Fresh Start

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2020 – and our January Health & Fitness Issue.

Now that the holidays are behind us, it’s a new decade and the perfect time to start with a clean slate. Whether you want to eat better, practice more self-care or find a new fitness routine, I think you’ll find the inspiration and motivation you need in the following pages.

First, put on your dancing shoes: We chat with professional dancers Maks and Val Chmerkovskiy, who recently brought one of their Dance with Me Dance Studios right here to Boca Raton. In “Two To Tango” (page 66), the brothers – who gained fame on the ABC competition series “Dancing with the Stars” – talk about doing business in Boca, their growing families and their favorite ways to give back.

Speaking of growing families, that’s a prospect many young people today are saying no to as birth rates decline nationwide. We take a look at the statistics and the reasons for this generational shift in “The Anti-Baby Boom” (page 72) as well as speak with millennials who discuss their reasons for choosing to be child-free.

You may recognize Michael Symon from his time on “The Chew,” “Iron Chef” and other popular TV shows. But the chef and restaurateur is showing a different side of himself these days: the one that struggles with autoimmune issues and chronic pain. In “Cooking Up A Cure” (page 76), Symon walks us through his recent health journey and the creation of his new cookbook, “Fix It with Food: More Than 125 Recipes to Address Autoimmune Issues and Inflammation.”

Next, we take a close look at a vexing condition that’s affecting more and more Americans every year: Parkinson’s disease (PD). Although the exact cause remains unknown, advances in treatments and detection have provided relief – and hope – for many PD sufferers and their caregivers. Don’t miss “Moving Forward” (page 82).

Finally, if you’re looking to get off the treadmill and into a heart-pumping new exercise regimen, we have plenty of choices for you in “South Florida Fitness Tour” (page 86). Not only do we outline what various types of exercise entail – from barre and Pilates to TRX and boot camp – but we suggest where to try each one locally. So get out there and break a sweat!

The new year not only ushers in a new decade but it officially marks 17 years that The Boca Raton Observer has been in business! It seems like only yesterday that this was a pet project I created in my home office. I’m so proud of what it has become and am endlessly thankful to our loyal readers, fantastic advertisers and wonderful team. Here’s to 17 years of being the authority on Boca and beyond – and to 17 more!

Best,

Linda L. Behmoiras 

linda@bocaratonobserver.com