Getting Healthy (Part 2)

This is part of a 3 part series. To read part 1, go here.

Out of all 3 parts of this series, part 2 was the easiest lifestyle change for me to make. I'm not sure why, as my work out routine had always been pretty inconsistent prior to 2012. But that year was a year of change for me, and my commitment to fitness was a pleasant outcome of all of those changes. 

I imagine that everyone has certain parts of this series that they will excel at. Whether you've been blessed with a healthy mindset your entire life, or simply have a knack for eating healthy. For me, it was the work out segment that came naturally, once I got in my groove. So without further adieu, part 2:

Getting Healthy: A Healthy Work Out Schedule

I'm gonna start with the advice I know you've already heard: find a type of exercise that you enjoy. And now, I'm gonna ask you, what is it that you enjoy?

Do you enjoy being outdoors? Hiking, biking or running are right up your alley. 

Do you love having someone to motivate you and take the pressure off of creating your own work out routine? Then you'll love group fitness classes. 

Are you a water person? Swimming is where it's at for you. 

There are so many different ways to get that exercise in. So find something that you enjoy, and do it! Better yet, find a few things that you enjoy so that you can have variety to your schedule. 

I'm 100% a cyclical person. I go through running phases, group fitness phases, and hiking phases. I'll run on the treadmill for 3 straight months and then ditch it for 3 months on the elliptical. But you know what phase I've officially out grown? The no-working-out phase.

Hallelujah!

Something that has really helped me is to start thinking "when am I going to work out today?" versus "am I going to work out today?" That one extra word seems to make all the difference for me. Sure! There are still plenty of days where it just doesn't work out {like yesterday, for example!}. But there are plenty more days where it does. 

Committing to a healthy work out schedule was easy once I realized how much happier I was with consistency. However, there was something important that I learned long after I had the schedule down. 

I love the high that I get from working out, I really do. But I reached a point where I realized I was using that high in an unhealthy way. Was I working out an unhealthy amount? No. Oh the contrary, I'm sure my body loved the consistent kick in the butt work out. 

But was I turning to working out in an unhealthy way? Yes. In much the same way as I was previously turning to food for comfort, I was now turning to working out for comfort. I realized this when I couldn't work out for a few days because of being sick, and immediately ran elsewhere for comfort. {There's your back story on this post}

So, this is why getting a healthy work out routine is part 2 on my list instead of part 1. I had to make maintaining a healthy mindset my first priority over maintaining a healthy work out routine, in order to truly find 

a healthy me. 

Once I realized this, I could go back to kicking butt in the gym or out on the trails without turning to these things for my identity. My identity lies in Jesus Christ first and foremost, and it's from Him that the strength was found to finally commit to a work out routine that led me to my 

happy, healthy spot. 

Getting Healthy (Part 1)

This week, I have it on my heart to share my experience with getting healthy. I don't think anyone will be surprised to hear that I am constantly hearing about diets, work out plans, and everything else that is health, fitness or nutrition related. It's a huge part of our culture, consuming minds of all ages and genders. 

I want to share my experience of getting healthy because I can 100% say I am finally in a place where I am happy with my health. I view my relationship with health in a similar way to how I view my relationship with God, always needing time, commitment and dedication. Just like with my faith, some days I rock it, and some days I blow it. That's just how life goes, am I right? 

But the point is, regardless of if it's a day where I'm rocking it or where I'm blowing it, I'm

happy.

And it's taken me a long time to get here.  

So this week, I'll be sharing with you my experience of getting healthy. A three part series. 

Because before I could even think about nutrition or fitness, I had to focus on my mind. 

Getting Healthy: A Healthy Mindset

For me, finding a healthy mindset was essential to ever getting to a place of lasting results. You see, for years I let my mind wander to an extremely unhealthy place, and it took a lot of time & love from Jesus to reverse that. 

I opened up about my struggle with an eating disorder once before on the blog, so if you're interested in hearing about my battle with bulimia, feel free to read more here. Bulimia had an incredibly profound impact on me emotionally. It was so much more than just a quick way to get thin. On the contrary, I quickly realized it yielded no such results. 

Struggling with that eating disorder dragged me into a very dangerous place of turning to food for comfort. And not just turning to food itself, but turning to the fact that I had "control" over that food. When things got too overwhelming, I said screw it. I'm gonna go indulge in whatever the heck I feel like, and take "control" over how it affects my body. 

The thing is, in an attempt to gain control, I really lost it. 

So, back to the main point here. How did I get healthy?

I changed my mindset. I took a good, hard look in the mirror, and realized that I am beautiful 
just the way I am, no changes necessary. 

And I'm not beautiful because of the number on the scale, the clothes that I wear, or the color of my hair. I'm not beautiful because of my complexion, my fashion accessories, or even because of how I feel when I look in the mirror. 

I am beautiful because the Bible tells me so. I am beautiful because Jesus tells me so. 

I am beautiful because I am wonderfully and fearfully made. 

And I'm here to tell you that you are, too. 

And upon learning this, my mission to get healthy changed a bit. I no longer focused on a goal weight, goal clothing size, or even a goal of how I want to look in the mirror. 

My new goal was to treat this beautiful body that my Heavenly Father made with the respect it deserves. My new goal was to treat this body with love that I had been neglecting myself for years. 

You see, changing my mindset changed everything. Because treating my body with the respect it deserves? That was a goal I was willing to commit to. 

My First Blate!

This weekend, I went on my first blate (blogger date, copyright: this gal).

I feel like I am officially a blogger now. Hooray! 

I had the privilege of getting together with the wonderful Julie, who blogs over at An Anchor for the Soul. And I don't think it could have been more perfect. 

Quick back story of how I "met" Julie in Blogland. I found her over in the comment section of The Williams Post (thanks, Kerrie!). One click of a button, a few glances at her blog, and I was sold. 

It only takes reading a few posts to know if you share the same heart as someone, am I right? And this girl? Well her words could have come straight out of my mouth. And that's how I feel with every single one of her posts. 

You know those blogger glasses that we all wear? The ones you put on before you read someone's blog, that blocks out all of the bad and illuminates the good? They either leave you feeling super dang inspired, or super dang jealous? 

Well, the closer Julie and I have gotten, the more and more we realized that both of us were wearing those glasses at first. Reading each other's blogs and thinking 'dang! this girl's got it all figured out. this whole shining for Christ thing.'

And usually I would curse those blogger glasses, because of all of the comparison, self-doubt & envy that they bring. But this time, the glasses didn't bring any of that. They brought encouragement, inspiration and motivation to shine brighter for Christ. 

And I will always be thankful for Julie and her example that she set for me, without even realizing it. Because of her, I have learned (and am still learning!) to be a confident witness of Jesus. 

***

Things I learned about Julie:

1) She is beautiful. Hands down, stunning. 

2) She has the cutest accent. I heard it in a vlog, but hearing it in person is even better. 

3) We have really similar back stories, and our families have a lot in common. 

4) She is incredibly easy to talk to. The conversation was flowing from first hug. 

5) We have the same taste in coffee. (Both ordered iced non-fat mochas, her's decaf and mine white mocha). 

6) Her and Matt really do shine for Christ. It's not just words on a page, they truly are in a Christ centered relationship. 

7) I swear we are the same age. Even though I'm 4 years older. When did that happen?

8) We really would be bffs if we lived closer. But I'll settle for Blogger bffs :)

***

Julie, I had so much fun with you this weekend. Thank you for being my first official blate! I couldn't have asked for a better one :)

I hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation with your fam! And can't wait until the next time we get to meet up!

Prayer Chain // Week 12

Happy Sunday, lovelies!

 

I'm fairly certain that's how I start almost every single one of my Prayer Chain posts. But you know what, that's okay! Because Sundays are happy days, and you all are lovely, right?

 

Right!

 

Glad we got that covered.

 

Today, I am feeling incredible thankful for the sweet conversations that have taken place this weekend. Conversations with my family, friends who I haven't seen in too long, and a conversation with one lovely blogger who I had the pleasure of meeting in person! {this girl}

 

And for frozen yogurt, because an abundance of that was enjoyed this weekend.

 

I hope your weekend has been equally blessed, and that all is going well in your neck of the woods.

 

Today, I ask for continued prayer that God's will would be done in my life. I pray that He pull me very close during this season of change, and that He help me to walk in faith, not fear.

 

How can we be praying for you? Melissa Jo and I would love to know! Link up a post, or shoot us a comment/email/tweet!

 

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.

Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises. 

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them 

pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 

James 5: 13-14

 



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HAPPY Friday!

Happy Friday!

There's a lot to be happy about this week, so let's get to it:

*Going home to visit the fam this weekend makes me happy!*

*Getting to go on my very first blate this weekend will make me very happy!*

Especially because it's with this girl:

*Running in Nite Moves this week and having no foot pain made me extremely happy!*

Also, finally introducing these two, who I knew would be insta-bffs. 

{They were}

*The extra lovin' that I'll see from my next paycheck because of this week's overtime makes me happy*

Bye bye flexday, see you in a few weeks!

*The unexpected blessing of a new position with more responsibility at work makes me happy*

*Finding this incredibly epic relay race and starting the process of forming a team made me happy*

Heyy Nor Cal people, any one feel like joining our team??

*The love and support of all of you always makes me happy*

*Guest posting over at my girl Melissa Jo's blog today makes me happy*

What makes you happy on this Friday?

Children

Today, I was in a room full of hundreds of children. 

Those kids behind me in the blue baseball shirts? Those are my kids. My fourth graders who have been working so hard over the past year to get ready for one event, today's Math Super Bowl. 

As I was walking around this giant room full of brains hard at work, I couldn't stop thinking about two things. 

One: how much this reminded me of AP testing. 

Man, glad that's over with!

And two: I could not stop praying for these kids. 

And not just the ones that I have come to know, but all of them. I couldn't help but wonder what their mornings had been like today. I'm sure most were filled with happiness, excitement, and joy as their parents told them how proud they were of their achievement for just getting invited to the Math Super Bowl. 

I'm sure some were filled with laughter with their siblings, and kisses goodbye before school. 

But it breaks my heart to know that some weren't like that. And today, I prayed for those kids. 

Today, I prayed that all of these children would come to know their incredible worth in Christ. That they would know that regardless of how their school placed in this competition, regardless of how pretty they felt that day, or regardless of the last time they heard the words "I love you,"

they are loved. 

I prayed that the Holy Spirit would come into this room full of 4th, 5th and 6th graders, and fill these hearts with 
so. much. love. 

And on that note, I hope you know how loved you are today.