God has a plan for all of us, and we should really be in our best shape if we want to make sure that plan can be executed. If God made us in his image, it’s unlikely he meant for us to be exhausted, overweight, and with bad posture.

But are these issues which are easy to fix? Once we have moved away from the original state of our temples, can the damage be fixed? Of course, it can, all it takes is faith, hard work and maybe a little help.

Those Extra Pounds

Willpower, my friends. Willpower is all you need here. Eat less, exercise more, and get closer to God. In my research, I’ve found one of the biggest culprits of weight gain, in both adults and children, are carbohydrates. In particular, simple sugars like those found in candy or likely the kind you may stir into your coffee.

These sugars have been modified from their original, natural state. In this simple form, the sugars are easily absorbed into the body and converted into fat, if not burned for energy first. Complex sugars, like those found in plants and such, before refining, are more complex. The body takes more time to break them down, meaning it has time to burn them before absorbing them.

When looking at this, it’s easy to see the glory of God in everything in nature.

Standing Up Straight

So many of the physical pains in our life can be attributed to our backs. Poor posture can lead to lower back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain and even pain in other parts of the body due to the stresses required to compensate. The big question is, “Why are you slouching?”

Are you depressed and feeling alone? Do you spend too much time sitting? Do you need to find time to get closer to God? These are questions only you can answer, but once you do you’ll have taken the first step toward correcting your posture.

Once you’ve determined the cause, the next step is to fix it. Some conditions may need a help, perhaps even something such as a posture-correcting brace like those from Perfect Postur. Others can simply require a change of habit. Forcing yourself to sit up straight and keep your back in a proper position while walking can make all the difference in the world.

Your Mental State

If you’re feeling depressed, it’s going to be hard to feel the desire to spread the word of God. God is always with you, even in your saddest times, so you can take some solace in that. Should more be required of you, keep in mind that mental health is just as important as physical health, and there are doctors for that, as well. In fact, most insurance packages will cover a visit to a psychiatrist, should that be something you desire.

Additionally, prayer is a good fix for issues like this. Communicating with our Heavenly Father, knowing he can hear you, is a great way to lift the spirits and get your smiling again.

Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and God instructs us to do what we can to protect their integrity. While we often associate this with not smoking, limiting drinking, and eating right, it’s also important that we get plenty of exercise. However, let’s face it. After a long day, it can be difficult to muster the motivation to hit the gym. If this describes you, there are a few fun ways you can take care of the body God gave you that you’ll find yourself exciting to engage in.

Buy a Trampoline

The investment of a trampoline can help you burn calories while you have fun, and it’s also a great way to encourage the family to spend more time together. As you bounce up and down and experience the unusual weightlessness that comes with a good jump, you can burn as many as 407 calories per hour jumping at a moderate pace. You’ll likely be surprised when you wake up sore the next day as you’ll be having too much fun to even realize the physical challenge you present your body while jumping.

Go On Motorcycle Rides

Riding a motorcycle is a great way to unwind after a long day. Whether or not you’ve ever ridden one, you may want to consider learning once you realize that it’s considered a low-impact exercise that can provide a number of health benefits including:

• Increasing strength in the neck, knees and thighs
• Increased core strength
• Enabling you to burn 50 calories per hour just due to the effort necessary to stay on the bike

It’s important to note that you should keep safety in mind as the odds of crashing increase on a motorcycle. It’s important that you spend a little extra on motorcycle helmets to ensure your protecting yourself.

Hiking With Loved Ones

In such a busy world, it can seem difficult to balance your time and ensure the ones you love get to make new memories with you on a regular basis. A great way to achieve this while increasing your exercise level is to set time aside for hiking with the ones you love the most. Whether this be with friends from church, your children, or even your dog, you’ll get the chance to explore nature, talk, and provide your body with the locomotion it needs in an increasingly sedentary society. In the event you don’t have time for a hike, even just 15 minutes of brisk walking on your lunch break can help you log an entire mile.

Exercise Doesn’t Have to be a Chore

While some people do find enjoyment out of hitting the gym and engaging in traditional means of exercise, this simply gets monotonous for many others. In fact, studies have revealed that, among the people who set fitness goals, 73 percent give up prior to completion. This is due largely to the fact that they lose interest. However, when you incorporate these clever tricks, you can essentially “trick” your body into actually enjoying exercise to properly take care of the temple that is your body.

It’s stated in Genesis that God created us in His own image, and He refers to our bodies as temples. However, it can be easy to neglect the proper care He intended for us to take when it comes to the body we were given. Especially in our current modern age, it is too easy to swing by a convenient store for a snack or slack off on exercise.

Whether it’s been awhile since you’ve taken inventory of your personal health and habits or you are just checking in to see if you’re doing everything you can to stay healthy, there are three ways you can take care of your body the way God intended well worth taking into consideration.

1. Ensure Proper Sleep

Life is busy, and it’s likely you have a long to-do list that awaits you each and every morning. It can seem that there aren’t enough hours in the day to ensure the full eight hours of sleep recommended by the National Sleep Foundation.

An aspect of sleep that many don’t realize is that the body temperature cools slightly as you drift off. In order to encourage this process to fall asleep more quickly and enjoy a higher quality of sleep, consider purchasing a mattress cooling topper. These devices are developed for comfort and are able to accelerate the cooling process. To find the high quality topper best suited to meet your specific needs, be sure to take the time to read reviews.

2. Changing Your Perception of Exercise

Most of us are aware that we need to get ample exercise, but few face the gym with enthusiasm. That’s because a large percentage of gym-goers work out with the sole purpose of losing weight. However, if you change your perception of exercise and focus on the way it makes you feel, you may find you actually look forward to that solitary time spent by yourself. This can be a chance to unwind, reflect on the day, and meditate on positive thoughts. Just a few other benefits you can enjoy include:

• Increased energy
• Better ability to fall and stay asleep
• Improvement of circulation

3. Purify Using Proper Water Intake

We see commercials everywhere advertising a number of beverages. From juices and energy drinks to soda and more, we certainly have plenty of options. However, what the body truly needs is water. Most other drinks on the market have additives that do more harm than good. It’s recommended that the average person drink eight glasses of water on a daily basis.

This may seem like a lot, but there’s something you must understand. When the body isn’t getting the proper hydration, it stores water, and this adds weight to your body and makes you look and feel heavier. Once you begin supplying the body with the water it needs, it will begin eliminating built up water storages. This also helps in flushing toxins from the body. Just a few other benefits of getting proper hydration include:

• Better ability to fight fatigue
• Reduction of high blood pressure
• Decrease in symptoms of allergies and asthma
• Reduction of acne, dermatitis, psoriasis, and premature aging of the skin
• Decrease in high cholesterol
• Increase in the ability of the joints and cartilage to repair themselves

During the beginning stages of proper water intake, don’t be surprised if you experience temporary, painless diarrhea as this is the body ridding itself of unnecessary water storage.

Preserving Your Temple

You have one body, and this is the vessel God has provided you to help Him do His work on Earth. There are multiple verses in the Bible likening the body to a temple, and this represents a holy place to be well taken care of. While life is busy and it can seem difficult to keep up with everything while incorporating healthful habits, it’s easier to accomplish than you may think. All it takes is baby steps on a consistent basis. By starting off with these three tips, you can be on your way to living an exciting life full of energy and vitality to fulfill your works on Earth.

While we take the time to consider whether or not we’re following the Ten Commandments and presenting a good example for those outside the church, there’s an aspect of Christianity that can be easy to overlook. Genesis 2:15 states that, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”.

It’s expected that, for the physical blessings we receive in life, we do our best to take care of them and exhibit proper, responsible stewardship. This requires self-discipline, but anyone with the motivation to increase their faith through action can follow some simple tips to ensure they’re doing what they can.

Make an Impact on the Block

The first thing anybody sees when they visit your property is your lawn, and it’s important that yours is aesthetically pleasing. However, with busy schedules, it can prove difficult to spend enough time on landscaping efforts to make a significant difference.  Fortunately, there are a variety of helpful products available to take much of the hard work out of the equation. Just a few tools you can consider adding to your arsenal include:

• Battery-operated weed eater
• Edging shears
• Turfing iron
• Half-moon cutter
• Besom

The Internet has made it easier than ever to find the latest in lawn care technology, and you can use this tool to ensure you have the most efficient products currently on the market. From lawn mower blade replacements to using a battery powered string trimmer and more, you can easily find just what you’re looking for.

Healthful Choices

We often overlook our physical well-being. However, God made each of us in His own image, and it’s important that we respect the physical body he gave us to perform His works here on Earth.
We live in a society where modern conveniences have taken a lot of work out of our daily lives. This means that it’s often necessary to set aside time to take part in an adequate exercise regimen. This can be difficult with a busy schedule, but an excellent way to make time is to wake up just 45 minutes to an hour early for a jog or bike ride. Not only will this help you maintain health, but it’s also been suggested that you’ll feel more energized throughout the day by sacrificing that small amount of additional sleep for a good morning workout.

Exercise and diet go hand-in-hand when it comes to the maintenance of good health, and you should take some time to carefully consider what you’re putting into your body. A few helpful tips to keep in mind as you prepare your next meal or shopping list include:

• Create a base rich in carbohydrates.
• Eat a variety of foods to ensure you receive all the essential vitamins and minerals.
• Shop primarily on the outer walls of the grocery store as these are typically the areas where the healthful foods your body really needs will be placed.
• Reduce portion sizes rather than eliminating foods all together.

More information can be found regarding health and nutrition on Health Canada’s website.

A Shining Example

Nearly 24 percent of Canadian residents don’t declare a religious affiliation. For them, Christian customs can be confusing. However, actions speak louder than words, and your stewardship could prove to be an initiating factor in someone else’s interest in the way you live your life. God has provided you with many blessings, and it’s up to you to care for them. By following these tips, you can better achieve overall satisfaction in the only physical life you have to live.