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Can physical fitness really improve one’s marriage? Carl Thomas from XXX Church, an online ministry dedicated to helping those who suffer from porn and sex addiction, certainly believes so.
Thomas writes on the XXX Church website that he’s not out to shame anyone who’s out of shape or overweight, but rather to share the benefits of a good fitness regimen. Personally, Thomas says his marriage saw a marked improvement after he started taking better care of his health.
“Bottom line is this. Being in shape will improve your life. And yes, that will have, at minimum, a trickle-down effect on your marriage and your sex life,” says Thomas. “No one is saying if you aren’t in shape then you are no good. No one is ‘fat bashing.’ No one is saying you can’t have a great marriage and a great sex life if you are out of shape. But, fitness will improve these things even more… sometimes dramatically.”
One way his marriage benefited from his physical fitness was better sex. When he was 30 pounds overweight, Thomas did not like what he saw. But now that he is physically fit, he feels he has more self-confidence.
Another reason why Thomas is supporting a healthy lifestyle is longevity. “Straight up: poor fitness hurts your life span. Sure, people in great shape die all the time, but statistics don’t lie. The better shape you are in, the better chance you will live a longer life,” he says.
Being healthy also means better performance. Thomas says people can handle the world’s challenges better if they are in great shape, so they are able to take better care of their families in the process.
At the same time, maintaining a good fitness regimen instills a sense of discipline. “Fitness breeds discipline, and that discipline WILL spill over into other areas of your life,” he says. “Lack of discipline is a marriage stressor, whether it is how you parent, how you budget, or how you eat. Better fitness instills a better sense of discipline, and that will appeal to your spouse.”
Lastly, a healthy lifestyle will lead to reduced stress. Marriage can be stressful, acknowledges Thomas, especially if kids and responsibilities are added into the picture. But being in shape greatly reduces stress levels.
“In fact, exercise releases ‘feel good’ endorphins, has been referred to as meditation in motion, improves your mood, disrupts anxiety, and improves sleep. All of these things help reduce stress,” he says. “Get in better shape and you will lower stress—and improve your marriage quality at the same time.”
