I got in a nice 5-mile run today at the High Bridge Trail.
Before that I got in some chin ups at the local park.
As is ALWAYS the case, I feel invigorated.
While I was running, I reflected on the fact that 30 percent of adults in the U.S. are obese, and another 34 percent are overweight. Men of Protestant denominations were more likely to be overweight than men in other religious affiliations. Gluttony doesn't seem to receive the same level of pastoral concern in many conservative denominations. Some evangelicals have even referred to gluttony as an "acceptable vice." Many of us use food in celebratory functions rather than alcohol. Where I live (in the rural, "Christian" South), high fat foods are the norm. Apparently the emphasis on abstaining from alcohol and tobacco hasn't translated very well into the need for moderation in terms of food choices and consumption. Sadly, the flock tends to over-graze.
Interestingly, Type A personalities (like me!) tend to have a low level of self-awareness. We are often characterized by traits such as ambition, competitiveness, and urgency, which can lead to high achievement in some areas of life but neglect in other areas. When someone lacks self-awareness, they have a hard time recognizing the limits of their abilities as well as their weaknesses. This causes them to chase short-term gains and go through life without a clear sense of what they want. They are unwilling and unable to see how abusing their health can lead to unwanted long-term consequences. They can become too caught up in other obligations to stop and really think about what's going on.
There is no question that personality traits contribute to health outcomes. Major controllable risk factors, such as obesity, reflect our behavior and lifestyles. People who score in the top 10 percent of impulsivity weigh on average 25 pounds more than those in the bottom 10 percent. Difficulty with weight management is the result.
The problem isn't a lack of knowledge about sports physiology. Where we are deficient is exercise psychology. We know more than ever about exercise physiology. We just don't know how to motivate people to exercise. We forget that weight is more important than age. I support, therefore, any call for exercise. It means adhering to a schedule that makes for the best possible you. Exercise fine-tunes the body, mind, and spirit. What you need to know is not whether you are overweight but whether you are overfat. It's an abundance of fat that puts us at risk for unnecessary illness and death.
"The glory of man," wrote Irenaeus, "is man fully functioning." Find the place to do that in your life, and you will find the peace that passes all understanding.