New Years Eve/Day is always packed full of "RESOLUTIONS" like:

 

Lose Weight

Volunteer to Help Others
Quit Smoking
Get a Better Education
Get a Better Job
Save Money
Get Fit
Eat Healthy Food
Manage Stress
Manage Debt
Take a Trip
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Drink Less Alcohol
(http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/New-Years-Resolutions.shtml)

However, December always rolls around and we all look back and wonder where time went. We find ourselves making the same resolution for the following year because we failed at our previous resolution.

 

Why do we keep setting the same goal that we keep failing at?

 

Maybe your resolution was more of a wish rather than a goal? Or maybe your asking what's the difference between a goal and a wish?

 

 

Let me ask you this, in the past when you've made a New Year's resolution, did you make a plan of action to go along with it? Did you incorporate any accountability partners?

 

My journey of weight loss didn't start on January 1st. My journey started in May after I had finished my junior year of college. My annual doctors check up revealed I was on a path toward diabetes. There wasn't an "Ok, I'm starting tomorrow" moment. It was a moment where I saw myself in the mirror, 230 pounds on the scale, and a feeling deep inside of me that I needed to get myself healthy and happy.  I started my weight loss journey with my food consumption. I knew I had a problem of over eating so I began educating myself by reading Tosca Reno's Eat Clean book and Oxygen Fitness Magazine. Both reads STRONGLY recommended me logging EVERYTHING I consumed and the more I did it, the better I got at it. I then started planning what I was going to eat for the following day. I knew if I saved logging my food for the end of the day, I would log everything and go to bed feeling guilty and frustrated by what I had ate. By logging and planning what I was going to have for the following day, I was setting myself up for success and I was completely in charge of my consumption.

 

 

Lastly, I wrote on a piece of paper a 1 month goal, a 3 month goal, a 6 month goal, and a 1 year goal. I shared with my mother and then I signed and hung it on the refrigerator.  I knew that if it were just up to me to hold myself accountable, I'd let myself slip. By letting someone else in on my goals and why it was important to me, added another level to my success. I was more willing to follow through because I didn't want to let myself or another person down.

 

As we welcome in 2014, let me ask not your RESOLUTION, but what's your plan of ACTION? To be completely honest, if there's no action or accountability, why are you even making a resolution? You have to start something and everyone has to start somewhere. Make the year of 2014 a year of "Action and No Excuses"! Your RESOLUTION is in your Hands of ACTION.

 

BeBlessed Champions~

A

 

 

 

 

Sabotage

 

The more I work one on one with individuals the less I'm able to forget where I've been. People will get frustrated with themselves and say to me, "I'm trying... don't give up on me!" My response, is NEVER! I see myself in their desire to be healthier. My grind now, is driven from never wanting to be like the old complacent Alison. But one thing that I'm finding more true is how deeply people want to resist change. I have to accept that some people don't want to see you or I succeed. It may not even be because they dislike you... but because they are unhappy with their self/life. And maybe it's not even you, but the fact that your new lifestyle change represents something they desire but aren't willing to commit to.

To give you an example from my end...
Couple weeks ago I had a family member inform me that he thought I was a social media douchebag. I honestly could have cared less because we each have 24 hours in the day and I chose to spend my day working, working out, and posting about my fitness journey on social media as inspiration and motivation to others. This person couldn't fathom why I would chose to do what I do. He thought I was vein for what I do and made that very clear. Many hurtful words were said that evening until I was over it and grabbed my things and left.

To be completely honest, I had tears all the way back home. BUT, I wasn't sad because I felt like he had a good point or because I wanted to give him the gratification of getting the best of me. I was upset by the fact that I've completely changed from the inside out. I used to be the person who didn't care or love herself, but through my transformation, I've become someone who honestly and truly loves myself. The change of my body actually represents the heart and mind change. My weight loss journey helped me to see myself the way God created me to be. And that's why I work with individuals that have the same struggle.  Weight loss, fitness, health, competing at any level is mind game. It's so easy to do what the flesh wants and desires, but self respect comes through self discipline. Thus the reason I share my journey.

For years I lived by no rules. Some days I'd wake up and eat Oreos and Milk for breakfast. Some nights I would eat 2 or 3 dinners just out of boredom. Other times I'd go out to eat and I could out eat any athletic team! My physical body showed my lack of self control. But what a healthy lifestyle respresents is discipline. I know eating 'A Cookie' won't harm me, but will I be able to stop after one? In my past I would get so sick of looking at myself I would literally starve myself for days, then I would eat like pig later because I would tell myself I would deserve it.  ALL SELF SABOTAGING!

Then what about the other element of OTHERS sabotaging you? I can remember NUMEROUS times where I would have a great week of workouts and eating. Then the weekend would come and friends or family would say lets go do this or that and eat this or that BECAUSE "you deserve it". I'm sorry, you and I aren't dogs so we shouldn't look at food as a reward. "Eat to Live, Not Live to Eat". I have always been held back in life because I've allowed my circumstances to control me. But my weight loss secret, gaining a backbone. I had to learn to say NO. Still I'm not the best at telling people NO when it comes to tasks, but I have learned to turn food down and make time for a good sweat. I don't have to eat whatever is set in front of me. I am in control.

Bottom line, your fitness goals and aspirations are exactly that-YOURS! One has to find a balance and that can be hard. Sadly, you might just lose some friends, but you might also gain some new ones. You might gain a support system or gym friend that is on the same journey as you. The idea is, if you have a goal, surround yourself with like minded and goal oriented people. And that's why I have my Twitter and Instagram account. I created them not only to share my story, but to follow others. I've found so much support and encouragement on my fitness journey through social media because I'm able to surround myself with like-minded and driven individuals. AND if that is the definition of being a "Social Douchebag"... I'll take it as a compliment.

BeBlessed
A

Nutrition is EVERYTHING

I used to be the "fat girl"... Then the "girl who lost 90lbs" and then I got stuck! So many time people lose weight and sadly, gain it all back. That is exactly what I didn't want. I didn't want to be the Success Story that went bad after a few years and so I kept setting small goals. I would run 5K's, 10K's, got certified as a Zumba and spinning instructor, then certified as a personal trainer. But last January, I decided I was going to start training for another 1/2 marathon. I started my running, but my back and hips were killing me. For those who are unaware, I've had two hip surgeries where my doctor had to place 2 pins and a screw in each hip. The running was killing me. It was then I decided the running wasn't doing much for me except killing me and I needed to refocus and find another goal. I started spending more time in the weight room and loving my results. I had always been a Cardio Queen! As I continued lifting, I started to watch these female competitors that I found on my social media. I decided that getting on stage was going to be my next goal. And it is! But what I didn't understand, was the training.

Training for a competition is so much different than losing weight for health reasons. I thought, one just had to workout a lot and cut calories. And thinking I knew what I was doing, I tried it on my own. But my weight started to go up. Nothing drastic, but enough to realize I needed more guidance and help. When you don't know something, ASK for help! I started asking my followers on Twitter and Instagram who are competitors and realized that I had opened Pandora's box. I wasn't turned off though. I decided I was going to get real help and get a coach.

Which leads me to the last 6 weeks being the biggest learning experience of my life. For my birthday I went and visited a friend who competes in Figure so I could get my feet wet and decide if it's something that really interested me. And it did! It blew my mind how training for a show is so strategic. Everything is mapped out until ones show. You can't be all for it one day and then not the next day. One has to fully commit to doing a show, the workouts, but most importantly... The diet. Eating has ALWAYS been my biggest struggle, but that's why I love this. I never want to be so enslaved by food that I lack control. Someone asked me

"How can you be so strict with what you put in your mouth and be so dedicated to tracking your food consumption?" My response, "Don't look at practicing self control with food as your being punished or that your missing out on something. We eat to live, not live to eat." 

Anyways, I'm embarking on the unknown for me. It's not easy, sure I want to grab a bag of chips or eat a candy bar whenever I want to. Everyday I'm faced with food. Good choices of food and not so good choices. I ask myself "Is consuming this getting me a step closer to my goal?" If the answer is no, I practice self control and just don't eat it. And it's paying off! The scale is going in the direction my coach wants it and I'm getting stronger. I'm finding ways to cook, bake, and prepare food that I haven't done before because I'm reading, YouTube-ing videos, conversing with others who are like minded. Everyday I'm learning something new! And that's what I love. I love being challenged. I love watching my body change. I love knowing that if I keep my mind right, the body will follow. As soon as I allow self doubt and pity to enter my mind and heart, Game Over! I am in control of me. That's why I share my story. I share to provide an insight of how Success is EARNED and not given. 

I pray for each of you. That you may know the strength you have within you. I pray that you'll understand your self worth to practices the discipline you need to achieve the goals you have set. May God ALWAYS be honored and glorified.

BeBlessed

A

 

Once Called "Fat"

I don't talk about being the "Fat Kid" in school a whole lot, but this week I had an instance where I was reminded of the pain that the name calling causes. 

I was training one of my clients this week and she was telling about the time she ran into this guy she went to school with. She said she could remember when he had called her "fat". She hadn't seen him in forever, but when they met in person, her first inner thought towards him was "asshole".  I laughed at her because I could remember the EXACT day, time, and place when I first realized I was overweight. 

Fourth grade, elementary school, I was getting my lunch and as my class was sitting down single file. There was this table of boys from my grade and as I made my way to the table, I heard pig snorting sounds. As I sat down, I heard one of the boys yell my name and say, "can I have your pig in the blanket? You have enough pig in you that you don't need to eat that!" I looked down at my tray, stomach completely sunk, and all I wanted to do was cry. But I looked up and said, "no, this food is disgusting, you want my cookie too?!" I handed away my food and starved the rest of the afternoon just to go home and gorge myself in private because no one could judge me at home.

That was where my journey to obesity began. It began with not desiring to eat in public and would literally binge when I got home because it was a judge free zone. 

But back to my client, I actually kind of knew the person she was talking about. I told him the story this week about her remembering him calling her fat and he responded with, "Man! Women really do hold on to stuff! I'm not like that anymore." I smiled and reassured him it was completely squashed, but I wanted him to see how a small comment can form some bodies entire self image. We made light of the conversation as I joked about me once being the "fat kid" and moved on.

But here's the deal, it's not that an overweight person can't ever get over someone calling them fat, but it's an emotional struggle of looking in the mirror every single day and repeatedly believing what others think of you. Believing that your worthless and don't deserve to be happy because your fat. We begin believing we're held down by our past. It's the devils way of holding each of us down. For the longest time I would joke about being fat. It was my philosophy to make fun of myself and being fat because then no one else would. I continued to tear myself down even when others weren't. 

THIS IS WHERE MY WEIGHT LOSS BEGAN. I always had been disappointed in myself and lacked self control. I believed fat was what I was and who I would ALWAYS be. WRONG! That's why weight loss is 99% mind and 1% physical (my percentages!) The 99% is making up your mind not to continue to be the OLD YOU. The OLD YOU always made BS excuses. If the old you ALWAYS DID this, that doesn't mean the NEW you will. The body will literally do whatever you tell it. So stop sabotaging yourself, stop making the excuses I always made, and begin loving yourself so much that you practice SelfControl and Discipline. God doesn't desire to see us living in slavary to anything! Drugs, food, money, fear, people... WHATEVER is holding you back from Acheiving Greatness, I challenge you to ask God to strengthen you in your weaknesses and begin living in a life worth living!

BeBlessed

A

99%OfFailure=EXCUSES

 

As a Personal Trainer who basically lives in the gym, I hear and see people everyday who desire to better themselves. I see people who are young, old, and in between. I see people who are single, dating, married, or have been married. People who are wealthy and others who are struggling financially. BUT the one thing they all have in common is they are there taking time out of their day to work on their level of fitness. Some train hard, others, well they prefer not to sweat. :) But needless to say, they're there.

Some individuals I have met are similar to myself who have had a rough past, and others are there where it seems like they've never had a struggle at all. However, I love the fact they are taking that time for them. It may be there escape from work, family, personal issues and others are just there because they KNOW they need to workout for bettering their life. But to be honest, the individuals that I struggle with understanding are the people who don't put out the effort to better themselves. I hear it all the time, "Well I ate "A Salad" the other day, why aren't I losing weight?" Or "I worked out 1-2 times last week, I can't believe I'm not losing weight". REALITY: It doesn't happen like that! You can't keep putting out little effort and expecting grand results. I am that person! I did it for several years! I was the person who ate the salad and would weigh myself the next day thinking I HAD to of lost 5lbs! Or workout really really hard for two hours and BARELY eat anything and weigh in the next day and be up 2 pounds. Weight loss and becoming healthier is a lifestyle change. Nothing more and nothing less. I won't say it's EASY, but I will say it's a process. It's a process of practicing self discipline when I really would like to just go to Sonic because that's easier than planning out my meals. It's putting into action my workouts that I've been skipping because I tell myself I don't have time. CORRECTION: THERE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH TIME, YOU MAKE TIME!

I put myself in this equation because I've been there. And I still am there! Heck ya I STILL struggle with over eating, under eating, not having enough time, wanting to skip workouts- I'M NO SUPERWOMAN, I'm HUMAN. But to be honest with you, as much as I seem like I have my mess of life together, I don't! Yes, I'm a Christian and to be honest, my struggle is with making time for God daily. I LOVE to workout, so I'll MAKE time for a 2 hour workout. However, why is it a struggle to get up and go to a 2 hour church service? OR take 20-30 minutes out of my day to sit down, read my bible and pray? Alison, it's not about HAVING time, it's about MAKING time.

For myself, I recognize I've been making excuses, BUT my PLAN of action is my self evaluation and committing to a new plan. This month of October, I've committed to myself to take 20 minutes EVERY day to sit down and read and pray. No more skipping, NO MORE SLACKING! I ask you, what are you half-assing? Self evaluate? What have you been making excuses for? Acknowledge your fault, BUT create a plan of ACTION to better yourself. If you've been cheating yourself, stop it and learn from it. Stop holding yourself back. I've been there, am there, and only offer realness as I speak from my own personal humbled experiences.

Know that you are in my prayers, each and every single one of you.

BeBlessed

 

Transformation Takes Time

Last weekend my friend and I traveled to Kansas City to watch the Natural KC Classic & IFPA Pro International. It was an amazing experience in the sense that most people hear about a body building show and think of young dudes on steroids walking around half naked. However, that wasn't the case!

^200 plus competitors!

As these women and men hit the stage for a couple minutes that they had been preparing for for longer than a couple days or weeks was amazing to see. There were women at the age of 40 plus on stage with bodies better than a 20 year olds. Men on stage flexing muscles that they had been working day in and day out for numerous years! It was an inspiring weekend to see such true dedication to not only workouts, but diet. And that's what I find INSANE! These People set aside their desires for not just a moment on stage, but to also be judged on their hard work in the gym and kitchen. Could you do that? Could you say no to a scoop of peanut butter for 10 weeks if that would make you look just slightly better than your competition? Most likely, no! We would say yes and JUSTIFY EATING IT because we had a bad day at work, or our significant other upset us, or our children have been acting naughty! In the moment of stress we would give in and say "I DESERVE TO EAT THIS, give me the whole jar of peanut butter!" That's how we work!

^We are ALL body builders under reconstruction...

Typically we look at men and women who have a body of a Greek God/Goddess as if they were just BLESSED and they have no idea what it's like to be in our shoes who just need to lose 15-20 pounds. But that's far from the truth! These individuals work harder than you do. There warm up for a workout is what you do Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for a total body workout. I've only seen a glimpse of this body building world, but I loved every moment of it. They are the true example of what it means to die to self. I thought about the term we here in church, we have to die to the flesh to truly live, simply put... Doesn't that mean step outside your comfort zone!? Yes! Stepping outside our comfort zone is so unbelievably uncomfortable, but absolutely rewarding! It challenges us beyond ourself control and requires to have faith and trust what God is doing. THAT'S WHY I LOVE THE BODY! The body will do what needs to be done, BUT IT'S YOUR MIND that holds you back. You head tells you to lay back down when you need to get out of bed. It's your head that tells you that you have have another scoop. It's your head that tells you that you don't have time! But it's your heart that want to take the leap of faith and I'm here to give you the kick in the behind! Take the leap of faith on whatever you've been allowing to hold you back. Take a step outside of your comfort zone and find the life that you've been waiting for. No, never EASY, but the key is the reward and blessing at the end!

Fit_Not_Skinny

There seems to be this unspoken code that if your waist is less than 34, it's fine, you don't have to workout. That if your not in the category of morbidly obese, you don't need to workout. However, you cannot believe that lie anymore.

I remember when I was obese I would always say, "I wish I was skinny so I didn't have to workout". But as I learned more and more about what healthy really is, EVERYBODY needs to workout! Let me give you an example...

^ The 1st time Aleni did a pull and she caught a glimpse of her muscles!

Back in May of this year I met my young client Aleni. When I first saw her, I couldn't believe she had graduated high school. She was tiny! And Aleni was a runner. My goal was to strengthen her entire body so that she could go to college stronger than ever. To be honest, I was quite nervous to even train her. I doubted myself in wondering what I could even teach someone who already was an amazing athlete. After working with Aleni a couple times though, I was able to see where we needed to work a little more on. She has had ACL surgery, one side was stronger than the other, and we needed to strengthen her core. But the biggest lesson one had to learn was mind over matter. A month into training I had Aleni set up on the leg press. She did all 4 sets of 15 barely breaking a sweat. As she started to get back up, I told her to sit back down because I wanted to see how strong she really was. As I continued to load 45 pound plates onto the the press, her eyes got bigger and bigger. I informed her that she had the strength to do it, she needed to just put her mind into her muscles. 

^ Aleni learned to love the PushUps so I had to make them more difficult! ;)

Aleni proceeded to knock out sets and reps from that moment on. She realized her strength wasn't about the person staring back at her in the mirror, but deep down inside her. Aleni's strength came from her desire to truly be better. It was awesome to see her grow over the summer not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Her passion for running grew as her strength and confidence in herself grew. (And the chick dropped 2% body fat!)

 

Like I said, my goal as a personal trainer isn't primarily to get a person to lose weight. My ULTIMATE goal as a trainer is to ENCOURAGE, INSPIRE, AND EMPOWER others towards a fitter healthier lifestyle. Wether it be gaining, maintaining, or losing weight... One must workout for their personal growth. It's about practicing self-discipline to make smarter choices. Not everyday is perfect, nor will every workout feel amazing. But it's the growth that happens when one makes the conscious effort to better the body and life that God has blessed them with.

It is my prayer you know your worth. It is my prayer that you'll look on the mirror and know your beautiful. It's is my prayer that above all, you know your own strength.

Story of #Success "Doll-A-Tude" Style

I don't feature very many people on my blog because my purpose of my blog. My blog is called Success in Various Forms because as I began my journey toward being healthy, I realized I was being too hard on myself. I would look at each day as "not being good enough". I would fall asleep after laying there and ridiculing myself for not working hard enough, for not following my meal plan, for not getting up earlier to get an extra workout in, and the list goes on. But then God brought to my attention that by constantly reminding myself of how bad I was, I start looking at how far I had come. I realized I needed to turn my focus from constantly being negative, to being positive and encouraging. That's the reason for my blog, Twitter, and Instagram. Of course I fail, I'm not perfect, but my focus stays on God so that I can look at each days SUCCESSES & BLESSINGS.

I met Tenika Joyner via Twitter and Instagram. I love her attitude of encouragement and positivity. After leaning more about her I was greatly impressed. We share a similar story that I will let you read below. But the biggest thing I love about this chick is her passion for Christ and love for others. If your don't know her, read on and get to know her! May God be Honored and Glorified and others be encouraged, inspired, and empowered! 

Hello, I am Tenika Joyner, creator of the Doll~A~Tude Fit Life Brand. Fitness/health is my passion and helping others find their inner fit sexy beast is my purpose!! I was raised in a very health-conscious family. As a young child I participated in gymnastics, acrobatics, jazz, tap, and ballet. In high school I played volleyball and tennis. Going to college didn’t stop me, I attached myself to every intramural sport I could like beach and indoor volleyball, softball, flag football, and tennis. So a healthy lifestyle was never foreign to me.

My senior year of college and following graduation I became very inactive. The pressures of working long hours took over my life. Before I knew it my 5’5” frame had reached  360 pounds. While at this weight I suffered from asthma, many times going to the hospital 2 to 3 times per week to receive a breathing treatment and oxygen, let’s just say I had a relationship with the nurses and doctors. I didn’t have to go through triage, they saw me coming and knew what I needed. So sad!

 

I decided to move back to my home state of NC from TN. Leaving work one night in November, I had an asthma attack that almost took my life. This experience became my “Awakening Moment” to what I now call my “Inner Doll”. This experience changed my career path which lead to my creation the Doll~A~Tude Fit Life!!! Every woman has that inner Doll inside of her and my mission is to help every woman I can to find her and embrace her.

Q: Do you have a personal trainer?

A: Everyone says they have the best personal trainer, but my trainer is really the best. Strawn Wilson of Wilson’s Training in North Carolina helped me to get fit. He encourages and motivates me to push myself past physical boundaries, I have become limitless. I have now lost 192 pounds, and am reshaping my body to Lean, Sexy, Strong Curves…and this guy is the one that is helping me do it one rep at a time. He is now working with me on my next chapter: Getting STAGE READY and becoming a Fitness Model!!! NPC World here I come!

 

Q: Do you have an account ability partner?

A: Accountability Partners are so important during a fitness journey. You will have good days and bad days, you need that motivation and encouragement on both. My Dollz motivate me daily to be the best I can be. Daily I receive a text, email, or a word saying how I have inspired them and continuously inspire them I will NEVER let them down! Then I have ladies such as Alison Hager aka FitNOTskinny & Tanya Bunch aka Latin Diva by who are real women who are taking this industry by storm who hold me accountable daily sometimes not knowing it. My biz team also keeps me focused.

 

Q: What have you learned from training?

A: I have learned much from training, exercise, and eating right. Training and exercise is mind over matter, if I think I can do it, I simply will. Eating right is simple, nothing taste as good as being fit feels.

 

My Favorite Workouts: Zumba, Bollywood, Bellydance (instructor), Hula, and Stairmaster for Cardio. I love Leg Days and Killer Ab Sessions, and of course Squats, Squats, and more Squats!!!

 

My Favorite Healthy Meal: Hawaiian Shrimp Tacos w/ mango corn salsa!

 

Q: What have you gained from training?

A: I have gained much from loosing weight. I know who I am and what I want from life. I have gained a healthy, bright, and successful future. I haveTenika back and she is ready to share her brand with the nation, to help others gain their life back and start their fitness journey’s.

 

Q: Did you lose any friends with changing your lifestyle?

A: Some people are meant for a season, while others are meant for a lifetime. I did lose some friends, but I gained so much more.

 

Q: Did anyone believe you couldn’t do it?

A: Well of course, but that pushed me harder. Tell me I can’t and I will and I will excel at it greatly.

 

Do you have any FitTips: DON’T STOP!!!  Push through the sweat, tears, and pain. The sweat is sexy, the tears are passion, and the pain is well worth the results.

 

Q: What has been your mindset through your growth?

A: During my journey my mindset had to change. I am my worst critic. When I encounter a challenging workout I don’t give up or beat myself up, I mentally “Doll Up” and figure out a strategy to get the job done.

 

Favorite Workout Clothes: I Love Nike!! But my favorite workout gear is of course my up-coming brand Tastee, a division of DollATude Fit Life! During a workout I want to feel stylish, sexy while being comfortable. I am a fit curvy Doll, and my workout clothes have to appreciate that. I like to layer with bold prints and neutrals.

 

Favorite Color: PINK!!!!

 

My specialty is Healthy Meal Planning & Prepping. I am the FitGourmetTo Go!! I create custom meal and exercise plans, and for locals I prepare and deliver meals. I am a foodie, I love to challenge the taste buds by taking some of those traditionally bad foods and turning them into healthy eats, and I have become successful at it. My meal preparation and plans range in clientele: NPC physic competitors & body builders, those interested in weight-loss, and the client who doesn’t like to cook or needs guidance in cooking healthy.

I have recently started catering intimate events as well.

I would love to chat with you or help you reach your goals contact me:

SugarDollz28@gmail.com

Instagram: @DollATude_Fit_Life

Twitter: @TenikaJoyner

Facebook: Tenika Joyner (SugarFitness)

 

Challenges

What is a challenge?

When I looked up synonyms for the word I found:

interrogation, summons to contest, confrontation, dare, defiance, demanding, demur, objection, protest, provocation, test, threat, trial. Nobody LOVES when challenges or trials come up in life, but when you've made it through, you look back and realize that it made you better. I can remember so many trials from having a hard time in school, to deaths in the family, to relationship problems, to jobs issues. All those challenges caused me to squirm because I hate confrontation. I hate when life gets tough and I have to dig deep. I hate trying to figure out problems and frankly, I just want everyone to be happy. But just like wood must be sanded with rough sand paper, so must I. Philippians 3:13 says, "No, dear brother and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus is calling us". I've gotten to the point now in my life where I expect challenges. I love the quote, "Expect Problems, Eat them for breakfast" because it's true. It's how I see life. I'm not going to sit around and mope anymore. I'm going to make the best out of each and every situation. I'm going to look at how I can grow from the experience and honor God in the process of being shaped into the person He desires me to be. And the same goes with being fit and healthy. When I first started working out and eating clean, it was uncomfortable. That's why weight loss is hard! It's challenging. But then you grow to enjoy the challenge because that's when you see progress! And so with that mentality, I decided to step outside my comfort zone once again and go train with a trainer in Wichita for the day. I hadn't officially met Lacey before, but I had heard several individual speak highly of her. I felt like my training had gotten a little lax and I needed to kick up my intensity. So yes, I asked to get my butt kicked! I asked Lacey to train me this last Saturday. And as I sit here typing, I ponder how the heck I'm going to teach spin Monday night. I have muscles that are sore that I don't think I've ever felt! I won't lie, it was TOUGH! But as I was trying to finish each set and rep to the best of my ability with the best form, I kept telling myself that this butt kicking will make me better. And it has already! As I look at this next weeks worth of workouts, I realize I have some pushing of myself to do. I have to step outside my Comfort Zone. Nobody ever achieve greatness by staying in the lines.  This last weeks success was about getting pushed. This coming week, it's about pushing myself at the same intensity. No Excuses, ONLY RESULTS. #BeBlessed A

Mirror Mirror

This last Saturday I decided it was finally time to face the challenge of finding a swimming suit. Something I have dreaded for several years. I was even a life guard for 7 years! But I always hated how I looked in a suit because I wanted to look like the other women who'd walk into the pool or around at the lake and have these bodies that men would drool over. I wanted a body that others were envious of. But instead, I had the body that was trapped in fat and a mind that was holding me back from my future.

As I walked into the swim department, my head hung lower and lower. I thought so many of the suits were adorable, but I kept telling myself I couldn't wear a suit. But then I just picked something up and hit the dressing room.

As I began trying suits on, I stared in the mirror kind of surprised. I remember the last time I tried suits on I told myself I would look better than last summer. And I had progressed! So what did I do? I pulled out my phone and took a "SELFIE". Then I went to a picture I had on my phone from last summer and began comparing my body to where I was last year. I was happy for a moment! But then as I stared at myself in the mirror I began telling myself ALL the imperfections I saw in the mirror. I have this bulge here, this roll here, I want this flatter, need some more muscle here. I put the suit back on the hanger and told myself to wait till next summer, yes, next summer will be my year for a suit! I walked out of the dressing room with my head hanging once again. Then it hit me. I heard God's voice loud and clear, "Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 1:4-5) And in Proverbs 31 speaks of a wife with Nobel character. Granted, I'm not a wife, but I'm a woman of God. I'm Christ's daughter. Verse 29-31, "There are many virtuous & capable women in the world, but you surpass them all! Charm is deceptive, and beauty doesn't last; but a woman who fears The Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declaim her praise". 

HUMBLED! I stood there comparing myself to all these images of what I thought was beauty. I realized, it's time to take a step back. Beauty isn't whether I have a six-pack. Beauty is knowing I'm a forgiven sinner through Christ. We all are sinners and imperfect. But the ONE perfect thing... God & his love for me. I will never accomplish a perfect body, but what I was convicted of this last week was I need to put as much focus into my relationship with Christ as I do creating my body. I realize that my body was given to me by God, and that's why I need to take care of it! It's not because I want people to adore my body, that there is sinful! I must stop allowing the devil to bring my past up and define who I am. I am God's daughter and I AM LOVED! 

My goal this week is to continue to fall deeper in love with God. My self worth isn't based on how I look in a suit.  My worth comes from Christ and Christ alone!

BeBlessed

A