As ladies we care about how we look. We take time picking out outfits for the day based on how we feel. We spend time fixing our hair so we look presentable when we walk out of our front doors. We take time on our outward appearance so that we look beautiful and feel good how who we are.
I strongly believe that we shouldn’t walk around frumpy and we should care about others perceive us since we are a reflection of Christ. But while it’s important to choose a flattering skirt and to have a good hair day I think it’s equally important to take care of the health of your body as well.
“ Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)
We have to care for our bodies. We are the temple of God and He dwells in us. Only we can choose to make His dwelling place a healthy, functioning place.
I don’t intend to write about numbers, weight, or scales. I understand that we all have different body types and we won’t all fit into the same size, regardless of how little or much we eat. I want to encourage all of us to live in the healthiest version of who we were made to be. And we can do this with two simple steps: moderation and exercise.
Moderation: I enjoy wonderful food. I love to cook and I love to eat. I’ve never been a big salads or grains person and I don’t intend to sacrifice really hearty food for health-store picks, although those can be just as good. Since my cooking isn’t always applauded by health nuts, I have learned to eat in moderation. I recommend not always putting your food out on the table family style. Serve from the kitchen and then sit down to eat. When the food is in front of you it’s easier to serve seconds. When you have to get up to get a second plate it gives you a chance to think if you actually need more to eat. It’s a hard habit to break, but eating in moderation allows you to eat your choice of foods without having to constantly go up in dress sizes.
Exercise: Find the exercise you like to do and set realistic expectations. At one point in my life I was trying to squeeze in an hour worth of exercising four to five times a week. When my schedule picked up again I started to have trouble finding time to exercise and I found myself quitting. I recently lowered my time of working out to twenty minutes every day. I actually stick to this plan because who doesn’t have an extra twenty minutes every day? Also, if you get bored with the same exercise all of the time, switch it up and often! I run some days but when I don’t feel like running I do cardio or yoga at home. No matter what you do, applaud yourself for doing something.
When we hear about changing our lifestyles we tend to get nervous thinking that we’re going to get reduced to nothing but kale and hunger all day but any small change we make to our lives will be a good one. After all, we represent God and I think God would appreciate a healthier us. We are His temple and I believe we can be beautiful not only on the outside but physically beautiful as well too!
image via mom’s mustard seeds