Okay so here's the scoop...Well part of it anyway...

^{Hebrews 12:1 "1}Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

I said a couple of posts ago that I wasn't going to lay out my workout plan, because for most people, it will just not apply, because of the PT nature of it. But upon further review, in my head, there is definitely some aspects of my daily regimen that most of you will be able to do at least in part. I thought this a great way to let you know what has worked for me.

Consistency: that is the key. What I do, I do daily, five days a week if at all possible. Around the holidays because of our Mayo trip etc., it was a little less, but I picked right back up when I could. That is key: Consistency. There will be weeks that you just cannot keep to your workout routine, but in those times, keep doing what you can and pick it right back up the next week. It is really important that you give yourself no excuses to be lax in this area. I have been the Queen of excuses let me tell ya, well these days I don't give myself any. I press on. Because seriously, for me excuses become major hindrances, and we are to throw those off (see above verse =)

So what about you? Want to throw off some hindrances? Be consistent. Good bye hindrance!

So here is what a typical day workout wise, looks like for me. I get up at 5:00 am and get my sweet husband off to work, and then I read my Bible until 6:00 am. At 6:00 AM Margaret Richards comes on PBS. From 6:00-6:30 AM I workout with her. What I really like about her is she is consistent, and she never compromises form for reps. Very important. If you would like to check her out, please do so right here.

After my workout with Margaret, I go about my day, and then at 10:00 am I start leg PT and then again at about 2:00 pm, leg PT. I am going to start adding more weights to my workouts as I go, but that is a process. If you have chronic pain or health issues that impede your workouts, add weights and reps slowly. Be very consistent in working out and moving and know your body. It will tell you when it's time to move up in weight, sets and reps.

In all this, be sure and take time to read the Bible and pray. Ask God to help you in this walk. It is vitally important. In fact, it is the MOST important part. Because apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). It is what Faith-Filled Fitness is all about. In order to be Faith-Filled, you have to be consistent in your walk with the Lord as well.

I am so enjoying our time together. Your comments are so GREAT and I'm trying to respond to them.

Have a Blessed day ~~

Healthfully Yours,
Dawn

Keys to Consistency ~~ Exercise; the Non-negotiable -- Your welcome =)

So if anyone thought they had an excuse not to exercise it would be me. I mean after all; I live with chronic pain, arthritis that I have dealt with since a child, have had many surgeries and just generally feel rotten some days. But what I have learned is that the best way to deal with these things, especially chronic pain is to exercise.

It seems weird I know. But when I move and do gentle stretches and exercises it helps my pain. It is all about consistency though. This is something that I now do on a daily basis. I take one day off a week, but even on that day I go through the motions of some of my exercises, especially for my knee, and I stretch.

I will be posting much more about exercise and it's benefits and the things that I do personally, so that if you are one who deals with chronic pain, maybe you can find encouragement in my story.

Healthfully yours,
Dawn

Romans 8:37 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

Keys to Consistency ~~ What is it?

I have found that the biggest key to losing weight and being healthy is consistency. It is key. You just must do things in a consistent manner to have success.

So there are many areas that I have developed consistency in along the way, and so I am calling these posts: Keys to Consistency and then what that key is (i.e. exercise the non-negotiable ~~ your welcome =) and so forth.

If you are consistent with making healthier food choices, counting calories and daily exercise you will be healthier, but the key here is making these decisions part of your daily life. It does take change for most people, but it is a change that I was more than willing to make and I am so glad that I did. I feel so much better today.

So that is what the Keys to Consistency is all about. I hope that you will look around and comment. I love to hear from you.

Healthfully Yours,
Dawn

Romans 11:36 "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen."

Keys to Consistency ~~ Counting Calories

There are several items that fall into the Consistent Key Category:

#1 is Counting Calories. Nobody really likes to do it. It is not especially fun or exciting, but I have found it key in weight loss and health and wellness success.

Counting calories, I have found for me, is a must. If I don't, then extra calories sneak in there. It is annoying, but true. Around CHRISTmas this year, for about four days, I did not count calories. Not good!! I ate too much and NOT the right things. Counting calories also helps me in the area if what I eat as well. I tend to eat much healthier when counting calories.

So let me give you a couple of links for websites where you can log your calories:

1. My Net Diary -- My personal favorite!! There is a small fee for this site, but it is the most user friendly I have found, and with NO annoying advertisements to distract me or pop-ups to drive me crazy. It is easy to use and it is what works for me.
2. Spark People -- This one is free and I have used it in the past. It has way too many distractions for me. I'd go there to count calories, but then I'd find myself signing up for this Spark or that one and pretty soon I was getting all these e-mails and I'd check on those things and not log my food, etc. Annoying. But it is a free service and LOTS of people have lost weight using it. So if you're looking for one to start with, this is a good one since it is free.
   

There are many more out there I am sure, but these are the two I have tried. I have also counted points using Weight Watchers online. It worked, but it does cost more and for me, I would eat more unhealthy items like sweeteners and 100 calorie packs because they fit in my points for the day. So for me it was not the best choice, but if that is what works for you, please use it. I have seen MANY people lose A LOT of weight on that program.

So let's get counting those calories shall we?

Healthfully Yours,
Dawn

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."