“…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” ~ James 2:17

See details below on how you can participate in the Healthy Heart Blog Tour with Rhonda McKnight.

10% of donation during this blog tour will go to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Many of us desire to lower our weight and become more physically active. But it’s not an easy thing to do. The statics on obesity in this country are overwhelming. According to data compiled by the American Heart Association, two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese and the numbers for our children are growing at an alarming rate. The U.S. weight loss business is a $50 billion dollar industry. Americans are clearly spending money on weight loss efforts. We know we need to lose weight.

This blog tour has been about sharing information and experiences. It’s been about addressing the root causes of overeating and other unhealthy habits that affect our hearts physically and spiritually. But now what are we going to do? Understanding that unhealthy eating habits is a spiritual problem, an issue of the heart, is not enough. Not without addressing the second spiritual problem – dead faith.

You can tell me that you have absolute faith in what we have shared during this tour. While I believe knowledge is power, it’s limited. We can study all the statistics and have all the knowledge about what we need to do differently, but until we take a step in the right direction, it doesn’t mean a thing. Faith without works is dead.

One of the things I admire most about Jesus’ ministry was the action behind it. Jesus was a leader in motion.  Jesus was always directing movement – “Go to the other side, Come here, Bring this, Take that, Let us”…always action. So how is it that we think we don’t have to do the same? Passivity and faith do not go together. Like Jesus, we need action. We need movement.  We must begin to exercise to become fit, but just like we have to get to the root causes of unhealthy consumption choices, we have to get to the real reasons we are inactive.

I think some of it is time, but I think we believe it’s time because we’ve been taught to believe we have to exercise a lot to see a difference and we want quick results.  The American Heart Association’s guidelines tell us that all physical activity counts. Whether it’s included in a structured exercise program or part of your daily routine, physical activity adds up to a healthier heart. Meaning you don’t have to go to a gym or go cycling or rollerblading to exercise, the activities that count as exercise include gardening and housework and a whole list of others that are available on the AHA website.  I highly recommend you visit the site to learn more, but here are some tips on how to incorporate exercise into your daily life:

• Start small – meaning don’t begin by going to the gym two hours a day, you’ll burn out.
• Begin where you are – start with an exercise tape in your home, take the stairs at work, spend a half hour of your lunch hour walking around the parking lot, spend five minutes stretching when you get out of bed in the morning.
• Have a good role model  or a buddy – find someone to hold you accountable, but make sure it’s not a drill sergeant who’s going to fill you will guilt over small setbacks. Some online sites like www.sparkspeople.com , or  www.3fatchicks.com . State Farm has an excellent program in the 50 Million Pound Weight Challenge.  You can learn more at www.statefarm.com . There are tons of sites on the Internet. Just Google weight loss, message board and they come up. Find one that suits your personality and become a part of a supportive community.
• Finally, pray – everyday about your goals. Press into God and share your heart’s desire to have a healthier heart, physically and spiritually and watch God’s will and your will become one.

In closing, I encourage you, as I’m encouraging myself to begin to do something. The statics about heart disease are scary. The cost – physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially are staggering. Once a person develops heart disease they’re never the same. Don’t be one of the 800,000 people that will die from heart disease or one of the millions more who will be affected by obesity related health conditions. Exercise your faith. Do what Jesus did and MOVE!

What are your thoughts on this topic? What can you commit to doing in small increments each day that will increase your physical activity?

About the Author

Rhonda McKnight is the owner of Legacy Editing, a free-lance editing service for fiction writers and Urban Christian Fiction Today, a popular Internet site that highlights African-American Christian fiction. She’s the vice-president of Faith Based Fiction Writers of Atlanta. When she’s not editing projects, teaching workshops about writing or penning her next novel, she spends time with her family. Originally from a small, coastal town in New Jersey, she’s called Atlanta, Georgia home for twelve years. For more information, visit http://www.RhondaMcKnight.net.

About the Book

Faith Morgan is struggling with her faith. Years of neglect leave her doubting that God will ever fix her marriage. When a coworker accuses her husband, Jonah, of the unthinkable, Faith begins to wonder if she really knows him at all, and if it’s truly in God’s will for them to stay married.

Pediatric cardiologist Jonah Morgan is obsessed with one thing: his work. A childhood incident cemented his desire to heal children at any cost, even his family, but now he finds himself at a crossroads in his life. Will he continue to allow the past to haunt him, or find healing and peace in a God he shut out long ago?

Read an excerpt and check the tour schedule at http://bit.ly/HealthyHeartBlogTour

Enter to Win 3 Great Giveaways!

GRAND PRIZE (one winner possible)

A “Start” Fitness Pack she purchased from the American Heart Association’s Online store. The online store helps in the fight against heart disease by promoting heart-healthy lifestyles that include physical activities like walking. Net proceeds from the sale of these items support the Start! movement.

The Fitness Kit includes: Start BackPack, Start Water Bottle, Start Shoe Wallet, and the Power to End Stroke 46 Recipe Healthy Soul Food Cook Book.

SECOND PLACE PRIZE (one winner possible)

Autographed hardcover copy of Secrets and Lies will be given away to the 2nd person whose name is pulled in the drawing.

THIRD PLACE PRIZE (one winner possible)

In honor of Rhonda’s birthday on Feb. 6th – a $10 Barnes and Nobles, Borders or Starbucks Gift Card will be given to the 3rd person whose name is pulled in the drawing. (winner chooses).

HOW TO eNTER THE DRAWING:

All entrants with 10 POINTS AND UP will be entered in a drawing to win the GRAND PRIZE – FITNESS PACK.

All entrants with 5 POINTS AND UP will be entered in a drawing to win PRIZES TWO AND THREE.

HOW TO Earn points:

+15 Point ENTRIES: Purchase a copy of Secrets and Lies from the online store during the tour through www.urbanchristianbooks.com.

+1 point ENTRY: join the discussion by commenting on one of the blog tour sites each day (must comment on the day of the toursite by 9 pm). Comment must include your thoughts on the subject. (can not just say – great point or I agree).

+1 point ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING INTERESTING YOU FIND WHEN YOU GO TO Rhonda’s WEBSITE or blog. LOOK AROUND AS THERE IS LOTS TO SEE. HERE are THE LINKs www.rhondamcknight.net and www.urbanchristianfictiontoday.com

+1 point ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY. On Twitter Retweet @rhondamcknight or use the hashtagS #Health or #hearthealth

+2 point ENTRIES: Join Rhonda’s Facebook Reader Page or Sign up for her newsletter on her webpage.

THE RULES:

• U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
• EMAIL ADDRESS MUST BE INCLUDED IN COMMENT
• ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE IN ORDER TO COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY.
• MAXIMUM OF 3 POINTS CAN BE EARNED ON ANY ONE TOUR DAY.
• TOUR HOST BLOGGERS CAN NOT ENTER TO WIN.

DRAWING WILL BE HELD AT 9 PM EST on FEBRUARY 7th

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