Finding and maintaining a healthy weight can help you feel better in a host of ways. You may breathe and sleep better, experience reduced joint pain and feel happier overall.1 Often, even a small reduction in weight can help you worry less about your health and provide you with more energy for ministry.
This can be challenging, evidenced by the fact that more than half of Americans are overweight2 and thus vulnerable to potential health problems, including:
Multiple potential factors behind weight gain exist. While genetics and hormones can certainly play a part, daily choices are also a common cause and typically the easiest to change. These include diet, activity level, sleep and stress. At its core, weight loss occurs when you burn more calories than you consume over a period of time. Consistently making healthy choices can positively affect calorie burning and intake to help you safely and sustainably lose weight.
Eating a nutritious diet with an appropriate balance of calories and water is crucial to maintaining a healthy weight. It’s important to note that healthy eating doesn’t mean eliminating all your favorite foods. Healthy eating is about developing patterns and making consistent choices that give your body the nutrients it needs to maintain itself well. Start by making small, daily changes like these:
Moving your body requires energy, which burns calories. You don’t have to become a marathon runner overnight to be active — consciously introducing more movement into your daily routine is a great way to start. Try taking the stairs instead of an elevator or set an alarm to get up and walk for a few minutes every hour. If you want a more intense activity, many free at-home workout videos can be done with little to no equipment in your home. Does a group setting fire you up? See what classes are offered at a local gym.
In addition to weight management, regular physical activity can also improve your mood, help you sleep better and reduce the risk of many diseases.3 Finding time for exercise can be challenging, but moving your body is crucial for good health.
Most people consider diet and exercise the pillars of weight management, but sleep and stress are also key contributors. When stressed or not sleeping enough, we can become hungrier and crave less nutritious foods.
If you’re stressed by how much you have to do, see whether some of it can be delegated or reasonably postponed. Prioritizing tasks can feel daunting, but it is necessary — you can’t do it all. At the same time, make sure you’re getting enough quality rest and sleep. It is vital that you routinely rest and recover for the health of your mind, body and soul.
Your health isn’t just important to you. It matters to the people you work with and minister to. Having a friend to exercise with, hold you accountable and encourage you is incredibly helpful and uplifting. The wonderful thing about the community of the Christian life is that you aren’t alone in this.
Making changes amid your busy life and ministry may seem daunting, but the objective isn’t to restructure your entire life tomorrow. The goal is to pick up a piece of fruit instead of a candy bar, take the stairs instead of the elevator and implement small changes one at a time. Perfection isn’t the goal — progress is.
At GuideStone®, our vision is that every servant of Christ finishes well. That’s why we provide health plans and other helpful resources to help optimize your health and wellness. For more information, contact us at Insurance@GuideStone.org or 1-844-INS-GUIDE (1-844-467-4843), Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT.
GuideStone welcomes the opportunity to share this general information. However, this article is not intended to be relied upon as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
1WebMD.com/diet/ss/slideshow-five-percent-weight-loss
2CDC.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity-adult-17-18/obesity-adult.htm
3Health.Harvard.edu/topics/exercise-and-fitness
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