So consider yourself warned…
Many people know that I am a huge fan of the TV show The Biggest Loser. I have watched it since the very first season and I have not missed an episode. It is one of the things that inspired me to put down the bowl of ice cream, get off of the couch, and change my lifestyle. I was borderline obese and I needed to do something. I had tried diets but it was time to change my life if I wanted to lose the weight, keep it off and live for a long time. I found that inspiration while watching The Biggest Loser.
In season 3 of The Biggest Loser I had a fellow youth pastor, that I knew through an online community (YMX), participate in the show as the representative for Maine. His name is Matthew McNutt and you can read his story on his website. This season there is another youth pastor that is participating on the show (and was sadly voted off this last week), whose name is Sean Algaier. It really got me to thinking, that in my limited view of the youth ministry world, there seems to be a lot of overweight youth pastors/workers out there.
I think that is a sad thing. Youth pastors are called to be an inspiration to the next generation and I think that we need to stop limiting that to only spiritual things. I believe that if we truly believe that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit then we need to practice that in how we take care of our bodies. I hope that in my current ministry that I am inspiring my teens to not only to live a godly life, but that I am also inspiring them to live a healthy and full life.
I am so grateful to Matthew and Sean for inspiring many youth pastors to start changing their lives and to start shedding their excess baggage, so that they can be their for their families and for their teenagers long term. I hope that this doesn’t just become a fad that ends up dying out, but I hope that youth pastors, pastor and Christ-followers everywhere take it upon themselves to push themselves and get healthy.
I love what Bob Harper of The Biggest Loser has to say about weight loss, “The key to becoming a big loser is mathematically very simple: Eat less, move more.” And if you need someone to get up in your face and push you, like Bob and Jillian do on the show, the find someone to do that. The most important thing is that you do it. I hope and pray that the Church in America can not only show the world that living for Christ is the best way to live, but I also hope that we can show them that being healthy is also important. And I hope that youth pastors everywhere will take the lead on this.
Well, color me convicted. I have carried excess baggage for many many years, and have recently come to Christ. I see that, having begun to read the bible, that your statement is true, our bodies are the Temple for the Spirit. I have struggled with my weight, never really losing any in the process, but this post, even though I am not IN ministry, makes me see that I am still in ministry with my actions, and well, I need to clean up my act, and get with my words. Thank you Todd, for being the conduit for this message from Jesus.
It’s the sin we don’t talk about in church.
Way to go for plugging away on your own personal journey and being willing to challenge us all!
I struggle with this too. Funny how the 1st sin in the bible revolved around eating!
Great words! I love how you remind everyone that our body is a temple for the Spirit. If you are a follower of Christ, not a fan but a follower, then you will need to truly accept that fact and start respecting your body.
Hi, Todd
This really inspired me, how did you go about losing weight, I’m looking for things to do to lose weight.
@Anonymous What I did was basically what doctors have told us to do for years. To eat healthier and to exercise. So my best advice for you is to do the same. I would recommend getting some of “The Biggest Loser” cookbooks, and maybe even their calorie counter.
Then find a gym to become a member at. I know many gyms have some good deals right now. If that doesn’t work within your budget then get a workout DVD to use at home. My wife and I have used “The Biggest Loser” DVD’s and liked them. They let you customize your workout.
The other thing I would suggest is to do lots of cardio-vascular type of workouts like walking or running. Those things will help you shed weight much easier. And weight training is a good idea. “The Biggest Loser” TV show has some excellent trainer tips every so often that give some good practical advice.
I know that I sound like a commercial for “The Biggest Loser”, but it was my biggest inspiration to lose weight and I found that it helped me. I get no money or prizes for endorsing them, I just believe the show is very helpful.