Faith and fitness: Can prayer keep you on track?

APPLETON - Christians often say they walk by faith and not by sight.

And Appleton Alliance Church says it's faith that's helping folks get moving and stay active.

"I go to church here. When this facility was built, it's a wonderful environment to work out in. The instructors are great. There's always a little prayer time before our workout,” said Judy Myes, as she finished her workout.

Sports director Ryan Borowicz says the Sportsplex is part of a $22 million expansion to Appleton Alliance Church, set to finish this summer.

The faith-based gym opened this past September. Its focus: the whole being, both physical and spiritual.

“It's basically an act of worship. It's not just what you do when you really need to get into shape. It's who you are,” said Borowicz.

The notions of a Young Men's Christian Association or a church basketball league have been around for years. But this fitness center takes faith and puts it in the forefront.

“If you've got Christian music playing in here, worship music or whatever, for me when I'm working out I'm focusing on God, it's kind of my quiet time,” said Borowicz.

It's not just churches providing the divine inspiration for your perspiration by writing Bible verses on the walls.
DVD programs offer upbeat "hip-hop gospel songs" with prayer booklets to accompany work outs.

Sports psychologist Frank Cummings says while faith alone can't help you become thin, prayer can help with focus.

"Prayer helps people with anxiety. It helps people stay focused on their goals. It helps them sustain things they'd otherwise be easily distracted by,” said Cummings.

Those who work out at the Alliance Church Sportsplex agree.

“It helps keep me going. I think about that all the time,” said Myes.

But does prayer automatically make a workout more successful? Cummings says no.

"The church-based weight loss groups are not necessarily any more effective than the, let's say, commercial ones,” he explained.

Cummings advises setting goals and surrounding yourself with positive people.

But trainers and psychologists say no matter what your beliefs, you won't reach your fitness goals, until you have faith in yourself.