By Audrey Muhammad
It appears that the U.S. Army wants to practice “eating to live” because they see that their soldiers are not up to par. Would you believe that one of the leading reasons the U.S. Army rejects potential recruits is excess weight? However, even after screening out the “seriously obese and completely unfit,[the Army] is still finding that many of the recruits who reach basic training have less strength and endurance” than privates in the past. What has caused this “unfit to fight” problem? According to the August 31, 2010 article in The New York Times, “It is the legacy junk food and video games, compounded by a reduction in gym classes in many high schools,” Army officials claimed.
The new fitness regime is more well-rounded and “increases in difficulty more gradually.” Running is kept as a staple, but pilates, yoga and core (abdomen) and back strengthening exercise is stressed.
Another study mentioned that “not enough weight-bearing exercise and a diet heavy on sugared sodas and energy drinks, but light in calcium and iron,” have exacerbated the issue. In a report entitled “Too Fat of Fight,” recruits who failed their physicals each year because they were considered overweight rose nearly 70 percent. The report, which was conducted by a group of retired generals, was a clear sign that we need to “go back to the basics” to improve fitness
What about food? The New York Times article claims the new army menu will include more “green leafy vegetables, less fried food, and milk instead of sodas.” It sounds like the army is trying to incorporate an “eat to live diet.” A certain way of eating and exercising have to go hand in hand if optimum health is to be maintained. In the book How to Eat to Live, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad encourages us to eat navy beans, fruits and vegetables.
Now the next question we should ask ourselves in the “nation,” is “How fit am I?” I recently began increasing my intensity level in my exercise routines because I wanted better results. I also quit letting my daughter “talk me into” getting ice cream every week. (smile).
How can we become more “fit soldiers?” I heard Minister Farrakhan once say that “Whatever we feed our minds, we become.” What type of person do you want to become? Do you want to become the type of person that seeks refuge in Allah(God) and Allah alone? It all starts with a thought. What is our intention or desire?
There is a saying that if you “feed the spirit properly, the mind will follow.” What are we feeding our mind? What is our desire for the New Year? Why should you have desires or goals? “Desire feeds the Will.” What type of life would we have if we don’t have any goals? Goal #1 should be to submit our Will to the Will of God. However, in America, as we see the moral degeneration and “deathstyle” disobedience to God, abundance of
fast food and no exercise is becoming more and more prevalent.
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Did you know that studies show that when an athlete is engaged in positive self-talk, he can push himself more to run that extra few minutes or do a few more sets when lifting weight. What is “positive self-talk?” Phrases like “I can do it!” or “Focus!” What about exercising and saying to yourself, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me, (Philippians 4:13). Doesn’t that scripture make you want to push even more? Now couple that good “food for thought” with good “food for the body.” Set your goals and “strengthen the Soldier within!”
Minister Farrakhan mentioned recently that “motive determines the degree of the power of the spirit that will aid in what you do.” A motive, according to dictionary.com is “something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive. What is our motive for getting in shape? Is it to be seen of men? Our motive for working out should be to improve our health and body. A more pleasing and youthful appearance is also a wonderful by product. As Student Minister Brother Nuri mentioned in a past Get Fit to Live Column, “Anything good that happens to you doesn’t feel AS good when you are unhealthy and anything BAD, feels WORSE when you are unhealthy. EVERYTHING feels much better when you are healthy
In the Chapter of the Holy Quran entitled “Voluntary Gifts,” it states O you who believe, if you keep your duty to Allah, He will grant you a distinction and do away with your evils and protect you.” (Surah 8:29). Isn’t it wonderful to know that Allah can take away the desire for fattening foods or he can increase our desire to exercise? What a beautiful gift!
We must always strive to have the best of intentions, and submit our will so God’s will can guide us. May God bless us all with peace, love, health, wealth and happiness.
(Audrey Muhammad is the author of the new book, Get Fit to Live: Be your best you!, available at www.getfit2live.org and the Respect for Life Bookstore. Her audio book, Get Fit to Live is also available. To order the Book and get a FREE copy of the audiobook CD, send a $12 money order(plus $3 shipping) to Get Fit To Live, P.O. Box 61402, Raleigh, NC , 27661. For more information email audreymuhammad@hotmail.com or call (510) 815-4591.)
