Day 1... "Can't Nothing Bring Me Down"

***Disclaimer: My writing isn't what it used to be since I have been out of college the last couple of years. Keep that in mind as you read the below... I expect my posts to have more substance and meaning as each day goes by. This is only day 1 after all. Also, don't forget to encourage me whether it is via text, comments on this blog, Twitter, or Facebook. I am determined to create better habits and a better me over the next 21 days. Cheer me on!***

***See previous post if you have no idea what this is about***

Mental:
My main focus today was on being happy. Happy by Pharrell is the perfect song for this and you better believe I was allll about this when I woke up this morning! Like he said, "can't nothing bring me down."



Spiritual:
I cleaned my room last night and it made this morning more of a spiritual experience for me. I am a believer that your room mirrors the state of your life. My room was in complete and utter chaos when I woke up Sunday morning and my life felt the exact same. However, when I woke up this morning, things were peaceful and I felt like I could make my day that way as well. I believe it is very important to me to develop those habits now and create a place where the spirit can dwell. I don't picture the spirit dwelling in a mess...

Sister Julie. B. Beck, former General Relief Society President said in a CES Fireside in May of 2008,

"Most of you will also be fathers and mothers who will create righteous homes for your families. When I was young, I was taught by my mother that while I was single I needed to learn how to take care of one life and one room so that I would be prepared to take care of several lives and several rooms.

In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord gives a pattern for a Spirit-filled home. It should be “a house of prayer, a house of fasting, [and] a house of faith” (D&C 109:8). It should be a house where the Lord’s Spirit can abide, where no unclean thing is permitted to enter, and a house of learning where there is a study of the best books, which includes the scriptures (see verse 7). That inspires the following questions: Is the home or room where you currently live that kind of house? In your room, do you have prayer, do you fast, and do you read the scriptures? Do you live in a place of order or a place of clutter? Do you allow unclean things to enter it by way of movies, books, or the Internet? Do you fill it with uplifting things—the best things? Is your current home a place where the Spirit of the Lord can abide?"

Physical:

Today was day 1 of clean eating and working out hard. I usually do some light lifting at the gym, but not much to kick into fat burning mode. I did not eat sugar AT ALL! At the gym, I did sprint intervals, squats and dead lifts. I can already feel my body hating me... I have some serious fitness goals for these 21 days and I am hoping all goes according to plan!

I am also putting one of my new favorite products to the test. For each of these 21 days, I am going to be drinking 1 XOJO. I want to see if I can see the results over a period of time. I know I feel good when I use it during my workouts, but how does that play out over time? You should look into XOJO and pick up some if you can. It is sold at Harmon's, Maceys, and Fresh Market. I bought out 1/2 the stock at the Harmon's Brickyard off of 3300 South in Salt Lake City, so don't expect to find much left there... (whoops!) 

XOJO... let's see if you can pay off over a long period of time instead of every few days. If you can, I will never stop buying you and I will continue to tell all my friends about you. I pinky promise.

I matched my workout clothes to my XOJO today on accident... Not even mad about it! (Not pictured: my lime green tank top)

The greatest feeling is knowing that I am taking care of my body at the end of the day. I know so many girls who choose not to eat at all during the day or some that eat whatever they want. No matter your metabolism, eating junk or depriving yourself altogether is harming your body. It is my responsibility to have a clean vessel and create a place where the spirit can dwell within me. Just as we would never defile our temples, we also take the time to give them their proper maintenance and keep them clean. Our bodies should be the same.

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles stated in the October 2013 General Conference,

"With your body being such a vital part of God’s eternal plan, it is little wonder that the Apostle Paul described it as a “temple of God.” Each time you look in the mirror, see your body as your temple. That truth—refreshed gratefully each day—can positively influence your decisions about how you will care for your body and how you will use it. And those decisions will determine your destiny."

Day 1 was great and I am looking forward to Day 2. I have a long day ahead of me, but I believe that means I will have much more to experience and appreciate. Tune in for tomorrow's post!