Photos in this article are from Terence’ Instagram page.

Privileged To BE POOR

“Walk a mile in my shoes” is the invitation to understand others that Terence Lester has done literally — like 678 miles worth. His awareness campaign for the poor isn’t just vigorous cardio exercise, it vigorously challenges us to get involved in the lives of others. It’s not about sharing a little bit of what you have, it is realizing what you can learn to have in common with the homeless, unemployed and struggling parents — the privilege to be poor.

I am sure that I’m not the only one who has had to take a break from social media and even some interactions due to the current divisiveness within our nation. I’ve been on a quest for all things inspiring and all things motivational. When I came across this story I was not only moved, but I was provoked to do more. Terence Lester, an Atlanta native, allowed his passion to end homelessness to push him into action. Over half a million people find themselves living on the street, in cars or in shelters each night. Terrence and his organization, Love Beyond Walls, provides grooming services, a free laundry program, and groceries to homeless men, women and youth in the city of Atlanta. Terence is currently on a 648 mile trek from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness about homelessness in America. He walks 13 to 15 miles a day sleeping on a bus or in donated hotels.

He’s chosen the name MAP16 for this awareness campaign which stands for “March Against Poverty in 2016.” “We chose MAP because a map is a symbolism for direction,” Lester said. “Not only do we hope to inspire onlookers to get involved, but to inspire people to create life-maps that will lead them out of poverty.” Here is a chat he and I shared about his goals and his journey as he makes his way through Charlottesville, VA.

Arian Moore: What sparked your passion for homelessness?

Terence Lester: Well, it’s twofold. Firstly, my faith plays a huge role in why I chose homelessness. When I think about how God rescued me from the poverty of my own soul it literally compels me to want to get involved with the things that concern God. When you look at scripture from Genesis to Revelation you’ll see that God has a heart for the poor. Therefore, I wanted to join God in where God’s heart is. Secondly, my personal story is sprinkled with homelessness when I was younger. Therefore, now that I have overcome many odds stacked against me I see it as both a passion and a purpose to lift others.

Arian Moore: How was Love Beyond Walls formed and what kind of work do you do?

Terence Lester: Love Beyond Walls was formed from a church plant in December 2013. I actually started the organization with my wife.  My first campaign involved me intentionally making myself homeless (with my family’s permission) to understand homelessness as an adult to advocate it.  After the first campaign we started mobilizing people from all over to serve the homeless and under-served families that wrestle with poverty. So far, we’ve moved 7000 people to serve over 30,000 people in Atlanta and abroad.

Arian Moore: How has faith influenced your desire to help others?

Terence Lester: It’s simple. I follow Jesus, and try my best to live like him. It’s not anything more than that. One of my favorite scriptures is Matthew 9:36-38

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

‭‭This verse pushes me to love the weary like Christ.

Arian Moore: Why are you walking 648 miles?

Terence Lester: Specifically, I’m walking to raise awareness about the millions of people who live in poverty in America. With this campaign, it is our intent to elevate stories over stats.
Each week, our organization resources people who wrestle with poverty, and many of those stories represented will go unheard.
Stories including:

• Single moms who struggle to care for their children
• Homeless people who did not ask to be homeless, or struggle to find help
• Working class people that walk miles to secure resources to survive and live
• Senior citizens that live on less than $100 per month.
• Mothers that struggle to gain resources for their children
• Persons who have been unemployed for months, and do not have any job leads
• Persons who have severe health problems, but can’t afford adequate health coverage
• Homeless people who struggles to find a place to shower from month to month
• Families that have been evicted in the last month

Arian Moore: What sparked the idea for a walk to raise awareness?

Terence Lester: Every single week, people walk to our headquarters in College Park for various items to survive. Many walk to receive groceries because they are food insecure. Some walk for haircuts from our Mobile Makeover Bus. Some walk to wash their clothes because they need to save the few dollars and not spend it at the coin laundry. Some walk for clothing out of our closet to do interviews. Some walk to attend educational workshops that we host. Whatever reason, many people walk because they lack transportation and most times—hope.

Therefore, people that we encounter on a week-to-week basis inspired the idea. Their strength, courage, and tenacity has pushed me to identify with the suffering of the poor in the country. Also, I’m walking to share a message that to overcome poverty it takes many steps, and people can beat poverty by taking the right steps.

Arian Moore: Why walk instead of riding a bike or traveling in a car?

Terence Lester: I have chosen to walk because when you walk—you see more, and understand more. Additionally, walking has many symbolisms:

Walking symbolizes long-suffering. There are many people who wrestle with poverty and have been doing so for a long time. In fact, many people have had to display long-suffering in dealing with poverty. I have chosen to walk this distance to identify with those who suffer for long periods of time.

Walking symbolizes taking one step at a time. There are no quick fixes when it comes to poverty, however we can collectively provide solutions and make strides one-step at a time. Additionally, if someone is wrestling with poverty, we’d like this demonstration to symbolize that poverty can be overcome one step at a time.

Walking symbolizes the ordinary. Sometimes people think that we need to have magical powers before we make a difference in the lives of others and the world. That’s not true. We are making this trip to inspire individuals, small organizations, and groups of people to take a stand for something. Everyday ordinary people can make a difference.

Arian Moore: What type of physical training did you undergo before taking this journey?

Terence Lester: I trained five months walking tons of miles every single day and being coached by a personal trainer (Levon Thomas).

Arian Moore: Though this walk has purpose,  has it inspired you from a fitness perspective and if so how?

Terence Lester: It has inspired me to live healthy every single day of my life. I’m in the best shape of my life just from walking. I’m looking to see how many more gains I can achieve in my life as a result.

Arian Moore: Do you have a meal plan that you go by while walking to maximize endurance?  If so please share.

Terence Lester: I burn a lot of calories every day so I do not have a meal plan. I try to load up on good carbs and stay away from anything unhealthy.

Arian Moore: How can people support your walk?  Can people join in?

Terence Lester: People can support in three ways:

1. Share the story by following our social media accounts (@lovebeyondwalls)
2. Partner with us or volunteer
3. Give to help us build a resource center for the poor

Terence is two weeks away from reaching D.C. Follow Love Beyond Walls on social media to get more information on how you can help or visit the website to view the route.

Read content related to this story topic in Faith & Fitness Magazine and Shout! Outdoor Lifestyle Magazine:

Are You Being Used?

The Climb Out Of Homelessness

Louisville Rescue Mission Promotes Healthy Lifestyles

An Adventure Worth Living For

Go to our Enliven Department for more multi-ethnic fitness articles.

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The post Double Dutch Aerobics appeared first on Faith & Fitness Magazine.

NOTE: Be sure to post your Facebook comments about this article below and social share it with others.

Summer is mid-year and many find they are extremely bored with their workouts. Some who started out strong in January are now barely exercising once a week. Talk about a rut! One way to get back on track is to find a fitness pal. I was most motivated when my husband and I were working out together because he pushed me and it was also a way to spend time together.

Another way to spice up your workout is to try a new exercise. Play time was fun when we were kids. We loved kick ball, dodge ball, jump rope, skating and  riding our bikes. Perhaps rediscovering some of these activities might make fitness more enjoyable. Let's first discuss finding a workout partner.

There are so many benefits to working out with a partner. From accountability to motivation, working out with someone else helps many maintain their workouts. Partners are also able to motivate one another or even carry on friendly competitions.

A healthy marriage should be the goal for every married couple but often times we neglect the physical aspect. Our physical fitness affects our emotional health and endurance which are two elements that can greatly influence a marriage. Furthermore, incorporating healthy lifestyle habits into your life can reduce stress and result in a better life outlook, positively affecting your life and the marriage. Working out together as a couple provides a means  to spend quality time while enjoying the benefits of physical activity. Recently I interviewed a married couple that have figured out a way to make fitness together a way of life and a business. Sean and Michelle Clark are owners of Double Dutch Aerobics, offering double clutch classes.

Double Dutch is a game in which two long jump ropes turning in opposite directions are jumped by one or more players jumping simultaneously. -Wikipedia

These classes combine the child like joy of double dutch with aerobic exercises such as push-ups and mountain climbs. Sean is a Master Double Dutch Instructor and Michelle is a Double Dutch World Champion. Some (myself included) are intimidated by the thought of double dutch. In elementary school I was one of those kids that ever really got it but Sean and Michelle guarantee that between them and their team, they can teach anyone to double dutch in less than a minute. And don't doubt the fitness intensity of these workouts, participants can expect to burn anywhere from 500 to 700 calories per class. Here are details from my interview with Michelle:

Arian: What is your fitness story? 

Michelle: We were both into sports our entire lives. When we met and became a couple, I was teaching spin classes and Sean was playing on a Semi Pro football team. 

Arian: How did the idea of Double Dutch Aerobics come about? 

Michelle: I learned to jump Double Dutch at 4 years old (Street style). I joined a team called Jammin Jumpers in the 3rd grade (professional) and I learned all aspects of Double Dutch. My love didn't ever go away even as an adult. So the idea was always in me head, my husband saw that I could teach anyone in less than 1 min and told me I must start. We started a class the next week and the audience pushed us to continue. 

Arian: Has your faith in God played a part in your quest for fitness and helping others achieve a healthier lifestyle? 

Michelle: Yes, building a business from scratch has it challenges but through our conversations with God we know for sure that this is our mission to spread health and fitness along with love and joy.

Arian: How does working together as husband and wife benefit your relationship? 

Michelle: We love one another so the fact that we get to work together is just a bonus. Some of the biggest components to being married is love and accountability. We are team and having a healthy, loving relationship is so important to us. Working out together keeps us on the path to achieving our ultimate goal. We will not only be around for each other, but we want to see our kids grow, grandkids and who knows, maybe even our great grandkids. Working out and eating healthy together, is a constant reminder that we are doing all that we can, to love as long as we can on this earth together. 

Arian: What expertise do you each bring individually to the program? 

Michelle: I have jumped Double Dutch the majority of my life and I am a world champion. Sean is a visionary so besides becoming an expert in Double Dutch himself, his vision and business skill has brought us to new heights.  Beyond fitness we are also entrepreneurs running a full time business. Sean has owned businesses in the past so his expertise on the business aspect of Double Dutch Aerobics is phenomenal. Sean created  the  "In the Ropes tour"  he films and edits our videos. We now distribute " The Perfect Double Dutch Ropes " because of him and  we teach at prisons. He had a vision for that and made it happen. 

For more information on Double Dutch Aerobics you can follow them on social media @DoubleDutchAerobics or visit them online at DoubleDutchAerobics.com 

Discover how faith and fitness is vibrantly alive among many communities and strengthening diverse populations.  Read more articles in our Enliven Department.

Have a story you think needs to be shared in our Enliven Department? Contact Arian Moore, Editor.

Discover more fun and fellowship with rope in these Shout! Outdoor Lifestyle Magazine articles:

Frozen By Fear

It's Not The Summit, It's The Climb

The post A Healthy Marriage with Double Dutch as the Source appeared first on Faith & Fitness Magazine.

From the book ©The African American Guide To Living Well With Diabetes

Braised Cabbage                                                                                          

You’ll need:                                                                                                    

• ¼ cup blended Oil
• 1 small red onion sliced
• 1 small granny smith apple (cored and sliced)
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 pound red cabbage
• 1 ounce red wine vinegar                                                                              
• 1 cup red wine
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 stick cinnamon

Here’s what you do:

1. Heat oil in pan on stove top, add red onion and sweat till translucent, add brown sugar till
2. caramelized, then add apples and deglaze with vinegar.Bring to a boil then add red wine, orange juice and cinnamon stick. Let simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Add cabbage to mixture and let cook on the stove top for 10 minutes.
4. Then cover with foil and place in 350* oven for 20 minutes till tender and remove, adjust seasoning and serve.

Makes 8 servings     

The post Soulful Recipes appeared first on Faith & Fitness Magazine.

By Arian Moore and Mitzi White

The rates of obesity in the African American community continue to rise despite the low-fat craze and other changes made to food options. Mitzi White, was a featured speaker at the inaugural 2015 Faith & Fitness Magazine Redefined Conference in New Orleans. Her story provides a beautiful personal testimony of how she made a life change through the strength she found in Jesus Christ.

One of the major issues is access to food and the ability for people of all socio-economic backgrounds to have the option of fresh, healthy food. There is also the issue of fast foods being more available than healthy foods. Lucan et. al (2010) explains that “African Americans tend to have diets that promote obesity, morbidity, and premature mortality, are low in fruits and vegetables, and are high in processed and fast foods” (para 2). The article further explains that the convenience of fast foods serves as a barrier to the consumption of vegetable and fruits. In a recent interview with Mitzi White, participant of Season 5’s Extreme Weight Loss, we spoke about this issue of affordability and access.

“Food deserts…sadly in most lower income areas there are more fast foods and corner conveniences stores than there are grocery stores” Mitzi said. “However there are also typically nearby shopping plazas that have a Family Dollar, General Dollar, and Dollar Tree if there aren’t nearby grocery stores.  People may overlook them, but you can often find frozen vegetables and fruits, canned goods and in some of the stores, dairy products, frozen fish/meat and sometimes fresh vegetables and fruits as well.  Farmers markets are also an inexpensive way to include fresh fruits and vegetables at minimal cost and I also recommend investing in a Costco or Sam’s club card with a friend(s) or family and buying in bulk; which will save money by sharing the expense, food and possibly “a ride” should transportation be an issue!”

Mitzi, lost 114 pounds and describes her weight loss journey saying, “I’ve made several attempts over the years to release weight, through diet programs, diet fads, exercise, personal trainers, gyms, you name it, I’ve probably tried practically everything or at least contemplated it and in some cases was successful, but the results were short lived.  My latest attempt was “God ordained and direct” and finally the attempt that has garnered the greatest life changing success for a total mind, body, spirit transformation!

Extreme Weight Loss was one of many vessels/resources that God utilized to aid in my weight release, healing and literally saved my life.”

Mitzi explains that her Christian faith plays a major part in living a  healthy lifestyle. “While I didn’t think before that my “weight” was a major deal to God I totally understand now and see through scripture that he speaks directly and intentionally to our eating habits and our temples,” Mitzi explains.  Before last year I never equated “Faith and Fitness”, but they truly go hand and hand!”

Her motivational scriptures include:

Isaiah 55: 1-2  Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink-even if you have no money! Take your choice of wine or milk-it’s all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others I myself should become disqualified.”

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

She and I even discussed the fact that exercise for some may seem expensive. Most people equate working out with having a gym membership, but there are affordable and even no cost avenues of exercise. “Dollar stores and retail stores such as Target and Ross carry exercise equipment such as resistance bands, exercise mats, hand weights, exercise balls as low as $1.00 – $10.00 depending on the level of quality,” Mitzi says. “Some items can be purchased in sets for even greater savings and don’t forget to check out Ebay too. I’m big fan of using stairs in office buildings, parks, church parking lots, space in a small bedroom or living room area of my house when a gym is unavailable.  My favorite is the great outdoors!  It’s FREE, the  options are endless and God is present at every turn!”

Living healthy is simply about making a choice to do something different. Maybe you can’t buy all organic but you can clean your fruits and veggies with water and vinegar. Maybe you can’t get to a gym facility, but you can start walking everyday, even if its for ten minutes. Mitzi made a choice and that choice has caused her to be free from diabetes medication. Diabetes runs rampant in the African American community yet for many, with exercise and dietary changes, diabetes can be controlled and for some eradicated. “After 2 months at bootcamp (Extreme Weight Loss) I was no longer diabetic, my high blood pressure and cholesterol were in normal range, I was no longer experiencing gout or acid reflux and the psoriasis on my legs were healing and clearing,” Mitzi said. 

Mitzi will speak more about her journey at the Redefined: Faith and Fitness Conference but the issues we discussed are so important. No access should not be a hindrance to healthy living. Church communities can help by creating gardens in their green spaces. This allows the church to meet a need in their communities by offering fresh, affordable food. Another option is to have fresh food provided in food pantries.

The idea is that we become more aware of what we are eating and use food to fuel us rather than to satisfy our emotional inadequacies. “I am consciously aware of what I eat now for fuel or pleasure!”, Mitzi said. ” I’m big label reader at the store, on my phone app and I even look up nutrition facts for restaurants before going out so I have an idea of best options verses just going with what sounds good to my tummy in the moment! 

I’m far from perfect and I still eat some of my favorites such as pizza, but not every day! 

Prior to my journey I was like many people that thought that if I didn’t’ eat much then surely I’ll lose weight!  I was the type of person who never ate breakfast, rarely ate lunch or even moved from my desk at work and didn’t snack throughout the day, BUT I would be famished at the end of the day and would eat late, eat heavy (typically restaurant or fast/convenient foods) and then go straight to bed and start over again with the same the next day!  Now I understand that your body needs fuel frequently to keep the metabolism roaring and I truly understand the difference between “feeding hunger pangs” verses “feeding emotions”!” (Click here for Mitzi’s favorite recipe).
 

Mitzi gives this advice to others struggling with weight:

• Be # 1!  Make YOU a priority!  “put your own oxygen mask on first before attempting to assist others”…you can’t fully help or serve others if you yourself are struggling to breathe.
• Transparency and vulnerability are key!  Don’t allow your “fear” of judgment to hold you back from asking for help!  People genuinely want to help, so don’t let fear, excuses or YOU stop YOU!  
• Rewind, Pause, Play…it’s important to look at where you have been and come from and anything that may have occurred in your past that you may be holding on to and allowing to weigh you down. Release and forgive those situations, people and yourself.  Be present in the moment of where you are, however keep moving FORWARD to reach the goals you desire for living YOUR BEST life!  Letting go, Letting GOD, Forgiving and Surrendering are the keys to Transformation!
• Integrity is paramount…making promises and keeping them to yourself is a MUST
• “Falling isn’t failing”…along the way of your journey there are going to be some stumbles, falls and challenges, but what’s most important is that you “get up”, don’t allow yourself to stay down!  
• Surround yourself with people who are like minded and have your best interest in mind and that will help pick you up and support you even when you don’t think you can…you can and will, so KEEP MOVING FORWARD!  You are worth it!
• It’s NEVER too late…as long as you have breath in your body you can “choose” LIFE! Make a change to reclaim yours!

Discussion Questions:

1. What can I do in my local community to help those that may not have access to healthy food?

2. What opportunities are their at my church for programs that address these issues?

3. How can I commit to making health a priority?

4. How can I reclaim my health?

It’s your turn.

Share your story now!

The post From Extreme Weight Loss to an Extraordinary Testimony appeared first on Faith & Fitness Magazine.