Phil Parham (30 page)

The mind is the boss over the body. It is in charge. That's why before we can get our body healthy, we need to change some things in our mind. Here's the deal. The thoughts you think and the beliefs you believe will determine the direction your life takes.

I want you to use your imagination. Think about what you want your future to look like. What kinds of things are you not able to do now that you want to do? Think about what your life will look and feel like when you are able to do those things. Think about these things with the confidence that it
will
happen and imagine what that feels like.

We all have recordings in our subconscious that we have been listening to our whole lives. These recordings are of tragedies and triumphs. If our mother told us that we were a great artist when we colored her a picture in kindergarten, we probably love art. If we were told as a child that we were an athlete, we probably see ourselves that way. If we were told we were chubby, then no matter what weight we become, we may still see ourselves as chubby. We need to make new pictures and recordings so we can see ourselves differently.

See yourself as healthy and strong. See yourself as an athlete. And today, I am telling you that you are an athlete who is healthy and strong. Now believe it for yourself.

1. What are some recordings (good or bad) you have about yourself?

2. What do you imagine your future will be like? What will it feel like?

3. In what ways does the body follow the mind?

Write down your top three goals for the next year. Establish some steps that can help you get on track to make them happen.

A Word from Phil

Have you ever heard of the Tour de France? It's a challenging, three-week-long bike race that takes place in France and nearby countries and has about 200 riders participating in it. These cyclists ride up steep mountains, over cobblestone streets, and through the countryside. It is a grueling and treacherous ride, and only the very best riders in the world are qualified to take part in it.

The competitors in this race are members of teams. The riders in each team decide which member they want to help be the winner of the race, and the team members then work together to accomplish that goal. If that person wins the race, the entire team feels as if they, too, have won, because they all worked together. It's a great picture of teamwork. Not one person can do it all on their own. They all need each other.

God wants us to live life that same way. He called us to be a part of His team where we all win together. I like to think of this in terms of being healthy. Sometimes you feel as though you are sacrificing things (like not eating certain foods or giving up watching a TV show so you can be active instead), but you have to remember that you are choosing health so your whole family can win. Be a team player and live the life of a winner.

1. What are some ways your family is working as a team during this “Challenge”?

2. What are some areas where you can show more support to another family member to help them along?

3. What are some sacrifices that you have had to make so that the other members in your family can be successful?

Get some exercise and play flag football in your backyard. Invite the neighbors to join your family and make it a team effort.

A Note from Phil

I recently watched an interview with a female professional runner from Kenya. She said something that really struck me. She said you have to train hard if you want to win easy. Toby Tanser wrote a book with the same title. In
Train Hard, Win Easy: The Kenyan Way,
he shows how the best distance runners in the world work very hard in their training. There are no shortcuts to their success. They run the best and they train the best.

Many times we do not think that the little things we do to reach our goal matter, but they do. I was in a competition to lose weight, and I was changing my life at the same time. Every single day, I made decisions to work hard and train hard. Seven months later, I had dropped 151 pounds. I kept a goal and a constant vision in front of me. I pictured what it would feel like to win. Gaining my health felt great! My life hasn't been the same since.

Every day we get to choose what we will do with our day. We can do things that are good for us or bad for us. I know sometimes it's tough to push ourselves to do something we may not want to do (though it's good for us), but when we do, the payoff is worth it. Remember, train hard to win easy.

1. Can you think of a time when you had to do something really hard, but after you did it, you felt really good about yourself?

2. How hard are you working on this “Challenge” to better your health? What can you do better?

3. What are some ways you can train hard now so that you can win easy later?

Try arm wrestling your brother, sister, friend, or parent. It's a fun game, and it makes your arms stronger!

A Word from Amy

My parents divorced when I was 10. I was very sad when I got the news. I remember my mom saying that I was the oldest, and I had a big job now because I had to help her take care of my sisters. I know that she was trying to make me feel important, but at the time all I felt was this huge burden come over me. I had to grow up at the speed of light. It was hard for me, and I began to eat to feel better.

Have you ever felt sad and so you ate something to make you forget the pain? This is an emotional response that can be bad for your health. The only time we should be eating is when we are hungry. We shouldn't eat when we're bored or sad.

If you have this unhealthy habit, every time you go to the refrigerator, ask yourself if you are hungry or if you want to eat because something is bothering you. If you're upset, go for a walk (this helps me a lot!) or talk to your parents or a close friend. Find a buddy and go to the park or ride bikes together. There are many ways you can handle how you feel besides eating something that may be bad for you. Remember, only you can break the cycle.

1. Have you ever stuffed yourself with food because you were bored or sad?

2. Is anything bothering you now? Spend some time sharing as a family and support each other.

3. How can you work together as a family to help each other change your emotional response to food?

When someone hurts you or says something mean to you, be quick to forgive. Not forgiving someone doesn't hurt them; it only hurts you.

A Word from Amy