Getting up to trundle off to the gym at this time of the year just isn't fun. It's dark out there, and it's cold. Sometimes we shovel snow so we can drive to get exercise! In the end we're usually glad that we made the effort, but not always. Still, we do feel that the "body" part of care for Body, Mind and Spirit is essential.
The CBC, both television and radio, has begun a new focus on taking care of our bodies called Live Right Now after doing an extensive survey on the health of Canadians. One of the things the survey discovered is that we aren't all that honest with ourselves. About 6% of us consider ourselves obese, while it is actually around one quarter of all Canadians. And about 40% of Canadians make no conscious effort to get regular exercise.
This is an interesting challenge from a religious standpoint. On the one hand we realize that our media place an inordinate emphasis on the ideal body, and TV shows such as The Biggest Loser encourage an bizarre fascination with getting "whipped into shape" -- almost literally. We are exhorted by enthusiastic celebrities to join them in creating new "heavenly" bodies, only to hear that they have reverted to old habits. Why would faith communities support this?
On the other hand, many of us are unhealthy or dissatisfied because we are overweight. I will admit that I fret about my weight at times and don't enjoy the ravages of time. Those buff whippersnappers half my age at the gym don't help!As a minister I have spent time at hospital bedsides with those who have weight related illnesses and I have buried them too. There have even been parishioners who have stopped coming to church because they are ashamed of their weight.
It seems to me that our goal as communities of faith is to encourage healthy body images and healthy lifestyles because God has created us to be whole people in every aspect of our being. The church can be the place where we support one another in this. I feel that to Live Right Now is what God desires for us, that we are meant to enjoy abundant life now, even as we anticipate eternal life.
What are your struggles, triumphs, observations about all this?
5 comments:
Timely. Yesterday was "the first day of the rest of my life" .... oh, how many times have I said that? Too many. Sadly, I think that I have been "enjoying 'over'abundant life" So, the time has come the walrus said. I'm putting it out there right now. My goal this year is to lose 30 pounds (o.k. o.k. before we went on the cruise this was the figure I had to lose - got on the scale yesterday and it would appear that isn't enough!!) But let's start with that! Anyone else want to jump on my "live abundantly but not excessively" bandwagon?
Go Lynn! That's a major goal - good luck!
I was sick with the flu over the holidays (rechristened "the hell-idays" for this year, only) and get this: I missed 10 days from the gym ... and I lost 8 lbs.
Eight flippin' pounds. The irony is rife!
The only good to come from this is that I completely dodged the over-eating bullet and am now primed for a strong return to the gym, the rink, and to life in general.
The bigger picture is that anyone can benefit from a positive change to their physical lifestyle. Studies indicate that individuals who engage in strength training 3X a week, and who add into the mix brisk walks or other kinds of cardiovascular exercise can dramatically delay the onset of age-related ailments, thereby increasing their quality of life over time. Add into this mix a diet of smart substitutions (water for pop, fruit salad for pie) and anyone can see a pronounced change in their appearance and sense of well-being in as little as three months.
Good luck to all in their health and fitness goals in 2011. Lyne, if you need any help, gimme a call!
One last thing on the weight loss front: for those of you trying to lose weight, consider the math:
1 lb. of body fat = 3600 calories.
To GAIN 1 lb. of body fat, simply eat 3600 lbs. over your body's maintainence needs for calories. As an example of how easy that is to do, 3600 calories can easily be found (and downed!) in 4 loaded pieces of pizza and 2 cans of pop.
To LOSE 1 lb. of body fat, you would have to burn off 3600 calories. Just to give you some perspective on how easy it is to gain vs. lose, for one to burn off 3600 cal., you would have to jog lightly on a treadmill ... for eleven consecutive hours.
Always remember the input/expenditure math behind your weight loss aspirations. The better you eat, and the more you move, the more you'll lose.
It's the chocolate - keep me away from the stuff!!!
Lynnm that slogan "live abundantly but not excessively" is an excellent one we could all adopt. Way better than the latest TV weight loss program slogan "remember, it's not you, it's your metabolism" --pulleeze. It points to the fact that what happens with our bodies always has a spiritual component.
Ian, you are downright evangelical! I like it. Many good points worth heeding. My simplistic view is "refined sugar is my enemy, exercise is my friend, and a good exercise is pushing myself away from the table."
Johnny, chocolate is always a dark force in the shadows, sort of like Satan, only yummy.
Thanks y'all.
Post a Comment