I AM Adaptable

I AM

Adaptable

I accept changes and can adjust to any situation.

Accepting change...something that some people love and other absolutely hate.  Then, there's the group that's all about it until they realize how much hard work it's going to be.

I tend to fall into that last category, but there have been times when I've absolutely hated it.  

Since this journal has sprung from a place of taking care of myself physically by working out daily and doing my best to eat healthy, let's look at that.  

It's January 1st, you've just committed to following a diet, and a workout plan until you lose that 20 lbs of unwanted weight...ever been there?  I certainly have!!!!  

Something I've noticed that I do...a lot..is not look at the big picture.  I don't stop and look at what I'm gonna have to change or adapt to reach that goal I'm picturing in my head.  Not to mention how much of that work and change is gonna have to stay if I want to maintain that picture.  Me not having a firm grasp of my motives for making these changes is why I believe I have tried and failed many times...although...I have not truly failed because I haven't quit trying.  I just have many missed attempts or as Thomas Edison said, "I have not failed.  I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

Lord, I hope it doesn't take 10,000 tries for me to finally get it...Amen.

I've had to adapt my way of thinking, my way of eating, my schedule, the things I allow myself to read or watch, the time I spend reading or watching something...all of these things in my life needed to change.  Some are still in process...

So after losing over 50 lbs this last attempt at being fit and healthy and gaining 30 of that back...yes...30...I have some decisions and changes to make yet again. 

Yes I can follow an intense diet and workout routine and get results and that's fantastic, but I need these changes to come naturally for me.  I don't want to constantly yo-yo between programs and go on and off of following my meal plans.  I want to adapt my way of thinking, and my actions so the results happen naturally.  I hope that makes sense.  I want to train myself to reach for something nutritious before I reach for something less than.  I want to, want healthy food over junk food.  I want to, want to move my body with purpose daily.  So how do I adapt and get to that point?

First things first...my head.  I got my motives back in check and started focusing on what really matters to me about living a healthy and fit lifestyle.  I accepted that my body is damaged...meaning my pelvic floor.  My girly parts are not where they used to be and have been causing me issues and pain.  I've known for a while that I need to do something, and I finally accepted it and started adapting my routine because of it.  Back in November I asked myself, "What would it look like if I pushed play on a workout everyday for 365 days?"  Notice I didn't say what would my abs look like or what would my booty look like, no...I said, "It" as in my life as a whole.  What would making that change look like in my life 365 days later?  When I find out the answer I'll let you know...today is currently 111 of 365...NO...366, it's a leap year!  

So for me this past January 1st was a focus on healthy living in a more gentle way.  I didn't have some intense plan that included a bunch of changes for me to adapt my life to.  All I said was I was going to be intentional about moving my body daily, and I said I was going to do low impact and focus on the strengthening my core and pelvic floor muscles.  That's it.  

Change doesn't always have to happen quickly, and for the most part, at least for me, when change happens slowly I adapt better to it and it sticks around longer. Right now we're all adapting to a new "normal" that's very difficult for some of us. So maybe step back, take a deep breath, and focus on what really matters to you and your family. Then adapt one thing at a time and see what happens. 

XO

Shelon

#workout #fitmom #girlmom #wife #sister #daughter #fitness #encouragement #faith #jesus #cancersurvivor #barreblend #beachbody #shakeology #fitkids #healthy #fitlife #affirmations #love #strength #wisdom #laugh #learning #process #smallsteps #progressnotperfection

    

I Am Fearless

I AM

Fearless

I dive into life with boldness and freedom.

I definitely don't feel fearless, but in God's word in 2 Timothy we are told that we are not given a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.  (2 Timothy 1:7)

 What does that look like in my day in day out life?  What does diving into life with boldness and freedom looking like?  

Maybe it's trying a new workout move that I've never done and being willing to fail...or maybe it's trying a new food that I've never tried before...letting my kids make choices I know are not the best...letting my husband make choices I know are not the best...letting my schedule be flexible enough to be interrupted...

Have you ever prayed and prayed that someone would be changed by the Lord?  I not talking salvation, I'm talking about a trait that is not the most honoring...does that make sense?  

What if the Lord doesn't step in?  What if he allows that trait or habit or whatever to continue?  What if that "thing" is meant to change you instead of the other person?  What does being fearless look like when you're facing something like that? How can you be bold and free in that moment?

Maybe being fearless is letting go of the control "I think" I have over my life and letting God lead me down paths I've never been down.  Embracing what you're not certain of, letting yourself be surprised, and letting your family see those emotions in you.

I don't know...but I do know that each situation we face calls for a certain amount of fearlessness.  Even just getting out of bed in the morning.

And maybe being fearless is knowing who to run to when we do feel fear and admit it.  #jesusistheone

XO,
Shelon

#workout #fitmom #girlmom #wife #sister #daughter #fitness #encouragement #faith #jesus #cancersurvivor #barreblend #beachbody #shakeology #fitkids #healthy #fitlife #affirmations #love #strength #wisdom #laugh #learning #process #smallsteps #progressnotperfection

  

I AM Motivated

I AM

Motivated!

I take an enthusiastic and proactive approach to life.

I want to know the actual meanings to words that we use all the time that, like my previous post mentioned, might have lost a bit of their meanings through the decades.  Motive simply means a reason for doing something.  

I very often hear people tell me that they wish they had my motivation.  To be very blunt...no you don't.  The motives I have for continuing to strive towards a healthy and fit life are rooted in fear.  Fear of not being here for my husband and children, and fear of getting cancer again, and not being able to handle what comes with that because I'm not healthy.  

Back in 2014 I gave birth to our little Annabanan.  This was an amazing time for me.  After Gem was born I was diagnosed with melanoma and then thyroid cancer.  Both cancers needed surgery to be removed.  Thankfully I did not have to do any other treatments beyond the surgeries.  The day I left the hospital in 2014 with our little banana was exactly a year to the day that I had my thyroid cancer removed.  God truly did a miracle for me to have that little one after all that I'd been through.  He first gave us our little Gem from God after two losses, then he gave us cancer twice, then he gave us Anna Grace.  That's where she got her name.  Anna is from Hannah which means grace, so her name is literally Grace Grace...and that's exactly what God extended to me having had cancer twice and still being here to have another arrow in our quiver.  

When Ann was 4 months old my Daddy passed away.  He was plagued with diseases that are for the most part preventable.  He did not take care of himself.  Heart disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes...high blood pressure and cholesterol, you name it he probably had it.  Losing dad sent me on a downward spiral of using food to comfort me.  I was not eating good at all.  Fried foods, processed foods, tons of sugar, tons of fat...bad decisions for my body with my history and my family's history.  Then almost exactly a year after losing dad we lost my aunt.  She was only 52.  When we were up north at her funeral we went out to eat.  It was just me and Anna since Tim had to work and Gemma was going to day care.  We all went to a local pizza place, and I ate an entire medium everything pizza on my own, and then ate a brownie and ice cream sundae.  

Now, it wasn't the food that turned the light switch on for me, it was the fact that I didn't feel horrible after eating all that, when in the past I would have been miserable had I eaten that much food.  In that moment I realized that something was different and if I didn't get a hold on what I was putting in my mouth I was going to have a bigger problem.  That's when I first saw a post that invited people to a clean eating group on Facebook.  From there I went on to join a group that introduced me to the 21 Day Fix and Shakeology.  I found the vehicle I was going to use to put my gas into to get healthy and fit.  My gas being my motives or motivation.    

Somewhere in the middle of this new revelation for me I lost my true motive and I started to focus on what I looked like more than why I truly wanted to be healthy and guess what?   I lost my steam and gained some weight back.  BUT...even though mine was bigger now, that's not the end of the story for me.  Because my motive had roots that are deep and unmovable I was able to get back to doing my best to live a healthy and fit life.  I just had to do some mental cleaning and put what truly matters back in front of my eyes again. Like to affirmation says, "proactive approach", I need to be diligent in keeping distractions away from my true motives.  

Do I have a certain aesthetic that I'd like my body to look like?  Yes, but that can't be the reason that I keep doing what I do each day.  It could be a goal but not my why, not my reason/motive.  

What is going to keep you motivated when you're 50 or 60 or 70 to keep living a healthy and fit life?  When I'm 70 there's no way a bikini or fitting into a dress is going to be my motive.  

Dive deep, ask hard question, and find out what truly motivates you.  

XO 
Shelon

#workout #fitmom #girlmom #wife #sister #daughter #fitness #encouragement #faith #jesus #cancersurvivor #barreblend #beachbody #shakeology #fitkids #healthy #fitlife #affirmations #love #strength #wisdom #laugh #learning #process #smallsteps #progressnotperfection

  

I am Graceful

I AM 

graceful.  

Strength is the root of my elegance.  

Being graceful physically is something I've always enjoyed.  I take pride in this, but pride goes before a fall...yes?

I have always enjoyed dancing.  I remember being 8, 9, 10, 13 years old and making my family sit and watch me perform made up dances and gymnastic moves to music.  I remember day dreaming about performing in front of people and everyone, of course, loving it, LOL!

Beyond physical grace is a grace that will never fade and that's a grace of the heart and mind.  Being graceful with my husband during times of stress.  Graceful with my words towards him and my touch.  Graceful with my children.  Extending wisdom to them and showing them the life a godly woman should aspire to.  

Graceful is extending forgiveness.  

Graceful is not bringing past mistakes and hurts to today.  

Graceful is letting my kids make a mess playing games that I know I will have to clean up.  

Graceful is accepting help when I need it and maybe when I don't, just so that person feels important in that moment.  

Graceful is accepting my mistakes and learning from them.  

Graceful is smiling when I don't feel like it.  

Graceful is laughing at my kids jokes that are not funny.

Graceful is letting my wants go to lift up my family's.

Being graceful is a lifetime of learning.  

XO,
Shelon

#workout #fitmom #girlmom #wife #sister #daughter #fitness #encouragement #faith #jesus #cancersurvivor #barreblend #beachbody #shakeology #fitkids #healthy #fitlife #affirmations #love #strength #wisdom #laugh #learning #process #smallsteps #progressnotperfection

I am Focused

I am continuing my way through my second round of Barre Blend.  Today was the end of week one. 

With this program there are affirmation cards that you can use to help inspire you, lift you up, and help us just talk nice to ourselves.  When was the last time you said something nice to the face in the mirror?

Inspired by my sister I am attempting to journal starting with the affirmation for the day.  Today was...

I am focused.  I devote my energy to what truly matters.

Wow!  I can literally say that after almost every one of these cards.  They are very insightful and will make me think.  I do find it strange saying, "I am..." when most often I literally am not what I'm saying I am.  I don't want to mislead anyone because I do not have it all together.  I fail daily...or maybe I should say I miss the mark daily.  I haven't failed yet because I have not given up, but my aim misses the bulls-eye.

There's a bigger meaning behind, "I" that I believe is missed nowadays, and the real meaning of words in general.  People just let anything fall out of their mouths, myself included.  An example I grapple with is, "I love this outfit!" or "I love pizza!"  Really?! I'm sorry, but I really don't "love" those things, I like them, but love...no. Or how we say, "Love you!" to whomever that maybe we don't truly mean that...?  Or maybe it's just me being flippant with my words.

A while ago I was about to say, "Love you!" in a message or post on social media, I can't remember which, and something stopped me.  I asked myself...would I be able to say to this person, "I love you?"  I, me, my mind, my body, my words, my time, my sweat, my tears...did "I" really love them like love is supposed to be?

I can honestly say that I can't love anyone truly the way love is supposed to be without Jesus, but in that moment I really had a hard time saying, "I love you."  Because I knew it really wasn't true.  Now, I did care of this person, but to put "I" in front of "love you." is a whole other story for me now.  Yes, I still say, "Love you!" to people, but when I do that I know I can put, "I", in front of it.

So, now I have these affirmations that say, "I AM" in front of every single one that are bugging me so let me interject a few more words, "I am trying to be focused."  I am trying to devote my energy to what truly matters on a daily basis.  I am trying to love people as they should be loved.  I am trying to raise my children the way they should be raised.  I am trying...

That's all anyone can really do right?  Try?

There's so much more this is though, how do I decide what truly matters?  What do I weigh my daily tasks against to see if they add up?

My faith has to take precedence.  Jesus first...do I do this daily?  That's a big fat NO, but that's exactly why I need Him.  I'm so lost without his guidance.  I think after my faith must be my goals.  Lining those us under Christ as well, and then looking at what I'm focused on during my day brings things into more focus.

I mean...if I have a goal to be intentional about moving my body every day then I better get up and get it done.  If I'm going to be able to get up and get it done I better go to bed and get good rest.

Everything I look at throughout each day for even a second can either hinder me or move me forward.

I'm obviously not very focused if I keep missing the mark daily, but at least I'm trying.  I'm practicing if you will.  The best athletes in the world don't get there by doing their sport when it's convenient or when they feel like it. They do it every day without fail, and even they have times of great success and times where they "fail" by the world's standards.

I try not to focus on the world's standard of how or what I should be.  It's so easy to get wrapped up in those webs, but I'm thankful for this reminder...The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23.

So where, by the end of the day, my focus has usually move on from what truly matters every morning is a new beginning to focus.  Or at least try to focus on what truly matters.



XO,
Shelon

#workout #fitmom #girlmom #wife #sister #daughter #fitness #encouragement #faith #jesus #cancersurvivor #barreblend #beachbody #shakeology #fitkids #healthy #fitlife #affirmations #love #strength #wisdom #laugh #learning #process #smallsteps #progressnotperfection

Power...who has it?

When I search for the definition of power on Google this is what comes up...

1.The ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as a faculty or quality

2. The capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.

So my question is...who or what has the power?  Or more directly...who or what has the power over me?  My behaviors, my actions, my thoughts...?

Automatically when I ask myself that question I answer, "Me! Of course."  but then do I really...?  I mean, if I lose my temper who has the power there?  It's not me, I don't have anything.  I just lost it, remember?  What if I eat an entire sleeve of girl scout cookies?  I've lost all power over my mouth.  

*the previous statement is partially true. I did share with my girls and my husband so I didn't eat the "entire sleeve" it just felt like it* 

What if I crash on the couch and watch Netflix for 5 hours and get nothing done around my house?  

Even though I'm under the illusion that I have all power over my actions, my mouth, and my mind if you look at how I act sometimes...I really don't. I give myself to things that are not going to get me to where I want to be.   

We all have things that trip us up.  I have begun to see my stumbling blocks more clearly once I started answering that question more honestly.  Sometimes I miss the fall and others I fall flat on my face and stay there for about 2 or 3 days...or even longer.  I've had months where I kept falling and staying down, then getting back up and falling again just 2 seconds after I stood up.  It's absolutely exhausting at times. 

Being a believer in Jesus though, His word says, "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV 

Does that make anyone else cringe from conviction about letting ourselves do whatever, whenever, and however we want?...or is that just me?  

We are not perfect of course, but clearly as believers God's Spirit has given us power.  I guess the question then needs to be, "Who or what am I willing to give that power to?"

When I lose my self-discipline and eat about half of a sleeve of girl scout cookies I am giving my power to my body which is feeble at best and fading with each passing day.  Or when I'm losing my temper I'm giving my power to what or whomever I'm angry at.  Which can be anything from my computer because it didn't do something right (operator error most likely) or to my family that are simply trying to get through the day like I am...and now because I blew my top suffer because of my lack of power over my temper.    

My decisions I make of what I'm spending my time on, what I'm eating, what I'm listening to, what I'm watching, what I'm saying out loud to others and to myself are all going to do something.  Sometimes that something is an immediate gratification of, "Man, those cookies were delicious!", then the scale at home goes from 153 to 155.  Or those decisions are going to yield something good for me or my family.  Maybe it's the difference of yelling at my children to listen or taking a moment to see they are struggling and need my love.  Or the decision to not watch TV and get my laundry done so me and my family can have clean underwear.

I can decide to give my power to something that will help me or hinder me. Help my family or hinder my family.  Help my mind, and body, or hinder my mind and body.

I've got the power! Did anyone else start singing that 90's dance tune?  LOLOL!

Decide to use your power to do the things that will honor God, your family, and yourself.

XO,

Shelon

#jesus #fitness #power #food #cleaneating #girlscouts #cookies #children #girlmom #bible #scale #victory #god #husband #family #love #discipline #snap #90's #dance #thepower

Are you Motivated?

Motivation!  It’s what we all need to do something right?  It’s what drives us!  It’s the energy we need to make changes and get work done!

Motivation is defined as “the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving a particular way” OR “the general desire or williness for someone to do something”

I hear people all the time tell me they wish they were as “motivated” as me to make the changes I’ve made.  When I hear that I wonder where their true intentions are because if you truly have the desire to make those changes…by definition you already have motivation.  The willingness is where most people get hung up I think. 

You don’t have to “feel” like you want to do something to do it, and do it well. 

Do you ever really “feel” like cleaning the toilet?  But I bet you still do it, and I bet it’s done well...right?

Whether we know it or not, we all already have the motivation within us to make the changes in our lives we long to make.  Maybe the truly hardest part is that we sometimes have to get uncomfortable to make those changes, and no one wants to be uncomfortable, myself included.  

“A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.” ~James N. Watkins

You see, if you want change in your life, it might hurt.  It might make you uncomfortable.  You might get angry, you might cry, you might get excited…but regardless of how you feel if you are persistent with your actions that lead you towards your goals…you will achieve them.  Period.  And eventually…those changes that were uncomfortable will become normal, and you'll feel comfortable again. 

After that…the question is, “What is your next goal?”

It’s a process.  Up and down, up and down…enjoy the ride!  Hold onto what builds you up, let go of what is tearing you down, and TRUST THE PROCESS!

XO,

Shelon

#motivation #trust #process #girlmom #gemsfromgod #fitness #workout #cleaneating #uncomfortable #goals