Fit, Fabulous 40's Friday!

Friday already?

I don't know about you, but when I'm on vacation, I never know what day it is!

I've got some big plans for 2013, how about you?

I've just signed up for this amazing course by Jeff Goins, called  

Tribe Writers 

and was reading some of his fabulous resources when I noticed the time, 

12:11 am and the day, 

Friday, 

January 4th.

I immediately thought about my "Fitness Friday"(which I have been slacking on)

 and then remembered being surprised by the amount of NEW followers to my 

Pinterest page 

(check it out)

that I titled,

  "Things That Inspire Me to Stay Strong", 

which meant that people are wanting some " Pinspiration"

 regarding fitness for the New Year!

Then, while on Facebook tonight,

I had a semi-conversation on my New Year's Eve pic regarding my arms.

I'm not super buffed, even though one of my friends calls me, "Buff Girl".

I just work hard to stay fit. 

And it is, 

hard work to stay fit!

I've shared my arms workout many, many times, but there is a catch.

You've got to do it....and keep doing it,

for a long,

long time!

  

Persistence...

And by the way, 

you've also got to work out the other parts of your body 

while you are working towards those arms!

But, there will be benefits!

I wish it were easy and quick, 

but nothing worth working for comes easy.

BUT,

 I KNOW 

it is possible- 

I'm just like you.

Really, I am.

And, I KNOW 

that if I can do it, 

you can do it, too!

Here are some things I would suggest before starting any health and nutrition plan:

1. Make sure you are healthy.
 When was the last time you got a thorough physical?
 Don't remember?
 GET ONE!
You will find out where  you are- and what you might have to work on- heart, fat, muscle, strength

2. Realize WHY you want to work out?
What will get you there even when you do not want to go?
I'll be honest. I am vain.
I want to look the best I can possibly look right now.
I want to be happy with who I see in the mirror.
Maybe for you, it's getting off medication, or wanting to feel better, or have more energy?
(do you really think I enjoyed waking up at 4:40 a.m. to get to the gym and shower before work? )

3. What foods do I need to stop placing into my mouth?
YOU feed yourself- not good or bad- just take responsibility and then decide to stop eating one type of food that you shouldn't be- take one food away for a week, then the next week stop eating something else, etc.  You can just tell yourself, "I don't eat that anymore" or "I'm not eating it until I lose "x" amount of weight"
I used to put my Hot Tamales in the freezer, so I knew they were there, but I was simply making a choice to save them for later.

4. Get Support
Who will be your cheerleader outside of ME?
I will cheer you on, for sure, but who else? Who will hold you accountable, encourage you, etc. Research has shown that you will get better results if you are accountable to someone.
Tell a good friend that you want to work on your health this year and I'm sure he/she will support you.

5. Learn how to eat - read/ ask/ research!
Fact: fit/lean people eat differently than overweight, obese people.
I'd be happy to help you- this website can help and there are many more out there!
We learned how/what to eat growing up, and I'll admit that I had to "clean my plate" because "there were starving children in China". I can still clean my plate, but I don't have to  have a man-sized serving!
You can also go here for some ideas/recipes....baby steps!

6. Learn about exercise and fitness- read/ask/research!
I'd be happy to help you here, too! Seriously, just ask!
I also get workout ideas from   :http://www.muscleandfitnesshers.com/

What I do is fairly simple, 

I've just kept doing it for a long, long time.

I've also had others help me here and there.

An old friend, gave me my arm workout ( called 21's )

 which came from Arnold Schwarzenegger's bodybuilding book!

I had other friends at the gym give me tips here and there that have helped.

I've also read, researched and asked others what they do!

Here is the truth- 

YOU have to decide that YOU are going to change  

your mentality regarding your body 

before your body is going to change. 

It will NOT happen in one day, 

one week 

or 

even one month. 

You have got to be in this for life-

you may be saving YOURS!

Remember,

to just keep going!

What is the most difficult part to starting a new health plan for YOU?

Motivational Monday!

Happy  Monday!

Everyone LOVES Friday because it is the end of the week and the start of the weekend,

 but I must admit that I do 

LOVE me 

my Monday!

Why?

I love my Monday because it is the START of the week!

Whatever happened last week-

done,

gone,

poof!

I love my Monday because it is the day that I get back into a routine again!

Saturday and Sunday are somewhat routine,

but -

the kids stay up late,

there are parties,

get-togethers,

playdates-

over it!

I love my Monday because I take Sunday off from working out-

to rest my body.

I go to church to-

fill my soul,

and it is the only day of the week I give myself permission to sleep in.

I REST!

So I AM READY for MONDAY!

(can anyone say, "Gentlemen, start your engines?")

I pray for strength for the week,

and

I thank God for the last one,

I pray for guidance and wisdom,

and

I thank God for His blessings,

I pray that I would be JESUS to someone, 

and

I thank God for any opportunity He is going to give me to do that!

How about you?

Do you look forward to Mondays or is there another day of the week that is your fav?

My friend Mary does this for me, and so, I will do this for you!

Father,

Thank you for today, Monday!

Thank you, that I CAN DO ALL THINGS I'm supposed to do today

in YOUR strength,

through YOU.
I pray for this reader, my friend,
that they would have a great start to their week, and that they would feel Holy Spirit filled as they turn to you for YOUR guidance,
YOUR strength
and
that they would make time alone to hear YOUR still, small voice.
Thank you for your LOVE,
FORGIVENESS,
and 
thank you that there is NOTHING in this world that can separate me 
from YOU!
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen!

Looking Forward to What Lies Ahead!

(Thank you, Julie @ Joy's Hope)

I LOVE this verse...the perfect verse to start the very first month of a brand new year!

I am taking a bible study and we are learning about Paul, the author of this verse.

Paul was not your ordinary man, but in many ways, I guess he was.

When I first read about Paul (he was originally named Saul) I learned that he was:

Prideful

Arrogant,

Hateful,

Selfish,

Ambitious,

Righteous,

Intense,

Cowardly,

Religious,

Intellectual,

Closed Minded,

Indignant.

After his meeting with the risen Christ, he was:

CHANGED!

Grateful,

Selfless,

LOVING,

FORGIVEN,

Committed,

Surrendered,

Intentional,

Purposeful,

Obedient,

Fearless,

Encouraging,

Strong,

Peaceful,

Paul is speaking to the Philippians and to all the believers everywhere.

Can you imagine that he is writing this note from a prison in Rome?

I want to be like Paul.

He is able to find JOY,

REAL JOY,

WHATEVER the circumstance...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had a bad year last year, okay, I'll say it.

I had a CRAPPY year!

Among other losses, my father passed.

I had a pretty good pity-party.

Party for 3?

Me, myself and I!

I have lots of reasons to continue in my pity party, but this verse says to

STOP!

I MUST...

FOCUS...

ALL..

my...

ENERGIES..

on what... lies...

AHEAD!

(now try that with a William Shatner imitation)

How do I do this?

By spending time refueling with the LORD,

through prayer and reading...

letting HIS WORD

sink in....

deep...

within my head,

heart

and

soul.

I must FOCUS on His HOPE...

"Those who HOPE in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint".

Isaiah 40:31

I must FOCUS on HIM...

"Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Romans 12: 1-2

What do you need to FOCUS on?

.

What is it about Costco?

Ok- What is it about Costco?

I went to Costco yesterday with my full intention of purchasing the items that I had on my list...and ONLY those items on my list.

I get there, and I'm not kidding, I feel like I'm at a Sale or something!

I LOSE CONTROL!!!!

Can anyone relate?

On the outside, I'm calm, cool and collect and on the inside, I'm like,
"What do I need, do I need some of those, do I need more of this, oh my gosh, what a good price, I've got to get that!" (repeating in my mind at light speed!)

Here is what I had on my list:

Fruit (it's healthy, we all eat a ton)
chicken (it's healthy, we all eat a ton)
trash bags
pizza (for mom's night out)
romaine lettuce (it's healthy and I eat a ton)

Here is what I purchased IN ADDITION to my list:

cute shirt for my daughter (only $10.00 for a brand name!)
cute shirt for my husband (only $15.00 but said he didn't like the color-too feme, but still cute)
cute shirt for me (only $10.00 for guess what, a brand name and excellent quality well worth over the $10.00!!!!!!!)

kids sour vitamins (we actually needed these)
kids fruit snack ( made with real fruit....but did we need 74?)
6 pack cans of soup ( weird thing, I like to have cans in the garage in case we someday DO go to war or get invaded by aliens or have THAT earthquake they've said is coming)

Do you overspend at Costco?
Do you ever feel like it's a frenzy in there?

Being in Costco is almost like having a drug induced episode (though I've never had one, I guess this is what I imagine it would be like?)

You go in and come out with things in your basket that you don't remember putting in, everything was a blur and all of a sudden you are in front of your car....

Maybe it's because I think I'm getting a totally awesome discount by shopping there?

Maybe it's because their drinks only cost .59 cents?
Maybe it's because I can feed three half-starving children for less than $2.00 each!!! Seriously!
Maybe it's because you can actually have lunch for FREEEEE by snacking at all their sample stations!
Maybe it's because you feel like part of an elite group when you are shopping there?

(Yes, I have a gold card- ha ha!)

Do you think God wants me to pray about where and how I'm spending money?
Well, it is HIS money, isn't it?

What about praying for self-control when going into the out-of-control zone?

What about praying for wisdom on what to purchase?

What about praying for peace, so that I don't do or buy anything to fill that gap I may have in my heart and ...Let HIS peace fill it...

I know this may sound silly, but I really believe God wants us relying on him for strength, wisdom, peace and self-control.
I believe that HE wants us to rely on HIM for even MORE, but you and I have a choice every moment of every day to say "YES" to the Lord or "NO!"

When I do rely on HIM more, I'm more like HIM. I make choices HE would make and, have the kind of self-control, wisdom and peace that HE would have.

Just for today~

Ask the Lord to give you wisdom as you make choices and decisions for your family.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7

I love those who love me and those who seek me, find me.

Proverbs 8:17

Ask the Lord for self-control in spending, eating, maybe even your tongue.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Romans 8:26

For God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and of LOVE and of sound mind.

2 Timothy 1-7

Ask the Lord for peace as you go on with your day, to be in the moment, fully engaged with the day!
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him, so that you may overflow with Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

On the journey with you~

Janet

........................HOPE

I saw a physical sign of HOPE in my front yard.
We have lived in this home for over 4 years and there is this one spot in our yard that has dirt, always had dirt and probably always will.....the sprinkler must just miss it by overshooting it or undershooting it.
Last week as I pulled into the driveway I saw something that surprised me....in the middle of this dirt patch was a very cute, sunflower standing up as straight as can be, all by itself.......in the midst of that dirt!!!

Do you feel like your life is "stuck in the dirt" sometimes? I know I feel that way occasionally, okay, more than that since I'm being honest. Sometimes I can look around and not notice all the blessings God has given me, I can feel sorry for myself or self consumed with WHATEVER I can come up with in my head at any moment...but in the midst of it all....there is HOPE...there is GOD!

GOD has promised you and me HOPE...
* HE will comfort us when we are feeling isolated like that flower, Psalm 23:4 "Your rod and your staff, they comfort me"
* HE will protect us when we are vulnerable to the world, 2Thes:3:3 "But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one."
*HE will never leave us even when we don't SEE HIM there, Hebrews 13:5..."Never will I leave you:never will I forsake you"
*HE will quench our thirst, when the world leaves us dry..... John 4:14 "but whoever drinks the water I give her will never thirst."

Psalm 62:5
"Find rest, O my soul, in GOD alone;
my HOPE comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress,
I will not be shaken."

I am so at peace that I can have HOPE in the LORD: MY COMFORTER, MY PROTECTOR, MY STRENGTH and the WELL of LIFE.
Thank you father for being there for me whenever I need you, wherever I need you for whatever I need~
Let's HOPE in the LORD today!