Categories
Fit Faith Friday

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

Fit Faith Friday with Laura McKenna

Falling In (1)

#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.

Laura McKenna 2

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.

Laura McKenna 1

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.

Laura McKenna 3

 

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

Coming Soon!

 The DIY Guide to

Nutrient Based Eating for Fat Loss! 

In just a few short weeks, you can get your very own guide to WHAT the Nutrient Based Diet is, HOW you can start including this lifestyle approach to eating, HOW you can shop and prep the food no matter what your schedule, AND the 4 Simple Steps that you can adjust to it to make sure it BOOSTS your Metabolism and allows you to see FAT LOSS!  

I have for over 2 years including this system into my own life as well as through my personalized coaching and membership site to the her Health Lounge, but I am now making this Nutrition component available for you to guide yourself!   

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!

NUTRIENT BASED

Categories
Fit Faith Friday Spiritual Health

{FitFaithFriday} Battling Orthorexia with Silivia Martinez

Fit Faith Friday with Silvia Martinez

Fit & Faithful Caroline

#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.

Silvia_M._Quote (2)

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.Silvia_M._Family (2)

 

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

Coming Soon!

 The DIY Guide to

Nutrient Based Eating for Fat Loss! 

In just a few short weeks, you can get your very own guide to WHAT the Nutrient Based Diet is, HOW you can start including this lifestyle approach to eating, HOW you can shop and prep the food no matter what your schedule, AND the 4 Simple Steps that you can adjust to it to make sure it BOOSTS your Metabolism and allows you to see FAT LOSS!  

I have for over 2 years including this system into my own life as well as through my personalized coaching and membership site to the her Health Lounge, but I am now making this Nutrition component available for you to guide yourself!   

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!

NUTRIENT BASED

Categories
Fit Faith Friday Food & Nutrition Spiritual Health

Rooting Out 3 Most Common Fear-Based Eating Habits

Free Yourself From These Top 3 Fear-Based Eating Tendencies

Fit & Faithful 3 Fear Teaching

#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.  

Coming Soon!

 The DIY Guide to

Nutrient Based Eating for Fat Loss! 

In just a few short weeks, you can get your very own guide to WHAT the Nutrient Based Diet is, HOW you can start including this lifestyle approach to eating, HOW you can shop and prep the food no matter what your schedule, AND the 4 Simple Steps that you can adjust to it to make sure it BOOSTS your Metabolism and allows you to see FAT LOSS!  

I have for over 2 years including this system into my own life as well as through my personalized coaching and membership site to the her Health Lounge, but I am now making this Nutrition component available for you to guide yourself!   

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!

NUTRIENT BASED

Categories
Fit Faith Friday Spiritual Health

{#FitFaithFriday} Fit For His Glory with Caroline Foster

My Interview with Caroline Foster

I just love how technology brings new people into our life!  It's such a unique opportunity to connect and spread the message and the MOVEMENT!   I 'met' Caroline on Instagram as we have featured her on our Fit.Faith.Movement account (which I hope you follow!) as she has consistently posted some really amazing and inspirational stuff!  

I hope you love what she has to say in her answer below!  This woman is on FIRE for God and I especially love her idea of "Thankful Thursday!"   

I hope you enjoy Caroline's answers as much as I did!  Follow her!  You'll be blessed!  

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

Caroline: My walk with the Lord is the cornerstone of my ENTIRE life. Every aspect of Fit for His Glory is centered on Proverbs 16:3, "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." Two years ago God really began to stir in my heart, convicting me about my motives behind working out and eating healthy.

It was during this time that the Lord used an online challenge group with my dear friend Michelle Myers to realign my focus in fitness on Christ. For the FIRST time in my life being fit was not just about being skinny, but about being healthy so I was equipped to serve God better! The confidence I received from this new perspective and the realization that other women share in these same struggles led to the development of Fit for His Glory.

My goal with Fit for His Glory is to serve women in health and fitness and help them live healthy/happy lives for the glory of God! In July 2014, I teamed up with Beachbody to offer fitness and nutritional solutions for women who, much like me, are looking for a way to reach their fitness goals while being true to other responsibilities. One day I hope to be a stay at home mom, while coaching and leading thousands of women just like her.

 

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

Caroline: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. For when I am weak, then I am strong." -2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Though battling cravings and getting healthy can be hard, it is a chance to see Jesus Christ’s power working in us through our weaknesses.
That's my prayer! That through my health and fitness journey, people would see Jesus! One of my friends once said that if the church would get health and marriage right, people would be flooding our church buildings.  It's SO true! This is an area of opportunity sisters! A place where we can shine the light of Jesus and show the world how the Lord is using our struggles to make us more like Him!

MeWhat is the number one thing that you see women struggling with today?  How do you think Health/Fitness &/or Faith can help her in that struggle?

Caroline: Comparison and competition among women has many women trapped! We look at social media and think everyone has it all together. I love the quote by Theodore Roosevelt, "Comparison is the thief of joy!" If someone were trying to break into your home or car, wouldn't you try to prevent it from happening? The same is true when we fall into the comparison trap! The thief is out to steal our joy and focus, and that's why we need to put boundaries in place that keep our focus on God's goodness.

"Comparison is the thief of joy!" -Theodore Roosevelt

Jealousy comes from counting others' blessings instead of our own. Instead of falling into the comparison trap, we need to focus on how GOOD God has and will be in our lives! I found it helpful to make a "Thankful Thursday" list every week. This helps me realign my focus on the goodness of the Lord. He is the great provider, but when we focus on the negative we can EASILY loose focus of the good!

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

Caroline: First off let me just say that wanting to take care of us is definitely NOT bad! I personally love to work out, dress cute, wear makeup and curl my hair. It makes me feel good and I am sure my husband likes to see me looking my best. 😉 The problem is when it consumes our thoughts and becomes our main focus. 

"Our number one priority as women of God should be seeking God with a fully surrendered heart! Then and only then will we be able to love and serve others well." 

I love Psalm 31:30, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."
It's not always easy, but it comes at a high reward! Our hearts and lives will be much richer and fulfilled when our focus and purpose are on being a light rather then just being pretty.

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?

Caroline: We have a lot happening in our lives in 2016 and we are SO SO thankful! I am currently pregnant with our first baby and due in November 2016. I am excited to take on this new challenge as a mom. My goal over the next few months is to really grow my business, in hopes to make it full time after baby Foster comes. If that doesn't happen, it's okay. I know that God is the great provider, but I am working hard to make that dream a reality.

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?

Caroline: I find JOY in serving other women through health and fitness! It seriously makes my heart so so happy! I guess personally though, I find joy in living an active lifestyle and being outside. Working out and eating healthy give me so much energy and allow me to do things that I really really love! Being outside and living an active life allows me to feel so close to God. It's in those moments that gratitude fills my heart!

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

Caroline: “Be YOU Bootcamp” starting May 2nd! Together with my sweet friend@FreedomGraceNFitness, we will be leading a 30 day group where we will be committing to our exercise, nutrition and running the race God has called us to! Freedom in Christ means being free to be ourselves and living the life Christ has called us to, in body, mind and soul!

I love 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Sister- if you are in Christ Jesus YOU ARE HIS! We will be digging deep into this in our group. It’s going to be good!
If you’re interested in joining us, you can email me at fitforhisglory@gmail.com.

 
Blog: fitforhisglory.co
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/fitforhisglory/
Instagram: instagram.com/fitforhisglory
 
You can follow Caroline on the above social media platforms to find out more about her!
 
 

COMING SOON!

 The DIY Guide to

Nutrient Based Eating for Fat Loss! 

In just a few short weeks, you can get your very own guide to WHAT the Nutrient Based Diet is, HOW you can start including this lifestyle approach to eating, HOW you can shop and prep the food no matter what your schedule, AND the 4 Simple Steps that you can adjust to it to make sure it BOOSTS your Metabolism and allows you to see FAT LOSS!  

I have for over 2 years including this system into my own life as well as through my personalized coaching and membership site to the her Health Lounge, but I am now making this Nutrition component available for you to guide yourself!   

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!

NUTRIENT BASED

Categories
Health Coaching Spiritual Health

Living Joy Out Loud with Ashley Banks

Living JOY Out Loud with Ashley Banks

JOY_750

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!

Coming Soon!

 The DIY Guide to

Nutrient Based Eating for Fat Loss! 

In just a few short weeks, you can get your very own guide to WHAT the Nutrient Based Diet is, HOW you can start including this lifestyle approach to eating, HOW you can shop and prep the food no matter what your schedule, AND the 4 Simple Steps that you can adjust to it to make sure it BOOSTS your Metabolism and allows you to see FAT LOSS!  

I have for over 2 years including this system into my own life as well as through my personalized coaching and membership site to the her Health Lounge, but I am now making this Nutrition component available for you to guide yourself!   

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!

NUTRIENT BASED

Categories
Fit Faith Friday Spiritual Health

{#FitFaithFriday} 5 Ways Faith Improves Fitness

5 Ways Your Faith Will Improve Your Fitness

Fit & Faithful Fridays!  

Catching up with all things A. Wright Fit!

I am honored to have been featured as a guest blogger on my fellow Fit & Faith-based Health Coach Jaclyn E. Turner's Blog!  Please check out what I had to say about recently learning that I'm a "wannabe" Type A person and how I've been able to FINALLY reframe my "rule following" life!  Check it out with this link...

http://jaclyneturner.com/guest-post-amanda-wright-of-a-wright-fit/

https://vimeo.com/161982596

Don't Have Time To Watch The Video?

Here are the Highlights 😉

#1.Improving Your Relationship with God Improves Your Relationship With Everything (including your body and food). 

"God is love. So when we build this relationship, it’s not about the rules of religion; it’s about a true heart relationship. You develop that by simply receiving God’s love. And as you receive Him, He is in you and you are in Him, then you are able to spread that love to all areas of your life. It gives you a healthy perspective of how to live your life in a relationship with yourself and a relationship with others."

"Jesus told his disciples the number one commandment is to 'Love the Lord your God with all of your mind, all of your heart , all of your spirit all of your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself' . . . Loving your neighbor as yourself—well you have to love yourself in order to love your neighbor, right? Learning to take care of your health is one of the best ways that you can actually love yourself enough so you can then equally love your neighbor, your family, your friends, those around you and people that have been placed around you that you can influence.

Scripture used: Matthew 22:37

#2. Faith Rewires and Renews Your Mindset.

"Our brains operate optimally with thoughts of love. . . So when you have enough faith to read God’s Word and believe that His Word is the Truth; not just a version of the truth, but the Truth (capital T!), that actually rewires your brain. It rewires how you think. It aligns your thoughts with God’s thoughts. Therefore it aligns your will with God’s Will. . . It impacts every fiber of your being. It impacts your health. It impacts your ability to maintain proper health."

Scripture used: Romans 12:2

#3. You have Some REAL Rewards to Look Forward To.

"So many people say that they just work out so they can eat what they want. That is a very health incentive and gets you in the gym. But I have something greater than that. Because not only do I get the rewards in this lifetime, but when I listen to God’s word, and when I take reverence in God’s Word, and what He called me to do, which is take care of this temple that he has given me, then I have greater rewards to look forward to; not only in this life but in Heaven afterwards."

Scripture used: 2 Corinthians 7:1

#4. God Prevents You From Taking Things Too Far.

"I’ve spoken to  a lot of women that have this fear that  once they get on this health kick that it will just consume them and they are afraid of being obsessed with it. From personal experience, I believe that I crossed that line of a healthy boundary of being healthy to now being obsessed. I have lived that. But my Faith, God Himself, is what allowed me to pull back and to learn fully what that experience was. That I don’t have to fear taking things too far because I know I have God and a personal relationship with Him, and He will always guide me back."

Scripture used: Hebrews 12:2

#5. God Gives You REAL Power.

"We have these amazing bodies that are very strong. Stronger than we know. Through fitness I have surprised myself time and time again. In both ways: being stronger than I thought I was and also being humbled completely by not being as strong as I think I am. It is a beautiful paradox . . . God’s power through me is greater than my willpower. It will give me the power to actually do this for a lifetime."

"Your health is not the destination, but the ROAD." - Amanda Wright

Coming Soon!

 The DIY Guide to

Nutrient Based Eating for Fat Loss! 

In just a few short weeks, you can get your very own guide to WHAT the Nutrient Based Diet is, HOW you can start including this lifestyle approach to eating, HOW you can shop and prep the food no matter what your schedule, AND the 4 Simple Steps that you can adjust to it to make sure it BOOSTS your Metabolism and allows you to see FAT LOSS!  

I have for over 2 years including this system into my own life as well as through my personalized coaching and membership site to the her Health Lounge, but I am now making this Nutrition component available for you to guide yourself!   

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!

NUTRIENT BASED

Categories
Fit Faith Friday Uncategorized

{#FitFaithFriday} My Interview with Courtney Samuel!

My Interview with Courtney Samuel

Meet Courtney!

I've known Courtney for a while now as he and his wife (and my best friend) Jennifer Samuel (already featured for #FitFaithFriday week #1) are the main reasons why I became a trainer and so passionate about fitness, specifically what weight training can do for a person mind, body and spirit!  

So, it was an absolute pleasure to sit with my "big brother" and chat more about how his Faith impacts his personal fitness, his business, and every aspect of his life!  

I love Courtney because he is a big (like, seriously STRONG!) guy with such a humble and soft heart for God and for his family.  He wears tattoos, listens to rap music, is into cars, but puts his Faith and Family FIRST in life.  He's a perfect representation of what a REAL RELATIONSHIP with God can look like!  It's authentic, real, and from the HEART which is what God looks at most!  

We can all learn more from Mr. Samuel in how to aim true and be bold in your Faith!    

Check out our live interview from his gym, Bodies by Perseverance below!

Court 2

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!

 

Don't have time to watch the full interview?   Here are some highlights of what Courtney had to say...

When asked, "How does your faith impact your fitness, and your fitness impact your faith?"

Courtney said, "So faith and fitness intertwine with life and everything that you do. So a big thing I believe in is being humble on top of the hill and grateful when you’re at the bottom. Basically, when your in a valley, that’s when you have to rely on your faith and when you’re reading scripture every day and that’s when you’re saying, “God, I know you’re going to pull me through this.” But at the same time when you’re at the top of that hill, that’s when you have to be humble and say,  “Thank you, Lord, for bringing me this victory.” Because life goes up and down. It’s day in and day out.

A big saying we said this year was “Compound Consistency.” This means being consistent day by day by day and building upon that. Fitness and Faith. Daily Bible study. Daily eating habits. Daily exercise habits. And then when you compound all of that it just becomes life."

 

When asked, "You have tattoos, play rap music, but also have scriptures on the walls of your gym.  How does this juxtaposition represent your true Faith?" 

Courtney said, "It is. So when I grew up my parents were hardcore Southern Baptist. You know, it was church three to four hours every Sunday, which was cool, that was their thing. But as I developed my own personal relationship with God (which I tell everybody, “It’s about your personal relationship with God.”) I find myself being more spiritual versus more religious. My spiritual relationship with God, to me, is my personal relationship with God. What I do externally, how I carry myself, it’s kinda like how people judged Jesus, in an essence.

You can’t judge a book by its cover. I have tattoos.  I play rap music. I’m not ashamed of that, but in my heart I know who my God is and if anybody asks me, I will tell you who my God is and my faith. You know, the things that you do, just like society, you have to take with a grain of salt. I listen to rap music. I don’t let it influence me. Honestly, I don’t even listen to the lyrics, I just like the beat and it gets me motivated. So that’s kind of how I live my life. I do like tattoos, but they’re an expression of me. They’re an expression of my faith.  My tattoos are a story; kind of like a chapter opening and closing, and that’s just who I am. Bottom line: when we all die we’re going to be in spirit form anyway, so our bodies won’t be here.

When asked, "How would you advise someone that is just getting back into shape or struggling with the process of health to fall in LOVE with taking care of their health better?" 

Courtney said, "Number one: it’s a process. It takes time and anything worth having takes time, but what I try to convey to my clients or to anyone, is that it’s an investment. It’s an investment in your body and you have to be able to take care of yourself and feel good about yourself before you can take care of anyone else. No matter how much money you may have or position of power you may be in, if you don’t have your health you have nothing. So that’s what I try to convey: invest in yourself, invest in your health and then use it as a challenge.

I don’t think we challenge ourselves enough. I think everybody’s just caught in the rat race and just doing enough to get by. Why not challenge yourself and try something new. Get yourself to the best, optimal "you," you can be. It doesn’t have to be a professional body builder, but it can be the “best Mandi,” the “best Courtney.” See how your car runs—take care of that Ferrari!

Coming Soon!

 The DIY Guide to

Nutrient Based Eating for Fat Loss! 

In just a few short weeks, you can get your very own guide to WHAT the Nutrient Based Diet is, HOW you can start including this lifestyle approach to eating, HOW you can shop and prep the food no matter what your schedule, AND the 4 Simple Steps that you can adjust to it to make sure it BOOSTS your Metabolism and allows you to see FAT LOSS!  

I have for over 2 years including this system into my own life as well as through my personalized coaching and membership site to the her Health Lounge, but I am now making this Nutrition component available for you to guide yourself!   

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!

NUTRIENT BASED

Categories
Fit Faith Friday

{#FitFaithFriday} FaithFueledMom with De Bolton!

My Interview with De Bolton

I am so excited to introduce another woman who is braving her way to turning her own fitness journey to a Fit & Faithful one!  I met De through a Fit & Faith-based bloggers group online and was so touched by the support and forthcoming comments about her journey so far!  She is a delight to know what I know so far and I was very excited to know more about her through this process!  

Please give De some love and following to help her on her new journey too!  

I hope you enjoy De'sanswers as much as I did!  Follow her!  You'll be blessed!  

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

De: My name is De Bolton, I'm a mom of three girls and a wife to my best friend for 13 years. Now I am fitness blogger, Brand Ambassador and influencer

I started my blog with the idea that I would build a community for new-to-Christ Christians. I have been a believer my whole life but wasn't exactly a dedicated follower for 13 years. I dedicated myself to Christ four years ago. Still walking through my faith journey every day, I felt I was led to write about issues new Christians faced. 

A couple months into blogging I also began my third weight loss journey after my third baby. In August 2015, I recommitted myself to a healthy lifestyle. I began gravitating towards faith and fitness. In September I needed more than just appearance to motivate me to continue my weight loss journey. That's when I did a 30 day prayer challenge to honor my temple. I chronolized my prayers and journey on Periscope and my blog for 30 days. That month of intentionally praying for my health led me to where I am today.

"It's when I realized that my faith is completely connected and directs my weight loss."

It also revealed a passion for Fitness and Health that I have had for more than five years. I have been putting it on the back burner for years. Attempting to become a CPT , but always last minute deciding not to. The 30 day prayer challenge showed me that I could honor and glorify God by motivating and teaching others to honor their temple.

I now consider my blog a faith-based fitness blog. I am currently studying to become a Certified Personal trainer and will be making steps towards becoming a Metabolic Hormone nutritionist. Prayerfully and with God's direction I want to build a faith-based fitness program that helps women honor their temples. In body, mind and spiritual devotion. 

For now, until I am certified, I am a Faith Fueled Mom. Navigating and sharing my own journey of my love for my faith,family and healthy lifestyle. I have plans to show others how to live a Faith Fueled Life.

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

De: For me they have become synonymous. God and my faith in Him has helped me. Through faith I have gained control of my nutrition. It has pushed my strength training to new limits and motivated me to continue. My strengthened relationship with God has inspired me to spread the gospel of His love, mercy and grace that He has for us all. My fitness has allowed me to have the energy to keep going, help me with my anxiety and keep me focused on my day.

MeWhat is the number one thing that you see women struggling with today?  How do you think Health/Fitness &/or Faith can help her in that struggle?

De: In short: Self-worth,self-love and easy fixes. There are too many products out there that are based on vanity.
 
"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher. "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." Ecclesiastes 1:2 

The world has convinced us to find our worth in vanity. Vanity being defined as the quality of being worthless or futile-pointless. That is why it is so fleeting and not fulfilling, just like the world. But honoring your temple to glorify God. Taking care of the irreplaceable gift-your body that God has given you. Operating at the best it can be isn't pointless; it's fulfilling and satisfying. I think approaching fitness with this perspective will make it a lifestyle change versus a diet, fad or weightloss solution.

It's going to be hard; life in Christ wasn't meant to be easy and neither is weight loss. There are sacrifices, resilience and determination needed. But it's much more rewarding than a 90 day fix, wrap or pill solution. Relying on God and placing your burdens in him creates a stronger relationship. Giving you the power to achieve more than you could do on your own. Building your self-worth, self-love and ending your reliance on easy fixes.

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

 "Wait on God- this is a journey that will never end. God is conspiring for us in all that we do and wants to do much more for us than we can imagine. All we have to do is wait, rejoice and continue to strengthen our relationship with Him."

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?

De: My ultimate goal is to own a faith-based virtual and personal training business for women. I am going to need God's guidance and direction. For Him to close the doors of dead ends and open doors of opportunities. I need God to help me stay focused and not get distracted by the shiny objects.

 

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?

De: When I began my journey it was infatuation love. Excitement to do new workouts, try new recipes, see the weight loss and muscle gains. As the journey continued and the comfort level began, the feeling of fulfillment and looking back on my journey has brought me to a committed love. It's not that initial love for it but it's an appreciation for how I feel. I no longer have to workout but I get to workout every day and it is now my love.

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

De: Not this year but prayerfully once I take and pass my certification I can launch FaithFueled Life.

 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FaithFueledMoms/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/faithfueledmom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithfueledmom/
Website: http://faithfueledmoms.com/
 
You can follow De on the above social media platforms to find out more about her!
 
 

COMING SOON!

 The DIY Guide to

Nutrient Based Eating for Fat Loss! 

In just a few short weeks, you can get your very own guide to WHAT the Nutrient Based Diet is, HOW you can start including this lifestyle approach to eating, HOW you can shop and prep the food no matter what your schedule, AND the 4 Simple Steps that you can adjust to it to make sure it BOOSTS your Metabolism and allows you to see FAT LOSS!  

I have for over 2 years including this system into my own life as well as through my personalized coaching and membership site to the her Health Lounge, but I am now making this Nutrition component available for you to guide yourself!   

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!

NUTRIENT BASED

Categories
Fit Faith Friday

{#FitFaithFriday} FoodFaithFitness with Taylor Kiser!

My Interview with Taylor Kiser

All I can say is YUMMMM about this girl (with even more m's if it wouldn't be so obnoxious) because she has some SERIOUSLY delicious and HEALTHY recipes on her site!  She's what I call a HIGH LEVEL style blogger and I can only HOPE to aspire to such success as her gift has granted her!  


I can't tell you how much I LOVE hearing the testimonies from so many of these Fit & Faith Based professionals that are willing to share with us their stories beyond just their awesome businesses because it brings such an awe-inspiring HOPE to our own lives.  I LOVE to hear how someone is currently TRIUMPHING over their own past struggles and, with God's amazing Grace, persevering to live the life God has called them to live!  

Taylor is an EXCEPTIONAL example of that.  As someone that once suffered with Anorexia and eating disorders, she has now manifested the very STRUGGLE in her life to now be her platform of TRIUMPH and success! <--THAT is why God is so Good and Merciful.  

I hope you enjoy Taylor's answers as much as I did!  It will probably prompt you to love her recipes even MORE!  Follow her!  You'll be blessed!  

Me: Tell us a little bit more about what you do and how you came to start it?  You have such a wonderful page of so many recipes!  Was this a passion that led to your site?  Or do you have a professional background in cooking or baking?   

Taylor: So, I'm a healthy food blogger. I create healthy, gluten free recipes and share them on my blog, along with pretty photos and a fun story behind the recipe.  I actually came to start doing it because my husband, bless his heart, told me that I needed a hobby beside watching Food Network all night. I never thought it would become my job, but I am so blessed that it has. I grew up LOVING cooking and baking, but I have no professional background in it.

Taylor_Kiser_1_ (1)

Me: How do you think your Food and taking care of your Nutrition impacts your Faith and your Faith impacts your Health? 

Taylor: I once was anorexic, and still battle the mental part of that to some degree, so that plays a BIG part in how my eating affects my faith. There are days when food, to be honest, scares me (even though it's healthy!) so those days I really need to push into God and draw close to him for the strength I need, which deepens my relationship with him. However, I strongly believe that just have good, sound nutrition is so important because our body is God's temple and we need to keep them holy and healthy for him!

MeWhat is the number one thing that you see women struggling with today?  How do you think Health/Fitness &/or Faith can help her in that struggle?

Taylor: DEFINITELY body image and feeling the need to have the "perfect" body. I blame social media for this. I think health and fitness can help, as long as you focus on the fact that you are trying your very best to work in clean eating and exercise, but you also are a real person with a real life that is ALLOWED to get busy sometimes.  If you know that you are at least trying in that area, I feel like that should be enough. No one is perfect. I feel that faith can obviously help because we have the Bible to tell us not to worry about such things as what we eat, the clothes we wear (ie. perfection) so we can look to that on those days when we just don't feel "enough."

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

 "That what the world tells you will make you happy won't.  I always wanted to have a specific body fat percentage and, when I got there, I was still miserable and wanted to be even LOWER. We need to chase what God wants us to find valuable."

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?

Taylor: Honestly, my husband is going back to school, which means I am going to be our sole provider. One otaylor_kiser_7f my dreams would be that I be this for us. But I know that I really have to trust in God to let this happen.  Personally, I dream to be 100% totally free of my mental food struggles.  I know that I need to really push into God and go deeper into my relationship and fully live in his perfect love in order for that to happen.  My future goals would be to help people women who are going through the same mental battle, but I know that I need to first 100% overcome it myself before I can do so.

 

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?

Taylor: As I mentioned, I had anorexia and this is where developed the LOVE for taking care of my health. I worked with my dietitians and learned that food is FUEL for my body, and it's so important to be very mindful of fueling my body with the right stuff!  I know it's a REAL love because I can't go a day without thinking about the gym (not in a totally obsessive way, I just love how I feel after a good workout!) and because I have turned creating nutritious food into my job!

ME: Any special recipe you have been LOVING lately that you advise us to try?  

Taylor: Here is one of my favorite dinner recipes right now: http://www.foodfaithfitness.com/mango-chicken-with-coconut-cauliflower-rice/  Whole30 Mango Chicken with Coconut Cauliflower Rice.

 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foodfaithfitnessblog
Twitter: https://twitter.com/foodfaithfit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodfaithfit/
Website: http://www.foodfaithfitness.com/
 
You can follow Taylor on the above social media platforms to find out more about her!
 
 

COMING SOON!

 The DIY Guide to

Nutrient Based Eating for Fat Loss! 

In just a few short weeks, you can get your very own guide to WHAT the Nutrient Based Diet is, HOW you can start including this lifestyle approach to eating, HOW you can shop and prep the food no matter what your schedule, AND the 4 Simple Steps that you can adjust to it to make sure it BOOSTS your Metabolism and allows you to see FAT LOSS!  

I have for over 2 years including this system into my own life as well as through my personalized coaching and membership site to the her Health Lounge, but I am now making this Nutrition component available for you to guide yourself!   

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!

NUTRIENT BASED

Categories
Health Coaching Spiritual Health

How to Fall In Love with the Process of Health

How Some of the Brightest Minds in the Health & Fitness Industry Fell in LOVE with the Process of Health

Health. It’s an important topic to discuss. You can’t roll the dice when it comes to your health – you need to be concious about the decisions you make. I am the fittest I’ve ever been but I still worry about my health. I know some things, like cancer, can happen to anyone which is why it’s important you have the best critical illness insurance policy you can find. So, even though I’m worried, this doesn’t stop me continue improving my health because I know there are certain conditions I can avoid or prevent as long as I can stay healthy.

“I’m not like you…” It’s a commonly heard expression anytime I encounter a family member, friend or client that is feeling overwhelmed or defeated by their own process of health.

There is this misconception that just because I am in the “business” of health, that somehow I just magically have this *DESIRE* to be healthy, eat right, and exercise regularly.

People will commonly express their frustration to me as though I were somehow “chosen” by God to LOVE this passion of health and fitness.

Well, they are partially right.

There was a CHOICE involved in the process that led me to indeed LOVE the act of taking care of my health so much so that I might also choose it as a career path as well. Just like how people can make the choice to try options to help them, be it Blessed CBD oil or other kinds on the market. But the choice was more of MINE than God’s. God isn’t the one that makes me visit my doctor or a health clinic to learn more about a potential health concern I may have, I’m the one that has to do that, along with ensuring that I am physically and mentally fit, eat healthy, etc.

God has actually bestowed in EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US THE POWER to love ourselves enough to take care of our bodies. This is not something that only I and a few thousand fellow fit-enthusiasts have, it is empowered to us ALL.

But it is each individual’s CHOICE to recognize that power to choose within them and to then PLANT SEEDS & GROW the HARVEST OF LOVE through a journey.

You CHOOSE LOVE just as you CHOOSE JOY. It’s not a special “talent” that just certain people have.

Now, what WILL be different for you is what your process will look like.

Because God did make each and every one of us with different abilities, tastes and personalities, you can’t follow ANOTHER PERSON’S PROCESS and expect to cultivate love for your own journey.

It just doesn’t work that way!

You need to look inside yourself and see what it is that makes you passionate about your health. Is it the healthy food you consume? Is it the gym routine you have? Is it the sports you play? Maybe you just haven’t found the right physical activity you can enjoy yet and need to look at the guides on Globo Surf to see if you’re into rock climbing or hiking or skiing – there are so many posibilities!

God will use YOUR BACKGROUND, YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES, YOUR PERSONALITY, YOUR TALENTS, YOUR HEART and will help you mix it all into a journey of love all your own.

ANNNND, best of all (which will feel like a “WORST” of all, but I promise you it’s the BEST part) is that God will use the VERY THINGS that you find to be the MOST DIFFICULT and FRUSTRATING and use them for your own GOOD and SUCCESS! They will be the very things that will set you apart and help others around you too.

It’s 100% FACT!

It happened in my life and I’m here to show you today, that it happened in several of the BRIGHTEST MINDS in the Health and Fitness Industry too!

You’ll see the running theme from these real life testimony’s of women who now truly LOVE THE PROCESS OF HEALTH is this:

“I struggled with x, y, and z and THEN I finally came to epiphany ________ and that made all the difference.”

Remember, that when you fall in LOVE with the PROCESS of health, whatever that process might look like for YOU, the results become a forgone conclusion. (Paraphrased quote by Jen Sinkler).


How DID You Fall In Love with the Process of Health?

So, enjoy some quotes from some of my amazing friends and fellow health coaches and trainers that answered the question, “How did you fall in LOVE with the process of health?”

Jil_Coleman (1)
JILL COLEMAN
, Owner of JillFit Physiques

“I find that we are often attached to our negative emotions, like shame and guilt and remorse and self-digest, for example, when it comes to our eating and the way we see ourselves. We are attached to them because we worry what it would mean if we *didn’t* experience them. We wake up after a poor weekend of eating and the default is guilt and body shame because we feel like those things have utility, we think that they somehow keep us “in line” and without them then we’d really go off the rails.

I struggled with this for a decade. To *not* be dissatisfied with my physique felt like giving up, like I wasn’t trying hard enough. But over time, the misery and the never-ending feeling of not-good-enough got so old that I couldn’t afford to *not* find a solution. The solution for me was a combination of awareness, plus self-compassion (which in research has been shown to help up us stay MORE consistent, not less), plus a desire to commit to my growth instead of committing to my BS and time, patience and self-love. It wasn’t easy at first, it felt like giving up. But over time, I started to see that the alternative (waking up every day and hating my body) was no way to live. I realized that wanting to be happy with myself was literally one single choice away.”

adelejonesADELE JONES, Owner of The Fit Life

“I started loving the process when I stopped focusing on calories, calories consumed and calories burned. I started focusing instead on eating food that accomplished two goals: nourishment and enjoyment. And I started exercising to get STRONGER instead of smaller. I found joy in knowing that there was not an end result but instead, cultivating self-care and health into my daily habits.”

Rycroft_BOY_ImageMICHELLE RYCROFT, Owner of Ripped By Rycroft

“It must be so easy for you” is a phrase I hear a lot from family and friends. On the inside I always chuckle at this because while it is easy for me now, there was a time where the whole process of trying to improve my health was a daily battle. In the beginning I didn’t like the fact that I had to eat less food and workout. It meant giving up my favorite foods and my free time. There were too many rules for me. Week after week I would fight the process, until one day I realized I was literally fighting against my own body. I was angry with it. I was treating my body like the enemy when in reality, my body wasn’t the enemy at all. My thoughts about my body were the real enemy.

When I finally made this realization, the process of becoming a healthier version of me became so much easier. Our minds hear everything we speak or think. So instead of filling it with all the negativity, I started filling it with positive thoughts. This led to viewing food choices as fuel and workouts as a form of body love. My body started to crave the good things. It wanted the better food choices, food that would provide it with energy and workouts that made it feel good.

Honestly this was a process that took time. It definitely did not happen overnight and I fell down a lot, but every single fall was an opportunity for me to learn and improve. I fell in love with my body through the process. I found a new appreciation for the things it had accomplished in the past (like having 2 children) and for the things it could now do because I loved it, because I started to take care of it.”

beckywilliamsBECKY WILLIAMS, Owner of B. Kinetic Fitness

“I’ve always struggled with liking my body and truly appreciating what it could do. I based an inordinate amount of my self-worth on what my body looked like, which only made me miserable and did nothing to keep me motivated to take care of it. It wasn’t until I made a concerted effort to embrace my body as it was (even if it was not as lean as I wanted it to be) did I find that elusive motivation and drive to do smart exercise and eat the foods that made me feel my best. This process has taken years, but it has made my healthy lifestyle easier and a lot more enjoyable.”

kateheadshot9_1KATE WHETSEL, Owner of Real Life Fit by Kate

“I think what made me fall in love with the process of getting fitter was how empowering it was to be able to affect change not only on my body, but my mind.

Through small effort after small effort, over time I was able to do things I thought were not possible for me. I gain physical strength through working out, and I gained confidence in my ability to shape my own life through continued positive choices and action. 10+ years later, that is still what keeps me in love with the process–the empowerment.”

erinhenry1ERIN HENRY, Owner of Miss Fit

“I was a late bloomer. Growing up I was a scrawny, weak kid who could never throw or kick as hard or far as anyone else. I’m not exactly sure what clicked, but starting sometime around junior high I started getting faster and stronger….and that was fun. It was fun to win races, and it was fun to see how my body responded to hard work. All through high school, I was an avid athlete, training and competing in any spare moment. I loved how feeding and training made my body feel and perform.

I wish all of our clients and readers understood this feeling; the feeling of having and achieving a physical goal unrelated to weight or dress size or cellulite. Though the extent of my athletic competitions today consists of losing against a nine year-old in FIFA on the Xbox, I still lift and I still sprint. There is an emotional and spiritual power that comes from physical strength that I cannot describe. Yogi’s call it their practice and so do I. My practice creates discipline and focus in other areas of my life. Doing something hard, something painful, that I couldn’t do before builds my confidence and resilience.”

Metabolic Mandi Cut Out Cropped_750

AMANDA WRIGHT, (Yours Truly) Owner of A. Wright Fit

“I finally learned to love both the highs and the lows that happen in the process of health when I detached from comparing myself and my body to others and fully embraced just how loved I really am, exactly as I am. Subconsciously, I never felt “good enough” in my own body simply because I had a violent case of the “er’s” in life. There was always someone “skinniER,” “strongER,” “prettiER,” and everyone *seemed* to have an “easiER” time than me in losing weight and feeling confident.

It wasn’t until I finally stood up to those thoughts in my head and JUST DECIDED that I was no longer going to compare myself to other women. I began to simply push myself to become the BEST VERSION OF MYSELF and I slowly freed from the torturous acts of “health.” It’s what I now call turning my “ER’s” into her where I keep my eyes focused on this vision of FUTURE SELF and the woman I know God has called me to be. I keep this vision of her in my mind and have resolved that I want to be STRONG like her; I want to be WISE like her; I want to live more SURRENDERED like her. It radically shifted everything for me and has turned me from using health as a PUNISHMENT to health as a REWARD and joy. I am so so lucky that I have this perfectly imperfect body that I now LOVE.”


“Harvesting My Health” Free Download!

If you are interested in learning more about how to Harvest Your Health in 2016, then I’d love to welcome you to my email list! I’ll be giving away the BEST content to my inner tribe! In fact, I have a FREE 7-Day devotional series I wrote for you on “Harvesting My Health” through the 7-Laws of the Harvest! I think you’ll really like it!

Just click the button below to grab your free copy and I’ll look forward to connecting with you soon!

FREE 7-Day Devotional