volume 2 issue 4 | NovemBeR 2009 | theVIPmag.com VOLUME 6 ISSUE 12 | October 2013 | theVIPmag.

com

taking shape

the healthy living issue

Tips to get in shape, recover from an injury, create a home gym, stick to an exercise program, eat right and have fun while doing it all!

The new Victory Medical Center Beaumonts Mixed Martial Arts scene How to dress sporty chic
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vip magazine
c o n t e n t s

07 vip home 11 vip style

07 Home gyms 11 Sporty chic fashion 16 Hot pink accessories 19 The WWIII.5 mud run 23 Mixed Martial Arts 26 Lindsay Oxford: Bikini pro 28 Recovering from a sports injury 32 Inside the new Victory Medical Center 36 9 superfoods you should be eating 39 Recipe: Grilled salmon

inside october
11

dconstantine@thevipmag.com

Editorial Editor DAVID CONSTANTINE Contributing Writers CATHLEEN COLE LArENA HEAD grACE mATHIS jANE mCbrIDE HOLLI pETErSEN CHEryL rOSE Editorial Assistant LAurEN mCgEE

19 vip leisure

26 vipersonality 28 vip worthy

Photography Contributing Photographers SCOTT ESLINgEr LACIE grANT rEN SHEppArD LEE E. STINSON Graphic Designer DAVID CONSTANTINE

32 vip viewing

19

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on the cover

Dont call Beaumonts Lindsay Oxford a body builder. Shes a professional bikini girl. The self-described gym rat recently turned her love of fitness and a lot of hard work into a pro card with the International Federation of Body Building and Fitness. Now she hopes to share her passion for a healthy lifestyle as a boot camp instructor and personal trainer for women across Southeast Texas Photography: Lacie Grant

4 October 2013

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McManus Company

Jeff McManus

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Interior Design Group

Complete Furniture and Lighting Gallery
Come in and schedule your in-home consultation with one of our designers
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vip home
h o m e g y m s

MEMBERS ONLY
Home gyms offer privacy, no-excuses convenience and no monthly fees
Whitney world of fitness text by CHERYL ROSE

ven with all the best fitness intentions, life often gets in the way. Getting to and from a gym on top of an already busy schedule

can mean exercise goals end up on the backburner. With the ready availability of sophisticated home fitness equipment and videos for every exercise regimen, creating a designated space at home for working out can be a practical solution. Heres how two Southeast Texas families make working out work for them:

Daily fitness activities are part of the lifestyle of Jason and Jessica Whitney, who take staying active and healthy seriously. Both have personal trainers in addition to their running and cycling routines, usually getting in two or more sessions of exercise every day. Loyal to gyms for years, they began considering building their own home gym when a garage remodel created the opportunity for a large second floor. When I first thought about doing this, I thought, Oh, well put some equipment in the garage, but Im glad that we did a dedicated room, Jason said. Longtime friend Jody Nolan, the owner of World Gym in Beaumont, helped the Whitneys transform the >>
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October 2013 7

The American Council on Exercise recommends these square footage guidelines for fitness equipment: Treadmill30 sq. feet Elliptical trainer30 sq. feet Free weights2050 sq. feet Stationary bike10 sq. feet Rowing machine20 sq. feet Stair climber1020 sq.feet Ski machines25 sq. feet Single-station gym35 sq. feet Multi-station gym50200 sq. feet

How Much Space Do You Need?

space, consulting on the equipment to buy and which vendors to use. They padded the concrete floor and installed professional-style rubber floors. They purchased commercialgrade equipment including a bench press, leg press, Smith machine, treadmill, elliptical and dumbbells from 15 to 180 pounds. Then they added a surround-sound stereo and large-screen TV. If you come by the Whitney home around noon, you could find me, my wife, our 18- and 22-year-old kids and their boyfriend and girlfriend, along with several friends, all work-

The fully-stocked Whitney family gym.

photography by lee e. StiNSON

Setting Up to Work Out

Set goals
What do you want to achieve with a home gym? Are you wanting an occasional option or a daily workout? Do you want to emphasize cardio, strength-training, flexibility or all of the above? Do you have a physical goal such as weight loss? Answering these questions is important before canceling your gym membership or investing in expensive equipment. Tanya Hansen, a personal trainer and instructor at Christus Health & Wellness Center in Beaumont, suggests considering the longevity of your goals. Are you doing this for one goal you want to achieve in two months or are you doing this to be better for the rest of your life?
8 October 2013 |
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Designate space
A home gym can be a small corner or a dedicated room. You can do a million fitness options in a small space with just a yoga mat and access to YouTube, Hansen said. However, if you do outfit a gym space, be sure to consider the necessary activity space for each piece of equipment, not just the physical footprint. Also, Jason Whitney noted the importance of picking a place that can take the punishment and the noise. My wife isnt doing Pilates, shes doing Crossfit, so we needed a floor that could take the pounding if you drop a weight, he said. Other considerations can include access to electrical outlets, ventilation and natural light.

Start small
Depending on your activity level and goals, Hansen recommends starting with less expensive equipment until you are sure of your dedication and consistency. Resistance bands, hand weights, mats and jump ropes represent a small commitment in space and money. Start small and you can always grow it into a big room, she said.

Measure for activity

Cardio and weight training machines can be big and may need more space then you think. I almost put in machines that were too big, Jason Whitney said. Fortunately, the equipment vendor came out to measure and advised me to have more space between the machines. My plan would have made the room smaller and the machines bigger.

ing out in this room together, Jason said. Jessica believes it was worth every penny because their fitness routines are now familyfriendly. You want to instill so many things in your children, such as morals and integrity, and that should include staying in shape and staying healthy, she said, referring to her four children. What I really enjoy about this room is that all of our kids can be there while we work out and it becomes a part of their routines, too.

Hansen home studio

Tanya Hansen is a personal trainer and group instructor at the Christus Health & Wellness Center in Beaumont. She loves gyms, but she likes having her own space at home, too. As a wife and mother, Hansen knows that running off to the gym before or after work can eat into family time. I love the idea of a 15- to 30-minute workout that you can do in a bedroom or living room that still gives you results for those days you cant make it to the gym, she said. Then youre not neglecting your personal fitness. You dont have to take the time to drive anywhere and can be at home with your kids. Her dedicated workout studio is in their garage, which means no air-conditioning, making it a seasonal retreat. Inside, she has a treadmill, bench, TRX straps, a hanging bar, jump ropes,
Tanya Hansens more modest gym equipment.

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mats, kettle balls, dumbbells and a television. Most of her equipment is low-tech, but that doesnt mean it isnt effective. Im such an advocate of body weight functional workouts, Hansen said. People can make differences in their body with no equipment. You can just add equipment for diversity and to keep it new. For Hansen, the critical piece is not the size of the space or the sophistication of the equipment, its consistency. A few pieces of equipment can give you fabulous results, but its your consistency with the program that is your determining factor, she said. Its all about internal motivation. When you get in a habit of fitness, you miss it when you dont do it. VIP

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Quality matters
When you are ready to invest, find equipment that is comfortable for you. In my opinion, the benefit of belonging to a gym is you arent using rubber-band stuff, so you dont want to buy the cheapest machines you can for your home, Jason Whitney said. Im glad I spent a little more than I thought on machines because theyve held up and I feel safe on them and my family is safe on them. Hansen agrees, having gone through multiple machines that were bouncy, noisy or otherwise offputting. Youre not going to use it if its not enjoyable, she said.

Consider professional advice

If youre taking your workout home, consider hiring a certified personal trainer to develop a safe and effective plan. A few sessions with a trainer will ensure you are using safe techniques to avoid injuries that can be caused by even basic equipment and that the exercise performed gets you the maximum benefit.

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| October 2013 9

theVIPmag.com

vip style

sporty chic
F
itness wear is meant for sweaty workouts in the gym, but can inspire sporty chic looks for any occasion. Take hints from your exercise regimen and bring unexpected fitness elements to your everyday wardrobe. The ball is in your fashion court.

f i t n e s s

w e a r

styling and text by Larena Head and Grace MatHis photography by Lacie Grant hair by HaLey Hardin, On staGe makeup by Beauty witH Grace shot on location at wP HeBert HeaLtH and weLLness center modeled by carrie cHessOn

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October 2013 11

Make your pants the MVP of your look with a sporty cut and punchy pattern. Keep other elements simple and classic. From Daisy Parc Boutique: Fitted sleeveless top, $19; Gold lion necklace, $13; Geometric print pants, $63; Black strappy wedges, $49. From Stellar Treasure: Oversized sunglasses, $12.

12 October 2013

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Vintage inspiration with a touch of modern mesh and metallic create a fun, wearable look perfect for the fitness trend of 2013. From Splash of Karma: Black and gold lace-up flats, $36; Polka dot bangle, $17 each. From Daisy Parc Boutique: Black and white romper, $59
theVIPmag.com

October 2013 13

A cheeky bodysuit can be worn in many unexpected ways. Try it in the office with slacks and a blazer. From Daisy Parc Boutique: Floral bodysuit, $49; Black leggings, $15; Embossed stretch belt, $15; Studded ankle boots, $49; Neon earrings, $13

14 October 2013

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The muscle shirt and sweatpants are elevated to glam new heights. A neutral color palette is the key to class. From Daisy Parc Boutique: Metallic muscle shirt, $41; Charcoal sweat pants, $63; Silver heels, $39; Quilted handbag, $59. From Splash of Karma: Dangle earrings, $12. Models own ring

theVIPmag.com

October 2013 15

pin
vip style
p i n k f a s h i o n

10

compiled by Larena Head

S
1

photography by scott esLinger

how your style and support for Breast Cancer Awareness with our pink picks from local boutiques. This month, stay chic by mixing your favorite pink accessories into your daily ensembles. From lush leather handbags to statement-making adornments, youll want to don these pink pieces long after October.

12 13

16 October 2013

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nk
8 9 14 11 4 From Splash of Karma: 1. Embroidered Cosmetic Case, $33; 2. Hoop Earrings, Vanessa Mooney, $48; 3. Beaded Stretch Bracelet, Vanessa Mooney, $56; 4. Fiber Necklace, $20. From Posh & Co.: 5. Leather Cross Body Bag, Jesslyn Blake, $300; 6. Broome Tote Bag, Deux Lux, $180; 7. Polka dot scarf (3), Pine Cone Hill, $58 each. From Monicas Mark: 8. Beaded Choker, $28; 9. Tassel Earrings, $18; 10. Crystal Drop Earrings, $8. From YaYa Club: 11. Thin Faux Leather Belt, $10; 12. Snake Miniadure, $64; 13. Ikat Classics, TOMS, $60; 14. Round Dangle Earrings, $25
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October 2013 17

vip leisure
m u d r u n

GOOD

FUN
The mud minions are getting ready for WWIII.5 in Winnie

DIRTY

text by CATHLEEN COLE

ts 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning at a ranch in Winnie and the obstacle course beckons the anxious participants who are ready to get down and dirty. For 3.5 miles (or 7 miles if they think theyre tough enough), people of various shapes, sizes and ages run, walk, crawl, climb and slither over, under and through muddy obstacles. Why? People want to be muddy. If you dont end up muddy, youre a pansy, says Michael Langley, co-owner with his wife, Jenny, of Jenesis Events that produces the mud run. WWIII.5: Winnie Wars V Retribution mud run is scheduled for Nov. 2 in Winnie at XL Ranch, owned by Robert and Betsy Smith. Langleys first event was in Orange in the spring of 2011, but he moved it in November 2011 to the 1,700-acre ranch that he leases twice a year for his mud run. Langley knew he had a good thing when the first event in Orange drew 1,436 participants. It was a total shock to us, Langley said. They got us to realize we need to continue this. He expects about 3,000 participants at the November event. If 4,000 or more people register, theyll make it a two-day event. Other mud runs have the same presentation every time, Langley contends. He wanted to make his event different every >>
theVIPmag.com

The Disneyland of all mud runs

October 2013 19

time, so he changes up the obstacles. His biggest compliment was when a fan once called his event the Disneyland of all mud runs. It takes a lot of work to live up to that title. My plans are over a year out, Langley said, adding that he builds the course throughout the year. Every weekend, Im out there. Contestants can choose the 3.5-mile Adventure obstacle course or the 7-mile Kamikaze course, which is the Adventure course plus a 3.5-mile detour with additional obstacles. The obstacles change for each race with the exception of some fan favorites. Obstacles in the past have included passenger planes, cars, school buses, tunnels, rock walls, ship fenders, swinging punching bags, bungee webs, a 30-foot foam-filled pit and, of course, mud holes. Fan favorites are the cars in the ground that mud runners go into and come out through the hoods. They also like climbing onto the 45-foot-long shrimp boat salvaged after Hurricane Ike.

No mud minion left behind

Langley has about 50 people on the course monitoring the runners, and he stays in radio contact with them. Medical personnel and an ambulance are on the grounds, but so far injuries have been minor. The race, which costs $60 to enter and includes a T-shirt and food and drink vouchers, goes in waves of 150 to 200 people about every 60 minutes. The minimum age of mud runners is 15, but there are no age or gender divisions. Participants who complete all the obstacles and finish the course get challenge coins that are specially minted for each race. They might also win some prizes. Everyone who enters finishes the course. Every single person finishes, Langley said, adding that other competitors often help those lagging behind. Ive never had a single person not finish. Langley wants participants to have a good time and not feel rushed. You can run, walk or crawl, he said. We dont care. The race starts and finishes in the festival area where spectators and race participants can patronize the food concessions and listen to live music. In the past, there have been helicopter, balloon and hay rides. Langley is still finalizing entertainment plans for this years event. After the race, mud runners can choose to be washed down with a fire hose or take a well-water shower. Be prepared to be cold, Langley warned.

Mud badge of honor

Running an obstacle course is a test of strength and endurance, but whats up with the mud? The mud is the allure, Langley,
20 October 2013 |
theVIPmag.com

photography courtesy of beaumont enterprise and jenesis events

Get muddy

WWIII.5: Winnie Wars V Retribution XL Ranch, 37702 I-10 E., Winnie; Saturday, Nov. 2 at 8 a.m. Registration closing date: Monday, Oct. 21 at 7:59 a.m. Entry fee: $60 (includes T-shirt, food and drink vouchers) survive35.com aka Mega Minion, said. Its the badge of honor. He believes that the brown goo puts everyone on a level playing field. Its the equalizer, he explained. At the end of the day, theyre all mud minions. Its also an entertaining way to get exercise. Langley decided to produce mud runs because he and his wife, both ex-military personnel, had participated in a few and thought they were fun. And its not just a guy thing. About 76 percent of the people participating in Langleys mud runs are women. The girls love that mud! he said, noting that some dress up as princesses or cheerleaders just to get filthy. They come out unrecognizable.

The Mud Minions

We have several high-ranking repeat offenders, Langley said of his mud minions. One is Lisa Beall, aka Mud Turtle, of Beaumont who has participated in all of Langleys mud runs. It was a personal challenge for me, she said. Im determined. Im going to finish eventually. The camaraderie has impressed Beall who is afraid of heights. People have stopped to hold her hand to cross a bridge. Total strangers help each other over obstacles. Sometimes, though, the obstacles can get really tough. On one run, she was trying desperately to climb up the shrimp boat. An unkind spectator (apparently he didnt get the be nice memo) yelled at her, Give it up, big momma! You will never make it up that boat! But she did. I showed him! she recalled. And Beall loves the mud. You get to get dirty, she said. You get to be a kid again. Nobodys worried about what they look like. Clifton English from Vidor likes to dress in costumes for the mud runs. Hes been a blue man and a lumberjack in the past. It adds to the whole fun, he noted. He also volunteers to help with last-minute preparations before the race. Steven Sebok from Angleton is an avid mud runner who travels all over Texas to participate in different events. Hes a faithful Winnie Wars mud minion. Ive run every one of his events, he said of Langleys mud runs. His is the most original mud run out there. VIP
theVIPmag.com

October 2013 21

vip leisure
m m a f i g h t i n g

fight club
Mike Berryhills American Top Team Beaumont is kicking it up a notch

T
begins.

text by cATHLeen cOLe

wo young fighters, both lean and hungry for a win,

stand in the middle of the mixed martial arts cage ready for battle. The referee explains the rules, they bump fists and the combat The opponents start throwing rapid punches, but the fighter in the green trunks gets the upper hand striking quickly. The other fighter tries his best to fend off the blows that just keep coming until hes knocked flat on his back. His attacker rushes in and straddles his torso, fists pumping like pistons until the referee declares the fight over. Beaumonts Cody Wolverine Williams leaps off his downed opponent and jumps to the top of the rail king of the cage, the new International Extreme Fight Association Pro 135-pound Champion.

photography by LAcie GrAnT

A full-contact combat sport

Mixed martial arts MMA for short is a full-contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques from a variety >>
theVIPmag.com

Mike Berryhill
| October 2013 23

of other martial arts. MMA started in the United States with the first Ultimate Fighting Championship event held in 1993. From there, the sport exploded in popularity. Everybody could see what you could do when you put different styles together, said Mike Berryhill, chief instructor and owner of Texas Karate Academy and head coach of his MMA American Top Team - Beaumont. As a spectator sport, MMA is in the same league with professional boxing and professional wrestling. Its fast-paced, Berryhill explained. Its got the kick boxing, the grappling, the take-downs. Its reality fighting. Thats what makes it exciting.

American Top Team - Beaumont

Berryhill, a fourth-degree black belt in karate who was a member of the 2001 U.S. National Karate Team, started American Top Team - Beaumont in 2006 as an academy affiliated with the main American Top Team based in Coconut Creek, Fla. The Beaumont team has four professional fighters and eight amateur fighters. The pros include Williams, Ryan Spann, Will Spidle and Martin Walker. The MMA trainer takes his fighters to one or two tournaments a month in Texas and Louisiana. While preparing them to fight, he also teaches them to stay calm and channel their nervous energy before competitions. He doesnt want his mixed martial artists expending all their energy on the jitters and have nothing left for the battle. Good breathing techniques seem to help out a lot, he noted. What makes guys want to get in the ring with the possibility of getting pulverized? I think its the competitiveness in a person, Berryhill explained. Its the ability to test the skills that you learned. You want to go at 110 percent at times. Its an adrenaline rush. Berryhill dismisses critics who say MMA is too violent. When you understand the sport as a whole, its no more violent than football, he believes. Its a controlled atmosphere. There are rules to protect the fighters. Its not any different than a hockey match or a football game. Williams, the first Beaumontbased fighter to go pro, earned the

The Wolverine

From left, Cody Wolverine Williams, Will Spidle and Martin Walker.

24 October 2013

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title International Extreme Fight Association Pro 135-pound Champion in 2012 and 2013. Hes 100 percent at what he does, Berryhill confirmed. He has an aggressive style of fighting. Hes dedicated to training and learning everything he can about MMA and hes hungry. Williams started training with Berryhill in 2009 with no previous experience in martial arts and only one year of wrestling training at West Brook High School his senior year. I picked it up as a hobby, he said, adding that he has a competitive streak that came from playing baseball in high school. I found MMA. What better way to test yourself your strength and mental edge? Berryhill dubbed the fighter Wolverine before his first amateur fight. I was willing to get in there with anybody, Williams recalled. His first pro MMA fight was in April 2011 when he was 26. I won in a very exciting fashion, he remembered of the fight at Nutty Jerrys. I fought a really great opponent. It was a third-round submission. The whole building was electric. When Williams is fighting, hes usually planning his strike strategy. But his body often goes on autopilot knowing instinctively what move to make. Normally, its a little bit of both, he confirmed. Once the fight ramps up, he automatically

reacts. But there are breaks in the action where he has time to calculate his next move. Sometimes he doesnt need too much time. In a fight last year, Williams opponent immediately made a mistake that left him wide open. Williams knocked him

off balance with an overhand right. After that, it was finish mode, he said. The other fighter dropped to the mat and Williams followed through until the referee stopped the match. But Williams has his share of battle scars. He broke his arm punching the mat when an opponent rolled out of striking distance. Hes broken several toes and hes had a few lacerations stitched up. Still, he loves his career as a professional MMA fighter and instructor. Being a mixed martial artist is who I am, he emphasized. Im a professional fighter and people see me as that. As for the appeal of mixed martial arts fighting events, he explains it this way: People love combat sports, action, entertainment and sportsmanship. You can get all that at an MMA event. VIP
theVIPmag.com

October 2013 25

vipersonality
l i n d s a y o x f o r d

bikini body
text by CATHLEEN COLE as I want to be, she explained. The bikini girls look healthy and still have curves. Oxford was somewhat of a gym rat when her adventure took off. I was always at the gym, she said. I was always into working out. Thats why some fellow fitness enthusiasts at the gym suggested that she compete. She was already working out with Kerry Bennett, a personal trainer and former professional football player, at Exygon Health & Fitness Club in Beaumont. The former Washington Redskins running back went with her to her first competition in Austin in July 2011. She was definitely born with a good body, but you can build on that, Bennett noted. She wanted to compete and Bennett thought, Why not? She already had the correct physique, in his opinion. I kind of encouraged her, he said. Although it was his first time training someone for a fitness competition, hes an old pro at training young athletes for college and professional football careers. Body building that was never my thing, he said. I learned a lot at the competition. It was definitely new to me. When Oxford first arrived at the competition and looked around she thought, I just want to go home. What in the world have I gotten myself into? Even though she and Bennett were both newbies at the fitness-competition game,
26 October 2013 |
theVIPmag.com

photography by LACiE GrANT

indsay Oxford politely corrects people who call her a body builder. Shes a fitness competitor who competes in the bikini division. Im as muscular and lean

Lindsay Oxford is strong and fit and not afraid to show it

Oxford won first place the first time out in the fitness-model category. I wasnt surprised, Bennett said. She had the look. The posing had them both worried though. Oxford hadnt prepared for that aspect of the competition. She got on stage and just did it. She just picked it up naturally, Bennett said. Oxford explained it this way: On stage, that competitive nature of mine took off. Im so competitive. Since I was a little girl, Ive always been in sports. Ive always worked out, Oxford confirmed. Id never been on a diet in my life. Once, when she arrived at her hotel for a competition, some other competitors asked, Wheres your food? Theyd brought bountiful bags of special edibles. Oxford said she had eaten at a restaurant and had brought some nuts and a few packages of tuna. The other ladies couldnt believe Oxford could maintain her physique on such a diet. Ive got good genes! she remarked. In between competitions, Oxford works out two hours a day, six days a week, and shes not a yo-yo dieter. She still stays on the same basic diet. I like structure in my life, she noted, which helps her stay on course. That doesnt mean she passes on goodies all the time. I have a major sweet tooth, she admitted, adding that she likes pizza and ice cream after a competition and sometimes craves chocolate. But youve got to practice what you preach. Its what I love. Its not a job to me. Her competition diet that she goes on before a show includes up to two gallons of water and about 1200 calories a day. She eats healthy foods every two hours to keep her body fueled for her three-hour workouts that she does twice a day. (She cuts back on the water as the competition nears.) The workouts become grueling do the pageant-poofy look.

Bikini bombshells on stage

Oxford is a member of the International Federation of Body Building and Fitness. She competes around the country and just earned her professional card this year. She is affiliated with Team Bombshell based in Daytona Beach, Fla., which supports her with on-line coaching and helps her at the shows. In the bikini division, the judges want to see a feminine look with a little edge of muscle. They are looking for an overall proportionate, fit body that has curves but muscle definition, Oxford explained. They want you to keep your booty. The bikini division is the biggest division, according to Oxford. Its a feminine, glamorous division, she said. Its broken up into height and age groups. Oxford is 5-feet-2-inches tall and 35 years old. She competes in the 30-plus age group. When shes on stage, she doesnt have time to worry. Its going so fast that youre not even thinking, she said. It has to come naturally. You are on autopilot. You literally have about 8 seconds to do all of your posing.

Born this way

and the diet gets stricter, she said of the pre-competition routine. She admits that her restricted food choices affect her family that includes her husband, Hubert Oxford IV, and her children, Lila and Quintin. Dinners can be difficult when she has to be on a strict diet, but shes determined not to deprive them of foods they like that she chooses not to eat. Im not going to take away from them, she emphasized.

Heading for Olympia

Oxford teaches boot camps to help women get into shape and is a personal trainer at iRule Dance in Beaumont. She has big plans for her fitness career. My main goal is to compete at Olympia, Oxford said, describing the competition as the Olympics of the fitness competitors world for professionals where the best of the best compete. She also wants to open her own fitness boutique in the near future for personal training, boot camp classes and working with women who want to compete in the bikini division of fitness competitions. Becoming a fitness competitor has made Oxfords life better, she contends. Its giving me more challenges, she observed. I look better. I feel better. Im healthy. Why cant you maximize your potential? Who says you cant have it all? VIP
theVIPmag.com

Itsy bitsy green bikini

When Oxford first started competing, she wore a simple bikini that cost about $70. Now she gets her suits custom-made from a company in Florida for about $300 each. There are more expensive ones, she explained. It just depends on how much bling you want. Color and fit are important aspects of the bikini. Suit selection plays a big part, she noted. Green has been my luckycharm color. She keeps the jewelry modest and does her own hair and makeup. I do my hair natural, not teased up, she said. I dont

October 2013 27

DOWN DOESNT MEAN

OUT
Sports medicine specialists tackle scary injuries in Southeast Texas
ber to be chosen pre-season Mr. Football in the state of Texas gets injured, not only his family but legions of fans, coaches and recruiters hold their collective breath. Tony Brown, a senior at Clifton J. Ozen High School in Beaumont, is a track star with Olympic aspirations and the nations No. 14 overall prospect in football. A cornerback with more than 30 scholarship offers from football powerhouses such as Alabama, Baylor, Texas, LSU and UCLA, he has serious potential as a career athlete. However, football is an impact sport. Browns budding career could have been jeopardized by a shoulder injury he received as a sophomore. My first thought was to go to Houston to find the best doctor that I could in that Tonys a high-profile athlete, remembered
28 October 2013 |
theVIPmag.com

W
text by CHERYL ROSE

hen a young athlete of the cali-

Tammy Walker-Brown, Tonys mother, who currently works at Ozen as the girls head basketball coach, an assistant track coach and a speech therapist. As a former collegiate basketball player herself, WalkerBrowns first call was to a friend from her alma mater, Texas Tech, who is a physical therapist and teaches at Baylor University. I

called him and said, Give me the name of a good person. He reminded me not to get caught up in that idea that Houston is always bigger and better, she said. I took him at his word. I had worked here with Dr. Gene Isabell before when some of my female athletes had injuries and I know he is very meticulous in what he does.

Bringing players back

Sports medicine often involves torn tendons and dislocated joints, particularly involving the knee, shoulder and elbow. With the advantage of significant advances in technology and materials over the last decade, orthopedic surgeons can often help athletes recover from severe sports-related injuries.

vip worthy
s p o r t s i n j u r i e s

With new advancements in techniques and implant design, we are now able to perform rotator cuff repairs and multi-ligament knee reconstructions using an all-arthroscopic approach, for example, said Isabell, an orthopedic surgeon with Beaumont Bone & Joint Institute. In the past, orthopedic surgeons had to use more invasive, open procedures.

Tough breaks are no longer automatically career-ending, as many athletes can overcome injuries and even improve. Isabell cited two professional football players as examples: Minnesota Viking Adrian Peterson came back from a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) to achieve the secondhighest rushing yardage total in NFL history and quarterback

Drew Brees recovered from a torn labrum ligament to star for the New Orleans Saints and later win a Super Bowl. The majority of Isabells patients are student athletes, though he gets some more mature weekend warriors and shares the hospital on-call duty with his partners. Many of the young boys come in with football-related injuries, of-

ten involving the knees. Girls frequently come in because of a bad landing from a jump when playing volleyball, soccer or basketball. Statistically, female athletes have four times the incidence of ACL injuries, he explained. Isabell and his colleagues stay busier during the school year when the sports leagues are in session. The practice also serves as the >>
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October 2013 29

team physicians for all Lamar University sports teams. Some sports injuries may require a specialty surgeon, Isabell explained. A complicated knee fracture might be seen by a trauma specialist or a complex hand injury might be seen by a hand specialist. For people in Southeast Texas, Isabell believes its important to know that the level of expertise in our community is exceptional. The implants, grafts and techniques we practice in Beaumont are the exact same as they use in Houston or any other major city, he said. Nobodys compromising anything by staying here. It just saves you the 150-mile roundtrip. Though Isabell has worked on elite athletes, a 12-year-old soccer player with an ACL injury is just as important to him. More than anything else, the most gratifying thing is watching your patients get better and function at a high level, he said.

recently released survey of emergency room visits conducted by Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit advocacy group, showed that more than a million times in 2011-2012, or about every 25 seconds, a young athlete visited a hospital emergency room for a sports-related injury. The study found that more than 1.35 million American children ages 6 to 19 visited an ER for a sports-related injury, a number that does not include urgent care or orthopedic clinic visits, which would likely push the total much higher. The most common injuries reported were sprains and strains, fractures, contusions, abrasions and concussions. Football led the list with the highest number of pediatric injuries and highest concussion rate. Ice hockey, wrestling and cheerleading also had high concussion rates. would have been running from place to place and making the trip multiple times. Here, Tony received all of his treatment in one location. Dr. Isabell was an athlete himself so he understood a lot of the fears Tony had and was able to calm him, Walker-Brown said. He was so accessible and as a mother, not just as a coach, that was very reassuring. He was like a small-town doctor who makes house calls and checks on you just to see if youre OK. Isabell disputes the perception that there are orthopedic specialists in Houston who are better trained or perform different procedures than what is available Southeast Texas. There are good docs in Houston I went to medical school there and held a fellowship with the head physician of the Texans and Astros there, Isabell said. But I was born and raised here. The reason my colleagues and I are in Beaumont isnt because we didnt have opportunities elsewhere. Its because we wanted to raise our children here. Im proud of growing up here. I have a lot of pride in taking care of the people from this area.

Sports Risks & Kids

Local pride

The Brown family made the decision to stay local for Tonys medical care and rehab, a choice they dont regret. Walker-Brown believes that had they traveled to Houston, they

Tony Brown, a senior at Clifton J. Ozen High School in Beaumont, is a track star with Olympic aspirations and the nations No. 14 overall prospect in football.

30 October 2013

theVIPmag.com

From Athlete to Surgeon

he son of a football coach, Dr. Gene Isabell began playing sports early. As a small boy, he played baseball when his family was living in Woodville. When he transferred to the Hardin-Jefferson school district, he switched to basketball. He claims he was the worst Little Dribbler in the county in seventh grade, but by 1991, he was named 3A Player of the Year and helped his school win the state championship. He accepted a full basketball scholarship to Sam Houston State University. However, he was playing high school football when he determined his future career path. I tackled a guy from Anahuac and tore a tendon in my hand, Isabell said, describing the flexor tendon injury that prevented him from closing his hand. He was treated by Dr. Marshall Hayes, who is today one of his partners at Beaumont Bone & Joint Institute. I missed the remainder of the football season, but after recovering, I thought, This is what I want to do for living, he said. Experiencing a sports injury and witnessing teammates issues, Isabell decided to specialize in sports medicine. After graduating from Sam Houston, he went to the University of Texas Medical School, where he met and married his wife, Dawn. The day after their honeymoon, he reported

photography by ren SheppArd

to Fort Worth for a five-year residency. After completion, he went back to Houston for his orthopedic sports medicine fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. He studied under respected orthopedic surgeons David Lintner and Walter Lowe, who in addition to their roles at Houston hospitals and universities, also work with professional Houston sports teams including the Astros, Texans and Rockets. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn their techniques and bring those back to the people here in Southeast Texas, Isabell said. It was interesting to meet a lot of people I thought of as heroes growing up. His fellowship began the year after the Astros went to the World Series. He met several stars of the era, including Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Craig Biggio. Though hed played sports at the collegiate level, the hoopla at the professional level still surprised him. At the NFL, there was such a giant difference of scale and everything was red carpet and over the top, he said. With the Texans, it was amazing how gigantic these guys are (Isabell is 67 himself) and the level of athleticism is just astonishing. Today, instead of big stadiums, hes often on the sidelines of Southeast Texas school teams, including those of his four children, ready to assist if an injury occurs. VIP

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October 2013 31

V
S
Victorys beginning
Beaumont neurosurgeon Dr. Irwin Lo had performed surgeries in a Victory Medical Center in Houston. He was impressed with the smaller environment and nurse-patient ratio that all Victory hospitals offer, Ames said. He spoke to
32 October 2013 |
theVIPmag.com

New boutique hospital features 1-on-1 care

text by JaNe McBride
ors, wood-and-slate-

Victory
ophisticated wall coloriginal artwork, skillfully-arranged fresh bouquets and furniture with clean

is for

hued flooring, vibrant

lines almost everything about the rooms hints at a contemporary boutique hotel. Even the bed offers hotel-quality linens and a soft-hued blanket.

The only thing that gives the true function of the room away is the medical equipment hanging on the wall and a large tiled shower that can accommodate a wheelchair. The rooms at Beaumonts Victory Medical Center are representative of one of the latest trends in medical care the boutique or concierge hospital. Victory Beaumont CEO Becky Ames describes the surgical center as a first class environment with revolutionary technology and a one nurse for one patient ratio.

Victory Healthcare CEO and Chairman Robert Helms about opening a center in Beaumont. Victory Healthcare is based in The Woodlands. In the past year, the company has grown to nine hospitals, including two in San Antonio, two in Houston, one in Plano, one in McKinney, one in Hurst, the Beaumont medical center and one under construction in Ft. Worth. All have 25

beds or less; the one in Beaumont has 17 private rooms and suites.

Physician-owned
The small for-profit centers typically are partially physician-owned. Beaumonts center has 25 partners, including owner physicians who practice there. Other physicians who are not partners also are on staff and perform surgeries

vip viewing
v i c t o r y h o s p i t a l

photography by lee e. stinson and

courtesy of victory medical center

large screen during surgery. We have proAxis beds for neurosurgery, which can tilt, flex and bend, adding more functionality.

One-on-one care
Feedback from the nurses indicate they love being in a one-to-one relationship with the patient. The same nurse meets the patient in pre-op, accompanies them to surgery, then takes care of them in post-op recovery. Unlike most hospitals, there are only two shifts - day and night. If a patient requires overnight stay, the day nurse will bring the night nurse in, introduce the nurse to the patient and give an overview of his or her care. The concierge approach means a staff member is with the patient from the moment they walk in the front door until they are discharged, providing exemplary personal attention and comfort. One of the nurses told me its the best thing that has ever happened to her as a surgical nurse because she gets to see the outcome, Ames said.

and outpatient procedures. The physician partners are invested in its success, Ames said, not only for quality medical care and patient satisfaction, but from every aspect, including an appreciation for the caliber of employees. Physicians love performing surgery and other patient care at the center, Ames said, in part because they helped design it. We have five oversized operating

suites. The physicians and support staff say that it gives them room to navigate. It also accommodates the state-of-the art equipment. We have extremely high-resolution image-guided surgical equipment that provides for safer, more thorough procedures. The images can be viewed on 65-inch monitors in all of the OR suites. The ENTs and neurosurgeons can display MRI images from a CD directly onto a

Procedures and services

The majority of the procedures are done as an outpatient, Ames said, though >>
theVIPmag.com

October 2013 33

overnight stays are possible. The suites have a large, comfortable couch for a spouse, family member or friend to sleep on and a meal will be provided for them. The longest a patient has stayed was three days, which is atypical. The center has its own chef, Traci Gates, whose menus include salmon, steaks, sun-dried tomato and parmesan-stuffed chicken breasts, braised short ribs and omelets. The center serves breakfast and lunch daily in the cafe, with 24-7 dining for in-patients and physicians. The center specializes in neurological, orthopedic, bariatric, gynecological, podiatry, ear nose and throat, vascular and general surgery, as well as complex spine procedures and pain management, Ames said. Victory Medical Center also offers a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week emergency room staffed by Golden Triangle Emergency Physicians Group. The ER handles low-to-mid-level emergencies; if a patient needs a higher level of care, they can be transferred to a nearby hospital. Victory opened May 14, 2013 and by August had performed its 500th surgery. VIP

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34 October 2013 |
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European Container Just Arrived! Come find the special antique furniture, accessory or object d art youve been searching for! Open Tues, Wed & Thurs 10-5 Fri & Sat 10-3 2195 Calder Ave. @ 6th. Beaumont 409.835.3080 www.burnsantikhaus.com

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VIP magazine is looking for male and female models to shoot for future covers and fashion spreads. If you want to work with some of the best photographers in Southeast Texas while building your portfolio and gaining important modeling experience, send a photo of yourself and contact information to vipnews@thevipmag.com.

Are You An Aspiring

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October 2013 35

food dining

9
superfoods
text by Jane MCBride Debra Hammonds, supplement buyer at Basic Foods in Beaumont, spends a lot of time researching the best ways to eat healthy. There are so many superfoods, its hard to choose one, she admits. Her top choice, which she eats every day, either sprinkled in cereal, on toast or English muffins, is first on our list. She touts its nutritional benefits of protein, fiber and omega fatty acids. Patti Howie, Associate Manager and buyer for the raw and living department at Basic Foods, stresses the importance of fatty acids in good health. Every cell in the body is made of fatty acids as a fat-soluble membrane. They are constantly multiplying and dividing. You need the good fats to keep the cells permeable to allow nutrition in and toxins out. Debra believes turmeric is the most versatile herb available because of its strong anti-inflammatory properties and contribution to good brain health. She takes it almost daily in supplement form. She also puts our number 1 pick high on her list. Here are 9 foods that you might not have heard much about but should consider including in your diet. These highly-touted, nutrient-rich foods put the super in superfoods by amping up the level of nutritional value.
36 October 2013 |
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h e a l t h y

e a t i n g

1 Chia

Remember the flax revolution a year or so ago? The seed of the moment is Chia. Why? Its even richer in omega-3, and we know how much the third O means these days to heart and brain health, as well as reducing inflammation, which is seen as the culprit in many adverse health effects. Touted by many as an effective aid in weight loss because of its feel-full, high-fiber count and fatty acids. It can be sprouted, just like our number 2 choice, to increase its nutritional value.

hile the latest designer handbag, shoes or hairstyle can up your fashion quotient, might we suggest spending a little time discovering the up-to-the-moment trends

in health-promoting foods?

2 Quinoa

One cooked cup delivers 8 grams of protein and important minerals like copper, iron, phosphorous and magnesium, all of which promote good bones. And dont forget manganese, which reportedly can help with PMS. Not that you necessarily wanted to know that. Its also gluten-free which helps those who cant consume the troublesome substance in grains.

3 Cacao

Why? This straight-from-the-tree raw form of the cocoa bean is loaded with antioxidants, which help knock down those nasty free radicals believed to damage cells, leading to cancer, heart and other diseases. Make sure you have the true, raw form not from genetically modified trees. The kicker? It has potent feel-good properties, causing the brain to produce anandamine, a neurotransmitting bliss molecule very similar to the one produce by cannabis and the phenyl ethylamine in cacao helps prolong the sensation. Get happy. Stay happy.

6 Seaweed

While planting a veggie garden on the sea floor is, umm, unrealistic, you can enjoy the harvest of those who do such things. Along with fellow sea vegetables wakame and nori, seaweed is protein-dense and loaded with all the minerals found in seawater, such as iron, calcium, potassium and iodine. Also contains fucoidans, which offer anti-inflammatory benefits. Can be found in dehydrated form to sprinkle on foods. Nori sheets are great for wraps. Sushi, anyone?

ASSoCiATed preSS

photography courtesy MCT,

5 Cupuau

Turmeric is a staple in Indian traditional medicine. According to ayurvedic nutritionists (ayurvedic comes from the Sanskrit roots ayu and veda, or life and knowledge), turmeric should be a key ingredient in your masalthani or spice box. Its rich in antioxidants and aids digestion. And yes, it has two rs, so practice your pronunciation.
theVIPmag.com

4 Turmeric

This Brazilian native fruit is a close cousin to cocoa. It offers micronutrients that are said to stimulate metabolism and boost the immune system and is packed with antioxidants and vitamins B1, B2, Niacin, A and C. Burts Bees and John Masters take advantage of its buttery property and use it (along with cacao) in their lotions, which ups its hipness level. Tastes like pear/banana or chocolate/pineapple, depending on whom you ask. The fruit. Not the lotion.

October 2013 37

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Yogurt no longer is the little black dress of foodies. Meet the creamy, liquid kefir, a fermented cows or goats milk product which is a healthier substitute for sour cream in the non-fat version and easier to digest. Instead of yogurt, use kefir as the base for your favorite smoothie. It has the additional benefit of offering more protein and those all-important, digestive-aiding probiotics.

Unlike high-fat coconut milk or oil, coconut water is a cholesterol-free clear liquid found in the center of young, green coconuts. Its become a healthier substitute for sports drinks, which are loaded with sugar and salt. Coconut water is high in electrolytes and potassium (600 mg) and has a low glycemic index. Make sure the brand you choose doesnt have added sugar or flavorings. Available in organic and natural forms.

8 Baobab

This coconut-resembling fruit from Africa has 14 vitamins and minerals, from C to calcium, and is high in disease-fighting antioxidants. The white fruit inside the shell has high pectin content and is great in smoothies and juices. The powdered form also shows up in nutrition bars. The flavor is tangy and sweet. Its also the signature botanical in Whitney Neil London Dry Gin, the Gin Trophy winner at the 2011 International Wine & Spirits Competition. Pair with a high-quality quinine-infused tonic, and youve got a winner. In oil form, its an excellent moisturizer. VIP
38 October 2013 |
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food dining
h e a l t h y r e c i p e

Grilled salmon with salsa and pineapple

text by SuSan M. SelaSky
Ingredients 1 pounds center-cut salmon filet 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided teaspoon smoked paprika teaspoon all-purpose seasoning Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste SALSA 5 mini red bell peppers 6 pineapple slices, about -inch thick cup sliced green onion cup diced red onion SALAD 8 cups mixed field greens Olive oil Red wine vinegar Salt and pepper Directions Preheat the grill to medium. Cut the salmon into about four even 4-ounce portions or desired size. Place the salmon on a plate and rub with about 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season with the paprika, allpurpose seasoning, salt and black pepper. Set aside. Brush the bell peppers and pineapple slices with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season the peppers with salt and pepper. When the grill is hot, place the peppers and pineapple on the grill. Grill the peppers and the pineapple slices until you get nice grill marks on each side of the pineapple and all sides of the peppers. Remove from the grill. Chop the peppers and half of the pineapple and place in a bowl with the green onion and red onion. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. Cut the remaining pineapple in slices to serve with the salmon. For the salad, place the greens in a bowl, drizzle with olive oil and red wine vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Divide salad among four serving plates. Place the salmon pieces on the grill, flesh side down and grill about 5 minutes depending on the thickness. When the salmon releases from the grates easily, turn it skin side down and grill another 5 minutes. The salmon should be flake easily not come apart in shreds. Remove it from the grill by sliding a spatula between the salmon and the skin. Place the salmon the salad greens and top with about 2 tablespoons of the salsa and serve with grilled pineapple.
Serves: 4 / Preparation time: 15 minutes / Total time: 45 minutes 437 calories (42 percent from fat), 21 grams fat (3 grams sat. fat), 38 grams carbohydrates, 28 grams protein, 394 mg sodium, 70 mg cholesterol, 6 grams fiber. MCT

Secrets to perfect salmon

f you buy a whole salmon filet and cut it into individual portions, cut them from the center or thickest part. Save the thinner portions, such as the tail, for another use.

hen it comes to grilling, I find that many folks avoid salmon or any fish because it can stick to the grill or turn out dry from too much cooking. One reason for overcooking could be that many recipes say to cook fish until it flakes easily. I have found that by that time, its overdone and dry. Other recipes say to follow the rule of 10 minutes of cooking per 1-inch thickness of fish. Paired with brining, that practice generally works. Whether you bake, broil, grill or cook salmon in the skillet, brine it first. Its a sure-fire way to make sure the salmon turns out moist. The brine, a mixture of water, salt and sometimes sugar, sort of plumps the salmon, adding seasoned moisture. Its easy enough that you can brine the salmon for a minimum of 30 minutes or up to 2 hours, but no longer. Once youve brined the salmon and follow a timed cooking method, it shouldnt turn out dry. To prevent fish from sticking to the grill, its a good idea to first oil it a bit. Make sure your grill is hot. To oil the grates, fold several pieces of paper towel you should have a thick wad of it into about a 3-by-3-inch square. Dip much of that square into a bowl of flavorless oil, such as canola, and, using long handled tongs, rub the oiled towel on the grates. Close the lid and let it heat again for a few minutes. Use salmon fillet with skin on and place it on the grates flesh side down. The piece of salmon will immediately cling to the grates until its cooked enough to release its grip. Once this happens, you should be able to slip a spatula underneath it easily and turn it over. The time it takes to do this depends on how thick the fish is, but it can be about 7 minutes. Thats a bit longer than the general rule of thumb of cooking fish 5 minutes per side. So once you flip it, grill it just a few minutes more. When the salmon is done, slip a spatula between the flesh and the skin, leaving the skin on the grate.
| October 2013 39

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vip spotlight
s e t e x a s e v e n t s

Studio 33 Speakeasy
Jack Hays, Matthew Tanner Hilary Hayes, Maci McFarline and Chelsey Daigle
scott eslinger

Ramona Young and Andy Coughlan

Brad Durio and Ashley Richard

Meg Baertl,Gordon Williams and Lillian Hebert P.J. Baldwin, Rachael Hevrin

Donny Avery, Glenn Teeter

Kelly Brewer, Melody Rider

Rebecca and Chris Boone, Jennifer Daniel and Kate James

Phillip Potter, Lawrence Gilstrap 40 October 2013 |

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Michael Mason, Michael Saar, Gina Hinson and Clay Hutchison

Taylor Rainbolt and DeeDee Howell

Hope for Tomorrow

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Monclas Catering family owned and operated, serving the Golden Triangle since 1918.

When its time to cater, dont wait til later call Monclas right now!
Monii Jackson, Sydney Jackson Pat Barker, Rose Prejean

When the job is of a specialized nature, it pays to call in an expert. Its just smart business. But when it comes to catering for business functions, too often those decisions are left until the last minute or not seriously considered at all. With so much riding on the choices that you make in your business, these days you cant afford to make a bad decision. Dont let catering be one of those. Call the experts. Call Monclas.

(409) 840-9051 2530 W. Cardinal Dr.

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October 2013 41

Kaylyn, Ashanti and Larry Bassett

the night side of se texas

Janice Sartin and Lelo Washington

Kelli Savage, Billie Tate and Paula ONeal

a s r e v e n
the
42 October 2013 |
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l l i w S Y A D S R U H T be me
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Clark Winslow and Dowd Hauver

Nancy Mackool, Laura Mays and Hester Bell

Ellarene Farris and Sandy Walker

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Tasting for Some Other Place

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scott eslinger

CASA Volunteer Gala

Gigi Delk, Brannon Beaton and Tracy Delk Sheila and Walter Umphrey

Joey and Joni Miller

Gisela houseman, Gabby Hammett

Candy and Neil Spiller

Randy, Logan and Sheryl Moss

Sunni Oceguera, Dr. Mark & Becky Messer

Kenita Dougharty, Maureen McAllister and Kristen Williams

Carey Bailey and Dr. Larry and Lori Acker

Alton and Deidre Hawkins

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Sommer and Pam Picard

Jan & Norman Campbell

Colleen and Hunter Conn, Donna and Cole Carleton

Nancy Sanford, Nora Popillion, Diane Wright 44 October 2013 |

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Mike and Kay Abbott

Lamar Football Kickoff Celebration

DOG-tober Fest
9 a.m.-1 p.m., on the green area next to the Julie Rogers Theatre, Beaumont. Families and their favorite canines can enjoy food, music, a Strut Your Mutt Parade, SPAW, PAW readings, BarkArt, a bone Appetit food court, blessing of the pets and contests, including the cutest dog, best-dressed dog, Mr. and Ms. DOGtober Fest, best howlin dog, best tail waggin dog, most talented dog and Master/Dog Look-a-Like Contest. Free. (409) 838-2202 or www. beaumontmainstreet.com

October 12

great dates in october

Art of Beer
6-10 p.m., Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont. Samples of new brews, gourmet food, beer pairings and entertainment. Reservations: (409) 832-3432 or www.amset.org.

October 9

Lamar Homecoming
6 p.m., Provost Umphrey Stadium at Lamar University, Beaumont. The Lamar Cardinals will host Central Arkansas. For tickets, call (409) 880-1715, or go to www. lamarcardinals.com/tickets/ footbl-s-tickets.html.

October 19

Texas Rice Festival

5 p.m.-midnight Oct. 2-3; 9 a.m.midnight Oct. 4-5, Winnie-Stowell Park, Winnie. Carnival, arts and crafts, livestock and longhorn shows, nightly street dances, antique car show, rice cooking contest, pageants, food and concerts including Bronco Jr., the Jobe Wilson Band, Captain Legendary Band, Jamie Talbert and Band of Demons, and the Randy Rogers Band, Oct. 2; Lee Brice, Oct. 3; Wayne Toups, Oct. 4; and the Bellamy Brothers and the Molly Ringwalds, Oct. 5. Adults $8, students $5, children 5 and younger, seniors 65 and older and military with valid ID free. Carnival wristbands $25; carnival passports $60, good for all days, and are available at Market Basket in Winnie only. (409) 296-4404 or www.texasricefestival.org.

October 2-5

Texas Cool Autumn Nites

October 18-19
2-6 p.m. Oct. 18; 8 a.m. Oct. 19, Crockett Street Entertainment District, Beaumont. Open run car, truck and bike show with trophies, outdoor movie Friday night, cruise both days, live band, 50/50 pot, games, goody bags, door prizes and more. (409) 769-7599 or www. coolautumnnites.com.

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Event Submissions

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OctOber 1
National Night Out
5 p.m., Port Neches Riverfront Park, Port Neches. (409) 722-1424 or (409) 722-9154.

Much Ado About Nothing

William Shakespeares battle-of-thesexes comedy, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4-5; 2:30 p.m. Oct. 6, Port Arthur Little Theatre Playhouse, Port Arthur. Adults $11, seniors $9, students $6. (409) 727-7258.

Yappy Hour

6:30-9 p.m., LePeep Caf, Beaumont. Bring your favorite four-legged friend and bid on dog beds created by local artists. Admission $40 per person, $75 per couple. (409) 838-2202.

10 a.m., downtown Port Arthur. Honors the areas oil industry. (409) 983-1009 or (409) 498-1793. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Fort Travis Seashore Park, Port Bolivar. The festival honors the Mother of Texas and includes a play, art, crafts and food booths, childrens pavilion, silent auction and live music. Bring a lawn chair for the play. www.janelongfestival.org. 7:30 p.m., Palace Theater, Kirbyville. Adults $7, children 7-12 $3. (409) 423-3319.

CavOILcade Parade

Fourth Annual Jane Long Festival

OctOber 2-5
Orange Lions Charity Carnival
6:30 p.m., Lions Den Park, Orange. (409) 313-0827 or www.orangelions. org

OctOber 5
BISD Education Summit 2013
8 a.m.-2 p.m., Central Medical Magnet High School, Beaumont. Register at bmtisd.com. (409) 617-5616 or (409) 617-5624.

OctOber 11-12
Cruisen Silsbee
Annual car, truck and motorcycle show, Kirby Memorial Football Stadium, Silsbee. www.cruisensilsbee. com.

OctOber 3
9:30 and 11:30 a.m., Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts, Orange. The show is geared toward children in grades K-4 and features glow in the dark electroluminescent wire puppets. Tickets $4. (409) 886-5535 or www. lutcher.org. 5-9 p.m., starting at the Mildred Building, Beaumont. The monthly event features food, live music, and sidewalk vendors offering clothing, jewelry, art, photography, recycled and handmade items and more. (409) 833-9919.

The Ugly Duckling and The Tortoise and the Hare

Fire Prevention & Safety Festival

11 a.m.-3 p.m., Fire Museum of Texas, Beaumont. Childrens activities, equipment demonstrations by first responders, displays of fire trucks, rescue equipment and an ambulance, food and more. Free. (409) 880-3927 or www.firemuseumoftexas.org.

OctOber 11-13
Larrys Old Time Trade Days
8 a.m.-5 p.m., 14902 FM 1663 Road, Winnie. Antiques, collectibles, arts and crafts, home decor items, plants, clothing, jewelry and more. (409) 296-3300 or larrysoldtimetradedays. com.

Texas Country Music Show

Reception 7-9 p.m., Beaumont Art League, Beaumont. (409) 833-4179 or www.beaumontartleague.org.

The Beaumont Art League Annual Membership Show

First Thursdays on Calder Avenue

OctOber 5-12
Shangri La Orchid Festival
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 5-11; noon-5 p.m. Oct. 12, Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, Orange. Daily tours of orchid displays, classes and presentations about orchids and guest speakers. (409) 670-9113 or www. shangrilagardens.org.

Adventure Kingdom Renaissance Festival

Texas Renaissance Festival

4-8 p.m., Oct. 11; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 12; noon-6 p.m. Oct. 13, Adventure Kingdom, Lumberton. Adults $12, children 5-12 $8, toddlers $3. (409) 751-5464.

Runs weekends through Dec. 1., 9 a.m.-8 p.m. weekends, festival grounds, FM 1774 between Magnolia and Plantersville. www.texrenfest.com or (800) 458-3435.

Haunted Hotel

OctOber 13
11 a.m.-4 p.m., American Legion Post 7, Port Arthur. Awards, raffles, door prizes and food. Registration $15. (409) 983-6931

See previous listing.

Charity Car and Bike Show

OctOber 4
Registration 7 a.m., tee time 8 a.m., Bayou Din Golf Course, Beaumont. (409) 722-9154 or (409) 722-7380.

Port Neches Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament

OctOber 6
Wedding Preview
1-4 p.m., MCM Elegante Hotel and Conference Center, Beaumont. The show features everything for the perfect wedding, including photographers, florists, wedding planners and designers, disk jockeys, photo booths, venues, health and beauty, linen rentals and more. Admission $10. (409) 658-5515 or www.southeasttexasweddings.com

OctOber 11-19
Trinity Valley Exposition Rodeo Arena, Liberty. Doors open at 9 a.m. most days; rodeo events 7:30 p.m. most days. The event also features a carnival, barbecue cook off and a dance, featuring Cody Johnson, 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Oct. 12. www.tvefair.com. (936) 336-7455.

Trinity Valley Fair and Rodeo

Honky Tonk Second Sunday Chopper Shindig (Biker Day)

3 p.m., Honky Tonk Texas, Silsbee, (409) 698-5555, (409) 386-1995 or www.honkytonktexas.us.

Girls Haven Annual STARS Dinner

Honoring Myla and Mike Ramsey, 7 p.m., Event Centre, Beaumont. Tickets $75 per person, $150 per couple, table for 8 $500. (409) 832-6223.

OctOber 15-31
Scarecrow Festival
9 a.m.-5 p.m., Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, Orange. Hand-crafted scarecrows created by local organizations, businesses, schools, families and individuals. (409) 670-9113 or www. shangrilagardens.org.

OctOber 4-5
Noir, Pointblank
Kirby-Hill House Mystery Dinner Theater, 7 p.m., Kirby-Hill House Museum, Kountze. Five-course meal, door prizes awarded, including a prize for best-dressed guest in vintage 1940s fashions. Tickets $64. (409) 246-8000, www.kirbyhillhouse.com.

OctOber 12
9 a.m.-6 p.m., Beaumont Civic Center, Beaumont. Motorcycles, cars, boats, fitness equipment, home entertainment, fishing, hunting and more. (409) 833-9421.

Big Boy Toys Expo

OctOber 7
Triangle AIDS Network Annual Update Conference
Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Beaumont. Registration begins at 8 a.m. (409) 832-8338 Ext. 231.

Screaming Locust Grassroots Art Sale

Noon-10 p.m., home-studio of artist Nathan McCray, 2555 Gulf St. Art, music, food, films and more. Admission free; artists participation $12. (409) 225-5425.

OctOber 17
Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting
6-10 p.m., Julie Rogers Theatre, Beaumont. Recognizes an outstanding business in the community with the Spindletop Award, which will go to Coburns Supply Inc. Entertainment by the Lost Bayou Ramblers www. bmtcoc.org. (409) 838-6581.

OctOber 4-6
7:13 p.m., Sports Connection, Beaumont. www.thehauntedhoteltx. com or on Facebook The Haunted Hotel-Texas. (409) 729-3300. 46 October 2013 |
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OctOber 10
2013 Julie and Ben Rogers Community Service Awards
3-5 p.m., Mary and John Gray Library on the Lamar University campus, Beaumont. For information, email andrea.davis@lamar.edu

Haunted Hotel

The Painted Daisy Informational Meet and Greet

10 a.m.-4 p.m., Hobby Lobby, Beaumont. (409) 656-6566.

OctOber 18
ArcAttack
9:30 and 11:30 a.m., Lutcher Theater, Orange. Children in grades 3-6 will take an interactive journey of discovery and explore the world of science and technology. Tickets $4. (409) 886-5535 or www.lutcher.org.

Breast Cancer Awareness

BRA-vo! Project Gallery
Julie Rogers Gift of Life Program Exhibition honoring breast cancer survivors, reception Oct. 1 at 6 p.m., Runs through Oct. 31, Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont.

Beaumont. (409) 880-8921 or email Alumni@lamar.edu

OctOber 19-20
ARTofberFEST
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 19; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 20, Postoffice Street between 21st and 23rd Streets, Galveston. (409) 770-5066 or (800) 821-1894.

October 1-31

Playhouse Disney Live! presents Three Classic Fairy Tales

7 p.m., Beaumont Civic Center, Beaumont. Reserved seats $15, $22, $32 and $42. Tickets at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www. ticketmaster.com or call (800) 7453000.

Paul Anka Concert

7 p.m., Julie Rogers Theater, Beaumont. Gala emcee is talk show host and inspirational speaker, Pat Smith, wife of former NFL football star Emmitt Smith. Tickets $100. Benefits Gift of Life. (409) 833-3663 or go to www. giftoflifebmt.org.

Harvest Festival
9 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. Oct. 19; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 20, Heritage Village Museum, Woodville. The folklife festival features pioneer East Texas crafts, pioneer demonstrations, characters dressed in period costume, music, dancers, food and more. Adults $6, children 5-11 $3, children younger than 5 free. (800) 323-0389

October 3

OctOber 18-19
Beaumont Community Players present the 1960s French farce about a self-styled Parisian lothario whose Italian, German and American fiancees all converge on his apartment at the same time, 7:30 p.m., Betty Greenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Beaumont. Tickets $12, $23 and $25. (409) 833-4664 or www. beaumontcommunityplayers.com.

Boeing Boeing

Julie Richardson Procter 5K Run/Walk

Beaumont City Hall, Beaumont. Registration 6 a.m.; welcome and warm up, 7:30 a.m.; race at 8 a.m.; celebration ceremony, featuring soul singer Yvonne Washington, 10 a.m. Registration $20. (409) 833-3663 or www. giftoflifebmt.org.

October 5

Gun and Knife Show

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 19; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 20, Robert A. Bob Bowers Civic Center, Port Arthur. Adults $7, weekend pass $12, children younger than 12 free. (713) 724-8881 or www. realgunshow.com

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk

October 12
9 a.m., Dauphin Athletic Complex parking lot and the Montagne Event Center parking lot at Lamar University, Beaumont. For more information, email Kathy.chessher@cancer.org.

OctOber 22-23
Disneys Beauty and the Beast
Musical about a young woman who falls in love with an enchanted prince who is trapped in the body of a beast, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23, Lutcher Theater, Orange. (409) 8865535 or www.lutcher.org.

OctOber 18-20
9 a.m.-5 p.m., Orange Trade Days grounds, Orange. Flea market, farmers market, food and music. Free. (409) 883-4344.

Orange Trade Days

Breast Cancer: An Individualized Disease

Community presentation, noon-1:30 p.m., medical professional presentation, 5:30-7 p.m., Capital One Bank, Beaumont. Earn 1.5 CNE hours. A light meal will be served at each session. Part of the Julie Rogers Gift of Life Cancer Education Series. RSVP to (409) 833-3663

October 24

Haunted Hotel

See previous listing.

Strands of Strength
October 26
10 a.m.-2 p.m., Altus Cancer Center, Beaumont. Donated ponytails will be made into wigs and given to women fighting cancer through the American Cancer Society. To schedule an appointment, call (409) 981-5510, (409) 8612000 or email cjohnson@altushms.com

OctOber 24
Southeast Texas Senior Celebration and Consumer Expo
8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Beaumont Civic Center, Beaumont. Admission and parking free. (409) 835-5951 Ext. 117 or email debbiebridgeman@ bbbsetexas.org.

OctOber 19
7 a.m., Port Neches Park, Port Neches. To register, go to active.com (409) 729-4040

Live United 5K for adults and Kids 1K

9 a.m.-3 p.m., Stark Museum of Art, Orange. The event includes a tour of the exhibition, Tales and Travels, a scavenger hunt through the museum to win a prize, stories, light refreshments and more. Free. (409) 886-2787 or www.starkmuseum.org.

Illustrated Family Day

Fall Fest on the Avenue

9 a.m.-4 p.m., downtown Port Neches. (409) 722-9154.

Tylers Barbecue Bash

10 a.m.-2 p.m., Bennie Hickman Agriculture Science Facility, Beaumont. Children can explore vehicles of all types: public service, emergency, utility, construction, landscaping, transportation and delivery, make crafts and enjoy kid-friendly food. Admission $5, family $20, children younger than 2 free. (409) 651-8435 or www. beaumontchildrensmuseum.org.

Touch a Truck Day

games, door prizes and more. (409) 842-1478.

Movie Night: Bride of Frankenstein

6:30-8:30 p.m., McFaddin-Ward House Visitor Center, Beaumont. Doors open at 6 p.m. Free. (409) 832-1906, (409) 832-2134 or www. mcfaddin-ward.org

Legends at the Jefferson

Johnny Winter, James Cotton and J Paul Jr and the Zydeco Nubreeds, 3 p.m., Jefferson Theater, Beaumont. Admission $10. Tickets at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www. ticketmaster.com or call (800) 7453000.

OctOber 24-27
Almost, Maine
Nine short plays that explore love and loss in a remote, mythical town, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24-26, and 2 p.m. Oct. 27, University Theatre at Lamar University. Tickets $7-15. (409) 8802250.
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10 a.m.-5 p.m., Flippers Skin Flix, Bridge City. (409) 735-2119 or email tiffanyward18@yahoo.com

Lot Party

2013 Lamar University Alumni Homecoming Tailgate

4-5:30 p.m., on the porches of the Montagne Center at Lamar University,

11 a.m.-3 p.m., Cowboy HarleyDavidson, Beaumont. Music, food,

October 2013 47

OctOber 25-26
Boeing Boeing
See previous listing. 5-11 p.m. Oct. 25; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Oct. 26 on the grounds of and streets adjacent to First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Galveston. Free. (409) 762-8477 or www. galvestonoktoberfest.com

The Symphony of Southeast Texas in Concert

Russian Tragedy to Triumph! Classics Series Concert 2, 7:30 p.m., Julie Rogers Theatre, Beaumont. The concert features Brahms Tragic Overture and Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2, with pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii. Season tickets $77-$153; single tickets $17-$41. Senior, student and group discounts available. (409) 892-2257 or www. sost.org.

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Island Oktoberfest

OctOber 25-27
7 a.m.-7 p.m., Big Thicket Trade Days Grounds, Kountze. Free, parking $2. (409) 246-3413 or (409) 880-5667.

Kountze Trade Days

Bill Bellamy, with Ali Siddiq

8 p.m., Jefferson Theatre, Beaumont. Tickets available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster. com or call (800) 745-3000.

Haunted Hotel

See previous listing.

OctOber 26
ARC Buddy Walk
One-mile walk in support of Down syndrome awareness, 9 a.m., on the lawn of the Event Centre, Beaumont. (409) 838-9012 or email teri. hawthorne@arcofbmt.org 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Texas Energy Museum, Beaumont. Educational program features outdoor activities for children to learn about dinosaurs and how fossils are found and studied. Free. (409) 833-5100 or www.texasenergymuseum.org.

OctOber 26-27
Triangle Trade Days
9 a.m.-6 p.m., Lakewood Shopping Center, Vidor. (409) 673-8982.

OctOber 29
Cosmic Costume Bowling Tournament
6-8 p.m., Maxbowl, Port Arthur. (409) 963-1107 or www. portarthurtexas.com

Dinosaur Day

OctOber 29-31
Haunted Hotel
See previous listing.

ACROSS
1 3 5 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 19 20 22 24 25 26 Northwests mother He played Mr. Smith, first name Tech department Pitchman ____ Mays Race driver, Bobby ___ Waiting on The World to Change singer (2 words) Soup container YoYo ___, cellist Jurassic Park creature, last name Graduation singer, last name Expression of delight Pariss girlfriend, Nicole ____ High society lady Kentucky horse race Philadelphia star, ___ Banderas Teachers Assistant, for short

DOWN
1 2 3 4 6 7 11 13 15 16 17 18 21 23 24 Laker basketball great, __ Bryant Slytherin student, Draco ____ in the Harry Potter books She played Foxxy Cleopatra in Goldmember Zany detectives first name, ___ Monk Over 6 foot? Chuck E. ____, family entertainment centers Fashion company, ___ Factor Wimbledon winner, ____ Sharapova He took the Miami Heat to their first NBA championship, Dwyane ____ Brazilian dance Unnamed ones Rapper turned detective (2 words) Place to stay Paintings, etc __ or die

9 a.m.-4 p.m., Crockett Street Entertainment District, Beaumont. (409) 838-6581 Ext. 102 or www. bmtcoc.org.

The Beaumont Chamber Foundation Barbecue Cook Off

OctOber 31
Spindletop Spookfest
4-6 p.m., Spindletop Gladys City/ Boomtown Museum, Beaumont. Trick-or-treat through the boomtown buildings and take part in games. Free. (409) 880-1750 or www. spindletop.org.

Throwin Smoke Barbecue Cook Off and Fundraiser

Noon, Coconuts Entertainment Complex, Crystal Beach. (713) 4161486 or email rdhamerly@gmail. com.

Beaumont Police Department Trunk-or-Treat and Haunted Jail

4:30-6:30 p.m., Beaumont Police Station, Beaumont. Free. (409) 8801092 or go to www.beaumontpd.com.

We Shall Not Be Moved

Beaumont Branch NAACP 30th Annual Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet, 7 p.m., Beaumont Civic Center, Beaumont. Tickets $25 per person, $200 for a table of 8. (409) 842-0294 Little Cypress Mauriceville High School Honey Bear Drill Teams Eighth Annual Bulls and Barrels Rodeo, 7 p.m., Cowboy Church of Orange County Rodeo Arena, Orange. Gates open at 5 p,m. Events include bull riding, barrel racing and mutton bustin. (409) 886-4064 or email lnewman@lcmcisd.org. 48 October 2013 |

PRCA Championship Challenge

7:30 p.m., Nutty Jerrys, Winnie. General admission covered grandstands $15; general admission lawn seating $10. Buy a rodeo ticket and get into the Don Williams concert free after the rodeo. Concert tickets only $35, $40, $45. Buy a concert ticket and get a free lawn ticket to the rodeo. (877) 643-7508 or www.nuttyjerrys.com.

Bulls and Barrels Rodeo

Boeing Boeing
See previous listing.

Find answers on page 4

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text by cathleen cole

The C word
ast October, my young son told me that one of his friends was using bad words, in particular the C word. I waited. I know what the bad C word is for me. He continued with his story and said that his buddy with the potty mouth was saying crap. I suppressed a heavy sigh of relief not the C word I was thinking of. A few days later, I was hit with the truly bad C word: cancer. Not me, my mother. I was prepared for the tumor in her small intestine to be cancer. I thought that when the surgeon removed the rancid section, that would be the end of the story a happy ending. I thought wrong. Cancer was in 11 of the 20 lymph nodes that were examined. The doctor said the cancer was aggressive which turned out to be true since a subsequent X-ray of her lungs found it in full force. Upon hearing the news, my mother didnt cry. Shed survived the breast cancer that tried to kill her 22 years before. But, at 85, the cancer was back. Well, what are you gonna do? she asked. It was a rhetorical question. She knew what she was going to do. She was going to get out of the hospital, go home and try to fight it. I cried for two weeks. A friend told me that she grieved for her gravely ill father for years before he finally passed away. She advised me not to grieve, not while my mother was still alive. So I did not grieve. I traveled to Albuquerque several times after my moms stage IV colon cancer diagnosis.

Im thankful that my middle sister lived in the same city with her and my oldest sister could go in the months that I couldnt. With each visit, I could see the rapid decline in my mothers health starting with her slow recovery from surgery to her horrible reaction to chemotherapy and then, on hospice, having the cancer do its dirty work on her old body. For awhile, Mom could manage a few outings to run errands. Shed get her thinning hair coiffed once a week and go out to lunch when she felt up to it. She liked to take me to Chilis where her favorite waitress, Leah, treated her like an honored guest. Mom seemed to eat more when we went out, and an El Presidente Margarita helped whet her appetite. I always had one, too. Who wants to drink

alone? In the end, Mom got weaker and slept more. One day she told my oldest sister who was staying with her that my father had come to visit her and asked if shed seen him too. My dads been dead for 16 years. Maybe the morphine was making her mind play tricks on her. Maybe my father really did come to visit her, and he told her it was time to go with him. Thats what I believe. Even though we were given more time with my mother than we thought wed had left, I still am sad and ask God, Why? I am afraid for me and my sisters. I am afraid for my daughter. Will breast cancer strike us too? Will another type of cancer attack my family again? It is the C word. It is the F word. I curse it daily. Well, what are you gonna do? Im going to fight it. I cant let it win. Im going to get my mammogram every year and a colonoscopy every five years. Im going to encourage everyone I love to take measures to prevent cancer. Im going to support cancer research. I spoke to my mother for the last time by phone two days before she died. It strained her to talk, but she wanted to tell me that she was so proud of me and that she loved me. The night before she passed away, she asked my middle sister, Where did he go? He was just here. I think my father was coming to get her. I didnt make it to Albuquerque in time, but my sisters were with her when she slipped away. Now we will grieve. The C word what a dirty word. I pray that one day it will be eradicated from our vocabulary. Until that day, I cling to the H word hope. VIP
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ix weeks after giving birth to my third child, I slithered into compression spandex and schlepped to the gym. Gripping my water bottle like a security blanket, I perused the room of hard bodies before deciding on an elliptical machine farthest away from the crowd. It is an arduous undertaking to ask a highly emotional woman to bounce away on an exercise machine, while resembling a flabbier, stretched out version of her former self. But, for her to then be surrounded by taunt co-eds, jogging along on treadmills with the blankstared boredom of someone who simply has nothing better to do is well... excruciating. And, yet I firmly believe that new mothers need to workout more than anyone else. Not for weight loss, per say, but because after nine months of quite literally living and breathing for the survival of another, they deserve those feelgood endorphins. So, as I plodded along on the elliptical, I reimagined a new sort of gym a therapeutic environment specifically designed for women working to rebuild their bodies and confidence after giving birth. In my mind, I pictured a fitness center exclusive to mommies. Sometimes it takes a fellow mom to really appreciate how another woman could walk around oblivious to the spitup in her hair. Other moms dont flinch when you confess not remembering when you last brushed your teeth or if you even applied deodorant that morning. Its just part of the job description. We get it. At this workout facility, youd be met at the door with a hug because the greeter would understand just how challenging it is to fit in a workout between an erratic nursing schedule. They would innately sense how exhausted you are after staying
50 October 2013 |
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text by holli petersen

Mind, Body and Soul After Baby

up night after night and would sympathize with the frustrations of traveling with that cumbersome infant car seat. A particularly sensitive greeter might even stroke your greasy ponytail and insist that you look beautiful, even if you felt like a rumpled dish towel. It goes without saying that full-length mirrors would be outlawed at this gym. Fragile new mothers dont need to see their body jiggle in areas that were once tight. Jiggling does nothing for selfesteem. This new gym would provide a steady supply of tissues for those afflicted with hormone imbalances and unexpected mood swings. After all, a heartwarming commercial or fleeting melancholy thought might ignite an endless wave of uncontrollable sobs. Postpartum gyms would have excellent childcare grandmotherly types who would happily rock a colicky baby, boasting that they never beheld a more adorable creature. They would encourage the moms to take a little time for themselves no rush. Instead of hardcore trainers, this gym would staff workout doulas that compassionately coach you through the care and functioning of your new body. They would applaud even the most minor successes and, just like in the delivery room, would calmly direct your focus to long-term goals, rather than short-term struggles. Instead of cold, stark showers in the locker room, the postpartum gym would feature private, jetted tubs, inviting new mothers to engage in a foreign concept relaxation. The heart of the facility would be its mothers lounge, a dimly lit room filled with lush couches and luxurious gliders. It would be a safe place for mothers to talk, compare notes and share their woes, while rocking, nursing or caring for their little ones. In the postpartum gym, there would be no rush to return to normal or urgency to jump back into the swing of things. We wouldnt be competing with the glossy images of celebrities who bare their bikini bodies mere weeks after delivery. Instead, there would be one message and one message only: There is no going back. The truth is that, whether or not you ever squeeze back into your skinny jeans, you are changed forever mind, body and soul but, only in the most beautiful, spectacular and miraculous of ways. VIP

nationally ranked in 12 specialties. the difference between practicing medicine and leading it.
When a diagnosis can affect your life, how far would you travel for the best? As one of the best hospitals in America, according to U.S. News & World Report, Houston Methodist is the choice of patients from around the country for their critical health needs. Thats why we offer complimentary medical and concierge services for out of town patients, making it as easy as possible for patients to access the best. For appointments, trip-planning assistance and more, call 877.790.DOCS.
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