February is the month of love, home of Valentine’s Day and all matters of the heart. However, it is also National Cancer Prevention Month. In honor of this observance, local oncologists are urging others to focus a little love upon themselves by making a few lifestyle changes to help reduce their cancer risk.

“There are many factors that contribute to the development of cancer,” says Debra Freeman, M.D., oncologist at CyberKnife Centers of Tampa Bay. “Our genes, lifestyle and environment can all contribute to our risk level. However, making simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference.”

You Are What You Eat
To be healthier, you have to eat healthier. And while there is no guarantee that eating better will prevent cancer altogether, it will certainly help reduce your risk. One guideline is to reduce the amount of fat that you eat every day. While some fat – around 25 to 30 grams per day – is healthy, too much can lead to serious health issues, including cancer.

“High-fat diets can lead to obesity, which has been linked to increased risk of multiple cancers, including breast, colon and prostate,” says Freeman. Making healthier decisions in the grocery store and at restaurants may lead to reduced cancer risk in the long run.

The American Cancer Society also offers the following dietary guidelines to stay healthier and reduce the risk of certain cancers:
• Eat five to nine daily servings of fruits and vegetables. The more colorful the variety, the better.
• Eat high-fiber foods, such as whole grains and beans.
• Include a wide variety of foods in your diet, but eat them in moderation.
• Limit alcohol intake. Excessive alcohol use can lead to increased risk for liver, rectal, esophageal and other cancers.

Get Moving
Nearly one-third of annual cancer deaths in the United States can be attributed to diet and physical activity habits. So while eating well is certainly beneficial in reducing your risk, regular exercise is just as important. In order to get the most cancer-fighting benefit out of your exercise routine, at least 30 minutes of intentional exercise at least five days a week is recommended.

However, if the word “exercise” makes you cringe at the very thought of it, Freeman suggests that you think outside the box. “Many people do not associate exercise with fun. But there are many ways to get in the recommended 30 to 60 minutes and still enjoy it,” says Freeman. “Exercise doesn’t necessarily mean being stuck on a treadmill. Consider trying a team sport, joining a dance class or taking daily walks with a friend.”

Kick The Habit
It’s been said time and time again: don’t smoke. But it has been said for good reason, especially when it comes to reducing cancer risk. Tobacco use is one of the most significant risk factors that people can reduce.

“Smoking causes the most preventable deaths in the United States,” says Freeman. Quitting tobacco use decreases the chances of lung, mouth, esophageal and cervical cancers, among many others. While quitting isn’t easy, for both cancer prevention and your health in general, it is one of the best health decisions a person can make.

If you’re having trouble kicking the habit, Freeman suggests talking to your doctor. Together, you can come-up with the plan that will work best for you.

Practice Safe Sun
Not only is skin cancer one of the most common forms of cancer, it’s also one of the most preventable. In order to reduce your risk of becoming one of the over one million Americans diagnosed each year, Freeman offers some easy preventative measures.

“The best way to prevent skin cancer is by avoiding ultraviolet radiation, especially during the middle of the day,” says Freeman. “The sun is the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so if you have to be outside then, make sure to wear plenty of sunscreen and reapply it often.”

Freeman also urges that tanning beds be avoided completely and that, when outside, stay in the shade as much as possible.

Find It Early
While many lifestyle changes can be made to greatly reduce cancer risk, one of the most important cancer prevention steps one can take is cancer screening. Screening tests not only detect cancer in its early stages; many of them, such as those for skin and cervical cancer, can find abnormal cellular changes before they become cancerous.

“When it comes to cancer prevention, it’s so important to take early detection seriously,” says Freeman. “It could, quite literally, save your life.”

About CyberKnife Centers of Tampa Bay
CyberKnife Centers of Tampa Bay was founded in 2008 when a group of radiation oncologists with extensive backgrounds and a combined 45 years of radiosurgical experience, opened the first CyberKnife Center in Tampa Bay, located on the campus of Town and Country Hospital. Drawing on their experience with CyberKnife in centers in Miami, Palm Beach and Naples and their expertise with other forms of radiosurgery, the group introduced this exciting new technology to central Florida.

CyberKnife Centers of Tampa Bay is owned and operated by Tampa Bay Radiosurgery Associates, LLC. With two freestanding facilities located in Tampa and Brandon, the staff at the outpatient centers is dedicated to providing image-guided radiosurgical treatments while understanding and upholding a standard of comfort for patients undergoing treatment. For More information call 813-884-7400 (Tampa) or 855-870-8276 (Brandon), or visit www.CyberKnifeTampaBay.com.

Since the beginning, my experience with Judyth Piazza and The SOP News Network has been rewarding. I enjoy working with people who show commitment in everything they do, making me feel less of a contributor but instead a valued family member.

Judyth Piazza has been a fabulous mentor, the wisdom and knowledge she has shared with me has been useful in so many ways. Being a relatively young writer, Judyth has provided me with a plethora of knowledge and resources for the benefit of my writing projects. Her recommendations and insights have further enabled me to improve my craft. With her support, not only have I enhanced my writing capabilities, but gained a better appreciation for the overall craft.

Being a college student, (especially under the current world climate we find ourselves in) I find myself at odds with the functions of the world surrounding me. Not so much for the natural world but for how our society functions in general. As a wildlife major, my appreciation for wildlife and nature is beyond words. I yearn for a world at peace with nature and people. Anybody who reads my writings know that nature has a huge influence over my work, I like to think of nature as a character rather than just a setting.

A huge portion of writing happens for the most part by surprise, which is what I enjoy about the whole writing process. In my opinion, surprise is everything. The joy of writing by impulse is the spontaneity of it all, the surprise that just so happens to come with it is the result of you finally opening your heart to the possibilities out there, allowing me to further enjoy the process of writing. In the end, it enables me to attempt to begin to understand the power that words actually wield.

While working with TheSOP.org and Judyth I feel that I’ve been provided with an outlet to further express my opinions and ideas. With their support, I’ve been able to write articles on a variety of topics; additionally helping me by allowing me to express my view on a number of different issues. I stand today; having a combination of perseverance, patience, and integrity gained by what life I’ve lived so far. My hope is that my writing reflects that, as I attempt to reflect these values in everything I do.

By Vincent Gonzalez, Writer and Author

For More Information: www.thesop.org

Judyth Piazza chats with Glenn Dowler, Planet Fitness, Vero Beach, Florida on The American Perspective Radio Program (Please click here to listen to audio interview)

The Judgement Free Zone®
As the most innovative health club brand in the United States, Planet Fitness is known for a lot of things ” our absurdly low prices, our Lunk™ Alarm, and most of all perhaps, for our Judgement Free Zone® philosophy, which means members can relax, get in shape, and have fun without being subjected to the hard-core, look-at-me attitude that exists in too many gyms.

Left to Right: Conner Pickering, Kim Nicklow, Amy Osteen (Photo by Judyth Piazza)

How different is Planet Fitness?
We don`t have any salespeople, and we don`t bother with all the extras like juice bars and childcare that drive up costs and can make a gym membership seem more like a car payment. Instead, we`ve boiled our business down to the things that you really want in a health club ” clean, stylish, hassle-free facilities that are filled with tons of brand-name cardio and strength equipment, and a lot of happy people. If you`re looking for a comfortable, friendly place to exercise, and like a great deal, then you`ll love Planet Fitness.

For More Information:
http://www.planetfitness.com/
Pre-Grand Opening Sale Going on Now!
1295 US Highway 1
Suite 3
(on the corner of 12th Street and US 1 in the Publix Shopping Center)
Vero Beach, FL 32960
Phone: 772.564.0234

Presale Hours
Monday – Friday 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Club Hours When Open
Open 24 Hours Monday through Friday!
Open Monday at 5:00 AM until Friday at 9:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Judyth Piazza chats with John Basedow about 10 Tips for Nutrition Success (Click Here to Listen to Audio Interview)

John Basedow has achieved international recognition and created a media empire with Fitness Made Simple, which includes DVDs, CDs, supplements, and infomercials all aimed at raising awareness about the importance of making fitness a part of your life. From starting out in his parent`s basement to being seen on television sets across the country and deemed a pop culture icon,” John`s journey is a true rags to riches story. He`s been featured on numerous TV and radio shows as well as in print media including the Los Angeles Times, the National Examiner, and the New York Times.

John has appeared as a model in or has written articles for just about every major exercise magazine. He`s a regular guest on radio programs across the United States and is the star of a reality series, John Basedow TV, which is based on his life.

John helps out various charities including The American Heart Association and St. Jude Children`s Research Hospital and motivates others to follow their dreams with his popular Power to Change Your Body & Life Seminars nationwide.

Discover John Basedow`s secrets for getting the body you`ve always wanted

Fitness expert and media icon John Basedow`s body-transforming plan is literally Fitness Made Simple. After trying just about every fitness fad and gimmick with little success, John developed this multidimensional approach that is improving the bodies and lives of thousands of men and women, from teenagers to grandparents. Fitness Made Simple is not just about losing weight. It`s about changing your entire body composition so that you increase lean muscle mass and decrease body fat. This easy-to-follow program eliminates all the guesswork for building the body of your dreams with John`s comprehensive Fitness Triangle:

Nutrition: By concentrating on natural protein sources, healthy fats, and slow-digesting carbs, you`ll never be hungry, your junk food cravings will disappear, and fat will melt from your body.

Exercise: Utilizing a combination of cardiovascular and weight training workouts, you`ll look great, feel better, and strip away fat to reveal those six-pack abs!

Supplementation: Not all supplements are created equal. John shows you which fat loss and muscle building products can actually produce cosmetically significant results, rather than just false hope and a depleted bank account.

Plus, John tells his own inspiring story of how he took control of his body and life, while accumulating years of health and fitness wisdom along the way. His signature John-isms –helpful quotes sprinkled throughout this book–will keep you motivated to stick with your new fitness lifestyle.

www.fitnessmadesimple.com

The American Perspective is a cutting edge radio program that is full of inspiration and information which airs on News Talk. It’s intended to help people succeed in life. Each week the American Perspective features celebrity guests from around the nation such as Zig Ziglar, Maya Angelou, Yolanda King, Billy D. Williams, Tony Little, Mark Victor Hansen, Dean Koontz, Dave Ramsey and many many more.

“It’s the next generation of Inter-tainment”

For More Information About The American Perspective: www.thesop.org

The Maritime Resources Council starts off its 2011 Lunch & Lecture series with an exciting speaker and topic relevant to Treasure Coast history. John Masters will present his exciting PowerPoint program entitled Discovery of Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 – 11:45 am at the Lagoon House on US 1 in Melbourne. The program is free and open to the public.

John Masters, Director of Operations for Intersal, Inc. and son of its late founder Philip Masters, spent years helping his father research and hunt for shipwrecks at Beaufort Inlet, NC, which resulted in the 1996 discovery of Queen Anne’s Revenge (QAR), 1718 Flagship of Blackbeard the Pirate.

Intersal donated QAR salvage rights to the state of North Carolina in 1998, and for the last dozen years has helped the NC Underwater Archeology Branch recover the wreck. His presentation will focus on the current excavation and Intersal’s hunt for QAR, the lives of real pirates in the 18th Century, and the visits of Blackbeard and other pirates to the Treasure Coast.

QAR was located near Beaufort Inlet, NC by Intersal’s former director of operations Mike Daniel, who used historical research provided by Intersal’s late president Phil Masters. Daniel now heads up Maritime Research Institute, the non-profit corporation formed to work on the project in cooperation with State archaeologists and historians of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resource, Division of Archives and History. After recovery and storage is accomplished, artifacts will undergo a lengthy process of cleaning, stabilization, and analysis that will culminate in their public display and interpretation. The North Carolina Maritime Museum is designated as the primary exhibition facility for the QAR collection.

Educated in History (and Music) at the University of Florida, Mr. Masters has been working closely with State of NC officials and archaeologists on the recovery of QAR for almost 15 years. Mr. Masters became Intersal Director of Operations in 1999, and is Project Manager of Intersal’s search for El Salvador, a 1750 Spanish merchant vessel lost near Beaufort Inlet. He presently resides in Gainesville, Florida.

See More:

The Historic Ship Nina Discovers The American Perspective in St. Augustine, FL

Whether you are a first time buyer or not, here are a few questions you should consider asking when purchasing car insurance. Knowing what to ask ahead of time may give you a better understanding of what you are purchasing and why.

Think about your premium. Figure out how much coverage you will need. Your agent, as well as local Department of Motor Vehicle offices, can explain to you what is required to be in your policy by state law. Here are the types of premiums that your policy can reflect.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) covers loss of wages and medical bills acquired by the driver. This protection is sometimes called “No-fault” and may be extended to cover passengers as well. Florida is one of fourteen states which require this premium to be a part of your policy. Bodily Injury covers other persons who are injured in a car collision.

Uninsured Motorist coverage added to a premium helps when you are in an accident with a driver who either doesn’t have any insurance or lacks enough coverage. Two other types of premiums to consider are Collision, which assists in replacing or fixing the vehicle; or Comprehensive, which assures coverage from natural disasters or auto theft. Determine what type of coverage you need and how much it will cost.

In between soaking up the sun and checking the sites that Vero Beach has to offer, you may wonder if your rental car is covered under your policy. Your collision/comprehensive coverage will likely cover any unfortunate incident. Place asking your agent about it on your list of things To-Do before your trip.

Find out what other types of insurance can be covered. If you are a homeowner, now would be a good time to ask about those rates as well. Don’t be afraid to have the information clarified for you. Understanding what you are paying for is a smart move to make.

There are millions of people in America who currently practice Pilates, and literally thousands of instructors teaching them how to do so.  One of the primary target demographics are well off businesspeople who lead an active lifestyle.  As such, more and more Pilates studios are trying to stay in the region of luxury hotels.  As one example, the Mark on Madison Avenue and 77th Street is just a pleasant five-block walk to Uptown Pilates on Madison and 72nd.  Uptown Pilates is just one of many new studios tactically positioning their business location to accommodate luxury oriented travelers.

The term “Pilates” refers to an exercise regimen developed by German-born Joseph Pilates. He suffered from several ailments as a child and overcame them through exercise. He moved to England in 1912 and was placed in an internment camp with other German nationals during World War I, and there began sharing his knowledge of exercise and its benefits. After the war Pilates worked well at rehabilitating returning veterans.  In 1926 Joseph Pilates came to the United States and taught the program until his death in 1967.  Since that time, the workout concept has blossomed.

Joseph Pilates started out with a series of floor exercises, and later added several pieces of equipment and more exercises for each piece. Some instructors have followed that precedent and added more aspects. Names of different parts of the Pilates regimen, as well as names of pieces of equipment, have changed over the years.  As a result, not all instructors present exactly the same version.

Uptown Pilates is just one of many studios opening up around Madison Avenue.  Many a luxury hotel New York is positioned close to several such locations. Each instructor is certified (some hold multiple certifications) and can probably trace their instructional “genealogy” directly to Joseph Pilates. There are also studios located on the west side of Manhattan and in Sag Harbor.

Auto insurance is a multi-billion dollar industry and the competition between companies to insure new drivers is as fierce as it has ever been. What this means for you is that there is ample opportunity to get the absolute best value for your money when it comes to your auto insurance policy.

The first way to make sure you are paying as little as possible is to keep your driving record clean. This means avoiding rate increases as a result of accidents and tickets. Even with many auto insurance companies offering forgiveness for accidents, it is still the best way to keep you safe and keep your rates down.

It also makes sense to speak with your auto company about special discounts they might offer. Companies have been known to give discounts based on a number of factors like where you live or if your car is equipped with an alarm. If you have children who are drivers on your policy, you may be able to get a discount for them being a good student. You can also get a discount for having multiple policies with a company. So if you are a home owner or even if you rent your apartment, combining policies could end up saving you money. Another way to save money is to let them know when you have had a baby. Having a child is almost always a reduction in policy price, regardless of your age.

Reducing your overall coverage can save you money. If you are driving a car that is nearing the end of its life, it might make sense to change your policy to liability (only paying for the car you hit) as it seems impractical to protect a car you are planning on getting rid of. No matter how you determine coverage, know that there is more than one way to save money on your auto policy.

When people think jewelry, they think style and elegance. They think about wearing something that will turn heads and make others recognize the class and elegance they have. But, it’s sometimes hard to distinguish between fine jewelry and jewelry that is passable. Roberto Coin is the absolute best that Italian jewelry has to offer.

Roberto Coin started his jewelry empire in 1977 in Vicenza, known to tourists and the world over as The City of Gold. The response was amazing. It was Roberto Coin who ended up starting his own brand after years of doing production for some of the finest jewelers known all over the world.

The response to the Coin name was rapid in the United States. After agreeing to start his own special brand of jewelry in 1996, the brand catapulted him to quick success and by the year 2000 his name was synonymous with the finest in jewelry.

What separates Coin from other jewelry makers in the world is his precise eye. The work that he has done with the rubies is ground-breaking. Coin made the rubies accessible in his jewelry and allowed for them to brush up against the skin. No one was setting stones the way he was and no one could keep up.

There isn’t any reason to doubt that he has mastered his craft. He is a true artist and it is only a matter of time before they become the leading jeweler in the entire world. The next time you make the decision to look for elegance and class in your jewelry purchase, make sure you take a look at the breathtaking collection that Roberto Coin has to offer. You will find no better collection anywhere in the world.

Debt happens. Millions of Americans struggle with debt everyday. Whether it be the day to day debt of owning a house and car or dealing with overwhelming credit card debt, one thing is for certain: debt affects almost everyone. For those who have seemingly insurmountable debt, bill consolidation is becoming the preferred method of dealing with it.

The problem people get into with debt is the late fees and interest charges. You miss one payment and your interest rate goes up and a late fee is tacked on top of it. This makes it very difficult for people dealing with debt, especially credit card debt, to ever get out of debt. Debt consolidation comes in very handy, and becomes the obvious choice, if you are feeling overwhelmed by bills.

The way most debt consolidation programs work is to begin by adding the total of your debts to see if you qualify. If you do not reach a certain dollar amount in debt, then you may not qualify for assistance. If you do qualify, then you will need to speak with those who you owe money to work out a settlement. Many times, these debt relief companies are in direct partnership with the credit card companies. They will eventually reduce the cost of your debt into an affordable monthly payment.

The most important thing to keep in mind when searching for a debt consolidation company is to make sure that they have established themselves and they have a reputation of dealing with the credit card companies you are trying to get relief from. Most debt relief companies can save you a lot of money in the long run. They have usually had a great relationship with the credit companies but not all of them are to be trusted at face value. Do your homework before choosing a company to consolidate your debt.