Surrender

When your tomorrows are full of yesterdays 

And you can't undo what's been done,

Will you ponder what seems so far away

And wonder why you've been on the run?

Faded glory mixed with possibilities;

The almost gingered with pains of regret.

You thought you were headed down the right path

But all of a sudden you realize your plans got jacked!

Real destiny passing you by, 

Sneaking quietly in broad daylight, watching 

While you hung a noose of greed and selfishness around you neck.

The desire to succeed overcame your basic need 

For love... 

To be loved and to give love... freely.

Oh, what a gift a new day can be!

Surrender your plans.

Learn to love and watch Him do the work.

Written by: Michelle Peña

Waste Not Want Not

Recently I told my kids that I would take them to Barnes & Noble so they could spend their Christmas money.  Of course, I love book stores, so I was game for this little adventure.  While I was getting ready, Reagan, my sweet five year old daughter, comes in the bathroom and says, "Momma, I'm ready to go waste my dollar now."  She was very serious and didn't realize what she had said.  Ha! I giggled and thought about her innocent words of wisdom.  Needless to say, we postponed our B&N trip and enjoyed each others' company instead.  We didn't waste our dollars. We invested our time into each other, which I am sure has a great return.

I am Woman

I am Woman

I am strong

Got my hustle

All day long

Never too old

To try something new

Never too young

Tried and true

Never too broken

To dream again

Never too rookie

To think I can’t win

I am woman

I am strong

Learning to live

Fighting to belong

Embracing the beauty

Of being me

Conquering fears

I am an oak tree

Not being moved

By my circumastance

Enjoying the moments

Mastering the dance

I am woman

I am strong

Fit for the journey

All day long

Written By: Michelle Peña (Sept 2011)

Tasty Tuna Salad

My husband recently took a trip to Austin where he had an amazing tuna salad he raved about.  The key to the tuna salad tasting so great, is a homemade honey mustard dressing.  Here is his snazzy version of the tuna recipe.  Yes, he made this... not me!  I don't really like canned tune, but this is great!

Mix all of the following together in a small bowl :

• 1 can of white albacore tuna, drained and rinsed
• 1 stalk of celery finely chopped
• 1/2 cucumber peeled and finely chopped
• 10 - 12 small green grapes finely chopped
• Fresh lime juice to taste
• Homemade Honey Mustard Dressing (below)

Healthy Honey Mustard Dressing

• 3 tablesppon organic honey
• 1 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
• 2 tablespoon Cider Vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon sea slat
• Black pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup oil (olive oil and macadamia nut oil)

Mix all ingredients except the oil in a small food processor.  Blend for about 30 seconds.  Add oil and pulse blend for about 30 more seconds.

Serve the tuna on a bed of salad greens (as in above photo).

Cucumbers, Celery and Grapes

CrossFit and My First Upcoming Competition

After attending a local CrossFit competition in October with several folks from our gym, I found myself secretly longing to compete, however, I had a long list of reasons why I couldn't follow through on that desire.  I was too busy with work, kids and home.  I thought that being 39 years old somehow disqualified me.  I had a hard time keeping commitments and my nutrition wasn't all that great.  I ate decent enough to stay in my size 6's, but underneath my clothes, I wasn't happy with the dimples in my belly and thighs.  I wanted them gone... and gone the right way, not with diet pills or other artificial means.   There is no glory in cheating!

Around the same time my work life became less stressful with the addition of a new General Manager.  Praise God for his perfect timing! I felt like I was able to breathe again and could finally make my personal wellness a priority.  The fact is, fitness should have always been in the forefront, but sadly, it took a back seat.  Here I was, a gym owner, not truly living the lifestyle!  There will always be something that competes with your health, and if you don't fight to achieve and maintain wellness in your life, no one else will.  You have to be accountable for your own state of fitness.

So back to CrossFit and my desire to compete... I had done a few CrossFit workouts over the past two years but I was not consistent with the program.  I had seen numerous lives changed because of CrossFit and I wanted in.  I wanted to become a legitimate CrossFitter, not just a "wanna be".  I started working with Personal Trainer and CrossFit Trainer Josh Hill.  We have trained at least twice a week since the beginning of November.  In addition to my personal training sessions, I personally teach 3 group fitness classes a week and participate in other CrossFit classes and do weekly sprint workouts.  At first, the commitment was hard.  I kept wanting to bail and make excuses, but I finally got into the swing of showing up to my workouts with a good attitude. If I have learned anything about CrossFit, it is that consistency is key.  You get better at CrossFit because you show up to the workouts, your nutrition is solid and you get enough sleep.

I will turn 40 this year, and of course, I must do something crazy and profound!  I registered for my first CrossFit competition, which will be in Austin, Texas on January 21, 2012.  I am nervous and a little fearful, but I am standing firm.  I am going to do it.  I have no idea what the workouts will be, but I have to rely on the training I've been doing for the past two months and keep in mind that I am doing this for me and no one else.  This will be a huge milestone for me and for that I am excited.

Here are a few scriptures that I will carry with me to the competition:

• 2 Corinthians 12:10 (AMP) - So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength).
• Phillipians 4:13 (NIV) - I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.

To learn more about CrossFit visit our website at www.premiercrossfit.com.

Overcoming the Fitness Lies

Lies come in all sorts of disguises.  They pretend to be your friend, but in reality they are lurking in your mind with the intent of sabotaging your efforts and derailing you from reaching your goals.

Here are some lies that might sound familiar:

• I can eat this, it won't affect me.  After all, I have been killing myself in the weight room and the treadmill all week.
• I will skip my workout today and make it up tomorrow.
• I will start on Monday.

I had an appointment scheduled yesterday with my trainer, Josh Hill, and I went even though I was feeling a little bloated and cranky.  Events that led to my moodiness were: being upset about a personal issue, PMS, staying up until 1AM the night before, drinking too much coffee the morning of my workout, then only eating a piece of fruit for breakfast.  Needless to say, I showed up to my workout and thought I was going to be able to breeze through.  Once we started I quickly realized I physically and mentally was not on top of my game.  I knew why, and that made me even crankier.  

What I learned:  

• Exercise is a lot more mental than it is physical, especially CrossFit.  Therefore, I have to be sure to get enough sleep, eat proper foods, drink plenty of water and limit my caffeine intake.  I know what my goals are, so my daily choices need to line up with getting me to the finish line.
• There is no perfect day, no perfect scenario and CrossFit training proves that every time.  You think you are going to kill the workout and then it slams you instead.  This is where the mental part comes in.  Sometimes you have to push through and finish even when your mind is telling you, "I don't want to do this." or "This really sucks."

Say no to the lies and say yes to reaching your goals.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV

Just Show Up

"Just show up."

A friend of mine so eloquently spoke these words to me on a day that I was full of excuses.  I wanted results but didn't want to put forth the effort to GET RESULTS.  I was fooling myself and wanted people to agree with me and all of my pitiful excuses, but wisdom stepped in and said, "Just show up". 

These words ring in my head anytime I want to cancel my workout appointment, and it triggers that inner fit person to rise up and say, "I can do this".  My challenge to you is to examine the excuses you speak over and over to yourself that are keeping you from reaching your goals. 

Be sure you have a plan before you "just show up".  Close your eyes and imagine how you want to look and feel.  What do you want to accomplish?  Picture yourself at the finish line.  Then, form a plan to get there!  Do you need to find a workout partner?  Do you need to hire a personal trainer?  Do you need to join a group fitness class?  Do you need nutritional advice?

One more time:

• Set goals
• Formulate a plan
• Execute the plan

All I know is that once I did the above, I am a happier individual.  I feel great!  I am getting leaner and getting compliments on my hard work.  Who doesn't like compliments???  I quit lying to myself on why I wasn't achieving my goals, and got to work.  Don't be lazy!  NOW is the time to start reaching your goals.  YOU CAN DO IT!  

I leave you with a Woody Allen quote: "Eighty percent of success is showing up".