Want to Begin Exercising? Check out Your Local Church

I have an elliptical at home, but too many days after work it is easy to find a hundred other things to do rather than jump on the machine for thirty minutes. I guess it got boring too, doing the same form of exercise all the time. Wanting to join a gym, but not having much money I called the list I found on google. The ones reasonably priced were not located conveniently and the ones close to me or my work were far too expensive. That’s when I remembered my church has a gym. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

Want to Begin Exercising?  Check out Your Local Church

Let's Go...

It's been about eight weeks that I've been going to gym at Brainerd Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tn. Some days I have to push myself to drive that direction, (it's only three miles from the hospital I work at) but the more I go, the easier it becomes. I love the fact that it is on my way home, I don't have to pass the house to get there.

What Should I Do?

There are plenty of stair steppers, elliptical, treadmills, and a padded walk/run track. They also have weight training machines focusing on each part of the body. In a separate room they offer heavy weight training that the bodybuilders use. They offer classes like core training and yoga as well as a cycle room. On the first floor there is a full size basketball court. Because I paid up front it was only $75.00 for the year.

At the age of 50 (gulp) I don't expect to get my 20 year old body back, or be that skinny. I want to lower my blood sugar and improve my health so that I preserve my mobility and strength for the future. When I finish a workout, I feel fantastic. It improves my mood and I can tell the next day at work my stamina is greatly improved. I listen to inspirational music rather than watch the televisions to feed my soul while I build my strength. The thing that I notice that encourages me is that there are all body types, young and old coming to do the same thing I am.

You Come First

As nurses, we often put others before ourselves. It is in our nurse DNA. We know what to do, it's putting it into practice that we sometimes have trouble with. If you are looking for a non threatening atmosphere to begin or continue a workout regimen, look into your local churches.

Some pastors are challenging their congregation to lose weight and be more active. The American Heart Association released an article in August that featured such a pastor. Pastor Steve Reynolds at Capital Baptist Church in Annandale, Virginia lost 130 pounds using a program he developed called Bod4God.

"I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes," he said. "Today I'm 57 years old, and I'm disease free."

Healthy....

We in the healthcare community acknowledge the obvious; weight control and exercise are extremely beneficial to our bodies. However, we are human too, with busy schedules, hang ups, financial problems, that affect our ability to focus on ourselves. More and more churches are not only jumping on the fitness center bandwagon, but offering blood pressure and cholesterol screenings in partnership with the AHA.

Making sure we integrate physical health with spiritual and mental is a must for each category to be effective as a whole. These church based programs are in response to the rising awareness of health problems caused by obesity coupled with the national focus on childhood obesity by the first lady Michelle Obama according to the article, "Churches focus on being holy and healthy."

T.D. Jakes says this about adding physical fitness to our daily activities, "No matter how much talent you have in your mind and spirit, if your body is not able to function you are not able to fulfill your destiny."

The most important factor in all this, is being our own advocate. We do heroic acts on a daily basis that never get acknowledged, because it's our job. Let's reward ourselves with honoring our bodies like we honor our profession and God. In the article, "Churches and fitness - a growing trend," Rob Killen says that while healthy eating choices are important, nothing is as vital as improving physical health too.

Church-sponsored Programs

Churches realize that adding programs to their campus will help them financially, along with being a great outreach ministry. Patrons can feed their need for fellowship and make new friends while getting healthy. We all can use some encouragement, right?

Need an attitude adjustment? Try exercising, it releases chemicals that improve attitude and help depression. Exercise also improves our performance in daily tasks. I know I feel better physically and emotionally after a workout. The less flabby arms and butt are a bonus. We encourage our patients to eat healthy and be active, so let's do the same for ourselves.


References

American Heart Association News. "Churches are increasingly adding health and fitness to ministry outreach." August 18, 2015. American Heart Association. 9 Sept. 2015. Web.

Harris, Hamil R. "Churches focus on being holy and healthy." June 29, 2015. The Washington Post. 14 Sept. 2015. Web.

Killen, Rob. "Churches and Fitness - a Growing Trend. August/Sept. 2015. Faith & Fitness Magazine. 15 Sept. 2015. Web.

Gastrointestinal Columnist

Brenda F. Johnson, BSN, RN Specialty: 25 years of experience in Gastrointestinal Nursing

61 Articles   326 Posts

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JoseQuinones

281 Posts

My church is right next to a public park with a covered basketball park. The church adopted the Federal housing project next door and we adults play basketball with three teams from the project. These kids can MOOOOOVE!!! I have never sweated so much or laughed so hard.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

102 Articles; 27,612 Posts

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Even though I do not belong to a church, a couple of months ago I started an exercise regimen after a nearly two-year hiatus.

I lift heavy free weights once to twice weekly. My cardio exercise consists of step aerobics and/or walking alternated with jogging at a local park that has a nice trail.

The scale often seems like it doesn't want to budge, but my clothing fits a little looser with each passing week. My cholesterol has dropped from 254 to 164 and my hemoglobin A1C decreased slightly from 5.7 to 5.6.

Conjuring up the motivation to exercise can be difficult, especially if you don't feel it is making an impact as swiftly as you'd like. However, the quest for a healthier lifestyle should be seen as a marathon, not a sprint.

Good luck to everyone who wants to get healthier.

Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..

I'm going to church tomorrow.

Roy Hanson

211 Posts

Specializes in as above.

I open my door and go for a walk! Its cheap, fresh air. and no machinery involved. Get a cheap pair of shoes, and find a few hills or grades.

Mavrick, BSN, RN

1,578 Posts

Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

With this last birthday I am entitled to the senior discount at the local Community Center. $2.00 for a room full of all the stuff I need. Ellipticals, treadmills, rowers, weight machines, free weights, stretching room with mats and exercise balls.

This church/fitness thing sounds good too!

Thanks, Commuter, for the reminder that it's not just about a scale. There are many other benefits to being fitter.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

102 Articles; 27,612 Posts

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Thanks, Commuter, for the reminder that it's not just about a scale. There are many other benefits to being fitter.
However, I wish the scale would budge!!! As nice as my lab work looks with each passing month, losing and regaining the same pound is frustrating.

I've been on some type of diet since my pre-teen years, so I suspect I've broken my metabolism through years of caloric restriction and yo-yo dieting. Now it's time to rebuild my relationship with food and the scale into a healthy one.

Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

I've been attempting to loose weight through exercise and diet since early this year, when I stepped on the scale at my MDs office and it showed a number I'd only seen while pregnant!

I lost about 20 lbs by May. When school started in June I kept up the walking and tried to eat healthy....easier at clinicals and school than at home because I had to meal prep. So I prepped healthy meals.

About a month ago, I decided to join some friends in my first half marathon. I run/walk a few days each week and do some strength training a few days per week to train. Having the looming deadline of a 13 mile run forces me to train for it.

Plus, I have great friends who run with me. It makes a huge difference when you have a "date" to meet people to run. You just have to go.

While my scale isn't moving down much, I can see my bras are looser and my tummy looks smaller and I'm less jiggly.

I just keep measuring my body with a measuring tape. It's slowly getting smaller.

I can't really continue a low cal diet due to the increased metabolic demands, but I do try to make healthy choices about my foods.

Mavrick, BSN, RN

1,578 Posts

Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
I'm less jiggly.

Jiggly is the mental image I get when I see "loose weight".

An exercise "date" really does make me more accountable and likely to show up. Don't wanna let my buddy down.

Farawyn

12,646 Posts

I don't go to Church, but the library has Yoga. And Zumba. Check your local Public Libraries!

I just got back from a walk/run right now. Buddy system as well.

I'd rather be outside than in a gym. I do belong to a gym, just haven't gone since last Winter.

Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

Ditto to Farawyn about having a gym membership I don't use enough. I keep it though, as my single indulgence during nsg school.

It's all about making time for myself, hard as it may be, I think it's important to do self care.

Gastrointestinal Columnist

Brenda F. Johnson, MSN

61 Articles; 326 Posts

Specializes in Gastrointestinal Nursing.
Even though I do not belong to a church, a couple of months ago I started an exercise regimen after a nearly two-year hiatus.

I lift heavy free weights once to twice weekly. My cardio exercise consists of step aerobics and/or walking alternated with jogging at a local park that has a nice trail.

The scale often seems like it doesn't want to budge, but my clothing fits a little looser with each passing week. My cholesterol has dropped from 254 to 164 and my hemoglobin A1C decreased slightly from 5.7 to 5.6.

Conjuring up the motivation to exercise can be difficult, especially if you don't feel it is making an impact as swiftly as you'd like. However, the quest for a healthier lifestyle should be seen as a marathon, not a sprint.

Good luck to everyone who wants to get healthier.

Yes, I have the same issue right now with the scale not moving. I have to remember that it is slow progress, but worth it!