Work in the Workout
Want to work out, but never have the time? Yeah, I’ve been there. As a single mom working two jobs, I barely have time to breathe let alone work out. But when I couldn’t fit into my size 6 pants, the same size I’ve worn my entire adult life, I knew I had a choice to make: buy new pants a few sizes bigger to fit, or earn my body back. Let’s just say those size 6 red denim weren’t getting replaced. I decided to make time to work out.
It wasn’t easy, though. For every determined commitment I made, the Devil had two lies to follow, and they almost always shut me down. I hope that if these lies have impacted your motivation to work out, you can find inspiration from the truths that helped me defeat them.
Lie #1: Thirty minutes won’t make a difference.
The Devil used to tell me that 30 minutes of exercise a day wasn’t going to get me anywhere. That in order to lose weight, I’d have to spend an hour or more in the gym doing a full-body workout. My first 30-minute workout with Fitness Blender begged to differ.
Try doing a wall sit for a minute. It’s strenuous, right? And that’s just 60 seconds. Now imagine thirty alternating exercises over the course of thirty minutes, or perhaps thirty minutes of continuous exercise like jogging. With a disciplined, unbroken schedule, you can tone your muscles and shred fat in that amount of time.
Lie #2: You don’t have time to spare on a workout.
When lie #1 didn’t stop me from gearing up to work out, Satan would tell me that I don’t have 30 minutes to spare. That if I spent those 30 minutes working out instead of working my job, I was going to get behind on orders and not be able to spend time with my kids. But God reminded me that with all things that truly matter, you have to make time for them, exercising included. So I did.
For over a month now, I’ve been jogging outside my apartment complex for 30 minutes every other day. Turns out, working out for those 30 minutes made me more productive at my job, and it has made a difference in my weight. I’ve almost completely lost my muffin top, and I can see definition around my baby fat now. I’ve got a ways to go to be my ideal feel, but I fit in my size 6 denim again!
Of course, every body is different and requires tailored physical exercise based on multiple factors like body type, weight goals, and medical conditions. Managing your diet by avoiding fatty, sugary foods helps too. And getting more than four hours of sleep has made a world of difference. But it’s the habit of eating healthier, sleeping well, and working out that helped me slim down to fit in those denim.
The point isn’t to copy and paste my routine to your lifestyle. The point of this post is to tell you not to believe the Devil’s lies. If thirty minutes is all you’ve got, it is enough. And if you ever think you won’t have enough time to work out, please make time for it. Just as you make time for your spouse and kids, you should also make time for your health.
Above all, discipline and consistency is key! Don’t be discouraged that you don’t see changes after the first, second, or third day. It took me about five weeks of the constant routine before I noticed my hips had gone down. But it was the little improvements along the way that kept me going: firmer discipline, uplifted mood, and sharper focus.
Don’t believe the lies of the Enemy. He wants to keep you captive to a body that could be healthier. Don’t let him. Break those chains. Start today.
And let me know how it goes!
