Thursday, April 28, 2011
1 Month 3 Days
I slept in today because I was up late last night helping my son finish his science fair project. For breakfast I had a boat of oatmeal and fruit, a large usweet tea, and I splurged and order a mini breakfast burrito. At lunch I had a board meeting and we ate Mexican. I had my 10 chips, and the pollo Monterey (chicken with grilled veggies), and a Diet Coke. We had a cake for one of my co-workers for her birthday. I had a small piece and 1 scoop of ice cream. For sinner I got back on track with a 6 inch roast beef from Subway. I had the whole grain bread, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, onions, and no cheese. I also had a bag of baked Lays and a Diet Coke. Because today was a long day I am going to rest tonight. In the morning I will get back on track.
1 Month 2 Days
I am writing this entry late because yesterday was a long day. I got up early at 5:00 AM and walked and jogged on the treadmill for 30 minutes. After getting the kids up I ate a bowl of oatmeal and a large unsweet tea from McDonald's. For lunch I went to Subway and had a 6 inch roast beef sub on 9 grain wheat, with tomato, onion, lettuce, and spinach, and a bag of Baked Lays. It cam with a free cookie so I ate a white chocolate and Macadamian nut cookie. For dinner we ate at the church. I had a slice of meat loaf, a serving of green beans, a serving of carrots, 1 roll, a serving of mash potatoes, and a small serving of banana pudding.
After church i was up until midnight helping my son with his science fair project. He typed it , but I helped him proof it, printed it, and then helped lay it out for him. The good news is that even though I ate some dessert today i did not eat after 6:00 PM. The treats were good, and I think they are OK as long as they are the exception and not the norm.
After church i was up until midnight helping my son with his science fair project. He typed it , but I helped him proof it, printed it, and then helped lay it out for him. The good news is that even though I ate some dessert today i did not eat after 6:00 PM. The treats were good, and I think they are OK as long as they are the exception and not the norm.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
1 Month 1 Day
I started today by having a hard time getting up. I got up to workout, put my shoes on, looked for the TV remote so I could listen to David Crowder on DVD while I walked, and did not find the remote so I went back to bed because I was tired. However, it was worth it because five minutes after I went to bed my youngest son crawled into bed and cuddled for the next hour.
I got back up again at 6:15 AM and made oatmeal for the kids. Because I took a shower I ran out of time to make and eat my oatmeal. Instead I went through the McDonald's drive thru and had an oatmeal with fruit, and a large unsweet tea. For lunch I went to Park View Pizza in Flippin, AR and had a grilled chicken sandwich with lettuce, tomato, onion, mustard, and mayo on it. I accompanied it with a side salad with honey mustard dressing and a Diet Coke. For dinner my wife made vegetable beef soup so I had a bowl of that and a grilled cheese and turkey sandwich. I used fat free cheese, low fat butter, and fat free turkey on the sandwich. (I am still trying to figure out how you make a slice of turkey with absolutely no fat.) After eating dinner I ran some errands and picked the girls up from girl scouts. When I got home I had a cup and a half of low fat kettle corn popcorn. I also drank a quart of 2% milk.
Before I went to bed I ran and walked for 30 minutes on the tread mill. Overall it was a very good day. After weighing in I am amazed how much weight I have lost simply by being deliberate about what I eat, by eating healthier, and by exercising moderately 6 out of 7 days. I am also amazed at the results because I am not starving myself. I look forward to another great day tomorrow.
I got back up again at 6:15 AM and made oatmeal for the kids. Because I took a shower I ran out of time to make and eat my oatmeal. Instead I went through the McDonald's drive thru and had an oatmeal with fruit, and a large unsweet tea. For lunch I went to Park View Pizza in Flippin, AR and had a grilled chicken sandwich with lettuce, tomato, onion, mustard, and mayo on it. I accompanied it with a side salad with honey mustard dressing and a Diet Coke. For dinner my wife made vegetable beef soup so I had a bowl of that and a grilled cheese and turkey sandwich. I used fat free cheese, low fat butter, and fat free turkey on the sandwich. (I am still trying to figure out how you make a slice of turkey with absolutely no fat.) After eating dinner I ran some errands and picked the girls up from girl scouts. When I got home I had a cup and a half of low fat kettle corn popcorn. I also drank a quart of 2% milk.
Before I went to bed I ran and walked for 30 minutes on the tread mill. Overall it was a very good day. After weighing in I am amazed how much weight I have lost simply by being deliberate about what I eat, by eating healthier, and by exercising moderately 6 out of 7 days. I am also amazed at the results because I am not starving myself. I look forward to another great day tomorrow.
1 Month weigh in!
I went by the gym today and weighed in. I weighed in at 312 lbs. So far I have lost 26 lbs!
Monday, April 25, 2011
1 Month!
Today marks exactly one month since I started this blog, and the journey towards better health that I believe God has called me to. Through out the last month I have been allowing God to help me to change my eating habits because it has been an idol in my life. I wanted God to have control of my life, but this area is mine. However, with God's help I believe that He has been changing this area of my life. I believe He has been changing me from being someone living to eat to someone who eats to live. I still enjoy eating , but I feel like God has begun to give me control over this area in my life.
Today I tried to get up early, but was still tiered so i ended up going back to bed for an additional 45 minutes. Because I went back to bed I did not workout this morning. After I did get up I had an oatmeal from McDonald's with fruit in it and a large unsweet tea. For lunch I met with a fellow pastor and we ate at Subway. I ate a 6 inch roast beef sub on the 9 grain bread with lettuce, spinach, tomato's, onions, low fat mayo, a bag of baked Lay's sour cream and onion chips, and a Diet Pepsi to drink. Late in the day when I got off of work I went to Subway for dinner because my wife and the kids had already eaten. I again had a six inch roast beef sub on the multi grain bread, with lettuce, tomato, spinach, onion, light mayo, and a slice of pepper jack cheese. I also had a Diet Pepsi and a bag of BBQ baked Lay's chips.
I had several things to do this evening so I did not stay home until 8:00 PM. Since I did not workout this morning I made a point to walk and jog on the treadmill for 30 minutes. In addition, I was a little hungry so I had about twelve almonds through out the evening.
Over all I think it was a great day. I normally weigh today , but because I was unable to get to the gym this evening I will try to stop by and weigh in tomorrow morning when I take the kids to school.
Today I tried to get up early, but was still tiered so i ended up going back to bed for an additional 45 minutes. Because I went back to bed I did not workout this morning. After I did get up I had an oatmeal from McDonald's with fruit in it and a large unsweet tea. For lunch I met with a fellow pastor and we ate at Subway. I ate a 6 inch roast beef sub on the 9 grain bread with lettuce, spinach, tomato's, onions, low fat mayo, a bag of baked Lay's sour cream and onion chips, and a Diet Pepsi to drink. Late in the day when I got off of work I went to Subway for dinner because my wife and the kids had already eaten. I again had a six inch roast beef sub on the multi grain bread, with lettuce, tomato, spinach, onion, light mayo, and a slice of pepper jack cheese. I also had a Diet Pepsi and a bag of BBQ baked Lay's chips.
I had several things to do this evening so I did not stay home until 8:00 PM. Since I did not workout this morning I made a point to walk and jog on the treadmill for 30 minutes. In addition, I was a little hungry so I had about twelve almonds through out the evening.
Over all I think it was a great day. I normally weigh today , but because I was unable to get to the gym this evening I will try to stop by and weigh in tomorrow morning when I take the kids to school.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
3 Weeks 6 Days
Today was Easter so my day began early. We had the community Sunrise Service at ort church so we had to be there by 6:00 AM After the sunrise service we had a potluck breakfast with the other churches. I took a breakfast casserole that was made with turkey sausage and fat free cheese so that I could eat healthier. At the potluck I ate some of my casserole and grab two pieces of sausage that someone else brought. I found my self snacking on items through out the morning. I think what I will need to do in the future at potlucks will be to fix myself a plate and when I am done with it make a point not to go back.
For lunch my father took us our for lunch. We ended up going to Roma Italian restaurant in Mountain Home. I did good by not ordering a an appetizer. However, I should have only eaten one roll instead of two. I ate pasta with chicken and shrimp and an cream sauce. My wife and I split a tiramisu for dessert. For dinner we ate left overs. I ended up eating a piece of the breakfast casserole that was left over. I also worked out today even though it was Sunday so that I could make up for missing yesterday. It was a difficult weekend for eating, but it was still an improvement over the past. Tomorrow is a new day and with me going back to work I can make sure I get back into my routine.
For lunch my father took us our for lunch. We ended up going to Roma Italian restaurant in Mountain Home. I did good by not ordering a an appetizer. However, I should have only eaten one roll instead of two. I ate pasta with chicken and shrimp and an cream sauce. My wife and I split a tiramisu for dessert. For dinner we ate left overs. I ended up eating a piece of the breakfast casserole that was left over. I also worked out today even though it was Sunday so that I could make up for missing yesterday. It was a difficult weekend for eating, but it was still an improvement over the past. Tomorrow is a new day and with me going back to work I can make sure I get back into my routine.
3 Weeks 5 Days
Yesterday I did not get to workout on the treadmill. However, I still tried to watch what I ate. For breakfast I ate a bowl of oatmeal with fruit. After breakfast I took the kids to my son's baseball practice. It was short practice so we went back to the house and did chores. Since my wife had to work on school work my kids, my dad, and I went to the movies. For lunch we went tot he Chinese buffet because three of them eat free. I ordered off of the menu and only ate 1/2 of my order and took the rest home. At the movies my kid's and I spilt a popcorn, some gummi bears, and a large Diet Coke. For dinner my wife made beef stroganoff. I ate one serving of beef stroganoff. Later that night because we were getting ready for the Community Sunrise service my wife got hungry and as a result I realized I was hungry, We ended up splitting the left overs I had from lunch.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
3 Weeks 4 Days
I am writing this entry a little late because we showed "The Passion of the Christ" at church last night. As a result it was late when I got home. Yesterday I ate oatmeal with fruit for breakfast after prayer at the church. For lunch my Dad came into town and we went to the fish house. I got Cajun grilled fish, with a baked potato, Cole slaw, and it came with beans. I ate two small hush puppies and avoided the rest because they were fired.
For diner the kids and I went to subway where I had a six inch chicken salad sandwich, with a bag of baked lays and a Diet Pepsi. After diner we went to the church for the movie. At the church they had food. I ate had a slice of pizza, but as the evening even on I went back for more. So yesterday evening was not real good. I need to find a way to deal with events like this better. I did some exercise yesterday and jogged on the treadmill for 5 minutes and then walked another 10 minutes before running out of time. Today is another day so I will have a chance to better.
For diner the kids and I went to subway where I had a six inch chicken salad sandwich, with a bag of baked lays and a Diet Pepsi. After diner we went to the church for the movie. At the church they had food. I ate had a slice of pizza, but as the evening even on I went back for more. So yesterday evening was not real good. I need to find a way to deal with events like this better. I did some exercise yesterday and jogged on the treadmill for 5 minutes and then walked another 10 minutes before running out of time. Today is another day so I will have a chance to better.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
3 Weeks 3 Days
Today has been a long day. We made it safely back from Little Rock. The doctor confirmed what we already knew, that the EEG did not show anything abnormal on my daughter. However, since the Trileptal is preventing the issue she was having we are going to maintain the medication and retest her in 6 months. It was a long trip for a doctor's visit, but it gave my wife and I some quality time with one of our kids and sometime to look around Little Rock.
For breakfast I ate oatmeal with fruit that we got at the first open McDonald's on the way down. I supplemented it with a large unsweet tea and a bite of my daughters hash brown. Once we were in Little Rock my wife and I both agreed we were not eating McDonald's for lunch. Instead,after my daughters appointment we went down to the river walk and ate in the riverside market. For lunch we ate some Middle Eastern food. I had a gyro, a serving of lentils and noodles (Egyptian), and three pieces of dolmus (stuffed grape leaves). To drink I had an unsweet tea.
As we were heading back I was tired so I began popping sunflower seeds to stay awake. It works, but only if you are driving. I probably ate a 1/4 of a cup of seeds. Since it made me thirsty I also drank a Diet Pepsi.
Once we got back into Flippin, I picked the kids up from a friends house and took them out for dinner. Half of the kids wanted Happy Meals and the other half wanted Subway. So after going through the McDonald's drive thru I took the family to Subway , Happy Meals and all so I could still eat healthy. I ended up getting a 6 inch roast beef sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, and onion with low fat mayo on it. I had a bag of baked sour cream potato chips and a Diet Pepsi. After seeing my chips my youngest son no longer wanted his french fries so he ate some of my chips and I ate some of his french fries. Over all I probably ate half a pack of McDonald's small fries. (I can do without them for a while again, since the longing for them has been met in moderation).
After getting the kids to bed and the animals fed and situated I went to the gym to workout tonight. I walked the treadmill for 30 minutes, then rode the bike for 30 minutes, and ended by lifting a few sets of light weights. It was a great day and it was good to be able to go out to eat at unknown places and still try to eat healthy. I have to say thank you to my wife because at lunch I wanted to finish her gyro, and my daughter's chicken strips out of habit and because I did not want to waste them. Instead, I walked them to the trash and dumped the leftovers. My dad is coming in for the weekend so I will now get to continue my journey with him around. It should be great! I am looking forward to it.
For breakfast I ate oatmeal with fruit that we got at the first open McDonald's on the way down. I supplemented it with a large unsweet tea and a bite of my daughters hash brown. Once we were in Little Rock my wife and I both agreed we were not eating McDonald's for lunch. Instead,after my daughters appointment we went down to the river walk and ate in the riverside market. For lunch we ate some Middle Eastern food. I had a gyro, a serving of lentils and noodles (Egyptian), and three pieces of dolmus (stuffed grape leaves). To drink I had an unsweet tea.
As we were heading back I was tired so I began popping sunflower seeds to stay awake. It works, but only if you are driving. I probably ate a 1/4 of a cup of seeds. Since it made me thirsty I also drank a Diet Pepsi.
Once we got back into Flippin, I picked the kids up from a friends house and took them out for dinner. Half of the kids wanted Happy Meals and the other half wanted Subway. So after going through the McDonald's drive thru I took the family to Subway , Happy Meals and all so I could still eat healthy. I ended up getting a 6 inch roast beef sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, and onion with low fat mayo on it. I had a bag of baked sour cream potato chips and a Diet Pepsi. After seeing my chips my youngest son no longer wanted his french fries so he ate some of my chips and I ate some of his french fries. Over all I probably ate half a pack of McDonald's small fries. (I can do without them for a while again, since the longing for them has been met in moderation).
After getting the kids to bed and the animals fed and situated I went to the gym to workout tonight. I walked the treadmill for 30 minutes, then rode the bike for 30 minutes, and ended by lifting a few sets of light weights. It was a great day and it was good to be able to go out to eat at unknown places and still try to eat healthy. I have to say thank you to my wife because at lunch I wanted to finish her gyro, and my daughter's chicken strips out of habit and because I did not want to waste them. Instead, I walked them to the trash and dumped the leftovers. My dad is coming in for the weekend so I will now get to continue my journey with him around. It should be great! I am looking forward to it.
3 Weeks 2 Days
I am actually writing this on day 3 of week number four because we went to bed early last night so that we could leave early this morning for Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, AR. Because it is a 3.5 hour drive and our appointment is at 9:30 AM we had to leave rather early.
Yesterday I got up early and walked the treadmill for 30 minutes. For breakfast I ate a bowl of oatmeal with fruit in it. For lunch I took my lunch. I am trying to take my lunch more often because it is healthier and because it is cheaper. I had a boiled egg, a bowl of beans, and a bowl of broccoli, cauliflower, tomato, and onion salad.
For dinner we ate at the church. At church I had a serving of red beans with smoked sausage in it, a serving of macaroni and cheese, a piece of corn bread, some cucumber salad, and a small serving of blue berry crisp. Later that night when we got home my wife was hungry, and so I ate as well. So after 8:00 PM I ate a Jimmy Dean turkey sausage with egg and cheese. I really should not have eaten this late so today I will need to better. I will post another entry this evening when I am not sitting in a doctor's waiting room.
Yesterday I got up early and walked the treadmill for 30 minutes. For breakfast I ate a bowl of oatmeal with fruit in it. For lunch I took my lunch. I am trying to take my lunch more often because it is healthier and because it is cheaper. I had a boiled egg, a bowl of beans, and a bowl of broccoli, cauliflower, tomato, and onion salad.
For dinner we ate at the church. At church I had a serving of red beans with smoked sausage in it, a serving of macaroni and cheese, a piece of corn bread, some cucumber salad, and a small serving of blue berry crisp. Later that night when we got home my wife was hungry, and so I ate as well. So after 8:00 PM I ate a Jimmy Dean turkey sausage with egg and cheese. I really should not have eaten this late so today I will need to better. I will post another entry this evening when I am not sitting in a doctor's waiting room.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
For the glory of God.
In the film "Chariots of Fire" there is a scene where Eric Liddell's sister is expressing her concern about his running because he is called to be a missionary to China. She is concerned that the running is a distraction from the purpose that God has called him to. In the movie (There is no indication that Eric Liddell said this in real life) he responds by saying, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure".
Today as I was reflecting on this journey that God has called me to I thought of that line. Each time I have a good day, each time I meet a goal, or each time have a success I feel God's pleasure. Since this has been a spiritual journey as well as a physical journey it has been a great experience. I look forward to each day because I look forward to what God is going to do and how He is going to help me through whatever may come. With each milestone that I meet my hope is that God receives the glory as he transforms my life.
Today as I was reflecting on this journey that God has called me to I thought of that line. Each time I have a good day, each time I meet a goal, or each time have a success I feel God's pleasure. Since this has been a spiritual journey as well as a physical journey it has been a great experience. I look forward to each day because I look forward to what God is going to do and how He is going to help me through whatever may come. With each milestone that I meet my hope is that God receives the glory as he transforms my life.
3 Weeks 1 Day
Today was a great day . I'm not sure why, but it was difficult to get up again this morning even through I went to bed early. For breakfast I had a bowl of oatmeal from McDonald's and a large unsweet tea. At lunch time I ate a grilled chicken sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and onion on it with some mayo and mustard. Instead of french fries I substituted a side salad with honey mustard dressing. For dinner tonight I had a grilled Southwest chicken salad.
Because we had severe thunderstorms this evening my girls did not have softball practice, instead since I am cooking the main dish at the church meal tomorrow night I had the kids help me prepare it. We spent the evening cutting vegetables, sorting beans, and cleaning up the dishes afterwards. As the beans were slow cooking I walked the treadmill for 30 minutes. I ended up eating about a quarter of a cup of beans afterwards. Other than the beans at 10:00 PM at night I had a good day.
Because we had severe thunderstorms this evening my girls did not have softball practice, instead since I am cooking the main dish at the church meal tomorrow night I had the kids help me prepare it. We spent the evening cutting vegetables, sorting beans, and cleaning up the dishes afterwards. As the beans were slow cooking I walked the treadmill for 30 minutes. I ended up eating about a quarter of a cup of beans afterwards. Other than the beans at 10:00 PM at night I had a good day.
Monday, April 18, 2011
3 Weeks - I lost 2 more lbs!
Today was weigh in day! I have lost another 2 lbs. My weight today is 320 lbs. This morning I slept in a little bit so I did not walk this morning. However, tonight I did walk on the tread mill for 40 minutes. When I got up this morning I had oatmeal with fruit in it. I purchased an unsweet tea and drank it through out the morning. For lunch I met with another pastor at Subway. I ended up eating a six inch roast beef sub, with baked sour cream and onion lays, and a Diet Pepsi.
When I got off work my youngest son had t-ball practice and my oldest son had Boy Scouts so I fixed a quick dinner before we left so that I would not eat after 6:00 PM. I ended up eating a ham and cheese sandwich made with fat free cheese, mayo, and mustard. I also ate a a serving of the broccoli, cauliflower, and tomatoes salad that I had made on Sunday. After practiced and Boy Scouts I came home and walked on the treadmill for 40 minutes. I also ate a fruit newton thin for a snack. Since it is early I am going to relax and watch the new Tron movie. Tommorrow is a new day and I look forward to it.
When I got off work my youngest son had t-ball practice and my oldest son had Boy Scouts so I fixed a quick dinner before we left so that I would not eat after 6:00 PM. I ended up eating a ham and cheese sandwich made with fat free cheese, mayo, and mustard. I also ate a a serving of the broccoli, cauliflower, and tomatoes salad that I had made on Sunday. After practiced and Boy Scouts I came home and walked on the treadmill for 40 minutes. I also ate a fruit newton thin for a snack. Since it is early I am going to relax and watch the new Tron movie. Tommorrow is a new day and I look forward to it.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
2 Weeks 6 Days
This week of my journey is quickly coming to an end.This morning I slept in until 7:30 AM. Since it is Sunday I did not work out today. We got up and went to church and I took my breakfast with me. This morning I had a turkey sausage, egg white, and potato breakfast bowl. I originally planned on cooking lunch at the house, but because we had some friends come to church today we decided to go out for lunch. Instead of cooking at the house we went to Diego's Mexican restaurant for lunch. I counted my 10 chips out and got the pollo Monterrey with an unsweet tea.
Later in the afternoon I prepared dinner for my family. Last night I took out a NY strip steak and marinated over night. I also made a salad with some broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, and onions that we had. I chopped up the vegetables and then covered them with Italian dressing. In the future I will use fat free dressing, but for today I used what was in the refrigerator. The other side dish we had was herb roasted potatoes. However, instead of using butter I used non-stick cooking spray on them. They still browned some in the oven and still had a good flavor. However, by leaving out the butter the calorie count was lower.
After church we told the kids that we would have dessert before we went to bed. (In reality, we waited for the dessert until after church because I knew the kids would say they were hungry and would need a snack.) We ended up having strawberry shortcake using fresh strawberries, angel food cake cups, and light whipped cream. It was about 8:00 PM when we had them so it was later, but it was still a good time with some of the people from our church.
As I review the weekend I thing it went good, although I was stiff most of the day from yesterday's baseball practice. I am still managing to eat healthier, I have also had several of you offer encouragement and for that I say thank you. Another thing that I noticed is that my entire family was able to eat on a package of steak that in the past would have been enough for my wife and myself. Intead of having two big NY stirp steaks I cut the steaks into 7 small steaks each about the size of a deck of cards. Which is significant because that is the recommend serving size from the USDA food pyramid. I cannot believe how much I was eating previously. No wonder I am overweight!
Later in the afternoon I prepared dinner for my family. Last night I took out a NY strip steak and marinated over night. I also made a salad with some broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, and onions that we had. I chopped up the vegetables and then covered them with Italian dressing. In the future I will use fat free dressing, but for today I used what was in the refrigerator. The other side dish we had was herb roasted potatoes. However, instead of using butter I used non-stick cooking spray on them. They still browned some in the oven and still had a good flavor. However, by leaving out the butter the calorie count was lower.
After church we told the kids that we would have dessert before we went to bed. (In reality, we waited for the dessert until after church because I knew the kids would say they were hungry and would need a snack.) We ended up having strawberry shortcake using fresh strawberries, angel food cake cups, and light whipped cream. It was about 8:00 PM when we had them so it was later, but it was still a good time with some of the people from our church.
As I review the weekend I thing it went good, although I was stiff most of the day from yesterday's baseball practice. I am still managing to eat healthier, I have also had several of you offer encouragement and for that I say thank you. Another thing that I noticed is that my entire family was able to eat on a package of steak that in the past would have been enough for my wife and myself. Intead of having two big NY stirp steaks I cut the steaks into 7 small steaks each about the size of a deck of cards. Which is significant because that is the recommend serving size from the USDA food pyramid. I cannot believe how much I was eating previously. No wonder I am overweight!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
2 Weeks 5 Days
Whew! Today is almost over. Today was a definitely a long day. I did not get up early and walk the treadmill. Instead, I got up at 7:00 AM and cooked turkey sausage, and eggs. I made a turkey sausage, egg, and cheese muffin breakfast sandwich for everyone. I then load all the kids up and went to my sons baseball practice. While at his practice I ran the bases for his team for the first hour and half of practice. I figured I got pretty good exercise doing that. However, my body is stiff tonight.
Because my wife is working on her masters degree I made a Dad Day with the kids. After my oldest son's practice we ate at Diamond Head Chinese Buffet because kids 10 and under are free on Saturdays and Sundays. What! You ate at a buffet? Doesn't that go against this journey you have started? Before you get to excited I did not eat the buffet. Instead, I ordered off the menu. I had my Diet Pepsi and crab and scallops with vegetables in garlic sauce. I had it over steamed rice instead of fried rice because it was healthier. It also came with a choice of soup or salad. For a change I went with the soup. I got the hot and sour soup because I thought it would be healthier than the egg drop soup. The good news is I also took home a doggie bag. I had leftovers from a restaurant! I took my time eating and only ate half of the entree I ordered. I took the rest home and my wife ate it for dinner.
After lunch I took the kids to see Rio at the movie theatre. At the theatre we split a Large Diet Coke and a pack of sour gummy worms. I think it broke down to about 5 worms a piece. After the movie ended the kids and I went home where we worked in the garden for a couple of hours. We tilled the soil again (used the tractor) and then I dug two rows where we planted red onion, white onions, and yellow onions. We are going to try and plant some additional things through the week.
Once we were done in the garden I made baths for the kids and heated left over pizza up for them. By this time it was 8:00 PM so they ate dinner and went to bed. When my wife got home from cleaning the church she ate my left over Chinese food and I ate a 6 inch turkey ham and cheese sandwich, 1/2 a slice of pizza, and a couple of bites of the vegetables from lunch. Overall, it was a good day. I did eat later than I needed to, but since I was working in the garden while we had daylight I do not think it could be helped. Furthermore, after eating I have stayed up for another 3.5 hours. Tomorrow is a new day and I look forward to it!
Because my wife is working on her masters degree I made a Dad Day with the kids. After my oldest son's practice we ate at Diamond Head Chinese Buffet because kids 10 and under are free on Saturdays and Sundays. What! You ate at a buffet? Doesn't that go against this journey you have started? Before you get to excited I did not eat the buffet. Instead, I ordered off the menu. I had my Diet Pepsi and crab and scallops with vegetables in garlic sauce. I had it over steamed rice instead of fried rice because it was healthier. It also came with a choice of soup or salad. For a change I went with the soup. I got the hot and sour soup because I thought it would be healthier than the egg drop soup. The good news is I also took home a doggie bag. I had leftovers from a restaurant! I took my time eating and only ate half of the entree I ordered. I took the rest home and my wife ate it for dinner.
After lunch I took the kids to see Rio at the movie theatre. At the theatre we split a Large Diet Coke and a pack of sour gummy worms. I think it broke down to about 5 worms a piece. After the movie ended the kids and I went home where we worked in the garden for a couple of hours. We tilled the soil again (used the tractor) and then I dug two rows where we planted red onion, white onions, and yellow onions. We are going to try and plant some additional things through the week.
Once we were done in the garden I made baths for the kids and heated left over pizza up for them. By this time it was 8:00 PM so they ate dinner and went to bed. When my wife got home from cleaning the church she ate my left over Chinese food and I ate a 6 inch turkey ham and cheese sandwich, 1/2 a slice of pizza, and a couple of bites of the vegetables from lunch. Overall, it was a good day. I did eat later than I needed to, but since I was working in the garden while we had daylight I do not think it could be helped. Furthermore, after eating I have stayed up for another 3.5 hours. Tomorrow is a new day and I look forward to it!
Friday, April 15, 2011
2 Weeks 4 Days
Thank you Lord for another great day. While it was a good day it was also a long one. My body is definitely letting me know that I am tired. I got up early this morning at 5:15 AM so that I could still walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes before going to prayer at the church. Prayer is at the church from 6:45 AM until 7:30 AM. I worked out before prayer and then grabbed an oatmeal and an unsweet tea from McDonald's on the way to work.
For lunch I took my lunch and ate some of the left over Mexican casserole that I had made. I knew that tonight I would be taking my family out for dinner to Pizza Hut because one of the guys from the church was coming over to help me fix some things around the house. After we installed a freeze proof faucet and repaired the faucet on the front of the house we went to dinner. I told my wife earlier that I was going to get the black forest ham sandwich with a salad in place of the chips even through we were getting Pizza for everyone else. So we got a large supreme pan pizza, a large cheese stuff crust pizza, and a family order of bread sticks, while I got my sandwich and salad. We got the bread stick as an appetizer because it was later then when the kids are used to eating and then had the pizza once they were ready. I ate my salad while everyone else ate bread sticks and then had the sandwich while everyone else ate Pizza. The main thing I noticed is that if I am not eating the Pizza we will be able to get away with one Pizza. I did go through Pizza Hut without eating the bread sticks and pizza and still made healthier choices. However, it is harder doing it out at dinner with my family than it is when I eat lunch. I'm not sure why this is, but I still did it.
As I sit here reflecting on the experience so far I definitely realize that God has been with me in this. For one, it has not been as much of a struggle as it was in the past when I would diet. I think this may be because I have come to realize that I cannot take a break, like I would when I diet. I have to have a change of behavior and life style. Secondly, I think it is because I really believe that God is leading me in this. In the past I have had friends encourage me to lose weight and mention that this area could be an area that God wants to change, but this time I feel I heard God saying that He wanted to be Lord in this area of my life. Whatever the reason may be, I hope that God will be glorified through this journey He has called me to.
For lunch I took my lunch and ate some of the left over Mexican casserole that I had made. I knew that tonight I would be taking my family out for dinner to Pizza Hut because one of the guys from the church was coming over to help me fix some things around the house. After we installed a freeze proof faucet and repaired the faucet on the front of the house we went to dinner. I told my wife earlier that I was going to get the black forest ham sandwich with a salad in place of the chips even through we were getting Pizza for everyone else. So we got a large supreme pan pizza, a large cheese stuff crust pizza, and a family order of bread sticks, while I got my sandwich and salad. We got the bread stick as an appetizer because it was later then when the kids are used to eating and then had the pizza once they were ready. I ate my salad while everyone else ate bread sticks and then had the sandwich while everyone else ate Pizza. The main thing I noticed is that if I am not eating the Pizza we will be able to get away with one Pizza. I did go through Pizza Hut without eating the bread sticks and pizza and still made healthier choices. However, it is harder doing it out at dinner with my family than it is when I eat lunch. I'm not sure why this is, but I still did it.
As I sit here reflecting on the experience so far I definitely realize that God has been with me in this. For one, it has not been as much of a struggle as it was in the past when I would diet. I think this may be because I have come to realize that I cannot take a break, like I would when I diet. I have to have a change of behavior and life style. Secondly, I think it is because I really believe that God is leading me in this. In the past I have had friends encourage me to lose weight and mention that this area could be an area that God wants to change, but this time I feel I heard God saying that He wanted to be Lord in this area of my life. Whatever the reason may be, I hope that God will be glorified through this journey He has called me to.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Oh Happy Day!
I met one of my goals today! When I started my blog I mentioned that I wanted to be able to shop for clothing at Walmart. Well I have lost enough weight that I was able to wear a polo shirt that I had purchased from there last week. The shirt is a 3XL so it is still larger then I need to be, but it is smaller than a 4XL. Losing one shirt size is a great first step. Now I guess these means I will have to wear the 3XL pink polo shirt that my wife purchased for me from there. You know what, I was in high school in the late eighties and early nineties so bring on the pastels!
2 Weeks 3 days
Today was a great day! I got up and exercised for 30 mintues on the treadmill. For breakfast today I changed it up a bit. I had a breakfast bowl that had egg whites, potatoes, and turkey sausage. It was the great value brand from Walmart and has about 220 calories. They cost $2.00-$2.50 and still have a pretty good flavor. One of my favorite meals is eggs and sauage so it is good to have a healthy alternative.
For lunch today I met with the church board at Parkview Pizza in Flippin, AR. I was thinking about lunch all morning because I really had no idea what I was going to eat because they serve pizza, pasta, burgers, and sandwiches. Previously when I have eaten there, there has not been a lot of healthy choices on the menu. However, I did notice they had a chicken breast salad. Normally the chicken there is hand breaded and deep fried. The waitress asked why I have not been there in the last few weeks and I explained to her what I am doing and that I have lost 16 lbs and that the main reason I have not been there is because I am trying to eat healthy. She then asked if I wanted the chicken breast grilled. What I found out is that even though it is not on the menu the staff there is willing to grill the chicken for either the salad or the sandwich. I ended up getting a grilled chicken sandwich with a salad in place of the french fries. So, if you are trying to eat healthy and the menu does not show healthy choices do not be afraid to ask if they can help you out. I now have another resturant that I can continue to eat at and still try to be healthy.
For dinner I had to eat on the run because my kids all had ball practice. I ended up grabbing a southwest chicken salad and an unsweet tea from McDonald's. Today was a great day, I exercised, ate healthy, got to spend time with my children at their ball practices, and will be able to get to bed early. I end the day looking forward to tommorrow.
For lunch today I met with the church board at Parkview Pizza in Flippin, AR. I was thinking about lunch all morning because I really had no idea what I was going to eat because they serve pizza, pasta, burgers, and sandwiches. Previously when I have eaten there, there has not been a lot of healthy choices on the menu. However, I did notice they had a chicken breast salad. Normally the chicken there is hand breaded and deep fried. The waitress asked why I have not been there in the last few weeks and I explained to her what I am doing and that I have lost 16 lbs and that the main reason I have not been there is because I am trying to eat healthy. She then asked if I wanted the chicken breast grilled. What I found out is that even though it is not on the menu the staff there is willing to grill the chicken for either the salad or the sandwich. I ended up getting a grilled chicken sandwich with a salad in place of the french fries. So, if you are trying to eat healthy and the menu does not show healthy choices do not be afraid to ask if they can help you out. I now have another resturant that I can continue to eat at and still try to be healthy.
For dinner I had to eat on the run because my kids all had ball practice. I ended up grabbing a southwest chicken salad and an unsweet tea from McDonald's. Today was a great day, I exercised, ate healthy, got to spend time with my children at their ball practices, and will be able to get to bed early. I end the day looking forward to tommorrow.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Don't diet change your behavior.
Several people have contacted me today and said they are following my blog. They said they are watching my progress and feel like they need to do something about their lifestyles. I'm glad that God is using my journey to encourage people. My hope is that as I continue this journey that God has called me to, that it will have an effect on other people as well. I cannot help but think of the article that I saw on CNN several weeks ago talking about the issue of obesity in the church. For people that are actively involved in church, and for 50% of them to be obese by the time they are in their thirties is an issue. Hopefully, as a pastor as God helps me to change it will inspire others to change.
If God is inspiring you to make changes I would like to encourage you to make life changes not just diet. In my experience every time I dieted I lost weight. However, as soon as I stopped whatever diet plan I was on my weight would balloon back up. The end result was that I have become a super sized Christian. Make changes to your life such as being deliberate about the food you eat, eating healthier choices, and eating smaller portions. If you are going to a resturant that is an issue for you decide what you will eat before you get there. For rxample, if I know that we are going to a Chinese buffet I will decide to order sushi before I get into the resturant. By doing this I have made up my mind before I am tempted by the sights and smells of the buffet.
If I allow God to be the Lord of my eating life as well as the other areas of my life and change the patterns and habits that caused me to become so large then I will continue to live a more disciplined life and will be healthier as a result. I hope that if God leads you to make changes that you will have the faith and courage to allow Him to be the Lord of food areas of your life as well.
If God is inspiring you to make changes I would like to encourage you to make life changes not just diet. In my experience every time I dieted I lost weight. However, as soon as I stopped whatever diet plan I was on my weight would balloon back up. The end result was that I have become a super sized Christian. Make changes to your life such as being deliberate about the food you eat, eating healthier choices, and eating smaller portions. If you are going to a resturant that is an issue for you decide what you will eat before you get there. For rxample, if I know that we are going to a Chinese buffet I will decide to order sushi before I get into the resturant. By doing this I have made up my mind before I am tempted by the sights and smells of the buffet.
If I allow God to be the Lord of my eating life as well as the other areas of my life and change the patterns and habits that caused me to become so large then I will continue to live a more disciplined life and will be healthier as a result. I hope that if God leads you to make changes that you will have the faith and courage to allow Him to be the Lord of food areas of your life as well.
2 Weeks 2 Days
Today was a great day! I got up early and walked on my treadmill for 30 minutes. For breakfast I ate oatmeal with some fruit in it. For lunch I decided to take my lunch to work. I took the low fat dog food that I had made (The low fat Mexican casserole that I made). Like I said, my wife and kids did not like it, but I think it is good. For dinner we had spaghetti and meatballs at the church. I ate a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, a side salad, a piece of garlic toast, and drank some diet cola. I also had one bite of caramel pie and one bite of another dessert. Both were good and the two bites resolved any sweet tooth that I may have had. It also looks like I will get to bed earlier tonight. , which is good because I have been staying up way to late and I am tired.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
My dog likes my cooking!
One of the reasons that I was up so late last night was because I was trying to prepare dinner for tonight. With the kids all playing baseball or softball my evenings are filling up quickly. In addition, my wife is working on her masters degree in special education, so she works on course work in the evenings. Therefore, last night at about 10:00 PM I went to Walmart and found some ingredients to put together a meal. I decided that a Mexican casserole would be good for dinner because the kids always seem to like food like that when my wife cooks it.
So while at Walmart I bought some ground turkey, fat free sour cream, fat free cheese (cheddar and mozzarella), some diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, black beans, and some corn tortillas. I spent the rest of the evening assembling the casserole so that all my wife would need to do when she got home from work would be to heat it up in the oven. I thought great, I have come up with a low fat healthy Mexican casserole that my family will love. (Think of a Mexican lasagna using tortillas instead of noodles and you will have what I made)
Tonight when I arrived home from work my family disproved my hypothesis about the casserole that I had created. I thought it was great but I was out voted 5 to 1. With comments about the black beans, the unidentifiable white meat (my wife's comment), and the texture, Everyone in the family, with the exception of my Golden retriever and my cat, did not care for the meal. I liked it and it must have been really good because my Golden retriever had 5 servings.
I guess if I treat this like a science fair experiment then my results are as follows, 1) This meal is not a keeper and my family thinks I should forget the recipe and 2) I know how to make low fat dog food. Therefore, if you have a family pet (preferably a dog or cat) then I have the perfect low fat recipe for them so that they can begin losing all the weight they have gained since kids have entered the family scene.
So while at Walmart I bought some ground turkey, fat free sour cream, fat free cheese (cheddar and mozzarella), some diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, black beans, and some corn tortillas. I spent the rest of the evening assembling the casserole so that all my wife would need to do when she got home from work would be to heat it up in the oven. I thought great, I have come up with a low fat healthy Mexican casserole that my family will love. (Think of a Mexican lasagna using tortillas instead of noodles and you will have what I made)
Tonight when I arrived home from work my family disproved my hypothesis about the casserole that I had created. I thought it was great but I was out voted 5 to 1. With comments about the black beans, the unidentifiable white meat (my wife's comment), and the texture, Everyone in the family, with the exception of my Golden retriever and my cat, did not care for the meal. I liked it and it must have been really good because my Golden retriever had 5 servings.
I guess if I treat this like a science fair experiment then my results are as follows, 1) This meal is not a keeper and my family thinks I should forget the recipe and 2) I know how to make low fat dog food. Therefore, if you have a family pet (preferably a dog or cat) then I have the perfect low fat recipe for them so that they can begin losing all the weight they have gained since kids have entered the family scene.
2 Weeks 1 Day
My wife can relax! I slept in on Saturday, but worked out in the evening. I did not work out on Sunday because I am taking Sundays off as a day of rest. On Monday I did not get up early because I was afraid that with the Thunderstorms going on that I would have waken all of the kids up. However, I did go to the gym that night. This morning I got up when the alarm clock went off and walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes. I then had oatmeal and fruit for breakfast.
One of the things that I am trying to do more is take my lunch to work. The reason I want to take my lunch is because it is easier to eat healthier that way, but also because it will be significantly cheaper then eating out each day. However, since I did not bring my lunch today a coworker and I went to Sodie's again. I had the same thing that I had yesterday which was the Cajun grilled chicken wrap with the steam vegetables. The waitress commented that she was proud of me for swapping out the veggies for the fries and chips because it was healthier. (I found this interesting because as far as I know she does not know that I am trying to change my eating habits, but the encouragement was nice)
For dinner tonight I made Mexican casserole. It was made with ground turkey, black beans, diced tomatoes, diced onions, Mexican seasoning, corn tortillas, fat free sour cream, tomatoes sauce, and fat free cheese. It was layered like lasagna.Overall it was a low fat one dish meal. Today was a great day and I look forward to tomorrow.
One of the things that I am trying to do more is take my lunch to work. The reason I want to take my lunch is because it is easier to eat healthier that way, but also because it will be significantly cheaper then eating out each day. However, since I did not bring my lunch today a coworker and I went to Sodie's again. I had the same thing that I had yesterday which was the Cajun grilled chicken wrap with the steam vegetables. The waitress commented that she was proud of me for swapping out the veggies for the fries and chips because it was healthier. (I found this interesting because as far as I know she does not know that I am trying to change my eating habits, but the encouragement was nice)
For dinner tonight I made Mexican casserole. It was made with ground turkey, black beans, diced tomatoes, diced onions, Mexican seasoning, corn tortillas, fat free sour cream, tomatoes sauce, and fat free cheese. It was layered like lasagna.Overall it was a low fat one dish meal. Today was a great day and I look forward to tomorrow.
Monday, April 11, 2011
2 weeks
I slept in this morning. When my alarm went off at 5:00 AM there were thunderstorms going on and I was afraid if I got up and exercised that all four kids would have gotten up as well. When I did get up I ate a bowl of oatmeal with fruit for breakfast. I purchased an unsweet tea from McDonald's on the way to work and sipped on it all morning. During our weekly departmental meeting a few coworkers commented that they could tell I have lost some weight. My wife said she noticed this afternoon because she could hug me with out feeling like she was stretching. (Bonus!!!)
For lunch our department went out and I was able to find something healthy on the menu. We ate at Sodie's which is a local restaurant in Flippin, AR. I had the grilled Cajun chicken wrap and instead of chips or fries I had them substitute a side of steamed vegetables. The vegetables were yellow squash, broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower. I can definitely tell things are changing because I thought they were quite good.
For dinner my wife cooked breakfast. Since she knows I am trying to eat better she cooked me an egg white omelet with tomatoes, onions, and fat free cheese. It was accompanied with a piece of toast buttered with low fat butter, and half a banana and 5 strawberries.
Overall I did great eating wise. However, as I am typing this at 12:21 AM I have definitely stayed up to late.The reason I stayed up so late was so that I could get diner ready for the family for tomorrow night. Because we have three baseball practices I figured I should prep the food tonight so that all we have to do is put it in the oven for a few minutes. My plan worked , but I ended up eating a mini ice cream sandwich. I really must try to get to bed earlier.
Today was also weigh in day so when I went to the gym I got on the scale. Today's weight was 322 lbs. I have lost 16 lbs so far. Unlike previous times I am not starving myself. The only thing I am doing is eating less, eating healthier, and not eating after 6:00 PM. I am also exercising 30 minutes a day 6 days out of the week.
For lunch our department went out and I was able to find something healthy on the menu. We ate at Sodie's which is a local restaurant in Flippin, AR. I had the grilled Cajun chicken wrap and instead of chips or fries I had them substitute a side of steamed vegetables. The vegetables were yellow squash, broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower. I can definitely tell things are changing because I thought they were quite good.
For dinner my wife cooked breakfast. Since she knows I am trying to eat better she cooked me an egg white omelet with tomatoes, onions, and fat free cheese. It was accompanied with a piece of toast buttered with low fat butter, and half a banana and 5 strawberries.
Overall I did great eating wise. However, as I am typing this at 12:21 AM I have definitely stayed up to late.The reason I stayed up so late was so that I could get diner ready for the family for tomorrow night. Because we have three baseball practices I figured I should prep the food tonight so that all we have to do is put it in the oven for a few minutes. My plan worked , but I ended up eating a mini ice cream sandwich. I really must try to get to bed earlier.
Today was also weigh in day so when I went to the gym I got on the scale. Today's weight was 322 lbs. I have lost 16 lbs so far. Unlike previous times I am not starving myself. The only thing I am doing is eating less, eating healthier, and not eating after 6:00 PM. I am also exercising 30 minutes a day 6 days out of the week.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Week 2 Day 6
It is Sunday and as a result things are always a little crazy. However, after yesterdays science fair induced calorie over load I am glad to be back on track. For breakfast today I had a turkey sausage breakfast bowl. The breakfast bowl with the turkey sausage from Wal-mart still has good flavor but is lower in calories than the one with traditional sausage.
For lunch today my oldest son and I had to hit the drive thru because we had to go to the lab at the hospital to check his cultures. We went through McDonald's because we were running a little late and they were quicker than the other choices that were available. Since we were rushing we did not have time to go into the dining room and ended up eating on the run. Since it is impossible (definitely not recommended) to eat a salad while driving I ended up ordering a sandwich. I ordered a grilled chicken club meal with fries and a large unsweet tea. I must say that was the first time I have eaten french fries in four weeks. I would have preferred the salad, but for the circumstances it was still a healthier choice than a double quarter pounder with cheese.
While we were going through the drive thru my son asked if we could get a milk shake and I told him we would do it after we went to the lab. After going to the lab we went and got milk shakes as a treat. I ended up getting a small chocolate milk shake while he had a vanilla malt. After getting our milk shakes we decided to go to the batting cages to work on my sons batting. For dinner I ended up eating a southwest chicken salad and a Diet Pepsi.
Tomorrow I will get up early and walk on the tread mill and will continue the adventure.
For lunch today my oldest son and I had to hit the drive thru because we had to go to the lab at the hospital to check his cultures. We went through McDonald's because we were running a little late and they were quicker than the other choices that were available. Since we were rushing we did not have time to go into the dining room and ended up eating on the run. Since it is impossible (definitely not recommended) to eat a salad while driving I ended up ordering a sandwich. I ordered a grilled chicken club meal with fries and a large unsweet tea. I must say that was the first time I have eaten french fries in four weeks. I would have preferred the salad, but for the circumstances it was still a healthier choice than a double quarter pounder with cheese.
While we were going through the drive thru my son asked if we could get a milk shake and I told him we would do it after we went to the lab. After going to the lab we went and got milk shakes as a treat. I ended up getting a small chocolate milk shake while he had a vanilla malt. After getting our milk shakes we decided to go to the batting cages to work on my sons batting. For dinner I ended up eating a southwest chicken salad and a Diet Pepsi.
Tomorrow I will get up early and walk on the tread mill and will continue the adventure.
Life Style versus Diet
You may remember that I told you I have struggled with my weight for the last twenty years. When I graduated from high school and went to college I was no longer playing soccer or marching in the band. As a result my activity level dropped. However, I continued to eat like was still doing these activities. The result was that I began to put on weight.
Throughout the years as I have tried to control my weight I have tried different diets, popular plans for losing weight, and even had some help from my doctor. The immediate result was that I lost weight. At time I dramatically lost weight, but in the end when I stopped whatever the program was I gained the weight back and then some.
Through out all of this it has led me to realize that for me diets do not work. I don't just need to diet, but I need to change my behavior. The problem with dieting is that after my goal was met and I returned to my lifestyle I would relax and fall back into the same pattern of behaviors and would regain the weight. What this means is that I do not need a short term program to lose weight I need a life style change. I need to change my life and behaviors. I have determined that I cannot take a break from a diet. Instead I need to change my pattern of behavior.
Patterns of behavior that I believe God wants me to change are making healthier choices when I eat, exercising more, not taking comfort in food, not eating after 6:00 PM (as a pattern from time to time there may be cases where this is not possible), not eating our of boredom, finding entertainment options not based around food, and being aware of how I think about food.
I know dieting does not work so in order for me to be successful I need to change my food behaviors and as a result my lifestyle.
Through out all of this it has led me to realize that for me diets do not work. I don't just need to diet, but I need to change my behavior. The problem with dieting is that after my goal was met and I returned to my lifestyle I would relax and fall back into the same pattern of behaviors and would regain the weight. What this means is that I do not need a short term program to lose weight I need a life style change. I need to change my life and behaviors. I have determined that I cannot take a break from a diet. Instead I need to change my pattern of behavior.
Patterns of behavior that I believe God wants me to change are making healthier choices when I eat, exercising more, not taking comfort in food, not eating after 6:00 PM (as a pattern from time to time there may be cases where this is not possible), not eating our of boredom, finding entertainment options not based around food, and being aware of how I think about food.
I know dieting does not work so in order for me to be successful I need to change my food behaviors and as a result my lifestyle.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Week 2 Day 5
I knew today was going to be a tough day. My oldest son advanced from his school science fair to the district science fair. However, one of the requirements to continue advancing was that we do his project in a certified lab. The reason today was tough was because for his project we went to four different restaurants and took cultures from 5 of their condiment dispensers. Since we were discreetly taking samples to test for bacteria I did not want to go into a restaurant without being a patron. As a result we went to four different restaurants before noon.
For breakfast we went to Western Sizzlin and had the breakfast buffet. I chose to use the smaller plate and definitely ate less than I used to, but still ate more than I should of. After that we went to McDonald's for samples and I got just an unsweet tea. Later in the morning my son and I went to Chili's where we split the sampler appetizer. For lunch I called in reinforcements and had my wife and other children meet us at Pizza Hut, Since I had already eaten breakfast and an appetizer I did not eat anything at Pizza Hut.
For dinner the family and I went to Diego's Mexican restaurant in Flippin where I once again used the tip that was suggested to me by several of you. I counted out my 10 chips and then ate the pollo Monterrey. When we got home I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes.
The good thing about today was that while I ate to much, my body rebelled against me. I have been eating totally differently than I used to for the last three weeks and even though I did not eat as much as I once would have, the food was heavier and richer than I have eaten in a while. I could tell the difference in the way I felt after eating the food today. I am ready to get back to eating leaner foods and smaller portions. I definitely think that this is a God thing where he is helping me by changing my desires. In the long run I believe this change will help me to follow God's will in this area of my life.
I was able to begin getting back on track this evening and look froward to continuing the journey tomorrow. Praise God that we do not have to collect any more samples!
For breakfast we went to Western Sizzlin and had the breakfast buffet. I chose to use the smaller plate and definitely ate less than I used to, but still ate more than I should of. After that we went to McDonald's for samples and I got just an unsweet tea. Later in the morning my son and I went to Chili's where we split the sampler appetizer. For lunch I called in reinforcements and had my wife and other children meet us at Pizza Hut, Since I had already eaten breakfast and an appetizer I did not eat anything at Pizza Hut.
For dinner the family and I went to Diego's Mexican restaurant in Flippin where I once again used the tip that was suggested to me by several of you. I counted out my 10 chips and then ate the pollo Monterrey. When we got home I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes.
The good thing about today was that while I ate to much, my body rebelled against me. I have been eating totally differently than I used to for the last three weeks and even though I did not eat as much as I once would have, the food was heavier and richer than I have eaten in a while. I could tell the difference in the way I felt after eating the food today. I am ready to get back to eating leaner foods and smaller portions. I definitely think that this is a God thing where he is helping me by changing my desires. In the long run I believe this change will help me to follow God's will in this area of my life.
I was able to begin getting back on track this evening and look froward to continuing the journey tomorrow. Praise God that we do not have to collect any more samples!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Week 2 Day 4
Today was a good day. I was able to get up early and walked on the tread mill for 30 minutes. It makes a big difference exercising in the morning. I find that I have much more energy and am more alert after working out.
For breakfast I had fruit and oatmeal and drank an unsweet tea through out the morning. For lunch I ate a 6 inch ham and turkey sandwich with lettuce, spinach, tomato, onion, provolone cheese, and light mayo. I ate a bag of BBQ baked lays and had a Diet Pepsi. For dinner I went to Subway with the kids and had a 6 inch roast beef sub with lettuce, tomato, onion, provolone cheese, spinach, and light mayo. I also had a bag of sour cream baked lays and a Diet Pepsi.
I did stay up late tonight doing laundry and because I was hungry I ate two bites of my daughters left over cheese pizza and 5 almonds. I know that I should not have eaten late so in the future I need to try to make a point to not stay up so late.
The one thing is that is encouraging is that each day I am successful then the next day is a little easier. For example, I still have cravings for foods that are not as healthy but they are not as strong as they once were. Previously, when I would walk into McDonald's I would want to get a double quarter pounder with cheese or a Mushroom Angus Swiss burger. Now I find myself trying to look for healthier options.
I look forward to tomorrow and to continuing this journey.
For breakfast I had fruit and oatmeal and drank an unsweet tea through out the morning. For lunch I ate a 6 inch ham and turkey sandwich with lettuce, spinach, tomato, onion, provolone cheese, and light mayo. I ate a bag of BBQ baked lays and had a Diet Pepsi. For dinner I went to Subway with the kids and had a 6 inch roast beef sub with lettuce, tomato, onion, provolone cheese, spinach, and light mayo. I also had a bag of sour cream baked lays and a Diet Pepsi.
I did stay up late tonight doing laundry and because I was hungry I ate two bites of my daughters left over cheese pizza and 5 almonds. I know that I should not have eaten late so in the future I need to try to make a point to not stay up so late.
The one thing is that is encouraging is that each day I am successful then the next day is a little easier. For example, I still have cravings for foods that are not as healthy but they are not as strong as they once were. Previously, when I would walk into McDonald's I would want to get a double quarter pounder with cheese or a Mushroom Angus Swiss burger. Now I find myself trying to look for healthier options.
I look forward to tomorrow and to continuing this journey.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Week 2 Day 3
I must say that this morning was tough. We have had revival meetings at church every night this week, and I work a full time job during the day so I have been tired. This morning when my alarm went off at 5:00 AM I never heard it. My wife's alarm went off at 6:10 AM and then I woke up. The problem was that since I over slept I did not have time to work out this morning.
I did not realize it, but when I am able to get up and work out I usual start my day with more energy and more alert than if I did not exercise. Even though I did not work out this morning I made a point to work out tonight.
For breakfast, I took the kids through the McDonald's drive thru, and I ordered myself oatmeal with fruit, maple, and brown sugar. (I know it seems like we eat there a lot, but when it is one of the only restaurants that services a quick breakfast your choices are limited.) For lunch I had aboard meeting with the leadership board for the church and we met at Pizza Hut. I ordered the black forest ham sandwich with a side salad instead of chips.
For dinner my wife made me a six inch meatball sub, with pretzels, and carrot sticks. While at work I drank an unsweet tea and had a 1/4 cup of Cajun trail mix. Tonight when I arrive home I ate a third of a piece of my son's birthday cheesecake.
I guess over sleeping was my body's way of telling me I needed the rest. Today was a great day, and I am continuing to progress in my lifestyle change.
I did not realize it, but when I am able to get up and work out I usual start my day with more energy and more alert than if I did not exercise. Even though I did not work out this morning I made a point to work out tonight.
For breakfast, I took the kids through the McDonald's drive thru, and I ordered myself oatmeal with fruit, maple, and brown sugar. (I know it seems like we eat there a lot, but when it is one of the only restaurants that services a quick breakfast your choices are limited.) For lunch I had aboard meeting with the leadership board for the church and we met at Pizza Hut. I ordered the black forest ham sandwich with a side salad instead of chips.
For dinner my wife made me a six inch meatball sub, with pretzels, and carrot sticks. While at work I drank an unsweet tea and had a 1/4 cup of Cajun trail mix. Tonight when I arrive home I ate a third of a piece of my son's birthday cheesecake.
I guess over sleeping was my body's way of telling me I needed the rest. Today was a great day, and I am continuing to progress in my lifestyle change.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Week 2 Day 2
I have managed to make it through another day. Today started out tough because I did not want to get up this morning and work out. I wanted to stay in bed. After the alarm went off I rolled over and told my wife that I am staying in bed. However, as I laid in bed trying to go back to sleep all I could think about is that I really need to get up and maintain my discipline. (I also reminded myself that I would need to post my decision on my blog tonight. So thank you for holding me accountable.)
For breakfast I had oatmeal and fruit. About mid-morning my daughter jumped off some playground equipment at school and hurt her foot. So I picked her up and took her to the doctor. However, we ate at a BBQ restaurant first. I had the chicken plate, with cole slaw, potato salad, and a Diet Pepsi. I also ate some pickles, one spoon of my daughter's beans and a couple of bites of my daughter's sausage.
For dinner, since it is Wednesday night, I ate at the church. For dinner I had a BBQ beef sandwich, some beans, some cole slaw, and a serving of bean soup. When I got home after the revival I ate 5 almonds because I was hungry. I ate a little more than normal today, but I think it was because I'm tired and I could not control the menu for dinner. Tomorrow is a brand new day and I will try to get back on track. The main meals were OK it was the extra snacking that will get me in trouble. (Like the sausage) Any ways until next time, good night.
For breakfast I had oatmeal and fruit. About mid-morning my daughter jumped off some playground equipment at school and hurt her foot. So I picked her up and took her to the doctor. However, we ate at a BBQ restaurant first. I had the chicken plate, with cole slaw, potato salad, and a Diet Pepsi. I also ate some pickles, one spoon of my daughter's beans and a couple of bites of my daughter's sausage.
For dinner, since it is Wednesday night, I ate at the church. For dinner I had a BBQ beef sandwich, some beans, some cole slaw, and a serving of bean soup. When I got home after the revival I ate 5 almonds because I was hungry. I ate a little more than normal today, but I think it was because I'm tired and I could not control the menu for dinner. Tomorrow is a brand new day and I will try to get back on track. The main meals were OK it was the extra snacking that will get me in trouble. (Like the sausage) Any ways until next time, good night.
This morning was tough.
Good morning, Yesterday was a long day and as a result getting up early this morning was tough. I rolled over and told my wife that I was going to sleep in this morning because I was tired. After laying in bed for 10 minutes I kept thinking if I stay in bed I will have to post that on my blog. So I got up and walked for thirty minutes. I'm glad I did. Since I was later getting up I told the kids we could go to McDonald's for breakfast. When I walked into McDonald's I have to say the smell hit me and I wanted a sausage egg mcmuffin real bad. However, God is faithful and I resisted the temptation and got the oatmeal. Praise God! The day has begun and I am off and running.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Week 2 Day 1
Well, the day is almost over. I have had another successfully day. My day began with my morning workout, where I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes. For breakfast I ate a bowl of oatmeal with some fruit in it. At lunch time I had a bowl of deer stroganoff. Taking my lunch to work tends to be healthier and it is definitely cheaper. Finally, for dinner I had a southwest chicken salad from McDonald's. After the revival service, and a hospital visitation I am definitely tired. Since I was hungry when I got home I ate 3 almonds. I almost forgot, I also ate a 1/4 cup of cajun trail mix through out the day.
Overall, I believe that it was a great day. However, since I am tired I am going to go to bed.
Overall, I believe that it was a great day. However, since I am tired I am going to go to bed.
Monday, April 4, 2011
my god is my stomach?
Philippians 3:18-21
"18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." (New International Version, ©2011)
I am not sure why but even though I have read this passage of scripture before, last week when I read it in chapter 4 of Francis Chan's Book CRAZY LOVE the passage "their god is their stomach" really jumped out at me. As I read it I realized that even though I was serving God there was a very large part of my life that I was not giving to Him. I realized that even as a pastor Paul's description of those who were living as an enemy of the cross could be directed at me. Stomach! That one word just nailed me.
At least in one area of my life I had an idol. God you can have all of me but not what I eat. This area is mine! I had no problem fasting because it was seasonal. After I am done fasting I can eat what I want, but to say to God yes Lord, I will give you everything, even how I eat. That is another thing all together.
Chapter 4 in CRAZY LOVE reminds me of the Jeff Foxworthy redneck jokes. You might be a redneck if.... Francis Chan says you might be a lukewarm Christian if.... At one point in chapter 4 this phrase is matched up with Philippians 3:18-21. As I read you might be a lukewarm Christian if ... (I saw) ...your god is your stomach! If my god is my stomach, then I am an enemy of the cross, and an enemy of the cross of Christ is headed for destruction. Am I saying I was not saved, not at all. However, I realized at that moment that God was calling me to a greater commitment in Him. He really does want all of my life. I am also convinced that as I have and continue to surrender this area of my life to Him that He is able to bring everything (even my food addiction) under His control.
For my citizenship is in heaven, not at Cracker Barrel, McDonald's, or any other restaurant of your choice. God wants to be Lord of all my life. Lord have your way!
"18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." (New International Version, ©2011)
I am not sure why but even though I have read this passage of scripture before, last week when I read it in chapter 4 of Francis Chan's Book CRAZY LOVE the passage "their god is their stomach" really jumped out at me. As I read it I realized that even though I was serving God there was a very large part of my life that I was not giving to Him. I realized that even as a pastor Paul's description of those who were living as an enemy of the cross could be directed at me. Stomach! That one word just nailed me.
At least in one area of my life I had an idol. God you can have all of me but not what I eat. This area is mine! I had no problem fasting because it was seasonal. After I am done fasting I can eat what I want, but to say to God yes Lord, I will give you everything, even how I eat. That is another thing all together.
Chapter 4 in CRAZY LOVE reminds me of the Jeff Foxworthy redneck jokes. You might be a redneck if.... Francis Chan says you might be a lukewarm Christian if.... At one point in chapter 4 this phrase is matched up with Philippians 3:18-21. As I read you might be a lukewarm Christian if ... (I saw) ...your god is your stomach! If my god is my stomach, then I am an enemy of the cross, and an enemy of the cross of Christ is headed for destruction. Am I saying I was not saved, not at all. However, I realized at that moment that God was calling me to a greater commitment in Him. He really does want all of my life. I am also convinced that as I have and continue to surrender this area of my life to Him that He is able to bring everything (even my food addiction) under His control.
For my citizenship is in heaven, not at Cracker Barrel, McDonald's, or any other restaurant of your choice. God wants to be Lord of all my life. Lord have your way!
Day 7
Well, I have made it one week. It felt good to get up and exercise this morning. While it is still difficult to get up, once I am up and exercising I feel better. I always have more energy if I get up and work out. This morning I ate oatmeal with fruit for breakfast. For lunch, I met a fellow pastor and we decided to eat at Pizza Hut.
The Pizza Hut in out town has a lunch buffet so I knew I would be tempted. However, I made up my mind before I left work that I was going to order something off the menu to avoid over eating. I ate the black forest ham and cheese sandwich, and instead of chips I asked to have a side salad. To wash it all down I had a Diet Pepsi. I have found that if I know what I am going to order before I get into the restaurant I tend to eat better. For example, today I knew that when I arrived at Pizza Hut I was going to eat some form of sandwich. When we got there, the buffet was not as much of a temptation because I had already determined before I actually smelled it what I wanted to eat. Another thing that I noticed is that once I had made the decision to eat off the menu it was even easier to substitute the side salad for the chips.
Because we had a revival meeting tonight dinner needed to be quick. For dinner, I had a ham and cheese sandwich, and a bowl of deer chili. with a cup of 2% milk. Overall I think that today was a good day, I was able to get my exercise and watch what I eat.
After the revival meeting I went to the gym to weigh myself. The reason that I went to the gym to do this is 1)Their scale is big enough to tell my weight, and 2) I want to use the same scale each time so that I can keep an accurate record of my weight. I began working out and watching what I eat three weeks ago. One week ago I started this blog as a tool to help me stay motivated. So far it seems to be working.
The first sign that I have lost some weight is because the seat belt on one of the machines at the gym now fits better. When I first used the machine I had to extend the seat belt all the way out to the end and still had to squeeze it on. However, at my last visit to the gym I had to tighten the belt so that there was 6 inches hanging off the end. The other reason I know that I have lost weight is because I stepped on the scale tonight. I have lost 9 pounds in three weeks. To date I am averaging three pounds a week.
Since I have struggled with my weight for the last 20 years I have tried all types of things. I have dieted and starved myself and when ever I ended the diet I would gain the weight back. Which is why this time I feel God is wanting me to change my lifestyle, My weight is a result of a lack of self-control when it comes to food. Thank you God for your conviction and for helping this far.
The Pizza Hut in out town has a lunch buffet so I knew I would be tempted. However, I made up my mind before I left work that I was going to order something off the menu to avoid over eating. I ate the black forest ham and cheese sandwich, and instead of chips I asked to have a side salad. To wash it all down I had a Diet Pepsi. I have found that if I know what I am going to order before I get into the restaurant I tend to eat better. For example, today I knew that when I arrived at Pizza Hut I was going to eat some form of sandwich. When we got there, the buffet was not as much of a temptation because I had already determined before I actually smelled it what I wanted to eat. Another thing that I noticed is that once I had made the decision to eat off the menu it was even easier to substitute the side salad for the chips.
Because we had a revival meeting tonight dinner needed to be quick. For dinner, I had a ham and cheese sandwich, and a bowl of deer chili. with a cup of 2% milk. Overall I think that today was a good day, I was able to get my exercise and watch what I eat.
After the revival meeting I went to the gym to weigh myself. The reason that I went to the gym to do this is 1)Their scale is big enough to tell my weight, and 2) I want to use the same scale each time so that I can keep an accurate record of my weight. I began working out and watching what I eat three weeks ago. One week ago I started this blog as a tool to help me stay motivated. So far it seems to be working.
The first sign that I have lost some weight is because the seat belt on one of the machines at the gym now fits better. When I first used the machine I had to extend the seat belt all the way out to the end and still had to squeeze it on. However, at my last visit to the gym I had to tighten the belt so that there was 6 inches hanging off the end. The other reason I know that I have lost weight is because I stepped on the scale tonight. I have lost 9 pounds in three weeks. To date I am averaging three pounds a week.
Since I have struggled with my weight for the last 20 years I have tried all types of things. I have dieted and starved myself and when ever I ended the diet I would gain the weight back. Which is why this time I feel God is wanting me to change my lifestyle, My weight is a result of a lack of self-control when it comes to food. Thank you God for your conviction and for helping this far.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Day 6
Today is the first Sunday since I have began my journey to change my life. I knew today was going to be a challenge, especially since we are beginning a revival. I decided to take today off from working out. My basis for this is because it is Sunday and I am treating it as a day of rest. I did good for breakfast and ate oatmeal and fruit. For lunch my family and I took the evangelists out for lunch. We decided to eat locally and went to our local Mexican restaurant.
I ordered the pollo Monterrey which is grilled chicken with vegetables on it. As you may remember I said in the past that the challenge, at least for me is the chips and salsa. However, this time I tried what some of you guys suggested, I counted 10 chips out and put them on my napkin. This did help because I knew that when my napkin was empty I was done with chips. It worked! Thank you for the tip.
In an attempt to keep on track my family and I made a point to eat before church. Since we ate around 1:30 PM we were not super hungry, but I wanted to eat before 6:00 PM. Therefore , we ate lunchables for dinner. For those of you who may not know it is basically cheese and crackers with a snack. It worked and got me through church, but by the time we got home I was hungry. So I did eat tonight after 6:00 PM, but I ate 5 baby carrot sticks, some broccoli florets, and some almonds. I still feel hungry, but I am going to remain strong because I really feel God wants to be in control of this area of my life. One of the things I am going to try is to drink a cup of water to see if that will help curb the hunger.
Several people have commented that what I am doing is an inspiration to them. While this is unexpected, it seems that God seems to be dealing with others about yielding to God this area if their lives as well. If this is you, I encourage you to go for it. Allow God to have control over every area.
I ordered the pollo Monterrey which is grilled chicken with vegetables on it. As you may remember I said in the past that the challenge, at least for me is the chips and salsa. However, this time I tried what some of you guys suggested, I counted 10 chips out and put them on my napkin. This did help because I knew that when my napkin was empty I was done with chips. It worked! Thank you for the tip.
In an attempt to keep on track my family and I made a point to eat before church. Since we ate around 1:30 PM we were not super hungry, but I wanted to eat before 6:00 PM. Therefore , we ate lunchables for dinner. For those of you who may not know it is basically cheese and crackers with a snack. It worked and got me through church, but by the time we got home I was hungry. So I did eat tonight after 6:00 PM, but I ate 5 baby carrot sticks, some broccoli florets, and some almonds. I still feel hungry, but I am going to remain strong because I really feel God wants to be in control of this area of my life. One of the things I am going to try is to drink a cup of water to see if that will help curb the hunger.
Several people have commented that what I am doing is an inspiration to them. While this is unexpected, it seems that God seems to be dealing with others about yielding to God this area if their lives as well. If this is you, I encourage you to go for it. Allow God to have control over every area.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Day 5
I slept in today because it was the weekend. When I got up I started the kids on their chores and I fixed oatmeal and fruit for myself and oatmeal for the kids. My oldest son asked if we could go walking in the morning. So after breakfast we went to the school playground and walk a mile and a half. I think my son enjoyed it and it was good to do something with him. My children are getting on board and trying to help me out.
For lunch I promised the girls that I would take them to McDonald's. I did good and had a Southwest Chicken salad. If you have never had one they have lettuce, black beans, corn, cheese, spicy tortilla chips strips, grilled chicken, and lime. I prefer my with the Southwestern dressing for a spicy kick. For my drink I drank unsweet ice tea and I had 8 french fries.
Later in the afternoon while visiting some friends we were offered sloppy joes. I ate one and convinced them that I was ok with only eating one. (They love to feed my family and I so I did good to get out with only one sloppy joe)
In the evening the kids and I met up with my wife and went to watch my son's basketball game. Both the 5th grade boys and girls teams from his school won their tournaments. (Go Cotter Warriors!) Afterwords we went to a local BBQ restaurant for dinner.One of my favorite things to eat is BBQ ribs, but I am really tyring to watch what I eat so I got a rib & chicken plate. It came with two ribs, and about a 1/4 of a grilled chicken breast. For my side I got a salad., and I drank unsweet tea. The rib & chicken combo allowed me to taste the ribs without getting a half fack or more which is what I typically would do.
When I first got up this morning I thought it was going to be tough because it was the weekend, but because I was so busy it was easier. I must also thank my oldest son because he wanted to go walking so it was motivation to start out the day active. Tonight was a little challenging because at about 9:30 PM I received a call from the Lakeview Lion's club asking if the church wanted some spaghetti sauce and meatballs. Because we have a meal on Wednesday nights I agreed to drive out to Lakeview and get them. The challenging part was driving back at 11:15 PM in car filled with the aroma of spaghetti sauce and meatballs. Fortunately, I was able to resist the temptation and not eat anything after dinner at 6:00 PM.
I am optimistic and looking forward to other activities that I can do with my kids. Two more days and I will have made it a week!
For lunch I promised the girls that I would take them to McDonald's. I did good and had a Southwest Chicken salad. If you have never had one they have lettuce, black beans, corn, cheese, spicy tortilla chips strips, grilled chicken, and lime. I prefer my with the Southwestern dressing for a spicy kick. For my drink I drank unsweet ice tea and I had 8 french fries.
Later in the afternoon while visiting some friends we were offered sloppy joes. I ate one and convinced them that I was ok with only eating one. (They love to feed my family and I so I did good to get out with only one sloppy joe)
In the evening the kids and I met up with my wife and went to watch my son's basketball game. Both the 5th grade boys and girls teams from his school won their tournaments. (Go Cotter Warriors!) Afterwords we went to a local BBQ restaurant for dinner.One of my favorite things to eat is BBQ ribs, but I am really tyring to watch what I eat so I got a rib & chicken plate. It came with two ribs, and about a 1/4 of a grilled chicken breast. For my side I got a salad., and I drank unsweet tea. The rib & chicken combo allowed me to taste the ribs without getting a half fack or more which is what I typically would do.
When I first got up this morning I thought it was going to be tough because it was the weekend, but because I was so busy it was easier. I must also thank my oldest son because he wanted to go walking so it was motivation to start out the day active. Tonight was a little challenging because at about 9:30 PM I received a call from the Lakeview Lion's club asking if the church wanted some spaghetti sauce and meatballs. Because we have a meal on Wednesday nights I agreed to drive out to Lakeview and get them. The challenging part was driving back at 11:15 PM in car filled with the aroma of spaghetti sauce and meatballs. Fortunately, I was able to resist the temptation and not eat anything after dinner at 6:00 PM.
I am optimistic and looking forward to other activities that I can do with my kids. Two more days and I will have made it a week!
Top ten reasons for me to lose weight.
1. For the glory of God. (God has convicted me about my weight and how he desires to be the Lord of all areas of my life).
2. When we went to Silver Dollar City I was to fat to ride some rides with my kids! (No way of knowing until you are already trying to stuff your self into the seat and the safety bar does not close)
3. So that I can do more things with my kids. (Like show them that Dad can play soccer and not just coach it)
4. Because if I am healthier it will help my wife feel safe. (I'm doing everything I can to stay around for her and the kids)
5. So I can get rid of my CPAP machine. (Luke, I am your Father...heavy breathing.....Eyvette I am your husband followed by heavy breathing before bed time is not as good of a line)
6. So that I can lower my blood pressure and get off my blood pressure med. ($30 a month adds up, not to mention all the long term problems that will develop, and the doctors visits)
7. So that my kidneys will not feel the pressure of the extra weight.
8. So that I can preach on gluttony. (It is kind of hard to preach against when the Pastor is 338 lbs)
9. So I can buy clothing where I want to. (Not the Big and Tall store or the Farm supply store)
10. Because, according to recent studies, 50% of people that are active in church from a young age are overweight by the time they are in their thirties and this needs to change, so it needs to start with me!
2. When we went to Silver Dollar City I was to fat to ride some rides with my kids! (No way of knowing until you are already trying to stuff your self into the seat and the safety bar does not close)
3. So that I can do more things with my kids. (Like show them that Dad can play soccer and not just coach it)
4. Because if I am healthier it will help my wife feel safe. (I'm doing everything I can to stay around for her and the kids)
5. So I can get rid of my CPAP machine. (Luke, I am your Father...heavy breathing.....Eyvette I am your husband followed by heavy breathing before bed time is not as good of a line)
6. So that I can lower my blood pressure and get off my blood pressure med. ($30 a month adds up, not to mention all the long term problems that will develop, and the doctors visits)
7. So that my kidneys will not feel the pressure of the extra weight.
8. So that I can preach on gluttony. (It is kind of hard to preach against when the Pastor is 338 lbs)
9. So I can buy clothing where I want to. (Not the Big and Tall store or the Farm supply store)
10. Because, according to recent studies, 50% of people that are active in church from a young age are overweight by the time they are in their thirties and this needs to change, so it needs to start with me!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Day 4
Day 4 started off early. I got up at 5:00 AM this morning so that I could still walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes. (We have prayer at the church on Friday mornings from 6:45 AM to 7:30 AM) After working out I ate 3 almonds as a snack because I do not recommend or condone driving and eating oatmeal. After prayer I went to work and ate a bowl of oatmeal with cranberries for breakfast. I also drank an unsweet tea.
I had a department meeting over lunch time so we brought food in. I had a six inch roast beef sub from Subway, with provolone cheese, lettuce, spinach, onions, tomato, and low fat mayonaise accompanied by a bag of BBQ baked lays chips and a Diet Pepsi.
After work, my son had a basketball tournament so I was able to spend time with all of my children and we decided to eat at Subway for dinner. While the kids ate cheese pizzas I went with a six inch chicken bacon ranch sub with pepper jack cheese. The bacon was a little bit of a splurge, but they forgot to do ranch and I did not miss it. I also had a Diet Pepsi and a bag of Sour Cream and Onion baked Lays.
When we went to the basketball game I was tempted to get something to eat even though I just ate dinner. I got a Diet Pepsi to drink and skipped the food. When I got home my wife had made a dessert that she wanted me to try, so I ate three bites and called it a night. Over all it was a good day.
I had a department meeting over lunch time so we brought food in. I had a six inch roast beef sub from Subway, with provolone cheese, lettuce, spinach, onions, tomato, and low fat mayonaise accompanied by a bag of BBQ baked lays chips and a Diet Pepsi.
After work, my son had a basketball tournament so I was able to spend time with all of my children and we decided to eat at Subway for dinner. While the kids ate cheese pizzas I went with a six inch chicken bacon ranch sub with pepper jack cheese. The bacon was a little bit of a splurge, but they forgot to do ranch and I did not miss it. I also had a Diet Pepsi and a bag of Sour Cream and Onion baked Lays.
When we went to the basketball game I was tempted to get something to eat even though I just ate dinner. I got a Diet Pepsi to drink and skipped the food. When I got home my wife had made a dessert that she wanted me to try, so I ate three bites and called it a night. Over all it was a good day.
Tips for Chips and Salsa at a Mexican restaurant.
Let me begin by saying thank you to all my friends and family who have offered support. Thank you to Lindsey and Gwen for the excellent suggestion on how to handle chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant. Both ladies suggested counting out the number of chips and setting them on a napkin. When you eat through the chips on the napkin then you are done. Gwen also suggested to drink a glass of water first and to leave the salt off of the chips. I will need to try these suggestions next time.
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