E.X.E.R.C.I.S.E. Part TWO

On March 31st I wrote this blog on E.X.E.R.C.I.S.E. You can go here to read it first before continuing on here:  http://elizabethonthego.blogspot.com/2011/03/exercise.html

I really questioned if I was doing the right thing, by myself, to be putting some intimate details about my struggles with exercise. I was scared to put it out there but really felt God pressing on my  heart to do so.  Why?  Perhaps there are others like myself who are actually pretty active, happy, and enjoying  life, but then in the back of most thoughts is that drudgery of having extra weight, and no exercise regimen , motivation, no spark to get going to speak of. That WAS me.  That WAS me for the past seven years.   Did you notice the word "WAS"?


I decided to map out a 2.5 mile run which is grueling. It starts with a .6 mile hill, and has about three other hills filtered into the run.  Death of me!!!  That is what I thought the first two times I tried to run it. I failed. I failed terribly at running it.  But each time I finished.  I posted on our church's facebook sight that I would be doing this run every Monday evening at 7pm. I said it was a "beginner conditioning run".  I expected that God would send someone like myself, and together we would face that daunting run, and maybe even detour to Baskin Robbins or something like that.  Nope no such luck. He brought me a young healthy 26 year old running beast.  Rachel is her name and she has shown up on that run with me for the past four weeks.  


The first time I "ran it" I didn't. I actually sucked air and walked most of it. She just chatted away and said take your time no worries.  Then the second time less sucking air, a few more running strides.  The third time we ran it, I made it almost up that hill, but ran most of the run.  This past week was week four and three things have happened to me.


1.  My treadmill time is a 45 minute work out and I am doing it and NOW enjoying it and looking forward to it. I have found my groove with the kids and my husband.


2.  Knowing that Rachel is showing up every Monday has me working almost daily on running the treadmill.  I actually forgot this past week was Monday and ran on the treadmill and then ran with Rachel that same evening.  (who is this lazy, don' t have motivation mom?)


3.  Prayer over myself. In the same way I pray over my family, Daily asking God to give me the desire in my heart to take care of this part of my life.  


For me this is not about a scale. I have not once in the past four weeks weighed myself.  It's about my body not being my own, but God's temple.  God is not concerned with numbers on a scale. He does not care about "skinny jeans" or the numbers on the tag inside those skinny jeans. God is concerned that our bodies be His temple and that we take care of that temple.

2 Corinthians 4:10

That life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

Almost four weeks later I have done what I truly thought was the impossible.  I am not pushing myself beyond my abilities. I am not looking to the next person's ability greater than mine. I am simply asking God to help me show up for Him, for me and for my body to be healthy.

I am not my own dear Lord Jesus. Thank you for showing up in so many encouraging ways.  Thank you that I can look at that 2.5 mile run knowing that I am doing this for You to manifest me.  Amen, elizabeth

E.X.E.R.C.I.S.E

It is very hard to accept the simple fact that I am way out of shape and overweight. For most of my life I could commit three weeks to running and drop any extra weight. Extra weight was 5-10 pounds, not 30-40 pounds. Ouch did I really just type those digits? I did and it is my reality. I have never committed to a diet. I have read the fine print and watched many go on and off diets and it always come down to healthy choices and E.X.E.R.C.I.S.E. for me.


I have always had for the most part an inner confidence in myself. Going beyond the exterior and trying to see my heart as God sees my heart. Excusing the extra weight in exchange for a healthy baby boy named Eric. It was that pregnancy I gained 75 pounds. It was actually very easy. Have a condition that limited walking, forget exercise and a tummy that vomited salads and baked chicken, but could easily keep down a BK Broiler. The entire pregnancy fueled by fast food and treats. Yes, that will get you numbers on the scale.


As the years (Eric just turned seven) have unfolded I have been known to say that without any real exercise I have lost 10 pounds a year without trying.  Even had another pregnancy and kept that pregnancy weight under 23 pounds and lost all that weight within six weeks still carrying the extra from being pregnant with Eric.


So why do I write about this now? Our church is sponsoring a ladies run in June. (If interested in more info you can go to Not Your Own -- Helvetia Walk/Run on Facebook or www.hespeakinthesilence.com)


I signed up to be part of this. I am scared to death. Really, really really scared. I don’t feel comfortable talking about what is to come, what I must do, and how I am to get there. I love walking, running, playing tennis and riding bikes and horses. All this was my lifestyle, which did not require a special trip to the gym. Throw on some good shoes and go. That is not my lifestyle today. I have told myself every day that I would get up before the boys and jump on the treadmill. I have told myself every day that I would take the plastic off the DVD workout I bought three years ago. It is still in the plastic wrap. It comes down to one thing. I have no motivation, no will power, and no one putting a fire under me and making me move more.


The one thing I have going for me is that I do eat and feed my family in the most healthful ways. We eat good and hardy. I do yoga, on my own 1-2 days a week which allow me to run after my boys, hike up a mountain when the mountain calls and if I had to run for my life I supose I could. None of which get me moving on a regular basis. That regular basis would allow me to jump into a race when the signs go up. Instead I want to run and hide.  The past few years I am the one who shows up at the local races to hold everyone's stuff and take the pictures at the finish line.


I am not sure posting this and making my shortcomings public will serve me immediately, but is there anyone else who struggles like this. Not the struggle of a diet and keeping to it, but the struggle to just get out there and exercise. Do that run, do that walk, and do that DVD workout.


If you are a Solid Rock lady who wants to be part of this HUGELY Healthful event and need help getting moving, know that you are not alone. I am right there with you, still telling myself daily that this is the day I will do something. In the past two weeks I have “moved” six out of fourteen times. That is six more times than the past six months. So I know I will get there. I want to encourage anyone who reads this. It’s not enough for me to have someone say, “you can do it.” It is not enough for me to look in the mirror and tell myself that for a chubby gal I am dang cute” really I said that to my daughter the other day and I think she about choked from laughing so hard.  I was feeling down on my lack of exercise and needed some good self talk. haha!


In the same way I have the inner confidence that God sees my heart, He also sees the exterior. Daily I go to Him to work on my heart and be the best Elizabeth I can be. Now it’s time to go to Him to become the best physical Elizabeth I can be too. I want to be that healthy person God wants me to be. I am an older mom and I really really really need to do my best to stay in shape to keep up with my boys. Our season will be shifting soon. Tennis, bike riding, and hiking will become our regular routines and I want to be there, right there with my boys.


As the weeks begin to unfold I am challenging myself publicly and challenging you to do the same. Whether jumping into a race in June or just wanting to move more the challenge is to E.X.E.R.C.I.S.E. Will you join in the challenge? With summer activities, the great outdoors the challenge is to move more and E.X.E.R.C.I.S.E.


I am not going to start hardcore every single day. I am not challenging myself to do something big or small each day. My goal is to work up to daily movements outside of my mommy day routines. I am looking forward to this race. I am planning on running it. I use to run long distances and loved it before. I know that if I can drop this extra weight I would enjoy it again. So join me, and thousands of others who just want to E.X.E.R.C.I.S.E. more. Blessings Friends, Elizabeth