CrossFit? Iron man?

Forgive my ignorance but I just don't quite get it.

Why would anyone need super defined muscles?
When would spending hours daily in a gym sculpting your body be the best use of time?
What would your purpose in life be that would require so much time spent on this mortal tabernacle of clay?

Maybe taking care of this gift of a body glorifies God.
In what way?  When you move past moderation, past common sense, past feeling, how can that be a sense of gratitude?  How is developing abs that show each individual muscle and can only be seen when you are naked and flexing helping glorify any one but self.  It seems to me that it is only for self gratification, to impress your gym-mate.  It would seem that developing beyond a natural health doesn't make you better, nor does it thank God for your body. The message might be "you didn't do well enough.  I have had to reshaped everything to make it look better." (same message with all the implants only they don't have to spend as much time.)

Maybe a chiseled body develops better relationships within the family - the most important unit in society and central to God's plan.    If you spend all your free time at the gym or working out and all you money on memberships, contests and special foods, when would you have time to spend with family?  Maybe the whole purpose is to erase any signs that your body ever gave birth.  I'm sure that getting pregnant and having your body less than perfect would be something to be avoided.

Maybe your spouse loves you more when your body is worthy of pinterest and facebook posts.  If the love of my spouse depends on the tone of my muscles then it is a shallow imitation of love.  If I can't maintain physical perfection do I risk being dumped for someone who looks better at the gym?

Maybe all that developed strength is going to save someones life someday.  Maybe you will need to lift a car off of a child or some other disaster.  Can you imagine, all the muscle bound heros are hanging out together in the gym competing against each other and admiring each others muscles and would never know that someone might need their tractor tire changed without a jack and none of these strong men are to be found/available.

Maybe you will have to build your own house with your bare hands and then run down a buffalo and kill it with your bare hands to feed and cloth yourself.

Maybe a cave man diet promotes cave man mentality - survival of the fittest, watch your own back.

Maybe all this time and effort is developing a celestial body and you can have this "perfect body" in the resurrection.  Maybe you won't really need the resurrection because you are strong enough to do it all yourself.

I can't imagine that there is anything in God's eternal plan for me that requires this kind of physical self focus. I can't imagine that I can serve better, love better, develop more by loosing balance.  There is so much more to each of us than the shape of our body  There needs to be balance.  There needs to be time spent on spiritual, social, emotional, mental, and physical development.  When I see some crossfit champion body I'm guilty of being quick to judge.  I don't go to the "look at that gorgeous piece of meat" that might be what they are hoping for. (although I don't know why anyone would want their value to be based so completely on their physical appearance) I see someone who is selfish, self centered, self worshiping, self glorifying - all about self.

What happened to moderation?  What is the purpose?  How can you better serve God? fulfill your purpose? serve your family?

I realize I have been a little harsh.  Balance goes in every direction.  I don't want my funeral to focus on the miles I logged jogging every morning or car pooling children to too many activities. Is it most important that my children know that I sat on a bench for hours on end watching them do things with other people or that they know me because we do things together.  I don't care if my children can not boast of my latest weight lifting accomplishment, my rock hard body; or innumerable pinterest or facebook numbers I have logged.  I want to be healthy. I want to be active so that I may serve, love, enjoy life and find joy in my posterity.  Things that create unbalance tend to be anti-family.  Maybe it has to do with my word this year.  PRESENT.  I desire to be present.  I want to understand the cost of involvement in each activity and make sure the sacrifice is worth that price.  Are my priorities in line with my Father's will?

Each day our family begins with Deuteronomy 6:5 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."  I hear my 7 yo review it as he comes down the stairs. It is the same verse that Christ would have repeated daily growing up.  It is where I want my focus to be.  If we put anything else first, we are not worshiping God.

A new question was introduced to me in making my goals.  "What then?"  As I choose to do something, to spend my time, may I ask - What then?  Keep asking what then and find where this road will eventually lead.  Is that what I am really choosing as I pick the beginning of this path?  We all have the same amount of hours in a day, days in a year.  The time passes whether we plan it or not.  How am I using the gift of time?  Is the end result worth the sacrifice?  Can I live this way and in 20 years (or 30 or 50 or even 5) and say I have no regrets?  I am feeling a call to repent.  I need to do a lot better.  I will continue to evaluate, seek guidance, and move forward.  Isn't that all we can expect of each day?