New Moves coming soon...

Here is a new song that I would like to incorporate in my ZUMBA class, and best of all it is a Christian Reggaeton style song! Look to this new song for upcoming moves for a new routine in the next couple of weeks. Thanks Hot Z Team for bringing Christian music to exercise to. :)

Size the Day!

I purposely typed Size not, Seize because that is what I did today. Today was my weigh-in day! I was so excited to see movement on the scale this week after last weeks weigh-in fiasco. I am over-joyed to report I had a 4.5 pound weight loss! EEEEKKK! Love to see the effects of my hard work pay off. I have pushed myself this morning I did 25 crunches, 20 push-ups, and 20 squats and lunges. I quickly jumped into the shower because I was profusely sweating. (Ewww) Well I am glad to know that at least I have weight coming off of me and it's at a normal pace.

I have changed my eating habits by taking away Soda, simple sugars, and backing off of SOME breads. I am also drinking lots more water, which is up to a half gallon a day. I am now at 12.3 since Friday June 1st, 2012. So I am averaging over a 2 pound weight loss a week.!! Good Job Joy! (pats self on back) I am hoping for 5 pounds off by the first Friday in August, which is when I return to work. I have 1 more week from this Monday to measure myself. I am hoping to see some inches melt off too. Some of you have asked what other exercise am I doing.
 Here is my work out schedule:


Monday- Brisk Walk - 45 min. which equals 3 miles
Tuesday - Jillian Michael's 20 minute shred level 1
Wednesday -  No exercise
Thursday - Zumba
Friday- No Exercise
Saturday - Zumba
Sunday- No Exercise

My exercise routines are anywhere from 30 minutes to 55 minutes 4 days out of the week. 

I work out a total of 165 minutes a week. I am going to step it up next week beginning Saturday (tomorrow) July 14th and incorporate 35 more minutes of exercise for a total of 200 minutes for next week. Let's see how this goes. I may stick to this routine for 2 weeks and up the minutes some more. I will post again next Friday for weight loss, and Monday July 23rd for measurements. Pray for me because I am going on vacation and may need some extra motivation! lol

See you on the flip side! :)

Forgiveness.......

I love this song! I heard the reason behind this song and had a compelling notion to post this. Forgiveness is a difficult topic, because it is easier said then done. Listen to the words and give me your thoughts.

Here is the reason behind the song:

Need a lift? Well here it is.

Today as I woke up I always try begin my day with either reading a devotion, reading my bible or praying. I love my time with the Lord in the mornings, He is my Coffee kick when I really need it and also He is my encourager and counselor. This morning I stumbled upon a scripture and I wanted to share this with you.

I am the real Fruit Tree. My Father takes care of my branches so that they can bear much fruit, and He takes away every branch that does not bear the fruit He desires and He cleanses the branches that do bear fruit. Even as you hear this He has already done so to you. John 15-1-3

I do NOT have a green thumb, matter of fact I kill every living plant in my home. I water, and try to  care for each of the plants the same. I put them in the sun and I try not to over water them. I just can't do it on my own. My mom cares for her plants, she treats them differently, some she waters more than others, she prunes her flowered ones and her others that are long she then puts sticks so they can grow correctly and even puts them on a trellis. I tried to copy her but it just didn't work out. I immediately became frustrated and gave up. My mom has recently taken care of the plants I so easily neglected.
Although I love the idea of flowers and a garden, beautiful plants, and fruit. I want the end result before I put forth any effort. Where my Mom is patient and knows when they need to be groomed to grow. You see I wanted it to be easy. Treating them all the same. It takes time and patience to see them grow and bear fruit. Some need pruning and some need to be directed which way to grow and some plants are seasonal, only to bloom later on at the right time the way God intended. My Mom has been doing this for a long time so she has found her method in taking care of several different types of plants with ease and grace. I am a newbie, so I don't have that experience, so my methods are hasty, convenient and nonchalant. In the verse it stated that Jesus is the real fruit tree and God takes care of the branches. So I thought of my relationship with my mom. I had the desire to care for the plants but ultimately she could make them grow bigger and better than I can. I had to take myself out of the equation so that these "plants" can survive. She treated them the way each plant need to be taken care of. All of us are different in our own way just as the plants. During the path that Christ has set for us He leads us to the Father for: Pruning, Watering, Re-Planting, Sun-light (Son-Light), Nourishment, and Re-Directing. WOW, God is so able to direct us in our spiritual grooming and take away the things that are not desirable to Him, others and ourselves.

I especially love the last line, even as you hear this he has already done it! I love that. Because it is that simple for Him to do. Harder for us because we like to prune and prod ourselves or even have someone else do it that may not not exactly know how to. But the Father (God) can because He is our experienced gardener. He knew us before we were created and knows us today more than anyone else in the world. So I ask before we go on trying to prune, water, or self direct ourselves know that even as you read this, He has already done it to YOU!

Never too old!

This is how I wanna be in 35 years! Go Ladies!!!

Measuring Up....

Today I have measured myself with the measuring tape. I measured my arms, bust, hips, legs, and waist. The biggest thing I have noticed the most is that my belly has gone down. I had my Zumba class this morning and it was great. I didn't realize how sore I was from my Thursday workout, but I kept on pushing. After my work out today I joined my Jr. high group my hubbs and I lead for our church at their fundraising car wash! It was a success but after all the bending down to clean the tires and standing, my legs feel like JELLO. My thighs are tight but my body feels wobbly. That may not make sense but it's how I feel. Day 5 of work out consistently and I am sore and tired but I am resting well at night and feel like I slept all the way through. I usually toss and turn but now I feel like I have truly rested and feel energized in the morning. I spend my mornings usually reading a verse from my bible and having a short morning devotional, then I am ready to conquer the world, which means cleans the house. Ha! Well I am going to measure myself next Saturday and compare it from today's measurements. I'm still keeping my weigh in date on Friday. I hope the is movement on the scale this time. I am fighting every bone in my body not to weigh myself again to see if my scale was tricking me. lol See ya on the flip side folks!

Inspirational mini-books for friends

Here is a project I have been working on. I have made 3 books and would like to make more. I had so much fun doing this mini-book. I loved the fact that it is filled with inspiring words and help encourage the soul and uplift the spirit. Here is a sneak peek on 2 out of 3 of the books. I am hoping to make about 5 more. My books became better as I went on. A great idea for a personal gift for a friend who maybe struggling with something and just giving them something to hold onto and read, maybe reassuring that you are there to help them and pray them through. Take a look.

This is my first book. It is a 6inch x 6inch. It is a  small  book but has a powerful meaning behind it.
This is a  10 page book so there are 20 inserts.

the inside of my first book. shown above.

another view of the inside of the 1st book.

This is my 3rd book, I wanted 3 different looks.

the inside of book #3

view from the side of book 3.

All 3 books together.