What's your Motivation?

Hello, thank you for stopping by today. I hope you find something to make you laugh, be inspired and take action today. 

There is a huge phrase out right now "what's your excuse?" well I'm sure no matter where you live, work or play you've heard just as many excuses as I have. I'm going to just spend a moment in my area of focus; health, wellness, stay at home mom and fitness. 

I'm starting my day like most everyday coffee, devotions, blogging all in my pj's. Yes to some this is a "comfortable" life I live, but once that door opens to my children's bedrooms it's a non-stop busy day. In which I could stop and make 1,000 excuses as to why I can't workout, cook healthy or even get dressed by the time my husband comes home from his 10 hour work day. BUT I don't. 

I fill every day with: love,laughter,homeschooling,children's activities, exercise, house-hold chores, occasional crying, cooking, and my own hobby fitness coaching.

I see my children and my husband as my inspiration and motivation to be everything I possibly can. I choose to stay home and teach my children because I love learning and I want them to love learning in their own areas. I want to see their faces light up when they read a book. I want to yes, cook them 3 meals a day plus as may snacks as they ask for; that alone is a full time job. (Some say "well IF I stayed home I could cook healthy too") I have many working friends that go above and beyond healthy cooking for their families and I applaud them. So stop the "stay at home excuse" 

I also get the I'm too busy to workout - another phrase I do love is "stop the glorification of busy" we choose to be busy; no one is demanding we sign our children or ourselves up for everything under the sun. I think we feel we will be left out if we stay home at night, or even one night a week. Ask your family, I'm sure they'd choose a night home over always on the go. Give yourself a break to breath and a moment to care for you…relax. 

Another excuse I get quit often is "well it's not in the budget" if you live in the same world as me our budgets are what we make of them. We have the right to choose what we use our money for: food, entertainment, travel, clothes etc. We have that right, if we are working hard for our paychecks each and every week that is our right to choose where we spend our money, but please don't say "I'd love to BUT! It’s not in my budget." Just say it's not a priority to me to eat better (it’s cheaper to cook and eat at home) exercise (running in your neighborhood is FREE) planning family fun nights (the beach, local park, mountains, your backyard it’s all FREE) 

Start looking at your family as motivation and inspiration to be a better you. Choose to start making changes that focus on healthier options, healthier activities, and start using healthier quotes. Forget the excuses because just like everything else in life you begin the actually believe they are real. GET OVER THEM and move forward! 

Life is worth living now - go enjoy your family and the freedoms we have.  

Joy 
Joyforfitness.com

 MY FAMILY MY INSPIRATION 

My Irish Temper is escaping me,,,

Wow - Breath in Breath out....Relax is what is going through my mind.

I have to sit and journal a few minutes because if I comment or post it will be will come off as a negative comment and that is not my intent. I have Irish Blood which comes with an Irish temper that has had me spend many years in prayer to control my outburst and comments. So today I'm taking a step back before I do anything because that Irish Blood is a Boiling!

My issue is why can people comment on how thin, skinny, muscular someone is but we cannot say those same things about how heavy, overweight, disease filled people are?  why do we have to "watch" what we say in order not to hurt the feelings of a "certain" body type but it is done ALL day long every day to those that work hard, eat well, breath clean air while exercising and are not flaunting their bodies but sharing that the work involved is worth sharing with others. It is way more than outward appearance people. It is taking pride in the body God gave me. It is doing something every day that challenges the muscles HE created running with the Legs He gave me with the heart and lungs that make it happen.

I was recently called out on posting a picture of me in a bathing suit- I'm a Florida girl and I didn't mean to attract the attention and comments it did (mostly behind my back) but it did and I in no way would ever post myself in a way the I thought defiled my Temple. I'm sorry it it came across as that and for future post I will be clear of my intent. I wanted to inspire others to reach their health and fitness goals not show-off "look what I've done" that's not me. I know we are all created special and unique. Just be your best don't settle for what the world says is OK.  What's the intent of your heart? Because God' wants you to be happy and whole from the inside out.

Food can be an addiction much like drugs, alcohol & working to much, why do we glance over the fact that anything that is put before God is an idol and defiles (our body) God's Temple Including our words.

I understand some people struggle, I get it!!! But both side struggle. Some men and women would love to gain more weight or be free from unhealthy habits. Likewise I know overweight people that try and do great things for themselves and overcome battles every day. When will we stop hurting with words and actions? Take a step back a re-evaluate your own words and actions and how you would want someone to approach.

Our Bodies are meant to be Well-Water with Jesus Christ - don't let words and actions cause you to Wilt.

Joy for Fitness 

A True Leader

The coffee beeps so I get up to enjoy a cup and my devotions before the little ones get that sense that mommy is awake. I admit, I tip toe into the kitchen pour my coffee and tip toe back to my bedroom. If done properly I have 30 minutes before anyone else awakes (sometimes) other times I enter my room with a little one already occupying my place on the bed.

This morning I was blessed to have my alone time and read my devotions. My reading was from Matthew and how the Pharisees were superficial hypocritical leaders. I'm always remind my children of having a servants heart and not always having to be in the lead or the first to have something. But today I was examining my own heart and where I place my value most of the time?

Do I have a servant's heart and do things to uplift and give others the best or do I do it for my own personal gain? this isn't a very hard question if you truly understand the mission of Jesus, but we unlike Jesus are human and we tend to gravitate toward doing what's best for us first. I fall into this thought all the time and remind myself it's not about me its about how God can use me to honor Him.  Saying yes to fill in for someone, saying yes to bringing a meal or spending 5 minutes to listen to someone else talk about their day or simple taking the time to actually put into action what I tell my children. It is so important and a blessing to be a servant to others.

When reading today's lesson I thought of my husband, he holds a supervisor position at his work and has always put his employees first. He also does things to make their day easier and less stressful. Sometimes it involves bringing in a dozen doughnuts or pizza. I was so proud that every time I read a paragraph I thought of my husband and how he truly embraces the role of what a leader is. He never leads from behind, but always in front willing to sweep the floors, pick up the slack or fill in the last hour so a parent can go pick up a sick child. I love him for those qualities. I know I need to be more like him as a leader, a mother and friend. To make life easier for others without gaining anything in return.

I do have a desire and a goal to do great things in my life, but I want to take people with me on my journey, the road is lonely when you go alone. So, today my focus is on others to lift them up where they are and have a servants heart.

 I Challenge you to evaluate your focus and where you talk the talk but forgot to walk it also.

God Bless you on your journey to a Well-Watered Garden
Joy For Fitness,

Life's a Journey

Hi Friends, thanks for spending a few minutes with me

I have so many great things going on and I love to share those things but I haven't done so for 2 reasons. The first is someone recently told me that no one wants to read about my success and the hard work I put into my family's eating and healthy lifestyle so I stopped blogging and Two I for some reason thought I myself needed to have a planned-out blog before I sat down to share with you.

Both those reasons are absolutely not me and I'm over them and moving forward. I welcome you into my crazy busy life of a Stay at home mom of Ty (2nd grade) Izzy (Pre-K) and Addy (Age 2) which whom I homeschool and love teaching them Science and exploring everything we possible can during our school days including the swing set :). I am a student at heart and love to learn myself mostly things regarding the human body how it works, how its heals and what we can do to be our healthiest and live a balanced from the inside out.

I'm currently massaging VERY part time and loving my new journey as a health and fitness coach with Beachbody. I first signed up to get the discount as most people do then I started listening to people and their desire for something that works, asking me how I get it all done with my three little ones I tell them if I didn't get to my home gym everyday I would not be who I am. I need that "Me" time and I love the energy I get for the rest of the day (I workout after school-time before afternoon activities) Sometimes the kids join me sometimes it's their rest time but I love it.

Well, my coaching has again evolved and has come back to me and my personal learning and growing; my own challengers are challenging and encouraging me in so many ways. I'm digging deeper into my bible to study what a true leader and encourager is. I'm more focused on my own Power hour for my coaching and I love cooking again and sitting down with my family and hearing "mommy you make the best food" yes we are not perfect, Gosh I know that but I'm doing what I love. After all my traditional schooling, I'm continuing to learn from my friends, family social network friends and so forth. I'm truly blessed to be able to sit and blog my thoughts because in doing this I'm truly being myself yes, Yes, I workout hard, I'm blessed to have a husband that works hard and we like to travel and enjoy our family if that comes across as me thinking I'm perfect :) I know better! I'm not even close, but I am happy and I encourage you to go be happy be yourself and those that love you for you will be encouraged and those that are irked by you... well they will find someone else.
Enjoy your Monday!    Joyforfitness

This is my "Silly Family"