What´s Your Peak?

Yes, I dare ask.

What is the best you have ever felt? Have you ever reached that place, and then for what seems like forever, can´t get back? Is it even possible to get there again? What is your peak?

Do you have that picture in your mind? Now, I am not talking about a picture of a model. No, I am talking about your best. When did you feel your best? You can get there. You can achieve this goal. You don´t have to believe the lie from Satan that you will always be this way.

It starts with prayer. A desire to change. 

Surround yourself with support. 

And get moving. 

I have started a challenge over at Peak 313 to get ready for my own Christmas Crunch Challenge. That´s right, I am doing two challenges at the same time. They promote the same thing! You get double the support, double the fun, and double the prizes!

Here is what my workouts will look like this week. (even though I got sick on Monday and Tuesday)

Monday - Mike Chang´s Chest and shoulder workout 6 sets of 10 bench press with 10lbs, no rest between and 10 squats with the dumbbells on shoulder. Only resting 15 seconds between super sets.
V-cut Abs and Butt workout - 10 one leg dead lifts with 10 sec. hold at end of set / 10 lung hops each leg - Repeat 10 times.  30 min. workout.
Stretching

Tuesday - warm up and then Mike Chang´s cardio work out 1 minute rounds -15 minutes. More cardio, marching, jumping rope, twists etc. 10 min. / Mike Chang´s ab 5 minute ab workout and stretching.  30 minute workout

Wednesday - Rest

Thursday- Weights and super sets Legs/ and upper body / Mike Chang´s cardio / Cardio Ab workout

Friday -  Run 5k

Saturday - Six Pack Abs DVD - 40 min.

Sunday - Rest

I am eating  high protein, high fiber foods, and cutting back on my portion sizes.

The challenge isn´t just to get and stay physically strong, it is about being strong  internally too. We are all about being strong here, but it doesn´t amount to anything if you are not spiritually strong on the inside. We are memorizing a verse a week. Awesome!

Don´t forget to sign up for the Christmas Crunch Challenge. We start crunching on Monday!

Reaching for my peak, crunching it!

Jump Start To Christmas

Ladies, are you tired of that lethargic feeling? Have you been needing to step up your exercise routine and make some changes? Maybe, just like me, you need a jump start? Even though, I have been at this for over five years now, I still need a good kick in the pants to keep on this fitness journey. 

Whether you are just starting out or need motivation to keep going, this is the challenge for you. We focus on healthy disciplines, group encouragement and inspiration from the Bible. 

We track our daily exercise, water consumption, healthy eating, weight loss and volume toning by earning points. Participation by blogs and our special facebook page also earn you points. We have an easy- to- use point system you can print at home or use on your computer. Every 30 days the one with the most points will win a $10 online gift certificate. There will also be other prizes along the way. 

You can sign up at www.faithfitnessandfun.blogspot.com  by clicking on donate by Pay Pal if you want to participate for the prizes. If you want to participate for encouragement only, you may sign up by commenting here or at Faith Fitness and Fun. 

Looking forward to crunching it with you,

Are you ready?

Sign up by commenting here with your e-mail address or writing me at danijoy2spain@gmail.com

We have a private fitness blog and FB page where we journal our progress or you may choose to blog your progress on your own blog. 

Let´s keep on our fitness journey.

for His Glory, 

Are You Ready to Be Challenged?

How are you doing in fitness and overall health?


Have you considered joining a support group or a diet center before?


Well, those cost money. This fitness challenge is free and you have a possibilty of winning prizes at the end.


Ladies, would you consider joining us for this 10 week fitness challenge that may change you for life?


If you haven´t decided yet and need more information, read on, then post a comment with your e mail or send it to danijoy2spain@gmail.com .


If you have decided and have let me know by Facebook, then I have you on the list.

Please read on for all the details, even if you don´t think you will be commited or you are still unsure. Take a step of faith and give it a try.


What is the Chrismas Crunch Challenge all about anyway?


First, what the CCC is not.


1. It is not a diet! - You choose your methods and what works for you.


2. It is not a gimmic! - It´s what you make of it. What you put into the challenge is what you will get out of it.


3. It is not a magic pill! - It will be work.


The CCC is -


1. A Christian fitness and health support group. - We stay in touch and encourage one another by an online private fitness blog


2. A Challenge - We race each other, and we work for goals and points. (another way to stay accountable and fun competition)



How does it work?


1. Prayer - We make praying for one another a priority


2. Points - 4 catagories

• Inches/ Cm - 1 inch lost = 2points 1cm lost =1pt
• Pounds/Kilos - 1lb lost = 5pts 1Kilo lost = 10 pts
• Exercise - every 20 minutes of uninterrumpted exercise = 1pt
• Posts - Every blog post you write on our private fitness blog = 1pt (2 journal posts a week and 2 diet, exercise, inspirational, video, or fitness tip per week allowed) Maximum points per week in this catagory are 4 pts.

3. Praise- We give glory to God for what He helps us to do, and we also comment on journals and praise each other


If you do not have a method of getting fit and healthy, I urge you not to go on any drastic diets. Just do these simple steps


1. Cut out all or as much as you can of white sugar and processed sugar. (read lables)


2. Cut in half what you normally eat if you haven´t done this already.


3. Cut out White Flour/processed white breads and pastas. (bad carbs) Replace them with high fiber whole wheat (no sugar) breads, cereals, and pastas.


4. Add in fun treats only for you that are healthy. sugar free/fat free. (go sparingly so they last) yogurts, cheeses, sf chocolate, nuts ect.


5. Add in 20 min. of exercise more a day. Sweat! (if you are active, but are not losing and want to see results try adding High intensity cardio to your workouts)


6. Have one free day a week.


Of course there is so much more out there, and we have a wealth of fitness and health knowledge on our fitness blog. Once I have your e mail and you are on the list to do the Christmas Crunch Challenge, then I can invite you to this fitness blog. I will be sending out an e mail as to how to go about getting on the blog, about blogging, and how to keep points.


It is very rewarding, ladies! Remeber it is a Fitness Journey for life. It is about taking care of our temples for the Lord Jesus. We are His servants. We want to take care of ourselves so we can serve Him better. I praise God for the added energy and strength He has given me since losing 40 lbs and getting in shape!

Don´t wait for next year´s resolutions! Don´t wait till even the next day. Let´s plan to do something today!


Love in Christ,

 

*** For those who are already on our fitness blog and are gearing up, you may get your testimonies ready to post. Please don´t publish them till Monday or Tuesday of the starting week. Remember to lable them. Then you may measure, and start getting ready. (there is an article on the blog on how to measure)

IT TAKES WORK!!!

"Heigh ho, heigh ho, it´s off to work we go"

You remember how it goes. Right?

But, why WORK???

Oh, NO!!!

Isn´t WORK a four letter word! We can´t say that word!

Or can we???

WORK! WORK! WORK! 

Yes, I am talking about  fitness, and health!  It takes work. Just like our spiritual Christian walk is work, discipline and healthy living takes work.

I received an article from a friend taken from the newspaper The Messenger, written by the president of YMCA El Paso, Kevin Pearson. He writes that even Peter in the Bible tells us to WORK.

2 Peter 1:5 states that we are to be diligent in adding to our faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance (self control! ouch), patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. You will notice that godliness doesn´t come until we have that SELF under control, and that takes WORK!

Kevin Pearson continues to encourage us to just get started.

"Getting started is most certainly the hardest thing to do. Once we commit ourselves to something, it is easy to continue, but getting started... that is tough."

He states that there are many excuses out there. "Not enough time", "long day at work", "not in shape", "pain", but most of all, he states,

"The biggest barrier that we all face is the fear of failure. We can´t stick to the program. If we are not consistent, we´ll fall off the wagon. We won´t reach our goals. Fear of failure is an extremely powerful negative influence, but as they say, "it´s all in your head".

Start with a simple goal - "I am going to do something"... The goal should be to get started. ... Stay on focus with the task."

I totally agree! Many of you have started. Now we have to keep on. If you are struggling with starting and keeping on, that´s ok. It is normal. Keep starting new everyday.

"It is of the Lord´s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion (not food) saith my soul; therefore will I hope in HIM." Lamentations 3:22-24

Last year, I hosted a fitness challenge and started a Christian fitness blog. We will be gearing up for another challenge this October. The Christmas Crunch Challenge was a huge success with many getting started on their own fitness journey and many keeping on through the whole year. This Christmas Crunch Challenge will start October 6 and go till December 22. A 12 week journey that will change you!

If you are interested write me at danijoy2spain@gmail.com .

Praying for our spiritual and physical health,



Linking up with

It´s Our Last Week!

Yes, we are almost done with our Christmas Crunch Challenge, but that does not mean we are done with fitness. We have gained some valuable habits that will help us along on our fitness journey of life. Discipline, healthy eating, exercise, and valuable knowledge about our bodies, are only a few things that we have focused on in these last 8 weeks. It has been a wonderful journey!

All of the challenge points will end Dec. 23 (12:00 PST).... BUT .. the blog will stay open! We can post whenever we want. We can chat whenever we want, and use the support system we have already set up. It is such a blessing!

I will be e-mailing all the participants certificates by Christmas, Lord willing! They can print them out, frame them! They desirve it! We should pamper ourselves a little this Christmas, but then get right back at it again after the holidays. We can´t  ruin all we have worked so hard for.

This challenge has been a real blessing for me, and I thank God for allowing me to get to know everyone of our participants better. Some really got into the points and some didn´t. That´s ok. The idea was for the support and to cheer each other on. To pray. To love. To get Healthy and Fit! I believe we accomplished all of these goals. 

They all should all be so proud and thankful to the Lord for His Strength!

I am looking forward to many more challenges and staying fit for life. Maybe, I have found another niche.

10 more days to Christmas, ya´ll!

Crunching and Praising,



PS... if you think you would like to be apart of our next challenge e mail me at dani2spain@gmail.com

Nix the Fix - Week Six!

It´s the End of Week SIX of the Christmas Crunch Challenge!

Ladies , I have designed a special way for you to catch up in points and crunch it even more seriously.

If you are involved in our challenge, head on over and find out how you can get loads of points, and get healthy doing it!

I am calling this week´s special...

NIX the FIX!

We are going to start counting points for healthy eating. You will be able to earn a point for every healthy portion of food you eat, but be mindful the unhealthy, sugary, starchy, fatty, junk foods cause you to lose points!

We are going to keep the blog open through the Christmas season, so if you think you would like to join our private fitness blog, you may. Just send me an e mail at danijoy2spain@gmail.com . 

If you join, you can see how the challenge is going, learn what is working for others, get fitness tips, links and much much more! Also, you can start getting geared up for our next challenge after the holiday season. (to be announced)

Don´t throw in the towel, ladies! It isn´t a no win battle. Believing that you can´t change, is a lie! You have all the tools you need to change your lifestyle, to be healthy and fit!

Come on. What are you waiting for?

Crunchin´it,

The Water Fiasco

Ok, here´s the scoop. I drank a little over 3 liters of water last Wednesday with some liquid green tea herbal mixture and then one of the liters with some cranberry juice. I started getting a headache late that night. Then by the time I woke up Thursday morning I had a full blown major headache with weak nausious feelings.

I didn´t really think anything of it as I sometimes have headaches. I started to work through it. Get up, try to get breakfast for the kids, start to get school ready, but there was that nausia coming up from somewhere. Then there was this uncontrolable need to curl back up in bed. (I don´t normally go back to bed when I am up during the day)

What could it be???

Now to back up some...

You may be aware that I have started a fitness challenge. It´s been going on now for almost 4 weeks. Last week I decided I was going to try something new. I have been on a fitness journey for 11 months now doing a very healthy balanced diet, but felt the need to push myself to another level. (so I thought) 

I started myself on Jillian Michael´s Peak diet from her book Making the Cut.  This is only a seven day diet basically consisting of a lot of protien and veggies, but the part in question for me was the 100 ounces of water she recomends you consume throughout the day. That´s almost a gallon of water, people!

You guessed it. I tried it. I haven´t tried any special diet in these whole 11 months. I have just cut out refined sugars (white) and refined white flour as much as I could. Eating as naturally as possible, but I did it. I tried this very extream diet.

Jillian does this diet to peak for her photo shoots. Now, before you judge me, that´s not at all why I was trying this. I don´t have to show up infront of anyone. I stay at home all day. (LOL) No, I was doing it for the pure fact of cleaning myself out and just seeing if I could do it. I was curious.

It totally backfired.

I may have gotten a virus. I may have just been worn out. But I think it was all that water and many have told me the sudden decrease in calories all at once.

Here were my symptoms again. Headache, dizziness, nausia, and weakness.  NO Fever. I actually at one point on Thursday was white as a ghost.

I did the only thing I could do;  A google search.

Have you ever done a google search on a symptom you have? Did you come away thinking you were going to die? Well, that´s what happened.

I typed in drinking too much water and this is what came up.

Water Intoxication:

Water Intoxication Symptoms in Adults




The very first symptom of water intoxication is nausea. You feel to puke, because your stomach is not able to hold the excessive quantity of water.


The next symptom of water intoxication in adults is having slurred speech. You feel like speaking with a thick tongue.


You will feel weak and tired.


Other prominent symptoms of water intoxication include headache and bloating. Excessive water, disturbs the digestive tract and leads to bloating.


You may start hallucinating. This is mainly because excessive water in the body, affects brain cells as well. Brain cells tend to swell. Affected brain, further leads to disorientation and confusion.


Muscle cramps


Seizures, coma, respiratory arrest, swelling of the brain and even death may occur in extreme cases.

I thought I was going to die. Well, ok, not quite that dramatic, but I was really fighting being coherent and keeping on through the day. I actually ended up sleeping 4 hours extra that day. (for those that know me, I don´t sleep that much. I sleep my normal 6-8 and that´s that.)

It took me all the next day to get rid of the headache. I still drank my 2 liters, but I added more calories to what I had intended on eating as well as carbohydrates that were not on Jillian Michael´s peak diet.

I must say this much to Jillian Michael´s defense, her Making the Cut diet, which I followed to the best of my ability here in Spain for 30 days, really is a great well-rounded, healthy, balanced diet. It was hard to find some of the foods here in Spain, so I had to adapt it, but it was really good.

By Saturday morning I was almost back to normal. I was able to do a 40 minute workout later that day and not feel like I was going to fall over or that my head was going to explode.

What would you have thought was the problem????

 

Benifits of Losing in a Group

In honor of the all the ladies participating in the Christmas Crunch Challenge ...

(  Which by the way we are in our second week. It is going wonderfully. Almost everyone of us have lost inches and pounds)

 I am joining up for Fitness Friday and dedicate this post to you, ladies.

The Christmas Crunch Challenge has been such a blessing. For someone who is far from family and friends, to have a group to support and uplift you as you work for a positive but difficult change is very benificial, if not essencial.

God knew I would need these ladies. We are a group of about 25 ladies striving for the same goal: our best fitness and health for the Lord Jesus, for our families and for ourselves.

I am so proud of each of them for their decisions to change bad habits, and to cultivate good disciplines in their lives. Everyone is so positive and uplifting.

I never imagined that when God gave me this idea that it would grow to this ramification. It has exceeded even my imagination. Ladies are posting health and fitness tips weekly, their "Crunch In" or daily journal, humorous posts and even videos. This is a private fitness blog, so no one feels intimidated. It has allowed for the creative juices to flow and the fat to fall away! 

I intended to write about what happened to me this week with my increased water intake, but I will save that for another post. Suffice to say, do not exceed 2 liters of water a day. It´s not necessary and can be dangerous. I can tell you all about it.

In the meantime, keep striving to be fit and healthy for eternal reasons, and if you have an opportunity to encourage others on their fitness journey, go ahead and join a fitness group, even make a fitness group near you. It makes a world of diffence. Or you can even still join in our Christmas Crunch Challenge. We would love to have you. (Ladies only)

Still Crunchin,

Fun Days!

Even though I am so busy with my new blog , Christmas Crunch Challenge, and the Candle in the Corner giveaway, I wanted to still link up with Alicia for Friday Photo Flashback! 

I went and dug up some old college pictures. Is it possible to look like our old selves again?  I have been totally thinking that I couldn´t, but I am getting so close now to my pre- wedding weight that I am starting to think it may be possible!

This picture was taken before one of the Fine Arts formal events at my college my Junior year. (1995-96) These are my room mates, Kim and Sarah. Kim was from the Bahamas! She and her friends made me laugh constantly! They loved life! Sarah was a nursing major. That is such hard course! What great days! What fun to look back.

Have a great weekend everyone! 

*** Don´t forget to go give for the Candle in the Corner giveaway.***

Considering a Journey

Today Fitness Friday and the Christmas Crunch Challenge go hand in hand! If you still have not signed up, there is time. Just contact me with your email by Sunday. We may have some late comers and that´s ok, but I would love to have everyone working toward their goals the first week. (click on the button to learn more)

I thought I might post some things to consider before starting a fitness journey or a fitness challenge. Not all of these have to be done all at once. It´s a growing process.

1. Pray - Even before you make the commitment, it should be a prayer in your heart that the Lord would help you meet your goals. That your goals would be His goals, as well.

2. Set a goal - This sounds so basic, but it is so important to have the right goals and priorities. We all know this. We may all start off with the right mind set, to glorify God with every area of our lives, but maybe somewhere along the way we compare ourselves with the "image" I spoke about last week. This then consumes us. We must go back to that goal we had in the beginning.

3. Get a plan - This is where it may vary through your fitness journey. At first, some plans may seem harder than others. Maybe, your body can´t cut back as many calories at first.  Or a certain exercise plan is too extensive just yet. We must choose a plan that is right for us. Each individual is different. I can share with you my journey, but ultimately you have to find what works for you.

There are so many diet plans out there, but I believe the key is to cut out unnatural refined sugars first thing! Regardless of the diet you choose this will always be key. Then the second key is exersice. Just get moving 20 minutes more a day. That´s it!  Sometimes it just helps to simplify things.

4. Get support - A great support group or even just a friend to help keep you accountable is so essencial. When you have success, you can share. This motivates your friends and those who may be struggling. When you have questions or have fallen off the wagon, your group can rally around you and help encourage you to keep on.

I had a few good accountablilty friends. They were working hard at getting in shape and strong, too. This was a huge push for me.  It is also, an added bonus when your husband starts noticing the change in you. He can become your number one "cheerleader"!

Again, let´s keep it all in perspective. None of this is worth anything if our hearts are not right. This has been such a daily objective for me to strive for.

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure...That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke."  So "I press toward the mark for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." For "I can do all things through Christ which strengthenth me." Philippians 2:13,15 ; 3:14; 4:13

Journeying with you on the journey of life,

The Christmas Crunch!

It´s that time! We all are getting geared up for the holidays. I know, Thanksgiving is first, but for some reason my mind just jumped straight to Christmas. Then my mind went to New Years. Then to last years New Year´s goals. This past January, I set a goal, which I have not met yet. It may seem compulsive to some, but to me it´s a new handle on life. My fitness journey started with a prayer, developing into a joy and a new lease on life. I would love for others to enjoy this as well.

This is why I present to you the...

I am getting so excited about this. Already there are more than 10 ladies interested. Yes, It is a ladies only private blog.  Now aren´t you interested???? Wouldn´t you like to get fit and know you are getting healthier for your family and for your service to Jesus??? Well, you can!

Let me explain.

When will it take place?

This challenge will run from October 28 till December 23, at which time I will award the 1st place winner with a $15 online gift certificate and the 2nd and 3rd place winners with $5 online gift certificates. All participants will also receive an e-certificate with the amount of points earned on their Christmas Crunch!

How do you earn points?

There will be 5 catagories:

weight - 1 point for every pound lost

inches/cm - 2 points for every inch lost and 1 point for ever centimeter lost. (which ever you choose to measure in)

Posting - one point for ever post you make

Exercise -  1 point for every 20 minutes of exercise you do.

Healthy diet tips and recipes - 1 point for the post and 1 point for the tip or recipe in that post (only possible 2pts here).

Now, I probably won´t be able to keep track of it all. REALLY?! ? So you will be set up with your own tracker on the blog. You sign on and adjust your points accordingly. I will try to monitor it all as well. (no cheaties, ladies)

It would be great if we all could get to know each other before the kick off so I will be inviting and opening up the blog to you all soon for introductions and more instructions. I will be posting some diet information if you do not have a plan to follow as of yet.  Posting will not count till Wednesday October 28, though.

Any questions please feel free to ask away. This is a topic I am growing to love! Keeping fit and healthy is a goal for life, not just in our 20s and 30s. So why not start now!

Let this Christmas be a Christmas that you remember for a lifetime, not only because you feel healthier but because of the One who gave you the strength to achieve your goals.

Let´s Crunch it, ladies!