Getting real here: I was one of those girls. Growing up, in high school and into my very early 30s, working out was not something I had to do in order to maintain a figure. I had my first child when I was 21 and was back into my pre-pregnancy clothes within less than two months. I was skinny, but I was soft. Does anyone know what I’m talking about?
I was active with soccer, ice skating, and swimming all through school. Once I graduated, those activities became a thing of the past. My time was consumed in being an adult; working, paying bills, and taking care of my daughter, Sara. I would go to the gym with my roommates now and then (more for moral support) but wouldn’t break a sweat. Going to the pool was to work on my tan (or compete on how many freckles would pop out) and to make sure Sara didn’t drown.
Back then, I could drop ten pounds by cutting out coffee creamer. I could drink alcohol, eat fast-food every morning (Chick-fil-a is not as bad as others, but it is still fast food – and they have great breakfast!) and I still had to tape my wedding dress to my chest. Like I said, I started drinking my coffee black (not bad) and I was drinking green and white tea once or twice a day, but I didn’t enter a gym or go running (no one chasing me, so why run?). Oh how I miss my metabolism! All I have to do is look in the direction of a bakery and I gain five pounds!
Living in Alaska doesn’t make it any easier. Everything is more expensive than the lower 48 (states – not counting Hawaii). A gym membership that includes access to a pool for swimming laps is typically less than $20 per month. In Alaska, it’s 3 times that without the pool! And everything is so spread out that I would have to travel 15-30minutes out of my way to go to the gym. That’s requiring a discipline I can tell you I don’t have right now. Plus, I’m way too cheap.
With my metabolism in hibernation mode, my clothes being shrunk by my dryer, and my 40s looming in front of me, something had to change! It may sound bad, but I really want to be the “hot” mom. I don’t want to be comfortable with being frumpy. So what does this girl do? She uses her trusty google skills to find the best lazy person work-outs available!
Okay, so they aren’t for lazy people. You can’t work out if you’re lazy, and I don’t think you can be lazy if you work-out (I’m sure I could prove otherwise, but that’s not the point of this post). Did you know there are exercises that require a couch? Seriously! There are some that are called “Sofa Abs” – how great is that?
I haven’t tried the “Sofa Abs,” but it might be one that keeps me distracted from the two C’s (chips and cookies, of course). This next one I found pretty ironic, too: “Ten Exercises You Can Try in Your Bed.” While most of us will, right away, let our minds go in one direction (and some will snicker while others blush), I’m keeping this PG. I can say that I’ve done some of these before I knew they were out there on Google and Pinterest. I didn’t do them regularly, so no real visible results.
I guess I’m stubborn – or maybe it’s the rebellious spirit in me. After searching out work-out routines, suggestions, and best practices, I refused to go with any one thing. Instead, I pieced together my own. I didn’t want to exercise on the couch – it’s my relaxing time (and sometimes my typing time – like now!), and I didn’t want to spoil the ambience. The sacredness (I guess sacredness is a word; spell check didn’t alert me) of my bed was also another no-zone. There are other physical activities that have been blessed by God for that sanctuary (see? PG!).
So the living room floor (in front of or behind the couch), the hallway wall, and the kitchen counter would be my fitness zones. My work-out has been pieced together and I’ve found something that is working for me; I’m seeing results, I have more energy, and I’m even upping my reps! But while this has been exciting for me (I really do want to keep seeing the desire in my husband’s eyes when he looks my way), I’ve been able to see how it’s so important to not only keep up on physical fitness, but also spiritual fitness.
There are multiple scriptures in the Bible warning about growing weary and being equipped with all we need for this life and the next to come (eternity). One in particular comes to mind and it happens to be a family favorite: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads “All scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The verses leading up to this passage talk about continuing in what has already been learned.
Other fairly common scripture messages: seeking God in order to finish races, fight the good fight, not grow weary, have things “added unto you” and so on. If I wanted to participate in a marathon, unless I trained A LOT all I would be doing is either watching the runners or handing out water. If anyone wants to do anything well, there is training, studying, seeking out those who have what we are trying to obtain (wisdom, guidance, etc.). My daughter, Sara, has an amazing voice! But she doesn’t stop there: she spent time singing in a choir and also takes voice lessons. She’s taking what she has started with and training to become better.
I’m a firm believer in radical grace. There is no perfection in my actions, but when God looks at me on judgement day, He is going to see Christ’s righteousness. Does that mean I’m satisfied? No! I want to walk out what I believe, not because there’s a list of rules that are required to be followed in order to be accepted, but because God loves me. I want to run this race well, I want to fight the good fight, and I hate being weary! In order to do this, it’s a daily decision to spend time talking with God, getting into the Word, and thinking about it.
Most physical trainers/instructors will tell you to focus on the muscles that you’re supposed to be working on. No problem! The burn is making it impossible to ignore! But wouldn’t you know? You may have started with a 30 second plank, but now you’re able to hold it for 60 seconds (or 90 seconds!) That’s what happens when you train. You get stronger. It’s the same in your spiritual walk. As you spend time with God, you get to know Him and you start trusting Him with more areas of your life.
As you find a fitness routine that’s right for you, I challenge you to spend time becoming spiritually fit as well. I definitely find myself praying while holding a 60 second plank – and I pray for comfort after 40 calf raises. Both areas of fitness are important for more than physical and spiritual health, but also for mental health. You’ll feel better about yourself physically while you’re discovering the depths of how much God loves you, the lengths He went to ransom you, and the heights to which He’ll take you. Now go break a sweat!
***My work-out routine for anyone who is interested. I worked up to this, so feel free to start out with fewer repetitions / less time. Remember that it’s all a process – you don’t reach your 100-miles-away destination with one step… keep walking:
- 40 leg lifts (right leg)
- 1 minute elbow plank
- 40 leg lifts (left leg)
- 1 minute elbow plank
- 40 calf raises
- 1 minute elbow plank
- 1 minute wall sit
- 1 minute elbow plank
***A great resource for work-out routine examples (sofa abs!), meal plans, helpful videos, daily challenges and an amazing community of others on their physical fitness journey: https://darebee.com/