Welcome to living in the Lehigh Valley, where our focus is your health and wellness.

I'm Brittany Sweeney.

And I'm Grover Silcox.

On this episode, New Year, new you.

Right.

We'll take you to a gym where a breast cancer survivor found more than just a workout.

She found the drive to beat breast cancer.

Plus, racing towards better health.

Meet an amazing lady who isn't letting her age slow her down.

Then Parkinson's can be a debilitating disease.

But in the face of adversity, a Lehigh Valley man uses his diagnosis to become an advocate.

First up.

It's that time of year when many of us renew our dedication to a healthier routine and hit the gym.

That's right.

And for one Lehigh Valley woman, the gym has become more than a place of exercise.

It's become a place of healing.

All right, everybody, happy Friday eve.

We're going to have a. Great workout focusing on ourselves for this next 60 minutes.

Come on.

In.

In her early 40s.

Hello.

Hello.

Hello.

At the peak of her fitness journey.

Drive away from that water tank in one.

Jessica Harper hit a low point on her path to better health.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer on January 16th of 2024.

And I know that date because it was right before my 42nd birthday.

The day before.

The woman discovered a lump leading to a mammogram and biopsy confirming invasive ductal carcinoma.

It was definitely shocking because of my age.

Harper underwent a double mastectomy that March.

Early detection of the lump helped her have a fighting chance at beating the disease, something she credits to her workouts at Orange Theory Fitness.

Because I was doing this workout, I was able to lose a good amount of weight and I found the lump because of the changes to my body early.

In fact, Harper says the lower Nazareth Township location of the fitness chain is what kept her motivated through her treatment.

It just gave me that one hour of time where I felt like, okay, everything else right now is just crazy, but when I come here, I know what I'm doing.

I'm around people that I know are supporting me, and it just it just felt good to not have to be talking about it or being asked questions about it, or talking to a doctor about it.

So it was really my escape.

First exercise today is going to be that sumo squat.

Orange theory is a full body group fitness workout.

It blends cardio and strength and it's led by a coach.

It helps you burn fat and gain lean muscle fast.

Studio manager Tricia Goldberger says the group fitness support system and predictability of the workout is what keeps people coming back.

Because the workout is adaptable and we're using the performance tracker during the workout.

You can make sure you're moving your body how it needs to be, whatever season of life you're in.

Being around other people that were just motivating you to just keep going was so helpful.

And it's amazing what happens when you challenge yourself physically.

You grow strong not only in your body, but just in your ability to deal with life.

Doctors at Saint Luke's University Health Network also say Harper's active lifestyle contributed to a faster recovery.

It is very important when someone has a diagnosis of cancer.

I always tell them, go through day to day life step by step and do not deviate.

Doctor Mohamed Le Reef is Harper's surgical oncologist.

It is very important to do, exercise because it releases the stress.

Stress is one of the very bad component when it comes to cancer.

People who routinely exercise, they have a positive attitude and very important when you are diagnosed with cancer to be positive about it.

321 look for that push.

The physician says although the routine of an orange theory class was the antidote for Harper.

Small changes can make a big difference for everyone.

My recommendation would be start with a simple outdoor walking with a fresh air, and relax and go with your partner on a significant other.

Or your husband or wife, or even family member.

Just give it a go.

Get out of your house.

Don't sit in one place, but start with a simple.

Baby steps.

Through her breast cancer journey, the mom and wife continue to show up and even teach her fitness classes, all while showcasing her positive attitude.

You can't predict what life is going to throw at you, whether it's cancer, you know, whether you lose a job, family member sick.

But you can come in here and unplug.

Everybody has a story.

You know, it could be marriage concerns.

It could be kids.

Just everyday life.

Adulting is not easy.

So everybody just inspires me.

Like they come in here.

Everyone has the same goal.

We're all working towards the same thing.

It might be different, but it's the same.

Harper gets checked every three months for any signs of the disease, but for now, she's deemed cancer free.

That's great news, Brett.

And I was surprised to learn that there are more than 1300 Orangetheory Fitness locations throughout the country, and more than 1500 across the globe.

On the topic of health and fitness, we have quite the impressive guest joining us in the studio today.

That's right.

After a 25 year break from racing.

And at 63 years old, this four time Olympic athlete decided to take up running once more and broke a record in the process.

Take a look.

I. Wow.

So impressive.

Joining us now in the studio is Olympian motivational speaker, fitness coach, author and business leader from the Lehigh Valley.

I'd like to welcome Joanna.

Hi.

Go ahead.

Thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you.

Hi, Renee, I go over.

You are quick to lead.

Yes, yes.

Thank you.

Awesome.

So, Joanna, where did you find the motivation to after 25 years of not hitting the track?

Strap on those shoes again and and take to the field.

That's a good question, my daughter.

To leave the Y to see me run when she was born in 2002.

I had retired at the my fourth Olympic team and she was there.

Mommy, I want to see you one.

Been busy with life.

But then that year, which was 2025, she said, guess what, the USA nationals are going to be in Gainesville, Florida.

When my daughter was in school getting ready to graduate in Gainesville, Florida.

My father, the the late, great doctor Joe Clark, lived there, and he was buried in Gainesville, Florida.

I said, okay, that's where I'm going to go.

Gainesville, Florida.

I'm going to put up my spikes in what I'm asked to do then.

Wow.

Wonderful.

How did it feel crossing the finish line, knowing that you just set an American Masters record?

Well, that's funny, because I did not know that.

All I knew that I barely won and I ran the 200m, which is way shorter than what I used to run.

I'm a half mile.

So I would normally run around the track twice, but for this event I only ran 200m and I'm not really that fast.

I well, when I was an open athlete, but for the Masters, I am fast.

So I'm a stick at the 200m.

It felt great to win and have my daughter in the audience, to have the college kids that I cheer for and cheer for me.

My coach was there.

My friend flew down.

It was a wonderful time.

Yeah, it looked like you were.

I mean, I know you say you're not fast now, but I mean, you were feet in front of other people.

Yes, we're racing that day, so that is quite impressive.

And you talk about your daughter, who's also a storied athlete.

Yes.

And so how did she encourage you to do this?

And and you know, what were her thoughts afterwards once she learned that you you hit that world record?

Well, she was there.

And, she encouraged me by saying, mommy, I know it's cold up in new, Pennsylvania.

Get out there and run and workout.

So I did that.

So she was a coach in that way, but she got some teachers made.

They call me Mama Jo.

And so the teachers that go Mama Joe and everybody had on these orange and white T-shirts.

So she encouraged me by supporting me.

And the tables turned.

Normally I'm cheering for her.

This time she was cheering for me.

So I do want to ask you, you know, as we get older, it gets easier to not stay in that exercise routine.

And so how do you, you know, work yourself up motivation, Lee.

But also the strength as you get older to maintain that strength and that speed.

Well, it is a good question because fitness is a lifestyle.

For me, I've been able to maintain a relatively good fitness regimen.

And as I've gotten older, I don't do as much as I used to do.

I don't do other distance runs, but I run a jog.

I do hill workouts.

I do jump rope when it's cold.

Go with that.

I run up and down my stairs.

But the thing is that you have to remain active.

And as we get older, however, you have to work on mobility as well.

And a lot of times I walk backwards.

I do backwards lunges.

When you get older, you afraid of all.

And, I want to make sure that if I do fall, I have some strength in my muscles.

Well, I am actually out of breath just from that description.

But that's not.

That's not good.

No it isn't.

So what did what did you learn from this whole experience?

Well, what's the lesson?

The lesson for me is that, it has no limit and neither does fitness.

And no matter what you can want to do.

You may not be the Olympic champion.

That was the lack of you.

But you could be the champion of your life.

And so, at Jo Time Fitness, we have a company called Jo Time Fitness.

We talk about being fit at the age that we are now.

So we all have our A or AARP guys.

So, but people do have that have that call.

It is about being fit and, realizing that hydration, stretching, working out, mental toughness also no excuses.

Right?

Joanne, I have to ask, what's next for you?

Is there another race coming down the line?

Oh, I'm glad you asked that question, Brittany, because last year I ran for my daughter and they thought that I would not come back out again.

Oh, she's just going to do this and go away, set these records and go away.

My coach and I have been talking.

Yes.

And guess what?

I'm going to put my Spanx back on again, but this time is going to be for me.

So I'm going to do a lot more races for the Masters.

And is that about getting records but about meeting new people?

And it's funny, a lot of the people that are in the masters, they remember me as an elite athlete because they're my age and they come over, they fan, they're excited to see me.

But I get encouragement from them.

They're 70 to 80 to 90 years old in this day and active.

And that's a great thing.

Jo, at your passion, your motivation, it's incredible.

Your energy is just amazing.

Keep on doing what you're doing.

You're doing wonderful things.

And we get to claim you as our own here in the Lehigh Valley.

That's right.

And that motivation is contagious.

Yeah.

Thank you very much.

I appreciate.

It.

Wonderful.

Joanna, thank you for joining us.

Thank you so much for having me.

Great to meet you.

Up next, the Lehigh Valley man diagnosed with Parkinson's is sharing how he faced the disease by helping others.

Also facing it.

Eric Aquino served as a volunteer EMT and even taught others at Northampton Community College.

In 2016, his legs started shaking, his shoulder would become stiff for no discernible reason, and finally his thumb began to tremor.

And that was the beginning of his Parkinson's journey.

Since that time, he's created a foundation to help others with the disease, and even wrote a sci fi book in which people with Parkinson's saved the day.

I was an EMT instructor for 2 to 3 years after I graduated here.

Lehigh Valley EMT Eric Aquino used his Parkinson's diagnosis to fight off a zombie apocalypse.

My book is called Project Dopa PD for Parkinson's Disease.

And about 5 or 6 years ago, someone in my support group made the joke about that if there was a zombie apocalypse, we would survive because we don't have dopamine in our brains.

Then the zombies wouldn't eat our brains because it takes money.

The minute I heard it, I'm like that.

There's something there.

So I decided to write my my diagnosis story amidst the zombie apocalypse.

Like the heroes in his book.

Eric faced his fears head on.

I got diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2018, two weeks after my 40th birthday, a year and a half after my first motor symptoms began.

My symptoms were tremors in the leg.

Actually, I had a stiff shoulder that I was getting therapy for.

And in the process, I was like doing the arm raises where you slide your arm and my leg would tremor, eventually progressing in my hand where my thumb started trembling.

And now I was like, you know, your thumb is trembling.

I was like, that's not the only thing.

Parkinson's disease is a neurological condition caused by the depletion of dopamine in the brain.

One of the most important aspect of the disease is that not everybody gets a tremor.

It's usually between 80 or 85% of patients develop a tremor.

It's usually a tremor that's on one side of the body.

And it's something commonly called a wrist tremor.

So it's a tremor that usually in the beginning to not see it.

When you go to move your hand is on a steering wheel.

You're sitting eating, you're watching TV, you're doing another task, and you see one of your hands start to shake.

Other symptoms include stiffness, loss of balance, slowness of movement called bradycardia.

And I would say average age of a patient that comes to our office to be diagnosed with Parkinson's, usually over 60.

If you have it younger you'll have a prolonged course with much more severe symptoms.

There used to be, you know, less than a million people with Parkinson's in this country.

It may be double that, or at least a lot more than that.

And it's probably partly because of awareness, like because of efforts from the Fox Foundation and others.

I've created what's called the Golden Protocol.

As a volunteer emergency medical technician who taught others at Northampton Community College.

Eric knows the importance of taking control of a bad situation.

Yet with Parkinson's, even simple tasks can seem overwhelming.

Bad day for someone might be they can't get out of bed or they can't get dressed.

Or so I have a I have my one bad day.

The other day I was dropping something every 15 minutes.

But then I realized, okay, I ruined my day.

I'm because I dropped that one bottle.

Or to acknowledge I just went to hours when I was dropping something every 15 minutes.

It's all about perspective and then the small victories.

Eric overcomes his challenges by helping other Parkinson's patients overcome theirs.

We have about eight support groups working.

I'm working on starting a ninth one in Easton.

On this day, Eric and fellow Parkinson's patients demonstrate how a support group works.

I always tell people to not to not confess your loved ones, but you engage them when you're having bad days or some bad days.

I was resistant to the idea of needing a support group when I went to.

It was like a light going off in my head and was it was terrific.

So there is no manual for Parkinson's disease.

That's why you see your movement disorder specialist.

And from that beginning, we have books and material that will provide the patient and encourage them to participate.

And support groups.

Because many patients, when they go majority of the times they do get good information from the support group.

Seeing other patients, seeing other caregivers that have Parkinson's disease.

Different stages of Parkinson's disease helps most patients.

We get we don't give credit to Parkinson's because we don't want to take over our lives.

And when I. Say if you have Parkinson's when you're very young, like Michael J. Fox, that's young onset Parkinson's, there's also juvenile onset Parkinson's, which I think is relatively rare.

I don't see a lot of those cases, but but sometimes, the, you know, the, the, the Parkinson's can be slower and, and people can live with it for decades and actually live a, a great life.

The main medication that's called car B dope elevado for that goal is to increase the amount of dopamine.

You have in your brain.

There are also procedures such as focused ultrasound and deep brain stimulation, or DBS for qualified Parkinson's patients.

I was up to five.

Times a day taking meds and I want to reduce that.

And then around 2015.

We started talking about DBS deep brain stimulation as a way to.

Help deep brain stimulation.

Just to give you a little background.

I liken it to a heart pacemaker.

Parkinson's disease is treated by a similar treatment.

It is a pacemaker for the brain.

DBS is a surgical treatment that uses implanted electrodes to deliver controlled electrical impulses from a battery implanted in the chest to specific areas of the brain to reduce symptoms of Parkinson's.

If your goal is to optimize your quality of life and significantly improve it, you know there really is no better way to do it.

Michael Parkinson's a game of, 52 card pickup.

The doctor has a deck of cards.

This has Parkinson's on it.

He drops that card.

The way you pick up those cards versus me picking up the cards are going to be completely different.

We'll eventually pick up the same symptoms Eric saved lives as an EMT.

Now he helps others live with Parkinson's.

He hosts the trembling EMT podcast.

He's a Michael J. Fox Foundation ambassador.

He created the GRE Strong Foundation with answers, resources and help at GRE strong.org.

And he wrote the book on beating zombies with a little help from Parkinson's.

As Eric and the physicians we interviewed pointed out, Parkinson's disease is different for everyone who has it.

Each person must navigate the condition in their own way, and yet they all encourage Parkinson's patients to participate in support groups like the one we showed in this story.

For more information about the disease and resources, folks can go to Eric's Foundation's website at gray strong.org.

Grove.

Talk about turning a really scary situation into something motivational for right.

And his book is really terrific.

Incredible.

Wow.

Yeah.

Thanks for sharing that story.

Well, it is time now for us to head into the living in the Lehigh Valley kitchen.

Here's a healthy and tasty recipe to start the new year off right.

It's the start of the new year, and for many people, that means getting on a healthier journey.

For some, that may mean cutting out sugar.

That's exactly what our next guest did in order to live not only just a healthier lifestyle, but to fight off a potentially life threatening diagnosis.

Joining us now from her kitchen in Florida via zoom is Jane Jones, the author of the No Sugar Baker Cookbook for Healthy Living and No Regrets.

Jane, it's so great to have you.

Hey, happy 2026.

Yes, happy New Year to you as well.

And so let's start off talking about your health journey.

You had a couple bumps in the road that put you on this trajectory where you're not using sugar anymore.

Oh heavens.

I've it was it was more than just a couple of bumps in the road.

So you know wife, here's what happened.

I'm a lawyer by trade, believe it or not, five years ago, I can't believe I'm telling you guys this.

Five years ago, the herbs dragged me to the emergency room where I went kicking and screaming.

I thought I had the flu, friends, and instead I got diagnosis severely diabetic.

So instantly I cut out sugar out of my life completely.

Six months later, I was insulin free, diabetic mess and free, sugar free, 60 pounds lighter.

And the vision that I lost for three weeks was back to 2020.

I launched a blog to tell you exactly what it's like to live completely sugar free, with a zillion other recipes.

There's about 250 recipes out there that you can make all from your home kitchen.

And then two years ago, the unexpected happened that I had the flu again.

This time bit of a severe diabetic.

You got to watch those kidney stones and a kidney stone that turned into a shock.

So believe it or not, I'm a 49th year of life.

I had two cardiac arrests.

CPR saved my precious little life twice.

And now we are seriously, very, very, very much sugar free and enjoying life every single day.

So we know what it's like, baby.

Not to have it.

Sure.

So a lot of people may think, you know, sugar free means I can't have some of those tasty baked goods, but you're proving otherwise.

And so how did you get onto this path?

How did you decide?

You know what?

I'm going to cut out sugar, but I'm still going to be able to bake some tasty treats.

What's the trick?

Well, here's the deal.

So when I first got sick and decided to start experimenting again in the kitchen, the very first recipe I made, I did tell a soul what I was doing.

I brought it out of my parents who are snowbirds, and guess what?

They actually started to cry and I'm like, oh dear God, those chocolate chip cookies taste that bad.

There's no sugar.

And I'd like to know, you know what?

Our spirit and our smile.

Our daughter's finally back.

So I talk in terms of before I got sick and after I got sick.

So now after I got sick, I'm back baking everything I used to love to bake.

And this experiment.

Now I call the kitchen behind me my science lab because it's kind of a science experiment.

Experiment to see what works and what doesn't work.

I'd be very careful, especially with even today's recipe.

I'd be very careful about making sure that even to make sure that everything was sugar free, I was that peanut butter was your best friend.

So I was high in protein.

Right?

Well, those jar brands are packed full of sugar that are even added sugar.

So that I had actually experimented once they got super sick.

So now I use only peanut based peanut butter.

So everything I do is with a very cautious, watchful eye.

I read labels like a hawk at a bakery store.

Oh wow.

Okay, so we're swapping out some of not just the ingredients of for the sugar, you know, taking out sugar and adding in other things.

But we're reading the label.

We're making sure that are sugar free as well.

Yeah.

So there's no cooking with absolutely no milk in any of my recipes because milk is full of sugar, right?

Make sure my mom used to use only margarine for goodness sakes.

Margarine.

Full sugar.

So I use the real stuff.

I only use butter.

So.

And I have like an expert.

Now I'm making sure that there's no raisins, there's no dried fruit in it.

And you.

Because that's all sugar.

But Adam.

Right, I make a banana bread minus the bananas because bananas are full of sugar.

So every all these recipes you can find at No Sugar baker.com.

Super easy to do.

But I have to be very, very careful because we are truly sugar free.

But that doesn't mean it doesn't taste great.

Okay?

Sugar free doesn't mean taste free.

And so you're going to show that to us today.

You have a recipe that you're sharing with us.

Yes yes yes I know we just got over the holidays.

So this little gem right here is the no sugar baker I'm going to put to the camera the no sugar baker peanut butter cup cookie.

Let me tell you, I think it's a great holiday cookie.

But also, you know, this would be really great for Valentine's Day too.

So you can kind of proper had a little bit because what a great sweet treat you can make for your friends or your little sweethearts or your neighbors.

Maybe they want to be sugar free.

So what you're going to do is this it's kind of like a standard recipe.

You know what you would take?

I have to make a half a cup of butter like we talked about.

And then this is also a half a cup of all natural peanut butter.

Okay.

So this is about two seconds ago.

So it's peanut butter is you can buy it usually in the deli sections of your local grocery store.

It's just peanut base peanut butter the popularized.

If you can I will show you where it is popular.

And you know, if I had to pick those together along with one egg.

Eggs are good, a whole choice.

And then I got to talk to you about the sweeteners that I use.

I use all natural sweeteners.

So the sweetener that I choose to use is either elios or at the top.

Now, really tall is the skin of a great, believe it or not.

And you can find these at all.

The popular big box stores, they all have them.

So this is the granular.

So again it's just a it's literally as the skin of a grape.

So it's all natural.

Some of the other sweeteners are from plant, some plant based.

And then this is the brown version of it.

So it sort of mimics like brown sugar brown sweetener.

Right.

So you just go ahead and now your mixes get together I'm going to give you a little pro tip.

Add in a lot of vanilla.

Vanilla looks like give you a little boost of that flavor.

So go ahead and mix it together.

And then you know what I don't have a mixer with me today.

So you're going to mix it.

Add in your flour, add in your baking soda like you normally would do and a little bit of salt.

I tend to go less no salt because my health when you get that dough uniform, it together, you're going to put it into your mini muffin pan.

You're going to bake it at 350 for about 10 to 12 minutes, and then go and find another easy trick.

Go and find sugar free mini peanut butter cups.

When they're baked, all you do is punch it right in the middle and wallah, look at that jam.

And then when you break it in half, let's see if I can do it, because I normally would.

When you have, you would have the peanut butter cup right in the middle of it too.

Well what a surprise.

Special treat that you can make.

You can indulge and just do it with the stuff the normal is.

So you have just in a different way, in a different manner.

I mean, you have a peppermint chocolate chip cookie here.

You can see the recipes online or look at this.

This is a completely sugar free peppermint white chocolate bar.

Looks delicious.

So I love that we we're starting off the new year.

We can still have cookies even if we're on a healthier trajectory.

You can have to make that.

You're making your New Year's resolution to go completely sugar free.

Let me tell you, I haven't had sugar and not in five years.

I don't even know what it tastes like.

It's more.

But my my health has never been better.

That's great to hear, Jane.

If folks want to get more recipes or check out some of these cookies, how can they find the cookbook or some of the recipes?

All you gotta do is go to no sugar baker.com, or on all the socials out there you can find us on for oh, there's a no sugar baker.com.

You'll find over 250 free, searchable recipes right now so you can put in type in key lime pie.

You type in banana bread that we talked about time and you're still to find it.

If you can't find it hit me up all the socials and I'll I'll direct you right exactly what you want to find.

You had me at Key Lime Pie Jane Jones from her kitchen in Florida, joining us via zoom.

She's the author of the No Sugar Baker Cookbook for Healthy Living and No Regrets.

We thank you so much, and we're so glad that you're on a healthy path now I know.

Listen, I love life and I'm so thankful to be able to share this voice with others.

And so look it up, look us up, and make us make the cookies for your friends.

Well, that will do it for this episode of living in the Lehigh Valley for PBS 39.

I'm Grover Silcox.

And I'm Brittany Sweeney.

Hoping you stay happy and healthy.