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The following article was published in our article directory on April 18, 2013.
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Fitness and the Orthodox Jew

Article Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet

Author Name: Yaakov Bar Am

I understand this is visiting open a can of worms that might possibly blow up in my face, so I am visiting begin with the following disclaimers: I am not an authority on Jewish law (halacha), I am not criticizing anybody, we enjoy the Jewish Community in Baltimore, which there are exceptions to every rule.

Exactly what is the point of this information on physical fitness and the Orthodox Jew? I want to talk about my experiences and challenges with my own fitness program and diet because I am an Orthodox Jew, and my experiences in attempting to help other Orthodox Jews get healthy.

My Story

I was quite slim and healthy when we moved to Baltimore in the summertime of 2006. We relocated from an extremely, very small orthodox community to this big orthodox community here in Baltimore. Needless to state, there was a bit of culture shock, however it was all excellent and we rated warmly. Within 6 years I went from 140ish to 198lbs. How did that happen? There is a Jewish expression, "They attempted to eliminate us, we succeeded, let's consume!".

Fitness & Healthy Eating vs. the Orthodox Shabbos Meals.
On Friday night after the guys get house from Shul (synagogue), the family and friends have a remarkable Shabbos (Sabbath) meal, with scrumptious Challah (egg bread), fish, meat, and numerous salads and kugeles (like casseroles in a means), and don't forget the wine and desserts! Rating one against healthy eating for the Orthodox Jew.

The following day (Saturday) after you get home from Shul around lunch time, you have an additional fantastic Shabbos meal in your home or at a buddy's residence. This meal is usually even larger and more joyful. You eat the required quantities of Challah, you consume the necessary amounts of wine or grape juice to make the Kiddish, and naturally you have to consume. You don't wish to insult your hosts. Besides, every little thing is generally so darned great it is difficult to refuse! So after eating a hearty meal, and after the visitors leave, a few of would take a Shabbos nap. Once once again, horrible for the digestion, however the perfect Sumo diet plan. Score another point against physical fitness and the Orthodox Jew.

If it happens to be a two day spiritual holiday, that either gets at Shabbos or follows Shabbos you could get exactly what is called a three day Yontif (Good Day/Holiday). This three day vacation is filled with fantastic food and great deals of it. I guarantee you will not deprive in a Jewish home. Can you envision what 3 days of overindulging with 2 extremely large meals each day does to your system? Score three points against the healthy lifestyle.

You see the dietary obstacles you face as an Orthodox Jew. As a side note, Kashrut (kosher) problems actually do not present much of a challenge as far as fitness and the Orthodox Jew.

Fitness & Healthy Lifestyle vs. The Fitness Program itself.
You would not think that the fitness program itself would be much of an issue, however it is. It really provides a lot of issues but the major two are problems about when to exercise and issues concerning the opposite sex. Who would have thought this could be such a problem?

First we have timing concerns. A variety of the preferred Beachbody workout programs are 6 day a week programs. So what's the issue? You can't exercise on Friday evening or Saturday up until after Shabbos is over, which can be VERY late during the summer season. It is prohibited to work out during Shabbos, so if you such as to exercise throughout the evening; you might have to exercise at 10pm on Saturday evening. This is not a problem throughout the brief days of winter, but is a real problem during the summertime. Okay, so I will simply exercise throughout the morning! That is fine and dandy, however remember that orthodox men go to Shul every early morning. So you actually have to get up extremely early to do your exercise then got to Shul, then off to work. Okay, so exactly what about after you get home from work? Now you have an issue with getting house, exercising, then attempting to get to afternoon/evening services. You see, timing is a genuine issue. If you want to exercise, you truly need to dedicate. Once again, score another point against fitness and the Orthodox Jew.

It is not proper for an orthodox man to see women who are not reasonably dressed. This is a genuine problem if you desire to look at any fitness DVD. Just as there are very conservative individuals in a political celebration, there can be extremely liberal people in that exact same celebration, and the exact same applies to Orthodox Jews.

And finally, I am unfortunate to say, that our culture is not one that really advertises individual health and fitness. Our children spend a lot of time learning and adults spend a great deal of time usually tending to our typically bigger households and the guys do hang around continuously discovering Torah. We are after all, commanded to learn Torah each day, so it leaves very little time for sports or fitness for the Orthodox Jew.

Are we doomed to be obese?

So is the orthodox Jew condemned to be overweight? With all the diet plan problems and modesty problems, and a culture that does not encourage the physical, are we destined to be obese. Unfortunately, when I look at my brothers and sisters around my area, I see an epidemic of weight problems and we are killing ourselves one spoonful at a time.

I have actually personally taken it upon myself to help educate Jew and non-Jew alike, how to make those meals healthy ones full of smart options for food. To obtain them to walk instead of napping, make a collective effort to get into shape with a physical fitness program, then live long and prosper. We are commanded to care for the bodies that HaShem offered us. Despite the fact that the probabilities for a healthy lifestyle might be stacked against us, we can each take control of our own choices and dedicate to physical fitness and nourishment!

yaakov ... Yaakov Bar Am.

[email protected].

www.TeamBarAm.com.

Keywords: Fitness, Orthodox, Jews, Health, exercise

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