My 30 Day Journey to Physical, Mental and Spiritual Fitness: Day 8

I woke up this morning rushing to Facebook to wish my dear little sister a happy birthday only to realize that it was the 21^stand not the 22^nd!  Ha!  What a relief and a prime example of what my week has been like.  I am still in expectation…I believe that something good is going to happen in my life! 

It’s actually happening now… Change is always good when it is for the better … I must admit that the change that I now desire will impact my life immensely.

I have a very full day ahead of me… So I don’t have time to belabor this point… However, today I am back on course to change!  And it feels so good!

Until Next Time,

M’Shonta

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:  The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort and convenience but how he stands at times of controversy and challenges. - Martin Luther King Jr.

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

For the Spirit:  The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. -Proverbs 24:16 (NLT)

My 30 Day Journey to Physical, Mental and Spiritual Fitness: Day 7

This week has been quite a challenge and it’s only Tuesday!  I am not sure why, but when you commit to change-challenges always seem to cling along. 
Physically and mentally, I am exhausted. This will make the 3^rdday in a row that I didn’t get to work out!  I have had extremely early mornings and very, very late nights due to delayed flights and prolonged work days!  Managing what I eat has been even more challenging, as the choices have been rather limited.  However, I have managed to maintain my commitment towards drinking water and getting as much sleep as my time has permitted. 

Tomorrow seems to be a bit more promising and I can see a glimpse of time that I will be able to complete my five mile workout and still be in bed at a reasonable hour. 

I must admit that it would be impossible to do all that I am able to do in day without the help of the Lord.  My spiritual life is the only thing that keeps me sane…keeps me seeking…keeps me going…keeps me joyous….keeps me creative and keeps me at peace.  I really don’t know what I would do or where I would be without my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Nevertheless, I must push pass the challenges and through the commotion and get back on my track to change!  I will not be SIDE TRACKED on my journey to physical, mental and spiritual fitness.  I am fully committed to change.

Until Next Time,

M’Shonta

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:  When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change…  -Paulo Coelho

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

For the Spirit:  "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair .. 2 Corinthians 4:8 (NIV)

My 30 Day Journey to Physical, Mental and Spiritual Fitness: Day 6

Six days down and counting.  Unfortunately, being a host on yesterday prevented me from getting my 5 mile walk in prior to the dark hours setting in… However, there are challenges in this journey in which you will have to make practical and wise choices… In this case, I chose to act logically and eat sparingly.  Due to my intense traveling schedule with my job; spending quality time with my husband and church friends trumped my walking {this time anyway}.

On the other hand, I weighed myself this morning and in spite of my failure to achieve my 5 mile goal on yesterday; I still managed to drop .2 pounds.  Not much, but definitely better than the alternative J.

This weekend was beautiful and I am so looking forward to a productive week.  There is something brewing in my spirit and I am in expectation of something awesome to happen in my life.  I have no clue as to what it may be, but I am so elated to serve a God that always gives great gifts.   He is awesome!

The word was so good on yesterday… I mean hmmm, hmmm good!  It even inspired me to come up with a series of posts on “Change” that I will share with you all on this blog over this 30 Day Journey.  I can’t wait to share and see the great revelation that He will reveal unto me!

 

Until Next Time,

M’Shonta

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 don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. - Maya Angelou

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

For the Spirit:  "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." {Romans 12:2}

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