Why C.H.A.N.G.E.?

Why C.H.A.N.G.E.?

Group classes offer Boot Camp for advanced or experienced exercisers; Yoga for the spiritual exercisers; “Silver” or “Gold” classes for the older exercisers; Aqua classes for the arthritic exercisers; Beginner classes for the, well, beginners.  What about a class that is for someone that is none of these things?

I’m annoyed and almost offended by the media and government stereo-typing and reporting on and on about the crisis our nation is in when it comes to the overweight and obesity rates.  I understand the issue.  I understand we need to know, but I hate how they go about reporting, showing the overweight as always being lazy, sedentary and eating fast food. ???  What?  Ya that really helps the situation.  Judging and negative images are sure to motivate.  I feel like everyone keeps talking about the crisis, but no one is doing anything to help change the problem!  Not even gyms!   

Not every overweight person is an overeater, actually, and not every overweight person is sedentary.  Sometimes it is just the wrong combo of foods.  Sometimes it’s ineffective exercise.  You do not know where people are coming from and it’s unfair to judge.  I understand this so closely. 

For a long time now, I have had a deep desire in my heart to start a new program specifically for those that have a significant amount of weight to lose.  Let’s learn how we need to eat.  Let’s learn how to exercise effectively and efficiently!

I am so excited to start this new small group training.  C.H.A.N.G.E. with The Disciplined Life.  Take CONTROL of your HEALTH by staying ACCOUNTABLE in improving your NUTRITION, setting GOALS, and EXERCISING!  This class will be appropriate for those who may have 100-200+ pounds to lose.  This class will also be appropriate for those who may not have quite that much to lose, but may have limited mobility due to back pain or other joint pain. 

So why C.H.A.N.G.E.?  Participants will learn how to safely and effectively exercise and will be given a basic meal plan to follow.  On top of that, participants will be given daily and weekly accountability and encouragement.  Accountability and encouragement:  two things that set the path to a healthy, long-lasting success!

I’ll end by quoting 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20:  “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit…?...Therefore, honor God with your body.”  Let’s do this!  Let’s change for the better.  Let’s change for the healthier!

Define Discipline Part II: Reaching Your Potential

For my being part stay-at-home mom and part fitness instructor the last year has
been the best! It has also taught me a lot about what it means to be
disciplined. Actually, I'm still learning... Disciplined in the gym, in the
kitchen, in the church. Disciplining my time and finances are most definitely my
biggest struggles.

Let me give credit where credit is due. This blog is just a typed up version of some of
the notes I took from Pastor J. Lowell Harrup in church this morning. Awesome
sermon! I appreciate my pastor's wisdom and knowledge.

Reaching your Potential: Discipline

Whose praise do you seek? The one whose affirmation you desire controls your
life. 

For what age or kingdom do you live - the present age or the age to come? 1 John 2:15-17 says, "Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  For everything in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."

What price will you pay to reach your potential? God is doing his best to make
us OUR best!

Don't misinterpret the hard disciplines brought in to your life as God having a
lesser love for you or that God is trying to punish you. Maybe, just maybe He is
trying to better you so that you can reach your potential!

Temptation.  It goes hand-in-hand with discipline.  How do you keep yourself disciplined against temptation? Kind of a, “Which comes first; the chicken or the egg” scenario.  Do you get disciplined after you’ve given in to temptation OR do you discipline yourself AGAINST temptations?

*In this text, “temptation” equals anything you know you should not do, say, see, hear, taste, etc.  In this text, “you” equals you and me.

I’ve been thinking a lot of temptation lately.  We are all surrounded by temptation all day every day.  Be it physical or spiritual, and a lot of times both.

Take my puppy, for instance. I get so irritated with her!  She knows she’s not supposed to chew on my son’s binkies.  I know she knows it’s wrong because she takes them under our bed to hide while she chews.  She does it anyway.

My son -- he knows he’s not supposed to play in the puppy’s water bowl.  I hear a splash and a giggle coming from the kitchen.  All I have to do is say my son’s name to which he yells back with an, “EH!”  That’s toddler talk for “Don’t-tell-me-what-to-do!”

Why is it so tempting do things you’re NOT supposed to do?  Let’s take this more on a health/fitness standpoint.  You know you shouldn’t eat that second helping.  You may know you shouldn’t eat it AT ALL!  Why do you do it anyway knowing you’ll feel icky afterwards?  You know you need to get your workout in today.  You know you’ll feel better after you’ve gotten it done.  So why would it tempt you to skip if you know you’ll feel better afterwards?

The power of temptation is not external; it’s internal.  Whoa. 

James 1:14 says “but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.”  The verse before that says, “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.” 

1 Corinthians 10:13 says “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.  And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 

And I say, “But God?  Have you ever tried my sister’s baking?  I think her chocolate chip cookies qualify as temptation beyond what I can bear!”  But seriously, I’m not trying to make a mockery of God’s word (only make bad jokes) and nor am I trying to say chocolate chip cookies are of Satan and the Bible tells us we should steer clear of them.  I simply want you to think:

What tempts you from being your best?  How can you positively discipline yourself BEFORE you’re tempted so that you won’t be negatively disciplined AFTER?

I wish you could see what I see

I wish you could see what I see. 

In the years that I have been teaching and especially in the last several months that I’ve been personally training clients, I hear “I’m sorry” a lot.

“I’m sorry you have to see my fat belly, big legs, rolls, etc.”

“I’m sorry.  My stretchmarks are REALLY bad after my pregnancy.  I hope they don’t gross you out.”

“I’m sorry I am so weak and wimpy.”

“I’m sorry I don’t have much energy.”

“I’m sorry.  I can’t do any more repetitions.”

See where I’m going with this?  Do you hear yourself? I wish you could see what I see.  If I am real honest, I do not see “rolls” or stretchmarks.  I see a body.  A body that was fearfully and wonderfully made!*  I see a person that is lucky to have two functioning arms and two functioning legs.  I see a body that is on the right path to a longer, healthier life.  A body that is capable of amazing things.  A body that is getting stronger by the day.  I don’t see a weak body.  Yes, I see that maybe this day isn’t the strongest, but I have admiration.  I admire that they are there to train or take class and push through their so-called weakness and do their best for what their body will allow for that day.  I wish you could see what I see. 
I understand we all have things about our physical appearance that we dislike.  I am so guilty of saying these things about myself.  When I do, I stop and thank the Lord that I can walk and dance and Zumba and shimmy my shoulders, and do one more push-up this week than I could do last week!   

My momma used to tell me that I needed to take off my crap-colored glasses and look at the world through my rose-colored glasses instead.  Actually, she still says that…..

When you look in the mirror, what color are your glasses?  Crappy or rosy?  It’s your choice which pair of glasses you put on each day.

*Psalm 139:14 (NIV)  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

(The Message) I thank you High God – you’re breathtaking!  Body and soul, I am marvelously made!  I worship in adoration – what a creation!

Define Discipline

Discipline, according to www.dictionary.com, means “activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training.”  If you check www.thesaurus.com, discipline can mean “self-control” or “willpower”.  It also means “development” and “education.”

I often hear the phrases “I just have no willpower” or “I don’t have the discipline.”  With all due respect, I say to you, “Duh!”  You are human.  I am human.  You can thank Eve and Adam, for none of us are born disciplined.  Think about it:  tempted by an apple on a tree.  An apple?!  Eve!  Come on!  If it were chocolate cake hanging from the tree or an extra cheesy pizza, I could see the temptation, but an APPLE?  My point is you are human.  Strive for progression, NOT perfection.  You will not have a perfect day every day.  It’s called “life.”  Look at the overall picture.  Not one person is perfectly disciplined each and every day.  Using the terms mentioned in the first sentence, “train” to be disciplined; “develop” your discipline; and “educate” yourself on how you can be disciplined.

How will you stay disciplined physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually?

365 days FLY when you're having fun!

365 days FLY when you're having fun!  This last year has been a real, actual dream come true and has been an answer to at least 1000 prayers.  It has been one year since I took that giant leap of faith.  I quit my steady, secure, full-time job to do what I feel God called me to do:  instruct, teach, lead, and even learn fitness.  Something else - I had just had a baby and desperately wanted to be home with him more.  I had actually given up on teaching for several months so that I could at least have my evenings free after my day job.

Although I have been in the fitness industry for a long time, it was always a part-time job for me - actually, it was more of a hobby for me that I just so happened to get paid to do.  It was something I wanted to do as a "full-time" job, but never knew how to make it work. It was something I just assumed was not ever going to work out for me. Ah, friends, never doubt what you are capable of doing and NEVER doubt what God is capable of doing!

This last year I have taken three additional certifications, (in addition to multiple Zumba certifications I already maintain) most importantly, my personal trainer certification.  I've always been interested in personal training, but figured "how can I be a trainer if I am still training myself and working towards my own goals?"   Well, who would I be if I WASN'T still training myself and working towards my own goals?  I/You/We should always have something to work towards, right?

This last year has been amazing.  I am finally doing what I have wanted to do for a long time.  I am finally doing what I was called to do.  You know what's cool?  This is STILL a hobby for me!  I am so excited about the things I have learned in this last year. There is so much more that I need to learn and so much more I want to learn.

I would love to share with you what I have learned. Pop in to one of my Zumba classes or The Daily Burn on Tue/Thur evenings, or hit me up for personal training!  I would love to help you reach your fitness goals!
 

Thank you for your support this last year.  It has truly been a joy working with each of you!