real health & image - march 2009

MARCH | 2009 “Tell our advertisers you saw them here fi rst”

For more information about Dr. Nguyen, his clinic and the Ultroid ™ treatment

procedure, visit Advanced Hemorrhoid Solutions’ website at

http://www.donotsufferinsilence.com or call to schedule a free

consultation at 813-920-9799.

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Hemorrhoids are a condition in which the veins around the anus, or in the anal canal, become swollen when stretched under pressure. They are caused from standing up-right, sitting for long periods of time and by poor bowel habits that include diarrhea, constipation and straining to produce stools. Pregnancy has also been known to cause hemorrhoids due to the pressure it puts on the bowels.

According to Michael B., he was able to drive home and perform his normal daily activities immediately after the procedure. One of the things that impressed Michael most about Advanced Hemorrhoid Solutions was that everyone on the staff went out of their way to make him feel comfortable.

“They are tremendous, highly professional, pleasant and extremely personable.” Michael has recommended Advanced Hemorrhoid Solutions to family and friends. “I highly recommend this procedure, why suffer if you don’t have to?”

If you would like to learn more about Advanced Hemorrhoid Solutions, visit their website at

www.DoNotSufferInSilence.com or call (813) 920-9799 in Tampa or

(727) 209-0214 in Pinellas Park.

Why suffer in silence when the solution to alleviating your pain is only a phone call away?

The Ultroid™ device is a breakthrough

in painless hemorrhoid treatment that

works by causing “electrolysis” to occur

beneath the skin. The electrical current

works with chemicals that naturally

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down into hydrogen (H+) and hydrox-

ide (OH-). The hydrogen is released in

the form of small gas bubbles and the

hydroxide combines with sodium (Na+)

in the blood forming sodium hydroxide,

which targets the irritated vein and

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The procedure is a convenient alterna-

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MARCH | 2009“For questions about advertising, call 813-872-4448”

#1#1

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Eric SmithHigh School Health Teacher and Athletic [email protected] .us

Get your diet right• Make sure you are eating the right types of foods. You need your energy to last through those long track meets, so carbohydrates are a key nutrient. Carbs should comprise 70 percent of your diet. Eat as many carbs as you can, especially the night before a meet.

• Stay away from fatty, greasy foods. They will only slow you down. Avoid saturated fats and high levels of sodium. Choosing to eat leaner meats, like chicken and tur-key, will help lower your saturated fat intake. Remember, a proper diet will give you a healthy body, which will give you the best chance at winning.

Hydrate• If you are dehydrated, your body will not be able to go that extra mile. Proper hy-dration the key to completing your workouts and meets. Drinking water is best. Drink at least half your body weight in ounces every day. If you weigh 150 lbs. then you should drink at least 75 ounces of water per day. A properly hydrated body will run at optimum levels. Limit sports drinks. Sports drinks contain sodium and sugar that you don’t need. Having a sport drink immediately following your event will help replenish lost energy, but using them as your main source of hydration may work against you.

Wear the right shoes• Be sport specifi c when you choose a shoe. When running, wear running shoes. When playing basketball, wear basketball shoes. There is a reason these shoes are made for their individual sports. Running shoes are designed for a long period of run-ning in a straight path. They have higher arches, which help reduce pressure on the Achilles tendon, more shock absorption for pounding the pavement, and a larger toe box for extra comfort.

• So many track and fi eld athletes start the season wearing the wrong kind of shoes. Shoe types such as basketball, tennis, walk-ing and skating are not going to benefi t you after running a mile. They are not designed for running in straight paths for a long period of time. By running in these types of shoes injuries such as shin splints and blisters may occur.

di t i ht

It’s March! The races are about to begin. Here are a few tips for getting your Track and Field season off to a great start.

Diet, hydration and proper footwear are the key to winning track meets.


Dr. Levin believes and emphasizes that healthy feet promote overall orthopedic health. Many patients with

foot pain also complain of back, neck, and even headache pain. The feet are the base and

foundation that support the weight of our entire body. And, poor foot posture can

impede daily activities.

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Do you have thick, discolored,

crumbly toenails? If so, you

may have a fungal infection of

the nail. This is a very common

problem that affects a signifi -

cant portion of the population

with an increasing prevalence

in the aging population. Fungal

nails are unattractive and many

are embarrassed to wear open-

toed shoes.

The fungus that attacks the nail is the same fungus that causes athlete’s foot infections. The three most common species are: T. Rubrum, T. Metagrophytes and E. Floccosum. These or-ganisms live on our skin normally but once an opportunity exists, the fungus takes over and invades the skin or the nail. In fact all fungal nails originate in the skin of the nail bed below the nail plate. It then progresses into the nail itself and causes the discoloration, debris and disfi gura-tion of the nail. The fungus is very resistant to treatment and can survive many years and never leave.

The fungus rarely causes an internal infection, but due to the effect it has on nails, it causes pain and ingrown nails. This can lead to more serious problems if not treated properly.

Again, remember the fungal organism is not a bacteria and thus cannot be treated with an antibacterial medication. Antifungal medications must be used to treat the infected nail. The two most common oral medications used today are Terbinafi ne (Lamisil) and Itraconazole (Sporonox). However both medications have potential side effects, and a discussion with your physician should be thorough to point out each one as it may relate to your health and other medications you are on. Each medication has a specifi c dosing regimen but seeing a clear healthy nail will take on average 7-12 months.

To make a diagnosis of a fungal nail you must have a proper sample taken and sent to a laboratory for a specifi c test. The most sensitive test for a fugal nail is the PAS Stain. In some cases, the test may be negative. One must then decide to test again with another sample or discuss the possibility of other nail infections that look like fungal infections.

If you think you may have a fungal infected toenail(s), it is best to seek an appoint-ment with your doctor to discuss all alternatives for treatment including oral medica-tion, topical medication, manual debridement (cutting of the nail) and others as it may specifi cally relate to you and your health.

it is best to seek an appointment with your doctor to discuss all alternatives for

treatment including oral medication, topical medication, manual debridement


featuresfeatures1&21&2Advanced Hemorrhoid Solutions:Advanced Hemorrhoid Solutions:A Gentle Way of Treating A Painful A Gentle Way of Treating A Painful ProblemProblem(cover story)(cover story)

44Toenail Fungal Infection:Toenail Fungal Infection:Causes and CuresCauses and Cures

66Clarity MedSpa: Clarity MedSpa: Not Just Another Med SpaNot Just Another Med Spa

1111DRX9000:DRX9000:Reduces Patient PainReduces Patient PainFrom a 9 to a 3From a 9 to a 3

1414Spinner Law Firm:Spinner Law Firm:Quality, Client Focused Quality, Client Focused Legal RepresentationLegal Representation

...........................................................................

in in every every issueissue33 | | Youth RulesYouth RulesCoach Eric’s Coach Eric’s Tips For Track And FieldTips For Track And Field

5 | 5 | Publisher’s and Publisher’s and Editor’s NoteEditor’s Note

7 | 7 | Health DiscoveriesHealth Discoveries

8&98&9 | | Tribute to Non-Profi t Tribute to Non-Profi t (Feature Story)(Feature Story)St. Francis Society Animal RescueSt. Francis Society Animal RescueStarts Where Others StopStarts Where Others Stop

10 | 10 | Ask HerAsk HerSafely FitSafely Fit

112 | 2 | Everyday FitnessEveryday FitnessEat Less, Move More. Eat Less, Move More. So What’s The Problem?So What’s The Problem?

1155 | To Dine For | To Dine ForGrille 121Grille 121

1515 | | Pet BalancePet BalancePaws For ThoughPaws For Though

from the from the publisherpublisherAs we take a closer look at Dr. Linh Nguyen’s and B. Ngoc Pham’s success-

ful practice featured on this month’s front cover, I can’t help but to praise

their outstanding stories each and every month. As personal as some of

these procedures may be, Advanced Hemorrhoid Solutions has successful-

ly completed over 6,000 procedures through the remarkable Ultroid technol-

ogy. Each month, Dr. Nguyen has no problem in fi nding a recent patient to

act as his testimonial in the upcoming issue. It is for that reason why this

publication exists and continues to be the portal to great local medical suc-

cesses.

sammy [email protected]

.......................................................................................................................

from the from the editoreditorOur pets are like four-legged (or feathered or fi nned) family members,

and that means we look out for their health just like we watch our

own. This month’s nonprofi t article highlights St. Francis Animal

Rescue Society (a.k.a. Luv-A-Mutt). The good people at this no-kill

shelter are dedicated to fostering dogs and cats until they are

adopted, but their fi rst focus is on animal health.

The fi rst thing that happens to a new arrival are updates to all shots

and vaccinations, along with a spay or neuter. It is important for

private pet owners to spay and neuter as well, to avoid unwanted

litters that result in more homeless pets. We applaud the men and

women at Luv-A-Mutt and hope this coverage results in many adoptions. terra [email protected]


Clarity MedSpa is operated by two board certifi ed physicians. Dr. Danny Abbruzzese and Dr. Khalid Saeed have extensive training in Aesthetic Medicine and nutrition. They combine their love of art and medicine to help you achieve your goals. Treatments are personally performed by our board certifi ed medical directors.


Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook

Open the front cover and the fi rst two

pages you see contain the Index of

Signs and Symptoms, from Abdo-

men (painful, swollen, distended, and

tucked up) to Weight loss, Wheez-

ing, and Whining (continual). There’s

a comprehensive index in back, of

course, running the gamut from Abor-

tion to Zinc-Responsive Dermatosis,

which is all very useful, but when your pooch is in pain, it’s great to be able to

turn, with the minimum of folderol, to the page that says to relax, it’s nothing a

bit of extra grooming won’t fi x, or alternatively to hightail it over to the vet hospi-

tal. It’s a wonderful reference for any dog owner, covering every health dimen-

sion a dog owner might want to know more about.

Whole Health for Happy Cats

If it were a simple choice, many people

would choose to treat and care for their

pets with natural therapies. Unfortunately,

most cat care-givers fi nd the expectations

and requirements of natural pet health

care fairly imposing and outside their real-

ity in regards to cat care. Unlike the other

resources on the subject, Whole Health

for Happy Cats provides readers with the

basic information to enable them to ask

the right questions as well as fi nd the right

answers for their cat and their lifestyle.

Although the book’s approach is organic,

it also presents well-documented health

facts and research so that cat owners can

make the very best decisions for their cat’s

lifelong health and well-being.

Best for:Improving Your Self-Image

Women Fitnesswww.womenfi tness.net

What it does: Emphasizes self-improvement for women through comprehensive information and essential tools for lifelong changes.

What’s cool about it: Women Fitness has a wide spectrum of health, wellness and beauty topics and tips ranging from nutrition, weight loss and fi tness to skin care, fashion and cosmetics. The site immediately catches your attention with scrolling snapshots of images and short articles leaving you wanting to read more. The site also has a beauty section aimed at helping you enhance your best features. If you’re interesting in fi tness, there’s an entire section devoted to exercising including weight loss, strength training and even yoga. It also has tools to help you track your fi tness program progress.

Drawbacks:The site may seem a bit overwhelming when you fi rst navigate through it. There are many different topics, subtopics and articles to read. You should take your time and view one area at a time. It will defi nitely be worth it!

Price: This site is free

Best for:Getting The Right Answers

National Women’s Health Resource Centerwww.healthywomen.org

What it does: Provides women in-depth, objective, physician-approved information on a broad range of women’s health issues.

What’s cool about it: NWHRC has more than 100 topics in its health library, including diagnosis, treat-ment, questions to ask your health care professional, lifestyle tips and more. The site also has a Health Center dedicated to a specifi c topic such as Living Well & Aging or Pregnancy & Parenting, pro-viding an even greater concentration of information. Publications & Resources al-lows you to browse and purchase books and other materials related to the health topics you’re interested in. The site has expert advice, current medical informa-tion, news, tools and message boards.

Drawbacks: The site does not have sharp, colorful im-ages or a very creative layout. However, it is a great source of information if that’s all your looking for.

Price: This site is free

By Betty Alvarodiaz


By Amy Andersen - RHI


“Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.”

Some of the People

The organization works with as many animals as they have volunteers to foster them. They also have space to display the cats and kittens.

Cat coordinator Kathy Walvoord is selfl ess in her protec-tion and caring. She may bottle feed into the wee hours or drive to animal services to rescue an animal. She is aware of every cat in the system and helps coordinate their care and placement at the pet shops for display. She recently adopted Roadie, a happy orange cat who had been left as roadkill one night when he was a kitten. A “repeat offender,” Roadie was adopted but returned to the shelter for unknown reasons. Now he lives happily with this cat lover.

MaryJo Maruca (MJ) is the dog care coordinator who fa-cilitates fostering the dogs. Dog fosters play a role with prospective adoptees by either allowing them into their homes or bringing the dog to a mutually agreed upon place for visitation. SFSAR pays veterinary bills that may arise.

Jim Martinelli, the adoption center coordinator, is another selfl ess volunteer who has purchased larger cages for the cats and visits them frequently to check on them and fur-ther socialize them.

Sharon Espinola is president and volunteer coordinator for all who work with the organization either kenneling or fostering.

Julie Winthrop is a dog foster and fundraising coordina-tor.

Find out more about the board members and volunteers at www.luvamutt.org.

Volunteer

Any volunteer organization has fi nancial needs, but you can help the animals in other ways as well. Fosters are needed for rescued dogs and cats. Every dog or cat is placed with a foster family or individual to see how it gets along and to ac-custom the animal to indoor family life. Pet Smart and Petco offer their premises for housing cats that are ready for adop-tion. SFSAR’s primary pet site is the Pet Smart across the street from the Citrus Park Mall.

Volunteers help with the kenneling at Pet Smart, keeping the cats comfortable while they wait to be adopted. Other volun-teers help dog fosters take the dogs to various events if the foster is unable to show the dog that day or time. Help with working tables or giving out information is also needed. Stu-dents also can get community service credits and valuable experience.

All animals can be viewed at www.luvamutt.org, and you can arrange to meet a dog that you like.


hen we think of getting into shape we often skip over the funda-mentals. We focus on how much weight we need to lose, how many

pounds we can lift, and how much faster we can run. There is nothing wrong with these comparisons as long as we keep them in the right con-

text. Safety should ALWAYS come fi rst.

Due to our sedentary lifestyles many of us have developed muscular imbalances, weak stabilizing joints, and poor posture. Therefore, any fi tness program should in-clude correcting such problems through fl exibility training and stabilization training.

An extremely essential region affected by these imbalances is our core. Our core consists of our chest, back and pelvic fl oor region. Just as a tree has a trunk that supports its branches so does our body. Our core is our trunk. We must have a solid foundation to support the limbs we traditionally focus on. With a strong core, we are less likely to get hurt.

The core has deep internal muscles that are not very active in movement but function to constantly stabilize the spine as we initiate movement. Take a deep breath from your diaphragm located in your abdominal (stomach) area. Your stomach should expand more than your chest. Now lift up the internal muscles from your pelvic fl oor, that is, contract all of the muscles below your belly. Next practice lifting and stabilizing the muscles and proper breathing at the same time. Your ribcage and abdominals should be tight. Others should not notice any outward change if you are performing the exercise properly. Practice anywhere since the more you practice, the stronger those internal muscles become.

Now that you can properly stabilize your core, you can pro-gressively challenge your body by increas-ing the diffi culty of your workout. For example, sit in a chair and do a set of eight arm curls with a fi ve-pound dumbbell. (A two-liter water bottle will do). To do an arm curl, with your palm facing up, bend your elbow to-ward your shoulder. Now do a set without resting your back against the chair. Do a third set standing and a fi nal set while standing on one leg. With each progression you must recruit more muscle.

With proper fl exibility train-

ing and core strengthening,

you can improve your pos-

ture, as well as your quality

of life. Most importantly, you

become fi t safely.

hen we thiinknk o of ff gegettttiningg ininttmentals. We focus on how m

pounds we can lift, and how mwrong with these comparisons a

text. Safety should ALWAYS come fi rst.

D t d t lif t l f

W

Shannon Thigpen is a nationally certifi ed per-sonal trainer and fi tness instructor. She is the co-founder of Salsa & Soul Fitness, which can be found at www.salsaandsoulfi tness.com.


The DRX 9000 was created to provide relief of low back pain caused

by herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, sciatica and facet syn-

drome. A new case report in Vol. 3, Issue 1 of the 2008 U.S. Muscu-

loskeletal Review shows pre- and post-MRI fi ndings on a 31-year-old

male. He had a history of a left disc extrusion of L5/S1 that was com-

pressing the nerve root at S1. In addition he had degenerative disc

disease involving L4/5 and L5/S1. The patient reported a pain level of

9 on a scale of 0-10.

The patient underwent a series of 27

treatments over a seven-week pe-

riod. By his last treatment, the patient

reported a pain level of only 3 out of 10,

occurring only 30 percent of the time.

Follow-up MRI demonstrated a dramat-

ic decrease in the size of the disc lesion

along with reduced pressure on the

S1 nerve root. The authors conclude,

“Clinical and imaging data continue

to emerge providing further validation

of the safe and effective treatment of

disc related low back pain utilizing the

DRX9000.”

Treatment for Neck or Back pain from Disc

Herniation, Bulging Discs, Facet Syn-

drome, Burning to the Arms and Sciatica

with the DRX 9000 is available at The

Physical Medicine Center 14522 Univer-

sity Point Place Tampa 33613.

Please contact Dr. Robert Lupo, DC, at (813) 978-0020 to arrange for a consultation to determine if the DRX 9000 may be used to treat your case.

www.mybackinplace.com

Please Direct Any Questions or Comments to Dr. Robert Lupo

Clinic Director Physical Medicine Center

14522 University Point Place, Tampa (813) 978-0020

www.mybackinplace.com

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Set Goals: You should set clear and defi ned goals to achieve a healthier body. Apply-ing the S.M.A.R.T. rule is easy to follow. Goals should be Spe-cifi c, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound. Set small goals toward one overall goal. Ensure that you reward yourself when you achieve your goal.

Behavior Contract: Make a contract with yourself that you will follow specifi c steps towards your overall goal. Be specifi c when you name your steps. For example, “I will at-tend three group fi tness classes a week in order to incorporate more fi tness into my lifestyle.” State a specifi c date by which you will achieve your overall goal.

Behavior Modifi -cation is Forever: Involve yourself in a program that focuses on lifestyle behav-ior and not a “quick-fi x.” Adopt a new way of living by exercising three to fi ve days a week, eating healthy, getting plenty of sleep, and reducing stress.

Time Management: The No. 1 reason why people drop out of an exercise program is a hectic schedule -- which translates to lack of time man-agement. It is extremely impor-tant to nip this issue in the bud. By cutting out the waste and prioritizing ruthlessly, you will increase your productivity and have more time for your health.

Lose up to 15 pounds in 6 weeks by taking the Steel Physique Body Challenge with CarolAnn. Contact her at [email protected] for more information.

Known as the trainers’ trainer, CarolAnn, has become one of the country’s leading fi tness educators. Combining a Master’s degree in Exercise Science

with fi tness certifi cations/memberships such as ACSM, ACE, AFAA, LMI and AEA, she has been actively involved in the fi tness industry for 19

years. While on her downtime from touring as a national fi tness presenter, she teaches group fi tness and personal trains in the

North Tampa area. She is the creator and star of The Steel Physique System DVD now available at www.steel-

physique.com. For more information regarding personal training and group fi tness classes by

CarolAnn, contact her at [email protected] or

visit www.StudioGroupX.com.

It’s a simple formula for weight loss: Eat less and move more. However, for most, losing weight and achieving their desired phy-

sique is much more complicated. So why is losing weight so diffi cult? It is what I call “all the other stuff” that sabotages your

path toward health and fi tness. In order to achieve your aspirations of health and fi tness, you need to clear away the clutter and

focus on a clearly defi ned path. Here are a few tools that will help clear the way to a new you.

Motivation: Many people are not intrinsically motivated to exercise or to eat healthy and instead rely on external factors. This is when hiring a personal trainer or lifestyle fi tness coach is very benefi cial. These experts can assist in tapping into your specifi c motivation.

Exercise Adherence: The inability to maintain an exercise regimen is one of the more perplexing problems facing professionals in various health-related enterpris-es. Two-thirds of Americans do not exercise on a regular basis. Fifty percent of Americans do not exercise at all. Only 10 percent of sedentary adults are likely to begin a program. Fifty percent of all who start a fi tness cam-paign will drop out in six months or less. Choose something you enjoy and that fi ts your lifestyle. Also, start slowly and gradually work up to more diffi cult exer-cises.

Stress Management: Many do not function well under stress and turn to food and/or destruc-tive behavior. Extreme stress may even lead to depression which in many cases emotion-ally paralyzes an individual from exercise. Understanding how to identify and deal with stress will help you avoid the pitfalls of stress eating and gaining weight.

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n the event of an accident, who can you trust to help you through all of the legal hurdles? Who better could you fi nd to represent you than someone who for-merly represented insurance compa-

nies? Charles Spinner, Esq., brings you that trust and expertise.

“Our fi rm’s commitment,” Spinner states, “Is that we approach each case as if it was our only one.” Every client is on a fi rst-name basis with Mr. Spinner and his staff.

You will be greeted by friendly staff at his new offi ce location at Cypress Glen Professional Park. You will receive a thorough attorney consultation providing you with a description of the personal injury process and supplying you straight answers to your concerns and questions.

“So often, clients come to our fi rm after at-tempting to deal directly with the insurance company to resolve issues they are facing following a motor vehicle accident. I have found that in many instances, insurance companies will attempt to take advantage of unrepresented victims by offering them far less than fair value for their claims,” Spinner relates. “Without the backing and support of an experienced injury attorney, some insur-ance companies try to get by as cheaply as possible.”

For example, a client retained Spinner’s fi rm after coming to a stalemate with an insur-ance company over the replacement value of their badly damaged vehicle. Spinner was able to successfully recover an addi-tional $1,000.00 to resolve his client’s prop-erty damage claim on a vehicle worth under $5,000.00. “It was what the client thought was fair market value,” Spinner states, “and the client was satisfi ed.”

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Founder of the Spinner Law Firm in New Tampa, Charles Spinner represents “the little guy” on personal injury and/or wrongful death cases. Now representing people against insurance companies, Spinner’s inside knowledge makes him a tough negotiator.To learn more about Charles Spinner and SpinnerLaw Firm, visit their website atwww.spinnerlawfi rm.com, or call theiroffi ces at 813-991-5099

By: Mary Joye Bexley - RHI

The initial steps in an accident are important to Spinner for his clients. “The fi rst phone call should always be to law en-forcement after a crash,” Spinner advises. “If medical treatment is needed, get it immediately.”

Calling Spinner Law Firm is also on the short list of procedure after an accident. He warns that immediately following an accident, insurance companies are certain to barrage you with telephone calls. They may attempt to secure a recorded statement. It is not advisable to deal directly with insurance companies. “In the event you are contacted directly by an insurance company, politely thank them for calling and tell them you’d like to speak to your attorney fi rst.”

“We may immediately need to secure the accident scene to recreate what happened at the time of the crash,” Spinner says. “A successful claim is based on your advocate’s knowledge of the law and how objective proof is presented.”

Feedback from clients is proof that Spinner Law Firm is fl ourishing. His associate, Allison Burd, Esq., who celebrated her one-year anniversary with the fi rm in February, is part of the highly skilled team that also represents clients in Marital and Family Law matters as well as wills, trusts, and estate administration.

“Look behind advertisements for attorney qualifi cations, “Spinner concludes.”They aid people in fi nding attorneys, but the

most effective advertisement for our fi rm is word-of-mouth. The vast majority of our clients come by referrals by former

clients and their family and friends. You can expect to be treated like you matter and to receive competent and aggressive

legal representation. That’s our commitment to get the best possible results for our clients. Your legal health and wellness

is our fi rm’s primary objective.”

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Charles Spinner will speak for you.

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Downtown St. Petersburg is constantly

reinventing itself, desperately trying to

drop its retirement village reputation for

a younger, hipper urban image. Cluttered

together are intimate boutiques, hole-

in-the-wall bars, and courtyard dining.

Amidst all this local fl air is the struggling

entertainment complex Baywalk, with

its array of small shops and restaurants

where business goes on as usual.

A new restaurant, replacing Dan Marino’s, is Grille 121. The Grille appears to be trying to create a situation in which casual upscale dining seems as common as fast food off the interstate. The décor is simple, letting the visible kitchen and courtyard views speak for themselves. Chef Lawrence Strickland adds his own unique twists to traditional fa-vorites, and incorporates healthy ingredients and fresh herbs into his dishes.

The outdoor patio actually doubles as an

herb garden, the fruits of which are used

daily in the kitchen. The menu contains

an equal balance of healthy lite options

and rich, comfort foods. We enjoyed the

triple appetizer option, hummus, spinach

dip, and buffalo bites. The spinach dip

had traces of goat cheese, adding a rich-

ness and unexpected bite.

Then we ordered the Chicken Panini and Tarragon Chicken Salad Wrap. The traces of fresh tarragon and mint alongside the grapes add freshness and texture to what is usually mushy chicken salad. Accompanied by a fi ve bean salad, this was a satisfy-ingly light lunch. The Chicken Panini was a little more on the decadent side, containing grilled chicken with spinach, sun dried tomato and bacon, a delicious and enormous portion.

The food at Grille 121 is tasty and reasonably priced with most selections less than $20. I enjoy having a few drinks, grabbing a bite, and catching a movie with my car still parked in the same spot. Hopefully, Baywalk will take a few tips from St. Petersburg and redefi ne its image as well.

Before there was Facebook and MySpace or the Internet

for that matter…there was another social medium con-

necting people from different walks of life….pets! Pets

made it easy for neighbors to meet, strangers to say

hello and provided an ave-nue to bring people together who may not have met in the

fi rst place.

The fi rst Sunday of every month, we host a hap-py hour (or Yappy Hour) event at MacDinton’s in South Tampa. The public is invited to enjoy food and drink at MacDinton’s with their dog…and many other people’s as well!

At February’s event, my husband Cristan leaned over and asked me to take a look around….people of every generation were interacting. It is some-thing we see every month, but it really struck us at this event. Everyone, regardless of age, race, or gender was engaged in conversation about their pets.

Pets put everyone at ease in what can often be awkward social situations. One web-site describes pets as social lubricants. Having a pet gives you something instantly in common with another pet lover. I can’t tell you how many of our Wag customers have met their signifi cant other at the dog park!

If you rescued your dog from a shelter or foster group, you know fi rsthand the good work that volunteers do. Want to volun-teer yourself? Give a couple of hours on a Saturday at an adoption event and be a dog “handler” for the afternoon. You will meet a variety of individuals. A few groups to check out are: www.humane-societytampa.org, www.luvamutt.org, www.lostangelsanimalrescue.org, www.lillapdogrescue.org, and www.great-grey-hound.org.

If you want to meet other dog owners in social situations, go to www.meetup.com and you can fi nd meet-up groups near your home. Some are breed specifi c; others are not. If you don’t fi nd what you want, you can start your own!

As we move into the third month of 2009, get out there with your pet and make a few new pet lovin’ friends. They come in all shapes, sizes and ages and have a vari-ety of interests.

Have a great month and enjoy your pets!Warmest regards,

a

to

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Jennifer, Cristan and Abe FadalWag | 304 E. Davis Blvd. | Davis Islands, Fl

www.wagoftampa.com | 813-258-9181Join us on Saturday, February 14

from 11am-3pm for: Poochie Smoochie! Valentine’s Day Dog Adoptions and

Pet Dental Health Expo!Pet Dental Health Expo!

I have been in the back scenes of the restaurant industry for over 12 years. I recently shed thirty pounds and

realized I have to be more conscious of what I eat, which is diffi cult when my world revolve

around dining out, be it socially or my career. So I am out to fi nd a low-cal, low-carb alternative in a society that thrives on

butter and bread when dining out. Ask me anything at

[email protected].

real health & image - march 2009

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