A Strong Physical Constitution...

A small flight of stairs...and you're winded.

Passing around a football for a while...and you're nursing aches and pains for days.

Helping a friend move...you think your back will give out.

Too tired and weak to do much of anything.

The cushy life has made a lot of us soft.  The "manual" has been taken out of much of our manual labor.  We sit for long hours and eat a lot of junk.  We are as a nation...sickly people.  Of course those are broad generalizations...but the honest must concede that it's true for a bulk of Americans.

Some of us even go so far as to delude ourselves into thinking that we have the same physical prowess that we may have had when we were younger...when in reality we have been degenerating...and weakening.

As this wonderful article points out...

"There is a fundamental law that the tissue of the human body will waste away through idleness and disuse. Conversely, muscles and vessels that are stressed grow and increase in capacity. This same basic law also applies to man’s spiritual growth and his mental capacity, and progress and growth in either of these areas can be achieved only by continual nourishment and effort in day-to-day living."

Use it...or lose it!  Truer words are harder to find when it comes to physical fitness!

While there are all kinds of benefits to exercise...more energy...feeling good...better able to serve...etc...  another major reason to get physically fit is to prepare for days when you may have to be fit.

The daughters of Ishmael had such a situation.  They left their cushy life in Jerusalem...to live a harsh existence raising a family while traveling and camping and became "strong, yea, even like unto the men".  While this may not sound like the most flattering thing to say about their femininity or lack thereof...they became what they had to be to survive.  And of course gaining this strength was a process that wasn't without having to suffer and struggle.

I have heard many an LDS exclaim..."I could never be a pioneer!  It was too hard!"  If they only fully understood the reality that they may very well be thrust into a similar existence...even overnight...perhaps they would want to start now to get physically prepared...to lessen the blow when it happens.

Are we physically prepared...

to wash our clothing by hand?

to travel long distances on foot if necessary?

to carry our most needed possessions?

to protect our families physically?

to chop and haul firewood?

I don't know all of the physical labors that may be ahead...but none of those are out of the realm of possibility.  Think about it though...are you ready for that kind of labor?

Now...I am fully aware that people have all kinds of adverse circumstances health-wise.  I'd recommend doing what you can to take care of yourself.  Watching what you eat...and exercising as you can.  Live the law of health known as the Word of Wisdom.  Look for ways that when days of want come...that you can work smart...more than hard.

My P90X Infomercial

I have been doing a program that you may have seen on TV called P90X.  It is no joke.  It will absolutely kick one's behind.  I love it....love it...love it.  I got it for half price from a guy on craigslist.  I never thought in my life that I would do a DVD workout...but man...I plan on doing this one over and over again.  It is a well balanced program...working out all areas of athleticism.  It is a program for people who are already active...and exercising...to take things to the next level.  Worth waking up at 5:30 in the morning for!  5 stars out of 5!  Instead of my hashing out a more in depth review...check out the reviews from people on Amazon.  I wholeheartedly recommend it for people who want to get in the best shape they have ever been in.