The Disciplined One

9 Appetite-Suppressing Foods

2011-04-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

By Whitney Provost

If you're like most people, conquering your appetite is one of the biggest challenges you face in your fitness and weight loss journey. As soon as the word "diet" crosses your lips, you may find yourself craving all the junk you know you're not supposed to eat. The secret is eating the right foods to help calm the cravings for the wrong ones. Adding these 9 easy-to-find, tasty foods to your meal plan can help you rein in your appetite before it gets out of control!

Oatmeal. This hot cereal is high in fiber and low on the glycemic index, which means it fills you up and takes a long time to digest. Research has shown that diets high in slow-burning carbohydrates like oatmeal suppress the hunger hormone grehlin more effectively than diets high in fat do. In fact, when you eat oatmeal for breakfast, you may find that your appetite is lower at lunchtime. Steel-cut or rolled oats digest more slowly than the "instant" variety do, so it's worth taking a few extra minutes in the morning to prepare your breakfast the old-fashioned way.
Apples. Not only are apples nutritious, but what sets them apart from other fruits is pectin, a soluble fiber that helps regulate blood sugar, keeps you full, and sustains your energy. One medium apple with skin contains 4 grams of fiber, which is more than you'd get in an average slice of whole wheat bread. Add an apple and some cinnamon to your morning oatmeal for an appetite-suppressing breakfast.
Pine nuts. These edible pine-tree seeds contain more protein than any other nut or seed, and their oil stimulates two appetite-suppressing hormones (cholecystokinin [CCK] and glucagon-like peptide-1) that tell your brain you're not hungry. Blend pine nuts with basil, garlic, and a little olive oil to make pesto, or sprinkle them on your salad or oatmeal for a delicious, nutty crunch.
Salad. The fiber in typical salad vegetables like lettuce, cabbage, spinach, celery, cucumbers, broccoli, and peppers is very filling and helps slow the release of glucose into your bloodstream. Studies have shown that when people start a meal with a small salad, they eat significantly fewer calories in the meal itself. Just watch out for the high-fat dressings (or worse, fat-free dressings that are high in sugar). Try having the dressing on the side and dipping your fork into it for easy portion control, or simply add a dash of balsamic vinegar or a squeeze of lemon juice for a tasty, super-low-calorie option. Bonus tip: Try to eat a vegetable at every meal to keep your appetite at bay all day long.
Olive oil and other unsaturated fats. Researchers at the University of California at Irvine found that unsaturated fat causes the intestines to release a compound (oleoylethanolamide) that has been shown to reduce appetite and stimulate weight loss. Some great unsaturated fat choices include avocados, olives and olive oil, almonds, salmon, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, macadamia nuts, and sesame seeds. These foods are high in calories, so enjoy them in moderation while regulating your appetite.
Flaxseeds. Flax is one of the best plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids. The seeds are also very high in protein and fiber, making them excellent for appetite control. Sprinkle ground flaxseeds over oatmeal, salads, or yogurt, or add them to smoothies to help stabilize your blood sugar and turn off the hunger hormones.
Beans. The fiber in beans increases CCK, a digestive hormone that's a natural appetite suppressant. A research study at the University of California at Davis found that men who ate a high-fiber meal containing beans had CCK levels that were two times higher than when they ate a low-fiber meal. Beans also keep your blood sugar steady, which helps stave off hunger.
Whey protein. New studies suggest that whey protein stimulates the hormones that increase the feeling of being full. In one study, researchers at the University of Surrey in England found that people who consumed whey protein felt fuller and more satisfied with less food. Whey also stabilizes blood sugar, and that can help control food urges. Make a drink with Beachbody's Whey Protein Powder to calm your appetite any time of the day.
Spicy foods. Capsaicin, the ingredient that gives peppers their heat, can also help control your raging appetite. A recent study published in Clinical Nutrition suggests that capsaicin-rich foods may help you consume fewer calories, plus they help support weight loss by suppressing your appetite and making you feel fuller. You can add hot pepper sauce to tomato juice, stir-fry some Anaheim or Serrano peppers with other vegetables, or cook up some jalapeño or poblano peppers in your omelet. Other spicy ingredients may have similar effects, so try adding spices like hot mustard and curry to your salads and meats.

Why Eat 5 or more, Meals a Day??

2011-02-17T13:38:00.000-08:00

Is It Time to Eat?

By Mark Nelson

It probably is. Because if you're like many people, you don't eat often enough. According to Turbo Fire trainer Chalene Johnson, you should eat at least five times a day. That includes three meals and two snacks. So why eat so often?

It helps prevent your body from storing fat.

I kid you not. Our bodies are actually programmed to store fat, and this trait has helped us humans keep going over the eons. At many stages during our existence, it was critical to our survival. If you look back in time with me, I'll show you why.

Picture yourself wearing an animal skin or scratchy woolen toga, a few smears of mud and no hair product. (Don't feel bad—no one else looked good, either.) If you look in your hand, you'll see that you're carrying a spear that you made yourself. The reason for making it is that you're hungry.

If you throw well, you eat. If you miss, you don't. So being able to store energy in the form of fat will hopefully sustain you until your throwing improves.

This same survival tool remains part of our makeup today.

So the best way to avoid slipping into this fat-storing mode is to keep your metabolism going with small meals and snacks. Eating frequently prompts your body to efficiently keep working and burning the calories.

And if that weren't enough by itself, there's another good reason to avoid long waits between meals.

Eating regularly tames wild cravings.

By eating smaller meals on a regular schedule, you'll help your body work comfortably on fewer calories, and stay in an energy (fat)-burning mode. This will help you feel more energetic, and keep your blood sugar stable, which will reduce carb cravings before your next meal.

Now let's say you need even more help controlling your cravings for the wrong stuff. What do you do?

Start your day with the right stuff.

Chances are, you don't eat in your sleep. So when you wake up, your cells are ready to absorb essential nutrients and, in particular, protein.

Throughout the night, your body uses excess or circulating proteins to replenish your muscles, hair, skin, and nails. In addition, your body uses proteins to create millions of antibodies for defense against bacteria, which often attacks while you sleep. That's why eating a healthy breakfast packed with protein is good for you.

Starting your day with eggs, nonfat cottage cheese, a P90X^® Peak Performance Protein Bar, or Shakeology can help you get a good serving of the protein and nutrients you need.

And a good rule of thumb for the timing of this meal is within an hour of waking up. If that's not possible, have a meal or snack as early as possible to get your metabolism revving. So what about the rest of your day?

Lift weights, then lift plates.

Another smart time to eat is about 30 to 45 minutes after a workout. At this time, the enzymes responsible for energy production are in high gear, and the energy-storing hormones within our blood are suppressed.

This means less energy will be stored as fat. Carbs will be immediately taken up to replenish the low glycogen stores caused through exercising. Protein will be used for the recovery and growth of new calorie-burning muscle tissue. And the best news is, your body will burn most of the nutrients from the meal to fuel these reactions. That's why eating after a workout is a good idea.

Having protein late in the day, for perhaps your last meal or snack, will also provide your body with the protein it will use overnight to revitalize your muscles, hair, nails, and antibodies.

Of course, remember portion size. If you're not sure how much that might be, use the palm of your hand as a guideline. It's a good trick, since you probably have your hands with you.

As with most things in life, timing is everything. So when you're trying to drop pounds, don't just think about what you eat—think about when. This will enable you to get more nutrients from fewer calories. Of course, the fewer calories you eat, the easier it is to lose weight. So eat right. On time. On schedule.

10 Appetite-Suppressing Foods to Conquer Your Cravings

2011-01-24T20:15:00.001-08:00

By Whitney Provost

If you're like most people, conquering your appetite is one of the biggest challenges you face in your fitness and weight loss journey. As soon as the word "diet" crosses your lips, you may start craving all the junk you know you're not supposed to eat. The secret is eating the RIGHT foods to help calm the cravings for the wrong ones. Add these 10 easy-to-find, tasty foods to your meal plan, and rein in your appetite before it gets out of control!

Oatmeal. This hot cereal is high in fiber and low on the glycemic index, which means it fills you up and takes a long time to digest. Research has shown that diets high in slow-burning carbohydrates like oatmeal suppress the hunger hormone grehlin more effectively than diets high in fat. In fact, when you eat oatmeal for breakfast, you may find that your appetite is lower at lunchtime. Steel-cut or rolled oats are digested more slowly than the "instant" variety, so it's worth taking a few extra minutes in the morning to prepare your breakfast the old-fashioned way.
Apples. Not only are apples nutritious, but what sets them apart from other fruits is pectin, a soluble fiber that helps regulate blood sugar, keeps you full, and sustains your energy. One medium apple with skin contains 4 grams of fiber, which is more than you'd get in an average slice of whole wheat bread. Add an apple and some cinnamon to your morning oatmeal for an appetite-suppressing breakfast.
Pine nuts. These edible pine-tree seeds contain more protein than any other nut or seed, and their oil stimulates two appetite-suppressing hormones (cholecystokinin [CKK] and glucagon-like peptide-1) that tell your brain you're not hungry. Blend pine nuts with basil, garlic, and a little olive oil to make pesto, or sprinkle them on your salad or oatmeal for a delicious, nutty crunch.
Salad. The fiber in typical salad vegetables like lettuce, cabbage, spinach, celery, cucumbers, broccoli, and peppers is very filling and helps slow the release of glucose into your bloodstream. Studies have shown that when people start a meal with a small salad, they eat significantly fewer calories in the meal itself. Just watch out for the high-fat dressings (or worse, fat-free dressings that are high in sugar). Try having the dressing on the side and dipping your fork into it for easy portion control, or simply add a dash of balsamic vinegar or a squeeze of lemon juice for a tasty, super-low-calorie option. Bonus tip: Try to eat a vegetable at every meal to keep your appetite at bay all day long.
Olive oil and other unsaturated fats. Researchers at the University of California at Irvine found that unsaturated fat causes the intestines to release a compound (oleoylethanolamide) that has been shown to reduce appetite and stimulate weight loss. Some great choices for unsaturated fat include avocados, olives and olive oil, almonds, salmon, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, macadamia nuts, and sesame seeds. These foods are high in calories, so enjoy them in moderation while regulating your appetite.
Flax seeds. Flax is one of the best plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids. The seeds are also very high in protein and fiber, making them excellent for appetite control. Sprinkle ground flax seeds over oatmeal, salads, or yogurt, or add them to smoothies to help stabilize your blood sugar and turn off the hunger hormones.
Beans. The fiber in beans increases CCK, a digestive hormone that's a natural appetite suppressant. A research study at the University of California at Davis found that men who ate a high-fiber meal containing beans had CCK levels that were two times higher than when they ate a low-fiber meal. Beans also keep your blood sugar steady, which helps stave off hunger.
Whey protein. New studies suggest that whey protein stimulates the hormones that increase the feeling of being full. In one study, researchers at the University of Surrey in England found that people who consumed whey protein felt fuller and more satisfied with less food. Whey also stabilizes blood sugar, and that can help control food urges. Make a drink with Whey Protein Powder to calm your appetite any time of the day.
Spicy foods. Capsaicin, the ingredient that gives peppers their heat, can also help control your raging appetite. A recent study published in Clinical Nutrition suggests that capsaicin-rich foods may help you eat fewer calories and support weight loss by suppressing your appetite and making you feel fuller. You can add hot pepper sauce to tomato juice, stir-fry peppers with other vegetables, or throw some peppers and salsa in an omelette. Other spicy ingredients may have similar effects, so try adding hot mustard and curry spices to your salads and meats.
Shakeology. If you haven't tried Shakeology® yet, you're missing out on one of the tastiest, most filling choices around. The whole-food ingredients in Shakeology—like whey protein, amino acids, digestive enzymes, and antioxidants—help you feel great, curb cravings, and reduce hunger. Order it through your Beachbody® Coach to reduce your appetite and stay full longer with fewer calories. It's a meal that tastes like dessert.

Eat these foods to Get the Most Out of Your Workout

2011-01-13T08:03:00.000-08:00

7 Key Foods to Help You Get the Most Out of Your Workout

By Karen Tonnis

At some point in your hooked-in, hard-core Beachbody^® experience, or even if you're just getting started, this thought may cross your mind: Wish I could get results even faster.

Well, now you can. Here's a list of dynamic foods that bring a lot to the table. Not only do they fit within a healthy nutrition plan, they're capable of sending your lazy taste buds a nice wake-up call.

Tomatoes. Make the lowly tomato your best friend and you could potentially up your chances of staying healthy and recovering faster. They're loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients. And because they're particularly rich in vitamin C and carotenoids, they may boost heart health, fight oxidative stress, protect against a variety of cancers, and combat inflammation. Tomatoes also contain potassium, an electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance.
Fish. A powerhouse of lean protein, fish lets you load up without blowing your calorie budget. The very leanest choices include white-fleshed fish like flounder or tilapia, as well as most shellfish, including lobster. Even dark-fleshed fish like tuna and salmon are considered lean, and the fat they provide (in the form of fish oil) can help regulate hormones and metabolism and reduce inflammation.

Of course, all this muscle-building power won't show up as a six-pack if you're not careful about how the fish is prepared. Watch out for calorie bombs like deli tuna salad and deep-fried fish or calamari.
Açai berry. What look like ordinary small, purple berries are actually one of the best superfoods in the world. Açai berries contain one of the highest concentration of antioxidants of any known food, along with fiber, iron, amino acids, and healthy omega fatty acids. Add them to your diet in the form of juice or pulp and you can expect a load of benefits, including increased energy, faster recovery rate, boosted immune system, stabilized blood sugar levels, and more.
Dark green leafy vegetables. Breaking news: Popeye was right about eating spinach. Especially if you want to build muscle FAST. The antioxidants found in dark green vegetables help counteract the oxidative muscle damage that comes with heavy training or exercise. So vegetables like broccoli, collard greens, lettuce, kale, and our hero spinach should be high on your list.
Blueberries. Mom could've said, "Eat your blueberries and you'll grow up strong." This miniature superfruit is chock-full of nutrients and antioxidants. So if you're involved in strenuous activity, a daily cup or two of blueberries can help reduce cell damage. They also promote healthy blood pressure and contain complex carbs and fiber to help sustain energy and keep you in the game.
Eggs. When you're trying to add muscle, protein is as important as any dumbbell or training buddy. Most important, you want increased "clean calories" from whole, natural, unprocessed foods—like eggs. Eggs are one of the most perfect proteins for growing lean muscle. By incorporating egg whites into your diet (with a small amount of egg yolk), you can get a high amount of protein for a relatively low number of calories. Six egg whites will give you 99 calories and 21 grams of protein. Now that's a deal.
Green tea. If you're working out regularly, giving your body a constant supply of antioxidants can promote quicker recovery on a cellular level. And drinking green tea is a good way to vary your antioxidant intake. On top of its antioxidant properties, green tea can help protect the cardiovascular system and increase metabolic rate (which supports weight control), and may provide some anticancer and blood pressure–reducing benefits.

Add these 7 foods to your oxidant-fighting arsenal.
Go ahead and rev up your engine with these heavy hitters for quicker results. But don't neglect your regular exercise program and healthy eating plan. Those are the real key. Start with a sound regimen, then add these seven for extra kick.

10 Tiny Changes for Big Weight Loss

2010-11-30T09:45:00.000-08:00

by Chalene Johnson

Take baby steps towards eating more healthfully. If you "slip," get immediately back on track. Never let a vacation or a special holiday be an excuse to overdo it the entire time. Go ahead, enjoy the occasional indulgence, but keep it reasonable. Here are 10 tiny changes you can make for big weight loss.

Wait 2 minutes. Cravings will disappear after two minutes if you walk away and turn your attention elsewhere.
W.I.W.M. When you really crave something unhealthy, answer this question: "What do I Want More," that piece of chocolate cake, or a body I feel proud of? And on rare occasions, it's okay to pick the chocolate cake!
No one's perfect. Don't allow one bad choice to result in bingeing the rest of the day, or falling back into old habits.
Focus. Make eating purposeful, not something mindless to do while watching TV, driving, or sitting in front of the computer. Whenever you put food in your mouth, try to engage all of the senses in the pleasure of nourishing your body.
Don't skip breakfast. Start eating a filling breakfast, but one that's lower in fat. It will help you eat fewer total calories throughout the day.
Veggies. The majority of your plate should have veggies and/or fruit on it at both lunch and dinner.
See what you eat. Eat your food off of a plate instead of straight out of a jar, bag, or box.
Don't buy it. Stop buying the food you snack on all day. Just eliminate the temptation.
Eat more fruit. A person who gets enough fruit in their diet doesn't have a raging sweet tooth.
Watch what you drink. Cut back on or cut out high-calorie drinks like soda, sweet tea, lemonade, and, especially, alcohol. People have lost weight by making just this one change alone.

Additionally: Tell yourself that you love you! Learning to truly love yourself is simple and starts with you saying and hearing yourself say I love you. You’ll be surprised by the mind-body transformation!

Self Motivation

2010-07-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

By Donald Latumahina
People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.
Andrew Carnegie

If you want to excel in life, self motivation is essential. You must know how to motivate yourself. You must be able to keep your spirit high no matter how discouraging a situation is. That’s the only way to get the power you need to overcome difficulties. Those who are discouraged in difficult times are certain to lose even before the battle is over.

The question is: how do you motivate yourself? Here are several tips I’ve found to be effective to build self motivation:

1. Have a cause

I can’t think of a more powerful source of motivation than a cause you care about. Such cause can inspire you to give your best even in the face of difficulties. It can make you do the seemingly impossible things.

While other causes could inspire you temporarily, a cause that matters to you can inspire you indefinitely. It’s a spring of motivation that will never dry. Whenever you think that you run out of motivation, you can always come to your cause to get a fresh dose of motivation.

2. Have a dream. A big dream.

Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.
Karen Ravn

Your cause is a powerful source of motivation but it’s still abstract in nature. You need to make it concrete in the form of a dream. Imagine how the world will be in the future. Imagine how people will live and work.

Having a dream is important because it’s difficult to be motivated if you don’t have anything to shoot for. Just think about people who play basketball. Will they be motivated to play if there is no basket to aim at? I don’t think so. They need a goal. You need a goal. That’s what your dream is for.

But just having a dream is insufficient. Your dream must be big enough to inspire you. It must be realistic but challenging. It must stretch your ability beyond your comfort zone.

3. Be hungry

Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way.
Les Brown

To be truly motivated, you need to have hunger and not just desire. Having mere desire won’t take you through difficult times since you don’t want things badly enough. In many cases, hunger makes the difference between the best performers and the mediocre ones.

How can you have hunger? Your cause and your dream play a big role here. If you have a cause you care about and a big dream related to it, you should have the hunger inside of you. If you think that you are losing hunger, all you need to do is to connect again to your cause and dream. Let them inspire you and bring the hunger back.

4. Run your own race

I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself.
Mikhail Baryshnikov

Comparing yourself with others is an effective way to demotivate yourself. Even if you start with enthusiasm, you will soon lose your energy when you compare yourself with others.

Don’t let that happen to you. You have your own race so how other people perform is irrelevant. Comparing yourself with others is like comparing the performance of a swimmer with a runner using the same time standard. They are different so how can you compare one with the other?

The only competitor you have is yourself. The only one you need to beat is you. Have you become the best you can be?

5. Take one more step

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
Winston Churchill

When you meet obstacles along the way, there could be the tendency to quit. You may think that it’s too difficult to move on. You may think that your dream is impossible to achieve. But this is where you can see the difference between winners and losers. Though both of them face the same difficulties, there is one thing that makes the winners different: the courage to continue.

In difficult situations, just focus on taking one more step forward. Don’t think about how to complete the race. Don’t think about how many more obstacles are waiting for you. Just focus on taking the next step.

6. Let go of the past

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Believe it or not, one of the best demotivators is your past. Your past can drag you down before you realize it. Your past can give you a heavy burden on your shoulders.

The good news is it’s a burden you don’t have to carry. Take it off your shoulder and leave it. You might make mistakes in the past. You might disappoint others with what you did. But it’s over. It’s already in the past and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Today is a new day and you have the chance to start again. No matter how bad your past might be, you still have a bright future ahead waiting for you. Just don’t let the burden of the past stop you.

***

Apply these tips and motivate yourself. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Let your self motivation take you to excellence.

2010-07-01T10:13:00.001-07:00

8 Foods to Boost Your Metabolism

By Joe Wilkes

If you spend any time perusing the fashion mags and tabloid rags in the supermarket checkout line, you'll see a wide array of articles claiming to have discovered the latest "miracle food" that will burn off the pounds while you sit on your butt and eat. Well, sadly, the news isn't quite that good. Without regular exercise, a decent night's sleep, and a thought-out meal plan, your metabolic rate is going to be dragging. However, there are some things you can eat that will move the needle favorably into the fat-burning zone. And most of these foods are delicious and nutritious anyway, so why not? Here are eight of the best ones.

Fish. Most of us have read about the benefits of fish oil, which is full of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Found in many common oily fish like mackerel, trout, sardines, herring, tuna, and salmon, it can also be taken in capsules (at least 300 milligrams/day) by those who are averse to seafood. Fish consumption has been found to boost your calorie burn by as much as 400 calories a day. Fish is also full of great, low-fat, muscle-building protein (which requires your body to burn more calories to digest).
Dark green leafy vegetables. These include arugula, chard, chicory, collard greens, dandelion greens, kale, mustard greens, and spinach. They are full of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and lots of fiber. While the vitamins are great antioxidants and very healthy for you, the fiber is where the rubber really meets the road as far as metabolism goes. Your body expends a lot more calories digesting fiber and protein than it does simply digesting carbohydrates. This is called the thermic effect—the amount of calories required to digest the food can sometimes be almost as much as the number of calories in the food itself. Dark leafies also contain many B vitamins, which are necessary to produce the enzymes for metabolism. Most other vegetables are high in fiber and low in calories and can boost your burn, but the cream of the crop, nutritionally speaking, are the dark green leafy vegetables. So listen to Popeye, and eat your spinach!
Tomatoes. Tomatoes have gotten a lot of good press lately, as they contain high levels of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been proven to have several anti-carcinogenic properties. And like the dark green leafy vegetables, tomatoes are also a good source of fiber. But tomatoes can also work overtime to flush fat, as they also contain citric, malic, and oxalic acids, which support your body's kidney functions, which helps your body eliminate more waste and fat from your system.
Blueberries and other whole fruits. Whole fruits contain lots of fiber, and many contain so much, they can be said to have "negative calories," meaning your body burns more calories digesting the food than it stores. One cup of blueberries only has about 80 calories, but 4 grams of fiber. Your body will expend much of those 80 calories digesting the 4 grams of fiber. Blueberries also contain lots of antioxidants, and are believed to lower cholesterol and regulate blood pressure. And they taste great! Try adding them to a high-fiber unsweetened cereal or oatmeal in the morning to get your metabolism up and running at the start of your day.
Whole grains. Well, if you've read this far, you've probably gotten that fiber is key to keeping the metabolic fires burning. Whole grains are one of the best sources of dietary fiber. This is where careful label reading comes in. Lots of items purporting to contain whole grains may only contain enough to make the claim truthful, and may in fact be full of insulin-spiking carbohydrates or sugars, which will take your metabolism in the wrong direction. Check the ingredient list of your breads and cereals carefully and make sure the preponderance of the ingredients is whole grain.
Chilies, curries, and other spices. Ever eaten a particularly spicy meal and felt your heart race a bit faster and your forehead start to perspire? The capsaicin found in many hot peppers and other spices can fire up your metabolism while it fires up your mouth. In fact, some studies have shown a 50 percent increase in metabolism for 3 hours after eating capsaicin. So it helps to keep a bottle of hot sauce on hand at mealtimes. You can use spices to add flavor to recipes instead of salty or fatty ingredients, which will also help kick your metabolism into a higher gear.
Green tea. Researchers have found that green tea consumption can increase calorie burning by up to four percent. It is believed to accomplish this by increasing metabolic rates as well as fat oxidation. Studies have also shown that green tea can reduce sugar cravings and can inhibit enzymes that slow digestion, thus raising metabolic rates. Its thermogenetic properties were convincing enough that Beachbody^® includes it in its ActiVit^® Metabolism Formula Multivitamins. Besides the metabolic properties, green tea is loaded with antioxidants and polyphenols, making it one of the most healthful beverage choices around.
Ice water. Almost every nutritionist will recommend drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day, but did you know that if you drink ice water versus room-temperature water, your body will burn an extra 9 calories per glass? Drinking room-temperature water can burn about 16 calories per glass—that's 25 calories per glass for ice water. So, eight glasses of cool water a day can be responsible for burning 200 calories! Plus, water is necessary for all of your bodily processes, including the ones that control your metabolism. If you're underhydrated, your body will underperform. Water also flushes out fat deposits and toxins, which can hamper your energy.

And remember, a good night's sleep and smaller, evenly spaced meals can be your best metabolic friends. And the best thing to really get your metabolism going is exercise. You can burn almost 700 calories in one 45-minute Turbo Jam^® workout alone. Also, stress has been found to produce cortisol, a metabolism-inhibiting steroid, so try and relax—have a blueberry. Or a fish!

Learn to Love A.M. Exercise

2010-04-19T06:21:00.000-07:00

Learn to Love A.M. Exercise

(Even if You're NOT A Morning Person)

-- By Rebecca Pratt, Staff Writer

Foreword by Darryl K. Washington Sr.

Unlike the young lady (Rebecca Pratt) who wrote this article, I really love to exercise in the A.M. I am a morning person and I’ve found that the early I rise and start my day the better my day flows and ends. Exercising in the morning gives me the energy level that I need couple with a super sense of accomplishment that let’s me know that there will be no assignment or task given to me that I can’t handle and finish with excellence! Below, Rebecca does a great job explaining the benefits of A.M. Exercise. Giving her “Top Ten Reasons for getting up with the early birds to get moving”. I Highly recommend giving A.M. Exercise a try if your schedule permits. I believe you’ll love it just like I do!— Darryl K. Washington Sr.

I am not a morning person. This confession will come as no surprise to my friends and family, most of whom have spent many glorious years making merry over my tendency to nod off over breakfast, my need for copious amounts of coffee before noon, and my late-night bursts of productivity.
For years I’ve tried to pretend I’m one of “them”—those chirpy, cheerful folks who rise effortlessly at dawn to go after that proverbial worm. I’ve also spent many years suppressing the urge to complain bitterly about a world where night owls like me suffer grievous discrimination at the hands of those ubiquitous “normal” people.
So those who know me best are always startled—no, make that shocked—to find out that I do most of my exercising in the early hours of the day, anywhere from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. They’re even more astonished, after an initial double take, to discover that I actually like to get my exercise in early.
Really.
And though my morning-exercise regimen started out as a concession to the practical constraints of my life, I have since discovered that there are some very good benefits to learning to love exercise in the morning—so I’ll share with you my “Top Ten Reasons” for getting up with the early birds to get moving:
1. Exercising early in the morning "jump starts" your metabolism, keeping it elevated for hours, sometimes for up to 24 hours! As a result, you’ll be burning more calories all day long—just because you exercised in the morning.
2. Exercising in the morning energizes you for the day—not to mention that gratifying feeling of virtue you have knowing you’ve done something disciplined and good for you. (Much better than a worm!)
3. Studies have shown that exercise significantly increases mental acuity—a benefit that lasts four to ten hours after your workout ends. Exercising in the a.m. means you get to harness that brainpower, instead of wasting it while you’re snoozing.
4. Assuming you make exercise a true priority, it shouldn’t be a major problem to get up 30 to 60 minutes earlier—especially since regular exercise generally means a higher quality of sleep, which in turn means you’ll probably require less sleep. (If getting up 30 to 60 minutes earlier each day seems too daunting, you can ease into it with 10 to 20 minutes at first.)
5. When you exercise at about the same time every morning—especially if you wake up regularly at about the same time—you’re regulating your body's endocrine system and circadian rhythms. Your body learns that you do the same thing just about every day, and it begins to prepare for waking and exercise several hours before you actually open your eyes. That’s beneficial because:
o Your body’s not “confused” by wildly changing wake-up times, which means waking up is much less painful. (You may even find that you don’t need an alarm clock most days.)
o Hormones prepare your body for exercise by regulating blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow to muscles, etc.
o Your metabolism, along with all the hormones involved in activity and exercise, begin to elevate while you're sleeping. As a result, you’ll feel more alert, energized, and ready to exercise when you do wake up.
6. Many people find that morning exercise has a tendency to regulate their appetite for the rest of the day. Not only do they eat less (since activity causes the release of endorphins, which in turn diminishes appetite), they also choose healthier portions of healthier foods.
7. People who consistently exercise find, sometimes to their great surprise, that the appointed time every morning evolves into something they look forward to. Besides the satisfaction of taking care of themselves, they find it’s a great time to plan their day, pray, or just think more clearly—things most of us often don’t get to do otherwise.
8. Exercising first thing in the morning is the most foolproof way to ensure that other things don’t overtake your fitness commitment, particularly if you have a hectic family life. (It’s so easy to wimp out in the evening, when we’re tired or faced with such tasks as rustling up dinner and helping with homework.)
9. More than 90% of those who exercise consistently have a morning fitness routine. If you want to exercise on a regular basis, the odds are in your favor if you squeeze your workout into the a.m.
10. Non-morning people can always trick themselves in the a.m. Having trouble psyching yourself up for a sunrise jog? Do what I did—tell yourself that you’ll still be so fast asleep that you won’t even remember—much less mind!

Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity

2010-03-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

You know exercise is good for you — but do you know how good? From boosting your mood to improving your sex life, find out how exercise can improve your life.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than old-fashioned exercise.

The merits of regular physical activity — from preventing chronic health conditions to promoting weight loss and better sleep — are hard to ignore. And the benefits are yours for the taking, regardless of age, sex or physical ability. Need more convincing? Check out seven specific ways exercise can improve your life.

1. Exercise improves your mood.

Need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can help you calm down.

Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed than you were before you worked out. You'll also look better and feel better when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem. Regular physical activity can even help prevent depression.

2. Exercise combats chronic diseases.

Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent osteoporosis? Physical activity might be the ticket.

Regular physical activity can help you prevent — or manage — high blood pressure. Your cholesterol will benefit, too. Regular physical activity boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol while decreasing triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly by lowering the buildup of plaques in your arteries.

And there's more. Regular physical activity can help you prevent type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and certain types of cancer.

3. Exercise helps you manage your weight.

Want to drop those excess pounds? Trade some couch time for walking or other physical activities.

This one's a no-brainer. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn — and the easier it is to keep your weight under control. You don't even need to set aside major chunks of time for working out. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk during your lunch break. Do jumping jacks during commercials. Better yet, turn off the TV and take a brisk walk. Dedicated workouts are great, but physical activity you accumulate throughout the day helps you burn calories, too.

4. Exercise boosts your energy level.

Winded by grocery shopping or household chores? Don't throw in the towel. Regular physical activity can leave you breathing easier.

Physical activity delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. In fact, regular physical activity helps your entire cardiovascular system — the circulation of blood through your heart and blood vessels — work more efficiently. Big deal? You bet! When your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you'll have more energy to do the things you enjoy.

5. Exercise promotes better sleep.

Struggling to fall asleep? Or stay asleep? It might help to boost your physical activity during the day.

A good night's sleep can improve your concentration, productivity and mood. And you guessed it — physical activity is sometimes the key to better sleep. Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. There's a caveat, however. If you exercise too close to bedtime, you may be too energized to fall asleep. If you're having trouble sleeping, you might want to exercise earlier in the day.

6. Exercise can put the spark back into your sex life.

Are you too tired to have sex? Or feeling too out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy? Physical activity to the rescue.

Regular physical activity can leave you feeling energized and looking better, which may have a positive effect on your sex life. But there's more to it than that. Regular physical activity can lead to enhanced arousal for women, and men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don't exercise — especially as they get older.

7. Exercise can be — gasp — fun!

Wondering what to do on a Saturday afternoon? Looking for an activity that suits the entire family? Get physical!

Physical activity doesn't have to be drudgery. Take a ballroom dancing class. Check out a local climbing wall or hiking trail. Push your kids on the swings or climb with them on the jungle gym. Plan a neighborhood kickball or touch football game. Find a physical activity you enjoy, and go for it. If you get bored, try something new. If you're moving, it counts!

Are you convinced? Good. Start reaping the benefits of regular physical activity today!

Beach Body has Excellent ways to get YOU into the best shape of your life!!! Just copy and paste this link into your web browser for more info! http://beachbodycoach.com/faithfighter

How to stay out of a RUTT!

2009-11-29T20:30:00.000-08:00

I believe that the best way to stay out of a RUT is by having and/or setting Daily Goals... The Bible says in Habakkuk 2:2, Then the LORD answered me and said, "Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run.NASV Copy and paste this link into your browser for great goal setting tips! http://www.squidoo.com/Setting-Daily-Goals

Also Check out this site!
http://www.nightingale.com/offers/goals.html?promo=intgooga508&org=intgooga508&gclid=CImWvuD1sZ4CFcx25QodNG2_ow

I love you Guys! Peace and Increase!

Weight Loss: 6 Strategies for success

2009-08-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

Make your weight-loss goals a reality. Follow these proven strategies.

By Mayo Clinic staff

You probably know that hundreds of different fad diets, weight-loss programs and outright scams promise quick and easy weight loss. But the foundation of every successful weight-loss program still remains a healthy, low-calorie diet combined with exercise. You must make permanent changes in your lifestyle and health habits to lose significant weight and keep it off.

How do you make those permanent changes? Follow these six strategies.

1. Make a commitment

Permanent weight loss takes time and effort. It requires focus and a lifelong commitment. Make sure that you're ready to make permanent changes and that you do so for the right reasons.

No one else can make you lose weight. In fact, external pressure — often from people closest to you — may make matters worse. You must undertake diet and exercise changes to please yourself.

As you're planning new weight-related lifestyle changes, try to resolve any other problems in your life. It takes a lot of mental and physical energy to change your habits. So make sure you aren't distracted by other major life issues, such as marital or financial problems. Timing is key to success. Ask yourself if you're ready to take on the challenges of serious weight loss.

2. Get emotional support

Only you can help yourself lose weight by taking responsibility for your own behavior. But that doesn't mean that you have to do everything alone. Seek support when needed from your partner, family and friends.

Pick people who you know want only the best for you and who will encourage you. Ideally, find people who will listen to your concerns and feelings, spend time exercising with you, and share the priority you've placed on developing a healthier lifestyle.

3. Set a realistic goal

When you're considering what to expect from your new eating and exercise plan, be realistic. Healthy weight loss occurs slowly and steadily. Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds (0.5 to 1 kilogram) a week. To do this, you need to burn 500 to 1,000 calories more than you consume each day, through a low-calorie diet and regular exercise.

Make your goals "process goals," such as exercising regularly, rather than "outcome goals," such as losing 50 pounds (23 kilograms). Changing your process — your habits — is the key to weight loss. Make sure that your process goals are realistic, specific and measurable, for example, you'll walk for 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

4. Enjoy healthier foods

Adopting a new eating style that promotes weight loss must include lowering your total calorie intake. But decreasing calories need not mean giving up taste, satisfaction or even ease of meal preparation. One way you can lower your calorie intake is by eating more plant-based foods — fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Strive for variety to help you achieve your goals without giving up taste or nutrition.

5. Get active, stay active

Dieting alone can help you lose weight. Cutting 500 calories from your daily diet can help you lose about a pound a week: 3,500 calories equals 1 pound (0.5 kilogram) of fat. But add a 45- to 60-minute brisk walk four days a week, and you can double your rate of weight loss.

The goal of exercise for weight loss is to burn more calories, although exercise offers many other benefits as well. How many calories you burn depends on the frequency, duration and intensity of your activities. One of the best ways to lose body fat is through steady aerobic exercise — such as walking — for more than 30 minutes most days of the week.

Even though regularly scheduled aerobic exercise is best for losing fat, any extra movement helps burn calories. Lifestyle activities may be easier to fit into your day. Think about ways you can increase your physical activity throughout the day. For example, make several trips up and down stairs instead of using the elevator, or park at the far end of the lot.

6. Change your lifestyle

It's not enough to eat healthy foods and exercise for only a few weeks or even several months. You have to include these behaviors in your lifestyle. To do that, you have to change the behaviors that helped make you overweight in the first place. Lifestyle changes start with taking an honest look at your eating habits and daily routine.

After assessing your personal challenges to weight loss, try working out a strategy to gradually change habits and attitudes that have sabotaged your past efforts. Simply admitting your own challenges won't get you past them entirely. But it helps in planning how you'll deal with them and whether you're going to succeed in losing weight once and for all.

You likely will have an occasional setback. But instead of giving up entirely, simply start fresh the next day. Remember that you're planning to change your life. It won't happen all at once, but stick to your healthy lifestyle and the results will be worth it.

AGE & Weight LOSS

2009-07-28T19:43:00.000-07:00

You've probably read it on the cover of fitness magazines or heard it in weight loss programs that a woman’s metabolism slows down as she ages. Unfortunately, it is true that metabolism slows down, by two percent every year. But there is something you can do about it!

Slowing Down
Metabolism is the chemical process in the body that converts the calories that we eat into energy to perform everyday activities. Every woman has a different metabolism due to specific factors such as genetic make-up, age, diet and exercise. Based on these factors, you may have an average metabolism, a high metabolism, which means you don't put on weight too easily, or a slow metabolism, which may make it easier for you to put on the pounds. Regardless of your metabolism type, your metabolism naturally begins to slow down as you age. If you have a high metabolism, you may not notice the change for quite awhile. But if you have an average or slow metabolism, you may find yourself contemplating just why those clothes you bought last year don't fit you any more a bit more frequently than you'd like.
The primary reason why women's metabolism slows down as they age is the loss of muscle mass and increase in fat. Metabolism, based on the basal metabolic rate (BMR), or the rate at which calories are burned, is partially affected by the amount of muscle in the body. With less muscle, the body burns fewer calories so women begin to gain weight after age 25. Since low muscle mass leads to a decreased BMR, women are well advised to begin strength training to increase muscle mass as well as metabolism. According to Tufts University, strength training and aerobics can stop the decline of women's BMR by up to 80 per cent, while health experts say a pound of muscle uses nine times the calories as a pound of fat.
Am I Doomed?
If you are worried about your metabolism slowing down, don't be. Experts agree there are several things you can do on a daily basis to increase your metabolism, such as:
• Eat Breakfast: It is important to eat breakfast in the morning to kick-start your metabolism. Since you have gone the entire night without eating, your body needs the energy from food to help you carry out your daily activities. And if you're tempted to skip a meal in order to do some quick weight loss, don't! Your metabolism will slow down if you skip this meal. Experts also advise eating small meals every couple of hours to help increase metabolism.
• Get Active: Your body needs to exercise at least 30 to 60 minutes a day at least three times a week, if not everyday. But you don't have to do all your exercise at once; you can break it up into manageable portions with a 20-minute walk in the morning, a half-hour bike ride in the early afternoon or an hour-long aerobic workout at the gym after work.
• Build Muscle: Since muscle burns more fat and increases metabolism, it wouldn't hurt to incorporate weight training into your fitness routine. You should lift weights two to three times a week since your muscles need 48 hours to recover between sessions. If you have questions about the forms and techniques of weight lifting, you should consult a personal trainer or fitness consultant rather than risk personal injury.
• Drink Plenty of Water: Your body needs plenty of water to perform its various functions. Plus water will help flush toxins out to keep you healthy.
• Get Enough Protein: The American Dietetic Association notes that the protein from nuts, tuna and cheese takes longer to digest, burns more calories and therefore increases your metabolism. Protein should make up 10% to 35% of your daily caloric intake.
• Get a Good Night's Rest: Women need seven to eight hours of sleep a night for the body to recuperate, for muscles to be regenerated and to feel rested enough to tackle the next hectic day! Research has shown that those who don't get enough sleep are likely to gain weight.. So get yourself a bedtime routine and be sure to catch your eight hours of sleep every night.
• Avoid Alcohol: Studies have shown that people who drink alcohol before meals will consume more calories. After the body burns the alcohol, all the other calories of the meal are stored as fat. So try to limit or even cut out alcohol altogether from your diet.
• Try to Limit Stress: Stress can cause weight gain due to the release of hormones like cortisol that slows down metabolism. If you're feeling stressed, take 15 minutes for yourself during the day to do something that relaxes you, like listening to music, stretching or writing in a journal.
•
Weight Gain During Menopause
Upon approaching menopause , many women worry that they will suffer rapid or sudden weight gain. The reason for this worry is that, due to several factors such as hormonal changes, pregnancy weight gain that haven't come off yet, and decreasing BMR, women have a tendency to gain weight even quicker once they hit 40. By diligently following the health tips above, menopausal and post-menopausal women can reduce stress, lose weight and, most importantly, achieve peace of mind.

Balance

2009-07-20T12:09:00.000-07:00

Does living a balanced life mean that sometimes we do good and sometimes we do bad?? Living a balanced life means that you have such GREAT CONTROL in your life to the degree that the bad things you used 2 do, U don't do anymore!

Just think of the balance required of a person walking a tight rope. Can that person afford some wrong or misplaced steps?? Or does balance mean 2 him/her carefully taking the right steps? I believe in living a balanced life and just like the person on a tight rope I walk the straight and narrow path. I am only able to do this because I have control IN my life! That's right I didn't say I have control OF my life I have control IN my life because, I have given up on trying to control my life.

I have control in my life because I have Jesus! Just like the balance beam the Tight Rope walker uses to keep him/her balanced and give him/her support, I have Jesus! He is my balance beam and His word is my support! The Bible says that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Psalms 37:23KJV.

So as long as I have Christ ordering my steps I am able to live a balanced life! What does it mean to have Christ order your steps? Let's talk about that next time. Until then... God loves U and so do I!!! Peace & Increase!!!

Follow Me On My P90X Journey!

2009-07-06T21:31:00.001-07:00

P90X!!! Who said living for 120yrs was going to be easy?

It's SO AWESOME How Exercise Increases your sense of WELLNESS!

VERY IMPORTANT!!! When starting any exercise program 4 the purpose of losing weight and/or toning your muscle definition, remember this: "You DID NOT get OUT OF SHAPE OVERNIGHT! SO, Don't get discouraged when you DO NOT see the results that YOU WANT OVERNIGHT"!!! Just keep working your plan and the results will surely follow! GUARANTEED! I gained weight 1 donut at a time! So 4 ME, EVERY workout represents 1 Donut burned!

I just finished my first day of P90X!!! I couldn't finish ab ripper x because Its that hard... at least, right now that is!

Well It's Day 2 of my Journey and I just finished the Plyometrics... Can U say BURNING... That's what my thighs and glutes are doing right now!!! I remember feeling this way after doing squats years ago and, man was it hard to just sit on the toilet seat the next day! Oh well I'm not concerned with all of the initial pain. I have my mind, heart and vision set on the outcome and that's going to enable me to press play every day!

Day 3 Well I got Day 3 of P90X today... Oh yes even on a holiday I gotta press Play!! Decided, Commit, Succeed!!! Happy 4th Everyone!Okay!!!
Day 3 of P90X is DONE!!! Man I HATE AB RIPPER X!!!

Day 4 P90X... "YOGA X" Done! I never knew you could sweat so much stretching! Interesting positions! This one's gonna take some getting used 2!

Day 5 of P90X "LEGS & BACK/ARX" DONE yes!!! and I'm getting better @ ARX! I still hate it though!!!

Alright! Day 6 of P90X "KENPO X"! This should be a lot of Fun given that I have just a little "experience" with Martial Arts! I'll Hola!

Well its 11:00pm Eastern and guess what I'm about 2 do?? That's RIGHT P90X ! Day 6 "KEMPO X" is calling my name folks & I gotta go get it!!

OK Day 6 P90X "KEMPO X" is DONE SON!!! P90X is The BOMB dot COM!!! I am soak and wet!

If 90 days with P90X can transform my body, imagine what 90 days with God can do!?!?!

Day 7 of P90X and "X STRETCH" is toady's special! Boy am I looking forward to that! I'm going to knock this one out early today!

Ok! House Work done! Office Work done! P90X "X STRETCH" done! Now its off to support SOFCC Transformer Teen Conference! YES!!!

I've got Day 8 of P90X today "CHEST & BACK" I'm SUPER EXCITED!

Day 8 of P90X "CHEST&BACK/ARX" WOOHOO I'm DONE I HATE ARX!!!

The "TTC" @ SOFCC was OFF THE HOOK! 2morrow is the Last Night & U don't want 2 miss it! I don't want 2 miss Day 9 of P90X So I'm Audi 5! GN!

UH OOOH IT'S "PLYOOOOO" DAY 10 of P90X "PLYOMETRICS" Stars in 7min!! This is the "X" IN P90X!!!

Day 10 Of P90X "PLYOMETRICS" DONE! YES!!After a workout like that Do you really think that I'm going to eat some funnel cakes?? No Way!!!

I PLOWED PLYO on Day 10 of P90X! Now it's time to go to the LAST DAY of "TRANFORMERS TEEN CONFRERNCE" @ SOFCC. I feel like a Billion$$

Day 11 of P90X is DONE! I still have NO LUV 4 "ABRIPPERX"! It does exactly what its name says Rip your abs!!! Now I'm off to the movies!

is at Delia's after seeing my Sister's keeper with my best friend. After the movie was over a guy behind me actually called me Big Guy! LOL! I thought must B P90X! :0)

Its Day 12 of P90X and "YOGA X" is in session. A lot of unique positions that make you feel like new money (FRESH) afterward!!! I LOVE IT!!!

Day 12 P90X "YOGA X" is done!!! That is some WORK!!!

GM FAM!Day 13 of P90X "LEGS & BACK" with "AB RIPPER X"! I've got to get my mind Right for this one!!! Have a GREAT DAY Folks!!!

OK! I JUST FINISHED Day 13 of P90X! OH YEAH "I Gets It IN"!!! NO MATTER WHAT!!! Its EXTREME EXERCISE for EXTREME ATHLETES!!! ITS P90X YO!!!

It's day 14 of P90X Y'all!! Posting pictures of my 30 day results in 16 days

Day 14 of P90X "KEMPO X" is done SON! Up next Day 15 and its "X STRETCH"! AHHH GOOD STUFF!!! Peace!

Sup FB Fam? I've got Day 15 of P90X's "X Stretch" waiting on me and I'm looking forward to it! Never knew Stretching was so important!

I just finished Day 15 of P90X "X STRETCH"! Stretching may hurt A LITTLE but it sure helps A LOT! I love it because it kinda resets ME!!! :0)

OKAY! Just when I thought that my day was done Day 16 of P90X calls my name! Its the infamous "CHEST & BACK/ AB RIPPER X"! Gotta GO!

Ok! Day 16 of P90X DONE! Learned a little secret 2! I was so tired I didn't think I could do it 2day so I went to the BBMB and got inspired!

Its Day 17 of P90X and WOOO its"PLYOOOOMETRICS"TIME!!! I love this stuff! Smile at everything today! :0)Have an AWESOME DAY FOLKS!

YEEEESSSS!!! I PLOWED PLYOOOMETRICS! 4 Those of U who know about "PLYO" U KNOW Y I'm EXCITED ABOUT THAT!!!

Well its Day 18 of P90X and "SHOLDERS & ARMS" are today's task! I'm going to get this done soon because I have a Super busy Day planned!

making Pancakes 4 my family wishing I could eat some 2!!! Gotta think DISCIPLINE!!! :0)

Yep Just FINISHED Day 18! No, Not crazy just committed! With this kind of commitment to P90X Imagine the same commitment 2 Christ! WOW!

GM FAM! Day 19 of P90X "LEGS&BACK"! I feel like trying a double today so I may do "YOGA X" as well later tonight! Have an AWESOME Day!!! :0)

Darryl - is that P9OX for real..... I get asked this ALL THE TIME!!! Well let me tell you folks P90X is the REAL DEAL HOLYFIELD! I am going to post the pictures to prove it!!!

ALRIGHTY THEN!!! Day 19 of P90X is DONE SON! AB RIPPER X Will Make you call for your MAMA!!! I Gotta Punish the flesh and Feed the Spirit.

07/20/09 Today was kind of a challenge getting started! This 90 day quest has shifted from a physical battle to more of a Spiritual battle for me and I know why! Because I have discovered that everything that I have done well, is the result of my ability to relate something physical to it. And satan knows if I finish anything that I start I become stronger in every area of my life! So haha devil I know the game and I am a finisher, because Jesus is a finisher and he lives in me!!!

Day 20 of P90X! I gotta do "KEMPO X" real quick I'll Be Back!!! :0)

ALLRIIGHT! Day 20 of P90X "KEMPO X" is done! I am soak & wet and it's a beautiful thing!!! I am looking so forward to "X STRETCH" on Day 21!

Well I did it FAM I reached my 21-day goal! Up next Day 30 and I will post before and after pictures!

Good afternoon Folks! Its "Day 21" of P90X YES! I've reached my first Goal! On to the second 1- 30 days! I will post pix of progress! Peace!

WOOH! The P90X Recovery & AB week exercises are as tough if not tougher than the weeks 1-3!!! Good GUUGAMUUGGA!!!

The Power was out 4 a few hours because of a storm! Think that's gonna stop me from getting day 22 in? Nope! "YOGA X" N 7 min!!! I'm OUT!

Alright! Day 22 of P90X YOGA X, is DONE! Now I Thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for helping me to stay strong and focused! Love U Guys!

GM FB FAM! Day 23 of P90X for me! "CORE SYNERGISTICS" is the task! Have a Great Day and remember LOVE Is the KEY!!!

Day 23 P90X "CORE SYNERGISTICS" Done! WOOHOO!!! Now I have a lunch date with 3 PEOPLE WHO R VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT 2 ME!!!

Day 24 of P90X features "KEMPO X" during my "RECOVERY & AB FOCUS" Week! This is one of my favorite routines! Have a great afternoon!

Day 24 of P90X "KEMPO X" is done!!! Thank you Jesus! Now its time to get ready for the 11:00am Service @ SOFCC! See U There! :0)

Day 25 of P90X! ABs & RECOVERY WEEK! Getting ready 2 do "X STRETCH" before I go 2 Bed!

Day 25 of P90X "X STRETCH" is done! I am reset! Now off to bed for a few hours! Sweet Sleep Folks! Peace! :0)

WELL! Its Day 26 of P90X and its a FUN ONE! Tonight's feature is "CORE SYNERGISTICS" YEA BABY! I'm gettin my mind RIGHT 4 This 1!!! 8)

Day 26! DREYA ROLL! PRISON PUSH-UPS! BANANNA ROLL! "CORE SYNEGISTICS"! P-90-X!!! DONE! I LOVE ITTT!!!

Day 27 of P90X! "YOGA X" is the task! 4 ME, EVERY workout represents 1 Krispy Kreme Donut burned off!!! Posting 30 day photos in 3 days! ;)

Getting ready 4 Bible Study 2nite @ SOFCC! And then Later Day 28 of P 90X! 1 of my favorite routines "X STRETCH"! Have a GREAT Evening! :0)

Day 28 of P90X! I have the option of doing "X Stretch or Resting", Yep I'm going to go with Resting! GN ALL! Sweet Sleep! :0)

Allright! 2Day starts WK5 of P90X! A Whole new set of exercises, Now that's what I'm Talkin Bout! I will post my 30Day results on tomorrow!

Phase II of P90X Starting in T minus 5 minutes!!! I'm Soo PUMPED and EXCITED!!! Have a Great afternoon Folks!!! :0)

OK! Let's try this again! P90X Phase II Starting in T - Minus 3 minutes! Sometimes multi tasking can B a Pain!!!

Alright Boy&Girls! Day 29 of P90X (Day 1of Wk5) Done!!! Man that was interestingly Fun!!! I so love this Program! God is GOOD!

GM Folks! I'm pretty excited because it's Day 30 of my P90X Journey and I'm posting my "30 day results" today on my Blog! Stay tuned!

I've got day 30 of P90X "PLYOMTREICS" Happening in T-Minus 4 mins. I'll hola! :0

OK FOLKS! Day 30 of P90X "PLYOMETRICS" DONE! I took my 30 day PIXS and I'll B posting them today! But first I got a CBD Field trip 2 go 2!

Well I know its 10:30pm EST but its time 4 Day 31of P90X! The crew has been fed and they're washed and in the bed! Time to get my hurt ON!

OK Day 31 of P90X " Back & Biceps/ABRX" is done! My predictions is soon I'll B giving away tickets to the GUN Show!!! GN Folks! SS, IJN! :0)

Darryl is GENERATING ENERGY for Day 32 of P90X! "YOGA X" is the TASK and A Brother is TIRED!!! But I feel my help coming on! So let's do this thing in T-Minus 34mins

Had 2 stop the P90X session real quick 2 make a few BD shout outs! Now back to the mill again, The mill again!!! :0)

Day 32 of P90X "YOGA X" is Done and I am SOAKED! Up next Camp Big Daddy and It's SKATE DAY! Come on out and Join US at SEABROOK SR 1-4pm!

WOW! I actually Did 2 workouts today P90X "YOGA X" & Roller Skating with the family!

I've got Day 33 of P90X Calling my name! "LEGS & BACK/ABRX"! So let's get this party started RIIIGHT!!! I'll Holla! :0)

WK 5 Day 33 of P90X "LEGS,BACK/ABRX IS DONE! I HATE AB RIPPER X!!! BUT I so love the results, YES! ;-)

It's WK5 Day 34 of P90X! "KEMPO X" is On TODAY'S MENU! One of my personal FAVORITE ROUTINES! But 1st Bible Study @ SOFCC @ 7pm! C U THERE!!!

YES! WK5 Day 34 of P90X! "KEMPO X" is DONE! I Thank God that I can DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS! I AM Healthy, Wealthy & WISE! GN! :0)

HOORAAY!!! Its Week 5 Day 35 of P90X! "X STRETCH" is today's Session! I LOVE STRETCHING! IT"S LIKE THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH!!! Have A Great EVENING FOLKS!

Week 5 Day 35 of P90X! "X STRETCH" I have the option of resisting or stretching & I prefer 2 STRETCH because It makes me feel so much better Afterward!

U KNOW WHAT? It's 12:53am and I still have 1 more thing to do! U guessed it P90X "X STRETCH"! LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! RIGHT! C YA! :0)

YES!!! Week 5 Day 35 of P90X! "X STRETCH" IS DONE & I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER!!! I HAVE BEEN RESET! I'M FEELING STRONGER & MORE FLEXIBLE! :0)

Day 35! I actually feel asleep watching MSNBC, Woke-up @ 2:59am and Did "X STRETCH"! I'm determined and committed 2 staying on point!!!

Day 36 of P90X ! I've lost 16lbs and my goal is 30lbs! I'm going to exceed my goal BIG TIME! Ultimately Excellent health is what I'm after!

Day 36 of P90X "CHST,SHLDR & TRIS/ABRX" Happening in T- Minus 15mins. I'm viewing the DVD now N order 2 get mentally Prepared! Later!

Day 36 of P90X "CHST,SHLDR & TRIS/ABRX" Is D-O-N-E!!! I HEAR The Theme from ROCKY PLAYIN IN MY HEAD! Cause I'm Fighting Hard NOW!!! GN!

I've got Day 37-WK6 of P90X "PLYOMETRICS" Happening NOW! Afterward I'm Going to watch the UFC with some Friends! SO LET'S GO PLYO!!! :0)

Day 37-WK6 of P90X "PLYOMETRICS" Is DONE! Now A Quick shower & off to the UFC FIGHTS! WOOO I PLOWED PLYOOOOO!!!

Going to the Movies with DJ but first Its Day 38 of P90X! "BACK&BICEPS" have 2 B PUNISHED & Then I'll Enjoy the Movie Feeling like a" GI JOE" LOL!!! :0)

Day 38 P90X! "BACK&BICEPS" is Done Now off 2 the movies feeling like a SOLDIER!!! GOOO JOE!!!

GM Folks Day 39 of P90X & I'm looking forward 2 "YOGA X"! Balance, Strength & Flexibility R Its results! BTW What can God depend on U 2 do today!!! "MAKE IT" A GOOD Day! I LOVE U Guys!

starting 2 feel the pain of yesterdays P90X "CHST&BCPSW/ABRX" workout & Looking forward 2 today's "YOGA X" workout later tonight! RESET!

finished Day 39 of P90X "YOGA X"! Had to take a day of rest on Yesterday because I tweaked my shoulder trying to curl weight that was 2 heavy! :0( I got a little 2 INTENSE Bringing It!!! I'm back on track now Thanks 2 REST and ICE my 2 secret weapons and I FEEL AWESOME!!!

Reiterating what's been said and heard by many: "People who fail 2 plan, plan 2 fail"! To all of my P90X buddies & those N pursuit of better bodies & health: Hopefully you've started your programs with "Written&quo...t; Goals! Your goals can B 1 or 21 day goals it doesn't matter just have a goal! This will greatly heighten your chances of success! So if you've started without goals, backup, write your goals & start over!

Alright! Ive got Day 40 of P90X "LEGS&BACK/ABRX" Happening N T-Minus 8Mins. I'm Pumped, mentally focused & Ready 2 Punish this Flesh!!! I'll Holla!

Day 40 of P90X "LEGS&BACK/ABRX" is DONE! Now it's time for Bible Study @ SOFCC! C U There! :0)

Yeaa! It's Day 41 of P90X for me and one of my favorite routines "KEMPO X" is the task! Have a great evening folks!!!

YES SIR!!! It's 2:51am & I JUST FINISHED Day 41of P90X "KEMPO X"! Thank You Jesus! You Are AMAZING & I Worship U Lord! GN Folks! SS IJN! :0)

it's Day 42 of P90X & I have the option of either resting or "X STRETCH"! Who can tell me which one I'll choose? If you've been following my posts and status updates you'd know right away what I have already chosen 2 do! Have a great Afternoon Folks!

It's Day 43 of P90X & Today starts WK7! CHEST,SHOULDERS & TRICEPS/ AB RIPPER X is ON DECK & I'm about to CRUSH it! I'll HOLLA!

finishing up day 43 of P90X with Ab Ripper X! Then in a couple of hours I have 2 get in Day 44 The "PLYOMETRIC" Boogie!!! 2N1!

Day 44 of P90X The "PLYOMETRIC" Boogie is DONE! I tried a little experiment doing AB RIPPER X Before PLYOMETRICS! I'm Burnt!!!

It's Day 45 of P90X! The 1/2 way mark of my 90Day Journey & I'm excited! But I'm more excited because 2Day is my kids 1st day of School! :)

My ABS R N Pain!!! P90X "AB RIPPER X" Is NoT A TOY!

Day 45 of P90X "BACK & BICEPS, AB RIPPER X is DONE SON!!! I feel GOOD, Like James Brown! GOOD GOD! GN, SS, IJN! :0)

Starting NOW, Make The decision to stay In Faith and "Slug it Out" with the Power of God at your side! You can do exactly what God called you to do, but you must begin with a rock-solid, hard-core decision to go all out until it's done.... Make any lesser choice, and you will Never fulfill your God-given mission! I'm a DETERMINED Faith Fighter! R U? You Ready? Then Go Get IT done!!! Peace & Increase

Day 46. It's 2:36am & I just finished punishing My Flex with P90X "LEGS&BACK/ABRIPPERX" Now a little recovery drink & I'm OUT! SS IJN! :0)

No post for Day 47!

Going to the Lab for Day 48 of P90X! I had a great nap so this session is going to be EXPLOSIVE!!! I'll HollA!

Day 48 of P90X! "KEMPO X" IS DONE! I am soaked and I feel like a Billion Dollars! GN Folk! SS, IJN! :0)

In the P90X Lab like a GLAD Scientist mapping out how 2 stay motivated to finish what I started! BTW it's WK8 of P90X "Recovery&Ab Focus"

Day 49 of P90X "YOGA X" is in the BOOKS! WK 8" is called Recovery & Abs focus! It feature "YOGA X" twice! I don't know who created this particular routine but 1 thing I do know is that this joint has me sweating so hard I look like I just got out of a swimming pool when I finish! I'm looking forward to comparing my 60 day results but tomorrow is Day 50 & It's "CORE SYNERGISTICS" time again! & The Beat goes on!!! GN!

I'm excited about the fact that today will be the 50th time that I pushed play for P90X! :0) But first Wednesday night Bible Study is in session! I'll Holla! Peace.

Well its time to stop playin! I got Day 50 of P90X waiting on a brother... I believe I hear it callin my name! Alright gotta go get my sweat on! Some of y'all won't be here when I get back so good night to all of those and Sweet Sleep IJN! I'll Holla!

Day 51 of P90X "KEMPO X"is DONE! Starting the count down to a 60 Day results picture post! Stay tuned & GN Folks! SS IJN! :0)

ALRIGHT!!! Its Day 52 of P90X for me! I had to take 2 Days off because of "an assignment from God" - Blues Brothers Movie 1980. :0) Any How I'm so excited because today I've got "X STRETCH" on d...eck and you guys know how much I enjoy stretching! Talk with Y'all later! Oh yeah 60 day pic coming soon

Day 53 of P90X Recovery and Ab Focus Wk features "CORE SYNERGISTICS"! WOOO NELLI A brothers' Gonna work it out!!! I'll Holla!

You know your work-out is going to be good when it features exercises with names like "Prison Cell Push-Ups", "Squat X-Press" & "Superman Banana"! "P90X" Fun & Effective!!!

OK! Day 53 of P90X is FINALLY DONE! I know, I know, It TOOK ME LONG ENOUGH!!! Yeah I HEAR YA! Don't even ask Why!!! I'm X'ed GN SS IJN! :0)

Day 54 of P90X features "YOGA X"! "YOGA X" is like taking Cod Liver Oil... Its something you almost despise doing but the motivation comes from knowing in your HEART that it's very, very BENEFICIAL!!! P90X... Man I love this stuff! :0)

Day 54 of P90X is Done & So am I!!! GN Folks SS IJN! :0)

I have decided to take advantage of the option to rest on Day 55 of P90X! Day 56 will start WK 9 featuring good ole "CHEST & BACK/AB RIPPER X"! I'm looking forward to revisiting this group of exercises! Any How I'm out! Peace! I'll Holla!!!

Alright Folks! The Day was filled with fun and excitement but before its over WK 9 Day 56 MUST be satisfied! Play time is OVER! I'll Holla!

WOO HOO! Its 2:33 am and I don't care because Day 56 of P90X is in the books! YES!!! Its impossible to plateau on this program! I know one thing though... I'm OUT! GN, SS IJN! Amen. :0)

Okay its Day 57 of P90X & "PLYOMETRICS" is on deck! I get excited just thinking about the results from this particular routine! At age 46 it helps me do things that even my 16 year old has challenges with! P90X... I LOVE this STUFF!!! I'll Holla! :0)

ALLLRIGHT! I just finished Day 57 of P90X "PLYOMETRICS"! I tried 2 get it in last night but I was 2 exhusted from the awesome time that I had at SOFCC's Facebook, Friends and Family Day! I have been on a special meal plan given to me b...y my Sister-n-Law (who really knows her stuff)! The plan is high in protein and low in Carbs so I ran out of energy last night BUT, I killed "PLYO" on today Yes!!! 60 Day N 3 DAys!

Systems don’t fail, but people do! If I didn't do what the P90X system required me 2 do I would've failed 2 C the amazing results that the P90X system promises! God has a system that Promises amazing results but, people are failing 2 C the ...results God promised because they don’t do what’s required! So, again, Systems don’t fail, people do! In everything LEARN the SYSTEM & experience its promises! Love you Guys!:0)

Day 58 of P90X "SHOULDERS & ARMS" features some classic moves like "Alternating Shoulder Press" & "In & Out Bicep Curl". But it also has the "Flip-Grip Triceps Kickbacks" & the Crouching Cohen C...url" to spice things up a little bit. So, I'll be hittin that in a few and as always...I'll Holla! Peace! ;0)

Day 59 of P90X & I'm feeling like "Rocky" I'm a Focused, Dedicated, Committed Finisher! Day 60 results will be posted @ http://heartofthedisciplinedone.blogspot.com. Anyhow "YOGA X" is on Deck, so I gotta go get my W...arrior ON (that's Yoga lingo for those who know)I'll HollA! :0)
Peace & Increase!!!

Okay Folks Day 59 of P90X, Done! Day 60 is here, YES, and I am tasked with "LEGS & BACK/AB RIPPER X"! I am so looking forward to comparing my 60 day results to my Day1 photos so, stay tuned Folks, 60 Day photos will be taken and posted ...on my BLOG! Thank you all for all of your Interest & Support thus far! I love U Guys!!! Peace :0)

ALRIGHT!!! I JUST FINISHED DAY 60 of P90X! MAN!!! 4 some reason that was so HARD to do!!! IDK Y But it was! Now to photo my results! :0)

You must have and USE DISCIPLINE in order to be an EFFECTIVE WITNESS! Fight the GOOD FIGHT!!! Let your WEAPON of Choice be DISCIPLINE!

SOFCC Mens' Conference... It's AMAZING!!!

I had 2 give up my "P90X Routine" for a few days in order to participate in and ENJOY the mens "AMAZING" Conference @ SOFCC! But I believe the Bible & what "IT" promises so according to Ephesians 6:8 and Luke 6:38 I&...#039;m going to finish my "P90X Routine" and experience results that are simply "AMAZING"!!! I'll "B" Back on track tomorrow! I'm Excited, I'm Ready! & I'm PUMPED!!! :0)
Day 61 of P90X "KEMPO X" is DONE & it was FUN!
Day 62 of P90X "X STRETCH" is Done! Tomorrow starts WK 10 & It starts off with a doozie! "CHEST SHOULDERS & TRICEPS/AB RIPPER X" No Worries though... I didn't get this far worrying! I'm excited because I get the opportunity to get back into my early morning meetings with Holy Spirit (4am) followed by... U guessed it P90X YESSS!!! I'm CICED!!! Well Good nite Folks SS IJN! Amen!
GM Folks! Day 63 of P90X "CHEST SHOULDERS & TRICEPS/AB RIPPER X" IS DONE! I was up @ 4:30 Got into God's presence & Then Listened! Did P90X
Alright! I've got Day 64 of P90X "PLYOMETRICS" happening in the morning and it all starts with a scheduled meeting for instruction @ 4:00am! So I'm Out!
Sweet Sleep Folks, IJN Amaen!
GM Folks! Day 64 of P90X "PLYOMETRICS" is DONE and Man do I feel AWESOME! I like this early morning workout as opposed 2 the late evening plus it fires up your metabolism! WOO HOO! I'll tell you guys about my Instructional meeting after I take the gang 2 schooL! I'll Holla!
GM Folks! Day 65 of P90X "BACK&BICEPS/AB RIPPER X" is DONE! I am
truly loving the 6:00am workout!!! It's like Drinking Pure "ADRENALINE"! If more people did an early am workout routine some coffee houses would be in trouble!!!
Okay I've got Day 66 of P90X "YOGA X" on deck! I really enjoy doing this routine @ night as opposed to early morning! Anyhow, in other news I just became a P90X Coach for Team Beach Body, so if you have any questions about the P90X sys...tem please feel free 2 ask me.
OKAY! I just finished Day 66 of P90X "YOGA X"! I had to put it on the
back burner for a couple of days. I would be about 8 days from
finishing the first round of P90X if I was a single man, but I would
much rather have the married life with ki...ds that I have & I'm so
thankful for my wife and children! My life is not my own, & I love
it!!! Have a great Evening Folks! Love Ya! PEACE!!!:0)

Now, That was a GREAT workout!!! P90X Day 67"LEGS&BACK/AB RIPPER X"! I still hate AB RIPPER X, But I love the RESULTS!!!:0) Today I got revelation of the games your mind will try to play on you, in cohort with your body; They (mind/body...) don't want you to put them through a rigorous physical routine so they (mind/body) try to trick you into laying off of them by making you feel slugish, thinking negative thoughts about exercising, giving you a false sense of accomplishment to try and make you give 80% instead of 100%! Don't fall for it Folks! When your flesh (mind/body) starts acting up punish it with an extra intense routine and finish what you started!!! Have an Awesome Day! Peace! :0)

GM Folks! Day 68 of P90X & I had an AWESOME morning workout today doing "KEMPO X", and my "Instructional Meeting" was outstanding! Man am I READY!!! Bring it on world! Have a great Day Folks! Love U!!! :0)
BTW it's Day 69 of my P90X Journey and I have the option of resting or stretching (X Stretch). I love stretching so I'm going 2 get into it as soon as I get these young people home safely! Have a good nite and a great weekend!!! Peace! :0)
GM Folks! P90X Day 70 "CHEST & BACK/AB RIPPER X" Done! Instructional Meeting Done! Field Trip with 3rd grade class to the Baltimore Aqarium, still to do! Its going to be a Great Day don't you agree?? I Love you Guys!!! :0) Peace!
Day 71 of P90X & The Mother of all P90X is on deck "PLYOMETICS" I'm about to PEEL HER HEAD BACK in T-MINUS 6 Min!!! I'll Holla!
Up Next Its Day 72 of P90X! "SHOULDERS & ARMS/AB RIPPER X" Is waiting 4 me in the Lab. Ima Go Handle that in T-Minus 60mins! I'll Holla!
My Oldest son said 2 me "Dad You look like a SUPER HERO"! (PRICELESS) P90X Gotta love it!!! :0)
Day 73 of P90X & "YOGA X" is the Task! Its a 90min routine that's quite difficult but yields amazing results! 17 more days and the first 90(Round 1) will B DONE, YES! Looking forward 2 P90X+ and Round 2
Day 73 of P90X "YOGA X"is DONE BUT, Its Day 74 and "LEGS&BACK/AB RIPPER X" AWAIT ME!!! SMH!!! I'll HOLLA! :0)

My Post for Day 74-90 where pretty much the same type of comment from day 1-73! I had trouble retrieving those post from facebook because of some technical difficulty but as you can see from my photos I did finish the race! I have since started another round of P90X but this time it's the "Plus" version! This journey has taken on a whole new meaning and purpose making staying in shape a purpose driven Journey! talk with you soon! I love you guys! Peace & Increase!

PS. Stay Tuned! :0)

Decide Commit Succeed

2009-06-25T14:58:00.000-07:00

All success starts with a decision. Deciding to do anything is the decision that we have to make! Sounds simple doesn't it? That's because it is!

On one side of life you have decision. On the other side you have Success. But in the middle of decision and success you have space better know as time. If you don’t fill that time or space with commitment what you have decided to be successful at will never happen.

Why? Because commitment is the bridge that takes you from your decision to your success.

If you don’t make a commitment to do what you’ve decided to do. You will never see the success of the thing that you decided to do. Now the word commitment means promise or dedication. And it is synonymous with the word pledge or vow. Now it takes discipline to be committed.

Once you become committed to the decision that you’ve made, you are then on your way, on that bridge of commitment, from your decision (the thing you decided to do) to your success.

LOVE

2009-06-22T04:26:00.000-07:00

LOVE = Living to Obey the Voice (of Christ) Everyday!

A shout out to "DAD"

2009-06-19T11:07:00.000-07:00

My Dad. He's an AWSOME Dude! He ALWAYS put us in great situations (he raised 5 boys to men) to learn from the best institutions and people. I've learned so much from him... Self Respect and Respect for others, Honor, Discipline and Business to name a few. Because of him I know how to receive from both my spiritual father and God. I thank God for Dads! Priceless!!!

I love the fact that I inherited GIVING from my Biological Father! He Was such a BIG Giver!!! When he retired his business (He Owned a Deli Grocery Store) He did it with thousands of dollars still owed to him by customers that he basically took care of!!! Dude's Heart is Pure Platinum!!!

And its not that Moms aren't awesome too, I just wanted to take time out to give a "Shout Out" to Dads! They are the heads of households. They are the leaders, Kings and example setters in their homes and we could do none of it if it were not for our Dads.

The "Little Things"

2009-06-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege to go to the mall and while there I noticed a young women in a wheel chair being fed ice cream by a person who could have been her mother but I'm not sure. So I thought to myself... Wow as much as I love ice cream ( MAN I LOVE SOME ICE CREAM!!!!! especially SOFT SERVE) I couldn't imagine not being able to feed myself ice cream.

I'm thankful for what some take for granted... the activity of all of my limbs, the ability to see, touch, feel, smell & taste. I am so thankful for the things that I am able to do on a daily basis.

Like eat some ice cream if and when I want!

The "Little Things"

People - God's Tools for Next Level Living!

2009-05-22T20:13:00.000-07:00

Plumbers use pipes, electricians use wires, and God uses people.

People come in all different shapes, sizes and colors. The interesting thing about people is they're everywhere you go. What is it that makes "people" hard to love? Is it that they're unattractive? Could it be the way they dress or the way they wear their hair? Or could it be their attitude? Maybe the things that they say!

What ever the reason, people are hard to love. Or are they? I believe that loving people requires something significant that some people have a certain level of disdain for and that's called "work". Getting to know someone and endeavoring to discover who they really are requires work which translates into time. Yes time the super valuable commodity that we can't get back. But is time the reason why people find it hard to love people?

What ever the said reason may be, I believe the the lack of knowledge is "the" reason that people find it hard to love people. Simply not knowing. Not knowing, that in order for you to truly experience the promises of God you need people! Fact is God needs people. Remember it was God who created man and gave man instructions to dominate (have dominion). So if God needs people what in the world makes us think we don't, or rather who would make us think that we don't... Answer... Satan.

Satan uses people too and for the opposite reason God uses them. Satan wants you to believe that not only don't you need people, you most certainly don't need certain individuals. Think about it. There have been individuals that have come into your life (befriended you) and are now gone and you could care less that they're gone, but did you ever stop to think that just maybe one of those individuals was a person that God decided to use from the very foundation of this world to take you to a higher level.

How many people have come in and gone out of your life? Could one of those individuals be the one? Yeah "the one"... You know the one individual God anointed to take you to a higher level, in every area of your life! Yep, all it takes is one individual to open a door, speak to another individual on your behalf, hear from God about you and obey God and before you know it be the bridge that makes it possible for you to walk right into your next wealthy place instantly!

We see it happen almost every day on TV, especially in the professional sports arena. SomeOne decides this guy or this gal is the next phenomenon. I could go on and on talking about scenarios like this. My point is this... you should never underestimate who that person will be or was... yes some of us have already come into contact with certain individuals God anointed especially for us, to take us to a higher level in life. We either met, befriended, and or were introduced to, or noticed an individual (which I don't believe was a coincidence) that God placed here on earth specifically for Y|O|U.

Maybe that someone you met was someone you were supposed to take to a higher level? Think about it, and if that's the case that would mean that you missed an opportunity to sowe where you want to go! Wow, pretty interesting huh? Well all is not lost because all we have to do is simply seek God for revelation, (where we missed it) repentance (forgiveness where this matter is concerned) and get right back on track. The mistake that we made is the sin of not obeying the commandment that Jesus gave us to love one another as He has loved us. (John 13:34)

More importantly what does this mean for your life? Where are you in life as it relates to you health, your finances and your soul? There's some one waiting for Y|O|U!!!