The Healthy 5: Your Place for Health and Lifestyle Formation

Welcome to GoinStrong Health Formation's Blog!

June 2025

Take care of your body as if you were going to live forever. Take care of your soul as if you were going to die tomorrow. - Augustine

Hi there!

As a Health Coach, I try to educate and inspire people toward a healthy lifestyle. As a Spiritual Director, I help people become more aware of God's presence and movement in their lives. In this space, I aim to integrate both. 

There is so much confusion out there about Health. I hope some of what we talk about here will clear things up and help you move your health forward. In this blog, I will raise awareness about all parts of health: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, and Social. I will share resources I have gathered along with recipes, books, exercises, and more!

Welcome to GoinStrong Health Formation!

Let's jump into today's topics!

Aging in Health

Intergenerational Friendship

Are you experiencing Ageism? I am deeply aware of how our Western culture views the elderly. When I lived in Indonesia, I could feel a palpable respect when my hair started to turn gray, but here in America, I just feel older, and maybe a little outdated. My younger friends are up on all the new technology -- Instagram, TikTok, and now GPT chat. I can let this make me feel old, or I can join in and learn along with them. Intergenerational friendships keep us young, and a rich community represents all ages. The Scriptures point to the value of relationships that span life stages and generations. So, if you are feeling your age, maybe it is an invitation to make a younger friend, mentor someone, or join a small group that is intergenerational. Take the risk! It's so worth it. 

Weight Loss

What is a Macro?

Not everyone knows what a macro is, and I get this question a lot. Macro is short for macronutrient -- carbs, fats, and protein -- which are the food nutrients that fuel your body. Learning how to put these three macros together is crucial for health and weight loss. One of the most common things I hear when I start working with people is, "Oh my gosh! I didn't realize how much sugar I was eating!" Tracking your macros will give you insight into how your food is impacting your weight. If you are pre-diabetic and need to monitor your sugar or if you work out regularly and need more protein, macro tracking will help you. 

Claire Brailer, a Registered Dietitian, says, “I like that people can focus more on the composition of their food, so they’re going to pay more attention to how they’re fueling their body and how their body reacts, which is really beneficial." The key to weight loss is to "take a look." Tracking your macros is an excellent way to become aware of what you are actually eating and how it is affecting your health. 

Fasting

Good for the Body and Good for the Soul

I began fasting for spiritual reasons, and then I learned about the benefits of fasting for health. Now I do both, and they blend together beautifully. 

Fasting for the Body: Autophagy is one of the benefits of fasting. It is a crucial process for cellular repair and renewal, and it helps protect us against disease, cancer, and inflammation. I believe the healing process of Autophagy is God's gift to us, his well-thought-out plan for body healing and restoration, and that gift is unwrapped by fasting.

Fasting for the Soul: Fasting is a significant practice throughout scripture. Moses fasted on Mt. Sinai when receiving the Law, and Jesus fasted in the wilderness before beginning his public ministry. Spiritual fasting is often associated with repentance, mourning, preparing for ministry, and seeking God on a deeper level. 

John Mark Comer teaches on Fasting, and he offers a four-week course at practicingtheway.org. 

I've had some profound breakthroughs while fasting, in my health and in my spiritual life. I created a Worksheet to use on my fasting days to keep me focused as I blend the two. I have attached it here as a resource.

This is Your Time!

I am so excited to be a part of your health formation in this season! As we journey together, let's remember that health isn't a straight line; it is a beautiful winding path. I hope I can bring insight and encouragement to you along the way.

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Until next time!