Kara

Do It…For Yourself?

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Tonight I opened up Pinterest.

I love Pinterest (as a side note, it is the ULTIMATE time sucker for me. Is it that way for you?).

The first post that I saw had the following text:

Do it for:
-the stares
-the whispers
-the bikini
-the hipbone
-the gap between your thighs
-the belly shirts
-the melted sweaters
-the light-as-a-feather feeling
-the cute pictures
-the sexy lingerie-and most importantly…YOURSELF

I looked at this and stopped to wonder if it was a joke. I clicked to track it back to its original source and discovered it was in fact, not a joke.

I read it again, trying to see if there was more to it that I had missed or had somehow misunderstood.

Nope.

That was it.

The entire premise: that we should lose weight so that we can be stared at, so our hipbones can stick out, so we can pose in immodest clothing and take “cute” pictures…and that we should do it for OUR OWN SELF.

If you’ve followed this blog (and facebook page) for any time at all, you know that this is the EXACT opposite of what I believe our motivation should be as believers.

We pursue a healthy lifestyle to bring honor and glory not to ourselves, but to HIM.

We strengthen our bodies not so that we can have people gawk at them in bikinis or tight clothing, but so that we are ready and able to accomplish any single task that comes our way.

We spend time preparing and eating foods that nourish our bodies not so that we can shrink the size of our thighs, but so that we can have the energy we need to serve those around us.

And friends, this is not about us. I’m sorry, it’s not.

Every single time that I tried to lose weight or to get healthy for MYSELF, I failed. Every time I made it about the way I looked in the mirror, I reverted back to old habits eventually. Each time that I have tried to improve my physical appearance without first tackling the condition of my heart, it has been a disaster.

So hear me on this… this journey towards getting healthy is worthwhile only if it’s grounded in the right motivation. It’s worthy of our time and attention only if it’s from an overflow of our love for God and wanting to bring HIM glory. There may be some physical benefits on your journey that include a smaller clothing size or looking better on the outside, that is true.

But friends, no set of six-pack abs, bikini, hip bones, or thigh gap can disguise a heart that’s far from God. 

Please be careful what your focus and motivation is on this journey. Carefully consider your goals and why they matter.

Spend time in prayer asking God what He wants and how you can honor Him in your own individual journey.

 Refuse to be persuaded by the world’s distorted perception of why fitness matters and how you need to look a certain way to be loved.

You ARE loved. You were created for GOOD things by a God who knew you before you were born and had every single moment of your life recorded before you ever took your first breath. You are valuable, you are lovely, you are strong, and you are capable, regardless of what the mirror, the scale, or a Pinterest post may tell you.

Press on friends in HIS name for HIS glory.

My One Word

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Each year on January 1st,
I try to pick a word to summarize my goals for the year ahead. I’ve
used words like INTENTIONAL, REST, LIVE, and others over the last
several years. 
 

But there is one word I constantly come back to on a daily basis. 
To
others, it may not mean much. It probably doesn’t have much emotional
or motivational impact for those who see it.

But for me, it’s my call to
arms, my mission statement, and my core beliefs all wrapped
up into one.

 
Ready for it?
 
CHOOSE.
 
Such a small word to mean so much.
 
Dictionary.com defines choose as this:
1. to select from a number of possibilities; pick by preference:

2. to prefer or decide (to do something):
3. to want; desire.
And
all three of those definitions are applicable to why this word means so
much: to pick by preference, to DECIDE, to want and to desire.
You see, there are many things in life that we can’t control. I was reminded of this yesterday.
 
Two
boys from our community (10th graders) were killed in a car accident over the weekend. 
Since I work as a school counselor in the same school system, I was
asked to go to the school where the boys attend to provide counseling
services if needed. The school made the decision to offer
transportation to ANY student that wanted to attend the funerals, and
over 300 chose to go. We loaded up EIGHT buses with students and drove
them to a funeral that morning, fed them lunch, and then
took them to the second funeral. 
It was
a heavy day. 
The students were able to grieve their classmate, to
reflect on happy memories shared, and to celebrate the lives their
friends had lived. 
And it
reminded me once again that there are many things in life that are
out of our control. And that because of this, I was reminded of the power we have to
CHOOSE. 
Each day, we wake up and get to
CHOOSE how we will live. 
We choose whether we will face the day with joy or with dread.
We choose whether we will respond to difficult people with love or with hate. 
We choose to give in to FEAR or we choose to have FAITH. 
We choose to invest our lives in those around us or we
choose to waste our time worrying about ourselves. 
We choose to love our spouses and family members, or we
choose to serve self and feelings that may WILL come and go.
We choose to trust in God’s plan and God’s timing or we
choose to try to do things for ourselves.
We choose to respond with grace or we
choose to respond with judgment.
We choose to forgive or we
choose to hold grudges.
Sometimes,
the choices we have seem like small little choices that may not mean
much.

But hear me on this, friends: These small decisions make up your
LIFE. They compose your TESTIMONY. They are what people
will reflect on long after you are gone. 

I
cannot control what will happen to me today, or tomorrow, or the next
day. I don’t know what God may have in store for me down the road, or
how He is working even now, to bring things into my life for my
good and His glory.
I
know from experience that these things are not always pleasant when in
the midst of them. But I DO KNOW THIS: I know that I ALWAYS get to CHOOSE how I
respond.
 
CHOOSE
today friends. Choose to love. Choose to extend grace when those around
you may not deserve it. Choose to forgive. Choose to celebrate. Choose
to serve. Choose to give. Choose joy. Choose to live.
YOU GET TO CHOOSE.

What a gift.
 
As my reminder, I ordered this bracelet from the FarmGirl Paints shop on Etsy.   It is now my constant reminder that I get to CHOOSE.  

Thanks FarmGirl Paints for the beautiful reminder! 
 

Do-Anywhere Tabata Workout

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Hello all!

Today I met my local group of friends for our early morning workout and we had 31 brave ladies show up!

We changed up our training a bit today and instead of doing our normal type of sets, we tackled tabatas.

It was TOUGH but after we were done the general consensus of the group was that they liked the change of pace.

Tabatas are fun because they push you to your limit but are in short enough bursts of time that you can power through them without feeling like the workout is dragging on and on.

Want to try the workout we did today? See below.

But first, check out these lovely ladies! Can you believe how much this
little group has grown since we started two months ago? And at 5:45 a.m.
no less!

Tabata Workout:

Equipment needed: Hand weights that are a bit challenging for you to lift more than about 10 times.

Format: Complete each move for 20 seconds, then rest for 10 seconds. REPEAT each move FOUR times through then move on to the next move. Each move will be done for 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off FOUR times through.

Total Time: 18 minutes

Make sure you warm-up well before starting!

1. Bent Over Rows with Dumbbells
2. Squat Jumps (no weights)
3. Bicep Curls with Dumbbells
4. Overhead Triceps Extension (1 dumbbell)
5. Burpees (no pushup)
6. Squat hold with pulses
7. Pushups
8. Mountain climbers
9. Bicycle crunches

You can do this!

Be sure to stretch and cool down when finished!

If you shop at Wal-Mart, you need to be doing this…

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If
you’re like me, as much as you try to avoid it, you ultimately end up
buying most of your groceries from Wal-Mart due to their low prices.
 
Back
when I was only a mother of one and I was not working outside of the
home, I was really big into couponing. I would check all the prices each
week at all local stores, then lug my big coupon notebook around with
me trying to get many
of our items for free or really cheap. I was amazed at how many things I
could get for free!

Now that I’m working full-time, Mama to two, teaching local fitness
classes, trying to launch this little ministry, and completing
Revelation Wellness Instructor training, my couponing days are long
gone. I still, however, want to stretch our grocery budget
as far as I can…which often means I go to Wal-Mart to buy most of our
foods. 

I
was introduced to a new program they launched called Savings Catcher
and have been using it since April 2014. When I first began using it, I
would do my regular shopping and then go home and go to
www.savingscatcher.walmart.com
on my computer. I would enter the TC number on my receipt plus the date
and then wait a few days. 

Walmart would then send me an email with a
listing of every item I bought and
then tell me if ANY local store sold that same item for a lower price
during the same week in which I purchased it. And here’s the amazing
part- then they would CREDIT me the difference!
 
 No standing in long
lines toting around local advertisements from other
stores for price matching, no big coupon binders, nothing! 
All
I needed was a Walmart.com account which I already had, and then to
take the time to keep up with and type in my TC # and date of the
shopping trip. The only stipulation was that this had the be entered
within 7 days of the purchase
date. 
In July I found an even easier way to utilize this service- the Walmart App!

I downloaded it for my iPhone and then as soon as I finish my weekly
Wal-Mart trip, I sit in my car and scan in my receipt. Once I scan it, I
select the date on which I did my shopping and click submit! Within a
few days, I get back an email with all the items
I purchased plus a credit for any items that were sold anywhere else in
the area for cheaper. 

It’s like bargain hunting without actually having to do any work!
Once I was ready to “cash in” the credits I had earned, I just clicked “GET IT BACK” on the Savings Catcher Wal-Mart app and a few days later, I got an email with my electronic gift card. I then went shopping, pulled up the email on my iPhone, had the cashier scan it and Bam! I saved $38.61 (The amount I had ‘cashed in’). Since then, I’ve earned another $9.49 in money back bringing my total to $48.10 that I’ve saved over the last 6 months. This required little to no extra effort on my part!
(You can also PRINT out the e-gift card if you’d rather have it than having to pull up the email on your phone.)
Easy, right? If you are like me and shop at Wal-Mart in hopes of lowering your grocery bill a little, you really need to be using their Savings Catcher. (I’m not being compensated for this post- I just found it to be an amazing tool and wanted to share it with you!)
Another benefit- every receipt for everything I buy is now saved electronically in my Wal-Mart app. So if I need to take something back in the future to exchange or for a refund, no more looking for old receipts- it’s all saved on my account!
Awesome, right!?!?!





National Mesothelioma Day

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I
was recently contacted by a lady named Heather who is a Mesothelioma
Survivor. 
She asked if I would possibly consider writing about this
cancer to bring attention to it for the 10th Annual
Mesothelioma Awareness Day. Her brief
email said: “Eight years ago, I was diagnosed with mesothelioma; a rare
and preventable cancer caused only by exposure to asbestos. I had just
given birth to my daughter and I was given 15 months to live. After a
lifesaving surgery that included the removal
of my left lung, I have made it my life’s mission to spread awareness
about mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos. This Friday, September
26th, 2014 marks the 10th anniversary of Mesothelioma Awareness Day, and
has been the driving force behind the movement
to bring more attention and funding to this cancer. There is no more
innocent victim than a person with mesothelioma, they are sick as a
direct result of a product that is NOT banned in the U.S. This disease
has a life expectancy of just 18 months after diagnosis,
and symptoms may not be evident until 20-35 years after initial
exposure to asbestos.”

I went to the website link that she sent me, watched her story , and absolutely wanted to share a bit of
this information with you.
I
hate cancer. Let me say that again- I HATE cancer. And to learn that
this type of cancer is ONLY caused by a product that isn’t banned in the
US is sickening. As a cancer survivor myself, I can’t imagine why we would knowingly allow this product to still be used in certain products and circumstances since we KNOW it causes a deadly cancer.
 
Here are some facts and statistics I learned after visiting mesothelioma.com:
*Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that attacks the lining of the body cavity called the mesothelium.

*THE ONLY KNOWN CAUSE is exposure to asbestos.
*Mesothelioma commonly sits dormant in the body for 20-50 years after initial exposure to asbestos.
*80% of all mesothelioma cases occur within the lining of the lungs.
The other two potential locations are in the lining of the heart and in
abdominal lining.
*On average, those diagnosed with Mesothelioma are given 10 months to live.
*Mesothelioma in women is increasing because many women experienced
second hand exposure from parents or spouses who worked closely with
asbestos.

So what is asbestos?
-A naturally occurring mineral that is classified as a KNOWN human carcinogen.

*On average, 30 million pounds of asbestos are still being used in the
US today. It can still be found in many homes, schools, and commercial
or industrial buildings.

*US Navy veterans who served during World War II and the Korean Conflict
have the highest probability of having asbestos related health
problems.

*On July 12, 1989, the EPA issued a final rule banning MOST
asbestos-containing products. In 1991, this was OVERTURNED by the Fifth
Circuit Court of Appeals. As a result of the Court’s decision, ONLY A
FEW ASBESTOS CONTAINING PRODUCTS REMAIN BANNED.

*This year alone, 10,000 Americans will die of asbestos-related diseases such as lung cancer or mesothelioma.

*The EPA estimates that there are asbestos containing materials in most
of the nationals 107,000 primary and secondary schools and 733,000
public and commercial buildings.

 
For more information, you can visit:
www.mesothelioma.com
 
Symptoms:
Sometimes patients live with
symptoms for up to 6 months before being diagnosed but usually the
symptoms are present for two to three months prior to a
mesothelioma diagnosis.
About 60% of patients diagnosed
with pleural mesothelioma experience lower back pain or side chest pain,
and there are frequent reports of shortness of breath. Lower numbers of
people may experience difficulty swallowing, or have a persistent
cough, fever,
weight loss or fatigue. Additional symptoms that some patients
experience are muscle weakness, loss of sensory capability, coughing up
blood, facial and arm swelling, and hoarseness.

Read more:
http://www.mesothelioma.com/mesothelioma/symptoms/#ixzz3ELr4379I

I was so glad to hear that Heather’s story had a happy ending. Join me today in praying for all those affected by this terrible disease. Pray for healing, pray for comfort, and pray for legislative change to happen so that this dangerous product can finally be banned in ALL circumstances. 

 

Sharing our Successes…MEET AMY!!!!

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I am so very excited to share this latest “Sharing our Successes” story with you. I have known Amy for around six years and first became friends with her singing in our church choir.

Her health journey is nothing short of AMAZING and as I was reading it I found myself moved to tears at several points. Amy is inspiring many and I KNOW that you are going to be seriously impacted by her story!

Meet Amy:

How I got started:
My name is Amy. I have been married
to my husband and best friend for 22 years, am the mother of two, a self-employed
bakery owner, and I am a lifelong food addict.

There’s no hiding it.

No excuses to be made.
I have always loved food. Period.
As far as back as memory will take
me, I have been overweight. I can’t even begin to count how many fad diets,
pills, shots, soup and shake quick-fixes that I have half-heartedly tried over
the years. I would lose weight on some of these, get discouraged, and go right
back to overeating. 
My wakeup call came last winter in
the form of a photo that my brother-in-law had posted on Facebook of me at my
sister’s college graduation party. There I was, in all of my obese
glory…every roll…every chin…in color, for all to see.
Don’t get me wrong, I have always
known that I was fat; although, in my mind, I THOUGHT that I was hiding it well
under flowing tops.
I sat at my computer, staring at
that photo, crying. At that moment, I knew that I needed to make some serious
changes, and I needed The Lord’s help to make those changes.
I stepped onto the scales to realize
that I was beyond what I’d even dared to think that I weighed….4’10” and
249.8 pounds!
I had to trust God that this time,
He would guide my steps, my food choices, and give me the stamina and strength
needed to begin working out faithfully.
When I began searching for a plan to
lose weight, I stumbled across the Paleo plan on Pinterest. I thought,
“Why not?”  After all, I’d tried and failed at them all. What’s
one more to add to that list?
I talked with my husband, and after
discussing the plan, and the changes that we would need to implement as a
family (I was NOT going to fall into the trap of cooking one meal for me and
another for the family), I took my food list, and we went to the grocery
store…and we began Paleo as a family in February 2014. In addition to the
food changes, I began walking each day with a dear friend. Even in the bitter
February temps, rain and sleet, we walked diligently. When I began walking, I
could barely make it to a half mile without being out of breath and having to
rest over and over. 
What I have learned along the way:
*Meal prep is essential! Each
Monday, I spend approximately 4 hours cooking, portioning and labeling meals
for the family. Our refrigerator stays fully stocked with healthy options, so
when a hunger pain hits, I have no excuse for just grabbing an unhealthy food
choice. Everything is ready to go to make it easy for everyone. If you don’t
plan to succeed, you will fail. 
*Water is a MUST! I carry around a
32oz water bottle that I refill at least 4 times a day. Water is great to keep
you hydrated, and feeling full in between meal/snack times.

*Exercising is a requirement, not an option. As I lost weight, exercising has
been at the top of my to-do list each day. Not only does it help in losing
weight and toning as you lose, I feel SO GOOD after a workout is
complete! 

*Journal! I have kept a journal
since the day before I started Paleo. I keep track of what I have eaten each
day…current weight…goal weight for the next week…exercise details
(calories burned, specific type of exercise done, and how long I stayed at
it.)…and changes in clothing sizes! It’s amazing to look back over my early
journal entries where I could barely do a half mile of walking without feeling
like I would die, and know that now, I am up to 6 miles per day…and RUNNING!
🙂
*Take photos of your progress. I
have spent much of my time on this earth dodging cameras, so I waited until I
had lost 40 pounds before starting to document my physical progress. Now, I
take photos every 10 pounds. Looking back at where I was, and where I am today
still amazes and humbles me, because none of it would be possible without The
Lord.
*Pray! I have it listed last, but
truly, it has to be first. Unlike any other attempt that I have ever made over
the years, I pray many times each day for God to guide me every step of the
way. As I run, I pray out loud, “In YOUR strength, Lord, not mine.”
We pray for so much…why not pray for healthy bodies and weight loss? 
Where I Am Now:
Since beginning Paleo and working out
faithfully SINCE February, I have dropped 83.3 pounds. 🙂 I
began in 3X tops and size 26/28 pants. Today, I am in large tops, and size
12/14 pants. I have 30.7 pounds remaining between me and my goal weight….and
I KNOW that with God guiding my every step, I am on the track for victory this
time!
Besides the physical changes, God
has moved in my heart to do something to help others with their struggles with
weight. I now have a clear vision of where He wants me to go, and what He is
leading me to do. I’m very excited for the future, and what He is doing in not
only my life, but my heart.
Links to my website and FB page:
www.cakesbyamym.com
https://www.facebook.com/cakesbyamym
 ————————————————-
Okay, y’all, isn’t she amazing?!?!? I hope you read this and were as inspired as I was. You CAN do this, friends. Find an eating plan that aligns with your personal preferences and that is sustainable, spend some time committing the journey to God and then PRESS IN AND PERSEVERE. 
Thank you, Amy, for sharing your story with us. It’s one that needs to be told as it’s not just a testament to your hard work, but also to the power that God has to help us make lasting, lifelong changes.