The Progressing Pilgrim

Insights for developing a healthy body, mind and spirit

My Deadlift Injury And The Starr Rehab Program- Weekly Workouts 8/28-9/4

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This week was the first time I wasn’t able to complete a lift session because of pain. On the 5th rep on my second working set of deadlifts (235# 1 x 5), I felt a shooting pain travel down the left side of my lower back.

Because it hurt a lot more than an ordinary back spasm, I thought I had torn a muscle. As it turned out, I hadn’t, but the experience reminded me that I had to pay special attention to how I lifted going forward.

I had suffered three episodes of bad back spasms in the last two months, and now I had the worst one during a lift. Something wasn’t right.

It was time to reevaluate my lifting program. [Read more…]

Wrongly Feeding Jesus’ Sheep: Obesity In The Church

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It’s a given that the Church is supposed to be responsible for its members’ spiritual needs. In a sense, the church feeds the sheep.

To be sure, the church also is to show concern for the physical needs of its members. 

Churches have deacon funds that help its members with financial hardships. They have food pantries that supply food to the hungry. And church leaders often also anoint, pray, and care for the sick.

But what about the physical health of the church members before they get sick? Does the church have a responsibility to warn its member of unhealthy physical activities that lead to physical illness? [Read more…]

My Friend Jerry’s Fight With Diabetes And Obesity: Part 1

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Recently, I went to the hospital to visit my friend Jerry (name changed). He was recovering from heart failure. He’s also obese, a type 2 diabetic taking insulin and a slew of other meds for various conditions.

As I entered his room, he was in the middle of eating his lunch. I was shocked at what his medical team thought was a healthy meal. Now, remember, he’s a type 2 diabetic with heart disease, and he’s in a controlled setting (a hospital).

On his plate was a small piece of fish. It was a little dried out, but after all, it’s hospital food. Great so far.

But next to the fish was an ice-cream-scoop-size portion of rice and a medium sized hard roll. To wash down the meal, he was given some fruit juice. There was a little salad on the side too.

I was wondering when the dessert tray was going to be brought in.

Seriously, though, seeing Jerry’s lunch, I couldn’t help thinking, “Are they trying to heal him and kill him at the same time?” [Read more…]

10 Ways Walking Can Improve Your Body And Mind – Weekly Workout

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Everyone loves to tout the benefits of their own exercise program. Whether it’s high-intensity interval training or strength training or some form of aerobic exercise, their program is guaranteed to make you healthier.

There is, however, one program that has stood the test of time. It was recommended by Thomas Jefferson over 230 years ago. He said,

If the body be feeble, the mind will not be strong. The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of all the exercises walking is best. I have known some great walkers and had particular accounts of many more; and I never knew or heard of one who was not healthy and long lived.

Now, I don’t know if walking is the best health protocol for both body and mind, but from my own experience and according to the scientific data, it’s certainly one of the best. Let’s see why. [Read more…]

Grace Trumps Race

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The Bible is not always explicit on social issues except when it is. In Numbers chapter 12, the scripture is very explicit on the sin of racism. God doesn’t take it lightly, especially when it’s used to thwart His sovereign grace. Miriam and Aaron learned that lesson the hard way.

Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard it. Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. (Numbers 12: 1-2)

[Read more…]

How A 60 Year-Old Prevents Weightlifting Injuries – Weekly Workout

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When I tell people who are the same age as me that I lift heavy weights, the inevitable exclamation is, “You’d better be careful you don’t hurt yourself.” Sometimes the person is genuinely concerned but sometimes it comes across as an admonishment.

As in, “Do you think it’s safe for someone your age to lift weights?”

Can this 60-year old man hurt himself lifting weights? Sure, but I can get hurt in a thousand different ways if I’m not careful. If I follow the plan and allow my body to recover well, I should be fine. [Read more…]

The Amazing Health Benefits Of Strength Training – Weekly Workout

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When I started strength training three years ago, my main goal was to regain some of the muscle and strength I had lost from 27 years inactivity due to chronic fatigue syndrome. I was now 57 years old and had undoubtedly lost even more muscle from normal aging.

After two and a half years of barbell training, I accomplished that goal and more. Not only had I gained muscle, but, at 60 years old, I had become stronger than I had been in the previous 27 years.

As I became more involved in training, however, I began reading studies on the benefits of strength training that involved more than just gaining raw strength. [Read more…]

Star Trek, Transhumanism & The Quest For Eternal Life

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Lately, I’ve become a fan of the TV show Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG). Since I was a die-hard fan of the original series, I never could bring myself to watch a spin-off. After all, how could it do justice to such an iconic show?

Well, I was wrong. TNG continued the tradition of the original series in that it wasn’t just a show dedicated to science fiction.

It was a show that used the genre of science fiction to examine different aspects of the human condition and moral dilemmas.

Recently, I watched an episode of TNG entitled Schizoid Man. In this episode, the writers brilliantly weave a story around a man’s attempt to cheat death and live forever.

Can you think of deeper philosophical issues than death and eternal life? [Read more…]

How The Starting Strength Program Made Me Strong Again – Weekly Workout

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If someone had told me three years ago that I could get strong enough to do a 200-pound bench press and a 300-pound deadlift, I would’ve laughed in their face and walked away.

At 57 years old and recovering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and bursitis in both shoulders, the odds of me getting that strong again were about zero to none.

What a ridiculous thought. How could I ever get that strong again? Especially after having CFS for 27 years.

Well, it’s not such a ridiculous thought now.

I recently pulled a 290-pound deadlift and bench pressed 192.5-pounds. Oh, and by the way, I’m 60 years young and weigh 171 pounds. [Read more…]