If you look back over my website, you’ll see that I wrote quite a bit about running many years ago. I wrote about how I got started, my motivation, and how things were progressing. I also enjoyed writing recaps after my races. It was a very fun and rewarding time in my life!
Well, fast-forward to 2024. I’m 53 years old now, and I struggle to find the joy in running that I once did. The main reason is that I don’t feel like I’ve got the lung capacity that I had pre-Covid. I don’t want to give up on running just yet. But I’m not pushing myself because it’s just not fun in this stage of life.
However, I’ve found a new love! I’ve been going to the gym faithfully for about a year and loving it! At present, I hit the gym about 5 days a week. Each session includes about 30 minutes of weight lifting and then time on a stationary bike. I usually stay on the bike for about 30 minutes and average 7-8 miles.
I wanted to write about today’s workout. There have been times in my life when I enjoyed doing weight training. I even got to train under a former Mr. America (Ron Lacy) for a few months when I was in college. He was a member of my church and I spent quite a bit of time working out in his garage.
But I was never able to bench press more than 200 lbs. That was a ceiling that I just couldn’t overcome, no matter how hard I tried.
I’ve been increasing my weight load, using the methods in Michael Matthews’ book, “Bigger, Leaner, Stronger.” In the past couple of months, I’ve been able to bench 205lbs a couple of times. But it still felt like the ceiling was trying to hold me down.
Today, I hopped on a Smith Machine and just wanted to see what I could do. I ended up benching 225 lbs six times! And I still had some energy in the tank!
I believe what the Scripture says when it informs me that my body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Most Christians suspect that those verses only focus on our spiritual lives as they call us to obedience and holiness. But I don’t believe that the focus is solely spiritual. After all, it doesn’t say, “Your SPIRIT is a Temple of the Holy Spirit.” Instead, it says, “Your BODY is a Temple of the Holy Spirit.” I believe that verse calls us to spiritual AND physical health.
I’m enjoying seeing just how much this 53-year-old Temple is capable of! After all, the Holy Spirit lives within me. So, I want to give Him a good strong house!
If you are interested in joining me on this journey, just shoot me an e-mail. I’d be glad to encourage you and help you as much as I’m able.
E-mail: mattellis1997@gmail.com
I’ve thought about this subject a LOT too, so I hope you don’t mind if I have a slightly different slant…..as you know, I am 91. I got busy and lost some pounds I had carried for too, too long. And then lost 20 more! Without trying! I have a ten minute regimen of exercise mostly to keep my back good…..My family however some of them are big-time, all-out WAY-OUT, into organics and weight-lifting that makes me wonder if it borders on idolatry!! I am grateful that I don’t struggle with weight or a weak body, but I just don’t want to forget the main thing! We are here to glorify God in all we do and so we must keep things in moderation. Would submit this thinking to your wisdom and would appreciate any teaching you have to offer….
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Great comments, Joan! God has wired everyone differently and we all go through different seasons of life. I suspect that as I get older, my fitness desires will change. Just so long as we are all trying to honor the Lord by how we take care of the body He has entrusted to us.
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