smorgan1227’s BodyBlog

Some time ago I read the book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. One of the methods the book used to help decide the priorities in your life was a what if you died question. What would your family say about you at your funeral? What would your friends, your boss, your co-workers, your church, etc say? Then the question, what would you like them to say? Then, what do you need to change about yourself and your life to make sure these important people say these things about you? Thus, the conclusion is a mission statement.

As I think back, I have to admit that my mission statement said nothing about my health. I never said, "I want people to think I was really fit, or really pretty, or worked out really hard". Most of my mission was to be a respectable, caring, strong, intelligent person. Someone who promised something and followed through on that promise.

I have pondered how my new habits of eating and working out, that feel so selfish at times, fits into raising my five kids, loving my family, being loyal to my boss and church, etc. This is my conclusion. When I am taking good care of myself physically I have clairity of mind. My focus and drive are stronger. I am a better example to those around me of how to live with strength and freedom.

I am not bettering myself physically so that others will be in awe, or praise my efforts. I do it because I can accomplish goals and be proud of myself. Having low self esteem is more self focused than being healthy. Being comfortable with myself helps me take the focus off myself and direct it towards other people. Being healthy physically is just another important piece of the balance I have found in life.

Perhaps I should add a new statement to my mission for life.

"I will honor my personal commitment to care for myself so that I will be available both physically and mentally when I am called upon to fulfill my duties as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and employee."

http://www.vimeo.com/1526295

Ok, so last night was my first workout with Purple Wraath.  I also took it today for my leg workout.  I am amazed.  I was able to work harder than I ever have.  I think the main difference I notice is the lack of pain.   I can workout longer without the exhaustion and  soreness.  I  am more steady and strong.   This morning I also took Reduction.  I didn’t notice any side effects until I started working out.  Then I was sweating like a pig.  I normally sweat, but my clothes were completely soaked.  Yuck…lol… It was a great workout!

I posted a five minute Youtube video of what the basic meaning of eating clean was.  I know a lot of people ask me about my diet and what eating clean is.  I hope the quick explanation helps for those who do not like to read. lol  You can find the video on my main page.

Epiphany: 3.a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.

Now that we have the meaning of the word down, here is my simple, homely, insight.  I picked up a copy of the September Oxygen Magazine because Jamie Eason is on the front cover (and on 20 pages, I counted)  While flipping though it I read the article written by Robert Kennedy, the publisher.  In the article he states,

"Women, really into fitness (yes! I’m talking about you), get asked all the time: "How do you keep so lean and shapely?  Tell me what to do and I’ll do exactly as you say!" 

And because you are such a kind and generous natured human being (yes, I’m still talking about you), a person who cares about others, especially those crying out for help, you spend your valuable time explaining the importance of regular exercise and the huge benefit of marrying your exercise with the outstanding benefits of eating clean. 

But in spite of the best of intentions, very few people follow through.  A week later they are back to eating junk food and not exercising.  Your time is , once again, wasted!"

I thought to myself, how ironic.  Here I am reading the magazine with Jamie Eason on the front and I have for the first time in my life changed my eating and exercise patterns because I followed the advice of none other than Jamie Eason.  What made it different this time.  Why did I listen to what she said and really change.  I have to tell you, I have really changed!  The results have amazed me.  I simply believed her.
So the thought occurred to me that I just honestly believed what Jamie was telling me.  I had faith that if I ate clean and built my muscle base I would be lean.  I acted on it. I followed through with belief in something I was not going to see for many months.  There were times when I felt like I was getting fatter.  My muscles were growing under the large layer of fat I had acquired over the last year.  Jamie encouraged me to keep going.  Believing that I would eventually be lean.  Do I look like Jamie?  No Way!  Do I look better than I have in a long time.  Absolutely!
The only other area in my life where I can see real faith at work is in my relationship with God.  It doesn’t work when I only believe it part way.  I have to believe in what I can’t see.  I have to have faith that what God tells me is true and act on it.  ]

James 1:3-5-7

5 But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all. ^R3  6 But when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind. 7 If you are like that, unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord

Do you do that in your life?  Are you like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind?  Do you need to believe again?  What will it take to believe?  I can’t convince you.  Jamie may not be able to convince you.  The choice is yours.  Every day you act on your belief.  Do you really believe that you can achieve health, strength, purpose.  Decide today to believe.  That is the only difference between those who listen and fall away, and those who make a change.  Believe in what you can’t see.  Believe in the future.  Believe in you!

Last night I asked my 16 year old son, who was laying about if he wanted to go to the gym with me so I would have a spot for bench press.  He said, "sure mom, why not."

My poor son who has played football both his freshman and sophmore year in great pain, found out that his heel if fused to his foot bones.  He needs to have surgery on both feet, so he is out of football this year and has to watch his little brother play.  He is glad to know why he has always been in such pain.  I can’t even imagine having gone through all those practices with fused feet.  On top of that he had open heart surgery when he was seven for a heart defect.    We will just say he hasn’t had it easy.

Other than being defective, he is a typical 16 year old boy.  He has been driving me crazy!  However, last night when he went to the gym with me it was awesome.  He pushed me harder than I had been pushing myself.  He kept saying, "One more MOM".  I had the best workout I have had in a long time.  I asked him today if he wanted to be my new workout partner?  I am going to get him a membership and change my workouts from morning to evening.  It reminds me of the days in high school that I lifted with my brother.  I am happy because I have a new great workout partner, and my son and I get to do something together every day.  You just wait, he is going to be a studmuffin.  I will have him on a clean eating diet soon enough!

I had an interesting conversation with my 17 year old step-daughter the other day.  A conversation that many people seem to bring up around me lately.  She said that she didn’t like "diets" because as soon as you went off it you would gain the weight right back.  My response was, "really, you mean if you eat a whole bag of doritoes you will get fat?".  She is absolutely drop dead gorgeous.  She really doesn’t need to worry. However, it is just an example of how people think.  It has nothing to do with being on a diet or not being on a diet. If you eat crap you will look and feel like crap.  If you eat healthy you will look and feel healthy.  News to the world.  You can not go on a diet, lose weight, then go back to your old habits and think you will stay skinny.  It just doesn’t make since.  So why are people so surprised.  It is a lifestyle!  If you love how you look and feel, eating healthy is not a problem!

I know there was concern for a while that China wasn’t the best place for the Olympics this year because of all of the oppression.  There was even talk of canceling it.  Somehow that idea faded away,and here we are at the Olympics.  I just want to set a challenge.  When you are watching the Olympics this year as they are in China, let it remind you to pray for all the people in China that are living under oppression and fear.  Especially for those who are persecuted for believing in God.

Enough said.  I don’t want to use this as a soap box.