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City firefighter toned up for charity photo calendar

Edmonton firefighter Michael Majeski The moderate amount of carbs that he says hed much rather run into a burning did allow himself was consumed earlier building than endure a nerve-wracking in the day usually by early afternoon, photo shoot for the departgiving him plenty of time to ments annual charity beefburn it off and ensure it cake calendar. wasnt sitting in his stomach When it comes to stepping when he went to bed. out of his comfort zone and To spread his caloric constepping into the spotlight, sumption throughout the the modest 31-year-old Leday and keep his energy levduc resident admits hes a els on an even keel, Majeski little bit shy. ate up to six meals daily To do a calendar, its out typically three light meals of my element. Ive never and three snacks. done anything like this be- Cary For his shifts at fire station fore, explains the fit fireNo. 20 at 105 Street and 23 man, who is featured in May Avenue, Majeski says he of the 2007 Edmonton fire- KEEPING FIT brought a lunch kit full of fighters calendar. stuff. Its fun to do and Im happy that I did Meanwhile, he upped his intensity in it. But it took a lot of nerve to do it. the gym. It also took six weeks of stringent dietMajeski hit World Health Club or the ing to lose about 10 pounds and reveal a weight room at the fire hall at least five rippling set of washboard abdominals times a week. something hes also never done before. His workouts involved about 30 minIve always had a bit of a belly, the utes of intense weightlifting and 30-60 lifelong fitness enthusiast laughs. I was minutes of cardio. never toned enough to show any definiMajeskis cardio sessions typically rotion. tated between a brisk walk on the treadMajeski, who weighs about 190 mill and a comfortable ride on the stapounds at 5-foot-11, says the key to los- tionary bike. ing those stubborn 10 pounds was stickNever anything too fast, just a steady ing to a high-protein, low-carb eating rhythm, he says, explaining a pace that plan. doesnt leave you too breathless is optiUnfortunately, that meant foregoing mal for burning fat. his favourite treat. With the photo shoot now behind him There always seems to be ice cream and the $15 fundraising calendar in in the fridge at the fire hall, he says. support of the University of Alberta HosIce cream, thats my biggest weakness. pitals comprehensive-tissue unit availWith his photo shoot slated for early able at fire halls and Calendar Club last month, Majeski began dieting in late kiosks around the city, Majeski is mainJuly. taining his successful eating and workout Determined to get buff for the calen- regimen. dar, Majeski stuck to a Spartan diet that I feel better eating better, he says. included chicken breasts, salmon, top You have more energy through the sirloin steaks, egg whites, cottage cheese, day. protein shakes, yogurt, GoLean cereal, Of course, he allows himself the odd slow-cook oatmeal, apples and plenty frozen treat. of veggies, such as carrots, tomatoes, When theres ice cream around, I do cucumbers, broccoli and asparagus. tend to have a bowl, he laughs. While drinking at least four litres of water each day, Majeski gave a wide Do you have an inspirational story for Keeping Fit? berth to any high-carb foods like bread E-mail Cary Castagna at ccastagna@edmsun.com and potatoes.

Camera ready

edmontonsun.canoe.ca

Edmonton Sun YOUR HEALTH Monday, October 16, 2006

Castagna

BOCCABELLA PHOTOGRAPHY

Adult booster protects infants

the rise, despite a new vaccine that can boost the waning immunity of teens and adults ensuring they dont bring the bug home to baby. Weve got something that can potentially make a dent in this disease, which is continually plaguing the kids, resurfacing every couple of years as an epidemic, infectious diseases expert Dr. Jeffrey Duchin said of the new vaccine, a booster for adolescents and adults. Dr. Irini Daskalaki, a clinician and researcher at St. Christophers Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, said it is clear how rates of infection and deaths in young children can be reduced. Everyone should receive a booster. This booster will help decrease the burden of disease and with less whooping cough around, the young infants would have less possibility to be exposed, said Daskalaki, a co-author of another of the pertussis studies presented at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that causes a persistent and debilitating cough that can linger for weeks in adults. It gets its street name from the whooping sound heard when a person tries to catch a breath in the midst of a characteristically severe coughing fit. Its an unpleasant disease in adults. Frequent and harsh coughing bouts can lead to ruptured blood vessels in the face or the eye, cracked ribs, herniated discs and punctured lungs. But its even harder on young babies, who often end up hospitalized and may see a doctor two or three times before the illness resolves. It is estimated that one in 200 children who catch pertussis in the first year of life will die from the infection. One study presented at the conference showed that in 160 cases of infant pertussis

Edmonton firefighter Michael Majeski would rather run into a burning building than pose for a photo shoot.

HELEN BRANSWELL The Canadian Press

TORONTO Adults and teenagers who have not received booster shots against pertussis or whooping cough are putting newborn babies at risk of contracting the nasty disease, which can be fatal in children under one year of age, experts say. Studies being presented at a major infectious diseases conference here show cases of whooping cough are on

in San Francisco, 77% were hospitalized and 14% developed pneumonia. One baby died. The disease used to be rampant, before a vaccine was invented in the 1940s. Rates dropped dramatically once it was in wide use. But the vaccines protection wears off as children reach adolescence. And with new people to infect, the disease follows a wax-and-wane cycle that could be avoided, Duchin said.