Fit in 15: The Spirit of Fitness
There is a spirit that moves us to do things. It can prompt us to call someone, or to turn left instead of right. It can also urge us to make changes in order to live well. There is a desire within us to create healthy habits and make incremental improvements to our body, mind, and spirit. This is the spirit of fitness.
True fitness—the idea of being whole—is more than physical. I am writing a new book, The Spirit of Fitness: 7 Days, 7 Macro Habits. The book explores seven habits that I believe are foundational to developing the spirit of fitness: prayer and meditation, a positive attitude, keeping a healthy weight, hydration, sleep hygiene, strength training, and healthy eating.
I’ll share these habits one by one in each monthly column. Let’s start with keeping a healthy weight.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and that we are not our own—we were bought at a price and should honor God with our bodies.
The idea of a healthy weight is subjective. Please throw out the rigid belief that a person of a certain height should weigh a specific number. Some people feel better at a heavier or lighter weight than the so-called national average. Truthfully, we each know when we are healthy—when we need to lose or gain a few pounds, and when we feel our best—even if our Body Mass Index (BMI) categorizes us as too heavy. BMI calculators can be helpful tools, but they are not absolute. We should not strive to meet industry standards, but personal ones.
To maintain a healthy weight, a balanced diet is essential. We must honor our bodies with fresh, whole foods—by increasing our intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats. While convenient, fast food does not honor our bodies. These ultra-processed foods are low in nutritional value and loaded with chemicals. Fast food companies use “flavor science” to make their products more appealing, satisfying, and addictive. High levels of salt and sugar make fast food very tempting to the taste buds.
As you begin to cut out processed foods, your cravings will start to shift. You’ll find yourself wanting a homemade salad with crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy cucumbers instead of a greasy fast-food burger.
Maintaining a healthy weight is important because of the impact obesity can have on our health. Those who struggle with obesity are at increased risk for sleep apnea, digestive problems, certain cancers, diabetes, osteoarthritis, heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. These chronic conditions can lead to serious complications and may even shorten your life.
I believe it is God’s will that we live well, and that we honor Him with one of the greatest gifts we’ve been given—our bodies. You only get one. Let’s make it the best it can be.
And don’t forget to add in exercise! Visit www.kahlilcarmichaelfitness.com for tips and a link to my free online workout. Click “Start My Journey” and leave me a message. I’m rooting for you!
