Author Topic: Can women work out (Read 5175 times)

Boloki · « **on:** September 24, 2013, 09:48:49 PM »

I know a traditional Catholic girl who is 21 and she and i are wondering whether it is allowable for women to workout to be in shape. She uses the Jillian Michaels videos, and she exercises in her room in private and no one ever sees her.

We wonder whether this would all be vanity and if a Catholic woman should never even think about such things. I know that women (and men for that matter) probably never "worked out" before the 20th or 19th century and i wonder what Saints would think about it, or what the Church teaches about exercising, if there is any teaching on the matter to begin with.

So is it ok for women and men to exercise, to "be in shape" or to be strong, in the case of men?

Is this "safe" or should a woman just let herself go and not worry if she is fat or wobbly and things like that?

Mabel · « **Reply #1 on:** September 24, 2013, 09:56:12 PM »

No one needed to work out in days past because life was a workout and they ate the right diet for their level of activity.

Cantarella · « **Reply #2 on:** September 24, 2013, 09:59:43 PM »

I agree with Mabel.

I don't think it is OK for a woman just to let go but I don't think that a work out regime is needed either.

As a Catholic, one must honor the body as well. Keeping home, raising children, and eating right at proper times and not indulging in gluttony or sloth should be sufficient.

Viva Cristo Rey · « **Reply #3 on:** September 24, 2013, 09:59:47 PM »

I think it is ok for Catholic women and men to exercise and be healthy.

Zeitun · « **Reply #4 on:** September 24, 2013, 10:01:20 PM »

Quote from: Boloki

I know a traditional Catholic girl who is 21 and she and i are wondering whether it is allowable for women to workout to be in shape. She uses the Jillian Michaels videos, and she exercises in her room in private and no one ever sees her.

We wonder whether this would all be vanity and if a Catholic woman should never even think about such things. I know that women (and men for that matter) probably never "worked out" before the 20th or 19th century and i wonder what Saints would think about it, or what the Church teaches about exercising, if there is any teaching on the matter to begin with.

So is it ok for women and men to exercise, to "be in shape" or to be strong, in the case of men?

Is this "safe" or should a woman just let herself go and not worry if she is fat or wobbly and things like that?

This Jillian Michaels?

Quote

Jillian And Partner Heidi Are The Parents Of Two!
What do you mean you didn't know Jillian Michaels is gαy? As the celebrity trainer's joyous baby news spreads, fans react to a particular fact that almost flew under the gossip radar.

Jillian Michaels

Jillian Michaels' gαy status seems to have gone unnoticed by many fans -- until now. While her coming out has been decidedly subtle, there's nothing left to question now that she and partner Heidi Rhoades are the parents of two!

On the heels of Jillian Michaels' adoption of a daughter -- and simultaneous arrival of a baby boy -- some fans are wondering how they could have missed that the former Biggest Loser buff is gαy.

Boloki · « **Reply #5 on:** September 24, 2013, 10:07:40 PM »

Quote from: Zeitun

Quote from: Boloki
I know a traditional Catholic girl who is 21 and she and i are wondering whether it is allowable for women to workout to be in shape. She uses the Jillian Michaels videos, and she exercises in her room in private and no one ever sees her.

We wonder whether this would all be vanity and if a Catholic woman should never even think about such things. I know that women (and men for that matter) probably never "worked out" before the 20th or 19th century and i wonder what Saints would think about it, or what the Church teaches about exercising, if there is any teaching on the matter to begin with.

So is it ok for women and men to exercise, to "be in shape" or to be strong, in the case of men?

Is this "safe" or should a woman just let herself go and not worry if she is fat or wobbly and things like that?

This Jillian Michaels?
Quote

Jillian And Partner Heidi Are The Parents Of Two!
What do you mean you didn't know Jillian Michaels is gαy? As the celebrity trainer's joyous baby news spreads, fans react to a particular fact that almost flew under the gossip radar.

Jillian Michaels

Jillian Michaels' gαy status seems to have gone unnoticed by many fans -- until now. While her coming out has been decidedly subtle, there's nothing left to question now that she and partner Heidi Rhoades are the parents of two!

On the heels of Jillian Michaels' adoption of a daughter -- and simultaneous arrival of a baby boy -- some fans are wondering how they could have missed that the former Biggest Loser buff is gαy.

Yes that one.

Mabel · « **Reply #6 on:** September 24, 2013, 10:12:36 PM »

Quote from: Cantarella

I agree with Mabel.

I don't think it is OK for a woman just to let go but I don't think that a work out regime is needed either.

As a Catholic, one must honor the body as well. Keeping home, raising children, and eating right at proper times and not indulging in gluttony or sloth should be sufficient.

Here is the thing, I grew up in the Dark Ages when pizza rolls and pop tarts were considered healthy. I don't eat them anymore but I'm saying bad nutrition habits are hard to break. I was taught that poptarts were fruit and bread which made them nutritious. Some people are just ignorant. Then you get into your 30s and start making up for it in a race to avoid being a diabetic.

Boloki · « **Reply #7 on:** September 24, 2013, 10:25:18 PM »

Actually the thing is, most women are skinny naturally, and generally don't really "need" to exercise; i believe just being active and walking around is enough for them.

But there are other women who seem to be chubby or flobby by nature, and not that skinny, at least sometimes in certain areas like the arms. I know girls who, no matter how normal or small or clean they eat, they have fat arms and they are just chubby, there's no nicer way to put it.

There's also the fact that some women have bigger bones than others, and vice versa.

I believe those who are naturally skinny really shouldn't need to do specific workouts, but i wonder whether those that are fatter or chubbier naturally would be justified in doing so.

Also there is the issue that after women have children, you know what happens with the stomach area.

I realize of course that a nun probably should never do any "workout" other than perhaps walking around, but someone who's going to marry and should be a mom, i think would be acceptable.

poche · « **Reply #8 on:** September 24, 2013, 10:25:49 PM »

Quote from: Boloki

I know a traditional Catholic girl who is 21 and she and i are wondering whether it is allowable for women to workout to be in shape. She uses the Jillian Michaels videos, and she exercises in her room in private and no one ever sees her.

We wonder whether this would all be vanity and if a Catholic woman should never even think about such things. I know that women (and men for that matter) probably never "worked out" before the 20th or 19th century and i wonder what Saints would think about it, or what the Church teaches about exercising, if there is any teaching on the matter to begin with.

So is it ok for women and men to exercise, to "be in shape" or to be strong, in the case of men?

Is this "safe" or should a woman just let herself go and not worry if she is fat or wobbly and things like that?

I think it would be ok if she wants to work out and be in shape.

Marlelar · « **Reply #9 on:** September 24, 2013, 10:30:21 PM »

Exercising to be fit and healthy seems to be ok, but of course it can be taken to extremes and then it just becomes vanity. Doing it to be "hot" is far different than the desire to remain fit. Few of us live a physically strenuous life which is what kept our great grandmas in good health.

Marsha

Boloki · « **Reply #10 on:** September 24, 2013, 10:36:39 PM »

Quote from: Marlelar

Exercising to be fit and healthy seems to be ok, but of course it can be taken to extremes and then it just becomes vanity. Doing it to be "hot" is far different than the desire to remain fit. Few of us live a physically strenuous life which is what kept our great grandmas in good health.

Marsha

I know, but she dresses very modest with very long skirts and shirts at least always to the elbow and sometimes lower and relatively loose, so of course there's no chance for her to be showing off or anything like that. Although you can always tell more or less how someone is, except if you dress in robes like the Blessed Mother.

Cantarella · « **Reply #11 on:** September 24, 2013, 11:01:11 PM »

Quote from: Boloki

Also there is the issue that after women have children, you know what happens with the stomach area.

I realize of course that a nun probably should never do any "workout" other than perhaps walking around, but someone who's going to marry and should be a mom, i think would be acceptable.

For a lot of mothers, the act of breastfeeding, having a healthy diet, and engaging in general duties with children will return their bodies back in shape, even the tummy area. No specific exercise needed. I wish this thread were in the women section only.

Stephen Francis · « **Reply #12 on:** September 24, 2013, 11:08:51 PM »

Quote

Bodily exercise is profitable, but spiritual exercise is beneficial above all.

I buffet my body and make it my slave, so that I who preach to others am not disqualified.

Both of those statements came from St. Paul the Apostle. He is talking about the primacy of spiritual discipline over physical FITNESS, but also about the subjugation of the physical body because lusts and passions run wild no matter what "shape" one is in.

Yes, keeping healthy is important. Again, St. Paul: No man ever hated his body, but nourishes and cares for it.

However, "healthy" by necessary standards and "healthy" by today's humanistic fitness-obsessed standards are two TOTALLY different things.

Exercise of the body OUTSIDE of the context of exercise of the soul is vain, useless and ultimately will lead one to care more about their physical life than their soul.

Exercise of the flesh should ALWAYS be as part of disciplining and mortifying the flesh so it is under your control as you obey Almighty God.

Otherwise, it's like encouraging an unbroken horse to run... no matter how often you feed him and then let him run around, he will never be controllable. He has to be broken and brought under your command first.

A rightly-trained horse was once more important to a gentleman, soldier or knight than even a weapon, and all the other Catholic attitudes are like weapons we can never wield rightly if our "horse" (our flesh) is wild and unmanageable.

Ask St. John Vianney, St. Francis of Assisi or hundreds of other saints where bodily fitness ranked in the grand scheme of things.

Francis called his body "Brother Ass", and like any other pack animal, it needed a swat on its namesake hind-parts in order to act obediently.

Our bodies are no more, and no less, the instruments of righteousness or sin than what we MAKE them to be under Christ, or ALLOW them to become under Satan. There's no middle ground.

St. John Vianney, pray for us.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, triumph soon!

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Zeitun · « **Reply #13 on:** September 24, 2013, 11:18:33 PM »

Quote from: Stephen Francis

Quote
Bodily exercise is profitable, but spiritual exercise is beneficial above all.

I buffet my body and make it my slave, so that I who preach to others am not disqualified.

Both of those statements came from St. Paul the Apostle. He is talking about the primacy of spiritual discipline over physical FITNESS, but also about the subjugation of the physical body because lusts and passions run wild no matter what "shape" one is in.

Yes, keeping healthy is important. Again, St. Paul: No man ever hated his body, but nourishes and cares for it.

However, "healthy" by necessary standards and "healthy" by today's humanistic fitness-obsessed standards are two TOTALLY different things.

Exercise of the body OUTSIDE of the context of exercise of the soul is vain, useless and ultimately will lead one to care more about their physical life than their soul.

Exercise of the flesh should ALWAYS be as part of disciplining and mortifying the flesh so it is under your control as you obey Almighty God.

Otherwise, it's like encouraging an unbroken horse to run... no matter how often you feed him and then let him run around, he will never be controllable. He has to be broken and brought under your command first.

A rightly-trained horse was once more important to a gentleman, soldier or knight than even a weapon, and all the other Catholic attitudes are like weapons we can never wield rightly if our "horse" (our flesh) is wild and unmanageable.

Ask St. John Vianney, St. Francis of Assisi or hundreds of other saints where bodily fitness ranked in the grand scheme of things.

Francis called his body "Brother Ass", and like any other pack animal, it needed a swat on its namesake hind-parts in order to act obediently.

Our bodies are no more, and no less, the instruments of righteousness or sin than what we MAKE them to be under Christ, or ALLOW them to become under Satan. There's no middle ground.

St. John Vianney, pray for us.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, triumph soon!

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

You are so much more eloquent than me. St. Teresa of Avila had a lot to say about the uselessness of maintaining our physical health.

Mama ChaCha · « **Reply #14 on:** September 25, 2013, 12:00:27 AM »

Of course, it is only my experience, but we have many children who are very active. If I didn't at least do some cardio, I would never be able to keep up. They just run so fast!! :geezer:

It isn't as it was and we no longer are living from and connected to nature, so we don't work hard and we don't struggle physically, so we just aren't as fit as men and women were in days of yore.

Now I'm concerned that it may be a bad thing to pray some rosaries while I'm walking, is it??