Life is a battle on many fronts, but most of the time knowledge and preparation can help you conquer! So it goes with your health. There are times when I find it difficult to make the right decisions about proper nutrition, health and fitness. It’s always easier to eat the donut, rather than the apple; to use a slight cough or stuffy nose as an excuse not to start or maintain my health and fitness routine.

There are so many resources on health and fitness and of course, we all know we should maintain and care for the body God gave us! We know, our body is the vehicle through which we live out our life. The state of our physical bodies and our emotional health impacts all areas of our life. Yet 1/3 of people are overweight and 1/3 are obese.

God must have foreseen our struggle. The apostle Paul wrote to us about this very issue almost 2,000 years ago.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies”.

1Corinthians 6:19-20.

Our body is a “temple” and we need to take care of it. But how do we do that?

My favorite motivational and scientific resource that confirms this Biblical inspiration is Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley and Dr. Harry Lodge.

The authors claim that by following the advice in this book you will:

• Put off 70% of the normal problems of aging
• Eliminate 50% of serious illness and injury
• Become functionally younger for the next 5 – 10 years
• Live with vitality and pleasure
• Learn that “normal aging” isn’t normal
• Learn that decay is optional

These are all lofty claims. After all, even those whom Jesus healed eventually died. No one lives forever on this earth. If you want to know about eternal life you need faith and trust in Christ. But for our earthly bodies, Chris Crowley is a guy who learned how to go from an inactive to an active lifestyle. While Dr. Harry Lodge is a heart specialist who is deeply committed to increasing the quality of life of his patients. He helps you understand how your body really works. He believes in, not just curing disease but, preventing disease by promoting a healthy lifestyle.

If you’re like me, you, and most people, back off exercise with the slightest discomfort. This book will motivate you to systematically build and strengthen your muscles – that are naturally shrinking over time! This positive stress will give you the benefits of health and fitness in a way you have never understood, or appreciated, before.

Feeling 10 or 20 years younger, increased energy, vitality, that’s what you’ll get when you develop the habit of eating right and exercising with the help of this book. For me, it was the catalyst and the ammunition for the “how to” as well as the “why” to have a proper exercise workout ritual.

Imagine what would happen if you finally got motivated to action on the health benefits of exercise and proper nutrition. What if you felt younger next year with vitality and energy?

Attitude:           Take a good look. How are you taking care of your God given body?

Action:              Buy this book. Apply its teachings.

Question:          Do you want to feel younger next year?

Recommended Resource:  Younger Next Year: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy – Until You’re 80 and Beyond by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge (Oct 10 2007)