The Payout of Perseverance

SUCCESS WITH FOUR EASY INSTALLMENTS OF JUST $24.95
Millions of dollars are spent each year on exercise equipment that promises to give you a flat stomach instantly with very little exercise. Probably everyone has bought some piece of equipment that is now unused in the garage or attic. Just this week I saw an ad for a machine that promised incredible results in just 20 minutes twice a week.
One of the key aspects in both our spiritual walk and in any exercise plan is perseverance. The basic definition of perseverance works both spiritually and physically. When we persist or preserver we are acting in spite of other influences. Your busy schedule is one of the greatest influences that work against you staying in shape. Perseverance means taking control of your schedule to make exercise and spiritual strength a priority.
While spiritual fitness is more important, the bible affirms the positive aspects of physical training. In the Bible it says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things holding promise for both the present life and life to come. In this the importance of spiritual training is given significance. It is interesting that it does not say that physical training does not have value. In fact the writer Paul believes it has value during our life. The advantage of spiritual training is that we get the benefits both here on earth and for eternity.
I have learned a number of life lessons from physical training. There is never an immediate “pay out” from exercise. The rewards are seen over time. Likewise, when we make changes in our spiritual habits, the rewards may be evident many months or even years later. That is why some people who do not learn this lesson stop their physical or spiritual training after only a short period of time. They want the payoff, but are not willing to work for their dreams.
God cares both how you live your life and how you treat your body. Poor fitness and overeating are harmful to you and a bad witness to others. It is unfortunate that in our generation many people judge us by our outward appearance more than our inward beauty. Don’t be discouraged by this. Instead be encouraged to take seriously how you treat your body. Maybe it’s time you entered what I call the temple of fitness.
I’VE GOT A GUT FEELING ABOUT THIS
The place that most people want to see quick results is in their abs. Commonly referred to as the “spare tire” and the “love handles”. You’ve seen them, just like I have. Maybe it’s a relative. Maybe it’s a close friend. Maybe it’s somebody in your neighborhood. They’re carrying some extra pounds around the middle, or they’re just too tight in all the wrong places. And you might think, sit-ups alone could give them the abdominals and waistline that they want.
Well, yes and no. The truth is, the only real way to fight fat is with a proper diet and a solid exercise plan. If you want to get rid of flab, you have to eat right and burn calories. End of discussion. Along those same lines, forget any talk you’ve heard about “spot-reducing”. The idea that if you do a bunch of sit-ups, you can shrink your waist is a nice thought, and a lot of people have bought into it. But believe me: It’s pure fiction. However, what you will get by doing a lot of sit-ups are strong abdominal muscles and that’s a good thing.
When we talk about the abs, we’re basically talking about two muscle groups. The rectus abdominus, which are two thin strips of muscle that run from the breastplate to the groin area. The others are the left and right obliques, which run diagonally on your sides and wrap around your middle from the front to the back. In terms of what they do, it’s pretty simple – The rectus abdominus helps you bend forward, the obliques help you twist and bend from side to side. Basically, they connect your upper body to your hips and your lower body, and they support the torso and lower back.
As far as the exercises, my two favorites are the crunches and standing bar twists. They work the abs and the obliques efficiently and effectively. They don’t strain your back. And they give you a complete workout by attacking the muscles from every angle.
Crunches
Lie flat on the floor with your knees above your hips and legs crossed at the ankles. Put your hands behind your head, fingers laced. Next, slowly raise your upper body only to the point that you feel your stomach squeeze and contract; this should bring your shoulder blades just off the floor. Be careful not to pull on your neck, because it can cause serious injury. Once you’re up, rotate your torso towards the opposite knee and vice versa. When you’ve twisted towards both knees, slowly lower your upper torso to the starting position and repeat.
Do 15 reps in a slow, even motion without relaxing your muscles in between. Raising and lowering the upper body works the upper abdominal wall. Then once you’re up, the twists works the obliques. Crunches can also be done using a weight bench. Instead of bringing your knees to your chest and crossing your ankles, lie flat on the floor with your calves resting on the bench. Complete the exercise just like the standard crunch.
Seated Bar Twists
Sit upright with your back straight and your feet flat on the floor about shoulder-width apart. Rest a broomstick or something similar across the back of your shoulders so that it sits easily at the base of your neck. Keeping your head and hips still and your eyes forward, twist as far left as you can. Then in one complete motion without stopping, twist as far right as you can. Once again, keep your movements slow, smooth and as even as possible.
Once you have mastered these you will have already seen results. The next step would be to add some addition ab exercise. Here is what I recommend:
Advanced Abdominals
Hanging Knee Raises
Straight up/Straight down (Toes pointed)
Left/Right/Center (swivel hips)
Straight in/Straight out (Toes pointed)
In/Up/Down/Apart/Together
Scissors/ Flutters
(all exercises 1 set of 12 reps)
Crunches (twist/straight) (2 sets of 12)