"Do not cast away your confidence for it will be richly rewarded."
---Hebrews 10:35
God is constantly trying to plant new seeds of victory inside you! He's trying to increase you and enlarge your vision. He wants to take you to new levels of victory. But in order for this to happen, the seed has to take root in your heart. Before you're ever going to be successful, you've got to see yourself as being successful. Before your dreams come to pass, you've got to look through your eyes of faith and see them coming to pass.
The enemy does not want you to fulfill your destiny, so he immediately tries to discourage you and uproot the seed God planted. Do you ever notice that when you begin an exercise program, the first few weeks are the toughest. There are more distractions than you can imagine! I remember when I would turn on my video, the doorbell would ring, the phone would ring, the kids would need me or I would just decide I was too tired. Some people will use any excuse not to get to the gym or their aerobics class. Maybe you have worked out for a couple weeks and see no results with your eyes and want to give up. All these things are works of the enemy, trying to keep you off track, off your path to your destiny.
When I committed to getting into shape over 2 years ago, I visualized my new healthy body and it came to pass. When I visualized my Fit By Faith ministry and believed for it, it came to pass. When I believed and visualized my future as a Tae Bo instructor, it came to pass. But I had to believe it and see it, even though it had not yet happened and I had to never give up hope that it would come to pass.
In order to defeat the enemy in your life, you have to stay focused on God's promises. Constantly meditate on His promises, live a life that is pleasing and honoring to God, and thank the Lord for His faithfulness no matter what the circumstances look like. Before long. you'll begin to see the dreams God placed in your heart come to pass----dreams filled with blessing and victory!
FOCUS ON THE FUTURE
10 REASONS TO DRINK WATER
1. Water is absolutely essential to the human body’s survival. A person can live for about a month without food, but only about a week without water.
2. Water helps to maintain healthy body weight by increasing metabolism and regulating appetite.
3. Water leads to increased energy levels. The most common cause of daytime fatigue is actually mild dehydration.
4. Drinking adequate amounts of water can decrease the risk of certain types of cancers, including colon cancer, bladder cancer, and breast cancer.
5. For a majority of sufferers, drinking water can significantly reduce joint and/or back pain.
6. Water leads to overall greater health by flushing out wastes and bacteria that can cause disease.
7. Water can prevent and alleviate headaches.
8. Water naturally moisturizes skin and ensures proper cellular formation underneath layers of skin to give it a healthy, glowing appearance.
9. Water aids in the digestion process and prevents constipation.
10. Water is the primary mode of transportation for all nutrients in the body and is essential for proper circulation.
Leave behind three or four bites of your meal. Research shows that people usually polish off everything they're served, even if they're not hungry.
Skin your chicken after cooking it. You'll retain moisture yet still strip away 148 calories and 13 grams of fat.
Blend your smoothie for at least five minutes. According to a Pennsylvania State University study, people who drank a breakfast smoothie mixed to twice its initial volume ate about 100 fewer calories at lunch than when they drank the same smoothie at the original volume. The extra air makes you feel fuller, say researchers.
Eat your sandwiches and burgers open-faced, with one slice of bread instead of two.
Order a cup of soup as an appetizer. People who fill up on soup (that's broth- or tomato-based, not cream-based) consume about 100 fewer calories during the rest of the meal, says a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Swap your chocolate bar (235 calories) for a glass of light chocolate soy milk (120 calories).
Use butter-flavored nonstick spray, not a tablespoon of margarine or butter, to make grilled-cheese sandwiches and eggs.
Order a white-wine spritzer (80 calories) instead of a mixed drink (about 180 calories).
Easy Ways to Cut 100 Calories!
Making myself learn to drink water was one of my hardest challenges, but the results I have had and maintained since drinking enough water has done incredible things for my health. I often look back and wondered how I survived on such little water. We are to drink 1/2 our body weight in ounces to be properly hydrated and even more when exercising. During winter especially, do you ever notice how dry and cracked your face and lips feel? Exposure to hot/cold can cause that, but being hydrated can clear it up faster than anything else. When I drink enough water, I never have dry skin, even in harsh weather. Your complexion is so nice and glowing and you just FEEL better! Here are 10 reasons to drink water!
Do's & Don'ts on Weight Lifting
Oxygen Magazine published the Do's and Don'ts of Weight Training & I wanted to share them with you.
DO
Vary your workouts. Keep things changing to keep your body guessing.
Lift Weights if you want to lose weight. More lean tissue mass burns more calories.
Learn the principles. Read up on strength training!
Get an OK from your doctor.
DON'T
Hire an unqualified personal trainer. Make sure he or she is certified before you commit.
Do too much at once. If you are new to weight training, do a full body program that includes one move per body part.
Have an asymmetrical workout. Train each body part equally.
Over do it. You may want to see changes quickly, but if you overdo it, it will take longer in the end.
Strength Training Exercises
Incline Chest flies. Lay so that your upper back is on the top of the ball. Separate your knees until they are hip width apart. Place your feet directly under your knees. Know allow your hips to drop close to the floor. You upper body should be in an incline position. Lift the dumbbells up to the sky by extending your arms up. Don't lock your elbows. Pause here for one second and slowly lower the weight back to start.
All Around Crunches. Lie face up on ball and hold medicine ball in both hands. Begin with body draped over the ball, arms extended behind you. Contract the abs to lift upper back off the ball and bring the medicine ball towards your right thigh as you twist to the right, contracting the right side of waist then repeat on left side. Do several reps. This can be done with a dumbbell as well.
Medicine Ball Squat. To strengthen shoulders, muscles in the core, and legs all at once, hold a substantial medicine ball at your chest, with feet wide apart and toes turned out, as though you were standing close to a climbing wall with your hips held in close to the wall. Squat down with ball at your chest, and as you stand, press the ball up overhead. Repeat for desired number of repetitions. This is an excellent endurance builder for the whole body if you work up to continuous movement for 1-2 minutes at a time. Be sure you keep your torso erect, weight back in the heels, and shoulders back to remain in the proper position. This can also be done with a dumbbell or even a stability ball. For variation, do a golfer's squat by alternating leaning to the right and left as you bring up the ball/dumbbell.
