Week 2: The Value of Helpers - WTTB Woodleaf UMC Fitness Challenge

Week 2: The Value of Helpers for WTTB Woodleaf UMC Fitness Challenge

Week 2: The Value of Helpers

Welcome to Week 2 of the Woodleaf UMC Walk to the Beach (WTTB) fitness challenge!

This is a friendly reminder to turn in the following today, Sunday, 2/21/16:

1. Your name
2. Week 1 total mileage
3. Grand total mileage

Turn in the above at Woodleaf UMC or email me at nurseforwoodleafumc@gmail.com. I plan to post overall results later in the week.

Healthy Spirit: The Value of Helpers

But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. Exodus 17:12

As we work toward healthy goals, it can be a much bigger burden if we feel all alone. Making lifestyle changes are often very difficult, particularly if we have deep-seated habits that we would like to change. It typically takes more than 9 weeks to develop new, healthier habits that begin to feel automatic rather than forced. Having an accountability partner may greatly increase the chances that we will maintain positive changes. Everyone needs a bit of encouragement at times. If we don't meet today's goals, it often helps to have someone who will help us examine trends that might be leading us astray and who will encourage us to try again tomorrow. The Bible is full of examples in which people stepped up to help in addition to the one featured here from Exodus. Can we be that person for someone else? Who can be that person or people for us?

Healthy Mind: Salisbury

Just a short distance from Woodleaf on our way to Wilmington, we find Salisbury, NC. The city has a population of approximately 33,000 people and is located about halfway between Greensboro and Charlotte.

Those interested in history can find a nice assortment of historic homes and buildings; several are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Cheerwine and Food Lion were started in Salisbury. The city also values arts, and one can find quite a few indoor and outdoor art pieces scattered throughout the city. Those who are walking might want to pack a camera.

Salisbury is chock full of opportunities to exercise with a variety of parks, tennis courts, swimming pool and splash pad, and more. Several gyms are in the city. A popular free family-oriented program includes First Fridays where downtown shops are open late and folks have the opportunity to shop locally, perhaps compete for prizes, and ride the trolley for free. Lots of families gather at City Park to enjoy a free outdoor movie under the stars during warmer months.

Healthy Body: Reading Labels

Reading labels is an important step if we are working toward a healthier diet. Many manufacturers may focus on advertising something like "no cholesterol" but may be loaded with fats, salt, and many other less than healthy attributes. Sometimes a package may appear to be a single serving when in the item may contain two or three servings per container, which means that we have to multiply the calories, etc. by the number of servings if we are downing the whole amount.

A few additional important points regarding reading food labels:

• Look to see how many calories are coming from fat.
• Try to limit fats, cholesterol, and sodium.
• Try to get enough dietary fiber, vitamins, calcium, and iron according to doctor recommendations.

The FDA web site offers lots of helpful, specific information regarding reading food labels.