Health 101: Back 2 Basics
I was telling my class this morning about how thankful I am to be a part of Faithful Workouts. There are so many ways I pray I can help on your way to physical and spiritual fitness.
I believe you want to get healthier but the best path to better health can be so confusing. There are so many viewpoints it can be overwhelming. To me it boils down to these basics.
“Fitness”
I know you want to exercise effectively but it’s hard to know what’s best. I have been in the fitness industry for 26 years and I have seen so many phases. I am still a believer in total body workouts with a combination of cardio and strength training. Most of us are not looking to get big bulky muscles (if you are you would want to do heavier weight and fewer repititions) we just want to get healthier. Here’s my suggestion, when you’re done with your workout do a body check. Did I get my heart rate elevated, did I work equally all the muscles in my body, did I stretch all the muscles out. When I finish my workout (or making a DVD) I start on the top of my body and work my way down to be sure I didn’t forget a body part.
If you are tight on time you can accomplish tons if you do multi-muscle moves. This would include exercises like lunges with bicep curls, core with light weights to work your shoulders. You don’t have to work out for an hour or more to make it count you can get lots into 20 minutes. Part of the Faithful Workouts membership plan includes emails with weekly exercise video clips with topics like, 20 minute workout, exercising with a partner.
“Fuel”
It can be so challenging to eat healthy. Trying to figure out what healthy eating looks like almost requires an extra college degree!! Actually, I think the health industry has made it harder than it needs to be. Here is my version of nutrition 101:
- God made your body, He made food, eat what God created in its most natural state, He knows what your body needs.
- Eat a wide variety of foods. This is especially important with your fruits and vegetables the more colors the better.
- Eat 100% whole grains instead of white flour when possible (doesn’t mean you can’t have a slice of white bread but try and have your grain source come mainly from whole grains.)
- Get your protein from beans, nuts, fish and lean meats. Does it mean you can’t have a ribeye steak the rest of your life – no – just eat more of the lean meats.
- Drink lots of water
- Eat breakfast
OK there is a bit more that goes into it then just that but start with this list and you will be amazed at the difference it can make.
“Faith”
Stress is so damaging to our bodies. The opposite of stress is peace. How can you have less stress and more peace? I have to tell you I tried for my first 40 years to do it without God and it didn’t work. For me the best way to push stress and worries out of my life is to fill up with the peace that comes from knowing God. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
God’s words, love and presence changed the way I live. Stress is out of control in our country (it’s even effecting our kids). Stress is physically killing us. The more we can fill up with God the less room there is for the devil to come in and start stressing us out.
I hope this note is just a simple reminder to focus on the basics to better health. Don’t look for a new fad that promises instant benefits. Change the way you do life so that you focus on your fitness, your fuel and most importantly your faith.
Take on your day!
I’m praying for you.
Michelle
Faithful Workouts New Membership
New Faithful Workouts Membership – Special Introductory Rate – ends June 18th at midnight!
The Faithful Workouts new membership is available on our web site!!! I’m really excited about the changes it will make in the way you live life.
I love when I hear from people who are already part of the Faithful Workouts program. I want to pass along some of their comments.
“I do get messages from God through you. I’ve cried during your show because of the gifts he sent through your mouth to me. Your music is fun to exercise to”
“When I saw your show I knew God brought the gym to me with a joyful spirit to lift mine. Wherever God takes me I can work out with you”
“Thank you for your faithfulness to step out and be different from all those other TV workouts that only focus on looking like what the world expects women to look like. Doing a workout with you is as faith-building as reading the bible and spending time with God because you speak the word in love and the music lifts Him up and feeds my spirit”
Not only will your membership inspire you to make healthy, positive changes in your life but it will also enable the Faithful Workouts ministry to reach more people!!
If you are ready to make some changes in your life that will bring you more peace, joy, energy, strength sign up now for a Faithful Workouts Membership.
Last Chance for this special offer
3 month membership: $47.90 including shipping instead of $57.95 plus shipping of $9.95 – that’s a savings of $20.00
6 month membership: $77.90 including shipping instead of $97.95 plus shipping of $14.95 – that’s a savings of 35.00
Please pass this offer on to your friends and family
CLICK HERE for more information and to sign up!
Michelle
I can’t believe it’s ready!!
I can’t believe it’s ready!!! I have been working for the past year on a new concept for Faithful Workouts and we will be launching it on Monday, June 14th. It’s a 3 and 6 month Faithful Workouts Membership.
Ever since God led me to Faithful Workouts I have prayed that the program would inspire people to get physically and spiritually fit. I have heard from quite a few of you saying that you have noticed that you are getting stronger, remaining “faithful” to your workouts and hearing God’s word while you are exercising. This makes me so excited!
I believe the new Faithful Workouts Membership will help you take it to the next level. I’m thrilled that I have been able to interact with you through TV, DVDs, classes, facebook, twitter and blogs but I want to be able to encourage you more consistently.
The Faithful Workouts membership will include DVDs, a “faithful” guidebook, emails, video emails with exercise tips and cooking classes. I will be able to encourage you every step of the way to better health.
If you choose to participate in the membership I feel confident that you’ll be committed to a healthier way of doing life. Here are some of the benefits you should receive from the program:
- Peace has replaced your stress
- You’re excited to exercise because you’re thankful that you are healthy enough to do so and you want to stay healthy
- You’re sleeping better
- You have more energy
- You feel more confident in how to properly fuel your body
- You feel more connected to God and search for His guidance in all you do
- You’re at a healthy weight not because you “dieted” but because you properly cared for your body
- You have more joy in your life
Watch for more membership information and a special introductory offer in your email on Monday June 14th. I hope I will be able to partner with you on this journey to better physical and spiritual health!
Be happy with what you see in the mirror
I’ve just started to train the high school dance team girls. They are all between the ages of 14 – 17. I am so excited that I get to meet with them twice a week throughout the summer. I’m happy that I can help them get in shape so that they can be better dancers but that is a very small reason as to why I am volunteering my time to help them.
I have quite a few hopes for these girls but one of my biggest is that by the end of the summer they are able to look in a mirror and like what they see. I heard a statistic that said something like 85% of girls/women don’t like what they see when they look in the mirror. That is so sad.
Girls look at magazines and watch movies and think that in order to be lovable they need to be super skinny and beautiful. I want these girls to realize God created them to be them. He didn’t intend to have all women look identical and be a size 2. I remind them to focus on healthy habits and then be happy with the shape of their body. The natural outcome of properly caring for your body is that you will get to a healthy weight but getting skinny is not our goal.
I have been telling them that God, who created the whole universe, loves them right now. He loves them no matter what they look like. He doesn’t look at them and think, “she’s nice but I would love her more if she was more beautiful and a bit thinner”.
As I was thinking about all my hopes for the dance team I realized it was the same hope I have for all the women who do Faithful Workouts. I want you all to hear this; God loves you no matter what size you are or what you look like.
“The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” ~ 1 Samuel 16:7
Eat healthy, exercise regularly, connect with God throughout your day – focus on that!! If you feel you are properly caring for your body then look in the mirror and be happy with what you see. God created you to be you.
Read these lyrics from the song Fingerprints of God by Steven Curtis Chapman
I can see the tears filling Your eyes
And I know where they’re coming from
They’re coming from a heart that’s broken in two
By what you don’t see
The person in the mirror
Doesn’t look like the magazine
Oh, but when I look at you it’s clear to me that…
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it’s true
You’re a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you’re covered with the fingerprints of God
Never has there been and never again
Will there be another you
Fashioned by God’s hand
And perfectly planned
To be just who you are
And what He’s been creating
Since the first beat of your heart
Is a living breathing priceless work of art