"The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful."  Matthew 13:2. This passage can relate to scenarios I see far too often in the health and fitness world.

There are days when you feel as if you're fighting a battle.  You've got things coming at you from every direction... Financial stresses Family management Careers / business House projects Ugh.   Keeping yourself sane and healthy can feel like the biggest battle of all. It can be easy to fall into "victim" mode and entertain the feelings of helplessness and just general 'beat down." Romans 8:37 says differently.   "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us" According to this passage we can be victors rather than victims.  But we have to flip the switch. One of the ways I have found to flip the…

There was a time back in high school where I wanted to be an auto mechanic.  I took classes and could actually work on cars back then.  That was then and this is now.  And now I'm pretty clueless.

1 Corinthians 9:27 says "I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified."  When I read this I think of a teaching I listened to from one of my favorite pastors.

"Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Therefore by their fruits you will know them."  Matthew 7:17; 20.

Proverbs 16:18 says "Pride goes before destruction and an arrogant spirit before the fall."  

Too often we humans tend to overthink and overcomplicate things.  

"Don't complain about what you allow" is a saying I live by.  I've been reading this great book by former Navy Seal Jocko Willink. It's called "Discipline Equals Freedom."  In it, there are several passages based on the mindset of a Navy Seal. 

Have you ever heard of the story of the frog in boiling water? If you put a frog in a pot of boiling water it will instantly leap out. But if you put it in a pot filled with pleasantly tepid water and gradually heat it, the frog will remain in the water until it boils to death. Crazy, I know.  But to be honest, I've seen humans play out this scenario time and time again. For example, there's a convenience store near my gym. I've become familiar with the staff there since I go there quite frequently. I've noticed a girl who works there…

Matthew 7:14: "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it."

One of the craziest things about us humans is that we have a tendency to make things more difficult than necessary.  It's like my dad used to say "if you do it the hard way, you get it done right."

Almost every time I meet with a new prospective client they give me all the "politically correct" answers for wanting to get in shape...

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:13.  This passage is one of my favorites. It guides me whenever I am facing challenges.

This past weekend I was blessed to attend a women's conference at Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie.  I love these types of events!  Not only do I get to spend time with my sister and friends but I get to be filled up with worship music, inspirational speakers, humor and motivation!  You can't help but feel good when you are there!  

"What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" Mark 8:36

All too often, I encounter the client who seems to have it all together on the outside, but in reality their souls have been forfeited.  

When my nieces and nephews were younger I had the ultimate privilege of hanging out with them on many occasions.  Sometimes just because and other times when care was needed. Even though I wasn't their mama, they took notice to the things I did. 

10 years ago I won a special business coaching weekend down in Orlando, Florida.

I had the privilege of being one of four people who got to work with some top business coaches on how to grow my personal training business.

One of the assignments before the weekend was to do a thorough presentation of my business.

We had to bare it all.

The first step to achieving massive success in any area of your life is COMMITMENT.   Not just part of the way but ALL of the way.  The definition of COMMIT is to devote yourself completely.  Whether it be family, work or a specific goal such as fitness.

"As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly." Proverbs 26:11.  I've used this passage before but it bears repeating, especially as we head into a new year.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1  Back when I was playing college football I was trying to gain weight to put on muscle,  I came across this radical program from Eastern Bloc Europe called the "Bulgarian Burst."  When I read through this program, it contradicted much of what I had been taught about weightlifting and putting on muscle.