My 30 Day Journey to Physical, Mental and Spiritual Fitness: Day 5

Day 5. Five is the number of grace.  I need the grace of God as I continue on this journey.  In the midst of thunderstorm warnings; I managed to get in my five miles on yesterday!  Talk about grace and dedication!!! God held off the rain as I held on to my commitment!

Today will be a total different battle in my mind as I will be tempted with turnip greens, corn bread, baked chicken, pork chops, grape salad and the like.  Today I will battle with portion control and choices and I am in it to win it!

It is my hope that sharing this will be useful to someone, somewhere who desires change… Be blessed and follow me on this journey!

For the Mind:  “If you conquer yourself, then you conquer the world” ― Paulo Coelho, Aleph

For the Body:  Drink 8 bottles of water. Walk 5 miles. Don’t eat after 6.

For the Spirit:  “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Until Next Time,

M'Shonta

My 30 Day Journey to Physical, Mental and Spiritual Fitness: Day 4

It’s Saturday… there is a slight overcast here, but there is a happiness and a warmth in my heart that I can hardly contain! I am just at peace….  Blessed are the peacemakers!

I had a wonderful evening with my hubby yesterday watching our favorite shows and relaxing… It really did a lot for my mind, body and spirit to just rest!  However, today is a new day filled with new opportunities and obligations.  I will conquer them with grace!

I forgot to mention that I tried on my dress for my BIL’s wedding yesterday and it DID NOT FIT!!!  I literally gained about 15 pounds from the time that I ordered this dress until now... This journey could not have begun at a better time… It makes it so much easier to achieve a goal when you have an incentive…{BTW, I measured and I am about 4 inches away from bring able to zip this up}.

 I am not sure when I will be able to get my five miles in today due to the rain…but I can assure you that I will.  Until then, I will check off the other items on my list.  One of these days, I will be able to complete my closet organization project. LOL!

But I am learning through this journey to take one day at a time, one project at a time, one goal at a time…because I want to be around for a long time!

It is my hope that sharing this will be useful to someone, somewhere who desires change… Be blessed and follow me on this journey!

Saturday Morning Weight Loss Update: I weighed in today and I am at 139.8 pounds… Not a bad start, 1.8 pounds in 4 days…

For the Mind: I've been saying for a couple of years now that people need to let God out of the Sunday morning box, that He doesn't want to just be with you for an hour or two on Sunday morning and then put back in His box to sit there until you have an emergency, but He wants to invade your Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.-Joyce Meyer

For the Body:  Drink 8 bottles of water. Walk 5 miles. Don’t eat after 6.

For the Spirit:  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. –James 3:18

Until Next Time,

 

M'Shonta

My 30 Day Journey to Physical, Mental and Spiritual Fitness: Day 3

Today is Friday and I will be journeying home from a long, hard, enduring week of work.  My plane leaves at 7:00 a.m. so that means I will have to leave my hotel no later than 6:00 a.m.  So basically, after I finish 5:00 a.m. prayer I will have to jet set!!!

 

Yesterday was so mentally and physically exhausting that I have opted to take my cheat/break day today instead of Saturday.  I have to rest/regroup in order to prepare for some quality time at home with the wonderful hubby this weekend and another challenging week of work next week.

It so strange for me to say rest…because it is something that I rarely do.  I am not even sure that I know how to do it… Rest! But today I shall learn…

And so my friends… I am signing off… Shortly, I will be up, up and away… Heading back to Alabama the beautiful!’

See ya Saturday!

It is my hope that sharing this will be useful to someone, somewhere who desires change… Be blessed and follow me on this journey!

For the Mind: Ultimately, it’s not what you do every once in a while; it’s what you dedicate yourself to on a regular basis that makes the difference.

For the Body:  A day of rest!

For the Spirit: “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken {62:1-2}.”

Until Next Time,

M'Shonta

My 30 Day Journey to Physical, Mental and Spiritual Fitness: Day 2

Yesterday was H.A.R.D. but I made it through!  Glory to God!  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

Sleep is so important when embarking on this type of journey.  So I have decided that I am going to incorporate it into my daily regime.  This is big deal for me because I never get enough sleep. I’d often skimp on sleep in order to portray being the superwoman that I am not!  In doing some research on sleep I found the following article from The Harvard Women’s Health Watch suggesting six reasons to get enough sleep:

 

1.         Learning and memory: Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory through a process called memory consolidation. In studies, people who’d slept after learning a task did better on tests later.

2.        Metabolism and weight: Chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite.

3.        Safety: Sleep debt contributes to a greater tendency to fall asleep during the daytime. These lapses may cause falls and mistakes such as medical errors, air traffic mishaps, and road accidents.

4.        Mood: Sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate, and moodiness. Too little sleep can also leave you too tired to do the things you like to do.

5.        Cardiovascular health: Serious sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat.

6.        Disease: Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also help fight cancer.

After reading this it confirmed what I already knew… Sleep is too important for me to shortchange!  There is power in SLEEP!  I use to try to sleep as little as possible in order to fulfill the tasks that I had that ultimately outweighed my time. I now understand that just as exercise and nutrition are essential for optimal health and happiness, so is sleep. The quality of your sleep directly affects the quality of your waking life, including your mental sharpness, productivity, emotional balance, creativity, physical vitality, and even your weight. No other activity delivers so many benefits with so little effort!  I am taking it!  It is one the easiest things that I have to do on this 30 day journey! 

Today I am making sleep a priority!  Tonight I will make a conscious effort to pay off my sleep debt once and for all! 

It is my hope that sharing this will be useful to someone, somewhere who desires change… Be blessed and follow me on this journey!

For the Mind: You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. C. S. Lewis

For the Body:  Drink 8 bottles of water. Walk 5 miles. Don’t eat after 6. Sleep at least 7.5 hours.

For the Spirit: When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet {Proverbs 3:24}.

Until Next Time,

M'Shonta

My 30 Day Journey to Physical, Mental and Spiritual Fitness: Day 1

It all started with a photo that was taken at a wedding over the weekend.  There is nothing like a real look at reality… How did I let this happen?  How did I get so out of shape?

A million thoughts thundered through my mind…but only one stuck.  You have got to whip yourself back into shape…

So I am starting today… I don’t like where I am mentally, physically or spiritually. Mentally, I have consumed myself and my time with too many things… My plate is heaping with helpings and I have to learn how to serve up delegating tasks.   Physically, I have become inactive.  Once the wedding was over and my goal was reached… I have just been basking in happiness… I have to get back active and vow to stay the woman that my husband promised to spend forever with…

 

I understand that weight fluctuates… However, my dedication to staying fit and healthy should not.  I want to have a healthy family and I must commit to doing so today.  Spiritually- I am just not where I used to be… Yes, I still pray and read my word faithfully every morning, but I desire that intimate relationship with God.  I love being in His presence and hearing His still soft voice.  There is nothing like parking in the peace of God.

 

The reasons listed above gives a high level view as to why I am beginning this 30 Day Journey to Physical, Mental and Spiritual Fitness.  This will take discipline, hard work, dedication and determination.  I am all in.  I want to change more than I want to stay the same… I don’t desire to go “back” to where I used to be, but I’d rather journey to somewhere I have “never been before.” A place where my spirit, mind and body are all in agreement and living out God’s perfect will for my life….

My spiritual mother teaches that we are three part being: mind, body and spirit.  So each day I will share the tools that I am using to motivate my mind, body and spirit to achieve my ultimate goal of being fit in every area of my life.

It is my hope that sharing this will be useful to someone, somewhere who desires change… Be blessed and follow me on this journey!

Starting Weight: My starting weight is 141.6 {the heaviest I have ever been}! Going forward, I will update my weight loss on Saturday Morning.  My ultimate goal is to get back down in the 125-128 range and to continue to live a healthy lifestyle.

For the Mind: Today you will only do that which you can do… The rest will remain until you arise tomorrow.

For the Body:  Drink 8 bottles of water. Walk 5 miles. Don’t eat after 6.

For the Spirit: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, but to he that endures until the end.

Until Next Time,

M'Shonta

An Eye for Entertaining

Planning events is fairly a newfound talent for me… However, my friends think differently.  After doing a few friend-a-views, I discovered that I apparently had a niche for planning and entertaining that dated back to my early high school years…  Perhaps it was the practicality that I saw in everything…or the fact that I leaned towards purchases that would serve a dual purpose…or maybe that I loved all things beautiful and believed that a Simple Sunday Dinner could be easily converted into a Stunning Sunday Soiree… I am not 100% sure of its origin, but like fashion, I believe that entertaining starts with an eye.

I love to plan and I love to entertain.  Nothing makes me happier than making someone else happy!  Over the past few years, I have planned numerous events… I have carried out countless themes… and I have delivered smiles to many faces… When I look back at some of my earlier events… I cringe!!!! Much like looking back at my 7^th grade photo when I wore hunter green overalls, white Ked’s, a blue striped sweater, unkept bangs and unibrow!  Then I quickly remind myself that time has brought about tremendous growth and change.  How true!  This is also applicable in my event planning and entertaining!  Over time, I have been able to develop my personal style and to incorporate the trends of today’s top party planners…

I don’t have a desire to become a professional event planner nor do I have the desire to do a million parties for the general public… However, I do have a desire to celebrate those in my life first class!  I want to make birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries, retirements, holidays and etcetera a big deal because they are!  Celebrating monumental moments in life are a big deal!  Oprah Winfrey said it best, "The more you praise and celebrate your life; the more there is in life to celebrate."   

I recently styled and planned a baby shower for a church member and dear family friend… The theme started with a cute stuffed bumble bee that I found on clearance in Hobby Lobby for less than $3.  The wheels immediately started turning and I immediately started scouring my home, the stores and the internet for inspiration.  Many of the items that I used to style this {bee} themed shower was already in my possession... I set a very small budget and found some really cute pieces that aided in tying the theme together.  All in all I was in love with the outcome… People are still {buzzing} about the shower… The mother-to-{bee} is still glowing… And the love and compassion that was poured out during our time of fellowship is still {flowing} like {honey}…

 

It’s true… Beauty is in the eye of the {bee}holder… We, who are blessed to possess the {eye}, are responsible for sharing the beauty that we see {in fashion, art, makeup, music and even event planning} with others..

Do you have an {eye}?  How are you showcasing the beauty that you are blessed to {bee}hold?

Until Next Time,

M’Shonta

Mrs. Turner Cooks: Scotch Eggs

Happy Freedom Day Everyone!

I am sure that many of you are grilling all around the country today!!!! My wonderful hubby and I will journey over to our parents home this afternoon to enjoy the best grilled steaks in the world!  His dad makes the most flavorful and delicious steaks that I have ever placed in my mouth :)!  But... we will have to wait until this afternoon to savor that deliciousness!  Until then....I made something new for breakfast and it was a hit with the hubs....

A few months ago my forever friend found these eggs while watching a YouTube channel... She later found the recipe below:

{Source}

 

 

These turned out phenomenal!  I can’t wait to pair these with some waffles or crescent rolls in the future… but today we enjoyed them with steamed rice and bacon!  Yummy!