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!

The Chrisliss Story

"Well, didn't you just jump on out that boat, Peter. Congrats on the leap of faith!" 

Those were the exact words spoken in a Facebook comment by my friend, Shenora, after making it publicly known that Chris and I are going to get married. Those words have been ringing in my head ever since. They were a prophetic statement of confirmation and encouragement; as well as a foreshadowing of things to come. My heart was lifted and reassured to have such blessed words come out of the mouth of a godly woman. It cemented my confidence and strengthened my faith as I held tight to the image in my mind of walking on the water towards Jesus and His plan for my life (and all the lives involved).

In regards to the foreshadowing part, I knew that I would need to hold onto that courage and strength if I were to KEEP walking on the waters. We all know that Peter is often bold and full of faith, but that his tendency to be impulsive, second-guess, and worry were often his trouble spots. It's nothing I can fault him for, because I have the same tendencies. It hasn't been easy preparing to move and make a bunch of fresh new changes after finally getting settled down. I had bought a house, put a lot of time and money into fixing it up, and was very content in my new job and church home. I was perfectly happy with how things were going and was even at the point where I had become pretty indifferent to having a relationship. My promise to follow through on Gianna's request for a "new Daddy" wasn't forgotten, but my need for a man was no longer that high of a priority and I had become more patient and relaxed about when that part of the picture would be fulfilled. Therefore, that was obviously God's cue to surprise me and shake things up so I wouldn't get too comfortable lol!

So, here it is, peeps! This is for everyone who always loves to know a couple's "story" about how they met and all the "details" regarding the upcoming nuptials (though there isn't much to share regarding that part considering it's basically a private wedding). If nothing else, I hope and pray that all of you who have been so loving and supportive of the both of us will make sure to the read the part at the end about how you can pray for/support our upcoming marriage/blended family. Your prayers mean so much to us! Thank you!

Our Story

There was a moment in the infancy of our relationship where Chris stated: "It's so odd how we've followed similar but at the same time oddly different paths to arrive at the almost mirrored image of each other that we both are today." Indeed! Our life stories are very parallel to each other. We were raised in the Christian faith, grew up in blended families, and have always done our best to live the kind of lives that our faith has taught us to live. Yet, despite our best efforts, we both managed to find ourselves in marriages where those values weren't fully shared. We both tried our hardest to honor our commitments to our mates and to God. Unfortunately, sometimes, things still don't work out. Ultimately, in both of our cases, we were forced to make the painful decision to move on for the sake of our health, safety, and the well-being of ourselves and our children (those close to us know and understand the reasons why).

Chris started saying this early on so he was thrilled
to randomly find this picture one day
(which he immediately texted to my phone lol). 

Eventually, we both began to start over and move on. In that process, our paths finally crossed on Plenty of Fish (a free dating site). He was fresh to the dating game, but I had been on and off the site for a while. It had gotten to the point where I figured I had seen all the other "fish in the sea" and I was annoyed and tired of fishing. Not only did there seem to be no new fish, but there truly weren't any worth catching. I even had some that would message me and tell me that I was too good or too pretty for the site and that a nice girl like me wouldn't find the kind of guy I was looking for on a site like that. That's because my profile was very specific as to the kind of person I was looking for; faith and character were the top priorities. My best friend even told me that my standards were too high, but no matter what, I stuck to them. There was NO WAY I was going to compromise on those two things, but anything else was optional. I didn't have requirements as far as looks, income, ethnicity, etc. was concerned. All I cared about was the heart.

What nerd could
resist lol?

Imagine my surprise when I was using the "Meet Me" feature and a picture of a handsome guy popped up. "Do you want to meet him?" it asked. Before hitting "yes" or "no", I always check out the profile first because looks are secondary to substance. In my experience, it is very rare to find a guy who has both. Therefore, I was shocked to be proven wrong lol. I was amazed and refreshed to see almost a mirror image of my own profile as I began reading his lol! Every time I read something, it was just another new level of jaw dropping awesomeness and common ground as he showcased his heart, humor, interests, etc. Where had he been and why hadn't I seen him before now?! Oh well, at least I found him and I couldn't believe that I had probably just viewed the profile of the ideal guy for me! The best part was, the two things I always look at first (faith affiliation and kids) matched up with mine! So, I clicked "yes" to meeting him and promptly "favorited" him. Then, I waited to see how long it would take before he would contact me (call me old-fashioned, but I believe in finding out who the real men are and waiting for THEM to make the first move! The site does let you know when you've been viewed, faved, or if someone wants to meet you). Almost immediately, I got a message from him....and it made me laugh because he obviously had taken note of my picture in Jedi attire. He had said, "Hey, I saw that! Some sith in a jedi disguise trying to spy on me?? lol." I promptly responded with: "Sith?! Never!!! I would have used a Jedi hand wave to make you message me, but I see I didn't have to. ;) They only work on the weak minded anyways...so it would have been wasted on you. I LOVE your profile."

The pictures on the ends were our "main" photos when we met. :)

Long story short, the conversation continued via messages and then over the phone. We did a video call on Skype the same night and we have been inseparable ever since lol! Our lives for nearly six months (yeah, I know....but when you know, you KNOW!) have consisted of constant communication and connection via text/Facebook/Skype; and always looking forward to the weekends when we could finally get to see each other for a short time before resuming our daily work/life routines. This 75 minutes apart thing has been rather tiresome and taxing (but always worth it!).

We've also bonded easily and quickly with each other's family and friends and received their approval and blessings. We are so touched and amazed at how wonderful, loving, accepting, and encouraging everyone has been to us! The Vineyard Church has also been just as amazing and apparently, the family counselor had given Chris a prophetic word a few months before we had gotten together. He had said that God had showed him that there would be a lot of positive changes that would happen in the coming year and at a very rapid pace. Chris didn't know what that meant at the time, but it's definitely come to pass now lol!

The moments of affirmation just continue to come too! We have had our moments of doubt and struggle (particularly as we prepare for this upcoming transition and all that is on our "to do" list) but today's sermon was a big help to us. Kent was talking about the Lord's guidance and how it comes to us in many different forms. It comes through prayer and His Word, but also through godly counsel. Sometimes, we expect these big signs when all we need to do is line it up with God's Word and see if it fits with what's "in the book." Kent kept saying, "Well, it's in the book. Did you read the book?" Lol! He said that 9 times out of 10, the solution to our problem has been addressed "in the book." Want to know how to parent a child? It's in the book. Want to know how to treat people? It's in the book. Want to know how a marriage is supposed to function and look like? It's in the book.

He's right, it's "in the book" and if more people would pay attention to it, we would all function better! He pointed out that in his career as a pastor, he has seen so much pain (especially in regards to marriage and divorce) because people haven't heeded what's "in the book" or the godly counsel of others. He mentioned that so many "blew through stop signs" and failed to heed the warnings. All of this really hit home for Chris
and I (and I was wiping away tears) because we have experienced both situations. With our first marriages, we both ignored the "stop" signs and warnings from godly counsel. We went through so much unnecessary pain. Now, we have the reverse situation where everything is lining up with what's "in the book". Lots of good godly counsel is giving us prophetic words and tons of support, and yet we sometimes are LOOKING for the "stop" signs out of fear. I just couldn't help but cry because all of Kent's words were absolutely melting all that fear and reminding me WHY I jumped out of the boat. I need to keep walking on the water. God set this in motion and I don't have to keep looking for "stop" signs that don't exist this time just because I ignored the ones that DID exist last time. Everything is going to be alright!

How You Can Pray For/Support Us

We are so grateful for the prayers and support of our family and friends throughout our lives! We appreciate your prayers now as well because right now is a very high-stress time for us. I won't specify every little thing, but here is the gist of it:

• Our houses; refinancing his and selling mine. The good news is, I've added a lot of value to my house and I'll come out ahead once I DO get it sold. The bad news is, we don't know when that will be. Pray that the right buyers (and nice new neighbors for my Dad's sake) will come along soon. Paying for two houses isn't doable for us. Also, the refinancing that needs done on his is another catch-22. He's also going to get some money out of it (which will go for my ring and some car repairs he desperately needs to get done before it conks out or something) but coming up with the initial funds to get a foundation inspection done has us in a bind; especially when he was initially told he wasn't going to have any upfront costs. I told Chris that I would marry him with or without a ring. There are a lot of "traditions" that just haven't happened the "traditional" way, but that's ok lol. We're old enough to know what's really important, so that's why we aren't hung up on rings or the wedding itself (it's going to be private and small; just us, our kids, best man/matron of honor, and parents. His step-father will be officiating us in their backyard; sweet, intimate, and non-expensive lol. We HOPE to have some kind of a reception for our close family/friends at a later date, but we don't know when or how that will be possible yet). 

• My Job & the Kids' School: I'm sad about having to leave a job/people I love, to say the least. Pray that the right person will fill my shoes and that I will be able to find somewhere else to work and serve when the time comes. I'm working up until the wedding/move and then I'll be around to watch the kids so we don't have to worry about childcare for the rest of the summer. I hope to start a new job after we're settled and school starts again. That's another area too...getting all the school stuff figured out/transitioned for Casey and Gianna; especially Casey's special needs stuff. Good special help is rare and this is the part that concerns me a lot because I don't know how any other school could ever be as great as Casey's current one. 

• Faith, Wisdom, Provision, and Patience: There is a never-ending list of transitions, adjustments, and changes for all of us. Address/name changes, packing up and moving (and figuring out how to get all that done) and just so many phone calls and changeovers to make, things to do, pay for, etc. My brain is overloaded and I have been beyond exhausted trying to stay on top of things! I just keep praying for the wisdom, endurance, and patience to get through it and that my faith will build up as I trust that God's timing is going to be perfect and He will find a way to provide for us all. He led us out of Egypt to go to the promised land. I won't complain in the desert. He'll provide and He'll get us where He plans for us to be! It may not go the way we think or look the way we thought it would look, but we can deal with whatever happens because He's got a plan! 

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to read this! We hope it's given you a glimpse into our journey and we thank all of you for your prayers and support! We also realize that there are some people that have (or will ask) about wedding gifts and such. Obviously, we have enough stuff accumulated between the two of us over the years so we aren't the typical wedding couple that needs "stuff". I am not one that likes to ask for/accept help, but since I am always one that likes to give it, I have to be humble enough to receive it too. So, if anyone DOES feel led to support us monetarily so we can take care of the avalanche of urgent financial needs that we have, you can Paypal it to chrislisscunning@gmail.com (or if you'd like to hire Chris for computer work or me for some furniture project work, we will gladly take on the jobs; or maybe you'd like to sign up as a Team Beachbody coach through me and/or make a purchase for yourself? :) It all helps!). No matter what, as long as we're all praying, things will happen! We'll keep our eyes fixed on the big picture God has for us; we're not getting back in the boat! :) Be infused! God bless you! 

"Who Ya Gonna Call?"

What would you say if I started singing: "If there's something strange in your neighborhood, who ya gonna call?" Right. You'd shout "Ghostbusters!" You can't help yourself! "If it's somethin' weird an' it don't look good, who ya gonna call?" Yeah. You are probably hearing the theme music in your head and jammin' out right now aren't ya? It's ok...it's playin' in my head too!

Ok, so what does "Ghostbusters" have to do with anything and why on earth would I bring it up? Well, it's because there are a lot of times where I feel like something is strange or off (remember THIS incident lol?). I feel like something is weird; whether around me or just inside of me. You can't explain it. You don't know what it is, but you just feel like something isn't normal. You're wondering, "What is it? What do I do?!" You wonder who you can turn to or call on. Assuming it's not 911 emergency grade, maybe you call a friend or family member to talk to (been there, done that). Though, the very first person we should be calling on is Jesus. He is our first line of defense against anything strange, weird, or off-putting. No matter what is going on or how we are feeling, He is right there to battle and defeat it for us. All we have to do is speak His Name!

That simple fact is definitely something I have to remind myself of more often. This week, especially, was a time where I needed to remember that Jesus needs to be first in the chain of command. Sure, it's ok to talk to my best friend, boyfriend, and others that care about me, but no one knows me or cares about me like Jesus does! All I have to do is go D.E.A.P. (drop everything and pray). I'm not sure what brought that to my mind, but when I thought of that this past week, I googled it to see if maybe that concept/acronym was already floating around out there. Apparently, it is (google it for yourself). And, the one thing that I could find on it was this video from YouTube where a lady describes how life-changing it is to just drop everything and pray. It warmed my heart to watch it. 

So, "who ya gonna call" my friends? The next time you're struggling with something, who are you going to turn to? When you're hurting, feeling down, or life just doesn't feel quite right, just call on Jesus. He will calm every storm, defeat every demon, and bring peace to your heart. Just go D.E.A.P.!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope you have a blessed week! Remember, Jesus is always with you! He's just waiting for you to call on Him! Whether it's big or small, He is there for whatever personal emergency you have. Just like shouting "Ghostbusters!" is the irresistible response and answer in that song, so should Jesus be in our lives! I promise you, He is the BEST and QUICKEST first responder ever! He's always on call! Be infused! God bless you!

I Need Some Prayer

I stare at the screen and it's as empty as I feel right now. I struggle to find something to write because I feel like I have nothing in me. It's a rarity to feel like this. Who knows why it is. Maybe it's because the weather has been continuously cold and rainy. Everyone gets moody when it's so dismal outside. Maybe it's just the busyness of all that I've had going on. Maybe it's all the emotions that continue to bubble up inside.

It's probably all of the above. Whatever the case, I am battling with it quite a bit. I have been sitting here wondering how I can even write anything positive, inspiring, informative, etc. for today. After all, my whole purpose for writing this blog is so that I can help others. I've felt so frustrated and down that I just thought about posting something along the lines of "hey, I'm going to take a break from this...don't know when I'll be back." Though, it wouldn't do my readers (or me) any good to disappear. Writing helps me as much as I hope it helps all of you who read. It would only give me permission to sink further into this emotional hole.

Here I am...still writing about nothing and looking at a whole lot "blah" on my screen. I don't feel like I have anything to offer at the moment. I just haven't felt like myself today at all. I have even read over several of my previous Sunday blogs to try give me a boost. It helped a little bit, but I think I need more than that. I think I need to have some more quiet time today; to pray and cry things out. I think the impending move is just weighing so heavily on me. Even though this is a very good change, I am still struggling to process a lot of thoughts and feelings.

Grace and peace to you, my friends. I'm sorry I have nothing real to say tonight. Though, if there's one thing I know, it's that I always snap out of it. I will be ok. I just need to pray and to maybe even talk to a friend or something for a while. If you could spare a few prayers for me, I would appreciate it. I need some, please! Thanks! Be infused! God bless you!

How to De-Stress

Stress. We all have it in our lives, unfortunately. The question is, how do we manage it? It isn't easy, but there are lots of things that we can do to effectively de-stress and feel better!

Our obvious (although, maybe often ignored) first response to stress should be prayer. It's the greatest success tool we have in overcoming the things that weigh on us by allowing Christ to take on our burdens. God urges us to cast our cares on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). He also assures us not to be troubled or afraid and that He gives us peace and rest (Matthew 11:28, John 14:26).

Additionally, we can reduce stress by utilizing various methods to vent. For example, when I'm stressed or upset, I often talk to my close friends (especially my best friend, Sarah). Having adequate support is VERY helpful! Family and friends who are there to listen, advise, and comfort you when you're overwhelmed goes a long way in helping alleviate the burdens on our shoulders! I don't know what I would do without Sarah! We've shared each other's laughter and tears and she greatly enriches my life; enhancing my best moments and lifting me up in my worst. Having friends like that is essential!!

Other effective stress relievers can be journaling, participating in creative activities and hobbies, and exercising. Just find something that you enjoy doing that helps you to unwind and relax. The possibilities are endless! Just make sure you take some time for "you" and choose constructive ways to unburden yourself.

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope that this blog has been a gentle reminder that no matter what you're facing, there are ways of coping. Rely on the strength of Jesus to get you through. Come to Him in prayer and allow Him to help you. Also, use the gifts, talents, and interests that He has blessed you with to make a difference in the world. You'll minister to others and yourself at the same time and feel a whole lot better! Do things that you love and you'll be doing a great service for Him, others, and yourself too! Be infused! God bless you!

How to Get Through the Tough Stuff!

Anyone who does a workout program (especially a very intense one) knows that it's not always easy to get through it! Sometimes, you're tired, sore, or just plain don't feel like working out. So, the question is: "how do I get through a tough workout?"

This is a question that's always in the back of my mind. There are so many times where I wonder how in the world I'm going to make it through my workout. When I feel like that, the first thing I do is pray. I can't stress enough how important it is to remember just how true Philippians 4:13 is (which is, of course, the meaning behind Infusion 413). You CAN do all things THROUGH Christ who gives you the strength to do it! Don't EVER think that you can't do something! BELIEVE that you can because that's the promise that He gives! Tap into it! Let Him infuse you!

In addition to prayer, there are a few other tips that can really help. For one, make your workouts a priority and something that is built into your day (that's what the calendar/scheduler in your Team Beachbody account is for!). I can attest to the fact that when I've got things scheduled, and I know I'm on a program that tells me which workout to do every day, I want to stick with it because I want to finish it. If I miss a day, I get REALLY annoyed (probably part of my "all or nothing" personality as well). The longer you stay in a routine, the more apt you are to stick with it as a new habit.

It also helps to have specific goals. Don't be vague! If you're just trying to "eat better, exercise more, and lose weight" that isn't a very detailed game plan. Break down those bigger goals into smaller ones. Think about the nutrition habits you want to change, the workouts you want to accomplish, and how much you want to lose. Maybe you'll have a goal to cut out soda and drink water instead or replace a trouble food with a healthy substitute. Maybe you'll want to start a specific workout program and finish it within a few months. Maybe you'll even want to set a weight-loss goal of 2 pounds a week. Whatever the goals are, narrow it down and shoot for it!

Encompassing all these things is ATTITUDE! Check your thoughts, feelings, and focus! Talk positively to yourself and challenge your excuses! Don't say, "I'm too tired and unmotivated." Instead, say something like: "I am getting stronger! I will get through this! I will feel AMAZING when I'm done and I will keep doing this so I can fit into my skinny clothes again!" Visualize yourself succeeding and then DO IT! Set out an outfit you haven't worn in years and work towards fitting into it again!

Last but not least, accountability! Workout with someone (or at least have someone to support you and cheer you on). Tell people about your goals and ask them to help you stick to it! Be willing to accept a little tough love from them when you're slacking and also be fueled by the friendly "competition" if you are working out/doing the journey together! That will really help!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Remember, NOTHING is too tough; no matter if we're talking workouts or something else! Even if you struggle sometimes, be satisfied and content as long as you know you gave it your best! Your best effort is always sufficient and you should be proud of yourself! You can overcome and conquer anything! Be infused! God bless you!

Experience Your Own Success Story!

I love Shakeology Saturdays because I always look forward to talking about something that has helped me so much! You might remember from reading my Shakeology story that I lost around EIGHT POUNDS when I tried it for the first time. Once again, I am happy to report that in this past month, Shakeology and Focus T25 has resulted in a SEVEN POUND LOSS! Praise God! My body fat is down by 1.5% and I have lost inches as well (and the program isn't even finished yet!).

I'm feeling healthier and stronger all the time as I work hard to get to my goal weight! I feel more confident than ever that I will succeed and get to where I need to be! Every ounce of progress that I make is an encouragement! I always feel accomplished when I finish a workout and when I deny my food cravings (if I even get them at all). Shakeology eliminates the insane sweet tooth that I used to have and I just eat less in general because I don't have a raging appetite or desire to eat constantly! Additionally, in the cases where I do feel that I want something that isn't the best choice, I feel like God is helping me to refocus and resist. I feel more disciplined, self-controlled, and stabilized. God is transforming me from the inside out in so many ways!

Are you ready to experience your own success story? What are you waiting for?! Don't let the cost factor scare you! Find a way to make yourself a priority and do whatever it takes to better yourself (consider becoming a Team Beachbody coach and receive an employee discount as well as extra income from helping others when they buy these life changing products!). Remember, YOU'RE WORTH IT and so are the people in your life who will benefit from a better and healthier you!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope that my experiences will be an encouragement to you. Be inspired and realize that YOU can achieve your goals too! Please, watch the video below and know that with Shakeology, a little exercise (and prayer), you can and WILL get there too! Be infused!! God bless you!

Strength & Rest

It's always stunning when you read or hear something that precisely fits with what is going on in your life right at the moment. Last week, I was reading in Brian Welch's devotional book: Stronger: Forty Days of Metal and Spirituality. I was reading day 22 and amazingly, he happened to mention Philippians 4:13! :) Here is some of what he said:

"The key to our new lives with Christ is learning. Learning to trust God always. Instead of getting scared when our negative circumstances wrap themselves around our lives, we can learn from everything that comes our way....If you're going through negative things in life right now, arise and shine with the light of understanding that God is stronger than your circumstances. One of the best lessons that I've learned is to rest in love with Jesus, because He will miraculously turn everything around for you when it's time."

I couldn't agree more! Over the past three years in particular, a lot of things have happened in my life that I couldn't wrap my brain around. So many people encouraged me to just trust in the Lord and that things would "get better" and that all things work out for good (Romans 8:28). As much as I knew that, it was hard to let it sink in. I believed it, but my faith was so weak. No matter what I knew or learned, I still couldn't "rest". In fact, learning to relax and rest in His love has always been a hard thing for me. Maybe it is for a lot of people because I know we all worry, attempt to fix and control things, and don't know how to let go and surrender.

Admittedly, I still don't have the "rest" thing figured out, but I'm continuing to learn how to let go more and more. I find that as I put forth more effort to pray and bring everything to God, I am finding more peace and rest no matter what is going on or what I've been through.

God can and will turn things around for you! It may not look or feel that way (and we are often impatient in waiting) but when things finally unfold and reveal themselves, you'll say "Oh, wow! I get it! Look what God has done!" That is exactly what I'm saying right now as I watch so many amazing things happen in my life that I could have never predicted! I am humbled, awed, thankful, and blessed!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Continue to allow God to infuse you with His strength and learn to not only be empowered by it, but to rest in it as well! Be infused! God bless you!!

Your Most Vital Success Tool!

When it comes to fitness and nutrition, there may be all sorts of tools that you may need. You definitely need exercise shoes, clothing, and a water bottle for hydration. You may even need a mat, weights, resistance bands, balance ball, heart rate monitor, etc. When it comes to food, a scale can be very helpful in helping to measure portions and a journal, computer, or phone app can help you track calories. Then, of course, there's the scale you use to weigh yourself. What else could you be missing that is often overlooked? Prayer! Yes, that's right, prayer!

Some people reading this may underestimate the value of prayer (even if they are a believer). How would prayer make a difference anyways? All it takes is will-power and self-discipline, right? Well, as most people know, those are two very difficult things to come by at times. It's difficult having everything on your shoulders and trying to do it all alone in your own strength. Support (people who encourage you and keep you accountable) is crucial but you don't always have someone by your side 24/7; and sometimes, your own self can fail you as well. However, the Holy Spirit is always with you even when no one else is! He is ALWAYS around 24/7 because He dwells within your heart and is there to guide you in making the right choices for yourself. He will always encourage and fuel you to do your best. The key is tapping into the power by being continuous in prayer. If you don't feel like working out that day, ask Him to give you the strength. If you're faced with some food temptations, ask Him to help you make the best choice and to say "no" to the things that aren't good for your body. If you allow Him to work in you and change your heart and mind, you will succeed (and feel pretty good about it!). Then, giving all glory back to Him, you will continue to improve and build up those spiritual muscles! ;)

I'm here to tell you from experience that you will have MUCH MORE success if you allow GOD to be your ultimate coach in every area of your life! I have experienced it not only in my weight-loss battle, but in my personal life battles as well. When I look back and pinpoint the times where I was most successful, it was the times where I was dependent on God and not myself. If you don't want to fail, trust in that which is UNfailing: the power of the Holy Spirit! I may be a Team Beachbody coach, but God is the ultimate motivator and coach! He can (and will!) do WAY more for you than I can!

It is my honor to serve and be a part of this team; not just Team Beachbody and Infusion 413, but the team that is this body of Christ! We are all here to work together for the glory of God! Through Him, we can accomplish ANYTHING! 

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Include God in your fitness/nutrition goals and watch your success (as well as your positive attitude) grow by leaps and bounds! Ask God to not only bless your food before you eat, but to help you eat things that are good for you. Also, pray for protection from injury (when you get ready to work out) as well as the strength and endurance to persevere. He will give you the strength you need!! Be infused!! God bless you!!

Fueled with Thankfulness

Today winds up my first week of this new fitness blog. I feel very accomplished (as well as hopeful) that it will be reaching and helping others in various ways! It's my hope that people will read and engage with me (and others) on this blog and find the encouragement and motivation they need for not only their fitness goals, but their entire well-being. That's why on Sundays, I'll post blogs of a more personal and spiritual nature (sort of like my original blog). No matter what you're doing to help your body physically, it's important that you work from the inside out and make sure that your mind and heart are fueling the changes you're embarking on.

I've reflected a lot this week about everything that is going on in my life. I wouldn't know where to begin if I tried to explain and dissect it all, but let's just say that reminding myself of the core verse that is the theme of this blog (and my Team Beachbody team as a whole) is what carries me. I keep focusing my mind on being empowered and infused with the strength of God so that I can make it through whatever I have to deal with every day. Careful thought and prayer is what works out the matters of the mind and heart. Paul said in Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV): 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I have thought about these verses a lot this week. Breaking it down, bit by bit, we can get a picture of what our general attitude should be like and how we should handle and view everything in our life. Paul says to ALWAYS rejoice in the Lord. It's not just a statement, it's a command (and he reiterates it a second time). With that kind of emphasis, we should gather that it's pretty important to have an attitude of praise and thankfulness. He says our gentleness should be evident and that the Lord is near. God will empower us as we praise Him and when we converse with the Lord in prayer, we are to have that attitude of thanksgiving. We are far less prone to being worried and anxious when we are focused on the many blessings that we should be thanking our Father for! I seen a saying once that said: "Always thank God for what you have before you ask him for more." How true is that?!

Secondly, Paul says that when we behave in a way that's positive and thankful, we will receive peace from God; peace that surpasses anything one could understand or explain. It calms and protects our hearts and minds against anything that could negatively effect us. It's all because that positive and thankful heart brings about that wall of peace that prevents us from being shaken by anything the world can throw at us. 

Paul finishes his train of thought by instructing us on what to fuel our minds with to ensure that we keep our positive attitudes intact. It's all about input and output. No matter what form you're talking about, everything has a cause and effect process. Just like you have to think about what foods you're fueling your body with, one needs to think about what they're fueling their mind and spirit with. Everyone knows that if you feed your body junk, that's what your resulting output is going to be. You feel only as good as what you're fueled with. The quality you put INTO yourself is equal to the quality you'll be able to GIVE of yourself when you expend it. That's why Paul tells us to think of good things; things that are pure, lovely, honorable, and praiseworthy. The things we watch, the music we listen to, the things we do, the people we hang out with, etc. are all going to effect our behavior. Therefore, we should really try hard to surround ourselves with the things that glorify and honor God so that we are more apt to honor God as well. Yes, in the world that we live in today, it is becoming more and more difficult. It definitely is a struggle to accomplish this when we are surrounded by so much media bombardment, negative people, and things of that nature. It's impossible to escape it completely, but when we do find those good things, we need to focus on them the most so that we aren't overcome by the negatives. Then, we can be the kind of example that Paul was; and people will see and imitate our examples too. 

I hope that you are encouraged by what God has put in my heart. Focusing on prayer, positive things, and leaning on like-minded people is what helped me this week! More and more, I am reminded of how much more dependent I need to be on God and HIS strength and not my own. I am grateful for all the Lord does for me as well as the good friends and family who have been there to listen, empathize, advise, and pray for me. A BIG thank you to three friends in particular: Sarah, Steve, and Joel. You helped me make it through this week and I couldn't be more grateful for your support! I love you! Thank you also to Whitley and Racheal for the fellowship I had with you yesterday! Both of you make me smile and I love you too!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Feed your body, mind, and spirit with good things!! Stay positive and thankful!! Be infused! God bless you!!