Rye resident Patti Whalen is successful in many ways: She’s raised two kids, works at a job she loves, is active in the community, and has a happy marriage. But until recently, she’d forgotten one thing: Fitness. “I had not done any exercise since the birth of my daughter, who is now 19,” Patti says.

Patti had made some attempts to deal with the 30 pounds she’d put on over 20 years. “I tried Jenny Craig and lost weight but gained it all back,” she says. She went on Weight Watchers, joined the Y and started walking. “Nothing worked,” she says. Weight became more of a struggle when Patti was diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer 10 years ago: She retained a lot of fluid due to the chemo.

Then in late 2009, Patti’s cousin, Dr. Howard Sichel, made a comment. “He told me, ‘Movement heals,’” she says, “and that rang the bell.” The statement made sense for Patti: It was motivating without being punitive, and it was about the process, not a pie-in-the-sky end result. Howard told her about APOGEE and suggested she start private Pilates sessions with Dorothy Polanowska.

By Jennifer Vagios, R.D.
APOGEE’s Dietitian

It can sometimes seem daunting to make healthful changes to your diet, but here’s an easy one: Eat almonds. These nuts are tasty, satisfying and packed with vitamins, healthful fats, antioxidants, and fiber. Almonds make a simple snack and—with just a sprinkle—add protein and fiber to salads, cereals, smoothies, even roasted fish and meats. 

These are the reasons we’ve chosen to feature almonds this month.

With their mix of fat and protein, you’ll probably notice that almonds satisfy your hunger right away. They have 163 calories and six grams of protein per ounce, with 13 grams of healthful, unsaturated fat and no cholesterol. Studies suggest that these little nuts are good for controlling blood sugar: Keep a baggie-full in your car glove box or desk drawer to stave off those low moments. Include almonds regularly in your diet and you’ll also boost your levels of copper, B2 and magnesium—nutrients involved in energy metabolism. Almonds are also good for your gut: In one study, they encouraged the growth of healthful intestinal bacteria.

by Holly Niles, RNCP, RHN, RYT APOGEE’s General Manager

Pilates or yoga? Yoga and Pilates? APOGEE offers both, and if you’ve been a devotee of one you might wonder: Why should I try the other? 

There’s good reason to: Yoga and Pilates complement each other perfectly. You’ll find that the strengths and skills you’ve built in one class will transfer well and support you in the other.

Yoga to Pilates… If you practice yoga regularly, you have developed flexibility, balance and awareness. Yoga also builds sustainability—the ability to remain calm and present in a posture no matter how much doubt you’re experiencing. When you go to your first Pilates class, you’ll find you have excellent balance and can get right to work. Stiff muscles won’t encumber you; you’ll have the ability to access the deep muscles that Pilates calls on. Depending on the kind of yoga you’ve been practicing, you may or may not be familiar with how Pilates routines flow between exercises. But you will have the resources to sustain yourself throughout the workout: With your yogic awareness, you can identify the mental and physical resources you’ll need in Pilates.