Last Chance – Don’t Miss the Everyday Faith and Fitness Challenge!

I am so excited for what’s about to begin here! I hope this Everyday Faith and Fitness Challenge blesses you as much as it already has me!

 

In just a few short days, we will begin the Everyday Faith + Fitness 4-week Challenge. Yes, there will be weekly at-home workouts. Yes, we’ve introduced some nutrition ideas here and there will be weekly recipes.

 

But most importantly, there will be this sense of online accountability and community forming here. It’s really not about “THE” workout. As long as you’re doing SOME SORT OF STRENGTH TRAINING – at least 3 days of the week, that’s a success! What I want people to realize is that the Challenge can provide that “I-have-a-personal-trainer” mentality but just not one you actually meet at the gym.

 

Of course, that idea is only beneficial if you get involved and interact here online. So be sure you comment, ask questions, encourage others as well – just have fun! 🙂

 

I have been praying over this entire process (and might I mention it’s been a long a process… complete with tears and technological glitches and back-up plans and more…) but I guess that’s what Satan does when he knows something great for God’s kingdom is happening.

 

To those who have signed up, the first at-home weekly workout will be coming your way this weekend so that you have time to familiarize yourself with the moves and the plan. There’s nothing worse than being all excited to “start” a new workout routine on Monday morning and then have to spend most of your time figuring out the moves. Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything in the workout that is too complicated, but there are written descriptions as well as silent, slow-motion video clips to help you visualize each exercise.

 

But please remember – MODIFY the moves as you need! The workout is meant to be challenging but everyone’s fitness levels are different. Take out the jumps. Do pushups on your knees (or even standing against a wall). If you have questions about how to modify an exercise, just let me know! Like I said above, it’s really not about following THE workout perfectly. We just want to move our bodies (and even work up a little sweat!)

 

Besides becoming familiar with the moves, a few other things to do this weekend (even if you’re not doing the Challenge with us):

1. Schedule your workouts. Take a look at your calendar right now and see if you can figure out what days and times are going to be best for your schedule. Then WRITE THEM DOWN. It’s so easy to “forget” or do other things.  Just make exercise a priority and put it on your calendar. (High-intensity and strength training workouts should not be completed on consecutive days, so be sure to plan accordingly. Give yourself a day of rest or some cardio or stretching in between).

 

2. Prepare your food. If you don’t already do this, I strongly encourage you to try meal planning (at least your dinners) for the week. You can use this Meal Planner printable if it helps. Beyond planning your meals, try prepping as much of your food as you can. Cook a whole tray of chicken breasts so they are ready for a couple lunches. Wash and cut your produce selections – even put them “on display” in your fridge and/or counters. Seeing your healthy options and having them ready to go are so helpful when you’re making quick decisions.

 

3. Pray for strength and self-control. Sometimes we really just need a supernatural response to get us started on a workout or keep us from making poor food decisions based on emotion or boredom. Jesus wants us to be in constant communication with Him. Talking through our thought processes with regards to our exercise and eating is no different. He cares. He will listen. Let Him help you.

 

When creating the private Facebook group, I purposely chose the dove icon instead of anything health or fitness-specific because I hope that this journey sets the participants free in ways they’ve never experienced before.
  * Not bound by the idea that exercise is a torturous event – but an opportunity to thank the Creator for providing you with a body that CAN move;

 

   * Not burdened by the complexity of food choices – but knowing that healthy, real foods fuel our bodies and reflect our willingness to recognize our bodies as temples;

 

   * Not disgusted by the image one sees reflected in the mirror – but feeling loved beyond measure by the only One who really matters.

 

If you’d like to find this type of freedom, please join us. I’m hoping to wrap up registration Friday night so that I can make sure everything is set and ready over the weekend. (But if someone changes their mind or just hears about it over the weekend, I can still add them in.)

Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions!