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Weightloss Journey

Make Your New Year’s Resolution Stick

It’s that time of year we are all thinking of our New Year’s Resolutions or goals for the upcoming year! We are resolving “all the things” that we want to improve on.  It’s a new year, a new opportunity to be the best you.

Unfortunately, according to StatisticBrain in 2015, about 8% of people who made a New Year’s Resolution succeeded.  I used to be against New Year’s Resolution until I thought about it another way.

New Year’s Resolutions are not that bad

Ordinarily, people wish, want, and hope to be the best versions of themselves.  New Year’s is the one time a year that we are united in our thinking that we need to make a change for the better in our lives. The idea of a New Year is an excellent opportunity to reflect on the one, two, or maybe three things you want to improve in your life.

Take action towards your New Year’s Resolutions

Some people take it further than New Year’s Eve resolve and attempt to make a change for about two to three weeks. Until the need or want to change no longer becomes a priority. Familiar and comfortable habits creep back into your life. And the passion fades. Then we are back to business as usual.

Make your New Year’s Resolution a solution

Why? How? Why did that passion go away so quickly? How do you keep that motivation going? There are lots of tips.  I am sure within the next week everyone will have an opinion. I know I can only speak from my experience what proved to work and make a resolution a solution and now a lifestyle that I plan on maintaining forever.

Seven ways to Make Your New Year’s Resolution a Lifestyle

7. Do the research.

Find out what you need to get to where you’re going.  If you plan on publishing a book, what steps do you need to take? If you planning on losing weight, how much? How? Why?

Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. Proverbs 19:2

New Year's resolution

6. Prepare Yourself. 

Don’t just wake up January 1st, throw away everything in your house and go to the gym running on the elliptical like a cheetah (for about 3 minutes), lifting up a 5 lbs dumbbell two or three times and wiping the sweat from your brow talking about, Phew! I did it! Get a plan, a good plan a plan that is made just for you, your likes, and goals and then get ready to execute that plan. Buy the food on the menu, prep the meals, schedule time in your week to do the workouts!

Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail.”

5. Find a buddy or group.

Don’t just find any buddy; find someone who is going to call you out lovingly if you’re not doing what you should and someone to be your loudest biggest cheerleader just when you need that extra push. Accountability buddies can be invaluable with the ups and downs of a weight loss or goal-seeking journey. You can join us at Bible and Bootcamps for 6-week basic training for healthy lifestyle habits. It includes daily prayer, meditation, encouragement and accountability, 6 weeks of exercise, healthy eating guidelines and meal ideas. We have an amazing group of women growing and supporting each other through our faith then the fitness journey.

New Year's Resolution accountability buddy

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

4.Execute with Energy.

If you’re going to do something, do it well. Do it to the best of your abilities! Just think you’re only going to be uncomfortable for a maximum of 1 hour out of your day.  That is going to add years to your life.  The cost is less than the benefit, and you’re so worth it.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24

3. Track your progress. 

According to findings of the American Psychological Association, “Frequently monitoring progress toward goals increases the chance of success. There are various ways that you can track your results. You can use a fitness tracker, pictures, food logs,  and measurement logs are examples of easy ways to track your progress.  I don’t like the numbers games of scales and measurements and although I do track my measurements I prefer pictures.  Everyone is different, but you’ll find what works best for you.

New Year's Resolution Before and After

2. Craft the best, Why!

Other than prayer. An excellent “Why?” will get you up and out of bed on a cold rainy day and into the gym.  A magnificent “Why?” will give you the self-discipline to say “No, thank you” to that one indulgence. It’s going to get you over the hurdle and sustain you through the plateaus.  You MUST, no exception have a “why?” to make your resolution stick!

1.Pray and Give it to God.

When we do things with Christ it makes it so much easier, attainable and within our reach, because He can place all our wants in the palm of our hands. Giving your goals to Christ to lead your steps and follow your directions. While you’re doing the research, while you’re preparing yourself, when you have to decide to use that plan b and to execute and get the plan done will help you achieve your goals and the ones that He has for you too.  This may be the missing piece that hindered you from achieving that resolution but not this year.  You’re doing things a little different.

“On days we’re not motivated to exercise, perhaps we need to go to Jesus. We can lay our very real struggle into His very capable hands and watch Him work in us for His glory.”-Matthew Pryor

New Year's Resolution

When you are consistently filling yourself with the Bread of life instead of being content with the “food that spoils” you will never go hungry both physically and spiritually. “Do not reserve the Bread of Life just for Sundays. Make it a daily mindset” to achieve your goals with His strength.

How do you plan to stick to your resolutions? Have you ever considered intentionally praying for direction and help to achieve your desires?

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Faith & Self Care Faith Journey Fitness Fitness and Health Weightloss Journey

Not an Overnight Success: 7 things I’ve learned on my journey to lose 80 lbs.

I can’t believe that it has been another year. It seems both fast and long. For last years anniversary post check it out here! Two years seem like a long time but looking back it has flown. I started this blog three years ago as a Christian Mom Blog I didn’t know what I was doing then, and I still don’t know what “Christian Mom Blog” means but it has evolved over the last two years it has become a faith and fitness blog.

August 4, 2015

Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us. Isaiah 8:10

Two years today after trying on my own to figure out this daunting weight loss thing joined an online exercise program   It was exactly what I needed to get started a plan and some guidance. She also encouraged her members to take pictures to show progress, and I am grateful for those to look back at and see my progress. I would have never thought to do that. At the time I hated the idea, and the cost of a gym so, at home workouts worked for me. I also said that I would “never work out at a gym again,” haha.

Fast Forward

Fast forward two years and what I thought was going to be a temporary fix; I was going to get real skinny quick. Little did I know not only was I going to “get skinny” but it was going to be a roller coaster of highs and lows expectations and disappointments and an internal journey as well. It hasn’t all been bad.

Blessed through the Journey

This has also given me the opportunity to have fun adventures like working out with celebrity trainers and trying all kinds of new equipment, supplements, and tools.

 

Never Say Never

I am teaching group fitness classes at 5 am in the morning which I never imagined I would be up and moving at 5 am much less teaching other people too. I told my friend who kept referring me that I would never do group fitness and now that I have I absolutely love it.

A passion ignited

I am 10 weeks away from obtaining my degree in Fitness and Exercise Science, and I am working at an amazing gym (which I also said that I would never do; “work at a gym)”. I am learning so much from a great group of passionate trainers.

FaithFueled is a Lifestyle

Honoring my temple has now become my way of life how I live my life. The choices I make how I plan my day involves my mental space, health, exercise and healthy eating.

More than just a weight loss journey

I started on Periscope and Instagram just sharing about my journey which turned into a 30-day personal prayer challenge that I gave myself to honor my temple.  Those 30 days completely changed my perspective of how I can use God in my life. I had always put boundaries and limits on what I could pray.

Change in Purpose

I didn’t think God cared if I wanted to be skinny or not but through my prayers and devotion my want to be skinny changed for want to be healthy both including spiritually, physically and medically.  It gave me a passion for honoring my temple meaning what I put into it, how I treat it, who I involve in my emotional life and I went to the Bible for the lead in everything.

Stronger Together

I had a relationship with Christ before this journey but the peace I and intimacy that I never knew I craved has been met and continues to grow through this journey. When you turn to God for the little things you begin to turn to Him for everything and having a daily passionate relationship with God has been more fulfilling than being skinny or lifting a weight. The most exciting part of this journey is that I pray every day that I can be a light and bring glory to God through all that I do.

Humbled to be used

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God–this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

God has shown me in the last two year many women and some men that I have inspired through my journey. I am humbled and honored to serve God through fitness. It is amazing that in two years I have been able to change and transform and it is really truly because of God that I am where I am today. So, today I am celebrating the day that literally changed the course of my life. I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today. So, this is my physical change in the last two years Year to date, but I don’t think you can take a picture for the internal change this experience has had on my family and myself.

The things I have learned in two years

  1. Give it to God first don’t try to do it yourself you’ll save time and stress.
  2. Be consistent even if you don’t see progress.
  3. If it isn’t working try something different you don’t have to stick with the thing you started.
  4. Yes, food is important not only what you eat but how and when you eat it!
  5. Discipline is needed and accountability
  6. Regardless what stage you’re at love and appreciate where you are right now while you are working towards what you want and always remember your Why!
  7. The only fix is your mindset that quick and easy doesn’t cut it hard work is worth the reward.

What’s Next?

I now have a new goal to compete in a Fitness competition.  Similar to weight loss, the mental is hard, the workouts are hard, and the food is the worse. I want to quit from day to day, and the highs and lows are the same but I know I have the victory. It will take more time than I want but I will get there just like I got here.

Work in Progress

There is a lot I still have yet to learn and work on if not physically then spiritually and emotionally. By no means am I even finished I like to think of it as just getting started on the next chapter, and I am excited to see what is written. If I could leave anyone with any advice is if you haven’t started, start today because it’s just another step closer to your goals. Remember it takes time so give yourself

time!

How can I help you start your journey or encourage you?

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Babies christian mom Faith & Self Care Fitness Fitness and Health Self self-care Weightloss Journey

5 Habits Mom’s do to derail progress

mistake

I made a delicious, nutritious, and fat loss friendly meal for breakfast. Nothing extravagant Apple Chai (Sugar Free) Oatmeal and Hard boiled Eggs.  Something very simple after an intense workout. Ate my serving, that was measured out and a perfect portion, then I did the unthinkable. A habit that I have had since my lil diva’s started eating table food. I am usually mindful but you know how things go, sometimes you slip back into old habits. So, what did I do that is so heinous? As I am clearing the table, I…..yes, I did it. I scarfed down the leftover food from my littlest diva’s plate. (The horror-insert scared emoji here) I went from being completely satisfied with my meal, portion, and calories being in a healthy range. To the feeling of being stuffed and adding probably a good 100-200 calories extra to my meal, (maybe less) which I can’t totally calculate because I didn’t measure out my child’s leftovers. Now, am I going to totally freak out and do more pushups, jumping jacks, and burpees. Um, no I am way to worn out for that. Thank God there is such a thing as grace. But, I am going to be mindful that these bad habits although innocent is little things that make it harder for me to get to my goal. A healthier, physically fit body. That I work very hard on 30 minutes a day 4 days a week. While doing dishes I was thinking, “I know other mother’s do the same thing but I wonder how many innocent habits do we do that hamper our progress?” I came up with five and I would love for you to add more that I don’t think about and maybe not even aware of that these little nuances exist. Pointing them out will help us to stay focused and not derail our hard efforts. Time and pushups are very valuable things to me and if I can reduce both that is a good thing.

Derail

5 Habits Mom do to derail progress

  1. Eating remaining food off your children’s plate. Let’s start with today’s offender. I try to be mindful of this but being the overseer of our food budget and working hard to provided nutritious meals for my family. When I see perfectly good food on its way to the trash my first instinct is to just eat it. You know the saying, “there are poor children starving in Africa.” My instinct to save the waste is counterproductive to my goal to live a healthier lifestyle. Those little bit of calories can add up, considering you feed your children 3-5 times a day. A great solution is to serve your children less. They can always get more and that way they are not wasting as much food and you are not adding to your daily intake by saving food from the trash.
  2. Not sitting down to eat. Again, most of these are just going to be my confession. Up until recently especially in the morning before school. I would eat on the go and have my children sit at the table for breakfast, lunch and I usually sit down during dinner. But, sometimes I am trying to throw something in my mouth and tackle, chores, phone calls, or something while I have them sitting there quietly (somewhat) eating a meal. This too allows you to make poor food choices, portion control and just add unnecessary stress. Sit down, chill, enjoy the meal you have prepared and take a little time out in your day to talk with your children. Teaching moments of “abc’s” or just to sit for 10-20 minutes. This can help reduce your stress which helps reduce your cortisol so, it’s a triple win; Stress reducer, nourishment and calorie control.
  3. Don’t drink enough water. I am in that weird mom stage, I am either on the go with my two older school age children or I am on alert with a very curious toddler. Regardless, I am not attentive to my own needs most of the time. Somedays, I am just on auto pilot getting through the to-do’s of the day. We are supposed to drink half our weight in ounces of water. If I am conscious I am doing that but that requires lots of fill ups and lots of pit stops, if you know what I am saying. But, proper hydration is key to good nutrition so it is something that must be added to the to-do list until, it becomes a great habit.
  4. Don’t make time to workout. Again, this was a mistake of mine. So, beginning of 2015 I had the best intentions. Gym membership, resolution motivation and a 6 month old baby and two active lil school aged divas. My husband works most of the time so, although I intentionally signed up with a 24-hour gym I never seemed to make it in there at all within 24-hours. I am just hanging on by a prayer after 8 pm when my husband usually comes home during basketball season, so night time workout don’t work. Although, I get up at five in the morning for devotion. The idea of getting up at 4 am to devote and then workout seemed like pure insanity to me. I think it would be safe to say that as a mother we do not always prioritize ourselves in life. That is a mistake. We need to take care of ourselves. Physical inactivity leads to so many things that cause us to poorly do our job. Small things like lack in energy, poor immune system; To big things like stroke, obesity, diabetes and other life threatening ailments. We must be active for at least 150 hours per week according to the American Center for Disease Control, however you break that down in your week. It’s a must! So, not adding your time to devote (I find that essential in self-care and honoring your temple) and exercise is a major no, no to weight loss and a healthy lifestyle.

Deuteronomy316

5. Rely on your self.

How do you do better?

The second best thing I ever did for myself was canceled my gym membership, invested in weights and found an awesome workout that could be done in less than 30 minutes.  It has double the benefits of going to the gym, an hour of cardio, or an hour workout DVD. If you have an hour of to devote to working out make sure you schedule it in and pop in that DVD. Whatever you do get your 150 hours a week in any way that you can. With kids, without kids but just honor your temple with intentionally avoiding habits and mistakes that you have become accustomed to. I know that I am doing it and although the journey is not as fast as I like, “if I stop now, I will soon be back where I started, 40 pounds heavier, 56 more inches wider. And when I started, I was desperately wishing I could be where I am now.”

The best thing that I did to help me see my mistakes and have strength to change them was bring my goal to live better and healthier to God.  After trying too long and too hard I gave it to Him and He has helped me overcome so much. Even though old ugly habits will rear there heads. I was able to instantly recognize it and now will make a conscious effort to overcome it.

Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid of them! The Lord your God will goes ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

I know I am not crossing a river to go into warfare but I am going into battle with my own sinful nature. And the ways that I have become accustomed and where I am trying to do better in my life. So, get out there and honor your temple better.  What mistakes or habits do you have that are derailing you from honoring your temple better?

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Faith Journey Fitness Fitness and Health Honor My Temple Prayer Challenge

Happy 1 Year Anniversary

1 Year Anniversary.

“A year from now you will wish you had started today.”-Anonymous

It has officially been 365 days! Today, one year ago I woke up, and I had enough! Enough excuses, enough regret, enough neglect, enough believing the lies of the enemy.  I woke up, and I said I must change now! The week before I had dabbled in a fitness routine.  It felt great but today last year I wanted to do more than just dabble. I wanted to commit. I wanted to commit to a healthy lifestyle.  Now, if you have been following me along the last year, you know that this is not my first weight loss journey. So, what was so different this time around? I did it before so what’s the big deal.  All the times before I was seeking weight loss for vanity reasons. I wanted to be a Size X, I wanted to look like so and so, I want people to see me as blah, blah, blah and honestly WHO CARES!

Who I was

I look back on the empty person I was, and I am so grateful for God’s redemption. This journey has been so much more; this has been the results of an ongoing relationship with God. That is the celebration today. I didn’t do this by myself I did this with God. There were so many days I prayed to him for His help through this journey, His self-control, His provision and His unconditional love. This was a daily intentional relationship with God to Honor My Temple. It has grown my faith in Him so much. It has defeated my anxiety, bouts of depression, obsessive-compulsive behaviors. I have never felt so fulfilled in my life.

Finding Purpose

The other thing that has changed this past year is my purpose.  For the last thirteen years, I have been searching, lost in this world, grasping at anything but the only thing that could fulfill me.  I have tried to overcome with bad habits, smoking, drinking, partying, over training, under eating, overeating, negative self-talk, negative to other people, selfish ambition.  Not one of those fruits has been of the Spirit.  It wasn’t until Jesus found me in a broken place, a rock bottom, despair and anguish were my friend that He picked me up, brushed me off and kissed me and then began this year of healing.  This journey has been my inside matching my outside as I yearn to know, grow and glorify Him.

1 Year Anniversary

The Last Year’s Reflection

In this last year, I have learned how to do fitness better. This journey has done so much for me and my life more than weight loss. It has improved my dependence on God, strengthened my marriage, help me find my calling and ignited a passion for teaching others how to honor their temple. It has been an incredible journey. I have had an amazing network of women and men who have cheered me on, cheered me up, prayed for me, and inspired me. I have met other peoples who like me want to teach others how to Honor their temple and glorify God!

I have been called to go to school AGAIN and get my degree in Fitness Exercise Science and an NASM certification so that I can be in the trenches walking with others and teaching them how to honor their temple with God. I created this blog “FaithFueled™” before I even knew what it means the name came to me in a dream. Here I am a year later with a precise definition.

This is the beginning of a new journey now. Can you imagine where I will be in a year, and my husband has joined me in my next Fitness Goal it’s going to be a BIG ONE? I plan on showing others the FaithFueled™ Lifestyle, which is God First! Witness through fitness; glorifying God through living a healthy lifestyle fueled by faith.

1 Year Anniversary

So, I say “Start now, a year ago you would be glad you did!” What got you started on your journey? Whether it be career, projects, weight loss whatever what got you started?

Do you want to join the FaithFueled™ Lifestyle? It’s Free!  Join us! www.FaithFueledLife.com 

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christian mom Family Fitness Fitness and Health Weightloss Journey

Overweight Physically & Underweight Spiritually

weight loss

First posted 12/2/2015

Embarking on a weight loss journey

God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though He is not far from any one of us, Acts 17:27

Weight loss is a journey. What happens to you when you realized the reason you are overweight physically and underweight spiritually? You do something about it. About 4 months ago, I got fed up with my physical appearance and embarked on a weight loss journey.  The first month was easy mentally. I hired a virtual trainer, I was seeing results and was happy to find something that worked.  Then, the next month came and that beginning puppy love started to wear off.  I had more than being physically overweight to deal with; which is often the case when losing weight.  I had the easy part handled what, when, who and where to do it.  It was the why, that I need to work on.

What is my Why?

That’s when personal reflection came in.  If I was to lose the ideal weight and achieve the body I wanted. What would it be for? There comes a point in your life especially when you’re on a spiritual journey that you need more than just outward appearances to fulfill you.  What do you do, when you’re overweight physically and underweight spiritually?  You tear down walls and rebuild from the foundation.  I achieved this by figuring out my why?

why

 

To submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. 1 Corinthians 16:11

There are the obvious, family and faith? I have 3 little girls that I have the responsibility of teaching how to be women and they are watching my every move. I want to teach them to honor their temple and be different in this world; Honoring and serving God.  I am also trying to be the best that I can be for my husband as God says to do.

Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God. 1 Chronicles 22:19a

Underweight Spiritually

I needed to rebuild my foundation so, my second month I took time out daily to Honor My temple through prayer and challenge myself.  Every day, this prayer challenge created a relationship with God and His word when it pertained to my issues with, exercise, nutrition and faith.  It was an amazing opportunity that helped me clearly define my why? The Bible is the most detailed instruction manual for life.  When women look into God’s word they often go to Proverbs 31 description of a worthy women.  So, after 30 days of personal reflection I went to trusty old Proverbs 31 to see if my why aligned with “Women of Noble Character.”

She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:28-30

weightloss

 

3 Reasons: Why my weight loss is more than appearance

These verses encompass everything I care about.  My faith, my husband, and my children. Breaking these verses down gives me the definition I was looking for in my why, much like my workout plan and nutrition.

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30

  1. My faith

I interpret this verse as: A loving admiration for God that includes obedience to God and the commands His word.”  As a Christian women that is something that I want to be synonymous with me.

her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Proverbs 31:28b-29

  1. My husband

Her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

Her children arise and call her blessed;

Proverbs 31:28a

  1. My Children

My daughter’s ages right now are pivotal in their own right. I have an 11 year old, who is on the cusp of teenage years and womanhood.  A seven year old, who is starting to come into her own.  A 16 month old, who is discovering this world and picking up on social cues. All of them no matter what they’re age continues to look to me to shape their ideas and role as a woman in this world. I strive to teach them how to be a light for God and noble.

Tapping to my why gives me more than the motivation that I need to achieve my weight loss goal. It also gives me a satisfaction that is better than any adrenaline high and keeps me committed to my faith, husband and children.  Some days I may be tired, have nutritional blunders but at the beginning and end of each day. I am praising God for giving me a temple to honor and doing my best to do just that. How are you honoring your temple?

 

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