Today on MoneyLife with Chuck Bentley

Thursday, January 28, 2010

The Bottom Line on Staying Fit

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I'm ahead of schedule in most categories on my New Year's resolutions. It's difficult to get up early enough to accomplish all that I want to do, but I'm hanging in there.

Our guest today is David Szafranski, the Founder and President of Edgewater Investment Group. David's a professional financial advisor and works with players in the National Football League.

He’s here to talk today about the need to be physically fit and how that relates to being financially fit. It's amazing how the two are connected.

The Bible says God owns everything, including our bodies. Our body is the place where the Holy Spirit lives. We are to be good stewards of our bodies, taking of what He has given us.

There are so many benefits when we do. There’s a financial benefit to taking care of your body. That’s what we’re going to talk about today.

The God Provides™ film tour is coming to Atlanta February 11 and Chattanooga February 18. You're all invited to come and bring your children, it's a family event. There's no charge to attend, but please register here.

David Szafranski David says fitness has always been a big part of his life. He's gone through stressful situations and his faith in God has gotten him through those times, but working out has helped him manage stress, too.

David served in the military and learned how to stay physically fit and how far his body could go. He's been motivated to stay fit even without a drill sergeant driving him.

He works out 5-6 days a week whether traveling or not and alternates days between weights and aerobic exercise like biking or running. He also uses a treadmill in the winter. He takes Sundays off.

David says when we have discipline in one area, it’s easier to be disciplined in another. If you have success in one area, you know you can have success in another. Discipline is a lifestyle.

There’s a spiritual component in being physically fit, too. The highest use of our lives and bodies is in service to God. We need to always be ready in every way to answer God’s calls to serve and that includes being physically ready.

You can use your workout time to also grow spiritually. David listens to Christian music and programs. He frees his mind from the distractions of the world and that allows him to focus on God. This helps him think more clearly. No other activity gives him that. So the mental benefit is even greater than the physical benefit.

Physical fitness helps you manage stress better. Stress is a normal part of life, so if you can manage it well, it leads to better performance. It's helpful in your work and career.

David says the body is an efficient machine like a car. If you don’t take care of it, you’re going to pay for it. You will have more medical bills and less energy and ability to do things. When you take care of your body, you have less sick days and heal quicker. Doing some exercise is better than nothing.

If your goal this year is to get in shape, set some short goals that are easy and achievable. You should also set some medium, and long term goals. He advises eating one healthy snack in the evening after dinner and nothing else until breakfast the next morning. When you exercise, mix weights and aerobic activity.

This is a great time to start something new, but David advises you not to buy equipment or join a gym. Take baby steps. Start walking after dinner for 30-45 minutes instead of watching TV.

Don’t do too much at first. You’ll start seeing results immediately. Endorphins (produced by the body during exercise) are powerful. You’ll sleep better, think clearer, and feel better.

If you’re older, remember the church needs mature adults. You are wisdom for younger people; you can mentor them. You can’t do it if you’re not taking care of yourself, so do it for you and for them.

If you can have discipline in one area, it can grow into other areas. Just start somewhere. Start by turning off the TV, getting off the couch, and walking around the block. Try to do a little more each day and make exercise a habit.

Set short, medium, and long-range goals. Give yourself rewards for achieving them. I get up in the morning and do push-ups and sit-ups in my basement, which is a short-term goal. I want to get back to the gym in time, and that's a medium goal. I also eventually want to start running races, a long-term goal.

God wants us to ask, seek, and knock. Ask God for help in being disciplined. Seek His encouragement. Knock through prayer. Dedicate your fitness to bringing glory to God.

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Don't forget about the God Provides™ film tour coming to Atlanta Thursday, February 11 and Chattanooga, Thursday, February 18. I'll be teaching, too. These events are family friendly and free, so bring your children. We'll be showing Abraham and Isaac and the Widow and Oil films. You can register here.

This is not a fundraising event and there's no charge to attend. I encourage you to see God as your provider during these difficult economic times. I hope you’ll make plans to be there if you live in those areas. If you do, please say hello and let me know you're a MoneyLife listener.

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