I remember back in 80s when I had my Atari 2600 video game console. My brother and I would sit for hours playing games. Pitfall was my favorite. I remember my brother and I walking into Target with a jar of coins we had accumulated from odd jobs so we could buy that game.

Last week was Father's Day and I was grateful for the love I got from my family.  Being a dad fits the Army slogan "It's the toughest job you'll ever love.  It's an important role and I take it seriously.

Have you ever tried taking a shortcut for something? I know I have.  In high school we'd get Cliff Notes to avoid reading the entire book in English class. The other day I tried taking a shortcut to the store.  Turned out a road was closed so it ended up taking me longer. The desired outcome is clear but the effort to get there requires a lot of hard work, time and effort.  That makes the detour for a shortcut seem like the best option to take.

The key to a successful fitness routine is finding the right personal fitness trainer. A good trainer will help you stay motivated and meet your goals, while a bad one can leave you feeling frustrated and uninspired. So, what should you consider when looking for a personal fitness trainer? We at Puravida Fitness want you to achieve your fitness goals and be the best version of yourself. This is why we have written down the top five things you should look for in a personal fitness trainer.

Fitness goals are essential on several counts. These goals hold us accountable, redefine our perception of what’s possible and what isn’t, and push us through temporary pain for a longer-lasting change. But finding out a way to set fitness goals that you’ll actually want to attain can be a bit of art and a bit of science.

I grew up living on an acreage lot surrounded by woods. It was a lot of work to keep it up.  Every weekend my dad had my brother and I out doing chores in the yard.

Our "favorite" was moving railroad ties.  These were long and heavy blocks of wood covered with nasty creosote oil that would cause a rash if it came in contact with your skin.

At the time I didn't understand how moving railroad ties would affect the rest of my life... but it did.  You see, my dad taught us the value of HARD WORK.  We would work hard first and then we got to go have fun with our friends. Many times he paid us extra after completing the work.
 

Ephesians 5:15 says "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time."

If there were a top ten for excuses for not exercising and eating right, number one would be "I'm too busy " or "I don't have time."

I'll never give this excuse any credibility because you make time for what is important to you.

Regular physical activity comes with a lot of benefits, from promoting strong muscles and bones and improving respiratory, cardiovascular health, and overall health. Staying active and fit means keeping your body functioning at a high level.

As you probably know by now, I love football.  It has always been a BIG part of my life. I've played and I've coached.  I'm not a huge TV watcher but I love watching football on the weekends during my down time.  Whenever I'm watching I go nuts when a winning team decides to take their foot off the pedal and play the dreaded "nickel prevent defense."  What is that play all about and how does it relate to health and fitness?  Read on to find out

"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much"  Luke 16:10   Last week I had the privilege of going fishing for catfsh on the Mighty Mississippi with my old high school friend Andy.   Andy has fished professionally and is the BEST fisherman I know. (So good, in fact, I could see him hosting his own fishing program). 

"I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive. 1 Corinthians 10:23

I don't know about you, but summer is always the biggest challenge for me to stay on track with EVERYTHING.

I’m Erik Peacock, the proud owner of Puravida Fitness.

I look forward to sharing my story. I hope you will enjoy getting to know me better.

When I think about the times in my life I've grown the most, it was always when I was facing some sort of trial.  One trial in particular was the divorce from my first wife.  That event shook me up - but it also woke me up.

 

Philippians 4:13 says "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me."  This passage has gotten me through some tough times and over some big obstacles.  Too often when life gets busy we go into survival mode.  We exist with an attitude of "conquer the day" or "just get through the day".

My days are filled with coaching, instructing and counseling my clients through all kinds of challenges.  If I'm being honest, it can be very rewarding but also very frustrating at the same time.  You see, there are people who truly are their own worst enemies.

Jeremiah 8:5 says "Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return"

Two of the most dangerous words are "good enough."

These words breed complacency.
 

Ever wake up feeling tired and unmotivated?  Believe it or not, I do!  One of the passages I NEED to read every morning to get my mind right is Philippians 2:3-5.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus"   

Last Monday was one of those days. I woke up feeling tired and unmotivated.  I was having a pity party because I expected it to be a long challenging day. (Insert sad violin music here.)  How did I FLIP THE SWITCH?  Read more here.

If you have been reading my emails lately, you'll notice they all incorporate a Bible passage meaningful to me.  I was recently ordained as a minister and I believe in the power of scripture in every aspect of life.  This is why I start my emails with a message for you.

Today's message is "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6
 

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Revelations 3:15-16

A lot of people deceive themselves thinking they are hot in pursuit of their fitness goals, when  really they are lukewarm.

They have convinced themselves they are 100% committed, but their deeds prove otherwise.

I remember when Tracy our manager, was first training with me. She kept getting frustrated about not losing weight. But every time I looked in her food log, it was filled with soda crackers and she was washing them down with TAB.


 

Do you know the #1 way to smash a plateau?

The answer is really simple....GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY.

Having sat through hundreds of consultations with people who have hit plateaus, it has become very clear...

Most of the time the problem is not the plateau - it's you.