April 2009 Fit 4 Ever Jimmy Page

Crash and Burn

"For a man's ways are before the LORD's eyes, and He considers all his paths." – Proverbs 5:21

In sports today, everything a pro athlete does is under a microscope. Every single day newspaper headlines scream about another athlete who has crashed and burned. Sometimes it's part of their personal life, while other times it's directly related to his or her sport. Either way, we have access to information about virtually everything these athletes do. Their lives are in full view.

If we're honest, I don't think any one of us would want that kind of scrutiny and spotlight on our lives. We all sin. And since our mistakes don't usually make the headlines, it's easy for us to think that we're getting away with them and just sweeping them under the rug. But, like I tell my kids, the truth always comes out.

1. Ask, "Is it wise?" – Asking this one little question will make a big difference. As it relates to your health, is your decision going to get you where you want to go or make you the person you want to be? If you want to be strong and healthy or lose weight, your decisions with food and exercise do matter. Will binging on half of a pizza help you reach those goals? Will a late-night bowl of ice cream benefit you? Will skipping your workouts this week get you there? Is it wise?

2. Delay gratification. – Many of us are simply not willing to sacrifice current pleasure for a greater longterm reward. Decisions that lead to good health are not always easy because results take time. Regular exercise is tough, and it takes time to see results. It's much more enjoyable to eat the brownie than to eat the fruit, but if your goal is abundant health, maybe the best choice is to skip the dessert.

In American culture, this is by far one of the toughest principles to live by because we want everything right now. "I need to lose weight, but boy, those cookies look good." Or, "I need to exercise, but it feels so good to sleep in."

There are three great examples of delayed gratification in the Bible. In all three, we are told to do things now that will have great benefit later.

• In Matthew 6, we are told to store up treasures in heaven, not to just live for today.
• In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul tells us that he trains relentlessly now so that he will not be disqualified later.
• In Hebrews 12:11, the author tells us that discipline is not pleasant at the time, but that it produces a harvest later on.

3. Make decisions in advance. – When we anticipate situations and decide in advance what we will do, we are far less likely to react out of habit or emotion. Doing this can also prevent you from caving into peer pressure or your own weakness.

For instance, when eating out, know exactly what you are going to eat before you go to the restaurant so that you will make a healthy choice. At office or holiday parties, decide what you're not going to eat before you go so that you don't end up eating that cake or those doughnuts. And, decide early in the day that you won't eat salty snacks or sweets late at night. You may have to go so far as to get those things out of the house entirely.

These three tips can truly help you as you pursue a healthy life. Don't get caught up in the emotion of the moment and make a decision you will regret. You can't afford to crash and burn at the expense of your health!


--Want more? Catch Jimmy Page's 90-second "Fit Life Today" podcasts, now available at www.fcapodcasting.com.

Medical Disclaimer: All information in this article is of a general nature and is furnished for your knowledge and understanding only. This information is not to be taken as medical or other health advice pertaining to your specific health and medical condition. Always consult a physician or health professional before beginning any exercise or nutrition program.