Try each of these moves until your legs are ready to scream “UNCLE” as you see demonstrated by us at the end of the video.
These moves are from 21 Day Fix Extreme. (Contact me if you’re interested in joining my faith-based online accountability group with this workout (or one that matches your goals!)
In seminary, Jenn and her husband, Jason, were two of our closest friends. Our husbands even worked together while we were all getting our master’s degrees. It has been such a blessing to watch them continue to pursue the Lord wholeheartedly. Watching their transformations from the inside out has been such a blessing. They have been such a team through it all. Their encouragement to one another has not only strengthened my faith and encouraged my own health journey, but they’ve been such an example of how building our spouses up publicly and privately is so powerful.
Here’s Jenn’s story:
I have been overweight and struggled with up and down weight all my life because I’ve always tried diets and exercise that weren’t realistically sustainable. After having my two boys, I never lost the baby weight. Then, after two miscarriages, I was the heaviest I’d ever been and struggling with depression. My doctor told us to wait two months before trying for another baby, so I chose to try Insanity because I knew it was 60 days from seeing infomercials. I had tried the gym and a personal trainer, but I couldn’t get to the gym enough to make a difference and I didn’t know what to do with my nutrition, so I felt desperate.
After my first day of Insanity, I contacted Michelle in tears because I thought I was going to die. I couldn’t even complete the first 3 minutes! Michelle encouraged me to continue pressing play each day, doing the best I could. She also told me not to be afraid to press pause…that was freedom in itself. She promised me that as long as I showed up every day and stuck to the plan, I would get stronger every day and get the results I wanted. So while I thought she was crazy, we met in seminary, I know she was a woman of integrity and that she wouldn’t promise me anything that wasn’t true. I trusted her, and she was right. It did get a little easier every time I just showed up.
Other than my physical transformation, (To date, I’ve lost 60 lbs. and 33 inches), the biggest change I’ve seen is becoming a person who loves fitness. Michelle helped me see physical, emotional, and spiritual fitness all go together. I had to face myself and realize that I was not a disciplined person in these areas and that to honor the Lord, I had to make some changes. While this was a hard reality for me to face, following Michelle has given me some tools to help incorporate discipline/consistency in these areas and have success.
I didn’t realize what a gift fitness can be to your family. Because Beachbody is in-home fitness, my children and husband have been a very real part of my journey. We’ve done it together. We’ve dripped in sweat together, encouraged each other to finish strong, tried new recipes, failed together and then picked up and started again. These moments with my family have been greater than any pounds lost.
My biggest NSV has been the freedom to say “Yes.” Yes, to my kids wanting to play chase and tag all day and know I could keep up with them. Yes, to going swimming and not being embarrassed. Yes, to going places with my husband and not feeling ashamed or crying because I felt horrible in my clothes. Yes to not being afraid to try new things.
Outside of encouraging me through my personal fitness journey, Michelle introduced me to coaching. I never thought I would be able to help other women reach their fitness and nutrition goals, but I am so thankful to experience the joy that comes in helping other women not feel trapped inside their bodies like I once was.
If you’re struggling with getting started…Just do it. There is no excuse or fear that outweighs what you have to gain in building your fitness. If you are willing to try, I think you will find that not only will your strengthen your physical fitness, but you will increase every other area of your life in a positive way.
Watch this video below to see if you’d be the right fit to join us in the Myers Cross Training community.
Still here? Fill out this application, and I’ll be in touch about getting you connected to the Myers Cross Training community very soon!
My challengers are truly the backbone of what keeps me excited about showing up for work every day. Their commitment to their from the inside out transformation is truly inspiring. That doesn’t mean struggle doesn’t exist, but these women are serious overcomers of logic obstacles. I love sharing their journeys with you as a reminder that external change is truly just a mirror of what’s happened on the inside.
This is Lita’s story:
I struggled to lose weight for many years. After giving birth to my second child 1997, I was almost 200 lbs. At only 5’4″, I struggled to even carry myself. I admitted defeat & labeled myself a plus size woman.
I tried many different programs that I would borrow from the library. I always started excited, but I never finished. Even if I would exercise, I still didn’t eat healthy. I was still in the same boat – little to no results. Only frustration.
I followed Michelle on social media for almost two years before I made a decision to join her community. I’m thankful for her consistency in reaching out to people like me. If she had stopped posting her journey, I would probably still be searching and struggling. But her daily reminders of including God in her fitness journey inspired me to get close to God. I asked Him for wisdom to take this journey seriously.
Slowly, my perspective changed from self-centered to God-centered. I realized losing weight wasn’t just about me, making myself happy and feeling better (although I do feel better & happier), but this was about obedience to God & honoring Him with the body He gave me.
Since May 2014, I have lost 45 lbs and 20 inches. My biggest NSV (non-scale victory, which Michelle emphasizes celebrating) is that I’m off blood pressure medicine! My doctor was elated and encouraged me to keep doing whatever I’m doing.
I’ve done several programs from start to finish including TurboFire, 21 Day Fix, 21 Day Fix Extreme, Insanity Max 30 and PiYo. I’ve also drank my Shakeology daily in addition to following a healthy eating plan.
Joining the Myers Cross Training Community changed my perspective to help me see myself as God sees me. This community has become an extension of my family, where I get and give support. I love how we share our successes and struggles. But most of all, I love how we pray for each other.
But it doesn’t end in the community. I’ve been able to inspire my own friends & family who have watched my transformation over the last 14 months. So my advice to the one thinking about getting started is the same thing I tell them. Take that first small step, one day a time. Stick to the program, follow the meal play, and stay connected. Don’t hesitate to share your struggles – someone will always be able to relate. Michelle and the other community group members will lift you up and motivate you. Bigger than that:
Get excited because God is on your side.
My life journey has changed because God has allowed me to join Myers Cross Training Community. My family and my ministry received a great benefit from me when I improved my life by eating healthy and exercise daily.
Most of all, God gets all the glory.
For more information about joining the Myers Cross Training community, watch the video below:
Still with me? Fill out this form, and I’ll be in touch soon. I look forward to working together!
At least once a week, I try to make my workout revolve more around PLAY than work. Ever noticed how kids can seemingly run forever without getting tired? It’s because they’re focused on fun – not work.
Here are some ideas for a play-focused workout you can try the next time you hit up a pool.
Helping women feel more confident in who God created them to be is my passion point. Above pounds or inches lost, my joy comes from seeing what women gain when they set a goal and accomplish it, whether that occurs inside or outside of the gym.
The women in the Myers Cross Training community inspire me daily, and I love sharing their journeys with you. I hope you’ll visit back here often to learn about their inside out transformations.
This is Emily’s story:
“After my first pregnancy, I broke my back when I fell from a horse. I recovered fully but didn’t realize the toll it took on my body until I became pregnant with my second baby. During my second pregnancy — when I had a toddler to take care of and now a baby on the way — it became obvious to me that my health was holding me back.
Once my baby girl arrived, I remember thinking, “I am having a hard time carrying my new baby and getting on the floor with my toddler. Something has to change.”
I reached out to a good friend, my sponsor coach, and asked for help. I needed to lose weight, but most importantly I wanted to be strong and healthy for my family.
I have lost 14 inches total since starting my journey and over 12 pounds. I am now a size 6, down from a size 10. I have so many NSVs (non-scale victories). To name a few:
I am so thankful for Michelle. She has encouraged me and held me accountable not only in my physical health, but my spiritual health. I am so blessed to call her friend.
If you are considering getting started, remove your self-doubt and don’t compare yourself to others. Make your health and fitness an object of prayer. Know that you don’t have to do this alone. This is an amazing community that wants to support you in your journey.
Interested in joining the Myers Cross Training community? Watch the video below:
Fill out the application here, and I’ll be in touch shortly! :)
Helping women feel more confident in who God created them to be is my passion point. Above pounds or inches lost, my joy comes from seeing what women gain when they set a goal and accomplish it, whether that occurs inside or outside of the gym.
The women in the Myers Cross Training community inspire me daily, and I love sharing their journeys with you. I hope you’ll visit back here often to learn about their inside out transformations.
This is Brooke’s story:
My journey began with an honest conversation with Michelle about how unhappy I was with my energy and my weight. I’ve lost 14 inches and 13 lbs, in addition to being down from a size 12 to a size 6. But my best NSV (our non-scale victories) is catching my husband checking me out, which makes my heart flutter! The biggest change I’ve seen in myself has been in my self confidence. Not really confident in me, but in the woman God has made me to be. I love the place I am in now with God and myself. I actually enjoy working out – my husband and I work out together. We crave healthy meals.
I’m grateful Michelle invited me, cheered me, and motivated me. She holds me accountable, she educates me, she introduced me to coaching, and she has changed me way of thinking into just being who God made me unapologetically. I’m loving it!
My advice to those of you thinking of getting started: Do it daily. Don’t look ahead. Today has enough to worry about. Pray, and ask God to make you strong and committed. Do your workout, eat a healthy breakfast, then the next meal, then the next. Get excited, and tell everyone! In three months, you will thank yourself.
Brooke’s results are over the last 6 months. She’s completed PiYo and ChaLEAN Extreme. She’s followed the 21 Day Fix meal plan & been drinking Shakeology daily. If you’re interested in joining the Myers Cross Training community, watch the video below, then click here to fill out an application so I can get in touch with you about your goals.
Connect with Brooke:
It’s out, it’s out! Vol. 1 of Cross Training Devos is finally here!
I am so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper, more meaningful level than a brief social media post will allow. I’d love to invite you to take a 21-day journey with me of renewing our minds when it comes to our fitness.
From someone who has done it all wrong.
Not from someone who currently does it perfectly.
But from someone who has experienced the emptiness of physical “perfection” and intentionally focuses daily on my mindset because I never want to go back there.
While we may lose some inches off our bodies, the inches I am most concerned about over the next 21 days are the inches we take closer to Christ.
(You can view a sample before ordering.)
If you’ve met me once, I’ve probably talked about accountability. That’s why for the launch to be most effective, I’d love to get a big group of us to go through these truths together. If you’re reading this, you’re invited to join us!
Here’s how to get connected:
I pray you’ll join us! PLEASE comment below to let me know if you’ll be joining us so I can start praying for you by name. Here’s the link one more time to grab your copy.
God, come and do what only You can do.
People either get really excited, or really confused when I tell them about my career in faith & fitness. Although the Bible clearly teaches our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), our bodies were made by God (Psalm 139:13-14), and our bodies were made for God (Romans 12:1), not all recognize taking care of our bodies as a spiritual discipline.
Honestly, when I look at what the world has turned fitness into, I can’t blame those who don’t see the connection. Based on advertising alone, the fitness industry seems largely to promote the shallow benefits of exercise – looks, prolonged youth and selfish gain.
But we must remember – most everything the world has to offer us is a cheapened version of what God has already given us. Our health is no different.
Ultimately, our health boils down to a heart issue. Proverbs 4:23 teaches us, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
If our goals for being healthy are wrapped up in being a certain size or looking a certain way, that selfish motivation is likely not to stop when we leave the gym. It’s going to start seeping into other areas of our lives, probably without us even realizing it. We may end up physically fit, but we could also cause ourselves to become spiritually handicapped.
Knowing the truths I stated earlier — that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and that we were created by God & for God — we must lean on Him instead to shape our heart’s thoughts & actions toward fitness.
Lately, here’s the verse that’s been inspiring me in my health journey:
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18
Action. More than a just an emotion, love is an action. Actions require effort. Effort requires energy…and energy is a physical property. It’s all related.
So is someone with physical handicaps unable to be used by God? Absolutely not. God is not bound by our circumstances. The difference is simply one question:
Who has placed the limit?
Was there an accident or some handicap we were born with that caused the physical limitation? If so, God was still working for His good, and that’s simply part of His plan (Romans 8:28).
But if we have just not physically cared for the body God entrusted to us, God didn’t place that limit. We have limited ourselves in the ways we can serve Him.
Let’s think of it in terms of our financial budget. If we don’t have money to tithe, but we had money to spend on Starbucks…the problem wasn’t a limited amount of money. The problem was how we chose to spend it.
I love these words of Rick Warren concerning our bodies, “God made it. Jesus died for it. The Holy Spirit lives in it. I better take care of it.”
I challenge you to whisper this prayer before your next workout:
“God, use this workout to make my body physically capable of whatever task You need me to accomplish. More than calorie-burning, fat-blasting or cellulite-shedding, let it be an action that shows my heart’s willingness & openness to serve You whenever & wherever You need me.”
But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. – Luke 12:48
When your income varies from week to week as an entrepreneur, budgeting can be difficult. When I first became an independent contractor, there were no longer exact amounts that were predetermined for my weekly income. However, that didn’t change that James and I wanted to be good stewards with our resources.
My husband, who is unbelievably smarter than I am in this area, developed this Excel tracker to help us:
This template is 100% editable, so you can add additional income sources, change contribution percentages, or add additional categories, such as debt reduction, retirement, children’s college funds, etc.
For instructions on how to edit or create formula calculations in Excel, follow the instructions here.
If you’ve stumbled upon this blog & don’t have access to the tracker yet, you can get your free copy at www.stewardshipincometracker.com. I pray it blesses your family as much as it as helped us!
