Welcome Back!

Tonight's blog will not be long. I just want to communicate that I am trying to get back into the swing of things with my workout. Tonight's workout was a good one, but more importantly it is the start of my third week working out 4 to 5 days each week. I am feeling pretty good now and the aches have stated to wear off as my body gets used to working out again.

I Think I Am More Tortoise Then Hare

        

I got on the scale today and I weighed 311.8 Lbs. Which is good news, because it means I am continuing to lose weight as I try to pick up where I left off several months ago. Now that we have moved into a new house and have finished most of the major remodeling that we had to get done I am trying to get back on track. As I get back on track I am trying to get back to the things that I was doing before which include r educing the amount of calories that I consume by making healthier menu choices and by limiting my portion sizes and increasing my activity levels. Did you know that operating a chainsaw and clearing brush for 5 to 6 hours in 35 degree weather is great exercise? Anyway, as I am continuing my journey to live a more disciplined life I feel like a tortoise rather then a hare. I am feeling successful if I can continue to make better decisions one day at a time and can continue to progress in my journey. For those of you who may also be trying o live healthier lives there are a few tools that I am utilizing that have been helpful. The first one has been the MyFitnessPal app. this app allows me to track anything that I eat, both the calories and the nutritional information, any exercise and activity that I do, and my weight. In addition, it offers blogs and suggestions to assist me as I continue to become more disciplined. Another product that has been helping are the wellness drinks and protein shakes put out by Zurvita under the Zeal brand. In addition, to having products they also have programs to assist you with exercise and fitness. The portion that has been helpful to me has been the wellness drinks, because it allows me to get some additional nutritional benefits and an energy boost in the morning and the protein shakes. I have been using the shakes in the morning for breakfast becaust they are easy to fix and handy to carry as I go out the door to work. I have tried several brands and to me these are some of the best tasting ones. Anyway, I will continue to try and keep posting as I make progress. I will have to post a new picture wearing a 3XL tie dye shirt that a friend gave me now that I can fit into it.

It Has Been A While.

      It has been quite a long time since I have entered anything on my blog and I know many of you may not know what I have been up to recently. I am still pastoring in Cotter, AR and am still trying to live a life as much as like Christ as possible. Since I last made an entry I have switched jobs. I am now teaching school at Mountain Home Guy Berry College and Career Academy in Mountain Home, AR. It is with the public school system and is an alternative learning environment. It is a great place to be able to teach and I enjoy the students that I am a working with. If you have followed my blog in the past my hope is that you will continue to follow along and be blessed.
      As we begin the new year I cannot help but reflect on my need for a savior. This morning during the service I challenged the congregation with the question, Do I really need a savior? or more importantly, Do I believe that I really need a savior? As I reflect on what the Bible says about sin I am reminded of Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." As a part of the human race it is imperative that I realize am included in that "all". I have been reading a Systematic Theology text by Wayne Grudham that defines sin as any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature. The standard by which I am judged is not other men, but the pure and holy God who created the universe. His word speaks to sin in action, individual sins such as lying or stealing, but also sins of attitude, such as coveting and anger. Both are addressed in the scripture and when I think about myself I realize that I still need a savior because I  am sinful in both action and attitude. Furthermore, I realize that my nature is also sinful. In order to see my sinful nature I do not have to look very far. I think of my desires to put myself above others. I think of how I respond when people hurt me. My reaction apart from Christ is to hurt them before they hurt me. Therefore, it becomes more apparent to me each day I am saved, how much I really need a savior.
         When compared to God's holiness my righteousness is no where near enough. My righteousness sticks out against God's holiness like red dot painted on an otherwise stark white wall. Because sin so corrupts my entire being it is impossible for me to save myself. I cannot become something I am not. I need Jesus to come in and completely change me. According to the book of Romans, what I have earned for my sin is death. I cannot save myself. I need Jesus to make me righteous and to transform my life. Therefore, my prayer as I start this new year is that Jesus continues to be my Lord and savior and that he makes me who he has called me to be. In Christ I am a new creation. All things have become new.

The Scale Is Going In The RIght Direction!

     It has been a few days since my last entry, but things are going well. The scale has started to move back in the right direction.  It has been very helpful having a team of people trying to do it with me. Their help was the extra motivation that I have needed to get back on track. Even though I have not posted an entry for a few days I have been doing well. I have been exercising at least thirty minutes a day, watching my portion sizes, eating better foods, and not eating after 6:00 PM. It all adds up to make a difference.
     It is amazing how much more energy I have when I am eating right and exercising as opposed to how lethargic I feel and act when I am not doing these things. My predominant form of exercise has been to ride the stationary bike for at least thirty minutes. As I continue to lose weight I will try to add different forms of exercise. Since my oldest son likes to run and I probably begin to try adding that back in as I lose more weight. In addition to aerobic activity I am go to start trying to add some weight training in. As I progress I will continue to post updates. Thank you again for your support and I look forward to progress.

It Has Been A While!

It has been a while since I have posted an entry. The main reason for that is because I have been struggling to get back into a routine. When I first started this journey I was going great and in many ways it was easy. However, when we moved my routine was interrupted and it has been a struggle to get back at it. Today I am beginning the journey again and appreciate any support and advice you guys can offer. I have gained some of the weight back and currently weight 338.8 lbs. However, several members of my congregation and I have joined forces and are running a contest to see who can lose weight in an effort to become and stay healthy. The guidelines that we are following include following a weight loss regimen that must be healthy and come through life style changes and exercise. No starving or extreme dieting is allowed because in the end this is not healthy. I am looking forward to the challenge and it is great to have a team of individuals also moving towards the same goal. Stay tuned and I will let you know more as things develop.

Another Day is done.

     I intended to get up early this morning to go to the gym to workout. However, after the alarm clock went off at 5:00 AM I decided I was still tired and would sleep in an extra hour because I was going to teach a class after getting off work. Even though I slept in I decided that I would still get in some exercise during my lunch break at work. So for thirty minutes I walked at a good pace around the grounds of the production facility where I am employed.
     For breakfast this morning I ate a bowl of oatmeal with cranberries in it. I also had a large unsweet tea with three splenda to drink. For lunch today I ate some left over seafood pasta and some left over KC strips that I had cooked over the weekend. I ate a snack in the middle of the afternoon. I split a bag of light butter popcorn with a coworker. After getting off work I went to Subway for dinner and ate a 6 inch roast beef sub with spinach, tomato, onion, and light mayo. I ate a bag of baked Lays sour cream and onion chips. During the class i ate three iced oatmeal cookies. When I got home tonight I had a dill pickle for a snack and did some house work before calling it a day.
     Tomorrow is going to be a challenging day because we are having a meal at work and i have no control over what is on the menu. However, I will do my best to control portion sizes. Another day is done and tomorrow is on the way.

11/30/2011

     Today was a good day. I got up early this morning and went to the gym to workout. I rode the bike for 30 minutes. After working out I ate a bowl of oatmeal with some cranberries in it for breakfast. For lunch I went to a local pizza place in town. I ordered a grilled chicken breast sandwich and had a salad instead of fries. I held the cheese on the salad and had a slice of cheese on the sandwich instead.
    Tonight for dinner I ate at the church. I had a bowl of beans, a spoonful of turnips, a piece of cornbread, a spoonful of potatoes, a serving of cole slaw, and a serving of fruit salad. I also ate a small slice of cake for dessert. Later when I got home I ate a pickle for a snack.
     Over all it was a good day. I am planning to get up early to workout and will see what the day may hold. So far so good!