#Bod4God Week 1

Closing in on the end of the official first week. Last Monday was the weigh in. Can I just say that I want the scale from the Wellness Center? I realize scales are a little different but that one seems to like me more. The official numbers:

Weight: 173

Neck: 12 1/4

Bicep: 12

Chest: 38

Waist: 37 1/2

Hips: 43

Thigh: 24 1/2

Calf: 15 1/2

Weigh in is each Monday. There is a large group speaker about motivation, nutrition, exercise, etc. then we break into small groups. The leader of our small group wasn't there last week and her sub seemed to flounder with what to do. I'm hoping there is more discussion and digging into the book this Monday. I'm not doing this to learn others' "tricks" for losing weight or being healthy. I'm tired of hearing "if I can do it, you can do it."  I'm doing this to find my true motivation and to grow closer to God.

The memory verse for this week was Matthew 16:24-25:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

This must be important because Jesus says it six times in the Gospels. Twice in Matthew and Luke and once in Mark and John. So okay, how does this apply to me in 2015? What do I need to deny? What cross(es) do I need to pick up? What is preventing me from fully following Christ?

It is and has been obvious to me since I started exercising that food is my issue. I haven't been able to lose weight or get my clothes to fit better with exercise alone. I do better when I actually track what I eat (even if I'm a little off on portion sizes). When I did track this past week there was only one day that I went over my goal and that day included the choice to both go to Starbucks AND have a couple of glasses of wine. I need to deny myself these indulgences.

My cross? What do I need to pick up? I'm not sure. I've started drinking more water, trying for 48 oz each day and I've eliminated pop. I've also started to hear a small voice speaking to me about sugar. I am reading more labels and trying to keep high fructose corn syrup out -- though it's in EVERYTHING. Many things I'm reading right now talk about completely eliminating sugar. Wow. Not sure this is my cross, yet. 

I am here for the next 12 weeks and I'm hoping to see a lot of results: physically and spiritually.

#Bod4God Why?

A weight-loss competition thru church? I've heard about programs like this but never participated. I've never been a big dieter and while I've always *wanted* to lose weight, I've never actually wanted to put forth the necessary effort or give up all delicious things. I kept hoping for a quick fix -- I mean eventually ONE of those diet pills has to work, right? When we moved to Brookings, I finally ran out of excuses to go to the gym (cheap rates, classes included and a 5 minute walk from my office? BOOM each excuse gone). I started going to classes like spin, Women With Weights (kind of a circuit training) and my new favorite Body & Soul 6 am bootcamp. I had hoped that just working out would allow me to continue to enjoy all those yummy foods. My 40+ year old body disagreed. Then my bootcamp instructor mentioned a Bible study she was leading at the church we have been attending. As I've been seeking a community here and seeking the right motivation to actually lose weight I decided to sign up.

The study is called Bod4God and uses Scripture to show you {ME} how to honor God and commit this earthy body to his glory. The kick off included Pastor Steve Reynolds speaking about his experience and showing us just a few of the many places God talks to us about our body and food. The very first story that involved people (Adam & Eve) included temptation with FOOD. Satan understands the power food can have over us and has used it from the start. He has even convinced us that gluttony isn't *really* a sin. How many times do you hear about a prayer request to eat less or drink more water or to find time to exercise more? How many church events revolve around food? We eat as a part of fellowship; we gather around the table to enjoy each other's company and food. And doesn't Jesus ask us to remember him with wine and bread (oh, if he only would have included cheese!!!)?

So what is it I hope to get out of this? What are my goals and more importantly, what is my motivation? It has to be more than just getting my pants to fit or to live long enough to see my grandchildren or even to be healthier. Because while those are excellent reasons, it hasn't been enough in the past and I know myself well enough to know it won't be enough in the future. I need to find the desire, the need, the motivation that will last and will be enough to sacrifice the good foods that God has given us to enjoy -- just in moderation! 

Follow me here and on Twitter (#Bod4God) to see if I can find this motivation.

Colossians 1:16 for by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

The Journey Continues

Last year, I purchased a Fitbit to "assist" me with my health journey. I don't want to call it a weight-loss journey because that's not my ultimate goal. Health is my ultimate goal. I am still looking for that "one thing" to keep me motivated and I don't know that there can be just "one thing." I put on some pounds over the end of year holidays. I love to eat. I love food. I will probably never crave a carrot. But I am learning that no matter how good that doughnut tastes in the present, I'm usually regretting the choice within the hour (hello sugar crash!).

So back to my Fitbit. I wear it on my wrist and I have 2 different colored bands to change it up a bit. I use it as my morning alarm clock (and have only slept through it once!) and when I reach my step goal and the bit buzzes in celebration, I get excited. So I was really excited to see my year in review that recently came through my email. 910 MILES! 2.1 MILLION steps! I guess I should have realized, but holy cow. It is amazing to see it right there. Now, I do wish they included total calories burned because spin class, lifting don't show up in the number of steps I took [yeah, 788,000 calories burned!] nor does the number of active minutes (which I'm not able to find a total for).

I try to track food as well, but I'm not sure I'm doing the best job of estimate portion sizes.

I like that the Fitbit helps keep me going. I'm trying a few other things right now as well. Mostly because I need to figure out my motivation. I want to be healthy so I can live a long time and enjoy my girls growing up and maybe my grandchildren. I want to be able to enjoy this life and world with my husband. And I know I need to honor God by taking care of everything he has entrusted to me, which includes this body. I joined a Bible study at our church called "Bod4God." We had the kick off on Monday and start the weigh ins next week. I need to take some pictures for a comparison. My goal is 15 lbs over the next 12 weeks. 

I plan to write about this journey. Prayers for safe travels are appreciated!

2014 Winter

I love that the girls are old enough that they can go outside & play by themselves!

Santa: I know Him!!!

I love how much Jessie loves Santa. Maggie loves and believes in him too. As much as she believes in God. Even though she doesn't want to visit with him in person ("He knows what I want.")

Tae Kwon Do

When Maggie was 3, the movie "Kung Fu Panda" came out. She decided right then that she needed to learn Kung Fu. We figured she would forget about it. Do we even know this girl?? Almost daily, we would drive by a school. And almost daily, Maggie would say "Dat's where I will learn Kung Fu." 

When she got into kindergarten, I started looking into it, though not too seriously. She didn't mention it as often, but it would still come up occasionally. Then we moved and we had a little more disposable income. Maggie started talking about it more and we thought it would be good to get her into something active. She's not interested in team sports. So we found a dojo called Victory Martial Arts and let her try a few classes. She was hooked!

She started in January 2014 and has progressed steadily, always passing to the next level: white, orange, yellow and now green belts. She is learning self defense, balance, confidence and how to break boards! Yes that is correct -- Mr Jeff insists that each student breaks a board prior to moving to the next belt. It usually takes her a few tries, but she has always done it. She is doing so well that other parents are commenting and Mr Jeff mentioned that she is catching on quicker, sometimes just my watching.

She's loving it and says she's taking it all the way to black belt!