A Disciplined Life

Well, it's been a while since I last checked in. I have now lost a total of 26 pounds and have learned quite a few things. The most important thing so far is that discipline is a good thing. By being careful and regimented about what I eat, I'm also finding carry over in other areas. This may sound funny but I'm flossing my teeth a couple of times a week - up from never. I've also started a bible reading program.

Last week I got an iPad at work. I found a bible app and downloaded it so that I could spend time in the Word. It came with many bible reading programs and I found one to help me read the Word every day. I'll let you know how that goes.

I'm not starving, just having a hard time denying myself. I'm not going to kid myself - I do miss things like chocolate, bread, cookies, etc. but I believe that in time I'll be able to have those things in moderation. I need to start exercising but time has been a factor.

The writer of Hebrews wrote, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Heb. 12:11) Although in the context of the passage, he is referring to the Believer's struggle with sin and God's disciplining us to be more like Him, it could also apply to my situation. 

I've been craving these.

Up until now I have never said "no" to myself and have eaten whatever I wanted whether or not I needed it. In eating for the sheer pleasure of it, I forgot what the purpose of food is. Really? Yes, really! Now I eat because I'm hungry and when I do eat, I enjoy it. My knees aren't sore, my clothes fit better and I feel younger.


Will I ever have a Tru-Blu cookie again? Probably, but as a treat, not to satisfy desire to feel better. In the meantime, I need to continue on with this change in lifestyle.

Day 8 of the 17 Day Diet - 12 pounds and losing

It feels longer than 8 days but the calendar doesn't lie. I slipped once - ate at Chik-Fil-A on Saturday on the way to the airport in Denver. I didn't have this sudden craving nor did a feel like going on a carb binge and eat all kinds of stuff. However I did feel like eating all kinds of stuff when we were shopping for vegetables.

It's been tough at times. Habits and desires for food have been strong at times. I've been hungry around meal times - but shouldn't that be the right time to be hungry? I am already noticing some benefits. My pants and shirts are not so tight. That's pretty cool as I was staring to feel like the Pillsbury Doughboy. In 9 more days the diet changes. I think it won't be so restrictive, in any case, I'll need to stay disciplined and deliberate about what I eat and when I eat. I do know that I don't take food for granted and seem to enjoy what I eat more. At times I've been a real whiner, but it's partly in fun.

Another benefit that I'm noticing that I wake up starving. This not only motivates me to get out of bed quickly, but I haven't been skipping breakfast. Today we had meetings at school and there were snacks everywhere - peanut and chocolate granola bars, bite-size chocolates...my stomach is growling as I type this. The facilitator was passing out chocolate late in the afternoon and asked, "Who wants a Baby Ruth? Who wants a Snickers? Who wants a Butterfinger?" I wanted them all so bad but didn't take a bite.

Temptation is everywhere but as someone pointed out, I'm not on a diet, I'm changing my lifestyle. The next thing I need to do is somehow carve out the time for exercising. As the days grow longer and warmer, the opportunities will increase. It really helps going through this with Wendi. It would be nearly impossible if I were doing this alone. Accountability makes all the difference in the world.

California, Cuba, Colorado?

California's economy has been the pits and it seems that thinks aren't even close to getting any better. Wendi complains that we need to get out of the state and others that have left said they like to visit but they'd never live here again.

A couple of years ago I was on my second mission trip to Cuba. While I was there, I had a chance to e-mail home and I remember telling Wendi that I was ready to move to Cuba. I think the big draw was the church in Cuba. They were close-knit and there was a real sense of community. The political climate had brought persecution to the church and as a result, being a follower of Christ was difficult. Under adversity, one's faith is really strengthened and you are totally dependent on the Lord.

I've been in Denver area for the past 2 days and from what I've seen, I think I could live here. It reminds me of Salt Lake City or Boise. The views are incredible and Denver has every convenience that a big city offers (except for Tommy's). When I called Wendi she reminded me that I said the same thing about Cuba. I had also mentioned that I wanted to move to Maine too and I hadn't even been there. I admit I do like to go to different places and sometimes I imagine what it would be like to live there.

Today in presbytery we examined, ordained and commissioned a young man into the ministry who will be taking his family to the Czech Republic to be a missionary with a local church in the eastern part of the country. They will have a difficult time learning the language and he described the town they would be living in as similar to Pittsburg - an ugly industrial city. He spoke about the sacrifices they would be making to live there and the potential suffering they would experience living there. But he knew God's calling him to that place and it sounds like God has equipped him for this time and place.

He got me thinking about where I was and what I was doing. As much as we complain about where we live, I have a faith community to which I belong, a job with a definite sense of calling and know that for now this is where I belong. So, the answer to this question is Fresno. That's where I'll stay - as least for now.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit" - yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." - James 4:13-15

Testing 1..2..3

Well, my short trip to Denver has been good. I managed to eat closely to my plan. I drank plenty of water and avoided all bread. I did eat at Chik-Fil-A in Parker before heading to the airport. I'm not going to beat myself over this as I avoided the temptation to dessert last night, not to mention the snacks during break at presbytery.

We'll see what the scale says when I get home tonight.

Day 4 of the 17 Day Diet - A "Pop Quiz"

It's been an interesting 3 days so far as I venture into Day 4. I have lost 8 pounds so far but I'm told that the first 10 pounds are the easiest.

The biggest changes so far have been the amount of water I drink a day and the fact that I don't get to put whatever i want in my mouth when I want to. I've actually discovered that when I'm at work, I tend to stack on granola bars if they're lying around. I didn't realize that I was unconsciously eating often.

Barstow, a dream come true?

The first day I was extremely grouchy by the end of the day and was craving all kinds of things to eat. Tuesday night was rough as I was in a meetings until 10 PM and had only eaten a small bowl of cottage cheese. I had another bowl of cottage cheese and went to bed. That night I had a bizarre dream in which I was at a huge McDonald's like the one in Barstow. I was starving and they had this huge salad bar. I got a plate and put as much salad on it as I could. There were also cooked vegetables, so I got another plate as well. I woke up starving, but ate a little cottage cheese in the morning.

The first real test will come in the next couple of days. I'm leaving for a presbytery meeting in Parker, CO today and will away from home. I'm staying at a Hampton Inn so I know what to expect for breakfast and it will work. The hardest part will be traveling there and back. Fortunately I'll be flying non-stop from Fresno to Denver. Tonight I'll have dinner with some friends and the rest of my meals will be taken care of at the church. I return early Saturday night so I'll also have to deal with dinner. I'm sure I'll be able to make good choices.

In reflecting on all of this I see that I have choices to make. When I consider the options I have for eating, I can either remain true to my plan or be unfaithful. I use word 'unfaithful' deliberately because that is what I think of when I might possibly choose something I probably  shouldn't have right now. I don't think I'll have to live the rest of my life denying myself everything, but self-denial and self-control can lead to good things. I know that I will be healthier in the end. I also believe that when I do partake of things (in moderation, of course) that I am currently denying myself, I will enjoy them even more.

Day 1 of the 17 Day Diet

Did you ever notice how many food commercials there are on TV? This morning I was running late so I skipped my green tea and scrambled eggs for some non-fat yogurt mixed with sugar-free strawberry jam. By 9:15 A.M. my tummy was talking. Lunch was some tuna, with a little egg, plus a pickle and some carrots. I also drank about 3 quarts of water today. Every time I was hungry I tried to drown my hunger. It worked for a bit but then my bladder took over. I visited the loo more times today than I can remember. Dinner was barbecued chicken and a salad.

The hardest part of this is saying "no" to my desires to fill my face. I know that most of it is in my mind and I think that is where the battle will take place. Yesterday I said that I never denied myself anything to eat. Eating is good and there is definite pleasure in eating things. However there is a lot of truth in having too much of a good thing. It got me to thinking why I do what I do. In the book of Romans Paul wrote that there was this battle within him. On the one hand what he wants to do he doesn't, and what he doesn't want to do he does (Romans 7:15). he goes on to say that Christ will deliver him (and me!).

So, when I get hungry, instead of satisfying myself with food, I'll turn to Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Paul writes, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God." It will be difficult, but not impossible.

Diet Eve

Skinny me (150 lbs.) in 1979

When I was a teenager I could eat whatever I wanted and was still skinny. In high school we used to go to the Swedish Smorgasbord on Ventura Blvd. in Tarzana and for $7.00 (I think) we'd inhale as much food as we could. This was usually 4 or 5 plates.

I remember one Thanksgiving I ate three meals at three different places all on the same day. This pattern of eating continued through college and into my married years. I loved eating. I was also very active. I rode my bicycle to school nearly every day. I rode my bike everywhere. I also played volleyball in college.

When I started teaching, I didn't have the time nor the energy to do anything. I did play volleyball in Lakeport for the first two years we lived there. Then the kids came along, and work continued to keep me busy. Soon I stopped doing any physical activity. When I was married I had a 30" waist. Over the years it crept up to a 32" and then 34."

Chunky me (250 lbs.) in 2010.

A couple of years ago I started experiencing acid reflux and I noticed that I couldn't eat anything I wanted whenever I wanted. I also started to experience stiffness in my joints. About 5 years ago I slowly developed sleep apnea and am now on a CPAP machine. I had surgery to fix the acid reflux problem and ate whatever I wanted whenever i wanted. My waist expanded to 36" and I now probably weigh about 250. I figure I need to lose at least 50 pounds if not more.

So Wendi and I are starting the 17 Day Diet tomorrow. It's a low-carb., high protein diet that was written by a doctor. We will also be starting some kind of exercise program. We're doing this for a couple of reasons. #1 - Our oldest son is getting married in October. This is probably the event that motivated us to get started. We know that we should be better about how we take care of our bodies, but the wedding is really motivating us. We need to change our lifestyle - that much is certain. Tomorrow I'll write blog about some more thoughts that I have. For now, it's late I should have been asleep a while ago.