Quips, Tips, and Sips

Growing up, my parents, especially my dear Mum, were extremely health-conscience. I always say that we were tofu-eaters when tofu wasn't cool. I grew up in the 80's where stirrup pants, neon colors and punk hair ruled the popular scene. Except for the pants (on occasion)--we were rarely allowed to participate in any of the in-crowd choices.

Including wonderbread. Ahhh! Sweet, mushy, stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth white wonderbread. Not me, though. I had whole wheat bread. But not just your standard, high fructose whole wheat bread. I had the kind that weighed 6.5 pounds a slice; contained pebbled-sized flecks called "grain;" and dropped to your stomach with a small thud no matter how much you chewed. Peanut butter. Not the rich, creamy Annette-approved Skippy. Oh no! I had the real peanut butter. The kind that came in a bucket that you had to stir lest the oil rise to the top and create a nice, oily kiddy pool on the surface. The peanut butter itself, resembled a dense, gooey substance comparable to rather thick paper mache paste--which did not help the anvil-esque thud that dropped with each swallow.

At the risk of sounding like I'm complaining, I will stop here. I am truly very thankful that my dear Mom was the poster mom for healthy living and being such a great steward of the resources that God bestowed on her (and us.) Here's some of the healthiness she has passed to me:

*Daily, physical activity
*Water instead of soda
*Whole wheat bread minus the oily peanut butter
*From scratch cooking
*A take it or leave it chocolate attitude (insert collective gasp here)
*Regular regiment of vitamins and minerals
*Decaf, decaf, decaf

So I am so very thankful in all of this. But I would be remiss if I did not mention that all of these tips that were passed to me only fall under the good stewardship category. There is not one person on earth that can eat, drink or exercise their way into one extra second beyond their appointed time of death.

So why do it? Good stewardship equals wise living. Read through the book of Proverbs and there are plenty of great guides and quips on wise living. Being a good steward is wisely managing the resources that God has given to us while here on earth. But really--what's all the hype!? The health industry is a multi-billion dollar machine that keeps cranking out new fads, techniques and reasons for getting and staying healthy. How can one keep up?

Here's my take on it. Forget it all. If the reason you're trying to get thin is so that you can fit into a certain size outfit; wear the newest trend and/or turn heads as your strolling along the boulevard--then let me challenge you with the greatest reasons in the world to get and stay healthy.

Bible reading, prayer and ministry. This is the reason that we should have a regular exercise routine; eat low-fat, heart-healthy diets and sip plenty of water. If we're doing it for any other reasons then we are wading in a shallow kiddy pool of disgusting, oily peanut butter juice.

Anyone who has been around me long enough knows that I am continually spouting my new philosophy to all those within earshot. Don't work out for the sole purpose of losing weight. Do work out for the sole purpose of being able to read your bible longer, praying without ceasing and having a heart healthy enough to tirelessly serve (all under the detailed hand of God, of course.) Then your treadmill-running, lap-swimming, Pilates-moving body will be working toward something eternal and not toward the temporal.

It is in this interest that I start my Healthy Habits section with this easy tip:

Start by being a worker at home. It's as simple as that. Fitday.com says that the average female can burn approximately 115 calories per hour just by taking care of your children. Dressing them, feeding them, carrying them up the stairs, etc. The more children--the more calories. Hallelujah!

Hope you enjoy and look for coming health-conscience posts in this new Healthy Habits section.