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advantagebanks.com * $100,000 minimum Peak Money Market balance required to earn the advertised Annual Percentage Yield (APY). Minimum balance of $10,000 required to open Peak Money Market and $10,000 minimum daily balance waives the $10 monthly service fee. Six free withdrawals per statement cycle; each additional withdrawal is $5. Transaction limitations apply. Fees could reduce earnings on account. Interest rate may not be available to institutional depositors. Current savings rates available at www.advantagebanks.com/rates. Peak Money Market rate accurate as of 11/21/17 and is subject to change. Peak Money Market tiered rates as of 11/21/17 are as follows: $0 - $24,999.99 (0.25% APY); $25,000-$49,999.99 (0.50% APY); $50,000-$99,999.99 (0.60% APY); $100,000 - $249,999.99 (0.75% APY); $250,000 and up (0.80% APY). For more information, please visit us at any of our three locations. MEMBER FDIC December 2017/January2018
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LOVELAND MAGAZINE 3
READ ALL ABOUT IT
December 2017/January 2018 | Happy Holiday Edition
KNOCK KNOCK
Cover
Loveland Magazine Magazine REPORTER-HERALD
LOVELANDMAG.COM
KEEPING LOVELAND
KEEPING LOVELAND HEALTHY
Keeping it Healthy! Another year has almost gone and 2018 is all but here. The end of one year and the beginning tends to call us refocus our thoughts and energies on the future that we want to see and how we plan to get there. For many, that means taking stock of our health, physical, mental and emotional. Loveland has many businesses and people who want to help you achieve better health in 2018 and keep it for a lifetime. Getting kids to develop healthy habits early is the goal of the Ninjadoc, and for those over 18, Weigh and Win provides coaches and motivation to get healthy. One area facility targets addiction holistically, and a new clinic helps those suffering from bowel incontinence. Redirect your mind with Gallery Yoga and pour that positivity into #LiveLoveland! Before we pack it in for the year though, check out our five ways to celebrate the holidays and have some holly jolly fun with your favorite people. Happy holidays and blessed new year to you all! - Misty Kaiser 4 LOVELAND MAGAZINE
December 2017/January 2018
Ninjadoc, Dr. Noah Kaufman combats childhood obesity with the Wolfpack Ninjas in Loveland. (Photo courtesy Wolfpack Ninja Tour)
Loveland is a proactive community when it comes to health. Just ask Ninjadoc and the Wolfpack.
GALLERY YOGA: YOGA WITH AN ARTISTIC TWIST NEW HOLISTIC ADDICTION TREATMENT UNIQUE WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS!
The ART of Yoga
6
Gallery Yoga at the Loveland Museum/Gallery, provides an inspiring venue for relaxing poses.
PAGE 19
5 Ways to CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS PAGE 22
PAGE 6
WOLFPACK Training Center
A fun program gets kids to think about fitness and nutrition.
PAGE 10
Loveland Accentuates THE POSITIVE A new grassroots campaign promotes everything there is to love in Loveland
BOWEL INCONTINENCE is successfully treated at new clinic in Loveland
14
PAGE 14
At ASSOCIATES IN FAMILY EYE CARE You’ll See the Difference PAGE 16
ReporterHerald.com/LovelandMagazine
22 WEIGH AND WIN: Paying Coloradoans Cash for Weight Loss PAGE 25
SurgiReal Gives Veterinary students realistic practice Marterials
that imitate skin, tissue and blood vessels help students learn medical procedures PAGE 28
Winning the Drug Crisis One Life at a Time PAGE 31
CALENDAR PAGE 33 December 2017/January2018
Loveland Magazine
MARKETING AND PUBLICATIONS EDITOR
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
MARKETING & ADVERTISING FEATURES COORDINATOR
Linda Story lstory@reporter-herald.com 970.635.3614
Greg Stone stoneg@dailycamera.com 303.473.1210
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Shelley Widhalm, Sarah Huber, Elise Oberliesen, Emma Castleberry, Linda Thorsen Bond, Darren Thornberry, Judy Finman, Rhema Zlaten
Loveland Magazine is published six times a year. Over 20,000 copies are inserted into the newspaper and are available at key locations and businesses throughout the area
Timothy Seibert, Jenny Sparks
Misty Kaiser kaiserm@reporterherald.com 303.473.1425
No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.
LOVELAND MAGAZINE A Publication of the Loveland Reporter Herald 201 E. Fifth Street Loveland, CO 80537 970-669-5050 reporterherald.com/lovelandmagazine
EDITORIAL & EVENTS: To submit a story idea, call 303.473.1425 or email kaiserm@reporterherald.com
Miss something? Find the e-magazine at ReporterHerald.com/LovelandMagazine
M erryry Christmas!
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LOVELAND MAGAZINE 5
ARTS
The peaceful atmosphere of the gallery is already conducive to practicing yoga. (Jenny Sparks/Reporter-Herald)
By SARAH HUBER for LOVELAND MAGAZINE Candace Oates and her yoga class experience the art of the Loveland Museum Gallery every Thursday with a “vinyasa flow” power yoga. “A lot of larger museums do it in LA, New York, Chicago,” said Jenni Dobson, curator for education at the Loveland Museum. “There’s all these different yoga (fads) around the country. You might go out to a farm that has goats and do yoga in a field… and these goats travel around you.”
has experimented with taking yoga to h parks like Mehaffey or the summer p markets,” Dobson said. m She said that an intern, Libby Skowron, who worked at the museum last summer, first presented several ideas that the museum could pick up for the future to encourage family and young adult membership at the museum. Staff members at the museum liked the idea of museum yoga, so they reached out to the Chilson Center for interested instructors.
She added that beer yoga is also a big thing these days where you take a sip while exercising.
They found an instructor, Candace
“The Chilson (Recreation Center)
Chilson Recreation Center.
6 LOVELAND MAGAZINE
Oates, who could add a class in addition to what she teaches at the ReporterHerald.com/LovelandMagazine
Oates has worked at Chilson part time for about a year and a half. She is a fitness instructor and personal trainer, and started as a sub. Students enjoyed her so much that she was given more classes to teach, Oates said. “The museum asked for someone to do a vinyasa-style yoga, experienced in all levels, and I’ve been teaching yoga for about 10 years now,” she said. “Mo (Maureen Geraghty), my boss, said we have the perfect fit for you.” Vinyasa is a fast-paced yoga that uses breaths in between each movement to flow with each move, she said. Individuals synchronize their breaths as they go through the positions. While a few positions are held, most of the December 2017/January2018
huge fortune cookie display. The atmosphere of the museum is awesome.” She said that the atmosphere allows students to clear their minds and leave their issues outside the mat, because the room is so engaging. Oates said the power yoga is not overwhelming and is for all skill levels.
The exhibits, like this Picasso, are included in the Gallery Yoga class, so attendees can enjoy the works of art after class. (Jenny Sparks/Reporter-Herald)
movements are quick and continue to change. “It’s a flowing and dynamic sequence of positions,” Oates said. She loves exercising at the museum.
“They have different levels to the museum, with different displays on each level,” she said. “When you take a class, you get a voucher to go through the museum. Sometimes it’s Picasso… There’s a Chinese artist coming in (Yuki Horikawa), with a
“I think everyone should try it at least once, no matter their skill set,” she said. The class meets at the museum at noon-1 p.m. every Thursday. “She has tried several different spaces (during the yoga sessions), so people can see different perspectives and exhibits,” Dobson said.
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LOVELAND MAGAZINE 7
They have exercised while viewing the Picasso exhibit, during the Loveland Studio Tour, and while observing art by Armando Silva on the walls. They have also exercised while in the upstairs nook behind the Big Thompson Water Project map.
their own mats and water bottles with closed lids. Classes are $5 and $4 for museum members. This fee also includes admission to all the exhibits. Participants are able to go view the other exhibits before and after class.
Oates also teaches a variety of classes at Chilson, including TRX HIIT (high intensity interval training), silver sneakers classic, barre, and a power tone plus class.
“We started off the first couple classes with a handful,” Dobson said. “We have probably 10-15 a week.” Programming will include the yoga class into the New Year until around April at least. “It’s just kind of different,” Dobson said. “It’s fun to lay there and look up at the Picasso art, do your breathing. I have found that kind of different, a different perspective on it.” Yoga students are asked to bring
Hung Liu, Resident Alien, 1988, oil on canvas, 60 x 90. Collection of San Jose Museum of Art. © Hung Liu., one of the works available for viewing now through Feb. 18.
IF YOU GO:
GALLERY YOGA 12-12:50 Thursdays through Dec. 21 (but the schedule will continue into April) $5 each ($4 for museum members), pay at the door Fee includes gallery admission
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LOVELAND MAGAZINE 9
ON THE COVER
TRAINING CENTER
brings Ninja course challenge to Loveland
By SHELLEY WIDHALM for LOVELAND MAGAZINE When Fort Collins physician Dr. Noah Kaufman has on his white coat, his words of wisdom about eating and living healthy mostly go unheeded. But when Kaufman becomes the ninjadoc, his advice to forego the sweets gets the star treatment. “We’re kid stars,” said Kaufman, an emergency room doctor for Emergency Physicians of the Rockies, a medical group based in Fort Collins, and an all-star celebrity athlete on NBC’s TV show series, “American Ninja Warrior,” which is in its ninth season. “The kids are wide-eyed. They’re just so excited. It’s the most effective way I can prevent
10 LOVELAND MAGAZINE
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December 2017/January2018
future illness and disease and have an effect on the world. As the ninjadoc, I have this real platform to reach into the hearts, souls and minds of kids and families.”
that training U.S. wide.
Dr. Noah Kaufman, ninjadoc, poses with a young fan at the Wolfpack Ninja Tour. (Photo courtesy Wolfpack Ninja Tour)
Kaufman spreads his message of favoring fruits and vegetables over soda pop and sweets through three venues: “American Ninja Warrior;” the Wolf Den Training Facility that he helped open in July at 5802 Byrd Drive in Loveland; and the Wolfpack Ninja Tour he co-founded in April to bring
Kaufman, a professional rock climber of 20 years, has been part of the TV series for seven seasons over the past five years. Like with rock climbing, being a ninja warrior requires overcoming obstacles, he said.
“It’s like the ultimate obstacle, the ultimate problem to solve with your body and mind,” Kaufman said. “A ninja is basically an athlete and person who seeks to improve themselves and is very highly adept at overcoming obstacles. It’s a person dedicated to self improvement and health.”
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LOVELAND MAGAZINE 11
THE WOLFPACK NINJAS Three years ago, Kaufman joined 40 other ninja warriors from the TV series to start the Wolfpack Ninjas in Loveland as a mission-based brand to fight childhood obesity and diabetes and to provide education about nutrition and fitness. The warriors and all-star athletes recreated the ninja courses from the show into large outdoor obstacle courses for everyday use instead of the limelight. The courses look like giant, colorful jungle gyms that require running sprints, swinging from ropes and rings, and climbing walls and ramps that focus more on agility than strength to get from start to finish. “What is different about what we’re doing is we’re making fitness fun,” said Kaufman, chief strategist for the Wolfpack Ninjas. “We’ve designed the world’s best playground. We’re giving children the opportunity to play and, long beyond that, to increase their fitness.” The Wolfpack Ninjas, who are among thousands of game show contestants on the TV series, performed in the top tiers of the show and had more airtime and developed show personalities, gaining minor and “kid” celebrity status, Kaufman said. “We’re creating a new sport of ninja obstacle racing,” Kaufman said. “The TV show is just a TV show, but we’re making it a reality. We’re making it a sport … and changing the world at the same time. Right now, our country is horribly out of shape.” Kaufman pointed out two statistics he finds to be particularly distressing: 12 LOVELAND MAGAZINE
The ninjadoc pumps up the team before they hit the course. (Photo courtesy Wolfpack Ninja Tour)
seven in 10 adults and one in three children are overweight or obese. “We’re trying to fight that. We’re doing that by making fitness fun and educating about nutrition,” Kaufman said. “If you want to be the best you can be, stop eating sugar. … Our main message is to get soda pop out of the house and water down juice. … A lot of it is go out and have fun and do fun fitness. We’re establishing habits that are going to last a lifetime. It’s awesome.”
THE WOLFPACK DEN The ninja warriors brought the obstacle course to various sites and community events in Northern Colorado, repeatedly getting the request to open a gym, where they now have their corporate office and do their training at the Wolf Den Training Facility. The brands of Wolfpack and Wolf Den reflect the ninja warriors’ desire to win and do better, while also working together as a pack or community, Kaufman said. Using Wolf Den made sense for the gym, a place for the pack to gather, he said. ReporterHerald.com/LovelandMagazine
The 18,000-square-foot gym serves a double function of offering ninja courses at different skill levels and an open gym for general use. Initially, the gym was open two evenings a week, but starting in late November, it opened seven days a week 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors pay for a drop-in pass or a monthly membership. They can schedule ninja-themed parties, team-building exercises and corporate events, and sign up for individualized life coaching. “Ninja is like the most fun sport I’ve ever done,” said Austin Gray of Longmont, a ninja who regularly goes to the gym and has experience with rock climbing and gymnastics. “You have to have air awareness in the gym. You have to be light on your feet, and you have to rock climb. … It’s just really fun. You get to train on obstacles that look like the ones in the show.” Ten-year Taylor Greene of Dacona, another ninja from the gym, finds that her experience as a gymnast helps her with the obstacle courses. December 2017/January2018
Kids attending the Wolfpack Ninja Tour got a chance to experience the course for themselves. (Photo courtesy Wolfpack Ninja Tour)
“I’ve always liked climbs and jumping off of things. This place has a lot of those things,” Taylor said. “I usually do a class and then do open gym for two hours. … It’s super fun and the coaches are super duper nice, and there’s just so much to do.” The gym’s obstacle courses include a full pro-ninja racing course with two lanes and airbags underneath to protect from falls and smaller courses geared to different ages and abilities. The races are timed with an aim to improve performance, increase speed and encourage advancement to more difficult courses. “They want to try what they saw on TV. They come in and get hooked,” Kaufman said.
THE WOLFPACK NINJA TOUR The ninja warriors expanded the traveling obstacle courses into a competitive tour, launched in April in Denver, followed by a second stop in early November in Loveland. The TV show didn’t provide much in prize money—$1 million in nine years to one contestant—while the December 2017/January2018
tours offer $50,000 in scaled payments to the top 10 male and female performers, legitimizing the sport of ninja obstacle racing, Kaufman said. The tour will go national in 2018 with two to four stops annually. Next year’s stops are planned for New York and California. A portion of the proceeds from the tour will support charities that seek to positively impact childhood health.
the on-air medical expert for Channel 9. He said he doesn’t watch
TV.
His wife is Dr. Siemay Lee, also a physician, and their son is Zun, who is six. As for his personal habits, Kaufman eats fruits and vegetables and avoids meat and dairy, plus sugar, though he has a sweet tooth.
“It’s one of the coolest communities I’ve ever been part of. It’s a big family,” Kaufman said. “A ninja wants to promote the same attributes in others and help everyone grow together.”
“I’m very focused on eating right,” he said. “But it’s hard to always practice what you preach.”
Kaufman has a few interests outside being a doctor and a ninja. He plays the blues guitar and writes music. He has a black belt in Shotokan Karate. He solves the Rubik’s Cube for speed. He lived in Japan and can speak fluent Japanese. He attended the Tulane University School of Medicine on a scholarship and specialized in emergency medicine, earning his degree in 2003. And he’s
“You have to enjoy life. It’s ridiculous to be 100 percent,” he said. “A ninja is not afraid to fail and try obstacles several times to learn and succeed.”
ReporterHerald.com/LovelandMagazine
Kaufman instead aims for 80 to 90 percent in his approach to sugar.
For details about the ninja gym, visit wolfpackninjas.com/wolfden or call 970-619-8681.
LOVELAND MAGAZINE 13
ACCENTUATES THE
TRENDING
#Li veL
o ve l a n
d
By LINDA THORSEN BOND for LOVELAND MAGAZINE
You’ve got to accentuate THE POSITIVE Eliminate the negative Latch on to THE AFFIRMATIVE Don’t mess with Mister In-Between You’ve got to spread joy up to THE MAXIMUM Bring gloom down to the minimum HAVE FAITH or pandemonium Liable to walk upon the scene ---Bing Crosby
#
Li veLo
ve l a n d
The photos and stories are coming in. Confessions, praises, tales of favorite places. People are writing love letters to Loveland, sharing one common hashtag-#liveloveland. t’s a community-wide movement to accentuate the positive about this north Colorado city. A year and a half ago engineer Doug Rutledge and school administrator Stan Scheer started talking about making a positive difference in Loveland. Soon they were joined by community leaders from all walks of life: the art community, small business owners, non-profit organizations, student/youth groups, the faith community, long-time residents, tourism/Visit Loveland, the chamber of commerce, city government, outdoor recreation, economic development and Scheer’s Thompson school district. It was an idea whose time had come. Rutledge said they wondered what
14 LOVELAND MAGAZINE
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#Li veL
o ve l a n
d
they could do to get people to support and engage in a positive way and help Loveland have more of an identity. “We had no formal organization until recently,” he said. “But in order to accomplish some of our goals we formed the Loveland Strategic Partnership. Up until now it’s had just been ‘The Group that Meets on Friday.’” “Somebody suggested a PR campaign and we got Dovetail Solutions from Denver. We started with a listening meeting in June. About 50 people, beyond our original committee and representing all walks of life, came to meet with us,” Rutledge said. “In a lot of communities there are people who don’t relate to Loveland, who don’t feel they belong. We want to remind people of the assets of this beautiful place where we live and how lucky we are to be here. We have arts, recreation, opportunities to explore outdoor recreation, December 2017/January2018
and an excellent parks department. We have a diverse economy, not just one big industry.”
Boulder and Fort Collins, certainly recognized as very fun places, but so are we. I would like the people who call Loveland home to know their neighbors, engage in the community and understand how great a place Loveland really is.” A lot of the campaign is focused on social media. Troy McWhinney, whose Hahn ancestors came to the Loveland area over 150 years ago, explained why modern methods are being used. “We see how effective social media is to reach such a big diverse group of people in a fast and cost-effective manner. While the campaign is meant for residents of Loveland, I’m hoping as time goes on people around and outside will see what a special place Loveland is and will start to visit our businesses and community assets more often.”
an l e v o L #Li ve Out of these “unlikely alliances,” of community members, the #liveloveland campaign was born. The public relations initiative has begun and the first big community meeting will be in January with a kickoff at the Rialto Theatre downtown. Rutledge said, “We’re asking people to send in candid photos of themselves in Loveland and we’ll publish those with their comments. We’ll have billboards, website posts, print, and everywhere it’ll say what there is to do in Loveland. Our photos look like Polaroid pictures so they’re identifiable. We’ll have a big photo frame where people can take their selfies and we’ll post them on the website.” Dan Mills, vice president of Flood & Peterson, is a big supporter and sponsor of the campaign. ”I think Loveland is a very cool place to live, but sometimes when it’s most Important we who live here forget that. We’re sandwiched between December 2017/January2018
d
People involved in the campaign are called connectors, defined as “community champions who want to take an active role in promoting the story of Loveland to the community at large.” Rutledge said, “We’re encouraging people to talk to community groups and introduce the connector ideas. We used to call it ambassadors, but the chamber already has ambassadors. They will spread the word and encourage people to send in their photos. We want people to get in front of service clubs. We may possibly start crowd-funding, to spread the cost across the community along with some major sponsors.” Connectors are asked to write an editorial or opinion piece for the newspaper, make social media posts about why you “#LiveLoveland” for ReporterHerald.com/LovelandMagazine
Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and give one or more presentations to various community groups. There are instructions on writing or posting photos on LiveLoveland.org. One of the notes on the website is, “It’s not somebody else’s job. It’s OURS.” School administrator Scheer explained: “The LiveLoveland Campaign is focused on celebrating the incredible quality of life we experience because WE all understand the value of community.“ Members of the steering committee are Mindy McCloughan, executive director of the Loveland Chamber of Commerce; Ashley Stiles, vice president of development for Northern Colorado at McWhinney; Mills, president of the Loveland Business Partnership; Rutledge, CIO of KL&A and chair of the partnership; Leah Johnson, associate with Thrivent Financial and member of the Loveland City Council; Jay Dokter, CEO of YouSeeU and chair of the Warehouse Business Accelerator; McWhinney, CIO and co-founder of McWhinney. This is a grassroots community campaign that’s set to run a year after the January kickoff event. “We don’t know what it will morph into,” Rutledge said. “We may continue the partnership, maybe undertake other projects. We’re attracting people who are naturally bent to support the community and we’re waiting to see how the rest of the community reacts. The list of people involved shows this isn’t a city initiative, not a chamber campaign, not the plan of an individual business. This is a community idea supported by a broad group that wants to make sure everyone knows the special things Loveland has to offer.”
LOVELAND MAGAZINE 15
BUSINESS
ASSOCIATES IN FAMILY EYECARE
By DARREN THORNBERRY for LOVELAND MAGAZINE
Would you look directly into the sun, with no appropriate eyewear, if someone told you to? No, of course not. Your vision is precious, and you protect it by being smart and getting regular checkups. And since you’re going to the trouble, Associates in Family Eyecare in Loveland makes it worth your while with peerless service and breakthrough technology. Associates in Family Eyecare has been the leader in personal optometric services in and around
Loveland since 1997. Doctors David Banford, Jennifer Everett, and Corey Bernhardt and staff offer comprehensive eye exams and can diagnose and treat many eye diseases and problems using state-of-the-art diagnostic technology and products. “What I like about optometry is meeting new people every day and that this field is not stagnant,” says Dr. Banford. “Just about every month there will be something new - a new spectacle, a new contact lens or a medical product or therapy.
High tech doesn’t mean sacrificing on style. Associates in Family Eyecare carries frames for every look. (Tim Seibert/Loveland Magazine)
16 LOVELAND MAGAZINE
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December 2017/January2018
Feet Don’t Fail Me Now! Let Us Make Your Feet Healthy Again
New Patients Welcome
The OCT, which measures fiber thickness at the back of the eye, is just one example of the high tech methods used to asses eye health. (Tim Seibert/Loveland Magazine)
This keeps the process interesting and challenging, to say the least. However, I have learned that ‘new and improved’ often is just new.” The office’s OPTOS (wide field digital retinal imaging) and OCT (ocular coherence tomographer - laser scanning that measures the fiber thickness at the back inside wall of the eye) are their most important diagnostic instruments, helping the doctors quickly gather information in fine detail about the health of the eye. Using these devices makes it easier on the patients, who can also see the results of their evaluations. Most patients are quite surprised to see the inside of their own eye for the first time! “The OCT is the standard of care for the retina and glaucoma specialists,” explains Dr. Banford. “Optometrists who deal with glaucoma or macular degeneration should have one or at least have access to this technology. And we are among a few local optometry offices with the OPTOS camera and possibly the only one in Loveland.” December 2017/January2018
Doctors Banford, Everett, and Bernhardt routinely see and diagnose cases of astigmatism, hyperopia, myopia, and presbyopia (aging eyes), pink eye, diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other eye conditions. Any vision impairment they may find is treated with care and precision and, where appropriate, treatment or surgery may be recommended. Of course, patients with healthy eyes also enjoy an excellent standard of care! Wearers of glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses will be dazzled by the many designs and styles of frames, anti-reflective coatings, and numerous types of contact lenses. They’ll find a fit for you! The office also carries semi-scleral lenses for hard-to-fit contact lens wearers and keratoconus patients. They have a wide range of eyeglass frames and a special edger that lets them cut and edge some lenses right in the office. “We strive to provide excellence in eye health care in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere,” says Dr. Banford. “And our patients make it all worthwhile.” ReporterHerald.com/LovelandMagazine
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STEVEN J. HOOD, DMD, PC 3013 N. Taft Avenue Suite 1/Loveland 970-669-8662
LOVELAND MAGAZINE 17
Whether it’s simply time for an eye exam or you are experiencing a vision problem, please call Associates in Eyecare or go online today and schedule an appointment. You want the very best for your eyes, and now you know where to get it. Tip: Check out the promotions available and the excellent blog topics on the company website. Recent posts such as “Why Smoking is Bad for Your Eyes” and “Look How Far Corrective Lenses Have Come” are particularly enlightening. The OPTOS digital retina scanner is one of only a small handful in Northern Colorado. (Tim Seibert/Loveland Magazine)
DR. BANFORD’S EYECARE CHECKLIST: • Don’t smoke • Eat healthy • Wear safety glasses and sunglasses where appropriate • Schedule regular comprehensive eye health exams
A message for parents: School eye screenings don’t replace a comprehensive eye exam BPT- Nine out of 10 parents think that school-based vision screenings are all their children need to confirm good eye health, but screenings miss up to 75 percent of dangerous eye conditions in children, according to the American Optometric Association. What’s more, when a vision screening does indicate a possible problem, only 39 percent receive the care they need from an eye doctor.
Vision and academic performance Multiple studies have linked vision problems with poor academic performance and behavioral issues. In fact, children with undetected and untreated vision problems can exhibit some of the same symptoms as kids with attention-deficit disorders, leading to false diagnoses. 18 LOVELAND MAGAZINE
“Good vision is more complex than just being able to see clearly,” Quinn says. “In order to see well enough to perform to the best of their academic abilities, children’s eyes need to focus, track, work together and judge distance and depth. Typical school vision tests only screen for nearsightedness.” A comprehensive eye exam by a doctor of optometry can help detect serious eye health and vision problems that in-school screenings simply aren’t designed to catch. These problems include amblyopia, a condition that impairs vision in one of a child’s eyes because the eye and the brain are not working together properly. ReporterHerald.com/LovelandMagazine
The AOA offers parents four tips on children’s eye health and safety: 1. Most insurance plans cover a pediatric eye exam with a doctor of optometry. 2. Covering one eye, holding reading materials close to the face, short attention spans, headaches and other discomfort are common signs of eye problems in children. 3. Limit digital device time using the 20-20-20 rule: take a 20-second break every 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away. 4. Children should use proper eye protection for sports and outdoor activities. December 2017/January2018
BOWEL INCONTINENCE is successfully treated at new clinic in Loveland
LM NEW IN TOWN
By JUDY FINMAN for LOVELAND MAGAZINE Bowel incontinence, the inability to control the bowels, is a common problem. Millions of Americans suffer from this disorder. Symptoms include unexpected leakage of stool (liquid to solid) or gas from the rectum. There are numerous potential causes, and many patients have more than one reason for loss of bowel control. Some of the causes of incontinence are nerve damage from child deliveries, hemorrhoidal surgeries, severe diabetes, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and radiation to the prostate for prostate cancer. People are sometimes reluctant to discuss their lack of bowel control, December 2017/January2018
even with their doctor, because of the social stigma attached to it. Patients are often surprised to learn their problems are caused by an underlying — and often treatable — medical condition. Fortunately, a new Bowel Incontinence Clinic opened six months ago at the Centers for Gastroenterology in Loveland. It is the only one in Northern Colorado, according to Dr. Crystal North, director of the clinic with Sharon Margraf, NP. “We can do all the testing and treatments here, so other doctors refer their patients to us,” Dr. North says. Treatments at the clinic help alleviReporterHerald.com/LovelandMagazine
ate the symptoms of chronic bowel incontinence in patients who have not had success with more conservative treatments — or who may not be candidates for those options. Centers for Gastroenterology has been providing care for Northern Colorado for more than 30 years. Their dedicated team of experts has developed a proven protocol to successfully diagnose and treat bowel incontinence. Dr. North explains what patients can expect when being treated for symptoms of bowel incontinence: “We first try to determine exactly why
LOVELAND MAGAZINE 19
about having bowel accidents in public. I have had many women who are divorced, or widows, and their main concern and reluctance about forming new male companionships is bowel incontinence. Many patients have slowly broken ties with friends and activities outside their home because of the fear of accidents. The spouses, in turn, stay with the patient at home and often become depressed. It’s a very sad situation.
the patients have made the appointment. Some patients come in with a complaint of diarrhea. But when we really get down to the meat of the subject, the problem is that they’re not able to hold onto the diarrhea. I typically try to help with the diarrhea while the patient is undergoing work-up for incontinence. “The first step of any evaluation is to take a good history from the patient. Often times, I am able to determine exactly what the problem is just based on the patient’s complaints. However, we will move on with diagnostic testing. If the patient is not up-to-date on his/her colonoscopy, this is often recommended. Then, anorectal manometry is performed. This is an in-office diagnostic test performed by nurses who are specially trained. It is not a painful procedure. A flexible tube the size of a pencil is inserted into the rectum and various pressures of the anal sphincter muscles are gathered as well as other very valuable parameters. I then look at the results and determine what would be the next best step for the patient. Very rarely, the next step could include pelvic floor retraining, or a specialized form of physical therapy used to retrain the muscles. “More common, however, is the recommendation of InterStim trial, which is sacral nerve stimulation. It is extremely effective in the right person. At Skyline Endoscopy Center we do the trial of InterStim, which is a one-week trial of stimulating the nerve, to make sure that the patient is a candidate for the permanent InterStim implant. Before InterStim was available, patients were often referred for surgical reconstruction of the 20 LOVELAND MAGAZINE
Dr. Crystal North, DO
“Besides helping with the obvious dysfunction of the body, I feel that we are able to significantly impact and improve patients’ lives. Patients are able to leave the home with confidence, and are no longer worried about having bowel accidents in public. —Dr. Crystal North sphincter. This is not recommended any longer because of the simplicity and effectiveness of InterStim.” The treatments have an enormous impact on the lives of these patients, Dr. North says. “Besides helping with the obvious dysfunction of the body, I feel that we are able to significantly impact and improve patients’ lives. Patients are able to leave the home with confidence, and are no longer worried ReporterHerald.com/LovelandMagazine
“It’s especially sad because there are treatments now, but patients are not aware of these. Being able to finally control the body’s most basic function, having bowel movements, cannot be underestimated. We all take it for granted until it is no longer working. Now that there is finally treatment for this that is extremely effective, patients need to start telling their physicians about their bowel incontinence. In addition to helping with anal sphincter control, InterStim often alleviates problems with urinary incontinence, because it’s the same nerve that is being stimulated.” Dr. North explains that sacral nerve stimulation is a type of medical electrical stimulation therapy that is implanted under the skin and delivers stimulation to the sacral nerve, which is located at the lower end of the spinal column. This nerve area controls the functions of the bowel, bladder, and other muscles of the pelvic floor. When the sacral nerve is stimulated, it causes the muscles of the pelvis to work more effectively and over time, the strength of the muscles significantly increases. This can eliminate problems with bowel incontinence completely. “85 to 90 percent of patients are December 2017/January2018
responding to the one-week trial and decide to move forward with the permanent implant. This treatment is one of the few areas, other than detecting colon cancer, where we can make a huge impact on patients’ lives. InterStim is a complete game changer, and patients with bowel incontinence have a reason to be hopeful.” Dr. North says she has always been interested in bowel incontinence, but her interest has increased over the years as she has worked with patients from Loveland and the surrounding areas. “We have a very high percentage of elderly patients in northern Colorado, specifically Loveland. Although this condition can affect younger patients too, it is definitely an age-related condition. Over the
age of 70, the incidence of bowel incontinence increases to 15 percent. And then nearly 50 percent of nursing home residents have bowel incontinence. Even with these large numbers, only about 30 percent of patients discuss this with their doctor. I have sat with patients, listening to heartbreaking stories of how bowel incontinence has affected their lives. The symptoms can range from just occasional leakage of stool without warning, to gas incontinence which can be embarrassing and socially isolating, to full bowel incontinence in which patients are having major accidents out in the public. I cannot think of any condition that would be more demoralizing than bowel incontinence.”
TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT at the Bowel Incontinence Clinic, call the Centers for Gastroenterology at 970.669.5432. For more information about the Centers for Gastroenterology, see their website at digestive-health.net. Visit the website skylineendocenter.com for information about the InterStim trial.
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ENTERTAINMENT
5 WAYS TO
FROM TRADITIONAL TO QUIRKY Take a walk around town and you’ll see holiday lights nestled in the snow dusted trees while busy shoppers race to find those last minute gifts. Whether you enjoy traditional holiday celebrations like sitting around the fireplace with eggnog in hand—or maybe something off the beaten path, here’s a round-up of a few local events sure to make your holiday celebrations more memorable.
By ELISE OBERLIESEN for LOVELAND MAGAZINE
SWEATY SWEATER RACE
WHEN: December 9, 9 a.m. WHERE: Anheuser-Busch Biergarten, 2351 Busch Drive, Fort Collins HOW MUCH: Go to frontrangefreeze.com/sweaty-sweater-race/ for details Haul out those ugly sweaters because you’re gonna need em’ for the office parties. Not to mention things like the 4K Sweaty Sweater Race. Plus, after crossing the finish line, you won’t feel so guilty if you nibble on a few extra sugar cookies or mom’s tasty fruit cake. After runners and walkers lace up the sneakers and prance across the finish line, they will be be greeted with hot chocolate and beer. Yum. The starting line and finish line start at the same place--Anheuser-Busch Biergarten. Don’t Photo courtesy Sweaty Sweater Race/Front Range Freeze ho-ho-hold back on letting your creative juices flow as you pick that ugliest sweater imaginable. The lucky winners of the ugly sweater contest will have a little extra cash to pay their holiday bills. First prize, $500, 2nd prize $300 and 3rd prize $200. A portion of event proceeds will go to the Adopt-A-Family program at Timberline Church. Visit frontrangefreeze.com/sweaty-sweater-race/ to register. 22 LOVELAND MAGAZINE
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December 2017/January2018
WINTER WONDERLIGHTS
WHEN: Select weekend nights, now through January 7; Saturdays, 5 to 9 p.m.; Sundays, 5 to 7 p.m. WHERE: Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra, just east of the Promenade Shops retail center at U.S. Highway 34 and Interstate 25 HOW MUCH: Free. Canned food donations are encouraged and will go to the Larimer County Food Bank. No doubt, twinkling holiday lights, festive music and 30 minute light shows will surely inspire holiday cheer — even among the self-proclaimed Grinches. Each night festivities will run from 5 to 9 p.m. A few highlights include festive lights, luminescent African stone sculptures, a 20 foot LED “mapabple” Christmas Tree and much more. Plus, nightly live entertainment from local dance troupes and musical talent will help the crowd get into the holiday spirit. Also, don’t miss the 40 foot inflatable igloo at Chapungu Sculpture Park where you will find even more holiday fun: Lowe’s Build & Grow activities, free rides on the City of Loveland trackless train, Mary’s Mountain Cookies cookie decorating, face painting, balloons artists, free food samples from P.F. Chang’s, and free gelato samples from Paciugo, among other food and retail vendors. Got to visitlovelandco.org/winterwonderlights/ to check out other scheduled entertainment.
A CANDY CANE CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES
When: December 16, 11 a.m. Where: First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover St., Fort Collins. How Much: $5 per child accompanied by adult, at the door
Photo courtesy Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra
BIG BAND HOLIDAY WITH COLORADO JAZZ REPERTORY ORCHESTRA
The Larimer Chorale will sing its way into the hearts of children and families this holiday season with their Candy Cane Christmas performance. Singers will dazzle the audience with familiar Christmas songs, a fun sing-a-long and a chance to see the jolly old elf, AKA Santa Clause. The concerts take place in the church sanctuary. Families and kids won’t want to miss this festive new event. Visit larimerchorale.org/concerts/
WHEN: December 3, 3 p.m. WHERE: Rialto Theater Center, 228 E 4th St, Loveland HOW MUCH: Tickets, $26 Orchestra, $20 Balcony No holiday calendar is complete without a trip to the Rialto Theater. And if you love jazz music, and the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra, then this event has your name stitched right on it. Enjoy favorite songs like, Let It Snow, Winter Wonderland, plus, selections from Duke Ellington’s Suite from the Nutcracker. Since the event sold out last year, be sure to get your tickets sooner rather than later. Check rialtotheatercenter.org/ big-band-holiday/ for more details. December 2017/January2018
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LOVELAND MAGAZINE 23
MAGICAL WINTER KNIGHTS
WHEN: December 29-30, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. WHERE: Budweiser Events Center, 5290 Arena Cir, Loveland HOW MUCH: Tickets for each event range from $10 to $55 Get your Game of Thrones fix while knights, lords and ladies dazzle the crowd with an immersive festival experience. This indoor event combines a renaissance festival, medieval festival, plus combat sporting event and a feast to feed hungry patrons. Holiday shoppers looking for that truly unique gift can make selections from talented artisans peddling their wares in the village. Don’t miss the craft areas and medieval style games sure to keep little ones entertained for hours. No gathering is complete without a feast—especially one decked out with sumptuous foods fit for royalty. Daily tournaments of hand to hand combat pit four armored warriors against each other using different medieval-style weapons. After the combat tournaments claim their champion, stay to watch eight armored knights on horseback compete in full contact jousting. To find out more details about the event and ticket prices, visit budweisereventscenter.com/events/details/?event_id=308.
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PAYING COLORADANS CASH FOR WEIGHT LOSS By EMMA CASTLEBERRY for LOVELAND MAGAZINE
“We not only want to help people lose weight, we want them to keep that weight off, which is why we also pay for weight loss maintenance for one year,” says Jillian Tongate, marketing manager for Weigh and Win.
Weight loss is one of the most popular topics during the holidays. Not only do seasonal family feasts cause many to loosen their belts a few notches at this time of year, but the fast-approaching new year presents the perfect blank slate for pursuing new healthcare and weight loss goals.
Participants track their weight and log their progress at private scales, called “kiosks,” which can be found at 120 locations throughout Colorado. Daily text messages and emails provide support, as well as phone and email access to a personal trainer. But it gets better: not only is the program completely free, but members can win prizes for participating. Participants who start with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or more are eligible for cash prizes, called rewards.
The state of Colorado has demonstrated a vested interest in helping the public with their weight loss goals through the Weigh and Win program, a partnership between digital health company incentaHEALTH and Kaiser Permanente Colorado, the state’s largest nonprofit health plan. Open to all Colorado residents over the age of 18, Weigh and Win provides a variety of resources to help individuals lose weight and keep it off. December 2017/January2018
Tongate says the program’s typical participant is a 43 year old female with a BMI of 33, who is about 50 pounds overweight. A study about the Weigh and Win program was recently published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. It found ReporterHerald.com/LovelandMagazine
LOVELAND MAGAZINE 25
that 71 percent of Weigh and Win participants are losing weight and that they stay engaged in the program for an average of 1.7 years. “Our long-term data shows that successful participants achieve and maintain an average weight loss of 20.4 pounds over a 36-month period,” says Tongate. “The program proves that it is possible to lose weight and keep it off.”
joining this program was keeping the weight off after I reached a goal,” Gibbs says. “I would typically lose weight for an event, such as a reunion or a vacation, then gain the weight back after the event.”
A Loveland local, Gibbs has lost 48 pounds since she started with the Weigh and Win program. As a medical professional, she is faced daily with the many health threats presented by obesity. “Obesity is currently the fastest growing health threat in the US,” she says. “I see countless people who suffer from many maladies because of excess weight due to unhealthy diets and inactivity.”
Kathy Gibbs, a physical therapist’s assistant and exercise physiologist, has been using the Weigh and Win program since 2013. “My biggest struggle before
A healthy diet is part of developing a healthier lifestyle.
Gibbs appreciates that there is “no magic pill” in the Weigh and Win program— participants are simply rewarded for creating and sustaining
(Shutterstock)
HACKS FOR HEALTHIER HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING (BPT) - Decadent meals are often part of celebrations, but
calories. In fact, up to 700 calories are saved for every cup
for those looking for a healthier holiday, it can feel like you
of sugar that is swapped out. Baking with Stevia In The Raw
must choose between your nutrition goals and the foods
Bakers Bag is a simple hack for baking any time of year, as
you love.
it is formulated so that 1 cup has the same sweetness as 1
Swearing off your favorite seasonal foods could make you feel like a Scrooge, but a few simple cooking and entertaining hacks will let you enjoy the treats you love while keeping your health top of mind.
cup of sugar - so no conversion is needed.
Great gravy Gravy is a staple at holiday feasts, but it’s also heavy in calories and fat. If you’re making homemade gravy, try putting it into the refrigerator before serving. As gravy chills,
Amazing appetizers It might seem counterintuitive, but eating before a big meal can be a smart step for healthy living. Try creating a crudité platter with fresh veggies. If you make dip, swap mayonnaise and sour cream for Greek yogurt, which provides similar flavor and texture without the calories.
the fat collects at the top and you can skim it off before rewarming and serving to guests. When eating, resist the urge to dump gravy over everything on your plate. A light drizzle on potatoes and meat provides plenty of flavor.
Petite plates One of the simplest healthy entertaining tricks has nothing to
Better baking Replace half the sugar in baking with Stevia In The Raw
do with food and more to do with psychology. Whether you
Bakers Bag, a zero calorie sweetener made with extracts
use a big or small plate, people tend to fill the whole thing
from the sweet leaves of the stevia plant. By keeping half
up. So instead of those grand China dishes, use moderately
of the regular sugar, you still achieve the proper browning,
sized plates and you’ll likely end up eating less. Your eyes
rising and caramelizing, but the swap allows you to cut
will see a full plate and your belly will be satisfied.
26 LOVELAND MAGAZINE
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December 2017/January2018
healthier habits. Tongate says this was intentional in the design of the program. “Weigh and Win is a lifestyle change program, not a diet,” says Tongate. “Every component of the program works to give people the tools to slowly incorporate new, healthier habits into their daily routine in a sustainable way.”
a drawing for prizes, such as gift certificates from Amazon, REI, and other fun things. I made a goal to always reach that 300-point mark each month to be able to have a chance at the monthly HEALTHpoints drawing.” Weigh and Win participants also have access to a team of experienced healthcare coaches, all of
Gibbs describes herself as “competitive by nature,” so the program’s challenges to win prizes acted as a motivating incentive. Weigh and Win offers several challenges, including a twice-a-year “Team Challenge” in which you compete against 4-8 other people in the state, the “Healthy Holidays” Challenge in which participants are rewarded for maintaining their weight between November and January, and “Challenge-a-Friend,” in which participants create customized challenges for their friends and family.
“Everyone is different and there is never one right answer to health coaching someone,” Byrne says. “We do not promise results will be achieved instantly, but rather that realistic lifestyle changes will enforce sustainable and healthy habits.”
TO LEARN MORE about the Weigh and Win program, visit weighandwin.com. Three kiosks are located in Loveland: McKee Medical Center at 200 Boise Avenue,
In addition to challenges, participants have the opportunity to earn HEALTHpoints for staying involved with the program by reading emails, referring friends to the program and weighing in at the kiosks.
December 2017/January2018
“Each of the health coaches hold various certifications in not only personal training, but also corporate wellness, medical exercise science, health education, health coaching, and fitness and nutrition specializations,” says Weigh and Win coach Monae Byrne. The coaching is an important element of the Weigh and Win program because it personalizes the weight loss experience.
“The challenges harnesses the power of competition and social accountability to make improving your health fun,” says Tongate. “This gamified platform can be a powerful motivational tool for many with both individual incentive weight loss rewards and prizes for the winning teams. It is also a great accountability tool, with support and motivation from teammates.”
“Once you earn 300 points,” says Gibbs, “your name is entered into
whom have, at the minimum, bachelor’s degrees in health or exercise science.
Sunrise Community Health at 302 3rd Street SE, and Kaiser Permanente Loveland Medical Office at 4901 Finding a form of exercise you enjoy con-
Thompson Parkway.
tributes to lasting success. (Shutterstock)
ReporterHerald.com/LovelandMagazine
LOVELAND MAGAZINE 27
LM IT’S MADE HERE
SurgiReal
Gives Veterinary students realistic practice
By RHEMA ZLATEN for LOVELAND MAGAZINE
28 LOVELAND MAGAZINE
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A vet student demonstrates suturing technique using SurgiReal skin. (Photo courtesy SurgiReal)
December 2017/January2018
Learning to properly treat sick animals involves many years of training and mentorship. Long time veterinary medicine educator, Professor Dean A. Hendrickson, DVM, MS, DACVS of Colorado State University, was always on the lookout for tools to equip his surgery students for every real-world scenario possible.
weren’t as prepared as they needed to be for their first live animal surgery.”
Hendrickson decided to try his hand at creating his own teaching tools. He found support from a few donors, and then embarked on a systematic series of trials with his co-researcher Materials that mimic the texture and layers of actual skin gives students a bet(and future company ter sense of what incisions and suturing will be like in reality. cofounder) Dr. Fausto (Photo courtesy SurgiReal.) Bellezzo, DVM, thing that was life-like but not life, “I was frustrated DACVS-LA., now at and something that would train with the training tools that we had the University of Minnesota. [students] to not have bad habits. for teaching veterinary students Most of the things we used had no surgery,” Hendrickson said. “There “We wanted the material to be as had to be something better, somesimilarity to real tissue at all. So, they close to normal real skin as we could
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LOVELAND MAGAZINE 29
make it from the very beginning of the procedure to the end,” Hendrickson said. “So, the skin had to cut with a scalpel blade like it would in real life. Each layer in the body responds differently to the scalpel blade, so each layer of the model had to respond differently to the scalpel blade. And then they have to learn how to suture out.” Once they landed on the right formula, Hendrickson and Bellezzo partnered with CSU Ventures to launch SurgiReal. They incorporated their business in 2011, deciding to commercialize and manufacture on their own in order to expand their market. They spent a year finalizing their process out of a small CSU lab, and then set up shop in Fort Collins in 2012. This past summer, SurgiReal relocated to Loveland for a greatly needed upgrade to a 10,000-foot manufacturing and office space.
mail campaigns. The SurgiReal product line has expanded to include materials for injection training, dermal pathology, organs, podiatry and blood vessel simulations. With the blood vessel product, students are challenged This model demonstrates blood vessels and drawing blood. to efficiently fix (Photo courtesy SurgiReal.) blood flow issues that often arise product line has its own cell that is during real life surgeries. pretty much self-contained, so this adds efficiency.” “It has been a nice place to be able to lay down some roots, and we are looking for a long and fruitful partnership with the city,” Hendrickson said. The SurgiReal team also sells and creates new products at the manufacturing space. The sales teams network at tradeshows and collect customer feedback. As new needs arise, SurgiReal works to design more life-like teaching products.
SurgiReal has quickly expanded into an innovative company aimed at producing locally made, life-like products for both medical and veterinary surgical training. SurgiReal COO Mitchel C. Willett was brought on to help expand the company’s market, drawing on his past experience of medical and pharmaceutical product development and sales. The move to a larger office space in Loveland meant that the SurgiReal production teams no longer had to reset manufacturing lines and molds.
“If we hear the same thing from 4-6 customers, it gets on the agenda for the next new product meeting,” Willett said. “And then we assess what it would take to do it, cost-wise and time-wise, and then also how big the market is, and what kind of competition exists out there. A lot of times there aren›t similar products out there.”
“We literally had to set up to run different products,” Willett said. “Now, from a manufacturing set up, every product has its own workspace that is dedicated to that product … every
Once they determine the need for a new product, they invest money into producing prototypes and pursuing patents, culminating in launch events at relevant trade shows as well as e-
30 LOVELAND MAGAZINE
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“Students often get stressed out from cutting their first blood vessel,” Hendrickson said. “So, we invented blood vessels, and students can use them to learn how to handle blood. As soon as we got the skin layers figured out, then we introduced the blood vessels into the model. That is still one of my favorite parts of the model. The students’ eyes get big, and then they relax into ligating the blood vessels.” As director of the CSU James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Hendrickson has witnessed increased student confidence and surgery outcomes through using SurgiReal training tools. “A big thing for me is that it has been really exciting for me to see the benefit that we have been able to make in training,” Hendrickson said. “There has been some research showing the superiority of our methods. We are testing it to prove that it is better and making adjustments as we need to make things even better. We feel like we are making a difference; that was our whole goal when we started.” December 2017/January2018
WINNING THE DRUG CRISIS
By SARAH HUBER for LOVELAND MAGAZINE From ages 14 to 34, Joseph Eisele subsisted on drugs and alcohol. First cough syrup, then alcohol, then illegal drugs, from one wave of hardness to the next. He flunked out of college. He wandered the streets of California. He slept outside. He was incarcerated. He was committed to four mental hospitals and estranged from family. He tried and tried again to quit. He failed and failed again. Then the man who wondered if life was worth living, found hope. Today, at age 71, he gives hope to thousands through InnerBalance Health Center, the holistic substance abuse treatment center in Loveland he coDecember 2017/January2018
LM COMMUNITY COMMUN
The InnerBalance facility has a comforting home-like atmosphere. (Photo courtesy InnerBalance)
founded nearly 19 years ago. For Eisele, hope was recognizing he not only battled drugs but was also drowning in depression, anxiety and insomnia. Eisele learned he had thyroid and adrenal disorders ameliorated by medicine. He discovered a folic acid supplement could calm nerves, and melatonin regulated sleep. Eisele ate nutritious food to heal his brain and hormonal imbalances. As his health buoyed, he could more coherently fight addiction demons and was less prone to relapse. Thus, biochemical restoration permeates Eisele’s approach to addiction treatment at InnerBalance. Clients undergo genetic testing and practitioners weld medical care and healthy eating into addiction therapy. “Our holistic treatment repairs the damage done by addiction to the mind, body, spirit and environment,” Eisele said. While most treatment centers concentrate on the body, a focus on ReporterHerald.com/LovelandMagazine
mind, spirit and environment in addition to body can eliminate cravings that lead to addiction. InnerBalance physician Dr. William Billica said, “Treating (patients’) brain chemistry this way allows the brain to restore more normal function and not want the drugs anymore.” Eisele credits a holistic approach with his high success rate, and InnerBalance offers a six-month guarantee to clients who follow recommendations. “We treat the whole person,” said Eisele, who received national certification as a drug and alcohol therapist more than 30 years ago. For example, “in the thousands of people we’ve tested, every alcoholic except two did not have hypoglycemia,” he said. “That informs how we do treatment. We help our patients get off alcohol but also sugar.” Eisele has staked his life, literally, on the holistic approach. He recalled,
LOVELAND MAGAZINE 31
“After relapsing following two stays at (a treatment center) and four different mental health hospitals, I broke down and screamed at God, ‘Why are you doing this to me?’” He met a sponsor through a 12-step program and pledged, “I want to stop drinking, or I’m going to die.”
from a 13-year addiction to opiates. “They have staff members that help you with every single aspect of recovery,” she said. “I had help dealing with my past. I had help with my diet. I got put on a supplement plan that was tailored specifically to my needs. I had an addiction counselor who helped me realize that addiction is a disease, and I’m not crazy.” Traci has been clean Talk therapy helped for 14 months and hopes her Eisele gain sobriety, yet Traci (left) and Stacy (right) credit InnerBalance with changing story inspires others. “I still their lives. (Photo courtesy InnerBalance) he continued to sleep in have cravings and dreams that 30-minute spurts and was I’m using. But now I have a plan as well as with family and friends. wracked by anxiety. “I knew people in place,” she said. Connecting with the environment who went through treatment and and a spiritual power is key to emodidn’t relapse,” he said. “What was Like Traci, Stacy believes InnerBaltional growth.” Eisele explained that wrong me?” ance saved her life. For 15 years, she addiction thwarts emotional growth, abused alcohol and cocaine. “When “I was 14 when I started using, and His light-bulb moment was a book by when I was 34, I was at the emotional I went to InnerBalance, I was lost, Dr. Broda Barnes. “I stumbled across confused, broken and most of all, development of about 16.” his book on thyroid problems, and I fearful. The counselors worked with related to the symptoms,” Eisele said. me to release the fear built up inside Life coaches at InnerBalance help “This started my recovery.” Amidst of me, not only about living a normal clients plan for life outside the center, earning certification as an addiction life but about living life without a including housing, employment, therapist, Eisele worked with holistic substance.” She added, “I went into practitioners to treat his symptoms. “I finances and building anti-relapse InnerBalance not liking the person I support and therapy. Clients are needed to give up the KFC and Mchad become, and InnerBalance taught taught to replace destructive thinking Donald’s, the sugar and cigarettes,” me to love myself again.” with positive, meaningful self-talk. he said. During a 28-day stay at InnerBalance, clients meet daily with counselors and Stacy was diagnosed with preOnce his biochemical condition diabetes at InnerBalance and under practitioners, exercise and eat organic improved, Eisele and Roy Graham, the guidance of nutritionists and meals. A maximum of 17 clients Eisele’s friend with a degree in addictherapists, lost 25 pounds. “I would stay at one time, and both inpatient tion recovery, founded InnerBalance never trade a sober day for a day and outpatient treatment is availHealth Center in the basement of a under the influence ever,” she said. “I able. Clients receive ongoing support medical practice in Fort Collins. Word have gained my family’s trust and love after graduating InnerBalance, and a spread that the InnerBalance method back. Most of all, I have gained trust three-day intensive family program is delivered lasting sobriety, and now and love back for myself.” complimentary. the treatment center holds sway in a luxury facility. “As part of treating all aspects of our patients, we have a UCLA- and Harvard-trained psychologist who takes clients on nature walks and explores with them the loving connections they had before addictions and how they can reconnect with nature, 32 LOVELAND MAGAZINE
Whereas InnerBalance primarily treated alcohol addiction 19 years ago, today “the opioid epidemic is causing chaos,” Eisele said. “We often see people dealing with prescription pain medicines.” InnerBalance helped Traci recover ReporterHerald.com/LovelandMagazine
Eisele concluded, “When we give 100 percent and our patients give 100 percent, together we guarantee success.” InnerBalance costs $21,875 for a 28-day stay in a shared room. Most insurance companies cover at least a portion of treatment. Visit innerbalancehealthcenter.com. December 2017/January2018
WHERE TO GO
Winter is finally here, but in the midst of all the holiday rush, remember to slow down and take some time to enjoy the season. Make some memories on the ice rink, take photos with Santa, take in a seasonal performance and don’t forget those less fortunate. You can find any or all of those choices right here in Loveland.
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What to Do
CALENDAR
BY MISTY KAISER for LOVELAND MAGAZINE DOWNTOWN LOVELAND NIGHT ON THE TOWN Second Fridays of the month, 6-9 p.m. Spend some time getting to know your neighbors at this monthly downtown blockparty. Attend gallery openings, exhibits, music, visit local restaurants and more lovelandmuseumgallery.org/programs-events/ events/night-on-the-town/
VISIT WITH SANTA AT PROMENADE SHOPS AT CENTERRA Now through Christmas Eve Bring your camera to capture the magical moments when your child visits with Santa in his winter wonderland. Located next to Jumpin’, near Best Buy. Check website for schedule. thepromenadeshopsatcenterra.com/events
DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Now – February 14, Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Marketplace Dr., Johnstown Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the smash hit Broadway musical, tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed into his former self. coloradocandlelight.com December 2017/January2018
OUTDOOR ICE SKATING Daily through February 25; The Ice Rink at Promenade Shops at Centerra, Loveland Visit Northern Colorado’s finest outdoor ice skating rink for a fun winter activity with family and friends. Admission is $7 for children 12 and under, $8.50 for adults and includes skates. Regular hours: Monday-Friday 2-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Winter hours (effective 1/2/18): MondayThursday 2-8 p.m., Friday 2-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. TheIceRinkAtTheShops.com
GARDEN OF LIGHT Now-Jan. 7, from 5 to 9 p.m.; The Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., Fort Collins Stroll through twinkling gardens all created entirely from hundreds of thousands of LED lights. During the weekends (Friday-Sunday), visit with Santa, listen to holiday music, make seasonal crafts, and enjoy warm drinks. New this year, due to construction on the Drake Campus, Woodward, Inc. will be moving and incorporating their Holiday Display into the Gardens of Lights. Read more about this new addition.
Though admission is free, a $5 suggested donation per adult, $2 suggested donation per child over 2 years old is appreciated. fcgov.com/ gardens/programsspecial-events/special-events/garden-of-lights
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CASINO NIGHT December 7, 5 - 8 p.m.; Cowley Hall, The Ranch South Hall of First National Bank Building, 5280 Arena Circle, Loveland Join NOCO HBA for their year-end Holiday extravaganza and Toys for Tots event. Enjoy a night of fabulous food, drink, and gambling for fun money. Bring a new unwrapped toy to donate for an extra $20 play per toy donated. Whether your game is Black Jack, 3 Card Poker, Craps, or Roulette —you’ll have a chance to play for a good cause. Tickets are $45 for member, $55 for non-members and include a buffet, a free drink and $500 in casino fun chips. nocohba.com
THE NUTCRACKER December 8, 7 p.m.; December 9-10, 2 and 7 p.m.; Lincoln Center Performance Hall, 417 W. Magnolia St., Fort Collins Canyon Concert Ballet presents their annual production of The Nutcracker Ballet. With a dazzling score by Tchaikovsky performed by the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, this is a rare chance to see a classical ballet accompanied by a live, full orchestra in Fort Collins. This iconic holiday story is sure to please audiences of all ages with mystery, battles, and beautiful ballerinas. Tickets: Regular $30-$35, Senior (60+) $25-$30, Students $25-$30, Children (12 and under) $18, Group (10+) $25 lctix.com
BERTHOUD SNOWFEST December 13 - 16, Fickel Park, Berthoud Berthoud SNOWFEST is a sanctioned Colorado Snow Sculpting Competition. Snow will be made and constructed into 8-foot blocks for carving prior to Snowfest. The carving competition will take place over four days in Fickel Park. Festivities include a Snow Stomping Competition, Event Launch Party, Kids’ Snow Sculpting Event, Artisan Market, a Lighted Parade and Home Decorating Contest. Check berthoudsnowfest.com for details.
LOVELAND OPERA THEATRE HOLIDAY SOIREE December 16, 6:30 p.m.; Private home in Loveland Call 970-593-0085 or email lovelandoperatheatre@gmail.com for location and reservations. Join the Loveland Opera Theater (LOT) for food, gorgeous singing, and FUN! Delicious appetizers, dessert, and wassail will be served to entertainment featuring stunning LOT singers performing holiday favorites! Donations of $35 per person are requested and very much appreciated. Seating limited to 60. 34 LOVELAND MAGAZINE
SOUNDS OF THE SEASON December 8, 7 p.m.-Pre-Concert Lecture, 7:30 p.m.-Concert; Good Shepherd Church 3429 Monroe Ave., Loveland Join the Loveland Orchestra for a concert featuring seasonal music including Nutcracker Suite No. 1 and Songs from Home Alone and more. Featuring the Loveland High School Choirs. Tickets: Adults $10, Students $5, Children (12 and under) free lovelandorchestra.org
CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS December 15-16, 7:30 p.m.; First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover St., Fort Collins Join the Larimer Chorale and guest artists in a unique, “surround-sound” presentation of seasonal music and a signature candle lighting vignette. Inspirational readings and poetry will be interwoven with the music and members of the audience will also have the opportunity to join in the singing of traditional carols. A note from Larimer Chorale to concert-goers: Due to a scheduling conflict, in lieu of the traditional family-friendly Sunday matinee, a performance of Candy Cane Christmas for Kids and Their Families has been added at 11 a.m. on December 16. larimerchorale.org/concerts/ candlelight-christmas-2017
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December 2017/January2018