Every day after school, Joe and Steven race up the hill to their homes. Steven always wins the race, and Joe cannot figure out why.

Steven has an after-school routine. First, he changes his school clothes, eats a snack and goes running. Sometimes he plays a pickup game of basketball at the local high school or engages in some other activity. Steven does everything he can to stay in shape.

But not Joe. When he returns home from school, he throws his belongings in his room, runs downstairs, grabs a snack and sits on the sofa watching television for several hours. He then spends the rest of his evening in front of his computer surfing the Internet and half-heartedly doing his homework. Joe participates in virtually no physical activities, except running up a hill to get home each day—about 30 seconds worth of exercise.

What about you? Do you exercise regularly? Do you want to be unable to participate in some of the activities at AYC because you are not in shape? Of course not!

Your goal should be to involve yourself in every camp activity. Time is short—camp is quickly approaching. Action is required to get fit.

Regular Exercise is Key

Joe’s mistake is failing to exercise on a regular basis. You can begin an exercise program by simply walking, perhaps around your neighborhood. Walking about an hour per day, three or four times a week, is an easy way to begin.

Be careful you do not begin exercising by overdoing it, such as running 10 miles. Only sore legs, cramps and an unwillingness to continue will result. Gradually increase your duration and intensity. Create realistic short-term goals of the benefits you want from exercising. When you achieve a goal do not stop there—go above and beyond! This will keep you in shape and you will feel a sense of accomplishment as you meet each goal with ease. Though some do not have to work as hard as others, exercise still requires a significant amount of time and effort. If you are willing to put these forth, you will reap many benefits.

Over time you will begin to see and feel the numerous benefits of being physically active. You will gain stronger bones, joints and muscles. Regular exercise will also boost your immune system, making you healthier and reducing your chances of becoming sick. You will find you don’t become tired as easily and are able to involve yourself in more activities for longer periods.

Making a routine and sticking with it form the foundation for staying in shape.

How Much Can You Handle?

We live in a soft age, a time when most teens watch too much TV, play too many video games and eat too much junk food. Few engage in anything physical. Is it any wonder many are unable to play even a one-hour game of softball? Teens in past generations played after-school sports or engaged in other strenuous activities. Few mind-wasting pursuits were available to them.

Have you ever heard the old adage, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”? Here is how this can apply to you.

Imagine: It’s pushup time in gym class and you are approaching the final few repetitions, when it’s tougher to continue. Are you one who gives up at the first sign of hardship—or do you push yourself beyond the first indication of pain? It is natural to feel discomfort when pushing your body beyond your personal comfort zone. But don’t give up. You can do more than you may think. The human mind often tells us to quit well before we have exceeded our physical limits. When you hear your mind telling you to quit, ignore it!

When lifting weights, running, walking or taking part in any form of exercise, pushing your body is a must. If you don’t push past your current limit, you will never grow stronger or gain endurance. Instead, you will stay at what might be your current level of becoming fatigued when engaging in a simple volleyball match.

The human body has the capacity to endure much physical hardship. God designed it this way. Exceeding your current limitations to the point of a little pain is normal, especially when one begins to exercise. Physical discomfort will not kill you. As the apostle Paul said, “Quit you like men” (I Cor. 16:13).

What About Your Free Time?

What do you do after you complete your exercise routine for the day? Diligently study? Or relax in front of a computer screen or television?

Just because you have completed your exercise routine doesn’t mean you are finished “working out” for the day. Your brain also needs exercise! What could you be doing with your spare time? There are many possibilities, such as reading a book or studying for school. Soaking up as much information as possible is extremely important. Maximize the potential of your learning capabilities by pushing your mind, in addition to your body.

Local libraries offer vast amounts of learning tools—and for free. Establish a routine by reading one book every week. Get into this habit and you will soon find yourself enjoying reading. If you find a word or phrase you don’t understand, look it up.

If you are unable to take care of yourself, both physically and mentally, you will never be viewed by others as being able to handle responsibility. How can you be expected to handle more responsibilities around the house, or even at work? Decide to make a change in your daily routine to include physical activity. Expand both your physical ability and mental capacity. If you take care of your overall well-being, you will be much more prepared for AYC, and life in general!