The Home Page Network

Many have heard the maxim, “Life is a marathon, not a sprint.” However, within the different seasons of life, there are some stretches of time that require more fortitude and endurance than others! Life can certainly feel like a rollercoaster sometimes. Sara sites a song lyric in todays feature, “Even though I love this crazy life, sometimes I wish it was a smoother ride.” How true that can be!

We all take our turns on life’s rollercoaster. Seeing those difficult situations through to the end takes strength and persistence. True strength is measured in three areas: spiritual, mental, and physical. Physical strength really improves our quality of life, and helps avoid additional hardships. The benefits of staying active are strong and numerous, including increased metabolic function, maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels, improving athletic power, reducing injury risk, and enhancing physical appearance.

Be sure to watch today’s feature for a demonstration of correct bicep curls, squats, tricep presses, and lunges. These exercises will target the biceps, hamstrings and gluteus, triceps, and quadriceps, providing an overall arm and thigh workout. However, by keeping the knees soft and the core engaged, this really is a strengthening exercise for the whole body.

As we practice strength training, it is good to heed the advice of Wayne Wescott. “From a physical perspective alone, strength training produces a number of important benefits. First, muscle fibers become larger and stronger, which increases their ability to produce force. Secondly, tendons and ligaments and bones become denser and stronger, which increases their ability to withstand stress. These positive adaptations result in a strong and injury – resistant muscular system. It is recommended that strength be performed in a slow and controlled manner. The preferred breathing pattern is to inhale during lowering movements and to exhale during lifting movements. Remember not to hold your breath during movements or grip your weights which can raise your blood pressure. When you improve muscular strength you automatically improve muscle endurance.” (Be Strong: Strength Training for Muscular Fitness for Men and Women) Also keep in mind the importance of using correct form. Injury can occur even during simple motions and with little weight if we use the wrong form!

While we enjoy the journey of increasing physical strength, it is important to remember the other aspects of strength. We are reminded in 1Timothy 4:8, “ For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” Growth in our spiritual and emotional strength will compliment our growing physical strength. When life turns from a planned and paced marathon to a twisting, turning rollercoaster, these three aspects of strength come together to provide the stability we need.