Fresh Fire!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Setting Yourself Up for Success

Are you setting yourself up for failure or success? That's the ultimate question behind the choices we make each day. Are our choices getting us closer to or further away from what we want in life?

In today's media Monday, I am featuring two videos. You might be familiar with the first one. It's one that most of us women can relate to and it comes from the movie "Confessions of a Shopaholic" (one of my faves lol). Rebecca has just finished splurging at a sample sale. Afterwards, she surveys the aftermath and  her face says it all: "Oh no, there's so much stuff and I spent way too much money! How did this happen? What have I done?!" Yeah, ever felt like that?

The second video is of a woman who decided to share her regrets about her food purchases. I know all of us can relate to that too. We all end up buying more than we intended when all we meant to do was buy one thing; that and we buy things we KNOW we shouldn't be bringing into the household to gorge on.

The common thread with both videos is the fact that both women knowingly set themselves up to fail. Rebecca knew that putting herself in that shopping environment would bring about the overwhelming temptation to buy more than she should. She tried to rationalize it by saying that she would only buy what she needed and nothing more. Of course, it didn't happen that way. She lost all self-control and it could have all been avoided if she had just stayed away from an environment that she knew would get her into trouble. Likewise, the woman who bought all that junk food KNEW she was making a bad choice. She complained about how frustrated and angry she was with herself as she was showing off the food when she got home, but she was aware even at the checkout line that she had "nothing substantial". Both women had a second chance to choose what was best for themselves. Rebecca could have walked away as she was waiting in line at the sale. The other woman could have put the food back instead of on the conveyor belt. Yet, both ignored their consciences and then wondered how they could have possibly gotten into the messes they were in.

Friends, don't make the same mistakes! Set yourself up for success! KNOW yourself and your weaknesses and then conquer them! No matter what it is, you CAN overcome it! Stay out of the environments that will trigger you (and don't bring those things INTO your home environment to trip you up either!). If you don't want to binge on your trouble foods, DON'T BUY THEM! Don't even go down the aisle that those foods are in when you go to the store! Audit your thoughts (and your shopping cart) when you're browsing and don't sabotage yourself! Make the best choices possible and stop making excuses!

Grace and peace to you, my friends! Remember to rely on God to give you the strength to resist temptation. Most of all, try to prevent temptation in the first place by keeping yourself away from the things that will trigger it. If that means you stop going to certain places, hanging around certain friends, or changing your routine, DO IT! Do what you have to do to change your life and be the best that you can be! Be infused! God bless you!