Faith-Based Fitness

After years of yo-yo dieting and struggling with her weight, La Vita Weaver added gospel music to her exercise routine for motivation. Soon she was inspired to recite hymns and Bible verses. She found that celebrating her faith energized her workouts-she was losing weight and sticking to her routine. These workout sessions were the genesis of Weaver's "Hallelujah! Aerobics," a series of videos that incorporates Bible verses and hymns into an exercise routine (Watch a video clip.) and her eight-week "Fit for God" program, which combines prayer, exercise, and nutrition advice in a holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle. Now an ordained minister and fitness instructor, Weaver spoke with Beliefnet about her fitness philosophy.

What does it mean to be "fit for God"?

Basically being "fit for God" is being totally fit in your spirit, your soul, and your body. And acknowledging God in everything you do, including your fitness program.

1st Thessalonians 5:23 says, "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly and may your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." That's one of the scriptures that God led me to place in my heart when he gave me this vision for this book. And the second Scripture is 1st Corinthians 10:31, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." I realized that I could not maintain control over my eating habits, until I included God in my fitness program.

There are so many diet plans out there-even some faith-based plans-and so many different fads and trends. What do you think makes your plan different?

I think what makes my plan different, number one, is my personal experience. I know what it feels like to have no control over your eating habits. I know what it feels like to be obese. I know what it feels like to be ashamed of your body. To think everyone is looking at you because of your weight. I know how it feels to not want to live, to be in a severe, depressed state. I have been there. I lived it.

Many of the plans out there may talk about the spiritual component, or they may talk about just the diet, but I think my plan is complete in that I talk about the spiritual issues in addition to giving advice about eating right. And I believe in exercise. I don't believe you just pray the weight off. God gave us this great gift of exercise to relieve stress, to reduce the risk of illness. And a lot of the other spiritual plans that I have read do not necessarily include the exercise component.

So nutrition and exercise is not enough to be completely whole. And "Fit for God" is about complete wellness.

Studies indicate that America is the fattest country in the world-25 percent of us are considered not just overweight but obese. Do you think this may be a symptom of something deeper, like a widespread spiritual hunger?

I have trained Indian or Asian clients and they told me when they first came to this country, they were thin. And they said that once they stayed here over a period of time, they gained a significant amount of weight. So number one, I definitely believe it's fast foods, and it's our diet in America.

 

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