TRT-Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Teaneck, NJ.
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Reclaim Your Youth and Vitality with TRT in Teaneck, NJ
It can be hard to hear for some, but getting older is just part of life. For many men, hitting a certain age signifies the beginning of a new chapter - where bucket list items are crossed off, and goals are accomplished. For others, however, aging is a scary prospect, filled with nagging injuries, embarrassing weight gain, and inability to perform intimately. Few things feel worse than realizing that you simply can't perform as you used to, whether on the basketball court or in the bedroom.
The reality is, as men get older and approach middle age, their testosterone levels drop. When a male's testosterone levels get lower, it can cause a slew of unwanted symptoms like:
If you have noticed any of the above symptoms and feel like you're just dragging yourself through life, don't lose hope. Many men around the country are experiencing the same feelings as you. Thankfully, you don't have to settle for the side effects of low testosterone. There are proven, easy steps that you can take to reverse the negative signs of aging. If you're ready to reclaim your youth and feel like you did in your 20s and 30s, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may be the perfect solution.
TRT bridges the gap between your old life and the happier, more vibrant version of you. That's where Juventee comes in - to facilitate your transition to a more youthful, fulfilling life and a brighter future. After all, aren't YOU supposed to be in charge of your wellness and health? With the Juventee team by your side, you'll have the tools to do so - backed by a personalized plan crafted by experts with more than 20 years of experience.
The Juventee Difference
At Juventee, we propose a preventive and proactive medical approach to preserve optimal body function, with the best hormonal functioning to prolong vitality and youthfulness. Our specialty is Age Management, which is based on the belief that balance is the key to wellness. We employ the most innovative science, offering treatments like TRT in Teaneck, NJ, and other clinical products with proven efficacy.
Living a younger, healthier, and longer life is a frequent commitment for Juventee's team of specialists. We are experts at designing customized programs that work synergistically with your body and brain. We love incorporating smart nutrition, hormonal balance, exercise, stress management, cognitive health, and lifestyle changes into our treatment programs. We also implement sciences such as testosterone replacement therapy to achieve verifiable, legitimate results.
Our doctors take differing approaches to care but share the single goal of prolonging your youth and vitality. With that goal in mind, Juventee was born from the hands of its partners, who want you to feel full strength, energy, joy, confidence, and wellbeing.
testosterone levels. Unfortunately, when a man loses too much testosterone, it results in a condition called hypogonadism. Also called "Low T," testosterone loss due to hypogonadism must be replenished, or the male suffers from difficult, even debilitating symptoms.
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What is Testosterone?
What pops up in your head when you think about testosterone? Many people associate testosterone with being overly aggressive, macho, and violent. However, the truth is that testosterone is a critical hormone for men and affects the male lifespan from puberty through old age. As a sex hormone, male testosterone is produced through the testicles. It becomes most prevalent during puberty.
Testosterone production is controlled by the pituitary gland at the base of a man's brain. This gland sends signals to the testes, which in turn produce testosterone. A feedback loop helps regulate the amount of testosterone in the blood. When levels are too high, the brain orders the pituitary gland to restrict production.
Did You Know?
Cholesterol synthesizes the testosterone in your body. However, having high cholesterol doesn't mean you have high testosterone levels, too. T levels are too carefully controlled by your pituitary gland for cholesterol to raise testosterone levels.
During puberty, testosterone helps males develop:
- Body Hair
- Facial Hair
- Muscle Strength
- Increased Libido
- Deeper Voice
- Muscle Density
- Sperm
What is TRT in Teaneck, NJ?
Testosterone replacement is exactly what its name implies. It's a therapy for men that replaces diminished testosterone levels, which helps balance your hormones and ultimately improves your life. Also called androgen replacement therapy, TRT alleviates many of the side effects that men suffer from as a result of low testosterone.
Testosterone was originally synthesized in a lab in 1935. Its popularity has grown since, and today, it is among the most promising doctor-prescribed treatments for men in the United States.
So, how does testosterone replacement therapy work? TRT essentially gives you the testosterone needed to be healthy and have a properly functioning body. As the primary androgen for males, testosterone has a role in the natural processes your body needs for overall health. This extra hormonal intake positively affects patients and their general health, preventing diseases such as osteoporosis, cardiac diseases, and more.
Though there is an abundance of testosterone in your system throughout puberty and into your 20s, it gradually depletes with age. Sometimes, serious injuries and long-term conditions like diabetes affect testosterone levels. Unfortunately, when a man loses too much testosterone, it results in a condition called hypogonadism. Also called "Low T," testosterone loss due to hypogonadism must be replenished, or the male suffers from difficult, even debilitating symptoms.
Common Signs of Low Testosterone
Though some symptoms of low T are abundantly evident, not all men can immediately tell they may need TRT. If you're unsure, ask yourself these questions:
- Are you usually a productive powerhouse but now feel like you lack drive and motivation?
- Have you had a normal sex life in the past but now find that you're losing the ability to be intimate?
- Are you usually calm and collected, but your partner is complaining about your irritability?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, it could be time to contact Juventee about a personalized TRT plan. Still unsure if you're experiencing symptoms of low T? We have compiled a more extensive list of signs below:
Decreased Energy
Low energy used to be considered a normal part of aging. Today, most doctors know better. Modern advances in medicine show that lack of energy and low T often go hand-in-hand.
If it's a huge struggle to keep up with your kids on the soccer field, or you just don't have the energy to be active, you may have low testosterone. Getting tired is normal, but if it's an ongoing problem affecting you and your family, it's time to consult a doctor.
Whether you're having a tough time getting through your day or can't finish normal activities, TRT in Teaneck, NJ could be the solution.
Lowered Libido
You would think that lowered libido would be easy to pick up on, but when it happens gradually, it can be more difficult to diagnose. With that said, many men use TRT because they've lost that "spark" in the bedroom. It's not easy for a man to hear that they're not pleasing their partner because intimacy is an important part of a relationship.
The good news? Having a low libido doesn't have to be permanent. TRT treatments can help revert hormone levels to their normal range, making for a more enjoyable sex life.
Hair Loss
If you're like millions of other men, hair loss is an unfortunate reality you don't want to think about. Closely related to hormone imbalances and testosterone decline, hair loss is about as distressing as it gets. This common symptom is often related to DHT - a derivative of testosterone that can cause hair follicles to die.
Thankfully, a carefully monitored TRT regimen can help restore hair, especially when combined with methods like plasma-rich therapy. While it's true that you can't change your genes, you can change the effects of low testosterone in your body, so hair loss isn't your only reality.
Inability to Achieve and Maintain Erections
Weak erections - it's an uncomfortable subject for men to talk about. It's even worse to experience the symptom in the heat of the moment. Despite being very common, men shame themselves when they can't achieve an erection. And while there are many reasons for this malady, low testosterone is often a contributing factor.
Fortunately, you don't have to live with weak erections forever when you balance your hormones with a personalized TRT treatment plan from Juventee.
Depression
You're feeling down about everything and can't figure out why you feel crummy about life. You're successful at work but feel unaccomplished. If you're experiencing symptoms like these, you may be depressed - and it could be stemming from low testosterone.
Studies show that men with depression and high cortisol levels also commonly have low testosterone. Because higher cortisol levels can lead to low T, the chances of severe depression increase.
Depression is a very real disorder and should always be diagnosed and treated by your doctor. One treatment option, when used in conjunction with therapy, is TRT. When TRT is used to replenish hormone levels, men enjoy a lighter, more optimistic mood. That's great news for depressed men who have had little-to-no success with powerful anti-depression meds.
Lack of Sleep
Experts have found that men who lose a week's worth of sleep may experience a drop in testosterone by as much as 15%. These findings are alarming and may suggest that sleep loss lowers T levels and affects wellbeing.
If you find yourself exhausted at the end of the day but toss and turn all night long, it could be time to have your testosterone levels checked. TRT may restore your testosterone levels which can help you sleep better with proper exercise and diet.
Loss of Strength and Muscle Mass
Are you struggling to lift weights in the gym or find that you can't pick up items that used to be easy to lift? Studies show that inactive men can lose .5% of muscle strength each year after the age of 25. When you hit 60, muscle loss doubles every ten years. While muscle loss is common with age, it can also be linked to low T.
Testosterone is a crucial piece needed for building and retaining muscle mass. That's why many doctors are prescribing TRT for males experiencing sharp declines in strength and muscle mass. Whether your workouts are losing steam or you're having problems lifting items that aren't very heavy, don't blame it all on age. You could be suffering from hypogonadism.
Weight Gain
Nobody likes to gain weight, even though our society is more accepting of overweight people than ever before. Despite diets and carb cutting, many men aren't able to get rid of excess belly and body fat, increasing the chances of heart disease and cancer.
Sometimes, male weight gain isn't caused by sweets and carbs but by hormone imbalances that slow the metabolism. This phase of life is called andropause and occurs when testosterone levels are low. Combining a low metabolism with other symptoms like high cortisol levels can be a recipe for a double-chinned disaster. Fortunately, TRT treatments and physician-led weight loss programs can correct hormone imbalances and lead to healthy weight loss for men.
Gynecomastia
The enlargement of male breast tissue, also called "man boobs," is a fairly common condition that many men have. Though it is closely associated with diet and other life choices, increased fatty tissue is often caused by hormonal imbalances.
If you're approaching middle age and you're embarrassed by having large breasts, don't lose hope. TRT is a safe, effective way to eliminate the underlying cause of gynecomastia without invasive surgery. With a custom HRT and fitness program, you can bring your testosterone and estrogen levels back to normal before you know it.
Be the Best Version of Yourself with TRT in Teaneck, NJ
The human body is amazing in so many ways. Still, we have to optimize it every now and then using science, medicine, and hard work. After 40, you may notice that your body is changing, but symptoms like low libido and lack of motivation don't have to be permanent. Juventee has the team, tools, and experience to help recapture your youth and feel better than ever before.
If you're getting older and you're worried about low testosterone, give our office a call today. It would be our pleasure to care for you using the highest quality products, backed by research and applied by professionals with your best interests in mind.
Whether you need a boost to help you get through your busy work week or a natural solution to an embarrassing problem like ED, we're here for you. Our doctors will explain your treatment options in-depth and take as much time as you need to feel comfortable and confident about TRT. Remember, when you treat your body with love and care, it will reciprocate generously. Let our team teach you the techniques to prolong your sense of youth and provide you with the treatment to solidify your wellbeing as you age with grace. Contact Juventee today. By tomorrow, you'll be one step closer to meeting the best version of yourself.
Latest News in Teaneck, NJ
Girls Basketball: North 1, Group 3 - Semifinals - No. 19 Sparta, Teaneck advance
njhttps://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2023/02/girls-basketball-njsiaa-north-1-group-3-semifinals-no-19-sparta-advances.html
Ally Sweeney led with 27 points, including three 3-pointers and by going eight of nine from the line, as sixth-seeded Sparta, No. 19 in NJ.com’s Top 20, downed second-seeded Old Tappan, 62-45, in the semifinal round of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 tournament in Old Tappan.Sparta (22-7) will face fourth-seeded Teaneck in the final on Tuesday.Bailey Chapman added 16 points while going seven for seven from the line for Sparta, which led 23-18 at the half and finished with a 23-13 run in the final frame to seal...
Ally Sweeney led with 27 points, including three 3-pointers and by going eight of nine from the line, as sixth-seeded Sparta, No. 19 in NJ.com’s Top 20, downed second-seeded Old Tappan, 62-45, in the semifinal round of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 tournament in Old Tappan.
Sparta (22-7) will face fourth-seeded Teaneck in the final on Tuesday.
Bailey Chapman added 16 points while going seven for seven from the line for Sparta, which led 23-18 at the half and finished with a 23-13 run in the final frame to seal the victory for an eighth consecutive win.
Sparta went as far as the semifinals of the Tournament of Champions last year.
Maya Giordano led everyone with 33 points while going seven of eight from the line to lead Old Tappan (22-5).
Teaneck 53, No. 13 Montville 51
Lexi Carnegie posted a game-high 22 points and six rebounds as fourth-seeded Teaneck upended top-seeded Montville, No. 13 in NJ.com’s Top 20, in the semifinal round of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 tournament in Montville.
Teaneck (19-7) will host sixth-seeded Sparta in the final round on Tuesday. The Highwaymen made it as far as the quarterfinal round in the tournament last year.
Erin Frazier added a double double of 10 points and 10 boards for Teaneck, which led 25-21 at halftime and held off a surging Montville (24-5) in the fourth quarter to win.
Demi Simpson was good in the paint with 10 rebounds in the victory.
Grace Kowalski paced Montville with 15 points.
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Boys Basketball: State tournament results, photos & coverage for Friday, Feb. 24
Brandon Gould | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comhttps://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2023/02/boys-basketball-live-state-tournament-updates-results-coverage-for-friday-feb-24.html
FRIDAY, FEB. 24Nominate your game changer now in one of 18 categories decided by fans. • Learn more and make a nomination!FEATURED GAMESPrep A FinalSt. Benedict’s 76, Blair 55North 2, Group 1 semifinalsNewark Tech 56, American History 50South, Group 1 semifinalsWoo...
FRIDAY, FEB. 24
Nominate your game changer now in one of 18 categories decided by fans. • Learn more and make a nomination!
FEATURED GAMES
Prep A Final
St. Benedict’s 76, Blair 55
North 2, Group 1 semifinals
Newark Tech 56, American History 50
South, Group 1 semifinals
Woodbury 48, Pitman 44
Central, Group 3 semifinals
Ewing 77, Colts Neck 41
North, Non-Public A quarterfinals
Bergen Catholic 63, Seton Hall Prep 52
South, Non-Public A quarterfinals
Rutgers Prep 78, St. Augustine 74 (OT)
State tournament brackets
TOP 20 SCOREBOARD
STATEWIDE SCOREBOARD
Friday, Feb. 24
2-Shore 48, 3-Point Pleasant Beach 37 - Box Score
1-Eagle Academy 51, 4-Keyport 47 - Box Score
2-Nottingham 73, 6-Robbinsville 57 - Box Score
1-Ewing 77, 5-Colts Neck 41 - Box Score
3-Paterson Charter 65, 2-Park Ridge 45 - Box Score
1-Cresskill 72, 4-West Caldwell Tech 59 - Box Score
1-Ramapo 55, 4-Pascack Valley 53 - Box Score
2-Teaneck 63, 3-River Dell 42 - Box Score
1-Newark Tech 56, 4-American History 50 - Box Score
2-Hoboken 63, 3-Weehawken 48 - Box Score
4-Colonia 64, 1-South Plainfield 45 - Box Score
6-Snyder 76, 7-Payne Tech 62 - Box Score
2-Woodbury 48, 6-Pitman 44 - Box Score
4-Burlington City 49, 1-Wildwood 46 - Box Score
4-Moorestown 32, 1-Mainland 29 - Box Score
10-Ocean City 56, 11-Absegami 39 - Box Score
3-St. Peter's Prep 74, 6-DePaul 48 - Box Score
1-Don Bosco Prep 43, 9-Hudson Catholic 41 - Box Score
5-Bergen Catholic 63, 4-Seton Hall Prep 52 - Box Score
7-St. Joseph (Mont.) 49, 2-Delbarton 40 - Box Score
1-St. Thomas Aquinas 99, 8-Timothy Christian 40 - Box Score
4-Roselle Catholic 98, 5-Morris Catholic 63 - Box Score
6-Montclair Immaculate 81, 3-St. Mary (Ruth.) 45 - Box Score
2-Gill St. Bernard's 64, 7-Saddle River Day 59 - Box Score
5-Union Catholic 64, 4-Paul VI 58 - Box Score
6-St. Joseph (Met.) 71, 3-Immaculata 68 - Box Score
7-Rutgers Prep 78, 2-St. Augustine 74 - Box Score
1-Camden Catholic 62, 8-Red Bank Catholic 33 - Box Score
4-St. Joseph (Hamm.) 77, 12-Doane Academy 72 - Box Score
3-Ranney 86, 6-Gloucester Catholic 54 - Box Score
2-Bishop Eustace 48, 10-Trenton Catholic 43 - Box Score
1-St. Rose 65, 8-Holy Cross Prep 47 - Box Score
1-St. Benedict's 76, 2-Blair 55 - Box Score
The N.J. High School Sports newsletter now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now and be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. To add your name, click here.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.
Girls basketball: These North Jersey teams will play for sectional championships
Greg Tartagliahttps://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/high-school/girls-basketball/2023/02/25/nj-girls-basketball-north-jersey-teams-playing-for-sectional-titles/69937396007/
The public sectional semifinals in the NJSIAA girls basketball tournament wrap up this weekend. The North Non-Public A/B semifinals are scheduled for Monday.Here are the North Jersey teams headed to the finals in their respective sections.SCOREBOARDLive NJSIAA gir...
The public sectional semifinals in the NJSIAA girls basketball tournament wrap up this weekend. The North Non-Public A/B semifinals are scheduled for Monday.
Here are the North Jersey teams headed to the finals in their respective sections.
SCOREBOARDLive NJSIAA girls basketball brackets from every section in North Jersey
North 1, Group 4: Eastside
WHEN/WHERE: Monday, 4:30 p.m., at No. 1 Union City
WHAT TO KNOW: After winning Saturday’s sectional semifinal at No. 2 Morristown, 45-40, the No. 3 Ghosts (24-5) will face the team that knocked them out in the 2022 North 1, Group 4 semis.
The good news for Eastside is, during its current run of 22 wins in 23 games, one of those victories came against Union City, 49-39, in the Jan. 7 HUrban Legends Showcase in Paterson.
“I’m pretty sure the gameplan will be different on both ends, because we’re not the same team that we were when we played them earlier in the year,” Eastside coach Brandon Pilgrim said. “And I don’t think that they’re the same team – they’ve been playing great basketball.”
POSTSEASON HISTORY: The Ghosts are in their first sectional final since 2016, which came a year before the program was rocked by a recruiting scandal. Prior to that, they won six titles from 2002-14. Union City is the defending champ.
KEY PLAYERS: Guard play has carried Eastside all season long, with Symiaha Brown-Cobb, Nevaeh Banks and Nyasia Pauldo passing and shooting. But don’t forget about forward Ron’Shanae Austin, who had a big game (16 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists) against Morristown.
QUOTABLE: “For my five seniors that are playing, they wanted to leave a legacy, because they were the class that came in after everything went on at Eastside [in 2017]. So, they wanted to be the class that turned everything around, and they have been.” —Pilgrim
North 1, Group 3: Teaneck
WHEN/WHERE: Tuesday, 7 p.m., home against No. 6 Sparta
WHAT TO KNOW: The No. 4 Highwaywomen (19-7) knocked out top seed Montville in Friday's semifinals, 53-51, holding on after the Morris County finalists whittled down an eight-point margin in the final minute.
Teaneck faced Sparta (22-7) on the road two weeks ago, and despite trailing by just two with three minutes to play, dropped a 61-48 decision.
"As a young team, you learn, and we made some mistakes down the stretch," coach Brad Allen said. "We learned that they're a very disciplined team, very efficient, and they shoot really well. And their Division I point guard, Ally Sweeney, makes them go."
Sweeney reached 1,500 career points in a 62-45 semifinal win at Old Tappan. The Spartans have been without Brynn McCurry all season due to an ACL injury, though Teaneck agreed to allow the Villanova commit to score one final basket ? uncontested ? in Sparta's Feb. 13 Senior Night game. (The Highwaywomen were then given a free basket to start the game even at 2-2.)
POSTSEASON HISTORY: Sparta is the defending champ, while Teaneck is in its first North 1, Group 3 title game since 2014, which was the last of eight consecutive sectional-final appearances.
KEY PLAYERS: Teaneck junior forwards Erin Frazier and Demi Simpson tallied 10 rebounds apiece against Montville, while freshman guard Lexi Carnegie (22 points, 6 rebounds) had the sixth 20-point game of her young career.
QUOTABLE: "The girls are pretty excited. They are really, really hyped to bring back the legacy of the program, and the boys are also in the sectional final as well. So we have the support of their program and the community." —Allen
North 1, Group 1: Park Ridge
WHEN/WHERE: Tuesday, 6 p.m., home against No. 5 Boonton
WHAT TO KNOW: The No. 3 Owls (17-13) seemed headed for another showdown with NJIC Patriot rival and top seed Cresskill, before the Bombers (22-5) pulled a semifinal upset, 42-33 on Friday.
"I wasn’t surprised that they came away with a win," Park Ridge coach Ryan Dennis said of Boonton. "I know they have an outstanding starting five, and they play a very good base [half-court] game."
In their semifinal win, the Owls were able to withstand the pressure defense of No. 2 Passaic Charter (20-6) and kept the Panthers from putting together big runs.
POSTSEASON HISTORY: Park Ridge fell to Cresskill in the 2019 North 1, Group 1 final and remains in search of its first sectional title. Boonton, which lost to the Owls in the 2020 first round, last won a sectional crown in North 2, Group 2 in 1990.
KEY PLAYERS: While sophomore Allie Shenloogian (968 career points) makes the Park Ridge offense go, junior guards Mary Grace Craffey and Abigail McManus have been unsung heroes. Dennis called them "great leaders," adding, "their ability to grind on the defensive end helps make us successful."
QUOTABLE: “We’re excited it's at home," Dennis said of the sectional final. "It's an exciting thing for Park Ridge… the girls have never won it, and the boys last won it in 1965." —Dennis
Also keep an eye on…
? Secaucus gave the NJIC two sectional finalists by besting Jonathan Dayton (Springfield), 64-43, in Saturday's North 2, Group 2 semifinals. One round after surpassing 1,000 career points, junior guard Alyssa Craigwell netted 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 steals to propel the top-seeded Patriots (27-3) to the final, where they will host No. 2 Madison (22-4) on Monday.
? Monday's North Non-Public A semifinals will bring about the fourth meeting of the season between division rivals Holy Angels (17-9) and Immaculate Heart (22-4). The No. 5 Angels upended No. 4 Newark Academy in Friday's quarterfinals, 61-42, while No. 1 IHA dispatched No. 9 Paramus Catholic, 60-35. The Blue Eagles' three wins against Holy Angels this winter have been by an average score of 57-42.
? Two North Jersey teams remain alive in North Non-Public B. Four-time defending champ and top seed Saddle River Day (20-5) hosts No. 4 Immaculate Conception of Montclair in one semifinal on Monday, while No. 3 Immaculate Conception of Lodi (21-4) visits No. 2 Morris Catholic, last year's runner-up.
NJ Baker Who Skipped College, Pulled Six Figures As Teen Now Makes Cakes For Celebs
Teaneck Daily Voicehttps://dailyvoice.com/new-jersey/teaneck/business/nj-baker-who-skipped-college-pulled-six-figures-as-teen-now-makes-cakes-for-celebs/857364/
"A complete disaster" were the words custom cake shop owner Justin Ellen used to describe the first cake he ever made just seven years ago.Self-taught and inspired by baking shows on YouTube, the Passaic native didn't start with a simple, single-tiered cake. No, Ellen went big: Three tiers.Ellen was less than pleased with his results, time and time again, but he learned far more than he lost and, eventually, the success he saw was beyond his wildest dreams.At 16, Ellen launched his business, "Everything Ju...
"A complete disaster" were the words custom cake shop owner Justin Ellen used to describe the first cake he ever made just seven years ago.
Self-taught and inspired by baking shows on YouTube, the Passaic native didn't start with a simple, single-tiered cake. No, Ellen went big: Three tiers.
Ellen was less than pleased with his results, time and time again, but he learned far more than he lost and, eventually, the success he saw was beyond his wildest dreams.
At 16, Ellen launched his business, "Everything Just Baked." He missed out on prom and high school graduation to film "Is It Cake?" on Netflix.
Ellen was raking in a six-figure salary as a teen and now, at 20, Ellen is making headlines once again: This time for making Mary J. Blige's 52nd birthday cake.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Everything Just Baked ! (@everythingjustbaked)
Ellen, however, has no time to sit around thinking about his past. He's focused on the future.
"I still feel early in my career," said Ellen, who has 121K followers on Instagram, and says baking tools, mixes and custom cakes on his website. "I'm still deciding what I want to be seen as."
He's certainly got time to figure that out.
Ellen started baking when he was 7 years old old alongside his mom and grandmother. They made lots of pies and cookies, but not cakes.
"We weren't a cake family," Ellen said with a laugh.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Everything Just Baked ! (@everythingjustbaked)
A freshman in high school and inspired by Yolanda Gampp's wildly popular baking tutorials "How To Cake It," Ellen learned cakes himself.
"It was definitely hard," he said. "I couldn’t make a one-tier but I went right to making three tiers. I was like, 'What's the worst that could happen?'
"It was a complete disaster."
Every day after school, Ellen set up shop in his family's kitchen and practiced, and practiced, and practiced.
By junior year, his cakes were in good shape, looking and tasting better every time. That's when he launched "Everything Just Baked," selling six-inch cakes for about $60, according to CNBC.
Ellen put his cakes on social media, where producers for Netflix's "Is It Cake?" found him. The premise was to bake cakes that look like everyday objects. Ellen made a raw steak cake and a taco box cake.
The show boosted both his self-esteem and his career, he said.
"I knew a lot of people were going to watch but I didn't realize how many," he said. "I was in Mexico and people were recognizing me. I was all the way from Jersey but I was being seen in Florida."
While his peers enrolled in college, Ellen attended "YouTube University," he joked. While there were times Ellen felt like he was missing out on the college experience, he didn't want to undo any progress he'd made with his business. And so, he continued baking.
"I kept practicing and the more I posted, the more orders I'd get," he said. "I spent a year working on the business, posting more cakes, putting myself out there, going to wedding expos, and trying to get more clients."
The same year he graduated high school, and was making enough money to support not just himself, but a whole family. Ellen was starting to get more press, and more orders. Finally, he felt his hard work was paying off.
Sometime last year, a caterer that Ellen knew through the industry mentioned that she was close with Mary J. Blige, and that he should bake her birthday cake in January 2023.
Ellen designed a multi-tiered black, white and gold cake with sparklers for the party, enjoyed by Blige and other music artists. Ellen made a smaller, simpler cake for a smaller birthday event Blige held for close friends and family.
"Saturdays and Sundays were cleaning days when I was younger, and my family would be playing her music," Ellen said. "Now it's like, I make cakes for her."
Ellen hopes his story will serve as inspiration to other youth and people in the Black community.
"You don't have to go the traditional route," he said. "Selling cakes might not seem like a possible career, but the opportunities are endless.
"Five years ago, 'Is It Cake?' didn't even exist. So today, what you're dreaming of might not even be here yet. You might create something."
Click here to shop Ellen's website.
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After Ohio derailment, new push for bill requiring cleanup plans for trains carrying chemicals
Sophie Nieto-Munozhttps://newjerseymonitor.com/2023/02/20/after-ohio-derailment-new-push-for-bill-requiring-cleanup-plans-for-trains-carrying-chemicals/
Weeks after a train derailed in a small town in Ohio, spilling toxic chemicals into the air and water, a New Jersey lawmaker wants a renewed look at a train-safety bill she introduced in September.The bill (A4442) would require certain train operator...
Weeks after a train derailed in a small town in Ohio, spilling toxic chemicals into the air and water, a New Jersey lawmaker wants a renewed look at a train-safety bill she introduced in September.
The bill (A4442) would require certain train operators to provide cleanup plans to the Department of Environmental Protection in the case of any hazardous material leaking or a derailment similar to the Feb. 3 one in East Palestine, Ohio. A copy of the plan would be shared with local officials and the state Office of Emergency Management.
“Trains go within 100 feet of different businesses, homes, places of worship. It’s a big concern to know how to react to accidents as quickly as possible,” said Assemblywoman Ellen Park (D-Bergen), sponsor of the legislation. “We want to make it transparent so that in case of an emergency, we know exactly what’s on the train.”
While Park said the bill is garnering more support among lawmakers as questions continue to swirl around the Ohio train derailment, she’s been paying attention to the issue for a long time as a nearby Englewood Park resident.
For years, residents have reported freight trains idling hundreds of feet from their homes, she said. A 2015 CBS News report says residents complained about the possible release of carcinogens into the air from freight trains that carry crude oil and idle for hours at a time.
Last year during a meeting to call attention to the issue, Park said she could hear the loud trains rumbling close by.
“It could just take a second for an accident to occur. Maybe it’s not all 10 cars exploding at once, but it takes just one leak, or running over an animal, or something like that, and we’d have a huge disaster on our hands,” she said in a phone interview.
The bill wouldn’t address the original cause of the East Palestine crash — officials believe it may have been caused by a wheel bearing on a rail car that overheated — but it could have avoided problems surrounding the cleanup, Park said.
The trains cars that derailed Feb. 3 carried vinyl chloride, a carcinogenic material, and toxic fumes were released during a controlled burn that authorities said was meant to prevent an explosion. Residents within one mile of the burn were temporarily evacuated.
Park’s bill would apply to “high hazard” trains hauling 200,000 or more gallons of petroleum or petroleum products, or 20,000 or more gallons of other hazardous substances.
The bill would require train operators’ cleanup plan to include information on the type of emergency response measures they plan to use in the event of a spill of hazardous material, the type of equipment they have available for such a cleanup, a list of names and addresses of all emergency response coordinators they plan to employ, and more.
Ohio and federal officials have told residents of East Palestine that they have not detected dangerous levels of chemicals in the air or municipal water, but residents there have continued to report lingering chemical odors in the air and continued rashes and headaches.
If a similar derailment happened anywhere in densely populated North Jersey, Park said, the impact would potentially be more devastating.
“We’re more condensed, so it’s a big concern to us,” Park stressed. “We’re really trying to push this as a priority now, because should anything like this happen in a place like Teaneck, we want to have protocols set up.”
The bill has been previously introduced, sponsored in prior years by former Sen. Loretta Weinberg, who represented Bergen County. Now, she said, Sen. Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen) plans to sponsor a Senate companion bill.
“It’s got to get done — it’s something we need to prepare for because we have a lot of trains running through Jersey that are carrying these high hazardous materials,” she said.
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