SIS#20 - Goal #3 - 101 Pounds in 1 Year

Self-Improvement Sundays

***19 weeks complete - Goal 1 was 40lbs, Goal 2 was 60lbs***

I struggled most of the week to get my 58th pound, and Friday night I was pleasantly surprised to actually go all the way to 60. Nice! Goal #2 is history, six weeks ahead of pace.

And you might have noticed the subtle reference in the post title to my new goal: 101 pounds in a year. How often does one have the chance to lose 100 pounds in a year? I'd say once, so I'm taking it.

Remember, I started at 300. So I would drop to 199 by midnight on January 16, 2011.

Doable? Well, I've lost 60 pounds in 4-1/2 months, so I just need to lose 41 pounds in 7-1/2 months. True, it's not quite as quick now, but I haven't really started exercising yet either. So that's my ace in the hole. Of course, I'll evaluate as I go and change course if it seems unhealthy.

What about internal goals? 41 pounds and 7+ months is a long time with no milestone celebrations. OK, we'll celebrate the "decades", the 10-pound increments. I've already beaten the 90's, 80's, 70's, 60's, 50's and 40's. I'll drive a stake in the ground, so to speak, when I beat the 30's, 20's, 10's and 0's.

And at that moment I'll be lighter than any point since college in Minneapolis, possibly one of my earlier years in college. Interesting that 2011 is my 20 year reunion for North Central.

I still haven't had a single day of binging or a single week without losing at least a pound. That pace may not hold all the way to 199, but it's not the pace that's ultimately important. It's the final result.

I debate about blogging about weight loss less often, say, monthly. But my weekly check-in with Ev nation is possibly the greatest factor in my overall success. Anyone still with me for the last 41 pounds?

Oh, by the way, my clothes I couldn't fit into before are hanging from me like flowing robes. Virtually none of my clothes will fit me in 8 months, and I don't care. I'll replace it all from Goodwill if I have to.

Sorry, no grand ideas tonight, just focus. Time to go rest up!

SIS#19 - Why the Picture?

Self-Improvement Sundays

***18 weeks complete - ahead of pace >53 lbs - Goal 1 was 40lbs, Goal 2 is 60lbs by July 11***

57 down, 3 to go.

If anyone wonders why I'm using this picture for all of my SIS posts, it was more of an intuitive thing. When I look at this scene, I see freedom, life, vitality, and power. I see both passion and serenity. It's a desire to be fully alive. That's much more powerful to me than dropping clothing sizes or looking good at the beach. I intend to live.

SIS#18 - Rollin' Back the Years

Self-Improvement Sundays

***17 weeks complete - ahead of pace >52 lbs - Goal 1 was 40lbs, Goal 2 is 60lbs by July 11***

I got my 55th pound this week, not until Saturday...but it still counts! I'm now 2 pounds shy of my Highland weight, when I was on staff as Music Director there 11 years ago. I've touched down a bit lower than this once or twice, but if I keep going I'm rolling back into my second decade previous to today. I know time travel is confusing. That guy on the park bench in Back to the Future never figured it out either.

Just like God added 15 years to King Hezekiah's life in Isaiah 38, he has means to add life and quality of life for us. Life is his business and I'm happy to be a client.

What to Do with a Bad Day

Daniel Powter sings about a friend's bad day...

[Right click and choose "Open link in new window/tab" to listen]

You Had a Bad Day

Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to gray
They tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carryin' on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You're faking a smile with the coffee you go
You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces every time
And I don't need no carryin' on

Because you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Will you need a blue sky holiday?
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carryin' on

You had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day

(Oooh.. a holiday..)

Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong

(yeah...)

So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
You've seen what you like
And how does it feel for one more time
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

I like the song. It's real.

On the other hand, there was this guy in the Old Testament named Job. He and his wife lost their whole family to tragedy, plus all their property to disaster, and he sat on an ash heap scraping pussy boils with a broken piece of a pot. Then his "friends" came with lousy advice about how he must have deserved all of this.

Job's response?

"Oh, that my words were recorded,
that they were written on a scroll,
that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead,
or engraved in rock forever!

I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!" (Job 19:23-27)

So our bad days, or bad seasons, can pull us away from God, push us closer to God, or not really do much of anything. I'm inspired by Job's passion in that horrible moment. God, help me to look to you on my bad days...

Can an iPhone Bring You Closer to God?

Yeah, probably the coolest thing I've seen on an iPhone...




How Great Is Our God - Chris Tomlin


VERSE(1):
The splendor of a King,
clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice,
all the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light,
and darkness tries to hide
it trembles at his voice,
trembles at his voice

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great
How great is our God

VERSE(2):
And age to age He stands
and time is in His Hands
Beginning and the End,
Beginning and the End
The Godhead, three in one
Father, Spirit, Son
the Lion and the Lamb,
the Lion and the Lamb

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great,
How great is our God

CHORUS(2)
Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing
how great is our God
Name above all names
you are worthy of all praise
and my heart will sing
how great is our God


CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great,
How great is our God


CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great,
How great is our God
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great,
How great is our God


Oh yeah, the answer is yes.

SIS#17 - Christmas in May

Self-Improvement Sundays

***16 weeks complete - ahead of pace >51 lbs - Goal 1 was 40lbs, Goal 2 is 60lbs by July 11***

Not only did we get snow cover in May, but Santa also dropped 3 pounds down the chimney this week. My program pace says just a pound a week now, so getting to 54 pounds down this week is pretty nice. I'm 6 pounds from  goal 2 with 9 weeks to go.

It's amazing how much of my life revolved around things I can't do now. I'm not trying to be antisocial, really. I turned down an ice cream sundae at the office this week. I let Jason and Grandpa do McDonald's by themselves while I had leftovers. I love leftovers! (Don't read sarcasm, I really do love them.) Pot lucks don't work unless I bring my own pot, so to speak. Sounds terrible, right?

But while everyone goes on as usual, I'm down 54 pounds in less than 4 months...and on the fast track from huge to buff. I'm going to a picnic after work on Thursday, so I'll probably pack a sandwich. C'est la vie.

Why say all of this? Well, it's part of the calculation if you want to make this sort of change. Remember Yoda's wisdom, "Do or not do. There is no try." 

I'm looking forward to bumping into old friends this summer. That'll be fun. But much more, I'm looking forward to good lab results and a healthy life to pour into my calling.

Have you seen heaven?

Have you seen heaven touch earth? Some say it never happens. Some say it rarely happens. Some say it happens every day in a million ways.

I read about Moses this morning in Exodus 34:

29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.

33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever he entered the LORD's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.

So Moses was literally glowing after hanging out with God. But is this experience completely foreign to us? I say no. True, we may not see the day to day miracles as those who walked with Jesus. But I say heaven is all around, and all the more as we tune in to God's voice and works.

I see heaven when leaves bud and grass slurps rain. In the thunder and in the roar of Niagara Falls.

I see heaven in a baby's face and in a toddler's snuggle. I see heaven when a teenager leans into loving boundaries. When a college student finds love.

I see heaven when friends gently pray for one another and the Holy Spirit attends to surgery over body and soul.

I see heaven in the compassionate eyes of a wind-blown face. In the leathery commitment to stay.

I see heaven as children become gracious leaders. When icy hearts melt. In forgiveness and new life.

I'd like to glow more. I want to know Jesus and carry him more purely to my world. I see heaven as God accepts me exactly as I am but continues to build me into more.

How do you see heaven breaking in to your day-to-day?

SIS#16 - Focusing on the Process, Not the Results

Self-Improvement Sundays

***15 weeks complete - ahead of pace >50 lbs - Goal 1 was 40lbs, Goal 2 is 60lbs by July 11***

OK, so I'm down to a pound a week. I hit 51 this week and it appears that the low hanging fruit has been picked. No more easy 3 or 4 pound weeks.

When I posted my first goal back in January, my powerlifter brother-in-law from Canada advised me to focus on the process and the results would ultimately be there. So that's where I'm at. The scale gives me next to nothing for motivation now. It's all about the process.

In a nutshell, that means:

1. Keep logging points and blogging weekly efforts.

2. Focus on weight loss, not cardiovascular fitness, not strength training, not flexibility. Take those as they come.

3. Believe in the process. I expect to hit 60 pounds in July. Then I'll decide on a new goal.

4. No people pleasing. Be creative with social situations or don't go. Period.

5. Continue loving the wonderful, flavorful foods I missed out on for so long.

That's my story.