What's up Doc?

As far as I know everything is OK with my health, other than my "weight issue" that I am battling day in and day out. I have lost over the past week, since last time I wrote, about ten pounds!! When the weather warms back up and the rainy season is done, I will begin to walk to work. I live about 2 1/2 miles from work. This will give me a good twenty to twenty-five minute walk, both to AND from work. So I will be getting almost 1 hr of exercise each day when it warms up in the morning. I will be leaving my house at about 4:00 A.M. so I will not have to worry about a lot of traffic. If you live in Jamestown and you see a man walking down a dark street at 4:00 A.M. with MESSY overnight hair, it will be me! My plans are to get up, put on the sweets and go. I will get ready for the day once I get to work (Hey,. I work at a radio station. It's not like my listeners can SEE what I look like...or for that matter smell my morning breathe.) I am still waiting to get Internet where I can use it on a regular basis. It's not that I DON'T have access to the Internet, but where I usually write has no Internet, and when I get something out of my routine...well... I forget to do it. So. I will TRY to remember to write more faithfully. I am GREATLY anticipating getting back into my "grove" again.

Where's the Blog??

   I do apologize for not writing on a consistent basis. The place place I usually write my blogs has been experiencing change and so I have not been able to get access to my blog as normal. I hope that it will all be resolved shortly. Until then I will write when I am able. I have started my annual journey and find it as difficult as ever. I am looking forward to the end, yet I am barely beginning. The journey lasts until March 31st. It seems to be a long time, but I know that God will teach me many lessons along the way. I am trusting that God will do a work in my life as this journey is good for both body and spirit. During the days to come I will be asking God to give guidance, direction, strength, wisdom, and courage. This VERY strict diet will be a time of growth spiritually and shrinking of the tummy. I will be writing "Journal" entries on this blog.

The Big Day!!

     Tomorrow is the big day when I begin my journey! I'm very excites to see what the next 49 days has in store. I am praying that I will learn many lessons and become more healthy. I know that God will be with me every step of the way on this hard, yet very fulfilling journey. I stepped on the scale today to see what I weighed at the beginning of my journey and I weighed in at 377. NOT GOOD. Oh well, I am focused and will see those numbers drop.

      "Lord, please guide me on this journey. Please make me teachable and moldable. The next 49 days are Yours please work in and through me. God I bless Your name. You are completely worthy of nothing less then my VERY best. I give that to You now. I give you me, my family, my work, my ministry, my church, my hobbies, my all. Humble me and make me puddy in Your hands. Please take this sinner and use him according to YOUR will. Amen."

FOCUS!!

     As I am preparing for my "journey" over the next forty+ days, I have had to DRASTICALLY cut back on food. It will in the end do me good, but it takes focus. I will tell you my weight when I begin this "journey" and we will compare in a little over 40 days where I stand on the scale. I am excited, this has become something I do annually and it helps me focus for the rest of the year. This is my third year doing this, please pray for me. I cannot go into great detail, but I ask that you pray for my focus, discipline, and strength.

SICK!!!!!

Ugh!! I do not like being sick. I have however learned something this go around. I eat a LOT more when I'm sick then when I'm not. I mean I eat like I've starved for months! I also do NOT exercise. I am greatly anticipating feeling better to get back on track.

Valentine's Day!!!

    Last week we experienced some technical difficulties at work so I was not able to get around to writing very much at all on my blog. Today is Valentine's Day! It's a day we share cards, CANDY, and special evenings with our loved ones. This morning I woke up and saw that Holly had put a big red envelope with a card in it and a 6 pack of Reece's my FAVORITE candy. So what did I do?? I ATE every last one within fifteen minutes!! Tasted great, but I don't think it was good for my weight loss. I will be refocusing tomorrow and will begin a very special "diet". After the next 40 days or so Holly and I will begin our competition. Remember to let us know if you want to join in the fun! We will see who can lose 10% of our weight 1st. So gear up and get ready it will be worth every second of the competition!! 

The BIG Weigh-In Month 6 Week 2

Today is the big day! I stepped on the scale, only to find out I have GAINED! This past week Holly and I stared weight watchers. I have learned how much I really eat. WHOA! I didn't lose anything, but my eyes were opened. Holly lost weight. We have decided to postpone our competition until April because of some personal things in my life that will be taking place in the near future. If you want to join us in the competition let me know and we will all start together. It should be fun and it will create some accountability. You don't need to post your weight for the world to see, but we will work something out to keep tabs. Here's my weigh in today

Date	weight	Gain/loss	Total   +/-	Goal
8/9/10	380		n/a	n/a

1/31/11	373.8	-1.2	- 6.2	370 ):
2/9/11	377.8	+4	-2.2	365 ):

Spiritual VS. Physical

John 15:5 -  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing .

     Why will go to church to hear the preacher preach on "spiritual issues", just don't touch the "Physical ones". We consider politics, food, work, fun, etc. our physical life and devotions, prayer time, attending church, etc. our spiritual life. This is the WRONG way to think. EVERYTHING is spiritual. Whether we eat, work, yes even politics. These re not only physical and until we awake to this truth we will NEVER be as effective as God wants us to be. We will never have revival. We must first SURRENDER our "physical" things so we can receive ALL that God has for us.

     I have discovered that surrendering food, for me, is much easier said than done. I literally woke up this morning telling God that I surrender my food to Him. I wish I could say I have had the victory all day, but the fact is that this battle today has been much more difficult than I expected. Tomorrow I will put on the armor through prayer and ask God to give me spiritual strength to defeat this VERY physical temptation. When I reach my goal weight it will be a testimony of God and His power in my life. It will have NOTHING to do with me, because my flesh is WEAK. Tomorrow I weigh in and I really don't know what to expect, we'll have to see...

Do We Glorify God in EVERYTHING?

1 Corinthians 10:31 - Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

     It is no new struggle, this thing with food. It was a struggle even in the New Testament times. Here Paul writes that we are to glorify God in everything, even something as common as food and drink. Unfortunately we don't glorify God with other things much less food. We barely make it to church, "If we have time we have our devotions". It seems - and I'm guilty of the same thing at times - that we glorify God very little much less in ALL things we do.

     I want to commit right now to do my best to glorify God in ALL I do. Even what I eat. "Lord, right now with all my reader's as witness I surrender ALL I do, say, think, and EAT. God please help me view the world through Your eyes. May I see food for what it is, a tool to keep me alive, give energy, and good health so I may glorify You more effectively. I surrender my idol of food to You and ask Your forgiveness for the sin of idolatry. I claim 1 John 1:9 and thank You for Your forgiveness. You are full of mercy and grace, Thank You. In Jesus Name Amen."

Watching Weight through Weight Watchers

   Since my last blog I have received several tips for helping me with my War on Weight. It has been suggested that I look into Weight Watchers. Holly and I have discussed this option and feel like it is the best thing to help us lose weight. I have lost about 50 pounds on the program before so I know it works. There is a new program and we are excited about the potential. I will still be posting my weight on Wed. and I will post measurements Thursdays, although I didn't measure today. I will next Thurs.

    I have also been encouraged to start walking in the morning which I will start doing when it gets warm. Until then I have a stepper I will use for exercise. I will be posting my weekly exercises in the next couple weeks - once I get into some form of a routine. I am excited about losing weight. I have been off the bandwagon long enough. I MUST lose the weight!!

   Let me also say a thank you to those who "like" this link and respond through posts, and messages. It is because of the encouragement that I receive on nearly a weekly basis that I am able to keep going. Please continue to respond. THANK YOU!!

    Oh yeah, one more thing. Holly and I will begin a competition with our weight lose. I will NOT be posting her weight - for my own safety - but I will be posting who won the weigh in for the week and who is leading the competition. I believe we will be trying to see who can be the first to lose 10% of there weight. Of course I know who will win - ME! ME! ME! ME! ME! ME!

The BIG Weigh-In Month 6 Week 1

Here it is my new weigh day. We went to TOPS and thought it was pretty interesting. If you don't know about TOPS you can look it up at http://www.tops.org/. I stepped on the scale and discovered that the scale wouldn't weigh me!! I got a BIG FAT "E". Let's just say it didn't go a long way to encourage me in my War on Weight. I did weigh earlier at my home - in the morning - and weighed... well I didn't quite get my goal.... Here's my chart....

Date	weight	Gain/loss	Total   +/-	Goal
8/9/10	380		n/a	n/a

1/31/11	373.8	-1.2	- 6.2	370 ):
2/7/11				365

New Weigh Day!!

O.K. So I've been trying work my schedule out to be ale to write every day. One thing I have done is begin to write in the afternoon instead of the early morning. We will try this for awhile. Also I thought I would tell you that I will begin to weigh in on Wednesday's. Holly and I are going to begin attending TOPPS here,  which meets Wednesday's at 12:00 Noon. I will report then, begin this Wednesday! So Be ready!! Old things are passed away, behold ALL things are become new!!