Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers is a great program that creates a space of accountability and a simple way of counting calories for people who are interested in “watching” their weight.  This generally means losing or maintaining weight, and essentially involves a healthy diet, some cardio, weight training, resistance and strengthening exercises.  Here in the U.S. we seem to have great difficulty eating healthy food and maintaining healthy lifestyles so that we live long and prosper without being obese with crazy health problems. 

While I definitely have more to say about the matter, I’ll leave that for a future post.  The important point is that there is a two-pronged approach to watching your weight – a healthy diet and sufficient exercise.  AND within that approach sufficient exercise includes cardio, weights, resistance & strengthening activities. Consider that while some people may need to lose weight (preferably fat cells) and gain muscle mass and build strength, other people may need to simply gain muscle mass and build strength (just because you’re skinny doesn’t mean that you’re healthy.. yes, I'm talking about being "skinny fat"..more later...

Also consider weight watchers as a metaphor for your spirit.  Each of us has a spiritual part of ourselves whether we acknowledge it or not.  As spiritual beings, there are some aspects of our lives that can weigh us down emotionally, mentally, financially and spiritually that we need to lose.  This could be an unhealthy relationship, unwise spending habits, a legal or an illegal addiction (alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, drugs, etc.), or a negative attitude or a pessimistic mindset.  When left unchecked, these things affect our spirits, our connection to God and all of the love and blessings He has for us.  We aren't in a position to receive because we are weighed down by excess baggage. We need to lose weight.  We need to shed some things in our lives that are a ‘drag’ and pulling us down spiritually.

For others, we need to gain.  We have to improve our spiritual health by adding some muscle mass with weights and resistance training.  This means that we need to build our spiritual and emotional strength.  We can do this by studying our faith and internalizing the words and insights that help us to move through each day.  We can meditate on the words of strength and spiritual power that our faith gives to use and use these words against negative influences that present themselves in our lives.

All of us need to join a spiritual weight watchers plan.  Maybe we need light or heavy cardio or weights or both, but every now and then, we all need something.  Find a group, and join a program for your spiritual health.  The results are truly awesome!  May you Live Long...and Prosper!