FIT Fridays: Check-point

Hello my FIT Friday friends,

We've been at this for more than two months already. Yep! We started on Friday, June 4th. Have you made any changes in your life? Did you start strong and taper off? I hope you started strong and are still going strong!

As you regular readers know, I hit a few snags this summer. The heat! Wow, that's tough. My broken toes certainly challenged my fitness program. As I look back to week one, I have grown spiritually -- and shrunk a bit physically. How about you?

Our week one challenge was fairly straight-forward. (If you want to read the full post, go to "Introducing FIT Fridays.") I challenged you to:

• eat what you normally do -- only before you sit down to eat it, measure out how much you're really eating. Honestly! You can't know where to begin until you know where you are. I think you'll surprise yourself. 

Do you practice portion control now?
Did you step it up after week one to limit your calorie intake?
Have you started substituting healthy snacks for junk food? Or eliminated soda and sweet tea?
Your physical health won't change if your habits don't. So be honest. Where are you? What's the next step?

• ask yourself if what you're doing is helping you improve your life. Just think about it. Again, you can't change until you know where you are.

Have you gotten off the couch to "move it?" 

Did you change some habits to add exercise to your day? 

Do you park further from the office to add some steps to your routine? Do you take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you can?

Without exercise, the weight doesn't come off very easily. More importantly, without exercise, we aren't using our bodies the way God intended. Those muscles were meant to move and work! Exercise is really the best energy booster we've got. Assess the changes you've made and step it up. Be honest! 

• Read these passages and pray. Ask God to show you the plans he has for your life. Ask him for strength to make wise decisions. Ask him to help you in the battle against food. Proverbs 4:6-7, Psalm 107:43, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 14:1, and Jeremiah 29:11.

This is the heart of it all. When you know -- with all your heart -- that you are precious to God, loved dearly, you will want to live the best life you can for him.

So, have you opened your heart to Him?

Have you dealt with the "junk" -- those hurts from your past, the lies you believe about yourself, the low self-esteem? 

Or, is it still there nagging at you and literally weighing you down?

Dear friends, with a pure heart filled with love from God, your life is so different. Look inside. Let go of the hurts once and for all. Choose now to relaunch your efforts if you slipped away. Going strong? Then step it up! Reach for those goals and live the life God has for you! Let us know what you've learned so far on this journey. Let's praise God for the great things He has already done!

Dear God,

As always, I am awed by your love. Thank you for my life, my family, and my dreams! On my own, I wouldn't have the life I do. You continue to amaze me with your creative plan for me. Give me strength, Lord, to give every moment of my day to You. I give you my thoughts -- don't let me talk myself down anymore. I give you my choices -- what I eat, what I do, and how I parent. Everything, God, is yours. Forgive me for the many mistakes I make and help me move ahead of them. I love you, Lord. Let my life reflect your love to those around me.

In Jesus' name I pray.

Amen