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What if you raised a child who was strong, healthy, disciplined, confident, and successful—but had no desire for God? Would you call that a win? In the finale of the Faithful Family series, Coach Alex VanHouten asks the question underneath everything we’ve discussed about exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress, and healthy habits: What is all this health actually for? Our children are learning far more than the rules we intentionally teach them. They’re watching how we respond when someone damages our property, what happens to our attitude when we’re hungry, whether winning changes our character, how we use our strength when someone needs help, and whether our faith actually changes ordinary life. Through stories from raising his own boys—including fixing a car door with a basketball, getting called out by his seven-year-old while fasting, hauling storm debris in the pouring rain, coaching through a brutal soccer loss, and letting his oldest walk to middle school alone—Alex explores what spiritual fitness looks like inside a real family. Because the goal isn't simply to raise children who exercise, eat well, sleep enough, and stay out of trouble.It is to raise future men and women who know who they belong to and what their lives are for. In this episode:Why spiritual formation is happening whether you intend it or notWhat your children learn about God by watching your reactionsThe difference between stewarding the body and worshiping itWhy strength is valuable because it expands our capacity to loveHow sports expose character and create opportunities for discipleshipWhy discipline without direction can make us excellent at pursuing the wrong lifeWhy parents cannot outsource discipleship to the churchWhat it means to say “health is for love”Learning to release our children rather than control every outcomeWhy we aren't ultimately raising children—we're raising future adultsOne question that can reveal what your family is actually teachingThe body is a gift.Strength is a gift.Time is a gift.Life is a gift.And gifts from God are meant to be given back to God. —------FAITHFUL FITNESS HEALTH AND HABITS DASHBOARD—----- If this series has exposed an area where you want to grow, don't begin by trying to fix your spouse or turn your children into your next health project.Start with you.The Faithful Fitness Health and Habits Dashboard helps you step back and evaluate the bigger picture of your stewardship—including exercise, nutrition, recovery, habits, stress, motivation, and faith.Where are you strong?Where are you drifting?And what deserves your attention next? Start your Health and Habits Dashboard at: faithfulfitness.co/assessment After completing your Dashboard, you'll also have the opportunity to register for the next live Faithful Fitness seminar with Coach Alex and his wife, Christin, a registered dietitian.They'll tackle the realities of building a healthy Christian household—including movement, nutrition, schedules, screens, stress, faith, different personalities, different needs, and different seasons—and answer your questions live. Start here: faithfulfitness.co/assessment TIMESTAMPED TOPIC OUTLINED 00:00 — What if you raise healthy kids who don't love God? Why health, success, discipline, and confidence cannot be the ultimate goal of Christian parenting. 02:00 — Your family is always forming something Your children are learning what matters by watching what makes you anxious, excited, angry, and willing to sacrifice. 04:00 — “Things don't matter. People matter.” A damaged car, a watching son, and an unexpected lesson about how our kids learn what we actually believe. 07:00 — What are your kids learning about God by watching you? Spiritual fitness is more than Bible knowledge or church attendance—it is a life increasingly shaped by Christ. 09:00 — When my son called out my fasting A good spiritual discipline modeled badly, and what a child's observation taught Alex about formation. 12:00 — The body is a gift, but it isn't God The difference between neglecting the body, stewarding it, and making health itself an idol. 14:00 — What is your strength for? Jesus gives us a radically different definition of strength: capability offered in service. 16:00 — “This is what all those pull-ups are for.” Working through a storm with his son and teaching him why strong men should be willing to stand in the gap. 19:00 — Discipline needs direction Discipline alone isn't righteousness. The question isn't simply whether you're determined—but what you're determined to pursue. 21:00 — Jacob, stubbornness, and holding onto the right thing Why even powerful character traits need to be aimed toward something worthy. 23:00 — Sports are a laboratory for character Winning, losing, referees, playing time, disappointment, humility, and what competition exposes in the heart. 25:00 — “We either win or we learn.” A lopsided youth soccer game becomes a conversation about effort, identity, and giving God your best. 29:00 — Don't outsource discipleship to church Why children's ministry, youth group, camp, and devotionals can support—but never replace—the formation happening at home. 32:00 — Health is for love Why we pursue strength, energy, nutrition, recovery, stress management, and healing in the first place.35:00 — Jesus, the body, and self-giving love Christianity doesn't culminate in a perfectly preserved body, but in a body offered in love. 37:00 — Your children ultimately belong to God Why parenting eventually requires releasing control and trusting God with the people He entrusted to you. 39:00 — Letting an 11-year-old walk to school A small moment of independence becomes a lesson in freedom, responsibility, prayer, and trusting God. 42:00 — You're not raising children. You're raising adults. Parenting with the future husband, wife, parent, neighbor, leader, servant, and disciple in view. 45:00 — If your children became like you, would you be happy for them? The final version of the question that has run through the entire Faithful Family series. 48:00 — Don't overhaul your family. Start with one thing. Faithfulness usually looks like a thousand small decisions moving in the same direction. 50:00 — The final Faithful Family challenge Ask your family: “What do you think our family is about?” Then listen without coaching the answer. 52:00 — Faithful Fitness Health and Habits Dashboard Start with your own stewardship and join Coach Alex and Christin for the upcoming live seminar. 54:00 — What we hope our children carry with them Strength, wisdom, rest, service, character, faith—and a life that belongs to God. 57:00 — A prayer over your family A closing prayer for strength, wisdom, resilience, repentance, faithfulness, and homes where Christ is Lord. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-with-coach-alex-vanhouten--5150768/support.

What if your family’s biggest health problem isn’t laziness—but hurry? n Part 3 of the Faithful Family series, Coach Alex VanHouten explores the overlooked side of family fitness: recovery. From sleep and screen habits to overscheduled calendars and the pressure to keep producing, this episode asks a challenging question: If your children copied your relationship with work, stress, and rest, would you be happy for them? With exercise science, biblical wisdom, and honest stories from raising two boys, Alex explores:Why growing stronger requires both challenge and recovery.How our phone habits shape what our children do with quiet moments.Why boredom can create room for creativity, connection, and prayer.When saying no to a good opportunity becomes an act of faithful parenting.How rest helps us trust God beyond what we can accomplish.Plus, take on one simple challenge this week: protect an hour of family time with no screens, no agenda, and nothing to prove.Teach your children to work hard—and teach them how to stop. Take Your Next StepDoes your family need another health goal—or room to recover? Start with the Faithful Fitness Health and Habits Profile to take an honest look at your habits, recognize where you’re strong, and identify what needs attention.Then register for our next live Faithful Fitness seminar with Coach Alex and his wife, Christin, a registered dietitian. Bring your questions about picky eaters, busy schedules, screens, stress, and building a healthier household together. Complete your Profile and register for the seminar: faithfulfitness.co/assessment Know a parent who’s running on empty? Share this episode with them. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-with-coach-alex-vanhouten--5150768/support.

What if sports and fitness could become more than recreation? What if they could become a doorway for discipleship, outreach, family formation, and community connection?In this episode of the Faithful Fitness Podcast, Coach Alex sits down with Travis Vaughn from Upward to talk about the powerful intersection of faith, fitness, sports ministry, and the local church. Travis shares the mission behind Upward, including how sports create opportunities for churches to connect with families who may never walk through the sanctuary doors but are willing to walk through the gym door or field gate.He also opens up about his own fitness journey—from running in college, stepping away from the sport, gaining 90 pounds, and eventually spending seven years chasing a Boston Marathon qualifying time. Together, Travis and Alex talk about perseverance, injuries, fatherhood, setting an example, knowing your “why,” and why adult fitness may be one of the next big discipleship opportunities for the church.This conversation is for runners, walkers, parents, pastors, coaches, ministry leaders, and anyone who believes the body God gave us should serve more than ourselves. Episode Notes- Travis Vaughn serves with Upward, where he helps oversee market research, product development, marketing, and the Upward Running initiative.Early in the conversation, Travis explains that Upward’s data shows 41% of kids coming through their sports experiences are not connected to a local church. Coach Alex and Travis discuss why that matters for outreach, community, and the Great Commission.Travis shares how each player brings an average of three people to games, giving churches repeated opportunities to welcome families, build relationships, and expose kids and parents to devotionals and gospel-centered community. The conversation then turns personal as Travis tells the story of his running journey. After running in high school and college, he stopped running for more than a decade, gained about 90 pounds, and eventually hit a “fed up” point that moved him back toward health.Travis also shares the long, difficult road toward qualifying for Boston, including Achilles tendinopathy, a meniscus root tear, surgery, setbacks, and finally running his qualifying time in brutal weather. Coach Alex and Travis talk about what keeps people going when fitness gets hard: knowing your why, setting goals, and keeping your word even when the journey takes longer than expected. The second half of the episode explores Upward Running, the challenge of adult fitness ministry, and why churches may need a bigger vision for physical stewardship. Coach Alex and Travis wrestle honestly with the question: why is it often easier for churches to organize sports for kids than to help adults steward their bodies well? The episode closes with Travis encouraging listeners to pursue something challenging, goal-oriented, and meaningful—something that pushes them beyond comfort and helps them grow. If this conversation stirred something in you about your own health, habits, and stewardship, take the next step with the Faithful Fitness Health and Habits Profile.https://faithfulfitness.co/assessment Also, check out Upward’s recent project, Upward Running Upward Running  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-with-coach-alex-vanhouten--5150768/support.

What do you want your kids to believe about food when they are 35 years old? In part two of the Faithful Family series, Coach Alex turns the conversation from family movement to family nutrition. But this is not an episode about raising kids who count every calorie, fear sugar, or attach guilt and shame to food. This is about raising future adults who know how to feed themselves well.Coach Alex walks through how parents can shape the food environment of the home, teach kids the function of food without moralizing every bite, avoid passing down body shame, and build a healthier family culture around the table. You’ll hear practical thoughts on picky eaters, dessert, celebration food, hunger and fullness, involving kids in cooking, and why gratitude may be one of the most important ingredients in a Christian household. The goal is not to raise children who eat perfectly. The goal is to raise adults who understand food, enjoy food, steward their bodies, and receive God’s provision with wisdom and gratitude. Take the next step If this episode has you thinking, “I want this for my kids, but I’m not sure I have a healthy relationship with food myself,” start there. Take the Faithful Fitness Assessment at faithfulfitness.co/assessment. It will help you look honestly at your current stewardship—exercise, nutrition, habits, motivation, and faith—and identify your next step.After you complete the assessment, you’ll be able to register for our next live Faithful Fitness workshop. This one is especially meaningful because my wife, Christin, will be joining me. She’s a registered dietitian, a mom, and someone who helps our family navigate these exact conversations in real life. Go to faithfulfitness.co/assessment, take the assessment, and join us for the workshop. Timestamps 00:00 — What do you want your kids to believe about food at 35? 01:05 — Faithful Family Part 2: moving from family movement to nutrition 01:36 — We’re not feeding children to become smaller adults 02:44 — Parenting nutrition is not about permanent control; it is about wisdom 06:36 — Parents control the environment; kids learn inside it 08:58 — Normal matters more than perfect 11:10 — Food does not have moral value 12:34 — Food has function: nutrients and energy 14:56 — Teach function before calories 17:00 — Children are not small dieting adults 20:30 — How you talk about your body matters 23:10 — Letting kids experience hunger and fullness 25:05 — Picky eaters, exposure, patience, and grace 28:27 — The dessert trap: when sweets become the ultimate treasure 30:03 — Celebration food should actually be celebration food 32:44 — The dinner table is about more than nutrients 34:29 — Let your kids help with food, cooking, and cleanup 38:36 — Food as an opportunity for gratitude 40:29 — What are we actually trying to raise? 43:11 — This week’s challenge: one intentional family meal 44:15 — Take the Faithful Fitness Assessment and join the live workshop 46:08 — Final encouragement: raise adults who know how to feed themselves well Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-with-coach-alex-vanhouten--5150768/support.

What do your kids think adults do with their bodies? Do adults run, play, lift, explore, work, and challenge themselves—or do they mostly sit down, stare at screens, complain about being tired, and occasionally announce that they really need to start exercising again? In Part 1 of the Faithful Family series, Coach Alex explores how parents shape their children’s relationship with movement long before they ever hand them a workout plan.Kids don’t primarily need more organized exercise. They need active families. In this episode, Alex talks about:Why family culture matters more than another sports league or workout programHow children develop physical confidence through play, exploration, strength, and challengeWhy sports are only one expression of being physically activeWhat our language about exercise teaches our childrenHow to separate movement from punishment, shame, and vanityWhy Christians need a better reason to train than simply looking betterHow strength, capability, service, and stewardship give exercise deeper meaningWhether children can safely lift weightsWhy it’s okay for your child to be bad at sportsHow to make activity part of ordinary family life without adding another obligation to the calendarThe powerful example parents—and grandparents—set simply by continuing to participateThe goal isn’t to raise impressive children.It’s to help children become capable adults who see their bodies as gifts from God to use, develop, enjoy, and steward well. TAKE YOUR NEXT STEPSometimes the best thing you can do for your family’s health isn’t to start fixing everyone else.It’s to start with yourself. Take the Faithful Fitness Assessment to evaluate your current health, habits, and stewardship—and identify your next step.Take the assessment: https://faithfulfitness.co/assessment When you finish, you’ll also have the opportunity to reserve your spot for the next live Faithful Fitness Seminar, where Coach Alex and his wife Christin—a registered dietitian and fellow parent—will talk practically about building healthy habits in the middle of work, school, church, sports, picky eating, marriage, parenting, and real life. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-with-coach-alex-vanhouten--5150768/support.

What does it actually take to change your body—and why do so many intelligent, motivated people struggle to do what they already know they should do? In this special episode of Faithful Fitness, Coach Alex republishes his conversation from the Rhino and the Bat podcast for a wide-ranging discussion on health, discipline, psychology, faith, suffering, community, and what it means to become 1% better daily. But there’s another reason this conversation belongs here.Rhino and Alex come from different faith traditions. Rhino shares during the conversation that he is Hindu; Alex is a Christian. Rather than avoiding that difference, Alex brings his Christian understanding of the body directly into the fitness conversation: we are created by God, our bodies have been entrusted to us, and health is ultimately about stewardship—not vanity, comparison, self-worship, or chasing the perfect physique. That is part of the mission of Faithful Fitness: to put more faith into fitness while removing the confusion and vanity from it.In this conversation, Alex shares his experience living and training with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, why small changes compound into transformation, why knowledge without action changes nothing, how motivation should be used to build systems, why discipline can be developed, and why sustainable fitness is fundamentally a community project. They also explore the relationship between physical and mental health, exercise and nutrition, gratitude, asking for help, resilience, hormone replacement therapy, entrepreneurship, parenting, sleep—and, somehow, sardines. For the Christian listening, there is also a challenge here:Our stewardship should become a testimony.Not perfect bodies. Not performative fitness. Not obsession.But men and women whose lives increasingly demonstrate self-control, gratitude, endurance, humility, strength, and faithful care for what God has entrusted to them. Because the question isn't simply:“How do I build a better body?” It's:“How do I become more faithful with the body I've been given?” And wherever you're starting, there is something you can do about where you are. You don't have to do it alone.TAKE YOUR NEXT STEPTake the Faithful Fitness Assessment: https://faithfulfitness.co/assessment Your assessment will help you identify where you are right now and what may need your attention next.After completing it, reserve your spot for the Faithful Fitness Next Steps Seminar, held live on the first Wednesday of every month. We'll help you understand what your results are telling you and turn that information into practical action. Learn more about Faithful Fitness: https://faithfulfitness.co TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — Coach’s Notes: Putting More Faith Into Fitness 5:50 — The Rhino & the Bat Interview Begins 7:51 — Living and Training With Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome 11:03 — The Injury That Changed Alex’s Understanding of His Body 15:36 — Why 1% Better Daily Works 20:08 — Weakness, Humility and Finding Strength Through Limitation 22:42 — Playing the Hand You’ve Been Dealt 26:46 — Why We Often Care for Others Better Than Ourselves 29:10 — Faith, Human Value and Stewardship of the Body 31:57 — Knowing Isn’t Doing: Why Information Doesn’t Change You 34:58 — Motivation Is Overrated—Build Systems Instead 38:26 — Why Bad Habits Are So Difficult to Change 45:21 — The Science and Practice of Building Discipline 50:43 — Can You Actually Reinvent Yourself? 52:17 — Where Should Someone Start Their Fitness Journey? 54:37 — The Biggest Mistake People Make When Getting Healthy 58:27 — How to Navigate Conflicting Fitness Advice 1:02:06 — Why Fitness Is a Community Project 1:06:05 — Coaching, Accountability and the Power of Personal Connection 1:11:43 — What Matters More: Exercise or Nutrition? 1:14:46 — Physical Health and Mental Health Are Deeply Connected 1:16:32 — Why Mental Health Struggles May Be Increasing 1:20:08 — Cardiovascular Fitness and Emotional Resilience 1:21:38 — Gratitude, Psychology and Well-Being 1:26:42 — When Is It Time to Ask for Professional Help? 1:29:02 — One Habit Everyone Should Practice: Do the Hard Thing 1:29:46 — What Alex Has Changed His Mind About: Hormone Replacement Therapy 1:32:05 — Family, Business, Calling and Learning to Say No 1:36:04 — The Hardest Lesson of Entrepreneurship 1:36:43 — Passion vs. Discipline 1:37:45 — Rapid Fire: Sleep, Training, Food, Books and More 1:41:56 — Alex Makes the Case for Sardines 1:44:59 — What Should You Do Tomorrow If You Feel Stuck? 1:45:17 — What Does It Mean to Live a Better Life? 1:46:42 — The One Thing Alex Hopes You Remember Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-with-coach-alex-vanhouten--5150768/support.

What does it mean to become better—and better for what? In this episode of the Faithful Fitness Podcast, Coach Alex Van Houten sits down with builder, entrepreneur, and fitness advocate Brock Holyoak for a conversation about action, discipline, fear, fitness, personal responsibility, and becoming more capable. Brock has a strong bias toward action: stop waiting until you know everything, start with what you have, learn by doing, and allow experience to shape you along the way. From building construction companies to training his body and developing his own fitness philosophy, his message is simple: most people already know enough to begin. The problem is that they often substitute consuming information for taking action.That creates some valuable questions for anyone who has spent too much time researching the perfect workout, diet, business strategy, or next step while doing very little with what they already know. But this conversation also exposes a deeper question at the heart of Faithful Fitness:What is all that improvement for?Strength is useful. Discipline is useful. Confidence is useful. Competence is useful. Becoming capable of doing difficult things is good.But none of those things can determine what deserves our devotion. Throughout the episode, Alex and Brock discuss:Why action often teaches what information cannotThe danger of waiting until you have every piece before you start buildingHow fitness can build competence and confidenceThe difference between perseverance and stubbornnessWhy fear often becomes smaller once you actually confront itThe importance of keeping promises to yourselfHow difficult physical challenges can expand your sense of what you're capable ofWhy passion and desire can create tremendous driveThe limitations of making “the best version of yourself” the ultimate goalFor the Christian, self-improvement is not the destination. It is a tool.Your body, health, strength, time, abilities, and opportunities have been entrusted to you by God. The goal isn't merely to become stronger, tougher, leaner, richer, or more impressive. The goal is to become increasingly capable of faithfully using what God has given you for His glory and the good of the people around you. So perhaps the question isn't simply:Am I getting better? Perhaps the better question is:Am I becoming more faithful? If you already know the next healthy step you need to take, take it. Go for the walk. Lift the weight. Prepare the meal. Get to bed. Make the change.You probably don't need the whole map before you begin.But as you become more capable, keep asking where that capability is ultimately pointed. Want to understand where you currently stand in your own health and stewardship? Take the Faithful Fitness Assessment and evaluate yourself across the four foundations of Integrity, Grit, Growth, and Awe. Start here: https://faithfulfitness.co/assessmentMake the most of the body God's given you. Train hard—but pray harder. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-with-coach-alex-vanhouten--5150768/support.

You don’t get extra credit for suffering. There is a difference between discomfort that should be endured and suffering that deserves treatment. In this final episode of Menopause in the Light, Coach Alex brings the entire series together by tackling some of the most confusing—and heavily marketed—parts of menopause. Hormone therapy. Testosterone. Sleep. Sexual health. Peptides. GLP-1 medications. Expensive hormone panels. “Bioidentical” treatments. Optimization culture. The goal isn’t to tell every woman what treatment she needs. It’s to help you become a more informed participant in your own healthcare, ask better questions, and recognize when faithful stewardship means doing the hard thing—and when it means getting help. In this episode, Coach Alex discusses:Why menopausal hormone therapy is neither the devil nor the saviorWhat current evidence says about estrogen and menopausal symptomsWhy route, dose, medical history, and individual risk matterWhy many women probably don’t need expensive hormone panelsWhat “bioidentical hormones” actually meansThe limited but legitimate role of testosterone therapyWhy painful sex should not simply be accepted as part of agingSleep disruption, hot flashes, insomnia, and sleep apneaMood changes during perimenopause and menopauseWhat to know before jumping into peptide therapyGLP-1 medications and the importance of preserving muscleHow to evaluate the next supplement, hormone, device, injection, or wellness trend somebody tries to sell youWhy health data should serve your life—not become your lifeWhen it’s time to stop managing symptoms alone and talk with a qualified healthcare professionalOne of the central questions of the episode is simple: What problem am I actually trying to solve? Before adding another supplement, test, medication, protocol, wearable, or optimization strategy, get clear about the problem first. And through all four episodes of Menopause in the Light, remember:Your body is changing.You are not broken.Train it.Nourish it.Get help when help is warranted.And never confuse your physical health with your worth. As Coach Alex closes the series: “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.” There may still be decades of serving, leading, mentoring, traveling, building, teaching, loving, training, praying, giving, and becoming ahead of you. Your Next Faithful Step- -If this series helped you understand menopause better but left you wondering: “What do I personally need to work on first?” Start with the Faithful Fitness Assessment.The assessment evaluates your health and stewardship through four Faithful Fitness anchors:Integrity • Grit • Growth • Awe You’ll receive a personalized report identifying strengths, gaps, and areas that may deserve your attention next.And your $7.99 assessment also includes your seat in the next live Faithful Fitness workshop with Coach Alex, where you can better understand your results, ask questions, and identify your next faithful step. Take the Faithful Fitness Assessment: https://faithfulfitness.co/assessment Because you probably don’t need more random information.You need enough clarity about your situation to make a wise decision about what comes next. Train Hard. Pray Harder. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-with-coach-alex-vanhouten--5150768/support.

What the Faithful 5K Proved: It’s Time for the Body of Christ to Get in Shape “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…” — Hebrews 12:1–2 The inaugural Faithful 5K is over—but I don’t think what happened in Greenbrier was really about running 3.1 miles.We had 165 people register, families running together, churches serving side by side, businesses investing in their community, volunteers pouring themselves out, and virtual racers participating across seven different states. And underneath all of it was something deeper:God is doing something in His Church that has to do with the body—both our physical bodies and the Body of Christ. In this episode, I’m taking a short break from the Menopause in the Light series to reflect on what the Faithful 5K taught me about fitness, faith, community, endurance, and why I believe it’s time for the Bride of Christ to get in better shape. We’ll talk about:Why people are hungry for something deeper than sets, reps, macros, and aestheticsWhat happened when multiple churches and Christian organizations chose to serve together without needing their own name at the centerWhy the Faithful Cross became one of the most meaningful parts of the morningWhat it means to recognize your body as something through which you live your callingWhy Christian fitness was never supposed to be an isolated pursuitThe unexpected power of an out-and-back race where runners continually encouraged one anotherWhy your body does not have to be impressive to glorify GodWhat this event reminded me about the mission of Faithful FitnessAnd I’ll tell you about Mr. Roy. When we first started working together more than five years ago, Roy had battled heart disease, multiple surgeries, pain, and a body that made something as simple as walking my driveway difficult.Saturday, he finished a 5K. He finished last. He refused rides. Men went back onto the course to walk beside him. Police stayed with him. His family waited. Racers who had finished long before stayed at the finish line because they wanted to see him cross it. And when someone asked how he was able to keep going, his answer was basically:Get a good coach. Walk with God. And be stubborn enough not to stop.That’ll preach. Because Hebrews doesn’t tell us, “Let me run with endurance.” It says:“Let us run with endurance.” Maybe you’re crushing it right now.Turn around and encourage somebody behind you. Maybe you’re struggling. Keep going. But either way, stop trying to do this fitness thing alone. Your Next Faithful Step - If you want to get honest about where you are and identify your next step, take the Faithful Fitness Assessment. https://faithfulfitness.co/assessment You’ll assess yourself across the four areas we use in Faithful Fitness:Integrity. Grit. Growth. Awe. The goal isn’t a perfect score. It’s clarity. And completing the assessment will also reserve your place for our upcoming LIVE Faithful Fitness seminar on September 2nd, where we’ll continue this conversation together.Take the Faithful Fitness Assessment and find your next faithful step. Make the most of the body God’s given you. Train Hard. Pray Harder.—Coach Alex Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-with-coach-alex-vanhouten--5150768/support.

When your body begins changing during perimenopause and menopause, the fitness industry's answer is usually predictable: Eat less. Cut the carbs. Skip breakfast. Fast longer. Do more cardio. But what if eating less isn't actually the strategy your body needs? In Part 3 of Menopause in the Light, Coach Alex Van Houten turns to nutrition—and challenges the idea that midlife health is simply about making the number on the scale smaller.Menopause changes physiology, but it doesn't erase physiology.  Energy balance still matters. But so do muscle mass, protein intake, sleep, training, insulin sensitivity, food quality, recovery, and the hormonal changes influencing where and how your body stores fat.The goal isn't just weight loss.The goal is to build and maintain a woman who is strong, capable, metabolically healthy, resilient, well-nourished, and ready to serve. In this episode, Coach Alex breaks down:Why dramatically cutting calories can backfire during menopauseThe difference between weight loss and improving body compositionWhy protein becomes increasingly important as women ageA practical strategy for getting enough protein throughout the dayWhy carbohydrates aren't the enemyThe difference between food and fuelHow whole, nutrient-dense foods can simplify your nutritionFiber, calcium, vitamin D, healthy fats, and bone healthIntermittent fasting and when it may—or may not—serve youWhy breakfast can be a powerful opportunity for better nutritionAlcohol, sleep, and taking an honest inventory of your habitsCreatine and supplements during menopauseIron considerations during perimenopauseWhy you should be skeptical of products promising to “balance your hormones”How husbands and families can support women without becoming the “food police”A biblical perspective on food, gratitude, self-control, and stewardshipCoach Alex also offers a simple framework for building meals: Start with protein.  Add plants.  Add fuel according to your activity. Pay attention to your fats. Nothing exotic. Nothing magical. Just a repeatable strategy that can still work next year. As 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God.” Food isn't God.Food isn't the enemy. It's provision—and something we are called to receive with gratitude and steward with wisdom. TAKE THE NEXT STEP If you're navigating perimenopause or menopause and know it's time to make a change, Coach Alex wants to help you identify where you are now and what deserves your attention first. Go to: faithfulfitness.co/menopause Complete the Faithful Fitness Assessment and claim your seat for the upcoming live seminar.You'll learn how to take your current starting point and build a practical plan for getting meaningful results over the next 30 days—without miracle supplements, crash diets, or internet gimmicks. Take the assessment and reserve your seat: faithfulfitness.co/menopause Next week: Menopause in the Light, Part 4 — hormone replacement therapy, sleep, sexual health, supplements, peptides, medical care, and how to know when it's time to ask for more help. Train hard. Pray harder. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-with-coach-alex-vanhouten--5150768/support.

Your body is changing—but it is not broken. In Part 2 of Menopause in the Light, Coach Alex examines one of the most powerful tools women have for navigating perimenopause and menopause: training. There is no magical “menopause workout,” and the fundamental laws of physiology have not suddenly stopped working. Squats still work. Progressive overload still works. Cardiovascular exercise still matters. But as a woman moves through this season, her training priorities may need to change.The goal is not to punish your body, desperately fight aging, or force your body to look the way it did at 27. The goal is capacity: the strength and endurance to work, serve, play, travel, love others, and say yes to whatever God places in front of you.In This EpisodeCoach Alex discusses:Why strength training should become a priority during perimenopause and menopauseThe difference between merely exercising and creating a meaningful training stimulusWhy women are still allowed—and often need—to lift challenging weightsHow progressive overload helps preserve muscle, strength, function, and independenceWhy walking alone is not a complete bone-strengthening strategyHow resistance training and appropriate impact can help protect bone healthThe importance of maintaining power, speed, balance, and the ability to reactWhy cardiovascular exercise still matters during and after menopauseWhether women in menopause should perform high-intensity interval trainingWhy walking remains one of the most valuable forms of daily movementHow to distinguish laziness from genuine under-recoveryWhat a practical week of training might look likeHow husbands and families can help women protect the time required to care for their bodiesWhy small beginnings still matter when pain, fear, or years of inactivity make training feel overwhelmingThe Fundamentals Remain, but the Priorities ChangeA strong menopause training plan should help a woman:Build and preserve muscleLoad and protect her bonesMaintain cardiovascular capacityPreserve power and balanceMove consistently throughout the dayRecover well enough to repeat the processThat may include two or three strength-training sessions each week, regular cardiovascular work, daily walking, appropriate intensity, bone-loading activity, and intentional recovery.The exact schedule will differ from woman to woman. The principle matters more than the calendar: begin where you are, train intelligently, and gradually ask your body to become more capable.A Deeper Reason to TrainTraining through menopause is not about worshiping the body. It is about preparing it.Your children may still need you. Your grandchildren may need you. Your husband, church, family, and community may need you. God may call you into work at 60 that you could not have imagined at 40.The goal is not simply to take up less space in the world. The goal is to become strong enough to live out your calling. As Proverbs 31 describes, a faithful woman “dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.” This is a picture of a woman prepared for her work—capable, strong, and ready.Every season of womanhood deserves intentional stewardship. Not only the easy seasons. Not only the young seasons.Get strong. Keep moving. Challenge your heart. Load your bones. Recover intelligently. Your body adapts to what you ask of it—so make sure you ask something of it. Continue Your Faithful Fitness JourneyGet the Faithful Fitness BookBegin building a biblical foundation for health, training, discipline, and stewardship with Coach Alex’s 40-day devotional. Get the book: https://faithfulfitnessdevo.com/ Join the Faithful Fitness CorpsTrain inside an intentional Christian community with exercise resources, program-building tools, coaching, challenges, encouragement, accountability, and people committed to becoming stronger together. Join the Corps: https://faithfulfitness.co/ Menopause Assessment and Jumpstart SeminarReceive the menopause assessment and automatically reserve your place in the live Jumpstart Seminar designed to help you better understand this season and determine your next steps. Get started: https://faithfulfitness.co/menopause Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-with-coach-alex-vanhouten--5150768/support.

Menopause is one of the largest physiological transitions in a woman’s adult life—yet many women are expected to navigate it quietly, without understanding what is happening or receiving meaningful support. In Part 1 of Menopause in the Light, Coach Alex begins a new four-part solo series exploring perimenopause, menopause, and what it means to faithfully steward a woman’s body through a changing season. Drawing from more than 20 years of coaching women through peri- and postmenopause, Alex addresses the painful question underneath many women’s frustrations: “What is wrong with me?” The answer is clear:Your body is changing. You are not broken.In this episode, Alex explains the difference between perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause; explores why symptoms and severity can vary so widely between women; and names some of the physical, emotional, relational, and metabolic changes that may occur.He also challenges two harmful extremes: dismissing every symptom as “just getting older” and blaming every difficulty after 40 on hormones. Menopause is not a disease—but that does not mean women should quietly endure symptoms that deserve attention, adaptation, or medical care.You’ll also hear why a woman’s story after 50 does not have to become a story of decline. Strength, muscle, cardiovascular fitness, confidence, wisdom, intimacy, service, and meaningful purpose are still available in this season. This episode also includes an important message for husbands and family members: compassion is not pity, and the women you love should not have to walk through this transition alone or in the dark. IN THIS EPISODEWhat perimenopause and menopause actually meanWhy menopause is a major transition, not a personal failureCommon physical, emotional, and relational challengesWhy symptoms can differ dramatically between womenThe danger of blaming everything on hormonesWhy unusual symptoms and abnormal bleeding deserve medical attentionThe potential freedoms and gains of postmenopausal lifeHow husbands can offer compassion and practical supportWhy adaptation is wisdom—not failureHow women can enter this season with agency and intentionSCRIPTURE FROM THE EPISODE “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.” —Proverbs 31:25 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” —Ecclesiastes 3:1 COMING NEXTIn Part 2 of Menopause in the Light, Coach Alex addresses exercise during perimenopause and postmenopause—including muscle, strength, cardiovascular fitness, bone density, high-intensity exercise, walking, and recovery. This is not about desperately holding onto youth.It is about preparing your body for what God may ask you to do with the decades ahead. NEED HELP NAVIGATING THIS SEASON? Email Coach Alex personally at:[email protected] Tell him what has changed, what you have been wrestling with, what you have already tried, and where you currently feel stuck. JOIN THE FAITHFUL FITNESS CORPS You were not meant to steward your body alone. Join an intentional community of men and women working to make the most of every season God gives them:https://faithfulfitness.co/join Your body is changing. You are not broken. And there is still a whole lot of good work ahead of you. Train hard. Pray harder. Put more faith in your fitness. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-with-coach-alex-vanhouten--5150768/support.

Why should you always be training for something? In this conversation on the Everyday Spy Podcast, Andrew Bustamante sits down with Coach Alex VanHouten to talk about faith, fitness, agency, hope, chronic pain, marriage, truth, and why the pursuit of a goal often changes us more than achieving the goal itself. Coach Alex explains why training should never be reduced to vanity, random workouts, or checking a box. Instead, training becomes powerful when it is tied to mission, identity, and the kind of person you are becoming.Andrew brings the intelligence-world lens, unpacking how the CIA understands dopamine, cortisol, pursuit, manipulation, defeatism, and fatalism.  Together, Andrew and Alex explore how failed attempts can train people to stop trying, how “hopium” keeps people stuck, and why real agency begins when you make one practical change today.This episode also moves into deeply personal territory: Alex’s experience with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and chronic pain, Andrew’s reflections on marriage, what it means to support a spouse through anxiety and depression, and how truth can feel like a burden before it becomes freedom. Together, they discuss: Why the pursuit of a goal is often more rewarding than achieving itHow failed attempts can create fatalism and defeatismWhy training for something gives your fitness purposeHow faith is not just belief, but actionWhat “hope molecules” are and why exercise can change your moodThe difference between hope and “hopium”Why agency starts with one practical step todayHow chronic pain changes the way you define progressWhy meaningful fatherhood sometimes requires sacrificeHow marriage exposes the need for continual growthWhy truth is uncomfortable, necessary, and freeingWhat Jonah, Moby Dick, and fitness have in commonThis is a powerful conversation for anyone who feels stuck, discouraged, tired of starting over, or unsure whether change is still possible.You are not trapped by your past attempts.You are not done yet.You can do something about it today. Main Discussion Themes Always Train for SomethingTraining becomes more powerful when it is attached to a mission, event, role, or identity. Random exercise is easy to quit. Training for something gives discipline direction. Fatalism and DefeatismWhen people try repeatedly and fail, they can begin to believe, “I can’t,” or worse, “Nothing works for me.” Andrew connects this to agency language, while Alex frames fitness as a place where people can reclaim responsibility. Faith as ActionFaith is not merely an internal belief. In the fitness context, faith looks like doing the work today without fully seeing tomorrow’s results yet. The Chemistry of HopeExercise does not just symbolize hope. It can create biochemical changes that affect mood, cognition, and resilience. Agency Versus HopiumThe fitness industry often sells hope without transformation. Real agency is not buying another product. It is taking a concrete action today. Pain, Fatherhood, and SacrificeAlex shares how chronic pain complicates his life, but also how meaningful experiences with his sons are worth facing discomfort for. Marriage and TruthAndrew and Alex move into a candid conversation about marriage, sacrifice, failure, anxiety, depression, and the daily work of becoming a better husband. Jonah, Moby Dick, and the Burden of TruthThe final section uses literature and Scripture to explore why truth is hard to face, but ultimately becomes the mechanism that sets people free. Timestamps 00:00 – “I’ve tried things before and they didn’t work” 00:45 – Why Andrew asks Alex about always training for something 00:57 – Why pursuit can be more satisfying than achievement 01:45 – Dopamine, cortisol, and the CIA lens on goal pursuit 03:30 – What happens when people try and fail repeatedly 05:07 – Fatalism, defeatism, and why people stop trying 07:22 – How Coach Alex defines faith 08:40 – Faith as doing the work before seeing the result 09:16 – Myokines, irisin, and “the hope molecule” 11:05 – The danger of keeping people in a cycle of hope 12:54 – Hope without work versus real transformation 14:57 – “We can do something about that today” 15:16 – Agency, nutrition, movement, and practical change 17:14 – Alex’s ongoing struggle with chronic pain 18:41 – Why some pain is worth facing for your family 19:00 – Andrew opens up about struggling as a husband 21:08 – Marriage as sacrifice, growth, and daily failure 23:25 – Why men struggle silently in marriage 25:43 – Supporting a spouse through anxiety and depression 27:40 – The challenge of being married to Alex 29:58 – Moby Dick, Jonah, art, and the burden of truth 37:16 – Jesus, Jonah, suffering, and walking through pain 39:07 – Andrew reframes Jonah around truth 43:23 – Truth in action: if it is true, it works 44:57 – Where to find Coach Alex 45:12 – Closing thoughts from Andrew Watch the full interview on YouTube: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3o75yqdyEU Check out some of my work through Everyday Spy: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVJaYnZXZXFuTFRDT3VnSHlENHBLYVZycmw5Z3xBQ3Jtc0trNzZVYW9DbjdabUlBZl9lWXpCeHVLSUdBcENsRFEwckNidkF6Tzlna2F1M0VpeEJrYUNpRVdTZ3pYWEtPNHNGalVxQU5YV1JSbmNlUlR5blE0SWxYY1B1OTFVb2p5LXFieVNwREdrZGhERDNWWFpJWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fyt.everydayspy.com%2F2026_SpyfitOpPower_CoachAlex&v=q4wG9q96sCw Get your copy of Faithful Fitness: A 40-day devotional for Christian health, strength, and stewardship. 👉 https://faithfulfitnessdevo.com Join the Faithful Fitness community: Get Christ-centered coaching, accountability, challenges, workshops, and practical tools for your health journey. 👉 https://faithfulfitness.co/join Join the Faithful 5K: Walk, jog, run, bring your family, or participate virtually. Train for something that matters. 👉 https://www.raceentry.com/faithful-5k/race-information Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-with-coach-alex-vanhouten--5150768/support.

This episode is different. Coach Alex sits down with San Qing on The Way for a wide-ranging conversation about exercise science, stress adaptation, mitochondria, fasting, performance, belief, martial arts, and what happens when the body is challenged and forced to grow.But this conversation also moves into territory that many Faithful Fitness listeners may not be used to hearing. Daoism. Eastern medicine. Energy language. Breathwork. Alchemy. Spiritual frameworks that do not come from a Christian worldview.That is why this episode needs to be heard with discernment.There are places in this conversation where Coach Alex and San Qing find common ground. Stress matters. Adaptation matters. Belief matters. Movement matters. T he body and mind are deeply connected. The human body is fearfully and wonderfully complex.But there are also places where the worldviews are very different.As Christians, we do not listen to conversations like this with fear or arrogance. We listen with wisdom. We test what we hear. We recognize what is true, reject what is false, and bring every thought captive to Christ. Because Jesus is not one spiritual option among many.He is the way, the truth, and the life.In this episode, Coach Alex brings exercise science and Christian stewardship into a conversation outside the walls of the church. He discusses his work with Everyday Spy, the role of adaptive stress, why movement forces belief into action, how mitochondria respond to challenge, why “1% better” matters, and why the body cannot be separated from the life of faith. Listen carefully.Listen prayerfully.And ask yourself:Where have I absorbed spiritual ideas from the culture around me without testing them against Scripture? The body matters. The mind matters. Belief matters. But Christ is Lord over all of it. Timestamps 00:00 – Belief, Genetics, and Performance 00:35 – San Qing’s Bodybuilding Journey and Daoist Framework 04:21 – Coach Alex Reframes Fitness Around DNA and Stewardship 06:44 – Myostatin, Genetics, and Natural Muscle Growth 07:40 – Everyday Spy, Mission Readiness, and Recovery 09:13 – Less Is More: Acute Stress vs. Chronic Stress 12:06 – Adaptive Stressors and Epigenetic Potential 12:54 – Which Cardio Is Best? It Depends on the Adaptation 14:00 – Obesity Genes, Exercise Modalities, and Stress Response 17:30 – Bodybuilding, Amino Acids, ATP, and Supplement History 24:13 – Mitochondria, ATP, Fuel, and Cellular Energy 26:41 – Deconditioning, Processed Food, and Mitochondrial Dysfunction 29:07 – Hypoxia, Exercise, and Adaptation 32:26 – Weight Training and Localized Hypoxic Stress 33:47 – Stress, Adaptation, Expansion, and the Challenge Principle 37:14 – Exercise Is Black and White: You Either Do It or You Don’t 39:40 – Starting With Two Minutes: The 1% Better Principle 42:59 – How Belief Can Affect Physical Performance 45:23 – Daoist Energy Language and the Body 48:10 – The Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Doing Hard Things 50:37 – Hypnosis, Suggestibility, and the Power of Influence 56:20 – When More Stress Is Not the Answer 59:45 – Mind, Body, Science, and the Limits of Explanation 01:03:02 – Taoist Energy Categories and Coach Alex’s Christian/Scientific Response 01:08:31 – Yin, Yang, Energy, and Worldview Differences 01:14:16 – Movement, the Narrow Way, and the Christian Walk 01:17:22 – Martial Arts, Wu Wei, and Embodied Learning 01:19:53 – Everyday Spy, Operation PowerFit, and Final Thoughts 01:22:41 – Closing Join the Faithful 5K: Walk, jog, run, bring your family, or join us virtually. There is still time to take a real step forward. 👉 https://www.raceentry.com/faithful-5k/race-information Train for the Faithful 5K inside the Faithful Fitness app: Follow the training plan, start where you are, and prepare with purpose. 👉 https://faithfulfitness.co/joinJoin the Faithful Fitness community: Get Christ-centered coaching, tools, accountability, and community support. 👉 https://faithfulfitness.co/premiumCheck out Everyday Spy’s Operation PowerFit Challenge: A free 10-day challenge designed to help you put exercise science into action. 👉Watch the episode on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4wG9q96sCw Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-with-coach-alex-vanhouten--5150768/support.

What does fitness look like when life gets chaotic? In this conversation on the G-Spodcast, Coach Alex VanHouten joins the host for an honest, practical, and sometimes funny conversation about fatherhood, fitness, chronic pain, nutrition, faith, and what it means to steward the body God has given you. The episode begins with a real question from a brand-new father:How do you train, eat well, and stay grounded when your life is suddenly sleep-deprived, stressful, and disorganized?From there, Alex shares how becoming a dad changed his own fitness rhythms, why even a 12-minute workout can matter, and how exercise becomes part of the identity of a faithful father—not just another task on the to-do list. Together, they discuss: How new dads can train in small windows of timeWhy exercise helps support mental health, anxiety, OCD, and cognitionThe difference between real exercise science and fitness marketingWhy the fitness industry often sells what is profitable instead of what worksThe truth about creatine, fasting products, and supplement hypeWhy calories matter—but nutrients matter tooHow bodybuilding culture shaped modern nutrition confusionWhether having a six-pack is actually healthyWhy bio-individuality matters for training, nutrition, and long-term healthAlex’s experience with Ehlers-Danlos SyndromeThe difference between training elite operators and everyday peopleHow motivation changes when fitness becomes part of your identityWhy Christianity does not separate the body from the soulThe difference between vanity and stewardship in fitnessThis episode is for new fathers, busy men, Christians trying to understand the body, and anyone who is tired of fitness advice that sounds good online but does not actually work in real life.Your body is not just a machine.It is not just a shell.It is a gift to steward.And even in the chaos of life, fatherhood, pain, and responsibility, you can take the next faithful step. Timestamps 01:12 – Welcome to the G-Spodcast 01:26 – The Host Shares About Becoming a New Father 02:01 – How Fatherhood Changes Fitness and Routine 02:30 – Coach Alex’s First Fitness Struggle as a Dad 03:00 – Why a 12-Minute Workout Still Matters 04:00 – Building an Active Fatherhood Lifestyle 05:04 – Training While Sleep-Deprived and Overwhelmed 06:13 – Exercise and Mental Health: OCD, ADHD, Anxiety, and More 07:01 – Fitness Science vs. Fitness Marketing 08:18 – Creatine Monohydrate: What Actually Works 09:30 – Why Supplement Companies Add Unnecessary Bells and Whistles 10:16 – Fasting, Fasting Shakes, and Fitness Industry Confusion 11:24 – The Religious Nature of Nutrition Arguments 12:30 – Why Calories Became the Center of Fitness Culture 13:47 – Why Your Body Is Not a Car 14:30 – Calories, Nutrients, Genetics, and Food Quality 15:08 – Bodybuilding, Modern Fitness Ideals, and Changing Body Standards 17:11 – Is Having a Six-Pack Healthy? 19:43 – What Gladiators Teach Us About Body Composition 20:19 – Bio-Individuality Explained 21:36 – Fast-Twitch Muscle Fibers and Genetic Differences 23:24 – Olympic Lifters, Muscle Fiber Types, and Genetic Potential 24:30 – Amylase, Carbohydrates, and Why People Process Food Differently 26:05 – Are We All Equal Genetically? 26:42 – Alex’s Experience With Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome 29:44 – Learning to Treat Yourself Like an Outlier 30:29 – Training Elite Operators vs. Everyday People 31:43 – Mission Mindset vs. General Population Mindset 32:31 – Why Motivation Is Hard to Sustain 33:43 – Would You Train If Today Were Your Last Day? 34:42 – Fitness as Identity, Not Just Motivation 35:30 – Fatherhood as a Model for Discipline 37:31 – Faith, Fitness, and the Christian Body 38:05 – Why Christianity Does Not Separate Body and Soul 39:08 – Gnosticism, the Body, and Christian Theology 41:43 – The Sins of Fitness: Gluttony, Sloth, Pride, and Envy 43:30 – Stewardship as the Narrow Way 44:37 – Closing Thoughts and Invitation for Round Two New Workout Music By Faithful Fitness 👉https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoSZ2FzgcDJy-rQeDy3fW9_ooqppmtd-D&si=2bG-RW0tRWZa73K3 Join The Faithful 5k 👉 https://www.raceentry.com/faithful-5k/race-information  Get your copy of Faithful Fitness: A 40-day devotional for Christian health, strength, and stewardship. 👉 https://faithfulfitnessdevo.com Join the Faithful Fitness community: Get coaching, accountability, workshops, tools, and Christ-centered support for your health journey. 👉 https://faithfulfitness.co/join Watch the full conversation on YouTube: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1VBf0u84nM&t=985s  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-with-coach-alex-vanhouten--5150768/support.