South magazine 71: Health & Wellness Issue | Page 14

PUBLISHER’S LETTER: MICHAEL BROOKS
ABOUT THE COVERS
YOGA ★ CROSSFIT ★ MMA ★ BOXING ★ NUTRITION
DON’T CONCENTRATE SO
MUCH ON THE DESTINATION
OR YOU WLL MISS THE
REWARDS OF THE JOURNEY.
A SATURDAY AFTERNOON WITH TW O SOUTHERN
CELEBRITIES, CLAUDIA AND BOBBY DEEN.
LIVIN’ HEALTHY
WHEN PUTTING TOGETHER THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS
ISSUE, I COULD THINK OF NO ONE BETTER TO CONSULT WITH
THAN CLAUDIA AND BOBBY DEEN.
Granted, there’s much about the Deen dynas ty that may not always
scream health. Bobby’s mom, Paula, staked her claim to fame on
old-fashion Southern-fried goodness served with a heap of but ter. But
that was then, and this is no w. Bobby made a choice several years ago
that he would expand the Deen family legacy beyond the calorie-soaked
boundaries of comfort food, leaning hard into a health y lifestyle. Of
course, he’s had plenty of motivation from his wife Claudia, a brilliant
fitness professional in her o wn right.
I had an opportunity to spend some time with this inspiring couple
on a cool November afternoon, where they were gracious enough to
share with me a batch of their but ternut squash. I w as a bit appre -
hensive about a vegetable called butternut squash, but I do lo ve trying
new things. That said, one taste and I w as a believer.
Perhaps the best part about the soup w as how long it took to pre -
pare, since that gave us plenty of time to hang out in the kitchen and
swap stories. While it simmered, Bobby shared his reasons behind
changing his lifestyle – how a life of alcoholism and poor life choices
had threatened to put him in an early gra ve. How he’d found his de -
liverance in discipline, in the dev otion to self-improvement and in
the encouraging words of his wife.
14
S OUT H M AGA ZI NE.C OM
Just as I’d been apprehensive about butter-
nut squash, Bobby had his doubts about going
on the record with his s tory. But the tantaliz-
ing possibility that he could help o ther people
dealing with the s ame issues spoke to him. If
you know Bobby, you know how selfless he is.
It’s why he’s sharing his stories with us, and
why he works to help o thers with everything
he does.
When you talk to Bobby, he is outgoing and
charming and carries himself with a modes ty
that might s urprise you. When you mee t a guy
who’s appeared on countless F ood Network
TV shows and was one of P eople Magazine’s
Hottest Bachelors of 2006 , you might expect
him to put on airs. Not so. As humble as he is,
he’s even more talented and charming as you’d
expect.
His wife shares his talent and charm, and
beyond that she’s truly gifted when it comes
to nurturing healthy habits. One of my first
questions to her w as, “Why haven’t you had
your own TV show?” Yes, it has been dis -
cussed, but nothing is solid. Just the same, she
has all the makings of a true fitness celebrity.
She talks the talk and w alks the walk. If you
need proof that she is someone who can make
healthy living exciting, just remember she got
a guy lik e me to try but ternut squash and
enjoy it. If she can do that, she mus t be on to
something.
Just an afternoon with this power couple
was an inspiration to mak e healthier choices
not only with fitness and nutrition, but also
to take time to enjoy life and the people around
you. It’s a lesson I’ ve taken to heart and one
we can all benefit from: Don’t concentrate so
much on the des tination or you wll miss the
rewards of the journey.
Many thanks for all of you sharing us on
this journey – k eep reading!
Many, many thanks and k eep reading,
71
A LIFE OF
BALANCE
JESSICA
TAYLOR
SOUTH'S
GREATEST
Kids
BOBBY
DEAN
COMES
CLEAN
2017
BEST
DOCS
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018
01
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C A T AYLOR
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S O V ER 25,000 INSTAGRAM
F OL LOW
O ERS ON HER PAGE THAT
AT
FEATUR
FEA
TURES HER
R MA
ANY WAY
WAYS TO
S TA
STA
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A Y I N SHAP
S HAPE
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A ND ACH
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B AL ANC
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0
SOUTHMAGAZINE.COM ★ $4.95
(Display until March 15)
Let your guard down, take
chances, and embrace the
moment.” Jessica Taylor doesn’t
let her hectic schedule stop her
from taking the time to feed her own
spirit. Written by Justin Jarrett.
Photograpy by Andrea Kinnear.
Cover Design by Michael B. See
Time to Change on page 43.
STYLE OF THE NEW SOUTH
2018
BEST
DOCS
COOLEST
RUNNING
PATHS IN
THE SOUTH
+
THE GET-YOUR-
REAR-END-IN-
SHAPE GUIDE
DR. CARL PEARL
PLASTIC SURGEON
+
SEVEN WAYS
TO CHANGE
YOUR LIFE
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018
01
6
0 2 6 48 2 7591
0
SOUTHMAGAZINE.COM ★ $4.95
(Display until March 15)
Dr. Carl Pearl is wearing a dinner jacket by
J. Parker and pants by Men’s Wearhouse in
Savannah, Georgia and is one of many talented
plastic surgeons at Savannah Plastic Surgery
and takes pride in his work. He is becoming
known as the man to see about a new face in teh
south. Photography by Blake Crosby, a South
Carolina based photographer specializing in
portraits. Cover design by Michael Brooks.
Check out Dr. Pearl featured in South’s
Greatest Doctors on page 100.
Colin Perry Arpin was voted into
this year’s South’s Greatest Kids. It
was a close one, as the kids just keep
getting cuter every year. Photographed
by Savannah based Angela Hopper
who specializes in child and pet
photography. Cover Design by
Michael B. See this years contest
winners on page 150
Photograph by CEDRIC SMITH