Day 14- Rest

Photo credit to: http://www.jacklail.com/blog

You have permission to think about NOTHING today! 

Enjoy!

See you tomorrow!

Matthew 11:28-29 “…Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

A Few More Mission Statements

Beverly @The Frontier Farm: I have a 5 paragraph (short ones!) misson statement for my role as a believer, wife, mother, homemaker and teacher - the one for homemaker includes my health misson. It says "As a homemaker I will live my life creatively, simply, healthy, work with my hands, mind my own affairs and give glory to God in all I do and say. I will work on nurturing and caring for myself so I can care for those entrusted to me. I will work on making our home a peaceful place full of love, laughter, and learning."

Erin (The Classical Couponer) Appearance is not my motivation, that is just a perk. I want to be healthy so I can enjoy my kids and grand kids.

Christi: My mission in this healthy living journey is to honor the Lord in the care of my and my families bodies, His temple. I know that our days are numbered and nothing we can do will extend our time here, but my intention is to live a vibrant and healthy life and use that health and energy in His service. I also want to teach my children basic healthy living concepts to help them as they grow and leave into their own lives with Him.



Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Day 9- The Kiss of Death

I’m a hypocrite…just thought you would want to know. While the aroma of brownies waft around my nose, I am going to tell you how bad sugar is for you. Sugar is addictive and fattening. It is impossible to eat too much sugar regularly and be healthy. Sugar pounds on your thyroid, alters your mood and messes with your pancreas…Its only GOOD attribute is that it TASTES YUMMY.


At one point in my life, I fasted from it for seven solid years--I needed to take a break from the seducing fare, because I was addicted and did not know how to eat only one brownie. I had to completely restrain myself--with me it was ALL or NOTHING...NO dessert or HALF THE CAKE. I had headaches, fluctuating weight, no sense of well being... and more. Once I “got off of it” I was scared to death of the tempting sweets, unsure if self-control would always be an issue. I wondered if I would ever be the master and sugar the slave.


Thankfully, many years have passed, and I can eat sugar in moderation.


I do not need to give you an apologetic convincing you to cut down on sugar. 


*You know it alters your hormones. 


*You know it messes with your whole chemistry. 


*You know it makes you fat. 


So what are you waiting for? If you are addicted to sugar, begin a sugar fast, but get ready for the withdrawals since you body has become dependent. Sugar should be a once in a while thing in your home.

My kids whine sometimes because we are not normal and our pantry is not stocked with the sugary treats our neighbors have, but other times they thank me, because deep down they know that eating sugar everyday rots teeth, attributes to diabetes, acne and other major inconveniences. Get the sugar in your life under control.

Physical Challenge: Throw away all white sugar in your home. Substitute raw, unbleached sugar instead. Guard your mouth from eating sugar more than twice a week.

Spiritual Challenge: Memorize 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the thins that are unseen are eternal.”

Day 7- Rest

See you tomorrow on Day 8 of 

31 Days to Fit!

“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24

Enjoy your day off!

photo credit goes to Lori Thomason@http://lthomason.wordpress.com

Day 6- Don’t Multi-task

I decided to blanket train my ten-month-old while writing today’s entry. It didn’t go so well. In fact, it took me ten minutes to realize writing and child training don’t make good companions. After setting my laptop down three times before completing one coherent thought, I aborted the blanket-training mission and set the little explorer free. Now my toddler’s toys lay abandoned while she commences to eat the books in the basket by my chair. The life lesson I gather from this is that multi tasking is not always a productive choice and my writing needs to take place while she sleeps. Another multi tasking combo that can be disastrous is eating and watching a show at the same time. Don’t do it. You will mindlessly eat enough for three people and regret it later.

Do you struggle with mindless eating? 

Physical Challenge: Read food labels. An extra 100 calories a day for one year can pack an added ten pounds on your body. That is just a big bite or two! Stay aware of how much you put into your mouth.

Spiritual Challenge: Memorize and meditate on Colossians 3:20, “Whatever you do work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord and not for men.” 

Some Mission Statements

I am so excited about everyone jumping on board with 31 Days to Fit! Below are some of the mission statements I have received: 

Stephanie: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. " Phil 4:13. 

Dana: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" 1 Cor. 6:19-20

Shona: To be healthy and active with my kids. Eat clean so that I am not sluggish and tired and waste my precious time. To not be frumpy, but fit into all the clothes in my closet. To get to where I don’t think about my shape or size, I focus instead on who I am in Christ and as a wife/mother/servant. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” Romans 15:13.

Shauna: To find balance in Christ, enjoying good food and vigorous exercise for the benefit of optimal health, strength, and endurance. 

Dawn: I will do my best daily to become stronger physically, mentally and spiritually so that I can be HIS hands and feet when He calls on me without limitation.

Amy: "To focus more on having a healthy lifestyle and thanking God for my health rather than obsessing about a goal weight or pants size". I'm a very goal oriented person so it's easy for me to get discouraged when I feel like I'm eating healthy but don't see that number on the scale I'm aiming for!

Martha:'Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.' Proverbs 16:3' To get healthy so that I can love on and serve my family to the fullest. 

Madeleine from The Palm Project: 1 Corinthians 6:12, "All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything."

For so long food was the master of my life. But through Christ & will power I get to make the choices to be healthy, stay fit, and not be controlled by low-self esteem & eating disorders.

Romans 12:1:

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers,by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

1 Corinthians 6:19-20:

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20  for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

Day 5- One Step at a Time

I have been blessed with ten amazing children. But I didn’t wake up one day and just have a house full of beautiful bouncing babies. God built our family slowly one child at a time. He stretched my husband and me along the way teaching us to invest our time and energy into these souls. It’s a good thing God did not give us all ten children at once, we would have been overwhelmed and discouraged with the insurmountable task of raising our children properly. God in His wisdom grows us one step at a time. Likewise, build your new healthy habits one step at a time giving yourself time to adjust and grow with these changes. Slow and steady gets the job done more thoroughly than a crash diet. Today is your Five Good Habits marker. You are building momentum. 


1) Don’t Eat Late.

2) Drink more water.

3) Commit to taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

4) Schedule a brisk walk 30-45 minutes long (at least 3 times a week.)

5) Eat a salad everyday.

Physical Challenge: Eat more salad. Eat one every day. Make sure your salad consists mostly of vegetables and not chips, beans, meat and cheese. (Or make yourself a mini vegetable tray and crunch away.)

Spiritual Challenge: Get up thirty minutes earlier than usual to spend time reading your Bible and journaling your prayers. This practice will strengthen and encourage your spirit, which is more important than any physical habit we add. 

31 Days to Fit

This is the last day of June. Find someone who wants to get healthy and point them in this direction for the month of July.