Lessons

As some of you know, I have been facing a major test(probably more like a mid-term) in my life the past couple of weeks.  My "training",  physically, mentally, spiritually the past year has all been for this moment in time.  The lessons we learn do not always come swiftly, but come with many "quizzes and tests".   Some I have failed, but always with the opportunity to take it again.  So really, do we ever fail?  No, they are lessons that are learned and reinforced by the situations in our lives.  Some of us are slow learners, but we get it eventually.
The lesson I have learned this week is one of asking those questions Carlos has been teaching us.  "What just happened?"  What is the remedy for this?"  Granted , I did not ask them in these very words, but still the same.  Our life is made up of choices.  Sometimes we don't always make the right choices and we learn from them, even as painful as they may be.
This weeks lessons were in Shutting up that Dream Stealer!  That dream stealer comes as those inner thoughts we have of fear and wanting to just quit.  But if we speak truth to that dream stealer, he will have to flee...he really has no backbone.
The Truth for me came in by way of Peace for me today.  Words are powerful...words we speak and words we think in our inner man...words that can kill  and words that can heal.  Unfortunately, there have been some hurtful words spoken these past few weeks.  But, the wounds can heal...and it comes by way of forgiveness and peace.  Has it ended like I would like it to have? No.  But it does end in  forgiveness and peace!   And it is in that forgiveness and peace that a Transformation occurs!
It is also in our physical journey's, that we do have to come to a place of inner peace and forgive ourselves of past "wrongs" so that we are able to move forward and achieve our physique goals.

Today I did steady state cardio.   Food has been all to my plan.
I am moving forward.

I am looking forward to taking my pics this weekend.  I just know my tummy is going to see some major results.  I already feel my tummy is flatter!

I AM a Warrior!
I AM Unstoppable!

Keep Believing

Your job is to believe. God’s already figured it out. Nobody can keep you from your destiny-except you. It’s time to believe.

I have to share this quote yet again.  It rings so true!!  God does have it already figured out!  He has me by my hand and is leading me towards the destiny He has created for me...all I have to do is to keep on believing.  He asks us to believe without doubt..that is faith.  I have been reminded of this many times these past days.  It is not necessarily faith that things will be resolved, but a faith that I am being made New...I am being Transformed!  The dream stealer is going to try and try to bring me down as he has done in the past, but I will fight the fight of a warrior!
Here are some thoughts on what it means to be a warrior.Stu Weber says, "A warrior is one who possesses high moral standards and holds to high principles.  He is willing to live by them, stand for them, spend himself in them, and if necessary die for them.”

One way I will stay strong is to keep up physically with my training.  Tonight I did muscle A.  I increased on some reps and some weights.  I am down on scale weight this week.  I'll update with pics and numbers the end of the week.  With the scale going down, yet my strength staying the same or increasing slightly, I have to believe I am maintaining my LBM and am in a fat burning mode.

I am eating good.  tonight the family had pizza ...I went for a walk so as to not be tempted.  One way to resist temptation, is to walk away!  I have even been able to avoid the cereal!  I feel good about making good food choices!

I will continue to take one day at a time.  Believing Just for Today.  In all things mind, body, soul.  I press on with right choices and trust and faith and belief, that all things will work out for good..that good can come from something bad! 

Positives For Today: Making the Right Choices

Positives for today!

Ate clean all day!  I found an awesome product I am going to try the next 30 days, which includes protein, an energy and mood enhancer, and an antioxidant fruit blend.  Besides using the product, I will be able to market it as a business and make some money.  It is a fast growing company with some awesome products, with an awesome income potential.  I am excited.  It will help me to stay positive with the changes going on in my life plus also help me to support myself and my family. 
It could very well keep me from having to work a second job. (let me know if you care to hear about what I am going to be doing.  I will also help with weight loss!) 

Got the workout in today!  I did make some small gains with weights.  It felt good to push the body.

I am thankful that I am making the right choices for me and my health despite the difficulties I am facing in my life.  I know the road will not be easy nor will it be over any time soon, but I DO know that I CAN make the right choices and stay on my path to staying healthy, mind, body and soul.  I DO not have to choose poor foods due to emotional eating.  I CAN keep working out, knowing that exercise will only enhance my mood and even my immune system.  I can take control of one area of my life that I KNOW I can control. 
I can also take control of my thoughts.  Granted, there are going to be some down times but if I stay diligent in taking my thoughts captive, I can overcome the negative and defeating thoughts from the dream stealer by affirming the truths of who Suzette, is.  I AM a Warrior!  I AM Unstoppable!  It is who I AM!!  It's not just an attitude, it's a way of life!  It is a way of Being! 
Even though things are not as I would like them to be right now, I can still believe that it will all work out for good.  I don't have to like it, but I can still trust.  I can keep the faith, that it will turn out just as it is meant to be. 
What do trials in your life do?  They cause you to grow.  They cause you to change.  They cause you to examine your life, your thoughts, your beliefs.   I can sulk in the depression of it all, as I have done in the past,  or I can not live defeated and not allow my circumstances to dictate who I am as a person.  I can overcome!  I do know this, I will come out stronger than ever before having gone through this current trial. 
My life, my thoughts and my beliefs will Be Who I am!

God is not the source of my storm, but He is my shelter in the midst of it. I agree with Jesus and take authority over the storms of life, and declare PEACE in the midst of them. I walk in wisdom by acting on the Word, and I rise above every storm, in the name of Jesus!

Be Thankful

My champion "activity" today was to sleep!  I am emotionally exhausted.  but unfortunately the "nap" has me now up at 3 am!
I continue to eat fairly well.  My only "downfall" is a bowl of cereal, which is usually Raisin Bran...not the worst, but not the best either.

Today, I will focus on getting my workout in.  I do not want to let my life circumstances keep me from the things I can control.  It would be so easy to just slip back into emotional eating patterns because of life issues, but that would only make it worse.  I feel better knowing I can still do those healthy things..plus eating healthy and exercise will only help the stress and keep my immune system strong, as stress can have affects on your immune system and health.  hmmm..remember gall bladder?! (If you don't know about the gall bladder thing, ask.)

Here's what my devotional said today.
"Let Thankfulness temper all your thoughts.  A grateful attitude becomes a grid through which you perceive life. Rejoice and be thankful! Trust is the channel through which the Lord's Peace flows into you.  Thankfulness lifts you up above your circumstances."

So I will focus also on being Thankful.  Even being thankful for my circumstances, even as hard as they are.  If I stay thankful, I will not be drug down into depression.

1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

A kind Word

A kind word.
Yesterday I was talking to a long time friend of mine whom I had not talked to in quite a while.  He wanted to compliment me, something that he wanted to tell me over 20 years ago.  Well he took that opportunity to do that yesterday.  It has made my day! 

The impact our words have on people are so far reaching...even to share a compliment from 20+ years ago.  You just never know what your words will mean to someone...a word of encouragement...a word of support...a word of belief... a word of praise.  Positive and uplifting words go a long way.  People won't remember you for what you did, but for how you made them feel.
Isn't that what we are doing here?  We celebrate each other!  We encourage each other!  We support each other!  We believe in each other!   This is how we succeed.  This is accountability.  This is community.  I love it here!
I won't remember how much weight you lift or how much weight you lose or how strong you are..but, I will remember how you made me feel.
So share a kind word today. 

The same thing works for ourselves.  The power of self talk and positive affirmations.   When other people are not around, we have to encourage ourselves.  We have to believe in ourselves.  We need to give ourselves positive, uplifting words.  We have to be accountable to ourselves..

But look at how much farther we can go with the help and encouragement of others.

Food was good...but could be better.
Muscle C workout done!  and each one of you came to mind.
Attitude today was uplifted.
I am so grateful for a compliment coming about 20+ years "late"..but so on time!

Just Keep Doing it Anyways!

How do you transform you body?  How do you transform your life?
How do you lose 90 lbs?

"Just do it anyways!"
When you are tired...
"Just do it anyways!"
When you are too depressed...
"Just do it anyways!"
When you don't feel like it...
"Just do it anyways!"
When you have a bad day...
"Just do it anyways!"
When you eat pizza...
"Just do it anyways!"
Do you want to feel amazing?
Do you want to look amazing?
Do you want to be amazing?
then...
"Just Do It Anyways!!"

That was my mantra yesterday.  Do I always feel like working out? no.  but if I keep doing it anyways, then the results will speak for themselves. 
And the impact will be far reaching...farther than you could ever imagine!
Last night I got another message from a long time friend from college seeking my help in losing weight.  My ongoing weight loss success is having far reaching impact.  Much more than I could ever imagined.  All I wanted to do was just lose 30 lbs.  But four years into my journey I am humbled by even the few people who have been inspired by my story of weight loss success, especially in the last few months.  What I am finding is that it is those people who know me personally are relating to me most, because they DO know me.  They can relate to me on a personal level already.  Of course I have referred my friend to Elaine's "Why Delay Amazing?" ebook...and I say to you, check out Why Delay Amazing?  you won't regret it!

Yesterday, I had the wonderful opportunity to "meet" a new friend in fitness, Melinda.  I found her via Facebook.  She had been leaving comments on one of the pages I frequent and so I followed her link to her page.  She offers inspirational quotes, blogs and articles she finds on the net about faith and fitness.  She wanted to share these with other people who sought the same things and started Strength for the Journey; Forging Faith and Fitness.   She has a blog of the same name (Strength for My Journey) and I started reading and leaving encouraging comments...and so the friendship began.  Last night we had the opportunity to have a live skype video call.  What fun it is to meet other like-minded people from across the country.  I am truly blessed to be able to meet such wonderful people.  She is a blessing and I hope you will visit her page and "like" her.  She finds some awesome, inspirational stuff. 
One thing we both discovered is that in our own little worlds we don't find many, if at all, other people with the same passion for fitness as we do.  But we have found it in the most blessed way on the net.  Our world's have been expanded.  We also have learned that it is through an ongoing support system and encouragement from others doing the same thing that we are finding our passions growing and helps us to press on in our own dreams and goals.  To be accountable to others doing the same thing is motivating.  I just don't know how other people can quit on their dreams and goals.  I have always felt like I could never quit...because if I did, not only would I be quitting on myself, but on those around me who have supported me.
Granted there are life situations that have slowed me down at times, but I could never quit. 

So here are the lessons for today:
1 Don't you quit!  Because you just never know the impact you will have on people..even four years down the road.
2 Encourage others every chance you get.  That person you encourage just might be your next new friend.

oh by the way, yesterday the workout DID get done! 
I will post updated pics soon.

Updated with pics!  I know it's kind of small..but the changes are minimal from Feb. but quite obvious from January.  Let's see what I can do in the next 41 days!  Game on! 

Dare...Boldly 2011: Muscle T-48 Motivation and Trust

Motivation : a force or influence that causes someone to do something
That's what being part of a community with like-minded people like "The Transformers Club" is about.  I had gone to bed late(way after midnight) only getting about 3 hours of sleep.  I took a nap after I got home from work.  I only intended to sleep for about an hour but ended up sleeping until 10 pm.  My first thought was there was no way I was going to workout this late (even though I have many times before).  So I sign on to the Transformers Club and what do I read from Elaine and Kim...and even reminding myself of my own post ("do it anyways") plus the thought of not missing a workout the next 50 days motivated me to get off this dang computer and "do it anyways!"  Was it the best workout?  No, but I did it anyways.
You all motivate me!  You all inspire me!

Today's Eats: 95% good. mostly good. only really "bad" time is getting home from work.  raisin bran is the first thing I go for.  all other meals are good.  salmon/broccoli, chili, eggs/oatmeal, chicken/spinach wrap.

Today's Workout: Muscle A.

Today's Attitude:  I felt so much "lighter" today.  Someone told me that I looked "happy" today.  I think a huge part of that attitude change from the past week or so, was in recognizing and writing out(giving light to) what has truly been distracting me and identifying my feelings in regards to those distractions.  The overall feeling I have been feeling was one of "helplessness."  It can be discouraging, if we allow it, to think that our lives are so out of our control, that circumstances are beyond anything that we can do.  But, there is always something we CAN do.  Trust:reliance on and confidence in the truth, worth, reliability, etc., of a person or thing; faith.  The truth is, these circumstances are only temporary.  The truth is, all things will work out for good.  The truth is, I can only believe for today, for we only have strength enough for today.  So by changing my perspective of that "helplessness" into that of having hope for the future, by trusting in the truth of today I can have and be at peace.
Here's the lesson.  It is everyday we can become distracted.  And it is everyday we must transform our minds.  Transforming is an action we do every day, it just doesn't happen to us, we are active participants.  The part I CAN do, the action, is to renew my mind daily(be transformed by the renewing of your mind) by Affirming with my mouth(life and death is in the power of the tongue)that these circumstances are only temporary and it will all turn out for good, that it will "make me a better fighter," that something great is on it's way. Believe with my heart(without doubt) and confess with my mouth.

Today's Gratitude:  the other day I got a lead for a possible (2nd) job.  I called on them today.  They said they had a couple of openings and asked me to send my resume'.  The person that gave me the lead told them about me and they seemed excited to meet up with me about the job.  I sent off my resume' to them this afternoon.  I'll let you all know how that goes.  This second job will be a much needed answer to prayer and will help in resolving one of my "out of  my control" situations.

Your job is to believe. God’s already figured it out. Nobody can keep you from your destiny-except you. It’s time to believe.

Dare...Boldly 2011: Muscle T-49 Uncommon Focus Required

The Uncommon Dream will require Uncommon Focus

Obviously I lost my focus for a few days.  But I am working to regain that focus back.  How am I doing this? With Carlos' help and encouragement, I am in the works of an affirmation statement that will address my distractions, the circumstances around me that I really have no control over, and allow me to see, hear, live and believe the truth of my being. To speak truth into my thoughts and to transform my mind from my old way of thinking to a new way of thinking. This is an ongoing process, because something always shows up that we were not expecting.
There is a passage in the Good Book that really illustrates what happens when you take your eyes off your goal.Whatever your goal is, if you get distracted and look at the circumstances(the storms of life) around you that cause you to be distracted, be fearful and to doubt, you will sink.  We need to have an uncommon focus on that goal so we don't look at the storm and doubt and think that our storms are bigger than our Dream/goal.  I guess you can say these "storms" are dream stealers.  We need to believe in our Dreams.  Faith is required to reach your dreams.  Losing focus is also losing faith.  You have to sometimes believe what you can not see or think is impossible to reach your goal. But when you do sink, you can be assured that when you ask for it, help is there.  Even before Peter stepped out of the boat he was already affirming what his goal was..he just had to step out in faith and keep his eyes on his goal.

'And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ”'

—Matthew 14:23-33

Today's Eats : still not 100%, but I am not aiming for 100%, yet. about 96% good eats.

Today's Workout: HIIT and Abs. felt the burn on the abs.  yeah!
Less than 50 days for this phase of my plan.  I need to step it up !  Can I go 50 days without missing any workouts and eating to plan?

Today's Attitude:  regaining focus, hopeful.

Today's Gratitude:  Believing that whatever I go through, good will always come out of it, even if I can't see it right away.

Writing Project: 
This is something else I have been distracted from working on.  Belief is a big factor, but I am moving in the right direction with that.   The more positive comments I get in regards to my blog posts here are instilling belief in me.
When You Announce The Uncommon Dream, Those Who Believe In You Will Be Encouraged And Energized To Assist You.Carlos DeJesus has been a huge factor in this project for me.  It was with his encouragement that I do this. My mother is also a huge source of encouragement.  She told me today she is excited about this and wants me to hurry up and write it so she can read it.  She has been reading my blog posts and is loving what I am writing.  My mother has always been my biggest cheerleader.
  Your Recognition Of The Uncommon Dream Birthed By God Will Unlock Your Greatest Ideas, Creativity And Energy To Create A Truly UNCOMMON LIFE.
My mother helped me brainstorm some ideas on my ebook today.  One of my distractions for this is, believe it or not, my computer.  So what I am going to do is get me a journal and start handwriting there and then transpose onto the computer from there.   We had some "format" ideas ,too.  But for now I will focus on just writing...writing from my heart.

 

 

Finally! Do it Anyways!

Monday was the day I finally got back into the gym since Feb. 21.  I had to drop weights on everything.  It felt good, though, to be lifting.  I dread it until I get out there.  Today's thought was, "Do it anyway!"  I just haven't felt like doing much of anything the past week or so.  It's time to change those thoughts and start thinking, "Do it anyways!"
Food has been good, too.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement and for believing.