I’ve always exercised throughout my entire life, but as I was getting older I noticed I was having a harder time keeping things in shape. My jeans were getting tighter around the waist. Of course, I blamed it on my age. And I knew if I didn’t get a grasp on it, it would be harder in the future to lose the extra pounds. So I hit the gym harder with very little results.

One day while I was in the locker room drying my hair, and one of the trainers came in to grab the next dryer. We struck up a conversation about staying in shape. So I took advantage and asked her how to get “ripped”. The first thing she asked me was, “What are you eating?”

“Sugar junk,” I said.

“Get rid of your sugar for six weeks and you’ll see a major difference – and you’ll be ripped,” she said.

I was shocked when I started looking at the sugar content in everything I was eating. It’s everywhere!  I wondered if I could really give it up?!

It’s been three weeks since I gave up sugar. No cookies, no cake, no pie, no ice cream, no sugary snacks, no bread, no yogurt, no cereal, nothing – well except flavored coffee creamer.  And I am now seeing the results. At first, it was hard. I craved the sweets. But after the second week, it slowed down. So here are a few points that I have learned that I hope will encourage you if you’re dealing with the same issue.

• For six days – cut out all of your sugar. Read your labels and look at the sugar. You’ll be shocked at how much sugar is in everything!
• Reward yourself once a week. Pick a day and eat whatever you love. But don’t go crazy. But enjoy that piece of cheesecake, ice cream or chocolate bar!
• Don’t skip breakfast. Instead of high sugar cereals, check out the high protein ones – Kashi. You’ll get used to the taste, I promise.
• Increase your protein. I drink a V-Core Protein Chocolate Shake mixed with Soy Vanilla Milk everyday to build/maintain muscle. It’s the best tasting shake out there.
• Exercise if you can at least 3 times a week. Weight training if you can.
• Drink lots of water. I try to drink 4 – 8 ounces of water a day.
• Snack in between meals – fresh fruits, veggies, peanut butter with apple, nuts.
• Eat healthy!

This is what is helping me lose the sneaky extra pounds. And if you’re dealing with the same issue – you can do it!

So let’s talk about it. How do you become beautiful? How do you become popular and how do you become fit?

First of all, you are beautiful. God does not make mistakes and He has His fingerprints all over you. Psalms 139:13-5 For you created my inmost being;  you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Many times we don’t see the beauty we possess because we are always looking at our flaws. “My nose is too big. I’m too fat. I hate my curly hair.” The list goes on and on. So what do you do? Here’s the plan.

• For thirty days – refrain from saying one negative physical quality about you. This means you can’t say anything negative about you.
• For thirty days, everyday, pick one physical quality you like about yourself. Write it down. It can’t be the same. So at the end of thirty days – you should have sixty awesome things to say about yourself.
• Lose the magazines. The models on the mags are airbrushed! All photographs are photoshopped. How do I know? Even my photographs are altered and I’m not a model.

I’ve often wondered if God really knows me as a father knows his child? Does my life really matter to God? Does He really see my struggles, my joys, my laughter, my desires, and my needs like a father who sees his child’s struggles, joys, laughter, desires, and needs?

He answered my question one day as I was reading through one of my less-than-favorite books of the Bible, Numbers. I didn’t really care about who begot who, so the book has never been all that interesting to me. But then, God showed me that numbers mean something to Him and the names listed were important – every single one. He knew the name of every man, every woman, and every child. That’s when I realized one is the most important number. And I am one. He knows my name. My life matters to Him. He knows me. He loves me. He sees me. And He knows you!

There is only one true God and there is only one you. And because God loves you and wants a relationship with you, He gave His one and only Son so that you can become one with Him and have eternal life.

I believe that by leading one life to Jesus will lead to saving millions of lost souls. It’s like a domino effect. Once you tell one person, they’ll tell another and so on and so on. Before you know it, you will have impacted so many lives. Please join me in the One Impact movement to reach the world.

But because of Christ, we have hope. His whole existence is the core of giving. Without Him dying on the cross for our sins, we would cease to exist in the true meaning of life. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.- I John 3:2-3. 

Hope is not seen,

Hope is not heard,

Hope is in Christ,

Who changes everything.

Do you know that leading one life to believe in Christ might lead to saving millions of lost souls? It’s a domino effect. Once you tell one person, they’ll tell another and so on and so on. Before you know it, you will have impacted so many lives. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…- Matthew 28:19. So no matter how you play dominos, keep playing!

    I pray that my life will never cause any to fall. Lord, give me the wisdom to say Your words, be Your hands, see with Your eyes and hear with Your ears. Use my life to impact Your kingdom. Amen

Lord,

     Thank You for the many gifts You give us. So many times we take for granted all the blessings that have fallen on us. We often forget Who is responsible for them. I pray that You will use my talents and gifts to uplift Your name on high. Help me to lead others into Your presence and encourage the gifts of others to do the same. Thank You Father, for giving us the greatest gift of all which is found in Your Son, Jesus, our Savior. Thank You Jesus for loving us. Amen.

     Dear Jesus, open my eyes to see the real problems of the world. Let me be the one to do something about it.                       

My sweet husband and I decided that it was time to expand our family. Since all of our sons are grown – it was time for a little girl. She has brought so much joy and laughter and work! It’s amazing how God gives us these cute, little creatures to make us smile. And I’m a believer that all dogs go to heaven!  So meet our little girl – Reagan!

My love for you is willing to meet you where you are. My love for you forfeits any thoughts of changing you to an image I may have that you should become. My love for you accepts you unconditionally. I do not love you because of what you are or may become; I do not love you if you say or do certain things I want. I do not love you for what you may give me or what I can gain from you.

I love you because it’s His love. That’s all there is to it. It’s actually quite miraculous. You can’t get around it. You can’t stop it. My love for you will never end because His love never ends.