Shaq’s Big Challenge: Learning Self-Discipline and Helping America’s Kids Get Healthy!

Let’s take a detour from my recent posts about our wonderful pilgrimage walk/spiritual journey and return to a topic I touched on a few weeks ago: Health, exercise, weight, eating habits — and, in particular, the legacy we are leaving our children (http://chrisdowns.wordpress.com/2007/08/19/helping-our-children-make-better-food-and-lifestyle-choices/).

Unfortunately, many American children today (and, even just Americans, children or adult) have weight problems, some minor, some severe. Why have we drifted so far from a healthy, natural lifestyle, and how can we return? How can we truly live the concept of our bodies being the temple of God? How can we get past the guilt and the temptation?

I never thought I would ever have a weight problem. I was so healthy (and skinny) growing up; I could eat anything! Which, of course, was probably my problem. I didn’t have to watch what I ate at an early age, so I never picked up healthy habits. I’ve also always considered myself a determined, ambitious, goal-seeking person (in college, in career, in life), as well as fairly self-controlled and extremely persistent. How could I fall into the trap of over-eating?

My answer comes in one word, with which I’m sure many others will relate: LIFE!

After high school (and playing sports), I became a little less active. But, I still walked to classes at college, and I led a very active lifestyle (swing dancing, contra line dancing, hiking, in addition to walking 20 minutes one-way from my apartment to the Pitt campus my last year or so after I moved out of the dorms). So, I didn’t do too badly during my college years. I gained a little weight, nothing major. Then came the JOB. For the first time in my life, I sat behind a desk for most of the day — and then, when I got home from work, I’d be too tired to exercise. I drove to work (so no walking to/from anymore). Again, gradually, I gained a little more weight (and became less active). I was still very healthy, though. When I really started gaining weight was after having my first child. I actually started out well, losing the baby weight quickly. But, I didn’t realize how quickly it could return after I stopped nursing (which had really helped me keep my weight down!). From there, I became even less active (more responsibilities in life, so who had TIME to walk daily, right?). Even further, at some point, I started eating as comfort when I felt overwhelmed or down. You can see how that just exasperated the problem!

I doubt I’m unique in the pattern I’ve described. Many adults have fallen into this trap, allowing life to push them into unhealthy habits (or a lack of healthy habits).

So, if our entire society (not just me, as one person within the larger society) has drifted from good health and exercise, how do we solve the problem and get back on track? How do we prevent the next generation from falling into the same bad habits?

I don’t think there’s any one right answer, and many of us are exploring multiple options (and have been for some time). One person has set out to help children get healthy, and you may be surprised to hear who it is. This advocate for children’s health is none other than the basketball star Shaquille O’Neil.

Shaquille O’Neil started a television program — “Shaq’s Big Challenge” — last year to help six obese Florida teens and pre-teens shed the pounds by eating better and exercising more (basically, by learning to live a more healthy lifestyle). According to the website (http://www.shaqsfamilychallenge.com/), “Shaq’s Big Challenge was designed to be a wake-up call — to prod us into taking action against one of our nation’s most critical health issues: childhood obesity.”

We watched the show last season, and I think, in particular, it opened our daughter’s eyes regarding eating habits and health. Most of the lessons don’t just apply to children, though. We all need to learn from what Shaq is trying to do to help a handful of children in this country.

One lesson that really stuck with me is the episode where Shaq’s trainer said the children need to learn what true discipline really is. Don’t we all? Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), yet many of us struggle the most with this concept (hurting ourselves and others by indulging ourselves). It feels good to eat a donut when you’re feeling down (it tastes good, too!). It’s difficult to get up and walk when you are tired and cold in the morning. It really DOES take some self-discipline.

The doctor on the show said that depression and anxiety are killers to eating healthy and staying motivated and energized to work out. How true! Depression and anxiety eat away at your self-discipline, making it even harder to get moving and to stop eating. It’s easy to say you should do something — harder to actually do it when obstacles are placed before you. And depression is one of the worst obstacles of all to many tasks in life!

Ironically, exercising will actually help combat depression — if you can just make it to the point of starting in the first place. That’s why something like Shaq’s Challenge, or Weight Watchers, or simply exercising and eating healthy alongside a friend or accountability partner can be so effective. You need support and encouragement during those times when you have trouble getting started, and you can also provide that same support to others in a similar situation — helping one another reach the goal of getting healthy.

You also need to make God your “accountability partner” in everything in life. God is there to take your burdens and to lead you through difficult times (so that you don’t need food or alcohol or any other vice). God is there to give us strength, and we can do it all through Christ! “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” - Psalm 55:22

As Shaq’s site prompts, it’s time to make the commitment to make some changes in my life. But I won’t do it alone. I’ll do it with the support of my family and friends, and I’ll do it with the support of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen!