Preparation and Patience

Greeting friends

It's been a while since I have blogged, but have no fear I am still here.

I have approx. 26wks of mass building lifting. Goal is to hit the stage next year. It has been 2yrs since competing and life has changed tremendously for me. Never the less, my preparation for 2012 competitions is going to be exciting. WHY? Because with all the good times and painful lessons I am truly stronger than I have ever been. Through my mistakes may not be apart of Gods plans, he has shown me just how understanding he is with his patience to allow me to come right back in his arms. And rise again and again and again.

I've always believed that preparation precedes your blessings. Well, MJ is preparing for not just competition, but for a new area of success in my life. Love and Happiness is a choice.

God is so awesome how he protects his own, how he shows us ourselves the good, the bad and the ugly and then invites us into his arms unlike humans, and embraces us ever so gently. His patience with me as he prepares me is absolutely amazing.

Stay tuned as I share more with you on this journey. Thank you as always, for your love, prayers and support.


Those who say it can't be done should never ever interrupt the person trying to do it
-Let's Get fit

Learning to give thanks in ALL things

Those who are thankful will always be blessed
This is re-post of my archived blogs and reminder to myself to always be thankful -MJ FitChik4Life

Learning to give thanks in ALL things(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

My prayer today is that you'll always be blessed even in your trials and tribulations. Some may ask how can you be blessed in a tribulation? Here is a perfect example, I lost my father in 2005 and it was and still is hard, but somehow God has given me this comfort that I know a human being could not provide. I still miss him and holidays are hard for me because he enjoyed holidays and he past 1week after New Years day, so though I think of him often I miss him most around the holidays.

I have chosen to be thankful for all the years God had him with us. I do miss him but the bible says in ALL, not some but ALL things be thankful.

So this week as I remind myself, I wanted to share with you and remind you that regardless of what things look like in ALL things give thanks for there is someone out there that have not what you have. There is someone out there that lost a friend and you still have yours, there is someone that had no food to eat and you just finished eating, there is someone that has no awareness of there faculties and you have all of yours. You don't want to go to the gym today and there is someone who can't go even if they wanted to. My friends look around you there is so much to be thankful for. Inspired from 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Don't be thankful when its sunny if you can't be thankful when it rains. A thankful heart is a soul that will forever be blessed-MJ

The King in Me! Working on MLK day

I own my own business, many asked MJ are you open today? I replied of course, if it wasn't for leaders like Dr. King and the grace of God I wouldn't even be able to open a business;The dream lives in me and YOU and YOU and YOU

On Dr. King Day as I was working the juice bar and serving shakes, then it dawned on me that I was serving whites, blacks, light and dark sitting at the counter drinking shakes TOGETHER. On this day of all days this meant so much to me. It has been less than fifty years since President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act in 1964 that prohibits discrimination. An act that would make me equal. That is equal on paper. Before this signing my ancestors where persevering through hell, some made it and some did not. But after this signing there was more hell in America and today my heart goes out to all who endured for me to have this business where I serve people of all color. There are many that still are terrorized by the devastating affects from the hate and horror. God has shown my brothers and sisters mercy in many ways and still he shows mercy on our country both whites and black.

WHEN will we realize that In the final analysis the weakness of Black Power is its failure to see that the black man needs the white man and the white man needs the black man. ~Martin Luther King, Jr., From: Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, 1967

It's not the color it's the power of being one-MJ Fox MLK Lives in me

Some may disagree but I am honored to be open on a day such as Dr. King Day because it shows his dream is ALIVE!

There is a thief in our minds-I met my thief face to face!

“Don't become a victim of yourself. Forget about the thief waiting in the alley; what about the thief in your mind?”

I am having a wake up call. I have held myself to a higher standard of perfection because people look up to me and I find that when I fall short of this standard I allow the enemy and my mind to torment me as being less than God says I am. A special friend, I know loves me and I love him very much,shared with me this very subject and I must say it was very true. What hurt is the fact that I felt I was letting others down by not being perfect and letting myself down also.

Now some may relate to this and some may not but as I said my blogs are about learning and growing. I have stumbled fallen and now God is saying get up and who cares what man thinks just learn, hold on to my unchanging hand and press forward. Pick your head up and do not allow the weapons to prosper.

What is the weapon? you may ask. I have learned it can be your mind as well as circumstances, things and others. I have allowed what others think of me to become my thoughts and this self hate is NOT of God. I realize that the weapons that are formed against us can only prosper if we allow them. Unfortunately, I have allowed them. NO MORE will I be a victim or look at myself as such. NO I will not have self pity for myself and my wrongs or what people think.

Again, I have said when you pray for God to use you be sure to pray for strength. It's one thing to be used by God however, when we get personally involved our flesh can intervene in what he has us to do and this is where the chaos and a big mess is made.

God I praise you for your teaching I don't want to be right I just want to be right in you. When I am wrong if I repent then I will be right in you. I will not be able to please this world but I can please you. Lord, I surrender to you and all your ways. I will no longer lean on my own understanding I will listen to you. If I fall I know you will pick me up and allow me to repent, for this I say thank you in advance and I praise you for your unconditional love.

Inspired from the sermon at The Park Ministries by Bishop Claude Richard Alexander, Jr. titled :A Piece of Work! Yes I am a piece of work. I thank him daily for what he is teaching me, showing me and molding to be. I am a under construction.
God you are SOOOOOO AWESOME!

Experience God's Presence Tonight!

My soul yearns for You [O Lord] in the night,
yes,my spirit within me seeks You earnestly.
— Isaiah 26:9

Have you ever noticed that in the quiet darkness of night there seems to be something special about the presence of God?

He is always with you, even during the daytime, and you can talk to Him anytime, even when you’re busy. But during the day there are many distractions that keep you from focusing on His presence for an extended period of time. And by the end of the day you’ve often experienced problems and frustrations that can cause you to feel lonely and needy. It is then that you can finally give time and attention to the one who is the answer to your needs.

When you yearn for God in the night, seek Him earnestly, and you’ll find He will minister to you in a special way. He will provide answers to any problems you may have, and He will give you peace and rest.


Taken from Joyce Meyers Ministry
From the book Ending Your Day Right: Devotions for Each Evening of the Year by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2004 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.http://www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/EverydayAnswers/dailydevotionals/

Share a heart!

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Some people feel that it is not their business to help someone,but I ask; is it not our job to take care of our neighbor. If not ours, then who's is it. What I mean is suppose one day you where stranded somewhere with no cellular reception, no power to your vehicle and there is not a car or person in sight.

After 2hrs you see a light from afar coming up the road towards you.
Tell me wouldn't you have hopes that someone takes a moment to care.
HMMMM!


As a fitness professional and gym patron I feel it is my duty to encourage someone striving on a treadmill or leaving aerobics class, because I have no idea what it took for them to get there nor do I know what they go home to. All in all, it is rewarding to the heart to see a smile of hope. I don't have to describe what this smile looks like because you know it when you see it and it is felt from both sides. It is inspiring to self when we are able to inspire someone else.


Allow God to use you and be the hope in someones life... after all, life is to short to not have hope and it is even shorter to not have that hope fulfilled.

Remember, be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

The Plan

Make me go in the path of Your commandments, for in them do I delight.
— Psalm 119:35

Go to sleep at night with a plan in mind for the next day. Don’t be vague about what you hope to accomplish. One morning I was lying in bed when the Spirit of the Lord said to me, “Stop being ambiguous.” The dictionary defines ambiguous as “doubtful or uncertain,” and “capable of being understood in two or more possible senses or ways.”

Don’t be double-minded. Don’t just wait to see what happens. Wake up with a plan that puts God first in all you do. God’s Word is a lamp to your feet, and a light to your path (See Psalm 119:105). Talk to Him before you even get out of bed; ask Him to make clear what you need to achieve today.

Joyce Meyer Ministry

The power of words

Stick and stones, may break my bones, but words will never hurt me

Remember that little rhyme from childhood?

It's wrong.More than that, it's a lie. Words are very powerful. Words can hurt or heal, build up or tear down, comfort or curse.

According to Mike Gordon, pastor at CenterPoint Church in Florida, very few of us are prone to slice and dice our partner with our words.

At the same time, most of us are guilty of making little cuts, or "nicking" those we love with our words.

Have you nicked your partner lately?

And no, I do not mean shaving. I mean nicking with your words. The little cuts and jabs, the sarcasm and put-downs we sometimes carelessly throw out there.

It took me just about the entire first year of marriage to figure out that what some of my friends found hilarious, my wife did not find at all amusing at best, and cut and hurt her at worst.

Other folks excuse "nicking" as just being brutally honest. In my experience, most of the folks who brag about being brutally honest enjoy the brutality more than the honesty.

"The genius of communication is the ability to be both totally honest and totally kind at the same time."

The power of the tongue

Our tongue, and the words that come from it, has incredible power. Words have the power to hurt or to heal, to tear down or build up, and to curse or comfort.

How have you been using your words with the one you say you love? If you realize you have been doing some nicking up until now, here are two things you can do:

1) Make a commitment to use your words to comfort not curse, heal not hurt, build up not tear down

2) Go to your love and apologize for nicking in the past and let the one you love know you intend to change this bad habit. The words could be something like:

"I realize I have nicked you and hurt you with my words, and I apologize and hope you can forgive me. I'm also making a commitment to you to control my tongue in the future."

A word of warning as you apologize. I know of one gentlemen who apologized by saying "I need to tell you I am sorry for nicking you." Well, somehow what she heard was "I want to apologize for Nicky."

You can imagine how the conversation took an unexpected detour from there.

The above example, and the one below, demonstrate just how very much the words we choose to use matter to those we love.

Different words, different result

A country boy fell head over heels for a little girl who lived down the lane. The problem was, every time he got around her, his knees shook and he stammered when he tried to speak. He just had no clue about how to talk to this girl.So one day he went to town and followed a city boy who was known for being good with the ladies, trying to pick up some tips. The country boy listened as the city boy looked deep into the eyes of his girlfriend and said "Your beauty could make time stand still."

"That's it!" he said, and rushed back to the country and found his girl. Taking her by the hand under the apple tree, he looked deep into her eyes and said, "Your face could stop a clock."

Same content. Different words. Very different result.

Remember, you have a choice, hurt or heal, tear down or build up, curse or comfort.
Which words would you like to use, and which words would you like to be used with you?

This has taught me to look at myself and I pray it helps you in some way too.

Taken from Jeff Herring is a Relationship Coach, Speaker, and Syndicated Relationship Columnist.

Light Shines Through Cracked Pots! (from Joyce Meyers)

Let not those who wait and hope and look for You, O Lord of hosts, be put to shame through me; let not those who seek and inquire for and require You [as their vital necessity] be brought to confusion and dishonor through me, O God of Israel.
— Psalm 69:6

I just had to share this one-

Everyone is like a pot that carries life. But not everyone carries a presence that blesses others. Religion tries to force people to follow laws to make them perfect, like pots without cracks. But if a light is put within a flawless pot and then covered, no one is able to see the light inside the pot. Perfect pots are not able to reveal internal light to illumine the way for others.

God chooses to shine through imperfect, cracked pots. People are blessed when our cracked pots let the light of Jesus shine through. Choose to be a glory-filled, cracked pot rather than an empty, pretty vessel.

Now that was food for the soul-Bon appet'ite


Remember BFIT Nutrition/Powerblendz is now open. Come visit us and get complete nutrition in a cup-try one of our protein shakes. Located in the brand new hottest club in Charlotte- Club Fitness 11108 S.Tryon St. Charlotte, NC. 28273
Come get your Shake on

Flaws in Life.....

Sometimes life can throw you a serious learning curve. When you learn things about yourself that must be addressed it can feel a little overwhelming. I realize somethings in me that are good and not so good, however, God is showing me that he loves what He sees because it is an opportunity to use me. WOW! I mean me he wants to use me. I feel honored. When a situation arises and I have to address it I take a look at me. Well, unfortunately I look at me a little to hard, meaning I don't give myself any slack. Yet I allow my clients and others to have flaws but I don't accept mine.

God has used a special person in my life to help me realize I, MJ must learn to love me flaws and all. No one is perfect... that's why pencils have erasers. Right? What I don't like I am giving myself time to change it. In all of this learning, I am falling in love with self. I thought it was selfish at first but then I realize it is not at all. It is a necessary fertilizer for my growth as a child of God.There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in.
Today I say to you if you are not accepting your flaws you wont be content when others truly accept you flaws and all. I find this to be apart of unconditional love.

Unless I accept my faults I will most certainly doubt my virtues

Pressing on!

A nod, a bow, and a tip of the lid to the person who coulda and shoulda and did.-Hats off to all FitChiks4Life for all your accomplishments.

 

Those that didn't meet there goal, no worries for today is a new day-press on FitChik, remember we are in this for life.

 

 

 

Join us for Talking Fit-Live discussion Pt.3-Help, I can't seem to lose anymore weight- Mon.9pmEST http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=14144&uid=113043952329

The FitChik4Life Challenge

OK Game on!! My boot camp class is being challenged to diet down with me for my first competition of 2010, which is in 16weeks. They are stoked. I am already so proud of them.  It's a very challenging task however, it is rewarding to all of us. Already have results with a camper losing 3lbs in first week.  Keep it up ladies and gents. You are paying yourself back, by adding years to your life

Talk soon-Remember to join us on FitChik4Life fan page Live discussion every Monday at 9pm.

Soon to come  

Talking Fit w/ FitChik4Life on blog talk radio.  

Our Online store will be published soon.  You will now have access to our FitChik4Life shirts, and more.

Yes God is good- Stay focused, eat well and often love the body you're building

TALKING FIT!!!

We are Talking Fit! 
Live tonight 9pmEST-Topic up for discussion. " I can't seem to lose anymore weight" Oh yeah, the famous I hit this plateau and can't move. Join us on the FitChik4Life fan page under discussions FitChik4Life live Discussion tonight 9pm

Weekend Renewal

Just returned from the Arnold Classic Expo and what a fulfilling weekend. I want thank all of my online supporters who shared with me this weekend. It was a pleasure meeting you all. We never realize that our actions are being watched until someone points them out. I'm thankful for the emails after this weekend, sharing how you all view me. I truly believe that you can be attractive n pretty on the outside however, beauty can only be from the inside. You have enriched my soul this weekend to re confirm that what I am doing means something to someone. That God is seen in all I do.
A young lady shared with me on Saturday that she was a little nervous about meeting me because so many in our sport are pretty but not very social able or they feel intimidated. Then after she met me she felt like she was renewed. I said we are not all like that many are beautiful inside and out. I thanked her for allowing me to, but it's just the God in me and the she in returned renewed me. It is a blessing to encourage because it encourages me.
To you all I say thank you. Have a magnificent Monday
Don't forget we are Talking Fit every Monday 9pm est. Live discussion on the FitChik4Life fan page on Face book click the link on the top left of this page.
MJ Fox, IFBB Professional Athlete FitChik4Lifetm/Certified Personal Trainer Powerblendz/NUCO FIT Representative Sent via my BlackBerry

It's good for the soul

I was talking to a friend the other day, I said how ya been? She replied with a sigh, girl, I'm making it. I said making what? She said Huh? I said yep me too. I am making today the best day of the rest of my life.  She smiled and said MJ you are something else. I said well I can't make it if I don't know what I am making. I mean that would just be a mess, I think. She said true that. I replied, SO what ya making?  She smiled and said I am making today the best day of my life MJ. We both laughed. She said, I thought you where about to get really deep on me. I said nope. She replied ok, ok I needed that laugh.

Don't think to hard on this one my friends.  The point I am making with this lil story is laughter.  It is a wonderful, priceless antidote for many things that can sometimes get us down.  Today and everyday choose to smile at someone or something. Go the opposite direction of what would normally ruin your day.  Today say, I will no longer have bad days, I am now saying well there could have been worse day and smile anyway.

Choose to look at the lesson in all things good and bad. When it seems you can't find the lesson, then don't stress it just laugh.  It will warm your heart and elevate your mental state. Go ahead, just laugh.

What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.

Making history!

I had no idea that history was being made. I was just tired of giving up. ~Rosa Parks Don't give up FitChiks4Life. We got goals to get. Let's get it!!

You never know what you are capable of until you are tired.  You never know how strong you are until you are physically weak.  One can go a long way when they are tired.  The human being is the most amazing thing God has created. Emotions, compassion, evil, love all these things that we display.  I am so thankful for what he is showing me at this moment.  Today, I say to you, embrace all that is coming your way. Hold your ground on what you believe to be true.  Never, let anyone take from you or convince you from what you believe.

"Now faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

Lift your head through the sandstorms, close your eyes but continue to walk

Today make history in your life.  Whether displayed to the world or just between you and God, make the change to RISE RISE RISE.

Today I am being still and knowing that God is in control.

Learning to say no!

Hoping all of you had a wonderful weekend.  I have been going through a learning phase and thought I would share it with you, as I know many can relate. I am learning to say no.  I have found that I'm always so willing to help and many times I sacrifice my sanity to do so. I am not alone on this. Many of us do this and we tend to find we are not getting the satisfaction or joy from the action of doing.

Is this a bad thing? Well, yes in some cases. I truly believe, that there should be an automatic sense of joy when you do for others, not a sigh of relief. Even when there is no thank you in return or appreciation you should feel good with just the fact that you gave of yourself to something or someone. I'm learning that when I put me on the back burner to long, I tend to not get joy in doing for others.  Now, some are reading this and maybe saying oh no! that's wrong as a Christian you should always have joy doing for others. The bible does state we should not grow weary in well doing. However, it also states that we must take time for Him.  I feel if Christ is in my heart then is that not a part of my temple which is my body? So if I am taking care of my temple (body and mind) then it is not just for me it is for him also. When I speak on doing for me,  I am referring to things like not taking my devotional time away from Christ. Being sure of getting my workouts in which is part of my therapy to handle this thing called life. Taking a short vacation away from the chaos. I think taking care of the outside is important and taking care of the inside is even more so. At the young age of 39 (smile) God is showing me some powerful things.  I would not be able to see them if I don't slow down sometimes. I am so grateful for those he is placing in my path both good and bad because it is really making me stronger and better than I've been.

So I say ALL this to say, MJ is officially doing her and in return I know I will be able to do so much more for others. Yes God is so good, all the time.

A well cared for tree bares good fruit. However, a diseased and malnourished tree may not bare any fruit at all and the if it does how healthy is it, considering it's source.

Blessings to you all this week.  BTW Update on my training- I am now 18weeks out from shine time on stage. My back has been tight but nothing major and I am steadily able to increase weight and or intensity in my workouts. My diet is starting to be more consistent.  Ya know I am always gonna keep it real for you all. Updated progress pics soon to come. I say in advance, thanks so much for your support.


Remember Live discussion on the FitChik4Life fan page every Mon 9pm est. TALKING FIT!  You got questions, we got answers. Join Us!

You put fourth the effort...

OK, so I am 24 weeks out till shine time and right now I am about to hit some cardio.  It has been a long week. I had some gains in this leg workout, praise God. Many of you know about my back injury and I have not been able to leg press, lunge or do free weight squats (using Olympic bar) for about 3-4month now. Well, Wednesday I did. I had 95lbs on the bar I went slow and me and God where connected at every single rep. It was awesome. I did 8 sets and I was beaming all the way. That's not a lot of weight for me, but it was a step in the direction I thought I would not be able to go.  I am so grateful. Legs have been the area that I have had the most challenge with in the sport of bodybuilding.

So I will take my time working legs, in doing this I have been able to make the mind to muscle connection I need to, instead of just focusing on the heavy weights I used to push. God has his reason for everything.  Now, last night my back was extremely painful. I stretched, soaked, prayed. This morning it's tight BUT God. OH yes, it's feeling much better. This goes with the saying my clients and friends here me say: 

You put fourth the effort, God WILL do the rest.

I am a living testimony of this.  Just remember each one of us effort, measures differently, depending on our capabilities. God knows what we are capable of, he just wants us to know what HE is capable of.

Remember to join us every Monday night at 9pm EST for TALKING FIT! Live discussion.  You got questions, we got answers. Certified trainers and Professional athletes will chat with you live. Join us at http://www.facebook.com/fitchik4life?ref=profile#/pages/Fit-Chik-4-Life/113043952329?ref=ts Monday at 9pm


Have a blessed and fantabulous weekend my friends
MJ, FitChik4Life

DIY project gone bad...

Ok so I'm doing some DIY projects that require me to paint and my last piece to paint I decided to take out on my balcony and paint it. I'm ready to go. So I close my balcony door so no spray paint blows into the house. I was waiting on someone to call me back and realize my cell phone was inside. Then it dawned on me, I just closed the glass balcony door with an anti theft door jab bar. Oooopppsss.
 Wow guys! I am locked out my house. On the second floor. And just to set the record straight to all you carb depleted folks. I was not low on carbs lol. So I stand there looking into my place and wondering how am I gonna get out. After feeling a little stressed I looked up and said Lord talk to me. Why I became so come was nothing but God.  So I just started spray painting as if I wasn't even locked out.  My patio is completely screened in by the way. So I'm finished and it looks great. Now, Ok MJ ask God what he would do. Yes I do talk to him and myself often. (Smile). So bang on the floor to see if my neighbor can here me and I get nothing.  OH LORD what do I do. I am thinking I can rip the screen and climb down I'm only on the 2nd floor and for some reason I'm hearing the theme music from mission impossible. So I climb down onto this old broken fence, from there I was able to jump on top of the trash can and then onto the ground. Yes the mission impossible music was loud and clear. I do believe this is what Jesus would do but his theme music would have been a little different maybe. (Smile)   Wow what an interesting experience this was. Why this never happens on HGTV. Lol. Be blessed my friends.

Sometimes you just gotta laugh-

2010-Better than I've been!

Happy New Year to you all. Today is new day. New beginnings and I must say 2009 was a very interesting year. Many learning curves for me. Teaching me more and more about myself. The good the bad and the ugly.(smile)
I am learning to put me (MJ) first and not feel guilty about it.  I have embraced some injuries that have helped me better understand what some of my clients are going through.  In addition, I am going through something that many people are going through; depression. Yes, I am admitting it and some of you need to. We all go through it and some of us stay in it longer than the other. It really hit me last year.  Many ups and downs but don't get it twisted. God was there the entire time.

Now this blog today is not for those who got it together. Ya know those that everyday is a great day. Nah this ones not for you. This is for my brothers and sisters who have gone through and are still. This is for those that want to be better than they have been. This is for those who have some giants that need to be stepped on and kicked out.  If that's you, then read on. 

I always ask God to use me and he has sent many in my life to help me and for me to help. He also allowed me to see those that where there to harm me too. Had I not experienced the trials I had in life I would not be able to really help others.  I mean lets face it. It is hard to ask a dog about being a cat, right? Well if either the cat or dog answer you, you have more going on than depression. (smile). No worries a psychiatrist can help with both issues. lol

What I am saying is depression is a natural thing and you can learn from it. I have and still am learning that depression, many times, is a way to show you your faults or weakness within your emotions.  I mean much of my depression comes from the fact that I fear failing. I am a perfectionist. I except others faults but not my own.

Well, God keeps reminding me that inspite of I am still in his book and my friends that's a wonderful unconditional love I just can't live without.

Though last year was rough and seemed like a set back or let down, my faith tells me that this is the beginning of my set up.

A set up for blessings and forward movement in my life. I have not let go of my faith therefore ,I will not grow weary in well doing.  Because God has told me that my set back was not that at all. It was a set up for the awesome blessings he has in-store for me.  I will be talking about this more because I am amazed at how many of us are dealing with it and are acting out through other things due to the depression.  Let's break free from this together. Lets stomp that giant on the head and get fit, get financially healthy, repair our relationships, get that promotion or job we want. 2010 using your giants to step forward.

I say to you all don't get discouraged don't drop your head. Weeping endures for a night BUT joy does come in the morning.  May today and everyday of your lives be filled with the richness that can't be earned but was bought for you and me by the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior my King of Kings, my heavenly father Jesus the Christ.

Remember your set back may just be a set up! Oh taste and see that the Lord is so so good.

Remember you can leave me a comment anytime good or bad. Gods is teaching me things through all of it