Fit 4 Service

Have you heard of Fit-to-Fat-to-Fit (aka Fit 2 Fat 2 Fit), an experiment by fitness instructor Drew Manning who wanted to relate to his clients' struggles to lose weight?  According to The Blaze, Manning gave up exercise and ate unhealthy food from May to November 2011 to gain 70 pounds on purpose.  Now back at his original weight, Manning describes how difficult it was to get back into a fitness routine to take off the excess pounds.

I could’ve saved Manning a lot of trouble, if he’d have just asked me about it.  I know how difficult it is! Two years ago I began a healthy-living group at my church.  Over this two-year period I shed 20 pounds through eating healthy and incorporating daily physical activity.  Straying from my healthy lifestyle for the past few months due to emotional issues put me right back where I started two years ago.  Getting back into the fitness routine seems even harder this time around.

What surprised Manning and his wife about his obesity is that it bled into other areas. Emotionally, Manning became a different person.  He wasn’t as helpful around the house, nor was he as positive in parenting as he once was.  Again, I could’ve forewarned him.  There is a strong tie between obesity and emotional health.  One must address underlying emotional issues in order to achieve victory over overeating.  If not, the vicious cycle continues.  Emotional issues link to overeating, which links to obesity, which links to emotional issues, and so on.  

Manning describes going back to the gym again to pick up his fitness routine as humiliating.   I know what you mean, Manning!  It’s embarrassing to be back at square one.

Yesterday I ventured out for a walk along Three Notch Trail in Charlotte Hall.  Granted it was rather humid, but my legs felt so heavy, it was as if they were glued to the asphalt trail—much like the airplane that got stuck in the tarmac in Washington on Friday.  Why is this so difficult? I wondered.  This should be a cake walk. (No pun intended...okay, maybe it is intended)

Previously, I’d walked a lot farther and harder than that.  This shouldn’t be that hard. I became disgusted with myself.  Why did I allow my emotions to call the shots?  Will I ever get back to my goal weight? Will I enjoy exercise again? Should I just give up?

I came upon a sign at the edge of the trail—a house sign installed by Charlotte Hall residents Mr. and Mrs. Dale C. Grace, who dubbed their property “Perseverance.” Nestled in the ivy at the base of the sign post was an antique plow.  I paused to take in the scene.  There was something familiar about it.  Then I remembered some words from Scripture. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”—Hebrews 12:1

Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Grace for the sign!  God will grant me the grace to persevere so that I can once again be healthy enough to complete the work He has marked out for me, for “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”—Luke 9:62

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