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Love & Care for the One and Only You

52 Inspirations

Worthy Publishing Group

AVOID THE COMPARISON TRAP

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A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.

Proverbs 14:30 (NLT)

RECENTLY WHILE TRAVELING from Asheville, North Carolina, to Indianapolis, I was perusing a copy of a women's magazine to pass the flight time when I came across a picture of Jennifer Aniston.

She looks amazing, I thought.

Then I read her age — she's exactly my age!

No way! How can this be? She looks like she could be in her midtwenties! Look at those abs!

Not only that, she has perfect skin and gorgeous hair, and she seems like the "girl next door" whom you would actually want to be friends with ... (Insert sigh of hopelessness and discontent here.)

It was at that very moment, I fell smack-dab into the Comparison Trap.

Nothing against Jen — I am actually a big fan — but here's the reality: She is paid to look gorgeous. My good friend said it best, "Look, if I had a personal trainer to motivate me and help me get into shape and a personal chef to prepare healthy yet yummy meals for me every day, I could look amazing, too!"

Here's another dose of reality. I once helped a former model write her memoir, and she told me that even famous models are airbrushed and enhanced for magazines and catalogs.

Think about that for a moment. If these 5'10", 108-pound models, who are quite underweight by all recommended standards, are being Photoshopped to improve their "imperfections," when we see the final product in the pages of our favorite fashion magazines, their images are truly perfect ... as well as perfectly unattainable.

In other words, we're being set up to fail. We look at their "perfect 10" bodies, and then we study our own physiques and think, Well, forget this! I can never look like that, so I think I'll just drown my sorrows in a pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Ever been there?

It doesn't have to be a celebrity comparison that causes us to stumble on our journey to a fabulous, fit, and healthy version of ourselves. It might be a best friend who just lost thirty pounds and meets you for coffee wearing hot, skinny jeans, causing you to feel like "frumpy friend."

Don't be jealous; instead, celebrate her transformation. Be inspired, not envious. And don't waste any energy comparing your backside to hers — it's a futile activity that will only end with another pint of ice cream.

That's why this comparison trap is so damaging. It can totally derail us. One discouragement detour leads to another, and before you know it, you've given up. So, ladies, stop comparing yourself to your BC (before children) self; stop comparing yourself to celebrities; and stop comparing yourself to your friends.

You are an original! You are uniquely wonderful! You are valuable! And, though you may not be the exact weight you wish to be or have the backside you once had at twenty-two, that doesn't make you any less valuable.

It's okay to have weight-loss goals — realistic, non-Photoshopped goals — and push forward to achieve a healthy, fit body, but comparing yourself to others will only make that journey less enjoyable.

It's time we start loving ourselves again. It's time we see ourselves through the eyes of our Heavenly Father. It's time we celebrate every inch of ourselves — even if there are more inches there than we'd like. It's time we strive for progress, not perfection.

Praise God that you have another day to live this amazing life. Praise God that you have the gift of eternal life because He sent His Son. Praise God that even though you're not perfect, you are perfectly loved by Him!

It's a great day to be alive, so go out and live it — free from self-loathing and the fear of judgment — and determine you'll never fall victim to the Comparison Trap again.

POWER PRAYER:Father, help me to see myself through Your eyes. And help me to stop comparing myself to others and simply be the best version of myself. I love You, Father, and I'm thankful that You love me just the way I am. Help me to strive for progress, not perfection, and to enjoy the journey on the way to a happier, healthier me. In the Mighty Name of Your Son, Jesus, Amen.

HEALTHY HINT: Celebrate the little victories! In order to do that, you'll have to compare where you are today to where you've been and where you're going. But that kind of comparison game is a good one because you're celebrating progress. For example, if you have been walking thirty minutes every night for the past month and you can now zip up a pair of pants that you couldn't fasten before, celebrate that progress. Whoo-hoo! You might even want to start a Progress, Not Perfection Celebratory Journal to track your positive changes.

GIMMICKS AND FADS AND LIES, OH MY!

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"I the Lord do not change."

Malachi 3:6 (NIV)

YOU KNOW WHAT SENDS women screaming from dressing rooms across America?

Bathing suit season.

Scary.

The thought of wearing a bathing suit in public makes normally sane women do really ridiculous things in order to lose a few pounds before bathing suit season.

I admit it — I am, occasionally, one of those women.

So, when I recently read on a magazine cover, "Eat a can of pineapple before you go to bed and speed up your metabolism!" I immediately ran to the store, purchased ten cans of pineapple, and began downing a can before bed each night. Of course, I didn't lose any weight and all of that acidic pineapple left my mouth with small blisters.

Later, I read in another magazine that drinking a spoonful of apple cider vinegar before every meal would promote better health and weight loss. (The verdict is still out on that one ... I'll let you know.)

And just the other day I saw a news report touting the amazing weight-loss benefits of Wu-Long tea. The article said it was safe and all-natural, so, as you might have guessed, I ordered some of that too.

It seems that every single day a "new and improved" product debuts and claims to be a great aid in promoting weight loss. Or a new study reveals that what we once thought was a good, safe, effective vitamin to aid in carb blocking is actually harmful to one's health.

It's hard to know what to believe!

Obviously, new information is discovered. New studies emerge. New products are invented. Sometimes, it seems almost impossible to keep up with current diet and health trends and differentiate between truth and myth. (I know because I write a lot of articles in the health and fitness market, and it's ever-changing!)

In a world of empty promises, crazy gimmicks, and bogus studies, aren't you glad that God's Word is true and that He never changes? I am so thankful that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I am so grateful that I won't wake up tomorrow and discover that grace is no longer available to me or that prayer works only on Tuesdays.

Yes, things are constantly changing in many areas of my life (especially my body since I hit my midforties) but not in one — my relationship with God. He is my stability, my rock, my love, and my firm foundation. His love is never-ending. His favor is limitless. And His mercies are new and available to me every morning.

And guess what? They're available to you, too!

So if you're feeling a little frazzled, overwhelmed, or confused by all the craziness of the world or simply a little mortified that you actually wasted money on the "lose weight while you sleep" formula, spend some quality time with your Father today. You'll come away completely refreshed, assured of who you are in Him, and ready to face the day.

Now, I've got to run ... the FedEx guy is here with my order of Wu-Long tea ... for research purposes, of course. ;)

POWER PRAYER:Father, thank You for being the same yesterday, today, and forever. I am so thankful that I can count on You — no matter what. Help me to trust You more, Lord, in every area of my life, and help me to develop better discernment. I love You. In the Mighty Name of Your Son, Jesus, Amen.

HEALTHY HINT: Instead of jumping on the "diet fad wagon," try eating a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrates, fats, and fiber.

SET A GOOD EXAMPLE

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Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)

IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN or grandchildren, you are probably keenly aware that they are very observant. (Trust me, they're watching and copying your every move.) And since children learn by example, wouldn't it be great if our children saw us enjoying happy, healthy, whole lives? Wouldn't it be awesome if our kiddos saw us making exercise a priority?

With approximately 25 percent of today's children falling into the "obese" category, we need to find fun ways to encourage fitness with the little ones we encounter because their healthy habits begin at home. Here are five family-friendly fitness ideas you could implement into your family's routine:

1) Scavenger Hunt

List ten things for your children to find, such as an acorn, a bird's feather, a dandelion, a mushroom, etc. Then, go into the woods and look for all of the items on the list, rewarding the winner of the scavenger hunt (the one who finds the most items) with the fun responsibility of choosing next week's family fitness activity.

If you don't live near a wooded area, you can have a "city scavenger hunt" by finding various urban items simply by pointing them out as you walk through the city as a family. For instance, you could have your children find a "yield" sign, a parking meter, a bus stop, etc.

2) Ultimate Frisbee Competition

Take your friendly Frisbee competition to a public park, and it might just turn into a massive competition with new friends and other families. Playing Frisbee involves running, jumping, diving, and throwing ... great exercise and great fun! If you get enough people involved, you can even enjoy a fierce game of Frisbee football!

3) Family Fitness Challenges

Once a week, have a fitness contest and award a traveling trophy to the weekly winner. Then, let the winner keep the trophy in his or her room until the next fitness challenge. The kids will love this, and a little friendly competition is a good thing! Need some ideas for events?

a) King or Queen Cruncher: See who can do the most abdominal crunches in a minute.

b) Fabulous Flexibility Award: After stretching out, see who comes closest to touching his/her nose to the floor in a straddled position.

c) Push-up Champ: See who can do the most push-ups in sixty seconds.

d) Plank or Plop: Have everyone get into a plank position, and see who can hold their planking position the longest.

e) Top Jump Roper: See who can jump rope the longest without tripping or stopping.

4)Jump, Jump, Jump!

Speaking of jumping, how long has it been since you jumped rope? Not only is this activity a great workout, but your kids will get a kick out of seeing their parents jumping rope. Let your children teach you some of the jump-rope chants they know, and then teach them some chants from your playground past.

You can also practice counting and memorization while jumping rope. Here's some more incentive. A 155-pound person will burn approximately 372 calories for every 30 minutes of jumping rope. So, jump it up!

5) Walk and Talk

Even if your children are very young, not very athletically inclined, or too old to participate in the above fitness activities, they can walk alongside you.

Use your family walks to talk with your children about their hopes and dreams or pray with them about their concerns or fears. If they aren't feeling too talkative, use the time to impart wisdom, quote favorite movie lines to one another, make up stories together, etc.

You can also allow the younger kiddos to push their dolls in strollers. Oh, and don't forget Fido. He's a part of the family, too, right?

It's time we quit telling our kids to "go outside and play" and instead ask them to "come outside and play!" Whether you engage in some of the activities mentioned above or simply shoot some hoops with your children, you'll be making memories and burning calories. Your body and your children will thank you.

POWER PRAYER:Father, I am thankful for the body You've given me, and I am asking that You help me in my endeavor to live a healthier lifestyle. And, Lord, please help me to set a good example for my children, encouraging them to be fit in every area of their lives — spiritually, physically, and mentally. In the Mighty Name of Your Son, Jesus, Amen.

HEALTHY HINT: It's also a great idea to train as a family in preparation for a big race. Ally, my youngest daughter, and I trained and ran in the Downtown LA Turkey Trot a few years ago, and it was a blast! It was such a sense of accomplishment to cross the finish line right behind her.

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

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Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog–it's here a little while, then it's gone. What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.

James 4:13–16 (NLT)

I RECENTLY HEARD of a study involving the top CEOs of the biggest companies in the world, and one common theme was apparent. When interviewed, the majority of them said something like this: "If I could do it all over again, I would take time to stop and smell the roses. I would take more walks with my spouse. I wouldn't be so stressed and uptight. I would slow down and enjoy the journey more."

This intrigued me, as I am also very career-driven and goal-oriented, so I researched this topic a bit more and stumbled upon an article about Bronnie Ware, author of The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing. Ware, who cared for those who were nearing the end of their lives, wrote: "All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence."

After pondering, processing, and praying about all of this, I've come to this conclusion: Being driven is a good thing, as long as you take time to take care of yourself and enjoy the journey in all of your "driven-ness."

That's how we should live life.

We shouldn't be so consumed with our goals in life that we miss the privilege of living. It's important that we take time today and every day to appreciate the people and the blessings that God has given us. If we don't, when we finally reach our goals, after neglecting our friends and family along the way, we'll have no one to celebrate with us. Or we will have worked so hard and so long to accomplish our goals, that we'll be too tired or in too poor health to savor that success.

You know, I often hear people give the excuse, "If I had time, I'd exercise but I'm just too busy with work." My response is always the same, "Work will still be there tomorrow but if you don't take care of yourself, you may not be."

Okay, that may sound a little harsh, but it's true. No matter how driven we are in our careers or how busy we are chasing after our dreams, we have to make time for taking care of ourselves. That means you need to work in a workout on a consistent basis. It also means you should treat yourself to a massage and a pedicure once in a while. And it means you should make time to enjoy the loved ones in your life.

We really can have it all, if we do it God's way. Allow Him to prioritize your life and direct your steps. And don't be in so much of a hurry that you forget to bask in the beauty of the moment.

Every day is a gift, so treat it as such. Then, when we get to the end of our long, healthy lives, we won't have any regrets, only sweet memories of a life filled with love, laughter, success, and satisfaction.

Here are five things you should take time to do in the near future:

1. Read a book to a special child in your life.

2. Take ballroom dance lessons with your significant other. (It's fun and a great workout — get your foxtrot on!)

3. Watch the sun set, and thank God for painting the sky so beautifully.

4. Take your dog for a walk. (You'll have quality time with Fido and burn a few calories.)

5. Do something silly and fun with your family, like have a picnic in your living room or wear your pj's all day on Saturday while having a movie marathon.

POWER PRAYER:Father, help me to take time for myself and enjoy this wonderful life that You've given me. Help me, Lord, to be able to set boundaries where work is concerned and better prioritize my life so I can enjoy some downtime. I love You. In the Mighty Name of Your Son, Jesus, Amen.

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Excerpted from Love & Care for the One and Only You by Michelle Medlock Adams. Copyright © 2015 Michelle Medlock Adams. Excerpted by permission of Worthy Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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