-1, & B followed by 25 min Stair Master

Week 8: Do sets B, D-1, C, & A followed by 25 min Stair Master (increase the speed)

Bailey is currently the only International Federation of Body Building Women’s Physique Professional in the state of Okla-homa. She snagged the Overall Trophy at the North American Body Building Championships only 11 months after first step-ping onto a competitive stage.

As a wife, a step-mom and local trainer, Bailey is able to relate to the stresses and obstacles life often supplies. She will help you to pursue your dreams, achieve your outcomes, and build a last-ing vision by which to live. Contact Bailey with fitness related questions: bailey@sizeandshapefitness.com

Warm up 5 minutes on the treadmill first! Dumbells = D.B.’s

Set A - 3 TIMES:Knee Extensions – 30 repsPlea Squats on Smith machine or holding single D.B.’s 25 repsStability Ball hamstring curls lying on a floor mat – 20 reps

Set B - 3 TIMES:Step-Ups on bench w/ reverse lunge (use same leg you stepped up with) – 10 reps per legLying Leg Curls 20 reps (10 reps dors-flexed 10 reps plantar-flexed) Stiff leg Dead lifts – 15 reps

Set C - 3 TIMES:Lunges holding D.B.’s w/ glute kickback– 20 reps45 degree leg presses (feet high on platform, wide stance with toes slightly pointed out) – 30 reps

Set D - 3 TIMES:Seated Leg Curls – 20 repsAbductor Machine – 50 reps

Set D-1 - 3 TIMES:Seated Leg Curls – 20 repsAbductor Machine – 50 repsPop Squats- 20 reps

Photo byDan Ray Photography

20 Thrive Oklahoma

or many people, pain is a part of life that makes it a struggle to get out of bed every morning. For others, it may be that nag-

ging neck pain from sitting at the desk all day or pain in the knee when running. Everyone’s pain is different and everyone seems to have it. Fortunately, the cause of most pain is simple - The body isn’t working properly. Often, it is due to muscle imbalances.

Muscles work like a tug-of-war match, in opposition to each other. Ideally, the opposing muscle groups work optimally and provide equal pull in both directions. When one muscle group is stronger, an imbalance will occur.

Opposing muscle groups should be equal in strength and pro-vide stability. This provides correct biomechanics at a joint. Many people with muscle imbalances, one muscle group is doing more of the work, which may over time cause soreness.

.

Contact Gina Kelley at Balanced Body Solutions-Therapy & Wellness927 N. Flood #102 Norman, OK 73069 • 928-3008BalancedBodySolutionsOK.com

by Gina Kelley, NASM-CPT, CSCS

Until the balance between the opposing muscle groups is equalized, restrictions in flexibility will remain and inap-propriate movement patterns will continue and eventually worsen.

Understanding the basics of what causes pain is important, but knowing how to fix the problem is the only path to pain relief.

Corrective exercise is the solution. In many situations, regular exercise will make things worse due to these muscle imbalances. When exercise routines reinforce dysfunctional patterns, the stronger muscle groups will remain strong and the weaker teammates just sit back and go along for the ride.

Each dysfunctional muscle group must be isolated and forced to activate properly. Active Isolated Stretching and Strengthening can provide this type of action. Re-educating the muscle memory network is the key. A practitioner helps guide the body through various movement patterns, while the patient assists.

When the muscles cannot go any further actively, the prac-titioner provides a gentle end-range stretch to help the body move through a new motion. Once the body has actively moved through the new motion, it can be maintained be-cause the muscle is now doing the work. After the opposing muscles are working equally, specific isolated strengthening exercises are added to optimize muscle function.

Corrective exercise is for everyone – not just the profes-sional athlete. It’s human nature to want to take the path of least resistance. Some people cringe at the thought of having to exercise. But why settle for a life of lying around in pain, taking medication, quitting a sport you love and not living your life to the fullest? Don’t settle for anything less than a life of pain-free movement.

Are your specialists looking at the whole picture? That’s the type of whole body approach required to treat the origin of pain. It is crucial to treat the dysfunction and not just the pain, otherwise it is putting together a puzzle with missing pieces.

Gina Kelly assists a client with an upper trapeziousstrtch and a lateral trunk stretch.

Thrive Oklahoma 21

Contact Gina Kelley at Balanced Body Solutions-Therapy & Wellness927 N. Flood #102 Norman, OK 73069 • 928-3008BalancedBodySolutionsOK.com

Dr. Amit Gumman practices acupuncture, naturopathy, ayurveda and other alternative medicine techniques. The new center has been thoughtfully planned and no detail overlooked. There are seven treatment rooms and an inviting lobby area on the first floor for patient intake. Patients and visitors will have access to the finest ayurvedic herbs and Maharishi teas. The second floor provides ample space for yoga and cooking classes or it can be rented for business meetings.

It is the hope after several years of planning that, “It’s going to be like a buffer between this chaotic intersection and we have built an oasis in the middle of the chaos,” says Dr.Gumman.

Dr. Gumman posses several scientific degrees in addition to his medical degree, which makes him expertly trained in alterna-tive medicine. He also earned a master’s degree in public health from OU Health Sciences Center.

This thriving alternative health practice has grown from, “The referrals of other medical professionals at OU Health Sciences Center and word of mouth from patients over the years,” says Dr. Gumman.

His inspiration to heal others began when Dr. Gumman was a high school student. He watched the rapid natural recovery

of his grandmother from the effects of diabetes and bypass surgery and he knew then that this was the field he wanted to work in.

In spite of serving as the “alternative” therapy, acu-puncture studies have shown positive results in managing pain1 and drug addiction 2,3 two areas where conventional or non-integrative medicine has generally failed.

Dr. Gumman has found great success with treating the following with his acupunc-ture techniques: Pain management for arthritis and soft tissue injuries. Acute diseases of the immune system and alimentary tract problems also respond well with acupuncture therapy. Dr. Guman also has wonderful success stories of helping fertility patients and patients with migraine headaches.

For nearly 20 years Dr. Amit Gumman has worked to develop a thriving al-ternative medical practice in NW Oklahoma City. Recently, Harmony Healing Center launched a new holistic haven for total wellness. The new center is located on the corner of NW Expressway at Portland.

1. Patel et al.1989. A meta-analysis of acupuncture for chronic pain. Int J Epidemiol. Dec. 18(4):900-6.2. Bullock et al. 1989. Controlled trial of acupuncture for severe recidivist alcoholism. Lancet. Jun. 1 (8652):1435-9.3.Smith, L.S. 1988. Evaluation and management of the muscle contraction headache. Nurse Pract. Jan. 13(1):20-3, 26-7.

by Jessica Sanchez

22 Thrive Oklahoma

In researching nutrition during these past few years I have come across some interesting information. Some of the initial research into protein was done by a prominent Ger-man scientist at the time by the name of Carl Voit (1831-1908). He found that man only needed 48.5 grams of protein per day but nonetheless recommended 118 grams per day, mainly due to the cultural bias of the time. A protégé of Voit was W.O. Atwater (1844-1907). Atwater organized the first nutrition lab at the USDA and recommended that 125 grams of protein per day were needed but this was not based on any scientific data.

This notion that we need a significant amount of protein has benn etched in our minds. Today we know that only .8 grams per pound of body weight is needed for the average sedentary adult. Body weight in pounds x 0.36 equals the recommended protein intake. For example, a male weighing 190lbs would need approximately 68.4 grams of protein per day.

Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein. There are 9 essential amino acids that our body cannot produce and that we must get from the food we eat. Most people have no idea that foods like broccoli, spinach, and beans are all loaded with protein. It was once thought that certain plant foods needed to be eaten together in order to obtain a “com-plete protein”. We now know that is not necessary and that as long as a diet contains a variety of grains, legumes and vegetables, protein require-ments are met.

A high protein diet can have adverse effects on our health: A high protein diet can cause urinary calcium loss and has been shown in studies to increase the risk of fractures. Plant-based foods are rich in calcium and can help protect against osteopo-rosis.

Animal proteins cooked at high temperatures have been found to produce compounds called heterocyclic amines that have been linked specifically to colon and breast cancer. The typical American diet with high intake of animal protein is also ex-

tremely high in cholesterol and saturated fat which can increase the risk of a heart attack.

When I started down this path of a whole-foods plantbased lifestyle 4 years ago I got asked many questions, and still do today, but the question I get asked the most is “where do you get your protein?”

From this table you can see these foods not only contain enough protein to meet our needs but are very high in fiber and very low in fat and calories.

Dr. Conway is an orthopedic surgeon in Oklahoma City with Oklahoma Sports Science and

Orthopaedics. Dr. Conway is Board Certified and primarily treats patients with severe degenerative disease of the shoulder and sports-related shoulder injuries in addition to teaching patients about the important role nutrition plays in their health. You can follow Dr. Conway and his wife on Twitter @plantbasedokc and Facebook/plantbasedokc. They continue to hold FREE monthly nutritional seminars at Community Hospital at 3100 SW 89th. Go to www.plantbasedokc.com for dates and information.

Try to balance your plate each day with grains, vegetables, legumes and fruits.

by Jimmy Conway, MD

Thrive Oklahoma 23

Rowing, Yoga & CrossFit get everyone into shapeIf you want to make fitness a priority in 2014, OKC RIVERS-PORT offers unique indoor fitness opportunities year-round and the newest class on the schedule is sure to get your heart pump-ing.

“We’re fairly well known for our robust programs, teams and lessons on the water, but we also have some of the best indoor training around,” said OKC RIVERSPORT Fitness Coordinator Kam Gray. “We’ve got yoga, indoor rowing classes and our lat-est addition, CrossFit classes with CrossFit Reverb.”

CrossFit has been touted as one of the most popular workout regimens in the nation. It focuses on strength and condition-ing. CrossFit is a high intensity interval program which allows members to adjust each workout to their fitness and skill level. One of the most popular aspects of CrossFit is the ability to be competitive within the sport – whether against other members or solely against yourself. Pushing yourself to reach, and then achieve, your goals in CrossFit is what keeps many members coming back for more.

“The Oklahoma City National High Performance Center located in the Devon Boathouse is a first-class training center and a great place to do any workout – especially CrossFit,” said Lee Wratis-law, CrossFit Reverb coach.

Many people truly enjoy getting their WOD (that’s Workout of the Day) at the Boathouse District. With a unique atmosphere and beautiful view of the Oklahoma River, OKC RIVERSPORT has something special to offer along with CrossFit classes.

“You can make it as competitive as you want,” said Karen Col-well, who as a CrossFit member and OKC RIVERSPORT paddle sports coach brings both the athlete and coach perspective. “If you want to compete against other people in the workout, you can. If you want to push yourself as hard as you can and achieve something you didn’t think possible, you can do that too.”

“CrossFit provides more than just physical fitness,” said Wratis-law, “The classes create camaraderie between classmates, which

becomes a built-in support system for everyone. It’s great to know they’ll be cheering you on when you set a personal record or get your first unassisted pull-up. They want you to succeed just as much as you do, and that’s a powerful motiva-tor for success.”

“The Boathouse District is the ideal place to have CrossFit classes,” said Gray. “If you purchase a RIVERSPORT Pass along with taking CrossFit classes at the Boathouse District, you get access to both of our fitness centers and any of our fitness classes that we offer throughout the year. This is a great way to get the most for your money and take advantage of all of the great benefits we have to offer with a RIVERSPORT Pass.”

“This could be your year for reaching all of your fitness goals,” said Wratislaw. “I invite you to join us at the Boathouse Dis-trict.”Learn more about CrossFit at the Boathouse District and the benefits of being a RIVERSPORT Pass holder. Visit the Welcome Center in the Chesapeake Finish Line Tower at SE 6th St. and Lincoln Blvd.; check online at boathousedistrict.org; or call (405) 552-4040.

The Boathouse District currently offers the following classes:• Cardio Core• Cardio Mix• CrossFit• Indoor Rowing

• Kickboxing• Silver Sneakers• Strength & Conditioning• Yoga

by Molly Gordon

24 Thrive Oklahoma

David Brown is the Edmond resident, appearing in the 15th season of NBC’s Biggest Loser, he weighed in at 409 pounds on the first episode. At 6 feet, Brown hit the Biggest Loser Ranch with a Body Mass Index of 55.5, dangerously obese. His ongoing battle with weight loss, a battle he’s fought for over a decade, shows why shedding pounds doesn’t always just come down to eating right and exercising frequently. Sometimes it in-volves emotional and spiritual healing, as well.

“I’ve seen The Biggest Loser from the beginning and I know what kind of transformations happen there. I wanted to be a part of that. Instead of spending the next six years getting healthy, I wanted to do it over the next six months,” says Brown.

During the second weigh-in of the sea-son, Brown’s coach and trainer, Dolvett Quince, called him out for the unusual tattoo on his chest. A stylized version of the Japanese symbol for “warrior,” it set the tone for Brown’s approach at the very beginning. This would be nothing less than a Battle Royale. But Quince knew there was a lot of work to be done before Brown could unleash the warrior.

“At the very beginning I saw someone who was in a tremendous amount of pain. He still mourned the death of his former wife, and hated how far he let his own health spiral out of control,” says Quince.

At 22, Brown married his first wife, Andrea, in 1992. Only six months after the honeymoon, Andrea experienced a violent seizure. Shortly thereafter, she was diagnosed with brain can-cer. Life changed overnight for the couple. In the spring of 1993, Andrea underwent brain surgery and chemotherapy. They directed all of their energy, with laser-like focus, at her recovery. But looking after her health,

Brown soon lost track of his own.

“Literally, in an instant, ev-erything changed. All of my

energy went into figuring out what was going on -- in her case, it was

a brain tumor. Everything became about day-to-day survival. It wasn’t about going on with life normally. Everything became abnormal. One day we’re fine and the next, we’re grasping at straws and stretching to take the next indicated step,” said Brown.

Before Andrea was struck with cancer, Brown enjoyed an active, healthy lifestyle. He ate well. He was a member of several sports leagues and spent a good chunk of time at the gym. He biked, played flag football, and golfed. He was

not a sedentary guy. The battle against cancer squeezed physical activity out of his schedule. Eating healthy

became a trial, as well, and Brown began his own battle with binge eating.

“I started eating a lot of fast food. I was driven by my schedule. There were so many appointments. I was hitting drive-

throughs and eating stuff mindlessly while I waited for the next appointment.

At the end of the day, I’d eat dinner with the family and then get hungry after they went to

bed. The binge eating would happen at night. When I gained weight, that was the consistent thing for me. I ate unhealthily and then binged at night. And it was all carbs, sugars, and pastas. You eat that at night and it just sticks with you,” said Brown.

After two years of fighting, Andrea’s cancer went into remission in 1995. Their first daughter, Jordan, was born later that year. Two years later, they gave birth to their second daughter, Macken-zie. Brown also graduated from Oklahoma City University that year.

In 1999, Andrea’s brain cancer returned, this time at stage four. There was more surgery and more

by Paul Fairchild

Top- David and Andrea as newlyweds in 1992.Middle - Jordan Brown was born after a heartbreaking 3rd trimester miscarriage in 1995.Bottom - The growing Brown family welcome baby Mackenzie in 1997.

Thrive Oklahoma 25

radiation, but after three years, despite an epic battle on her part, she lost the fight. At the time of Andrea’s passing, Jordan was six and Mackenzie had just turned four. It was Andrea’s dying wish that her daughters remember her not just as the mother she was, but as the mother she would have been if she’d had more time with them.

Brown’s health continued to decline after Andrea passed away. With obesity came a variety of weight-related illnesses. High blood pressure and hypertension came first. He developed sleep apnea. The wake-up call, however, was a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. That, says Brown, was his motivation for finding his way to the Biggest Loser Ranch. That, and a promise he made to Andrea before she passed away.

“I walked in there with the perfect focus. It’s about a promise I made to Andrea, that I’d be there for our girls and that I’d help them remember her. She was afraid when she passed away that her girls would forget her, especially as the healthy and playful mom she wanted to be. For me to be here to help with that is important. I made a promise,” said Brown.

So Brown started the season with 409 pounds and a lot of emotional baggage that needed to go. He was on nine differ-ent medications to treat various weight-related problems. The show’s resident physician, Dr. Robert Huizinga, has more than a passing familiarity with this scenario.

“When I see this, I think I’ve got to do something different from all their prior doctors! First, I actually have to put his health situation in terms he will understand and remember – how many years of life he’s giving up! Second, I have to give him hope. The medical journal articles on prior seasons of Biggest Loser contestants show that through an exercise-centric fat-loss approach he can get off, and stay off, all the medication,” says Huizinga.

Biggest Loser host Alison Sweeney frequently bills competition on the show as a second chance at life. To compete successfully, losers have to learn and master a healthier way of life. Trainers introduce them to the gym and show them how to establish vital exercise routines. Chefs show them around the kitchen, teach-ing them about nutrition and how to incorporate healthy eating habits into even the busiest of lifestyles.

“The Biggest Loser is not just a weight loss show. It’s about people transforming themselves inside and out by not only

working on their bodies, but also their emotions, minds and habits. We provide not just trainers but also a world-class nu-tritionist, doctor and psychologist. Healthy eating habits and exercise are key but we also work on the “why.” The Biggest Loser gets the contestants to understand “why” they gained weight and helps get them past it so they don’t go back to the unhealthy lifestyle after leaving the ranch,” says Executive Producer Lisa Hennessy.

Brown went after the opportunity with everything he’s got. He stumbled during his first workout, bowing out after getting,

- FAMILY PHOTOS PROVIDED -

well, worked. After that, he consistently delivered for his team – and for himself. He lost more weight in the first week – 38 pounds – than any other contestant in the show’s history. Episode after episode, he consistently put big numbers on the scale. He stayed focused on his reasons for being on the show.

“My faith and my family are everything. I’ve been blessed by God with the best that life can offer, especially coming off the tragedies I’ve come through. I’m looking for two things at the ranch. First, a full transformation, the whole package - body, mind and soul. Second, I want healing. There are life things that I haven’t dealt with, yet. If I can get those things right, I’ll be set up to be successful for the rest of my life. I won’t have the same excuses, the same baggage, that I walked onto the ranch with. I’m going to shed emotional bag-gage at the same time I shed the weight,” said Brown.

The show is already eight episodes into the season and Brown’s still going strong. Since the show’s premiere, he’s shed over 100 pounds. He is, according to many of the show’s internet fans, a favorite for the win. His success is a product of dedicated, disciplined focus. It’s as if, at the ranch, he was finally able to refocus on himself. Quince agrees, and points to the warrior tattoo on Brown’s chest, a tattoo that took on more and more meaning as Brown passed weigh-in after weigh-in.

“I learned this guy has more fight then he let on! More drive than he exposed! I chose to help David out of his rut. I had no idea he’d be right by my side so quickly making it happen every day. A warrior, indeed!” says Quince.

Those nine medications that Brown started the show with? Gone. Their absence is one more demonstration of Brown’s success. As long as he sticks to his exercise and diet routines, he says, his blood pressure is perfect. His blood sugars are at the right levels, and, he enthusiastically adds, he doesn’t need a sleep mask for his apnea, anymore – a byproduct of his hard work that his wife especially ap-preciates.

Brown has every intention of going the distance and taking the win. His secret is the adoption of Hennessy’s belief that understanding the “why” of weight loss is more important than anything else. And - if the fans are right – the February 4th episode will see him take the season 15 title.

“Everybody knows how to lose weight. It’s simple: eat less, move more. The most important thing for me, and the thing I’ve told every person asking for my help is that you have to know your ‘why’. And I’m not talking about the easy ‘why’s’ of ‘get in shape’, ‘fit in those pants,’ ‘my 10 year reunion is next month,’ and so on. I’m talking about the type of ‘why’ that you’d take a bullet for, the ‘why’ that you’ll die trying to achieve. Ultimately, that’s the only thing that will get you out of bed to apply what we all already know about eating right and working out,” says Brown.

Brown is currently down over 110 lbs !!

Swimming laps burns about 825 calories per hour for Brown and it’s a no impact activity on legs and joints.

26 Thrive Oklahoma

Edmond’s Own Biggest Loser Continued from page 25

- Competition Photos of David Brown Provided by Paul Drinkwater NBC -

“Marius Petipa’s choreography in both of these performances features a lovely display of exquisite bal-let and Russian tradition,” said Ryan Malone, Armstrong Auditorium concert manager. “With one ballet portraying a popular children’s story and the other depicting a story of adventure and chivalry, Moscow Festival Ballet is sure to illustrate spectacular performances the entire family can enjoy.”Set to the music composed by Peter Tchaikovsky, Sleeping Beauty is a story of a young princess who pricks her finger and falls into a deep sleep, only to be awoken by a spell-breaking kiss from her prince. This tradi-tional story comes to life with the talent and grace of the 50 Moscow Festival Ballet dancers. Quixote is a ballet based on the world-famous novel Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes. Taking place during the 1600’s, this beloved story features the escapades of a Spanish hidalgo who goes by the name of Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza. Guests will get lost in the story as both Don Quixote and Sancho set sail seeking adventure.

Armstrong Auditorium Welcomes the Moscow Festival BalletArmstrong Auditorium begins its 2014 season with two back-to-back nights of performances from the Moscow Festival Ballet, beginning on Monday, January 27 with Sleeping Beauty, followed by Don Quixote on January 28

Both ballets start at 7:30 pm and are full-length performances separated into three acts. Tickets can be purchased separately for both perfor-mances. For more information on tickets, subscriptions, group rates or current exhibits, please visit www.ArmstrongAuditorium.org. Tickets start at $42 for balcony seating and $94 for orchestra. Armstrong Auditorium is located at 14400 S. Bryant Rd. in Edmond, OK 73034 (North of Waterloo) Call the Box office at 405-285-1010

“We have guests from all over Oklahoma and even neighboring states coming to Armstrong Auditorium,” said Shane Granger, Armstrong Auditorium marketing director. “Year after year we have seen that some of our biggest draws come from the different ballet perfor-mances; so we are thrilled and honored to welcome the talented performers from the Moscow Festival Ballet.”

Armstrong Auditorium’s scientifically engineered auditorium ensures that each guest will have the optimum experience. With only 75 feet from the back of the auditorium to the stage, every audience member will enjoy a quality experience while watching the performances.

Thrive Oklahoma 27

28 Thrive Oklahoma

Since 1964, their guiding principle remains - Clean Places, Friendly Faces. And that principle extends into the communi-ties Love’s serves through generous charitable contributions that stay local, corporate giving in the Metro area as well as matching employee donations. Love’s continually strives to be the employer of choice – a privately held company that attracts and retains employees who choose to work and grow with the company.

One way Love’s demonstrates employee care is through on-going wellness initiatives. Spearheaded by Carl Martincich, VP of Human Resources and Risk Management, a wellness steering committee was formed with a mix of 30 employees about five years ago. Love’s has recently completed the first employee wellness challenge called, Healthy Hearts. The successful completion of Healthy Hearts adds another core value to Love’s, that according to media specialist Kealey Dorian, “Encourages employees to become the healthiest versions of themselves.”

Healthy Hearts is a multi-faceted incentivized program whereby employees earn cash rewards for participating in a variety of activities that provide confidential information about their

current health, increased awareness, and physical activity. The free four-step program includes biometric screen-ings (weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, etc.); a health risk assessment survey; a preventive screening ser-vice (such as mammography, physician wellness visit, der-matology screening); and completing six activities (more than 50 to choose from) including 5K races, volunteering for corporate sponsored events, and listening to guest speakers. “Nearly 80% of the OKC corporate employees participated in a Healthy Hearts activity,”says Martincich.

Above: The Love’s Country Market display of fresh fruit is in place at Love’s corporate locations for employees to enjoy free healthy selections in place of the old vending machines.Front and center are healthy selections in all convenience store locations. Left: Employees enjoy their very own in-house healthy Love’s Cafe, where the healthy choice is the more affordable one.

This month, Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores celebrates fifty years of passionate service supplying food, fuel, and provisions in modern facilities to travelers across the United States.

by Robin Fernandez

Thrive Oklahoma 29

Love’s sponsors employee fitness, and its rowing team is a very suc-cessful example. Love’s employees can get discounted memberships to the YMCA. Other wellness innovations include comfortable break rooms, attractive sitting areas with natural light and standing work stations. Even traditional vending machines were pulled in favor of the now popular free fruit stands. Drinking fountains include dis-pensers for conveniently refilling water bottles thus reducing plastic waste.

At the request of employees, the company opened its most recent wellness endeavor — Love’s Café (pictured left). It launched in No-vember 2013 with affordable, healthy meal options for breakfast and lunch right on the corporate campus. Bright, cheery wall art depicts the proud history of Love’s thriving story. Employees who purchase their meals through a digital card by Love’s food vendor can private-ly login to a secure website to obtain dietary, nutritional, and calorie information about their purchases.

When asked a few questions about employee participation in the inaugural Healthy Hearts program, employees were happy to provide glowing reports.

I finally understood the connection between high blood sugar and circulation problems when I heard one of the speakers that came during one of the lunch and learns. So I will definitely keep that blood sugar within normal and try not to have spikes and lows. — Nancy Parker

I have more energy now and I’m happier with more confidence than before…I think my energy level has helped with my atten-tion to detail with my daily duties. My husband and I both work for Love’s; we have been working on a healthier life style for a combined two years, and together we have lost a total of 126lbs. — Crystal Peery

Being able to meet with a group of fellow employees with the same goal in mind brought a sense of camaraderie about well-ness. — Laura Potter

I ran two 5k races that I probably wouldn’t have run otherwise. — Clayton Bellamy

Participating in Wellness meant no sick days taken and feeling more energetic at work. The same applied to leisure time with family. Being healthy makes you more fun to be around, and competing WITH my sons in events makes me a role model! — Jim Zellner

30 Thrive Oklahoma

Since the beginning of organized addiction recovery programs, anonymity of those in recovery has always been the rule. But the man campaigning to be Oklahoma City’s next mayor wants to change that. And he hopes OKC will be at the forefront of a new movement to remove the cloak of secrecy surrounding recovery.

Dr. Ed Shadid is not only a spinal surgeon, father of three chil-dren, serving city councilor and mayoral candidate; he is also one of the 25 million Americans in long-term recovery from addiction to openly share his story of redemption with anyone who is will-ing to listen.

After the loss of his brother and a difficult and heartbreaking divorce about ten years ago, Shadid found himself struggling with addiction to marijuana.

“I lost my brother, and I lost my marriage, and those two things happened simultaneously. Everybody’s threshold for pain is dif-ferent, and what’s disappointing is I just wasn’t aware that there were options, that there was another path,” Shadid says.

He began a spiritual journey which emphasized honesty, service to others, and long-term recovery from the disease of addiction. Shadid and his “co-parent” Dina eventually reconciled their relationship and now jointly raise their children in a partnership defined by grace and strong friendship.

A self-described member of the addiction recovery advocacy movement growing in the U.S., Shadid believes that a greater

number of individuals in long-term recovery coming forward would cause the chronic disease of addiction to lose its shame and stigma just as other diseases such as cancer, diabetes and AIDS have seen.

“I feel like if I had known there was this recovery com-munity out there, things could’ve been different earlier, and that’s why it’s so important to come forward,” Shadid says and adds, “The only path to changing the wholly inadequate public response to addiction, which is overrunning the city of Oklahoma City, is to change the public perception of addiction, and that will require some of us in long-term recovery to step forward and forcefully advocate for our own just as those for countless other chronic diseases have done before us.”

The statistics in Oklahoma City and Oklahoma are stag-gering. “Oklahoma’s per capita opiate prescriptions and abuse lead, not just the country, but the world” Shadid says, and adds, “Two-thirds of ER visits by senior citizens are now drug and alcohol related.” Drug overdoses now kill more Oklahomans than motor vehicle accidents — an average of two per day.

The economic impact to Oklahoma of untreated addic-tion is substantial. The direct costs, such as spending on hospital care, doctors, police and prisons, add up to $1.8 billion, a recent study indicated, while indirect costs, such as employee absenteeism and reduced productivity, chew up another $5.4 billion.

According to the state mental health department about 160,000 Oklahomans need treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, which includes an estimated 20,000 teenagers. However, few of those people get the help they need and several factors contribute to that.

by Andrew Speno

Thrive Oklahoma 31

innovative dave

The primary reason, Shadid says, is the social stigma surround-ing addiction.

“Shame and stigma are what has pushed Oklahoma to this point. Addiction is a medical condition, and no one should feel shame over that. We must get to the point where all Okla-homans understand addiction is a disease of the brain just like any other part of the body,” Shadid says.

The problem with uniform anonymity among those in recov-ery, according to Shadid, is that the public is only left with sensationalized media coverage, primarily of celebrities suffer-ing from addiction and failing to achieve long-term sobriety. As soon as celebrities achieve sobriety they cease being a story and the public, hearing of cases such as Lindsay Lohan and Whitney Houston, associates rehabilitation with failure.

Once the public associates rehabilitation with failure, the only option left is for society to try and incarcerate its way out of our addiction problem. Nowhere is that strategy more evident than in Oklahoma, which has among the most severe drug sentencing laws in the nation. At twice the national average, Oklahoma incarcerates more women than any other state with more than 80% of those women needing help from substance abuse, Shadid says.

It is no coincidence that Oklahoma has among the highest rates of physical and sexual violence towards children as well as domestic violence in adults.

“Many Oklahoma Citians suffer from trauma, proceed to self-medicate the emotional pain, become addicted, get in trouble with the law and then we incarcerate them for their symptom-atic behavior,” Shadid says.

Shadid has an ally in Terri White, commissioner of the Okla-homa Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Ser-vices, who first joined him in discussing this topic at a forum of 300 people in February of 2012.

“In our system, we have enough resources to serve about one-third of the Oklahomans who financially qualify for our services and need help. So on any given day, two-thirds of Oklahomans who need help, and qualify, can’t get it. On any given day, 600 to 900 Oklahomans are on a waiting list for a bed in a publicly funded residential substance abuse center,” White has said.

To those in the recovery community concerned with keep-ing the tradition of anonymity, Shadid points out that it is only those in long-term recovery who need to come forward and notes that Alcoholics Anonymous founders Bill Wilson and Marty Mann testified in front of the U.S. Congress in 1969 about the nature of their addiction and how the 12-step program worked. “If they felt it necessary to publicly tell their

story in order to help the greater community of those still suf-fering from the disease, then some of us in long-term recovery should follow their lead and forcefully advocate for those of our own still suffering.”Publisher’s note: Andrew Speno is affiliated with the mayoral campaign team for Dr. Ed Shadid.

Ed and Dina Shadid enjoy a walk in the park with their children.

32 Thrive Oklahoma

Most of us were shocked when Toronto Mayor Rob Ford made headlines all over the world last month after video footage surfaced, allegedly showing his use of crack cocaine. Or perhaps it was his initially brazen denial, and then admittance and subsequent minimi-zation of any concerns related to this behavior that was so shocking. He attributed his crack use to a one-time incident solely related to his degree of alcohol intoxication at the time, which he stated was also not a problem. Nor was the quantity of marijuana he admitted to smoking over the years, nor the drunk driving charge from 2010, or a host of other allegations regarding his often troubling antics since assuming office in 2010.

Much like former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry in the 90’s, the media and late-night pundits have focused on the insanity of it all to enter-tain the public far more than provide an opportunity for discourse on addiction. Regardless of how Mayor Ford’s story ultimately unfolds, whether he is or isn’t an addict or alcoholic, this level of chaotic impulsivity and lack of self-control is of the type often seen in those battling the disease of addiction and it has been a reminder that the those who suffer don’t always reside in the streets or alleys of our towns and cities. Sometimes, they are running them.

NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) states that if a person compulsively seeks or uses drugs or alcohol despite increasingly negative consequences related to this use, that person is likely to be addicted. Below are some ways one may find where they fall on that continuum:

Katie serves as the Clinical Services Director for Milagro Ranch, a trauma-informed residential treatment center for women located in Pink, OK. Katie has been working with individuals and families impacted by mental illness and substance abuse for over fifteen (15) years as a clinician, consultant, trainer, and advocate. As a member of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) she served as co-chair

of the national Residential Treatment Center work group and as National Chair for their Assessment project. She is a certified Sanctuary Model ® faculty, assisting agencies in developing trauma-informed programming to address the impact of trauma on children, families, and systems. She was awarded the Governor’s Commendation in 2005 for her collaborative work on the reduction of seclusion and restraint in Oklahoma and has served on two Governor’s Task Forces on mental health and substance abuse issues.

Office 405-275-3176State Hotline 800-522-SAFE

We proudly serve victims of

family violence, sexual assault,

stalking and human trafficking

regardless of race, gender, age,

sexuality or economic status.

Thrive Oklahoma 33

Signs and symptoms of alcoholism:Addiction to drugs or alcohol involves all the symptoms of abuse, but also involves another element: physical dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal.

1 Tolerance:You need more of a substance to feel the same effect over time. Do you drink or use more of a drug than you used to? Do you do so more than other people without showing obvi-ous signs of intoxication?

2. Withdrawal:You may experience withdrawal symptoms as the effect of the substance wears off, including: anxiety or jumpiness; shakiness or trembling; sweating, nausea and vomiting, in-somnia, depression, irritability, fatigue or loss of appetite and headaches. Do you use drugs or alcohol to steady the nerves or stop the shakes in the morning? Drinking or using drugs to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms is a sign of alcoholism and addiction.

(In severe cases, withdrawal from alcohol and certain drugs can be life-threatening and involve hallucinations, confu-sion, seizures, fever, and agitation. These symptoms can be dangerous and should be managed by a physician specifically trained and experienced in dealing with alcoholism and ad-diction.)

3. Loss of Control:You are drinking or using more than you wanted to, for longer than you intended, or despite telling yourself that you wouldn’t do it this time.

4. Desire to Stop, But Can’t:You have a persistent desire to cut down or stop your sub-stance use, but all efforts to stop and stay stopped, have been unsuccessful.

5. Neglecting Other Activities:You are spending less time on activities that used to be important to you (hanging out with family and friends, ex-ercising, pursuing your hobbies or other interests) because of the use of alcohol or drugs.

6. Alcohol or Drugs Take Up Greater Time, Energy and Focus:You spend a lot of time drinking or using drugs, thinking about it, or recovering from its effects. You have few, if any, interests, social or community involvements that don’t revolve around the use of the substance you are abusing.

7. Continued Use Despite Negative Consequences:You drink or use drugs even though you know it’s causing problems. As an example, you realize that your substance use is interfering with your ability to do your job, is damag-ing your relationships, making various problems worse, or causing health issues, but you continue to do so. This is according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

Another politician made the news last month. Representative, Trey Radel, R-Fla., was caught buying cocaine. He shared with the public his ongoing struggle with alcoholism and how it contributed to a very public and self-destructive decision that was leading him now to seek treat-ment. And treatment works. Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards entered a residential program af-ter an intervention by friends and family in 1980 and remained openly in recovery from alcohol-ism, with almost 26 years of sobriety before her death at 73. She was known for boldness in both her political and personal life and her will-ingness to speak candidly about addiction in an effort to help others struggling with the disease.

by Katie Morris-Henson, LPC, LADC

While many who are addicted seemingly function at a perceived acceptable level and believe they can stop their use at any time, many will find they cannot and will need professional help. If you or someone you care about needs information or assistance, please reach out. Local support hotlines include Intergroup @ 405/524-1100 or NA @ (405) 524-7068 – Inside Oklahoma City; (866) 524-7068 – Outside Oklahoma City Area

34 Thrive Oklahoma

When those issues evolve into addiction, the loving bonds become a prison. Addiction lays waste to everything mean-ingful in the sufferer’s life and doesn’t discriminate in any shape or form. As Midas turned all things to gold, addiction presents the inverse reality, as decay and destruction are likely interjected into all things an addict comes in contact with.

Addiction thus should be understood not only as disor-dered substance use, but in connection with emotional and psychological pain often in the context of trauma. From a biopsychosocial understanding of addiction, we know that this insidious disease is not inoculated, nor does it evolve, in a vacuum. Addiction is multisystemic in its etiology and likewise impacts multiple contexts. Of these contexts, most devastating is the impact addiction has on the family.

Living with addiction often results in cumulative trauma that deeply affects family members from the earliest stages of life throughout the life cycle. Addiction produces a spectrum of damaging experiences to the family by way of creating an environment of confusion, fear, and hopelessness. If left unhindered, these toxic elements ultimately lead to chronic emotional stress amongst the members of the affected family system.

The presence of chronic emotional stress underlies a wide array of negative health and social consequences that impede empowering relationships at home as well as productivity and meaningful participation in school, work and commu-nity.

Via abuse, neglect and other forms of family violence, chil-dren are especially vulnerable to the consequences derived from the chronic emotional stress that accompanies addic-tion. This chronic emotional stress is also a noted risk factor for a myriad of mood and anxiety disorders that can poten-tially have lifetime consequences for every family member.

by Brian Stalcup, M.Ed, LPC, CM IIIAssistant Director of Clinical Services, Milagro Ranch(405) 253-2020 ext. 105bstalcup@milagroranchok.com

Brian Stalcup is a licensed professional counselor in Oklahoma. He is the Assistant Director of Clinical Services at Milagro Ranch. Mr. Stalcup’s research and teach-ing have focused on counselor development, prevention science, and the treatment of substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions. Mr. Stalcup is active in the recov-ery community and integrates a knowledge base of spirituality and philosophy into his

work with clients. Mr. Stalcup earned his masters degree in counseling at the University of Oklahoma, completed doctoral practicum training at University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and the Univer-sity of Tulsa and received his internship training at the University of Western Michigan. Before joining Milagro Ranch, Mr. Stalcup worked in the community mental health field providing evidence-based treatment for individu-als with substance use disorders and severe mental illness including extensive work with court referred clients. While in the community mental health field, Mr. Stalcup helped to develop an evidence-based treatment model for the Oklahoma County Veterans Diversion Program and pioneer evidenced-based treatment for substance use disorders at the NorthCare Community Mental Health Center.

The delicate balance of human ecology we call family relies on the interdependence of its members. When issues around self-esteem, relationships, and needs are not resolved, the impact is felt through-out the entire web of relationships.

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Some of these consequences include the fostering of an addic-tive family system that is self-perpetuating in nature remaining chronic and progressive if untreated.

Research shows that the emotional turbulence within the fam-ily produced by addiction continues well into the first three to five years of recovery. Family recovery begins with what are, in essence, individual recoveries of its members. Until family relationships can be reconstructed, the risk of collapse and disin-tegration of the family is quite high1.

To empower the family towards healing, a stable and safe foun-dation must be constructed. As the roles of each family member have been infused with toxic elements, each member is in need of a shift in their respective perspectives. A useful tool in accom-plishing this necessary task is the Seven C’s of Addiction 2. The Seven C’s help the family member build awareness that they did not cause the addiction, nor can they cure or control it.

What the family members can do in response to the addiction is to care for themselves by communicating feelings, making healthy choices, and celebrating themselves.

As the family member actively participates in their own recov-ery process, the hope of healing from the devastating impact of addiction is better realized. The National Council on Alcohol-ism and Drug Addiction suggests the following education, skill development and recovery related activities:

1. End the Isolation and Connect: By joining an education or support group.

2. Educate Yourself on Addiction and the Family: Under-standing how addiction affects both the addicted person and the family is an essential foundation to moving on.

3. Learn Communication Skills: Active addiction destroys family communication. Developing these skills is essential to family recovery.

4. Detach and Take Responsibility for Self: Learning to detach with love and focus on assuming responsibility for our own behavior.

5. Changing Old Behaviors: Many of our old ways of coping are ineffective and contribute to the problem not the solution: Enabling, denial, blaming and minimizing the problem.

6. Engage the Children: The parent, depending on ages, plays a critically important role in providing support and protection for their children. But, engaging the children in their own recovery is very important.

7. Build on Resilience: Surviving active addiction to alcohol and drugs is never easy. Use the recovery process as a means of building on personal and family strengths.

8. Engage in Personal and Family Activities: Working alone and together to find activities that serve as a source of personal and family fulfillment (e.g. volunteering)

9. Understand and Prepare for Relapse: Relapse into old behaviors is as real for family members as it is for those addicted to alcohol and drugs. Family members need to develop strategies for addressing their own relapse issues and other challenges.

It’s possible the addict may never find their own recovery, yet the family may cultivate belief in each other and themselves, endure the tragedy that is addiction and ultimately heal as they discover a new design for living that works.

As the family recovers separately and together, they will learn to: communicate honestly, directly and thoughtfully; support and affirm one another; rediscover trust through reliability and con-sistency; practice respect for each other and themselves; share a sense of order and responsibility; share attention among mem-bers in a balanced way; develop and honor appropriate boundar-ies amongst each other; experience flexibility under stress and emotional dysregulation; admit problems; seek help from others; and share a sense of hope for the future.

Whatever addiction might annihilate, recovery promises to revivify.

References1. White, W. (2005). Fire in the Family: Historical Perspectives on the Intergenera-tional Effects of Addiction. Counselor, 6(1), 20-25. 2. Moe, J. (1993). Discovery: Finding the Buried Treasure. Dallas, TX: ImaginWorksNational Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. (2012). We Realized We Couldn’t Control It. New York, NY: NCADD.

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36 Thrive Oklahoma

When asked what she was looking forward to most in her new role as District Chef, Obert responded, “I truly want to influ-ence the nutritional choices our children make.” Obert goes on to say, “As a former culinary arts instructor, I truly recognize the value of education.”

Oklahoma City’s public school system has partnered with Chartwells corporation to provide daily meals for approxi-mately 45,000 students in 81 different schools. Nationally, Chartwells serves hot meals to more than 2.5 million students every day. Schools typically follow the new healthier school lunch criteria required by the 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. This results in putting more whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables on every child’s plate.

There are several priorities besides just providing nutritionally adequate meal selections.

And it’s not as simple as people think. “Developing a healthy menu is not the hard part,” says Jason Edwards, the resident district manager for Chartwells in Oklahoma City. “It’s the balancing act [between] the nutritional content and the accept-ability - will kids eat it? We could have the healthiest meal in the world, but if a kid doesn’t eat it- it doesn’t do any good. The third part is the cost structure. On average we get about $3.25 per lunch meal,” says Edwards.

The Oklahoma City Public School district will spend about $25 million on child nutrition this year. Ultimately, it’s the United

State Department of Agriculture (USDA) that acts as the gov-erning body over public school menu construction. The USDA has strict guidelines in place for a reason.

Chef Obert has been busy since last fall creating new lunch menu items that taste good, look good and meet or exceed the current USDA guidelines. Palatability and appeal falls into Ob-ert’s very capable hands. OKCPS now have several tasty new menu items that are kid-approved.

Parents should be pleased to know that Oklahoma City schools have already taken many steps to create healthier meals. In

With a passion for learning, Governor Mary Fallin’s former Executive Chef Robin Obert made the decision last fall to follow her heart, leave the comforts of the mansion and ven-ture out into the kitchens of Oklahoma City’s public school system. Chef Obert aims her focus on providing more nutritious homestyle choices for Oklahoma City’s children as well as enhancing the flavor profiles of the current school menus.

Chef Robin Obert at John Marshall Mid-High School cafeteria.

Environments® encourages students to make good meal choices and promotes wellness in a cafeteria setting.

by Angela C. Slovak, PhD

Thrive Oklahoma 37

2009, fried foods were eliminated and fresh fruit has been offered daily since 2010. Trans Fats have also been eliminated and schools offer whole grain products almost exclusively. None of this is currently required by USDA standards.

The sodium content in the meals served to children in the OK-CPS district is lower than what USDA currently recommends. Salt is an acquired taste and too much can actually ruin the flavor of a great meal. The sodium content is school lunches will continue to decline. “Chartwells’ goal is to have 1240 mg of sodium for both breakfast and lunch by 2022 in grades 9-12,” reported Edwards.

“We want to educate students and their parents, teach them ways to add flavor without salt. Herbs are a huge thing. We’ll add garlic or fresh cilantro or basil to enhance flavor without adding salt” says Chef Robin.

“There are currently no USDA regulations on additives like MSG, artificial sweeteners and coloring. Chartwells will not purchase products that contain these ingredients,” says Edwards.

Chef Obert has not only redesigned the district wide lunch menus to include yummy meals like the Crunchy Hawaiian Chicken wrap, South of the Border Stir Fry and a spicy twist on brown rice (see page 38 for actual recipes). Chef Obert is

also inspiring the kitchen staff and bringing them up to speed with the skills they need to pull off these healthy new kitchen creations for our kids everyday.

District wide staff training includes core skills taught with each new recipe that rolls out. Kitchen staff will learn knife skills, kitchen organization, production menu usage, garnishing/line presentation, batch cooking techniques and more. With 81 schools being served in the district, Chef Obert will use a Chefs-for-Change cascade method of training.

District wide staff training began in September 2013. In 2014 the Taft middle school kitchen staff will train kitchen staff members at Classen SAS, Southeast, Jefferson and Centennial. Those four schools will in turn train four other schools and so on.

Chef Obert’s goals are simple. “My number one goal is to continue working towards healthy and flavorful meals. We are already ahead of what the USDA requires. We are also working on spice blends that add flavor without using salt.” Obert goes on to say, “We are also working on a program where we host some parent/child cooking classes. It will give me an opportunity to present some quick, healthy meal options for families to prepare together.”

Making sure students enjoy what they eat can do wonders for growing minds. It has been a longtime Chartwells commitment to provide customized solutions in support of academic achieve-ment. “Bringing Obert onboard was a match made in heaven. She loves what she does,” says Edwards.

Chartwells recognizes that students want tasty, popular foods in their cafeteria. Parents just want healthy, nutritious meals, while school administrators want all of that within their budget. In order to stay on track, “We also have ongoing menu and product evalu-ation. Child Nutrition Services has Youth Advisory Committees throughout our district. These students are selected to evaluate our menus,” says Sherri Assaleh, Child Nutrition Services for OKCPS.

John Marshall Mid-High students make healthy choices.

Continued on page 38

by Angela C. Slovak, PhD

School Recipe # 1293 - Serves: 50

Filling6 Lbs 8oz Chicken, diced2 1/2 C Pineapple, tidbits5 C Spinach, fresh and washed2 lbs Carrots, shredded3 lbs Broccoli

9” Whole Wheat Tortillas

Salad Dressing 2 C Salad dressing, whipped1 TBS White distilled vinegar (4%)2 C Sugar, granulated1/4 C Onion powder1/4 C Garlic powder

1 TBS Chili Powder

Combine salad dressing, vinegar, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder and chili powder in a large bowl. Mix well. Set aside in refrigerator.

Prepare other ingredients: Finely chop broccoli, drain and measure pineapple into a large bowl. Combine the other fresh ingredients.

Bake chicken at 350o on parchment paper to an internal temperature of 160o. Cool before combining all ingredi-ents with dressing in order to coat evenly.

Fill each tortilla with 2/3 filling mixture and wrap as a burrito, tucked at both ends. Cut diagonally and serve.

Student feedback is what drives the decision to keep or elimi-nate certain menu items.

In response to the increased incidence of childhood obesity, schools are required to adopt and maintain a wellness policy. “My motivation is simple, to help make healthy long lasting changes in our Oklahoma youth,” says Assaleh.

The Chartwells partnership and commitment to OKCPS chil-dren is guiding healthy decisions made about the foods they eat. Students need two things: healthy options and the insight to choose wisely. This partnership goes beyond the cafeteria to support nutrition education that sets the stage for a lifetime of smart dining decisions that will help students grow up to live long, healthy lives.

Feeding Our Future Continued from page 37

The restaurant is located on the canal in Bricktown next to Harkins Theater, and has executive chef Melodie Walker at the helm. In a largely male dominated field, Walker is breaking stereotypes faster than she can whip up a tasty dish and has focused on hard work to win her a lengthy career with well-known area restaurants such as Paseo Grill and wide receiver, Wes Welker’s own venture.

Now days, Walker is working hard at KD’s.

“There are so many difficult things in this world, but I can’t think of too many that would be more difficult than opening a restaurant,” Walker says but it is clear she’s thriving.

“With everything that is involved in it and with as many people that you touch with what you do, it’s very intense,” she says and adds, “when it’s done you feel such an intense satisfaction watching people sit back and enjoy your food. It’s worth every bit of that stress and I feed on that. I love how that is to give people pleasure with food. It’s in my soul.”

Clearly, being a chef is an art form. For KD’s the cuisine is not just Walker’s vision, but it’s also Du-rant’s, an array of southern style decadence.

There is notably, the “Baller Menu” a line of luxury selections like high-end steaks, lobster and lamb.

These dishes can range from $40 all the way to $125, Walker says, but she explains that there’s also an extensive list of moderately priced dishes.

There’s the crab stuffed catfish, a special request from Durant, alongside southern favor-ites like fried chicken and BBQ ribs. The twist is in the BBQ sauce, an offering of tastes and styles unique to various parts of the country such as, a type of white sauce from Alabama, a thinner style from Texas and a sweet sauce from Kansas City.

There are healthy options as well. The southern house salad’s tomato bacon vinaigrette uses a reduced fat oil base in the dressing and the seafood on the menu boasts a pecan ruby trout.

Of the not so healthy options worth savoring, there are southern classic desserts designed specifically by La Baguette Bistro. These are sinfully deli-cious treats like peach cobbler and red velvet cake.

Finally, we can’t forget the beautiful bar area that contributes to the welcoming

by Lindsay WhelchelIt’s pretty clear that Oklahoma City is already enamored with Kevin Durant. But with the opening on Dec. 9 of Durant’s new restaurant KD’s, they now have one more thing to fall in love with-soul-food-inspired luxury.

Continued on page 41

40 Thrive Oklahoma

or as long as he could remember, Zuhdi loved basket-ball. He played it all the way through college, but at the end of his time there, Zuhdi needed something else to keep him active. He turned to his second love boxing.

Given his longtime commitment to fitness, the physi-cal aspects of the sport were not a difficult adjustment. The techniques he needed to learn took more time however, and at the ripe old age of 23, Zuhdi was considered a latecomer to the sport.

“Starting at such a late age, I was already at a major dis-advantage given that most of my competition had started at the age of five. It was just one of those things where I had to really commit myself to it day in and day out, rehearsing the techniques, getting used to being in an individual sport where I’d been used to playing in a team sport,” Zuhdi says.

From that point, things progressed quickly for Zuhdi. He en-tered his first fight in November of 2007 and won with a first round knockout. Within a year, he had secured the Oklahoma lightweight title.

At the same time he began boxing, Zuhdi entered law school and was practicing law by summer 2009.

By the summer of 2012, Zuhdi had built up a record of 15 wins and only one loss.

It was that loss, Zuhdi credits for teaching him the most and paving the way to win the World Boxing Union lightweight championship in September of 2012.

“I think that every boxer that is successful has to be resilient because there’s always going to be adversity you face. The biggest setback I faced was my only loss, and I’m just really proud of the way that I responded from that loss, because a

For Noah Zuhdi impact is important. As a lawyer and the grandson of renowned heart surgeon, Nazih Zuhdi, he has seen what an impact one’s work can have on the greater good of others and as a world champion boxer, Zuhdi knows day-to-day choices have an impact on one’s own health and success.

lot of times when a fighter builds up a good record and then loses, he’s never the same. I used that as a learning experi-ence to identify where I need to improve and what I need to be doing differently,” Zuhdi says and adds, “I do believe without that loss I never would have gone on to win the world title.” This fall, he defended that title and won again.

For Zuhdi, being a world champion boxer has just as much to do with his work outside the ring, as it does in. “I live a very disciplined life. I’m a hard worker. I’ve always been a big believer in taking care of my body, taking care of my mind. I’ve always put family first. I don’t go out a lot. My favorite thing to do is spend time with my wife,” Zuhdi says. He and his wife Sara have been married five years and have a one-year-old son.

And despite the composed aggression needed to fight and the mental preparation Zuhdi exercises in training, he says he isn’t dominated by that persona outside of competition. “Some fighters think that they have to walk around and carry themselves a certain to way to stay in a certain type of mindset, and I’ve never thought of it like that. I’m my normal goofy laidback self when I’m not in the gym or not fighting,” he says.

In both boxing and law, Zuhdi credits the support of his entire family in furthering his success. He speaks specifically to what he’s learned from his grandfather. “He’s allowed me to see what hard work can do for somebody. He has overcome all odds to be so successful and the thing that I respect most about him, aside from his medical accomplishments, is what a humanitarian he is. The countless lives he’s saved and the things he does on a day-to-day basis that don’t go reported in the press, just how he treats people,” Zuhdi says and adds,

by Lindsay Whelchel

atmosphere with an exquisite black marble top. There is memorabilia decorated throughout so diners can be em-braced by Durant’s recognizably warm personality. Notably on display is a collection of Durant’s shoes.

Durant’s private dining room faces the river walk and has its own DJ booth. But diners don’t miss out on luxury of their own. The dining booths are made of fine leather with stitching akin to that on a basketball.

The wine cellar is an acrylic two-story temperature and hu-midity controlled tower situated center court – visible with its Thunder blue glow from any seat in the house.

For Walker, the chance to be a part of opening Durant’s new Oklahoma-based restaurant was an opportunity impos-sible to turn down. There is already anticipated expansion of the KD Restaurant brand into several other states in the near future.

Thrive Oklahoma 41

“Even though I’m in a completely different area in my professional career, boxing and being a doctor aren’t exactly the same, I was able to use the blueprint he laid out for being resilient, being disciplined and focused, believing in yourself, surrounding yourself with supportive and positive people. Doing all those things has enabled me to have the success I’ve had in boxing.”

- Noah Zuhdi fight photo by the Oklahoman -

KDs Continued from page 39

42 Thrive Oklahoma

Stress is not a word to be taken lightly and can come in several different forms - literally. Stress can manifest itself as mental, emotional or physical. These three different types of stress can also present very differently as far as dynamics and mechanism. However, any of these left unchecked can all make folks feel infirmed, unwell, and physically distressed.

Physical stress is in epidemic proportions in the U.S. and has be-come linked to chronic conditions such as Fibromyalgia, several metabolic diseases and other chronic pain syndromes. Short-term physical stress can and should be managed appropriately by the body’s immune system. When left unrestrained, in many cases it can become a much more dangerous situation to an individual’s overall health.

Stress to our physical being can lead us to begin experienc-ing muscle and soft-tissue pain. Along with pain, more serious consequences can result from this stress. Overwrought muscles are very susceptible to much more serious injury. Prolonged soft-tissue stress leads to inflammation. Chronic inflammation causes a cascade or chain of events to occur in an already over-worked body. The inflammatory cascade, is a complex biological and chemical response at the cellular level to harmful stimulus. The inflammatory cascade is by design meant to heal, but overtime can shift to become harmful.

The key to halting the pain that results from inflammation and physical pressure is to recognize the signs and begin properly dealing with stress. We can battle stressors on many different fronts, all of which can be extremely beneficial.

The best action is to become non-reactionary. Easier said than done – right! Learn to foresee the circumstances that cause stress in your life and make a conscious effort not to al-low them get to you. Certainly don’t dwell on whatever stresses you out.

Sometimes stressful situations are spon-taneous or impossible to control. That’s when we must be re-active. First, start with nutrition. We are an overall product of what we decide to put into our bodies. So make the most out of your food choices.

by Cody Elledge, DCThe most common foods that have been absolutely proven to reduce inflammation include: pineapple, papaya, blueberries, grapes, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, sardines, salmon, oysters and mackerel. Add Omega 3, Red palm oil, and turmeric to your diet when and where you can for additional anti-inflam-matory power. Remember, our bodies are built in the kitchen - not in the gym.

TIP: Make sure to get ample rest. Sleep is the single most restorative commodity we possess. Experts contend that in order to cycle through the most important reparative sleep patterns, we must get an average of 7-9 hours nightly.

Tip: Exercise daily for an average of 30-45 minutes. Exercising regularly not only helps keep our hearts healthy and oxygenate our tissues, but will help deplete chemicals build-up and cause stress. Exercise will produce neurotrans-mitters which help us manage stress more efficiently. Cardio, resistance training, pilates and yoga are all wonderful forms of exercise that raise the happy-hormones, like endorphins and enkephalins. Endorphins and the like have powerful stress-reducing and pain-killing effects.

Tip: Try to maintain a healthy spine and nervous system – one that functions at an optimal level at all times. If you have a great chiropractor – wonderful. If you do not, find

one. Ask your friends, family and co-workers and give yourself the gift of a properly functioning

nervous system and spine.

Chiropractic care is extremely valuable in terms of reducing or elimi-

nating stress. Immobiliza-tion, nerve impingement, and scar tissue formation,

can all be complications of long term stress in around

the soft tissue surrounding the joints in the body. The absence

of motion, over time can result in soft tissues – due to inflammation,

become replaced with an inferior grade of tissue. Restoring proper soft tissue motion and spinal move-ment helps allow the cells in muscle and connective tissue to heal much more rapidly and thoroughly.

Proper care will remove interference throughout the musculo-skeletal system and allow the body to heal itself. Chiroprac-tic used in conjunction with acupuncture can greatly help a stressed and overworked body, which leads to much needed restoration and balance.

Thrive Oklahoma 43

Dr. Cody Thomas Elledge, has been practicing chiropractic in Oklahoma City for over 7 years. “ I’m also a huge advocate of antioxidants/supple-ments including, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin K, Fish Oils and CoQ10.”

Elledge Chiropractic and Acupuncture has re-cently opened a new location in North Oklahoma City, at 5715 North Western Avenue. To contact Dr. Elledge’s office, please call (405) 858-2225. We offer a scientific approach to natural medicine in a comfortable and friendly environment.

Sources:

The Primal Blueprint: Reprogram your genes for effortless weight loss, vibrant health, and boundless energy (Primal Blueprint Series) by Mark Sisson.

King, M.A. 1994. Inflammation and Motion. Dynamic Chiropractic. Oct.12(22).

Seaman,D. 2010. The Unique Expression of Inflammation in Your Practice. Dynamic Chiropractic. April. 28(08).

Vodovotz,Y.et al. 2010. Translational Systems Approaches to the Biology of Inflam-mation and Healing. Immunopharmacol. Immunotoxicol. June. 32(2): 181–195.

44 Thrive Oklahoma

Make 2014 the year you get fiscally fit. Your financial future depends on it!

Create a Budget: A budget is an essential tool to help you manage your finances. Budgets can show you how to spend your money, can help identify spending leaks, and help you save more each month. A realistic budget should include income and expenditures including housing costs, insurance, food, debt repayment, entertainment and savings.

Part of your savings should go into an Emergency Fund. Most financial experts agree that you’ll need at least $1000 in your fund. An Emergency Fund can help you plan for unexpected bills like car repairs or medical bills. Without an Emergency Fund, you might be tempted to pull out the credit cards and get deeper into debt. You can find many free, easy-to-use budget templates online. Once you get your budget set-up, review it monthly and make adjustments as you go along.

Increase Your Savings: Most financial experts all agree that you should be putting away 15 % or more of your gross income. You’ll need to save even more if you’re starting late. With the average American only saving seven to eight percent, most of us have room for improvement. If you participate in an employer sponsored retirement plan, start out saving the mini-mum to get the employer match. Once you see how easy it is to save, begin increasing your savings percentage until you reach your goal. Sometimes life events may cause you to temporarily stop saving, but just make sure you get back on track as soon as the crisis has passed. Diligence with the savings routine can have amazing results in just a few years.

Cut Expenses: No one wants to give up the things they enjoy, but cutting back or re-thinking your choices can mean more money to put towards your financial goals. Whether it’s learn-ing to turn off the lights, dialing back the thermostat or install-ing energy efficient light bulbs in your home, there are many ways to cut expenses. Are you paying for cable channels you don’t watch? Could you downgrade your cable package and put the extra cash into your savings? How long has it been since

you shopped for auto and homeowner’s insurance? Maybe you qualify for safe-driving or multi-car discounts. Are you like thousands of Americans who are spending $1,200 a year on fancy coffee? Changing your lifestyle and spending less are both great fiscal habits to adopt in 2014.

Save Any Windfalls: Save any unexpected cash you might receive like a year-end bonus or tax refund. A great way to utilize a windfall is to boost your Emergency Fund savings, or start an Emergency Fund, if you don’t already have one. Once your Emergency Fund is set up and funded, your next priority should be saving for retirement. If you qualify, consider opening and IRA (Individual Retirement Account.) If you’re under the age of 50, you can contribute up to $5,500. If you’re over 50, you can contribute $6,500 in 2014. Even small contributions made over time can help build your nest egg. Extra cash can always go toward out-standing debt. Make sure to pay off the debts with the highest interest rates first.

Open a Holiday Savings Club Account: January is the perfect time to open a Holiday Savings Club Account and start saving for the next holiday season. These types of accounts allow you to set aside spending money to cover holiday expenses like food, gifts and decorations. It’s easy to set up automatic transfers and have a small portion of each paycheck go into your account each pay period. Most credit unions and local banks offer these types of accounts. Holiday Savings accounts can be opened for as little as $5. Start sav-ing now to avoid credit card debt next year!

Fiscal fitness, just like losing weight, requires you to trade in some of your old unsuccessful habits for new ones. Making incremental improvements to your finances and having a strong commitment to your goals will help you succeed.

Brought to you by Focus Federal Credit Union

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