My Body is a Temple

Yesterday I was having a conversation with my husband about what it means to "be healthy". The more I read, the more I look at inspiring photos, and the more documentaries I watch about health--the more overwhelming and impossible being "healthy" can seem. But why does it have feel so complicated?

I find that, like beauty, health is subjective [to a degree]. Each person has their own idea of what being healthy really means to them. Doctors have their opinions, naturalists have their opinions, weightlifters, runners, yogis, models, nutritionists, everyone has some degree of what they believe true health really is. There are also different subjects of health; mental health, physical health, and spiritual health. So what does it mean?

When it all boils down to it, I find it's not as complicated as it seems. I don't think there is some magic formula or diet, no perfect pill or magical herb. It is all about balance. The more I learn, the more I realize that the overall consensus is that choosing a balanced diet, a balanced workout plan, and a balanced lifestyle is the answer. I read an awesome article on bodybuilding.com about Karina Baymiller where she said,

"The fitness community is full of extremes. We work out until we can't move. We eat diets of tilapia and broccoli. It takes a strong individual to endure what we put ourselves through. But during this second transformation, I found that the middle is where I want to be. I want to be somewhere between the overweight college girl and the underweight girl on stage, somewhere between the girl who ate pop-tarts for every meal and the girl who ate lettuce for every meal, somewhere between the girl who never stepped foot into the gym and the girl who wouldn't leave it until she'd burned enough calories. This middle spot is where I'm happy and strong. It's where I found my balance. " 

[read the whole article here]

A lot of people believe that getting healthy means they have to kill themselves at some gym, drink crazy amounts of protein shakes, sweat uncontrollably, and go to the extreme. Sure-have that cocktail, eat that donut, scarf down that cake...but balance out that drink with water for the rest of the day, an apple for a snack, or just get outside for a 10min walk.

Find balance. Surround yourself with people that encourage you to be healthier you. Set goals, strive to achieve those dreams, and remember, your body is God's temple. You don't fill a temple with donuts.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have recieved from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."

So what does being healthy mean to you?