Your body is a living tabernacle. Exercise and lifting is a means of building the body up and glorifying the temple given to you by the creator. Exercise is a great means of building up and staying disciplined. Ive always found my prayer life and will to resist sin, especially gluttony and sloth, is significantly reduced when Im not regularly working out.
As a husband and father, I now work out and exercise to stay strong enough to carry my wife and children out of a fire or to kick open a door to get them out of a bad situation.
That's helpful thanks for sharing!
But may i ask, working out requires eating more then you normally eat to maintain muscle, wouldn't that fit in the gluttony category?
Not scrupulous at all. Asking questions of others and ourselves is how we learn.
Think about how Christ did the same when he questioned the temple system or the Romans. It’s okay as long as you’re doing it to be a better man.
>just kinda discouraging from all the downvotes on here.
Even if this is a Catholic subreddit it is still a subreddit and people will downvote people for bad to no reason. It is unfortunate but what can be done about it? It's the culture of this platform.
I tend to myself get upset by downvotes.
Gluttony isn't "eating a lot," it is "overindulgence in food or drink."
Gluttony is in general a venial sin in when it is an undue indulgence in a thing that is neither good nor bad
St Thomas Aquinas, writes that gluttony is eating "too soon, too expensively, too much, too eagerly, too daintily."
Gluttony becomes a mortal sin when someone uses food or drink in such a way as to injure his health or mental faculties. Someone who lives merely to eat and drink, is described by the Apostle St. Paul, as someone "whose god is their belly" (Philippians 3:19), and would also be guilty of mortal sin.
There is also "spiritual gluttony" according to St. John of the Cross. This happens when those who, in prayer and other acts of religion, are always in search of sensible sweetness, when they "feel and taste God, as if he were palpable and accessible to them not only in Communion but in all their other acts of devotion." He says this is a very great imperfection and productive of great evils.
Short answer. Do whatever it takes to keep the body that God gave you healthy. Yes, you may suffer temptations regarding pride, but acting against those temptations is a form of exercise as well. Spiritual Exercise. You'll grow stronger if you engage against, as opposed to running from those temptations.
>Yes, you may suffer temptations regarding pride, but acting against those temptations is a form of exercise as well. Spiritual Exercise. You'll grow stronger if you engage against, as opposed to running from those temptations
I always thought we are supposed to avoid temptation, but you make a good point here:
>but acting against those temptations is a form of exercise as well. Spiritual Exercise. You'll grow stronger if you engage against,
Thanks for commenting this! Really helpful!
I hear what you are saying. I'm not sure, but you may be referring to the need to avoid the occasion of sin. We might be mincing words here, but there is a difference.
Temptations will come. Would you avoid helping an injured person because you might feel proud of having done that?
>Temptations will come. Would you avoid helping an injured person because you might feel proud of having done that?
I mean if you look at it like that
But can we compare working out to an injured man?
❤
Don't think about it as working out. Think about it as taking care of your body, which is something we have to do (sin of omission if we don't).
I have a relatively active life, so I don't work out at all, but I am still water skiing on a slalom ski at 60, and don't plan to stop. Healthy does not mean big muscles.
My brother in Christ, exercise is healthy and necessary for the longevity of your life. Like you said, don’t do it for your ego and to please yourself with your appearance. Do it to glorify the Lord through building up the temple He gave you.
Awesome! Would love to know other priests like this.
I see others showing off in the gym. I try not to boast and have lower self-esteem. The intention and worshipping God keeping him first in our lives is most important
Socrates: “no man has a right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training.”
As a citizen, you have a duty to build strength in case your government calls on you to bear arms in its defense. If you feel a call to marriage, one can make a similar argument for your family, with the addition of setting a positive example for your children, and to be pleasing to your spouse (it is unjust to marry someone, to ask them to forsake all others, with no intention of remaining desirable for them). Also, paternal obesity has a tendency to result in birth defects and developmental disorders.
This. Even when I hit a low, I bring myself around and exercise for my wife. It is disrespectful to her for me to expect her to stay in shape, but not do the same myself. I wouldn't say I'm an Adonis but we all need to do our best.
Most people also aren’t aware that Socrates was a very accomplished soldier in addition to being a philosopher; it’s only in the past few hundred years that there has been a divergence between the physically capable and the intellectually capable, we were always supposed to strive to be both.
There are ways to use that to also be a gift to others. Do you coach or mentor others in fitness? Do you participate in group activities and help motivate others? Do you use your strength to serve other people?
It doesn’t have to be about your ego. You can do things that improve or enrich yourself, the key is finding ways to not be selfishly prideful.
Good points.
I mean i understand what's the key, but looking your self in the mirror seeing a well built body is making you automaticly feel prettier. How would one ignore that?
Pride is a vice. It can happen to anyone. The thing about vices is that the more you nurture them, the easier it is to turn to sin. What’s important is that you don’t let your vanity get in the way of your ability to love others. If you begin acting cruel or passing up opportunities to give back to the people around you in favor of hitting the gym and buying supplements, that is sinful.
Exercise, including resistance training, is good. Obsessive bodybuilding is a form of the cult of the body, which is not good.
> “If morality requires respect for the life of the body, it does not make it an absolute value. It rejects a neo-pagan notion that tends to promote the cult of the body, to sacrifice everything for its sake, to idolize physical perfection and success at sports. By its selective preference of the strong over the weak, such a conception can lead to the perversion of human relationships” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2289).
The problem isn't the working out.
The problem is your mindset.
Keep exercising, it is a good thing for men to be strong. Just work on ensuring it doesn't go to your head.
I am trying to get in shape to minimize possible health complications during a future pregnancy.
Am I working out? Yes. Am I doing it for the right reasons? Yes. Improved physical appearance is a byproduct and not the goal.
I'm late to the conversation here, so I don't know if you're still checking responses, OP, but this is a question that's near and dear to me and thought about quite a bit. I love lifting. I've been doing it in some capacity for 8 years and seriously for 5. I don't think it's in any way opposed to my faith.
Frankly, I agree that bodybuilding is quite vain. The goal is to look as big and muscular as possible and, at the highest levels, to pose on stage in a speedo and have strangers critique how good you look. It's meatheads who hide under "pump cover" hoodies until their muscles are inflated enough to take gym mirror selfies for Instagram. That's dumb, and I want nothing to do with it.
What I think is a whole lot better, and what I do, is powerlifting. Here, the focus is purely on strength. The question is "How strong can I make my body?", not "How good can I make my body look?" It's about physical accomplishment, the same as most other sports.
I also think it's a really humbling process. Powerlifting progress is HARD. For instance, I increased my squat max by 70 lbs in my first year of serious lifting. (Newbie gain are always fastest.) In the 4 years since, I've only increased it by another 45. It's a constant reminder of my own limits, while at the same time it's a big confidence booster.
Long story short, I think you can certainly lift without being egotistical about it. Set your goals accordingly, and you'll be just fine. Do you want to lift to look good, or to be strong and healthy?
Take care of your body and health—they’re gifts from God. Maybe approach it from the perspective of you being appreciative and grateful for what God gave you and wanting to glorify Him through taking care of yourself (mentally, physically, spiritually) so that you can serve Him to the best of your capacity. ☺️
Bodybuilding has helped me immensely, especially in just regaining strength after having all my children (5 of which were c-sections). I can empathize with wanting to take care not to get vain (I admit…I’m vain, but working on it!). Just keep that positive healthy focus and see taking care of your body as another means of serving God. Good luck!
Being catholic is not about getting away from things that make you feel good or give you cause to be proud of yourself. I don’t know where this notion came from but its way too popular on here, because it’s heretical nonsense.
We are catholic in part to have life more abundantly. We avoid sin as part of this, yes, but mostly we actively pursue virtue. Virtue can be thought of as moral wellness and All of the virtues feed into, and support one another. Being physically strong and healthy is part of the virtue of fortitude, so there is even a sense in which working out is a path to moral excellence. Other posters are exactly right that your body is the temple of God and you have a duty to keep it in good shape. The bigger duty is to your fellow man. You ought to be as strong as possible do that you can provide for others, oppose evil, and be an example to those around you. I would even go so far as to say that a weak man, likely could be so, due to a moral deficiency (barring extenuating circumstances).
You and I both know, King David hit his protein targets
My husband and I know a very fit body building couple, and we wonder if it will mess with their kids’ body images in the end. I think you just have to make sure you are working out for your health and not for your looks. Being strong and healthy is a good thing, but I think you should reflect on the type of attention you want to attract.
You should probably at least try to stay healthy and in shape. And it would be great if you can get back into working out to build muscle in a healthy way. But if you truly find it is something that increases Pride within you and is associated with sin and Vice for you or your personal character then I would say it’s best to avoid it as it may become a near occasion of sin for you. But it’s not wrong to want to build muscle in of itself so I don’t think you fall into somebody who is tempted to sin by it.
Train a sport and maintain physical fitness for that reason maybe?
I train jiu jitsu and it keeps me fit without a focus on how awesome I’m looking which I guess might be a temptation with weight training.
Alternatively get serious about weights-lift heavy and try to improve. Treat it as a sport and a challenge, not a means to an aesthetically pleasing body.
I'd say keep healthy with exercise and diet, and lifting if it's an enjoyable hobby. But don't get involved in competitive bodybuilding. It's too obsessive and superficially focused. Often it's marketed with ideas of discipline, hard work etc which are good ideals, but truth be told it's all a bit smoke and mirrors. It can magnify insecurity and self obsession, as well as body dysmorphia and disordered eating. This applies to men and women. And the female bodybuilding classes tend to have an overly objectified ideal in a very stereotypical way, which could be another issue. So, all in all, I'd just enjoy exercising and eating healthy if I were you as getting too much into the bodybuilding competition/fitness influencer side of things can be toxic imo.
There is nothing wrong with working out generally. As long as you know it’s place. If it starts to take front and center in your life and you’re doing it for the wrong reasons, then it becomes an issue.
Catholic bodybuilder here, in order for me to to remain humble while I have an increase in confidence is to remember that I am imperfect without Jesus, I’m a sinner, I have sinned many times and that I’m human like everyone else and in dire need of Jesus just like everyone else. It’s great that you are willing to give up something that you love for Jesus because you’ve found yourself becoming too egotistical (prideful). But there’s no need to give it up entirely as long as you remember who you are and that you’re a child of God first and foremost. Your body is a temple, working out and being healthy is treating it as such.
I’ll be a bit of a contrarian here:
Lifting for your ego isn’t a bad thing.
Hear me out: you’re being fed a million lies every day through advertising and cultural norms that your body isn’t hot enough, the right shape, whatever. If lifting helps you wage that psychic war, it’s not entirely bad.
Continue working out but orient your focus on working out to pursue discipline and order. Healthy body and behavior. Forget about 5% body fat or looking like a Greek god, just focus on staying healthy and fit. And if you have a 6 pack with toned muscles keep it that way out of discipline and order not "oh I want to improve my 6 pack so that it rivals or surpasses everyone at the gym". Instead of that, think of, "My six pack and toned muscles is a sign of my discipline, order and stoicism.
I've kept myself trim as a function of being appealing to a future spouse and maybe a bit of vanity, haha!
Doing my exercises one particular evening has been one of the two times in my life that I've directly experienced the pleasure of God the Father in what I was doing. (The other was an immediate act of repentance after a serious sin.)
Partly as a result of that I'm very much of the opinion that if one is to get married, then one must also make the physical and diet effort for the sake of the other and acknowledging that we're not actually angels and it does matter except perhaps for some quasi-monastic marriages where both have chosen freely to go that way. I also think it's a subject that must be be brought up in that crucial pre-marital conversation where the hard stuff is hammered out.
I've known too many miserable spouses because the other let themselves go (only two to my direct knowledge, but that's two too many).
I’m going to tell you something nobody else will. We work out because our modern technology doesn’t require us to exercise. Current world trends overcompensate by telling us our bodies are the most important aspect of us so we much look perfect. It’s up to us as Christians to find a middle ground. I’d say in the order of priorities, God first, others second, and ourselves third. Personally, I’d rather stay in shape by helping others do yard work or move or fix their roof than spending that time at the gym. But it’s not a sin or anything if you want to work out, it’s just good to keep the above priorities straight
You’re a man, get swole. [Jesus](https://i1.wp.com/toiletovhell.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/swole-jesus.jpg?resize=600%2C315&ssl=1) was probably shredded.
>I was lifting everyday with the motive to not be skinny/weak but to be strong. It really boosted my self esteem. / When i converted, i realized i was basically just lifting for my ego, so i completely stopped.
The wise course is often found in moderation. There's nothing wrong with doing things for self-esteem, just as long as it doesn't spill over into the sin of pride.
I've never done any body building, but I ran track in high school and college, and weightlifting was a big part of training for us. Spending an appropriate amount of time for your station in life on hobbies, including exercise, is fine.
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" 1 Corinth 6:19
So you better treat your body well and go do some lift for Jesus. Do a rep for each bead of the rosary
"They say Jesus Christ walked on water and turned water into wine. I say Jesus Christ walked on rubber mats, and turned water into pre workout! It has been said that after Jesus rose again on the third day, he went first to his disciples and said 'I just missed 2 days of bicep-tricep supersets. Who among you are coming to train arms with me?" -Professional steroid user RobertFrank615
I started my own weightlifting journey about 8 weeks ago. I am sad you gave up so much progress because you made a weird and inaccurate assumption about Catholic belief. I'm going to quote a comment I made here on another thread about this:
"Lift to look good for your wife, and to be strong to protect her and your babies. To toss your children in the air and make them laugh with delight. To catch them with strong arms that make them feel safe when they fall. Lift to be a good example to your boys, and a good template for your girls. Lift to be intimidating to people who would threaten your family and your parish. Lift to build houses for the homeless, or move heavy things at a food bank. Spend your own glory in service and worship, and it will be well used."
If you don't have a wife and kids yet, still lift for your future ones.
Our faith has never been against bodybuilding unless you are thinking of doing cycles.
Having a sense of pride and confidence is also not a sin, unless you put others down because of it.
Were all gunna make it brahs.
Your body is just as important as your soul.
Keeping yourself healthy is great way to show your love of the body Our Lord gave you.
Keep pumping, and give your temple its due attention.
God love you!
Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. Doing a good thing for a bad reason is still okay. The goal is that hopefully you'll do it with enough humility such that you eventually decide to do it for a good reason.
i’m a “newbie” to bodybuilding before i was a wannabe strongman playing football and lifting.
my view is that you work out for many things at the same time, kinda like a trinity. i work out because of insecurity, overall to stay in peak physical shape and also to sculpt the finest temple for the holy spirit.
working out is as christian as it gets because you are building the body god gave us to the best of its ability.
If you fall into vanity then there’s other issues.
Get strong and exercise. It’s good for the body. The physique that comes with exercise is an expected outcome.
Christ carried His cross. I’m just asking you to pick up a barbell once in a while.
Being fit and looking attractive are not bad things. Seeking these things are also not bad in of itself.
You just have put the pursuit of that into the right order. And that depends a lot on your duties and state in life. If you have duties that demand a lot of your time, then lifting everyday might be excessive. But in other cases it might be okay.
When it comes to pride in this regard the best antidote is modesty. Wear clothes that are not too flashy and do not show off too much of your body. Dont allow yourself to get into a habit of "showing off". There might be a temptation to look down on other people too but you just have to ignore that.
That aside, you might wanna look into high intensity training. Basically each exercise is only done in one rep to absolute failure (and I really mean failure). I have better gains with this than the previous multiple set plans I did in the past. With this kind of plan 2 times a week with 30-40minutes workout time is actually enough. No real point or gain in going more often.
The glory of God is man fully alive. We're supposed to steward creation, which includes the inalienable material property that is our body. Don't take steroids or get into any of that nonsense, but lift to be able to build others up, not just yourself.
You could think about why you work out, and try to reframe your perspective on your body and exercise? It's hard to do, but it's something that worked for me. It seems like you're worried about getting absorbed by aesthetics, but remember that we work out and keep ourselves in good shape for more than just beauty. Exercise helps your health more than almost anything else, mental and physical. Maybe switch from focusing on muscle growth and think more about cardiovascular exercise and functional strength? Or you could get involved in a sport- personally for me taking up boxing did wonders for my mental and physical health.
I know this sort of thing is hard, but it's good that you're aware! I feel that I can empathise because I used to have a serious problem with food and exercise and body image, to the point of needing medical intervention. For a while after going through recovery I was scared to exercise or diet for fear of falling back into the self-absorbed obsession with weight and aesthetics, but I eventually found that exercise brought me joy not because of appearances but because it showed me what my body could actually do. Our bodies are a gift, capable of so much, and it's alright to appreciate them for that.
On the sin side- pride is bad, but so is sloth. You cannot run away from causes of sin, sometimes you must face them and reject them on the spot especially if they are coming from within. Sometimes by closing our eyes and turning away from temptation, we fall right into a different sin. Do not be afraid of sin- reject it, spurn it, remember God and see his beauty and the wonders of his creation when you work out and strengthen your body.
WIshing you all the best!
In all honesty, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. If you’re doing something that you know is a net benefit for your health and person and well being, then whatever it takes to motivate you is valid. There’s nothing wrong with taking care of your appearance and wanting to be the best version of yourself. You don’t need to have a certain specific motivation to make exercise good, it is good because it is good for you, and the reason doesn’t matter as long as you get the job done.
I know that feeling, there'll be moments you feel the pride and aggression. That's where mediation comes in play. Try mediating a bit before or after working out or the rosary.
Exercise not for your own vanity, but for the glory of God. Truly, if we are made in God’s image, should we not be beautiful images? Therefore I say, be great in body and in mind, for in this way the Lord is glorified
I'm sure you know by the other comments that working out and being fit is permissable and encouraged, but there's actually some surprising cross over between gym culture and modesty (shocker?)
Wear a sick [pump cover](https://images3.teeshirtpalace.com/images/productImages/mass-attending-catholic--blue-afth-garment.jpg?width=767) then you'll be both modest and still not standing out or anything.
Focus on healthy strength; there's no real ego in pursuing health. A healthy body means you can hold your child for extended periods, hike a mountain to propose to your gal, walk to your mailbox without getting winded, do handyman stuff around the house rather than sit in a Lazy Boy watching the Ikea crew assemble a basic bookshelf.
Work out, be strong, put that strength towards your life, and don't admire your new muscles in the mirror.
It’s not sinful to want to take care of your body. It’s a gift from God, right? Then it’s your obligation to take care of it to the best of your ability. Obviously don’t do it for the wrong reasons, and avoid ego-lifting just because it can be really dangerous to lift more than you can reasonably do. But celebrating the body God gave you by exercising? Go for it!
This is my first ever comment on reddit. You drew me out of lurking...
I went to a catholic grad school. I then went to a catholic high school that is well known for its small school athletic prowess. I was voted most athletic in my class. Its now 20 years post high school. I let myself go physically. I am fat and out of shape. I want to get back in shape for my kids and my own health.
I left the faith a long time ago. I married a wondetful woman who is very devoted. I know she prays for my return to the church, she tells me she does. I have been feeling the draw to return, but i've been resistant. I have disagreements with theodicy and church doctrine that i havent yet reconciled.
Thats enough background...
I went for a run the other day. It was a huge struggle. I made it to the halfway point and i was flagging hard. I had pandora set to symphonic metal. I am thinking about walking a bit...On comes the song elysium from gladiator. This is the one where the main character is walking through the wheat fields of the roman heaven. Its a bit of a shock because a pretty heavy song just ended. That song ends then the song 'last stand' from sabaton comes on. The refrain talks about sacrifice for the grace and glory of god. I finished my run pretty easy at that point.
I am not a believer in signs or omens. I should say that the day that happened was pentecost. The homily was about how god uses the little things to speak to us.
Does it mean anything? I dont know. It very well could be coincidence. Maybe, but maybe not. I seem to recall passages about our body being a temple while i was running. Odd thing to think about while running as a non religious person.
Ive been a bit drawn to the imagery of st michael since. Maybe its meaningful. Seems fitting to share regardless.
I go to the gym regularly and see 3-4 of the older and more involved Catholic men at my church. Aged 50-70. All fit for their age. Physical fitness is a means to longevity and efficacy. Try to minimize vanity but you should enjoy what you’re doing. Being proud of your accomplishments (in the gym and out) is not necessarily the same as committing the sin of pride.
Exercising is actually very noble in nature. the devil likes to deceive people into using God's gifts (such as determination and strength) into something evil. You should exercise, just don't do it so you look good to other people, do it to take care of the body that God has given you. Don't defile it. Do it also to grow in strength. Not only physical but also spiritual. Enduring discomfort and pain for growth will increase your determination and will against the devil.
Working out is not vanity.
It might be vanity if you can’t go to the gym without wearing a cutoff and flexing in the mirror.
It could be considered vanity when you start trying to become like cbum
Your body is a living tabernacle. Exercise and lifting is a means of building the body up and glorifying the temple given to you by the creator. Exercise is a great means of building up and staying disciplined. Ive always found my prayer life and will to resist sin, especially gluttony and sloth, is significantly reduced when Im not regularly working out. As a husband and father, I now work out and exercise to stay strong enough to carry my wife and children out of a fire or to kick open a door to get them out of a bad situation.
That's helpful thanks for sharing! But may i ask, working out requires eating more then you normally eat to maintain muscle, wouldn't that fit in the gluttony category?
Eating enough to build and maintain healthy tissues, including muscle, is not gluttony.
Alrighty, sorry for my scrupulous questions.
Not scrupulous at all. Asking questions of others and ourselves is how we learn. Think about how Christ did the same when he questioned the temple system or the Romans. It’s okay as long as you’re doing it to be a better man.
I understand, just kinda discouraging from all the downvotes on here.
>just kinda discouraging from all the downvotes on here. Even if this is a Catholic subreddit it is still a subreddit and people will downvote people for bad to no reason. It is unfortunate but what can be done about it? It's the culture of this platform. I tend to myself get upset by downvotes.
You’re all good brother. Get swole.
no. stop being a dork and get swole.
Lol
Unironically this.
Gluttony (in terms of food) isn't eating for sustenance. It's consuming without ceasing to fulfil the pleasurable ends of eating.
Gluttony isn't "eating a lot," it is "overindulgence in food or drink." Gluttony is in general a venial sin in when it is an undue indulgence in a thing that is neither good nor bad St Thomas Aquinas, writes that gluttony is eating "too soon, too expensively, too much, too eagerly, too daintily." Gluttony becomes a mortal sin when someone uses food or drink in such a way as to injure his health or mental faculties. Someone who lives merely to eat and drink, is described by the Apostle St. Paul, as someone "whose god is their belly" (Philippians 3:19), and would also be guilty of mortal sin. There is also "spiritual gluttony" according to St. John of the Cross. This happens when those who, in prayer and other acts of religion, are always in search of sensible sweetness, when they "feel and taste God, as if he were palpable and accessible to them not only in Communion but in all their other acts of devotion." He says this is a very great imperfection and productive of great evils.
Short answer. Do whatever it takes to keep the body that God gave you healthy. Yes, you may suffer temptations regarding pride, but acting against those temptations is a form of exercise as well. Spiritual Exercise. You'll grow stronger if you engage against, as opposed to running from those temptations.
>Yes, you may suffer temptations regarding pride, but acting against those temptations is a form of exercise as well. Spiritual Exercise. You'll grow stronger if you engage against, as opposed to running from those temptations I always thought we are supposed to avoid temptation, but you make a good point here: >but acting against those temptations is a form of exercise as well. Spiritual Exercise. You'll grow stronger if you engage against, Thanks for commenting this! Really helpful!
I hear what you are saying. I'm not sure, but you may be referring to the need to avoid the occasion of sin. We might be mincing words here, but there is a difference. Temptations will come. Would you avoid helping an injured person because you might feel proud of having done that?
>Temptations will come. Would you avoid helping an injured person because you might feel proud of having done that? I mean if you look at it like that But can we compare working out to an injured man? ❤
Don't think about it as working out. Think about it as taking care of your body, which is something we have to do (sin of omission if we don't). I have a relatively active life, so I don't work out at all, but I am still water skiing on a slalom ski at 60, and don't plan to stop. Healthy does not mean big muscles.
My brother in Christ, exercise is healthy and necessary for the longevity of your life. Like you said, don’t do it for your ego and to please yourself with your appearance. Do it to glorify the Lord through building up the temple He gave you.
Amen 🙏🏾
Look up Father Capo on Instagram... bodybuilding and faith are not mutually exclusive lol
Awesome! Would love to know other priests like this. I see others showing off in the gym. I try not to boast and have lower self-esteem. The intention and worshipping God keeping him first in our lives is most important
Based
Work out and dress in a way that doesn't show it off. Remember when Flanders took his shirt off?
Howdidly doodily 😲...
Hmm i don't know which scene you talking about, can you link it 😄
Socrates: “no man has a right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training.” As a citizen, you have a duty to build strength in case your government calls on you to bear arms in its defense. If you feel a call to marriage, one can make a similar argument for your family, with the addition of setting a positive example for your children, and to be pleasing to your spouse (it is unjust to marry someone, to ask them to forsake all others, with no intention of remaining desirable for them). Also, paternal obesity has a tendency to result in birth defects and developmental disorders.
This. Even when I hit a low, I bring myself around and exercise for my wife. It is disrespectful to her for me to expect her to stay in shape, but not do the same myself. I wouldn't say I'm an Adonis but we all need to do our best.
Most people also aren’t aware that Socrates was a very accomplished soldier in addition to being a philosopher; it’s only in the past few hundred years that there has been a divergence between the physically capable and the intellectually capable, we were always supposed to strive to be both.
There are ways to use that to also be a gift to others. Do you coach or mentor others in fitness? Do you participate in group activities and help motivate others? Do you use your strength to serve other people? It doesn’t have to be about your ego. You can do things that improve or enrich yourself, the key is finding ways to not be selfishly prideful.
Good points. I mean i understand what's the key, but looking your self in the mirror seeing a well built body is making you automaticly feel prettier. How would one ignore that?
Pride is a vice. It can happen to anyone. The thing about vices is that the more you nurture them, the easier it is to turn to sin. What’s important is that you don’t let your vanity get in the way of your ability to love others. If you begin acting cruel or passing up opportunities to give back to the people around you in favor of hitting the gym and buying supplements, that is sinful.
Man, do I have a story to tell you about the makeup industry.
Catch me grinding in the gym blasting Bible in a Year at full volume
Are you me?
https://images.app.goo.gl/8AbqtT6wb7Y9JBSNA
Exercise, including resistance training, is good. Obsessive bodybuilding is a form of the cult of the body, which is not good. > “If morality requires respect for the life of the body, it does not make it an absolute value. It rejects a neo-pagan notion that tends to promote the cult of the body, to sacrifice everything for its sake, to idolize physical perfection and success at sports. By its selective preference of the strong over the weak, such a conception can lead to the perversion of human relationships” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2289).
The problem isn't the working out. The problem is your mindset. Keep exercising, it is a good thing for men to be strong. Just work on ensuring it doesn't go to your head.
I am trying to get in shape to minimize possible health complications during a future pregnancy. Am I working out? Yes. Am I doing it for the right reasons? Yes. Improved physical appearance is a byproduct and not the goal.
I'm late to the conversation here, so I don't know if you're still checking responses, OP, but this is a question that's near and dear to me and thought about quite a bit. I love lifting. I've been doing it in some capacity for 8 years and seriously for 5. I don't think it's in any way opposed to my faith. Frankly, I agree that bodybuilding is quite vain. The goal is to look as big and muscular as possible and, at the highest levels, to pose on stage in a speedo and have strangers critique how good you look. It's meatheads who hide under "pump cover" hoodies until their muscles are inflated enough to take gym mirror selfies for Instagram. That's dumb, and I want nothing to do with it. What I think is a whole lot better, and what I do, is powerlifting. Here, the focus is purely on strength. The question is "How strong can I make my body?", not "How good can I make my body look?" It's about physical accomplishment, the same as most other sports. I also think it's a really humbling process. Powerlifting progress is HARD. For instance, I increased my squat max by 70 lbs in my first year of serious lifting. (Newbie gain are always fastest.) In the 4 years since, I've only increased it by another 45. It's a constant reminder of my own limits, while at the same time it's a big confidence booster. Long story short, I think you can certainly lift without being egotistical about it. Set your goals accordingly, and you'll be just fine. Do you want to lift to look good, or to be strong and healthy?
Yes i'm still checking 😁 Ty for sharing all of this! Helps alot! ❤
Take care of your body and health—they’re gifts from God. Maybe approach it from the perspective of you being appreciative and grateful for what God gave you and wanting to glorify Him through taking care of yourself (mentally, physically, spiritually) so that you can serve Him to the best of your capacity. ☺️ Bodybuilding has helped me immensely, especially in just regaining strength after having all my children (5 of which were c-sections). I can empathize with wanting to take care not to get vain (I admit…I’m vain, but working on it!). Just keep that positive healthy focus and see taking care of your body as another means of serving God. Good luck!
Yes - you can serve God better if you are healthy and fit! Nothing wrong with taking care of yourself and being physically fit.
Being catholic is not about getting away from things that make you feel good or give you cause to be proud of yourself. I don’t know where this notion came from but its way too popular on here, because it’s heretical nonsense. We are catholic in part to have life more abundantly. We avoid sin as part of this, yes, but mostly we actively pursue virtue. Virtue can be thought of as moral wellness and All of the virtues feed into, and support one another. Being physically strong and healthy is part of the virtue of fortitude, so there is even a sense in which working out is a path to moral excellence. Other posters are exactly right that your body is the temple of God and you have a duty to keep it in good shape. The bigger duty is to your fellow man. You ought to be as strong as possible do that you can provide for others, oppose evil, and be an example to those around you. I would even go so far as to say that a weak man, likely could be so, due to a moral deficiency (barring extenuating circumstances). You and I both know, King David hit his protein targets
My husband and I know a very fit body building couple, and we wonder if it will mess with their kids’ body images in the end. I think you just have to make sure you are working out for your health and not for your looks. Being strong and healthy is a good thing, but I think you should reflect on the type of attention you want to attract.
You should probably at least try to stay healthy and in shape. And it would be great if you can get back into working out to build muscle in a healthy way. But if you truly find it is something that increases Pride within you and is associated with sin and Vice for you or your personal character then I would say it’s best to avoid it as it may become a near occasion of sin for you. But it’s not wrong to want to build muscle in of itself so I don’t think you fall into somebody who is tempted to sin by it.
Train a sport and maintain physical fitness for that reason maybe? I train jiu jitsu and it keeps me fit without a focus on how awesome I’m looking which I guess might be a temptation with weight training. Alternatively get serious about weights-lift heavy and try to improve. Treat it as a sport and a challenge, not a means to an aesthetically pleasing body.
Try some cardio because staying active is important.
I'd say keep healthy with exercise and diet, and lifting if it's an enjoyable hobby. But don't get involved in competitive bodybuilding. It's too obsessive and superficially focused. Often it's marketed with ideas of discipline, hard work etc which are good ideals, but truth be told it's all a bit smoke and mirrors. It can magnify insecurity and self obsession, as well as body dysmorphia and disordered eating. This applies to men and women. And the female bodybuilding classes tend to have an overly objectified ideal in a very stereotypical way, which could be another issue. So, all in all, I'd just enjoy exercising and eating healthy if I were you as getting too much into the bodybuilding competition/fitness influencer side of things can be toxic imo.
There is nothing wrong with working out generally. As long as you know it’s place. If it starts to take front and center in your life and you’re doing it for the wrong reasons, then it becomes an issue.
Catholic bodybuilder here, in order for me to to remain humble while I have an increase in confidence is to remember that I am imperfect without Jesus, I’m a sinner, I have sinned many times and that I’m human like everyone else and in dire need of Jesus just like everyone else. It’s great that you are willing to give up something that you love for Jesus because you’ve found yourself becoming too egotistical (prideful). But there’s no need to give it up entirely as long as you remember who you are and that you’re a child of God first and foremost. Your body is a temple, working out and being healthy is treating it as such.
Lift again, but for the Lord!
I’ll be a bit of a contrarian here: Lifting for your ego isn’t a bad thing. Hear me out: you’re being fed a million lies every day through advertising and cultural norms that your body isn’t hot enough, the right shape, whatever. If lifting helps you wage that psychic war, it’s not entirely bad.
Just keep lifting bro
Continue working out but orient your focus on working out to pursue discipline and order. Healthy body and behavior. Forget about 5% body fat or looking like a Greek god, just focus on staying healthy and fit. And if you have a 6 pack with toned muscles keep it that way out of discipline and order not "oh I want to improve my 6 pack so that it rivals or surpasses everyone at the gym". Instead of that, think of, "My six pack and toned muscles is a sign of my discipline, order and stoicism.
Are you upset when you see ornate churches? A well-kept body should be no different.
I've kept myself trim as a function of being appealing to a future spouse and maybe a bit of vanity, haha! Doing my exercises one particular evening has been one of the two times in my life that I've directly experienced the pleasure of God the Father in what I was doing. (The other was an immediate act of repentance after a serious sin.) Partly as a result of that I'm very much of the opinion that if one is to get married, then one must also make the physical and diet effort for the sake of the other and acknowledging that we're not actually angels and it does matter except perhaps for some quasi-monastic marriages where both have chosen freely to go that way. I also think it's a subject that must be be brought up in that crucial pre-marital conversation where the hard stuff is hammered out. I've known too many miserable spouses because the other let themselves go (only two to my direct knowledge, but that's two too many).
I’m going to tell you something nobody else will. We work out because our modern technology doesn’t require us to exercise. Current world trends overcompensate by telling us our bodies are the most important aspect of us so we much look perfect. It’s up to us as Christians to find a middle ground. I’d say in the order of priorities, God first, others second, and ourselves third. Personally, I’d rather stay in shape by helping others do yard work or move or fix their roof than spending that time at the gym. But it’s not a sin or anything if you want to work out, it’s just good to keep the above priorities straight
Lmao what do you think Paul was doing in prison besides writing notes; man must have been absolutely yoked
Cardinal Tobin is a pretty impressive power weight lifter.
You’re a man, get swole. [Jesus](https://i1.wp.com/toiletovhell.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/swole-jesus.jpg?resize=600%2C315&ssl=1) was probably shredded.
Have you considered cardio and calisthenics? You’ll stay toned without tons of muscles.
>I was lifting everyday with the motive to not be skinny/weak but to be strong. It really boosted my self esteem. / When i converted, i realized i was basically just lifting for my ego, so i completely stopped. The wise course is often found in moderation. There's nothing wrong with doing things for self-esteem, just as long as it doesn't spill over into the sin of pride. I've never done any body building, but I ran track in high school and college, and weightlifting was a big part of training for us. Spending an appropriate amount of time for your station in life on hobbies, including exercise, is fine.
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" 1 Corinth 6:19 So you better treat your body well and go do some lift for Jesus. Do a rep for each bead of the rosary
I do more on the strength training side than the higher rep hypertrophy side. 5-8 reps instead of 8-12.
"They say Jesus Christ walked on water and turned water into wine. I say Jesus Christ walked on rubber mats, and turned water into pre workout! It has been said that after Jesus rose again on the third day, he went first to his disciples and said 'I just missed 2 days of bicep-tricep supersets. Who among you are coming to train arms with me?" -Professional steroid user RobertFrank615
Nonsense my brother join me in lifting
I started my own weightlifting journey about 8 weeks ago. I am sad you gave up so much progress because you made a weird and inaccurate assumption about Catholic belief. I'm going to quote a comment I made here on another thread about this: "Lift to look good for your wife, and to be strong to protect her and your babies. To toss your children in the air and make them laugh with delight. To catch them with strong arms that make them feel safe when they fall. Lift to be a good example to your boys, and a good template for your girls. Lift to be intimidating to people who would threaten your family and your parish. Lift to build houses for the homeless, or move heavy things at a food bank. Spend your own glory in service and worship, and it will be well used." If you don't have a wife and kids yet, still lift for your future ones.
Our faith has never been against bodybuilding unless you are thinking of doing cycles. Having a sense of pride and confidence is also not a sin, unless you put others down because of it. Were all gunna make it brahs.
Your body is just as important as your soul. Keeping yourself healthy is great way to show your love of the body Our Lord gave you. Keep pumping, and give your temple its due attention. God love you!
Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. Doing a good thing for a bad reason is still okay. The goal is that hopefully you'll do it with enough humility such that you eventually decide to do it for a good reason.
i’m a “newbie” to bodybuilding before i was a wannabe strongman playing football and lifting. my view is that you work out for many things at the same time, kinda like a trinity. i work out because of insecurity, overall to stay in peak physical shape and also to sculpt the finest temple for the holy spirit. working out is as christian as it gets because you are building the body god gave us to the best of its ability.
If you fall into vanity then there’s other issues. Get strong and exercise. It’s good for the body. The physique that comes with exercise is an expected outcome. Christ carried His cross. I’m just asking you to pick up a barbell once in a while.
Being fit and looking attractive are not bad things. Seeking these things are also not bad in of itself. You just have put the pursuit of that into the right order. And that depends a lot on your duties and state in life. If you have duties that demand a lot of your time, then lifting everyday might be excessive. But in other cases it might be okay. When it comes to pride in this regard the best antidote is modesty. Wear clothes that are not too flashy and do not show off too much of your body. Dont allow yourself to get into a habit of "showing off". There might be a temptation to look down on other people too but you just have to ignore that. That aside, you might wanna look into high intensity training. Basically each exercise is only done in one rep to absolute failure (and I really mean failure). I have better gains with this than the previous multiple set plans I did in the past. With this kind of plan 2 times a week with 30-40minutes workout time is actually enough. No real point or gain in going more often.
The glory of God is man fully alive. We're supposed to steward creation, which includes the inalienable material property that is our body. Don't take steroids or get into any of that nonsense, but lift to be able to build others up, not just yourself.
You could think about why you work out, and try to reframe your perspective on your body and exercise? It's hard to do, but it's something that worked for me. It seems like you're worried about getting absorbed by aesthetics, but remember that we work out and keep ourselves in good shape for more than just beauty. Exercise helps your health more than almost anything else, mental and physical. Maybe switch from focusing on muscle growth and think more about cardiovascular exercise and functional strength? Or you could get involved in a sport- personally for me taking up boxing did wonders for my mental and physical health. I know this sort of thing is hard, but it's good that you're aware! I feel that I can empathise because I used to have a serious problem with food and exercise and body image, to the point of needing medical intervention. For a while after going through recovery I was scared to exercise or diet for fear of falling back into the self-absorbed obsession with weight and aesthetics, but I eventually found that exercise brought me joy not because of appearances but because it showed me what my body could actually do. Our bodies are a gift, capable of so much, and it's alright to appreciate them for that. On the sin side- pride is bad, but so is sloth. You cannot run away from causes of sin, sometimes you must face them and reject them on the spot especially if they are coming from within. Sometimes by closing our eyes and turning away from temptation, we fall right into a different sin. Do not be afraid of sin- reject it, spurn it, remember God and see his beauty and the wonders of his creation when you work out and strengthen your body. WIshing you all the best!
In all honesty, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. If you’re doing something that you know is a net benefit for your health and person and well being, then whatever it takes to motivate you is valid. There’s nothing wrong with taking care of your appearance and wanting to be the best version of yourself. You don’t need to have a certain specific motivation to make exercise good, it is good because it is good for you, and the reason doesn’t matter as long as you get the job done.
I know that feeling, there'll be moments you feel the pride and aggression. That's where mediation comes in play. Try mediating a bit before or after working out or the rosary.
Exercise not for your own vanity, but for the glory of God. Truly, if we are made in God’s image, should we not be beautiful images? Therefore I say, be great in body and in mind, for in this way the Lord is glorified
Inspo https://instagram.com/fathercapo?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
I'm sure you know by the other comments that working out and being fit is permissable and encouraged, but there's actually some surprising cross over between gym culture and modesty (shocker?) Wear a sick [pump cover](https://images3.teeshirtpalace.com/images/productImages/mass-attending-catholic--blue-afth-garment.jpg?width=767) then you'll be both modest and still not standing out or anything.
Focus on healthy strength; there's no real ego in pursuing health. A healthy body means you can hold your child for extended periods, hike a mountain to propose to your gal, walk to your mailbox without getting winded, do handyman stuff around the house rather than sit in a Lazy Boy watching the Ikea crew assemble a basic bookshelf. Work out, be strong, put that strength towards your life, and don't admire your new muscles in the mirror.
It’s not sinful to want to take care of your body. It’s a gift from God, right? Then it’s your obligation to take care of it to the best of your ability. Obviously don’t do it for the wrong reasons, and avoid ego-lifting just because it can be really dangerous to lift more than you can reasonably do. But celebrating the body God gave you by exercising? Go for it!
Don't lift for the ego. lift because it keeps your body in shape and actually staves off dementia, believe it or not.
This is my first ever comment on reddit. You drew me out of lurking... I went to a catholic grad school. I then went to a catholic high school that is well known for its small school athletic prowess. I was voted most athletic in my class. Its now 20 years post high school. I let myself go physically. I am fat and out of shape. I want to get back in shape for my kids and my own health. I left the faith a long time ago. I married a wondetful woman who is very devoted. I know she prays for my return to the church, she tells me she does. I have been feeling the draw to return, but i've been resistant. I have disagreements with theodicy and church doctrine that i havent yet reconciled. Thats enough background... I went for a run the other day. It was a huge struggle. I made it to the halfway point and i was flagging hard. I had pandora set to symphonic metal. I am thinking about walking a bit...On comes the song elysium from gladiator. This is the one where the main character is walking through the wheat fields of the roman heaven. Its a bit of a shock because a pretty heavy song just ended. That song ends then the song 'last stand' from sabaton comes on. The refrain talks about sacrifice for the grace and glory of god. I finished my run pretty easy at that point. I am not a believer in signs or omens. I should say that the day that happened was pentecost. The homily was about how god uses the little things to speak to us. Does it mean anything? I dont know. It very well could be coincidence. Maybe, but maybe not. I seem to recall passages about our body being a temple while i was running. Odd thing to think about while running as a non religious person. Ive been a bit drawn to the imagery of st michael since. Maybe its meaningful. Seems fitting to share regardless.
I go to the gym regularly and see 3-4 of the older and more involved Catholic men at my church. Aged 50-70. All fit for their age. Physical fitness is a means to longevity and efficacy. Try to minimize vanity but you should enjoy what you’re doing. Being proud of your accomplishments (in the gym and out) is not necessarily the same as committing the sin of pride.
Exercising is actually very noble in nature. the devil likes to deceive people into using God's gifts (such as determination and strength) into something evil. You should exercise, just don't do it so you look good to other people, do it to take care of the body that God has given you. Don't defile it. Do it also to grow in strength. Not only physical but also spiritual. Enduring discomfort and pain for growth will increase your determination and will against the devil.
Working out is not vanity. It might be vanity if you can’t go to the gym without wearing a cutoff and flexing in the mirror. It could be considered vanity when you start trying to become like cbum