"I lift up my eyes to the mountains -
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth."
-Psalm 121:1-2
Since hitting the halfway point to my goal weight and losing 120 pounds in just over 7 months the natural way (diet and exercise) I've had a number of people comment whether in person or electronically about the inspiration that is to them. So, I thought I'd write a little about my inspiration.
My inspiration first comes from the Lord. Like any parent I know God wants only the best for me. What the best is can sometimes be a question. It doesn't mean what I think is best but what God knows is best. But I do know the life I was living was not the best and the good choices I am making now are helping me to become better.
Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love God with everything we have and secondly to love our neighbor as our self. Over the past 20 years I haven't done well at loving myself which can be seen because I really haven't cared for myself. So part of my inspiration is to love myself more because then I will be better able to love my neighbor and will potentially be around longer to love more neighbors.
I also receive inspiration from the results I am seeing - the results of making better choices and caring for myself more. I can see tangible results in what I can do, how I fit into clothes and smaller spaces, and how I look. I see intangible results in my confidence level to do and try things I didn't used to be able to do and in how I feel about myself. Those results keep me motivated.
I have not watched for a while but today spent a couple hours watching The Biggest Loser re-runs and I realize how much inspiration I have received from the show. I do believe the show is not about weight loss even though that is the measurement being used to show results. The show is about life change and transformation. That is what offered me inspiration in the beginning and I was reminded of that again today as I watched the show.
I also am inspired by others who have gone on this journey before me and the change that happened in their lives. God created us to be in relationship with Him and others. He created us for community and I believe one of the reasons for that is so we can encourage and support each other and that also means inspiring others from time to time.
I am just a man taking my life back and striving to make good choices so I can experience all that God has for me and I can be a part of His kingdom work for as long as He sees fit to keep me here. And as I do that if God sees fit to use me to be an inspiration to someone else I'm okay with that and will do my best to live in such a way that is worthy of being that inspiration. May all of us inspire each other be the people God created us to be.
Less of me. More of Him.
- Eric
This blog is set up to chronicle a journey to health and freedom. While I will be reporting on my physical health I believe that as a result of this journey I will also have a spiritual awakening and become more like Christ. Upon arrival I believe I will truly be able to say, "less of me and more of Him."
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
More little things
As I'm going on this journey I'm discovering that it really is the little things that matter most. In the past 7 months I have not done a lot of celebrating of hitting milestones along the way. While I realize it's important it really is the little things that are the most inspirational to me and I'm discovering the most important.
This week I've had several people approach me and ask me about my weight recognizing that I have lost a lot since they saw me last. It's true - I have. And I love talking about it. It does give me a lot of joy. But I'm also finding joy in the little things - things I didn't used to be able to do that most people who don't struggle with weight and even those who need to drop 20 or 30 or 50 pounds may never think about because they don't affect them.
I love getting into a vehicle and realizing I didn't put the steering wheel up all the way and it didn't matter. I jumped in one of our trucks this week at work and for the first time in the 6 years I've been here my stomach didn't hit the steering wheel. I sat in the sound booth on a stool facing forward instead of sideways and still had plenty of room between me and the board. Little things make all the difference.
A few weeks ago I stepped on a chair to change a light bulb. The bulb has been out for more than a year and I didn't trust my ability to get up on a chair - I was worried about the chair holding me but also about my ability to get on and off the chair without falling. Little things matter.
I've bought almost all new clothes because the old ones are too big, not because anything has worn out or I wanted a new look. I have a new look - thinner. I bought some shorts in this last shipment of clothes - ones to wear in public, not just around the house. Now I'm just looking for the courage and/or confidence to wear them in public. Little things matter.
Walking forwards between rows of chairs instead of having to scoot sideways was a marvelous re-discovery. Ending a day disappointed in the number of steps that must have been taken because my feet weren't sore and I really wasn't that tired and didn't think I had sweated a lot only to discover it was a 13,000+ step day. Driving stakes into the ground with a sledgehammer and looking for more instead of someone to take over. Little things make all the difference.
I'm discovering that it's the little things that are the motivation to keep going. There's so many things I just adapted to that weren't meant to be. Finding I don't have to stay at that place and keep doing those things the way I had adjusted to is self motivating.
I know I do need to celebrate the milestones. And in the next few weeks I anticipate hitting a couple of big ones that will need to be celebrated. But the reality is I'm no longer embarrassed to be in a picture or to see myself in a mirror. My confidence is returning. I am beginning to like myself again and feel good about who I am and who I am becoming. And those things alone are reason to continue - one step, one block, one mile, one 5k, one 10k, and maybe more at a time.
Less of me. More of Him.
-Eric
This week I've had several people approach me and ask me about my weight recognizing that I have lost a lot since they saw me last. It's true - I have. And I love talking about it. It does give me a lot of joy. But I'm also finding joy in the little things - things I didn't used to be able to do that most people who don't struggle with weight and even those who need to drop 20 or 30 or 50 pounds may never think about because they don't affect them.
I love getting into a vehicle and realizing I didn't put the steering wheel up all the way and it didn't matter. I jumped in one of our trucks this week at work and for the first time in the 6 years I've been here my stomach didn't hit the steering wheel. I sat in the sound booth on a stool facing forward instead of sideways and still had plenty of room between me and the board. Little things make all the difference.
A few weeks ago I stepped on a chair to change a light bulb. The bulb has been out for more than a year and I didn't trust my ability to get up on a chair - I was worried about the chair holding me but also about my ability to get on and off the chair without falling. Little things matter.
I've bought almost all new clothes because the old ones are too big, not because anything has worn out or I wanted a new look. I have a new look - thinner. I bought some shorts in this last shipment of clothes - ones to wear in public, not just around the house. Now I'm just looking for the courage and/or confidence to wear them in public. Little things matter.
Walking forwards between rows of chairs instead of having to scoot sideways was a marvelous re-discovery. Ending a day disappointed in the number of steps that must have been taken because my feet weren't sore and I really wasn't that tired and didn't think I had sweated a lot only to discover it was a 13,000+ step day. Driving stakes into the ground with a sledgehammer and looking for more instead of someone to take over. Little things make all the difference.
I'm discovering that it's the little things that are the motivation to keep going. There's so many things I just adapted to that weren't meant to be. Finding I don't have to stay at that place and keep doing those things the way I had adjusted to is self motivating.
I know I do need to celebrate the milestones. And in the next few weeks I anticipate hitting a couple of big ones that will need to be celebrated. But the reality is I'm no longer embarrassed to be in a picture or to see myself in a mirror. My confidence is returning. I am beginning to like myself again and feel good about who I am and who I am becoming. And those things alone are reason to continue - one step, one block, one mile, one 5k, one 10k, and maybe more at a time.
Less of me. More of Him.
-Eric
Monday, July 18, 2011
Lifestyle change 2
This evening as I prepared to walk home from work I got a call and ended up having to do some extra things at work. In the meantime it rained a little and thundered a bit. Decision time - drive or walk home.
I had also gotten a package delivered today. Some cereal I ordered. It wasn't real big or that heavy. In the past both of those would have been excuses to drive. Today, I put my walking stick and water bottle in one hand, put the package under the other arm and took off for home. I beat the rain but was drenched in sweat so I'm not sure it really mattered. :)
Tomorrow I'm taking a musician we had in this weekend to the airport. Tomorrow is my day off. I could have arranged for someone else to take him and in the past may have done so. But by not making those arrangements I will walk in to work, drive him to the airport, return the van and walk home. So, while I am "working" on my day off I did just force myself to walk 1.5 miles in the process and that's more than I normally do on my day off. The side benefit is I get to spend an hour with one of the Icons of Christian Music.
I find myself in the store naturally looking at the calories and nutrient facts on everything I pick up. I used to just not care. It does take longer to shop now - I don't just take the first thing I come to. Compare, look for the best deal - and the price isn't what I'm looking at. So much so that this week I spent more on groceries than I may have ever spent. I also got more than usual but in the past I may have gone for lower price and not chosen based on nutrition facts.
Just a few more changes in my lifestyle and thinking that have gotten me this far and will take me further on my journey.
Less of me. More of Him.
-Eric
I had also gotten a package delivered today. Some cereal I ordered. It wasn't real big or that heavy. In the past both of those would have been excuses to drive. Today, I put my walking stick and water bottle in one hand, put the package under the other arm and took off for home. I beat the rain but was drenched in sweat so I'm not sure it really mattered. :)
Tomorrow I'm taking a musician we had in this weekend to the airport. Tomorrow is my day off. I could have arranged for someone else to take him and in the past may have done so. But by not making those arrangements I will walk in to work, drive him to the airport, return the van and walk home. So, while I am "working" on my day off I did just force myself to walk 1.5 miles in the process and that's more than I normally do on my day off. The side benefit is I get to spend an hour with one of the Icons of Christian Music.
I find myself in the store naturally looking at the calories and nutrient facts on everything I pick up. I used to just not care. It does take longer to shop now - I don't just take the first thing I come to. Compare, look for the best deal - and the price isn't what I'm looking at. So much so that this week I spent more on groceries than I may have ever spent. I also got more than usual but in the past I may have gone for lower price and not chosen based on nutrition facts.
Just a few more changes in my lifestyle and thinking that have gotten me this far and will take me further on my journey.
Less of me. More of Him.
-Eric
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
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
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
Monday, July 11, 2011
How does it feel to lose 100 pounds?
On June 30 I stepped off the scales 100 pounds lighter than January 3. I've had a couple weeks to reflect on what it means. Or at least on how it feels. I didn't want to simply duplicate a previous post (little things matter) but how it feels is most relatable in many of those practical terms so it might.
How does it feel to lose 100 pounds? What does it mean to me? It means I can now walk in between rows of chairs facing forward instead of sidestepping. It means I can walk home from work in 10 minutes instead of 20. It means I can walk up the steep driveway where I work and breathe a little heavy instead of gasping for air and when I get to the top I can recover normal breathing in seconds rather than minutes.
For the last couple years I've had fairly bad headaches 2-3 times/week. I'd get them while sleeping and wake up in the morning and sometimes in the middle of the night barely able to stand the pain. The window sill above my kitchen sink is almost full of empty bottles of headache relief tablets. What has the journey meant? I haven't had a headache in months.
Thursday night I walked downstairs to the laundry room in my building in shorts and a muscle shirt. I've done that before but this time I didn't care if anyone saw me. That's what it means to me to have lost 100 pounds. I'm starting to see myself differently. I'm starting to feel athletic again. I don't know that I feel like an athlete yet but I see it on the horizon - not that I'll be a great athlete since I never was but just being confident enough to get out there and compete - the feelings are coming back.
I realize I still have a long way to go to hit my goal weight. I also realize I'm still overweight - likely still in the classification of obese. However, I'm not seeing myself that way anymore. I'm seeing a victor. I'm seeing an athlete, a competitor. I'm seeing a person on a journey that knows where the finish line is and how to get there and is confident that he can handle the obstacles that may come up along the way.
What does it mean to lose 100 pounds? To be ahead of schedule on both my target weights and the 100 pound challenge? It means I like myself better than I used to. It means I'm happier than I used to be. It means I am becoming a new person - physically and, in my case, spiritually. It means I'm seeing the promises of God in new ways and I'm seeing God's blessings come again and again. It means I am truly becoming less and God is truly becoming more in my life. It means I'm getting a new picture of who God created me to be and I'm becoming more and more of that man as I get out of God's way and let Him have His way in and through me.
What has it meant for me to lose 100 pounds? It truly means...
Less of me. More of Him.
-Eric
How does it feel to lose 100 pounds? What does it mean to me? It means I can now walk in between rows of chairs facing forward instead of sidestepping. It means I can walk home from work in 10 minutes instead of 20. It means I can walk up the steep driveway where I work and breathe a little heavy instead of gasping for air and when I get to the top I can recover normal breathing in seconds rather than minutes.
For the last couple years I've had fairly bad headaches 2-3 times/week. I'd get them while sleeping and wake up in the morning and sometimes in the middle of the night barely able to stand the pain. The window sill above my kitchen sink is almost full of empty bottles of headache relief tablets. What has the journey meant? I haven't had a headache in months.
Thursday night I walked downstairs to the laundry room in my building in shorts and a muscle shirt. I've done that before but this time I didn't care if anyone saw me. That's what it means to me to have lost 100 pounds. I'm starting to see myself differently. I'm starting to feel athletic again. I don't know that I feel like an athlete yet but I see it on the horizon - not that I'll be a great athlete since I never was but just being confident enough to get out there and compete - the feelings are coming back.
I realize I still have a long way to go to hit my goal weight. I also realize I'm still overweight - likely still in the classification of obese. However, I'm not seeing myself that way anymore. I'm seeing a victor. I'm seeing an athlete, a competitor. I'm seeing a person on a journey that knows where the finish line is and how to get there and is confident that he can handle the obstacles that may come up along the way.
What does it mean to lose 100 pounds? To be ahead of schedule on both my target weights and the 100 pound challenge? It means I like myself better than I used to. It means I'm happier than I used to be. It means I am becoming a new person - physically and, in my case, spiritually. It means I'm seeing the promises of God in new ways and I'm seeing God's blessings come again and again. It means I am truly becoming less and God is truly becoming more in my life. It means I'm getting a new picture of who God created me to be and I'm becoming more and more of that man as I get out of God's way and let Him have His way in and through me.
What has it meant for me to lose 100 pounds? It truly means...
Less of me. More of Him.
-Eric
Friday, July 1, 2011
Independence Day
As we enter July 4th weekend here in the U.S. anyway it's appropriate to spend a little time thinking about freedom. Freedom has many meanings and connotations and there are indeed many different types of freedom. Today I'm not thinking so much about freedom in the political or nationalistic sense but more personal freedom.
Galatians 5:13 says "You, my brothers and sisters were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature. Rather, serve one another humbly in love." Humility and service then, are the greatest expressions of freedom.
In 2 Corinthians 3:17 Paul writes "Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." This means we can be free regardless of the circumstances of our lives.
Freedom then is a way of life, not a status of being. And there are moments that we experience freedom and then hopefully walk in that freedom.
When I was 16 I went through a period I'm sure was at least slight depression. A member of my youth group had been killed in a car accident and I spent a couple months asking God how he could and why he would do that. In May of that year I attended a Bible study with some friends and discovered there what I didn't see (not that it wasn't present - I just didn't see it) at my church - people excited about and enjoying their relationship with God. I saw joy and peace and knew I didn't have it. After attending a few times I went home one night and told God I wanted whatever it was they had. It was my Independence Day. The day I was set free from sin by entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ.
In college a few years later I had another Independence Day when God revealed to me that I was allowing some things from my past to control me and I was justifying my behavior by claiming "victim" status. God showed me that while I can't control what happened to me, I can control how I respond to those situations and what I do with them from there. Again, God's Spirit stepped in and set me free. "For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
I've had several of those Independence Days along the way - the most notable or most recent last December when I decided it was indeed time to embark on this Run 2 Freedom - this journey towards health and wholeness. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom." The Spirit of the Lord is here and I am free. I was set free from the bondage of using food as a crutch and emotional resource. Food itself was not my bondage - it was how I used it and the role it played in my life.
I was set free back in December when the plan was made for this journey. I was set free knowing I was going on this journey and the result would be health and wholeness and even a new spiritual awakening. My Independence day came all the way back before I stepped on the scales because the decision had already been made. I'm not totally free of all the issues that come with being obese. I would still be classified as obese on all the charts I'm sure. I can, however, claim my freedom and walk in it and it makes the journey so much easier because it's already done. The victory is won and I simply have to remember that and tell my enemies and tempters that the game is already over and they have already lost.
One of my college profs told me of a time he was in a bus station late one night (2-3am) because of some delays and he was trying to sleep a little when two somewhat seedy looking characters walked up to him and said, "Hey Mister. Hey Mister - are you saved?" My prof nodded yes and thought they'd go back to sleep but they persisted. "Are you saved? When were you saved? You have to know when you were saved!" He sat up enough to get a better look at them and responded, "Yes I'm saved. I was saved almost 2000 years ago." The two characters' eyes got really big, their jaws dropped, they looked at each other and then walked quickly away. The truth here is that our freedom was bought and paid for at Calvary. At the time of Christ's sacrifice for the sin of all people, we were given freedom - we only need to accept it.
And then, as freed people, no longer under the burden of slavery or bondage, whether to people, food, drugs, alcohol, pornography, violence, shame, guilt, etc, we should live as servants, not for our own glory but for God's who gave us freedom. It's not about us. It's His story, being written on the hearts of people around the world so that all may know and so all may be free.
As we celebrate Independence Day let us remember we were called to be free and to use our freedom to humbly serve others.
Less of me. More of Him.
Eric
Galatians 5:13 says "You, my brothers and sisters were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature. Rather, serve one another humbly in love." Humility and service then, are the greatest expressions of freedom.
In 2 Corinthians 3:17 Paul writes "Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." This means we can be free regardless of the circumstances of our lives.
Freedom then is a way of life, not a status of being. And there are moments that we experience freedom and then hopefully walk in that freedom.
When I was 16 I went through a period I'm sure was at least slight depression. A member of my youth group had been killed in a car accident and I spent a couple months asking God how he could and why he would do that. In May of that year I attended a Bible study with some friends and discovered there what I didn't see (not that it wasn't present - I just didn't see it) at my church - people excited about and enjoying their relationship with God. I saw joy and peace and knew I didn't have it. After attending a few times I went home one night and told God I wanted whatever it was they had. It was my Independence Day. The day I was set free from sin by entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ.
In college a few years later I had another Independence Day when God revealed to me that I was allowing some things from my past to control me and I was justifying my behavior by claiming "victim" status. God showed me that while I can't control what happened to me, I can control how I respond to those situations and what I do with them from there. Again, God's Spirit stepped in and set me free. "For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
I've had several of those Independence Days along the way - the most notable or most recent last December when I decided it was indeed time to embark on this Run 2 Freedom - this journey towards health and wholeness. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom." The Spirit of the Lord is here and I am free. I was set free from the bondage of using food as a crutch and emotional resource. Food itself was not my bondage - it was how I used it and the role it played in my life.
I was set free back in December when the plan was made for this journey. I was set free knowing I was going on this journey and the result would be health and wholeness and even a new spiritual awakening. My Independence day came all the way back before I stepped on the scales because the decision had already been made. I'm not totally free of all the issues that come with being obese. I would still be classified as obese on all the charts I'm sure. I can, however, claim my freedom and walk in it and it makes the journey so much easier because it's already done. The victory is won and I simply have to remember that and tell my enemies and tempters that the game is already over and they have already lost.
One of my college profs told me of a time he was in a bus station late one night (2-3am) because of some delays and he was trying to sleep a little when two somewhat seedy looking characters walked up to him and said, "Hey Mister. Hey Mister - are you saved?" My prof nodded yes and thought they'd go back to sleep but they persisted. "Are you saved? When were you saved? You have to know when you were saved!" He sat up enough to get a better look at them and responded, "Yes I'm saved. I was saved almost 2000 years ago." The two characters' eyes got really big, their jaws dropped, they looked at each other and then walked quickly away. The truth here is that our freedom was bought and paid for at Calvary. At the time of Christ's sacrifice for the sin of all people, we were given freedom - we only need to accept it.
And then, as freed people, no longer under the burden of slavery or bondage, whether to people, food, drugs, alcohol, pornography, violence, shame, guilt, etc, we should live as servants, not for our own glory but for God's who gave us freedom. It's not about us. It's His story, being written on the hearts of people around the world so that all may know and so all may be free.
As we celebrate Independence Day let us remember we were called to be free and to use our freedom to humbly serve others.
Less of me. More of Him.
Eric
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Preparing for success
Yesterday was a rough day. You would think it wouldn't have been but it was. It was my first day off in a few weeks. Or at least first day off in a few weeks that I didn't work. Because of some things I was processing in my head it was a day that in the past I would have eaten. I likely would have eaten a lot. Eating was my drug of choice. Its what I used for comfort, pleasure, and to escape. And yesterday I did eat - more than I often do. Or at least I was doing some "snacking" as I went throughout the day instead of sticking strictly to my meal times (which include snack times).
However, at the end of the day I entered all the foods eaten throughout the day and I was at approximately 1700 calories. A year ago it probably would have been 7000. Yesterday's sodium content was higher than I like - almost 3000 mg for the day. A year ago it would probably have been 10,000mg.
So what's the difference? I'm sure there are a number of factors but here are a few. In the past 6 months of this journey I've grown. I've grown in maturity, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. I've learned how the scales will respond if I have one of those 7,000 calorie and/or 10,000mg sodium days. I'm learning how to handle my stress in healthier ways than before. I'm growing in my ability to say no to immediate gratification for the rewards of delayed gratification - keeping the goal and big picture in front of me. So, one factor is that I've grown.
Another factor is something that I laughed at when I saw it in both Weight Watchers and The Biggest Loser online Club. Both of them said very early in the journey to clean out your refrigerator and cabinets and get rid of all the unhealthy foods and snacks. I've done that. I did that early. And yesterday it paid off - because if the unhealthy snacks had been there, I would likely have eaten them.
A third factor is not something I planned initially - currently my car isn't running. I didn't plan for my car to stop running but I have put off getting it fixed since it does force me to be more active - walking to work, etc. Had it been running I may have gone for groceries yesterday (I could use a few but it's not a "need" yet) and that may have resulted in some junk food making it's way into the house.
Fourth - Having gone public with my journey I now know there are a lot of people out there watching me - some are cheering, supporting, and encouraging, some are receiving encouragement and inspiration, and some may just be watching - either to see me succeed or fail. Regardless of the reason, I know many people are watching and that is built in accountability. In addition to that I have a group of 5 people that asks me how I'm doing and keeps tabs on me.
Fifth - success breeds success. I woke up yesterday and got ready to weigh in. I stepped on the scales 90.4 pounds lighter than I was on January 3. And in the midst of the stress and the struggles going through my head I took a moment and said life is good. I'm on my way even though I still have a long way to go.
So what made yesterday successful for me when in the past it would not have been? It was the decisions made months ago to keep the food in my house healthy, to form a support team, to make my journey public so all can see, and choosing to be "inconvenienced" by a car that's not currently running. It's also the realization of how far I've come and how far a junk food day would set me back.
So as you prepare for your next journey, whatever it is, I suggest you take some time to anticipate obstacles that may come and prepare for how to handle them or avoid them so they don't knock you off the path when you get to them.
Less of me. More of Him.
Eric
However, at the end of the day I entered all the foods eaten throughout the day and I was at approximately 1700 calories. A year ago it probably would have been 7000. Yesterday's sodium content was higher than I like - almost 3000 mg for the day. A year ago it would probably have been 10,000mg.
So what's the difference? I'm sure there are a number of factors but here are a few. In the past 6 months of this journey I've grown. I've grown in maturity, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. I've learned how the scales will respond if I have one of those 7,000 calorie and/or 10,000mg sodium days. I'm learning how to handle my stress in healthier ways than before. I'm growing in my ability to say no to immediate gratification for the rewards of delayed gratification - keeping the goal and big picture in front of me. So, one factor is that I've grown.
Another factor is something that I laughed at when I saw it in both Weight Watchers and The Biggest Loser online Club. Both of them said very early in the journey to clean out your refrigerator and cabinets and get rid of all the unhealthy foods and snacks. I've done that. I did that early. And yesterday it paid off - because if the unhealthy snacks had been there, I would likely have eaten them.
A third factor is not something I planned initially - currently my car isn't running. I didn't plan for my car to stop running but I have put off getting it fixed since it does force me to be more active - walking to work, etc. Had it been running I may have gone for groceries yesterday (I could use a few but it's not a "need" yet) and that may have resulted in some junk food making it's way into the house.
Fourth - Having gone public with my journey I now know there are a lot of people out there watching me - some are cheering, supporting, and encouraging, some are receiving encouragement and inspiration, and some may just be watching - either to see me succeed or fail. Regardless of the reason, I know many people are watching and that is built in accountability. In addition to that I have a group of 5 people that asks me how I'm doing and keeps tabs on me.
Fifth - success breeds success. I woke up yesterday and got ready to weigh in. I stepped on the scales 90.4 pounds lighter than I was on January 3. And in the midst of the stress and the struggles going through my head I took a moment and said life is good. I'm on my way even though I still have a long way to go.
So what made yesterday successful for me when in the past it would not have been? It was the decisions made months ago to keep the food in my house healthy, to form a support team, to make my journey public so all can see, and choosing to be "inconvenienced" by a car that's not currently running. It's also the realization of how far I've come and how far a junk food day would set me back.
So as you prepare for your next journey, whatever it is, I suggest you take some time to anticipate obstacles that may come and prepare for how to handle them or avoid them so they don't knock you off the path when you get to them.
Less of me. More of Him.
Eric
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