Whatever the words or the plans we have heard or said something along these lines at some time. The plans are set but the follow-thru takes effort, discipline, consistency and it is just too much and by the way whose plan was this anyway. It is at this time where we we hit the end of the year woes and the New Year resolutions and this is the time where those of us who try to attain health, get slim, you name it for the wrong reasons will become discouraged and more often than not (according to what we see and our own experiences)throw in the towel and say I JUST CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE and it's not even worth the effort"!
Here is the dilemma; when we enter anything with the wrong motives in heart we often find it to hard to stand when the challenges come and if we have started out with hopes of the outcome being of selfish nature, then we have nothing to keep us going and we give up on the outcome. In the Fitness Industry we look at these type of plans on a timeline and in a market where people are sold on just making money rather than really helping to train people for a lifestyle change, they are happy to have you pay for a year membership, 3 months with a personal trainer etc. all the while they are very aware that the national average for a person staying on a new program is 3 weeks. We however want you to succeed and see positive, healthy changes in your lifestyle while at the same time encouraging you in your motives with a desire to see you honoring God and doing it for this reason rather than looking out for self and trying to look good for the Christmas party.
This being said, it doesn't mean you will not look good in your clothes, feel better about yourself, lose weight and body fat; all these things will happen, however the motive has to be honoring God and longing to be Fit for Life and Fit to Serve wherever you find yourself.
The truth is as we start a God honoring physical fitness program out of obedience to the Lord to care for our bodies, which have been created in His image the blessings of obedience will include; weight loss, looking better, feeling better and performing better. How you look speaks to your desire, discipline and will (eating well, exercising regularly, keeping yourself mobile and supple) If your healthy in body it will affect your attitude and emotions towards others but when your degree of physical fitness takes a downward spiral through poor choices, the quality and joy in your life bottoms out as well. As you become more physically fit you'll perform better at work, play and life in general. Your brain will function better due to higher amounts of blood, oxygen and nutrients that you are sending it and you strength, stamina, endurance, power, coordination and balance will also improve.
No matter your age, fitness level, health or hardship at this time IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START! The amazing thing about God's creation the human body is that the only cells which continue to recreate up to the point of death are in the muscles and tissues, which means that until your last breath muscles can still be strengthened. My colleague, mentor, friend and coach ask the question in the book "Fit to Serve" becoming what you where created to be. "Are you, right now, committed to doing everything you can to maximize your life? Spirit, Soul and Body?"
If you can read this and answer with a resounding YES, then you are on the path and journey to becoming the best human being you can be and discovering everything you where created for. If you cannot answer YES, would you take a break and ask what it is that holds you back and what you need to change in order to start down this path of being "FIt to Serve" and Fit for Life so you can in obedience to God be who He has created you to be. God wants us to be as physically fit as possible and this means it is up to us to make the start.
May this year not end with meaningless resolutions for 2010 but be a time you draw a line in the sand and say "this next year will be the beginning of the rest of my life and I will fight for, walk in and choose obedience in order to honor God with my whole being Spirit, Soul and Body. (1 Thess 5:23)
Here's the hope for you to take home concerning this physical fitness timeline: You can be at 95% as physically fit as you will ever be within 1 year after starting and continuing a consistent workout and exercise protocol.
If you walk away after reading this without hope that you too can accomplish the goals you and God have, I have not been responsible with my training and gifts. You can do this just get started where you can and go at it with all you have been given.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
