Do you hate to exercise?

If so, I’d say you’re right up there with most everybody else in this country. As a matter of fact, about 80% of Americans don’t get the recommended amount of exercise. So it’s probably pretty safe to say that most of those people hate exercise, too.

I know…I can hear it now, “I don’t hate exercise, I just don’t have time.”

Let’s be honest with ourselves for just a minute. If you really really enjoyed exercise, wouldn’t you figure out how to work it into your day? Wouldn’t you maybe not get on social media, not hit the snooze button 3 times, or not Netflix binge some Parks & Rec (might just be speaking for myself on that one)? Maybe?

So, let’s assume for just a minute that are like everybody else, and you might not be exercise’s biggest fan either.

Here’s the problem with being like everybody else.

Everybody else is tired, sleep deprived, overweight, suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, and painful joints. Everybody else is trying to figure out how to deal with stress in all the wrong ways and suffering the consequences. And, everybody else is getting weaker and less functional day by day.

But, the good news is——–

You can learn to love exercise!

Don’t stop reading! Stay with me for just a minute.

There are 3 keys to learning to love exercise.

1. Change the way you think about exercise.

When you read that word, I bet the first thing that popped in your head is a gym full of big, sweaty guys carrying around a gallon jug of water or super skinny women running their brains out on a treadmill.

As with any transformation – you must start with the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2 – remember that one?).

I don’t mean you should convince yourself that “running is your new favorite” or yoga really is as wonderful as it looks on TV.

I mean, you need to change the word exercise in your brain to the word movement. In other words – stop trying to figure out how to exercise, and figure out how to get moving instead!

2. Find something you enjoy doing!

Remember how I just said the key is figuring out how to move? Well, figure out something you really enjoy doing to get your moving.

What is your passion? What drives you? What makes you laugh? What invigorates you? What did you enjoy doing as a kid?

Playing dodgeball? Tennis? Soccer? Swimming? There are all kinds of adult leagues out there now – I almost guarantee you can find something, somewhere that’s fun for you.

Maybe you aren’t a sports kind of gal, but you love walking through the woods? Shopping? Geocaching? Dancing???

Come on, ladies! There’s gotta be something!

Enough with the excuses. Find something that involves moving, getting your heart rate up, and using those muscles that you can enjoy doing. Then DO IT!

3. Remember to honor God with it all.

This kind of goes back to changing the way you think, but I believe if we could just realize that exercising can be a form of worship, we can completely change our lives.

Paul said,

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” – Colossians 3:17

Did you get that? When you do everything – whatever you do – make sure it’s to God’s glory. If you’re doing Zumba – do it for God’s glory. If you’re playing on the slip-and-slide with your kids, do it for God’s glory.

Every time you make a choice to take better care of the temple of the Holy Spirit (your body) by offering it to Him as a living sacrifice and being a good steward of the gifts God has given you, you are worshiping and glorifying God.

So, stop thinking of exercise as this horrible evil that only skinny, pretty people do in all their spare time.

Remember- exercise is movement, find something you enjoy doing – and DO IT, and glorify God with every ounce of your being.

Your DoAhead Friend,