Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed
In order to fulfill your destiny, you have to make a plan according to God's purposes to stay focused to fulfill that plan. Wake up each day knowing where you're headed, which direction you are taking and what you are going to accomplish----and stick with it! Don't allow the distractions and busyness of life get you off course. In Tae Bo®, when we are doing our moves, I always ask my students to look at their target. We have to keep focused on the attacker and not let anything distract us away. To me, the target, or attacker, is the enemy and he is determined to get you off by giving you distractions. The enemy knows that if you stay on track, he will be defeated so he will do his best to get you off track. Never take your eyes off that target! Think about when you do cross punches. Are you looking from side to side as you punch, or are you looking at your imaginary attacker that is in front of you? If you are looking everywhere else, you are being distracted. This is something very important that I have learned from Billy Blanks® & have held on tightly to this wisdom. Proverbs 4:25 says, "Keep your eyes fixed straight ahead. Don't look to the left and don't look to the right." Don't be distracted and spend your time and energy on things that are not helping you reach your goals. When you walk, sit, run or even do Tae Bo®, keep your head up, looking straight ahead, never down because down isn't going to get you to where you are supposed to be!
Remember, God's plans are blessed and as you walk in His plan for your life, you will experience His abundance in everything you set your hand to!
Okay, it is the Holiday Season. Your relatives are coming over, or you are traveling to visit them. You have a Christmas party every week and each of your kids have a couple you must prepare for. There are so many activities going on from sports to plays or even finals if you are in school, that your calendar is full, your checkbook is running on empty and you are getting little sleep since you are cooking goodies until midnight every night! You feel like you should be enjoying the winter holidays, but instead you are overwhelmed and stressed. Here are some tips to help reduce the Holiday Stress:
Reach Out: If you feel overwhelmed, don't be afraid to ask for help. Whether from a friend, loved one or even a professional, it is so important to talk to someone. We were not designed to hold it all in.
Healthy Diet: Eating healthy foods is especially important. Stress burns up major as well as minor trace minerals. One of the best anti-stress foods is potassium rich, no sugar added, orange juice. Fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables as well as oatmeal with flax are all great stress relievers.
Flax is SO good for you! You can click HERE to read about the benefits: Here is a recipe for some yummy bread!
1 1/4 c. ground flax seed
4 c. unbleached white flour
5 c. warm water
1/2 c. whey powder
4 tbsp softened raw honey
2 tsp salt
2.5 tbsp instant yeast
8 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. oatmeal flour
Combine water, honey & yeast & let sit for 3-4 min. In a bowl, mix the oatmeal, unbleached flour, ground flaxseed & whey powder. Add dry ingred. to yeast mixture and mix well. Beat for 5 min. by hand then add whole wheat flour and mix until dough is quite stiff. Knead. Let rise 15 min. Punch down and let rise another 15 min. Punch down and shape into 2 loaves. Let the bread rise until doubled in size. Bake loaves at 350 degrees for 40-45 min.
Click HERE for more recipes!
Exercise: Take a morning walk. Walking relieves stress and can help you get ready for your day with a positive attitude and will also help improve sleep. Yoga is also great for stretching and helps you learn diaphragm breathing and many other skills to attain a more peaceful mood. Taking Tae Bo® Classes will also renew the mind and body and give you great energy to get through your day!
Supplements: If you are not getting what you need in your food, good whole food/herbal supplements can help you greatly in stressful times. B-complex vitamins are known as anti-stress nutrients. They work in a synergistic balance to provide energy and alertness. A good whole food vitamin (made up of whole foods) as opposed to synthetic vitamins, that also contains trace minerals such as magnesium and potassium are important to add to your daily diet. A balanced body = a less stressed body both physically and mentally.
Nurture Yourself: The holidays can be stressful for everyone. Take time for yourself, get enough sleep (at least 7-8 hours) and use the tips above to bring yourself through the New Year rested, relaxed and healthy.
Looking Good Now! Magazine notified me that because they will become a quarterly magazine next year, there is a chance I will not be in it until 2008. I know several have asked about the status of this so I wanted to let you know that it might be another year, but we will be patient! God's timing is perfect & it will come out at the perfect time.
