James 1:2-3 says "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

There I was, the beginning of 2021. I had set some aggressive fitness goals and was motivated to pursue them throughout the year.

But then, my faith got tested. 

Romans 8:18 says "I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us."   When I read this passage I think of DELAYED GRATIFICATION.


 

Romans 2:1 says "Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things."  It's so easy for us to judge others and point out ALL their mistakes and dumb decisions.  However, when something doesn't go our way or we make a bad decision...  It's never our fault, right?
 

Running a gym through the pandemic was likely the toughest thing that we worked on. There were various challenges with getting through the process, and most of our clients could no longer come in and had to work remotely.

A recent survey stated the average gym goer spends 11.7 hours per week on their health and fitness regimen.  That's a lot of time to invest in something.  With that much time invested, you would hope to bear some "good fruit" in the form of results.

Showing gratitude is good for your soul.  You cannot be crabby or sad when you are being grateful. It just doesn't work.
 

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

There are times in life where we all "fall down."   Injuries, illnesses, financial hardships, divorce...all these things can knock us right off our feet.  They usually happen at the most inconvenient time. I mean, is there ever a convenient time for a hardship?  The trick is to not allow the "fall" to continue.  Recognize when we've fallen and work to get back up sooner rather than later.

Committing to an exercise program is one of the best things you can do to support your health. Not only will you experience more energy and an enhanced ability to participate in daily activities, but you’ll also reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases ranging from heart ailments to diabetes.

During my almost 27 years of personal training I have accumulated multiple certifications and tons of continuing education credits. While those accolades have been a big part of developing my training knowledge, they aren't nearly as valuable as the practical experience of training for a specific event or dealing with an injury.  Getting injured is a trial we all encounter at some point in our lives.  For me, it has become an opportunity to learn more about the body and support myself and our clients better.
 

And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way." Isaiah 57:14.

Skiing in the mountains is one of my favorite things to do.

I've been skiing out in Colorado since I was a kid.

One of the biggest challenges on the mountains are mogul hills.

 

My college football experience had a BIG role in shaping who I am today.  It humbled me, challenged me and taught me the process of setting BIG goals and seeing them through.

"Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense."  Proverbs 12:11.

According to a recent survey in usnews.com, the average American spends 3.1 hours per day watching TV.  Digitalmarketing.org puts the average social media time at over 2 hours per day.

When I look at these numbers it's apparent most of us have plenty of time to kill.

The problem along with killing time is we are killing opportunities too.
 

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he"  Proverbs 23:7

How do you think of yourself?

If we talked to other people like we talked to ourselves in our thoughts we would get slapped.

Thanks for stopping by our blog. If you’re looking for more information about Puravida Fitness, you’ve come to the right place. 

"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). 

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life."  James 1:12.   Simply put, when we are faced with trials in our lives, we are forced to grow and change.  It's a choice we get to make.

"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.

"For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up." Proverbs 24:16.  Too often we when we fail (fall down) we think of it as a negative thing. This shouldn't be the case.  Have you ever heard the term "failing forward?"  Thomas Edison knew this. One of his most famous quotes is "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."  Failing is really learning.

 

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear." 1 John 4:18.

Fear is defined as "an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat."

Do you remember the last time you felt REAL fear?