“Treat your body like an instrument—not an ornament.” —Gary Thomas
Our society struggles to find a healthy image of the human body.
On one end, we obsess over it. Americans alone spend over $10 billion dollars/year on plastic surgery. New diet fads surface and fade away at a dizzying pace. Magazine covers promise 6-pack abs in grocery store check-out aisles. The average woman spends 2 weeks a year on her appearance. And 77 percent of adult women complain about their physical appearance.
And yet, despite all the cultural fixation on beauty and outward appearance, 60% of Americans are either overweight or obese. Only one in five adults meet federal guidelines for both aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening exercise. We spend over $100 billion dollars/year on fast food and average 34 hours/week watching television. Even more of us see little connection between our physical bodies and the lives that we lead.
Both views lead to disastrous outcomes. On one hand, an over-infatuation with the body leads to an unhealthy relationship with it. We base our happiness on our physical appearance or use it as a means to impress others. But an unconcerned, dismissive image of the human body leads to an unhealthy lifestyle with unhealthy choices.
What approach might we take that balances both and keeps our physical bodies in proper regard? Or better yet, what perspective might motivate us to care for our bodies properly without becoming obsessive over it?
The key, I believe, is to understand our physical bodies are the instruments through which we accomplish our unique purpose in this world. (tweet that)
Our one physical body represents an important tool to accomplish important good works. In this way, they must matter to us.
No matter what our greatest pursuit is in life, our physical bodies are essential to accomplishing it. Whether I desire to be a good parent, a spiritual mentor, a world-traveler, a successful businessperson, or any combination of the above, my body is either an asset or liability.
This is an important change in our thinking. We do not care for our bodies simply for vanity’s sake or to fill a void within us. We care for our bodies so we can more effectively accomplish what we most want to accomplish with our lives.
This approach motivates us to make healthy choices in a healthy context.
How then, specifically, might we care for our bodies to keep them both healthy and effective? Consider these 7 intentional steps:
1. Fuel properly. Make half your plate fruits and vegetables. Their contribution to healthy eating cannot be overstated. The goal in our home is to make meat the side dish rather than the main dish.
2. Hydrate sufficiently. Every system in your body depends on water. According to the Mayo Clinic, you body probably needs 9-13 cups of fluid each day (depending on your gender, size, and activity level). Consider 8 glasses of water each day as a really good place to start.
3. Exercise frequently. The CDC recommends 150 minutes/week of aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week—that’s just a bit more than one full-length movie and sitcom. If you are intentional about getting exercise, you are meeting this suggestion. If you are not intentional about getting exercise, you should probably start.
4. Rest regularly. Your body needs rest. Get some each week.
5. Eliminate unhealthy habits strategically. Eat less junk food. Drink less alcohol. Smoke fewer cigarettes. Read more labels.
6. Don’t compare foolishly. Your body is unique and your goals are unique. Care for your body as an instrument through which to accomplish your unique purpose—not as something to be compared to others.
7. Make changes slowly. Pick one item from this list you can improve upon. Start there. And experience some victories before moving on to the next.
Mini says
You’re right. All of this numbers are terrifying. We’re obsessed with our appearance but from another hand, our culture require to be polite, pretty and cool from us.
Heidi @ Barefoot and Paleo says
I agree 100% with each point although it is hard to be comitted to everything all at once. I find if I focus on just one positive thing, like rest, then I am more likely to accomplish it successfully. When I am getting enough rest, I move to the next positive thing on my list.
Thanks for sharing!
shebolt says
Excellent tips! I think the statistic that 77% of adult women complain about their bodies is low. I often feel like something is wrong with me because I don’t complain about my body. Every other woman I know, whether fat, skinny, or somewhere in between, complains.
I stay fit and eat well for exactly the reason you stated – I love to see what I can do with this body and am constantly trying to test my limits and achieve more. I race bikes. I play tennis. I hike mountains. I lift weights. The side benefit of all of this is that I look good. But that’s not why I do any of it.
I wish more women would start thinking this way, instead of constantly finding fault even when there is none to be found.
Kelly says
Great comment! :)
Jessica says
“our physical bodies are the instruments through which we accomplish our unique purpose in this world.”
Perfectly put! The funny thing is, when I stopped eating sugar for a while the goal wasn’t to loose weight, the goal was to do something good for my body. Regardless of what my body looked like from the outside, I wanted to do something for the inside! Nevertheless, I soon looked better and thinner, even though that wasn’t planned. Maybe the right approach is to want to be healthy and not just look thin and the rest will fall into place on its own.
Sandra Pawula says
These are startling statistic, Joshua. Especially the fact that “60% of Americans are either overweight or obese.” And, I can hardly believe that people watch 34 hours of television a week! That’s almost a full work week. And, I don’t watch television at all so someone else must be watching more.
I fully agree with your suggestion to see our body as the vehicle for accomplishing our purpose in this life. I think it’s important to find the right balance between neglecting it and giving it more attention that it really deserves or needs. A healthy minimalist approach I think is the best one when it comes to the body.
John says
Great post. Very consistent with a quote I read last week:
“Take care of your body, it is the only place you have to live here on earth.”
thanks,
John
http://www.thehillofbeans.com
Tamorie says
I really like this article. It’s common sense and simple at best, but so hard for us to put into practice. For awhile now I’ve been really interested in my healthy as it pertains to my goals in life. I’m going to be living overseas pretty soon away for American and first world comforters. Recently I’ve been on a steady journey of learning how to care for myself physically so that I’ll be able to do my job well and live comfortably and healthfully in a different culture.
I’ve done a six week vegan diet, which changed my entire outlook on food and other things as well. I’m now doing a one week healthy habits challenge to see just how much little things like exercising every day and getting a good night sleep affect my mood and regular disposition. It’s not an easy thing to change habits that we’ve lived with our whole lives, but the outcome is well worth it. I’m learning that slowly, but surely.
Alex@lifeandotherweirdtales says
I love the quote you used! From an educator/soon to be mum perspective, I truly believe that is one of the reasons we need to get our kids into sport.
I was a professional athlete for years, and still exercise for health (and fun) but the one, the best thing that I have learnt about exercise is to feel grateful that it CAN DO all these things: climb mountains, lift shopping, run up stairs, swim across a lake…
I love looking at older people who, through continued use, have kept the functionality of their bodies.
Thanks for the post!
Jennifer Leap says
I believe a huge shift happens when we stop thinking about how our bodies look and instead focus on how our bodies feel. We feel much better when we eat nutritious foods and exercise regularly; we don’t feel so great when we’re dehydrated or running on 4 hrs of sleep. Our bodies will naturally guide us in making the choices that are best for our health.
Teri Clifton says
I worked for 3 1/2 years at a shelter for kids involved in prostitution. Even upon leaving prostitution, the desire for “things” and the obsession to look like a celebrity remained intact with these kids. The body image and unrealistic idea of a norm is so reinforced by media and so very damaging.
I am lucky to have kids of my own that hike and backpack and therefore are not solely tied to one idea of “beauty” and they all value physical strength and emotional/intellectual power and peace. For anyone struggling and navigating challenges in the arena of body image, the world at large is not their friend. Privileged culture pressures everyone to look like a model and then proffers outrageously unhealthy fast food as an acceptable way to eat. It is a lose, lose situation until collectively it is dismantled. It happened and continues to happen with cigarettes so there is hope. :)
Christina says
<3