Mark 12:29-31 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
The last two sermons in our series on The Biggest Winner: Six Steps to a Better You in the New Year are Adding a Healthy Lifestyle (strength/body) – the last of the four ways to love God and Adding Self-Love (the second Great Commandment to love your neighbor as yourself). I would like to invite us all to add something to our lifestyle that will honor God and honor ourselves as we seek to love others as we love ourselves. The final word in loving God is strength – that is our body.
How are we treating our bodies? All too often we neglect this part of loving God, at least I do. Here is my challenge over the next eight weeks (February and March) leading up to Easter, during the Lenten season, what can you add to your life that will strengthen your body.
Let me share what I’ve been doing that has been helpful. I call it the “two Y’s.” I’m trying to eat better and for me it started with eating Yogurt in the morning and, taking the advice from one of our ushers, Hardee McAlhaney, who shared a while back he lost weight by cutting back on the whites – white bread, white potatoes – in essence, his carbs. Cutting back has helped me.
The second Y is Yoga or the YMCA. I started going to the “Y” to take yoga after Rick Pfeifer shared that he had been doing yoga and that it has helped his back and general fitness. I try to go several times a week. What a workout! I have a long way to go, to honor God with my body but adding the two Y’s has been helpful.
I’m starting this blog for you to share what has worked for you in strengthening your body. This will allow us as a community to learn and grow together in loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength/body.
The blog can also include not only what physical strength and dieting has helped, but also what has helped you love God with your heart, soul and mind. This may be a little new for many of us; it is to me. But let’s give it a try and let’s celebrate as we grow in our love of God with all of who we are.
What has been helpful to me is to make sure I know what I am about to eat as far as calories are concerned. Writing down what I eat and keeping a running total of calories has helped me so much. I have learned that I can “spend” my calories wisely just like I try to spend my money wisely. By the way, eating at home more is saving me soooo much money!
(Once I’ve got the calorie consumption controlled to my satisfaction, my next goal is to do the same for my sodium intake.)
I believe that because my physique is important to me that it is also important to my Creator. I beleive it is God who put that desire within me and my faith tells me I am able because of Him.
As far as diets go, what works (somewhat) for me is to eat a big breakfast, medium lunch and small (light) dinner. I do think God would like for me (and most) to exercise more and respect the need to have a weekly day of rest, reflection & relaxation.
I continue to enjoy this series. For me, volunteering to help the poor has enlightened me to be less selfish and more appreciative. This has thus drawn me to a closer relationship to God.
What I have found to work for me is to eat either oatmeal or a banana with yogurt for breakfast every morning then the same lunch everyday consisting of a whole wheat bagel and an apple. Of course I also find drinking plenty of water lets me know if I’m actually hungry of just getting bored and looking for a small way to pass the time. This lets me figure ahead of time how many calories I have left over everyday for dinner.
As far as exercising goes I like to mix things up. For example some days I ride my bicycle around the lake a couple of times, other days I go to the gym, or stay at home and work out on the WII fit. The one thing that keeps me motivated is to listen to spirtually uplifting music. For me whenever I feel like I can’t continue exercising the music just inspires me and reminds me that Jesus never gave up or said this is to hard. A peaceful calm comes over me and I feel as though God is there giving me that extra boost.
I spend much of my day in a office setting. For years now I have been taking my lunch to work. For this to work well I suggest the following: Purchase microwavable containers (at least 4 to rotate between days) that are subdivided inside to separate your food (I don’t like my apple to float in my soup). I use tupperware containers that have a pop-open vent for microwaving. About half of my lunches are leftovers from dinner. Make your lunch the night before when cleaning up from dinner(not in the morning when you are in a rush). The evening time will also be better for portion-control since you shouldn’t be hungry right after dinner. I used to forget my my lunch about one day a week(nothing like getting 2 miles from home only to remember “Oh I forgot my lunch!” To solve that problem my wife put a permanent note on my dash that says “LUNCH” . It works for me. I eat my lunch at my desk and try to use the time to give my brain a little downtime. And last of all, I always have a container of water on my desk so I can drink (4-6) times 12 ounces a day. The end result by not eating out is that I eat much better, save a lot of money, and save at least an hour a day.