How to overcome resistance to daily exercise

Moving our bodies is not just about engagement or health, but about honoring the way God made us.

Over the past two decades, I have learned that regular activity is not just a key to being physically and psychologically healthybut also more socially and spiritually committed.. As a married father of 8 children, a child psychologist and someone who has demands on all fronts, daily exercise is essential. As I often tell people when they ask me if I have any upcoming races, first and foremost I am training for life

having been blessed by 40,000+ non-powered miles in the path, an iron man, multiple ultramarathons, and a host of other endurance opportunities, many people might mistakenly believe that I exercise every day with little to no resistance. But in reality, just like anyone else, I regularly feel the need to relax and even be lazy (which is sometimes important for health and sanity). Finding the right balance of physical exercise, or any type of work, along with rest, is always a work in progress.

Exercise honors the One who made us

However, I view my daily exercise as a covenant with God, and not simply a commitment or desire to be healthy. It’s a covenant because God created our bodies in His image, and a healthy lifestyle, including regular activity, honors this design.

Furthermore, while commitments are bound by obligation, which often leaves us regretting what we “should do,” covenants are bound by love, leaving us longing for unity with Him.

overcoming barriers

Still, even with this mindset, barriers exist and any attempt to develop a healthy lifestyle must confront and address them. Many times, there is one more level of resistance that undermines our ability to move as God wants and that is the withinpersonal level, or what we could call that annoying inner voicewhich can take us away from the activity we need.

I thought it might be helpful to take you “along the ride” when it comes to how I deal with the barriers of internal kind in my own life. As you’ll notice in the examples below, I constantly use self-talk, prayer, observation, interaction, and other methods to address various types of resistance that arise. Resistance to daily exercise comes in many forms, such as loneliness, boredom, injury, fear, stress from activity, and the like.

Here are some brief examples of how I address these issues before and during the activity. Note: my internal dialogue is in italics.

Wednesday afternoon, 5:15 p.m.

[I take off on my bike from work. I commute this way most days as part of a 13 mile round- trip.] What a lovely afternoon day— hmm, there’s a decent headwind. Thank God for the tailwind this morning and yesterday afternoon, and the dry road. [Tuesday was a rainy ride.] The fall colors are beautiful – I love bright oranges and reds.17 small segments to get home, against the wind. [I mentally like to break my rides into segments, which changeover each turn.] Oh, people I haven’t seen before walking through Oak Hill Cemetery, what a nice night to walk.! [I wave at them as I pass by.] Thank you, God, for the new pavement laid over the potholes. (on a bridge a mile from my house). I love this last big hill even though it’s tough; it feels good to take a deep breath. [I arrive home.] Thank you, God, for a safe journey.

Thursday morning, 4:37 a.m.

[Alarm goes off for an early swim and run. Outside temperature is 39.] Thank you, Lord, for a good night’s sleep. Cool morning for a swim, but after a few laps I know it will get hot. [Arrive at the swim facility.] Great to see other cars this morning – high school kids for the local swim team are out. Impressed that they are willing to get up so early. [Walk in doors, and see my “friend” at the front desk.] Appreciates smiling and small talk – fun to watch. [Arrive at pool deck, and see familiar local family training, and catch up for a few minutes before I hop in, while their daughter swims next to me.] Wow, it’s moving fast, great that someone can swim at that speed. I’m feeling a little tight this morning, I’ll dedicate it to dad. [My father has had two hip surgeries and a triple bypass in the past two years.] It will work as usual… time for breathing exercises. I don’t like the feeling of less oxygen, but as always, Bob, these are for you. [Bob is a dear friend who passed away years ago from a rare form of lung cancer.] Great that the new aquatic center is busy and I love being a part of this movement early before the sun comes up. Thank you, God, for the good bath.

In the end, like many aspects of our lives, it is essential that we participate in the diverse voices and deterrents of what we know to be good and life-giving. The reality is that while most of us know that regular activity is important, this understanding alone is not enough to sustain daily exercise. As Psalm 119:32 says: “In the path of your commandments I run, because you have enlarged my understanding”. So we must too.

An expanded version of this article can be found. here.