January 16 2015

January 16 - February 5, 2015

AthensNowal.com E-MAIL: info@athensnowal.com ADVERTISING: Ali: 256-468-9425 Deborah: 256-309-9399

See Our Listings Inside this edition...

Pages 25 - 32

Special Feature Proclaiming Justice To The Nations To Host Former U.N Ambassador John Bolton...

Proclaiming Justice to the Nations is pleased to announce that Former U.N. Ambassador... Page 5

Xtreme Nutrition And Smoothies: Nine Stores And A Proprietary Product Line

By Ali Elizabeth Turner I first met Josh and Shelley Cagle in 2010, when they launched their flagship Xtreme Nutrition and Smoothies store on Hwy 31, before they moved to the Publix shopping center on Lindsay Lane and Hwy 72 in Athens. Four years later they have expanded to nine stores, have developed their own product line, and they continue to impress me with their entrepreneurial spirit, hard work, and the transparency of their faith. Josh and Shelley are part of what’s becoming in our area nothing short of a long line of young, hardworking, savvy, free-market capitalists who want the satisfaction of being their own boss and benefitting the community while they are doing it. The “burning the candle at both ends” that is necessary for

From The Mayor’s Desk Athens Offers Two Events To Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday...

Athens will honor the memory of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. by...

Page 7

Athens Rehab Spotlight Spotlight On Ola Mae Barnes...

What if I were to tell you that one of Athens Rehab and Senior Care’s newest residents is a prolific ...

Page 21

January 16 - February 5, 2015

Continued on pages 16-17

www.athensnowal.com

Page 2

www.athensnowal.com

January 16 - February 5, 2015

Publisher’s Point

Martin And Charlie

Publisher / Editor Ali Turner

Sales

Deborah Huff

Graphic Design

Jonathan Hamilton

Web Design Teddy Wolcott

Delivery

Hunter Williams

Contributing Writers Shelley Underhill Wanda Campbell Janet Hunt Sandra Thompson Deb Kitchenmaster Lynne Hart Holly Hollman Laurie Cordoza-Moore Jackie Warner

Publisher’s Point . . . . . . . . 3 All Things Soldier . . . . . . . 4

It’s the weekend that we celebrate the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, and because of his work, 50 years ago the Voting Rights Act was signed, guaranteeing the rights of all Americans to exercise their right to vote. There are a number of events to attend, as described in Holly Hollman’s article, and the fact that in Alabama white folks and black folks now walk in a parade in front of the courthouse, as well as sing together to celebrate is a testament that Dr. King’s dream has taken hold, even if at times it is thwarted.

described as serious contenders for President of the United States. And 50 years ago, all of us, white, black, or any other color would have been aghast at the assaults of the Islamic State.

We would have found them inconceivable, given the fact that WWII had only been over for a decade.

Martin stood for the principles of non-violence, something from which he never wavered, and which may have ultimately cost him his life. If he were alive today, I do believe he would have gone to Paris to march in sup-

port of the journalists who were murdered by jihadists over a cartoon. Martin would have been proud to say “Je suis Charlie,” French for “I am Charlie,” the buzz phrase of the movement that was birthed essentially overnight to show solidarity with people who died standing up to jihad, even if it was through the use of a cartoon. Leaders from all over the world attended, and our President, who has made history as being a part of Martin’s dream, was notably absent, as was the Vice-President, the Attorney General, and the Sec-

While there are some who feel that we are more divided than ever, that we have gone backwards and not forwards, 50 years ago there would not be a clever sit-com like Blackish where the African American teenager wants to change his name to Shlomo, (Hebrew for Solomon,) and wishes to have a bar mitzvah, much to the horror of his father. 50 years ago people would not have had discussions where several African Americans could be

retary of State. Not a good day at sea, I’m thinking, if one is commanding the ship that has historically sailed through the rough waters of terrorism in order to arrive at a safe harbor. By contrast, Benjamin Netanyahu, whose country is surrounded by folks who actually send tweet messages saying that Israel must be destroyed, was front and center. He was joined by Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany. Please remember that Germany was the nation who a bit more than 50 years ago was occupying Paris, would have gassed Benjamin Netanyahu, and then yanked out any gold he might have had on his teeth. Who would have thought?

What was it about the cartoon that was so offensive that it seemed reasonable to gun down the people at the magazine Charlie Hebdo, who portrayed Mohammed as saying, “All is forgiven?”

To a reasonable person, forgiveness is essential to all of humanity, to being a whole person, and for moving forward. But we are not dealing with reasonable people, and now would be a good time for all Americans to come together, let past history be just that, and stand united against the Islamic State wherever it attacks with cowardice and hatred. It is what Martin would have wanted.

Special Feature . . . . . . . . . 5 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . 6 From the Mayor’s Desk . . . . 7 What Makes Ronnie Roll . . . 8 From The Vets’ Museum . . . 10 Clean and Green . . . . . . . . 12 Cooking with Shelley . . . . . . 13

Ali Elizabeth Turner Athens Now Information & Inspiration 256-468-9425 ali@athensnowal.com Website: www.athensnowal.com

Health and Fitness . . . . . . 14 Cover Story . . . . . . . . . 16 & 17 Learning As A Lifestyle . . . 18 View From The Bridge . . . 19 Horse Whispering . . . . . . 20 Athens Rehab Spotlight . . 21 Medical Update . . . . . . . . 22

January 16 - February 5, 2015

athensnowal.com www.athensnowal.com

Page 3

All Things Soldier

PTSD And EFT

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

This is the third article that Athens Now has devoted to the subject of PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), with the emphasis in this piece being examining an effective way to empower soldiers in overcoming its debilitating effects without the use of drugs.

Its purpose also is to introduce the idea that it is entirely possible to do so when an episode or flashback is just beginning, and before it has a chance to become full blown.

PTSD, with specific reference to the trauma that occurs in the lives of troops who have been engaged in combat, has gone by many names; battle fatigue, combat stress, shell shock, combat neurosis, and others. However, it is important to understand that soldiers can have PTSD without having seen one of their buddies get blown up. Trauma can take on a number of forms and its effect can express itself in myriad ways.

One of the most powerful techniques useful in overcoming PTSD is known as Emo-

of using needles, in EFT the practitioner users fingertips to repeatedly tap on similar energy pathways.

Acupuncture was developed to treat physical issues, and EFT takes it a step further by integrating emotional healing. By focusing on a problem while tapping on energy meridians, the underlying emotional issue can be released.

So, is it really possible to gain tional Freedom Technique, and a brief explanation from a previous article devoted to the subject follows below: Have you ever been in a situation when you have been stressed and either pinched the bridge of your nose, pressed your temples, covered your eyes with your fists, or smote your chest?

Since the discovery of pressure points and the fact that we are highly electrical beings, such instinctive actions make perfect sense in view of the need to clear out excess negative energy and deal with a difficult situation well.

EFT’s origins lie in acupuncture, a Chinese healing method that uses needles on energy meridians in the body. Instead

Fund Raiser ͲͲ 1st Saturday of every month!!

(11am Ͳ 2pm) Turkey, Ham and Prize Shoot (Chicken Stew for sale Ͳ $5.00 all you can eat or $5.00 per quart/$17.50 per gallon)

Vietnam Veterans of America (Chapt 511) 17915 W Elm St, Athens, Alabama (Call (256) 232Ͳ0029 for additional information) Page 4

www.athensnowal.com

such full relief through such simple means as tapping while addressing the negative emotion or memory? It is, and before I tell you the personal story of a man who recently decided to try EFT after his life nearly spun apart, I want to introduce you to the work of Dawson Church. He has been devoted to doing research in this area for a number of years, and has a great web site documenting results from using EFT with vets at www.stressproject.org.

‘Nam vets have been some of the toughest guys to help due to the fact that after they were traumatized, our culture first vilified them and then suggested drugs, street as well as prescription, as a solution to their pain. Dawson has a number of videos documenting truly miraculous results in just one session, and I would like to finish this article with

the story of a man who just recently found himself needing and experiencing the relief that can be achieved through prayerful use of EFT.

This officer was of the Desert Storm era, served in the field of intelligence, a brilliant and devoted husband, father, and man of faith. While he did not see combat in the classic sense, for years he was in a non-stop emotional “firefight” for the life of his terminally ill child, who eventually died in her teens. Her death was devastating to the entire family, and his helplessness at not being able to save her would align with the effect of working in several emotionally toxic work environments where he was inarguably mistreated.

The results were dreadful. He would hold it all in and then blow up over small things at home. While there was never even the remotest possibility of physical violence, the rage took its toll on the entire family in the form of shame and physical illness. Through what he now sees as a divinely orchestrated marital crisis, he found EFT to be of great help.

Is it a “three-steps-forwardtwo-steps-back” type of situation? It is, as it takes some time to “re-wire” the brain.

But the point is, the effect has been so powerful that now he would like to go to VA hospitals and teach EFT to Vets, because he knows it works.

There is hope for our vets, there is hope for our civilians, and there is powerful hope that PTSD can be permanently overcome. I believe EFT is a gift from a loving God, and if you are struggling, start by going online and discovering for yourself the proof that you can triumph over trauma.

January 16 - February 5, 2015

Special Feature

Proclaiming Justice To The Nations To Host Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton

by Laurie Cordoza-Moore, Co-Founder and President of PJTN, and Special Envoy to the U.N.

- Proclaiming Justice to the f Nations is pleased to anh nounce that Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton t is going to be the keynote d speaker at our event as d part of the National Religious Broadcasters’ annual convention in Nashc ville, on the evening of a February 23, 2015. We - are hoping that Christians and friends of Israel - throughout the Tennessee r Valley will come to hear e a true statesman speak - with eloquence, experio ence and common sense e in regards to the state l of affairs in the Middle - East. He will address a number of topics, including the increase in global, genocidal anti-Semitism, recent murderous acts of n terror directed towards proponents of journalistic

free speech, as well as the growth of the Islamic State and what must be done to quell it.

For those of you who are not familiar with PJTN, we are a group of volunteers who came into existence after the 9/11 attacks. Up until that point we were living the safe and comfortable life afforded by the blessings of God upon our nation, raising our families, and producing award winning films, television shows, and other forms of media. All of that changed on September 11, and we began to look deeply into what had happened to our own nation, only to discover that there was also a concerted effort and desire to destroy our strongest ally, Israel. We felt called

to action, and formulated our mission statement, which reads as follows: PJTN was established to educate Christians about their Biblical responsibility to stand with their Jewish brethren and Israel, utilizing the powerful medium of documentary films to facilitate dialogue between the Christian and Jewish communities.

Since our inception, our group has become global, and our documentaries and television programs have been the recipients of several awards. Our most recent documentary, Israel Indivisible, has been nominated for two Emmy Awards, and we will find out if it is chosen

e e e h ,

-

e . s e

-

as the winner at the end of January.

In addition to Ambassador Bolton, we have been privileged to host other media figures and speakers such as radio talk show hosts Dennis Prager and Michael Medved, Congressman Michelle Bachmann, former CIA Director James Woolsey, Frank Gaffney, former Assistant Secretary of Defense, and Itamar Marcus, of Palestinian Media Watch.

PJTN has chosen to keep vigilant watch in the Tennessee Valley and nationally, prayerfully staying on top of trends in education that would indoctrinate our children, either overtly or through silence, and resisting attempts to subvert US and State Constitutions

through Shariah statute implementation disguised as “international law.” In view of the recent disclosure that Harper Collins had published an elementary school student atlas with no map of the state of Israel, and tried to justify such an omission through the following statement, the need for more watchmen is obvious: “…the decision to exclude Israel reflected ‘local preferences’, and that including Israel in the atlas would have been “unacceptable” to its Gulf customers.”

Thankfully there was a global outcry, the textbook project has been literally shredded, Harper Collins has apologized, and the proof that speaking up against such politically correct nonsense can make a difference has been demonstrated once again. It is because of these two examples that PJTN exists, and we invite any who would like to join us in our quest to truly “proclaim justice to the nations” to do so.

For more information on volunteering, sponsoring, underwriting or increasing media exposure, please contact Candice Hays at 615-778-0202, or candiceh@pjtn.org.

General admission to the 2015 International Christian Prayer and Action Event for Israel featuring U.N. Ambassador John Bolton is $75, and seating is filling up quickly. Register at PJTN.org today.

, ,

s d y g

The line has been drawn… whose side are you on?

January 16 - February 5, 2015

www.athensnowal.com

Page 5

Calendar of Events 101 Inventions That Changed the World Through Mar 15th

U.S. Space and Rocket Center. One Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL. Explore the key turning points in humankind’s history defined by creation or discovery in an “unforgettable multi-sensory experience... that’s like traveling the world and moving swiftly thorugh time.” For hours, admission and more information rocketcenter.com/admission

The Red Caboose. 25483 Railroad Street, Elkmont, AL. Enjoy the sounds of Carson Chamberlain, Michael White and Gary Harrison; opening act, Miss Lillian Glanton. Doors open at 6:00PM, Showtime at 6:45PM. Call for reservations. Tickets are $20.00 including snacks and drinks. 256-306-6201.

Intermediate Sign Language Though Feb 10th

Alabama Center for the Arts. Room 113, 133 2nd Avenue NE, Decatur, AL. Join instructor Jeanie Parker from 6:00PM- 7:30PM for a fun course to learn American Sign Language vocabulary and Pidgin Signed English sentence structure for basic communication with the deaf and hearing impaired. Sign language dictionary recommended but not required. Ages 10 and up welcome. CEI 723 CRN# . Fee is $125.00 with manual, $115.00 without manual. Contact dbass@ calhoun.edu or 256-260-2462 for registration and additional information

Carly Hasting Book Signing Jan 17th

Pablo’s on Market, 216 West Market Street, Athens, AL. Come join author Carly Hasting as her latest book, “A Day”, hits the shelf at Pablo’s on Market from 1:00PM-3:00PM.

Chambless & Muse Jan 22nd

Songwriters Night Jan 24th

Valentine Craft & Vendor Show Jan 31st

Days Inn Banquet Room. 1322 U.S. Highway 72E, Athens, AL. Shop a variety of vendors for your Valentine gifts from 10:00AM-3:00PM. Door prizes, fee admission. For more information: 256-698-8127.

Jessica Elkins Memorial Pageant Feb 5th

All proceeds will beneft the Limestone Area Community Foundation’s Jessica Elkins Live, Laugh, Love Fund for promoting menigitis awareness, and a scholarship fund to benefit a graduating Athens High School Senior. Open to girls of all ages and boys/men for the “Ugly Walk”. For more information www.missmodelamerica.com.

Or contact Theresa by calling 256-777-8949 or by emailing theresa@ missmodelamerica.com.

Think Well: Healthy Living To Improve Cognitive Function After Breast Cancer Feb 6th (Time and location TBD)

Athens State University, Founders Hall Parlor, 300 North Beaty Street, Athens, AL. The Livingston Concert-Lecture Series presents an evening of music at 7:00PM featuring Jil Chambless and Scooter Muse, two members of the Southeastern favorite, Henri’s Notion.

Free and open to the public.

Think Well program is designed to increase awareness of the cognitive changes after breast cancer treatment and promote ways to address those changes for survivors. Free to the public. To register and print your ticket: www.eventbrite.com/e/think-well-at-limestone-countytickets-14225971263?aff=eventful/r/eventful

Learn to Paint with The Plucky Peacock Jan 23rd or 24th

Sweet Life! Dessert Comedy Theatre Feb 7th

The Plucky Peacock. 27631 U.S. Highway 72, Athens, AL. Learn the 5 basic techniques - painting, distressing, glazing, waxing and top coating from 10:00AM-1:00PM. Participants will complete a takehome chalkboard project. All supplies, reference sheet to take home and a snack will be provided. Cost is $95. For more information: 256-617-9771

Athens-Limestone Public Library Grand Opening Jan 24th

Athens-Limestone Public Library. 603 North Jefferson Street, Athens, AL. Step inside the new library and explore during the Grand Opening from 10:00AM-3:00PM. Activities: 10AM - Opening Ceremony; 10:30AM - Ribbon Cutting; 11AM - Unveiling of Portrait; 11:45AM - Tour of the Library; 1:30PM - Special Storytime Event; 3:00PM Teen Xbox Games. Please note that regular library services will not be avaialble until Noon - including circulation and computers.

Page 6

Emmanuel Baptist Church. 1917 U.S. Highway 72W, Athens, AL. Enjoy clean comedy, great music and a yummy dessert. Doors open at 6:00PM; Event starts at 7:00PM. Tickets are $10.00 in advance; $15.00 at the door; $40.00 per family. Reservation required. More information: 256-232-6193 or visit www.ebcathens.com

Tickets for Polk Sallet Follies On Sale Feb 9th

Athens Senior Center. 912 West Pryor Street, Athens, AL. Ticket sales for the highly anticipated Polk Sallet Follies are from 7:30AM4:00PM Mon-Fri. Tickets can also be purchased on Mondays from 5:00PM-8:00PM. All seats are reserved and must be paid for at the time of purchase. Cash or check only. Tickets are $35.00 each and a limit of two tables per customer. Ticket price includes a 3-course meal. No early registration by phone will be accepted. www. pokesalletfollies.org

www.athensnowal.com

January 16 - February 5, 2015

From the Mayor’s Desk

Athens Offers Two Events To Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

by Holly Hollman Athens will honor the memory of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. by offering the public a variety of ways to celebrate his

legacy.

The events will be on Monday, Jan. 19, which is set aside as the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

The annual AthensLimestone Martin Luther King Jr. March and Program will start on The Square in Athens.

Marchers will assemble at 8:30 a.m. and will begin marching at 9 a.m. from The Square to the Limestone County Event Center on Pryor Street.

At 9:30 a.m., the program will start and includes students reading their winning essays based on one of two themes: The Color of

Unity and My Most Favorite Quote of Dr. King and What it Means to Me. The Pleasant Grove Choir will perform, and a portion of King’s letter from

lone, formerly of Athens, who is the pastor at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Rockford, Ill. Malone graduated from

the former all-black Trinity High School in 1968.

The school, which served black students from Athens City and Limestone County, closed amid integration in 1970. He served two years in the U.S. Army, including a one-year stint in Vietnam combat. He has been the pastor at St. Luck Missionary Baptist Church for 30 years. He is a volunteer chaplain for the Rockford Police Department, serves as president of the Baptist General State Convention of Illinois, and has worked with organizations such as the NAACP, Girls Scouts of America, Boy Scouts of America, American Legion and Fraternal Order of Masons.

Athens City Council President and committee member Jimmy Gill said the event will conclude with the naming of the Dr. C. Eric Lincoln Humanitarian Award winner, which is kept secret until the award is presented.

The award is named in honor of the late C. Eric Lincoln, who was a graduate of Trinity High School. Lincoln was an author, theologian, ordained Methodist minister and a professor of religion at Duke University. His book “The Avenue, Clayton City” won the Lillian Smith Award for best Southern fiction in 1988.

The Round Island Creek Male Chorus will perform, and lunch will provided after the program.

the Birmingham Jail will be read.

There will be refreshments after the program. For more information about this event, contact Benard Simelton at 256-426-6406.

Another long-standing tradition is the annual LincolnBridgeforth Park Committee’s Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Ceremony.

It will be at Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church on Westmoreland Street at 11 a.m. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Louis Ma-

January 16 - February 5, 2015

www.athensnowal.com

Page 7

What Makes Ronnie Roll

Polaris And Progress

by Ali Elizabeth Turner

Mayor Ronnie had come off of a busy weekend, with the announcement that Polaris was going to build a fabricating facility on 464 acres off of I-565, and with the potential of providing approximately 2,000 jobs for folks in our area. Polaris is investing 142 million dollars in the project, and it is a prospect that in every regard can be considered positive. “The Tennessee Valley is hot as a firecracker,” said Mayor Ronnie, who is thankfully always revisiting the themes and responsibilities that make

life in our region solid.

“Number one is public safety, for obvious reasons, and after that, it’s jobs, because you have to be able to put food on the table,” he said. We always talk about the rest of it, education, quality of life, and how to improve government, and today was no exception.

He explained yet another complicated ongoing fiscal dance between Athens and Huntsville, and once again I was thankful for his patience as well as skill in explaining financial stuff that is beyond

me while somehow making it understandable.

As always, he talked about his responsibilities as a leader, something he takes very seriously.

“Really, he said, “this is some of the best advice I’ve seen in a long time.”

I hurried to jot it down. It was simple and powerful.

“Live passionately, love completely, learn humbly, and lead boldly.”

He had heard a new series at church regarding the need to have a “bucket list,” the things you decide you must do before you “kick the bucket.”

This can be anything from going to Europe to cleaning out your garage, but he moved on to a Bucket List for the City of Athens, not that we are going to “kick the bucket anytime soon and certainly not on his watch, but here is what is on his list: • Build electrical substations- If we grow the way it’s been forecast, we will need at least three • Improve governmentan ongoing and never ending endeavor, one to which he’s deeply committed.

•

Improving infrastructureroads, streets, sidewalks, sewers. All of it messy, but worth the effort.

• Community projects-a new example being a grassroots movement to show support for our first responders

An example of a new community project is entitled “Together We Stand,” unveiled this past week by Jerry Barksdale at a well attended meeting held at the Vets’ Museum. The purpose of the project is to show support for all of those who put themselves in harm’s way for us. In view of the recent murders of policemen while they were eating, the first attack in Las Vegas in June, the second in New York in December, Jerry felt it was time to do something to show that we won’t stand for it. While there are a number of ideas as to some of the ways we can show support for all our public safety personnel, the two ideas that seemed to gather the most steam were having a dinner this spring that would be to honor our first responders, and to start a scholarship fund for the children of the fallen.

The meeting came to a close, he spent a few minutes talking with those who had attended, and then he said with a smile, “I’m off to go practice for Poke Sallett.” And that, my fellow Athenians, is how Ronnie rolls.

Page 8

www.athensnowal.com

January 16 - February 5, 2015

January 16 - February 5, 2015

www.athensnowal.com

Page 9

From the Alabama Veterans’ Museum

2015 At The Vet’s Museum

by Sandra Thompson, Director, Alabama Veterans’ Museum 2015 is shaping up to be another busy year at the Alabama Veterans’ Museum! Below is a “calendar of events” for the upcoming year.

January – The museum will sponsor “Together We Stand,” an idea started by local author Jerry Barksdale.

This program will pay tribute to Limestone County law enforcement-rescue- firefighters- guards and all that rush to danger to protect us. “Let’s stand up against lawlessness and thuggery by honoring those who protect us.”

Meetings will be held at the museum, more information to come.

February – Black History Month – “A Century of Black Life, History and Culture.” AfricanAmericans have continuously served in the U.S. Military since co-

Page 10

lonial times. President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981 in July 1948, integrating the U.S. Military services. Look for special displays honoring our Black Veterans.

March – Women’s History Month – Women have been a part of the war effort since the Revolutionary War, but in the early days of our nation they had to cloak themselves in disguise to serve alongside men. As the weapons and methods of warfare changed in the late 20th century, however, the Pentagon began to realize that gender matters less on the battlefield. Join us as we observe National Women’s History Month and salute the many contributions of American Women to our country.

This year we will be honoring our Desert Storm/ Gulf War female veter-

ans. If you know of any military female that was serving our county during this time (on or after August, 1990), please contact the museum so that we may honor them.

The program is to be held on March 28th.

April – On the 17th, Star Spangled Golf Tournament. Mike Criscillis, one of our valued volunteers will be handling the details of our first golf tournament which will be held at Canebrake Golf Club. On the 24th, we will be having a Fish Fry headed up by board member Bob McAbee.

Our fish fry will be held at the Emmanuel Baptist Church on Hwy 72.

Tickets will go on sale in March.

May – On the 25th, we will have our Memorial Day Program. Local service organizations will once again come togeth-

www.athensnowal.com

er to perform the “Laying of the Wreath Ceremony.” The program will be held at the Limestone County Event Center beginning at 11:00.

June – Annual Sam Gibbons Walking Horse Show. We are ecstatic that once again Ken Wilson will be managing our annual walking horse show. Date to be determined, look for more information to come.

July – To celebrate the birth of our nation we are happy to have once again with us a special United States Flag Display, which belongs to local historian Ron Pettus. The display will be here from 29 June – July 4th.

November – On Nov 11, Veterans Day, we will have a very special ceremony to unveil our “Threads of Honor” quilt. Threads are still

available.

On the wall in our break room is a little sign that I read daily that says “Volunteers are not paid -- not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.” No truer words have ever been spoken. We could not do what we do without them, and we are always looking for a few more good ones.

Contact Steve at 256771-7578 if you are interested in volunteering regularly, or for any of these special events. We also welcome sponsorship of these events.

Don’t forget we also have our “Coffee Call” the first Saturday of every month.

These are just a few of the events going on.

Please join us, and let’s make 2015 another great year!

January 16 - February 5, 2015

January 16 - February 5, 2015

www.athensnowal.com

Page 11

Clean and Green

Replacing Our Amazing Trees

by Lynne Hart

Over the past few years, Limestone County has experienced many storms that have ripped trees of all sizes from the ground.

It will take many years to remove the scars left by these storms.

For the past few years, the Alabama Forestry Commission has given KALB hundreds of seedlings to give away to Limestone County residents, and they will provide them once again this winter.

Did You Know?

One mature leafy tree will produce as much oxygen in a season as 10 people inhale in a year.

Trees also cleanse the air by absorbing pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Trees truly are to earth what our lungs are to us. We could not exist without them.

Trees can also absorb dangerous chemicals and pollutants that have entered the soil and store them, or change them into less harmful forms.

Trees are critical in filtering farm chemicals, reducing the effects of animal wastes, and protecting the environment

from other pollutants.

Who doesn’t love to sit under a shady tree to avoid the hot sun? Shade from trees near your home can reduce the need for air conditioning. In the winter, it can break the force of winter winds, lowering heating costs. Studies have shown that parts of cities without shade trees can have temperatures as much as 12 degrees higher than other areas.

New shopping centers in Athens are now required to have islands containing trees. This is not just for the eye-pleasing affect, which is important. It also helps to combat the heat of the pavement.

be very conscious of the need to recycle. When I visit students of all ages, I describe the effort and amount of natural resources it takes to make new products such as aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and paper. I remind them of the amount of time it took the earth to form the oil and the ores needed to create these items, and the time it takes a tree to grow. We then take it out of the ground or cut it down, create a can, bottle or paper, use it once and toss it

Trees are not just a pretty addition to our landscape.

They are vital to life. The more land we clear, the harder it is for the remaining trees to do a good job of pollution control. It is important that we replace the trees we have lost to storms and clear cutting, and teach future generations to value our trees.

Paper Recycling is Important!

away to be buried in a landfill forever. The children all agree that is very selfish and wasteful.

If something tears, it is recyclable. Paper products of all kinds, including newspaper, office paper, card stock, paper board (such as cereal boxes), wrapping paper and gift bags, and cardboard are recyclable at the Athens-Limestone Recycling Center located on Lucas Ferry Rd., just south of Hwy. 72.

Stay Informed Follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our monthly eNewsletter to be sure not to miss information about the seedling giveaway that will take place in February (date to be announced), as well as other upcoming events.

Don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions about this or other topics. KALB exists for the betterment of our community. Let’s work together.

Since the creation of paper begins with cutting down trees, we should

Become a Fan

(256) 233-8728 KALBCares@gmail.com www.KALBCares.com Page 12

www.athensnowal.com

January 16 - February 5, 2015

Cooking with Shelley

Cheesecake Banana Pudding

by Shelley Underhill

I guess you are wondering what in the world I was thinking. Well, I wasn’t! What ingredient do you think I forgot to buy for my trusty banana pudding recipe? Yes . . . the vanilla pudding. So I had to decide what to make for dessert following our Sunday lunch. It was time to put on my thinking cap. I also had to see what my pantry had to offer. The first two things to catch my eye were cheesecake pudding, graham crackers, and a few vanilla wafers. I like this combination in other forms so I decided to give it a whirl. It would

either make a memory or a mess.

And, the memories have it! I really enjoyed making it because it was EASY, tasted good and looked pretty too.

The wonderful weather at the time made it nice to enjoy as well. I served it up after lunch, and as we sat and ate on the patio, I thought “God is so good, I can see his handy work all around me.”

Rain or shine, it’s a great day in Alabama.

What you will need:

3 bananas 6 graham crackers- whole 2 boxes cheese cake instant pudding (3.4oz, prepared as directed on box) 3 cups Vanilla Wafers 1 large tub Cool Whip Directions: In a glass serving bowl, starting with vanilla wafers rotate as follows: 1 cup Vanilla Wafers 1 banana cut in round slices 1 cup pudding, spread evenly 2 whole graham crackers, broken into pieces 2 cups Cool whip, spread evenly Repeat using up all ingredients, until cool whip is the last layer. Use any remaining wafers to garnish pudding. Enjoy!

January 16 - February 5, 2015

www.athensnowal.com

Page 13

Health and Fitness

Resolutions Don’t Last And Diets Don’t Work

by Janet Hunt

Janet Hunt is a Certified Personal Trainer and can be reached at 256-614-3530 to schedule an appointment.

Let’s start by looking at New Year’s Resolutions. I see them as a goal for the New Year. As usual, one of the more popular New Year’s resolutions is to “lose weight.” Right away I understand why most people don’t keep their resolution. Your resolution needs to be clearer. You need a SMART goal (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely).

Now that you have a SMART goal, let’s see why diets don’t work and lifestyle changes do.

First off, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. We’ve all heard such claims as “Eat what you want, when you want, and watch the pounds disappear!” or “Melt off pounds with minimal effort.” or “Lose 10lbs of belly fat in 10 days.” Many fad diets will likely result in weight loss if you stick with them, but then the weight returns after you get off the diet.

What good is that?

Don’t be fooled into thinking some magical food, pill, or potion can help with weight loss. What causes weight loss is eat-

ises that just sound too good to be true. Which means they probably are not true at all. Or there are those diets that contradict science.

Don’t waste your time, money, or energy.

ing fewer calories than you burn. Crazy, unbalanced diets (with or without magic potions) cause weight loss because they are basically reduced calorie diets. After a few weeks on an unrealistic diet, you usually become frustrated and give up. This leads to feelings of failure that can send you right back to your unhealthy lifestyle and eating habits that got you where you were in the first place.

Below are some of the reasons why diets don’t work.

• Many diets focus on only a few foods or food groups (like the cabbage soup diet, grapefruit diet,

raw food diets, and lowcarb diets). Beware of any diet that rules out entire food groups. These restrictive diets usually do work at first, but fail over the long haul. Really, how much cabbage soup can you eat? Before long, you grow sick of eating the same foods every day, and start craving your favorite foods that lead you back to your former eating behaviors.

ing or eating very low calories. Beware though, because when you eat too few calories, your body thinks it is starving and adjusts its metabolism.

Then, when you go back to normal eating (which you will), your metabolism doesn’t readjust so you need even fewer calories.

• Some diets make prom-

Weight loss is not a simple 1, 2, 3, task. The best diet is a lifestyle change that is safe, realistic, and that you can stick to for the long term. You may want to visit with a Registered Dietician or join a group like Weight Watchers. Several times a year I offer a Lifestyle Change and Weight Management Class. This year my first class begins on Monday, January 26 at 12:30 -2:00. Class will meet at Round Island Baptist Church.

Donations will be accepted. If you are interested, please call 256-614-3530 or visit my Facebook page, Janet’s Fitness.

• Some diets have a ‘miracle’ food or ingredients (supplements, apple slices, green tea, apple cider vinegar, an obscure fruit, etc). No one single food or group of foods has any impact on weight loss.

Plus, be cautious of any diet that recommends a shelf full of supplements or potions (especially if sold by the person recommending the diet). You don’t need expensive supplements, and you can get almost all nutrients from just eating healthy or taking a good multivitamin.

• Some diets involve fast-

Page 14

www.athensnowal.com

January 16 - February 5, 2015

January 16 - February 5, 2015

www.athensnowal.com

Page 15

Cover Story

Xtreme Nutrition And Smoothies: Nine Stores And A Proprietary Product Line

by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1

any business owner has paid off. Shelley told me “We have way more customers than when we were on Hwy 31.” They also now have stores in the North, one in Indiana and the newest one in Crystal Lake, IL, near Chicago. Shelley is greatly enjoying being settled in at the Athens store, and not having nearly as long of a commute as when they were in the start up phase of the business.

Both Josh and Shelley

have always been interested in the type of nutrition, accessories and mindset that will service the serious athlete and help with improving performance. Josh was involved in a number of high school sports, including basketball, track and football. He was a tight end, a defensive end, and football is definitely his favorite sport.

He knows how important it is to have a “total package” of fitness when it comes to competing or just building one’s health.

He has been working out seriously for close to 20

years and is a great human billboard, demonstrating his personal level of fitness success. Josh and Shelley also have made “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13,) a part of their business philosophy. Good words, always, no matter what kind of strength is being sought after, and their light shines even in the way they label their own products.

They also are very aware that there is an increasing need to reach the people who may not be considered serious athletes per

se, but have come to understand that instead they have a critical need to rebuild their health far beyond weight loss, and time is of the essence. While this is the time of year that most people make resolutions, the classic one being Josh and Shelley Cagle, to “lose weight and owners of Xtreme get in shape,” staNutrition and Smoothies tistics show that the ones who succeed customer service, and long term have the kind she really knows her of support system that stuff when it comes to can be found at Xtreme what is in various prodNutrition and Smoothies. ucts and how they work.

I stood at the counter at one of the newest stores, (the one in the Publix shopping center, between Verizon and Cole Dental,) and watched Shelley take care of her customers as they came in to get products and/or a custom made smoothie while on their lunch hour. She is fun to watch, does great

For his part, Josh has done a yeoman’s job of doing a ton of research on his own, conferring with nutritional and medical experts, and enduring the process of trial and error that has led to the development of Xtreme’s own supplement and product line.

316 Formulations is the

Misty Moore has lost 37lbs so far with clean eating, exercise and a little help from Sinerate.

Page 16

www.athensnowal.com

January 16 - February 5, 2015

Rapture (pre-workout) and Sinerate (fat burner) are best sellers at Xtreme Nutrition & Smoothies.

name of Xtreme Nutrition’s custom line, named after John 3:16.

Each of the products, if you are looking for it, has a discernable biblical theme as well as catchy product name.

“Sinerate” is the fat burner. Shelley says, “It is clean and smooth, and has an extended effect with no jitters.” It decreases appetite while increasing metabolism.

It helps to reduce body fat, and an extra bonus is that it helps to boost mental focus and provide long lasting energy. Shelley told me “Sinerate is doing very well in our area.

Just this past week I sold ten bottles.” She also mentioned that it was formulated to be a two-pill serving but since some people are sensitive to this type of supplement, they recommend those people to start off using one capsule per day.

about it: “I rate this product (1 out of 10) as a 9! Great pump, unbelievable focus, and stamina to go along with it. I thought I was in the Matrix using this stuff.” That is quite a testimonial.

Nutrition have been quite successful, and are all custom made on the spot. The fruit smoothies are sweetened with 100% fruit and all natural Café flavors. They also have a popular Double Chocolate Peanut Butter smoothie that is more for the person with a traditional sweet tooth, and all of the smoothies can have any number of supplements added for 75 cents each.

There is another product in the 316 Formulations line that is still in development, and it is going to be called Testified. It is a plant-based test booster, and is a safe, effective, natural product with a proprietary blend of ingredi-

SARMs (Selective androgen receptor modulators) are used for maximum muscle growth.

ment industry. Some of their newest additions include essential oils, chia seeds, pea protein, melatonin, MSM, calcium and magnesium capsules, Vitamin D-3, and CoQ10. They also are now carrying SARM, which contains Ostarine-MK 2866. Shelley chuckled at my blank Another of the 316 look and sweetly said, Formulations products “It’s a Physique Enis called Rapture Max High protein, low calorie snacks can aid in your weight loss journey. hancing Agent.” Like I N.O. which comes They recently added a said, this gal gives wonin Lean & Mass ver- ents. Shelley told me that selection of NOW nu- derful customer service sions, and is taken prior it “builds muscle, helps tritional products. NOW and never makes you feel to working out. Here guys with fighting fatigue has been around for a stupid. is what one enthusias- and losing weight.” It will long time, and is well The smoothies at Xtreme tic customer had to say be out later this year. respected in the supple-

January 16 - February 5, 2015

www.athensnowal.com

I asked Shelley, “What’s ahead for this year?” She told me that there are even more new product lines that are going to be rolled out, and some customer appreciation events in the works.

Whatever Xtreme Nutrition and Smoothies “cooks up,” I know it is going to be good. Come see for yourself!

22041-B Hwy 72 E Athens, AL 35613 256-233-0005 Hours: Mon-Fri 10-7:30, Sat 10-5 Facebook: Xtreme Nutrition & Smoothies Page 17

Learning As A Lifestyle

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

by Wanda Campbell

Center for Lifelong Learning - 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 - 256-233-8262 One great thing about the holidays is you get to see so many people you haven’t been able to see all year. So you whip out the camera and start taking pictures.

Classes are scheduled by appointment only, Monday – Friday. The fee is $65 for two hours of personalized training.

a class called Travel Photography for the Digital Photographer. This class addresses the special needs and techniques dig-

While everyone else is pointing and clicking with their phone, I have to whip out the old camera and try to get one or two good pictures. My problem is I have big thumbs that show up in at least one or two, and I can’t always remember how I worked the camera last time. I have deleted a lot of these photos.

Fortunately, at the Center for Lifelong Learning, we have a wonderful instructor who can help us take better pictures. Cindy Cummings, owner of Southern Exposure Photography, will be teaching a class – Better Family Pictures that is open to the public on Saturday, January 31, 10:00am-12:00pm, at the Center for Lifelong Learning. This course will focus on improving your photos, no matter what your skill level or what camera you use.

Topics include lighting, posing, perspective and more! The fee for the class is $45.

Cindy also teaching a private camera class for those who would rather have the one-on-one experience. In that class, you bring your camera and booklet and she will show you everything you always wanted to know about your camera.

Page 18

ital photographers need to capture scenes from around the world and bring them home.

When you get your pic-

ture home, you will want to store then and get them ready to display.

You can take the online Photoshop Elements 11 for the Digital Photographer class. Learn how to use the application to do everything from quick fixes to detailed enhancements that will greatly improve the look of your images.

Our online classes are available every month, last six weeks, and are fun and affordable. You can find more information on our courses at www.athens.edu/CLL. It is time for a new catalog at the Center for Lifelong Learning. Call our office at 256-2338260 for more information, or you can look at the courses listed on our webpage – athens.edu/ CLL.

You may not know it, but the Center for Lifelong Learning has a whole library of online courses for those who don’t have time to come to class. There are even photography classes available.

Discover Digital Photography is a broad overview of the basics of photography including equipment, software, and practical uses.

The Photographing Nature with Your Digital Camera class focuses on the many aspects of outdoor photography as well as your camera controls and features.

For the traveler, there is

www.athensnowal.com

January 16 - February 5, 2015

The View From The Bridge

Promises, Promises, Promises

by Jackie Warner Jackie Warner

Community Outreach “Impact, Engage, Grow” Community Matters

new.” - Socrates

I challenge us this 2015 to get uncomfortable, and make some lasting change in the way we think and then we will see real goal attainment!

What will it be this year?

Every year we tell ourselves what things we are going to change in our lives. We all have the best intentions and really start off strong on our mission to achievement! Day 1- Great Success, Week 1- I can do this- Victory!

Weeks 2 & 3- Well maybe I should rethink this goal.

As I was preparing for this month’s article, I did some research on the top New Year’s resolutions for 2015 and here is what I discovered: become stress free, help others more, lose weight, quit smoking, travel, exercise, increase education, go green, and of course the big one- get out of debt and improve finances. Do any of these goals sound familiar? Well… there is nothing wrong with making promises to ourselves but making promises that we can’t keep- that’s a different story altogether.

This year I really haven’t made any New Year’s resolutions but I have vowed to make a change in my way of thinking. It’s nothing new, you’ve heard this many times over, but it is something I felt this year I certainly needed to start putting into practice. So here it is: “If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always gotten.”

I have told myself to really change, I have to actually want change and embrace all that comes with it to get to the other side.

Until Next Time, Be Sincere, Kind and Intentional Jackie Warner, Community Outreach Specialist Email: thebridge.us@ gmail.com Check out upcoming events: Website: http:// thebridge-us.yolasite.com/ Whether we are trying to lose weight, control our spending habits, or further our education, getting past the known to see what the unknown has to offer requires pushing throughand I do mean pushing.

Sadly, very seldom do we break our cycle. We just keep doing it the same old way. We get comfortable, we get lazy with life, then we get the same results, and yet we dare ask the question “Why?” When you really decide to make a transformation in your life, you definitely have to do a true self-assessment and look beyond the surface and really see the true content of the matters you seek to change. So, as I work on me this year, I will keep the quote I shared with you in my thoughts continuously to push me forward from the known to more clearly see the path I truly desire.

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the

January 16 - February 5, 2015

www.athensnowal.com

Page 19

Horse Whispering

Rearin’ To Go

by Deb Kitchenmaster Happy New Year Athens Now “Neigh”bors!

• Go around the barrels faster

January is a great time to do inventory while assessing the horses that are under your stewardship: observing their health, their feed (no dusty or moldy hay) and their water supply. This is also a great time to consider a plan for a particular horse. What is it that you would like to enhance with your horse?

• Jump a little higher

• More trusting relationship • More confident trailriding • Stand still while mounting

• Enter and exit horse trailer more relaxed • Harness to a buggy, wagon, or cart • Place in the first 3 or 5 positions at a horse show • Competition in an endurance event • Healer/teacher for someone, even yourself • More clarity on your personality and the horse’s “horsenality” • Deeper level of connection with the horse You may choose to write your plan down, or simply meditate and hold that plan inside.

To bring about advancement we need a plan. Or a song!

Let me explain. If the horse you are riding is moving at an undesirable pace, select a song. Set the tempo and silently sing your song inside!

I was told this once by a teenager while I was riding in an

outdoor arena the evening before a horse show. The mare I was riding had a bloodline of athletic performers. She had forward motion and energetic tempo. This precious teen came up to me on her horse and asked me if I knew I could increase or slow the speed of a horse by singing a song inside.

I had NEVER heard this before but I was awed at what she was telling me. I thanked her and gave it a whirl. It worked! The song tempo inside was much slower than the leg movements of the horse at first but I continued and the mare slowed

down.

I am so grateful this teen used her voice and had the confidence to share this with me.

Recently, I was asked how long I have been doing this and why horses. I was a licensed foster parent and our home offered a place for respite on weekends for a child or siblings. I had two horses.

I began to teach the children about horses: safety, grooming, feeding, mucking, and with permission, riding in the round pen wearing a helmet. I knew horses had brought healing to me in varied ways and now I was seeing it happen right before my eyes with the children!

On one of my birthdays, my life took on a new form. I held a baby in my arms in Huntsville, AL. I was a grandmother! In time, we moved from the North to the South. A desire to be a part of this little one’s life compelled me to pack up.

It is here that CORRAL CONNECTIONS was developed.

I changed from doing camps to offering one-on-one sessions and group sessions.

The horse/human connection here is more about grooming, hands on, and ground work.

These three tend to bring definition to leadership skills, self-discovery, belief systems, and confidence, along with communication, awareness and observation.

Horses are some of the best counselors our young people will ever encounter. Teens can learn how to say all the right things during a counseling session. They’re smart. Like some horses, they want you off of their back! What I have eye-witnessed is teens come to know their horse will not let them “get by” with anything!

Life changing potential!

I had favor with social workers, teachers, school counselors, in-home caregivers and a handful of organizations in my community. We all worked together for the wellbeing of 2015 - Rearin’ to go into the children in need. From this, lives of teens and young peoI developed Abba’s Lad Rid- ple with horses. ing Camp where I would have 2015 - Being an eye-witness of one-day camps (usually famAbba Father’s tender mercies ily units or a specific group), and perfect, unfailing love to two-day camps and three-day our future generation. camps. I worked with four young people (either all girls Your NEIGHbor, or all boys) during the 2- or Deb Kitchenmaster 3-day camps and our home Corral Connections became their bunkhouse. I www.corralconnections.com extended the camps to home‘A church of great heart’ schooled children, community Christian school students 256-426-7947 and, having laid a foundation, Animal B.E.S.T. practitioner opened to community. dkitchenmaster@mchsi.com

Page 20

www.athensnowal.com

January 16 - February 5, 2015

Athens Rehabilitation And Senior Care Center Spotlight On Ola Mae Barnes

by Ali Elizabeth Turner What if I were to tell you that one of Athens Rehab and Senior Care’s newest residents is a prolific quilter at 90 years young?

Meet Ola Mae Barnes, who was born on July 5, 1925, moved in to the facility in 2014, has been there about a year, and “loves it.”

She was born at home in Limestone County, helped support her parents’ farm, and has a work ethic that

is nearly non-existent today. She says, “We planted, and picked, and you pulled a big old sack behind you, not like today.”

She added, “We worked during the daytime, and canned, (or, as the phrase goes, ‘put up’) vegetables during the night.”

She told a funny story about the fact that she has never made a Thanksgiving turkey and “can’t stand

chicken.” The reason is, beginning at the age of 7, one of her least favorite jobs was to kill and process at least 7 chickens for Sunday dinner each week.

The chickens were nearly as big as she was, and let’s just say, that to Ola Mae, “anything fowl was truly foul!” Only ham was served at holidays.

As far as quilting and sewing in the old days is concerned, absolutely nothing was done on a machine.

Their clothes were stitched by hand, same as the quilts, and the battings were made from the leftovers from the local cotton gin.

They were mounted on a frame, and then stitched into the quilt so there were no lumps. While I was there, she was working on her newest one, a queen sized quilt commissioned by one of the employees at Athens Rehab and Senior Care. She is going to start a quilting group there at the facility.

Ola Mae married at 22, gave birth to 12 children, and lost one son. In my stint in doing articles for Athens Rehab, (which, by the way is one of my favorite gigs,) I have never met anyone that was the matriarch of SIX generations!

Ola Mae has 19 grandkids, 29 great grandkids, and 5 great-great-great grandkids, the youngest being under a year.

She attended the Church of Christ in Rogersville, and her favorite scripture is John 3:16, certainly a word that we all love. She never watched TV, but

January 16 - February 5, 2015

www.athensnowal.com

they did “crowd around the radio and listen to Sick Call,” she told me.

We moved on to her list of favorites--

Color: Blue. “Mine, too,” I told her.

Song: “When We All Get To Heaven” I sang some of it to her, and asked her if it was the one that went on to say, “What a day of rejoicing that will be/ When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.” She said, “yes,” and I smiled.

President: She never had one, “because they are all about the same.”

Food: To make? “Broccoli salad.” To eat? “Broccoli and cheese sauce.”

Unlike President George H.W. Bush, this woman loves her broccoli.

Activity at the facility?

“Bingo.” And I hear she is really good at it.

What does she think of the facility? “I’ve been very happy here, all of ‘ems good to me.”

Advice to young people?

“Stay off smoking, dope and beer.” Timeless wisdom, and ‘nuff said!

Page 21

Medical Update

5 Health Improvements You Can Make Today That Will Pay Off For A Lifetime Courtesy BrandPoint Content Improving your health and wellness can seem like a daunting task, especially if you know you have some bad health habits to break. But, several improvements you can make today can result in tremendous health benefits.

better when they set a target date to quit. She also advises working with your primary health care provider who can actually individualize a stop-smoking plan for you. And, Howard says getting support from others is a crucial part of the battle.

“It starts with you,” says physician assistant Tricia A. Howard, a faculty member at South University, Savannah’s College of Health Professions.

“You have more control over your health than you think you do.”

Increase Your Water Intake

Here are five steps you can take today that can have a positive impact on your overall health and wellness.

Stop Smoking Everyone knows smoking is bad for you. In fact, people who smoke have by far the greatest risk of lung cancer - the number one cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. - and increased risk of a cardiac event.

But, many people don’t realize that changes in the lungs caused by smoking can actually improve over time once a smoker quits.

“Even if you’ve smoked for many years, you can reduce your lung cancer risks just by quitting,” says Howard. “And this isn’t just about your own health. Smoking puts the ones you love at risk, because even second-hand smoke can cause cancer.

So, quitting is a win-win for you and those you love.”

Howard says people who want to quit smoking do

Page 22

Sixty percent of your body weight is water. Your body depends on water to carry nutrients to cells and to flush toxins out of vital organs, so getting the right amount of fluids each day is crucial.

key part of living a healthy life.”

Howard says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise, or 90 minutes of vigorous exercise a week, for adults.

“That sounds like a lot,” Howard acknowledges.

“But, if you break it into 15-or-20-minute daily

workouts it’s much easier to fit into your schedule.

You don’t have to spend hours at a time in the gym to reap the benefits.”

etables, olive oil, nuts and fish. The results of numerous studies show long-term health benefits to adopting the diet.

Howard says recent studies have shown that even short bursts of exercise can be helpful.

“This is a diet filled with antioxidants and antiinflammatories,” Howard explains. “This diet has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer when adhered to long-term. Weight loss and improvement in cholesterol can be seen after just a few months.”

Adopt The Mediterranean Diet The Mediterranean diet is a diet rich in fruits, veg-

Have Your Cholesterol Checked You might be surprised to learn that you should begin having your cholesterol monitored by a doctor at age 20. But since coronary artery disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S., it’s a recommendation you should take seriously.

Howard says men should drink 3 liters, or 13 cups, per day. For women, the recommendation is 2.2 liters, or 9 cups, per day.

If that recommendation seems tough to follow, Howard says to divide it up throughout the day.

“Make sure you have water with every meal and also drink water at least once between each meal,” she suggests. “That divides up your fluid intake and can make the amount seem less daunting.”

“There is no reason to avoid having your cholesterol checked,” Howard says. “If your cholesterol levels aren’t where they should be, you can change them.”

Howard says levels that are too high can be controlled by diet, quitting smoking, exercise, and even prescription medication.

And, Howard says you don’t have to stick to water. Milk, coffee, and other drinks that contain a lot of water and not a lot of calories count towards your daily fluid intake.

“There are so many things we can do to improve not only the length of our life, but the quality of those years,” Howard encourages.

“Don’t wait. Commit today to making a few small changes, and see how they improve your health over time.”

Exercise “Exercise reduces your risk for chronic disease, improves balance and coordination and helps with weight loss,” Howard says. “Exercise is a

www.athensnowal.com

January 16 - February 5, 2015

January 16 - February 5, 2015

www.athensnowal.com

Page 23

Page 24

www.athensnowal.com

January 16 - February 5, 2015

January 16 - February 5, 2015

www.athensnowal.com www.troyelmore.com

Page 25

Page 26

www.athensnowal.com www.troyelmore.com

January 16 - February 5, 2015

January 16 - February 5, 2015

www.athensnowal.com www.troyelmore.com

Page 27

Page 28

www.athensnowal.com www.troyelmore.com

January 16 - February 5, 2015

January 16 - February 5, 2015

www.athensnowal.com www.troyelmore.com

Page 29

Page 30

www.athensnowal.com www.troyelmore.com

January 16 - February 5, 2015

January 16 - February 5, 2015

www.athensnowal.com www.troyelmore.com

Page 31

Page 32

www.athensnowal.com www.troyelmore.com

January 16 - February 5, 2015