Vim & Vigor - Summer 2011 - Community Healthcare - (Page 12)

Exercise EVERY WOMAN I INTERVIEWED said she would advise younger women to begin an exercise program now—and stick to it. “Growing up in an agricultural community, I was always active and have always loved sports. I did aerobics in the 1980s, snow-skied, played golf and ran for many years,” says Muriel Sheubrooks, 69, of North Carolina. “I tell people who say they don’t have time to work out that they can better handle their day-to-day stresses when they take care of themselves ﬁrst.” Today, Sheubrooks and her husband walk every day and lift weights. Virginia Johnson, 84, of Michigan, attends stretch and tone classes twice a week to stay limber. “I have more energy throughout the day when I make exercise a priority,” she says. Regular workouts keep bones strong and energy levels high, regardless of age. “After 30, maintaining bone density is difﬁcult for women. Weight training and weight-bearing exercises are very important,” says Christine Gerbstadt, M.D., R.D., a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. “As long as you are ﬂexing and extending muscles, that’s weight training.” ADVICE TO TAKE: Live an active lifestyle by limiting screen time and spending more time outdoors. Also, make “appointments” to exercise, which makes it harder for you to skip. Nutrition RUTH PALMER, 76, OF NEW YORK, was diagnosed with diabetes but made lifestyle changes to keep her symptoms under control. “I carefully read labels and watch my fat and sugar intake,” she says. “After a while, when you do away with sugar, you don’t even notice you are missing it.” She advises women to cut out the sweet stuff and replace it with no-sugar or low-sugar alternatives. Other women express that carefully reading food nutrition facts helps them control their weight. “The most important thing I’ve learned is to know the ingredients in your food and understand how to read the labels. My mom taught me to read the number of servings in food packages,” says Patty Vaughn, 53, of Arizona. “I grew up eating a lot of fruits, vegetables and lean meats. When you eat the right kinds of foods, it makes a huge difference in your stamina.” And Sheubrooks says it’s easier to avoid high-calorie food when you make it yourself. “We do not eat out a lot. You can control the types of foods you eat when you eat at home,” she says. “I love eating fresh, organically grown foods.” The fact is, busy women can’t afford not to eat well, Gerbstadt says. “Eating junk food and fast food is going to run you down and set your immune system up for colds and ﬂu.” ADVICE TO TAKE: On Sunday night, plan a week of balanced meals packed with fresh fruits and vegetables and monitor portion sizes. When you encourage your children to eat healthfully, you enforce good habits that they hopefully will continue into adulthood, too. PHOTOGRAPHY BY DREAMSTIME 12 Vim & Vigor · SUM M ER 2 011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2011 - Community Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2011 - Community Healthcare
Contents
Community Message
When Stroke Strikes, Seconds Count
Rays of Hope Fight Cancer
Girl Talk
Say What?
Action Plan
Like This? Try That!
Being George Clooney
A Day in the Life of Your Heart
Unexpected Heroes
Get in Gear
A Real Lifesaver
A Real Lifesaver
Spotlight on Community Hospital
Spotlight on St. Catherine Hospital
Spotlight on St. Mary Medical Center
A Safer Hospital Stay

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2011 - Community Healthcare