Physical Training: Do not make little of it

Way back about 5 years ago, whenever I am bored or stressed out I run. If Im tired and wanted to be relaxed a bit I jog. In the acedemic oval of the UP Diliman campus, 1 round is about 2.2 kilometers. I do 4 rounds. That is about 8.8 km. And i do that at least once a week since I get easily stressed out back then.

Now 5 years and 17 pounds later I do not run that much. Well to be honest i actually do not run anymore. It is not I dont get bored nor stressed out now, it is just that I found a more convenient outlet. Back then when under stress I exercise, now when stressed out I eat. :-)
No wonder I have those bulging tummies.

But do not get me wrong. I am not body conscious. I never mind my added weight, espcially now that I am only 125 lbs. What bothers me is the change in lifestyle that i had. And It bothered me more when I had to absent from work because i was dizzy one morning and my ears was feeling like exploding. A blood pressure measurement later revealed that my BP was 150/80 which is considered as hypertension. I am not used to a nurse telling me a BP that high. Im a person who used to be at a 110 level. But then again I am a person who used to run at least 8.8 km a week. I totally ignored the value of physical training. My BP made me reminded of what Paul said to Timothy. In NIV, 1 Timothy 4:8 goes as:

1 Timothy 4:8 (New International Version)
8"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."
(Source:http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=61&chapter=4&verse=8&version=31&context=verse)

Paul did not say that physical training has no value, it do have SOME value. In here the context is that Timothy who is usually sick, is encouraged to take care of his phyical body as well. Paul must have realized early on that Christians who value thier spiritual body may forget to take care of thier physical ones. Paul said physical training do have some value. So let us not devalue it.

Taking that encouragement to heart, and taking my BP seriously I started to run again. Though this time i do not have the luxury of time as a student does. I run only during weekends, and just in front of my house. Sure enough after 6 days of BP monitoring my level went down to 120/80. That is what physical training does. It really does have SOME value. Aja!