Bible/Advice/Resources

By Summer Lane

Photo: Deposit

With summertime off to a rapid start, it’s that time of year when summer beach body diets and miracle detox cleanses begin to clutter up my social media feeds, telling me that it’s time to hit the workout mat and eat healthier now that the warmer season is upon us. And I’ll be honest – it usually works! 

I love to work out and I love to eat healthy, but like so many other parents, busy school schedules, work, and just the overall pressures of life often get in the way of my lofty goals of clean eating and diligent workout sessions. Over the years, I’ve mostly maintained my commitment to working out, but over the past year, stress and insane scheduling knocked me off kilter and I found myself falling behind on my goals. 

Thankfully, this spring, I was able to reorient and pull a few of my tried-and-true tricks out of the hat to get not only me – but my entire family – back on track! Remember, the Bible tells us that our bodies are a temple (1 Cor. 6:19), and therefore we should glorify God in our body, because we were bought with a price – the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Living a healthy lifestyle and being cognizant of what we put in our bodies is God-honoring and it helps us have lives that are more functional. As a mom, I especially want to be in the best condition I can manage so that I can take care of my husband, my children, and my home to the best of my ability. 

I like to think about Proverbs 31:27, which describes a godly wife as one who “watches over the activities of her household and is never idle.” Men, of course, are the head of the household, and have their own hefty responsibilities, as well (Ephesians 5:23). How can we carry out these duties if we’re not taking care of ourselves? Therefore, healthy eating and living is essential! 

Here are some easy methods to get yourself on track with a healthy lifestyle one small step at a time if the thought overwhelms you. Remember, it’s not about perfection – it’s about where your heart is, and the authenticity of the effort. 

Make your goals small and attainable 

Working moms and stay-at-home moms, I have a message for you: don’t aim to over-achieve. I say this in love! I used to make the mistake of aiming for the stars and landing, instead, on the moon. And when I didn’t achieve my lofty goals, I would feel discouraged and depressed. Avoid this by breaking up your big goal into smaller steps that are actually attainable on a day-by-day basis. For example, rather than committing to five hard exercise sessions per week, I’ll commit to two small sessions, and then anything I manage to get in past that point is a big WIN. Try not to get overwhelmed by the macro-picture. Focus on the small details, one step at a time, and progress will happen bit by bit. 

Goals are best achieved when they are DOABLE. If you’re aiming to eat cleaner, more organic foods, start by adding them slowly and economically. Take it one day at a time, take time to celebrate the small wins, and focus on the positives, not the negatives. 

Involve the family 

Our fitness goals as parents are certainly going to be quite different than our children’s, but that doesn’t mean we can’t involve our entire family in a healthy lifestyle. I love including my daughter in exercise routines, whether it’s swimming, walking, or even weight lifting (within reason, of course!). I try to include her as much as I can, so that she can not only see what healthy movement and commitment looks like, but so that we can have fun quality time together. What we demonstrate for our children will make a big impact on them as they grow up. 

Two easy ways to engage in movement with your kids in the summer is by going swimming or going on family walks in the evening. My daughter and I will also try to get in at least one nature hike every week. It builds endurance, perseverance, and allows us to enjoy the beautiful natural world created by God – which often provides some great opportunities to talk about the Bible and God’s love for us. 

You do not have to be affluent to be healthy – just wise

Forget what you see on wealthy influencers’ TikToks and Instagram reels – getting healthy has nothing to do with wealth. All you need is the will to move and a little common sense, and you can take care of the body that God blessed you with. It’s the parents’ responsibility to train up a child in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6), and that applies to everyone, regardless of social status or career success. We can utilize the wisdom in God’s Word to motivate us to exercise good judgement, eat healthily, remain sober-minded, and glorify the Lord in the care of our bodies every day. 

Easy, prepared snacks are the best

A random but very helpful piece of advice I would share when it comes to trying to eat healthier as a family is to focus on prepping healthy snacks ahead of time. When my kid is hungry, she’s hungry RIGHT NOW. I find it helpful to pre-wash and store fresh fruit and vegetables in our fridge for easy and immediate access when those moments arise. I also keep potato chips and processed crackers and cookies out of the house. Instead, we eat organic popcorn for a bit of salty goodness here and there or spoon peanut butter and a teaspoon of dark chocolate over apple slices (as some examples of alternative snacks). I try to come up with easy and accessible alternatives to dye-injected candies or drinks, and over the last two years, we have completely eliminated all sodas and sugary drinks from our house. Now, we’re a black coffee, evening tea, and sparkling water household. With the occasional Olipop and Poppi thrown in for those special occasions! 

A lifesaver

My number one lifesaving advice when it comes to eating healthy is to BRING SNACKS WITH YOU when you leave the house for errands. My biggest problem when I would spend time out and about would be stopping by McDonald’s for an order of French fries or swinging by Starbucks for an iced coffee and a chocolate chip cookie. It’s so easy to just jump into a drive-thru (and sometimes, you just gotta do what you gotta do!), but it was happening frequently, and it wasn’t healthy. 

To combat this, when I leave the house for the day, I bring a small ice chest packed with healthy snacks. I always bring one or two cans of my favorite sparkling water, washed and sliced fruit (usually apples or strawberries), and depending on the day, maybe some cheese or meat options. This little trick has stopped me from getting unhealthy fried food or sugary drinks when I’m having a shopping day, and it also immediately remedies any “hangry” mood swings from little ones in the car. As long as we have our healthy snacks, we are good to go! 

Remember, it’s not a competition, it’s a lifestyle

The hardest thing for me to embrace over the years was that healthy living and fitness didn’t need to be a competition. I was always very competitive, and if I wasn’t doing as “good” as someone else, I would feel bad. Here’s the thing: everybody has to tackle healthy living at their own pace, and how it works for them. Every person, and every family, is different. Comparing yourself to someone else will only make you feel depressed. Proverbs 14:30 says envy will rot our bones, and how true that is! 

Once I started focusing on the lifestyle rather than the finish line, it changed my perspective completely, and it can change yours, too. 

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 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14

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Summer Lane is the #1 bestselling author of 30 books, including the hit Collapse Series and Resurrection Series. She is an experienced journalist and editor who is covering the White House and Trump administration. She owns Write Revolution News.

Summer is also a mom and wife who enjoys rural country living, herding cats, and gardening. She is passionate about writing on women’s issues, parenting, and politics from a theologically-grounded perspective that points readers to the good news of the gospel.

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