Christian Paths to Health and Wellness

Christian Paths to Health and Wellness, Second Edition, offers a unique, faith-based perspective on the pursuit of wellness for body, mind, and spirit. Written for undergraduate students attending Christian universities, this updated edition also serves as a reference for anyone seeking God-pleasing guidance to make positive life changes. Christian Paths to Health and Wellness will help you • develop cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, and flexibility; • apply principles of good nutrition; • manage stress and better understand other issues affecting emotional wellness; • learn the importance of regular, sound sleep; and • understand how to develop and maintain healthy relationships. In this new edition, you’ll find the latest research on nutrition and fitness woven into an engaging narrative complemented by true stories of personal empowerment. This inspiring book will help you take charge of your health, learn about the importance of physical wellness to the whole person, and apply aspects of behavior modification in reaching your goals. Like the first edition, Christian Paths to Health and Wellness, Second Edition, draws on the expertise and perspective of a team of Christian academics engaged in teaching health and wellness courses with a Christian foundation. Learning features in the text, including chapter outcomes and review questions, offer guideposts for retaining and referencing information. Application activities help you reflect on chapter content as you consider, through exercises and written reflections, how to translate what you’ve learned to your own life. “Point/counterpoint” discussions give you a forum for discussing a topic from alternative perspectives. In addition, a glossary defines new terms, which are highlighted in bold type throughout the text and included in lists of key terms in each chapter. For instructors, free access to online ancillaries, including an instructor guide, presentation package with image bank, and test package, offer comprehensive support for course delivery and assessment. Psalm 119 reminds us that God’s word “is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” In this way, the second edition of Christian Paths to Health and Wellness considers how scripture speaks about caring for your whole being and encourages you—through tools, information, and strategies—to live a focused life fixed on godly physical goals.

Table of Contents:
Part I: Understanding Your Wellness and Mission Chapter 1. Valuing Wellness John Byl Creation Fall Redemption Fulfillment Next Steps Learning Tools Chapter 2. God’s Purpose and Your Life’s Mission John Byl and Dianne E. Moroz God’s Mission Making God’s Purposes Your Purposes Pressures That Shape Life’s Mission Your Mission Statement Goals for the Journey Next Steps Learning Tools Part II. Accepting and Caring for Your Body Chapter 3. Examining Body Image and Eating Disorders in Women and Men Heather Strong and John Byl Introduction to Dieting, Weight Preoccupation, and Body Image What Are Eating Disorders? How Prevalent Are Eating Disorders? What Causes Eating Disorders? What God Wants for People Recovery From an Eating Disorder Next Steps Learning Tools Chapter 4. Weight Control John Byl Step 1: State the Goal Step 2: Assess Your Present Lifestyle Step 3: Design a Specific Plan Step 4: Predict Obstacles Step 5: Plan Intervention Strategies Step 6: Assess Compliance With the Plan Step 7: Assess Progress of Your Overall Goal Next Steps Learning Tools Part III. Moving Your Body Chapter 5. Cardiorespiratory Assessment and Training Dianne Moroz What Is Cardiorespiratory Exercise? Benefiting From Cardiorespiratory Exercise Understanding the Three Energy Systems What Is Cardiorespiratory Fitness? Evaluating Cardiorespiratory Fitness Discouraged After Your Aerobic Assessment? Consider This . . . What to Expect From Training Outlining an Aerobic Exercise Prescription Sample Cardiorespiratory Fitness Programs Next Steps Learning Tools Chapter 6. Muscular Strength Assessment and Training Peter Walters Five Major Benefits of Strength Training Basic Muscle Anatomy Basic Muscle Physiology Assessing Muscular Strength Types of Strength Training Strength-Training Program Common Questions Safety in Strength TrainingNext Steps Learning Tools Chapter 7. Flexibility Assessment and Training Peter Walters What Is Flexibility? Five Factors That Affect Flexibility Benefits of Flexibility Assessing Your Flexibility Five Types of Stretching Six Guidelines for Maximum FlexibilityNext Steps Learning Tools Part IV. Understanding Your Behaviors Chapter 8. Nutritional Health and Wellness Peter Walters Digestive System Six Major Nutrient Groups Nutrition Guidelines and Principles Three Principles to Remember in MyPlate Homeostasis Your Personal Plate Canadian Food Guide Vegetarian Alternative Fasting Next Steps Learning Tools Chapter 9. Emotional Health and Wellness Peter Walters, Doug Needham, and Bud Williams Stress and the Mind–Body Connection Pros and Cons of Stress When Stress Turns Ugly Depression Happiness and Life Satisfaction Next Steps Learning Tools Chapter 10. Sleep Habits and Wellness Peter Walters Importance of Rhythms, Cycles, and Sleep Chronic Sleep Deprivation Are You Sleep Deprived? Sleep Thieves Effects of Sleep Deprivation Architecture of Sleep How Much Sleep Do You Need? How to Sleep Like a LogNext Steps Learning Tools Chapter 11. Personal Relationships and Wellness Peter Walters Identifying Your SHAPE Spiritual Gifts Heart Abilities Personality Experience Celebrating Your Unique SHAPE The “No Goodness” of Being Alone Three Spiritual Practices for Deepening Relational Roots Next Steps Learning Tools Part V. Conclusion Chapter 12. Offering Your Life as a Living Sacrifice John Byl Tools for Achieving Wellness Seven Steps to Wellness Next Steps Learning Tools

About the Author :
Peter Walters, PhD, is a professor in the department of applied health science at Wheaton College, a private, interdenominational Christian college in Illinois. Since 1996, he has directed the wellness program at the university level, during which he has evaluated the health and wellness behavior of more than 5,000 college students. He has taught health and wellness courses for almost two decades. Before his career in academics, Walters was actively involved in several parachurch organizations, including Campus Crusade for Christ, the Navigators, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In addition to these ministry opportunities, he served as director of student ministries in three churches. Walters has presented and published his wellness research at several national conferences and in peer-reviewed journals. He is certified as an educational trainer from the American Council on Exercise and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He is a certified USA Olympic weightlifting club coach and an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He also competes in weightlifting and triathlons. Walters is a member of the NSCA and ACSM and is past president of the Christian Society for Kinesiology and Leisure Studies (CSKLS). In 2009, he received the Literary Award from CSKLS. Walters holds a doctorate in kinesiology and a master of science degree in physical education from Texas A&M University. In his spare time, Walters enjoys strength training, cardiorespiratory exercise, and adventure trips, which have brought him to the summits of Mount Rainier and Mount Kilimanjaro. He resides in Wheaton, Illinois. John Byl, PhD, is a professor of physical education at Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada, where he teaches wellness courses. Byl is a member of the Christian Society for Kinesiology and Leisure Studies (CSKLS) and is the host of their listserv. He is also a host of the listserv for Church Sports and Recreation Ministers (CSRM), an organization that connects church recreation and sport. Byl has been a professor since 1986 and has edited, authored, or coauthored 20 books, including Physical Education, Sports, and Wellness: Looking to God as we Look at Ourselves. He is a recipient of the CSKLS Presidential Award, which recognizes those who have displayed actions compatible with the mission of the CSKLS. In 2013, Byl was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his significant contribution to making physical activity a priority within his community and within the country.