Because of this and our society’s obsession with stripping and melting away fat extra fast, there’s a craze amongst many people who are desperate to shed extra pounds and remain in shape.  Being “Suddenly Slim” is many people’s preocupation, as Fitness and fashion magazines do well to remind us:  “A Flat Belly in 9 Days!” “Strip Away Stress! and Melt Away Pounds!” “1,041 Smart New Beauty, Finess, and Nutrition Tips!” There are more fad diets, diet pills, scientific formulas, and tips that we can read about, and many times we don’t know which one is real, and which one is just made up.

Diet pills have been around since the 1950’s and are continuing to come out today, but there are other quick fixes or fad diets— something that comes along that seems so dangerous that many health have to call it “controversial.” One of such booming weight loss programs is the “hCG” Diet that swears by customers to reduce one to three pounds per day. As expected, its safety and dangers remain the subject of concern for medical researchers. To learn more about them, do your own research by speaking to your family doctor or nutritionist.

Why do people do all these things in order to lose weight? Well, many people in the United States, especially women, are sometimes insecure about the way they look and want to lose weight as fast as they can. Others don’t need to be on a diet, but think they do. These individuals suffer from anorexia or bulimia. Anorexia is when people completely stop eating, and bulimia is when people force themselves to vomit after eating. Tina Reeder, CCA’s high school Health teacher, worked at a hospital in an eating disorder unit before teaching here. She says, “I saw some really extreme stuff. People there did not only deal with health, but exercise problems as well. One of the compulsive exercisers there did so many sit-ups that she broke a rib.”To be on a diet should not be something we chose as we chose to follow a fashion trend. We should see it for what it is: Nutrition—the sum of the food consumed by an organism or group. Dieting, therefore means, the deliberate selection of food, coordianted with the right amount of exercise. Consider it then, as a new lifestyle, not something done to lose weight.

Mrs. Reeder’s Health class teaches CCA students how to lead a balanced life. Maybe you have to wake up a few minutes earlier in order to get that morning jog in before work or school; or maybe you’ll have to sacrifice that last piece of cake. It may seem hard at first, but by exercising and maintaining a balanced diet you can lose weight and stay healthy. Follow the food pyramid, pictured left, and see your body and life change.

Remember: there are no “Easy does it!” or “Lose Fat Fast” formulas. Only the ability and commitment to change.

 With shows like The Biggest Loser, and whole grain Subway rolls, diet Coke, light dressing, and every other health conscious pitch out there, it seems like the entire industry is tightening their belts. Carbs are calories or best know as the cultural unforgivable sins. And any weight watcher would look with envy at the CCA staircases. Yet when many look in the mirror, the eat-green lean machine just isn’t there. So what’s the problem?

There has always been a huge difference between the athletes and the average, and it’s not just the six-pack (Fun fact: chances are, you have a six-pack, but even the smallest amount of fat tends to hide it away) or monthly order or protein powder. It’s the fact that we all see the process of getting in shape as no-food-allowed diets and four-hour circuit workouts, and frankly, it’s easier to stick to the Slim Fast and Caesar salad. But no one’s expecting you to go from John Doe to John Cena in a week, so a tip for this New Year’s exercise program: be realistic.“The hardest thing about exercising is starting it,” says CCA Coach Tina Reeder, “but afterwards, you won’t regret it.” So what now?

Step One: Find an activity, but have fun doing it! Making exercise a chore is the quickest way to letting it fade into an uncomfortable memory. CCA specifically has weight training and team sports classes, intramural to varsity sports, and more opportunities to get active than a Dunkin Doughnut has calories.

Step Two: Find a friend.

Fortunately, the US is not in want of people who desperately want to see a “new them” in the mirror, and the accountability keeps you on track while the company makes the time fly.

Step Three: Make a realistic plan.

Experts recommend half an hour per day, five days a week of moderately intense cardio for an average adult to remain healthy. Losing weight might take closer to an hour or an hour and a half. Highly popular is the talking test. It’s good to be going at a pace where you can talk to your partner, but not belt out the songs blasting through your iPod.

So now you know, but what are you going to do with it? My recommendation is to get up and go!

When CCA’s Athletic Director Dana Ridenour caught wind about Calvary’s 5K, the two ministries, Oasis and CCA Athletics, decided to join together as one to raise funds. “Called by God to impact a community for Christ through athletics, we planned the Outreach 5K Run/Walk to bring families to our campus so they can see the work of God and our vision for discipleship, hear the Word of God, and witness the Spirit of God as they run/walk alongside someone that truly loves them and wants to serve them,” says Ridenour. “The proceeds that go to athletics will help us open our campus in the same way to visiting schools, provide certified athletic training personnel, and help us refresh uniforms and equipment.”

Calvary Christian Academy and Oasis have similar hopes and dreams in their ministries. CCA enjoys sending their upperclassmen to different missions trips around the globe, at times involving the All Saints Aids Camp. Both ministries are mission-minded, so holding an event together was an obvious choice.

“Our heart’s desire is to raise enough funds to renovate, rebuild and restore not only the All Saints AIDS Camp, but the lives of the people who live there,” says Steve Savage, who heads up Oasis with his wife Donna. “We also want to get the information out that OASIS is not only off-shore, but we are here to serve and bring hope to those locally who are affected by HIV/AIDS.”

The event will be held at Calvary Chapel’s campus (2401 West Cypress Creek Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL).  Registration is online at www.calvaryftl.org until December 2.  As a way to use our bodies for the Lord’s glory, let’s use this event as an opportunity to prove to the world that physical activity is truly possible, and can be extremely beneficial to our bodies later in life. So come on out and “Run for your Life!”

CCA students eating at the Daily Grill.

Upon entering the White House as the nation’s 44th president, it was no secret that Barrack Obama would have his work cut out for him. He, however, is not the only one who has his plate full. The White House Kitchen has been busily preparing for their new president’s experienced pallet. The presidential food menu would no doubt include some of the most distinguished and savory foods…but would our new President’s nutrition choices prove to be as wise as his domestic policies?

Here at CCA, both taste and nutrition matter to our food staff. With choices that include soups, salads, tacos, and macaroni and cheese—everything homemade, students areable to enjoy their favorites without destroying their diet. Besides serving the main course each day, the cafeteria also provides fresh soups, salads, fruits, and vegetables. Food and beverage director, Fred Gushue, believes in, not only in providing tasty food for students, but also making sure that the food is as healthy as it can be, as part of obeying Proverbs 22:6, which says, “Train a child in the way he should go…”

For upperclassmen and adults, The Daily Grill’s menu provides everything from Asian-chicken salads to quality ground beef hamburgers. Gushue based the restaurant after Paul’s model for a New Testament church in Acts 2:42, where believers could devote themselves to teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer—all of which are witnessed daily by the Daily Grill staff. “I’ve seen people get saved, counseled, and even seen marriages get redeemed,” says Gushue.

So, whether it’s the Daily Café, the Daily Grill, the Daily Grind, or the Daily Hub, where you choose to enjoy your next meal, perhaps you won’t get the “presidential menu” served on a silver platter, but you will get a healthy dish.  And, if that wasn’t enough, remember that you are also playing an exciting role in the fellowship and discipleship we as a body of believers are called to be a part of. As Acts 2:47 states, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”