Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

I had no idea I would receive such  encouraging and loving responses from all of you regarding my last post.  I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your words of encouragement.  I got back on the treadmill this morning with so much more confidence than I had Monday when I got off.  I pushed myself until the running was almost pleasant...I tend to have 1 of two problems when I run; my muscles hurt or I get out of breath.  If my muscles hurt, I run slower and never get out of breath.  If they don't hurt, I can run faster but get out of breath.  So, I've noticed that once the brief pain is gone, I can run faster....did you hear me...FASTER!  Today my friends I ran and ran and ran...I was shocked when I finished my 3 miles in a little over 39 minutes.  SHOCKED I tell you!

I wanted to keep going but I'm on a bit of a routine and don't want to stray too far but you know what, I might just add that extra 1/2 mile or mile to my next run.  Can you believe it???   I tell you what, it's God.  This is a God thing.  He makes me so strong!  I honestly have told myself...if Jesus can carry the cross, beaten and battered with sign of hope ahead, I can run, I'd better run.  I need to be the healthiest woman, strong and mighty to do the work I have ahead of me for the Lord.  I pray about my body.  I pray that God gives me strength and makes me the best me I can be to serve Him.  The other thing I need to start praying about is my diet.  I need to start trusting that God gave my body the right signals to tell me when I need to eat and how much instead of looking at the clock and saying it's time to eat.  He gave us water, that's easy.  I could drink of His life giving water all day long but I find I need to "be still" in order to do it.  I'm seeing a correlation between the health of my body and the health of my spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:15 - 20 (New International Version)

15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?
17But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

 Our bodies are the temple (home) of the Holy Spirit!  We need to care for our bodies the best we can, showing respect and appreciation to God, our creator.

John 17:22, 23a, 25-26 (New International Version)
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me.
25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Christ dwells in us! And we in Him! ..... keeping Christ as center in our emotional, spiritual and physical lives will keep us whole, healthy and in unity.  No matter what physical state your body is in, please remember how much God loves you and that He does hold every moment of your life in His hands.  Keep Christ the center of your "temple" and seek Him with all of your health needs, He is faithful to direct us when we ask  .http://www.fitfortheking.info
So, now that you have encouraged me...I'm encouraging you.  I should probably also stop assuming that all of my readers are men because a handful of e-mails I received were from men.  So, to all you ladies and gentlemen out there who happen to read my little blog in my little corner, I encourage you.   Our Father is encouraging you.  Hey, if you are one who is in the same boat as I am, keep it up.  We can do it!

5 comments:

  1. I'm glad you are feeling more confident on that treadmill. I should start doing the same :/ I love that you are using your blog (and the voice you have through it) to share God's word :) You will be blessed! Have a great day! Check out my blog www.pinkxstitches.blogspot.com

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  2. I love it! I feel you. I need it to warm up so I can run outside again, or I need to heartlessly take my elliptical back from my mom (she nabbed it back from me when I was pregnant.) You make me yearn to get going!
    I still remember the day that I was pushing myself and I got to the point where I thought, "I can't! I just can't keep going!" and then a voice in the back of my head said, "WHY NOT? SAYS WHO? My body? When has my BODY ever had the right answers?" and I pushed further and broke past that wall and it was SUCH a glorious, victorious feeling.

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  3. I missed your last post but just went back and read it. I too am running for fitness and to lose a few pounds and tone. I'm not big (5'4" and around 124-132lbs up & down) but I have areas that need work. I ran 15-20 miles a week last year and it took me 5 mos to lose 8 lbs...and then I had surgery, and the cold weather came in and I lost my running routine (I had to run outdoors b/c I didn't have a treadmill or gym membership) and that weight and those few crucial inches came right back on. I joined a new gym the beginning of December, and have been running indoors and out, about 20-25 miles a week, and doing strength training (nothing heavy), as well as some high intensity interval training (compliments of Jillian Michaels). All this for 2 1/2 mos and a strict diet and haven't lost a single pound...in fact I've gained 5 and my clothes are tighter. I've been so discouraged. My body is tighter, I'm stronger, however I think I must be doing something wrong. Muscle weighs more that fat, that I know, but it also takes up less space, which means I should be going down in clothing size not up...at least thats what happened last year. I dropped from a size 6 to a 2. For whatever reason, my body is being incredibly stubborn this time around. I've been switching things up a lot over the last couple weeks trying to shock my body into burning the fat off and reveal toned muscle. Eating egg whites with spinach/tomatoes for breakfast, baby spinach with berries salad for lunch and a lean sensible dinner. Nothing but water to drink. Fruit or veggies for snack. I'm determined. I think I've dropped a pound since last week. For me..no matter how hard or how far I run or how many calories I burn my body doesn't respond until I fuel it w/ the right foods. Thats the hard part...figuring out what works. Anyway, you aren't alone. Thanks for your posts and I'll be reading along.
    .. and thank you for the verses of encouragement from our Lord. That's just as important...afterall, it's all for Him anyway!

    Hana
    the MomTog Diaries

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  4. Thanks! It helps to remind ourselves we exercise for our health and physical well-being, and not for vanity.

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  5. Hooray for you! keep at it girl. You are going to make it!!!

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