I have a question..or rather a few.
My first one is about the music used in exercise videos, etc. I am trying not to listen to the world's music, but many of the videos play dance music to keep the pace upbeat. Are there Christian DVD's out there?
Yoga - I have heard it is great for stretching, toning, and balance, but all of the people I have seen on tv are doing the whole yoga package with the "namaste" and stuff. Is there an equivalent without the mumbo-jumbo attached? I read on review on CBD about a dvd of "christian yoga" and it said it was horrible.
Lastly, I am really struggling with the line between loving the way God made me (curvy, 5'3 3/4" and stocky even when really fit) and needing to exercise and eat right. I do not like the way I look or feel right now, but I know I am fearfully and wonderfully made. My loving hubby says he loves me the way I am, but I know he loved the more fit me when we were married too. and I have a hard time reconciling my brain/heart with both. Once I start becoming fit, how do I know when this is good, God says maintain here so that my exercise and fitness doesn't become an idol (although this is a long way away for me).
As I am writing, I can see how so much of my fitness or lack of it is tied to the emotional part of me. Oigh!
Anyway, thank you for listening...
9 comments:
Hi Cindy,
I can understand your struggle with this. There are times when I struggle with this too. Sometimes I feel guilty for the time I take out to work out. Then I realize that as long as I don't allow it to take the place of my walk with the Lord then it is the right thing to do.
I believe the Lord wants us to be fit. He made our wonderful bodies, but it is also our responsibility to take care of it. With His help it can be done. It's just like our spiritual life if we allow junk to enter in it then it won't be all that great, if we don't exercise our faith it won't be that strong. Our physical bodies aren't any different. Remember, "everything in moderation," and you'll be fine. Don't let Satan tell you that you shouldn't want to be physically fit, or that you can't do it. My favorite verse is "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Just make sure to give him all the honor and the glory.
Charlie
Thanks so much, Charlie! I am looking forward to getting to know all of you and to hopefully be an encouragement as I am encouraged.
YOu have some wonderful questions Cindy! Love the openness! It will allow us to explore many areas.
I think, the verse I use most is the one that speaks about our bodies being temples of the Holy Ghost. 1Corinthians 6:19. We do need to take care of it. I belive our physical and spiritual lives are tied directly.
What gets us all confused is the worldy view of "fit" or "sexy". I hate that word. It is so subjective. But, I have to tell you, when I got the weight off and started feeling stronger, my desire to be with my husband grew and my confidance grew. I know that is subjective to each person too. So, bathe it in prayer and find what state you feel the best healthy and strong. What is your personal best and reach for it with God´s strength.
I was going to scan that article for you but it is all in Spanish. uhhgg. sorry about that. It was pilates actually using pilates machines.
I do Jillian Michael´s dvds. I don´t like how she dresses or the music. The music is background and fairly soft so often I just mute it. I know that BJU press has some good dvds with Christian music. they are fairly expensive though.
Jillian´s yoga dvd is very good. I think you could do level one pregnant no problem. of course listen to your body and only do what you can. Walking and swimming are the best forms of exercise, i think.
I have a couple of blog posts I did about the earlier subject about being fearfully and wonderfully made.
here is one I think I posted on both blogs but it was easier to find on the other one. ;)
http://gospel2gijon.blogspot.com/2009/10/fitness-health-glamor-modeling.html
Praying for you and our support group! ;)
Love in Jesus,
Dani Joy
Hi Cindy!
I'm not that experienced in using fitness DVD's but most of the ones I've looked at don’t use music with lyrics so I don't think you need to worry too much.
I looked for "samples" of the DVD's on Youtube where you can watch a couple of minutes at a time to get a taste. Also with a little more digging into the blurb and the credits you can find out what artists / musicians (if any) are used.
One fitness coach you may want to look up is Rosemary Conley. She is a Christian, though as she is UK based I don't know if you can get DVD's for region 1 (US).
Regarding Yoga, I don't like it because of it's origins. Everything about each exercise is spiritually based and I would advise everyone to steer clear of it. I recommend you look into Pilates for balance, toning and stretching, no mumbo-jumbo involved.
As for body imagine, welcome to the club! God made us all - short and dumpy as well as tall and slim. I am most definitely the former at only 5'2 (loving your 3/4 inch LOL). Can I recommend a book: You are not what you weigh by Lisa Bevere. And stay away from those magazines, yes even the Christian ones! Every single photo is photoshopped, even the top catwalk models don't get published without the picture being touched up. Unfortunately they're everywhere even when you don't buy them, at the doctors, the hairdressers etc etc. The media tries to brainwash us as to what is beautiful.
Remember : "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." Proverbs 31 v 30
Hope this helps.
Blessings
Kathy
I have 4 great Christian exercise workouts on DVD's that are put out by Linda Haught. I used them when I first started working out seriously in Dani Joy's first Christmas Crunch Challenge. The music is all classical, and the ladies are dressed modestly. You can buy them from BJU Press or from CBD (CBD is cheaper right now). One DVD has 3 workouts on it - Step up to Fitness (step aerobics),Creative Aerobics, and Fitness Forte. There is another DVD that she has called Full Circuit Aerobics, and that one has an aerobic work out and weight training. I would highly recommend both of these. Here is a link to CBD where they can be purchased.
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find/1181134242?Ntt=linda+haught&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCN&nav_search=1&cms=1&search=
I forgot to mention the prices in the last entry. From CBD the 3 workouts on 1 disk are $19.99, which is reasonable, I think for 3 full workouts. The other one is $18.49 for a 50 minute workout.
I would avoid anything yoga, as it is based in the occult, as far as channeling and clearing your mind. Christ commands us to focus on Him.
The Step Up to Fitness, step aerobics, should be able to be done while pregnant, as long as your doctor is OK with you exercising. There are some steps you may need to modify, but she tells you how you can do that.
God is so good to have brought me in contact with you ladies! It is an answer to one of the desires of my heart!
Thank you for the dvd suggestions and support! :)
With Love & prayers,
Cindy
I feel badly that I mentioned the yoga dvd. Please disregard or use much discretion.
Even though I know the dvd I have does not have any talk of religiousity or meditation, I know it´s origins. We as believers in Biblical meditation need to stay away from the eastern religions that promote clearing your mind. I totally agree with Kathy and Tammy on this.
Dani Joy
Np, Dani.
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