I need to keep focused and committed to what is right (274.8 pounds)

I have looked in the mirror every single day since I started my diet on 1/31/2011.  Because I have looked in the mirror every day, I do not see a significant loss in my body size.  This weekend that all really changed a bit for me.  Ruth and I were talking to a gentleman on Sunday and he was asking me questions about my weight loss.  I asked Ruth to find some family pictures of ours prior to me losing weight.  When she found some, I must say that I was shocked at how big I was.  In a similar fashion to not seeing myself as a bit smaller now because it was a gradual thing, I also had not noticed just how huge I had gotten.  I don't think any of us would ever start compromising if we knew that when we woke up tomorrow morning our lives would be handicapped by our choices.  Rather, we make small compromises that don't really amount to much until you look a ways down the road when the path of our life is greatly altered by making small concessions.  This weekend was a stark reminder that I need to keep focused and committed to what is right.  Deviating from what is right, even a little can lead to disastrous results.

a bounce-back week (279.6 pounds)

This week was a bounce-back week.  I lost 4.4 pounds this week which is exciting even though the previous week I gained 2.8 pounds.  Sometimes in life we will all have disappointments.  Coming to the understanding that it is how you react to those disappointments is what separates good from great.  This can be true in business, in diet, in family life, in your relationship with God or any category of your life.  Keeping proper perspective is so critically important when trying to accomplish whatever your goal may be.


Today, I am also going to throw down the gauntlet.  Several weeks ago my friend Clint Troyer and I agreed that we would race to 250 lbs.  Clint, I am at 279.6 where are you, brother?

what are your "almonds?" (284.0 pounds)

As a huge sports fan it is easy for me to think about and understand strategy, especially the strategy of keying in on the weakness of your opponent.  I am reminded of that this week.  I have an enemy who is Satan.  My enemy knows my weaknesses and is looking to attack those weaknesses to defeat me.  One of my weaknesses is self control with regards to food.  This week, I saw my enemy chip away at me with regards to this weakness.  No, I did not go out and go crazy at the Chinese Buffet, I did not go have Bang Bang shrimp at The Bonefish, or eat a sweet potato with all the fixings; I have too much resolve to do any of those things.  My struggle this week instead was one of justification.  One thing I have really missed on my diet has been eating all kinds of nuts.  I enjoy almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts, pecans and especially walnuts.  This week I decided that I was going to treat myself and eat some nuts.  I did some research and came to the conclusion that almonds would be the most healthy way to go.  I went to the store and found a variety of Blue Diamond almonds that were flavored with soy sauce and wasabi.  Friends, let me tell you, those almonds are outstanding!  One ounce of these almonds is 170 calories and 3 net carbs.  These almonds not only tasted fantastic, but they certainly fit on my diet.  Well, I know what you are thinking... If they are tasty and fit on your diet, what is the problem?  The problem is not with the almonds, the problem is that this week I did not eat the almonds in moderation.  I ate an ounce for morning snack, a couple of ounces here and a couple of ounces there and next thing you know, I was sneaking almonds and I was not accounting for them on my food diary.  My enemy knows me well.  To use a sports analogy; he has reviewed all of my game tape and he knows all of my tendencies.  The Bible tells us how to react towards this enemy in 1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour"  Make no mistake!  Your enemy wants to defeat you; he wants to devour you.  He has seen your game tape and he knows your every tendency.  Friends, we must be sober or of a right mind and vigilant or alert and watchful or we will be defeated.  This week was a painful lesson of that for me.  I gained 2.8 pounds this week.  If I remember, I have never gained that much in any week since I started my life change.  This week was a kick in the gut.  My choice from here is simple; I can give in or I can step up.  I am choosing the latter.  Time to put a kink in the game plan that the enemy has not seen on my game tape!

Friends, what are your "almonds?"

What an encouraging week (281.2 pounds)

What an encouraging week!  I weighed in on Tuesday rather than my typical Monday because I had a meeting I had to attend on Monday in Indianapolis.  When I finally did get to weigh in on Tuesday, I was pleasantly surprised when the scales showed I had lost an incredible 6.0 pounds!  I don't really know why or how I lost more weight this week as I did all of the same things, but I am most certainly NOT complaining!