Redeemed Health and Fitness

Little kids and Ducks...and a Mama who needs to keep moving!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 13:26:00 +0000

I didn't post yesterday because I realized it made a whole lot more sense to let you know what we actually got done rather than what we were hoping to. I'm definitely the mother of one of those families whose best laid plans rarely fall in line with reality. So here is what we did yesterday to feed our souls and move our bodies...

Bible Reading: Genesis 7-12

Character Focus: Proverbs 2 (emphasis on faithfulness)

Memory Verse: Psalms 1: 1-3 (this will be the same all week)

Fitness: The 3 oldest boys wanted to go to the Y to use the weights and equipment and play basketball. So the girls, little boys and I dropped them off and headed to the park. It has some really neat exercise equipment and the kids had a great time using it...

We decided on getting in 3 miles of walking so we left the equipment behind and started our laps around the park. We let the little guys walk some but then allowed them to retreat to the stroller after awhile.

Ducks were a good excuse to take a breather...

We stayed at the park for nearly 2 hours until it was time to go fetch our big boys. It was a beautiful (hot) day...pay no attention to the little girl who started out in long sleeves and long pants!...and we all arrived back home feeling good about our efforts and time spent together.

Maybe you don't have a park with cool exercise equipment or a walking path around a pretty setting. Just figure out what you do have and make good use of it. Exercise doesn't have to always even look like exercise...just get your body moving. And take your kids with you when you can!

Family AND Fitness

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 12:22:00 +0000

I've been on and off the fitness wagon, using my kids as an excuse every time I've hopped off. I simply can't afford to be making excuses. But I also can't allow fitness to creep in and steal my time with the Lord. There seems to be only one solution: get the family involved.

So that is the plan and it starts today. I'm determined to get back into running and that is something I will occasionally do on my own or with just my oldest son. But aside from that, I have every intention of getting my family to move...both through the Word  and physical activity.

We are beginning a 6 month Bible reading plan today. This is faster paced but is an excellent way to familiarize with the books of the Bible to aide in deeper study later. We are also going to be focusing more on Scripture memorization.

Here is the plan for today:

Bible Reading: Genesis 1-6

Character Focus in Family Worship: Faithfulness (we'll be reading a chapter of Proverbs each day and discussing)

Memory Verse: Psalm 1: 1-3

Fitness Plan: Run 3 miles (with my 15yo son as my partner)

  Everyone>  {You can google any of the exercises below that you aren't familiar with}

                      30 pushups, divided into sets of 10
                      30 crunches, divided into 2 sets of 15
                      10 burpees
                      1 minute of "booty" kicks
                      1 minute of mountain climbers
                      Evening walk of at least two miles, toddlers to walk/ride

Slacker mom saved by husband and teenage son

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 31 May 2013 12:17:00 +0000

I have good intentions, really I do. And I have lots of excuses, too, in case you were wondering. I want to eat well and drink plenty of water and stay on top of my workouts. And I want to be able to do all that, even while maintaining that prime slot of time for the Lord each morning.

But the truth is, I am tired. My body has been through the ringer over the past two years and I am mostly in denial about the fact that this is a slow process. Most mornings it's a challenge just to get out of bed. Last week, the doctors ruled out cancer. That's a big plus the way I see things. With a treatment plan well under way for what they didn't rule out, it's time to take myself in hand and get healthy again.

First things first. I'm a Coke addict. It's the legal kind of Coke, though I'm not sure it should be. That stuff is pure poison in a pretty red-labeled bottle.

Enter my husband. He's typically such a nice guy who spoils me rotten and dotes on me like a princess. So there was absolutely no warning when he went all psycho on me and emptied the house of my Coke stash. I mean, seriously, I wasn't drinking the stuff. I hadn't touched it in almost two weeks. But it brought me such comfort to know it was there if I wanted it. Like an old friend you don't speak to for months and then you just pick right up where you left off.

Well, apparently that was exactly the kind of friendship my husband was trying to break-up. I caught him sneaking off the other morning at 4am for his shift at the station with my precious Coke in hand.

"I'm removing temptation for you" he said.

"I want to support you in this" he said.

I said, "I don't want support. I want my Coke." He smiled and walked to his car.

Drat.

So with nearly two weeks of no Coke under my belt, I'm passed the headaches and crazy withdrawal. And I knew it was time to step up the workouts. I made a goal to walk 30 minutes 5 days a week in the month of June. Well, it's not even June yet but...enter my son.

He's passed me in inches, determination and effort. He puts me to shame pretty much every single day yet I still love him. Until, that is, he tells me he's going to start running with me and I see that glint in his eye. Because he's a machine who never seems to tire and who seems to thrive on torturing his legs and lungs. And mine.

I've been down this road before, running with this maniac. So when he showed up in my room at dawn this morning, I knew there was nothing to do but lace up my shoes and strap on my smile. I thought maybe if I smiled he'd be nicer to me. Wrong.

Anyway, I am back now having survived 3 miles of interval running torture. Actually, if I'm being perfectly honest, it wasn't that bad. He let me walk the monster hill that called out threats to me as I began to make my ascent. I'm smart enough to know when to back down and it seemed wise to proceed with caution so as not to make it (or my poor lungs) angrier.

Three miles in thirty minutes only to arrive home to a still sleeping house. My drill-sargaent son turned back into his sweet self, and we enjoyed a time of spiritual refreshing as we each met with the Lord from our own couches in the cozy living room.

Not a bad start to the day. How about you? What are you up to today?

Finding Time to Exercise When You're Barely Hanging On

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:44:00 +0000

A common struggle I hear about {and experience myself, even} is how to squeeze it all in. How do you make time to grow your relationship with Christ, meet the needs of your family and the demands of keeping a home AND exercise? Seriously, there are only so many hours in a day and not all of them find you with boundless energy. The key is to prioritize. And then take a fresh look at your schedule.

I function best when I rise early and seek the Lord first. If I hurry past that, my day just seems off and difficult to get back on track. That is my number one priority and I guard the time carefully. One of the things I do in my quiet time is to keep a prayer journal. In it, I record prayer requests for others as well as my own family. This is a wonderful way to be diligent about intercessory prayer but also "organized" about my own prayer needs. And you can bet I have plenty of scribblings in there asking for guidance to find balance in my very busy days. I jot down any ideas He inspires me with for making the best use of my time.

Housework doesn't take a huge part of my day because my children have been trained to pitch in and help. This frees me to spend more time simply being with my kids. And it also allows for a bit of flexibility to get some physical activity in. Some days are filled with yard work, which is both cardiovascular and strengthening. Other days find us at the park where a few laps add up to several miles of walking. Throw in that double jogger I push (and some of the hills over there) and I've got myself an excellent workout while enjoying the fresh air and my family.

I think sometimes we get hung up on the idea that we have to be stuck in some room sweating it out in misery. I have a few workout DVD series that I love (you can find some here) and don't mind sweating away to. But other times my exercise is simply intentional movement.

Don't get me wrong, on those days when you can fit in 30 minutes or an hour for a run or a DVD, plan it and DO IT! But if your days are so packed simply trying to keep your head above water, don't be discouraged out of doing anything at all. Look for creative ways to squeeze it in. Challenge the kids to a push-up contest and drop down and pump out as many as you can before they lose interest. Let your husband know you're pretty sure your abs can take more crunches than his can and see if he doesn't take the bait!

Make a fitness plan and be determined to stick with it. But on those days when you're ready to wave the white flag of surrender, dare to look at exercise a little differently. And defy defeat by finding a way to get your heart pumping!

Changes in May!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:44:00 +0000

On April 1st, I launched Redeemed Health and Fitness with the subsequent Facebook page. Well, it's now exactly one month later and I've realized I need to make a few changes already!

The biggest thing is that I need to close down the Facebook page I created specifically for this blog. Many of you know, I operate another blog at Walking Redeemed that also has an active page from which I post daily. I have decided to maintain the two separate blogs but to merge the FB pages. I have a busy life filled with 7 homeschooled kids and an awesome husband...I simply do not have the time to spare to adequately keep up with multiple FB pages.

So if you have not already, you can go HERE and choose to follow from the page where you'll find posts and links related to health & fitness as well as various topics pertaining to the life of a Christian woman. You are also welcome to join in the "closed" accountability group which will remain open and active and is a health and wellness support group for women! There are many beautiful and encouraging women there to cheer you along your journey!!

Otherwise, you can continue to expect posts from me here on most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I am thoroughly enjoying all your support and accountability and I look forward to what the Lord has in store for us in the month of May!

Establishing goals and priorities for May

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:53:00 +0000

The time is NOW...

How many times have you determined to get fit and healthy only to be sidelined almost before you got started? Discouragement, lack of self-control and poor time management are a few things that commonly trip us up. We make a plan and jump in with both feet only to have them come sliding out from under us! It's time to change this trend!

Last month, we launched this site and while I'd love to say it was simply to inspire you on your journey toward more vibrant health, I'd be lying if I did. The reality is, I myself need the inspiration. I've jumped on the wagon only to fall off far too many times. I've poured myself into my family with abandon to later realize I'm no good to anyone if I'm slowly killing myself by neglect.

Too many late nights followed by early mornings. Too many responsibilities and commitments without the time to fulfill them adequately. Too many good intentions turned sour because I was worn out, dragged down and beat up. My greatest enemy is ME.

May is my month. I'm scooting over and letting Christ at the helm. He calls my body His temple. Doubtless He wants to help me properly care for it. He calls me beautiful. Surely He will help me to embrace that beauty.

I'm selecting a new challenge. Well, for the most part at least. I still need to focus on cleansing my poor body with plenty of pure water. I am reaaaalllly bad at that!

Here is my updated and revised challenge for the month of May:

Drink 8-12 (8 oz) glasses of water daily.
Log walk/run miles with a goal of at least 25 per week.
Continue with my Bible reading plan and be faithful to it every single day.

What are your goals for next month? Have you checked out the fully customizable Monthly Challenge yet? Are you interested in joining the *closed* accountability group on Facebook? (This is different than the regular FB page.) There you will find a plethora of support and encouragement from other ladies who are striving for the same things you are. It's open to women of all ages and fitness levels. If you are interested in joining go here and "ask to join". That just lets me know you are wanting in and I'll get you added as soon as possible!

Are you lost for how to get started or interested in finding tools and programs to get you going? If so, you can visit the Resource Shop. This page is made up of resources that I am familiar with and have had at least some experience with. {Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links that you are welcome to shop through. But please be aware that you are under no obligation to use any of them!} If you checked the shop out last month you would have been directed to the Beachbody website. That is no longer the case.

If you have any questions or need support in any way, please feel free to ask! You can leave a question in the comments or send an email to (walkingredeemed @ gmail.com) and I will get back with you as soon as I can.

Connect with us on FACEBOOK!

It's a Process...Change Takes Time

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:47:00 +0000

Don't beat yourself up if you aren't seeing the changes you had hoped for by now. You're winning the battle every single day when you strap on those shoes and get moving. When your life threatens to overwhelm you and all you can find time for are squats in the bathroom while you wait for the shower water to heat up...you are still on the winning side.

Because the battle isn't just about results. It's about the process. The person you choose to be as you journey toward your goals. Are you letting yourself get so caught up in losing weight that you're failing to remember it's really about improved health and vitality? You can be at your ideal weight and still be sickly.

But most importantly, keep your focus on Christ. That relationship must always come first! He is the one who will impart the sustaining power to keep you putting one foot in front of the other, especially on days when it's the last thing you want to do. He is the one who wages war right alongside you against failing health and excess weight.

Take heart. Take a chance. But remember, change takes time!!

5 Quick Workouts (No equipment necessary!)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:07:00 +0000

Tired of doing the same old videos but want to fit a good, heart-pumping workout into a small space of time? Here are 5 Pinterest inspired plans you can do quickly and without any extra equipment!

115 pounds later...Mary-Ellen's Journey to Health

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:29:00 +0000

I was always the “big girl” growing up. Not really obese, but certainly bigger than I should have been. Out of a family of ﬁve kids I was the only one who wasnʼt physically ﬁt. It was after I got married that I really put on a lot of weight. I basically ate whatever I wanted to and did very little physical activity. Three kids and several years later I found myself weighing 278 pounds.

I knew that this was not what God intended for me and that I needed to do something about it. I watched “The Biggest Loser” on TV and came to the realization that these were people just like me. Maybe if they could do it, possibly, just maybe I could do it too.

I had bought a couple of “Biggest Loser the Workout” DVDʼs before with good intentions, but I never followed through. In May of 2011 I decided that this time I wasnʼt going to fail. Enough was enough! I wanted to be able to do things with my kids and more importantly to be a good example to them. I wanted to be a godly example, but I wasnʼt taking care of my “temple”.

And so it began. I used things I learned from “The Biggest Loser” and from the internet and began my journey. It wasnʼt easy. I made the decision right from the beginning that I wasnʼt going to “go on a diet”. I was going to change my lifestyle and the relationship I had with food. I started a food journal and wrote down everything that I ate and calculated the calories that I took in each day.
What an eye opener that was. I set a daily calorie goal and tried my best not to go over. Sometimes I failed. More often I found that I could actually do this. I did a workout every day.

Was it hard? Yes. Did it hurt? Yes. Sometimes I wanted to give up. Sometimes I didnʼt want to do one more squat or lunge. But getting on that scale every morning kept me motivated. It sounds so obvious, but when I ate right and really pushed in my workout the weight came off. Amazing. I was really doing it.

In the winter of 2012 I decided to try something that I never imagined I would ever do. I dusted off the treadmill that I had bought with good intentions a few years earlier and started running....well jogging....very slowly. But it was a start and was just what I needed and the pounds kept coming off. I started running 3 times a week and then I added some P90X to my routine and every once in a while Iʼll get brave enough to do some Insanity (itʼs called that for a reason :) ).

Iʼve lost 115 pounds. Iʼm not skinny, but Iʼm healthy. I feel so much better about myself. What Iʼve learned is that it doesnʼt take some amazing person with super willpower to lose weight. It just takes a one day at a time commitment and a good amount of prayer doesnʼt hurt either. I know
itʼs cliche, but itʼs true...If I can do it anyone can do it.

Feel free to leave a word of encouragement or a bit of your own experience in the comments!

If you have a story you'd like to share, please send me an email at walkingredeemed@ gmail.com. It doesn't have to be a dramatic weight loss to be inspiring. Reclaiming our health will look different for each of us!

Tips to Get you Running

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Running is one of the most basic forms of exercise, yet it carries with it a whole plethora of misconceptions. Being ranked in the high-impact category, it often gets tossed aside as simply not do-able. I’m no expert, but I wanted to offer a few tips for those of you who are interested but have always been too intimidated.

Get a good pair of running shoes that are suited to you! This cannot be stressed enough. If you just toss on any old pair of sneakers and take off running, you are very likely to find yourself in pain before you get too far. If you are able, go to a store where the employees have been trained to fit you according to your specific gait. A good shoe will get you off to a great start. A bad one will have you sidelined almost before you really get started.
Ease in. Don’t lace up those new shoes, strap on your iPod and expect to sail through 10 miles before heading home to hit the shower. It doesn’t work that way. At least not for us normal people. Give yourself time to ease in to this new adventure. Short, slow runs are better than a long, fast run that kills your joints and has you hobbling around for days afterward, especially when you're just getting started.
Don’t expect to love it right away. I think so many of us jump into running expecting it to become an instant passion. It’s easy to romanticize the experience and picture yourself running like a gazelle down the road toward super-fitness. The reality is you may look and sound more like an exhausted elephant (no reference to weight here, this is just what I felt like when I started!) staggering to a slow death. And that’s before you hit your first hill! Give yourself time. Be patient. Be realistic. The elephant will give way to the gazelle if you are determined and keep at it slow and steady!
Give yourself rest days. I, personally, am following a half-marathon training program just to give me some guidance. According to this plan, I only run 4 times a week and all of them have a day off in between except one. Those days off give my joints time to recover and my legs a chance to rest. I do fit in cross-training types of exercises on the days I’m not running. This way I’m not over-exerting myself but exercising all parts of my body in a given week.
Stay hydrated. This really should be at the very top. When you run, you will sweat. That’s a good thing, but those fluids need to be replaced with fresh, clean water. And lots of it. You are less likely to cramp during your run when you’re well hydrated. You are also less prone to muscle soreness when you’re supplying your body with ample water.
Run with a partner when possible. It is not only safer, it’s more fun! I drag my son (okay, okay it’s really more like he’s dragging me!!) or my husband and sometimes even my neighbor. Running with somebody tends to make the time go by faster. It also encourages you to push through hills at a (slow) run that you might otherwise tend to walk.
Speaking of walking, don’t be afraid of it. There is no shame in alternating running with walking. The first two weeks after I got started, I did a walking warm-up followed by alternating 3 minutes of running with two minutes of walking. Then I started making goals for myself. For example, I’d tell myself I’d run to the end of a certain road and then walk until a certain driveway where I’d begin running again. I finally got to where I could run the whole time, even the hills! I’m not gonna win any medals for my amazing speed, but I’m running!
Mix up your route. I get bored running the same exact path every time. My husband went with me for a drive and measured out different distances using varying routes. This keeps me from getting bored, but it also throws off anybody who may be looking for a pattern to my running (aka the bad guys!).
Keep your perspective. I think it’s really important to remember why you are doing something. For me, I certainly wanted to lose the baby weight I’d being clinging to since the birth of my twins. But even more than that, I wanted to feel better. I don’t mind admitting that I’d prefer to look good for my husband. But I also know it doesn’t take much for him to think I look good! It’s key for me to remember that I am doing this for my health, not in an attempt to gain attention for my slowly evolving trimmer figure.

If you have any running tips or tricks of your own, I’d love to hear about them. I haven't been at it all that long and I'd love to learn from you!

Don't miss your chance to get entered in the Trim Healthy Mama giveaway!

{This post was pulled from the archives of my other blog, Walking Redeemed, and edited slightly}

Finding Your Beautiful...and a Trim Healthy Mama Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

This modern age has us racing through life in the fast lane. Drive-thru convenience food makes serving dinner a snap! We can fill our stomachs, clog our arteries, widen our backsides and add to that muffin top--all without getting out of the car. And when our bodies finally crumble under the onslaught of grease, fat and calories and we need a prescription filled to get us back on our feet, there is even a drive-up window for that. No need for taking more steps than absolutely necessary in a world that seems determined to kill us by both diet and inactivity.

But what happens when you want to take a stand against this deadly lifestyle and you start to implement change that seems drastic or fanatical to others? You hear things like:

"Oh, I could never do that! I like my soda too much!"

"What's the fun in living if you can't even eat the things you enjoy?"

"I don't have time to exercise. I'm lucky just to get through the day doing what I have to do."

"My husband loves me just the way I am and that's all that matters!"

It's easy to lose steam and motivation when there are naysayers at every turn. But don't let them sway you! It is 100% Biblical to be in your best possible physical health! God created all things beautiful and that includes you. Taking care of yourself is a key aspect of the Christian life. Period!

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. {1 Corinthians 3:16-17}

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. {3 John 1:2}

It isn't prideful to want to shed that extra weight. It's not vanity to want to lose the pallor that poor health casts over your complexion. And it isn't conceit that makes you want to catch your husband's eye again. It's God's design. Why are we so determined to make excuses or find a way around it?

You don't need any special equipment to exercise. Tie on your tennis shoes and go for a stroll around your neighborhood. Drop to the floor and do a few crunches, challenging yourself to add a few more each day. Pump out push-ups one at a time until you can do 20. And then 30 , 40 or 50! Set small goals for yourself and go after them!!!! Do not be defeated!

Of course, it's pretty silly to intentionally exercise if you're going to be stuffing yourself with poison disguised as food. Proper diet and physical activity must go hand in hand. Throw out the ugly notion that the word "diet" is a cruel torture to be endured for a small space of time to achieve a short term goal. All lies!

Diet is simply the food and drink that a person consumes.

It doesn't have to be torture. In fact, it shouldn't be torture. It can be delicious, satisfying and fun. And it should be!

This week I want to give you the opportunity to win a FREE copy of one of the HOTTEST books to hit the shelves lately...Trim Healthy Mama! This book is stuffed full of winning recipes that will leave you wondering where exactly you are having to sacrifice in order to clean up your diet!! You can read the review that Jacinda from Growing Home recently posted here. She has had fabulous success getting whipped back into pre-baby shape as the result of implementing many of these recipes for her family. They were designed to be user friendly, cost-efficient and extremely tasty!

Don't waste another minute wondering if you're cut out for a healthier life. Or trying to figure out if you have time for it. You are. You do. YOU CAN!!

{You can find the THM website here...there are product resources, various forms of the book, support forums and more!!}

{Linked up with: What Joy is Mine, A Mama's Story, The Better Mom, The Modest Mom}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dusting off the old treadmill!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:08:00 +0000

I think if a poll were taken, the treadmill would likely be the most common piece of gym equipment found in homes today. But, sadly, so many of them sit unused. True, walking in place for any length of time is not exceptionally thrilling. And running on the unforgiving surface of one can be extremely hard on the hips and joints. But there are ways to spice up your treadmill workout to give you the calorie burn you’re after without the burnout!

Grab some hand weights and walk with an exaggerated arm pump. This way you are working the legs, which are a large muscle group and really get the heart rate elevated, but you also sneak in an arm workout! Once you’ve got a rhythm going, you can start alternating in some curls to hit your biceps.

Go Anaerobic. You can squeeze in some interval training, giving yourself small goals that make the time go faster. Walk with your hand weights {or without them but at an incline} and alternate 90 seconds of walking with 30 seconds to a minute of running. (When you are at a run, you can put your weights down.) This way you are giving yourself a chance to recover from the faster pace but still working as you let your heart rate come down some before the next burst. You’ll get a huge calorie burn anytime you work anaerobically.

Hook up to iFit.com. Many newer treadmills are compatible with iFit, allowing you to follow popular trails and routes without ever leaving your home. This sure beats mindlessly walking or running in place!

Use an app on your smart phone or ipod that maps out a "trail" for you. You can even find a

couch-to-5K plan that will give voice prompts as you make your way through the course.

Put on some music that inspires you and run/walk to it. You can walk the verses and then pick up your pace for the chorus. You’ll be surprised at just how quickly the length of a song (or a bunch of songs) passes this way! This is one of my favorite treadmill workouts!!

I'm putting together a post with non-traditional ways to utilize your treadmill. This under-appriated piece of home-fitness equipment has MANY functions beyond simply running or walking on it. Stay tuned!

What are your favorite ways to use the treadmill?

Linked up with Deep Roots at Home

Identifiying your addictions

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:54:00 +0000

Most all of us struggle with addiction in one form or another. Some battle the pull of the bottle or the call of nicotine. Others are drawn hard to the electronic age this world is drowning in.

And others battle cravings. To sugar, caffeine, chocolate, FOOD.

My name is Kasey and I am addicted to Coke. (coca-cola, that is.)

There, it's out. This has been a life-long addiction for me and it's perfectly ridiculous. I have broken the habit more times than I can possibly count. Which means I have also backslidden just as many times.

Why? How is it possible that a fizzy brown liquid in a shiny red can could turn me into a powerless ragdoll?

I can't explain the science behind addiction, I only know the power it wields over it's unfortunate victims. And I know that the answer is not in simply accepting our vices. It is in conquering them.

This morning. And then again this afternoon. And this evening. Only to conquer them again tomorrow.

Victory isn't always a one time event. In this case, it is ongoing. Day in and day out, we must CHOOSE to tap into the super-power God has blessed us with: the power of the will. Exert your will for good and He will always meet you where you're weak. ALWAYS.

But as soon as you start choosing to ignore the small voice encouraging you to make good choices, help of another kind shows up with guns blazing. And those guns are pointed straight at you!

Today, identify your addictions, your weaknesses and your harmful cravings. But more importantly, re-introduce yourself to the blessed gift of Willpower. Coupled with prayer, it is a force to be reckoned with that will find victory every single time!

What do you struggle with?

Linked up with: Growing Home, Jill's Home Remedies, Little Natural Cottage, The Modest Mom

Cravings Identified...and giveaway 2 out of 3!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:02:00 +0000

My biggest hurdle in maintaining a weight that is both comfortable and healthy isn't food or lack of exercise. It's making poor food choices as a result of misunderstood cravings. We all crave but can we always identify what we're truly craving or do we just grab a snack to quiet the urge?

Here is the publisher's description of the book Made to Crave:

Made to Crave is the missing link between a woman's desire to be healthy and the spiritual empowerment necessary to make that happen. The reality is we were made to crave. Craving isn't a bad thing. But we must realize God created us to crave more of him. Many of us have misplaced that craving by overindulging in physical pleasures instead of lasting spiritual satisfaction. If you are struggling with unhealthy eating habits, you can break the 'I'll start again Monday' cycle, and start feeling good about yourself today. Learn to stop beating yourself up over the numbers on the scale. Discover that your weight loss struggle isn't a curse but rather a blessing in the making, and replace justifications that lead to diet failure with empowering go-to scripts that lead to victory. You can reach your healthy weight goal -- and grow closer to God in the process. This is not a how-to book. This is not the latest and greatest dieting plan. This book is the necessary companion for you to use alongside whatever healthy lifestyle plan you choose. This is a book and Bible study to help you find the 'want to' in making healthy lifestyle choices.

That describes me to a T. Full of good intentions and great planning, but easily overwhelmed by the busy-ness of life. I'm always re-starting what I should never have stopped! God never intended for us to sit stuck on the conveyer belt of good health. He's given us both roots and wings...there is still time to be who He intended us to be!

As part of this launch week of giveaways I am offering a free copy of this book! Use the rafflecopter below to get entered!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beautiful Change...and a fitness DVD series giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 05:14:00 +0000

I am so excited about getting this journey underway! And to kick off "launch week" I have an AWESOME giveaway lined up for you! {Actually, I have 3 but let's not get ahead of ourselves here!}.

I love this program!!! There is just something about Chalene that challenges me to keep moving. She works it the whole time and barely breaths heavy...that inspires me! It's not your old-school style of aerobics program...meaning don't expect the *grapevine* from back in the day...this is choreographed with a combination of dance, kick boxing, high intensity interval training (HIIT)--with a little bit of plyo thrown in for some extra fun!

And in case that totally freaked you out, let me comfort you by assuring you there's a modifier in every session!

Good stuff. And the calorie burn is outrageous. I have a BodyBugg and have tracked it...it's no joke. Here's a quick overview----

Burn up to 9x more fat and calories than traditional cardio with high-energy, intense cardio conditioning, kickboxing drills, and carefully choreographed moves.

How TurboFire works

Shed fat faster with High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) known as Fire Drills, short 1-minute bursts of maximum effort.

Burn calories at a higher rate for up to 24 hours after the workout with the Afterburn Effect.

This is for all workout levels – although TurboFire is considered an advanced program, there are special new features to help beginners stick with the program.

Turbo Fire Classes Included:

FIRE STARTER CLASS: Master the TurboFire moves as Chalene breaks them down for you at half speed.
LOW HIITs: LOW HIIT 20, LOW HIIT 25 CLASSES:The low-impact workouts are still high-intensity and ignite the afterburn effect to maximize calorie burn.
FIRE HIITs: FIRE 30, FIRE 40, FIRE 45, FIRE 55 CLASSES: Actively recover from the HIIT classes while melting fat with these longer cardio classes. Don't worry: You'll still get small doses of those HIITS!
EXTREME HIITs: HIIT 15, HIIT 20, HIIT 25 CLASSES: Give your max for up to 1-minute intervals during your workout and you'll burn calories at an increased rate for up to 24 hours after it's over!
STRETCH 10 CLASS: Increase your flexibility, lengthen your muscles and reduce soreness by warming down after the class.
ABS 10: If you can handle Training Camps, the Frog, and other tough exercises in just 10 minutes, your abs will look incredible.

I am thrilled to be able to offer a complete set to a fellow pilgrim on this odyssey toward improved health and spiritual vigor.

Below you'll find a Rafflecopter to get entered. You may choose one entry option and you're in! But if you want additional entries, select all of them! And if you don't want to wait to see if you win, you can head right over to find the perfect program for YOU!

Note: I'm a Beachbody Coach so that is the fitness line I am familiar with...but please use whatever program works for you and keeps you motivated.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Launch

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:10:00 +0000

Official Launch: April 1, 2013

You may or may not know me from over at Walking Redeemed, but allow me to introduce myself a bit just in case. My name is Kasey and I am a wife and mother of 7 children, ranging in age from 15 down to 21 month old twin boys. Like most of you, my body has endured change and "torture" from partnering with Him to bring these precious souls into the world. The truth is, I'm not what I once was. In a way, I don't mind. I wouldn't trade one of my awesome kids for that pre-baby body I totally took for granted! :) But at the same time, I know I'm not where I could be physically and definitely not where I want to be.

I wanted a place where I could find a like-minded community of women, seeking after the same things I am--vibrant health, improved physical fitness, a more tightened and toned body but without letting it take over my life. Christ needs to stay central, not how many calories I'm burning!

You've met them before...those people who are into health and fitness that never speak of anything else. They talk about the amazing workout they just conquered, how much weight they are lifting now, the green smoothies they are loving and those new jeans they just bought in a size 4. There needs to be balance, girls!

This blog will be a source of fitness ideas and health discovery, balanced with spiritual well-being. I'll share fitness challenges and invite you to join in. I'll post my favorite plans for resetting and rebooting your health. And I'll encourage you to tweak them to make 'em your own!

I've created a Facebook page where you can post your daily devotion, workout, heath and fitness goals...but where you will also find accountability from others doing the same. There is no reason to go at this alone or to get lost in the shuffle of those mega websites. We can do this thing together! Note: We're just getting underway...hang tight while I get things going!

Check out these pages to learn the ropes!

If you're ready to take the plunge and you're diving in without reserve, go ahead and grab the button below. You can put it on your website, blog, Facebook page...wherever! It's all yours!