Time to Walk the Walk

The Bible study, New Beginnings is finished and we're taking a break from FP4H until after the first of the year.

Going it 'alone' without the benefit of my support group and the regular Bible study to keep me focused on Christ is going to be tough. I can already feel myself slipping into old habits.

I needed a break from leading the class, but I clearly still need the accountability our group offers.

The next few weeks will be a test to see what I've learned and taken to heart and what I've just regurgitated for the benefit of the ladies sitting in the circle this past year.

I am determined to keep pressing on toward the goal that has been set before me.

Welcome to the Clean Plate Club

My dinner plate.  How many meals have been served on it?  How many times have I had to wash it, dry it, put it away — only to get it out and get it dirty again?

There's no getting around the fact that every day that plate (or another one just like it) will require daily cleaning.  With the strong possibility that it might need cleaning more than once a day.

A never ending cycle — clean, dirty, clean, dirty, clean. Some days are cleaner than others. But as long as the plate is being used, it must be cleaned.

I don't think about the gross junk that was stuck to it yesterday and I can't worry about what might be dried on it tomorrow. I just need to clean the plate today. That's just the way it is.

Living healthy and making wise food choices is also a never ending cycle. With some days being easier and others — not so much.

I need to make intentional choices about the quantity and quality of the food I eat.

I can't worry about the gross junk I've eaten in the past and I can't worry about how I might mess up tomorrow. I need to just live in the present, making the best possible choices for me today.

In other words I can't give up and quit trying. I need to clean up my stinking thinking and do the next right thing. That's just the way it is.

My dinner plate also reminds me of forgiveness.  God's forgiveness.  No matter how many times I get all icky and stinky with sin, God willingly and gently cleans me up and gets me ready to be used for His good purpose.

Thank God that's the way it is!!

Lesson Learned

Air in my tires and a bottle of water. I was set for a long ride on my Huffy Cruiser this morning. I took a route that I was familiar with, planning on doing at least 10 miles.  Although it was hot and humid I knew I could do it.

Five miles into the ride I reached down to get a drink of water and discovered that my water bottle had fallen out of the holder.

Hoping to find the bottle (was really getting thirsty by now) I turned my Huffy around and headed back the way I came. My eyes sweeping the side of the road.  I knew it would be easy to identify. After all, how many brand new unopened bottles of Dasani do you see laying in the ditch?

I was pretty sure I knew where I'd dropped it. I had gone over some pretty wicked speed bumps. It must have fallen there... Nope.

I thought about the sharp turns I'd made. That's where it was...Nada.

Where I had stopped for traffic...Not there.

Dozens of water bottles were strewn along the road. Twice I was almost fooled when I spotted Dasani bottles with the green cap still on.  I decided they weren't mine. 

With only a couple of miles from home I gave up my search. After all it was only a bottle of water.  No biggie.

Less than a mile from home I spotted it!

A deer had been hit by a car and died along the side of the road and when I went by it this morning I couldn't take my eyes off of the sad sight. Because I wasn't keeping focused on the path ahead I swerved, lost my balance and almost fell off my bike.  Obviously I didn't notice that my water bottle had fallen out.

I can't imagine what the people driving by thought when they saw me pick up the discarded bottle and started drinking it!

Today's adventure seems a lot like my weight loss efforts.

I start out with the right equipment, and I know I will encounter some obstacles along the way but I have the right attitude and I know I can succeed. Then I allow myself to get distracted and take my eyes off the course before me.  I hit speed bumps, encounter some sharp turns, I get fooled by quick-fix gimicks and sometimes come to a complete stop.

Then I begin to rationalize that a few extra pounds are no big deal.

Fortunately for me our First Place 4 Health class is about to start because I need to go back and retrace my 'steps' and figure out where I messed up this summer.

August 21 I will start A New Beginning.  The 12-week Bible study will encourage and give me a fresh start in reaching my weight loss goal.

Some of the time will be spent going back over familiar territory. I'm ok with that because I'm at least moving and I know that God will have a few surprises for me along the way.


"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)

GREAT-Grandmother!

I'm not used to the new title, but I will proudly claim it.

Briley Grace was born July 21, 2011. She was 7 pounds, 9 ounces and 19 inches long at birth.

I am truly grateful that God has blessed our family with beautiful and healthy babies.

Hills to Climb

Today was a perfect day for a bike ride.

I'm bored with my regular neighborhood routes so I set out for parts less traveled - which meant crossing highways and that scares me a little.

Two miles from home I felt really strong and very brave when I decided to take a country highway.  It was liberating to be so far from home on a road I rarely traveled.

The wind was blowing through my hand-me -down helmet and I felt vigorous and athletic on my 5-speed Huffy. I wasn't paying attention to the fact that most of my journey had been gentle slopes down hill — until I hit the 5-mile mark and turned around to go home.

The ride back home was less exhilarating when my legs started to feel like jello.  I felt very foolish when at one hill I had to get off and walk the bike for several yards. For sure I wasn't looking very athletic to the cars whizzing by.

My bike ride today is a lot like my weigh loss effort.  I had lost 20 pounds and felt strong and confident that I would continue until I got to my goal weight.

Instead, over the last couple of weeks I've started 'coasting' with my food choices and quantities. One small piece of cake, a hand-full of chips with my sandwich, a piece of garlic toast with my spaghetti... small choices that weren't disastrous by themselves.

Until I hit the 5-pound mark.

I need to turn around and face those slippery slopes I so willingly and freely went down and start the uphill climb — again, and again and again, until I get it in my mind and my heart that I need to pay attention to the choices I make every single time I eat something.

Do I feel foolish? Yes!
Am I defeated? No!

Just like the hills I faced today. They were tough, and it was slow going, but I did it, and the NEXT time I go out, I'll pay more attention to where I'm going and how I'll get back!

It's Decided!

Because of scheduling changes at FBC, the FP4H class needed to be moved to Sunday evenings — a time slot I wasn't thrilled with.  Sunday evenings have traditionally been a time for me to chill-lax at home before the rush of a new work week hits.

But I decided that I needed the class and sacrificing my Sunday evening was a small price to pay for a smaller number on the scales.

Besides, change in inevitable, right?

Once I conceded that I could give up my Sunday evening for a smaller pant size, I started to think about other positives:

•  It might open the class to more people.
•  We won't be rushing from our jobs to get there on time.
•  Weighing in might help keep us 'on track' over the weekend (the hardest days as far as I'm concerned).
•  The encouragement I get on Sunday evening will inspire me to have a great week.

Orientation will be 6 p.m., Sunday,
Aug. 21 @ First Baptist Church, Rock Hill

I am committed to live the life God has called me to live, and if that means giving up "The Amazing Race" on Sunday nights.

So-be-it.

Head Games

Today is the Lake Wylie Splash Dash 2011.  I signed up the glow of my "Big Win" at the Thin Mint Sprint @ Carowinds last month.

This morning I've wondered, "What was I thinking…"

The hills are going to be steep, there will more experienced runners and it's going to be hot.

Still, there's hope that I won't embarrass myself.

Since my first 5k last November I have become stronger physically, I've lost 20 pounds, and mentally I am focused on my personal time I need to beat, 44.31.

So it really won't matter if I'm the last one across the finish line today.  I'm already a winner just for trying.