Getting Unstuck

Hello, all! It's that time of year when people have long abandoned their new year's resolutions, the goal of a spring break bod has passed, and if you're not ready for your bridesmaid dress by now, I'm not sure if you will be! Consequently, many people find themselves stuck and ready to give up this time of year. My simple advice: DO NOT QUIT. However, it is much easier said than done. What can you do when you feel "stuck" in your weight loss efforts?

Sometimes it feels like the same 5 pounds are a prison! Lose a few one week, gain them back the next. All this fluctuating can make it super difficult to stay on plan. I know there have been times in my own weight loss journey when I felt like I could just not pull myself together! If this is you, take a second to think about the following question: What would a "good" weight loss week look like?

Got your idea? You see, in many cases, you probably already know what is holding you back. Sometimes, the key is to face that obstacle with open eyes and go at it full speed ahead. Perhaps identifying what trips you up is the first step to getting past it.

My second suggestion for shaking things up is kicking your workout routine into high gear! As I have said here before, a good body is really made in the kitchen, but nonetheless, you would be surprised how changing things up can lead to other good choices. I recently cut out most sugar and most white flour because I did not like how slow it made me when I run. Will I always eat this way? Absolutely not. But with the half marathon just a week and a half away, there is little margin for error. I have also noticed that since I'm used to this, "cheating" makes me feel (physically) terrible!

So what can you do to get unstuck?

He cares for you

Today I found myself in the center ring. There I was at a place I have been several times before, of juggling pins, keeping them all in the air gracefully, and keeping my eyes on this juggling act. And I can keep this going effectively for awhile. Even as pins bobble and nearly hit the ground, smiling so it looks easy, looking at God and saying, "I'm doing it. I'm doing it all. This is what You want, right?" These metaphorical pins can be anything-- a clean house, fulfilling relationships, a high level of health and fitness, being pleasant and useful in the workplace, and being an upright member of the church-- but we all have the pins we juggle hoping God will like them, and we will gain some kind of approval.

And that is when I drop one. When I start referring to it as MY life. When I forget step one: die to myself. Every day, I need to die to myself to live for God, but over and over I forget.

Today I let one of my pins drop. Nothing major happened in my life today, but even sometimes the small things can remind me that I don't have it all together. I was not meant to. One area of this is my work. If you know me or have read this blog even one time, you know weight loss and health are big in my life, and I want to do everything I can to help people achieve their goals. It's a major passion in my life; however, the minute my own health or someone else's becomes about what I can do, I've lost it. I've dropped the pin I'm juggling. So to pick it up, I lose sleep. I resolve to try harder. I shed tears. I think and worry about it constantly.

And then I seek the Lord's face, and He lovingly says, "what took you so long?" And I set my pins down. No more juggling. My arms are free to embrace the Lord that way, and suddenly it's not about me at all.

1 Peter 5:6-7 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

He is enough. He is sufficient. And it's not about me.

So what pins do you need to lay down so you can embrace the Lord today?

Power Hour Workout

Hey, everyone!

I cannot believe April is upon us! This week, I want to pose a challenge..  For the month of April, can you do my power hour workout 4 or 5 times a week? It only takes 20 minutes, but it will wear you out!

How do you do this? Well, it's simple. You do not need any exercise equipment.... but some hand weights (or cans of soup :) ) would not hurt.

1. Turn on one of those TERRIBLE power hour websites that we might remember from college. You can google them, and there are many, depending on what kind of music you like.
2. For one minute (in other words, every time the song changes) do the following cycle of moves:

• Jumping Jacks
• Push-ups
• Crunches
• Burpees
• Bicep curls
• Lunges
• Overhead presses
• Squats
• Tricep dips
• Mountain climbers
• REPEAT CYCLE

3. Then stretch! Sounds easy, but this will take a lot out of you! 

So what do you think? Are you up for the challenge?

sarah

Enjoying Activity!

Yesterday was a completely beautiful day. I woke up before my alarm (that never happens!) and I was craving exercise. I've been running (and walking) quite a lot lately, so I'm back to the cravings. I'm back to "just a few blocks more"... and then immediately saying, "Who am I?" Never did I think I would crave exercise.

Yesterday, however, I decided to have a different focus. I've been working so hard lately, I decided to quickly walk the entire time. No running. Today would not be about achievement. It would be about enjoyment. A change of setting was just the ticket. I went to the park. Mount Pleasant has a fantastic parks system. As I walked the trails, I breathed the early morning air and really took time to notice the sights that normally escape me in my hurried life. As I listened to praise music in my headphones, my thoughts were consumed with, "Thank you, Lord, for all this."

Isn't that how activity should be? An outpouring of thankfulness. Each step we take, imagine the engineering it took to create us to do so. For me, walking was so enjoyable yesterday.

So all this to say, my challenge to you is to find activity you ENJOY. Whatever that may be. Trick yourself into exercising by really enjoying it, even at its most difficult.

Mad Abs March

This week's blog is kind of a blatant rip off. You see, this week I have had a death in the family, so I'm afraid my blogging time has been limited.

I don't know about you, but I'm happy to see February go and for March to be here! I got the following little gem off pinterest, and I would like to share it with you all. Mad Abs March. I'm committed to it, several of my facebook friends are, and I hope you are too!

Not so fat Tuesday...

Did you survive Fat Tuesday? I did, and I barely went over my points plus. Hard to believe!

I am not Catholic, but I appreciate (and often observe Lent) because I believe it is important to practice self discipline intentionally to grow closer to the Lord. It's also a good character trait in anyone. Self discipline is very important, especially when thinking about living a healthy lifestyle.

In light of this, I really thought of Ash Wednesday this year as a chance to have a fresh start and practice some self discipline in my nutrition and wellness. It was a good chance for me to resolve to track and be diligent about monitoring what I am putting in my body. [My Lenten promise is something different, but that's just for God and me to share :) ]

If you could have a fresh start right now, what habits would you like to change in your life? And what is holding you back from making those changes? The answer to those questions will likely be very empowering as you move forward in living a healthier lifestyle.

In all honesty, I wrote a completely different blog post, but it was entirely too heavy to post today; somehow the timing wasn't right... I know, that's a teaser.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Valentine's Day!

Hello, everyone!

Happy Valentine's Day! This is one of my favorite holidays-- maybe a surprising fact coming from a single lady like myself; please allow me to tell you some reasons I love today.

On this day we celebrate love, and I have more love in my life than I know what to do with! I am so incredibly blessed with wonderful family and friends! I cannot even explain how fortunate I am to have people in my corner who believe in me. It's truly humbling! Today is the one day of year when you can go around telling people you care about them, and it's not totally weird. I kind of wish every day was that way, that you can go around declaring love and people just say, "Thank you" and not be weirded out by it.

Additionally, hearts are everywhere today! So I am taking this week to do some extra hard cardio workouts! Gotta show that heart that it's valued and appreciated, right?

Most importantly, I have the kind of love in my life that leads to true completion: my relationship with the Lord! God (the creator of Heaven and earth, people!) sent His own Son to die on the cross so that we can know Him! Not only that, but there is nothing we can ever do to EARN His love; it's a gift to accept! That's true love. If you'd like to know more about a relationship with the Lord (or my own relationship with the Lord) please feel free to ask me!

So, happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Be well, and know that you are loved!