Getting back in the swing of things

This morning the alarm went off at 530.. I had Richard hit snooze one time and I rolled out of bed. I got my work out clothes on and off to the gym. Once there, I used the eliptical for 35 minutes and the bike for 10 minutes all the while maintaning my heart rate... My legs were on fire and I thought that they might give out, yet I was able to push through and get the job done. Leaving the gym I felt wonderful, knowing that I had completed what I was set out to do. Thank the Lord for the stregnth and endurance!

Back at the Gym

Last night as I was getting ready for bed I made plans to work out with Nath in the morning. My mind really wanted to just skip it, yet I also knew that I need to go. The alarm went off at 530, I rolled out of bed with pain in my ankle, chest congestion, a cough and multiple excuses as to why I didn't want to go work out. I made myself go by telling myself that I did not have to do much. I would do the minimum and that would be more then nothing. Nath asked me what my plans were, then she told me her plans (which were more that mine) and I thought well, I can do that. So I did more Cardio than I planned and did more of the weight routine. I left out of breath and tired, but excited to be off to a new work out week. I am so glad that I made my unhappy butt climb out of bed this morning!

I am kind of looking forward to the cardio work out tomorrow. I am sure that I won't be when the alarm goes off in the morning.

Lord,

Thank you for waking me up this morning and giving me a new improved attitude about the gym. I am so thankful that I am healthy enough to go and work out. Please continue to inspire me to be healthy and active. Please take care of the aches and pains that would stop me from doing what you have called me to do. Thank you Lord, that I know that you hear and answer my prayers.

Amen

Excersize Blues

Well this has just been a rotten week for excersize. Monday we were out of town, Tuesday I was up all night with a stomach ace, Wednesday Richard worked early, This morning I woke up with a horrible cough and sore throat. I just have alot of excuses and did not do it this week. I do not like to have weeks like this. It makes it even harder to start back up... My body stiffens up and mentally I feel down and just don't want to return to the gym.

I started to wonder... Why was this week so hard? The week before I went all week without a problem. Is it spring break? Is it the mirrors at the gym that I did not want to look at this week? Am I feeling overwhelmed? Is this the enemy attacking me? Is it all of the above and more. I think so. Well one thing that I am learning is that this week was a phase... Each week will be different and I do not have to give up! I know that the Lord has not given up on me and I will not either!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for my gym membership. I think that I have taken it for granted. I appreciate the time that I get to spend at the gym and the way that it makes me feel after a good work out. Lord, please help me to find the energy and get rid of all of the excuses. I pray for inspiration and encouragement to continue pressing on.

Amen

How my mind plays a role in my weight loss journey

Last night my cousin Sandy came to our First Place group. She talked about all sorts of things dealing with nutrition, health, vitamins, minerals, chiropractic care, etc. She is someone that I can just sit and listen too. She has a wealth of information that she is willing to share.

She said something that really made me think. We were on the subject of diabetes. A comment was made in regards to how a diabetic could eat a snickers bar or an apple and it would have the same effect on the sugar levels and how much inciline a person would have to take. Sandy pointed out that though it may seem to be the case, we are forgetting about all the nutrition you would be getting out of an apple opposed to a snickers bar. What we are doing is lying to ourselves. We give ourselves a way out. That way we feel okay about the decision to eat a snickers bar or whatever.

For me this would be a number of things. I can not count the time's I have failed a diet because I lied to myself and said you deserve this, just one bite, or I will do better tomorrow. The truth is one compromise leads to another and soon our whole mind set has changed. Honestly, this happens so easily and half the time you don't even realize you have done it. I am glad that this reality hit me! I am going to be on the look out for these, so that I can make different choices this time around.

Lord,
Thank you for sending Sandy to speak to us on healthy ways of living. I am so thankful that you have put her in our lifes. She encourages us to work on our health and she always includes you in that. I love that she relates her personal experiences to this and is willing to share parts of her life with us. Lord, I ask that you bless her, her family, and their chiropractic business.

Please help me to see where I have comprimised in my life. Also, help me to see what I am about to do before I do it. You are a gracious God and I praise you.

Amen

Keeping Life Fun and Fruitful

At life on the vine we got to pick different topics of interest. We call these fireside chats, because most of them take place in front of a fire place. One of the sessions I went to was on keeping life fun and fruitful. All I could think before going to this group was who couldn't use a little more fun in their life! This was a perfect session for me.

A few notes from this class:

1. I need to keep my life in perspective. A good question to ask yourself : 10 years from now will this matter?
2. I need to learn to live my life in light of eternity
3. Do you enjoy your life right now?

A couple of ideas: Take time for your self once a year to review your life. Pray through each aspect and ask the Lord if that is what the Lord has for you or if it was what you have chosen. To often we do things or commit to something without seeking the Lord, putting stress that is not needed into our life.

John 10:10 says "The thief comes only to steal, kill and distroy; I have come so that you may have life, and have it to the full."

The hands on activity was for us to make a list of things that fill us. Comparing us to a gas tank that needs filled. As you use the gas, the tank starts to empty, you must fill it so it does not completly drain. Sometimes in life we have more things that drain than we do that fill. This is when I need to take it back to the Lord and seek his will.

Things that fill me:

• a good comedy
• working out
• jacuzzi-swimming
• my chickens
• my kids singing
• being with friends
• making a new recipe
• journaling
• blogging
• pedicures
• a hot cup of coffee
• reading

Things that drain me:

• Clutter
• constant noise
• gossip
• never a moment to take a break
• complaining
• too much to do
• arguing children
• laundry (never ending)

An important thing for me was to realize that the things that fill are not an option! We must make time for some of these everyday, or we will burn out! I would recommend making your list, I think that you will be suprised at what fills you and what drains you. Then take that list to the Lord and see what he might speak to you about these things! I would love to hear what you learn!

April,Me,Linda,and Becky

This last weekend the four of us went to Life On the Vine at Camp Crestview. This is a retreat through Foursquare for woman in Leadership positions. This is the second year that I went and it was amazing. The worship time was so good and it was a wonderful time away with the Lord. I know that the Lord spoke to alot of woman this past weekend. He Certainly did me. I am so thankful for the relationships that we have in our church and the friendships that we made this past weekend. It was refreshing to see a bunch of women praising the Lord, letting go, and having fun.

How does our minds work??

For four months I went 4-5 days a week to the gym each time increasing the amount of cardio and or the time on the machine. I was up to about 45 minutes a day! Whew! A couple of weeks ago I started doing some weights in the gym and the desire to work on cardio went out the window! I would much rather be in the other part of the gym than on that the eliptical... Thats a problem because ultimatly I need to be doing 3 days cardio with some weights and 2 days of 45-60 minutes cardio!

My shoulder/neck has been hurting for about a week now. Just getting on the eliptical or bike is uncomfortable. I can not get comfortable and it is burning. This morning I just prayed as I was on the bike and eliptical that the Lord would give me the stregnth and you know what... He did. Our God is faithful! I am so thankful.

Dear God,

Its me again! I keep on praying because I know that you hear me! Thank you so much for giving me the stregnth to carry on despite the pain in my shoulder. Lord I do come asking for healing in my shoulder. I know that you want me to be healthy and be at that gym. Lord help me to establish a routine at the gym that I feel good about and don't feel guilty when not doing all of the things available.

Amen