The gyms of the world are crowded right now. The first few months of a new year bring with it a commitment to worthy pursuits such as resolving to lose weight, build muscle, shed fat, complete a marathon, shun sugar, etc. I pass my local gym on my way to and from work and always marvel at the full parking lot during the morning and evening hours, very happy to have a treadmill all to myself in my bedroom with weights I don’t have to share with anyone.
The reasons for improving one’s physical being run the gamut from wanting a longer life and better-looking physique to reducing stress and feeling calmer. All of these are worthy for living well. But like many things, “too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.” And it’s easy to get caught up in the latest fitness and diet fads because we are bombarded with overloads of information on the Web, on TV, and in magazines and books that tell us how to do it all.
I do believe that our bodies were not designed to be sedentary and that our Creator’s purpose for them is to move and be active, strong, and fit. So I do encourage anyone wanting to improve their bodies by committing to an exercise and fitness program this year. But be wise about the ways you go about it. This week I read a fitness blog, whose author is a Christian woman who wondered what God’s take on her exercise quest was. She felt He provided a fair answer: God wants us to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be, provided we keep our efforts balanced and in perspective.
So with that I say, Get out there and get moving!
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Wilona Karimabadi is assistant editor of the Adventist Review and editor of KidsView. This article was published February 23, 2012.
