Body, Heart and Soul

Many of you know, and some of you may not, that every month I hold different challenge groups. Some are thirty to sixty days and revolve around health and fitness. Others are just seven days long and vary on topic from clean eating to how to create your own hand lettering pieces at home.

Well I've been brainstorming and I have come up with a really exciting new program that I will be launching this fall! My heart is totally in this one and I cannot wait to see it come to life.

As I have embarked on my own journey to health since February of this year, the one thing I have really noticed is that even though my original main goal was to get physically healthy, I have seen changes in all areas of my life.

I have seen physical transformation in the form of pounds and inches lost on my body. I have seen my energy increase, which has led to me dealing with situations in a better mindset and better emotional state. I have noticed that my energy and zest for life and being adventurous with my husband has increased.

My daily quiet time with the Lord has become more consistent and my brain feels clearer and less foggy throughout the day. I have put more discipline and passion into my work and my daily routines and interactions with people.

The transformation has not only been physical, but across the board. And that is what I am passionate about. Specifically in reaching out to other women. I know that I have only tapped the surface of potential in my own life, and it has ignited my passion to reach out to other women and lead the way.

That has led me to this new seven day group called "Body, Heart and Soul." For one week, I will teach women about exercise, healthy eating, and their Biblical identity in Christ. Every day will involve me posting a specific, easy but effective exercise to follow. I will also be posting a healthy recipe, and over the week you will get ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.

Lastly, and most importantly, I will be teaching from one of the most influential passages of scripture in my life, Ephesians 1. I struggled severely growing up with realizing my identity in Christ, and it's a passion of mine to teach what I have learned. So many of our body issues come from a deeper rooted identity issue.

The climax of the week will be something I am most excited about- a live event here in the Atlanta, Georgia area! I will gather together those from the group that are local to the area, and we will spend a few hours one morning on the weekend to be together.

It will be a morning filled with a workout together, a delicious brunch and time of fellowship, followed by a time of individual and corporate prayer. I'll be pulling out a lot of stops and my mind is already filled with tons of Pinterest-y ideas. So if you are in the Atlanta area, you are not going to want to miss this!

The dates for the group are still to be determined, but please message me or comment below if you want to be a part of this exciting new seven day group, I would love to have you be a part of it and learn how to incorporate some healthy ideas into your life and be in community with other awesome women!

Don't Quit

"Give me your very best! Don't quit on me! Your very best!"

The other day I watched the movie "Facing the Giants" with my husband. I forgot just how inspirational that movie is. If you have never seen it, I highly recommend it. It is packed full with some very valuable lessons for all of us.

One of the most powerful scenes in the movie for me was when the coach has one of his players do the "Death Crawl." He challenges his player to carry another player on his back to the 50 yard line- blindfolded. The player thinks he can make it to the 30 yard line, maybe the 50 if he had no one on his back.

He agrees to do the challenge anyway, and the coach simply asks him to give his very best. In the end, the coach is down on his hands and knees, encouraging his player to keep going, to not give up, to give everything he's got, and not to quit.

The player thought he could only make it to the 30 yard line. Blindfolded, he made it across the entire field with another player on his back. He went exponentially farther than he ever thought he could. He gave his best, even when it was hard, when it hurt, and when he wanted to give up.

There are so many circumstances in our lives where we limit what we think we can do. We put a limit on ourselves and allow too many excuses.

"Well, maybe if this were different, I could do that."
"It's just too hard to do that."
"I don't think I could do it."
"Someone else is better at that than me."

Even if we don't vocalize these thoughts, they are there in our mind, only limiting ourselves. Already defeated. Already failing, simply because we have not tried.

I saw a great quote the other day that "The only way you can fail is if you give up."

How many times have we written ourselves off before we have even attempted something? I know that I have- countless times. COUNTLESS. How many times have I quit half way in because it just seemed too hard, or the reward not near enough? Countless. How many times have I not given my best, because it seems like someone else's best is better than mine? Countless.

But you know what? We were not made to quit. We were not made to give up. We were not made only to put in half our effort.

You were made to live, you were made to be strong and courageous. To stand firm.

I'm telling you now- get rid of that self defeating mindset. It will keep you in chains the rest of your life, no matter what area of life you allow it in.

I challenge you today to challenge your own view of yourself. Try these 3 steps to take action against those areas of self defeat today.

1. Find one area where you are self defeated. Where do you talk down to yourself? (Oh, you can't do that. Well, maybe I'll try it a different day. I just need this circumstance to line up.) Write the area down. Recognize the issue.

2. Write down WHY you feel defeated. Write down at least 5 reasons you feel defeated about the issue. This may be a hard one. It's hard and can hurt to dig up the real root of the issue. Are you afraid of failure? Do you think you're not good enough? Are you afraid of what will happen after that?

3. Write down AFFIRMATIONS. Now I want you to take those 5 reasons you just wrote and flip them around. If you wrote "I am afraid of failure" I want you to write "I can and will succeed." If you wrote "The timing just isn't right." I want you to write "Timing will never be perfect, the time IS NOW." And so forth. Take what you wrote and write the opposite, speak positive life over yourself.

Be encouraged that you are not alone in self defeat. I have struggled with it so much in my life, and still do at times. But I also know the power of changing your mindset and shifting away from the negative to the positive. It can make a world of difference!

If you have never seen the movie "Facing the Giants" I really encourage you to check it out! Share your thoughts on the movie below, and if you're brave enough, share one way you turn around self defeat in your life. 

Money Wasn't Really the Issue

"That's a good bit of money."

Those were my first thoughts when I started thinking about investing in my health, when I was starting to see that I wanted to change. Being newly weds, we didn't have an extreme amount of money floating around, and I am still learning how to budget and be a better steward of our money (and am thankful for a husband who diligently tracks all our receipts and finances for us).

Putting money into something that I wasn't sure I could do was scary. Especially holding it up to the light of my track record. I had attempted to do two other workout programs before, gotten a few weeks through them, and then they collected dust and I went back to my ol ways.

Nothing had worked.

In truth, the programs that I tried had worked, I saw some results. But I lost motivation and I was the one who gave myself excuses and eventually gave up altogether.

And as I was contemplating yet another investment in a workout program, thinking of all the times before, I realized something. I wasn't truly hesitant because of the money. The issue was me. The issue was my determination, or lack thereof that made my money a "waste."

When it boiled down, I was afraid of change. Afraid to give up the things I had held onto practically all my life. My identity as an overweight girl. My comfort in rich, often unhealthy foods. My easy going, only sometimes active lifestyle. I was afraid of what change would really look like.

Oh, if only I had known then.

After talking with my husband and getting his full support, we ordered the workout program, and started it together after it arrived. It was hard. It was a change. It was difficult to keep going at times and I wanted to stop.

But I kept going. I made up my mind that I did not in fact want to keep living the way I had lives, because that was going to lead to a place full of health problems and not the life I wanted. I threw away my excuses, stopped blaming it on timing, money, circumstance, genes, and anything else that came to mind.

I realized that I was responsible for this. I had to do it. And I did!

It has been one of the best decisions of my life because it has not only started my physical transformation, I have become more disciplined in all areas of my life. My quiet time of Bible study I more consistent. I am reading and listening to personal development books. I have been investing more into my marriage and relationships. I am more alert for life, and it is incredible.

Of course there are always days that I struggle. That I want to give into stress and eat a whole bag I chips dunked in salsa. There are days I don't want to workout. Days I don't want to do the things I said I was going to do.

But I have found that the struggle is worth it. The investment is worth it. The time is worth it. You may not see the effects immediately, but over time, if you stick to it daily, you will see results in your life. Keep going.

Think seriously about the investments you make in life. What is tilt holding you back? Confront your fears and go after the thing you are called to. Be bold and be courageous!

What's one thing in your life that you are afraid to change? Share below!

10 Favorite Spots Around Atlanta

Since I moved down ITP (that's "inside the perimeter" in Atlanta language) I've had a chance to explore this fine city a little bit. And while I still have a lot to explore, here are a few of my favorite places I've been so far!

10. Dr. Bombay's Underwater Tea Party- This is an awesome little tea house near Candler Park. It's a fantastic atmosphere and some great treats! Tea party, anyone?

9. Egg Harbor Cafe- A great brunch spot in the Sandy Springs area of town! It has wonderful, fresh, down home delicious breakfast choices and tasty lunch morsels! Bring a friend or two and go enjoy some southern sweet tea out of a mason jar! You can check it out here. 

8. Atlanta Botanical Gardens- This garden is absolutely gorgeous, as is the park it's in- Piedmont Park! Be sure to check out the Botanical Gardens during Christmas, it has millions of lights and is completely over the top and gorgeous! 

7. Hapeville Main Street- Hapeville is a small little town right near the Atlanta airport, but it has some wonderful murals, a fantastic bakery called Buttersweet, and a neat historic church next to a picturesque park with a gazebo. You can also walk over above the train tracks and watch the trains come in and out, and then stop over at the old historical drug store where they still have the original soda fountain handles! 

6. Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area- A great place to dip your toes into the 'Hooch, splash around, ride an inner tube in the summer, take a walk or go for a run, and explore some cool forest areas around the city! Check out all you can do here. I think parking is only like $3, and so that's pretty good for a National Rec area! 

5. Decatur town square- Of course I have to shout out my own town square! There are AMAZING local restaurants down here, two of my favorites are Sweet Melissa's (but come early, they close around 2pm), and the Brick Store Pub. Decatur is also home to the famous Eddie's Attic! Tons of musicians have been found here, and they have great live music all the time!

4. Marietta town square- This is another adorable town square that holds a ton of history and fun boutiques and shops. There are some great restaurants like The Vineyard Cafe and Gift shop, and they also have a lot of events that happen as well. You can check out Civil War era reenactments during the summer! 

3. Stone Mountain Park- One of my favorite places for a quick hike with a great view of the entire city. You can also walk around to a working bell tower that was from the World's Fair! That's one of my favorite spots in the whole park. They have a covered bridge, a historic mill, and on weekends (or every day during the summer) a laser light/fireworks show! It's a great southern experience for sure. 

My hubby and I dancing in front of Stone Mountain before the show started!

Some more views of the park from early spring last year!

2. Georgia Aquarium- I absolutely LOVE aquariums. I love water, I love fish, I love color, I love swimming. I could literally spend hours in this place. The Georgia Aquarium is full of some great exhibits, you can touch sting rays, starfish, sea urchins, and all kinds of things! They also have a dolphin show, whale sharks, and beluga whales. It can be a little pricey, BUT if you are a Georgia resident, you get in for FREE on your birthday! I took advantage of that this year for sure.

1. Dekalb Farmer's Market- Literally my FAVORITE place in all of the Atlanta area, and I go here once a week. I just love it that much! This place is not your typical farmer's market where different people come and sell different things. No. This place is about the size of a Costco or Sam's Club, and is filled to the brim with things from ALL OVER THE WORLD. And people from all over the world. I absolutely love it, and the prices cannot be beat. We get all of our produce and spices here, along with some meats and cheeses. They have an outstanding seafood department, too! If you are ever in the area, seriously, you HAVE to see this place. But, I will warn you, There are a lot of people. The best times to go are weekdays, either when they open (9am) or an hour and a half before they close (7:30-9pm). If you go on the weekends, stay to those times as well. But, it's worth it!

10 Active Things To Do This Summer

So summer time is now in full swing! The sun is shining, waters are shimmering, the grass is growing, the wind is fluttering through vividly green trees. While the days can be hot, humid (especially for this desert girl now in the south!), and sticky, there are still so many fun, active things to do this summer!

Take advantage of the good weather, you know you might be complaining about the cold come wintertime. Soak in those warm rays as much as you can! Here is a list of ten things that you can do for free or cheap to get out and get active this summer!

1. Go for a swim! If you don't have a pool, find a friend who does, use a community pool, a gym pool, buy a kiddie pool, go to a river or lake. Grab a loved one or a friend and jump into those cool, refreshing waters, and catch some vitamin D!

2. Go for a sunset or sunrise walk. Sometimes the heat of the day is intimidating, and lets be real, who really likes being in a pool of your own sweat from walking? Try walking early in the morning to get energy for the day, or take a stroll in the evening and soak up the last of the day. And who doesn't love a gorgeous sunset or sunrise?

3. Take a hike! State parks are some seriously sweet spots and are usually minimal in charge. Here in Georgia you can get an annual pass, or pay like $5 for the day. State parks are a great way to see different areas of your town or state, and enjoy the scenery and beautiful weather! You might find a new favorite spot. Check out this website to find great state parks near you! 

4. Wash your car! It may sound silly, but, you get outside, you get an arm work out when you put some elbow grease into washing off all that dirt, and you get a sparkly, clean car! Bonus! And you're out playing in water, so it helps keep you cool at the same time!

5. Have a picnic in your local park. Pack up a cute picnic lunch, grab a blanket and walk around the park to find the perfect picnic spot! If you're worried about the heat of the day, have a picnic brunch! Go before 10am and avoid the heat of the afternoon, but still have an ideal and whimsical picnic with your favorite people!

6. Be a tourist in your own city. Get on your good walking shoes, find a fun, historical, or interesting touristy spot in your town and go walk around and play the part of tourist! There are a lot of historical markers, town events, and museums around. Be sure to take some fun pictures while you're at it, too!

7. Have a water balloon toss (or fight). Seriously, who doesn't love a good water balloon toss that turns into a water balloon fight? Balloons are cheap, grab some from the dollar store, fill them up, and have some summer fun out in your drive way or backyard!

8. Create a scavenger or treasure hunt with family and friends!  You're never too old for a scavenger hunt in my book. Make people go outside, inside, all over! Have it lead to a yummy summer treat for everyone to share, or a fun prize! There are tons of ideas on Pinterest. AND bonus, if you want a REAL scavenger hunt, check out geocaching! The real life "treasure" hunt that happens all over the country and the world. Check this site out for more information. 

9. Take a bike ride. Brush the dust off your bike seat, hop on that beaut and go for a ride. Might I suggest a soundtrack by Queen, including "Bicycle"? Feel the breeze in your hair and the summer sun on your face. If you're really adventurous, ride it to the park for your picnic!

10. Play some yard games! Corn hole, badminton, volley ball, bocce ball, frisbee...there are so many fun games you can play! Have a dinner part, borrow games from others if you don't have some, and get the whole group involved in some fun summer time activities!

These are just a few ideas, there are so many ways you can get out and enjoy the sweet summer air this year. Don't let the season pass you by without soaking up some of this gorgeous weather! Be sure to put on some sunscreen as you have your fun, take pictures, and make memories with the ones you love!

What are some of your favorite summer activities? Comment below with your favorite!