Workout Rebellion

Now that my ankle has healed and the temperatures are a bit cooler I have started running again. Unlike my friend Susan, who runs mega marathons, I run just enough for a quick workout in hopes of fitting more comfortably into my clothes.

Unfortunately all the rumors about 40 yr. old metabolism are true and I'm afraid that for me running is not enough anymore. I now have to "mix up" my exercise routine in order to trick my body into burning fat. And even worse, I have to curb my eating habits! Of course as soon as I decide that is what I am going to do I am confronted with some kind of "Death by Chocolate" dessert. Get behind me Satan (and I don't mean on my thighs, lol)!!

Anyway, I have found myself in some strength training classes at the gym recently. After my brain invented several good excuses as to why I couldn't go (battling a cold, I was already "cleaned up" and didn't want to sweat off my makeup, it was too nice of a day...) my body paid no attention and I ended up in the middle of a military-like workout nightmare!

Not that long ago I prided myself on my workout endurance. I was determined to work as hard as I could, lift as much weight as possible and do whatever it took to keep up with the instructor (let's just call her Cruella). Perhaps it is my first-born, rule-follower nature that led me to believe I didn't have a choice but to LIFT when told to "lift" or SQUAT when ordered to "squat".

Well lately I have found myself in exercise rebellion. I start out the class strong but I have been shocked to find that there are times my body does not follow Cruella's instruction. She says "JUMP" and I hear my mouth say "I don't think so." She says "GIVE ME 4 MORE!" and I mumble "No Way!"

The thing is, my brain wants to keep up but my body is shaking and uncooperative. At that point I don't care if my arms jiggle or my rear end sags, I just want out of this torture!! Besides, Cruella is on my payroll and I don't have to do what she says. Why, oh why have I signed up to suffer like this??

And then Cruella said something that I have not been able to get out of my mind. She said, "In order to get stronger, sometimes you must make yourself weak."

~To build muscles I must be willing to physically push my body to its limit.
~To love someone I must be willing to be vulnerable.
~To be a good Christian witness I must be willing to walk by faith, not by sight.
~And I certainly must humble myself before God if I want to be filled with the power of His Spirit!

HMMM! Perhaps I need to listen a lot more carefully to those people God places in my life, including trainers at the gym. And more importantly I need to be obedient to endure the trials and struggles that come my way by persevering through pain and exhaustion in order to develop and strengthen my "faith muscles".

Who would have thought I would get all of that out of an hour workout class? Thank You Lord for using my weakness to speak so strongly to me!!

Romans 7:19; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; 2 Thessalonians 1:4