No Excuses

Adam wore a shirt with this saying on it when I ran my first half marathon. It was very fitting at the time and I find it relevant again in my life right now.

Back in August, I started back at the gym regularly. It's easier for me to be consistent with my exercising when I have a consistent schedule (excuse #1). But really. It is! Anyways, I got back into my gym routine hoping to tone up a little. I got over the fact that I will never be a double 0 yearrrssss ago, because-let's face it-these hips don't lie. So, I resolved to work with what my mama gave me (thanks Mama).

I have a bunch of pictures put together as a collage that I sometimes let sit on my bathroom mirror as motivation. Some are actual pictures of fit girls and others are motivational saying. The past 2-3 weeks I have slacked off...... as in not gone to the gym at all and eaten like crap (transparent moment). Towards the end of last week I decided to get back at it. There's this class at the gym that has got to be from the devil because it's just awful. Most times I can't walk in the days after. Tuesday afternoon I took that class, Body Pump, and wasn't 100% motivated to be there or work hard. It was probably during my 1,369th squat, when I could no longer feel my legs burning, that I realized something....
I have this image in my mind of what I want my body to look like-don't worry, it's realistic. I scroll through Pinterest and overload my Fitness Board with workouts and quotes to help me reach my fitness goals. I think about the idea a lot more than I actually try to make it a reality. And so it hit me- I want these things, but am I ready/willing to put in the work it takes to make it a reality? Just because I pin pictures of girls with tight booties and six packs doesn't mean my body will magically look like theirs. I can pin all the motivational quotes I want to, but they aren't going to drive me to the gym and make me sweat.

Some days I give it 110% and other days I'm doing good to get myself from work to home and stay awake past 7:00. (excuses # 2 and 3) I'm not (always) willing to make sacrifices at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I'm not (always) willing to drive myself to the gym and work out. I'm not (always) willing to put in the work it would take to meet my goal.
I'm getting to the point where I just want to take it day by day and attempt to make good choices to get the results I want. I know I will fail and make mistakes. There will be days when I eat something I probably shouldn't and more of it than I probably should, but I won't completely give up. Just like this 2-3 week falling out. I'm not going to let it turn into a 2-3 month detour. I have resolved to get back at it and do my best each day.
Tonight I went to the gym at 6:30, which is usually late (excuse #4) but I'm on fall break this week. I was expecting to take Body Jam, a hip-hop/dance class (I also usually do Zumba)---yeah, white girl thinks she got moves---only to get

Okay, that's the last ecard. I could post them all day!

there and find out Body Jam is no longer on Wednesdays at 6:30. Told ya, I've been out a while. So, of course, I should leave because the class I wanted to do isn't tonight (excuse #5). Since there weren't many people there and I was not feeling motivated AT all, I texted my sweet hubby who was just trying to deer hunt in peace and quiet for some motivation. I shared my distress with him and asked for motivation. He suggested I run. That wasn't possible because I did not have my iPod (excuse #6) and I wore long pants (excuse #7). Really, Cason? You wore pants so you can't exercise? I'm laughing out loud at myself right now. He suggested I do legs and I quickly responded that I was still sore from Pump (excuse #8 but very true). At this point I decided to let the man hunt and make a decision. Did I want to keep making excuses or did I want to get a quick workout in? I was already there, he was hunting, so if I came home I'd be by myself. Plus I reminded myself of my goal. I won't get there if I keep making excuses. So, I decided to go do a little abs. I feel like it was somewhat productive and was definitely better than nothing.

Hang on, we're gonna switch gears, but please don't leave yet!

A couple Sundays ago, Pastor Jeff mentioned that a lot of us want faith. We want a faith that can "move mountains". We want an unshakable faith. We want faith that can withstand any circumstances life throws our way. But most of us, more than likely, would not sign up for what it may take to 'build' that kind faith. We wouldn't jump to the front of the line to go through the difficult situations; the circumstances that seem hopeless; the times where we feel all alone and can't see a light at the end of the tunnel; the times when we can't make sense of anything around us. Most of us, if we are honest, would not volunteer to go through those things, but (most times) that's how strong faith is built; that's how our dependence on God grows.

We want to know God more. We want to learn more about who He is. We want to feel "closer" to the Lord, but we aren't willing to discipline ourselves or be intentional with our time. We want to grow in our faith and knowledge of the Bible, but we aren't willing to do what it takes to get from point A to point B. We make excuses: I'm tired, I don't want to get up a little bit earlier to have a quiet time, I have to _________, I'd rather watch t.v, I'd rather scroll through Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/insert other forms of social media here (excuse #9-13). We may not verbally say "I'd rather", but look at what you spend majority of your time doing. That's what you're investing in. Personally, when I think about that, I'm not proud of what I'm investing most of my time in (we already know it's not my fitness). Honestly, it is a complete waste of time. Maybe for you that isn't the case, great! While I don't believe we have to work to earn our relationship with Christ or our favor with Him, I do believe we are to put forth effort in order to mature.

So, what excuses are you making in life? What do you keep putting off? What goals do you want to set for yourself-physically, spiritually, mentally? You don't have to wait for December 31st to start your resolutions. What's wrong with tomorrow? I've learned: Your results won't change until your behavior does. And you won't change your behavior until you've just had enough and get sick of the same results. When you truly want a change, you are determined to make it happen. You realize that you will make mistakes along the way, but just like trying to get healthy-there's always tomorrow. With Jesus, you don't have to wait for tomorrow. He's there right now. He's loved you since before you were born. He loved you so much that he died on a cross for you so that you can (truly) live (on earth and) in heaven. He didn't make excuses. If you need hope, security, comfort, freedom, purpose, joy, peace, fill in the blank, you can find it in Him. I challenge you to find someone to talk to if you have questions about Jesus or God and who He is. Deciding to follow Him has not been the easiest one I've ever made, but it's been the most fulfilling and meaningful one by far.
So what are you gonna do? Are you ready for a change?
If you are, remember: No excuses!

Promises of a New Season

Foreword: The tiny thought that inspired this post made a lot more sense in my head. I feel a little distracted, so I hope all of this makes sense. Thanks for reading!


The "inspiration" for this post came about a while back. A couple of weeks ago, I was outside and felt the slightest cool breeze blow. I love that time of year; where you start to feel fall in the air. It brings back many childhood memories that I hold close, many of which took place in a concrete parking lot in Athens, Georgia on game day. That feeling means different things to different people. When I felt the cool air that day, I automatically got excited for college football (Blame my Daddy, brother, and Papa. They ruined me. Growing up, I knew way to much about the sport and in high school I knew more about UGAs players/stats than your average teenage girl.)  

However, there was another feeling that was brought about by the cool air that day. This feeling was a new one. I hadn't felt it in years past. The cool air was coming as a relief to the hot summer we experienced, which made me think... A new season is coming; a cool, new season, full of another set of months and different weather than what we've been having. For the first time, as I felt fall coming, I also felt a sense of hope. Hopeful for cooler days. Hopeful for holidays that allow me to spend more time with my family. Hopeful for new colors on the trees. Hopeful for a change in scenery. Hopeful for a change, period. Hopeful that even though things aren't going my way, they are working out how they should. Hopeful that I won't always feel this way. Hopeful that I will soon be back on top of the mountain instead of deep in the valley. Hopeful that the Lord is showing me something through this time.

I feel like that was legit babbling, so let me try to bring it together! Maybe you are going through a difficult time; I am. Just being honest. I am having a tough time as I'm sure has been made evident through my blogging. It's not with one thing or another; it's just with life. This season sucks for lack of a better word. Yes, I am seeking God through it and I am trying to stay positive and learn in it, but it is hard and I don't like it. That day I felt the cool breeze, I was reminded that just as the seasons change year-round, so do the seasons of life. It's so cliché, but I'm gonna go there: This too shall pass. And it will. Whatever you are going through, whatever I am going through, we will get through it one way or another. We may not be able to see the 'light at the end of the tunnel' (man! tonight I'm being chee-say -Will, that was for you if you're reading), but we will soon (or not so soon) be moving into a new season. Fall is coming (well, when I was first inspired to write this)!

Now, fall has come. We are in its midst and it is making its presence known with cool mornings and evenings. As promised, leaves are starting to change and fall from the trees. Days are getting shorter. Nights are getting longer. And I'm reminded of the Lord's faithfulness to me (and you). He will do what He says He is going to do. He will take care of his children. His word is true and He keeps his promises.

So, I believe from now on, when I feel the first cool breeze that promises a new season is coming, I will not only think about college football, red & black, and pom-poms, but I will also be reminded of the Lord's faithfulness to me and the hope I have in Him; hope for a new season; hope that He has my best planned out; hope that He will do exceedingly more than I can ask or imagine.