Speaker focuses on fitness as NAACP hands out yearly honors

The Rev. Silas Johnson received the Springfield NAACP’s Webster Plaque at the 90th annual Lincoln-Douglass Banquet on Sunday.

The award is given annually to the person who best exemplifies the spirit of service in Springfield’s black community.

Johnson devotes his time to Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and his Nehemiah Project ministries. He is co-chair of the Eastside Community Foundation and a member of the Mayor’s Homeless Taskforce.

The banquet also featured a speech by fitness author Lyle Johnson, which made a connection to this year’s theme, “One Nation, One Dream — Working Together,” chapter president Teresa Haley said.

“In order to live longer and live out your dreams, you want to be fit,” Haley said. “The NAACP has a national initiative around health, and first lady Michelle Obama is working with school districts throughout the country to talk about childhood obesity. We know obesity impacts the black community a lot more than other communities, and we wanted someone who was an expert in that area.”

Johnson is a certified personal trainer, author of “Get Fit 4 Christ” and owner of St. Louis-based MVP Fitness. Haley said organizers chose Johnson this year because they wanted a more local speaker.

“I thought it was important for us to reach back,” Haley said. “Because he’s a fitness expert and owns a fitness shop in St. Louis, we thought it would be nice to have him come back home and to educate our community of the importance of dieting and exercise and those types of things.”

By Rhys Saunders - Illinois State Journal Register

The Three A's of Fitness

It amazes me that only 30% of people in American exercise on a regular basis. How often should you exercise? The frequency of your workouts will depend on your fitness level and your schedule. Beginners should start with three non-consecutive days of cardio and work their way up to more frequent sessions. The general guidelines are:

• To maintain current fitness level: two-four days a week (at least 20 minutes)
• To lose weight: four or more days a week (at least 30 minutes)
• To train as an athlete: six days a week.
I have come up with the three A’s of fitness to help you get started or maintain your exercise program. Exercising is a good habit that helps almost everyone. The benefits provided are too long to list in this article.

I encourage you be movement minded. Every day do something to move your body, whether it’s playing with the kids, shoveling the snow, or training for a marathon. Becoming movement minded is the main thing, and it must become a lifelong mindset.

Activity –

You will have a better chance of sticking with your exercise program if you get involved with an activity you enjoy. There are many ways to exercise ranging from the latest trends such as Zumba and Kettlebell training to the oldest form of exercise – walking. The word “walking” is listed in the Bible 244 times and experts say that Jesus walked an average of 20 miles per day. Starting a walking club at work or church would be a step in the right direction.


Attitude -

I have come to find out that one of the reasons why so many of my clients succeed in their fitness goals is attitude. Each and every one of them have an "I will succeed come hell or high water attitude.” This is one of the most important characteristics needed to succeed. Of all the clients I've trained, every one of the top success stories had an attitude - right from the start – that nothing was going to stand in their way.

Remember no matter what your goal or goals are "the difference between try and triumph is a little umph." - Author Unknown

Action –

Nothing is going to happen to your body if you do not take positive action. It doesn’t do you any good to have heard all of that information on how to build a good solid physical body. You want to take care of your body. You want to live longer and you want to be a more active and powerful in your living. You must avoid time killers. Doubt must be buried with faith, fear must be destroyed with confidence and procrastination must be defeated with action.