National

February 2011

Back to Events : Half Marathon Half Marathon Q: How Can I Prevent Shin Splints? Expert answers to your most pressing concerns—posted every Friday between now and race day: April 3, 2011!

http://www.more.com/events/half-marathon/half-marathon-q-how-can-i-prevent-shin-splints

By MORE.com Health Editors Photograph: Michael Krinke Q: I'm prone to shin splits. How can I prevent them?

A: “Many people who are just starting an exercise program or are returning to exercise after time off are prone to shin splints,” says Laura O’Reilly, RN, CPT, author of Get Fit to Go. Usually characterized by micro tears of the tibialis anterior and tibialis posterior shin muscles, shin splints can be caused by a variety of things, including tight calf muscles. “A runner’s stretch can help keep the calf muscles flexible,” says O’Reilly. “When the muscles on the back of the legs are flexible, there is less stress on the front of the legs.” Do this stretch at least once a day and after every run.

Runner’s Stretch

• Lean against a wall or stable surface with arms extended shoulder-width apart.
• Step one leg forward, bending at the knee.
• Keep the rear leg straight and the heel on the floor
• With a straight back, lean forward until you feel a stretch in the rear calf.
• Hold the stretch until you feel the muscle loosen—do not bounce.
• Switch legs and repeat.

If you still don’t feel the stretch you may want to elevate the toe of the back leg by placing a dumbbell under the front of the foot while keeping the heel on the ground, says O’Reilly. And if you do develop shin splints, don’t ignore the pain. Sports medicine therapy and RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) are recommended as initial treatments. If pain lasts more than a few days, call your doctor. Sometimes people mistake muscle or tendon damage, or stress fractures with shin splints, says O’Reilly, which can lead to more serious injuries.

Got a question? Send it to halfQs@meredith.com.

 When a friend asked Laura O'Reilly if she always was into fitness, O'Reilly replied, "It's what I do." When a friend asked Laura O'Reilly if she always was into fitness, O'Reilly replied, "It's what I do."

That's how O'Reilly, opens her new book, "Get Fit to Go: Motivation to Exercise and Get Healthy!"

She comes from an athletic family and trained with her aunt, a Broadway dancer, growing up in Brooklyn. She worked as a personal trainer in New York and then moved to Morris County, where she taught yoga classes in Morris Plains while writing weekly exercise tips and regimens as the Daily Record's fitness columnist from 2003 to 2007.

A year ago, O'Reilly, 49, became a licensed registered nurse and then, using her four years of columns as a foundation, wrote the 223-page book.

"Get Fit to Go" is on sale in time for the holidays, both "the most wonderful time of the year ... and the most tempting," she writes in a section of the book called "Singing the Winter Weight Gain Blues."

She said the book is for adults who need motivation and guidance on how to embark on a healthy and fit lifestyle.

"Mostly, it's for people who need a push, for people who don't really understand what this fitness craze is about, anyone who lacks motivation and a drive to exercise," she said in an interview this week.

Parts of the book are geared toward women, but men can benefit, too, she said. It also covers tips on eating nutritiously and includes a section on gym etiquette. It includes cardio and weights workouts, and various other ways to get fit, such as ashtanga yoga and shadow boxing. She urges readers to set realistic goals, and not to obsess over how much they weigh or whether they look like models in fashion magazines.

"Exercise to enjoy feeling healthy and good looks will follow," she writes.

The book includes personal anecdotes and O'Reilly shares her own struggles with body image and an eating disorder. She said she especially wants new mothers not to worry about any weight they gain.

"It's the most precious time of our lives," said O'Reilly, who has three children, ages 9 to 22. "You're supposed to gain weight during pregnancy. ... With a healthy lifestyle and time, the weight does come off. Just enjoy the baby."

When her personal training clients asked her to write down exercise plans and advice, she realized most of the material already was covered in her columns. That prompted her to start the book. She put the project on hold while she worked on a nursing degree at County College of Morris. After completing her nursing board exam a year ago, she returned to the book and found a publisher in independent book publishing company Unlimited Publishing LLC.

O'Reilly, who worked as a group fitness program manager and exercise instructor at Parisi Fitness Centers in Morris Plains, is planning to have book signing at the gym in January.

Rachel Polk, Parisi's group fitness director, said she's known O'Reilly for about 10 years, including when O'Reilly was teaching yoga classes at Parisi's.

"She's always been a motivation and an inspiration to me, as well as to other people," Polk said. "She loves fitness. She knows it, she lives it."

O'Reilly still writes freelance fitness articles, blogs about fitness and is a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society. She has offered to fill an open position on the Mount Arlington Board of Health and plans to get involved with the Mayor's Wellness Campaign.

"I just love helping people to be healthy," she said. "It's really not hard to be healthy, but a lot of people don't know where to begin."

She is working on her second book, which will focus on healthy aging tips for seniors. "Get Fit to Go" is available through her website www.fittogohealthandfitness.com.

Fitness tips for the holidays from "Get Fit to Go"
• Increase the duration of your cardio workouts

• Drink lots of water to stay hydrated and improve your metabolism

• Combine cardio with resistance work, i.e., do a set of jumping jacks, stop, and then do a set of lower or upper body weight exercises.

• Use good manners. When someone offers you an extra piece of pie, say, "No, thank you!"
 

Lake HopatcongWeekly News and Reviews
Freshwater Faces: Laura O'Reilly  E-mail | Print | PDF  Written by Lori Price | 31 August 2011
Excerpted...

From 2003 to 2007 Laura was a fitness columnist for the Morris County Daily Record. Recently she wrote a book entitled, Get Fit to Go- an exercise manual- and used her own fitness articles as her inspiration. Part of the book is anecdotes and motivational stories and part of the book has detailed exercise instruction.

“ I wanted to provide information in everyday, simple terms, for people of all levels to get an understanding of why we need to exercise and eat healthy foods; which diseases can actually be prevented through diet and exercise; and to encourage those who have never exercised before - or those who have weight loss goals- to get motivated to take small gradual steps for a lifetime of good health,” said Laura.

As a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, and a health advocate Laura decided to pursue a degree in nursing. In her mid forties she returned to college. Her goal was to reach out and connect with people who do not spend time in a gym exercising and eating a healthy diet.

“I felt that a career in nursing would allow me the opportunity to expand in my role as a health advocate and to work with people who have chronic illnesses or are advised by a physician to lose weight. I evaluate their health needs and guide them to a life of wellness. I also encourage people to seek preventive care and work in collaboration with their physicians,” said Laura. “My book explains it all without reading like a science lesson. I use my voice to provide the information in a way people can read and understand and gain knowledge.”

Laura created a website a few years ago as a tool to provide up- to- date fitness information and as one of the platforms for her book. And as if she wasn’t busy enough, Laura’s future goals include a book which explores the standards of care for the aging population and health and wellness attitudes and strategies for aging Baby Boomers.

“ I also hope to one day produce a documentary about the same subject,” said Laura.

The usual questions:
Favorite lake destination: Main Lake Market for an ice cream.
Describe your perfect lake day: My perfect summer lake time is early in the day when all is quiet, and I sit on my porch with my morning coffee and watch the sun come up over the lake.  
 While on the lake we anchor in one of the coves for a swim, or pull up to one of the many restaurants.


CCM CONNECTIONS
Spring 2011
http://www.ccm.edu/connections/connectionsfall2011/
Page 14

CCM Alum
http://www.ccm.edu/Media/Website%20Resources/pdf/alumni/AdvocateSpg11Web.pdf
Spring 2011  Page 4


ROXBURY REGISTER
http://newjerseyhills.com/
March 2011

“Get Fit To Go: Motivation to Exercise and Get Healthy! is a fast, people-friendly, highly motivational guide to better diet and exercise for anyone who is ready to take that bold first step toward improved health and fitness.

O’Reilly is a licensed registered nurse who started her health and fitness career as a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and fitness center manager in New York City and Northern New Jersey.

She has done group lectures and fitness presentations in senior centers, pre-schools and major corporations. Her practical experience includes: teaching yoga to preschoolers, conducting exercise classes in senior settings, conducting fitness sessions for every age group, and providing geriatric health care in a clinical setting.

After graduating high school she attended Brooklyn College, CUNY, majoring in theater. Her eclectic background merges creative arts and science as she uses her performing arts and writing backgrounds to develop her voice as a fitness and wellness advocate.

Fifteen years ago she entered into the field of fitness. To further her wellness career she pursued a degree in nursing from County College of Morris while working full time in fitness as an instructor and Group Fitness Director at a health club. Her weekly columns, “Keeping Fit with Laura O’Reilly” appeared on the Health Page of a local newspaper.

Her articles have appeared in news publications throughout the U.S.  During that period, she tapped into her performance and writing background and wrote and hosted a fitness lifestyle television show, “Get Fit To Go”.

In 2010 she completed “Get Fit To Go: Motivation to Exercise and Get Healthy!”

O’Reilly, also known as Laura Stanzilis, moved to Mount Arlington with her husband and children in 2002 and enjoys life in the lake community. She currently serves on the Board of Health and the Mayor’s Wellness Committee in the Borough of Mount Arlington.

She looks ahead to an exciting year in her new role as the Health and Wellness Director for Easter Seals New Jersey.

The author writes: "Who cares about people who are struggling with excess weight and chronic illness brought on by a sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits? I do! Get motivated to finally make lasting lifestyle changes!"

For more information, visit www.fittogohealthandfitness.com.


LH! Weekly
http://www.lhweekly.com
February 2011

Each year, glasses are raised to the descending ball; another year, another vow to abide by a resolution set in a year-long to-do list. The confetti is swept, the music is silenced, and resolutions drop faster than the 10-second countdown. Roughly two months after ringing in 2011, has the ball dropped to succeed in accomplishing the popular weight-loss resolution? According to nine-year Mount Arlington resident and registered nurse Laura O'Reilly, getting fit doesn't mean checking an item off of that list, but rather checking in for a change of lifestyle.

Beginning her career as a health and fitness specialist, O'Reilly, who recently published a book on fitness, worked as a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and managed fitness centers in northern New Jersey and the Big Apple. She also has participated in group lectures and fitness presentations for people of all ages.

Graduating as a theater student from Brooklyn College, her personality and love of fitness brought her into the career.

After 15 years of working in the fitness field, O'Reilly earned her nursing degree while working as a group fitness director at a health club. Following the advice of her mother, O'Reilly ventured into the written world by writing a column, "Keeping Fit with Laura O'Reilly," for a Morris County newspaper. In order to spread her words of wellness-wisdom, O'Reilly applied her theater experience when she spearheaded a television project, "Get Fit To Go," which was broadcasted on local television.

With its December debut, O'Reilly's published 223-page book "Get Fit To Go," which serves as a motivational guide to those willing to take the plunge into the often-dreaded journey of physical fitness.

After being diagnosed with a chronic illness at age 28, O'Reilly changed her diet and decided to take yoga classes. The challenge was not so much in bending her body, but bending her lifestyle. "My life became my profession," O'Reilly said. "From receiving help, I wanted to help other people."

"Get Fit To Go" compiles material from columns written by O'Reilly while freelancing. Targeted for adult readers, O'Reilly's book discusses fad diets and the do-all or end-all attitude people take toward health and fitness.

"I'm not saying it won't be hard. Once you get into it though, it gets much better." O'Reilly said. "My book doesn't give a solution. There is no set way to be healthy because every person is different. My philosophy is, you have to choose an exercise that fits your lifestyle."

O'Reilly serves on the Board of Health and the Mayor's Committee in Mount Arlington.

Balancing life with her three children and husband Mike Stanzilis, who was recently appointed borough council member, her sights are set on her latest endeavor: full-time health and wellness director for Easter Seals New Jersey.