Tip #66: Physical training is good, but...

...training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8

If you've read the National news lately you know that the tornadoes that hit the South have killed at least 290 people.  290 people!  People who two days ago were living their normal lives, with hopes and plans for a future; and certainly with no intentions of taking their last breaths on Wednesday, April 27th, 2011.  Why am I bringing this up?  Perspective and priorities.  Physical training, health and fitness, are important, but they are not everything.  Without spiritual health, your physical health is in vain.

So, what is spiritual health?  Does it mean being spiritual?  Religious?  One with the universe?  Having perfect church attendance?  Being perfect?  Not quite.  There's someone named Jesus.  The Jesus of the Bible.  He lived a sinless life, performed miracles, claimed to be God and told his friends He would die and then rise again, and then got tortured and died on a cross...and rose again.  There were over 500 eyewitnesses.  Jesus requires a response from everyone.  Atheists, Buddhists, Church-goers, feminists, pastors, prisoners, political leaders, terrorists...everyone.  He requires a response from everyone because He claimed to be God (quite a claim!), and then proved that He was.  You either have to accept Him or reject Him.  There's no room for indifference.  You'd be a fool to conclude that Jesus was just a prophet or good teacher, and not God, because He claimed to be God.  That would simply make him a crazy man.

Spiritual health is recognizing that you mess up; you're not perfect.  Spiritual health is recognizing that there is a Creator of this universe; a God who is perfect, and has chosen to reveal himself to us through Jesus.  Spiritual health is realizing that an imperfect person trying to reach a perfect God, poses a problem.  Spiritual Health is taking the time to read the Bible to see that the reason Jesus had to die was because He loves you.  God is perfectly holy and cannot tolerate sin; sin must be paid for.  Because He loves us so much, he sent Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin, so if we trust in Him, we won't have to.  Continued spiritual health, means living in beautiful fellowship with your creator, enjoying the forgiveness, power and freedom He gives.  It means giving Him your sin, and accepting His righteousness.  Sounds like a deal too good to pass up, to me.

As much as I love running, helping others get healthy, and pursuing health myself, all of that is but garbage, in comparison to the freedom, peace and LIFE I have in Jesus Christ.

If you are putting any effort into your physical health whatsoever, please also take the time to look at your soul.  Take a look at Jesus.  What will you do with him?  He offers love and forgiveness, and He's much too important to ignore.

Tip #65: Health feeds Health

In a recent conversation with my mom, I was explaining to her how I've unintentionally lost a few pounds since late December when I started training for my 1/2 marathon.  At first I found myself explaining to her that I've kept my eating the same, I just run more now.  But as I was talking through it, I realized that actually, no, my eating is not the same as it was 4 months ago!  The funny thing is that I hadn't even realized it.  I never intentionally went out of my way to try to eat healthier, and actually had no goal of losing any weight, while training for this 1/2 marathon.  It happened because Health feeds Health!

1. When you are physically active on a regular basis, your body naturally starts craving the food and nutrients that it needs.  "Junk" food actually becomes less appealing.  After a good workout, donuts, fried foods and Coke sound absolutely disgusting to me.  Instead I grab a Gatorade, apple, or granola bar.  It's as if my body knows it needs healthy choices to refuel; it tells my brain, and I respond.  It's quite a fabulous cycle.  When you are physically active, eating healthy becomes much easier.  Instead of a burden, it becomes more of a pleasure, and a choice you make because you want to, not because you "have" to.

2. Exercise alters your perspective on eating.  As you engage in physical activity on a regular basis, and reap its benefits, it will only motivate you to eat healthier too!  Fitting into your old clothes, having more energy and less stress, can really be great motivators!  On the contrary, when you choose to remain inactive, "junk" food sounds fantastic and seems to fit your lifestyle just fine.

3. When you are physically active, you experience the consequences of bad food.  Sure, you can eat greasy french fries and a big bowl of ice cream before a run or exercise session, but you're going to pay for it!  One session full of stomach cramps, low energy and dehydration, and you'll probably think twice about what you eat before your next workout.

Your health is kind of a package deal.  What package will you choose?

**Blog Update**

Hey there friends,

In order to keep my priorities in line, and my sanity in tact, I have decided to not post fit tips every single week day.  From here on out, I will still post regularly as I have the time to do so.  If you stumbled upon this blog, or even if you are a regular reader, please browse around and check out some of the 64 fit tips that I have already posted.  For your convenience they are categorized into, Aerobic Exercise, Nutrition, Perspective, Recipes, Running and Strength Training.  You can find the posts arranged by topic directly under my picture and profile.

Have a great week!

Because of Awesome Jesus,

Sara

Tip #64: Beware of Empty Calories!

Empty Calories: High energy food with LOW or NO nutritional value.

This typically includes foods with lots of sugar/sweetners and/or foods with a large amount of fat/oil in them.  The problem?  When you consume large amounts of empty calories, they fill you up while offering you, your body and your health...nothing.  Well except perhaps a headache, low energy, and a few extra pounds!

I wish I could offer you a full list of all of the foods that have empty calories, but there are just too many.  The foods that will usually fill you up but leave you nutritionally empty are bakery items, candy, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, highly processed foods, and refined grains (white bread/pasta, etc.).  There are more, but these are the biggies.

This may come as bad news to you if these foods comprise the bulk of your diet.  However I want to encourage you to take it as good news, because perhaps you can start making some changes today.  After looking at that list, you may wonder, what's left to eat???  I'll tell you.  Fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lower fat dairy, and lean proteins.  Give some of those a try this week.

I do realize that Easter is coming up and that many of your homes will be filled with a plethora of empty calories (CANDY!!!).  As a human being I also realize that completely cutting all empty calories from your diet is darn near impossible.  Eat empty calories in moderation, and make wise and intentional choices when you chow down.

Tip #63: Give Running a Try

I received the following message from a friend this week:

"When can you call yourself a "runner?"
When you have run a race? When you are on a track team? When you have run for a certain number of days, weeks, months?

Or is it when you start liking it? When You buy a running magazine? When you go outside and think how great the weather is for a run? This actually happened to me this week. It was Overcast and slightly drizzly, with a nice breeze. I hurried to do my housework so I could do a run in it. Its happening again today as the sun is shining, it'd warm but not hot, birds are chirping, slight breeze is blowing. Can't wait to get out on that trail."


My friend is new to running and started doing it to lose some unwanted pounds and get in shape.  She started out very slowly and conservatively, and as you can tell, has discovered the joy of running.  So Jennifer, to answer your question, YOU are a runner.  Exercise, especially running, is often viewed as a burden, a pain, and even a punishment.  But once you get out and actually start doing it on a regular basis, you really can begin to enjoy running.


Running is a source of stress-relief, alone time, challenge, prayer and exhilaration for me.  If given a chance, your once enemy, can transform into a faithful friend.  Running is cheap (you only need good shoes), it can be done anywhere, and it is the fastest way to burn calories and lose weight.  So, I know I'm biased, but give running a chance.  I'm glad Jennifer did; and I think she is too.