Category: Morning Motivation

Morning Motivation

My Portion, My Provision- He is Enough!

“The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.” Lam 3:24

For me a healthy lifestyle was not at all encouraged growing up- mostly due to the lack of knowledge and money. I lived on highly processed and fast foods. I recall eating vegetables and fruit mostly at school and on occasion at home- out of a can, with syrup or with some sort of batter and fried in oil or drowned in butter.

Growing up with that type of lifestyle can take a toll on your body over time. And even more so after having a child. As a young adult my appearance was important to me so I focused on the number on the scale. I thought eating healthy was eating Healthy Choice, Weight Watchers from the freezer section and drinking diet soda. I also thought that the less you ate- the less you would weigh or that if I just exercised (did cardio) that would take care of any unwanted weight. I couldn’t figure out why it was getting harder and harder for the scale to tip in my favor. Then came the health issues and as you know that is what inspired me to learn about nutrition.

Being a Christian; adopting the Clean Eating lifestyle (if you can kill it or grow it- you can eat it), made sense to me. After all, God- The Creator of the human race and Creator of the environment in which we live, would not have placed us here on this earth without the provisions we would need to survive and flourish.

This way of thinking has been backed up with scripture- think back to the provisions that God gave Adam and Eve in the very beginning in Genesis. And how God provided His people with Manna from the sky while they were wondering through the wilderness Exodus.

And what about Daniel who was taken from his home and placed in prison to be a slave. Instead of the defiled foods demanded of the slaves, God had the guard show Daniel favor and feed him clean foods.

Then there are the birds in Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the sky: they do not plant seeds, gather a harvest and put it in barns; yet your Father in heaven takes care of them! Aren’t you worth much more than the birds?”

He is my provision! He is my portion!

I know that I can’t always trust what ‘man’ has put in my food. Remember Olestra/Olean? It is a fat substitute without the fat or added calories- a dieters dream. They used it in chips and had to take it off the market because it was causing gastrointestinal issues. What about artificial sweeteners? Studies have proven that these chemicals are toxic to the body. Why they are still on the market is beyond me.

We know that food in a bag or a box is typically higher in fat (and not the good kind), in calories, carbohydrates and sugar- which we now know is the leading cause of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and numerous other illnesses and disease.

A study was done in 2013 on the effects of processed high fat/high calorie foods. Mainly- Oreo’s. The study shows that Oreo’s are as addictive as Cocaine and Morphine. The ingredients and chemicals, combined, causes a reaction in the brain- overstimulates the brain creating a need for more. The need for more causes you to eat more and then you buy more. Which means more money in the manufacturers pocket.

I’m not saying that every man-made food is harmful. I am saying that I know I can put my trust in the provisions that God has given me beyond a shadow of a doubt. And I have to be cautious of the other things on the market. Even the foods that say “organic” or “all-natural”. Remember, this is a money craving world. Man’s intentions are not always pure. They may start off with good intentions- but so many times the ‘bottom line’ impacts quality and health.

But, I know I can put my faith in God and the provisions he has given me and continues to give me and that, my friend, IS ENOUGH!

Jesus, I pray over each and every woman on the other side of this screen- that we will put all of our hope in you- for all things. Let us come to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that You are our provision, You are enough. Give us the strength to combat any food addiction that we may have become a slave to- not with our own will power but by Your will and Your strength. Your Word tells us that no temptation will be allowed in our lives that we cannot overcome. Lord, equip us each and every day to handle the temptations that are placed in our paths. Give us knowledge to know what is good for us and the strength and power to overcome what isn’t. We praise your name. We thank you. In Jesus name, Amen!

Morning Motivation

ALL FOR THE WRONG REASONS

I am what people in the fitness industry call a, yo-yo dieter. Yes, ME. If left to my own devices, I would be on a different diet and workout regimen each week. There have been times that I didn’t even wait for the week to end before switching over to something else.

After I was diagnosed with high cholesterol in my very early thirties, I began educating myself on the benefits of eating healthy and regular exercise.

It just so happened that during my research I stumbled upon a fitness guru that lead me in the right direction. I was impressed with her fit physique but was even more impressed with her knowledge. At the time she had written 2 books, had been on the cover of a fitness magazine and was studying to become a nutritionist. I read both of her books, subscribed to all of her emails & blogs. I consistently followed her every direction.   I did not want to be dependent on prescription medication.  I was focused on being healthy. As I worked towards a healthy body- my weight began to decrease-without any effort to lose weight.

I continued on this healthy pursuit up to my follow-up exam. The day of my exam, I was ecstatic. I couldn’t believe it. I had actually done it! My doctor was very pleased with my results and asked me how I did it and told me to keep doing it. And I did…for awhile. So where did things go wrong?

Remember that fitness magazine I mentioned? Well, I was a faithful subscriber and I couldn’t wait for each months issue to arrive in the mailbox. If it was a few days late, I would email the publisher. Once I had that colorful printed copy in my hands I would read all about the model on the cover. I would find everything I could about her training and diet online. I figured that I if I wanted to look like the girl on the cover of that magazine I should do what she is doing. Then next months issue would arrive and it would be a new model with a new diet and training regimen. Before I knew it I was no longer making any progress. In fact, I began putting on weight and I couldn’t see what I was doing wrong. I was confused and frustrated.

Then one day I was reading Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

As I prayed about my situation and meditated on this passage, it became clear to me that I needed to change how I was thinking. You see, I was comparing myself with those women who had been photoshopped on the cover of a magazine. No longer was I eating and training to be healthy- I was eating and training to look like someone else…a bunch of someone else’s. Bouncing from diet to diet- training to training.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”
-Theodore Roosevelt

How many times have I robbed myself of joy because I’ve compared myself to someone else? Way too many times to count. Not only was I robbing myself of joy but I was putting my health back at risk.

After I became a certified personal trainer and started my own training business I made Romans 12:2  the foundation of my fitness business. I want us, as women, to stop comparing ourselves to others. Stop chasing after fad diets, pills, wraps, pods and all that other garbage. Instead I want us to change the way we are thinking. Re-focus.  Focus on our health. Stop conforming to the patterns of this world- change the way we think and THEN we can be TRANSFORMED! Transformed into what God has called you to be. Confident in your body. With the energy you need to do and be YOU. A good role model for your children. Using food as fuel- for everything else we have a loving Heavenly Father who has asked us to cast all of our cares upon Him- not cast our cares upon food. But on Him.

Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to be with us this week as we begin this 30 day challenge. Help us to choose the right foods for our bodies. Give us wisdom and insight. Help us to focus on our health to glorify you. May our minds be renewed and our bodies transformed into the image You have chosen for us. In Jesus name, Amen.

Morning Motivation

Wake Up & Dream Big

I’m excited about this new year. I happen to love the start of a fresh year- for me it’s always been a time for new beginnings. Each year I start by writing down things in my prayer journal that I would like to accomplish over the next 12 months. I scan through my list periodically throughout the year and smile at the things I’ve accomplished and get reminded of the things I’ve forgotten about. But this year I’ve done something a little different. I still made a list in my prayer journal but I’ve also been inspired to create my first vision board.

On Christmas day my guys surprised me with a cork board for my office- and  that is what gave me the inspiration to create my vision board. My sweet husband hung it up on the wall perfectly centered in front of my desk and computer. I love how it is front of my face every day for my eyes to see, my brain to stimulate and my hands to do. Since I’m such a visual person it will continually inspire me each day to pursue what God has placed in my heart. I’m excited to add things to my vision board as the Lord reveals new things to me- things that excite me, burn within, things that I get passionate about. Ideas, scriptures, quotes, dreams.

I was not put on this earth to just exist and neither were you. We were put here to inspire- be inspired and inspire others. Jesus has put a burning desire in my heart to inspire women in their fitness journey and more importantly; in their walk with Jesus. Each and every day should be sparked with purpose. Together let’s dream big, pray bigger and do something each day that brings us closer to our purposes and dreams.

Love,

Misty