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.

City Council President LaMonica McIver wins special primary to fill late New Jersey congressman’s seat

Newark, N.J., City Council President LaMonica McIver has won the Democratic nomination for the special election to replace the late...
Read More

Philadelphia pastor elected to lead historic Black church in New York City

New York’s historic Abyssinian Baptist Church has elected its new senior pastor, likely bringing an end to a national search...
Read More

Newark Symphony Hall Presents: The Black Creative Economy Summit

2024 SUMMIT OVERVIEW Newark Symphony Hall’s flagship event is back for another year of impact. The Black Creative Economy (BCE)...
Read More

Baseball great Willie Mays dies at 93

Baseball legend Willie Mays, widely considered one of the best players in the sport’s history, has died, according to the...
Read More

WBGO is 45

Jazz lovers packed the newly renovated, beautifully appointed Terrace Ballroom at Newark Symphony Hall on April 12 for a grand...
Read More

Baptist Ministers and The Positive Community

25 Years of Positive Change! Founded in 1898, the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Greater New York and Vicinity (BMCGNY&V) is...
Read More

Donald Payne: A Friend Indeed

There is no question that Essex County and Newark lost a great leader with the unfortunate passing of U.S. Representative...
Read More

Trust and Obey… and God will do the Rest!

“Hmmmm, hmmmm, hmmmm!” That was the chant of the massive congregation gathered at The Riverside Church for the sermon last...
Read More

Patti Labelle Headlines Inaugural Newark Symphony Hall Gala

Newark Symphony Hall (NSH) celebrated the legacy of Jazz legend and Newark icon, Sarah Vaughan, with the inaugural Sarah A. Vaughan...
Read More

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...

Kean and Howard Universities ForgeHistoric Dual Degree Agreement

Kean University students now have a faster path to earning a doctoral degree in pharmacy under a new dual degree...

Community Education Forum w/Alfred Bundy: David Tomkins, Alexandra da Costa Santos & Renita Mangru

In this episode of Essex County College’s Community Education Forum, host Alfred Bundy speaks with guests David Tomkins (ECC Athletic...

Essex County Commissioner A’Dorian Murray-Thomas Incredibly Accomplished and Just Getting Started

Simply catching up with A’dorian Murray-Thomas feels like a grand accomplishment. The newly-elected county commissioner is also CEO of the...

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...

Holy Name Announces New Leadership Appointments

Holy Name, the region’s leading independent health system, appointed Cynthia Ziegler as Vice President of...

You Can Live Well

As a fitness expert, I often encourage clients to care for themselves first. It seems...

Season’s Greetings

Stay Safe and Enjoy this Wonderful Time of the Year The upcoming holiday season is...

Powerful Stories of Breast Cancer Survivors

WORLD’s Stories from the Stage: The Podcast Kicks Off New Season Stories from the Stage: The...

They are Fit to be First Responders

By Barry Carter In a spirited competition among first responders, Newark and Essex County police...

How the 50-30-20 Rule Can Help You on Your Journey to Financial Success

Having a plan for your money is crucial to building a solid financial foundation. If...

BUSINESS IN BLACK

A Talk with New York City Mayor Eric Adams | By Glenn Townes Challenging the...

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...

Aisha Glover Helps Audible Make an Impact in Cities Around the World

Aisha Glover joined Audible as VP, Urban Innovation in 2020, when Audible’s Founder Don Katz...

New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency Celebrates 40 Years of Service

On January 17, 2024, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) celebrates its...