Meet a Health Hero: Beth Devine
Beth Devine
» You can vote for Beth here September 22nd through 28th. Mark your calendar!
Name: Beth Devine
Role: Founder of Philly Girls in Motion, a nonprofit dedicated to getting girls around Philly moving and educated when it comes to nutrition.
Who or what motivates you to be healthy?
I have to be a role model to the girls we serve at Philly Girls in Motion. I am motivated every day by those kids. Showing them that even though I don’t have a perfect body, I can make healthy choices and get exercise in my life regularly is so important. Sending that message motivates me.
Describe a health or fitness related turning point in your life.
At age 40 I was in the best shape of my life. In the next four years, a death in my family, a couple of injuries, and the stress of leaving a job to work on Philly Girls full time left me incredibly unhealthy. It was simply how awful I felt that woke me up and put me back on track. It’s amazing how quickly living healthier can erase that awful feeling.
What “policy” would you institute to make Greater Philadelphia a healthier region?
I would work to get more physical activity back into the schools. Kids need movement! Gym class once a week for 45 minutes and few or no after school sports really isn’t acceptable to me. That has to change.
What’s the most important part of your health or fitness regimen?
I think everyone has a different fitness formula or a combo of food/exercise/ water/sleep that works for them. My biggest formula piece is exercise. When I get regular exercise, the food/water/sleep parts fall into place naturally. Exercise is my driver.
What is your number one piece of health-related advice?
Everyone is different, but I would say focus less on the scale and more on your health. The scale can be discouraging, but a good workout or a healthy meal always feels good. So focus on getting more of those in your life. Do that and success on the scale comes naturally.
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