The Challenge of Rest

We all know that there's great benefits to working out. Though, do we ever stop to consider that working out too much (or too hard) could be hurting our efforts? That's the subject of this article. It IS possible to overdo it on the exercise and in doing so, sabotage your efforts.

This article was a great reminder to me because, as you all know, I've been working out a lot harder than normal. Not only am I finishing up Focus T25 Gamma, but I've been doing a lot of work on my new house. I still have a lot of painting to do; plus there will be all that work of moving things into the house as well. Needless to say, I'm REALLY tired and sore!

I'm pushing forward with everything that I have to do, but I have already decided that once I finish this last week of Gamma, I'm going to take a break from doing any other programs until I get settled into my new home. More than likely, I'll just do some moderate walking and stretch workouts for a while since I'm already going to be doing a lot of moving and lifting otherwise. Though, I must say, I believe that Focus T25 has built up a LOT of endurance in me! I don't think I would have been able to do a lot of what I've been doing if I hadn't been doing this beforehand! In fact, I bought a coffee table at an antique store last Saturday (which has a heavy granite inset in the middle). A guy at the store carried it out for me and told me that the granite (that pops right out) was really heavy and that I should have help with it when I got home (heck, he was struggling with it, it seemed). So, I anticipated asking my Dad to help me carry it once I was ready to get it out. However, when I picked it up, I was like "I don't know what he's talking about. It really isn't that bad." I was pleasantly surprised, and impressed, with myself because I know it's because of the strength training I've been doing in Gamma that helped me have what it took to lift that granite. I felt super strong! :)

I am confident that I am both stronger and more able to get through what I need to get done. But, I also know that I need to rest, rebuild, and recuperate or I will burn out completely. We all need to be proud of what we have accomplished (and continue to challenger ourselves) but we also need to accept the challenge of rest as well. It's a component that we needn't overlook if we expect to succeed in the long run!!

Grace and peace to you, my friends!! I hope that you're all pressing forward in all that you're doing; remembering to allow God to infuse you with His peace and rest in addition to His strength too! Be infused! God bless you!!

Does Stress Make You Fat?

When it comes to the various reasons as to why we're overweight, there can be a variety of different factors. One of  those elements can definitely be stress. Click here to read a little more about how hormones, sleep, and other components of your life can be affected by stress and contribute to weight issues. 

As mentioned before in a previous blog about de-stressing, there are a lot of things that we can do to reduce and eliminate the stress in our lives, help our bodies function normally, and avoid stress eating. Our first priority should be to pray about it and allow God to take on our problems. When we surrender to Him, we will find the peace and rest that we need. 

Not only do we need the rest that results from being calm and at ease, but also the kind of rest that results from adequate sleep. Without good sleep, we won't function properly and our hormones and body chemistry will be all messed up and can translate into more bad eating choices (as mentioned in the article). Why add to the stress by piling on more pounds to weigh us down?!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope you have found the article and previous blog helpful in dealing with whatever stress you have in your life. Personally, I have to think about that post a lot because I have had a lot going on and need to de-stress myself. Prayer, exercise, talking and laughing with friends, and trying to get the sleep I need helps quite a bit! If I didn't engage in those outlets, I would REALLY have a hard time losing my weight because I would be depressed and binge eating all the time. It really helps to find positive ways to unwind so that stress doesn't translate into more stress when you get on the scale and then wonder what happened. No one wants that! Relax! Lean on Him and the people He places in your life to help you (including me! I'm here for you!). 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!