Who Inspires You to Live Healthy?

Happy last day of March! We're one day closer to spring-like weather and I love it. Today is an inspirational Tuesday on the Fit Dish link-up with the [optional] topic:


To INSPIRE means to influence or impel. While the opposite of inspire is to discourage, dishearten, depress, deaden. (Thanks, dictionary.com)

Life isn't always full of positive inspiration. Often, lies or hurtful words can sneak into our minds. Things like you're never going to make it, why even try, just give up, you're crazy, you can't do that, you're just wasting your time, what does it matter anyway!

We all battle some sort of negative thoughts on a daily basis. To combat those negative thoughts, we can choose to think of whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8).

Hold closely those special people who inspire you; who motivate you and spur you on to be your best. See the good in others, encourage and motivate others to be their best, too. Chances are, you are an inspiration to someone else and you don't even know it!
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. HEBREWS 10:24 NLT

So WHO (or WHAT) Inspires You to Live Healthy?


My husband // He recently thanked me for being so active. That really shocked me! Here I thought my love run in circles drove him nuts. He appreciates that I take care of myself and my motivation. Hello, love language! That one melted my heart just a little :)

Motherhood // Being a mom isn't an excuse to give up on your health. It's even more reason to eat healthy and to make time for exercise. You need all the extra energy possible to take care of your family! Remember, little eyes are always watching and learning from mom and dad's habits (good or bad!).

One of my inspirations!

This Pregnancy // God has given me the ability to make decisions that impact my health and the health of our baby. Making healthy choices isn't just about doing what is best for my body anymore - it's about doing what is best for our baby's health, too!

People Who Make It Happen // Who fight the urge to make excuses. Who build up others instead of tearing them down. The women that totally whooped me in my last half marathon. They are moms, too, and fast ones at that! Listening to excuses is sickening but the people who get out there and make it happen are truly an inspiration. #fitfam

The Spiritually Strong Study // We are starting study week 4 and I have learned so much about the different spiritual disciplines! Healthy living does matter to God because our bodies belong to Him. We are God's workmanship and He has given His children new life in Jesus Christ to do good (Eph. 2:10)!

"No excuses" people inspire me!

7 Reasons to Make Time for Exercise

Here's a little extra inspiration for your Tuesday. In the "Healthy Living" chapter of her book Spiritually Strong: The Ultimate 6-Week Guide to Building Your Body and Soul, Kristen Feola shares some of the benefits of physical exercise that are sure to motivate.

Life is busy and you aren't going to just "find" time to exercise. Make an appointment with yourself and stick to it. The benefits are worth your time! Regular exercise will...
  1. Strengthen your bones and muscles. Our bones and muscles adapt to the stresses and strains placed on them. When you push your body through physical exercise, muscle mass increases and results in greater overall strength for your body. 
  2. Control your weight. Regular exercise enables your body to use excess calories for energy. You need to perform an aerobic exercise for 20 minutes+ to use your body's fat stores. For exercise less than 20 minutes, your body uses energy stored from the food you ate during the day. 
  3. Help prevent health conditions and diseases. Regular physical activity is shown to lower blood pressure, improve blood circulation and cholesterol levels, prevent or reverse type 2 diabetes, reduce the risk of stroke, decrease the risk of heart disease and cancer, and enhance your immune system. 
  4. Lift depression. Research suggests that burning 350 calories three times a week through sustained physical activity can reduce symptoms of depression almost as effectively as antidepressants. 
  5. Improve learning. Exercise increases the level of brain chemicals (or "growth factors") that help to make new brain cells and establish additional brain-cell connections that enable us to learn. 
  6. Promote better sleep. If you have trouble sleeping at night, try exercising regularly for more restful slumber. Avoid working out too close to bedtime as the increase in your metabolism may make it hard to fall asleep. 
  7. Boost your energy. Physical activity delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues which makes your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. This results in more energy for your body!
    (Source: Feola, Kristen. Spiritually Strong. S.l.: Zondervan, 2015. Print.)
Who or what inspires you to live healthy?

Linking up with Fitness Friday and the Fit Dish. #dishthefit

Comments

  1. great post and I could not agree more! We have to take care of ourself! God expects us to be good stewards and that includes being a good steward of our bodies, how else are we going to do his good works? Ver positive message and yes, our children are watching us! :)

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    1. Thank you, Mary Beth! I saw that you mentioned how our children watch us in your post, too :) So true!

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  2. Great list of people! My husband recently said the same thing! It makes me feel so great when other s realize how important being fit means to me. I hope that i am an inspiration to others too :)

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    1. Encouraging words do feel awesome - especially when they come from the husband! That "words of affirmation" love language must be on both of our lists :)

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  3. Great post! I love how many things inspire you, and amen to children making it all the more important to stay healthy. I know I am a much better mom when I get some exercise, and it will def help me be a better grandma someday! And I love #4 on your list. I am a generally happy person, but exercise really makes me feel joyful every day. Much love, Amy!

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    1. Same here - even on a crummy day, a good workout puts a while on my face! And I second that - exercise does make us better future grandmas :) It's scary to think about our kids having kids!!! But I sure want to be running around with those little ones, too :)

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  4. My husband is at the top of my inspires me list too. I'm the luckiest woman in the world to have him in my life.

    #fitfamlove <3

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    1. That's awesome, Jill! Encouraging words mean the most to me when they come from my husband :) I love it!

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