Fear not, stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work in you today-------Exodus 14:13

When you step out and do something big for God (such as committing to a healthy life) the enemy will send challenges and distractions to knock you off course.  He may try to send you running, but you have a promise that God is working behind the scenes for you.  You'll be amazed at what God will do in your life when you stand and face your challenges! 

When you take a stand, you make a declaration of your faith in God and automatically raise that shield of faith, which extinguishes all the flaming arrows of the enemy (Eph. 6:16).

I was sharing with my students about how in order to grow and have positive change in our lives, we must come out of our comfort zone.  The thing that keeps us from leaving that zone is PAIN.  Pain can be physical, emotional or just discipline.  Nobody wants to experience it, but you have to in order to grow and move forward and become stronger; to make a STAND and see amazing things happen in your life because of it!

So take a stand today, and stay on the course the Lord has set for you.  Take a stand and see the salvation and provision of the Lord in EVERY area of your life!




My husband John is attending March Certification Camp and we are so excited!  He originally was to attend with me back in July, but had a serious knee injury and could not attend.  Now it is his time to shine and we are all cheering him on!  It will be so awesome for us to both be teaching what we love so please keep him in your prayers!  I will be attending to help out & so what an honor and blessing to be able to train with Billy again!
March 2007
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Standing Firm!
Krista's Picks!

Looking Good Now! Magazine has gone out of business!  Sadly, you won't be seeing my article in there, but there is a great chance that their sister magazine,  Shape Magazine, will be publishing the article in their magazine in the future! 

I will be sure to let everyone know when/if that happens!

Top 10
Energy Foods!

Whole Wheat Pasta

Oatmeal

Fruit Smoothies

Peanut Butter

Dried Fruit (apricots, cranberries, kiwis, pears, pineapples, figs)

Yams

Lima Beans

Apples

Carrots

Chickpeas
Eat breakfast! This is absolutely the #1 "eating for energy" strategy. It gets your metabolism off to a strong start and makes nighttime snacking a thing of the past. (Coffee is not breakfast!)

Consistency is the Key!
Consistency is so important and  is something our society often overlooks. People are so focused on wanting things now that they aren't willing to spend the time consistently doing small things over time. This attitude results in loads of stress and lost opportunities.

Here's how you can reap the benefits of consistently doing small things:

First, pick small goals that can be somewhat easily integrated into your normal daily schedule. Examples include:

10 minute workout in the morning

Taking fruits and vegetables to work (packs of raisins, an apple, or a bag of carrots)

Giving yourself small breaks throughout the day to relax and de-stress

Working on a new skill for a certain amount of time each week

Next, set specific goals based on these, then write down the goals and track them.  Doing these small goals consistently will build a good foundation - a springboard for future success.

Once you do these steps, consistently setting and achieving goals becomes an upward cycle. As you gain momentum, you will want to continue achieving new goals. One thing to watch out for is losing focus on the goals that built your springboard, which can cause the whole thing to fall apart. Those goals should become good habits.

Consistently building new habits can lead to personal breakthroughs that wouldn't have otherwise happened. These principles can work for you in all areas of your personal and professional life. Consistency is the key!


We are what we repeatedly do, therefore excellence is not an act, but a habit-----Aristotle






I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED T-SHIRTS
I found these shirts advertised in SHAPE magazine and fell in love with the idea.  Go to the website by clicking on the pictures to read the story behind them.  I wearone  to remind me that nomatter how tough things get, I will NOT be defeated!   The shirts start at $20, but for me personally, worth every dime.  They come in ladies, mens and childrens'.  The mom that sells them is precious!

                    FRONT                                                      BACK
I have fallen in love with this chocolate rice treat!  My weakness is Cocoa Pebbles, so finding this was a dream come true!  These chocolate rice clusters are so delicious that it is hard to believe how low cal and low fat they are.  They are also wheat & gluten free.  Check out the nutrition ----------->
We also tried pouring them in a bowl with milk and it made an awesome cereal! If you do Weight Watchers, they count as 1 point.


They also come in cheddar, carmel, BBQ, and cinnamon flavors.

I purchased mine at my local health food store or you can order them online at
GIVE ME FOOD.COM


This is my new favorite power bar.  I absolutely LOVE it.  I love the taste, I love that it contains all whole raw foods, I love the way it makes me feel after I eat it!  I will be taking these to Tae Bo camp with me to eat as I work out.  They are so good for you and come in 3 types.  There is Summer Berry that is the Antioxidant Bar, the Super Seed Fiber Bar that has an Apple Cinnamon flavor and the the Green Bar that contains 21 different veggies and has a red raspberry flavor.  I purchased these from my health food store and you can find a retailer near you by going HERE
I was also able to find them available online by doing a google search and many online stores sell them.
You are valuable to God! He has a great future planned for you, and you need to be ready for it. In this exciting new release, Joyce shares twelve practical keys that will help you look and feel great. Working these principles into your life is not as hard as you may think and can make all the difference in the world. I have gotten a lot of my information from this book!  Highly recommended!

Going to CAMP!
The Scale Does Not Dicate Your Progress!
Frustrated & Disappointed?

Whichever you are, these emotions are enemies to all in the weight loss battle—especially when you feel like you have done everything right. For many trying to shed pounds, the elation from that initial weight loss is brought to a screeching halt when the scale stops moving. But, instead of viewing this as a setback, look for other ways to measure your progress besides the scale. After all, good health isn’t always measured in pounds.

Losing weight usually involves a relatively simple calorie equation: burn off more calories with daily activity than you consume through food. So what happens when these numbers indicate progress, but the scale doesn’t? Before the aggravation sets in, consider why this might be the case. If you’ve been hitting the gym on a regular basis, participating in both cardiovascular and strengthening exercises, then chances are good that you have shed some fat. But the scale might not indicate this because you have also been building lean muscle. Since muscle weighs more than fat, the scale might not reflect your hard work.

Non-Scale Signs of Progress

See results by taking a trip to your very own closet. Take out a pair of pants that fit snugly before you began your new, healthy habits. Are you able to ease into them, when before you had to sit (or lie) down and yank them up your legs? This is a sure sign of progress toward a leaner you! What about an old shirt? Is it now a little loose around your waist or arms? Also look for improved muscle definition when you check out your body in the mirror. There are many everyday indicators that you are firming up your body, from how your clothes fit to sitting more comfortably in a booth or small chair.


Aside from weight, use other numerical signs of progress. When you first start your program, take measurements of your waist, arms, neck and hips. Even if you are not losing pounds, you very well may be losing inches all over your body as your figure slims down and tones up with muscles. Measuring your body is more reliable than the scale alone. Other numerical indicators include a reduction of blood pressure or cholesterol, BMI, and body fat percentage.

So, which figures say the most about your own figure?  Read "Body Composition Measures Results" for instructions and explanations to help you see results. 


Monitor how a healthy diet and regular exercise affects your energy levels. Not only will you be able to work out for longer intervals of time, but everyday chores will also become easier. Whether cutting the grass or simply walking up the stairs, these behaviors will come effortlessly. Think of all the daily activities you could use more energy for—grocery shopping, house cleaning, playing with your kids, and more. Pretty soon you’ll be training for your first 5K!


Lastly, be conscious of how you feel emotionally.   You’ve been working hard to reach your goals. Hopefully, the hard work will come with a boost in self-esteem, confidence, and happiness. Are you beginning to feel more comfortable in your own body? Work to build a positive vocabulary to stay motivated.

Just because the scale has stopped moving doesn’t mean that you’ve hit a plateau in reaching your goals. Don’t give up out of frustration—all healthy behaviors are well worth the effort. Whether it’s better sleep at night or more energy throughout the day, start listening to the signs your body gives you that all of your hard work is paying off!

www.sparkpeople.com