Exercise Your Independent Spirit

Kahlil Carmichael MAPCC, MDIV, CPT is the pastor of Live Well Church, in Somerset, New Jersey. He is a fitness specialist at The Fitness Doctor, a fitness and wellness consulting company; and the author of 50 Tips for a Better You. He is a contributor to Guideposts magazine. His first publication, Living Longer Living Better, is available now. Go to www.livewellchurch.org for more information.

We all have moments when we may not do our best physically. What do you want to accomplish? Weight loss, increased flexibility, reshaping your body? It may seem impossible to achieve. It’s not. Let’s talk about it!

First, decide exactly what you want. Do you want Michelle Obama arms, Teyana Taylor abs, Michael B. Jordan trapezius muscles? Now you can add specific exercises to your conditioning plan to work on that body part. You can’t just work your upper or lower torso exclusively, though, it will lead to an unbalanced physique—we’ve all seen it.

Next, secure a trainer. Most laymen are unfamiliar with physiology and exercise training and need a professional. You might join a gym and work out for hours each day. After some months you’ll give up because you can’t keep up the same level of commitment and you don’t see the changes you desire. Trainer’s secret: you don’t need to work out excessively, you just need to work smart! A trainer can help develop an exercise plan tailored for your current fitness level and time constraints. Your plan should grow with you as you become more fit: more reps, more weight, more challenge.

Diet is everyone’s least favorite topic. Maybe you feel if you exercise you can eat whatever you want? Truthfully, if you eat poorly (lots of fried foods, sugar, etc.), you will be exercising only to maintain your current weight and body type. You will not be able to affect a lasting change, because you are undoing any progress with excess calories. The exercise is still strengthening your body, but if you want to see substantial change you must eliminate high-calorie foods. The more disciplined you are, the quicker you will see change. Your body will start to burn excess fat as you go into caloric deficit and your muscle definition will start to show.

Experts say if you eat clean 80% of the time and exercise for 20%, you can make a great impact in your fitness. Let’s try it. Plan your meals and commit. Get a trainer to map out an exercise plan for you and build on it. Don’t wait until you are suffering from a chronic condition like diabetes or hypertension before you make a change. Walk, run, stretch, ride a bike, lift weights, row, skate, do calisthenics, eat clean and live well! Next month I will share an arm workout that will change your life! Remember, it is the spirit that gives life!

Let’s continue getting back to life. Please check out our new 8-week class, designed to help you reach your personal best. Additionally, here is a YouTube link to my 12-minute workout you can do 3 days per week at home. https://youtu.be/E625Kq64XmQ Please place a comment on the YouTube video chat and let me know what you would like to see.

Live well and prosper.

 Art Dealers Association of America, and benefitting Henry Street Settlement

Organized annually by the Art Dealers Association of America, and benefitting Henry Street Settlement, one of New York’s leading social service, arts...
Read More

Newark Restaurant Week Is Back For 2024

Foodies in New Jersey’s largest city will get a chance to sink their teeth into special menus and offers during...
Read More

LeBron and Bronny James make history as the NBA’s first father-son duo

Late in the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener, LeBron and Bronny James stepped onto the basketball...
Read More

Labor movement mourns the passing of William “Bill” Lucy

Bill Lucy helped organize the 1968 Memphis sanitation strike. He was the author of the famous “I Am a Man”...
Read More

Roseville Fall Festival

“Annual Family Fall Harvest & Trunk or Treat”

Roseville Community Charter School Roseville Community Charter School hosted its annual “Family Fall Harvest & Trunk or Treat” event on...

Essex County College’s Community Education Forum

Check out the latest Essex County College Community Education Forum TV episode, a special show taped at the College’s new West Essex campus...

SHE Wins! Aspiring Law Student Scholarship Award 2024

Earlier this month, SHE Wins Inc.  Founder and CEO A’Dorian Murray-Thomas announced the winner of the  SHE Wins – Sherman...

BERKELEY COLLEGE CELEBRATES ‘REMARKABLE RESILIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE’

Photo Caption: Berkeley College celebrates the perseverance and achievements of more than 1,000 graduates during a Commencement ceremony on Thursday, May...

BERKELEY COLLEGE NEWARK NETWORKING BREAKFAST

HIGHLIGHTS NEW INITIATIVES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Business partners, community leaders, and alumni focused on collaboration and education during Berkeley College’s second annual Newark...

RWJ Barnabas Health and Saint James Health Celebrate National Health Center Week, Open new Health Center at Newark’s East Side High School

L-R: Hasani Council, President, Newark School Board; Helena Vinhas, Newark School Board member; Ketlen Baptiste-Alsbrook...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s a time for reflection on trends in breast...

Darrell K. Terry Sr.

At Home in Newark and at The Beth By R.L. Witter President and Chief Executive...

Should You Focus On Exercise When You Want to Lose Weight?

Exercise may not be the best way to lose weight. A quick Google search on...

Financial Life After College Learning the Basics of Retirement Planning

You did it! You’re about to graduate. As you close this chapter and begin a...

N.J.’s African American Chamber named national chamber of year at Black Business Conference

The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey was recently recognized as the National...

Unlock the Door to Your Dream Home: Join Us at the NCJAR Housing Fair and Expo

Are you ready to take a step closer to owning your dream home? Mark your...

Rev. Dr. Valerie Oliver-Durrah & Brooke Durrah

Mother & Daughter Building a Legacy of Black Excellence in Brooklyn Known throughout Brooklyn as...

This Mom Is Fighting Hunger by Starting a Company That Reduces Food Waste

Atlanta mom Jasmine Crowe-Houston launched Goodr, a company that keeps food out of landfills while...