Why I'll Go Bare & Bald!

Do you ever pause to remember and think about how your passion got its start? Did you go into the arts because of a teacher? Did you become a mechanic because you liked to take things apart as a kid? Did you personally witness something that made you want to go into a particular profession or fight for a cause? What were the things that inspired you?

This year's  t-shirt!

I often think about these things when remembering why I'm so passionate about the sanctity of life. My earliest memory was hearing my pastor preach about the truth of abortion when I was a teenager. I don't think I remember truly knowing much about abortion until I heard that message. I was stunned and brokenhearted! It horrified me and angered me that this kind of thing actually occurs!

The burden on my heart to fight to make it stop only grew the more I learned about it and how to get involved. It was the book "Answering the Call", by John Ensor, that really drove it home for me (as well as "Gianna: Aborted, And Lived to Tell About It" by Jessica Shaver Renshaw. My own daughter, Gianna, was named after her). I remember crying and feeling completely broken after seeing one of the images of severed baby body parts on one of the pages. That devastation I felt when I first saw those pictures comes rushing back every time I see one of those recently released videos; you know, the ones in which Planned Parenthood's evil and barbaric practices of butchering and selling aborted babies for profit get exposed. Yeah, those! I just can't fathom how anyone can watch those and NOT be outraged and moved to do something!

I normally wouldn't be posting an entry like this on my fitness blog, but I just had to make sure that the word was getting out in case you hadn't read about it on my other blog! My family and I will be participating in the Heartline Walk for Life this Saturday (so yeah, that's fitness related lol! There's a 5k too if you want to sign up for that!). I also wanted to post on here because I haven't posted anything for "Media Monday" in a while and this song has been on my heart. It's a song by Kathy Troccoli called "A Baby's Prayer". This was also one of those things that sparked my passion for fighting for life and I even sang it for church. Please, watch this video and listen to the words. It's such a beautiful song!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I am hoping and praying that in these final days before the walk, my family, friends, and readers will help me meet my goals! As I mentioned, I have promised to make a lot of personal sacrifices to encourage you to donate (even a dollar will help! Can you PLEASE donate at least a dollar?!). I have vowed to go a week without makeup and post a no-makeup selfie each day (this is kind of a big deal for me lol). I've also offered to giveaway a Piyo workout program (the same program that Chris and I have been doing) as well as a bag of Shakeology! My husband has also offered free computer tune-ups. And....the big one.....I will SHAVE MY HEAD if I raise $5,000 or more! I'm serious...I'll really do it (and you know how much my hair means to me lol). Do you want to see/make that happen?! Donate something and not only will you be helping to save lives (and your donation is tax deductible, by the way) but you'll also be getting a chance to win this stuff I'm offering and possibly see me go bald for babies! :) Please, our crisis pregnancy centers need your help more than ever!!! Please, donate SOMETHING and share this post with your friends on social media! Contact me if you have any questions about anything! Be infused! God bless you!

Almond Paradise

Be honest. When you read the title, you thought of "Amish Paradise" by Weird Al, didn't you....or was it just me?! If you're like, "ohmigosh, yes!" that's great, because then I won't feel like such a dope lol. If not, then I guess I'm really losing it because that's what registered in my brain when I saw the title for this Shakeology recipe. I don't know if it was because I was tired or if I just caught the "A" and the "paradise" and it just made me do a double take or what. Who knows lol?! Anyways, I just had to laugh at myself a little bit because that's what I thought of when I first caught sight of the title. Just thought I'd share that blooper with you! ;)

Anyways, here is the recipe itself! It features the vegan tropical strawberry flavor (which I mentioned last week is now better than ever!).

Almond Paradise 

1 serving vegan tropical strawberry Shakeology
1 cup almond milk
1 tsp. all-natural almond butter

Mix all ingredients in a blender with desired amount of ice to suit your consistency preference. Enjoy!


Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope you are having a great weekend! Ok...just for fun, here's the Weird Al video lol. You are welcome lol! Hey, "I don't care who ya are...that's funny right there!" (especially if you grew up around a lot of Amish like I did). Amish are cool people (and I mean no disrespect by posting this; it's all in good humor). Be infused! God bless you!

It's the Final Countdown!!!

It's the final countdown! No, not the song (although the song is quite awesome..they actually use it in Les Mills Combat, by the way!). I mean it's the final countdown until the April Summer Slimdown Challenge begins! If you have been thinking about joining, don't wait any longer! The journey begins on April 21st...that's only five days away!! Click here to find out how to lose those winter pounds and have a chance at winning a 21 Day Fix program (I have a team member who is doing another round of it and she has already lost 9 pounds and over 5 inches! You definitely want to win this prize!).

The only other thing I wanted to mention is that Power 90 (regularly $59.95) is still on sale for $39.95 until the 28th and The Ultimate Reset (no working out, just a gentle detox and maximum weight-loss!) is also on special until May 6th! You got LOTS of options, people! Team Beachbody wants to get YOU fit and healthy so you can enjoy your summer; full of life and energy! Who doesn't want that?!

Grace and peace to you, my friends!! Contact me ASAP to reserve your spot in the challenge! I'm waiting for you!! The countdown is on! Ok...fine...we're all hearing it in our heads so we might as well watch the video lol! How can you NOT feel inspired and like a kick-butt warrior when you hear that?! It's callin' your name! ANSWER THAT CALL!! You can do it! Be infused! God bless you!

Fiery Love

Yesterday, when the kids and I were visiting the Vineyard church, the worship band played the song "Fiery Love". My boyfriend (who plays the drums in the worship band) has often told me that it's his favorite song to play. Not only does he like to completely let go and rock out when he plays it, but he always puts his heart and soul into playing for the Lord. He's always told me that he plays with "reckless abandon"; remembering he only really has an audience of one. When members of a worship band play with that heart and attitude, it shows. It enables you to connect with God that much more because their hearts are lining up with God's heart; making it about Him and not the music/performance itself.

Apparently, Chris's aunt also noticed this. She remarked later that while she was observing Chris play, the guitarist had stepped in a way that blocked her view of him. She was wanting to continue to watch Chris, but God was urging her to stop and listen. It was then that she said she could feel the passion and the intensity that was being put into the song. God had told her that he was playing the intensity of His (God's) heart. What a beautiful thought!

The video below is the song "Fiery Love". There are no drums, no Chris, no worship band, but the man who is singing and playing his guitar is singing with deepest sincerity and passion. You can feel it in the beautiful lyrics of the song. That's how it should be. When we worship the Lord, it's not about the music, the people singing it, or anything else. It's about passionate and sincere hearts praising and honoring the Sovereign Lord. Think about the words as your prayer to Him and sing it from your heart!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! May we all be inspired to give our hearts over to God in adoration and worship in all we do; experiencing the wonder of his fiery love for us! Be infused! God bless you!

Sweetly Broken

Yesterday, I was talking about dealing with and eliminating fear. I mentioned at the end of the post about being broken, but in a sweet and gentle way that one can't really describe. When God does work in your heart, it's like that. He breaks you in a very tender way. It can be painful, but it's tolerable because God is the one doing it. It's like when Aslan removed Eustace's dragon scales in "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" (if you don't know what I'm talking about, it's a book in the Narnia series. MUST READS! The movies don't do it justice!).

I was thinking of this song "Sweetly Broken" by Jeremy Riddle. I think it helps paint a picture of what my heart was saying yesterday.

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope you have a blessed week! Be infused! God bless you!

Live to Love and Love Living!

Love definitely makes you feel empowered. Love makes you sing. Love envelopes you; swallows you up. You feel it coursing through your veins. It's embedded into your soul. You pursue love and it pursues you. It's a unique song. 

To know love is to know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8). When you experience His presence and sense that amazing love He has for you, you can't help but feel lost in it. Blissful. Content. Perfect. You ponder it and meditate on it. You think about the very essence of it. 

Paul says that love is patient, kind, and unfailing; that it hopes, protect, and perseveres (1 Corinthians 13). It's pure, unselfish, and forgiving. Love casts aside all pride, anger, and jealousy. Love, real love, is TRUTH and joy. 

Those verses are always rooted deep into my heart. Whenever I think about what love is, or how to love others, I measure it by those verses. Does my love look like that? Is God at the heart of it? Is it virtuous? Is it good? Is it truthful, patient, kind, and unselfish? How strong is the love in my heart? I want it to be genuine; fueled by God, for He IS love. He enables me to love.

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope that these words, verses, and this song will empower and motivate you to love! At this time of year, people seem more inclined to act in love. We feel generous and compassionate; wanting to bless others' lives during the holiday season. Though, we must remember, love shouldn't just be a seasonal thing. It's God's greatest command (Matthew 22:36-40). Live to love and you'll LOVE living! Be infused (with God's love)! God bless you!

He Makes You Able

There are a lot of times where we get overwhelmed or feel like we just don't have what it takes to make it. Persevering isn't the easiest thing to do. But, for every time we say, "I don't think I'm able to do it," we should be saying, "but HE can! HE is able!"

That's what this song means to me. It's is so refreshing, assuring, and empowering. I feel so encouraged and strengthened when I hear this song and sing it to the Lord. It's just one of those songs where you listen to the words and remember how powerful and victorious God is; and that through Him, you can be too!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! No matter what you're going through, you'll be able to get through it because HE is able to infuse you with the strength to do it! Just ask Him! Be infused! God

bless you!

Moving Forward

After what I wrote yesterday about not looking back, I was looking for a video on YouTube about moving forward. I found this one, and it's REALLY good! It's a song with that very title by Israel Houghton.

Grace and peace to you, my friends! We are new creations in Christ and He does make all things new! He gives us the strength to move forward and to keep persevering! Amen to that! Be infused! God bless you!

Still Overcoming It All Through Christ!

When I first started this blog, I opened it with Mandisa's song "Overcomer" because with Christ, we TRULY can overcome anything! That's the heart behind my mission of this blog and being a Team Beachbody coach. I'm empowered through Christ and I want to help others be empowered too!

Originally, I shared her song/video which only had the music and lyrics. Now, she has a music video and it's PHENOMENAL! It is DEFINITELY worth sharing and I really hope you view it because it's very inspiring! I was pleasantly surprised to see several well-known people featured in the video. You'll see some clips of Robin Roberts, Scott Hamilton, and Gabrielle Giffords; all of which have overcome tough illness and injury and have been infused with God's strength! You've got to see this!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope you are empowered and inspired by this song and these people! Know that you can do anything through the strength of God! He is with you! Be infused! God bless you!

"I AM" Makes You Who You Are

While working on some furniture projects for my house, I was listening to my iPod on shuffle. Several songs came up that I hadn't listened to in a long time. One of them was a song by Ginny Owens called "I Am". In it, she sings about Moses, David, and Mary and how they marveled at the things He wanted them to do. God's vision for them seemed so much greater than what they could imagine, but as the chorus goes: "There's a bigger picture you can't see. You don't have to change the world, just trust in me..."

Sometimes, we really can't see beyond what's right in front of us. We don't know and can't fathom anything greater than what we already know to be true. We limit ourselves because we don't always know what we're capable of. More than that, we forget what GOD is capable of and that He already knows what He wants to accomplish in us and what the end result will be. I remember seeing a saying on a poster once that said: "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." Think about it.

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Watch the video of the song "I am." It includes the lyrics, as well as some very beautiful pictures. Next time you get discouraged because you feel you can't accomplish your goals (or you feel like what God is asking you to do is too much) remember that He is "I Am" and that He can and will do GREAT things beyond what you can fathom! Be infused! God bless you!!

Top 100 Workout Songs!

Music is something that I would venture to say all of us love. We listen to it at home, in the car, and on our electronic devices. Some of us even like to listen to it when we work out. Personally, I love the music mixes the trainers pick when I am working out to one of their Team Beachbody programs! The right beat can definitely make you feel motivated to move to the music!

I especially like to listen to music when I walk/run! That's why I was really intrigued by this article that asked people what their favorite running songs were. Click here to see the list of the top 100 songs (and see if any of your faves are on there!). For the most part, I agree with a lot of their picks (actually, the top nine of those songs ARE in my iPod lol). I have MANY of the songs on that 100 list; including lots of them that I think should have been ranked a lot higher. There is also a list of the top 90's songs too! I also have some that didn't make the list; like Mandisa's "Overcomer" or "Good Morning". I'm also a big fan of Jeremy Camp's music as well. Toby Mac, Kutless, and a lot of good Christian artists are positive, motivating, and uplifting. Helps keep your focus on God and how He's giving you the strength to get through your workouts too!

Grace and peace to you, my friends!! Whatever your taste in music, I hope that you can find something that gets you movin' and motivated!! Be infused! God bless you!

Restored

Yesterday, I mentioned that I had been listening to a lot of Jeremy Camp (and painting in my "Restored" shirt that I got at his concert). It's not only the song that just seems to be the anthem of my heart right now, but the whole concept of it. In the song, Jeremy sings: "You have restored me from my feeble and broken soul." I keep thinking about God restoring me just as I'm restoring my own house to a better state. If I can take an old outdated house and make it like new again, how much MORE can God do that for me (and in me)?! If there's one thing that He's been showing me most in this process, it's that He is definitely restoring my feeble and broken soul. I feel renewed and like He has breathed new life into me. I can't even begin to put it all into words! All I know is that I am in such awe of Him and all He has done (and is doing).

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope that you watch this video and listen to the words. Let it sink in. Soak up the fact that God takes great joy in remolding you and restoring you! He can turn you into a new you; inside and out! Be infused! God bless you!

Preparing a Place

"It won't be long now," I keep thinking to myself. Every day, I survey the progress that has been made in my house and see the old interior continue to change and transform into something new and better. For me, it gives the verse about being a new creation fresh meaning (2 Corinthians 5:17). Watching the old, dingy, gross, and filthy things be made clean and new makes me think about what God does for me in the interior of my heart! It's amazing to think about and to witness!

I have mentioned in my blogs lately about how emotional things have been for me. I'm still trying hard to process it all and allow God to work in my heart bit by bit just like we've been working on the house. So many things have been stirring in me. There have been many moments where I have been overwhelmed to tears; both happy and sad ones. I am so humbled, blessed, and grateful to have this new house (as well as so much help and team effort from my parents in making it a home). I have also been wrestling with the sad tears and have cried here and there as I've been painting by myself and frequently listening to the music of Jeremy Camp as I do my work. His music has always been so heartfelt, genuine, and full of praise and gratitude towards God. I also want to have that same humble heart that's fixed on God; a God who loves and heals me of my brokenness. I even wear the shirt I got when I first saw him in concert in 2005 when I was pregnant with my daughter. It says "Restored" on the front of it. To me, it couldn't be a more appropriate shirt to wear when I'm painting because not only is the house being restored and made new, but so is my heart and my life!

These past couple days, I haven't been able to shake Jesus' words from my mind from John 14:1-4:

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 

Those verses are resonating with me more than ever before! This house, that God so graciously provided, is for my children and I. At this moment, I am preparing this place for us. We will be together; living and thriving in our new home. We also invite the Lord to be with us; giving back to Him what He has given to us. This house will become our home together and I pray it will be abounding in the fruit of His Spirit as we invite and welcome His presence into our home and our hearts. Where we are, may He be also! Always!

I can only imagine the place He is preparing for every one of us! I think about all the work that my family and I are doing on this house and just how much is being put into it. Though, even as we do our best, there are going to be mistakes and imperfections. Nothing usually ever looks exactly right. You end up finding flaws and living with the "it'll be ok for now" type things until you can put more time and money into something later. Yet, it's alright! Our earthly homes don't have to be perfect (and they aren't/won't ever be). This home, even as homey as it's becoming, is still not my true "home". My real home is in heaven; with Jesus in the PERFECT place that He is preparing for me. I kind of laugh to think of Him constructing a place, painting rooms, and doing home improvement work. Heck, he could just say the word and things would be completed without him ever having to lift a paint brush or power tool! But, I'm sure that it's not anything like that at all. He's not in heaven doing heavy construction. I don't think He meant things quite like that. I'm not sure exactly how or what He's preparing, but I believe that He's just waiting for God to say "Ok, it's time! Go and get them!" It's like when you are preparing to receive guests into your home. You prepare for an event (like the house warming party I will most certainly have) and you receive your guests at the proper time; when everything is ready. Right now, I don't know the day or hour of my own house warming party, but I know the day is close because my house is becoming more and more ready as it gets completed. That's just like how these end times are. Prophecies are being fulfilled and soon, everything will be completed. Then, the day and hour will come and it will be time to go home!!

I am just so awed and amazed by all these thoughts! It not only thrills me, but comforts me and helps me to remember that no matter what, my home is with Jesus and I'm never alone. I just keep thinking about the words to Jeremy Camp's song "Right Here": "Everywhere I go I know you're not far away. You're right here. You're right here." I feel like He's always saying that to me, "Melissa, I'm right here." He is. He's always right here with me. No matter what. I am SO GRATEFUL for that!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Watch and listen to "Right Here" (right now lol) and let it speak to you. Jesus is ALWAYS right there with you. He's not just in heaven preparing that place for you, He IS with you. We don't have to feel alone or like He's far away from us. He never leaves us and wants us to be with Him. We need to invite Him to be with us; to be at home in our hearts. Nothing feels more like home than when you've made Him at home in your life! Be infused! God bless you!!

Extravagant!

I love how I never have to worry about what I'm going to post for this blog. I've mentioned before that I sometimes wonder if I'll run out of ideas, but I know that I won't because God always provides them. Today's media Monday choice was a no-brainer after church service yesterday. Our worship leader shared a story with us about how during Street Fair, he and his wife ran into a sound problem with his wife's parade float for her music studio. They needed their music for their parade float, but there was no battery power to provide the sound. He asked her what they should do and she simply said that they should pray. Then, they tried it again and WOW! SOUND!! He remarked how amazing it was that she had the faith to believe that God would do that for them. He's the God of miracles who has done far greater things than provide some battery power, so why would anything be too hard for Him?

The thing that struck me and made me tear up so much was when he said that God did it "because He loves my wife." That's the simple truth. He loves us, provides for us, and gets us through everything. It made me think of the blog that I shared yesterday and just how amazing true love really is!

Right after he shared that story, we sang this Casting Crowns song. I just kept right on crying lol. I was beyond touched! I just knew that this was definitely the media/song to share today!!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope that you bask in the knowledge that His love is amazing, deep, and VERY extravagant!! Be infused! God bless you!!

 

Let the World Hear You ROAR!!

Recently, I have become aware of Katy Perry's new song: "Roar". When I first heard it, I felt very empowered and awestruck. In general, I feel that her songs are becoming more meaningful and deep ("Part of Me" and "Wide Awake" are the two examples I'm thinking of). I can't help but relate to her in the sense that sometimes pain opens our eyes, transforms us, and also sparks our creativity. We begin expressing ourselves and venting a lot when we are hurt (hopefully, in constructive ways like through music, art, writing, etc.). Katy Perry has channeled the pain of her divorce through her music. No doubt she has inspired, empowered, and helped so many others heal in various ways as she finds her own healing. Those three songs have definitely done that for me as I've pondered the lyrics and remind myself that no matter what, I'm going to be strong and overcome it all. I'm going to continue moving onward and upward; dealing with and healing from all the pain I've gone through so that I can be the best I can be!

I definitely feel like some of the lyrics in "Roar". I'm not being held down by anyone or anything now! I continue to just shake the dust off of things that I'm leaving behind and am feeling more and more liberated! I AM a champion! I am LOUDER than a lion! I have a voice and I'm going to be loud, proud, and make myself heard (not that I've ever been a quiet person anyways lol)! More than anything, I'm going to remember that I've "earned my stripes" and that "I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire." The world is going to hear me ROAR!!!! :)

Grace and peace to you, my friends!! I hope that reading this inspires you to roar your loudest! We are all created with purpose! Be loud and proud for Jesus and live your life out LOUD for Him! Keep persevering in your lives and continue to work hard to achieve your goals! You're going to make it! He's right there with you to give you all you need to accomplish it! Watch the videos below and listen to the lyrics. It's really powerful! The first video is Katy's original song. The second is a cover done by Alex Goot and Sam Tsui (if you haven't heard their work before, you'll get hooked on it in no time! Trust me! They're amazing!). Let the world hear you ROAR!! Make your mark on this earth and remember that you are inspiring others; including little tiger cubs (BIG shout out to MY tiger cub who turns 8 years old today!! Happy birthday my beautiful, fierce little tiger! Mommy is SO PROUD of you!! Keep roarin' loud and proud!). Be infused! God bless you!! 

Running to His Arms

Yesterday, my laptop was having connection problems. For some reason, it just wasn't working (and still isn't working much today either). I don't know why! Anyways, it prevented me from composing and posting a blog yesterday (and it drove me crazy!).

Since I started this blog, I have stayed consistent with posting every day; and according to the particular pre-determined topic/category of the day. Yesterday was supposed to be "spiritual Sunday" and today is "media Monday". So, since I missed yesterday, I was trying to figure out what to do. Should I post a late blog PLUS today's blog, or combine the two? I've opted to combine the two because the media for today is a video/song that we sang at church yesterday that I wanted to share; and the content for what would have been yesterday's blog fits with it as well.

Yesterday, I was feeling rather down. I won't go into the particulars but I was rather drained (emotionally and physically). When you feel that bad, you just want to be held and comforted. Sometimes, there's someone there to offer it to you and sometimes there isn't. However, God IS always there to offer comfort and that is where this song comes in. When we sang it at church, the part that I just kept hanging on was "I'm running to your arms." I became really focused on that lyric. So many times, we treat God as the last resort. We run to other people and things when we should be running straight into His arms. He's sovereign and He is God. He should be first and number one. He's shouldn't be our last resort, but our first response!

I was thinking so much about the core idea of the sermon which was the fact that nothing and no one is ever "enough", but GOD is. People will fail. God will not. Like another song goes, "All of you, is more than enough for all of me...." It's true. He is MORE than enough. He is BEYOND sufficient. What no one else can satisfy, God can! We have to come to Him; running into His arms. He will supply us with everything we need! The timing for that reminder couldn't have been more perfect for me than it is right now!! Nothing and NO ONE compares to Him! I have to remember that!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope we can all remember to run to the arms of Jesus for everything. May we rest in His peace, delight in Him, and allow Him to be our comforter, healer, and so much more! Be infused! God bless you!

The Simplicity and Necessity of Rest.

If it's one thing that has been on my mind this weekend, it's the fact that sometimes we just need to REST! Our lives are so busy and we do SO MUCH that we forget to just stop and "be" for a little while. I have been on the go so much this weekend that I felt rushed and crunched for time in regards to posting my blogs on here. I felt bad for not sitting down to take as much time to work as I usually do, but then I also reminded myself that it's ok. Life pulls me in all different directions and it's not always possible to get everything done how I want. Sometimes, I just have to give myself permission to not work so hard and cut myself some slack so that I can invest my time in other people, things, and in resting in it all.

With all that being said, I'm going to leave this post at that. Just ponder the simplicity and necessity of rest and of taking the time to purposely slow down and refocus. Take a break from the demands of life; even if just for a few minutes. Think on this verse and let it sink in:

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. - Psalms 46:10

Grace and peace to you, my friends! On this Sunday, this day of rest, remember that God created a time for rest on purpose. Not only are you rejuvenated and better able to resume your busy lives after you've recharged, but you open yourself up to hearing from God when you rest in the quiet and stillness of just "being". You'll hear His voice and know Him better! Watch the video below and listen to the song by Sonicflood in which the lyrics talk about that very thing! Be infused! God bless you!

The Cookie Monster Syndrome

I've always thought Cookie Monster was cute and hilarious. As a child, I found it funny that he always seemed so clueless and crazy. Seeing him absolutely lose it every time he saw a cookie was the funniest thing ever! However, as I got older, I remember having a change of perspective. It dawned on me that Cookie Monster really has an impulse control problem and a lack of self-control. If Cookie Monster were a real person, he would probably weigh hundreds of pounds at the rate he eats. He's a big glutton!

Now before some of you get your feathers ruffled and say I'm bashing Sesame Street, just hold on! That's not what this post is about (even though I do feel that Sesame Street has become more and more liberal over the years and isn't the same show I grew up with). Rather, it's just about drawing attention to the fact that sometimes, we don't really think about how much we eat or the fact that we eat whenever we feel like it. So many times, we just see food and eat it without thinking about if we SHOULD be eating it (or if we're even remotely hungry). We need to be a LOT more self-controlled if we expect to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Apparently, even Cookie Monster realizes this. In the video below, he parodies Icona Pop's "I love it". Cookie Monster says, "Me Want It (But Me Wait)". That's the same approach we need to have; to not eat ravenously all the time and to wait until we're hungry. Also, we need to say "no" to those impulses that we need to change. Cutting out certain foods (or at least limiting them and having some moderation) is a really good idea. If Cookie Monster can do it, so can you....well, at least until the end of his song he can! Ok,...it's still pretty hilarious. I still laughed lol!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Remember, self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It's not something that we can do by ourselves. If we are to be disciplined, we need to rely on God to help supply that self-control. Feast on His Word, pray, and concentrate on filling yourself up with good things (including healthy things like Shakeology which DOES suppress the appetite and helps with craving control)! Here's to hoping that we all can learn to control our inner monsters and conquer the Cookie Monster syndrome; and not just with food, but with any addiction! Be infused! God bless you!

Good Mornings, Afternoons, and Evenings

It's officially been a week since starting this fitness blog; and it's been GREAT to be blogging again! Though, I can't begin to count the number of times I have wondered "what if I run out of things to blog?" However, if anyone knows me, I seldom run out of things to say! ;) Having a category for each day (and writing down ideas for what to blog in the future) has been assuring me that it probably won't be a problem.

Today's "Media Monday" is a Mandisa song again. This wasn't even intentional! Just like last week, I heard the song for the first time on the radio and the timing was perfect! Both times, it came in a moment where I was feeling a little down. Needless to say, the powerful lyrics (and the passion in which she sings them) lifted me right up! I hope it does the same for you! 

This song is called "Good Morning." If you know anything about me, you KNOW that I am not a morning person. ;) Therefore, hearing this song was a tremendous encouragement and a reminder to me that I can look at mornings in a fresh and upbeat way. I'm thinking I will probably set it as the ringtone on my phone for my alarm. ;) It's definitely a song you would love in your iPod for a morning walk!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Have a great week; with lots of good mornings, afternoons, and evenings! Be infused!! God bless you! :)

Infused to Overcome Anything!

Getting started. That's usually the hardest part of any process. Taking the first step is usually a mixture of emotions. There's excitement as well as fear. You wonder what you're getting into; you wonder about the unknowns and about what you'll face on the journey as you make your way to the end goal. It can be very intimidating! 

That's how I felt back in 2007 when I told the Lord that I wanted to be serious about losing weight and getting healthy. I don't think I remember a time where I actually felt that I was at a normal weight (though, what woman does?!). All I remember is that by 2007, I was WAY OVER what I should be and I wanted to give it to God. When I did, I lost over 40 pounds! 

Now, here I am again. I still have never reached my initial goal of 150 pounds (even though I've come close). I have been up and down over the years in various weight ranges due to loss of focus and discipline (and excuses). However, I'm not giving up and I know I WILL get there! He's always there to help me and I succeed when I rely on Him!

In 2010, I became an Independent Team Beachbody Coach because the workout programs and Shakeology had really helped me and I wanted to help others too. I am SO GLAD I decided to become a coach because not only am I helping others, I am helping myself too. There's more accountability for yourself when you commit to helping others be accountable too. Additionally, there are the perks of getting a coach discount on the products and earning extra income as I get fit! There really is no downside (and ANYONE can do it...no matter your fitness level!). 

That's what brings me to this new blog. I have a regular blog, but I also wanted to start a blog that was specific to health and fitness. My goal is to share a little something every day to motivate, inspire, as well as promote the kind of products that will help people reach their goals! 

Today, it's "Media Monday" where I will post some kind of media; whether it's a heart pumping workout song, a video of some sort, or article of some kind. For the opening entry of this new blog, I feel the perfect thing to share is this song from Mandisa called "Overcomer". I actually heard it for the first time just last night (and in a moment where I had been personally feeling down). It was such an encouragement to me, and I hope it is for you too! It reminded me that no matter what, God gives us what we need to get through anything! It also brought me back to the verse that has always been the inspiration for my journey (and the meaning behind the name of this blog/business). Philippians 4:13 says we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us. In the Amplified version of the Bible, it uses the words "empower" and "infuse". For me, that's a powerful encouragement and thinking about being filled and infused with the strength of the Almighty God is just mind-blowing to me! Of COURSE I can do anything if I have the strength of God Himself inside of me!! Think about it!! 

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Thank you for reading this blog! If you're already on my team, GREAT! If not, please sign up for a FREE account so I can be your coach and help you reach your goals! Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have and/or leave your comments! Be infused!! God bless you!