A friend of mine has a huge sign on his office door that quotes a saying his father lived out: “Life is God’s gift to you… What you do with it is your gift back to God.” It serves as a constant reminder that every day and every decision really matters — even the small stuff. But most of us have bought into the “everything in moderation” lie. I’m not sure where that phrase came from, but we should bury it once and for all. When it comes to living a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing Him in every way (Col. 1:10), moderation fails.

On one of the walls at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, it says, “Enter these doors with an unrelenting sense of urgency.” The best athletes in the world seem to understand that all-out effort is required. In our daily walk with the Lord — our eating, sleeping, working and talking — an “extreme” approach is much more effective. It’s easy to do life like everybody else, but that’s not what we are called to do.

It doesn’t please God, either.

Below are 7 Keys to a Fit Life — some may seem “extreme,” but I am certain that they work. If you want what everybody else has, then keep doing what everybody else does. But if you want the kind of life that pleases God, follow these guidelines.

1. GO AGAINST THE FLOW. If your health looks like everybody else, you’re probably just going with the flow. Take a look around you. Most of our neighbors are unhealthy. Many have given up on living a healthy life. You may have conformed to the flow of our culture by eating fast food, surrendering to cravings, and giving into sedentary laziness. Romans 12:1-2 says to do life differently.
2. STOP MAKING EXCUSES. If you use time, money or age as a reason for making unhealthy choices, you are an excuse-maker. Ben Franklin once said, “He who is good at making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” He was right, and we all should feel convicted here. We’re all good at manufacturing reasons why our health is not a priority, but none of our reasons are good. If it’s important we’ll find a way. If not, we’ll find an excuse.
3. TRAIN YOUR BRAIN. If your thoughts contain more trash than truth, you need an extreme mind makeover. It’s estimated that 80 percent of our illnesses begin in our brains. God says our life is transformed when we renew our mind. That means we need to take out the trash and take in the truth (2 Cor. 10:5 and Phil. 4:8).
4. CLEAN HOUSE. If you have foods in your house causing you to crash and burn in your pursuit of a healthy life, it’s time to get rid of them! Clean out your pantry and refrigerator. Romans 13:14 (NKJV) tells us to “make no provision for [the cravings of] the flesh.” When temptation surrounds you, you’re bound to fall.
5. DON’T EAT DEAD THINGS. If you regularly eat heavily processed foods, you’re ingesting dead things that probably have very little positive nutritional value. God created living things for food. Daniel knew he should eat living foods, so he avoided what was served from the king’s table (Daniel 1).
6. BEAT YOUR BODY. If you find yourself avoiding exercise, it’s time to get off the couch. Our body craves comfort and pleasure, but it functions best when it’s pushed beyond its comfort zone. Paul trained like an athlete in all areas of life. He knew physical training helped crush the cravings of his flesh (1 Cor. 9:24-27 and 1 Tim. 4:7).
7. CALL TIMEOUT. If you are controlled by busyness or worn out by keeping all the plates spinning, you’re probably out of balance. God designed regular rhythms of rest and refreshment into the creative order. He gives us daily sleep and weekly Sabbath. Getting up early and going to bed late robs us of energy and dishonors God (Psalm 127:1-2 and Hebrews 4:9-10). Practice the discipline of rest.

God gives us everything we need to live a fit life. It’s time to put His truth into practice. Moderation is a failed prescription for good health. Treat every day as an opportunity to give God the gift of a life well lived.

Live a fit life! C’mon, you can do this!