What It Takes To
Become A Boot Camp Sergeant
Sergeant Joyce Ray
What
happens when you attend Fitness Training For Life’s Boot Camp faithfully
for 7 months straight? You
improve little by little, one day at a time.
Through devotion, hard work, and determination, you keep achieving
personal goals, each and every month, until finally one day, you’re a
Sergeant! Her fellow campers
call her “Captain Crunch”. She
is a competitive team leader and a constant source of inspiration to those
around her. Take a peek into
the life of one of our fellow Boot Campers to see what makes her tick;
Sergeant Joyce Ray.
What
do you do for work?
I am a Literacy Specialist at William E. Snyder E.S.
This is my seventh year at the school and in my job. Before that I
was a classroom teacher for 11 years.
When
you’re not at work, what do you like to do?
God is my passion. Everything else in life is
a bonus; Play tennis, spend time with friends and family, read, and do
anything ministry related.
What
made you decide to try the FT4L boot Camp?
I've been playing tennis for eight years.
Around my 40th birthday I noticed that I was slowing down some on the
tennis court. I was also concerned about my health in general.
Not that I had any health issues, I'd always taken good care of myself; but
I had always been told that when you turn 40, that is when things will
start to fall apart. I wanted to stay healthy and in good shape not
only so I could become a better tennis player, but mainly because I always
wanted to have all of the energy and health that I needed to serve God in
anyway that He asked me to.
What
changes have you noticed in yourself since you started Boot Camp (both
mental & physical)?
I lost weight - I don't remember being this size
since I was a teenager. I'm not just staying in good shape; I am now
in the best shape of my life! I'm stronger than I've ever been and
I'm never ever tired. I can go non-stop and never run out of energy.
Mentally I just feel great!
With
your incredibly busy schedule, what motivates you to get up & drive 30
minutes to camp each morning when you could easily say you don’t have
time?
God has been teaching me a lot about discipline in
every area of my life. I've learned that if there is one area in
which I am not disciplined, my entire life (my relationship with God) is
affected. Boot camp is a discipline. I've made a commitment to
myself and God to be at boot camp, and I don't believe in breaking
commitments. When I give my word to God, others, or even
myself, I always do everything I can to keep my word. It is all
about character.
What
is your greatest accomplishment since enrolling Boot Camp?
I have become much more focused. God has used
the discipline of boot camp to help me in other areas of my life.
It's like, if I can do this, I can do anything! As a result, at
God's leading I've started a ministry and have begun writing a second book
(My first comes out in the spring). "I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me" has become my life motto.
Favorite
thing about camp? Least favorite?
My favorite part about camp is Carrie, Jeff and my
fellow campers. We have become like a little family and always have
such a good time together. I don't know if I have a least favorite.
I'm not crazy about running with weights, but I definitely love the
results!
What
advice would you give to encourage a new-comer about exercise &
nutrition?
God has only given you one body and what you do with
it is a choice. You can destroy it through wrong choices or you can
strengthen it through right choices. Don't procrastinate.
Start making right choices today, because if you tell yourself that you
will wait until tomorrow, tomorrow will never come.
Many
people see you where you are today, was there ever a time where nutrition
was a challenge?
It took me years to get disciplined in this area,
but you're right, we can do all things through God who strengthens us.
The enemy will always provide excuses for us in any area of our life. That
can be very easy to buy in to, but if we keep our eyes fixed on God and
the course that he has placed before us, it is a lot easier. God has
taught me the importance of being 500% committed in areas of my life that
have been struggles in the past. Food is one of the areas in which
I've made this commitment, and God has certainly used you to help me in
this area
Any
additional comments?
I thank God everyday for boot camp, Carrie, Jeff,
and each of my fellow campers. I count each one as a blessing.
For
more information about Joyce’s upcoming book and Whole Hearts Ministry,
visit www.wholeheartsministry.com
