Hello FU3Lers!
I am putting out a call for any guest blog writers. As I am returning to full-time school and work, I will not be able to keep up with the posts as well. I also think I have laid down sufficient foundation that it is clear what the mission and goals of this blog are. If you have any opinions - in agreement or dissent - I'd love to hear from you! I hope this will become a community forum, not merely my place to voice a solitary opinion.
It can be a review, a comment on something you've read, a fresh perspective. It can be in the form of a poem, essay, video. Heck, even a funny song parody will do :) As long as it comments on the intersection of food, fitness, and faith then this is the platform.
Please email any ideas or submissions to fu3ledlife [at] gmail.com. Note the 3 in place of the first e because without it, you are sending to an unknown internet entity (dun dun DUN).
Food+Fitness+Faith
Friday, August 31, 2012
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Lead by Example
As Labor Day approaches, most of us are returning to our routines. As I wrote in the last post, we can take this time to consider how to integrate FU3L into our daily lives most effectively. I highly recommend reaching your food, fitness, and faith goals with another, either a partner or a whole community (see post about tracking for more). I have found that after you've won the struggle for consistency in your own life, the next battle can be to bring others into your lifestyle. But we know that "actions speak louder than words" and the best way to recruit another to join you is to show them how.
An article on CNN highlights how the well-regarded pastor Rick Warren infused FU3L into his church. He saw the unhealthy state of his congregation but before addressing that need, he took a look at himself. He took to heart the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:5 (and Luke 6:42) that says, "...first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." He started by cutting out soda and then found inspiration from the book of Daniel to eat a diet of fruits and vegetables. Once he was able to shed pounds, he could call his church to follow his lead. As a group, they've started fitness initiatives and supported each other.
Rick Warren knew that just being a famous and oft-published church leader wouldn't be what motivated those he was shepherding. They had to see that he was willing to literally practice what he preached. And now the Saddleback church has taken ownership of their own journey to a FU3Led Life.
And why should we care about health from a Christian perspective? I really like Rick Warren's perspective: "The Father made your body, Jesus paid for your body, the Spirit lives in your body. You better take care of it." Amen
An article on CNN highlights how the well-regarded pastor Rick Warren infused FU3L into his church. He saw the unhealthy state of his congregation but before addressing that need, he took a look at himself. He took to heart the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:5 (and Luke 6:42) that says, "...first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." He started by cutting out soda and then found inspiration from the book of Daniel to eat a diet of fruits and vegetables. Once he was able to shed pounds, he could call his church to follow his lead. As a group, they've started fitness initiatives and supported each other.
Rick Warren knew that just being a famous and oft-published church leader wouldn't be what motivated those he was shepherding. They had to see that he was willing to literally practice what he preached. And now the Saddleback church has taken ownership of their own journey to a FU3Led Life.
And why should we care about health from a Christian perspective? I really like Rick Warren's perspective: "The Father made your body, Jesus paid for your body, the Spirit lives in your body. You better take care of it." Amen
Friday, August 17, 2012
May I Cut In?
I have been convalescing this week after 8 weeks of wearing down my immune system. I had been working and travelling at a pace that my body could not keep up with until it finally gave up on me and I was forced to stop. Luckily (or rather, in God's timing) it was the start of my 10 day break from work and other commitments. This time allowed me to consider the effect of interruptions on a FU3Led Life.
In an earlier post, I posited on the role of rest. The difference being that one usually considers rest a welcome break while an interruption is a nuisance. Like many things in life, it becomes a matter of attitude and you can choose to see any break - planned or not - as a time for reflection and revaluation. Naturally when you are sick, you begin with self-pity but you can turn the tide and look at what the time away is teaching you. It is always good to see that the world continues to work without you and realize that if you make a change, others will adapt. A good question to ask yourself is, "Does how and where I am spend most of my time and effort accurately represent my goals and beliefs?" and if the answer isn't "yes" without any conditions then consider how you can change that.
When you settle back into normalcy after an interruption, there is a period of adjustment - that time where you take the steps needed to get back to where you were. An interruption forces instant awareness so that you can return to that state after the cause for interruption passes. That awareness is an asset! You can intentionally set new habits and routine that can FU3L you more effectively as you set your course back on track. As we are returning to school, work, family, etc after our vacations let us come back to the food, fitness, and faith we will use to FU3L our lives. And the next time something unexpected comes along, welcome it with open arms :)
Friday, August 3, 2012
Transparency is a 2-way Street
Honesty is the best policy. The truth will set you free. We've all heard these aphorisms so often that we may even roll our eyes a bit when we hear them used in society. However I must resort to them (and a few more along the way) for this post as we look at the importance of transparency in FU3Led. You will find greater success in centering yourself around food, fitness, and faith if you are a person of candor. In both fitness and faith, being held accountable for your trials and triumphs will keep you on the right path (as discussed in the previous post). By the same token, you should expect (demand even) the same honesty from your sources of FU3L.
One of the most confusing and frustrating places to find a straight answer is when looking at food sources. In the US, we have the benefit of nutrition facts on packaged food but you may be surprised to learn what is not listed; a topic highlighted in this NY Times article about the Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) debate that is gaining attention. Food companies are only required to list and quantify certain ingredients. I'm sure you've wondered as I have when you've seen "natural flavoring" and wondered what qualifies in that category. Whether or not there is a negative effect of GMO in foods, one cannot make an informed decision without all the facts. Another adage applies here: Knowledge is Power.
Even if this issue is resolved, there are large portions of a diet that have little or no labeling requirements, such as fresh produce and butchers cuts. Additionally it can be difficult to keep track of the subtle differences between the terms "natural" and "organic" or "no sugar added" and "naturally sweetened". It is your responsibility as the consumer to inquire of your food suppliers about their practices. Unfortunately, you cannot rely on regulations to keep you healthy. I'll end by turning an old saying on its head, you should be a book that can be judged by its cover and one that seeks to be FU3Led by accurate book jackets.
One of the most confusing and frustrating places to find a straight answer is when looking at food sources. In the US, we have the benefit of nutrition facts on packaged food but you may be surprised to learn what is not listed; a topic highlighted in this NY Times article about the Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) debate that is gaining attention. Food companies are only required to list and quantify certain ingredients. I'm sure you've wondered as I have when you've seen "natural flavoring" and wondered what qualifies in that category. Whether or not there is a negative effect of GMO in foods, one cannot make an informed decision without all the facts. Another adage applies here: Knowledge is Power.
Even if this issue is resolved, there are large portions of a diet that have little or no labeling requirements, such as fresh produce and butchers cuts. Additionally it can be difficult to keep track of the subtle differences between the terms "natural" and "organic" or "no sugar added" and "naturally sweetened". It is your responsibility as the consumer to inquire of your food suppliers about their practices. Unfortunately, you cannot rely on regulations to keep you healthy. I'll end by turning an old saying on its head, you should be a book that can be judged by its cover and one that seeks to be FU3Led by accurate book jackets.
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