I've been thinking about Psalm 121:
I lift my eyes up to the mountains -
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip -
He who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, He who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you -
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm -
He will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore."
To me, this Psalm signifies the beginning of a journey...there will be hard times and obstacles ahead, but if I just "lift my eyes up to the mountains" I'll remember where my hope, faith and confidence lies...in the Maker of heaven and earth! Psalm 121 also reminds me of one of my favorite movies, The Sound of Music. This is the last thing the Reverend Mother says to Fraulein Maria before she begins her escape from the Nazis and her journey into the Alps: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help." And then she says "God be with you." This Psalm reminds me of all the ways that He is with us.
What I'm learning in the gym:
I've been giving a lot of consideration to personalizing fitness programs. Every person is motivated in different ways. For example, many people are motivated by training for a specific goal or event, such as a 5k, triathlon, marathon, or obstacle race (Warrior Dash, Tough Mudder, etc). Some are motivated by "mastering" a routine, while others need more variety in order to stay interested.
I have tried a lot of different workouts and systems, and this is what works for me right now: shorter workouts (1 hour max), cardio and weights in the same workout, anaerobic training, high intensity intervals, working multiple muscle groups simultaneously, learning new and more complex skills, incorporating balance and core training throughout the workout. I don't spend much time on cardio machines, but I implement kettlebells, TRX, battling ropes, medicine balls, free weights, cable resistance, stability balls, boxing gloves, and bodyweight exercises. This is a good fit for my body (less overuse injuries) and it's also a great creative outlet for me.
There is an exercise program out there that is ideal for your body, goals, and personality...even if you have to create it yourself! It will just take some time and some effort. If you can learn to think of fitness as a life-long pursuit, I believe you are much more likely to succeed in your goals. You are also less likely to become discouraged when you lose momentum, which is inevitable...it happens to everyone! If you think this way, you'll allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from trial and error. Remember, everything worthwhile is a process and it will take some time...but in the end, it will be worth everything you've invested!
What I'm Reading:
Hyperfitness by Sean Burch. My Dad gave this book to me, and it is my all-time favorite fitness book. These workouts are based on the training program Sean Burch used when he was preparing to climb Mt. Everest. The exercises are intense, fun, creative, and will challenge your entire body and your mind! I turn to this book for inspiration when I'm creating new workouts. This exercise should look familiar to my clients! :)
What I'm Listening To:
"I'm On Your Side" by Enation. This reminds me of God's love and grace...beautiful music and lyrics!
"I'm on your side
and you don't have to hide
and you don't have to lie...
I love you enough to tell you the truth
you don't have to change for me
but love will never leave you the same...
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