Tag Archives: #exercise

Spirituality

The Importance of Stretching

Yesterday I went on a long walk. For some reason, probably laziness, I didn’t stretch before or after my walk. This morning my hamstrings are tight, reminding me to stretch next time. Our bodies give us clear signals.

But I want to address a different type of stretching: stretching our faith. In yesterday’s column I wrote about my experience with tithing. Tithing stretched my faith which means I was uncomfortable for a while. But I didn’t waver. And God came through.

Do you have friends or family members you trust completely? You know them to be reliable every time. But they are human with the flaws of an imperfect person. God isn’t like us. He’s perfect, trustworthy and reliable. He gave us a guidebook for life. We simply need to read it and apply what we read. I learned about tithing in Scripture.

Stretching your faith will challenge you. You will experience discomfort. But if you stay the course, rely on God for guidance and don’t give up, your life will be enriched beyond measure.

Try it. Stretch your faith…

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Spirituality

Peak Performance

Some coaches goad their players by telling them “they want 110% effort.” This is ridiculous. We can only give 100%. Better coaches would encourage us to “leave everything on the field.” In other words, give it everything you have.

In order to be at your optimum, you must do the prep work. Eat right, rest, stimulate your mind and throw in some exercise on a regular basis. By doing these things consistently, you put yourself in position to succeed. This applies in sports as well as daily life. You won’t be your best if you are running on an empty tank.

Of course, sometimes things don’t go our way. When we are mentally right we adapt, we adjust. We realize today wasn’t our day, but we live to fight on.

Each day will present its own set of new challenges. Look forward to them. You must push yourself harder on some days than others. If you are operating at peak strength, you put the odds in your favor…

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Spirituality

Too Old

Have you ever suggested an activity to someone, only for them to say, “I’m too old for that?” Are they aware that former President Bush jumped out of an airplane well into his 80’s? Remarkable.

Age is only a state of mind. It only exists in your head and your heart. It’s true that as we age we might not be as limber and flexible as we once were. That only means you have to take a little longer to warm up. You aren’t out unless you decide you are.

Our only limitations are the ones we place on ourselves. The mind is powerful, and mind over matter is a real thing. Don’t place artificial limits on yourself. You can go as far as you are willing to go in life.

I have no plans to jump out of a perfectly good airplane anytime soon. It could happen, but it’s highly improbable.

And like the song says, you’re only as pretty as you feel. Feel empowered to live and thrive…

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Uncategorized

Walking Tours

For the last three days I have been in Chicago. I’m returning home today. But man I have seen a lot of downtown Chicago!

I set out earlier this morning looking for a specific restaurant recommended by my assistant. Once again, Google directions failed me. Horribly. Oh well, I got in a nice walk before I found the restaurant. Google sent me a mile the wrong direction.

Walking is wonderful exercise. It’s easier on your knees, and we can walk farther than we can run. Walking allows us to experience nature while we are doing something that benefits our bodies.

Get outside. Walk around. Your future self will thank you…

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Uncategorized

Protein

If you are new to exercise, it’s important to watch what you eat to achieve your best results. Oftentimes I see people begin getting in shape, but they eat like a rabbit. Substituting a salad for a beautifully grilled ribeye is a mistake!

Protein provides the building blocks to build muscle. If you rob your body of protein, your body will turn on you. It requires you to feed it what it needs.

A word of caution: there are people who swear by an all-beef diet. You should find what is best for you. A diet without fresh vegetables might not be optimal. Do some research. Consult a nutritionist. Your body is a machine. Treat it right and it will last a long time.

Lifting weights, Pilates and walking are a nice combination. Try them, but don’t forget the protein!

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Spirituality

Take It Easy

In many ways we have become lazy. The proliferation of 7-11 stores was due to our desire to save time. We were willing to pay higher prices for convenience.

Fast food has become a staple of American culture and cuisine. Yes, we save time when we pick up a bag of hamburgers on the way home. But we miss the human connection we get from preparing a meal together. The loss is intangible so we don’t notice it as much.

Today, there are six obesity drugs available. Give yourself a weekly shot and you’ll lose much of your appetite. Yet, you also lose the satisfaction of taking the weight off naturally through exercise. The satisfaction of accomplishment is gone. Plus, weight loss through diet and exercise has no side effects, unlike drugs.

We are hardwired to grow, to achieve. This aids in the development of healthy neural pathways. God has given us every tool we need to live long, healthy, productive lives. Let’s not take His gift for granted…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Dopamine

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is present in all of us. Dopamine is involved in a lot of what we feel during the day. Motivation, our attention span, and pleasure are some of the areas dopamine effects.

Dopamine can manifest some negative effects, too. Addiction to drugs, alcohol, online games, anything really addictive are related to dopamine production.

We can increase our dopamine levels naturally by exercising, getting good sleep and meditating. If you don’t like to meditate, try your hand at writing because writing hits the same center in the brain that meditation does.

Understanding how our bodies work is key to improving our health, and overall our lives. I encourage you to take time to learn about how dopamine plays a part in your life, and then put what you learned to work…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Repent!

In the Bible, to repent means to “change your mind.” We think of it as punitive, but it isn’t.

I have often written about controlling your thoughts in this column. It’s easier than you might think. We make it harder because the battle is in the mind. You might be thinking, “that’s just how I am.” Yet you are how you think. You become how you think, too.

Do you want to be healthy? See yourself in shape. Read something about fitness/wellness regularly. Your thoughts will take a turn for the better, especially at mealtime. You will unconsciously begin an exercise regimen. Your mind will plant these seeds and you will act on them.

Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s automatic. Your old thought patterns will hang around. They are powerful but your mind is more powerful. Push them away. Change your mind about your health (or whatever).

Start today. In fact, start now. You can do anything you set your mind to…

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#inspiration

Ironic, Isn’t It?

Every day is National “Something” Day, and January 2nd in National Buffet Day. Seriously. On the very first day most people have vowed to regain their health by beginning an exercise program, we have a day honoring food gluttony.

Personally I’m not a big fan of buffets. I’m not sure why. Las Vegas Casinos advertise them as a means to get people into their casino rather than another. The casinos aren’t doing the consumers any favors. They understand that the gamblers will lose way more money than it costs to practically give away food.

On the other hand, I do believe in exercise. Anything we can do to improve our health and our lives gets a big yes from me. Don’t get me wrong, I love to eat. I’m a believer in eating real food to feed your body. You need to eat when exercising or you won’t get the results you want.

My encouragement to you is to put the fork away and take care of yourself instead. Your future self will thank you for it…

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#inspiration

New Year. New Who?

The New Year is right around the corner. Soon it will be 2024. Many people set New Year’s Resolutions and go into the new year determined to change. But what really changes?

Starting anew and replacing a bad habit with a good one is always a good idea. Maybe you begin exercising after laying off for a while. Perhaps you start eating better. Whatever it is, commit to it and don’t quit. Do not let anyone, including yourself, talk you out of the new version of you!

Focus on improving one day at a time. Progress happens if you simply trust the process and keep going…

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