Let's Get Moving

Time To Get Moving
by Angie Ketcham

Let's just get this out in the open...I was not born an athlete.  My parents were not athletic before me.  I was not gifted with parents that made sure I was in all the dance classes and tumbling classes that many have the opportunity to be in now.  My athletic shoes in grade school were jelly shoes (remember those?) because my mom couldn't really afford much else.  I tried out for cheerleading in middle school and fell on my jumps.  I went out for track in high school.  They put me in the two mile and I was lapped by everyone.  The track meet was held up while I walked the last 1/4 mile because I was determined to finish the race.  I learned very early in life that I was not cut out to be an athlete. 

Unfortunately, God designed our bodies to move!  We were not created to sit and veg all the time.  I found this out the hard way after my children were born.  I found myself being hungry constantly (when pregnant and nursing) and unable to get out and exercise and the pounds packed on consistantly as the years moved on.  I am not proud that I have learned the hard way that we need to move our bodies to stay healthy as God wants us to be.


3 years ago, I took the challenge personally to do something about the state my body was in.  I didn't have money to sign up for the gym, so I invested in a sturdy pair of running shoes and downloaded the free "Couch to 5k" app....and started.  I have to be honest and say that I felt like I was torturing my body.  I thought I was going to die from lack of air to my lungs.  But, surprisingly, I didn't.  As a matter of fact, after about 3 weeks of being faithful to get out there and run, I started finding that I felt good about it.  I wouldn't say I enjoyed it, but I felt the benefits of it.  My clothes began to fit more comfortable.  I wasn't having back issues.  I could go longer distances without getting winded.  I was able to get up easier in the morning.  It was an overall positive experience for me.  And then, my schedule changed, making it harder to manage, and slowly, I got out of the habit and stopped running altogether.

Fast forward to my present state.  Well, I'm not going to beat myself up, but it's been a long winter and I have used that as an excuse not to push myself to get healthy.  I have been dealing with some health issues and chronic fatigue seems to be at the top of the list.  So, I have decided it's time to do something about it!  It is not fair to my family that they do not get the best of their wife and mom because I make choices not to keep up with my body.  Making the shift to exercise is not an easy one, but one that is well worth it, right?  Maybe it's time I look into getting a treadmill so that I'm not hindered by the seasons of the weather. Here are some tips to help get motivated if you have felt it is time to make that change as well:

Pray about it. 
Ask God to show you what His best plan is for your life and health.  Get honest and real about where things are at.  Give it to Him and ask Him to take control of this area in your life.  He will be faithful to give you divine appointments to reveal this to you if you earnestly seek Him in this matter.

Have a plan. 
Rome wasn’t built in a day and it will take some time to get your body where it needs to be.  Get a blank calendar and a journal.  Be honest and reflect on yourself and your current state. What changes need to be made?  Do you need to eat differently?  Do you need to drink more water?  What time of day is going to need to be cleared so you can exercise?  On your calendar, remind yourself of your goals and write them down on your calendar.  Spread out your objectives over several weeks so that you can focus on one objective a week or two.  Then determine to concentrate on that objective when it is time on your calendar.  Write down your feelings, failures, and successes in your journal.  Keep it simple and place it where you can see it often.

Find an accountability partner.
Exercise is always more successful when you have someone to do it with.  If you don’t have this luxury, find someone that will at least check in with you or you with them on a regular weekly basis just to see how things are moving along.  Pray together that God would help you stay with it.  Use kind and encouraging words with one another and God will bless that relationship.

 Get kids involved in working out with you.
One of the hardest obstacles for me has been what to do with the kids while trying to exercise?  Get the kids involved in exercising with you.  Get a stroller designed for walking inexpensive on Ebay or Amazon.  Buy videos that include baby in the exercises.  Sign up for the gym if that’s a possibility and utilize their daycare.  My child would ride her bike alongside me while I ran.  She enjoyed the time together and I knew she was safe while I ran.  Find creative ways to make it work.

 Use free resources. 
Use the library to find videos and equipment.  Some communities offer free or low cost programs that you could take advantage of .  Download free apps like Couch to 5K or Myfitnesspal and utilize those services.  I love to run because it’s free;)

Splurge once in awhile and reward yourself.
Buy yourself a new workout outfit or a special dinner out with the spouse.  Sign up for a fun run with a cause and dress up and act silly for lots of pictures.  Be good to yourself.  You deserve it!