Investing in the New Year

If your holidays were as busy as mine (and whose aren't?!) you can probably understand why it's been a while since I've posted anything! I had always intended to post something every day when I initially started this blog. However, I've discovered that it just isn't very realistic, likely, or even very doable for me (unless I give up my day job as well as my main job of being a wife and mother...yeah, not going to happen!).

What I have learned over the years is that often times, "less is more" (who has time to read someone's posts every day anyways lol?). I've also learned how to not be so "all or nothing" and to prioritize. My health and fitness is always going to be something that is important to me (as well as helping others with their health and fitness needs/goals as well). However, my first priority has always been to put God and family first. It's not likely that I'm going to be one of the super duper elite diamond coaches out there who do this full-time, but that's ok with me. My success as a Christian, a wife, and a mother far outweighs anything else that I could possibly excel in; on Earth and in eternity! In fact, I've seen the best and most PRICELESS "returns on investments" EVER in the past year; both in my family and in my work environment. Most notably, my son accepted Christ and was baptized. There is no greater investment than when you invest in someone's life; especially your child's! If the only reason I live and breathe is to make sure my children know and choose Jesus as their Savior, then I'm confident that I'm accomplishing what God wants from me! I am enjoying every second of every opportunity I have in directing my children to walk in faith! Those devotionals and books that you see in the picture above were Christmas gifts for my children; which they have been reading and enjoying daily. I am extremely proud of them and that they are excited about growing in their faith!

My son, Casey, raising his hands in victory!

With that being said, I've been feeling a greater sense of urgency to make sure that I can continue being there to nurture my kids; which won't happen if I'm not functioning as well as I could be. I'm still an overweight, tired, aging Mom who finds it more and more difficult to make time to prioritize fitness back into my daily routine (because I got out of the habit again). Chris and I did do our first two months of Piyo, but we didn't get to the two months of the "strength" phase. Illnesses, busyness, exhaustion, and stress have been our obstacles in the past few months (though, I suppose that's everyone's excuse). We really need to get into our "beast mode" again! As I mentioned, one just has to find what is "doable" and prioritize even just a LITTLE bit of time. If all I can manage is just a few minutes on the treadmill for a while, a few glasses of water, one healthy choice, etc., then at least that's something...I just have to remember the Beachbody motto: "Decide. Commit. Succeed." With the Lord's help, I can definitely do this!

How about you? What are your priorities? With a fresh new year comes a fresh new perspective! Personally, I want my spiritual momentum to spill over into the areas where I am currently weak. The best part is that God excels in strengthening our weaknesses! In what areas do you need infused with his strength? Consider this verse; which has recently become a favorite of mine:

Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you.

Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. 

- Isaiah 33:2

Now, personalize that verse! "Lord, be gracious to me; I long for you! Be my strength every morning (and all day!), my salvation in time of distress." This prayer not only gets me through the day, but gives me a sense of joy and peace that is amazing! This verse has been very calming and I feel that it has also been a key to unlocking a prayerful heart all day!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Leave a comment with your thoughts and feel free to contact me if there's anything I can do to walk with you on your journey this year! Visit www.infusion413.com to view the special January promotions (which include the 21 Day Fix as well as the new program The Master's Hammer and Chisel) or let me know if you need help choosing a program/customizing a plan. Remember, just start small; even if it's just walking for five minutes a day! Be the best "you" that you can be for God, your family, and yourself! Be infused! God bless you!

Beast Mode: How to Defeat "Gaston"

It's hard to believe that Chris and I are already on our third week of Piyo. We're nearly finished with our first month, but you can still workout right along with us at any time (in fact, Piyo is on sale this month!). It hasn't been easy, but we are feeling stronger and more flexible. It's so worth it and I highly recommend it! Chris says he already has more room around the waistline of his pants and frequently likes to flex his growing arm muscles. ;) I do not mind this at all lol! I'm so proud of him/us and very grateful to God for getting us through it!

There have been many days where I have felt so tired and sore that I have wanted to just skip a workout or abandon this workout program. I pretty much feel like this every time I start a new routine but I stick with it because I refuse to give up on myself. Yes, there are times where I barely get through it, but I say my prayers and push on through!

This may sound odd, but for quite some time, there is a particular scene that plays out in my mind every morning when I wake up (and a lot of times when I'm struggling to get through a workout). In case you didn't know, I struggle with chronic pain; the doctor thinks I likely have fibromyalgia. I usually feel terrible when my alarm goes off in the morning and I often battle with finding the will to get out of bed. That's when I hear the words of Gaston, from Beauty & the Beast, mocking me: "Get up! Get UP! What's the matter Beast?! Too kind and gentle to fight BACK?!" There I am; lying there trying to convince myself to start the day. I know that I have a "beast mode" deep inside, but it would just be so much easier to lie there and give up. However, while I am a kind and gentle person, I am not a sissy that is going to just stay lying down and refuse to get up and fight for myself. Like the Beast, I always find my reason for living again and rise up strong; taking my enemy (Satan) aback. I find my "beast mode" by praying for God's strength and motivation. I remember that He is my reason for living and that He has given me responsibilities that I must fulfill for my family, my job, and everyone I encounter each day. Unless I am ridiculously sick, I get my booty out of bed and "Gaston" has to shut up for one more day lol. Satan is relentless, but my God is stronger! Jesus is the only reason I keep getting out of bed (or get up off the floor when I have done one too many reps). Beast mode.....HEAR ME ROAR!!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope this encourages you to engage your inner beast and that these fairy tale parallels can help you relate in a way that is beneficial to you (this isn't the first time God has brought Beauty & the Beast to my mind)! Ask yourself, "What is my focus? What makes me rise up courageously and ferociously to accomplish what I need to do?" Share your thoughts and comments about these questions in the comment section below this post! :) I encourage you to pursue your passion and purpose ! Ask God to reveal it to you if you don't already know. Rely on Him to be your strength and motivation and you too will defeat "Gaston" every day no matter how much he taunts you or tries to lead the charge chanting "kill the Beast"! No one can kill that Beast inside you because if God is for you, no one can be against you! ;) God bless you!

Spring Breaking Into Fitness!

Our kids have been gone since last weekend; they are on Spring break with our exes. I can't remember the last time Chris and I got to spend some quiet quality time together! We've even got to go on a few walks. It's so nice to be able to get some exercise together and enjoy the outdoors again now that it's getting nicer out!

I hope all of you are enjoying the nicer weather! Comment and let me know what your favorite outdoor activities are! Do you have a nice scenic neighborhood that makes taking walks a treat? How about outdoor sports? Is anyone out there starting to get warmed up for Summer activities?

If you're not an outdoor person (or are looking to get in shape for the outdoor sports) watch the videos below to check out the programs on special this month. If you've already done P90X or P90X2, then take it to the next level with P90X3. Or, maybe you'd really like to concentrate on some flexibility and do some Piyo. Whichever you choose, it will be a great start to improving your fitness or getting back into shape!

Grace and peace to you, my friends. I apologize that I don't have more time to blog, but as always, comment or message me if you have any questions or want to share something! Be infused! God bless you!

March's Lions and Lambs; The Bad News and the Good News

It's only four days into the month of March and I'm sure we're all guessing as to whether it's a "lion" or a "lamb" kind of start (as the saying goes). If we're going by the weather alone, I suppose we're still seeing that lion. Around here, Winter is still alive and well (unfortunately). Warmer temperatures are starting to appear, but I guess anything above freezing feels like a heat wave!

The weather isn't the only downer of the month. In case you haven't heard, Les Mills Pump and Combat are being discontinued. :( Therefore, if either of those programs have ever sparked your interest, I suggest purchasing the program before the remaining quantities are sold out! As I've mentioned in the past, I greatly enjoyed Les Mills Combat and got GREAT results with it! I highly recommend it! It's fun, intense, and you'll feel pretty awesome wearing the gloves and throwing those punches!

Well, that's the extent of the bad news. Yep, that's all! I actually got a TON of good news for you! It involves Team Beachbody on demand, Turbo Fire, and Focus T25. Those two programs mentioned are the programs that are on sale this month. If you're itching for warmer weather and vacation, start getting in shape for it NOW. I have done both of these programs and they are personal favorites of mine! The workouts, the music, the trainers, the results....ALL OF IT is heart-pumping, weight-losing, AWESOMENESSl! 21 Day Fix Extreme (as well as the kickstart program), and the 3 Day Refresh are still on special as well. Click on any of these links or browse www.infusion413.com! You won't regret getting one of these programs (especially if you buy a challenge pack which is the program PLUS Shakeology). As always, if you are dissatisfied, return it for a refund (less s&h). No hassle! You've got nothing to lose except those winter pounds!

Now, for the other part of that good news....TEAM BEACHBODY ON DEMAND! If you are a complete workout junkie, THIS is the deal for you! Get the Club Challenge pack this month (which includes Shakeology) and choose from any workout from any program whenever you want and stream it from your TV, computer, or whatever! All your favorite workouts INSTANTLY! That's the perk of being in the Team Beachbody Club (as well as a 10% discount on all products you buy when you're a member). If you don't want to get the club challenge pack, you can always become a Team Beachbody Club member whenever you'd like and try it out. You'll never have to buy the programs or fiddle with DVDs again! Just pick a workout and go! Don't you just love technology?!

Grace and peace to you my friends! I hope that March will turn out to be a great month for you! With all these great deals, how could it not be?! Additionally, a SUPER Shakeology Sampler Pack is going to be released on the 16th. The current sampler pack available lets you sample all the Shakeology flavors minus the vegan ones. The SUPER sampler will INCLUDE the vegan flavors. That's good news if you've ever been curious or interested in trying the vegan flavors (or have contemplated a vegan diet). As always, if you have any questions or comments, leave them below or contact me! Be infused! God bless you!

Fresh Fire!

Happy new year! It's 2015! Time for the cliche "new year, new you" stuff, right? Nah, I'm not even going to go there! I'm not going to encourage the "new year's resolutions" stuff at all. Over the years, I have come to find that it's almost counterproductive and self-defeating. It's especially true if you tend to battle with "all or nothing" tendencies as I often have.

Don't get me wrong. It's good to set goals and resolve to do/be your best. However, I think sometimes we have a tendency to fall short and then beat ourselves up too much after leaping into something too fast (especially if we don't have a well thought out plan of execution). We set ourselves up for failure by having such high hopes and then feel terrible once we realize that we've bitten off more than we can chew.

It doesn't have to be that way. Regardless if it's a new year, or just a new day, you can start fresh whenever you choose; even if you feel like you've blown it already! I have started over more times (and in more ways) than I can even begin to list! I have often attempted to achieve the same objectives (such as weight-loss) multiple times over the years. I have had successes and failures with that goal more times than I could ever count. All I know is that at any time, I can choose to start again; and if I do it through God's strength and not my own, it definitely WORKS and LASTS as long as I keep my focus on Him.

That is my long-term goal; in weight-loss and in everything. I want to be infused with all the good things of the Lord. My life will be better and I will be able to fulfill anything and everything that He wants me to do if I'm abiding in Him and He's living in me. I don't have to rely on my own willpower to try to accomplish all that resolution type stuff. I will just keep failing myself. God is the only one that is unfailing. I have to depend on Him for my success.

I am going to start a little bit at a time; making better and different choices as much as possible and listening to God's guidance in the process. I mean this regarding all aspects of my life, but I am particularly focusing on my weight-loss again because it has become very urgent that I do something about it. I am ashamed to say that I am likely at my all-time highest weight and it is not healthy or wise for me to be where I am at. I am going to focus on incorporating a workout routine into my life again (in case you're considering it as well, 3 Day Refresh, 21 Day Fix, and Insanity Max 30 are the featured promotions/programs for January). Even if I have to start with small increments of time and lower impact activities, I'll do what I can and work my way up. I'm also going to be making a
conscious effort to improve my nutritional habits/choices. Prayer is and will continue to be the key to motivation and success...and I am going to utilize it! I want the "fresh fire" that a dear sister of mine in the Lord has mentioned that she feels is going to happen in 2015. I've been sensing it too and I want to be a part of it!

How about you? Are you like me? Are you finding that there is something in your life that you need to change? Whether it's weight-loss, breaking an addiction, finding your purpose, or whatever else, God has the answers. Seek Him! He will bring answers as well as that FRESH FIRE! Additionally, let's team up! Contact me or leave a comment regarding what I can pray for you about/help you with. We will journey this road together no matter what it is!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! If there's one thing that we should be sure to resolve to do, it's seek the Lord; this year, next year, and every year....and all 365 days of each one! We are humans and we fail, but no matter what, HE doesn't fail US! Keep searching and seeking! God bless you!

INSANE Results...in 30 MINUTES!

I'll just keep it short and sweet: Shaun T's new program, Insanity Max 30, has finally been released! Of course, it couldn't be more timely because the challenge pack (the program PLUS Shakeology) is deeply discounted for the month of December. So, whether you're buying it as a gift, or for yourself, this is the best time to get it! Shaun T's programs are very popular, so it's highly likely that it might sellout quickly. 

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Watch the short video below to see what you're in for! If you're familiar with (or have done) Insanity, you probably already have an idea. ;) One thing's for certain, Shaun T's programs GET RESULTS! I've done Hip Hop Abs, Rockin' Body, and Focus T25. I love those programs and I lost pounds and inches. I'm sure this program will be no exception! Intensity and results, and in only 30 minutes! Awesome! Be infused! God bless you! 

I TRIPLE DOG DARE YOU!

At this point in the year, I don't think it's uncommon to just stop and wonder where all the time went. Every year when it's about time for the holidays again, I think "is it that time again already? We just got done with that!" It just seems to get busier every year! Weren't the holidays so much simpler when we were kids and we just got to enjoy all the good stuff lol?!

The first week of November has already come and gone so quickly. Just a few more days and the month will already be half over. It's yet another one of those times where I'm like, "oh yeah, I forgot to mention this month's promos." The busier things get in my life, the less the Team Beachbody world seems to factor in for me (in more ways than one). I wish it weren't that way. I've been a coach for over four years and I'm not where I thought I'd be (again, in more ways than one). Though, as I always say, I'm not a quitter! I know I'm not the only one out there that is busy at this time of year, or with the regular stuff in life (as well as the unexpected surprises). I've never quite felt that I've had a long enough period of time to really get momentum and keep it going long-term. There have been far too many drastic life changes in my life in the time since I've started. I'm hopeful that things are finally stabilizing, but you never know lol. 

That's why I just want to encourage everyone out there to just keep enduring! Seriously! No matter what it is that you're doing, need to do, or are still AIMING to do, just be patient with yourself! No one does a perfect job at anything; and there's always the proper time and season. Even the best trainers and coaches have their slumps. No kidding! Sometimes, I see Shaun T on Facebook making the occasional post about how he's had moments of discouragement or days where he didn't "feel like it" either. We all get weary. The important thing is that we remember how to renew our strength and we do that by leaning on the Everlasting Arms! ;) Jesus is always there to INFUSE us with His strength! 

When I blog like this, I remember how much I miss blogging on a regular basis; and not particularly regarding the fitness stuff. Not that this blog doesn't matter to me (it does) but what has always mattered most was the spiritual aspect of things. I've always included in with the fitness stuff too, but even when all the fitness and Beachbody stuff goes on my back burner, my faith does not. So, it's more than likely that this blog (and my coaching in general) is just going to continue to be one of those facets of me that is going to be more in the background rather than the forefront (at least for a while). Right now, I'm still focused on continuing to adjust to all the new changes of the past few months (as well as getting through the holidays). So, my posts will be short and sweet for a while; unless they're on my other blog. My heart is with my family as well as the mission of my new job (which is focused on helping people in need and especially right now at Christmas). I hope you'll read my posts and support my efforts as I keep you updated on that! ;)

"I TRIPLE DOG DARE YOU!"
- from the movie "A Christmas Story"

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Watch the video below if you want to learn more about this month's Beachbody specials. It's Piyo (one of the programs I've ben "aiming to" do myself and haven't gotten around to). I hear nothing but good things about it; and I LOVE Chalene! I'll make my booty do it if yours does lol. If someone buys a Piyo Challenge Pack or a Piyo Kickstart and Shakeology Challenge Pack, I will too and I'll start gettin' r done again lol. And if Piyo isn't your thing, there's the Les Mills Combat, Pump, and Ultimate Reset Challenge Packs which are on special too. Actually, if I sell ANY challenge pack of any program this month, I'll do it lol! This is your chance to kind of coach your coach. ;) If not, well, I'll probably just keep putting it off until after the holidays. Can you MAKE ME workout?! ;) I'm curious and wondering if anyone will, but I'm betting that I'll probably be off the hook this time because no one will want to take the challenge with me and make me work my butt off (literally lol) before Christmas! Is someone going to prove me wrong? I TRIPLE DOG DARE YOU!!! ;) Be infused! God bless you! 

Helping a Wounded Warrior

I don't think there is a day that goes by that I don't remember how blessed I am to live in America. I may be very displeased with our government and various issues, but that doesn't change the fact that I live in the most wonderful, free, and AWESOME country in the world! People in other countries DREAM about living here and come here (whether legally or illegally) just so that they can have a
chance to live the American Dream and escape the oppression and restrictions in their own countries.

Our country wouldn't be as free or as great as it is without the valiant service of our service men and women. So many have fought and even DIED to maintain what we have. Words can't express my gratitude for all they have done and I'm even prouder still when I think of the family and friends that I personally know who have contributed their part to defending America. 

For all they have done, we should be giving whatever we can back to them! One way we can do that is through the Wounded Warrior Project where your donations go to support military members (and their families) as they face the physical, emotional, and mental challenges that they are burdened with as a result of their service and sacrifice. There are so many worthy causes out there to support, but this should be one that is high on the list! 

Here's how you can help: 1. You can donate to them directly by visiting their website. 2. You can purchase a brand new P90 Challenge Pack (a challenge pack is the program PLUS Shakeology at a discount!). P90 was just released TODAY and is for people of any age who want to do simple and doable workouts that will get you results! Team Beachbody will donate $5.00 on the first 50,000 challenge packs sold from now until October 31st. Wouldn't it be GREAT if these worthy warriors could receive the maximum $250,000? Think of how many that would help (and you would be helping yourself as well by getting fit)! :) 

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope you will consider doing one or both of those options to help our veterans! Donate to the cause and be one of the 50,000 who buy a challenge pack to get fit AND help our vets! If P90 isn't your kind of program, the very popular 21 Day Fix challenge pack is still on sale until the end of this month as well (but there's no donation option from Beachbody on that one). Still, it's a great program; and 21 Day Fix EXTREME will be coming out in February (click here for a preview!). ;) Additionally, click here to sign up to be the FIRST to know when Shaun T's new Insanity Max 30 comes out in December so you can get it before it sells out! Finally, you can get insane results but in only 30 minutes (and with a modifier available if you need one!). Watch the videos below to see more about P90 and Insanity Max 30! Be infused! God bless you (and our troops!). 

August Update

It's been a month since Chris and I have been married. We often get asked the typical question of "how's married life?" Of course, we naturally say it's "wonderful" (because it is). In fact, compared to the previous marriages that we've both had (which were difficult and abusive) we are always amazed at just how wonderful and "normal" this marriage is and that we finally know what it's like to have a relationship that is centered around God's design/principles. It certainly is a blessing to have something real, genuine, and truly lasting! Sometimes, we are still stunned by our own love story lol. God is so good!

The fact that our faith has been our foundation is what continues to make our marriage and family stronger. If we didn't have that, we would have surely fallen apart a long time ago due to so much stress in the last 8 months. All the transitions have been tiring and tedious; plus we have had a lot of unexpected things happen as well (unexpected loss of a family member as well as a friend). These are some of the many things that have been weighing on us; most of which I cannot really list in a blog. It's because of this stuff that I have still been unable to get back into my blogging routine. I sure do long for the day where things are finally stabilized/normal and everything is more settled lol. Once everything is moved and my house is sold, that will probably make a lot of things better. I appreciate everyone's prayers about that!

Anyways, that's all I had to say on a personal note. The other thing I wanted to make sure to share was this month's promotions. The very popular and effective Focus T25 Challenge Pack is on sale once again (and for the last time this year!). This program is one of my personal favorites and is only 25 minutes a day! Yep, that's it! Combined with Shakeology, it's a sure fire way to achieve results and look/feel great! I should know because I did it! ;) The other program that is on sale is the 10 Minute Trainer Challenge pack. If 25 minutes a day is too much for you, how about just 10? Yes, 10!!! Surely you can do 10 minutes of working out each day! No problem! Watch the videos below to find out more! :)

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Thank you for understanding my scarceness in this time of transition. As always, I would like to reiterate the fact that while I may not have a lot of time for blogging, I will ALWAYS have time for YOU! Comment or email me with any questions you have or if you need help with anything. Coaching is and always will be something that I'm passionate about because I'm passionate about helping PEOPLE! I'm here for you! Be infused! God bless you!