Wow – The Heat is supposed to hit record temperatures today! This last weekend my husband and I were both affected by the heat. We also ate too much at the beginning of the summer/end of school picnics.

It is time today to get moving and shaking. For me, this last weekend was discouraging in a number of ways with eating too much, not exercising enough and having a poor turnout at a show. I honestly wanted to do nothing last night and therefore did nothing. What a slug! Last night, I was not in the mood for pep talk or energizing run. I just wanted to wallow in my self-pity and self-condemnation. Fortunately, Monday morning came early, the coffee is brewing and I am ready to get back in gear.

So, what do you do when you need to get back on track, get remotivated and reinspired?

First, you remind yourself of why you do what you do and who you are doing it for! I am doing my evening business so I can do my volunteer work for various Christian ministries during the day and be there for my children when they need me. If that is going to work, I have some calls to make today, contacts to reach and people to follow-up with. On a similar note, if I am going to have the body I want that is pleasing to my husband, honors the Lord and makes me not cringe when having to put on a bathing suit this summer, I am going to have to cut this blog short so I can get in my vital exercise this morning. I also have to control my eating today and tomorrow and next week and so on. Additionally, important reminders come to us from God's word so don't forget your time in the Bible either.

Second, surround yourself with others who motivate you! Yeah, Michele (my sister), for running your 5K on Saturday. At least someone was getting her exercise this weekend! She did great and I have the pictures to prove it. Better yet, she didn't try to do it alone. She included her husband and his whole family in the event. I would have been there but we had a political fun fair where we were assigned the popcorn booth. We were still together as a family but note how I always end up at the food table!

Third, be prepared. I have several food events coming up this week and I don't want to fall into the trap I did this last week. I have to prepare my heart and mind right now to be faithful to my diet, faithful to myself and keep my eyes on the longterm goal instead of the instant satisfaction. If I do these things, I know God is faithful and will give me the strength to overcome these temptations.

In trying a couple of different things this spring, I have come to realize that I get great satisfaction from educating and motivating. I love learning and helping people learn. I love motivating people towards healthier living as God's children and creations. BUT, to inspire and motivate others, I have to be learning these lessons, experiencing, overcoming the same hurdles and struggles.  That being said, this computer chair is getting a little too comfy when I have some weekend sugar to work off.

Be reminded, be motivated, be surrounded.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NIV).
God says, “Lo, I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20 KJV)

Check out Glynnis's new post at Welcome Home on getting and keeping organized, an area I can always use conviction and motivation!

My dishes don't seem to get done until the morning when I stare at them and say "Why couldn't I do this last night?" At night, I stare at them and say, "I am just too tired – I'll do them in the morning." Morning just seems to bring that coffee infused burst of energy in which I get laundry loaded, dishes loaded, lunches packed and the kiddies off to school. If I got the dishes done at night, there would be less scrubbing and more time and energy to sort paper piles in the morning. Oi vay, the intricate complications of the moments in which we make the destructive decisions to put it off for another day. Another day comes and the piles grow and grow.

Then, one day, I get disgusted and out it all goes and I wonder, why did I let it sit and sit? Too much to contemplate, too much to think about, too much to do. Time to slow down the schedule and speed up the clean out. This is the time to teach my children how they should keep their house by example and delegation. Maybe they could help wash the dishes at night! I know God wants me to care about the details. He certainly does! Time to go clean now!

How are those new year's resolutions going? I have gotten off the few pounds I put on over Christmas and now I want to work seriously on the next twenty. So, stop lurking and leave some comments on where you are and where you are going with your goals and resolutions!

Here are my 15 steps to a new me in 2008. Anything sound familiar to you? Share, share.

1. Diet Tea (See what I found on sale in the grocery store!)

Cinnamon Thermo Slim Tea! Think I will look like her – EVER? – probably not. But that's okay.

2. Go to the YMCA more.

3. Get a new workout outfit. My old sweats just aren't cool anymore. Okay, they were never cool but who is looking anyway.

4. Eat no sugar whatsover until I have truly dented my waistline. – May be hard to do with my infinite love and deep obsession of chocolate. This will be a year of dedication and sacrifice for the larger (no – smaller) goal!

5. Wear two sizes smaller, at least, by the end of the year.

6. Walk, walk, walk.

7. Lift some weights.

8. & 9. Cut my hair & try new make-up
(Done! See the pictures from my crazy mid-life crisis day Friday!)

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Thanks to Musings of a Housewife for these great shots! I so need a camera as awesome as hers.

9. Write a book. (3 chapters done! 2 to go – possibly!)

10. Publish a book. (Hmmm. Lots harder unless I self-publish!)

11. Make an appearance on TV. (I start classes in February for audition techniques for the camera! A casting director said there may be some random opps locally.)

12. Try not to cringe watching the TV if I really do make it on.

13. Drink more water. I love the lemon vitamin infused drink, sweetened with Splenda (my lifesaver!)

14. Live on celery and Splenda cheesecake! Here's another good site to check out for this recipe – the Three Fat Chicks on a Diet blueberry Splenda cheesecake!

15. Blog, blog, blog. Has anyone counted the calories for fast typing? Any tips on weight loss techniques in the blogging chair?

Okay – that should do it for now!

Signing off – Go Seize the Day! Go Dream Away the Night! May the two meet in the magic hour when the sun rises and falls and the sky is painted with radiant elegance!