What role does faith play into fitness?

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Replies

  • Brutmar
    Brutmar Posts: 85
    God wants us to be the best we can be. I feel that being fit is part of that. How can we be at our best for Him if we allow our bodies to be run down and out of shape? Yes, we might be mocked for our faith, but that is ok. I know what awaits me after this earthly life; glorious heaven.

    Amen! :smile:
  • kmccormick42
    kmccormick42 Posts: 78 Member
    While I don't actively pray for weight loss, I do thank God for my good health that enables me to exercise and have fun w/ my family. I walk quite a bit on my treadmill and it's not uncommon for me to use this time to pray/talk to God. It's some quiet time for me even though I'm working.
  • TechOutside
    TechOutside Posts: 101 Member
    I don't prescribe to any religion specifically but I have faith, I simply just don't think any of us have the answers but we will all find out one way or the other in the end, of that I am certain.
  • sally_jeffswife
    sally_jeffswife Posts: 766 Member
    I think the devil definently will try to make you feel down or discouraged or bad about yourself. Faith can combat that and help you to continue on in whatever you are doing be it fitness or whatever. I think that its easy to get discouraged especially when trying to lose weight or when trying to do something where the results don't come super quickly. I think faith most definently can help with that and good health and taking care of the body God gave you also will enable you to do alot more things for alot longer. That is my opinion anyways and why I think its very important in relation to fitness.
  • StrictlyPro
    StrictlyPro Posts: 72
    Being unhealthy will get you to heaven quicker. Just sayin'
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    Religious or not religious, what the hell does faith have with exercise? When you walk up to a squat rack for a heavy single you better have faith in YOURSELF because no matter how much you pray and no matter how much "laying of hands" your training partner does on you, Jesus ain't gonna' save you from being crushed by that weight if you f-up. With all the problems this planet faces and who knows what else is going on in the universe, God, Allah, Jesus (or whichever faith you believe in) has bigger problems to address that what we do in the gym.

    Have faith in yourself!
    True, but anyone who attacks someone for their religious or spiritual beliefs is tacky and disrespectful, so they're really just making themselves look bad.

    There are only a few reasons I would directly attack somebody for being religious.
    1. They rely solely on prayer to "help" their self with a problem and take no steps themselves to resolve an issue. i.e. Like they're waiting for Jesus to swoop down, remove the abusive husband from the home and make everything right.
    2. It causes discrimination. No matter what we interpret a religious work to read, at the end of the day God said to love thy neighbor and there were no disclaimers in that message.
    3. Violence in the name of religion
    Being unhealthy will get you to heaven quicker. Just sayin'

    That's not even remotely true. You can easily Google a list of professional and olympic athletes that have died well before their time. Sometimes when it's your time, it's your time.
  • Tessyloowhoo
    Tessyloowhoo Posts: 504
    i prayed all my fat away... kind of like a fat exorcism
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  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Just wondering what role, if any, your faith plays into why you want to get fit and how you incorporate it.

    A lot. I have faith in myself that I can finish that lift.

    I have faith that I won't quit because the last 200 yards is hard.

    I have faith that as soon as I heal I'll be back on it.


    Without faith, I wouldn't work out.
  • MercenaryNoetic26
    MercenaryNoetic26 Posts: 2,747 Member
    For me, faith = mind over matter when it comes to fitness.
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    It plays a tremendous role

    george-michael-o.gif


    Its my favorite song to listen to while Prancercising!!!
    So much win.
  • GuybrushThreepw00d
    GuybrushThreepw00d Posts: 784 Member
    Well I guess it would be nice, If I could touch your body. I know not everybody has got a body like you
    But I've got to think twice before I give my heart away and I know all the games you play because I play them too.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/search?include_mature=false&order=2&phrase=christian&utf8=✓

    Faith =/= Christian

    didn't mean to imply that it did. but searching for groups under "faith" turned up almost nothing. so i took my best guess. either way, it lets the OP know there are tons of groups where he can get tons of support and talk freely and openly about whatever his faith may actually be.

    trying to discuss faith on the open forums, whatever that actual faith may be, can lead to a baaaaaaaad time.
  • misti777
    misti777 Posts: 217 Member
    Well, I am christian. The bible teaches us that because the holy spirit is within us and that we are made in god's image we should take care of our bodies. For me, that is part of the reason I want to get fit and eat healthy.
  • TheNewDodge
    TheNewDodge Posts: 607 Member
    I wish I could do it on my own. Faith is huge for me.
  • Joehenny
    Joehenny Posts: 1,222 Member
    I don't rely on faith, I prefer logic.
  • _SABOTEUR_
    _SABOTEUR_ Posts: 6,833 Member
    There were a few times I prayed for it to rain so I would feel cooler. Then again last half marathon we were delayed for an hour and it still rained the first 8-10 miles and I prayed it would cease raining.

    I've heard you want it both ways. OK, dreamed, but still, I have faith.
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    Faith doesnt have to mean religious faith surely?

    You can have faith in a multitude of things... hopefully yourself being the #1 you have faith in

    game/set/match...

    however to me faith implies a hope in that certain checks and balances will come together in order for fitness goals to ensue...

    whereas I feel that I don't hope, I MAKE them come together in order to reach my goals,

    i MAKE sure my shoes are in working order, I make sure I have my GPS I make sure I make time to work out, I make sure I eat well...i make sure.....

    you know?


    Faith in yourself and your ability to get *kitten* done
  • SuperSexyDork
    SuperSexyDork Posts: 1,669 Member
    Faith doesnt have to mean religious faith surely?

    You can have faith in a multitude of things... hopefully yourself being the #1 you have faith in

    game/set/match...

    however to me faith implies a hope in that certain checks and balances will come together in order for fitness goals to ensue...

    whereas I feel that I don't hope, I MAKE them come together in order to reach my goals,

    i MAKE sure my shoes are in working order, I make sure I have my GPS I make sure I make time to work out, I make sure I eat well...i make sure.....

    you know?

    Are you sure we're not twins? Sisters at least?

    You took the words right out of my mouth.
  • bonjour24
    bonjour24 Posts: 1,119 Member
    For me, none.

    I am not religious, nor am I particularly spiritual. I don't believe everything happens for a reason and I don't believe we are being guided by a greater being. Having said that, I have nothing but respect for those who find comfort in their faith. I think faith is a lovely thing, but my brain just doesn't work that way.

    Whatever helps people get through life whilst, doing the least amount of damage to others, is okay by me.

    this. i am quite envious of people who have their faith to hold onto in tough times. i do not believe in a deity.

    i have faith in myself. i do the work and believe in me. the thing that keeps me pushing is knowing that by doing this i have a greater chance to get to see my kids grow up and meet my grandkids.

    i don't think that faith is necessarily to do with religion. you can put your trust in many things. i choose to place my belief in myself.
  • ladymiseryali
    ladymiseryali Posts: 2,555 Member
    I don't rely on faith, I prefer logic.

    This. Logic tells me that if I overeat and don't move, I will get fat. Therefore I do the exact opposite. LOGIC FTW
  • tapirfrog
    tapirfrog Posts: 616 Member
    Why do you ask?
  • ereck44
    ereck44 Posts: 1,170 Member
    If I am being timed when in a plank position or wall sit, I take the opportunity to close my eyes and focus on some praying. It totally centers one's energies and helps remove the thoughts of failure.
  • Mobilemuscle
    Mobilemuscle Posts: 945 Member
    it gave us a 300lb 8x Mr.O with a striated *kitten*....
  • southerndream24
    southerndream24 Posts: 303 Member
    I have faith in the craftsmanship of my shoes, GPS satellite link of my Garmin, and charge level of my iPod. So yeah, a pretty large role.

    This!!!!
  • bugtaylor
    bugtaylor Posts: 77 Member
    No one has to defend God he can handle it and prove himself . Watch when the next crisis happens......
  • Jleonra
    Jleonra Posts: 42
    None, I don't believe in a higher power.

    I prefer hard work, discipline and knowledge.
  • socioseguro
    socioseguro Posts: 1,679 Member
    I have faith in myself.


    this
  • CarmenSRT
    CarmenSRT Posts: 843 Member
    I have faith in my ability to see my goals through with hard work.
  • FixIngMe13
    FixIngMe13 Posts: 405 Member
    I personally listen to Contemporary Christian music when I work out. I don't need "fast/upbeat" music all the time to get motivated and moving. All I need is my ipod, a road/sidewalk and my sneakers. I personally find that Christian music revitalizes me... gets me grounded...and I feel much better spiritually and emotionally after a good walk. To each their own.... but it impacts my life, my workout a lot. There are times I'm so busy meditating and listening to the words of a song that I'm on mile 11 and not even tired. To me it is very important.
  • jennaworksout
    jennaworksout Posts: 1,739 Member
    none...we are all on our own

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