So crossfit.
I'm sure everyone has heard of this crazy phenominon of an excercise group that some regard as cult like. For those that haven't its basically high intensity varied cross training. I like to think of it as a home away from home-an escape so to speak. Regardless of judgements I train at Crossfit Comence here in Fayetteville on pretty much a six day a week basis. The rigors of my exercise routine has lead to me loosing approximately 31 Ibs. and seven dress sizes. I say this fact not to brag though, but rather to tell of the progress I make while going there.
Recently, I've been getting so much grief about going through such extreme training routines such as:
"So, you want to look like a man?"
"Of course you must be crazy-I mean you're not doing this 'working out' thing right."
"Why don't you just go run on a treadmill or something?"
And then of course, there's the seemingly favorite crowd response of:
"All of these women are ugly. No curves. No life. And all they do is cross fit. Something's wrong with that."
So in order to be passionate about a trend that has evolved into a legitimate sport, you have to inveritably be crazy? I don't think that's fair of women to expect everyone to stay within the box of feminine exercise habits. When I look at women crossfit athletes who have become icons for the sport I see so much more than someone simply in-shape. I see strength and power, determination and perseverance, hope, love for a sport that can be insain at times, countless hours of working for what they want, but most of all I see beauty.
Who says being strong isn't beautiful? That breaking out of the norm and striving to be the best that you can be isn't a new found version of grace.
For myself, crossfit has become more than a workout routine and more than that step I'm taking to loose weight and get healthy. Crossfit gives me a chance to serve for God in a way I never once thought would be possible. Those daily encouragements that people give as slight remarks on how well you're doing in form, effort, or progress has become a ministry tool. Two seconds of noticing another human being, going through the same routines as you-that's all it takes to show Christ's love.
Then I see people on social media outlets of all types coming together in encouragement and competitions making it hard to not admit how great a once hobby has turned into major portions of peoples lives.
I will admit I have lost weight. I have gotten stronger. I might have days where I'm a little too dedicated to hitting the perfect form on a lift. But, if I admit that I've gotta say that it's more worth it than I think anyone else can imagine. Going through the realization that you're workout and life changes aren't from peer pressure or for anybody else except you and how much you love the body and who God created you to be. When you move past the idea of changing yourself because of embarrassment or to impress someone else, crossfit becomes more than a hobby. It becomes beauty.
The blessings in life come when you realize that God is the real reason for it all.
Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
I'm sure everyone has heard of this crazy phenominon of an excercise group that some regard as cult like. For those that haven't its basically high intensity varied cross training. I like to think of it as a home away from home-an escape so to speak. Regardless of judgements I train at Crossfit Comence here in Fayetteville on pretty much a six day a week basis. The rigors of my exercise routine has lead to me loosing approximately 31 Ibs. and seven dress sizes. I say this fact not to brag though, but rather to tell of the progress I make while going there.
Recently, I've been getting so much grief about going through such extreme training routines such as:
"So, you want to look like a man?"
"Of course you must be crazy-I mean you're not doing this 'working out' thing right."
"Why don't you just go run on a treadmill or something?"
And then of course, there's the seemingly favorite crowd response of:
"All of these women are ugly. No curves. No life. And all they do is cross fit. Something's wrong with that."
So in order to be passionate about a trend that has evolved into a legitimate sport, you have to inveritably be crazy? I don't think that's fair of women to expect everyone to stay within the box of feminine exercise habits. When I look at women crossfit athletes who have become icons for the sport I see so much more than someone simply in-shape. I see strength and power, determination and perseverance, hope, love for a sport that can be insain at times, countless hours of working for what they want, but most of all I see beauty.
Who says being strong isn't beautiful? That breaking out of the norm and striving to be the best that you can be isn't a new found version of grace.
For myself, crossfit has become more than a workout routine and more than that step I'm taking to loose weight and get healthy. Crossfit gives me a chance to serve for God in a way I never once thought would be possible. Those daily encouragements that people give as slight remarks on how well you're doing in form, effort, or progress has become a ministry tool. Two seconds of noticing another human being, going through the same routines as you-that's all it takes to show Christ's love.
Then I see people on social media outlets of all types coming together in encouragement and competitions making it hard to not admit how great a once hobby has turned into major portions of peoples lives.
I will admit I have lost weight. I have gotten stronger. I might have days where I'm a little too dedicated to hitting the perfect form on a lift. But, if I admit that I've gotta say that it's more worth it than I think anyone else can imagine. Going through the realization that you're workout and life changes aren't from peer pressure or for anybody else except you and how much you love the body and who God created you to be. When you move past the idea of changing yourself because of embarrassment or to impress someone else, crossfit becomes more than a hobby. It becomes beauty.
The blessings in life come when you realize that God is the real reason for it all.
Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
Psalm 115:1
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
