Lifestyle change 1

So this week I think I've had more conversations than usual about what I'm doing and how I'm doing it and what's working.  So, while I have shared a few thoughts before I thought maybe it was time to share a little more in depth.  Some of those conversations have had me talking a lot so I also thought I'd break it up into several posts instead of one really long one.

So, what am I doing?  How have I lost 109 pounds in 6.5 months?  I'm changing my lifestyle.  Here are a few ways.

I have built into my budget a gym membership.  I haven't been to the gym for over 2 months.  In my former life I would have seen that as wasted money.  But I don't anymore.  I spend $1000 a year on car and renter's insurance and hope I never use it.  But that's not wasted money.  So I spend a few dollars a month for a gym membership whether I use it or not - it's there when I need it.  I plan for it so it's not an extra expense.  It's as important to me to have in my budget as groceries.  It's just a part of how I live.

Most days I'm eating something 5 times a day.  Some days 4 and some days 6.  Three of those are meals and the others are snacks.  Most meals are 300-500 calories and most snacks 100-200 calories.  I eat less each time but I eat more often.  I am seldom hungry and almost never stuffed/bloated.  And for the times I get hungry I carry extra sugar free gum.  The five calories per stick is an easy way to take the edge off my hunger and because I eat every 2-3 hours it's not usually that long until it's time to eat.

I've replaced potato chips and candy with carrots and celery.  I drink water almost exclusively.  I used to buy 2 Liter bottles of soda and would often drink the entire bottle in one sitting while watching a movie.  Pizza and Chinese food were my "bad" meals of choice.  I haven't gone without.  Healthy Choice frozen dinners has a nice sweet and sour chicken meal at 420 calories and about 600mg of sodium.  Lean Cuisine makes some pizzas at 350 calories and weight watchers has mini pizzas (4 to a serving) at 270 calories.  I find those options to be very satisfying both in taste and in the amount of food I need.

As I see my weight going down I see my health and energy level improving and that gives me motivation to continue.  It's a privilege to know as well that people are benefiting from or getting inspiration or motivation from my journey.  But it is also God at work in me that is spurring me on.  It is for His glory and without His strength I would not be hitting the numbers I am hitting.

For His glory and His honor - that others too might run to freedom.

Less of me.  More of Him.
-Eric