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Introduction

“Work therefore and pray, says our Lord, that you enter not into temptation.”

—Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

Catholics believe that we’re truly a union of body and spirit, but in practice many unbelievers live that out better than we do.

I’m talking about those who have an integrated spiritual and physical life. In my own Los Angeles area that includes yoga-obsessed people, dedicated “CrossFitters” (those in the CrossFit program), disciples of martial arts, and “surfing gurus.” Their devotion to their physical activity or sport informs their faith practice, or at least their philosophy of life, and vice versa.

They practice what they preach… even if I can’t fully agree with their preaching.

Yoga moms demonstrate patience and endurance in their training, and aspire to it in their personal lives. CrossFitters seek out dedication and devotion to what they at least see as “heroic” feats, both in and out of the CrossFit “box” (translation: gym). Surfers learn (as Catholic philosopher and professor Dr. Peter Kreeft points out) detachment and trust in something bigger than themselves (the wave and the ocean).

But what about us?

We Catholics extol the importance of virtue, of fortitude, of detachment, of trust, of patience, of suffering… and yet, many of us think of fitness as vanity, or sports as a spectator pastime. When we do that, we miss the great opportunity God gives us to practice our values in our bodies on a daily basis, and in doing so, truly influencing how we behave and interact with the world throughout our lives.

As Saint Paul says: “I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Cor 9:26–27). Although it would certainly be a stretch to say he’s talking about fitness training here, he’s undeniably talking about the integral connection between how he treats and challenges his body and how he works out his salvation.

Yes, there are ways to practice discipline and mortification like fasting, cold showers, regular devotions, and so on. Why ignore or run away from discipline and sacrifice that directly affect our health and physical well-being, that tend to our “temples of the Holy Spirit”? I think if we’re honest, the real answer is that we fear making a commitment to what we’re sure will be protracted difficulty and suffering. Many of us then try to use our faith to justify this fear, rather than drawing on our faith to do something good for our bodies… and, in fact, our souls!

It’s true there are potential pitfalls to fitness, but they’re similar to pitfalls that exist in the seeking of any beneficial practice. Throughout our lives as Catholics, we generally find our greatest temptations not in things totally contrary to our faith, but more in misusing, or over- or underemphasizing, a great good. So just as we find the importance of both feasting and fasting, public and private prayer, work and rest, if we approach fitness properly, we’ll gain great discipline and virtue, without falling into obsessiveness, vanity, or the like.

Now, what if you love fitness but find living a spiritual life difficult, or feel more “spiritual than religious,” or just “can’t be bothered”? A second ago I mentioned that I think “if we’re honest” we understand our real hesitancy to working out. I also think that “if we’re honest,” we know deep in our hearts that if we have a daily practice for our bodies, but not our souls, we’re only half living. We might say we’re “doing just fine” the way we are, but one of the lessons we know from fitness is that “doing just fine” doesn’t cut it.

If we want to compete, to grow stronger, to lift more, to be leaner, we don’t accept “doing just fine” from ourselves. A favorite motivational sports quote of mine is, “We were not created for an easy life, but for great things, for goodness.” These words might have been spoken by John Wooden or Vince Lombardi… but they weren’t. They were spoken by Pope Benedict XVI, and, okay, it’s not technically a sports quote, but it works! (The full quote, if you’re interested, goes, “The ways of the Lord are not easy, but we were not created for an easy life, but for great things, for goodness.”) You’re made for great things, not to be “just fine.” You’re made for a fully integrated life, one in which your body and soul work together. You’re made to live out goodness, dedication, and health in every aspect of your existence. You’re made to live the practice of faith: praying when prayer seems difficult or hopeless or useless, knowing and doing the right thing when it feels impossible, finding God and good in suffering (whether we choose the suffering or it happens to us against our will). All these have the power to make us an integrated person and provide a fully satisfying life, one spent living the greatness for which God created us.

For living out goodness, dedication, and health in every aspect of your existence. For living out the practice of faith: praying when prayer seems difficult or hopeless or useless; knowing and doing the right thing when it feels impossible; finding God and good in suffering (whether we choose the suffering or it happens to us against our will). All these have the power to make us an integrated person and provide a fully satisfying life, one spent living the greatness for which God created us.

That’s the aim of this book: to lay out the central principles for a healthy physical life, as well as the principles for a healthy spiritual life … which coincidentally are the same. I’ll go through the building blocks of losing weight, improving performance, getting stronger and leaner, as well as the building blocks of detachment, improving virtue, and becoming more disciplined in spiritual growth. These principles apply both to men and women, young and old, and the physical fitness plans and spiritual fitness plans are adaptable to different goals and starting places.

A quick background on me, with full disclosure: Everything I have to offer is what I’ve learned and applied in my own life. I don’t have a formal education in either faith or fitness. However, I’ve very effectively worked in both worlds. I came back to my Catholic faith in college when a friend began asking me challenging questions about my nominal faith. I dove into studying the Church, the saints, and why Catholics believe what they believe.

The result? I found myself returning to where I know I belong.

Since then I’ve written and produced a catechetical web series (Young Catholic Minute) that was picked up and remade by EWTN. I’ve hosted multiple other Catholic series, now lead the Hollywood Chesterton Society, and speak professionally on G. K. Chesterton. In the fitness world, I’ve worked as a personal trainer, and compete in obstacle racing at an elite level, which keeps me focused on the cutting edge of training in strength, speed, and endurance, as well as nutrition and performance. In short, faith and fitness occupy nearly every moment of my life in one capacity or another, and that combination gives me a useful perspective on the matter.

Secular friends have often asked me how I live with discipline and integrity in my personal life, which they see as an impossible or burdensome task. Catholic friends have often asked how I live with discipline and integrity in my physical life, which they see as an impossible or burdensome task. But one thing we learn from the Incarnation is that for all of us life should be lived as an integrated whole, not two separate parts. Exercise and fitness are a place to begin for some, and prayer and faith are a starting line for others. Together, they can radically change the lives of Catholics and non-Catholics alike. With that in mind, let’s get started.