Weight Watch Wednesday - The Embarrassing Start

So, this is the humiliating start of my long road to health and fitness. It's hard to believe that just two years ago I had completed a mini sprint triathlon, and several 5Ks. 

The first 10 days of working out and making good food choices were discouraging. It seemed that the harder I worked and more diligent I was, the worse the results. The scale kept climbing each day. I wanted to "throw in the towel". I've heard it all before: "you're building muscle which weighs more than fat" & "it takes consistency over time to get your metabolism working right" ...blah, blah, blah. 

:-P 

I am sticking with it, regardless.

After 10 days of working this plan, I am down 3 pounds - just 57 more to go.  :-(

Training Tuesday - 50th Year Goals

During this year-long adventure, my ultimate goal would be to complete a half marathon representing my half century mark. Right now, that is unrealistic at best, and probably dangerous. Since my mini-sprint-triathlon and a few 5K's over two years ago, I haven't done any training. Regular exercise has been unknown to me since I started full time work back at GM in December 2009, and I have put on 20 extra pounds. Needless to say this is going to be a long, hard road.

For incentive, I have committed to the following benchmarks along the way. Here are the first two:

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Detroit, May 26th, 2012 - My goal is to run the entire 5K. I'm not trying to win any races, my goal is to finish without having to walk. That means one foot is always off the ground!

The Ann Arbor Marathon June 17th with my MMB "Big Sis", Jan "Z" Karnes and other MMB families. No, I don't have any grand "delusions" of running the Marathon or even the half marathon (unless - a miracle?), but to run the 5K and improve my time from the Susan G. Komen.

My current state: not much more than a 3 mph pace for 3.2 miles at various elevations every day for the past 8 days. I have a long way to go.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"

Memory Verse #1 - Running to Obtain the Prize

To hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant" is the only prize I desire. Lord, help me to run the race accordingly.

The Race of My Life

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV)

As I take time to contemplate 2011, I am overwhelmed by the "prizes" I have received: God's goodness and blessing poured out for me and my family. I am also acutely aware of how I stray from the path of His best for me.


In 2012, my desire is to run the race He has planned for me - for His glory:

• Run that I may obtain the prize; "Well done, good and faithful servant."
• Exercise self-control in ALL things; eating and speaking are my troublesome areas.
• NOT run aimlessly, but with purpose;  the harvest is plentiful.
• Discipline my body and keep it under control; "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

This is my "50th Year Great Adventure with God" :

Memory Verse Monday - Scripture Memory Verse of the week

Training Tuesday - Training progress for health and fitness - 5Ks, 10Ks, Triathlon?, half  marathon, marathon? (OK, now that's a stretch!) 

Weight-Watch Wednesday - Weight loss progress

Thankful Thursday - "God Sightings" as Pastor Ty labeled it. Where and how God showed up during the week.

Fun Times Friday - Making a priority to have fun with friends, family, co-workers, colleagues, neighbors.

SongSpiration Saturday/Sunday - Music that inspired me during the week.





Lord,
Work a new thing in me this new year. 

Wrapping Up the Old and Ringing in the New

Today, I spent time putting the house, computer...my life in order.

There are things I am tossing out,
     deleting,
          rearranging to get ready for the new year:

New things,
     new activities,
          new opportunities to live for Him!

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

"Out" with my old nightshirt I've worn just about every night since May 1994 - I finally splurged on a new one! :)

It is so comfy, but you can see through it and holes have appeared. I hate togive it up, but there's really no sense in wearing it in this condition.  ;-)

"In" with the new nightshirt!

"Out" with keeping up shallow Facebook cyber relationships, and "In" with developing deep, life impacting face-to face, relationships. I don't plan to be on very much, so call, text (on my new phone), or stop by for coffee to catch me up on your life.

"Out" with trying to get what I don't have and "In" with being content with all that God has blessed me with: the people He has brought into my life for such a time as this, the opportunities He's given me, the provision he's made for me.

"Out" with the out of shape I'm in and "In" with health and fitness.

I'm excited about all the possibilities and HOPE 2012 holds.

While You Were Sleeping-LFC January 2008

Who's Help?

This is an old joke that keeps coming to mind as I think about my life, and as I pray for so many people in hard situations. 

A storm descends on a small town, and the downpour soon turns into a flood. As the waters rise, the local preacher kneels in prayer on the church porch, surrounded by water. By and by, one of the townsfolk comes up the street in a canoe.
"Better get in, Preacher. The waters are rising fast."
"No," says the preacher. "I have faith the Lord. He will save me."
Still the waters rise. Now the preacher is up on the balcony, wringing his hands in supplication, when another guy zips up in a motorboat.
"Come on, Preacher. We need to get you out of here. The levee's gonna break any minute."
Once again, the preacher is unmoved. "I shall remain. The Lord will see me through."

After a while the levee breaks, and the flood rushes over the church until only the steeple remains above water. The preacher is up there, clinging to the cross, when a helicopter descends out of the clouds, and a state trooper calls down to him through a megaphone.

"Grab the ladder, Preacher. This is your last chance."
Once again, the preacher insists the Lord will deliver him.
And, predictably, he drowns.
A pious man, the preacher goes to heaven. After a while he gets an interview with God, and he asks the Almighty, "Lord, I had unwavering faith in you. Why didn't you deliver me from that flood?"
God shakes his head. "What did you want from me? I sent you two boats and a helicopter."

This is a lesson I am continually being reminded of as I pray for people - as I seek my own "help"; God often answers in ways I never imagined. I often miss His answers because I'm so focused on MY ways, I don't recognize His ways.

     "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
 neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD."
                  (Isaiah 55:8 ESV)

Lord,
Open my eyes to see how you are at work - help me to recognize you rescuing, redeeming, restoring, relieving, renewing, redirecting, and removing through circumstances and through people you place in lives.