Do you treat your body like your temple?

[fieryred33143]

I am doing an exercise program at my job and we've had several nutritional classes as part of the program with different speakers.

So far, there have been 4 and all 4 have said something along the lines of making sure you take care of yourself because your body is your temple.

I never really thought of this concept before. I have heard of it various times but never really applied the concept.

I started to think about it further and I realized a couple of things:

I treat my car like a temple. I clean it, inside and out, on a weekly basis. I keep up to date with the maintenance required and I don't put it through really harsh activities (i.e. I stay off the roads when it's raining, I don't drive aggresively, etc.). I even park a bit far from other cars as to preserve the conditions of the doors (scratches and what not).

I treat my home like a temple. It gets regular maintenance, fragrences to make it smell great, I invite people over to really make it feel warm and cozy.

There are even plants that I treat really well, making sure it gets watered regularly and that I put it in the best lighting for the type of plant that it is.

But I don't treat my body like a temple at all. I don't give it water as much as required because I just don't like the taste of water. I'm not much of a fruit and veggie eater but I also don't take a multivitamin to make sure my body gets the nutrients it needs. Prior to this program, I wasn't exercising regularly. I wasn't watching what I eat and when I did diet, it was never healthy (too much protein, not enough carbs as part of one diet or not enough calories as part of another diet).

Anyway, this is all part of changing the way that I think in order to lead a healthy lifestyle.

So, do you treat your body like a temple? If so, what do you do? What do you think you can do better?

 

[TravelingGal]

My brother (who is extremely fit) used to always tell me I should treat my body like a temple.

I told him I do...it's the temple of the god Bacchus.

 

[stephbolt]

I don't know if I treat my body like a temple, but I try to treat it well the majority of the time because I want it to carry me for another 60 or 70 years. I try and make that my motivation for making healthy choices rather than focusing on the way I look.

I do drink lots of water and don't drink soda at all, work out 3-5 days a week, eat fruit every day and veggies most days, try to only purchase healthy foods, prepare most of our meals at home and pack lunches. I also take vitamins every day.

I don't get enough sleep, I drink too much coffee, when I buy or I'm at an event with junk food I eat it until it's gone.

 

[princesss]

My body is a tool. It needs to be able to do things I enjoy, so I have to maintain it in a way that makes that possible. I enjoy playing pretty active sports, so I have to keep my body in fairly good shape. Also, my heart condition is a lot easier to maintain when I'm not overweight, and since I don't want to strain it too much, eating well (I don't eat fabulously, but I eat a lot better than I used to) and working out help keep my body ready for anything.

 

[yssie]

This hits home fiery.


I abused my body, it wasn't my temple at all. I always practiced good hygiene, but I routinely forgot to eat unless DH shoved a plate in front of me, went years without a glasses prescription check, drank way too much tea and dosed myself with tylenol and aspirin to deal with aches and pains with astoundingly cavalier abandon, worked through the night at the drop of a hat..


And until recently, my body somehow bounced right back no matter what I did. Five or so months ago things got chaotic, and I stressed myself to the point of not being able to sleep more than a few minutes at any given time - I was losing hair by the handful and unable to keep any food down at all, and utterly exhausted every waking minute. Yet somehow I kept working, and everything that needed to get done got done... and only in hindsight did I realise how worried FI was, how unhealthy I was, that taking on too much wasn't worth it, no matter what the gain.


Now I make a point to eat regularly, and I try to go to bed at 'bedtime' no matter what's left to do. I run, which I just didn't have the energy to do before. Regular meals and sleep have done wonders to prevent the constant headaches that I would get, and when I wake up I'm refreshed rather than already tired. Little changes that made such a difference.

 

[charbie]

My body has never been treated like a "temple" but I have had to make changes recently so I wouldd feel better about myself.
My husband and I tend to eat out a lot, so I'm making better choices when we do. I actually record everything I eat so I can tell how bad things are.
I notice a huge difference in how I feel when I'm not eating well. My energy gets zapped, my skin looks like crap, and overall I just feel like greasy or something. When I eat my fruits and veggies, suck down water, and lean protiens, even if I don't lose weight, I feel better about myself and am more confident.

 

[Haven]

I *mostly* treat my body like a temple.

We eat healthy, whole foods, for the most part. We drink a lot of water because we don't keep anything else in the house except for iced tea in the summer. And my Manischewitz wine. We don't drink much, and when we do we never go overboard. We're committed to keeping a low stress level in our lives, and that pretty much permeates all of the choices we make (financial, social, professional, etc.) I actually think the low stress bit is the most important. We are really happy and zen most of the time, and I think that leads to a healthy body.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I seem to go through phases. I always drink 8-10 glasses of water per day, plus a couple cups of tea, but then I also drink diet soda. Dinners are always whole foods, but then I may eat some junk later at night. Seems like I'm kind of down the middle.

 

[monarch64]

Absolutely, I treat my body well, with the exception of the occasional overindulgence in wine and probably too much dairy. I already follow a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet, but after seeing Bill Clinton's recent weight loss and researching his current diet I find myself ready to hop on the vegan train again. High cholesterol runs in my family and I am determined not to succumb. Other than diet and exercise, I find that one of the keys to reduced stress levels and getting better and more sleep is having lots and lots of sex, whether you're in the mood or feeling sexy or not.

 

[miraclesrule]

OMG, I wish the thought of sex sounded therapeutic right now. A kiss and foot massage...now that sounds just what the doctor would order.

I usually take great care of my body. But I suffered an L2 compression fracture 6 wks ago and they missed it on x-rays. It just wouldn't get better and PT aggravated it, so I finally got an MRI and lo and behold, there that fracture was just staring right out at me. Ugh.

So I am treating my body like a temple right now. Lying flat, got the laptop working, and looking forward to a mimosa with pomegranate seeds floating in flute like a lava lamp. The ridiculous thing is that I still on the damn phone with attorney's and insurance people on cases. I can't just abandon my work product. I having to use my sick days when I am working....but no working from home allowed. Whatever. :::::goes to get heating pad::::::

 

[Jennifer W]

I can't say that I do. I look after my health, I see a Dr if I have a symptom that concerns me, I get eye tests done regularly and take careful care of my teeth, but I also live in my body - no one lives in an actual temple. I'm with TGal on devoting at least a small altar somewhere to Bacchus, and I regularly take my body to a temple (um, that would be the Hidden Temple Indian Restaurant in the next town...) although I try to eat good, fresh wholesome food most of the time.

I like balance. I'm happy with my body being a mainly secular building, but with a little routine maintenance.

My house and car aren't faring much better. DH is worried that the environmental protection agency are going to slap a land fill tax on my car any day now.

 

[yssie]

OMG, I wish the thought of sex sounded therapeutic right now. A kiss and foot massage...now that sounds just what the doctor would order.

I usually take great care of my body. But I suffered an L2 compression fracture 6 wks ago and they missed it on x-rays. It just wouldn't get better and PT aggravated it, so I finally got an MRI and lo and behold, there that fracture was just staring right out at me. Ugh.

So I am treating my body like a temple right now. Lying flat, got the laptop working, and looking forward to a mimosa with pomegranate seeds floating in flute like a lava lamp. The ridiculous thing is that I still on the damn phone with attorney's and insurance people on cases. I can't just abandon my work product. I having to use my sick days when I am working....but no working from home allowed. Whatever. :::::goes to get heating pad::::::

Miracles - what terrible luck! I'm sending you quick healing dust!

 

[Porridge]

Eh, I go through phases. I'm generally a fairly healthy eater and I exercise enough, but then I'll have a busy weekend of eating out/socialising and I tend to forget all about healthy food and getting enough sleep! I party too much (aka drink too much!). I definitely notice the difference when I eat well and exercise. The healthier phases are getting longer and longer as I get older, which is a good thing. I would say I treat my body like a temple 70% of the time, and it's increasing as the years go on.

 

[miraclesrule]

@Yssie: Thanks dear!! I can use all the dust you can spare. My daughter and granddaughter will be by tonight so that is .

@JenniferW: That is too funny about your car. I feel like a borderline hoarder, but I realize that I don't have very much stuff at all...it's just that everything I have is in plan sight...UGH. Need storage control!!

They drink wine in temples, don't they? If so...I am 90% treating it like a temple.

 

[that_someone_special]

my temple likes chocolate and pizza today.

 

[jaysonsmom]

For the most part I try to treat my body like a temple. I studied nutrition, so I have to look the part right? I eat a lot of fruits, veggies, and grains. I usually cook from scratch, and exercise at least 5 days a week. I try to give hubby and kids the same things I eat, but they are more lax on hte junk-food/fastfood intake. I eat fastfood maybe once a month, whereas my husband and kids would eat it at least once a week.

I think that people who make a habit of living a clean, and healthy life will see the benefits in their 50's and 60's. My parents and their friends are living testimonies of how they treated their "temples" in the past. Those that never cared about themselves, are feeling the aches, pains, and illnesses while the rest of their 60's crowd still lead very active retired lives (my mom can still chase my kids while they're on their bikes, and she's 61!) I want to be just like her.

 

[Amber St. Clare]

I'm going to be honest here:

I exercise semi-regularly and try to eat a healthy diet.
BUT
I enjoy a good drink AND I do like pharmaceuticals. And weed.

I can only hope my efforts to improve my health counter-act my more self-destructive habits...............

 

[ChloeTheGreat]

No, but I'm working on it.

My mom told me I take better care of my dog than myself. It's true.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Probably not. I drink tons of water, always have, and have been eating a little better, but mostly my body is ignored.

 

[junebug17]

No, not really. I drink too much coffee, my diet isn't very good and I don't exercise enough. I agree with you fiery, we take such great care of the things we own, but sometimes don't take good care of our bodies, which are the most important things we own! And with my mother recently suffering a stroke, I'm finding I have absolutely no appetite. I really need to try to take care of myself so that I can help her to the best of my ability.

 

[Nomsdeplume]

I guess I do, even though I have never really thought of it in that way. I have to exercise 4-5 times a week or I will go crazy. It's the most effective stress management technique I have ever found. I don't like the way my body responds to fast food or a lot of sugar. I feel awful when I eat badly. I get kidney stones very often, so to avoid that pain I have to watch what I eat (fried foods, chocolate and sugar tends to make it worse) and I have to drink lots of water. That said, when I crave something I will eat it in moderation, and I definitely do not get enough sleep. I also don't go for regular health check-ups.

 

[missydebby]

I f you mean a temple made out of beer bottles.... then yes.

 

[Circe]

"Temple" is an interesting word to me, as I'm not a member of an organized religion. For me, the prime reason why you would keep a temple "nice" would be to show respects to the gods for whom it's erected: another would be to show respect for members of the shared community.

So ... to piggyback off TG and a few others, if my body is a temple, it's probably dedicated to Dionysus, Aphrodite, and Athena (which is to say I'm an intellectual sybarite: I spend a lot of time in sedentary pursuits like research and writing, and I reward myself with rich red wine and sensual pleasure). In terms of respecting members of my community? Well ... there's a reason I don't belong to an organized religion, and it's that I'm a misanthrope. I sort of feel like anybody with an opinion on how I present myself can take a long jump off a short pier (yes, dudes in cars who feel the need to comment on women's bodies, I am talking to you).

But overall, I feel like I treat my body fairly well: I suppose I might want to feed it better, to get tip-top results. Interesting topic ....

 

[Amethyste]

I don't treat my body like a temple.... and I really should...

I think I'll order some Yoga video and start to gently put my body into some sort of shape!
I feel fat ( well duh I am! ) and limited in my movements due to the lack of exercising!

 

[dragonfly411]

I have to say that in the past not always. right now I am trying very hard to do so more often. I eat as healthy as I can and am actually pushing myself to do better on that front. I get the daily needs for water, and a couple glasses of tea. I make sure to get enough sleep, and eat regularly. I also am making myself exercise in some way almost every day. I'm doing daily yoga as well. I'm taking more time to pamper my body, using lotions, moisturizers, good skin care, doing my nails, brushing my hair for longer, increasing the amount of flossing I do and regular mouth wash on top of what I already do. I try to give my mind time to unwind. I take more time to make myself look nice. I want to live a long, happy and healthy life. How can I do that if I don't take care of my body?

 

[Octavia]

"Temple" is an interesting word to me, as I'm not a member of an organized religion. For me, the prime reason why you would keep a temple "nice" would be to show respects to the gods for whom it's erected: another would be to show respect for members of the shared community.

So ... to piggyback off TG and a few others, if my body is a temple, it's probably dedicated to Dionysus, Aphrodite, and Athena (which is to say I'm an intellectual sybarite: I spend a lot of time in sedentary pursuits like research and writing, and I reward myself with rich red wine and sensual pleasure). In terms of respecting members of my community? Well ... there's a reason I don't belong to an organized religion, and it's that I'm a misanthrope. I sort of feel like anybody with an opinion on how I present myself can take a long jump off a short pier (yes, dudes in cars who feel the need to comment on women's bodies, I am talking to you).

But overall, I feel like I treat my body fairly well: I suppose I might want to feed it better, to get tip-top results. Interesting topic ....

I couldn't say it better, so ditto.

 

[fieryred33143]

For the most part I try to treat my body like a temple. I studied nutrition, so I have to look the part right? I eat a lot of fruits, veggies, and grains. I usually cook from scratch, and exercise at least 5 days a week. I try to give hubby and kids the same things I eat, but they are more lax on hte junk-food/fastfood intake. I eat fastfood maybe once a month, whereas my husband and kids would eat it at least once a week.

I think that people who make a habit of living a clean, and healthy life will see the benefits in their 50's and 60's. My parents and their friends are living testimonies of how they treated their "temples" in the past. Those that never cared about themselves, are feeling the aches, pains, and illnesses while the rest of their 60's crowd still lead very active retired lives (my mom can still chase my kids while they're on their bikes, and she's 61!) I want to be just like her.

This is so true! I think a lot of times people want to take care of themselves for something specific like a wedding or a high school reunion or a summer vacation. But they don't really think of the long term results. That has been my problem for years! Trying to change the thinking is tough though

 

[Steel]

Not at all. But I take a multi-vitamin and exercise every day. Thats about it for me.

 

[Circe]

Not at all. But I take a multi-vitamin and exercise every day. Thats about it for me.

Interesting point! My first response was pretty non-specific, so in terms of "do I treat myself right ...."

I do take a multi-vitamin. And a fish oil pill. And Vitamin D, since almost everybody has a deficiency.

I walk a lot - in good weather I rollerblade or jog, but day-in, day-out, the walking is what does it for me. And 8 hour stroll is no big, by my lights.

I drink. Regularly. An average of a glass or two of wine a night: given the studies proving health benefits, I feel neither guilty or virtuous, but just sort of like, since I enjoy it, I'm willing to spend a couple of hundred of my daily calories on it.

I gained some weight over the last year or so, which I decided to drop this summer, and drop for good: so I stopped eating like my husband when we go out (he's happily oblivious to calories). Lots of grilled fish! Also, despite a life-time of saying that life without chocolate isn't worth living ... now, no chocolate, no cheese, no fatty nonsense, and carbs cut within sanity (i.e., I don't stuff myself with rice alongside a Chinese dinner - it means I don't get leftovers, but it means I don't get guilt, either).

A lot of the little things we do can have astonishingly big results ... the first time I saw this was when I switched to diet soda instead of regular, and promptly dropped ten pounds. Now? I'm hoping quitting diet soda, and subbing in yogurt for the cheese sandwich I used to eat as a snack will have similar results.

Once the metaphor is laid plain, it's interesting how many little details come to the fore (at least for me).

 

[monarch64]

So...every time I see this thread title I hear a Jimmy Buffett song in my head.

"Fruitcakes"--Jimmy Buffett, 1994: (pay special attention to the "relationship" verse--"I treat mine like a temple, you treat YOURS like a tent!"

Fruitcakes
By: jimmy buffett, amy lee
1994
--spoken:
You know I was talking to my friend desdemona the other day she
Runs this space station and bake shop down near boomtown. she told
Me that human beings are flawed individuals. the cosmic bakers
Took us out of the oven a little too early. and that's the
Reason were as crazy as we are and I believe it.

Take for example when you go to the movies these days, you know.
They try to sell you this jumbo drink, 8 extra ounces of watered
Down cherry coke for an extra 25 cents. I don't want it.
I don't want that much organziation in my life.
I don't want other people thinking for me.
I want my junior mints. where did the junior mints go in the
Movies. I don't want a 12 lb. nestles crunch for 25 dollars. i
Want junior mints.

We need more fruitcakes in this world and less bakers!
We need people that care! Im mad as hell! and I don't want to
Take it anymore!

Chorus:
Fruitcakes in the kitchen (fruitcakes in the kitchen)
Fruitcakes on the street (fruitcakes on the street)
Struttin naked through the crosswalk
In the middle of the week
Half-baked cookies in the oven (cookies in the oven)
Half-baked people on the bus (people on the bus)
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us

Paradise, lost and found
Paradise, take a look around
I was out in california where I hear they have it all
They got riots, fires, mud slides
They've got sushi in the mall
Water bars, brontasaurs, chinese modern lust
Shake and bake life with the quake
The secrets in the crust

Chorus:
Fruitcakes in the kitchen (fruitcakes in the kitchen)
Fruitcakes on the street (fruitcakes on the street)
Struttin naked through the crosswalk
In the middle of the week
Half-baked cookies in the oven (cookies in the oven)
Half-baked people on the bus (people on the bus)
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us

--spoken:
Speakin of fruitcakes, how bout the government?
Your tax dollars at work.

We lost our martian rocket ship
The high paid spokesman said
Looks like that silly rocket ship
Has lost it's cone shaped head
We spent 90 jillion dollars trying to get a look at mars
I hear universal laughter ringing out among the stars

Chorus:
Fruitcakes in the galaxy (fruitcakes in the galaxy)
Fuitcakes on the earth (fruitcakes on the earth)
Struttin naked towards eternity
Weve been that way since birth
Half-baked cookies in the oven (cookies in the oven)
Half-baked people on the bus (people on the bus)
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us

--spoken:
Religion! religion! oh, there's a thin line between saturday
Night and sunday morning. here we go now.
Alright, alter boys.

Mea culpa mea culpa mea maxima culpa
Mea culpa mea culpa mea maxima culpa

Wheres the church, who took the steeple
Religion is in the hands of some crazy-ass people
Television preachers with bad hair and dimples
The gods honest truth is it's not that simple
Its the buddhist in you, it's the pagan in me
Its the muslim in him, she's catholic aint she?
Its the born again look it's the wasp and the jew
Tell me what's goin on, I aint gotta clue

--spoken:
Now here comes the big ones. relationships! we all got em, we
All want em. what do we do with em?
Here we go, I'll tell ya.

She said you gotta do your fair share
Now cough up half the rent
I treat my body like a temple
You treat yours like a tent
But the right word at the right time
May get me a little hug
That's the difference between lightning
And a harmless lightnin bug

Chorus:
Fruitcakes in the kitchen (fruitcakes in the kitchen)
Fruitcakes on the street (fruitcakes on the street)
Struttin naked through the crosswalk
In the middle of the week
Half-baked cookies in the oven (cookies in the oven)
Half-baked people on the bus (people on the bus)
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us

--spoken:
The future. captains log, stardate two thousand and something.

Were seven years from the millenium
That's a science fiction fact
Stanley kubrick and his buddy hal
Now don't look that abstract
So I'll put on my bob marley tape
And practice what I preach
Get jah lost in the reggae mon
As I walk along the beach
Stay in touch with my insanity really is the only way
Its a jungle out there kiddies
Have a very fruitful day
Hey.

Chorus:
Fruitcakes in the kitchen (fruitcakes in the kitchen)
Fruitcakes on the street (fruitcakes on the street)
Struttin naked through the crosswalk
In the middle of the week
Half-baked cookies in the oven (cookies in the oven)
Half-baked people on the bus (people on the bus)
There's a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us

--spoken:
That's right, you too. yeah those crumbs are spread all around
This universe. Ive seen fruitcakes. I saw this guy in santa
Monica rollerskate naked through the crosswalk. down in new
Orleans in the french market there are fruitcakes like you cannot
Believe. new york, forget it. fruitcake city. down island, weve got
Fruitcakes. spread them crumbs around. that's right, we want
Em around. keep bakin baby. keep bakin.

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/jimmy+buffett/#share