FitBit

Hi guys,

It has been a month since I started my 10,000 steps a day challenge.  My eating habits have not been the best BUT they have not been bad either.  Over the last month I've averaged about 9,000 steps a day...only because I'm typically very lazy on the weekends. Since beginning the challenge my friends have joined and the competitive nature of everyone is making getting the steps more fun. 

Start Weight:         147.9   March 16, 2015

Current Weight:    142.9   April 20, 2015

Pounds to go:        17.9

Short-Term Goal:  Start incorporating healthier eating habits and reduce caffeine intake

What are some of your goals? 

If you have a FitBit add me as one of your friends and “LET’S GET TO STEPPING!”  My email address is nthomas13@gmail.com.  I will keep you posted on my progress.

Until Next Time...

My Fitness TESTimony

Let me start off by giving my fitness testimony…Working out does not give me energy like most people say. I do NOT leave the track feeling like I can conquer anything but my tub and my bed. As long as I keep moving I’m fine, but once I sit down, I’m usually down for the count.  I have daily battles with what I like to call the lazy monster…he wins often.  But I’m not a person that handles defeat well, so when I don’t workout for a while all I can hear is my dad saying “Baby girl, you can’t win them all, but when it’s over they better be tired and you better always put up one helluva fight!” Of course I cleaned that saying up a little LOL. Thinking of this lil mantra doesn’t give me a burst of energy, but it does restore my willpower.  I’ve come to realize some days the energy won’t be there…in my case, most days.  But just like with everything else in life, all that really matters is How Bad You Want It  (Louis voice)!

What motivates you to workout? What are your reasons for wanting to lose weight or get into better shape? If you’re coming up blank on what’s motivating you, in the words of Shaun T,  ‘DIG DEEPER’!  Please note I am speaking to myself as well

Each level of my weightloss journey has had different motivating factors… I went from wanting to be girdle free, to tucking in my shirt and now I want sit down fine! I claim to want it bad…but when looking at the facts is that true? I have a friend that has completely transformed her entire body structure while my progress has been on hold for what seems like FOREVER.  You know why? Because she not only wanted it bad, she worked towards achieving it.  That’s the difference between a dream and a goal.  When you dream of something you sit still and bask in the thought of it. When you set a goal you take the needed steps to achieve it.  I’m so proud of Latonya, she went from thick fine to Women’s Figure Masters overall winner.  Now that’s what I call being great! I’m only fighting the lazy monster, she battled with discouragement and disapproval… yet she still achieved her goal.  

Today my voices are done dreaming and ready for action!

 

Are you ready to start your fitness journey?  How bad do you want that body you envisioned? Are you ready to stop dreaming and start taking action? Start today... contrary to popular belief, fitness, diets and living better does NOT have to start on a Monday!

 

Until Next Time...

 

God's Favor

My career plan in 2010 was to start working when the kids went back to school, stay on that job a year, then move on. I started working in August of that year, but before I knew it, a year was gone, I was still there, and I didn’t have any prospects for a new job. Honestly speaking, I was a little down in the dumps about still being there and not moving on. Because in my mind, my course there had ended, the job served its purpose and I was ready to move on.

On May 22, 2012 I wrote down my prayer “I pray for a job with great benefits, good understanding people, not far from home, more money, good working hours, not much overtime... I pray for a job that will allow me to utilize my current abilities as well as grow in other areas. A job that will challenge my mind and get me out of this current rut.  I am not an average person, therefore I want greatness to reflect in all areas of my life! Work, home, family, demeanor....” I prayed for a new beginning…a chance to meet new people at my new place in life.

In June I was offered a job, but I had prior engagements that were top priority for me at the time and my current employer agreed to wait for me an entire month. (good, understanding people *check*) When I turned in my notice one of my former co-workers told me “You don’t want to burn any bridges” and my response to him was “Some bridges need to burn to prevent you from trying to cross them again.” At the time I didn’t realize how powerful that statement was, the only thing that mattered to me was, in my heart I knew that my time there had come to an end and God agreed.

My travel time to work was once anything from 45 minutes-2 hours dependent on traffic; with the new job my travel time became 15-25 minutes dependent on traffic (not far from home *check*) Hurricane Isaac happened and we experienced damage to our home so we have been staying by my mom, the kids school was destroyed so their schools are now in alternative locations.

Jeremiah 29:11 reads For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Being that I got my job only a month before all of this happened, I am able to recognize God’s favor in my life. The toll that living on one side of town, working 5 towns over, and my kids being 3 towns back would have taken on my mind, body and spirit would have been tremendous.  God spared me from the exhaustion that would have happen to me had I still been working that job, but he also made sure that his timing was perfect so that I realized it was him working things out in my favor, not just “my plan” unfolding.  In a previous post entitled Restoration I wrote “Restoration happens when your willingness to live a Godly life and God’s timing collide…” I also wrote “We have to be at the point in our lives where we allow him to take away what we have in mind for ourselves…and allow his will to be done” and this is exactly what happened to me.

      Moral of the Story: Just because things don’t happen when you want them, doesn’t mean they won’t happen when God’s timing is right. In the bible there are many instances that God performs acts to make people aware that HE IS! “You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other”. I feel the reason God doesn’t allow things to happen when WE want them is because he wants his presence and power to be recognized and not overlooked! If things happen in our timing we may think it was a lone act when in all actuality it wasn’t.

I almost forgot, the other blessing staying over a year brought me was some friends that have changed my
life forever! God allowed me to meet them at a time when we could each compliment each others lives. How's that for favor?

So today my voices are praying that God continues to make his favor known in my life and that I continue to realize it and give him thanks, glory and honor! God loves when we share the greatness of his word and his great works and I love it when he shows off!!

…Until Next Time

  

Life of Contentment

I have been a Computer Technician for about 9 years now.  I can remember years ago, I was working for Lockheed Martin and I was content with my life.  I had a decent job, an ok salary, my own home, and healthy children.  In my mind, being the country girl that I am, I was already living at my full potential.

As time went on and I grew as a person and in the word, I soon learned that the state of mind that I was in, was a state of contentment.  Simply put, I was settling! I settled for the hand that life dealt me.  While working for Lockheed, Katrina happened…despite the tragedies that were faced because of this hurricane, I received a blessing.  I was hired for a job that opened my mind to something greater than I ever imagined possible at my age living in Louisiana.  I worked with FEMA for 4 years before being laid off.  Looking back, I realize that God allowed me to experience that type of money to change my way of thinking and to help me realize that I was limiting myself in so many ways.  I feel that he wanted me to realize that I have not, not only because I ask not, but because I didn’t deem it possible. 

Having that experience has changed my outlook on life for the better. I no longer settle for what is given or offered to me, I work hard for what I want, speak on what will be, and only accept that which I feel is deserving.

So today my voices are encouraging you to STOP SETTLING!  If you deserve a better job, a better boyfriend/girlfriend, bigger house, more dependable car, whatever it is that you may be more deserving of…GO FOR IT!   

Today I challenge you to change your lifestyle of contentment. There is always a next stage or something else that can be done to better the condition of your life. I want you to literally write down some realistic short term goals each month. As they begin to materialize, I want you to highlight them.  At the end of each month, what ever is left, carry it over to the next month and add it to your new monthly goals…and so on. 

The fulfillment you get from reaching your goals will give you the boost needed to start making long term goals. Once you develop the belief in your ability to achieve things the sky will be the limit!  I look forward to you accomplishing great things.  Keep me posted

…Until Next Time 

Never Too Young To Learn Humility

My son Demond Jarvis (DJ) is a very talkative, inquisitive 11 year old. He is far from modest and does not mind letting people know just how smart he is. He prides himself in making straight A’s and excelling in Math. Thinking back, I can remember his last 3^rd grade award ceremony when he said "Wow! Ma, can you see how big those trophies are? Next year that’s going to be me!" A 4^th grade girl, walked away with 3 trophies for the highest LEAP scores in different subjects… that was the very moment that my son decided to strive for excellence in all things and set his first academic goal.

　

"And for ALL A Honor Roll in the 5^th grade we have Demond Jarvis! Not only is Demond the only 5^th grader with all A’s, he is also in the running for Student of the Year" the principal announced during the 1st Honor Roll Assembly. My husband and I gleamed with excitement at the possibility of our son being Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School’s next 5^th grade Student of the Year.

　

"Next up we have the highest LEAP scores; in Math we have Demond Jarvis and in Social Studies we….we also have Demond Jarvis" said the teacher announcing the LEAP awards.  This was one of the many accomplishments that DJ set his mind to and achieved.

"Just like I got the highest LEAP score I’ll also get Student of the Year, mark my words" DJ says with a twinkle in his eyes. As I look at my baby, all I can see is someone that believes that the sky is the limit and all I could do is smile. His carefree attitude about achieving what some people deem impossible is refreshing, but scary at the same time.

　

DJ walked in the door with a bouquet of balloons, assorted candy bars decorating the bottom, accompanied by a cup that read "Congratulations 5^th Grade Student of the Year." My husband and I looked at one other in amazement.

　

This 9 weeks however, DJ brought home his 1^st C! I was very upset on one hand, but ok on the other. The reason I was ok is because I feel that he needed to be humbled. . I know that it is important to be confident and believe in yourself, but I also need him to know that there will be some disappointments in life. He has not experienced any letdowns yet. Some may think that this is a lesson that a 5^th grader does not need to know, but I feel that this is a vital ingredient to raising a good man.

Moral of the Story: I feel that everyone should understand..

"Swallow your pride occasionally, it's non-fattening!" ~Author Unknown

"It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help." ~Author Unknown
"Talent is God Given. Be Humble. Fame is man-given. Be Grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be Careful"

It's good to set goals and achieve them. But it's even better to allow your good works to speak for themself.  Sometimes people can get so carried away in what they've accomplished and what they are capable of doing,  that they forget the determination and will that it took them.  Never get so caught up in what you've done, that you forget about what you need to do!

All in all, I am a Very Proud Momma! Congratulations DJ, We Love You!!