Are You Too Busy to Squeeze Fitness Into Your Day?

By Laurette Willis –

Is it a challenge to squeeze fitness into your day? There are ways to incorporate health and fitness for spirit, soul and body into your day—and actually have more time and energy to do all you’re called to do.

Hectic schedules seldom leave time for two very important parts of a well-balanced life: our relationship with God and keeping our bodies strong and healthy. God wants us to put Him first. Yet before I made time with the Lord a daily priority, I wondered why I never seemed to have enough time. Without realizing it, the rest of my life was suffering because I didn’t have my priorities in the right order. But when I began investing time in my relationship with the Lord first, I found the peace and wisdom to handle whatever came my way the rest of the day.

Faith AND Fitness!

Why not combine the two—faith and fitness? The Lord delights to be a part of everything we do—even exercise! One woman I know respectfully calls Him her “Personal Trainer.” Suddenly physical activity is no longer drudgery but an extension of our worship time with Him. In His presence, the joy of the Lord lifts and strengthens us spiritually, emotionally and physically.

Here are 5 quick ideas to make the most out of a short amount of time:

1. Cut workouts in half and squeeze in a 10- or 20-minute session instead of your normal workout. These mini-workouts can still produce lasting results and keep you from putting off working out until tomorrow, the day after or next week. Make use of the time you DO have.

2. Get up a little earlier. Either ask the Lord to awaken you earlier, or set the alarm clock 30 minutes earlier to pray and get a workout in before your day starts.

3. Lunch break: Divide your lunch hour in half and devote 30 minutes to exercise before you eat. Curb your appetite and boost your metabolism at the same time!

4. Nap time: If you have children at home, squeeze in a 10- or 15-minute workout while they’re napping.

5. Commercial break: Instead of vegging out in front of the TV, use the three to five minutes during the commercials to get some exercise in. I keep my exercise mat and rebounder (mini-trampoline) in the living room so I can stretch or bounce-bounce-bounce through some of my favorite TV shows.

Better yet, speak aloud your Bible-based confessions for the day while working out, walking, running on the treadmill…you get the idea! Combine faith and fitness in every way you can.

Changing Your “Want To”

What is your “want to”? Make a decision to add at least 20 minutes of exercise into your day (30-60 minutes is even better!). Commit your decision to the Lord and ask Him to help you. I guarantee, you’ll quit saying that you are too busy. Instead, you’ll suddenly find you are able to have a few minutes here and there that you can devote to becoming a “Fit Witness for Christ!”

Christian Fitness Expert Laurette Willis is the Director of PraiseMoves Fitness Ministry (http://praisemoves.com). Hear the latest in faith and fitness at http://ChristianFitnessTeleseminar.com. Get her free “21-Day Christian Fitness Program” and “Fit Favorites Devotional” http://praisemoves.com.