Day 6

So, good old Jillian Michaels is kicking my butt into shape… literally! In level one, she has us doing these things called butt kicks and if you get really into them, you will kick your own butt. I’m sure that it is funny to observe because it is funny to watch them.

Okay, but now to the ‘how am I doing’ phase of this post. I absolutely L-O-V-E this workout! As I said it is tough, there’s definitely no denying that. I was so stinkin’ sore on Easter Sunday that it was almost embarrassing walking into church with my lovely dress and heels on. I made Matt go extra slow. After Easter dinner and cleaning up, I played Frisbee / Kooshball catch with our nephew and almost fell into the tv stand because I could barely move my legs. It wasn’t exactly torture to be almost immobile because I knew my muscles had been worked hard the day before and things were changing. We came home from my in-laws and all I wanted to do was snuggle on the couch with my boys, but I drug myself upstairs to complete day 2. And I thought day 1 was hard… doing the workout with sore muscles and Easter dinner in my belly was H-A-R-D. But I completed level one with high intensity again, no backing down, and felt awesome afterwards. I may or may not have fallen asleep on the couch at 9:30, poked a few times for snoring & ruining his movie (love him)!

I left my workout bag at home on Monday so there was no getting to the gym on my lunch hour. I’ve been able to get home from work, prepare dinner, pop in the video to work out while it’s cooking, then eat with my husband. So far that system seems to work well and I’m hoping to make it a habit.


Monday night at small group I got a few compliments on how well my arms looked. The girls who saw me on Friday were a bit shocked at the change in just 3 days. SCORE, this is working! Day 3 and 4 workouts were just as great and I can see results already! I stopped being sore by Tuesday afternoon, my clothes are already fitting a bit better, I can feel my muscles still working as I sit at my cube, and I think that my butt is looking a bit cuter. Like I said, it’s getting kicked!!

I moved to level two yesterday; it’s going to be a while before I can master that and get to level three. I was drenched with sweat (something that doesn’t normally happen) and needed to hop in the shower before even considering saying ‘hi’ to the hubs. My energy level is up, I feel great, my communication is more thought out and logical, I’m not shrugging my shoulders as much, and my confidence is slowly creeping back. I never knew just how much those extra few lbs affected everything about everyday life.

All of these positives after just 5 days, I have only one question for you… what’s holding you back from making a change in your workout routine??

30 day challenge

Today, I started a 30-day challenge, partially because the weather is getting warmer and I can't keep hidding the extra lbs under sweaters and partially because the past few weeks I've been L-O-S-T emotionally.

So, I borrowed the 30 day shred from my friend Jessica and today was the first workout. I started on level one, like it suggested, and I feel awesome right now. I didn't stop or lower my intensity the whole 20 minutes (I know, that doesn't seem like a long time). Jess tells me that I will be sore tomorrow and I definitely agree with that. My muscles were working hard even during the cool down. My plan is to do my weekday work outs in the company gym during my 'lunch hour' and then Saturday morning and Sunday after church. Today starts the prayers that this schedule will work!

Today is also just a little under one month before the next session of GMG starts. My other challenge is to read through one more book of the bible before that starts. I would like a shorter book so that I can read a few verses a day, going through the S.O.A.P method again, nice and slow. I'm going to start with 1 John. I need to put together a reading plan...

Father God... I need your help!

stressed on a Monday...

“…oh what a week! If you could see my house right now, you’d probably be embarrassed for me. And my kids, thank goodness they are on spring break because I just can’t make one more... WHAT! Its 4:30; dinner?!?! Oh, do you see all of the dishes piling up and you want more to dirty more. I most certainly haven’t had my quiet time today… and there’s more frustration Ugh… why when life gets a little busy is that usually the first thing to get on the back burner...”



Have you ever been her? Thinking there was no escape or place to refuel? Looking at the “to do” list and realizing not one thing got scratched off! It hit me today that taking time the sit down with our bibles and the Lord can be difficult when schedules get the best of us. But, after reading James 5:13 I believe that God totally knew it would be hard for us at times, (...we have a big ol' enemy working very hard at it). "If you are having trouble, you should pray!" I believe this because he doesn't say, "If you are having trouble, clear your schedule and take a time out with your bible in a quiet place, away from it all." No, he simply says P-R-A-Y!! Come to me my child. I will help! And then, “when you're feeling good, you should sing praises to the Lord.”


He knew it would be hard. He's giving us the option of raising the white flag. Then, He says "when we get through this together, let's celebrate!" Remember he sent Jesus and gave us a wonderful gift; His grace! For those of you how need it today, keep your head up and don't get discouraged by the enemy. Turn to Him and soon you’ll be singing praises with a smile on your face :c)

Homemade Tote by Freckles & Fun

Look at this really cute tote Julie made! She is such an inspiration to me that I wanted to share her blog, hoping that she'll encourage you too.

http://frecklesandfun.blogspot.com/2011/03/made-by-you-monday-small-ruffled-tote.html

Top 2 Tuesdays... Relationships

Top 2 Things I've learned about relationships…

1. You need to work, like it’s a second job, for a relationship. My best friend’s parents told her this the night she and her husband were married and it is something that I’ve carried into my own marriage. It had never been more evident to me than now, as there are quite a few marriages failing all around us. The good things are worth fighting for. And the really great things, well they leave you with bumps and bruises, but yield a blessing beyond even the wildest imagination!

2. Have a servant’s heart. This is something that I’ve recently stumbled across as we’re reading The Five Love Languages and I’m trying, so hard, to put it into practice. I want my husband to feel loved, worthy, and blessed and having a giving heart ruling my actions is far greater then a selfish hard ruining the evening.

TGIF

Today, I need a PICK ME UP. Enjoy some of my favorite blogs, restaurants, and music

P I C K  M E  U P

(click on each letter)

 
Happy Friday!

Choosing Faith over Fear

Courtney at Women Living Well has challenged me this past year I've spent in 'blogger land' and today is definitely no exception. I've been working on a stronger relationship with God, reading his word, blogging about my experiences, and talking to friends virtually and face-to-face.

Yesterday, I fell and I fell HARD. I chose not to read the verses laid out in my GMG reading plan and just do what I wanted. All I could think when I got home was "if Matt's not going to fill my love tank then I certainly won't go out of my way to fill his." Oh, what am I saying? Why would I want to make the man I love feel unworthy? Why would I want to tear him down?

Today, I was convicted. As soon as I opened up to James 3:14 I knew God was speaking about me so I should listen. Selfish actions yield cruelty towards others. Bitterness, jealousy, & selfishness are all earthly, nonspiritual, & demonic emotions (YIKES!). Get it out of your heart and mind. Turn from selfish desires. Run, sprint to Jesus, proclaim his name and stake on your heart and life so that the enemy will flee.

Oh Lord, please remove this sin from my heart. It hurts others & causes separation from Him... why would we want to give into that? Why would we chase that instead of chasing Him? I am asking God to create in me a clean heart, continue to show me how to protect my heart & mind, & teach me to fleefrom the devil, the traps that he sets, and RUN into God.