Last week I was reminded why I spend 40+ hours per week as a physical therapist.

In my line of work, I have opportunity to spend time with people all day, many of whom come in at low points due to the pain they are experiencing. One lady in particular caught my attention a few weeks ago, as I realized that she was really discouraged by her struggles with her weight. This is not an area that I approach with my patients lightly; I’m always very careful how I bring this up. But since the changes I felt this past year due to my measly 20 lb weight loss, I have brought it up with more people – you really can feel the difference on your joints, as well as the efficiency of your body through the day. Every time she came in, I’d mention just a little something about how her weight was affecting this or that, making it hard for her body to accomplish proper posture and function in many ways.

Here is an article I came across through digg.com.

“16 Ways to Eat Healthy and Cheap”
http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/07/30/16-ways-to-eat-healthy-while-keeping-it-cheap/

–
David Thew
Sojourn Founding Pastor

John Piper and Michael Patton address the health/wealth/prosperity gospel. Despite being so prevalent in American televangelism - as Michael points out, it’s really not new. Over the course of more than 30 years now, I’ve watched this pernicious teaching lay waste to people’s lives and faith. Why does it resonate with so many American Christians? Because our culture is inbred for greed. From the earliest age we teach our children that education is important … not so they can discover a cure for cancer or better serve their fellow man … but so they can make more money. As Michael Douglas’s character in movie Wall Street proclaims,

As we enjoy all of our Christmas parties (and goodies at the office!), I know that in the back of many of our minds is, “at the beginning of the year, I’m going to get back to the gym and go on a diet!” Below are some tips for beginning your exercise program from my experience through the years as a physical therapist and avid exerciser, with mistakes that many people make:

1. Get the word “diet” out of your vocabulary once and for all! (yes, that is my number one tip!) Concentrate on healthy, wholesome food. As a confirmed fat-o-holic (I love fatty foods!), I can truthfully tell you that the past few months have been a revelation to me in eating healthy. While recovering from my bike accident, I could not eat all the things I normally eat. I began to eat more healthy food, and I experienced a new phenomenon for me: I don’t crave the fatty food as much anymore! Changing your eating habits really can make a difference, and “dieting” only messes with your metabolism, causing it to slow down and not burn as many of the calories that you are desperately trying to cut from your diet. Talk to me about this sometime face to face (or e-mail me!) for further info.

Well, here I am writing a health and wellness blog. What’s the point?, I ask and so may you. Well my goal would be that someone, just one person, would read this and make one significant life improving step towards a healthier, happier life (yes being healthy does make you happy).

I am sure many of you realize I’m an athlete, and no, this blog is not to turn you into an athlete. Being an athlete and being a healthy, fit person are two very different things. The dedication and discipline required to be a good athlete are not needed to be a healthy fit person, however many of the same lifestyle changes and thought patterns must be shared by both.