Update #7 - 30 Day Challenge - Week 5

Jungle Run 2013 - Always Finish with a SMILE!

It was a painful 13.1 miles yet peaceful  That is how I can describe my first 1/2 Marathon of 2013.

The nagging ankle injuries I've sustained from years of soccer was the only barrier I faced on Sunday. Even though most of the race I felt pain, there was also peace in my run. When I reached the 10k mark I knew I still had another six miles to go so I decided not push to hard because at one point when I tried to run faster, as my heel hit the pavement the pain became to great.  Besides, this race wasn't about a PR on my time, but about finishing.  It was about meditating, prayer and feeling the presence of Christ. 

Two days later my ankle is still quite sore, swollen and warm to touch.  Plyometric type exercises have always put a an enormous amount of stress on my ankle and I knew that running on it, already feeling sore and tender could possibly result in what I'm dealing with these last few days.

The course was awesome.  I loved the variety of scenery.  From the city streets, to a park setting as we traveled on the path of Vasona Park, to a dirt roads on Los Gatos Creek Trail. To my surprise there were several small elevation climbs that went unnoticeable until it was time to begin running down them.  Overall, it was an awesome run, mostly because the time seemed to fly by.  I kept my focus on the beauty of my surroundings and my ability to keep moving through the pain.

With one week of insanity to go in this 30 Day Challenge, I'm excited to share that I have completed several goals over these last few weeks.

1. I've completed three weeks of insanity.  I opted to skip my Sunday workout because I had the half marathon run.  I also chose to skip Monday and Tuesday's workout to give my ankle additional rest and am hoping it will feel good enough to do a workout today.

2.  I completed a 3-Day Media Fast.  This gave me time to reflect and grow closer to Christ.

3.  I completed my 14-Day morning and evening readings with God.

4.   I continue to read my S.H.A.P.E. book and am finding how to narrow down my gifts so that I can better serve my creator and others!

5.  I saw small results in my FIT Test and measurement analysis. I will do another FIT Test on 7/29 with results and photo's posted.  I will also continue the insanity program for another 5 weeks after this challenge is finished.

6.  I FINISHED a half marathon as I ran 98% of the way. I stopped once to use the restroom and walked on one part of a tanbark path that I found to be unstable for my ankle. It was a great course with a few hills and gradual climbs along a very scenic path.

I hope that during the last few days of this 30-Day Challenge - Nutrition & Workout Plan you will do something out of your comfort zone or be inspired to start something new.  It doesn't have to be anything radical, just take a step forward!


In the end, through it all, I continue to find myself smiling and with that I have a sense of fulfillment with God by my side.  In Him and through Him, I can do anything under any circumstance, smile and find joy in it.  He was my running partner and he never left my side.  That is where my peace came from on Sunday's run....In Him!♥

Smile....Always! ♥

Update #5 - 30 Day Challenge - Week 3

Week 2 was a BUST. What I thought was fatigue from my weekend soccer tournament turned out to be a bug that kept me on the sidelines all week with a sight fever, stuffy sinuses and body aches.  Even though I felt better Friday, I decided to rest until my 10k race on Sunday.

The last time I laced up my running shoes to actually - RUN - was April 7th which was my last 10k (6.2 miles).  Sunday marked my second 10k of the year and to my surprise I didn't do so bad.  My official finish time was 1:02:19.  According to my Garmin I think the course was a bit short of 6.2 as it recorded a total distance of 5.92.  Regardless, this was an encouraging accomplishment for me as I ran non-stop for 62 minutes. Additionally, it was done pain free, cramp free and I found joy in every stride as I listened to my praise music, prayed and enjoyed my surroundings the entire way!

Running with my Loves at The SJ Sharks Fitness Faceoff 2013 ~ June 30, 2013

Listening to my body and allowing it to get the necessary rest it needed to recover and heal itself did me good.  The day after my race I had very little soreness.

During the past week I found myself frustrated.  I felt awful but also knew the commitment I had made not only to myself but others in this challenge. BUT - I didn't beat myself up.  I resigned to the fact that this week went as it should.  I found a very encouraging post on Facebook Saturday night from Fitness Coach,  Angela Zapien of Pink Ladies Boot Camp, who didn't meet her running goal for the month of June and she had such a positive attitde about it and that attitude helped me get out of the mental rut I put myself in.  After reading her post, I dusted myself off and started fresh!

As we enter week three of this challenge, week two will be a RE-DO for me.  I didn't workout Monday and started week two of insanity yesterday.  I will post results, measurements and pictures on next week's blog. Week two's nutrition and workout log has been updated with nutrition results and as workouts are not completed I write the word "NONE" in those fields.  I will be adding an additional week on the log and it will go through week five. If you are interested in seeing the log, it can be located on the below link:

30 Day CHALLENGE - Nutrition & Workout Log

Stay Encouraged.  Don't lose Focus. Don't lose Hope. Remain Positive.

We all encounter obstacles and usually those obstacles make us want to give up more than keep going. Love yourself by moving forward. Don't fall back into old behaviors and habits.  When that little voice says quit, find someone to help you stay on track!  For me, this Blog has been my accountability partner.  Change is difficult and I'm still struggling.  Nutrition is probably harder than the workouts and although my nutrition isn't as strict as it has been in the past, it has improved greatly from what I had been eating over the last 6 months.  It's difficult to wean your body off foods that can be addictive.

Remember, give yourself grace.  Any challenge will be difficult but don't be so hard on yourself that you want to quit.

GOALS ~ As I begin week week three I've made a couple of goals. (1) To PR my 2013 race results on my next 10k race, which will be at the end of this month.  I'll be participating in my first Wharf to Wharf race on July 28th.  Time to Beat - 00:59:59.077.  This means in addition to my Insanity schedule, I need log in some running miles. (2) For the next two weeks (part of a commitment in my bible study), I will wake up 20 minutes earlier each day to spend one on one time with God. 

As I continue to transform my mind, I get a much different feeling of joy in my workouts.  Before my workouts were about ME which led to very prideful behavior. Today I'm studying on how to remove those prideful behaviors and feelings since it consumed me more than I wanted to admit. I look forward to the next week as God continues to work in my life and as I find a new purpose, joy and peace in sharing this journey with others.

Keep your eyes forward and don't look back at the past.  Let go of the old life and embrace the new you. 

Set Goals. Make Plans. JUST DO IT!

Update #4 - 30 Day Challenge - Week 2

Seven Days COMPLETE!

It's been a rough seven days. My first workout and diet change began on Monday, even though my public post challenge began Wednesday. I've completed the first week of Insanity and Monday began week two. 

My body was ridiculously sore four days after starting my first workout!  I had initially planned to do AM workouts in addition to my PM workouts but, the little voice from my trainer echoed in my head, "Listen to your body", so I made the decision to allow my body to recover and repair by resting and getting the sleep I needed. The biggest struggle I've encountered as week one has ended have been the cravings for sweets (Frozen Yogurt with those yummy toppings) and the other foods I've allowed myself to indulge in over the last several months (bread, chips, french fries, burgers loaded with cheese, pancakes - you get the picture).

In addition to my Insanity workouts this past week, I've also logged in soccer time as I participated in a co-ed soccer tournament in Santa Cruz over the weekend. Soccer has always been my first love when it comes to sports, followed by Triathlons. Between 2011 and 2012 I've completed several different triathlon distance races (Half Iron, Olympic, Sprint). In 2012 I completed my first full distance Ironman triathlon with Team in Training.  You can read about that adventure on my "I am IronTy" blog. 

As week two begins you may find it easier planning/adjusting your meals and workouts if necessary.  If you need an extra rest day or two, TAKE IT! This was necessary for me as I took Monday and Tuesday off, especially after seven straight days of workouts. As the weeks progress you will know what does and does not work. Additionally, you will learn to know when your body needs rest. One day this past week I came home from work and slept for two hours before I did my workout. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!

Two adjustments I will make this week is (1) drink more water and (2) after workouts, have a protein shake.  Water helps your muscles recover and grow. Engaging muscles that have not been used in quite some time, lack of water and a the intake of a proper recovery drink after each workout I'm sure contributed to my extra soreness.

An additional hicup I encoutered this week was a similar feeling I encountered during my Ironman training. During Ironman training weekends workouts were extremely steneous and when Monday's rolled around I found myself insanely hungry which can lead to poor eating choices, overindulging with junk food or eating whatever you want because you think you deserve it. After all you worked your buns off, right? Wrong! That mentality is a sure way to defeat all your hard work.

This last weekend I played three soccer games on Saturday and one Sunday morning and then did an insanity workout Sunday evening.  So as Monday came around it seemed like no matter how much I ate, I was still hungry.  The obstacle I faced was just wanting to eat whatever I saw in front of me.  I consumed 400 more calories over my daily goal.  Because I've stayed below my goal all week I allowed myself to eat, not junk food, although I did treat myself to a couple caramel wafers. You have to be smart in your decisions and get right back on track if you slip up or allow yourself a cheat. Be kind to yourself and give yourself a little grace. 

As I continue this challenge I've also began reading, S.H.A.P.E. ~ Finding and fulfilling your unique purpose for life.  Working out my body and eating healthy will do me no good if I do not also workout my mind and heart, filling it with God's presence. Below are a couple passages from the book that stuck in my head ~

When we let trends guide our life, we simply are living to fit into the current styles of the world. When we let others tell us what we should be doing, we are living to please them and win their approval.  However, when we let God's truth define our Kingdom Purpose, submitting to his authority and desiring to please only him, we are able to lead a life of lasting significance, fulfillment and Kingdom impact.

You were not created to conform. You were not created to compare. You were not created to compete. You were not created to compromise. You were created to contribute to God's kingdom and make a significance difference with your life. You were created to JUST BE YOU!

Accepting who we are can be difficult, but if we can accept who we are in Christ it becomes easier.  He formed us to be exactly how we are, with the silly quirks and with the little imperfections we see in ourselves.  Through this challenge I only hope to inspire people to seek something outside of themselves and draw the strength of Christ toward them to give them the desire and will to become the SHAPE He intended you to be!

As we embark on week two, I  encourage you to do what is comfortable, but also challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone.  Don't push to the point of injury, but push yourself to feel a little pain.

Next week I will have an update of my progress which will include measurements and photos.  Monday will mark day 15 of Insanity and I will do the Fit Test again, comparing results.

You can view my 30 Day CHALLENGE - Nutrition & Workout Plan by clicking the link. 

As week one is completed, I'm excited to report that I logged 459 minutes of workout time and found mental and physical strength in the body God has blessed me with.  As I sweat, feel pain, breath hard I thank Him for my life and giving me another day to glorify Him! Onward Week Two! 

And if you haven't started ...... Start Today!  A week behind is better than another week not started!

Update #1 - 30 Day Challenge

Update #1 - Plan & Preparation 

So did we take the time to set up a plan?  What about workout goals for the week?  Are you eyes set upon your destination?



If you are curious as to what my nutrition and workout plan looks like you can use the link below. 

30 Day CHALLENGE - Nutrition & Workout Plan 


This is what works for me. You will notice there are several repetitive meals.  I find that it makes preparation simple. I view food as fuel and not for pleasure. Use whatever tools you need to help motivate yourself. 


My start date will be April 17th.  You can start today, tomorrow, just START!

I've chosen to delay my start date because the last several days I've been challenged with some tough decisions in my life that have required me to place my energy on getting closer to Christ, which requires my free time to be spend in the Word, in community and in stillness. I need to renew my mind, assess my feelings, and seek God. So for the next 7 days, that is what I intend to do.
 
Look for my update next week Tuesday or Wednesday with measurements, weight, a before photo (maybe) and some encouraging words. One day at a time.  Be present in the NOW! If you are starting today remember that you can do this.  

Find your S.H.A.P.E. - My 30 Day Challenge

When we get into "SHAPE" it usually includes lifestyle changes that will transform your outward appearance and internal health, right?  As I embark on this 30 day challenge to a better physical and internal healthy me, I'm also embarking in finding my Spiritual "SHAPE." (I'll explain later in the blog).

Getting into shape could mean that if you are currently not working out, you may have to begin.   If you already follow a work out program this could mean working out longer, harder, or incorporating training that will "shock" the body.  Something I've learned from my very knowledgeable trainer, Tommy Jones, owner of Jones 4 Sports & Fitness Training, is that you have to constantly mix up your workouts. I trained with him consistently for over a year and a half.  During the first year, I saw results, especially in my endurance, but couldn't understand why I wasn't leaning out. After sharing my frustration with him, he said, "DIET!"  This is not how most of us think of the term diet as, "Oh, I need to go on a diet," but diet, as in what you eat has to be in balance with how you work out. The change in your diet must become a lifestyle change.

That is what I did in June 2011, I challenged myself to a 30 day lifestyle change.  I cut out a lot of things from my diet, such as sugars, salt, high caloric dressings, breads, sugary drinks and unhealthy fats.  I began to eat "clean."  You can find more information about clean eating at "The Eat-Clean Diet".

It Works!  I began this permanent lifestyle change on June 20, 2011 and by July 21, 2011 the following before and after results were recorded:


Weight: 153 to 144 (Loss of 9 lbs)
Chest: 35.5" to 34” (Decrease of 1.5”)
Waist: 32" to 28.5” (Decrease of 3.5”)
Hips: 37.5" to 35” (Decrease of 2.5”)
Arms: 9.5” to 9.75” (Increase of .25”)
Thigh: 19.5" to 19.25 (Decrease of .25”)
Calf: 14.5" to 14 (Decrease of .5”)
BMI:  27% to 29% (Increase of 2% - Was told it could be to water retention)
Water percentage: 51.1% to 49% (Decrease of 2.1%) - Need to drink more H2O!




During this 30 day challenge my workout regimen included working out an average of 5 days a week that included boot camps 3x a week that lasted 60-90 minutes, and two days of personal training that included strength training anywhere between 60-90 minutes.

In those 30 days, I did not cheat with my eating, and stayed consistent in my workouts. The biggest area I notice a change was the stomach.  My love handles diminished, and the internal change was that I had a lot more energy.

Your training does not have to be as intense to get results.  I already had a workout routine in place and had been training with Tommy for some time.  If you aren't working out, just start small.  Take a 15 minute walk or try jogging/running for about 15 minutes.  If you get winded, walk.  The biggest obstacle you will endure is not so much the workout itself, but your mind telling you that you "can't" keep going.  Don't listen, it's a lie!  Your body is an amazing machine.  Just think about how it heals itself when it's sick or what each cell goes through just to create movement.    

Working out your mental fitness is just as important as the physical part. I learned that in addition to the physical workouts, I also had to workout mentally though finding accountability partners and finding inspiration through other avenues.  This could include, blogs, friends, a trainer, a workout group, music or like for me, in Jesus Christ.

So here I am in 2013 and weighing about 148. I have not been following the strict workout or nutrition regimen I had back in 2011. For the past 8 months I've been dealing with minor health issues, physically recovering from an intense 8 month training program in preparation for a full distance Ironman triathlon as well as improving the overall health of my personal life, finances, family, mental health, bible school and study, but most importantly making Christ as the main focus and center in my life! My life is no longer about a self absorbed me or about over the top workouts that focused on an image of myself which became extremely unhealthy because I was never satisfied.  I recently shared with a close friend that I always needed to be better and have more. I always compared myself to others. I didn't know how to be content with who I was or where I was at the moment.

Today I try to live in the present.  The past is gone and I can't worry about tomorrow because it isn't even here.  Focus on the moment. I continue to set goals for my future and learn from my past mistakes but I no longer obsess over either one.  My life will unfold exactly as it should. As I continue to challenge myself with the gifts I've acquired over my lifetime, I find that today I'm ready for a new one; a challenge I wish to extend to anyone.  Find your "S.H.A.P.E." in 30 Days.

By this I mean, find your physical and spiritual shape.  Accountability can begin here and continue through a network of friends, through blogging, e-mail communications, Facebook updates; it can be done however you choose.  Find someone or some way to become accountable.

Begin by sitting down and  taking the time to write a plan.  Plan your workouts for 30 days.  Plan your meals for 30 days. Take one day at a time, and if you miss a workout or slip up on your nutrition, don't give up.  Remember, the past is gone, so even the minute that just went by, it's gone!  Don't worry about tomorrow.  Focus on now and see your short term vision. 

Mine is to focus on Christ because all I do, honoring my body is for his glory not mine.  My body is a temple, it does not belong to me and is not something for others to worship but it is a temple for Christ, and to be used to worship Him.

As I begin this 30 day challenge, implementing a consistent clean eating diet and workout plan,  I will also be cleansing my mind through daily spiritual renewal and beginning a new book titled, "S.H.A.P.E. - Finding & Fulfilling your unique purpose for Life" by Erik Rees.  As posted in my last blog on transformation, I'm "Putting in a New Program".  As I begin this new chapter of my life in understanding my spiritual shape, you may wonder what is your Spiritual Shape?

Spiritual Gifts (You can do a survey at Ephesians Four Ministries.)
Heart (This is your values/passions you love to do that makes life worth living)
Abilities (Both natural talents and life gifts. It also can be gained skills or knowledge.)
Personality (This is your personality type.  We are all made differently on purpose.)
Experiences (All life experiences are used by God to prepare you for future ministry & success.)

I believe understanding my shape will give me direction and light my path as to where God can use me best to service others and glorify Him ♥

My day is centered around God; prayer in the morning, continuous prayer through my day, bible verse memorization, and nightly reading of either my bible and my S.H.A.P.E. book;  all which will help me grow closer to Christ. 

I also will begin a 12 week bible college course on "Wholeness through Love".  It will focus on loving God and others as ourselves. This course will come at a perfect time because I believe it will help me keep focused on God and not on myself through self love in a prideful way.  If I seek personal praise of my accomplishments, I walk a fine line into becoming Prideful.  I choose humility.  My purpose is to be Christ focused and through this challenge I hope to encourage, support and give helpful advice and guidance those who wish to join me in this challenge.

I will give weekly updates and post my nutrition/workout plan along with any inspirational reading I come across during the next 30 days - Look for it to sometime next week (mid-week). 

With determination, dedication, support, accountability, encouragement and God, You can do anything He wills you to do.  Believe and have Faith.  Find your S.H.A.P.E. ♥

~ Put off the Old ~ Renew your Mind ~ Start a New Program ~ 

 

Transforming into Spiritual, Mental and Physical Fitness

To transform requires continuous work and effort.  It means you must keep a realistic assessment of your behaviors, habits, actions, speech, thinking and stop making excuses!

Whether it's trying to lose weight, improve your skills in a particular sport, become a better parent, student or employee, become more knowledgeable in a subject or like myself, who is trying to do my best to become more like Christ, you have to "own up" when you slip up and make the choice to transform.

When I mess up, I tend to feel a sense of guilt, which is actually a good sign.  That feeling of guilt has become a trigger for me, that something needs my attention and most likely is something that needs to change.  Once I realize I slipped up, and can feel the guilt of my actions, I try very hard not to allow myself stay stuck in that feeling of guilt for too long, or allow myself to condemn myself for the way I behaved, the negative thoughts that may have entered my mind, or how I may have spoke poorly toward someone.  I am human.  I will mess up.  I will hurt others. BUT - if I genuinely repent, ask to be forgiven, and move on with the thought pattern of changing my behavior/reactions in the future ~ I'm guaranteed to continue transforming positively.

I also understand that being human, isn't my "Free Pass" to continue to act in a poor  manner, justify my actions or make excuses for why I may have acted or reacted toward a situation.  We have been given this gift of "free will" and with that, have the choice of, what we do and say OR what we don't do and don't say.  

How I see transformation ~
 "An object that changes in appearance by continuous work and effort. It does not always mean to change in the physical sense but also to change internally. Internal transformation could be in the form of behavior, attitude, habit, speech, thinking or the deterioration of the object due to the lack of work and effort."


For example, if I had a potty mouth and made the choice to no longer swear, that is transformation.  A person who, when they become stressed goes out on a shopping spree, and decides the next time they are stressed instead of shopping, they are going to take a walk to cool off, that is transformation.  A person who always comments negatively whenever anything is spoken to them, who decides that they are going to make a conscience effort to say something nice as a response, that is transformation. A person who decides to live morally regardless of the outcome, and stick with their decision, that is transformation. If we choose to eat fast food every day we are bound to create health issues in a negative manner, that is transformation in a direction we probably do not want to go.

Sure, you can paint a room in your house a dramatically different color and get the reaction of,  "Wow, what a transformation" but eventually, over time it looses it's WOW factor because the color fades.  If we do not take the time to care and continuously keep up what we are working towards it will deteriorate. Everything within us and around us needs maintenance.  

People have the ability to continuously transform throughout life through God but we must choose to do so.  

When I began losing weight some 8 years ago, for those who knew me then, weighing 205+ pounds and then saw me at what I am today, saw a huge physical transformation.  Outwardly it was "WOW, you look great!" and it felt good to hear those compliments, but what people couldn't see was what I was holing on to in the inside. The only transformation that occurred at that time was the superficial transformation.  The 145 person I was didn't feel any differently than the girl who weighed 205.  It wasn't until I began making an internal transformation that people really were able to see the difference in who I had become - Positive. Radiant. Genuine. Alive. Peaceful. Confident.

In people, superficial physical transformation will not last if you don't take care of  the inside.  Eventually it will deteriorate because the garbage (resentment, anger, bitterness, envy, pride, etc.) you hold on to inside will eventually seep out or destroy you from the inside out. A person can be gorgeous looking on the outside but the ugliness of their personality or behaviors and habits can destroy that beauty.

When true transformation occurs, there will be a shine about that person. Their smile will not only look genuine, it will be genuine.  They learn to be honest with others.  They can stand up for their beliefs.  They can say how they feel in a loving manner.  When they help and love others, it's without resentment or looking for anything in return.

The series my pastor recently finished teaching was on transformation.  He describes us as once being a little green worm with the ability to transform into a beautiful butterfly that can spread our wings and reach whatever potential we choose. That is the thing, I CHOOSE to transform.  Is it scary?  Yes! Sometimes I don't know if today is the day I will fall. But I do not want to live in fear. If I do fall, I will also find the strength and courage to rise!  Will I run into obstacles?  Absolutely!  But why not allow those obstacle serve as a tool to learn?  And in learning, I can share with others how to overcome  those hurdles.

Isn't life meant to be lived?  Do we really want to remain the same our entire life?  I know I don't. I want to challenge myself each day. Some days I will fail.  That is okay, it does not make me a failure.  Some days I will achieve what I'm striving for.  Great!  I can share my knowledge with others passing along hope and encouragement to keep them striving for their goals!

Because I depend on God to guide my path every day of my life, I owe it to him to become FIT for Christ.  Fit physically. Fit spiritually. Fit to help others by providing them with endless words of encouragement, support, guidance and love ♥

Initially I thought that transforming was a goal to achieve, but goals are temporary.

My transformation is a life long and eternal. Therefore, it is a purpose in my life. A purpose to become transformed into someone who mirror's Christ.  I know I will not do it perfectly, but I will give it all I have, with him as the center of my life.   I don't think it's unrealistic, for myself or anyone.

♥ Transform your mind and the heart will follow, but you must CHOOSE to transform ♥
Start here and you can become FIT one step at a time. As it was taught at a church service, we can transform by ~ "Putting off the Old", "Renewing your Mind" and "Put on a New Program".  This is how I intend to stay FIT for Christ spiritually, mentally and physically each day. 

The road to transformation is never easy. We have to break away from negative habits, thoughts, and behaviors, but through the love and grace of Jesus Christ all things are possible through him who gives me strength.  From 2005 to 2012 I had to learn to love myself from the inside out and each day I must continue to practice the changes I've made. Transformation of your mind is never ending. ♥

She is Beautiful ♥

A year ago I would not have had the same attitude to support others the way I do today.

Pride can emerge many ugly traits and habits.  And when God humbles you because your pride becomes bigger than Him, it can be a painful truth to accept. When you can face what you've become, look at all your character flaws, it's difficult to face. If I had not been able to admit and accept my shortcomings, I would not have been able to transform my heart and mind, which is something I've been working on for months now.


I've come to this conclusion about my fitness journey in the last few years; although I've done some pretty amazing things along the way, I know that during a lot of my training I began to have an attitude of comparison.  As I reflect on the last year or so, I can see how I compared myself to "this person" or "that person."  Often I felt superior.  Maybe I didn't come across that way, maybe I did, what I do know is that my thought pattern was in that place.  I found myself even comparing myself to those who didn't train in the same sport or with same intensity.  At times I told myself, "I'll do my best so they can be "WOW" look what she can do."  I would post results, pictures and every detail about how many miles I logged, time I spent working out, etc. on Facebook and would find myself passively bragging to others about my accomplishments.Even people whom I knew didn't have the ability to do what I was capable of , I compared.  Sadly, I think that even some of the encouragement toward them was not completely genuine because always in the back of my mind I was thinking about "ME."

As much as it saddens, angers and I'm disappointed with myself, I'd also like to add that it was part of where I needed to be to get where I am today. It is very difficult to "own up" to your shortcomings, but it also has been a healing process that has given me awareness of when I lack humility and let pride take over. After this blog, some people may look at me differently, lacking trust, which they have every right to and I accept that, but I've also asked for forgiveness and repented my sin to my God and I know He has forgiven me because I've done so with a genuine heart. To those whom I may have directly hurt in my prideful ways, I have or will continue to make amends to them.

This weekend, I had the pleasure to participate in an event with a very dear friend of mine. One of my best friends of  17 years participated in her 1st race - The "She is Beautiful 5k" race!

1st Time 5k Racers!  Way to go Luxe Ladies!!

If this was me doing this race a year ago, I would not had the ability to just support her, and allow this race to be about her.  My ego would have taken over and my attitude would have been that of, "Let's see how fast I can run compared to her."  How awful is that?!  I can feel the shame in that thought and I'm thankful that I am not that person today.  Only through the grace of God is that possible!

Today all that is different, because my heart is in a different place.  My heart is led by Jesus Christ.  He has transformed and continues to transform my attitude, outlook, behavior  - "MY WHOLE LIFE."  This weekend I supported my best friend, with her goal, to FINISH her race in 40 minutes! I found such joy in being with her and honored that she allowed me to be a part of her day.  During my run, I gave Christ all the glory in every one of my strides.  I thanked him for my ability physically, but also where my heart was, which was cheering her on all the way!

It was a breathtaking run along the beautiful ocean coast, but even more beautiful than that view was the up close view of her HUGE smile as we ran the course!  She mentioned a couple of times how thirsty she was and I found myself thirsty with her, wishing I could magically pull out a bottle of water to relieve her thirst.  When we saw the turn around where the water stop I smiled seeing her drink up!  On the way back to the finish I ran ahead to take pictures at mile marker 2 and 3.  It was great to see the glow in her smiling face in her cute pink outfit!

"AHHHHH.....Refreshing and Yummy"

"Mile 3 - Only a few short steps to the FINISH!"

 
God has blessed me with a new mindset way of thinking.  And each day, several times a day I must renew my mind so that I can be the kind of person He desires me to be, and the kind of person I desire to be for Him!

I look forward to many more races as I continue my journey to Staying FIT for Christ, but also experiencing new first races with my Teen Teen!!  Way to go Teen!  You did something you hated (Running) and you can cross this one off your bucket list!  Now time to cross of that 10k!  I Love You! ♥

She is Beautiful 2013

I am Fit for Him First ♥

I think we all know that the hardest part of change, is the first step. And what is even harder is to take that first step with Christ leading.  We desire to control our own path, but in doing so we try to play God.

Here is a little something I've learned recently; taking the step with Christ leading, a faith step, is actually easier, because when you trust in him, even through adversity he WILL get you to the best place for you.  He always has our best interest at heart ♥  The impossible becomes possible, and the unbearable becomes bearable.

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

At times, I wish that my journey to a fit and healthier me which began some 6 years ago, was with me allowing Him to lead.  Instead I fought his pull toward Him.  It really wasn't until a few months ago that I surrendered to his ways, not mine. When my "original" journey to a healthy me (physically, mentally and spiritually) began years ago,  I could only imagine what it would have been like if I had allowed Christ to be in the drivers seat and how more productive my life may have been in those years. 

BUT - one thing I've learned is that God has a purpose in everything we do.  Because my journey was not an easy one in those years, it has given me a testimony, resources and the heart of compassion and humility to help others push through similar hardships I've endured.  

When I started to become fit, I necessarily wasn't looking at how the changes I was making in my life could have helped others, it was done purely for me, selfishly and with my own agenda. My outlook on fitness, didn't even have to do with health benefits in mind, but how it would impact me in regards to how "others" viewed me.  I didn't do it with a heart for Christ, but with a heart for me.  

Sure, losing weight and having the attitude and appearance that life was improving can build self confidence but it's was a temporary fix.  It wasn't until I worked on healing my past hurts and years of damage to my heart, that I was able to learn to accept who I was.  Before that, no matter what I saw in the mirror, always reflected a person who was never good enough.  I always saw an ugly woman on the outside, and I felt even uglier inside.

As I begin this blog about my continued journey to a fit me, I hope you can take some positiveness from it, with Christ leading the path. Let him direct you and know that what you do for yourself (in health and fitness) can be done for his glory!

I will be sharing some of my achievements, not for personal praise and glory, but as a reminder to myself and others that what I was able to do and get where I am today is ONLY because of Him. His love, grace, compassion, and heart for me to do my best was always his motive, even when I turned a deaf ear to Him.  I hope sharing my struggles along with my accomplishments will show how I found that all things are possible, through and because of Him.

Today I'm a healthy 148 pound 40 year old Woman of Faith......learning to become comfortable in my own skin. I don't do it perfectly, but I do know I am perfectly made in his image♥