Cambria Joy - Growing Strong: Workouts, Devotions, and Recipes to Become Healthy from the Inside Out

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE , OREGON

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO ALL OF MY SUBSCRIBERSYOU ARE MY FRIENDS.

THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU. I PRAY YOU MOVE INTO ALL GOD HAS FOR YOU. I LOVE YOU ENDLESSLY! THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE A PART OF YOUR LIFE. IM FOREVER GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR YOU.

THE DESIRE TO BECOME SOMETHING IM NOT especially physicallystarted early in my life. And the more I speak with others, the more certain I am that this is true for many. What else is true? Were all tired of looking in the mirror and criticizing and comparing. We want to know we are loved just as we are. And were ready to live healthy lives, physically and spiritually.

Maybe you got this book because, like me, you want to be happy and be content with your body and life, but the struggle is real and you lose your way. Some days you arent even sure what a healthy, content life looks like, am I right?

My friend, this is exactly why I wrote this. Weve fixed our eyes so long on the external measures of how and who we are that we believe real beauty is found out there. But God is calling us to turn our eyes away from ourselves, the reflection in the mirror, or the person next to us at the gym. Hes inviting us to look to Him for our measure of beauty and worth. First Samuel 16:7 says, But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. When we fix our eyes on Jesus, we are transformed by His truth and can rest in who He says we are.

For years I tried to separate my spiritual life and physical life. I prioritized being fit on the outside rather than the inside. And then through spiritual growth and life experiences, I realized that those two things do not have to be separatein fact, they work in harmony. When you nurture beauty of the spirit, youll discover a joy thats lasting. This joy, in turn, inspires your pursuit of physical health. Im excited to come alongside you and encourage this amazing happening in your life.

In case weve never met before, my name is Cambria. Ive been working out for almost a decade, and Im a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Through the ups and downs of trying to live healthy, God has shown me His faithfulness. I had years when my motivation and methods were way off track. Throughout our journey together, Ill honestly share about times of my life that arent very glamorous. I want to be as open and vulnerable with you here on the page as I am with people I coach in person or online.

If you think everything about my life is picture-perfect, then Im letting you down. I want to empower you with an understanding of what God has done in my life and will do in your life.

Healthy living opened my eyes to the need for and joy of complete dependence on God. As I became stronger, I longed to have every part of me surrendered to Him. I didnt want to hide the times when I obsessed about my diet and my workouts; instead, I wanted to lean into His love and ask for help.

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR YOUR TRANSFORMATION

I created this journey of encouragement and practical help so you can become fit and whole no matter how youre feeling or which messages from the world happen to be the loudest. Those things change daily, but Gods love and His nourishing words are constant. I wrote this to remind you and me that God is the answer to our every need. Let this truth steep in your soul so it can change you. You will be infused and transformed: Like water to tea, you can be changed in the best sort of way. Your life will have more flavor, health, fragrance, and joy.

It doesnt matter how old you are, what shape youre in, or how long you have or havent been working out; youll become fit as you nurture your body and soul in healthy ways. Im eager to share what Ive learned.