Back on Track!

"Before long, the jailer put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in that prison. The chief jailer had no more worries after that, because Joseph took care of everything. The Lord was with him, making everything run smoothly and successfully."- Genesis 39:22-23

I apologize that I haven't posted a blog since the beginning of November. I was extremely busy during the entire fall and throughout the holidays. I was also sick four different times between the beginning of November through the first week of January.

Luckily, I'm finally healthy and am working toward making regular blog posts once again. During the last few months, I've been busy with my own training but also with thoughts on what I want to accomplish in the next few years. I am currently working toward a personal training certification through the International Youth Conditioning Association (IYCA), as I have an interest in working with today's youth to help them improve their self-confidence while living a healthy lifestyle and avoiding illnesses like diabetes and obesity.

I will also work toward another general personal training certification with the American Council on Exercise (ACE) later this year or early next year to give me the basic information I need to work with various populations. Both of these certifications will help me in my quest to own my own fitness-based business and be able to train others.

I have also spent the last few months reading a variety of nutrition, fitness and business-related books that will help me when I make the jump toward opening my own business. And, of course, I've been praying about it (but not as much as I should!).

I still have various ideas of what I want to do, but I will need to make sure that it's something God truly wants me to do. With more prayer and bible study, I should be able to get the answers I need in order to find a way I can minster to others through my passion for health and fitness.

In the meantime, I'll continue to post useful information on my blog several times each week to help you with your health and fitness goals.

God bless!

The Upside to Higher Gas Prices!

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

-1 Peter 1:6-7

It's hard to believe that there could be a benefit from the higher gas prices, but there is! Gas has now become so costly that people are starting to drive less and walk and bicycle more. This means they are beginning to exercise more, and it's a good thing for our nation's health.

According to a recent report in the ACE Fitness Matters magazine, if the price of gasoline went up an additional $1 a gallon, obesity rates in the United States would decline by 15 percent over five years!

The rising cost of gas (and food) is getting more people to exercise and also eat fewer meals in restuarants. We already know that after years of eating fast food and supersized portions, more than 30 percent of Americans are obese. Cooking and eating at home more often means healthier and less expensive meals.

Now is a good time to find more fuel-efficient modes of transportation, get more exercise by walking, biking or running and prepare healthy and delicious meals at home to save money and lose weight.

Here's a tip: Bringing your lunch to work each day can save up to $140 or more per month! Not only that, but it's a lot healthier than the offerings from fast food joints and other restuarants.