Page 14 - Boca Club News - March '25

Page 14, Boca Club News

From The Professionals’ Desks
From The Professionals’ Desks

Healthy Answers – A Guide to Healthy Living:

“An Obsession You’ve Never Heard Of...

But May Have Seen Before!”

By Dale Brown, B.S., M.A., C.E.C. Now there’s a new eating disorder to add to the mix. believe if eaten will cause disease and consider these
Dale is a motivational speaker who It’s called orthorexia. And yes, it’s another obsession that foods to be poison. They may feel uncomfortable and
has spent many years as a Certified individuals place upon themselves with good intentions. leave the room to avoid looking at certain foods being
Life Coach and has written numerous Except, like any obsession, things lead to overkill and consumed by others.
articles and e-books relating to self- become a problem more than a solution. In this disorder Cutting out entire food groups: A common
improvement and ways to build a the main focus is on consuming foods that are classified occurrence for this population is to completely eliminate
high-performance team. She is the as “pure” or “clean.” Their main objective is to choose processed foods, sugar, meat, dairy products, carbs and/
author of the book, “Small Steps... foods that are healthier and improve their chance to live or gluten.
Big Changes: The Personal Stories longer. Orthorexia comes in various degrees, like many
of a Life Coach.” Her education and years of experience So, you ask yourself, “What’s wrong with that”? disorders. But extreme behavior may reach a point where
in physical fitness and training of elite athletes has enabled Nothing is wrong…until it turns into an all-consuming the quality of life is jeopardized. The fear is that food not
her to sharpen her knowledge in many health-related areas. preoccupation with what’s “healthy” and the avoidance of deemed as “clean” must be “unclean.” This conjures up
The following introduces a new approach to Ms. Brown’s foods they deem “unhealthy.” This obsession interferes a nasty image of what you put in your mouth, thereby
series of columns devoted to many topics that deal with with their ability to put the importance of food in limiting your food choices. Clean eating advises choosing
the mind/body connection and the importance of living a perspective to other parts of their life. When that happens only food as close to its natural form as possible, such as
healthy lifestyle. Dale, a Bocaire resident, can be reached they begin to stress over how to make the “right” choice organic, uncured and unprocessed. As much as this seems
at dalebrown@lovingmondays.com. of when and what to eat. In time this fixation may result sensible, it can get way out of hand.
We all want to be healthy and know how important it is in psychological problems with social consequences. The function of healthy eating is choosing foods that
to eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains Some examples of orthorexia disorder might be: are best for you and that support overall wellbeing. It may
and lean proteins. This is nothing new. You hear it from your Fixation over quality of food: They may fear falling seem so basic that you might not need instructions. Yet,
doctor; read about it in magazines and listen to it on TV. I ill if they consume foods that are unsanitary or unclean. based on the current trends it might be a good time to
have long been an advocate for making healthier lifestyle As a result they find ways to excuse themselves from rethink your approach to everyday eating habits. Dietary
choices, including the foods you eat. As much as it seems going out socially or sit at the table claiming to have just guidelines recommend that 85% of the food you eat should
simple, for some people it may be harder than you think. eaten. If given the option of eating something they deem nourish your body, leaving the rest for foods you find fun
Eating disorders are on the rise, reflected by the unhealthy they would rather not eat. and indulgent.
staggering statistic that approximately 29 million Americans Inflexible eating pattern: They become very “There is a time and a place for French fries and pizza
will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. You might inflexible about eating and may refuse to eat anything and a piece of cake.” Dining is meant to be enjoyable and
be familiar with the most common ones, such as anorexia, that might be on the menu or banquet table. In extreme important to many cultural and social events. Sharing a
bulimia or binge eating. When working as a gymnastic coach cases they may skip social events due to the fear of the meal with family and/or friends is one of the many joys
in a previous chapter of my life I saw first-hand what an food being served. They may use a common avoidance in life. Enjoy the company you’re with, along with the
eating disorder looked like and it wasn’t pretty! Food for technique and isolate themselves, which may lead to freedom to choose foods that are both satisfying and
these young athletes became an enemy. Their only course depression and loneliness. nourishing. If you or someone you know shows signs
of action for staying lithe and fit was to deprive themselves Constant worry about sickness or disease: Feelings of, or needs help with, an eating disorder, please consult
of proper nourishment to the extent that it became life of distress, shame or guilt if they stray from their rigid your health care professional for guidance or recommend
threatening. eating pattern. They deem some foods as “bad” and someone to do so.
Legal: Understanding FIRPTA

By Michael J Posner, Esq., amount due to be withheld. If the Buyer intends to reside The standard Far/Bar Real Estate Contract, used in
a partner in Lippes Mathias in the home in question and the sales price is between most closings in Florida, specifically warns that “Section
LLP, a national real estate and $300,000 and $1,000,000, the amount withheld is ten 1445 of the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) requires the
business-oriented law firm with percent. For all other transactions the withholding is fifteen Buyer of the real property to withhold up to 15% of the
sixteen locations nationwide. percent unless the Seller is a foreign entity in which case amount realized by the Seller on the transfer and remit
Michael specializes in real estate withholding is usually twenty-one percent. the withheld amount to the Internal Revenue Service.”
and association law. He can be Buyers need to realize that while the withholding is In addition, the Contract requires that the Buyer, “Upon
reached at (561) 594-1452 or at meant to come from the Seller’s proceeds, a Buyer is one remitting funds to the IRS pursuant to this STANDARD,
mjposner@lippes.com of the parties responsible to ensure that the proper amount Buyer shall provide Seller copies of IRS Forms 8288 and
A CPA once told me that I should never fear a thick is withheld. The Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax 8288-A, as filed.”
envelope from the IRS. It was the thin envelopes that Act imposes the withholding obligation on the Buyer, not This means that it is both the Buyer’s obligation to
should worry you the most. One couple received the the foreign Seller. The reasoning is that collecting the tax withhold the tax and to prepare the necessary tax forms to
dreaded slim envelope, as detailed in a recent Moneywise due from a foreigner in a foreign country is far harder than remit the tax. This is an expense that many Buyers are not
article headlined, “This Florida couple bought the ‘perfect making the Buyer withhold the money at closing. aware of and usually runs between $1,000 and $2,000 for
house’ from foreign nationals — months later, they In the case described above, the attorney for the Seller a lawyer or CPA to prepare. In addition, issues can arise
received a $30,000 fine from the IRS.” The fine arose did withhold the required ten percent, but he failed to remit if a Seller does not have enough equity from the sale to
from their innocent purchase of a house from foreigners same to the IRS within twenty days of closing as required pay the remittance. For example, a house sale of $500,000
and will likely cost them substantial time and money to by law. Instead, he waited nine months to remit, resulting to a Buyer planning on living in the house would require
resolve the issue. in a penalty for failing to withhold and remit equal to a $50,000 withholding remittance. If the Seller owes
The article details how a family bought their dream $30,000. While the lawyer was liable for the negligence $420,000 on a mortgage and $10,000 in taxes after real
home for $790,000 in 2020 from two Russians who had in not timely remitting the withholding amount, the Buyer estate commissions and closing costs, the Seller will be
built the home. Under the law, foreign sellers of real was liable as well, and if they could not get the attorney short at least $30,000 due the IRS. A Buyer simply cannot
property are required to have a portion of their sales to pay the penalty the IRS would have been legally able close if the Seller does not have an alternate source to
proceeds paid to the United State Internal Revenue Service to recover the penalty directly from the Buyer (which the cover this shortfall.
from their closing proceeds, regardless of whether they lawyer eventually did pay). Buyers need to ask Sellers if they are deemed a foreign
made a profit on the sale. The percentage varies depending Not only is a buyer liable for possible penalties, if a person before signing any contract. Buyers should also
on the amount of the sale and the type of property being Buyer fails to withhold from a foreign seller they can be require the Seller to cover the cost of withholding. Failure
sold. liable for the actual tax due from the sale. Therefore, a to properly vet a Seller can be a costly mistake for a Buyer.
If the Buyer intends to reside in the home in question buyer must be aware that if a Seller is foreign to make That is why Buyers should always have a good real estate
and the sales price is less than $300,000, then there is no arrangements in advance to ensure that the proper sum lawyer representing them on the purchase of property from
is withheld and the proper forms are prepared so as to foreigners to ensure that the withholding is done properly
properly remit the withholding sum to the IRS. to avoid the possibility of taxes and penalties on improper
handling of FIRTPA eligible transactions.

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