Seven Sundays: A Faith, Fitness, and Food Plan for Lasting Spiritual and Physical Change

by Alec Penix, Myatt Murphy

Overview

A Biblically grounded, six-week plan to lead you on the path toward losing weight and getting healthier by focusing on the connections between spiritual and physical health—“Seven Sundays is a powerful tool that will enlighten you to see wellness and spirituality with a fresh perspective” (Kathie Lee Gifford).

In Seven Sundays, celebrity trainer and devoted follower of Christ Alec Penix explains the connection between faith and fitness, and shares both his own and his clients’ success stories. When our spiritual and physical bodies are built up simultaneously, we find ourselves more likely to stick with healthier, life-changing habits, appreciate what we have, be thankful for what we’ve gained (and lost), and feel content with how far we’ve traveled.

Seven Sundays is a six-week program that shows you how easy it is to undergo your own total transformation. The book is organized as a day-by-day journey in the same manner as a daily devotional. Over the course of each week, you will work on the “6 Pillars of Purpose” that build up this strength. You will also enjoy “Faith-Full” foods and explore a new spiritual theme each week. Ultimately, you’ll undertake a meaningful journey that will finally connect your body and spirit.

Seven Sundays is sure to “inspire people to become the best version of themselves, through strengthening their body, mind, and spirit” (Roma Downey, actress, producer, and New York Times bestselling author of Box of Butterflies). You’ll learn to embrace the fact that you deserve to exercise, eat right, and be healthy, and recognize your body as a spiritual vessel.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781501189869
Publisher:	Howard Books
Publication date:	12/04/2018
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Alec Penix is a celebrity trainer in Los Angeles. Soon after he was saved, God put the intention in his heart to combine faith and fitness so he could share his calling. Alec has worked with many athletes and celebrities, including Olympic Gold medalist Gabby Douglas, singer/songwriter Natasha Bedingfield, actor/singer Aaron Tveit, and Derek and Julianne Hough. He has worked on international concert tours, musical productions, and on set for both television and film to help prepare his clients to look, feel, and perform their best. He lives in Los Angeles.

Myatt Murphy is a journalist who has written for many of the world's top publications, including Better Homes and Gardens, Men's Health, Women’s Day, and Cooking Light. He is the author of many best-selling books—including The Body You Want in The Time You Have, Ultimate Dumbbell Guide, and the Men's Health Gym Bible—and has also written books for many of today's top lifestyle specialists, including Harley Pasternak, Gunnar Peterson, and Jenna Wolfe.

Read an Excerpt

Seven Sundays
Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

—3 JOHN 1:2

Have you ever wondered why it’s so hard to make changes to your lifestyle, even though you know how much richer your life would be if you did?

Have you ever noticed how so many people see healthy living as something they have to do, not something they want to do?

Have you ever been confused when someone who looks great still seems so dissatisfied with their “perfect” body—and so unhappy with themselves?

Have you ever tried to lose weight, to build your physical strength, or to get healthier, but gotten discouraged and given up?

Why is it so hard to care for yourself, even if you really want to?

Throughout my own life, as well as my career as a celebrity trainer, I’ve found that there are all kinds of reasons Christians struggle to lead a healthy lifestyle. Sometimes the reason is practical—they lack something they need, whether it’s time, money, space, or something else, and that makes it hard to keep up with their fitness program. But I have found that often the reasons people struggle to stick with a program for healthy living are deeper than that. Sometimes people are driven by feelings of unworthiness, while others spend so much time caring for others that they don’t have the time or energy—or even the permission—to care for themselves. Have you ever said or thought something along these lines?

We all have too many demands on our time. You may be working multiple jobs, be caring for children or parents, or spending every spare moment volunteering at your church or in other ways. You are no doubt doing everything you can just to keep your head above water. I get that. But in the end, we all make time for the things that are important to us. We generally find a way to make time for the things we love to do, and it’s hard to prioritize the things that feel like chores. The good news is that living a healthier lifestyle doesn’t actually require any more time than any of us have. In fact, experts agree that it takes only a minimum of 150 minutes of aerobic exercise a week to reap results. That’s just two and a half hours a week! Throughout this book, we’ll be looking at ways to turn what you may think of as a chore—exercising, getting enough sleep, cooking healthy meals—into activities you genuinely enjoy. If you can you do that, you’ll always find the time to prioritize the things that will make you healthier.

Maybe you’ve never worked out a day in your life. That’s okay! The truth is, the older you are, the more benefit you’ll get from working out. Exercise prevents bone loss,1 improves balance and coordination, boosts both memory2 and mood, makes you stronger, and lowers your risk of various chronic conditions and health problems, such as hypertension,3 arthritis,4 diabetes,5 and even cancer.6

I’ve noticed that Christians sometimes have a hard time letting themselves focus on their own needs. We often have a sense that we’re supposed to be using our time to serve others. But when we don’t take care of ourselves, we’re never able to bring as much energy and effort to those we care for. Also, when all we do is give, give, give, it can put us in starvation mode. We eventually reach a point where we have nothing left to give.

How many times have you traveled the path toward a healthy lifestyle, only to find yourself stopping halfway? Maybe it’s happened enough times that you wonder if there’s any point in trying again.

When clients come to me with that outlook, I ask them why they don’t believe in themselves. We dig into it, and we try to uncover the fear that is triggering that doubt in them. And in all honesty, it almost always comes down to one thing—they’re afraid to fail. They don’t give it their all because they don’t want to let themselves—or someone else—down. Who are you afraid to let down? Why are you afraid to give it a shot? My clients usually come to understand that you have to be able to risk failure if you want to have any chance of succeeding.

While it’s true that some of the changes you’ll need to make to eat better, become fitter, and live a healthy life can take some adjusting to, that doesn’t mean they have to be boring. To keep things interesting, you have to mix things up and try new things every single day. There are so many activities, flavors, and experiences in the world that fit into a healthy lifestyle; it’s simply a matter of knowing how to keep things interesting for both your body and your soul.

When we feel unworthy of accepting something positive, such as happiness or health, it’s because we don’t love ourselves. We end up accepting only what we think we deserve.

Recognizing that you warrant the effort it takes to get healthy is something that has to come from within. You have to believe wholeheartedly that you are worth it so you can acknowledge and receive what you rightfully deserve.

In times like this, we can always turn to Jesus as a reminder of who we are and who we belong to. Two of my favorite scriptures to read whenever I feel like this include:

And if children, heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory.

—ROMANS 8:17

And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace. His grace is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

—ACTS 20:32

You may not love yourself—not yet, at least—but you can trust God, and your history does not have to define your destiny. Remind yourself that we have inherited royalty for what Christ sacrificed on the cross.

There are many people out there who others would say are incredibly fit and healthy, but they still don’t love themselves the way they should. They never let themselves see what’s apparent to everyone around them. They never believe that their body—sculpted and polished as it may be—is good enough. The only way these people will ever see that they are good enough is if they take the focus off the physical and start to work on other parts of themselves. You can lose all the weight you want to, have a perfect diet, and feel fantastic—but that’s still not a guarantee you’ll love your body. To get there, you have to move beyond the physical.

I was once part of that congregation of people who couldn’t appreciate what they had. I struggled for years to believe that my body was good enough, strong enough, lean enough. I know firsthand—through both personal experience and working with my clientele—what it’s like to see your body through the wrong lens.

Whatever shape you are in, your body is the temple of God, and that alone means it’s good enough. Through the course of this book, we’re going to spend as much time building up your spirit as we do building up your body. Through a deeper relationship with Him, I hope you’ll come to see that your physical body is worthy of love and respect, and that through God all things are possible.

Many people believe that good-for-you foods are pricier than fare that may not be as healthy, but have you ever put it to the test? I’m willing to bet that certain unhealthy foods—such as high-priced lattes and energy bars—may cost more than healthy foods and drinks you could be substituting for them.

However, I will confess that a landmark study showed that the cost of eating an extremely healthy diet—full of fish, fruits, nuts, and vegetables—is roughly $1.50 per day higher than eating an unhealthy diet of processed foods and refined grains.7 That does add up over time.

How much is your health worth? Eating healthier can minimize your risk of so many chronic diseases, make you feel more energized, and boost your immune system so that you’re less likely to be sick. Is one-quarter of what you probably spend on a cup of coffee worth it? I know that it is.

And how much are you wasting when it comes to what you eat? According to the US Department of Agriculture, the average family of four wastes nearly $1,500 worth of food each year.8 That said, all it may take—if cost is that much of a consideration—is just being a little wiser in how often you purchase perishable foods so that you’re less likely to throw away food that may have spoiled or gone past its expiration date.

Editorial Reviews

10/08/2018
Celebrity fitness trainer Penix makes the connection between living a faithful life and living a healthy lifestyle in this animated debut. Penix shares his story of moving to Hollywood and his quest to fit in; he writes that he couldn’t find the fulfillment he was searching for until he formed a connection with Christ. The book walks readers through a six-week plan in the style of a devotional, with each week dedicated to a different theme: mindfulness and goal-setting, elevating healthy habits, removing unhealthy habits, creating balance, glorifying God, and dedication to a renewed spirit. Each chapter focuses on a daily plan rooted in the “pillars of promise” (nutrition, sleep, and exercise combined with a daily purposeful prayer, Bible verse, and an act of service) that serves to foster a healthy lifestyle and create a deeper connection with God and community. For the exercise portion of the program, detailed instructions for workouts are laid out in each chapter and followed up at the end of the book with a variety of options for people of all fitness levels. Christian readers looking to maintain faithfulness and healthy habits will find great advice in this approachable work. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

Alec is more than just a trainer - There is a comfortability he provides that is rare to find in his line of work. He is a friend genuinely trying to help his clients reach their goals.

Shawn Mendes

Seven Sundays is a powerful tool that will enlighten you to see wellness and spirituality with a fresh perspective. Alec is so much more than a trainer, he is a coach who is dedicated to changing the way you see yourself by incorporating practical steps that will empower you. His love of God and wanting to help people will touch many lives!"

Kathie Lee Gifford

We have no doubt Seven Sundays will transform your temple and walk with the Lord. He will encourage you. He will challenge you, but most of all, Alec will teach you how God can transform and renew your temple and soul.

Carlos and Alexa PenaVega

After meeting and working with Alec, I can see the passion and love that he embodies. He is a truly inspirational young man whose spirit will inspire everyone he touches. I have no doubt that this book will affect many lives!

Cheryl Ladd Actress

"Alec is a dedicated young man who’s passionate to inspire people to become the best version of themselves, through strengthening their body, mind, and spirit."

Roma Downey

Alec is dedicated and passionate about seeking greatness in all he does. Helping others reach their full potential through hard work and an open heart.

Derek Hough