Author: Vickie L. Perez

I am a 56 year old mother of two grown boys, one little granddaughter, and wife to my best friend, Phillip. I love all things positive and interesting, and I love inspiring others to be all that God created them to be. That is why I write and coach! I love to be around positive, upward moving people, but at the same time, encouraging and bringing people up. I hope the words on these pages help someone feel better about themselves and realize their full potential in God.

Traveling Thoughts (while heading down I65)

It’s time to grab a few heels people, wrestle and angel if necessary, or tear the roof off to get to your destination. Sometimes we have to stir it up and make some noise. Do whatever you have to do to get your passion back.

Sometimes I have it together; sometimes I don’t. Sometimes it seems prayers get answered *snaps fingers, like that; sometimes they don’t. Some people seem to walk in continued favor; some don’t.
  • Those who get things done:
  • Heel Grabbers
  • Angel Wrestlers
  • Crowd Crashers
  • Loud Mouths
  • Roof Wreckers
  • A visiting pastor at my Mom’s church made some interesting observations about those in the Bible who “got things done.” Sometimes we get complacent and life seems to slow down; then before you know it, you’ve lost your passion. If we are not careful, we’ll look around and life has happened and we are in the same place we were ages ago. What is it about those who get it done and those who don’t?
  • Jacob, the Heel Grabber/Angel Wrestler, for instance, never gave up. From the time he was in the womb, he was trying to get ahead and is recorded as “wrestling in the womb” even. He procured the family birthright even though it was supposed to go to his twin. He finally got the wife he wanted, albeit through much toil; however, to him all those years seemed like a day. Why? Because he knew what he wanted and everything he did moved him closer to that goal.
  • Later, while on the run from that pesky twin from whom he had taken the birthright, he ran into an angel and wrestled him for a blessing – and got it. He wouldn’t stop! The angel said “let go!” and he said, “not until you bless me!” Again, no matter how hard or how long it took, Jacob got what he set out to get.
  • And what about that Crowd Crashing lady? She was sick and tire of being sick and tired… and she’d spent all her money nearly bleeding to death. There had to be something within her crying out, “There’s got to be more to life than this!” Though they tried to stop her and the crowd was huge, she had one goal in mind: to touch him, even if it was just his garment. Her determination and clear vision (not to mention her faith) made her unstoppable and she got the very attention of God…and she got her healing, changing her life forever.
  • Loud Mouth. We all know a few of those, right? All his life he’d been blind. He’d tried everything, no doubt the special pool of Siloam, probably any concoction the medicine people had, yet at the mercy of whoever would help him, he’d not been successful.But this new Teacher/Healer was coming his way. I imagine he was jumping up and down, waving his arms – so much so that the people around him said “Good grief, man. Shut up.”  He didn’t, and he got the Master’s attention, and he got his healing. His life changed forever.
  • Lastly, the Roof Wrecker. There was no way. Their task was impossible! Couldn’t be done, they were told. The place was packed and they had missed the deadline for getting in. They could have gone home, but they were tired of seeing their friend waste away, unable to walk and live life, and they were probably tired of carrying him around. They knew what they wanted, and they were determined to make it happen, so they found a way. They climbed the building and took apart the roof. They went from no way in, to front and center. They got their miracle and their lives were changed forever
  • How important is your goal to you? Will you do whatever it takes to get there? If either of the abovementioned people had backed off, they’d have lost their blessing, been passed over in the crowd, or shut out completely.  It’s time to grab a few heels people, wrestle and angel if necessary, or tear the roof off to get to your destination. Sometimes we have to stir it up and make some noise. Do whatever you have to do to get your passion back.
Question:  What obstacle is holding you back? Share in the comments what you plan to do to get through it, around it, over it…

Monday Makeover

I love Mondays! – – – said very few people ever.

I really do, though, because Monday marks the beginning of a new week. It’s like New Year’s Day, every 7 days: A chance to start over. A chance to forget what happened over the weekend (the fact that we ate too much crap or drank too much …or … fill in the blank).

In Ephesians it speaks of “former things.”  What was. How we were. How we walked.  And it says, NOW  we no longer are that way. We’ve been changed. Made new, and now we can walk in the purpose for which we were created.  That’s good news! “But I blew it again.” Ah. But you are sad because of it because that was your former nature that crept back in.

This Monday, put off the former things. Forget what happened last week, ask forgiveness if you need to, but take this moment to start your redo. God gives us redos! Man may not, but whether or not “that person” will forgive you, like you, let you in… God will. So, throw off the guilt for the things you did or didn’t do or that you should or shouldn’t have done, and start over. It’s MAKEOVER MONDAY!

Here are 5 things that will get you back on track to your purpose:

  • Remember your “why.” (If you’re not sure what this is, comment below, and I’ll help you discover it)
  • Forgive yourself. God has.
  • List 3 things (besides food, family, and faith) that you are grateful for.
  • Tell yourself it’s a new day and former things are passed away.
  • Now, go do the next right thing – forgetting what went wrong before – what’s the next right thing to do, today, that will move you closer to who/what/where you want to be. Go do it.

What is it about Mondays that you don’t like. Why do you think that is?

Enough is Enough

Can God get fed up and say, “enough is enough?”

Once, as the prophet Elisha was coming back from performing the miracle of purifying the water in a place, making it “pure to this day,” as he came down the hill some young boys mocked him calling him an old bald head. He didn’t ignore them, yet he didn’t engage them; instead, he cursed them in the name of the Lord, and the 2 boys and 40 other young people were mauled by bears. ..

Why didn’t he try and reform those kids? Why didn’t he stop and preach, or pray for Him to change their hearts? Wasn’t that kind of. ..harsh?

Totally supposing here. .. (hence the title)…what if this gang of youths were, in fact, a group of thugs that had made that area their turf, so to speak. And what if, day after day, month after month, perhaps year after year, Elisha and others had put up with their antics, praying for them, offering a way out of that life, yet the boys, maybe even some girls, refused their help, hardened their hearts, and/or flat out rejected the word of Elisha, which back then was the word of God?

Suppose this day was their day of redemption. Having seen Elisha heal the waters and save the land, instead of saying, “his God is God” they mock the truth of God and his follower, Elisha. Suppose God said, enough is enough that day, and that’s why the boys met their fateful demise. ..

Just suppose…

I’ve got other thought along this line. ..Annanias and Saphirra, for instance, struck down for lying… that’s not like God to zap someone on the spot. .. I’m supposing there was a track record for these people, and this was something they’d been doing for some time, and this would be their last. I’m supposing God said, “enough is enough.”

I believe he will do it again. Some day, and it might be sooner than we think, He will say to the heavens, enough is enough. The Gospel has gone to the whole world; men’s hearts are on evil continually; they have traded the truth for a lie and have traded the natural for the unnatural; therefore, I have given them over to a reprobate mind. Sounds the trumpet.”

Men will run and cry out for the rocks to fall upon them in order to hide from that great and terrible day of the Lord, but it will be too late. Elisha has been traveling through there, praying, pleading, preaching for change, but he’s been mocked for the last time. ..

Pray that you are found worthy to escape the wrath that is to come. I pray this all the time. We don’t know when God will wrap things up. We don’t know when our last breath will be had. Is God dealing with you over something? Don’t ignore it.

All or Nothing

When you grow up hearing “Don’t half-end it” you realize you might as well do it right the first time…

I grew up hearing “Don’t half-end it.”  Or, go back and lick that calf over… Ew! Right? Now, though, I totally get it. To half-end something is to not do it thoroughly. A cow will keep licking its new calf until it is clean. It won’t do it half-way!

I hate when someone is wishy-washy and doesn’t give their best effort. Over the door in my classroom is my motto “Pursuing Excellence.” That does not mean perfection, nor is it a snobbish term. It simply means giving it your all. I will not let my students settle for mediocre.

Sometimes parents take this to the extreme and drive their children so hard that they get discouraged. I like to think that my boys knew that I expected their best, and that “best” didn’t mean perfection. And someone’s best may not be the same as another’s best. I pushed them and never let them settle. However, at the same time, they knew that it was all for the Father.

Here’s what I have discovered. When we are going through life doing this or that, striving for this goal or that goal, if we are not careful we begin to compare our journeys with someone else’s. We see them achieving all this success, friends, whatever… and if we’re not careful we’ll think, “obviously, I’m not good enough”… or “obviously, I don’t know what I’m doing, so I should just quit.”

I’ve found the key, y’all! And, yes, it does involve “all or nothing,” but there’s a caveat. Are you ready? Here it is. A life changer!

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. ~Colossians 3:23-24.

There it is. It’s how I survive. It’s how I have peace!  Whether it is my fitness journey or my teaching job, the one I’m seeking to please is Father, God. Sure, I want others to be pleased and happy with my work. Sure, I want appreciation and pats on the back, but you know what? Sometimes that does not happen. Sometimes…I get nothing! People walk right by me without even a nod. I got ZERO likes on that post! And it was amazing!..Those I thought were my bff’s…offended…gone… .

Sometimes, I’ve just cried. Then I usually get mad. Then I feel bad. THEN… I remember why I’m doing what I’m doing. I remember why it’s all okay: because whatever I do, I know God knows my heart. He sees my inner man. He knows my truth. He’s the one I’m serving!

So, when others misunderstand me, when others think I’m… whatever… I’m able to keep going because I know the Father knows my heart. There’s no way I can mope around and “half-end” what I do. I can’t! I’ve never been able to do that. It’s really, all or nothing. Whether it is teaching my students, or working my BB business, or cleaning my toilets, my whole heart is going to be in it because, even when no one is looking, my God is looking, and it is to him I will answer.

How freeing is this! If we never get the accolades, if that person is never friendly with us… if we have put our heart into it because God has instilled in us a desire to do well, and we do it for him and not men, then – even if it stings a little when we don’t get approval from others – ultimately we can’t help but smile.

Don’t grow weary in doing good, friends. There’s a payday, someday : )   Another old saying.

Forward Motion…

Ciao.

The Importance of a Good Root System

Balance is the key in every area.

It is a requirement here in WoodCreek that each house have one tree in the front yard. There is a house on my street which, in the 9 years I’ve lived here, has had to replant a tree at least 4 times, and the one they planted this spring is nearly dead… the leaves have already turned brown and it looks so sad.

This is the same house whose lawn doesn’t get mowed until it is overgrown, and I don’t believe I’ve ever seen it watered or fertilized. The poor tree has no chance of surviving because there is nothing in the ground to feed it; the root system is weak, so when it doesn’t rain for 30 days (as it often happens here in Texas) there is no reservoir from which it can pull nutrients. Thus, it shrivels and dies.

It’s like our lives. If something happened would we have enough in our spiritual reservoir to keep us standing during the drought or storm, or would the wind topple us over? If we’ve daily watered our heart with His word and fed our souls with His presence, then when the heat is on, we are able to send our roots down deep to draw out strength.

It is also the same with our health. If we routinely eat healthily and workout, then when we splurge on Mexican food, perhaps a margarita and so-papilla, there is a foundation of health already laid; therefore, the scales do not tip in the wrong direction. Balance is the key in every area. I think the Scripture refers to it as moderation.

It’s not enough to just plant the tree and hope it grows. There must be watering and feeding, and don’t forget the weed control.

I know a great Arborist, and He has a manual that contains a daily guide that ensures healthy “trees.” I can get you a copy if you don’t have one, or you can download it free on any computer. His son, the Master Gardener, has paid for it for us in full. Do you have your own copy? Are you up to date on the times and seasons?

Vickie Perez's photo.

Hired at the Last Hour

…don’t worry about the time that has been lost. We can’t go back and get it. Start now. Where you are. Make the move toward your goal, and do not worry about what others think.

After a bout of lethargy for the past 2 days, I decided to work out at 10:30 tonight. I was stiff, stuffed, and sorry… Anyway, as I finally made myself get up off the couch and move, I felt better. I knew that the grogginess that was calling my name was leaving, and instead of going to bed, I’d wake up and probably be up until.. oh, let’s say, 12:51 – now – as I stop to write down these thoughts I had I decided it didn’t matter. If I had continued laying around yesterday, today, … well. I didn’t. At the last hour of the day, I did what I should have done earlier… and the day before. I got up and moved.

As often happens I thought of a scripture, the one where the guy came at the end of the day looking for a job. He found one. He was hired on the spot because he made a move in spite of the hour. The other guys were so mad because he got the same wages as they did and they had worked all day. The landowner said “I’m not doing anything wrong here; everyone agreed to the same wages,” and he told them to just go on already – sort of.

In other words, don’t worry about the time that has been lost. We can’t go back and get it. Start now. Where you are. Make the move toward your goal, and do not worry about what others think. They are not your “landowner.”  If you work hard, no matter what point in the game you got in, you will see results and you will be rewarded. Press toward the mark to gain the prize.

It’s never to late to start. I ain’t over ’til it’s over.

Breathe

When the excitement wans and the adrenaline lapses, that doesn’t mean the goal has changed

Sometimes the thoughts in my head, the ideas I have, the things I want to do or say… all scream at me, jumping up and down. I can see them: “Pick me! Pick me!”   “No. Do me first!”  And they’re all so exciting. I love them, and they are all so amazing.

So, I work in a flurry, dotting all the I’s and crossing all the T’s. I hate half-ended jobs! Don’t you? Work. Work. Work. But, it’s not work, because I love it! Right? You know what I mean, don’t you?

Then, suddenly, it is 1:00 in the morning. Dogs are asleep. Cat is asleep. Husband is asleep. Pandora is bouncing the message “are you still listening?”   NO. I am not. I’m trying to finish here! But, ooooo. Some Rod Stewart tunes would be really nice…  Squirrel!   (JK).

The flurry is on for tomorrow too. Those who know me, know that I hate to get up early, yet in order to do my personal development/devotions/quiet time/coffee sipping/back porch time, and get in 18 holes, and work on my challenge group… UGH. I’ll have to get up early!

Breathe…

Seriously, sometimes it’s like this, but then sometimes it’s like…. *crickets*… Where did the momentum go!!!??? All those impressive ideas are still waving at me… Why is it so easy to fall in the squat?  Have you ever heard that phrase? Can you picture it?  Can you picture that cake that is just about to rise to perfection, then suddenly…fffluuump… it falls in the squat! It usually happens during that upward motion. That’s when gravity is working it’s hardest. Analogy: That’s when the enemy sees defeat is near. This person… this nobody… is about to rise!  Attack! Suddenly there is confusion. There are obstacles: a migraine, a flat tire, a hater hating on you!

If we can recognize the timing – I’m half-a-century old so I’ve seen this – nay – I’ve experienced this so many times.  The prize is right there. Things are working out. It’s all falling in place, and there’s a flurry of action. We’re on a high… then fffflllump…. a hole…a dry spot…

When the excitement wans and the adrenaline lapses, that doesn’t mean the goal has changed. it doesn’t mean your pursuit is no longer valid. It doesn’t mean God has left you!  It means you must walk by faith and not by sight – or feel – or touch. You are walking because you know the truth. You were meant to live for so much more. Don’t lose yourself (thanks Switchfoot). Don’t fall in the squat! Push on up. But what if I fail? What if they laugh at me? What if they criticize me!

Aristotle said: The only way to avoid criticism is to say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.

That is simply not acceptable.

Breathe. Stay focused. Now simply walk it out. Focus over a long period of time equals results.

Right on. Right on.

Mulligrubbing

Growing up in Kentucky, I often heard the expression, “I’m just in the mulligrubs.” I’ve not tried it, but I doubt you can Google this and get a definition. I don’t know if anyone has ever seen the mulligrubs; however, I always knew it meant that any person who was “in the mulligrubs” were just mucking along – kind of like spinning your wheels – maybe even feeling bleh.  Well, here on this motivational blog, the author has been in the mulligrubs this past week for various and sundry reasons. Consequently, I’ve written nothing and probably inspired no one, especially myself. And, if I’m not inspired, how can I expect to inspire someone else?  It won’t happen.

I think the enemy of our soul sees us bouncing along, feeling good about life, helping others, and the Job story plays out right here in the 21st century. This enemy, who I call the devil (for some it may be “karma,” “the cards,” “the stars…”) regardless, this enemy goes before the God of the universe and says “no wonder she’s happy – things are going well and people are being nice. Let’s throw a fiery dart – aka, a snag – in her life plan and see how bouncy she stays.”

We are not supposed to walk by feelings, right? And I often tout the scripture, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” Well, my feelings got the best of me this week. I was sad, then mad, then perplexed and ready to chunk my plans. Without whining, let’s just say I was looking at and listening to all the wrong things, and people were… well… no whining.

I almost didn’t go to a meeting today because I was so “out of it.” However, I kicked myself in the butt, prayed “God, let me know what I’m supposed to do,” and I drove to Canton, got lost, finally met my people, and I’m so glad I did. I came away with fresh perspective and motivation. Because of this I realized that, really, I wasted a whole week! I only intermittently did my own personal development time, prayed a little, slept a lot etc.. I was like “what am I doing here in these mulligrubs” when nothing has really changed? I can’t fix people. I can only do me, and if I’m broken then nothing works.

Here is what I discovered: the time you get is the time you get, and that’s all you get.  So you’d better manage your time with every bit of wisdom and skill you can muster.  Never, ever take it for granted. -Alan Zimmerman.

There it is. This, then, led me to think of a scripture: Conduct yourselves with wisdom … making the most of the opportunity.

How many opportunities did I let slip past me this week because (hear the whiny voice) I had a bad day… Instead, I should be making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil being careful how I live – not as unwise but as wise (Eph. 5:15-16).

So, did things not go well this past week? Did you blow it? Did you just not care? Well, we all find ourselves in the Mulligrubs as we do life, but the key to not getting stuck there is to grab hold of something and pull yourself out of there! I picture these Mulligrubs like quicksand: a person begins to sink, and as they lift a foot, the suction fights against the movement taking them deeper into the muck.

I had two voices going on my head: one that said “just stay in bed – who cares” and the other that said, “just go – what have you got to lose?”  The older you get the more experiences you have, thus you know that things will get better. I can look back at things in the past that were sucking me under, but each time I grabbed hold of solid ground and made my way out – even though I had thought it was hopeless…

Do the things you know that work, even if you don’t feel like it. Take a step towards what you know is right, even if you don’t want to. Move forward, no matter how hard it is. Your feet will hit solid ground again.

The Continual Prodigal

It ain’t over till it’s over! You can turn it around!

Most have heard the phrase “the prodigal son returns.”  Sometimes it seems that is my story over and over again; I’ve set my goals, planned the work, and am working the plan, then BOOM. Something happens, and it is not always a bad something. In fact, it is often a good something: a night out with the girls, a weekend retreat with co-workers, a family reunion. Then my plan gets put on hold and it is Katy-bar-the-door and it is party time. And, while I do keep my goals in mind, I seem to over indulge from time to time…

So, come Monday (it’ll be alright – come Monday, I’ll be holding you tight… sorry, old Merle Haggard song popped into my mind…) But, seriously, come Monday, I return to my father, aka, my plan – though sometimes, literally, to my Father when I’ve over-indulged to the point of sinful (and yes, I totally believe that is possible – all things in moderation…). Hence the title “The Continual Prodigal.”  I’m so thankful that God’s grace is able to reset me, to forgive me, to help me. Where would we be if we could not return home, right?

Likewise, we can return to our healthy lifestyle. I think some think, “well, I’ve blown it so, let’s just keep eating cake!” But that does not have to be the case. Phil and I have learned – tested and proven – that it is a simple thing to just get back on track. If you have a weekend of family, food, and fun, it’s just a weekend. Come Monday, put on your robe of right living (please don’t kill the fatted calf – that would simply not help your health at all!); instead, get back to your disciplined lifestyle.

This, my dear readers is the key. It is a LIFESTYLE, and NOT A DIET! People go off diets. Conversely, people enjoy their lifestyle and keep at it. As a person who has pretty much done what I please, eaten what I please, not done what I didn’t want to do (that was my lifestyle), I can now tell you that with some support and encouragement – people you know that will move you forward and not condemn you if you go backward – and with a doable plan, you CAN have a healthy lifestyle, have fun, and NOT STARVE.

In the past 3 months I’ve gone from a size 10 to a size 6.My husband has gone from a 36 to a 33. I have energy and breath to do things I want to do. Today, I not only mowed my yard, but I trimmed all the bushes with a hedge trimmer (thank you upper body strength) and while doing so, I purposefully tightened my abs which wasn’t too difficult because I had to in order to maneuver the trimmer) – then I edged the whole front yard, weed-eated, then cleaned up the whole mess. After which I had my Shakeology, blended with banana, strawberry, and blueberry SO GOOD! Then I went to the pool with a friend, came home and did the back yard – same thing.

You may say “goodie for you,” but this past weekend I had a reunion where I ate tortillas, beef tips in gravy, rice and beans and free margaritas. woke up Sunday to a Mexican breakfast – tortillas again, beef again, eggs and guacamole. And of course it was Father’s Day, so we went to The Angry Dog in Dallas for supper AT 8:00!! and had hamburgers (not turkey!), fries, fried pickles… etc… Thus, the prodigal daughter had to run back to the plan on Monday!

Here’s the thing. If you are looking for a way to live a normal life WITHOUT going to the gym 3 or 4 times a week (you can do it at home!) doing crazy crash diets, feeling like crap, then just check out Team Beachbody. I can help you stay on track. It’s not easy at first, getting into a routine, but it gets easier – for me, I noticed a huge change in two weeks. Depending on where you are, it may take less or a bit more, but you WILL see a difference all around in a month.  And what’s really cool, is there are so many plans to choose from. Me, I like quick and effective. That’s why my thing is the Ten Minute Trainer by Tony Horton. You might find that the 21 Day Fix is for you, or perhaps, PIYO, or P90X or a million other things (not really, but there is a lot). But, hey. It’s time. Stop eating the slop fed to the pigs and realize that the road home is there for you. No one is going to berate you, laugh at you, or turn you away. You can do this. You can be healthy. Don’t let the title Beachbody intimidate you. Not every one is going to be a swimsuit model. That is not the purpose, but you can have a “beachbody” one that CAN wear a swimsuit – maybe not a bikini – but then… maybe so!  Everyone’s healthy body is different, and that is great.

So here we go. Come home to good health. Come home to being positive. Come home to the Father if need be. We’ve all squandered our lives at one time or another. Leave it behind. Start over. You can, you know.

Check it out: beachbodycoach.com/suddenfit.  consider becoming a member for free and get on the team. Then, consider becoming a premium member and stream workouts in the comfort of your own home – or hotel – or cabin… wherever there is internet.

Talk Later,

Vickie…

It’s Definitely Doable

Workouts as a part of life…

I do not believe in the Theory of Evolution, but I believe that we are all evolving – not that we will one day become a fish or a butterfly literally – but that we are changing. I look back even 10 years, and I see so much change in myself that it freaks me out sometimes and makes me wonder if I even know myself. I’ve always been so confident. I’m still confident, but the things that I knew that I knew that I knew 10 years ago – well, now I know that I know…differently.  How can this be?

Perhaps the biggest difference is my attitude toward fitness. Most of my life I was simply fit, and it seemed no matter what I did – or didn’t do – or ate – or didn’t  – nothing changed… until it did.  I have always said, If I get fat, I’ll just get fat because I’m eating what I want. Then, when I looked in the mirror, I changed my mind. My son was getting married and I wanted to look cute, so I had to do something. My confident nature kicked in, and I did just that; I did something.

Before you say, “Here she goes on that health kick stuff” let me just say, I’ve tried the different “health kicks” and did without this, ate only that, drank this, walked 2 miles, etc. etc.  I will be the first to say, it was gung ho for a couple of weeks – a month perhaps, and then, ffft. Ain’t nobody got time for this!  I couldn’t stay satisfied and I simply don’t have time to walk two miles, or go to the gym or whatever! It was not sustainable and I flat didn’t like it.  It is my nature that, if I don’t like it, I’m not doing it. I’m not getting up at the crack of dawn to exercise – I hate mornings. I’m not shopping at the expensive whole food stores that are miles away, then cutting and chopping and throwing away vegetables and fruit that do not get eaten.

So the fact that I was able to get cute before the wedding, had to buy new clothes that fit my new body – including new bras because I shrank there too, and new underwear because my old ones were falling off – and the fact that I’m not starving or craving “something” all the time, tells you that I have discovered something that is sustainable. Something that does not require getting up at the crack of dawn, cutting, chopping, wasting, blah, blah, blah. Something that I can do for the rest of my life.

Wanna know what it is? And, I’m not getting paid to say this. What has worked for me is Tony Horton’s 10 Minute Trainer – you know, the guy who does the P90X and a host of other killer workouts. I have no desire to do 90 minutes, but I can do 10 minutes a day. I don’t have to cut and chop veges and fruit because everything I need is in the Shakeology. I’m not always hungry because I can eat normally – no abnormally mind you: rabbit food and nuts and berries – who wants to do that? Who does that! Rabbits. Of course I can’t eat fast food all the time, and/or crazy fatty stuff that will kill us anyway, but I follow his calorie counter chart, figure out the calories for my body, do my 10 minute workout daily, and live my life. Some days I do two workouts: One after I do my morning devotions, lay in the sun – you know, before I start my day, then another a few hours before I go to bed. Or… sometimes I’ll just do two in a row.

What is the coolest is that I really look forward to working out and doing my Shakeology every day. If I don’t, I feel blah. Even better, God willing, I will have grandchildren and be able to play with them, run in the park with them, and spoil them in the best kind of ways and NOT be one of those elderly people who have to have a motorized chair to cart me around with the bane of my conversations being about what’s wrong with me. I do not mean that arrogantly. I realize things happen and situations arise; may God’s grace prevail. Should such circumstances arise, it won’t be because I dug my grave with an unhealthy lifestyle.

I love the Beachbody mindset and lifestyle. There is something that will work for you too. Check it out. Try the On Demand and see what appeals to you. This may be all you need for a while because here you can sample many different workouts. You’ve got 10 minutes, right?

’til next time,

Vickie P…