KAHLIL CARMICHAEL THE FITNESS DOCTOR
Kahlil Carmichael MAPCC, MDIV, CPT is the pastor of Live Well Church, in Somerset, New Jersey. He is a fitness specialist at The Fitness Doctor, a fitness and wellness consulting company; and the author of 50 Tips for a Better You. He is a contributor to Guideposts magazine. His first publication, Living Longer Living Better, is available now. Go to www.livewellchurch.org for more information.
The Same Power Health Beyond Coronavirus
W H
e just celebrated Easter and I am so excited. I love the traditional holidays and Easter is one of my faumanity a whole has been watching horror vorites. as I have a sincere fondness for theinway indias humankind was engulfed by the novel viduals who celebrate this wonderful holiday put on corotheir It wastheir truly Sunday navirus. best and make way ato worldwide church. Butpandemic, I also have something I never thought I’d experience my an attachment to the traditional activities such asduring Easter egg lifetime. Thankfully, it now looks like we have come hunts and chocolate bunnies. I know, I’m old fashioned. to theFrom othera theological side as the perspective, world is slowly opening again. For as a Christian, I celebrate this I am grateful. the Resurrection of Jesus without shame. I believe in the Ourofonly theitworst of the pandemic power theprotections resurrectionduring and what represents. were isolation and wearing protective equipment. Although One of my life scriptures is Ephesians 1:19-20 (NIV): “and many first treated this as optional, wearing masks and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Thatsocial powdistancing quickly more than a suggestion. It er is the same as thebecame mighty strength he exerted when he became law. This was a huge lesson for many as they put raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand their in thepersonal heavenlypreferences realms.” aside and embraced this new way of being to stay healthy. As I was writing and meditating on this scripture, I began Let’s equate this to our the health — spirit, mind, and to reason and cogitate about magnitude of God’s power, body. As the Fitness Doctor and the spiritual leader of which lives inside of us. Could this same power that raised aJesus thriving faith community, I believe exercising fifteen from the dead help the community overcome the lack minutes perovereating, day (at minimum) is essential. Yes, every of exercise, and unhealthy food choices? day! It provides many benefits like weight loss, emoMore than a quarter of Americans age 50 and older do tional stability, increased energy, and the reduction not move beyond basic everyday activities, according toofa chronic disease. with and/or new report from Coupled the Centers forspiritual Disease exercise Control and Prepractices such as prayer and meditation, you now have vention. a plan for success. Despite the many benefits of moderate physical activity, including decreased risk of heart disease, diabetes, dementia, cancer, and early death; about 31 million U.S. adults are Do yourself a favor and follow these Fitness Doctor inactive. Hispanics and African-Americans were more likely tips for better health: to be physically inactive (zero exercise) than whites according to CBS News. • Get your physician’s approval before starting an Exercise is defined as activity requiring physical effort, car exercise plan. ried out specifically to sustain or improve health and fitness. • Slowly incorporate regular physical activity into As a pastor and spiritual leader, I have seen this “God your schedule; take a fifteen-minute walk, exercise power” work and bring transformation to the lives of good with hand weights, or use a fitness app for inspiration. people bound by various forms of dysfunctional behavior. • Schedule it! Be consistent, build healthy habits, and This power that raised Christ from the dead and helped ad increase them. It’s all about growth. dicts and other dysfunctional people experience freedom • Invest in a certified personal trainer to safely from what held them in bondage is the same power that can evaluate you and develop a plan for your success. help black and brown communities overcome the inability to sustain a consistent exercise program, eat healthier, and consume less food. www.thepositivecommunity.com 18 The Positive Community May / June 2021
This spiritual power is found within the believer. That’s right; it’s specific to the Christian. To access this power, you Hand inChrist handaswith exercise is dietary Salty must accept Savior and submit yourselfintake. wholeheartsnacks and sweet desserts may taste good, but the result edly to serving Him and becoming a disciple. There is no of indulging be obesity andischronic diseasestolike way around it. can Resurrection power set and precise the hypertension and diabetes. If you eat poorly, you will not Christian. lose weight — no matter how much you exercise! Secondly, prayer and meditation help bond and build the relationship with God through Christ. Prayer helps the individual develop a Christ consciousness, thus, helping him/ Follow these Fitness Doctor tips for an improved her become aware of the God-given power working on the physical condition: inside. As my auntie often said, “How can you use what you don’t know you have?” Amen. • Make healthy choices, one meal at a time. And finally, you must believe. Believe what? Believe the • Build your self-control. Nothing tastes as good as same power that raised Christ from the dead is the same being healthy! power working on the inside of you to help you overcome • Avoid unsustainable fad diets and instead, consisdysfunction. Yes, even the dysfunctional behavior of overeat tently eat well. The results will show. ing, lack of exercise, and unhealthy food choices. • Stop eating late meals. There is place for faith to support physical fitness and • Select colorful vegetables and lean proteins health. The bible teaches us that the body is the temple of for meals. the Holy Spirit or as I like to say, “The body is the house of • Avoid simple carbs. God.” If we don’t take care of it where are we going to live? • Explore the produce section and try something new! Remember when you listened to the man or woman of God preach about this power that raised Jesus from the Consistent physical activity and a healthy, clean diet dead? It is the same power! can improve your life dramatically, no matter your age I facilitate and teach a free workshop and seminar titled or current condition. Making these changes can lessen “The Truth about Weight Loss.” In this seminar, I teach or eliminate the effects of chronic disease, which is my the concept of getting healthier and fit from within. If you greatest desire for you. You must live well; it is more than would like to learn more about this transformative seminar a suggestion! or how I might share with your church or organization, call my assistant Karen Beasley at (732) 912-4435 or send email Live Well and prosper! to pastor@itiswellchurch.com Fitness training is available through the Live Well Exercise Consistently, Eat Healthier, Live Well. Church FITCARE program, offered at the Fitness Doctor Studio in Somerset, New Jersey. Please call Karen Beasley at 732-912-4435 to schedule a free assessment. Disclaimer: The information contained in this column information contained thisphysician column is of isDisclaimer: of a generalThe nature. You should consultinyour a general nature. You should consult your physician or health or health care professional before beginning any exercise care professional before beginning any exercise program or program or changing your dietary regimen. changing your dietary regimen. April 2018www.thepositivecommunity.com The Positive Community 23
