Start Small

As Christians, the Bible gives us many examples of giving everything to God (mind, body, soul, life, etc..).  A few examples of these are 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 9:27 and Romans 12:1.  Though the Bible talks a lot more about this, these are a few references that come to mind.

Not only should we take care of our bodies for spiritual reasons, but for health reasons as well.  When we constantly feed our body’s saturated fat, trans fat and processed foods it can cause plaque build-up in our arteries, which can reduce blood flow or block it completely.  Clogged arteries increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.  Eating too much salt (which is extremely common in society today) puts a strain on your kidneys, which makes it difficult for them to remove the excess water from your body.  When your body has too much water it causes high blood pressure, which then puts a strain not only on the kidneys, but also the arteries, heart and brain.  Think about how many people automatically put salt all over their food without even tasting it first.  Do you do that?  For most people it is probably a habit and they don’t even realize that they are doing it, but if you are one of those people, make the small change, taste the food first and then decide.  The two most common causes of Type 2 Diabetes are obesity and lack of physical exercise.  Overeating and constantly eating the wrong foods can ultimately lead to a number of health problem or even obesity. 

Watch this video from Fit2Fat2Fit.  If you aren’t familiar with Drew’s experiment check out Fit2Fat2Fit.com.  Drew put on 60lbs in 6 months to turn around and show people how to lose weight in 6 more months.  His goal is to show people how to get in shape by eating healthy and working out.  In this video his doctor reviews his blood work after one month of JUST eating healthy.  At this point, he hadn’t started working out yet and the difference is amazing!  

So what small changes can you start with today?  Eat more fruits and vegetables, switch from white bread to 100% whole grain bread and eat lean protein.  Every decision you make, whether in health, relationships, school, etc. will lead you in a particular direction, either towards your goals or away from them.  Changing your health and changing your life are daily decisions.  Remember change isn’t easy and it won’t happen overnight, but you can slowly make small changes that result in a lifestyle change, not a quick fix diet.

First Things First

Truth be told, we are not experts in this field and we aren't perfect when it comes to a healthy lifestyle, but we are two people learning, growing and gaining in knowledge of fitness and nutrition.  We are normal people living normal lives (kinda), but we do have a love and urgency for health and wellness.  Our life has been active to say the least.  We have formally played almost every sport in the book.  From baseball to hockey and from mixed martial arts to a marathon, we are constantly pushing ourselves.  We have completed many home workout programs including Insanity, P90x, The Shred and more.  Between having worked in the health industry and formally studying (we are pursing certifications in personal training and nutrition) we are, I guess you could say, getting there.

No, it has not been a perfect ride.  There have been struggles, weight gain and more, but the reality is that a healthy lifestyle is a necessity.  The goal of this blog is to educate, encourage, motivate and challenge you.  We will provide everything from personal experiences to tips (recipes, programs, etc.).  There are so many reasons (facts) of why being healthy is a necessity and that alone should motivate you, but the reality is that we also have a greater conviction being Christians.  In the next post we will share with you some of these facts and convictions.  We truly hope and pray that this blog motivates, encourages and enlightens you to live and be healthy not only for yourself, but for the people you love and for the glory of God!  We hope that you will join us on this journey to a healthier life.