Stronger: What Doesn’t Kill You
Stronger: What Doesn’t Kill You
“Get into that muscle.” “Get there! Get there”, admonishes Nevie, personal trainer and owner of FLMD Fitness Studio.
Indeed, what doesn’t kill you…makes you stronger, so they say. While I’m still trying to figure out exactly who ‘they’ are, and my muscles still feel the effects of that workout, I do know that I feel stronger both mentally and physically.
Mental Strength
Wellness is not isolated to the mind or to the body. We are created mind, body and spirit and the three are inextricably linked. What we do to one area impacts the others. If we neglect one area, we neglect the others as well.
“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
And research is catching up with what the scriptures have already shown. We know that as a man thinketh, so is he. There is research suggesting that even thinking about exercise will make you stronger. We’ve heard the old adage, mind over matter. Well, your mind directly affects matter. To read more on that click here.
Right now I’m visualizing myself doing crunches. Yes, summer abs here I come (insert smile).
Physical Strength
A few years ago I got P90X. It was a very popular exercise routine of many DVD’s including: yoga, cardio, kempo, plyometrics and more. When I first started doing those DVD’s they were a killer. I couldn’t get through most of them without stopping. Fast forward several years. This week I put on one of the DVD’s. I was doing this thing for 30 minutes and thought to myself, “Did I just waste 30 minutes here?” My heart rate wasn’t up. That workout didn’t even scratch the surface on the warm up that I do in my exercise class. And in between going to workout classes I exercise at home doing H.I.I.T. or Tabata workouts that challenge me but those DVD’s…well.
This type of conditioning is definitely making my body stronger. I have pushed myself beyond what I ever imagined I’m capable of doing. When the trainer says “Get There”, she’s pushing us to GO BEYOND what we think in our heads we are capable of. It is then that we are digging into the muscles and affecting change. Now in my mind, that’s the point at which I truly want to give up. But if I give up then, I’d be cutting myself short of reaching my full potential. That is not isolated to exercise alone.
Have you cut yourself off from achieving the next level of performance when you were standing right at the brink of your breakthrough?
Spiritual Strength
…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1
In order for us to be able to ‘set aside weight’ we have to be strong enough to do so. In order to run with endurance we have to be conditioned to go the distance. We gain spiritual strength, stamina and endurance by exercising spiritual muscle. And just how do we strengthen spiritually?
~Word Workout
Feast daily on the Word. And it doesn’t have to be lengthy passages of scripture. Sometimes when I’m reading the Word, a single word can stand out and that will be my meditation throughout the day. I have to hide the word in my heart because something is certain to arise and I will need to have a ready word.
~Faith
Faith is a muscle. What happens when our muscles aren’t used? We can get atrophy. While the working of our faith doesn’t always feel good, I urge you like the trainer urged me, “Get There”. Your faith may be worked, stretched, and torn. This is how muscle it built. Feel the burn baby and praise Him!
Continue to go the distance. Right when you think you can’t do another rep, handle another setback, deal with another issue, press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling and get there! Stronger…Yes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
If you live in the DMV and need some encouragement in helping you get there, check out Certified Personal Trainer Nevina Gray owner of FLMD Fitness.
As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
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Tyra, inspiring post. You would make a good coach. I kind of feel I am close to a break through with my weight. Tired of pushing the extra 40 pounds around. As for my spiritual life, reading your post encouraged me a lot, thanks.
Betty,
I guess I am a coach of sorts, I’m an encourager of the brethren. I hope you come back to Inspired Life for additional encouragement to assist you on the total wellness journey. Discipline in the small things yields high dividends.
This is a very inspiring post — both physical and spiritual. I have days that I just tell Jesus, “I just can’t do this anymore. I can’t go on.” But, I do. I push on and keep going and keep doing what I know to do. It is hard, but I feel like my faith is stronger and my relationship with Jesus is stronger.
Thank you for writing this.
Oh sweet friend be encouraged. In our own strength and might we can’t go on but by the power of the spirit at work in us we are more than conquerors. Even when we don’t see it or feel it we have to speak life and praise. “I can do what you’ve called me to do Lord and I thank you that your joy is my strength”. Daily you are growing stronger!
You are SO inspiring, Tyra. I love how you work hard at taking care of your body. I struggle so much in that area. I’m doing pretty good these days with my “Word Workouts” :), but not so great with my body. I really feel God telling me it’s time to get my health in order, but I just can’t pull it together. Sorry to be such a whiner :). I just know how well you do this and I’m dying to know how you stay so regimented and faithful with your health. Much love to you. I’m going to sift through some more of your recipes while I’m here!
Be encouraged my friend. You said, “I just can’t pull it together”. Life and death is in the power of the tongue. Not by your strength and might but by the Spirit you are more than a conqueror. Speak Life Friend! Say to yourself, “Though this is tough I can make this decision right now to add to my health.” “I will make this food decision now that will bring you glory God.” “God thank you for training my palate to desire that which is good for me.” Candace friend, the struggle is real for me every day. While I desire and enjoy eating and creating dishes that honor my temple, I also like dessert and I am a popcorn fiend. I also love coffee…with cream and sugar. But God! He tells me to seek Him 1st. Find solace in Him and not in my coffee, treats and popcorn. So for me it’s a small decision, a small act at a time. Even as I type, I have had to train myself out of my nightly sweet treat. So I’m having a cup of chamomile tea with 1 tsp of honey instead. Last week I gave up my morning cup of Joe. One cup a day is what I had disciplined myself to but my attachment to that one cup was not healthy. So I’m weaning myself by drinking herbal coffee (a blend of dandelion, chicory and beets). I am praying with you friend. One small decision at a time. When faced with the decision just breathe deep and tell the Lord, I choose to honor you through honoring my temple. Then keep saying it. Write it. As you transition see if you can find healthier alternatives for the food items you are trying to avoid i.e. I like chocolate so I occasionally make these raw brownie bites totally natural and even with that I limit myself to one and keep the rest in the freezer. I also thank him that the food choices I’m making today with be a blessing not a curse to my children’s children (Deut 30:19). Sis I stand in agreement with you that you are more than a conqueror.
Thank you so much for this encouragement and advice, my sweet friend! I will definitely keep it all in my heart and mind. This I really need to write down somewhere: “One small decision at a time. When faced with the decision just breathe deep and tell the Lord, I choose to honor you through honoring my temple. Then keep saying it.” Perfect! You are appreciated, Tyra!