Health | Panache Vue' Magazine - North Pinellas/Pasco

First Generation Pilates Master Lolita San Miguel

January 30, 2012 By Patricia Massey Welter

Lolita San Miguel

First Generation Pilates Master Teacher Lolita San Miguel Shares Her Living Legacy at Suncoast Pilates

“Boundless energy”, “intense creativity” and “an enduring devotion to Pilates” are all phrases that describe Lolita San Miguel, a first generation Pilates teacher. New York-born Lolita San Miguel celebrates in 2011 her 53rd anniversary of practicing the Pilates Method of Body Conditioning. She received her first certification from Carola Trier, Joseph Pilates’ first disciple to open a studio. She then studied with Joseph Pilates himself. Lolita holds the distinction of being one of the only two known practitioners to have been officially certified by Joseph and Clara Pilates and awarded degrees by the State University of New York to teach the Pilates Method. Lolita has also been certified by Polestar Pilates Education and was awarded a Gold Certificate by the Pilates Method Alliance. She is one of the three living “Distinguished Elders” of the Pilates Method Alliance.

After a distinguished career in dance – she was a soloist with the Metropolitan Ballet for over ten years and ballet mistress for Ballet Hispanico for three years – Ms San Miguel moved with her husband to Puerto Rico in 1977. She founded Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico’s finest ballet company) and was its Artistic and Executive Director for 27 years. She also founded Pilates y Mas, Inc. in Puerto Rico in 2000 to teach, train and certify teachers in association with Polestar Pilates Education. Ms San Miguel retired from Ballet Concierto in 2004 and at the age of 70 started a new career, dedicated to the teaching of the Pilates Method. Ms San Miguel is in great demand throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and South America, and has international students and teachers come to train with her. She has published eight DVDs.

Suncoast Pilates is proud to have Lolita San Miguel presenting two Pilates workshops, a “Meet and Greet” and sharing the history and her experiences with Joseph Pilates on February 3 – 4, 2012, at the studio.

Patricia Massey Welter

Patricia Massey Welter, PMA®-CPT, Lolita San Miguel Pilates Master™, Second Generation Pilates Teacher – Suncoast Pilates – 34080 U.S. Hwy 19 North – Palm Harbor, Florida 34684 - Phone: (727) 772-6772 - www.SuncoastPilates.com

Filed Under: 2012, Health, January/February 2012, North Pinellas / Pasco Tagged With: Clearwater, Fitness, Health, Palm Harbor, Patricia Welter, Personal Trainer, Pilates, Pinellas, Suncoast Pilates, Training

On Thin Ice

January 22, 2012 By Tom Castaneda

Figure Skating for Improved Health & Fitness

Tom Casteneda - Photo: Dan Austin Photography

I’m not ashamed to admit I absolutely love figure skating. Now, I’m not obsessed with the sport. I can’t rattle off the names of skaters who’ve landed a quadruple jump or anything like that. But, if there’s a competition on television while channel surfing, I stop and watch…like a hawk!

There’s just something so breathtakingly beautiful and terrifyingly thrilling about the sport, especially knowing how challenging it is to look so perfectly poised while gliding on an extremely thin blade of metal across a super-slick surface.

While attending college, I even enrolled in a figure skating class to fulfill my physical education credit, even though I had never stepped foot on the ice before. My instructor, a one-time Olympic-level coach, even told me I had a natural talent for skating, said I “could’ve been a contender.” I was obviously flattered!

Except for the very rare trip to an ice skating rink, that would be my last experience on skates in years…until now. Tired of running, biking and doing the elliptical to get into better shape; I’ve decided to tackle the ice again by taking a challenging 10-week training session at the Tampa Bay Skating Academy in Oldsmar.

It may not be a traditional way of working out, but you can burn some serious calories. For every hour of continuous skating, a 150-pound person burns about 600 calories, according to the American College of Sports Medicine—that’s about the same amount as running five miles in an hour. And, orthopedic surgeons say ice skating has less impact on joints than activities like running. But that’s not all, it even helps build muscle tone, increase endurance and improve balance.

During my first icecapade—a pre-class session with TBSA coach Alex Vlassov to help me get reacquainted with the art of skating—I quickly learned that I haven’t completely lost my abilities. I was actually able to get my footing pretty quickly; and I was still able to do a couple of the tricks I learned in my college class.

Photo: Dan Austin Photography

I did learn that I’ve got a long way to go to be even half as skilled as William and JoJo Hubbart, the 12 and 13-year-old sister-brother figure skating pairs team from Palm Harbor. During my time on the ice with the dynamic duo—who recently placed third at a national skating competition, even though they’ve only been skating as a team for about a year—I couldn’t help but marvel at their remarkable skills while feeling a little self-conscious about my own proficiency on the ice, despite their encouraging looks and considerate counsel.

Nervousness and insecurity aside, along with a fear of falling in front of a rink full of onlookers, I must admit it felt energizing to be back on the ice. And, I had an absolute blast. So, even though I know I’ll never be an Olympic gold medalist like Scott Hamilton or Brian Boitano, I’m excited about challenging myself to refine my skills, maybe even learn how to do a single Salchow while getting an invigorating, non-traditional winter workout.

To follow Tom’s progress on the ice, visit www.PanacheVue.com. For more information on adult and children’s classes at the Tampa Bay Skating Academy, visit www.TBSA.com.

Tom Castañeda

Tom Castañeda is a creative writer, blogger, and award-winning broadcast journalist who has worked at Architectural Digest, In Touch Weekly, and Latina – a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle magazine for today’s bi-cultural Latina woman. Throughout his career in publishing, Tom has planned and executed numerous celebrity, fashion, and beauty programs throughout the country, including fashion shows, and shopping events for brands like Bloomingdale’s, Chanel, Mikimoto, David Yurman, Givenchy, Armani Fragrances, Macy’s, Southpole Collection, and more. Additionally, Tom has drawn on his strong journalism background to create various print, online, and video reports on various subjects, including fashion and beauty.

Filed Under: 2012, Health, January/February 2012, North Pinellas / Pasco Tagged With: Clearwater, Exercise, Fitness, Health, Ice Skating, Oldsmar, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Skating Academy, Tom Castañeda

Why SMARTLIPO is so HOT

January 21, 2012 By Francis Toscano

Francis E. Toscano, MD, FACEP

Revolutionary and painless SmartLipo is outselling all other forms of liposuction by a margin of about ten to one! Why is that? Why is SmartLipo so hot? I will answer this question somewhat cryptically. SmartLipo is hot precisely because it’s hot. Let me explain.

It’s the heat of the SmartLipo laser that produces the marvelous skin tightening that everyone wants. You can’t get that with Zerona, Cool Lipo, Vaser, Aqualipo, or Tumescent Lipo. Heating the skin is what causes it to tighten. Heat stimulates fibroblast cells to produce new elastic collagen and that causes the skin to smooth and tighten.

Zerona and other “cool lasers” claim that they make fat leak out of fat cells so it can be excreted by the body. Really? I don’t buy it. If the fat cells are not killed and removed, they will simply swell right back up again. And, even if “cool lasers” really worked the way they claim, what about the loose skin leftover?

It’s wise to be skeptical of Aqualipo, too. It breaks up fat with jets of water but doesn’t apply any heat. If there’s no heat, there’s no tightening. You might as well get traditional lipo which doesn’t tighten skin either.

And Vaser? It sounds like the word “laser”, doesn’t it. That’s downright deceptive in my opinion. Don’t be fooled. Vaser is absolutely NOT a laser. It’s just ultrasound, pure and simple. Less effective, less accurate, less tightening.

Here’s the key to effective Laser Body Sculpting: (1) use heat to kill the fat cells, (2) suction them out, (3) use heat to tighten the skin. That’s what SmartLipo does so well.

And one more vitally important piece of advice – during your lipo consultation, make sure you see a physician! If your consultation is performed by an assistant or a receptionist or a “patient care coordinator” and not a physician, do yourself a favor and walk out.

After over 800 SmartLipo procedures, Red Bamboo Medi Spa has the reputation, the experience and the expertise you deserve. Avoid the gimmicks. SmartLipo works.

Filed Under: 2012, Health, January/February 2012, North Pinellas / Pasco Tagged With: Clearwater, Francis Toscano, Health, laser body sculpting, Red Bamboo, Red Bamboo Medi Spa, SmartLipo

That’s Not All

November 15, 2011 By Raye Toscano

Raye Toscano

After 800 SmartLipo procedures at Red Bamboo Medi Spa, you might guess that we focus mainly on beautiful transformations of the body. But we are known for much more. The transformations we achieve in the skin

We start with a detailed photo analysis of your skin using the revolutionary Visia® Complexion Analysis System. One of our expert aestheticians will examine your home skin care regiment and recommend products that are specifically designed to address your own complexion issues. She may guide you toward one of our custom tailored facials treatments designed to awaken tired skin, calm redness or smooth texture.

We also have advanced tools available to address more serious issues. Our Lamprobe can remove skin tags and cholesterol deposits. Our microdermabrasion machine is the best in the industry. Our staff is trained in dermaplaning and a new, exciting procedure called micro-needle collagen enhancement. This technique produces skin-tightening very much like a fraxel laser but without the expense and downtime.

Finally, we are blessed to have the skilled hands of Dr. Toscano. Dr. Toscano believes the goal is not to change your face, but to enhance your own natural beauty by delicately enhancing your eyes and lips. His training and years of experience allow him to melt away years with advanced Botox injection techniques and the subtle and artistic use of fillers. His unique Liquid Facelift techniques have enticed patients from all over the state to Red Bamboo. He can erase brown spots, red spots, broken capillaries and sun damage with Intense Pulsed Light from the Lumenis Quantum and he uses the Erbium Whisper Laser to resurface wrinkled skin and give you that peaches-and cream complexion you’ve always wanted.

Make an appointment at Red Bamboo Medi Spa and you, too, can experience beautiful transformation.

Filed Under: 2011, Health, North Pinellas / Pasco, November/December 2011 Tagged With: aesthetic medicine, Botox, Clearwater, Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Frank Toscano, Dr. Laszlo Teleszky, laser body sculpting, Pinellas County, Raye Toscano, Red Bamboo, Red Bamboo Medi Spa, SmartLipo, SouthTampa, Spa, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tampa Bay

Sleep

November 15, 2011 By Theresa Depasquale and Nabilah Shamseddine

Theresa DePasquale

SLEEP – We love it; we need it; but most people don’t get enough of it. How much we need, precisely, is a subject for debate.

Sleep is as vital to our survival as food and water and the repercussions of sleep deprivation, or even minor sleep disturbances, are much more than most are aware. Our brains need sleep to function properly and our bodies need it to repair and heal our tissues….but what most people don’t know is that sleep is one of the most important factors in the efficiency of their metabolisms.

Have you ever wondered why babies sleep so much? It’s because our bodies only release Human Growth Hormone (HGH) during deep sleep. HGH, is not only important for the growth of children, it is a hugely important hormone involved in Lipolysis (Fat Burning) and protein synthesis. With out its involvement, the body will turn to other, more efficient, sources of fuel, like carbs (Glucose) or even muscle tissue. And this, we all know, is not conducive to losing stored fat. A new study, in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that even sleep fragmentation (interrupted sleep) can decrease physical activity, increase exhaustion, sleepiness and carbohydrate metabolism and decrease fat utilization. All predisposing factors to obesity, these are not your friends on your journey to lose unwanted fat

Nabilah Shamseddine

The moral of our story: Get enough sleep! We have numerous clients who eat right and train hard but can’t get all the way to their goals. More often than not, we find they aren’t getting nearly enough sleep, and when they do start sleeping more they finally get the results. Make sure you are getting between 7-9 hours per night, if your goal is fat loss. This isn’t always easy, but you won’t regret it.

Filed Under: 2011, Health, November 2011, South Tampa Tagged With: Exercise, Fitness, Health, Nabilah Shamseddine, Oldsmar, Sleep, Tampa Bay, Theresa Depasquale, Vibe Fit Club

Why Does My Shoulder Hurt?

November 15, 2011 By Stephen Hanff

Dr. Stephen Hanff

Shoulder pain is a prevalent affliction that is common to both young, athletic individuals and our maturing population. Although the reasons for shoulder pain often differ, an appropriate evaluation by a physician can help to diagnose the problem, with most treatments being non-operative and quite effective.

The reasons for shoulder pain can range from inflammation of the underlying structures to tendon tears, arthritis, or even pinched nerves. However, the most common reason is impingement, or compression of the tendons in the shoulder with overhead reaching that can cause secondary tendonitis or bursitis. This condition usually occurs without major tendon tearing, and responds well to medical treatments that may include anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, or in some cases a local injection

The more severe causes include rotator cuff tears, labral tears and arthritis. These conditions are diagnosed with an appropriate exam and diagnostic imaging such as an XRAY or MRI. There is a role for non-operative treatments for these conditions, but advances in shoulder arthroscopy and joint replacement have significantly improved the outcomes for these problems which, when left untreated, may contribute to chronic pain, weakness or instability of the shoulder.

There is no precise treatment for every diagnosis, and treatments may vary from person to person depending upon age, level of activity and severity of the condition. It is important to discuss these options with your physician before starting any treatment. Visiting an orthopedic surgeon can give you the education and tools you need to maintain shoulder health and keep your active lifestyle.

Filed Under: 2011, Health, North Pinellas / Pasco, November/December 2011 Tagged With: Dr. Stephen Hanff, Florida Joint Care Institute, Health, Medicine, Orthopedic Services, Trinity

Rejuvenate Yourself for the Holidays

November 14, 2011 By Larry Lieberman

Dr. Larry Lieberman

This is the time of the year that most of us look forward to all year. But instead of joy many of us feel dread. Do you have that stressed, worn out look by the time the holidays arrive? In one visit to our office we can give you a fresh, relaxed “looks like you just got back from a vacation” look.

In our 27 years of dentistry we have offered many solutions to the question, “How can I rejuvenate my smile to help me look and feel younger? “ We are now able to offer you a long lasting, non-invasive, non surgical technique that will keep your appearance looking younger too – Botox and facial fillers. These treatments are a natural extension of the cosmetic treatments we already provide to help ease the aging process, and sustain one’s youth.

Do you have a frown that doesn’t go away, wrinkles on your forehead, a gummy smile, thin lips or creases around your mouth and nose? Botox is a protein famous for reducing the appearance of unwanted signs of aging by temporarily blocking muscle movement. Facial fillers (dermal fillers) temporarily correct and smooth facial folds and wrinkles as well as enhance the lip area.

I realize you do have many choices as to where to get these services. However, being very familiar with the anatomy of the face, years of training on what the mouth and, smile are supposed to look like and extensive training on injection techniques, I feel offering these services to you is my honor and pleasure. Now when you visit us for your routine cleaning appointment you can easily add these injections to your dental visit and leave our office looking younger and refreshed.

To add some additonal sparkle to your holidays why not consider one of the following quick dental fixes:

tooth colored bonding – to reshape your teeth, repair small cracks & fill in some gaps
crowns & veneers – to conceal spaces, crooked, chipped or discolored teeth
teeth whitening – to instantly brighten and rejuvenate your smile
Snap on Smile – to instantly snap on a beautiful new smile over your existing teeth Whichever option you choose, we are available and happy to help you find the right one. Wishing you and your family a holiday season, filled with good health, happy times together and lots of smiles!

Filed Under: 2011, Health, North Pinellas / Pasco, November/December 2011 Tagged With: Dentist, Dr. Larry Lieberman, Features, Palm Harbor, Tampa Bay

SmartLipo by Red Bamboo – It’s The Doctor Who Makes the Difference, Not the Machine

September 18, 2011 By Jason Longo

Red Bamboo - Interior - Hallway Three years ago, Red Bamboo Medi Spa was the first to introduce SmartLipo to Pinellas County and now, at over 700 procedures, Red Bamboo has become the most successful and respected laser body sculpting program in Central Florida. Founded in 2008 by Licensed Aesthetician Raye Toscano, her husband Dr. Frank Toscano, and their partner Dr. Laszlo Teleszky, Red Bamboo has set the standard for excellence in aesthetic medicine.

Patients who have a little bulge or stubborn fat pocket that just doesn’t go away with diet or exercise are looking for more than just a solution to this problem. “Some of our patients would just like to look just a little younger, trimmer or more refreshed,” Raye told us, “but many come to us because they lack self-confidence about some aspects of their face or their body. They want to feel comforted about an aspect of their life that is highly sensitive.”

In the serene Asian-inspired atmosphere of lemongrass scented candles and the lilting sounds of bamboo flutes, clients do feel comforted as Red Bamboo’s highly-trained Board Certified Physicians melt away years of aging or inches of fat in just a few hours. And, with the SmartLipo laser they are able to tighten the skin as well. The results are nothing short of amazing.

“Our patients feel a new sense of self-confidence,” Raye says. “They look and feel better in and out of their clothes.” Many patients have described SmartLipo as a life-changing experience. They begin to wear skin-hugging clothes and even pull outfits out of closets that they haven’t been able to wear for years. “Some practices claim that their laser has more power or more wavelengths, but there is no one around who has the depth of experience that we do with this procedure,” she says. “We are proud to say that we have had absolutely no burns and no infections.”

Red Bamboo Medi Spa - Logo The entire procedure is painless. You can listen to music and sip tea while the SmartLipo Laser melts away your fat and tightens your skin. There is no general anesthesia; not even an IV. The abdomen and the waist are the most common areas chosen but many other areas, even the neck, can be artistically sculpted using the SmartLipo Laser. Most people can go back to work the very next day.

SmartLipo is not the only beauty transformation that happens at Red Bamboo. The physicians have both had extensive training in aesthetic medicine and their expertise with facial fillers is widely known. “Many of our patients travel long distances just to see our physicians,” Raye says. “No one ever leaves here looking swollen or overdone. The physicians know how to use fillers in a subtle and artistic way that enhances a person’s natural beauty.” Tampa Bay Metro Magazine recognized Red Bamboo Medi Spa for providing the “Best Aesthetic Enhancements in Tampa Bay.”

Red Bamboo has also been named as a “Gold Provider” of Botox. They never use dysport, myoblock or any of the cheap knockoffs coming out of Canada. Always real Botox Cosmetic® by Allergan – always injected by a physician – that’s the standard at Red Bamboo.

Red Bamboo also has a selection of lasers and light-based technologies that can return your skin to a silky smooth, peaches–and-cream complexion. Now that summer is coming to an end, this is a perfect time to consider treating sun spots, UV damage, red spots, broken capillaries, fine wrinkles and skin tags. Consultations are always complimentary.

Red Bamboo Medi Spa is located in Northwood Plaza at the intersection of Enterprise and McMullen Booth Roads in Clearwater (between SteinMart and Publix). You can hear comments from real Red Bamboo patients and see amazing “Before and After” photos at RBMedispa.com.

This month, Red Bamboo is celebrating its third anniversary of SmartLipo excellence by making a special offer available only through Panache Vue’.

Call Red Bamboo (727-726-6100) before October 15 for a complimentary SmartLipo consultation. If you mention Panache Vue’, you will get one area of SmartLipo for only $1000. That’s $2500 off the regular price!

Red Bamboo Interior

Filed Under: 2011, Feature - North Pinellas/Pasco, Health, North Pinellas / Pasco, September/October 2011 Tagged With: aesthetic medicine, Botox, Clearwater, Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Frank Toscano, Dr. Laszlo Teleszky, Features, laser body sculpting, Pinellas County, Raye Toscano, Red Bamboo, Red Bamboo Medi Spa, SmartLipo, SouthTampa, Spa, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tampa Bay

Help! My Heel Hurts!

September 18, 2011 By Jason Levy

Jason M. Levy, DPM, FACFAS

Lantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. Plantar fasciitis, also known as “heel spur syndrome”, is an inflammatory condition of the plantar fascia, a thick, fibrous band of tissue which originates from the calcaneus (heel bone) and inserts into the forefoot. The plantar fascia supports the arch and is placed under tension when a person stands, walks or runs. Continuous tension or strain on the fascia may lead to repetitive microtrauma or small tears in the fascia. This microtrauma results in an inflammatory response and pain. A heel spur may also develop in association with fasciitis. The spur is typically not the cause of pain, but rather secondary to the tension of muscle and ligament and inflammatory response.

Symptoms usually occur over time and begin as dull pain which can become sharp and persistent. The pain is usually worse in the morning upon the first few steps out of bed, or when standing up after sitting for a period of time. Typically, the pain occurs in the heel, however, it may also be present in the arch area or close to the ball of the foot. Pain may also be associated with standing for long periods of time, impact activities, or running. Plantar fasciitis may be seen in certain foot types, (high or low arch), patients with faulty foot mechanics, poor shoe gear, running or standing surface, change in workout, overuse, and obesity.

Treatment for plantar fasciitis, consists of rest, activity modification, no barefoot walking, immobilization, icing, stretching, use of anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injection, arch supports/orthotics, physical therapy, night splints, shockwave therapy, or surgery. Treatment may take a significant period of time. However, most plantar fasciitis may be resolved with conservative treatment and patient compliance.

Initial treatment usually consists of imaging. At Foot and Ankle Specialists, we can perform state-of-the-art imaging, including in office digital x-ray and diagnostic ultrasound. We offer biomechanical and gait analysis, and provide custom molded functional orthotics, which can be utilized in dress shoes, as well as athletic shoe gear. In addition, the latest treatment options, including extracorporeal pulse activation, “shockwave” treatment and platelet injection therapy may be utilized. These modalities utilize non-invasive technology to “jumpstart” the body’s healing response. If a surgical option is necessary, our board certified physicians are trained in minimally invasive endoscopic plantar fasciotomy procedures as well.

Doctor Jason M. Levy is board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery in foot and reconstructive rearfoot/ankle surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons. He is the current chief of podiatric surgery at Morton Plant/Mease Hospitals and is a clinical faculty member of the USF-MPM Family Medicine Residency Program. He is currently practicing in our Clearwater and Bardmoor offices. Dr. Levy’s areas of expertise includes, reconstructive forefoot, rearfoot, and ankle surgery, foot and ankle trauma, lower extremity wound care, diabetic limb salvage, and sports medicine. He regularly treats a variety of athletes for foot and ankle ailments.

Filed Under: 2011, Health, North Pinellas / Pasco, September/October 2011 Tagged With: Clearwater, Dr. Jason Levy, Foot and Ankle, Health, Largo, Podiatric, Podiatry, Tampa Bay

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

September 18, 2011 By Nina Stanley

Dr. César Lara

It’s one word that shares millions of unique meanings to millions of unique people. Does your inspiration motivate you? Encourage you to take action? Does it emotionally and physically affect you? Everyone’s inspiration is different, but the commonality is that any form of inspiration breeds personal energy and effort.

An area of everyone’s life that depends on the core concept of inspiration is healthy weight management. Finding the inspiration to set weight loss goals and create a healthy lifestyle begins with an idea, followed by an effort and ends with achievement. The initial idea can be as simple as starting your day with a walk. A walk may seem like an easy physical exercise, but in reality it’s the exact jumpstart needed to take on your day. It not only benefits you physically, but also allows you to mentally clear your head and prepare for your day. You can easily boost the benefits of low-impact cardio by taking it outside. By hitting the sidewalk of your neighborhood or taking the scenic route through a local park, you truly breathe in all the inspiration nature has to offer. Healthy morning activities such as a walk lead to an appetite for a balanced breakfast. This often overlooked meal is essential to keeping our metabolism and energy running throughout the day.

Starting with a morning goal is just one small step that will ignite a chain reaction of healthy changes in your life. You’ll begin to discover that you have become your own inspiration and in turn, begin to inspire the same changes in your family, your friends and everyone you meet.

These new beginnings and achievements are what inspire our weight loss programs. We are here to motivate you to take the first step in creating a healthy lifestyle. Our program will encourage you to set your own goals and be inspired first-hand by your own journey. And there at your side, you’ll find our team assisting in your efforts and applauding your results.

You can think of this as inspiration, but we like to see it as THINSPIRATION!

César A. Lara, M.D. is a Board Certified family physician and a leading expert in the field of medicine, the treatment of obesity, and weight loss management. For more than 20 years, it has been Dr. Lara’s passion to become a positive force in America’s evergrowing obesity crisis…one patient at a time. Dr. Lara’s dream of helping men and women overcome diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and other chronic conditions related to obesity was realized with the emergence of the César A. Lara, MD; Center for Weight Management as a premier weight loss center in Tampa Bay. A graduate of the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Dr. Lara is known for his strong personal faith and his generous contributions to the Tampa Bay community. Dr. Lara regularly appears on television as a medical contributor to Brighthouse Network’s Bay News 9 en Español and WTSP-TV Studio 10. He frequently participates in corporate health fairs promoting an active lifestyle and healthy weight loss options. He is the founder of St. Michael’s Free Clinic and Weight Away Tampa Bay, charitable organizations that provide free medical treatment to those who cannot afford it.

Filed Under: 2011, Health, North Pinellas / Pasco, September/October 2011 Tagged With: Center for Weight Management, Dr. César A. Lara, Health, Tampa Bay, Weight loss, Weight Management