Fitness, Faith & Inspiration
LOVING YOURSELF
My Fitness Journey of Self Love
Since I was a young girl, I have felt a hostile stronghold over my life regarding negative body image. I think that the devil can attack us in areas that we don't expect and especially when we have everything going for us, which I did. I had a loving, wonderful family; I grew up in the most picturesque small town in western Nebraska that you could ever ask for, and I had wonderful friends and community members who cared about me. However, this was in the 90's in the area of the super skinny Kate Moss's and other models who made being super thin, super appealing.
I remember being no more than a 4th-grade girl and comparing my thigh size and weight to other young girls my age! How sick and wrong! The only other problem is not that we were very young, but we experimented with diets to lean our bodies down.
By the time I reached middle school, the grade that I teach now became an unhealthy obsession. My parents and family were concerned, and it was becoming unhealthy.
Fast forward from middle school and from probably sophomore year of high school until about a year ago, I was a yo-yo dieter, meaning that I had an unhealthy relationship with food and had an unhealthy body image of myself. I was always thinking of negative thoughts about my body, and I never felt that I looked good enough.
First of all, let's stop right there, never good enough. How many of you have never felt "good enough"? Good enough to take that beach vacation with your husband because you are embarrassed to put on a swimsuit? Good enough to treat yourself and buy a lovely dress but only after you lose twenty pounds. Life is not waiting for our friends, and I can tell you that your husband thinks you are beautiful regardless, and that dress with look stunning on you.
In 1 Samuel 16:7, it says, “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” When are we in our society going to start loving ourselves?
I can tell you that I did just that a year ago. I woke up in Scottsdale, Arizona, with my then-boyfriend and now fiance and said I will make 2020 my best year yet. I will not give in to the enemy and feel bad about my body, weight, or negative opinions about how I look. God made me in his image, and until I start loving myself, I will not see change.
In Psalm 139:14, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well. I repeated that verse to myself every day since January 2nd, 2020. If you are struggling with body image, you are not alone. I can tell you that until you start loving yourself and seeing yourself through your creator's eyes, you will continue to live in defeat. My prayer for you is that you too become Fit, Fabulous, and Free!
Sincerely,
Jacqelle Lane, M.Ed.
Educator|Author|Artist|Speaker|Advocate
Miss Nebraska For America 2020
Let Us Run with Perseverance
Therefore, since such a great cloud of witnesses surrounds us, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
~Hebrews 12:1-3 ~
It is the end of October in Nebraska, where I live, and I have to tell you that the colors are beautiful. I used to take so many things for granted that I don't now, and one of them is to try and soak up every minute possible of this gorgeous fall weather that God has given us.
In Nebraska, we get to experience all four seasons, which might not seem that appealing, but I have to tell you there is something about the transition from fall into winter that gets me thinking. The leaves are changing, and there is a beauty in letting go of summer because we see this as a new beginning. As F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall."
Some of us in this season can say that we have gone through immense transformations. Maybe you went through the loss of a job, the loss of a loved one? Perhaps you got married, got engaged, or had a baby? There are ebbs and flows in life. One of my closest friends just found out that she has breast cancer. The other is beginning her new life with her husband as a happily married couple. I think that what this season reminds me of is that perseverance is critical. "Let us run with perseverance..." We can rejoice in the joyous times, and we can rejoice in the valleys of our lives as well.
I know that during the social isolation period of Covid-19, God helped me use that time to draw closer to him. I started reading my bible more and believing what he said about me, not the negative mindsets I had let creep into my life. Was it easy not to be able to go anywhere and see anyone? No, but I chose to look at the positive aspects of it, and it probably gave me the much needed time that I needed to work on my physical body and my spiritual body.
For me, transformation, much like the beautiful fall leaves that we see outside, came in the form of healing my negative body image and low self-esteem. For you, it might be the opportunity to heal a broken relationship, gain more joy in your life, or quit an addiction that has been holding you back from living your best life. Whatever chapter in your life you are in currently, I can promise you that the page will turn and that the best is yet to come. Enjoy the changes, take heart in the challenges; there is a beautiful transformation taking place if we learn to be persistent in our goals and strive for perseverance in our lives.
With love always,
Jacqelle Lane
Fit, Fabulous, and Free
James 1:2-3 says, Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance, and this is how you find pure joy in your endeavors.
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What can you do?
What can you do in your daily life to be more proactive about loving yourself and having a better body image?
Welcome to 2021!
The Power of Goal Setting: Holding Yourself Accountable for the Next 365
Hello and Happy 2021!
We made it, everyone! Seriously, take a moment to pat yourself on the back! The year 2020 certainly did not come without challenges, but the good news is you are here now! You have a plan and purpose, and it's time to complete one of my favorite activities, and that is GOAL setting!
I genuinely think that it is essential to set goals for so many reasons, but it is also one way to hold yourself accountable for the next 365 days ahead of you.
I know that many of you are getting inundated with fitness, weight loss, and health tips. Which I think is fantastic, but let's be honest, it can be overwhelming as well. I can tell you what I will start off doing in 2021, which is more self-love, and I challenge you to do the same.
So often, at least for me, right after the holidays, it's easy to fixate on what we didn't do. "I eat clean enough." "I binge-watched too many Netflix series." Ok, so I did do that, but you know what, it's ok. It is entirely acceptable and necessary to give your body and mind a rest over the holidays and get right back on track!
Start with small attainable goals, like eating a salad instead of ordering out for lunch, going for a walk with a friend instead of holding down the couch (smile), or beginning a mindful meditation routine so that you know how to manage stress when it arises.
Whatever your goals are this year fitness-wise, I want you to know that you are right where you need to be! Focus on how good you feel, not the number on the scale. I wish you health, happiness, and strength for the coming year of 2021!
I am sending you all good vibes, love, and light.
Jacqelle Lane
Fit, Fabulous, and Free
Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Fabulous February 2021
Do you love your body?
Hello beautiful! It's Fabulous February, and I want to talk about the BEST kind of love, and that is self-love! I think about the times in my life where I didn't love myself or my body. This made it impossible to love anyone else. So often, women especially, but men also struggle with self-love, positive affirmations, and self-esteem.
Images are coming at us continually telling us what we should look like, who we should love, where we should be in life, and it gets so complicated to keep it all straight. I have a wonderful friend, and one thing that she always does around Valentine's Day is buy herself roses, a cute outfit, and take herself out to dinner. Sometimes she is dating someone, and sometimes she's not! She takes the time to celebrate where she is! I think this is fabulous! She is a beautiful woman but what I love about it is that she doesn't do it for anyone else; she does it for herself!
How much happier could we be this February if we took the time to give ourselves some self-love? Working out doesn't always have to be about burning as many calories as possible to look like some ideal image we have in our minds! Let's have a blast, enjoy, and be grateful for where we are right now.
The great thing about this is the more we take time to love ourselves, the more time we will have to give that love to others, and that's a beautiful thing!
And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.'
— Matthew 22:35-40
Happy Fabulous February!
Love always,
Jacqelle Lane, M.Ed.
Fit, Fabulous and Free!
Spread the LOVE
What is one thing that you can do to love yourself and others more?
Why Are Self-Esteem and Body Image Important?
Self-esteem is all about how much you feel you are worth and how much you think other people value you. Self-esteem is important because feeling good about yourself can affect your mental health and how you behave.
People with high self-esteem know themselves well and love themselves well!
Feel the Love this February
Body image and self-esteem directly influence one another. When you have a healthy body image, you feel comfortable about your body and know how to care for it.
When someone doesn't like their body, they may not feel good about themselves or take care of themselves.
So this February, make sure to take care of yourself. Whether you enjoy that piece of dark chocolate, take yourself out to dinner, or make time for a mani/Pedi self, love is the topic this whole month!
JOY
What's got you jumping for joy these days?
It's April, and I am jumping for joy, and I hope that you are too! It's finally warming up outside the birds and singing, and I get that feel-good feeling that summer is right around the corner!
The definition of "Joy" is a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
My challenge to you in the coming months is to do as many things that bring you joy as possible.
I feel the most joy when I am taking care of my body, getting plenty of rest, getting outside as much as possible, and reading a great book!
What brings you joy?
John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Love always,
Fit, Fabulous and Free
Jacqelle Lane