21 comments

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  Matt_V

  9 months ago

  The title of this cracks me up. There's a lot to say about body image, but I think what it comes down to is that being healthy does not mean looking like the fitness models on the covers of Men's Health. It means eating right and exercising with the perspective of your body as the temple of the Holy Spirit and an acceptance of the inherent limitations God has designed you with. Not excusing poor stewardship, but not obsessing over something that will pass away.
  
  Now I just need to apply my own advice, and I'm golden. ;)
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  Randy

  9 months ago

  That is a very good reminder Matt. That's been the unspoken part of it for me. I agree with you that I think God wants us to do the right thing with regard to stewardship but not pleased with legalism, vanity or even sometimes idolatry with body image.
  
  So get golden and do it ;).
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  Matt_V

  9 months ago

  After commenting on this last night I took the idea back into prayer and this morning I found what has to be the only verse in the Bible with the phrase, "physical training" in it smack in the middle of my daily reading. 1 Timothy 4:7b-8, "… rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."
  
  I know right now it would so quickly become about vanity rather than good stewardship for me, and I suspect the Lord has more spiritual and emotional "strength training" in the cards before we get to that. But I definitely congratulate you on your success so far and recognize the determination it takes to get in shape; with God's ironic sense of humor I'll may just be onboard with you sooner than I think.
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  Randy

  9 months ago

  Well, whenever you decide it is the right timing and feel it is the right thing to do and land on a system that works for you ... welcome to the fitness bandwagon.
  
  :)
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  Joe Brummer

  9 months ago

  Randy,
  I am wondering if you are feeling uncomfortable because this man could be influencing younger men with his "supplements" and displays of strength because you value their safety from harmful stuff? I am also wondering if you are feeling concerned because you value people "valuing" themselves and it sounds like you might be scared for this man that he may not be displaying behavior that is healthy. When you talk about his bones snapping, it sounds like you may even be scared for his safety.
  
  With that all said, I wonder if you find this to be a distraction to doing your own workout?
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  Randy

  9 months ago

  1. Yes, I do value everyone's safety from any harmful stuff.
  
  2. I do want people to have a healthy self esteem and be safe.
  
  3. No, it isn't distracting. As far back as I can remember I have always been the room barometer and group dynamics kind of guy. That was shut down from expressing itself for the first part of my life but for several reasons I have always been the type to be hyper aware of my surroundings. It doesn't distract me at all. Plus, it isn't like I am always in the same part of the gym as he is and I don't really care to join the fan club that stands around while he lifts 9,000 lbs.
  
  4. What is it with you and the reflective listening questions lately. I like this counselor type of thing you seem to be doing lately. But , it sounds like you are trying to do counseling or something. Is this a normal part of you that I just haven't seen or recognized before?
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  Joe Brummer

  9 months ago

  It is just a normal part of me. I believe that people just take for granted that they have understood each other. I also believe that often, it feels gratifying to know other people have heard and understood what you have said without judgment, evaluation, diagnosis or blame. Just to hear and understand. I am working at doing that more often in my life.
  
  I wonder if they have a Planet Fitness near you. At PF, such behavior and "do rags" are not allowed. It is more of a regular gym as opposed to a body builders gym. I go everyday and I like the people there.
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  Randy

  9 months ago

  We have all the chain gyms around here. This guy isn't the normal for my gym. There isn't a normal for my gym except that it is a definite neighborhood gym as opposed to a body building or professionals gym.
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  Oceanskater

  9 months ago

  "I am honestly not using the scales as the main focus of my motivation or inspiration."
  
  Good! Health is a much better motivator :)
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  Randy

  9 months ago

  And you should know Mrs. Green Smoothie Queen :). By the way, I am very happy you raised all the money for your goal with the "Race For The Cure."
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  Mensley

  9 months ago

  You go, Randy.
  
  I have currently not quite fallen off the fitness wagon, but I am being dragged behind it. My new apartment, however, has a MUCH nicer exercise room with state-of-the-art equipment, and about this I am considerably excited. 9 days and counting...
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  Randy

  9 months ago

  I'm going Mensley :)
  
  I am very excited for you and your new place. Sounds very nice.
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  ChaplianChas.

  9 months ago

  I'm with Matt, Joe and Brenna, and Mensley's first line. In fact, I HAVE fallen off the fitness wagon, well, at least the gymn! I've paid my annual dues, and prior to a missions trip to Zambia (where I KNEW I'd be hiking where I wouldn't normally) for a solid 6-7 weeks I was quite faithful. It helped that my hot water heater broke and hot showers were a convenient reason to go, too!
  
  OK, I guess not totally off the wagon. I'm munching on unsalted raw nuts, seeds and raisons and drinking water and diet iced tea btwn typing. But that doesn't really work so much as pure exercise!
  
  Thanks for the challenge, although I likely am not inspired enough, yet!
  
  We'll see.
  Blessings!
  ChaplainChas.
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  Randy

  9 months ago

  No, it isn't pure exercise but it IS something.
  
  So, here is some inspiration ...
  
  do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT
  
  That was the first rep .... wait 30 seconds ... and ....
  
  do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT
  
  Come ON! Just one more rep!
  
  do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT do it DO IT
  
  That is called inspiration through nagging. Did it work?
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  Nick

  9 months ago

  I'm off the wagon too. I've done the gym thing and it's okay...but it gets boring. I need to exercise with something I enjoy. I'm thinking of trying to get my wife interested in Scottish dance or some other form of vigorous dancing.
  
  I'm also sold on eating low carb (not NO-carb). I feel so great on a low carb diet...and the pounds fall off. It's hard, though, in today's world. Someone brings donuts to work and I'm sunk for the day. I need to lose about 15 pounds. I weigh 35 pounds more than when I got married 34 years ago. But the older you get, the harder it seems to be to lose.
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  Randy

  9 months ago

  Wow ... Scottish dance huh? ... and that's exciting :)?
  
  We all gotta' do what we gotta' do ::: smile ::: please don't be offended.
  
  By the way 34 YEARS!? That's awesome. What did you do, get married at two? You don't look old enough to have been married 34 years.
  
  I understand the low carb thing too. I am just willfully choosing to not look at it that way even though I am refraining (for the most part) or choosing lower carb/good carb options.
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  B.T.Carolus

  9 months ago

  Nick, see if you can get her to take a swing dancing class (try for jitterbug/east coast before you go all out with Lindy). It's soo much fun.
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  Nick

  9 months ago

  I emailed our daughters with YouTube videos of couples doing the Lindy and asked if they thought I could get their mom to learn with me. Our eldest replied she doubted I could get anyone we know to do that with me. Go to YouTube and enter Lindy Hop and choose the two minute one from the movie Hellzapoppin. WHEW!
  
  It makes Scottish Dance look like a slow waltz.
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  B.T.Carolus

  9 months ago

  Yeah. That's why I said try to find an East Coast class first. Lindy is a cross between East-Coast/Jitterbug and the Charleston, which makes it very fast paced with added kicks, aerial, dips, and other tricks. Bear in mind with youtube dance videos, that largely what you're looking at is professional dancers (ie, people who go to competitions and teach classes), or people who are extremely absorbed in dancing as a hobby, posting their routines online, rather than on what you would be learning in a basic begining class. The Hellzapoppin video is of the 1930's-'40's performance dance troupe (ie, they danced w/ people watching them for a living) that actually *invented* Lindy Hop in the first place. Frankie Manning is in that video, and he is still alive and teaching at dance camps all around the world (in his mid-90's!).
  
  You could also just try a ballroom class (which would cover probably waltz, fox trot, cha-cha, and rhumba), but those tend to be slower than swing. You still wind up with a lot of muscle tone, though :)
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  Nick

  9 months ago

  I'm all for it...but convincing my wife is another matter.
  
  I had heard Frankie Manning was still alive. That's amazing. But see what good exercise dancing is? Many dancers seem to live to advanced ages. I think both Nicholas Brothers made it into their 90's.
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  Cheryl

  9 months ago

  Just watched that dance video...oh...my...word...
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