No More Excuses!

     I haven't written here in a while.  It's probably because I have been busy getting my own act together.  I went through a season of comparing myself to other people and therefore justifying why I wasn't getting to the gym as much or not eating the way I should.  So a couple months ago I came to my senses and changed my thinking. So here I am ready to motivate you as a result of some new fitness endeavors that I have been involved in recently.

     Your mindset is everything.  I like to parallel the spiritual and the physical. We shouldn't go to church, pray and read our Bible because in order to be a Christian, we have to.  Instead, we should fall in love with Jesus, desire to do His will and the actions then follow.  You pray because you truly want to talk to God.  You go to church because you desire the encouragement and edification that comes when you are a part of a local body.  You read your Bible because you want to know the nature of God and His instruction for your life.
     Is your mindset broken when it comes to your physical condition? Do you find yourself constantly quitting and making excuses for why you quit or can't even start?  What is your motivation for exercising? To look as thin as your girlfriends or someone you see on TV? To attract a man? To get your husband or other family members off your back?  Are you caught up in the opinions of others? Those are ALL wrong motives for improving your health.
     Where are you in your life right now? Are you young and full of energy with a charged up metabolism? Do you run from here to there without a care in the world about your weight or your health? That mom who had a baby last year and turns thirty this year isn't so carefree.  She finds herself carrying around extra weight from being pregnant and now as she ages, those pounds aren't melting off like they did in her twenties.
     Maybe you're a busy mom, wife and possibly a career woman.  You're definitely not feeling as vibrant as you did in your thirties.  You have settled into the chaotic norm of your life.  Preparing meals is all about convenience. The evening hours are full of homework, housework and hopefully some family time. After that, your grab a bowl of ice cream, throw on your flannel night gown and watch television. You feel insecure about your body, but slightly comforted by the fact that bulk of other women your age look and feel like you too.
     Now you're at the point in your life where the kids can fend for themselves.  You're not laying out clothes or packing lunches or dropping the kids off at soccer practice.  Your metabolism has slowed and the pounds just keep adding up.  You have back pain, joint pain.  You're tired all the time.  That bowl of ice cream, TV and bedtime routine starts up a little earlier these days.  You have become content with where you're at and perhaps resent anyone who would suggest that there could be an alternative to lethargy and hopelessness.
     Let me encourage you today! It is never too soon OR too late to change the way you think, live and feel! You can be full of energy, ambition and power at ANY age.  And remember that just because you may be slim, doesn't always mean you are healthy.  Bad habits (or good ones) at a young age carry on into our adult lives.  Maybe you grew up eating fast food every night for dinner.  When you were young, you didn't notice it's adverse effects, but now that you are older, you see how that behavior has affected your health.
     Break the cycle! Regardless of your age!  I recently read an article about a 74 year old woman who competes in bodybuilding competitions! She has the body of a 20 year old!  She started lifting weights in her fifties.  Stop blaming your schedule, your age, your genetics and your circumstances for your unhealthy lifestyle.  Do not accept it any longer. Get moving! Cut the junk and start taking years off your body.  Be around for your kids and grand kids.  Be strong and powerful, full of life and energy!  Start now.
     If you have questions on how to break the cycle and change the way you think, I'm here!
     More motivation coming soon!

     -Mindy