Exercise and the Family

Exercise...we have all heard the lectures on the benefits of exercise, and we all know it's important. We desire to run around with our kids, to play games, to have fun. But, what is holding us back from the discipline of exercise?

Recently, my family and I watched highlight films from my husbands wrestling career at Findlay High School. I pointed out to him that these matches were in 2002-2003! That was 15 years ago! When you look upon your high school highlight films or photos, you might realize that that was a long time ago.

So what was different back then that encouraged you to exercise? Obviously you did not have bills to pay or dishes to clean, or kids to take care of. You did not have kids to drive around to their sports activities or dinner to prepare. But, you did have drive. And you did have a desire to do your absolute best. Not in every case, but I would bet that at least sometime in your youth, you remember working hard in exercise or at your sport and the results came.

I saw my husband running the halls of Findlay High School in his highlight film. He was determined to work hard and was fulfilled because he felt great. We all want to be happy, energized to take on the day, and strong to face anything that comes our way. So, what is holding us back?

I think we forget the value and the joy in hard work. I think we believe that life is supposed to be easy as we get older, so we believe we do not have to work as hard. A role model of mine said that he thought life would keep getting easier as he got older, but he is finding out that is just not the reality. Life is always tough, we just have to get tougher.

So, how do you get encouraged to exercise when you do not really want to exercise?

*Know the perks. Do you want a better immune system, a stronger heart, more focus, less stress, a better attitude? Do you want to enjoy your kids more?

*See the potential for positive results. A negative mindset is defeating, but a positive one can take you to reaching your goals. Proverbs 17:22 states, "A cheerful heart makes you healthy."

*Exercise everyday. Do something everyday, even if it is taking a walk or stretching, that way it becomes a habit.

*Get a better perspective on time. A 10 minute jog can go a long way. Before long you will be able to jog for 20, or 30 minutes. Just keep reminding yourself that 10 minutes is not a lot of time. In fact, it's 1/144 of your day! If you do not like to jog, do simple exercises for 10 minutes to start. Remember, when you get to think about you for 20-30 minutes a day, you won't have to be focused on you for the rest of the day.

*Encourage your kids to exercise with you. They could be a great source of motivation and fun, as you get stronger and healthier together as a family.

Proverbs 14:23 tells us that "All hard work brings a profit." The Scriptures, also, tell us to "have respect for the Lord and avoid evil. That will bring health to your body. It will make your bones strong (Proverbs 3:7-8)." How encouraging it is to know that God wants us to have good health and strong bones! We must work and the results will come.

Thanks for reading!

Melissa Seng