CityView Magazine

An Ounce of Prevention As mentioned earlier, prevention is a driving force behind the current women���s healthcare screenings and recommendations, but prevention begins at a personal level. ���We know what we need to do,��� says Michelle Benedict, an exercise physiologist, Level II Crossfit coach and nutritionist, mom and military wife. ���But we are pulled in so many different directions and it becomes easy to make excuses for not caring for ourselves.��� Benedict also blames the previous generations��� obsession with unhealthy images of the female body, driving women to focus more on ���looking��� a certain way rather than disease prevention and building a strong body for living well, with all its demands. Fortunately, Benedict recognizes the trend shifting. ���Strong is the new skinny,��� she says. Every day she sees women empowering themselves by setting healthy goals ��� running their first 5K or lifting more than the barbell over their heads ��� rather than focusing only on the scale. Twenty-first century women are recognizing the rewards of a healthy, strong body. Healthy living for every woman should include: A diet rich in whole foods: fresh fruits, colorful vegetables, lean cuts of meat, omega-3 fatty acids and whole grains. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store, avoid processed foods and pay careful attention to the amount of starch in your diet. Starch is in all fruits, vegetables and grains in vary- ing amounts. The typical American diet is overwhelmed with starch calories, which, unless you are an endurance athlete, are often stored as body fat. An active lifestyle: Find something you love and nurture it. From gardening to Zumba to CrossFit to endurance sports, the options for women today are endless and in most every circle of activity, women can find strong support in meeting and exceeding their fitness goals. Regular exercise is also strongly linked to having a positive self-image, increased emotional health and a decrease in the symptoms of depression. Every time you exercise, your body releases endorphins (the feel-good hormone), making exercise its own natural high. Do weight-bearing exercise at least two days a week. Weight training and other weight bearing exercises are proven bone density builders. Weight training can also raise metabolism (aka: calorie burning function) through an increase in muscle mass (the larger the muscle the more metabolic power needed to maintain it) and improve balance and coordination. Weight training does not have to mean weight lifting, though. You can get many of the same benefits by using your own body weight for resistance during exercises like push-ups and air squats. Women���s bodies are indeed remarkable ��� inside and out. As women regard themselves with the thoughtful care and awe poets and painters have practiced for centuries, they will empower themselves in every aspect of their health care journey. CV At Quality Sound and Video, it���s ALL about YOU! Since 1966 Quality Sound and Video has been engaged in the business of design, sales, installtion and service of electronic systems for audio and visual communications. We are expert in application engineering for automated residential environments. Make an appointment today to make your home your favorite place to be. Residential Electronics Church Sound/AV Home Theater Commercial/Industrial Professional Certification �� Mark Lynch CEDIA Certified Design Professional Fayetteville���s only CEDIA certified supplier Quality Disc Jockeys Government Sales Audio/Visual Rentals Used Gear Video Teleconferencing (VTC) CD/DVD Duplication DJ Gear Quality Sound and Video Our name is our business! 910.483.1212 ��� 833 Bragg Blvd. ��� Fayetteville, NC 28301 ��� www.qualitysoundandvideo.com 40 | March/April ��� 2013

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