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!

Fighting Weight-Loss? How to "Stay with the Fight"!

My wedding date is next month already (I know, right?!). I'm incredibly busy; and incredibly tired! However, no matter what is going on, I make sure that I continue to workout. :) Sometimes, it's a challenge to keep being consistent when all I want to do is pass out from exhaustion, but I know that the endorphins from exercising will help me manage all the stress and keep me in a good mood in the big picture of things! Plus, I've got some momentum going and there's no way I'm stopping now!! :)

I got my FREE t-shirt for
completing Les Mills Combat!

With that being said, I want to encourage you to keep on working out too; no matter what! Or, if you have stopped your workout routine (whether recently or maybe a long time ago) start it up again! Find something you enjoy and do it - for YOU! Do it for you body, your mind, and your spirit! You'll be glad you did! If you need help choosing something, let me know and I will suggest something that will be a great fit for you! That's what I'm here for, and like I have promised, I'm here for you no matter how "busy" I am! Helping people is my passion! Don't hesitate to comment or email me! 

Two exercises you might want to consider are the ones that are on special this month! If you workout regularly and are wanting to step up your game and REALLY get fit, now is the best time to buy Insanity because the challenge pack is $45.00 cheaper than it normally is! But, if that's not what you're looking for right now, how about the Shaun T Dance challenge pack? You get Hip Hop Abs AND Rockin' Body....AND Shakeology....all at one great price! I can personally vouch that all three of those things are AWESOME! :) I've been doing a little bit of everything right now, and those two programs usually end up being something that I end up doing! The exercises are effective and fun; and the music is great so you don't even think of it as a workout! 

"Stay with the Fight!"
You can do it!!

If neither of those options really appeal to you, I got even BETTER NEWS! From now until Sunday, many other Team Beachbody programs are discounted up to 50% OFF their normal prices! P90X and P90X2, for example, are only $59.90!! Or, maybe you'd like to get one of my other favorite programs, Les Mills Combat, for only $35.91?!! Yeah, really!! :) The prices on these programs are ONLY for a few days so DON'T WAIT! Shop the special summer selection now by clicking on this link to see everything that is available!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Check out the video clip below to learn more about the dance pack (click here to view the Insanity video because the embed code wasn't working). Again, if you have any questions, just ask! I'm here for you and we're all in this together! I know it's difficult, but "stay with the fight"! Don't get knocked out; just get back up no matter what! Find time for "you" and you'll get to where you need to be! It may take time, but you'll get there! I'm still on this journey too; and as you can see, I'm progressing! :) If I can do it, so can you! Be infused! God bless you! 

Outdoor or Indoor Running?

Where are my walkers and runners at?! I know you're out there! There are lots of us that like to walk or run for exercise! It has a very liberating feeling to it (especially if you're running). It can even be fun to put on your iPod and listen to some awesome workout songs while you workout! Personally, I especially loved to run on the Greenway when I first started getting into running. In fact, I used to blog about it and titled those entries "God on the Greenway" (and yes, Shane, I am still meaning to compile it and publish it!).

Walking and running isn't just an outdoor activity, though. Many enjoy that form of exercise via treadmill. Either way, you're getting your heart rate up and burning some calories. However, is one better than the other? Which should you opt for? Outdoor or indoor walking/running?

In this article, you will find the list of pros and cons to both. I found it very insightful! It's hard to really say that one is definitely superior. There's so many factors to consider whether it be personal preference, weather, terrain, safety, etc. Regardless, I hope you enjoy the different perspectives that the article has to offer! I personally prefer being outside, but I would definitely opt for a treadmill if it was blazing hot or freezing cold outside! Even with allergies, I still like to be out in the fresh air and take it all in! :)

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope you are having a great week! Be infused! God bless you!

Extra-cise!

Well, it's the middle of the week! Happy hump day! Are you ready for the weekend? I know I am!! I have been continuing to do my workouts (as usual). Though, I'm extra worn out from all the walking that I'm doing at our annual local fair. But, tiring as it may be, any extra time you have where you're moving and burning calories is a GOOD thing! 

That's what I want to talk about for this workout Wednesday. Usually, I would feature a video and a workout program, but today I just wanted to talk about the benefits of a little extra-cise! Even if you aren't doing a program, you can do SOMETHING! Wear a step counter and you might find that you move a lot more than you realize (or, maybe LESS than you thought in which case, STEP IT UP!).

There are lots of ways to get some extra-cise!! It's pretty simple! Even just fidgeting a little bit while you work at your desk job can burn a few extra calories! Keep yourself moving as much as possible to maximize your calorie burning potential! Park your car further away from a store, take the stairs, dance/sing while you cook dinner (I totally do this lol) etc. Find ways of challenging yourself and you'll find that you're steadily building endurance! Make it a game and make it FUN!! See what all you can do to add more movement to your day!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! For those of you that are local, enjoy your time walking around the fair (and I hope to see you around!). Keep walking; especially if you're eating a lot of that fair food (I'm eating chocolate covered fruit aka a "zum stick" in that picture)! ;) Be infused! God bless you! 

Is "Exercise" an Ugly Word?

Exercise. It seems like such an ugly word sometimes! I know I always used to hear that word want to roll my eyes and stick out my tongue (sometimes, I still do lol). I think that generally speaking, people view exercise negatively despite how positive it really is. We get into the mindset of thinking that it's difficult as well as boring and we totally throw out the idea of doing it; as well as using the "I don't have time" excuse.

Over the years, I have learned just how much I need exercise. It's not just for the obvious reasons of losing weight and getting in shape, but it's always helped with my mood as well. I feel better from the inside out because exercising is a mood regulator. I really can't afford to feel sluggish or in a bad mood. I need the boost!

Dr. Phil emphasizes the fact that intentional exercise is a big deal. He says: "A common denominator among people who successfully manage their weight and stay fit is that they exercise as a matter of habit. Failure to put exercise at the top of your priority list, or leaving it off the list altogether, is a deal breaker, because you're cheating yourself not just out of a way to shed the necessary pounds, but also a way to stabilize a normal weight and stay healthy for a lifetime."

I know that all of this isn't new information. I know it's hard to get into a habit of working out, but start small. Exercise doesn't even have to be strenuous or long. Even if you can only manage ten minutes a day, that would be a BIG help to your overall well-being! Making simple choices throughout your day helps too; like taking the stairs instead of an elevator or parking your car a little further away from a store entrance. There are lots of ways you can purposely fit in a little more "fit time". You'll be glad you did! You'll definitely notice a difference both in how you look and feel!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! If you need help getting into a new exercise routine, talk to me! I can help you identify the best ways to start incorporating it into your life! We'll work together to find something that you'll enjoy AND get results with! It's possible! Exercise doesn't have to be an ugly word or thing of dread! You can definitely change your mind and body with a fresh perspective and learn to love it when you find what's right for you! Be infused! God bless you!

When You Don't Feel Like It

When it comes to working out, there are a lot of days where I don't feel like it. In fact, I would venture to say that I don't feel like it at least 80% of the time. That being the case, it's a wonder I ever workout at all! I think I would also venture to say that there's probably at least that high of a percentage out there that feels the same way!

Most people say that they aren't motivated to work out. They wait and wait until they "feel like it" before they decide to do it and commit (which often never comes). Generally speaking, people are so ruled by emotions and feelings that there are so many poor decisions that we make (or don't make) just because the feeling isn't there.

The true power is in choosing rather than feeling. Feelings are so fickle and you cannot trust them or bank on the fact that they will lead you in the right direction. Go with what you KNOW! That's how I look at it every day when I workout (and in regards to life in general). Therefore, I CHOOSE to workout even though I don't FEEL like it because I KNOW that it's the best choice. I also know that sometimes I "feel like it" once I finally make the choice to just DO IT and get it done! One thing is for absolute certain; I've always felt like the choice to workout was a good one vs. the choice of deciding not to.

One thing that will make it easier to choose to workout is choosing the right workout in the first place. If you hate your program, of course you are liable not to stick with it. But, if you do something that you enjoy, you'll  follow through a lot easier! I found that out the hard way over the years. I did LOTS of workouts that I hated and I always abandoned them eventually because I got bored. Usually, it was because I had chosen a machine. I had an elliptical, a gazelle, ab gadgets, and things of that nature. I finally realized I'm not a machine person and once I figured out that I really loved things like Turbo Jam, Turbo Fire, Hip Hop Abs, I had a LOT more success! I started really enjoying my workouts. Even if I didn't feel like exercising, I usually ended up feeling that way by the time I got started!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Please, don't hesitate to talk to me about what program might be right for you so that you can do something you enjoy and get results! Exercise doesn't have to be a chore! Fun and fitness CAN go together! Even when the workout is tough, just remember that choosing to do it and get through it will always make you "feel" better when you're done! Be infused! God bless you!!