For the extra HOT weekend ahead.....

I am putting out the challenge of 100 squats!  I guarantee a nice burn in your quads, hamstrings and glutes if these are done:) Squats are the BIG BURN of leg exercises.  They help with balance, core, hip strength and balance.  Concentrate on performing correctly and ENJOY!!

• Keep your head up and knees over your ankles with rear sitting back
• Goal is to have thighs slightly lower than parallel, without having knees go over your toes
• Breathe and exhale as you exert to stand up
• Legs shoulder width apart 
• hold arms in front using elbows as a guide when lowering into squat position

Day 2 of the 100 challenge is....

Bicycle for the abs! Oh Yeah!! If these HOT temps are not burning you up, this exercise will turn up the heat in your tummy:)

• Lie face up on your mat and place your hands behind your head, lightly supporting it with your fingers.

• Bring the knees in to the chest and lift the shoulder blades off the floor without pulling on the neck.

• Rotate to the left, bringing the right elbow towards the left knee as you straighten the other leg.

• Switch sides, bringing the left elbow towards the right knee.

• Continue alternating sides in a 'pedaling' motion for a total of 100 repetitions. 

Remember they do not have to be done all at once......but if you do you are a ROCK STAR and will have ROCK HARD ABS!!!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
~Philippians 4:13

The tempatures are triple digits.....feel the burn challenge!

I think my mind has melted from this heat:)  This is my thought.....with the temperatures soaring into the triple digits, how about taking on the challenge of triple digit exercises for the next 10 days!
Everyday I will put the challenge out and encourage you to do your best: 1 exercise for 100 reps.
For the first day go for 100 jumping jacks.  Try and complete all at once, however if you need to modify or break them up into 20 increments (more or less)....then do so and listen to our body!!

Holy Hugs,
~Deb

Mock Frosty!

Today I made a yummy ice cream treat that even my selective taste bud critics (hubby and girls) enjoyed!  If you are looking for a huge calorie and sugar cut, give this a try.  Here is the recipe and then a comparison if you would eat the original small Frosty.
Mock Frosty Recipe:
1 C. Silk Pure Almond Unsweetened Vanilla Milk
2 Tbsp. sugar free chocolate fudge instant pudding mix
1 Tsp. Unsweetened Cocoa
1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
2 packets of PureVia
Handful of ice cubes - add more or less depending on the consistency you like
Blend until smooth and FROSTY!

Makes enough for 2, 8-10 ounce servings.

Now for the nutritional comparison:
Original: Frosty      Healthy revision: Mock Frosty
Calories: 328                43 !!!
Total Fat: 8.4g              1.5g !!!
Carbs: 56.4g                 6.5g !!!
Sugars: 41.9g                 1g !!!
Protein: 7.6g                  1g

I hope you enjoy!
~Deb

30 miles in 30 days!

June 1st is here!  I am not giving much notice of this challenge, however I have found if you don't have much time to think and contemplate you are more apt to GO FOR IT!! 

In the next 30 days, aim for accomplishing 30 miles of either walking or running.  Let's be accountable and share on my FB page - Figure By Faith, or on MyFitnessPal where I have created a private group for Figure By Faith.  Keep tallying your miles and see what you can do!!

Today I trained a client early this am, then went for a 3+ mile run where I did short bursts of intervals during it.  My daughter has her own challenge going on for volleyball.  She is trying to have 100,000 passes/sets by the time school starts.  She is passing against the garage, setting to herself and having my husband and I pass back and forth to her.  If she does this and reaches the goal of 100,000 she will be recognized at a High School volleyball game this fall. 

Challenges are fun and help keep us accountable.
I know you can do this challenge this month!  ABC's : Attitude, Believe, Consistency:):)

~Deb

The Finish Line!

12 weeks ago our group of runners first began their journey to cross the finish line of running their race.  They have been focused and committed to their goal.  It has been an AWESOME experience to see the perseverance and determination of each and everyone of them!!  Seeing runners who cringed at running more than a minute at a time, to now going over 30 minutes without stopping is so inspirational to me!
The final chapter of our devotional is titled "The Finish Line", and shares the correlation of being a Christian and running.  It is a comparison that rarely would you see that you can have tears of joy and pain at the same time.  When we commit to a race, it means we have signed up and as a Christian the commitment is salvation.  Both can take you to each end of the spectrum: pain and suffering to the feeling of bliss and hope.  You may feel it is impossible, others question you and you may fall down....however with the finish line being your goal, you will accomplish your goal you set out to do, show others that YES YOU CAN and you will pull yourself back up!
I can't tell you HOW INCREDIBLY PROUD I am of these wonderful trusting people.  The feeling you will have when you "run your race", accomplish your goal and cross that finish line is like no other.  As stated in the book: "It is only the preview of the feeling we hope to achieve when we cross that final finish line and we hear the voice of our Father saying" "Well done, thy good and faithful servant." ~Matthew 25:21


Holy Hugs,
~Deb
 

 

3 week challenge = Accountability!

Discipline is a word easy for me to say, however can be difficult to do:)  That is why I am excited about having this mini challenge!! WOOHOO. Challenges are positive when you realize they are for you and no one else.  It is about striving to improve yourself and not to compare with others.  You have been created with YOUR OWN IDENTITY and He wants you to be YOUR best.  I have found that there is always going to be someone smarter, talented, beautiful, kinder than I.  With this I have understood that it isn't about having an unhealthy comparison, it is about having that someone as an example to inspire and motivate me to be my best!
That is what my hope for is with this challenge....to give you some tools to motivate you with YOUR OWN faith, food and fitness journey to be your best.  Each week I will help you set a goal, keep you and each other accountable, and with God as our co-pilot we will do this one day at a time!

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. " ~Ephesians 2:10

Holy Hugs!
~Deb