Monday, January 22nd was to be the day. I had made my decision. I put a plan in place and started what was to be a 20 week emphasis on eating healthy, excercise and weight loss.
6:00 A.M. My alarm clock goes off, one cup of coffee followed by my morning devotional. (Max Lucado - Facing Your Giants.) Seems like a pretty good fit. Next it’s a 300 calorie breakfast and I’m off to the club. Yes - the health club. Today I decided I would start out my 20 weeks of focused discipline with working out in the pool. You see, it’s been almost a year since I had a regular workout regiment.
I arrived at the office that morning for a 9 to 5 strategic planning meeting that would take place over the next two days. In the meeting room has a table with all kinds of snacks and goodies, but I made only good choices. It would be only fruit for me until lunch. Lunch was a slam dunk - soup and one healthy taco with lots of vegetables. I was feeling pretty good so far. After I got home my family decided to go out for dinner and a movie. Newport Bay restaurant. I had fish. Hold the potatoes, please, I’ll have double vegetables. Another good choice.
However, during the movie something insidious happened. I begin to get hungry and tired and I start nodding off during the movie (and it wasn’t even a “chick flick”). It was getting so bad I couldn’t keep my eyes open long enough to follow the story line. After dozing off for the third time I realized I had to do something. Although the movie was only half way over, I politely excused myself down the aisle and walked out to the lobby, went directly to the concessions counter and ordered a bag of red licorice and a large bag of Peanut M & M’s… and ate them. All of them! Two large bags of candy after a day of focused discipline.
As I arrived home that evening I felt like a complete failure. I started out the day so motivated, with such great discipline and good intentions and ended up burying my face in a bag of licorice and a large bag of Peanut M&M’s. To be honest, I have no idea how many calories I consumed during that movie. All I know is that I felt like a total failure.
It wasn’t until I was sharing my discouragement with my wife, before going to bed, that she gave me a perspective that I hadn’t even considered after my great fall. I had made good choices all day. Just because I made some poor choices that night didn’t mean I didn’t make progress throughout the day toward my goal.
I must get discouraged pretty easily, because her words were like a hand lifting this poor guy out of a depressing gutter. Why does a set back automatically mean throwing in the towel? Why does it always have to be “all or nothing?” It reminds me of the title of Charles Swindoll’s book, “Three Steps Forward - Two Steps Back.” My wife reminded me that I was still moving forward. I had still made progress - even after two steps back (which in my case were two large bags of candy) I had still made progress. Three steps forward and two steps back is still one step closer to the goal.
I wrote this the day after “the great fall.” Tuesday. 6:00 A.M. The alarm clock goes off again, one cup of coffee followed by my morning devotional. Next will be a 300 calorie breakfast and I’m off to the club. Yes - the health club. Discouraged but not defeated - I keep moving forward.
Dennis, I know you can do it! It's totally worth it. Remember: Nothing tastes as good as thin feels. Do it to the glory of God! He will give you the strength!
Posted by: Ann | January 27, 2007 at 05:10 PM
Denny, If I can do it you can do it! I'm in your corner, you know that.
John
Posted by: John Newberry | January 27, 2007 at 07:21 PM
So after reading your post Susan is considering not bringing the cinnamon rolls she just made for the worship team. "How can I in good conscience brings these now?" .... see you in the morning :-)
Posted by: tj | January 27, 2007 at 09:55 PM
Dennis... You are so right! You are a very good writer! I appreciate your honesty, your openness and your willingness to show us that you aren't perfect too! You rock!
Posted by: Lisa Sargent | January 28, 2007 at 03:01 PM
Dennis... You are so right! You are a very good writer! I appreciate your honesty, your openness and your willingness to show us that you aren't perfect too! You rock!
Posted by: Lisa Sargent | January 28, 2007 at 03:01 PM
Dennis: I too have started to make working out a priority. I have had a series of wake up calls in the form of health challenges in the past few months. God is honoring my persistence to "sweat for Him". May you too see the fruit of your obedience in this area of your life. May He keep you in "the zone".
Posted by: stacie freeman | February 07, 2007 at 11:27 AM
Oh, but you are so strong on the inside... it shines through every pore, to glow on the outside...
Keep up the good work!
rock on,
v.
Posted by: Val | February 12, 2007 at 09:48 AM
It takes little steps to get going. Hang in there! Celebrate the little victories along the way and put the defeats behind you.
Posted by: Dan Dalzell | February 22, 2007 at 10:18 PM
Dennis,
It doesn't sound like the program you have set up is working very well for you. I would recommend something that is fun and enjoyable... something that builds muscle and burns calories.
My wife bought "Hip Hop Abs" from www.beachbody.com. It came two and a half weeks ago. She started doing them immediately. I started two weeks ago on Monday. It is really fun. My wife does it more than once or twice a day, six days a week sometimes seven. She is feeling great.
Me... well I am a little suspicious about videos. In fact, I thought I would see if they are a fake by eating stuff I normally would and then work out to their plan, which I did. I am NOT a health nut. I have never tried work out videos but I gotta say I have lost 8 lbs in the last five 5 days. I have not stopped eating anything I like. Why torture my self? Anyway, I can visibly and physically tell after 2 weeks that I am in a much better place than I was. Now I am thinking, I should have went with their entire plan (included with the videos), instead of just working out. I am sure the results would have been much better. I am very happy with the solid abs, metabolism, energy level, and the workout experience of "hip hop abs."
My pants are much looser. Oh, yeah. I am developing some six pack abs instead of the barrel I was hauling around.
Just about everyone in my family has enjoyed doing the videos. They are made so that you can stop and rest every two to three minutes, but they are so fun you do not want to stop. I would highly recommend these videos for anyone who wants to have fun working out and loose weight and gain some toning of whole-body muscle.
Posted by: Christian | May 05, 2007 at 01:26 AM