Shortcuts

Brace yourself, I'm about to get on my soapbox and go on a tangent. Early Sunday morning I was flipping through the channels and came across several infomercials for some sort of exercise program. There were promises that "in only 20 minutes a day, three days a week" I could have this incredible body. You can hardly watch primetime tv or listen to the radio without hearing an ad for some sort of miracle pill or shake or food additive that will allow you to eat whatever you want and still lose weight. I cannot begin to tell you how aggrevated I get at these gimmicks. That's what they are - gimmicks. You want to know how to lose weight and get fit? WORK HARD AND EAT RIGHT! You want to know how those people on tv get those amazing bodies? They WORK HARD AND EAT RIGHT!!! I'm sorry, but there is no substitute for hard work. Don't believe me? Maybe this will help:

Proverbs 21:5 (NLT) - "Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty."

Even the bible warns against taking shortcuts. There are numerous verses in Proverbs that talk about working hard and how those who work hard will be blessed but those who are lazy will be cursed. Believe me, I wish it was easy. I was the girl who tried every diet pill and drink I could afford. I didn't want to give up the fast food or sugary foods (especially the sugar!). I didn't want to workout - I absolutely hated to workout. I didn't want to sweat; I didn't want to hurt. If it hurt, I would quit or scale way back. I was bound and determined to find a shortcut. Luckily for me, God brought my husband Justin into my life, and he got me involved with CrossFit. I figured out that pushing myself in the gym actually felt good, and that putting down the cake and fries paid off. I am proud to say that I am 32 years old, and I am in the best shape of my life. I have abs for the first time; I'm not ashamed to workout in just a sports bra when it gets hot. I have muscles in the my arms; I have traps! I can do pullups and double unders, and I can run!! None of this came easy. There was no shortcut. I learned (and am still learning) to push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of doing. I have also gained more self confidence, self esteem and self respect than I ever thought possible.

I also began making changes in my diet. Please don't think for one minute that this was easy for me. I struggle every day with the food part of this, but I know that it pays off in the end. I slip up and eat things I shouldn't, a lot, but I try to minize the damage and get right back on track. I'm not going to lie to you - none of this is easy. It would be a lot easier to let myself gain weight or to continue to look for that miracle pill or potion that would make me skinny, but working out and eating right has become much more to me than just being skinny. I want to be strong; I want to be fit; I want to be healthy, and I'm not going to find that in some pill or powder.

This tirade is not meant to discourage anyone, but rather to encourage you. I want to encourage you to not be afraid of a little hard work or a little sweat. Once you get past the initial hurt, you will realize that your body is an amazing thing that is capable of so much more than you think. If you apply yourself, you can do some pretty incredible things. The reason these shortcuts upset me so much is that I know people are cheating themselves out of discovering how amazing they truly are. I've been there, and I don't want them to be disappointed when yet another lose-weight quick scheme fails.

I have watched so many people at CrossFit who came in and thought they were in way over their head. I have then watched them undergo a transformation; and while the physical change is great, the mental change is even more amazing. I see people gaining confidence in their ability and in themselves. They walk in with their head held higher, and they are now ready to tackle a WOD instead of being intimidated by it. Once again, that doesn't come from a bottle.

I know this has gotten kind of long, but believe me, it could be a lot longer. I could go on and on and on when it comes to this topic. I challenge you to believe that you are strong and capable of some pretty amazing things, so get out there and push your limits. Don't be afraid of some hard work or sweat or of getting a little dirty. The results are well worth it, and you will be so proud of yourself for all that you have accomplished.

This blog is based on Psalm 139:13-16:
"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous-how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of
the womb.
You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

You were created for a purpose, and God made you exactly the way you are on purpose! You truly were created to be fabulous!