Author: AMANDA WRIGHT

#FitFaithFriday My Interview with former Helicopter Pilot and West Point Health Instructor

Post author By AMANDA WRIGHT
Post date May 20, 2016

#FitFaithFriday: [Video Interview] Laura McKenna

God is so good. This week I actually had planned another teaching and was preparing to do that video, but when I decided to take the opportunity to volunteer with a new church I've been enjoying here in the Silicon Valley (C3 Church), I met this gorgeous and AMAZING mom, Laura McKenna. What can I say, God always seems to just KNOW.

Laura is IMMEDIATELY someone that shines her light upon you and you feel the warmth of her love and energy. She and I met while washing some walls of this house for Habitat for Humanity and 30 seconds in we both discovered that we both were health coaches that now love CrossFit!

Getting to hear her background of her Army upbringing, education and employment as West Point is all astonishing enough...but then to hear her heart on why she now feels called to help others with their Health & Wellness is simply beautiful.

I'm really excited that I was able to do this quick interview with her (we kinda took a break from our volunteering!) and the fact that it was in person for once, which means I might actually get to hang out with this girl again, just gives me such joy.

I hope you enjoy her interview! She's simply AWESOME!

P.S. she was a little sad she didn't have makeup and looked "nice"...but all I can stare at is her ripped arms and beautiful smile?! How about you?! 😉

Don't Have Time To Watch The Video?

Here are the Highlights 😉

Introduction to Laura McKenna

LM: So i’m an Army brat, who then went to West Point, graduated, commissioned and then was a military police officer. Then [I] branch transferred to aviation, flew helicopters for a bit. Then just some blessings and blessings and the Army sent me to grad school. [I] got my master’s degree in Physical Education, Kinesiology, Performance Nutrition, Biomechanics all that cool stuff. Teaching and coaching, I got to teach at the Military Academy at West Point for four years. Then when I got out of the Army, just discerning my calling. Asking God how I can be of the most use? How can He put me to use for His mission, is how I ended up as a health coach. I really want to help people be fit and well. Because the more full you are as a person the fitter you are, the more you have to give others. I really want to help people get there in their own lives.

How Does Faith Impact Your Fitness & Vice Versa?

LM: Fitness has always been an aspect of my life (2:15) Both are important foundations for your life. But the way that they impact each other is, my faith helps me to have that control and discipline. (2:35) My fitness has impacted my faith because it empowers me and gives me a greater capability to serve others. Service requires stamina, it requires the physical ability and the mental ability and you get all of those benefits from being physically fit.

“Strength is for Service not for Status” Romans 15:1

On the #1 Struggle She See's Women Face:

LM: The biggest thing that I see with women is that they don’t think that they deserve it and that stems from 1.) The belief that “I am not enough” which is FALSE. And 2.) the belief that it is selfish… I struggled with this too.

(4:24) [My friend], Molly Wright, shared this with me years ago and I have just so taken it to heart.

In an airplane, if the cabin loses pressure, why do you apply your own oxygen mask first? Well because if you pass out you cannot help anybody else. You’re not in a position to help others so it has really helped me shift my focus to if I am able, if i’m taking care of myself first, from that abundance that I feel, from that health, I’m going to help others… It’s actually the foundation for selflessness… You are enough, you are beautifully and wonderfully made.

Fruits of the Spirit: On How She Finds JOY In Her Health:

(6:26) Two things there, one is the feeling of accomplishment that you have when you complete a tough workout.

I had a PR during my deadlift yesterday and i’m stoked. That’s JOY… it’s an accomplishment, and I’m proud of and excited about it. The other part is tapping into a community, I’m a Crossfit athlete, I love the community of Crossfit. Getting out of the Army I really miss the shared suffering of working out this other people… everyone is just encouraging each other, supporting each other, and building each other up.

Find Laura on Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/laura.k.mckenna

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Fit Faith Friday Spiritual Health

{FitFaithFriday} Battling Orthorexia with Silivia Martinez

Post author By AMANDA WRIGHT
Post date May 13, 2016

#FitFaithFriday: [Video Interview] Overcoming Orthorexia & a Failed Marriage with God

What a true privilege it was to be able to do a video interview this week with my Fit & Faithful friend, Silvia Martinez!

Silvia was brave enough to share her testimony with us for the FIRST TIME of her painful experience battling years of ORTHOREXIA which led her to a divorce and ultimately a wake-up call.

It's a really important message for us all to hear, not only because I think it's becoming a common psychological disorder with the growing competitive fitness industry, but more importantly, her testimony shares just how strong and might God is!

He has turned her "mess into a message" as she says and is bravely making friends with food again! Her story will inspire you as it did me!

You can also catch the AUDIO download of this video on SoundCloud for on the go listening! Here's the LINK TO THAT

Don't Have Time To Watch The Video?

Here are the Highlights 😉

Silvia's health credentials (2:17)

I am a certified personal trainer along with a fitness and nutrition specialization and also weight loss. I am almost done with hormone specialist certification. That certification led from a disorder of orthorexia, which messed up my metabolism.

Struggling with her body image (3:20)

Growing up I did have a lot of self esteem issues. I'm Hispanic and our hips and behinds tend to be a bit bigger.

I think the struggle comes when we are trying to compare and trying be someone else. And we get away from God's purpose in our life.

This is how I was when I was growing up and I ended up bringing it into my marriage. I was trying to be self-ambitious in my body. I tried to do
bikini and figure competitions but I never got to do them because of fear.

I started falling apart. I distanced myself away from my parents, my close friends and even my husband.

Orthorexia explained (5:47)

Orthorexia is an extreme disorder on food safety. I got traumatized of all the chemical and things that food had. And of course the fitness industry
markets to that and tells you you have to eat this and that to get six-pack abs. Even in celebrations and out to eat, I would bring my own food. I was afraid to eat in public places because I was afraid I was going to get fat or there was something that was going to contaminate with my body.

And then I had an obsession exercise if I did eat something. Even if I was sick in bed I would still have to workout because I felt so guilty that I ate a bad meal, or what I thought in my mind was a bad meal.

It was a gift that I loved to study all that (food). That is where the enemy tries to steal from us the peace that we are to have from Jesus Christ. Our fixation needs to be on God and not on our body and making idols out of ourselves.

Her lowest point . . . (8:00)

My divorce was rock bottom for me. My husband didn't recognize the person I was anymore.

It was hard, but (now) I thank God for that experience because it has let God make the woman that HE has wanted me to become. It's now a testimony.

Turning it all around (9:00)

More than anything I have become friends with food. Food is not the enemy, it is US that makes it an enemy. It's ok now if I eat a cake, or eat Barbecue with greasiness. But more than anything, it's about being at PEACE in my heart. More than anything it's about SURRENDERING to God.

How fitness impacts her Faith....(14:20)

One of the things I do see in women is our identity issues. Sometimes we feel like we need to be "better" to look like "so and so" and we need to look a certain way to be acceptable.

But with Faith, you realize that our INNER health is more important. I call it becoming "Spiritually Fit" so we can portray the radiance and the light of a healthy body.

On how Faith impacts her Fitness (16:40)

As my identity is more rooted in Jesus Christ I see my fitness as just a beautiful GIFT. Many people don't have that ability to walk, run, to see the sun, and to breathe. It's amazing what our bodies can do and what God has given us. He gives us this ability and we need to use it with gratitude.

Growing more JOY in her health (17:50)

I use the acronym J.O.Y:

Jesus-Others-You
This is the order in which we can experience the most JOY in life. I make my fitness more as an act of service.

Women's #1 struggle (20:40)

It is the identity that we question. We are beautiful no matter what. We don't need to compare ourselves to others. Instead of pulling each other down we should be pushing each other up! If you're good at cooking, then hey, come and join me! I can give you the nutrition if you can show me how to cook!

We all have different gifts!

Lessons learned (24:30)

Learning to love people for who they are. They are who He created them to be. I myself can't change them. He's been teaching me it's not always my way. People are not always going to be perfect just like I'm not perfect. And just like Jesus accepts us and loves us, we also need to accept others and love others.

Find Silvia on Social Media:
Instagram: @silvialm83
Facebook. Silvia L. Martinez

The DIY Guide to

Nutrient Based Eating for Fat Loss!

To be the first on the list, feel free to sign up HERE and I'll send you a FREE infographic on HOW to eat Nutrient Based!

Fit Faith Friday Food & Nutrition Spiritual Health

Rooting Out 3 Most Common Fear-Based Eating Habits

Post author By AMANDA WRIGHT
Post date May 6, 2016

#FitFaithFriday: [Video Teaching] How to Overcome Fear In Our Eating

This week I unpack God's word to help us overcome the top 3 fear-based eating tendencies most common among women today.

Using 2 Timothy 1:7 I encourage you to dive into your SPIRITUAL nature to in habituating and choosing your foods rather than our human, fleshy, and fear-based nature.

2 Timothy 1:7 says:

It says, "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

Recognizing how fear is impacting our eating is the first step toward changing it to being empowered by God and our Spiritual nature.

Don't Have Time To Watch The Video?

Here are the Highlights 😉

1:35 Unpacking 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV and AMP
3:20 Talking Spiritual Nature vs Fleshy Nature

7:45 #1 Fear-Based Habit is: Waiting for the "Right Time" to start your better eating habits.

The #truth is that you have the "power, love, and self-discipline" to take the NEXT BEST STEP from where you are right now. You don't have to do everything 'just right' and use that as a delay tactic, you don't have to fear the negative feelings from deprivation because you can still enjoy the foods you love, you can do what you can with where you are NOW.

You can get the Next Best Step Action Plan FREE PDF right ---> Here

13:38 #2 Fear-Based Habit is: Exercising "Controlling" Eating Habits (i.e. being 'on plan') with Fear instead of Love.

This one is tricky because a lot of people will think they are being "self-controlled" with their eating plans and rules but the reality is that their plan is controlling them! It's affecting their mood, their self-talk, and causes more feelings of guilt and condemnation when things go wrong.

You can determine if you are in a Spiritual form of self-control by the "FRUITS" that this choice is showing. Jesus said, "You know a tree by it's fruit" so if this IS the will of God, it will allow you to be more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, gentle etc.

If it's NOT, then you know you are rooting yourself in FEAR BASED CONTROL and you might need to change up the "plan" approach. One way is to use a GUIDE, like my Nutrient Based Eating guide that doesn't include the RULES and micromanaging.

18:29 #3 Fear-Based Eating Habit is: Social Pressures of Eating

Whether it's the "fear of missing out," a scarcity mentality, or just eating what everyone else is eating so you don't make them or you "feel uncomfortable" all of these fear based tendencies invoke the greatest temptation to eat more than we need or to eat or drink things that don't serve our health goals.

You need more of your Spiritual "POWER, LOVE, and SELF-DISCIPLINE" to be the change you wish to see in the world and to be a shining example to those around you of what health can look like.

It should be joyful, peaceful and confident choices for you to resist the temptation of what everyone else is eating.

The DIY Guide to

Nutrient Based Eating for Fat Loss!

To be the first on the list, feel free to sign up HERE and I'll send you a FREE infographic on HOW to eat Nutrient Based!

Health Coaching Spiritual Health

Living Joy Out Loud with Ashley Banks

Post author By AMANDA WRIGHT
Post date April 28, 2016

Introduction to Ashley Banks:

As I have been loving doing this year-long series on the living a more FRUITFUL health (refer to Galatians 5:22-23) and anticipating getting to this fruit of JOY, the VERY FIRST person I thought of when I thought of the word joy was Ashley Banks.

Have you ever known one of those people that just exudes joy? They just have this positive and happy energy around them and you just gravitate toward them? Well, that is Ashley 100%. I had the privilege of knowing Ashley while we both taught and trained at a gym in Denver, CO back in 2012-2014.

So imagine my utter shock when I found out just last year, from a bold post of brave honesty, that Ashley had been raped by her doorman while living in New York City in 2008.

This tragic occurrence was vastly incongruent with the contagiously JOYFUL friend I have known all this time! I think I was among most of us who thought that happy people got that way simply because they didn't have tragic circumstances.

Given this history, no one in their right mind would EXPECT Ashley to be as joyful as she is. We would all give her a "PASS" if she had a hard time in life. But, Ashley isn't like that. She doesn't life a life for excuses.

She CHOOSES JOY every day. Still living in Denver, she is now happily married, traveling the world and living the life of her dreams as a fitness instructor and health and mindset coach.

You are going to love all she has to say on how she "chases possibility" every day in health, mindset and life!

Don't Have Time To Watch The Video?

Here are the Highlights 😉

Happiness Is A Choice (Minute 5:00)
“I choose joy. It was hard and it was something I trained myself to do. The more I did it, the easier it got. I feel like it was something I was as a child and then just chose to come back to it.”

Rising Up and Remaining Hopeful After Surviving Rape (Minute 7:30)

Ashley was raped by her doorman while living in New York City in 2008.

"I choose to look not at what happened to me but on what came from it. I moved to Colorado six months after that happened and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. So I see the possibility that came from that dark time….and I now chase the POSSIBILITY in life.

My hope wasn’t a conscious thing more just an inner knowing."

Handling Losing a Job (Minute 10:00)

"I learned during this rather embarrassing and humbling time from getting fired to then how simple life could be. I was making twenty dollars per class teaching yoga, all my bills were getting paid, and I was loving life. I learned there will always be a way and that I will always come out better than when I started."

How To Make Working Out FUN! (Minute 13:00)

"I teach classes because I am all about getting people together. I make sure there’s good music. And most importantly I set my INTENTION, once again, to choose to make it a fun experience. It’s the same amount of energy spent hating something or enjoying it, so I might as well choose to enjoy it!"

The Power of Choice (Minute 16:00)

(Mandi) "I almost look at choosing JOY as this competitive way that we can defeat the darkness in life. I use it as a personal challenge to WIN in life; that I’m not going to let the darkness win."

Philosophy Regarding Worry (Minute 17:30)

"Worry and happiness are both emotions. Emotion is really just ENERGY in MOTION. So the only difference between WORRY or JOY is what you are focusing on. Most of the time we are worrying simply because we are focusing on what we DON’T want to happen instead of what we DO want. I simply change my focus."

Creating an Environment of Joy (Minute 21:00)

"I intentionally express joy by making t-shirts, wearing bracelets, and putting a pop-up reminder in my phone three times a day that says “Let it Go” and I usually start singing the Frozen song at that time too. I create this awareness for JOY so I remember to choose it."

Questioning, But Also Living By Your Emotions (Minute 23:50)

"I believe its up to all of us to create our ANCHOR and our identity comes from that. You mentioned the Bible and your Faith being your anchor. I don’t really have a label for mine and I didn’t grow up religious so I kind of created my own anchor that has become my CERTAINTY."

The Ability To Laugh At Yourself (Minute 26:00)

"The other day I was teaching a class and yelling at this guy “Peter!” to work only to realize three-fourths of the way through that his name was Greg. I do things like this all the time and send out emails to the wrong people etc. I’m pretty clumsy and everyone just shakes their head. But, it’s funny and I laugh about it."

To work more with Ashley Banks you can follow her on her Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/ashley.hawkins.3388

To participate in one of her upcoming Life Balance 45-Day Challenges, visit the link http://growth-u.com/ and contact her on Facebook!

The DIY Guide to

Nutrient Based Eating for Fat Loss!

To be the first on the list, feel free to sign up HERE and I'll send you a FREE infographic on HOW to eat Nutrient Based!

Fit Faith Friday

{FitFaithFriday} FitFaith Life with Stephanie Felder!

Post author By AMANDA WRIGHT
Post date March 11, 2016
1 Comment on {FitFaithFriday} FitFaith Life with Stephanie Felder!

My Interview with Stephanie Felder:

I saw Stephanie through social media of course! So say what we will about some of the negative aspects of social media, I am SO glad it exists so I might have a chance to find more incredible women like Stephanie! This is why I find using social media growth services similar to nitreo so rewarding because it allows people like Stephanie to reach an audience they would have never reached without a little help. On Instagram her username is “FitFaith Life” and I pretty much *knew* we’d be a good “fit” for each other and this cause, ya know what I mean? I’m truly inspired by her story because I think it’s one that is so relatable to so many women we all know!
Just like me, she shares that she realized just how much her FAITH grew when she attempted to improve her FITNESS. And we both know that this can be true for you too and we simply want to encourage that process along! So thank you Stephanie for being another bright and shiny light who has been touched by God to carry His message in your own unique way too! You are a blessing!

Me: Tell us a little bit about what you do and how you started your business?

Stephanie: My fitness journey was born out of my need to lose weight after having two babies back to back at the ages of 40 and 41. I had gained about 50 pounds with each pregnancy and I had reached a place where my vision of myself in my 40’s did not match my reality, so I decided to do something about it. In the process, I decided to hold myself accountable to my goals by sharing my experiences through a website which at the time I called Team Fit Mommy. I was blessed to be able to stay home with my children for four years which really allowed me to focus on my fitness goals. After reaching my goals and recently returning to work as a teacher, I realized that my fitness journey really paralleled my faith journey. I gained the understanding that without faith it would have been impossible for me to accomplish my fitness goals. I also felt led to share this knowledge with others so that they can grow in their faith walk and in their fitness capacity. So in 2015 I rebranded my website and it became FitFaith Life.

I like to think of FitFaith Life as a virtual coach for faith and fitness. I am currently in the process of getting my certification as a personal trainer.

Me:How has your Faith impacted your Fitness and your Fitness impacted your Faith?

Stephanie: As I mentioned before, I grew to understand that without my faith, specifically my belief in Jesus, I would not have been able to accomplish my fitness goals. In turn, I believe that it is my reasonable sacrifice and my responsibility to take care of the gift of health and mobility that God gave me.

Me: What is the biggest struggle you see women facing today? How do you think Faith and/or Fitness can help them in finding a solution?

Stephanie: I think the number one thing that women struggle with today is self image. I think that we often have a challenge in seeing ourselves the way that God sees us. We want to conform to the images portrayed by the world and find ourselves swimming against the current of social media and pop culture. With this being said, if you are looking to make a living through social media (such as Instagram), with there being companies such as socialfollow who offer free Instagram followers, not everyone is using their platform for it to be only about self image. Anyone can create accounts for anything, whether it is fashion related, fitness/health, motivation and more.

We have to live in this world but we don‘t have to live up to the standards of the world. In fact we should lift up God’s standard of excellence and beauty so that the world wants to be more like us.

Me: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned recently?

Stephanie: The biggest lesson I have learned is that if I put my confidence in God I can really do anything.

Me: What dreams do you have for this year and for the future? What role do you expect God to play in developing these into realities??

Stephanie: I have so many dreams but one of the things that God has placed in my heart to do this year is to hold a FitFaith Life Bootcamp. It will be a time for “fierce faith” and “fierce fitness”. I believe that God has already equipped me with everything and everyone I need to make this a reality. Now it’s just time for me to do the work because faith without works is dead.

Me: I am just starting a blog series on living with FRUITFUL HEALTH where we are walking through how to live the 9 Fruits of the Spirit in our health. We are starting off with LOVE of course! Can you tell us how it is that you have found a way to LOVE taking care of your health? How do you know it is REAL love?

Stephanie: I honestly LOVE taking care of my health because I realize it is a gift! My mother died at the age of 48 from a brain aneurysm. My best friend died at the age of 36 from cancer. I have a husband and two small children who depend on me and I want to be around for a long long time. How can I say I love myself, them and God if I am not willing to make some sacrifices to be healthy and strong? Love is about sacrificing for others but just as much love is also about taking care of oneself.

Me:Is there anything you have coming up that we can join you in?

Stephanie: Right now the FitFaith Life Community on Facebook is in the midst of a free Lean Leg Challenge. (https://www.facebook.com/events/504912299691471/) Each day we do a set amount of leg focused exercises. I post the daily sets in the group and on social media and we keep each other accountable in our event group.

We also have a FitFaith Life Bloggers Connection(https://www.facebook.com/groups/1654423751502637/) which is an awesome community of faith and fitness bloggers. Members share each other’s content and support one another spiritually. We really hope that the group will grow and become a major resource in the blogging world.

The FitFaith Life is about honoring our bodies with daily exercise and healthy foods. 3 John 2 NKJV states “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” Our mission is to help people become all that God has designed for them to be. By expressing how grateful we are for health and fitness, we encourage others to begin their journey to wholeness as well. Visit us at our website www.fitfaithlife.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TeamFitMommy/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/fitfaithlife/
Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/fitfaithlife
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/FitFaithLife/

Fit Faith Friday Fitness & Training

{FitFaithFriday} Meet Anna Willard of IronWillTrain!

Post author By AMANDA WRIGHT
Post date February 27, 2016

I "met" Anna through my business mentorship program under our mutual mentor, Jill Coleman's Best Of You Coaching Club. It was such a nice relief to find more and more of these women sprinkled throughout this industry and I love all that Anna gets to go and do while glorifying God. Whether she is water skiing like a CHAMP or just passionately pursuing new ways to push her clients, she has a spark.

Fresh into starting A. Wright Fit, I especially appreciated her reaching out to me to tell me that she loved that I was being open about my faith through my business. That kind of feedback can be so empowering for a recovering "people pleaser" who can tend to worry about "what other people think" more often than I'd like to admit. Sharing our Faith is not always "easy" but she and I can both agree, it is always worth it! I'm honored to share more about Anna's journey with you today!

Me: Tell us a little bit more about what you do and how you came to start it?

Anna: I have been personal training for five years and within this past year I took the leap of faith and started my own business IronWillTrain.

Why did I want to start my own business you ask? My mission in life is to help people see their power potential and reach their wildest dreams by strengthening them physically. I do this with the powerful tool: the kettlebell. The kettlebell allows everyone to feel they own power and how athletic they can be! Once I am able to physically empower someone through strength training and the kettlebell swing, they start to believe they have the strength, the courage and the will to achieve their dreams.

IronWillTrain is much more than training the body; it is learning how to train the mind through physical strength. It is a journey. Learning to train different aspect of life like patience, trust, and diligence (just to name a few). There are other aspect everyone will learn through their journey, I simply guide them and help them develop a power practice.

Me: How do you think your Fitness impacts your Faith and your Faith impacts your Fitness?

Anna: When I started playing sports in grade school, I realized I was given an amazing athletic ability. Most importantly, I saw this as a gift from the Man up stairs. I started viewing this gift as a responsibility to give Him the glory. I remember when at the basketball free throw line saying a little pray this is for you Lord. The times I played for someone other than Him (like myself wanting the spot light) I would have one of the worst games of my life! This is when I realized my fitness and Faith are the same.

The Lord has taught so many things through my strength but much more through my weakness. I have experienced many injuries, but every time the Lord has taught me the importance of Trust, Patience and Forgiveness.

It has been a journey seeing how Faith and Fitness are the same! We are all given a gift of life with an amazing complex human body that is designed to do amazing things! And the amazing part is God wants to work through this vessel this body! Fitness and health is both a joy and an obligation to maintain! It is a gift we are able to give back to the Lord and to give back to those who we love.

So to answer your question, fitness is me taking action on my Faith. Faith is not faith without actions. We have this beautiful opportunity to take action with our Faith through Fitness; it is simple making sure who gets the glory.

Me: What is the number one thing that you see women struggling with today? How do you think Fitness and/or Faith can help her in that struggle?

Anna: Wearing confidence with beauty, many women are not confident in their own beauty. We all have a very unique specific beauty that is designed for each of us to wear. Many times women will hide their beauty with food, with stress, and/or with work. Or we don’t even see our own beauty because we are to busy looking and admiring others’ beauty. Seeing beauty in other is wonderful! But remember to be able to recognize beauty means you have beauty living inside of you!

Fitness allows women to build their confidence right away! Slowly I believe they start to see how amazing their bodies are and how exclusive their own body is created! Faith is trusting how our bodies are created differently but all reflecting a different aspect of beauty.

Confidence comes from trusting in our own beauty!

It is like the Sunsets, there is never one sunset that is the same. Us as women are all different reflections of His beautiful Glory. We simply need to stand in his presence to reflect it!

Me: What is the biggest lesson you've learned recently?

Anna: Wow where do I begin? There have been so many lessons the Lord has taught me through this journey of starting my own business. I am constantly reminded I am nothing without the Strength of the Lord.

Just like fitness, when I try to muscle through an exercise routine versus focusing on the skill itself I end up working too hard or worse, injuring myself. When I don’t go before the Lord, I do the same thing in life; I try to work and muscle my way through life forcing things that are meant to be. I make it harder than it really needs to be. So to answer your question is TRUST! Trusting the Lord has me right where I need to be. Trusting he will give me the strength for the next task at hand or simply the right words to say.

The verse that has been guiding me is Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Me: What dreams do you have for this year and for the future? What role do you expect God to play in developing these into realities?

Anna: As a beginning entrepreneur, there are so many ideas swimming in my head! But I feel the Lord is creating a movement with these ideas into one big wave! And I am excited to ride this wave he is creating in me. So to be more specific, my first goal is to launch a beginners Kettlebell course online! YIKES! Ok I put it out there now its time to deliver! Here we go!

ME: I am just starting a blog series on living with FRUITFUL Health and walking through how to live the 9 Fruits of the Spirit in our health. We are starting off with LOVE of course! Can you tell us how it is that you have found a way to LOVE taking care of your health? How do you know it's REAL love?

Anna: LOVE It!

Love is forgiveness! Forgiving yourself, forgiving your loved ones, and the hardest forgiving those who feel like enemies.

Forgiving yourself is the start of loving yourself and knowing you are loved. I know for myself and for the women I work with this one of the hardest aspects of love. Forgiving yourself for overeating, for lack of exercise… but also forgiving yourself on the harder things like a divorce, a miscarriage, and debt . . . the list could go on.

Forgiveness allows us to experience LOVE despite our faults. It creates a new opportunity for us to create a different outcome!

ME: Is there anything you have coming up that we can join you in?

Anna: YES! HOPE. DREAM. BELIEVE!

These have been my theme words the Lord has given me on my journey of life! I will be creating an emails serious coming in mid March how to train your hopes and dreams to give you power to believe!

I will be sharing parts of my story, parts of stories I have read, and inspirational quotes. Most importantly I will be including what the Bible says about these words! I am super excited about this!

If you'd like to connect with Anna, you can find her on these social media platforms!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/coachannawillard

Twitter: https://twitter.com/coachwillard_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ironwilltrain/ & https://www.instagram.com/annasplash_
Website: www.ironwilltrain.com & www.annasplash.com

You can follow Anna on the above social media platforms to find out more about her!

Join my on my 26 day trip around the world to learn how I stay healthy on the road!

Subscribe to this email list HERE and you'll receive regular updates on how I follow my "Nutrient Based Eating" plan in Washington D.C; Philadelphia, PA; New York NY; Munich, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; and Maui, Hawaii!

You'll also get my quick and dirty hotel workouts, my go-to snacks I pack, and a bunch of video and pictures of all that I am so lucky to experience!

I hope you'll join me in on the Nutrient Based Fun! Sign up today and you'll receive my Free Infographic on the 5 Steps To Building Your Nutrient Based Plate!

Uncategorized

{FitFaithFriday} Meet Kara Osborne of Wellness Witness!

Post author By AMANDA WRIGHT
Post date February 19, 2016

Me: Tell us a little bit more about what you do and how you came to start it?

Kara: Hello! I’m Kara and I live in NC with my husband and two kids. Up until last year I worked as a school counselor and fully expected to stay in this career for years! My undergraduate degree was in Education and my Master’s in Counseling, so when God called me to launch a faith based fitness ministry, I had no clue what He was up to! I officially began my ministry Wellness Witness on January 1, 2014 and God has used it to change not just my life, but also my family’s lives, my career, and my community. I now work full-time running this ministry which involves teaching local fitness classes, blogging, writing, speaking, and also run an online membership community of women who are trying to get healthier HIS way called the At-Home TRIBE.

Me: How do you think your Fitness impacts your Faith and your Faith impacts your Fitness?

Kara: When I FINALLY learned to get healthy, I did it the Lord’s way. I stopped seeking ‘fitness experts’ opinions, I stopped buying all the shakes, supplements, and products, and I started seeking the Lord. Turns out, it’s all connected. You can have a super fit, strong body and still have a heart far from the Lord. He has taught me much about this area and now I get to spend my days teaching others HIS truth about true wellness and wholeness.

Me: What is the number one thing that you see women struggling with today? How do you think Fitness and/or Faith can help her in that struggle?

Kara: I actually think there are THREE main issues, but they are all related…. I am so weary with seeing women striving to perform, putting their worth in their weight, and then competing with one another. I know this must break God’s heart. We women tend to decide that something is wrong with us. Then we strive, struggle, hustle, and work with all our might to try to “FIX” our problem. We utilize tools that are not good indicators of success such as the scale and then allow it to dictate to us our value, worth, and success. When we see other women doing well, it makes us mistakenly decide that we are not. We incorrectly see HER victory as OUR defeat. All three of these issues come from the same place: We have forgotten how much we are loved. A woman who doesn’t know that she is fully known and fully loved by the Lord is dangerous. She will spend her days trying to do more, be more, and have more and be unable to recognize the beauty in herself and those around her. Want to finally get free? Spend some time with the Lord allowing HIM to remind you how much you’re loved. How much you’re valued. How much He has in store for you. How He created you specifically, on purpose, and for a purpose…THAT will change everything.

Me: What is the biggest lesson you've learned recently?

Kara: God keeps reminding me: It’s not about the weight. I know this isn’t what you would expect to hear from a fitness professional, but it’s the truth and I can no longer try to push fitness gimmicks to those who so desperately need freedom. It’s not about the weight. It’s not about food. IT IS A HEART ISSUE, friends. Struggling to find a healthy life balance? Ask yourself this question: If you never saw the scale move down 1 pound, would you still obey Him in stewarding your health well? Would you still want to eat well and move often? If your answer is no, then I would challenge you to consider where your true motivation lies.

Me: What dreams do you have for this year and for the future? What role do you expect God to play in developing these into realities?

Kara: I’m a big dreamer so I’ve got some big plans for the year ahead! I’m launching my first book in the next month called FINALLY FREE and am praying that God will use it to change lives. I would like to continue speaking and to become bolder with the messages that HE has given me to proclaim. I am praying that my At-Home TRIBE will grow and multiply and that women will begin to find such freedom and wholeness in Christ that it will begin spilling over into their families, their friendships, and their communities. I believe that God is rising up an ARMY of women who KNOW who they are and whose they are and who are ready to be FREE and to unashamedly pursue their calling. It’s happening- I can see it even now. And the thought of it makes me so excited I can’t hardly stand it!

ME: I am just starting a blog series on living with FRUITFUL Health and walking through how to live the 9 Fruits of the Spirit in our health. We are starting off with LOVE of course! Can you tell us how it is that you have found a way to LOVE taking care of your health? How do you know it's REAL love?

Kara: This goes back to my answer above, but a woman who truly knows how much she is loved can’t help but to go out and love others in that same way. For me, the question of taking care of my health comes from the way I view my relationship with the Lord. I like to explain it this way: If you’ve got children in your life, think back to a time that they brought you a homemade gift. These gifts can tend to be a bit of a mess, right? Sometimes it’s hard to tell what they are, or even to know what to do with them. But what do we do with those gifts? We treasure them, right? Not because the way that we view the gift, but because of the way we feel about the GIFT GIVER. GOD is the giver of an amazing gift- our very bodies! And because I love Him, I want to take good care of everything He has given me. It’s an act of love and stewardship. Because I love Him, I want to obey Him and cherish everything He gives me. Operating from this place of love is one that helps me continue on when I’m weary and helps me to remember WHY it matters.

ME: Is there anything you have coming up that we can join you in?

Kara: Yes! I would love to have you check back in the next few weeks to get a copy of my upcoming book, Finally Free. It’s a 28-day journey to finding TRUE freedom through Christ in our health, our hearts, and our homes. The book is a journal that will feature a daily reflection, scripture, prayer, plus healthy habit tips and bonuses. I think it’s going to be a valuable tool for many!

Also, for anyone looking for an At-Home option to learn to get healthy God’s way and to be DONE with the scale, the At-Home TRIBE is a great option. For $12 a month, you can have access to a community of women all around the world who will hold you accountable, a full library of workouts and resources, a monthly calendar, an exercise database, and more. More info is at www.wellnesswitness.com/at-home-tribe-membership

If you'd like to connect with Kara, you can find her on these social media platforms!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/wellnesswitness
Instagram: http://instagram.com/wellnesswitness
Website: www.wellnesswitness.com
Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/KaraOsborneWellnessWitness

You can follow Kara on the above social media platforms to find out more about her!

Join my on my 26 day trip around the world to learn how I stay healthy on the road!

You'll also get my quick and dirty hotel workouts, my go-to snacks I pack, and a bunch of video and pictures of all that I am so lucky to experience!

I hope you'll join me in on the Nutrient Based Fun! Sign up today and you'll receive my Free Infographic on the 5 Steps To Building Your Nutrient Based Plate!

Fit Faith Friday

{FitFaithFriday} Meet Jaclyn Turner of EncourageFit

Post author By AMANDA WRIGHT
Post date February 12, 2016

Me: Tell us a little bit more about what you do and how you came to start it?

Jaclyn: Hi, I am Jaclyn Turner. I am first and foremost a follower and lover of Jesus. I am a wife, a Mom, a business owner, a minister and teacher of God’s Word, and an online health and fitness coach. Almost four years ago, I partnered with the company who created P90X, Insanity, and 21 Day Fix and became a coach through the company. Through this opportunity God birthed EncourageFit, which is my business. Through EncourageFit, I work with women who are ready to live the abundant life God designed them to live spiritually, physically, and mentally.

Me: How do you think your Fitness impacts your Faith and your Faith impacts your Fitness?

Jaclyn: The foundation verse for EncourageFit is John 10:10, “The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come that they may have life more abundantly.”

I firmly believe that when Jesus spoke those words He meant our whole health, not just one area of our lives, but ALL areas. God created each of us to live abundantly spiritually, mentally, and physically. I believe that when we take care of our physical bodies we are saying “thank you” to God for the gift He blessed us with. All areas of our health (spiritual, physical, and mental) are intertwined. When we neglect one area, the other areas will suffer. When we take care of ourselves in all of these areas, we begin living the abundant life Jesus spoke of in John 10:10.

Me: What is the number one thing that you see women struggling with today? How do you think Fitness and/or Faith can help them?

Jaclyn: The number one thing I see women struggling with today is self-worth. Women today are having a hard time seeing their worth and value, and in turn they begin misplacing their identity in everything but Jesus. I can understand this and relate to this because I have been there myself.

I believe that when take care of ourselves through exercise, nutrition, positive affirmations, and prayer, we can see that mindset shift. The chains of bondage will be broken. And we (women) will begin seeing ourselves the way God sees us, as His beautiful masterpiece.

Me: What is the biggest lesson you've learned recently?

Jaclyn: One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned recently is that no matter what, God always sees us as His masterpiece. Whether we achieve a goal or not, He always sees us as victorious, not as a failure. This is something, He reminds me of often.

Me: What dreams do you have for this year and for the future? What role do you expect God to play in developing these into realities?

Jaclyn: I would love to see thousands of women set free and begin living the abundant life they were meant to live. I want so much for my sisters in Christ to wake up each day with thanksgiving and praise for the life God has blessed them with. I want them to see themselves the way God sees them. I want them to be able to throw off the chains of low self-esteem, self-hate, and misplaced identity. I want them to live in completely abundant freedom. I believe that God is using EncourageFit to bring freedom to many women who are stuck in the bondage of not being able to see their value and worth. I believe that God is using me and my story to help bring about the freedom He desires for His daughters. God has big things in store, and I just want to be willing and open to what role He desires for me to play in His plans.

ME: I am just starting a blog series on living with FRUITFUL Health and walking through how to live the 9 Fruits of the Spirit in our health. We are starting off with LOVE of course! Can you tell us how it is that you have found a way to LOVE taking care of your health? How do you know it's REAL love?

Jaclyn: This is something that I never thought I would actually be able to say, “Love taking care of your health.” Ha!

I have found that since changing my perspective and viewing taking care of my health as an act of worship, I absolutely LOVE taking care of myself to the best of my ability spiritually, physically, and mentally. I know it’s real LOVE because whenever I think of it, I am filled with joy, thankfulness, and praise, and I can’t help but smile.

ME: Is there anything you have coming up that we can join you in?

Jaclyn: Each month I host what I call “Fit Life Groups” online. In these groups we take care of ourselves physically through exercise and proper nutrition. I consult with participants beforehand, so that we can select the best workout program toolkit that best fits their personality, workout style preference, budget, and time availability. We take care of ourselves spiritually through devotions, prayer, and scripture focus. And we take care of ourselves mentally through positive affirmations, encouragement, and by checking in with the group and participating daily. These groups are game-changers and life changing. This is where I have seen the most incredible transformations from my clients. We do life together. Each of us holds one another up and walking this journey as a family, not as lone rangers.

If you'd like to connect with Jaclyn, you can find her on these social media platforms!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jaclyneturner1
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaclyneturner
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Jaclyn_turner
Website: www.encouragefit.com
Email: coachjaclynturner@gmail.com

You can follow Jaclyn on the above social media platforms to find out more about her!

Join my on my 26 day trip around the world to learn how I stay healthy on the road!

You'll also get my quick and dirty hotel workouts, my go-to snacks I pack, and a bunch of video and pictures of all that I am so lucky to experience!

I hope you'll join me in on the Nutrient Based Fun! Sign up today and you'll receive my Free Infographic on the 5 Steps To Building Your Nutrient Based Plate!

Uncategorized

What Will Be The Root Cause Of Your Outstanding Health?

Post author By AMANDA WRIGHT
Post date February 11, 2016

We are embarking on a deep journey through how to grow FRUITFUL HEALTH and FITNESS.

Meaning, from the Galatians 5:22-23 that references the fruits of the Spirit, we want to GROW these character values in the context of our health.

We desire to grow more Love in our health. More joy in our fit lifestyle. More peace in our body and with our eating. More patience in our progress. More kindness toward our faults and setbacks. More good intentions for our health, not superficial desires only. More faithful hope we can cling to through change. More gentleness to ease into habits we want to sustain. More self-control and discipline to keep us progressing toward our goal!

As we intentionally plant these values into our health ecosystem, they will only naturally spill into all areas of our life too! It will radically shift ALL AREAS of your life!

Here’s the catch— we all know how hard true CHANGE is right? If growing these things were literally as easy as planting seeds in some soil outside, then we would all be healthy, happy and more Spiritual beings. But the type of planting we are doing is a different kind of hard labor. It’s not as much “physical” as it is “Spiritual” and “Mental.”

Changing the way we THINK is just about the hardest thing we could ever do because so much of our thought-life exists subconsciously and it exists in a form of “self-sabotage.”

So, how do we plan to overcome THAT aspect in this process?

Well, one incredible Pastor, Robert Morris of Gateway Church, just so happened to do a series on what’s called the “Root Cause.” It was on how you look DEEP ENOUGH to determine was was really to root cause of every single thing in your life. You can listen to the first sermon of this series HERE.

From those 3 teachings I was able to remind myself of 4 VITALLY important aspects that we must all cling to in order to grow any desirable fruit in our health and life.

#1: JESUS is the ROOT we are the BRANCHES.

John 15:5 Jesus says, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

Another word for “VINE” is the ROOT. And if you are trying to grow fruit on anything other than Jesus then it won’t work long term.

For example:

—Growing fruit from the ROOT of public opinion will keep you chasing the fad diets.

--Growing fruit on the ROOT cause of disdain for your body will keep you doing things that HARM your body not LOVE it.

--Growing fruit on the ROOT of obsessiveness and control will keep you spinning your wheels on power that is limited instead of relying on the unlimited power of God through Jesus.

#2. You are attached to the vine (Jesus) by GRACE alone.

You did not do anything to EARN Jesus in your life and there is nothing you need to do to keep Him there. It is a FREE GIFT that not one of us deserves, because we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God, so it is by GRACE THROUGH FAITH and NOT by Faith through Grace.

Meaning, your "Good Deeds" are not what earn your attachment to Jesus. Being a “good person” is not enough to get into Heaven either.

Receiving Grace is actually FAR FAR simpler than we make it out to be.

All you have to do to receive salvation is “confess with your mouth and believe in your heart and you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) That IS IT.

I know that I know that I know that we as the “good Christian” girls and boys think that must continue to EARN God’s free gifts of salvation, and we strive toward earning so much of the blessings that God has already freely given us.

That we can take the Love story that is the Bible and make it into a Rule-book so very easily. We do see commandments and things in there, I know its easy for us all to start to think we somehow have to do a lot of things in order to receive that relationship with Christ but you DON’T. You really don’t.

All you have to do is "confess with your mouth, and believe in your heart” and BOOM you are connected to that VINE that is Jesus.

If you have never done that before, I encourage you to simply close your eyes where you are and confess in your mind that you know you need a Savior and believe in your heart that Jesus is that Savior who was sent on the earth to rescue you and you will receive His Holy Spirit within you. You will be on your way to growing in Faith! God bless you!!

#3 All We Have to Do Is “Remain” Connected:

Now, this verse tells us to “remain” in Jesus and Jesus will “remain” in you. Another translation says to “abide” in Jesus.

All this really means is to STAY. You don’t have to do anything but stay right where you are, connected to Jesus through the good times AND the bad times <——that’s the hard part.

Most of us are good with staying with God when all things are going well, but we see just how quickly we can pull away from God when it starts to storm.

Pastor Robert did an entire sermon on what he called “Bitter Roots.” When we unknowingly hold out bitterness and resentment for God for the bad things that we have had to endure in our life, we produce BITTER tasting Fruit too. Because the ROOT determines the FRUIT, right?!

I have quoted Pastor Rick Warren as saying, “For every act of self-sabotage is a LIE that we are believing.”

Well, Pastor Robert rightfully determined that the root cause of this resentment and bitterness toward God is often that we believe the lie that God is somehow holding out on us. That He is purposefully making us suffer or that He caused a lot of our painful experiences in our life.

It is very very important to realize that so often we believe a host of lies planted by the evil one with the very purpose of getting us to walk away from God so that we don’t harvest the Fruit that HE KNOWS we are about to grow. The devil KNOWS just how powerful you are when you are connected to Jesus and when you are following in your purpose for life, including your health. So he is actively engaging you and attacking you to believe things about your circumstances that are just not TRUE.

God does NOT CAUSE all of the bad things to happen in our life, He gave us FREE WILL which in turn gave us the opportunity to sin and fall prey to the power that sin has over our lives and this world.

"BUT, GOD works for the GOOD of those who love Him”(Romans 8:38)….so never lose hope that no matter what the devil will try to do to break you down and keep you there, God will NEVER NEVER NEVER give up on you and He will use it all for your GOOD. It has already been DONE. “It is finished.” (John 19:30 )

#4. You BEAR the Fruit, but you don’t PRODUCE it.

You are not able to produce LOVE, JOY, PEACE of any of the fruits on your own. Many of us fall of the trap that we either have to LABOR to produce these things ourselves.

The ROOT determines the FRUIT. But as this verse describes, you are to BEAR the fruit, which means to “CARRY” it.

The VINE of Jesus is what actually produces the fruit and we get the privilege of showing it off to the world.

This is not to say that you don’t take any credit for your part. I know a lot of Christians that think that “humility” means to put themselves down in order to raise Jesus up. NOT TRUE!

You have a vitally important role that should not be overlooked—your CHOICE. If you focus on strengthening your connection to the Vine of Jesus AND sticking it out when you experience the “PRUNING” of God’s work, you indeed have done Good work and will be rewarded for that in Heaven.

Showing humility through this process is key. Recognizing you didn’t CREATE anything on your own is certainly part of it. But I love what Rick Warren has to say about humility, “Humility is not denying your strengths, it’s being honest about your weaknesses.”

Producing LOVE is a weakness we all have….but HOLDING TIGHT to the Love of Jesus is a STRENGTH that you can surely develop.

This is what we are setting out to do! Starting next week, we are going to dive into how to grow and harvest LOVE in your health!

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{FitFaithFriday} Meet Health Coach, Cassia Hope!

Post author By AMANDA WRIGHT
Post date February 5, 2016

I found Cassia through a Momsanity monthly challenge (whom I've introduced you both founders now!) and absolutely LOVE following her on social media, especially Instagram! She's got some spunk and strengh all rolled up into one awesome mom, wife and health coach!

I LOVE this opportunity to ask these questions of women who are all going through various experiences of Fitness and Faith and learning how God uses each of us in some unique ways but it all serves mightily in expanding His Kingdom. Cassia is certainly a bright bright light, and I'm so inspired by her! I know you will be too!

Me: Tell us a little bit more about what you do and how you came to start it?

Cassia: I am currently an online fitness coach. I have always loved fitness, but in the past, I subscribed to an all or nothing mentality when pursing my ideal body image. After my second baby my weight was up, my energy was low and then my marriage took a dark turn. To try and "solve" the problem I started excessively cutting my calories and running for hours a day. I ended up extremely sick, was crippled by the pain of a kidney stone and found out I had adrenal fatigue. This is when God wrapped me in His arms and called me to journey with Him. My marriage was restored, healed and transformed. I was able to move forward in God's grace and felt so happy, but I got so busy prioritizing my marriage and babies that I stopped making time for myself. I had stopped working out and was just eating whatever my kids wanted. I knew I was made for more. So, that's when I got low. I asked God to show me the right way to get healthy and guide my path. I began making slow changes that were obtainable and realistic. As I grew stronger in my walk with the Lord, He put it on my heart to start a fitness page on FB. He used this to help me connect with others and through sharing my journey I felt affirmed that my calling is fitness and ministry woven together. I was so scared to put myself out there an share all the broken fragments of my life. But God doesn't see brokenness, He sees obedient hearts willing to serve Him...and He blesses that. I'm so thankful for all the pains of my past now. God has used every trial I have endured to provide someone else with comfort or hope. That makes everything I do and share so worth it.

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Me: How do you think your Fitness impacts your Faith and your Faith impacts your Fitness?

Cassia: My personal niche and passion is weightlifting/bodybuilding and as a figure competitor, I realize there is a general stigma attached that we are vain, self-absorbed and sometimes egocentric. But this passion is so spiritual and personal to me. I read stories in the bible about Samson and David and I feel drawn to the fact they were called to be God's warriors and experienced great physical strength that came from Him. And I often think of Rebecca and how she carried all those water jugs on her shoulders for the camels. To me, it's an incredible gift to use my body in a way that I could never experience on my own. When I train, lift and exercise, I feel SO close to the Lord. I pray through sets, I call on him for just one more rep and when my body crumbles in exhaustion, I feel SO thankful He let me experience the gift of seeing what my body is truly capable of, in HIS strength. Stepping on the stage isn't what it is about to me. It's about watching my creator, with his hammer and chisel, slowly chip away at all my rough edges and create a masterpiece. Something that is beautiful, majestic and breathtaking.

Me: What is the number one thing that you see women struggling with today? How do you think Fitness and/or Faith can help them?

Cassia: Over the past year I am so blessed to say God has used to me reach an extraordinary amount of women. The one thing we all have in common is the deep, dark longing to fill an intense void. We all have pain, brokenness, guilt and shame and choose different things to try and band-aid those wounds. Many of the women who feel compelled to reach out to me use food for comfort and struggle with negative self talk and body image. My prayer is to help them see that God is willing to be our portion and in Him we are made whole. A book that greatly changed my life is "Made to Crave" by Lysa TerKeurst. Lysa goes into great detail about how we have made food a false idol and need to invite Him into every single aspect of our lives...especially our health and wellness. If we are not honoring His temples, it is easy to be mired in guilt and shame. Caring for our bodies in mind, body and spirit is not vain or a luxury. It is part of our calling.
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Me: What is the biggest lesson you've learned recently?

Cassia: Right now I am reading For the Love by Jen Hatmaker. It is a phenomenal book about letting go of the impossible standards we have placed on ourselves and letting God's grace define our lives. As a wife and mom, I feel like failure all.the.time. I'm learning this is such a big, fat LIE! I'm not a failure at all! I just need to remember I live for an audience of ONE. If I am I am willing to share what a HOT MESS I truly am, it gives God that much more of an opportunity to be my savior and shows others that we don't have to have it all together! When we are weak, He is strong!!! Our lives should reflect this truth.

Me: What dreams do you have for this year and for the future? What role do you expect God to play in developing these into realities?

Cassia: For a long time, I thought God owed me something. After an era of very dark trials and heartbreak, I kept thinking "ok Lord, go ahead and reward me for all the pain I endured!!!" But in the past year through studying God's word and being blessed with amazing sisters in Christ who act as sacred echoes, I have learned that my blessing is NOT in people, places or things. My desire and heart's call is to bring Him glory and that truly can't be measured on this earth. I'm throwing away my "well, in the next year I hope this happens..." mentality because I don't need a bigger home, wealthy family or prosperous future (I've honestly felt I had all of those things at one point...and they did NOT bring satisfaction). I just need me some more Jesus. My dream now is to become a woman He can trust to share the gospel, hope and light. I know God will continue to move me if I allow Him to refine me. No one wants to pray for trials, but if we truly want to change and become who He has created us to be, we have to be willing to let Him grind down our rough edges.

ME: I am just starting a blog series on living with FRUITFUL Health and walking through how to live the 9 Fruits of the Spirit in our health. We are starting off with LOVE of course! Can you tell us how it is that you have found a way to LOVE taking care of your health? How do you know it's REAL love?

Cassia: I love taking care of my temple. I know it's real love because when I don't honor it, I feel laden in guilt and self-loathing and I miss out on God's best for my life. I LOVE exercising, moving in ways that push the confines of our earthly minds, and eating with the perspective that God has given us food as fuel. I LOVE the feeling of being so in tune with my physical being that I am not wasting time questioning and berating my body. When I LOVE my body, I hear God's affirmation saying, "Go boldly. Show other women they are not prisoners here but can be free to release the shackles of the flesh and serve with bold and brave abandon. I am with you brave and mighty warrior" -Judges 6:12

If you'd like to connect with Cassia, you can find her on these social media platforms!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/faithandfitnessinterwoven

Instagram: wwww.instagram.com/faithfullyfitcassiahope

Cassia is a proud mom of two and successful health coach to women interested in weight lifting and some figure competitions. You can follow Cassia on the above Facebook and Instagram handles and find out more about her coaching on her Facebook business page! Cassia hosts several monthly private groups for women focused on Faith and Fitness!

Fit Faith Friday with Laura McKenna

#FitFaithFriday: [Video Interview] Laura McKenna

Don't Have Time To Watch The Video?

Here are the Highlights 😉

Introduction to Laura McKenna

How Does Faith Impact Your Fitness & Vice Versa?

“Strength is for Service not for Status” Romans 15:1

On the #1 Struggle She See's Women Face:

Fruits of the Spirit: On How She Finds JOY In Her Health:

Coming Soon!

Nutrient Based Eating for Fat Loss!

Fit Faith Friday with Silvia Martinez

#FitFaithFriday: [Video Interview] Overcoming Orthorexia & a Failed Marriage with God

Don't Have Time To Watch The Video?

Here are the Highlights 😉

Silvia's health credentials (2:17)

Struggling with her body image (3:20)

Orthorexia explained (5:47)

Her lowest point . . . (8:00)

Turning it all around (9:00)

How fitness impacts her Faith....(14:20)

On how Faith impacts her Fitness (16:40)

Growing more JOY in her health (17:50)

Women's #1 struggle (20:40)

Lessons learned (24:30)

Coming Soon!

Nutrient Based Eating for Fat Loss!

Free Yourself From These Top 3 Fear-Based Eating Tendencies

#FitFaithFriday: [Video Teaching] How to Overcome Fear In Our Eating

Don't Have Time To Watch The Video?

Here are the Highlights 😉

7:45 #1 Fear-Based Habit is: Waiting for the "Right Time" to start your better eating habits.

13:38 #2 Fear-Based Habit is: Exercising "Controlling" Eating Habits (i.e. being 'on plan') with Fear instead of Love.

18:29 #3 Fear-Based Eating Habit is: Social Pressures of Eating

Coming Soon!

Nutrient Based Eating for Fat Loss!

Living JOY Out Loud with Ashley Banks

Don't Have Time To Watch The Video?

Here are the Highlights 😉

Coming Soon!

Nutrient Based Eating for Fat Loss!

My Interview with Stephanie Felder:

Stephanie Felder, FitFaith Life

Me: Tell us a little bit about what you do and how you started your business?

Me:How has your Faith impacted your Fitness and your Fitness impacted your Faith?

Me: What is the biggest struggle you see women facing today? How do you think Faith and/or Fitness can help them in finding a solution?

Me: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned recently?

Me: What dreams do you have for this year and for the future? What role do you expect God to play in developing these into realities??

Me:Is there anything you have coming up that we can join you in?

My Interview with Anna Willard

Me: Tell us a little bit more about what you do and how you came to start it?

Me: How do you think your Fitness impacts your Faith and your Faith impacts your Fitness?

Me: What is the number one thing that you see women struggling with today? How do you think Fitness and/or Faith can help her in that struggle?

Me: What is the biggest lesson you've learned recently?

Me: What dreams do you have for this year and for the future? What role do you expect God to play in developing these into realities?

ME: Is there anything you have coming up that we can join you in?

Join Me as the "Nutrient Based Traveler"!

My Interview with Kara Osborne

Me: Tell us a little bit more about what you do and how you came to start it?

Me: How do you think your Fitness impacts your Faith and your Faith impacts your Fitness?

Me: What is the number one thing that you see women struggling with today? How do you think Fitness and/or Faith can help her in that struggle?

Me: What is the biggest lesson you've learned recently?

Me: What dreams do you have for this year and for the future? What role do you expect God to play in developing these into realities?

ME: Is there anything you have coming up that we can join you in?

Join Me as the "Nutrient Based Traveler"!

My Interview with Jaclyn Turner

Me: Tell us a little bit more about what you do and how you came to start it?

Me: How do you think your Fitness impacts your Faith and your Faith impacts your Fitness?

Me: What is the number one thing that you see women struggling with today? How do you think Fitness and/or Faith can help them?

Me: What is the biggest lesson you've learned recently?

Me: What dreams do you have for this year and for the future? What role do you expect God to play in developing these into realities?

ME: Is there anything you have coming up that we can join you in?

Join Me as the "Nutrient Based Traveler"!

#1: JESUS is the ROOT we are the BRANCHES.

#2. You are attached to the vine (Jesus) by GRACE alone.

#3 All We Have to Do Is “Remain” Connected:

#4. You BEAR the Fruit, but you don’t PRODUCE it.

"Harvesting My Health" Free Download!

My Interview with Cassia Hope

Me: Tell us a little bit more about what you do and how you came to start it?