“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,  for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Exercise can bring glory to our Creator if done with the right attitude and perspective.  Not everyone is able to exercise…there are those who, unfortunately, cannot move at all.  We are all different in what we can, and/or need to do, and a sovereign God knows this!  Be encouraged and do what you can!  As you will see coming up, the key is to start!  Paul speaks of athletes, running a race, exercise, and discipline when he addresses the folks at Corinth (I Corinthians 9).  His message indicates that exercise is good!  He reminds the Corinthians and all of us that the prize obtained for worldly accomplishments is perishable.  So, whether the prize for me is to feel better, be stronger, lose two pounds or two hundred pounds, I am encouraged to do it with an attitude that brings glory to God!  The prize at the end of this race, the race to our eternal home, is imperishable.  A few weeks ago, Pam and I shared our story as to how we got started exercising, (you can read it here: All In The Family {Part One}) and this week, we will move on and see what our younger athletes have to share!

Seth’s Story

When I was a young boy, I was in very good shape. I loved to ride my bicycle, and even tried my best to keep up with my neighbors after they got 4-wheelers!  I played baseball and basketball through junior high and begin working out and playing football.  I was in tip-top shape.  After high school when the sports were over, there wasn’t much motivation for me to continue getting all that exercise. I slowly put on weight…to the tune of 30 lbs! It wasn’t until I met a young lady in 2011 that ran marathons that I started getting back into shape. She lived out of town, and when she would come home once a month, she wanted me to run with her. I began running in the mean time to avoid embarrassment. I made 2 miles with her by the time she came home. I enjoyed getting back into shape now that I had new motivation! I lost that 30lbs and began working out some. That young lady is now my wife. We got tired of the same old “globo” gym and decided to build a CrossFit gym in our garage. We also started going weekly to one of our local affiliates, CrossFit Rabid. I just may be in better shape now than I was in high school.

 Garage gym Crossfit competition Biking on the Chief Ladiga trail

Allison’s Story

At 12 years of age, I was overweight and lacking in self confidence. It was at that time that I realized I could take control of my weight through a change of eating habits and exercise.  With a resolve to lose weight, my brother created me a workout regimen that would change my outlook on exercise for life.  Along with a change in diet in which I gave up cokes, little debbie cakes, and seconds at dinner, my brother became my very own personal trainer! He had me doing pushups, situps, and burpees along with running up the very steep hill we lived on 5 days a week. By the time I turned 13, I had lost nearly 30 pounds giving me a confidence that shaped my teen years!Over the  past 13 years, I have taken up running, fitness classes, forms of calisthenics, and most recently, Crossfit.  Running has been a huge part of my fitness journey since I was a freshman in college when I participated in my first 5K. Since then, I have run many more races including 10K’s, 15K’s, half marathons, and one full marathon….all of which have kept me motivated to continue running!Exercise began as a source to lose weight, but over the years exercise has become an important part of who I am. It provides relief from the trials and stress of life, allows me to stay healthy and maintain weight while feeling my best, and also gives me a community to be a part of.  For me, exercise is not only physical but spiritual as well.  I am often reminded while exercising that strength and endurance are only built through perseverance which is similar to our Christian walk. 

Katy’s Story

Have you ever reached a point in your life when you looked around and thought “how on earth did I end up here?”  That is what happened with me in 2012.  I remember looking at a picture and thinking, “is that really me?!”  I had been active my whole life and maintained a decent look, but at this point, I knew something had to be done. I was extremely overweight.  And I had no idea where to start.  I knew Pam exercised, so I began talking to her, and through her encouragement, I joined the YMCA.  It was awful.  I think the first time I went, I made it a whole three minutes on the elliptical. I was ridiculously out of shape, but I never gave up.  As hard as it was, I knew this was a start!  Going on a regular basis coupled with a healthy diet, I started seeing results!  

But as with anything else, I got a little tired of the mundane.  I needed to spruce up my exercise routine!  Allison is a runner and I talked with her about running and decided to give it a try.  Next thing I knew, I had registered for a 5k!  I trained diligently, and completed my first 5k in January of 2014! Allison ran it with me and finished probably 20 minutes before me, but she came to find me on the course and crossed the finish line with me!  What an encouragement she has been to me in my road to better health!One of my longest runs!

I am not by any means where I want to be, but I am good with my progress.  It has been slow and gradual, but consistent.  I feel better than I ever have, and exercise has become a great outlet for me!  I recently joined a crossfit gym, so no two days are ever alike and I work out with different people each day.  It has become the highlight of my afternoons!