Run the Race

I love exercising.  A year ago I was going to the gym 4-5 times a week.  Kickboxing is my favorite, but I also like the Strength Endurance Training (SET) and Core Central classes too.  I found out I was preggo with Claire Bear exactly a year ago, and I kept working out until I was 8 weeks and I experienced some pain during TKB.  My plans of being 9 months preggo and still doing it went out the window.  It wasn't worth the risk.  I'm sure I could have done some low impact cardio or at least walked on the treadmill...but the truth is- I didn't. So for the next 10 months I of course was not sedentary...anyone with 1-2 year old knows you don't do a lot of sitting around, but I really didn't do any exercise to speak of.

Now Claire is 4 months old and summer is basically upon us [even though the weather hasn't really gotten the memo yet] and I'm ready to be back in shape. The only problem? I've been working out for 2 months and honestly- I'm stuck.  I'm just not losing this darn weight.  So what's the deal?

I have a couple of guesses.

The past 6 months there has been a lot of stuff going on in our family, and stress is never good for the waist line {or any part of you} It is actually pretty toxic.  [It also may or may not cause you to consume copious amounts of dessert comfort food].

I also may just have a sweet tooth that doesn't quit- and a husband who loves it just as much. We eat very healthy the rest of the time, but dessert is kind of a weakness of mine [and his- and I like being a sweet wife that bakes chocolate chip cookies for my guy when they sound good to him].  We are making a concerted effort to not eat sweets for a month. I've been doing pretty well...I'm finding half the battle is fought at the grocery store.

This is also my 2nd baby and C-section - so I suppose I shouldn't have assumed it would have been as easy "getting back" as it was the first time around.

So heres what I'm doing about it (and a couple tips if you are trying to get in shape too):

I'm kickboxing. YAY. I love TKB, and it literally torches the calories! I'm trying to go 3 times a week. The days I don't kickbox, I'm doing Insanity.  Have you heard of it? Its another Beachbody production like P90X, but its mostly cardio, plyo, and core training. It is a little insane.  I'm usually tired after the first 15 minutes.  It's good though because I don't have to have a babysitter and I can do it whenever I have a spare 45 minutes :-) *update* I did Jazzercise this morning with my sister...don't laugh. It's actually a really good workout. I left there dripping sweat.  I just might add it to the rotation :-)

I'm really trying to not eat dessert. A couple of tips? Like I said- the battle is really fought in the grocery store. If you don't buy it, its not available in that moment of weakness after dinner when the kids are asleep and you are relaxing with a good book {or three- more on that later}.  If I don't have it in the house, I don't eat it. Want another tip? Go grocery shopping after you just ate.  If I'm hungry when I'm shopping, I'm more likely to buy things that aren't healthy just because they sound good.

I'm setting goals.  I like having a chart and tracking my progress. Its encouraging, and it also helps keep me motivated.  We have a family vacation planned for the end of July, so that is my goal time-frame.

Here's a bonus tip: drink water!!! I love lemon water, so I'm drinking a lot of it! Especially after dinner. Somehow the lemon kind of takes away the sweet tooth! Oh and if I'm done with my lemon water- I brush my teeth right away! That also deters me from eating anything I shouldn't.

Regarding your health & weight, and really all areas of life, it really comes down to your choices.  Life is about choices. You can make good ones; choices that ultimately please the Lord, and subsequently you are blessed because of it; or you can choose to live your life according to your own will.  That road does not lead to blessing, it leads to destruction. We are called to take care of our bodies, for they are the temple of the Lord.  I want to be healthy and feel strong, physically and spiritually, and I want to please the Lord with my life and my choices.

I can't help but think of the analogy of our spiritual lives being a race we must run- with endurance and perseverance.  Just like exercising, we have to be disciplined and work at our relationship with the Lord.  If we do nothing, nothing will happen.  We won't be growing in our faith.  If we do not take time to have silence and prayer time, we won't hear His voice. If I never exercise or purpose to eat healthy food, I won't reach my goal.  What are you doing to exercise in your spiritual life today? Are you "feeding" your spirit with things that will draw you closer to the Lord?

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Hebrews 12:1-3

linking up with Katie here