Monday, February 23, 2009

Week 8 (Part 1) - Changing...

Congratulations! We've made it to week number 8!! I'd love to hear your stories, struggles, and accomplishments!

This week has been a rough week and a victorious week all at one time! Let me explain...everything was going great until Saturday morning. I went to Infinity Fitness in Westerville on Saturday morning for my circuit workout. After two rounds, something happened...and my body just quit. I felt dizzy, sick, etc...and just couldn't go on. I hate it...because I'm not a quitter...but, I just couldn't finish with the 3rd round...which drove me crazy! But, I serve a great God and He knew I needed some cheering up! That cheering up came when I found out I've lost a total of 21lbs!!! God is good!

So...I say this to tell you there WILL be struggles, mountains, roadblocks...but, with those come God's provision and help! I've learned that in a big way this past week! I will continue to pray for you as we stand strong in this journey together!

David

Week 7 (Part 2) - Andy's Tips of the Week

I got so busy on Friday I forgot to post Andy's tips from the last week...i appologize! I've posted his tips below! I hope you are having as amazing of a journey as I am!!


-Just like any temptation you might face in your walk with Christ, when you are struggling with food temptation seek God for your strength to overcome.

-When starting this lifestyle change it is important to measure out all of your portions. Once you have done it for a while you will start to remember correct portion sizes.

-Donʼt drink your calories. Stay away from juices, sport drinks and soda which have a lot of empty calories and way too much sugar for our bodies to process all at once. This can significantly impact your weight loss results.

-When getting bored with your exercise routine, try switching it up with kickboxing, swimming, yoga, tae bo, spinning, group aerobics or any other varieties.

-Tell everyone you know that you are making this healthy lifestyle change. It makes it a whole lot more difficult to cheat when you become the example of health to your friends, co-workers and family members! Now youʼll have people watching you as an example of health AND as an example of Christ!

-Remember that you have many years of habits to break. Donʼt get frustrated and beat yourself up when you slip up, instead get back up and learn from your mistakes. After all, this is a lifelong journey that you are committing to.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Week 7 (Part 1) - Sharing Stories and Encouragement

We're more than half way there! Keep up the great work!

You know...I've had several people come up to me and tell me how great I look now that I've lost 17lbs...and it's great to hear that, and it definitely encourages me. But, if looking different and losing weight is the only thing that comes from this...I've failed. My goal is definitely to lose weight and be healthier...but, on a bigger level to be a voice for those who struggle with eating. I want people to know that there is someone who knows what their going through...and understands that it's not just "laziness", which some people like to call it. It's an addiction...something that is very hard to let go of. It hasn't been easy sharing my struggle with so many people...but, my prayer is that through a "Healthier '09" people will be encouraged to march on...to get accountability...and to break into a better and healthier lifestyle. Then, do what I'm doing...speak out and encourage others!

I would love for you to share your story here. Maybe you're going through this journey right now too...and you can share your challenges and victories. Maybe you've already gone through it and are living a new and healthy lifestyle...you can encourage those of us who are working our way to that point! You voice is a voice of strength and encouragement!

I want you to know how faithful our God is...He's brought me away from a dependance on food to a dependance on Him...and to top it all off, He's even allowed me to lose 17lbs! Keep up the amazing work...and I look forward to hearing from you!

David

Friday, February 13, 2009

Week 6 (Part 2) - It's OFFICIAL...We're HALF WAY THERE!!

Yep...the end of this week marks the half way point on the journey to a healthier '09!! For those of you who have been doing this from week one, and those who have joined recently, and even those who are starting now...we WILL succeed!! God is so faithful...I hope you know that!! I'm so proud of each person who has committed to this with me!

My trainer, Andy from Infinity Fitness in Westerville, has been sharing tips every day...and if you missed the tips this week, I've posted them below for you! Keep up the AMAZING work!!

-Make sure to get 7-8 hours of sleep EVERY night. Besides causing irritability, being tired can cause us to reach for our comfort foods which can cause a set back in our new lifestyle change!

-On your lunch break at work try walking the stairs, doing a few laps around the building or even a few exercises at your desk. You will be amazed at how refreshed and re-energized you feel to start the 2nd half of the day.

-Keep only healthy foods at home. If it isn’t in your house, you won’t be as tempted by it! Everyone in your family will benefit.

-Keep a food journal for 3 days to get an idea of how much you are eating and at what times. Include the time of the meal, the food and if you are really motivated the number of calories. www.thedailyplate.com will help you find how many calories are in foods.

-Stress will release hormones that promote weight gain. Look up on the internet a few basic stress relief tactics and use them frequently. God is a great stress reliever also.

-When eating peanut butter, make sure you buy “natural” peanut butter. This is the kind that you have to stir in the oil. The only ingredient in Natural peanut butter is peanuts. It doesn’t contain the palm oil, sugar and salt that regular peanut butter, like Jiff, does. Try the brand “Krema”.

I'm praying for you!!

David

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Week 6 (Part 1) - Almost Halfway There!

At the end of this week, we will reach the HALFWAY point of this 12 week journey! As of last week, I've dropped almost 15lbs and lost over 5inches! God is so faithful!

If you're feeling tempted or feel like you want to quit, do what my trainer made me do...hold the amount of weight you've lost. Two weeks ago, Andy gave me a 12lb weight and asked me if I wanted to carry it around all day. I obviously answere, NO. He reminded me that that is how much weight i've lost...a great encouragement to KEEP going!

I've had a lot of phone calls lately about getting ahold of Andy at Infinity Fitness in Westerville. If you are interested, just log onto the website www.infinity-fit.com! Keep up the amazing work!

david

Friday, February 6, 2009

Week 5 (Part 2) - Healthy Tips from Andy!

Week five is coming to a close! Congratulations on making it this far with me...the journey has been so AMAZING! At the beginning it was my goal to lose weight and become healthier, but along the way my goal has become so much more...to share with others a TRUE addiction. This was one of the hardest things for me to share over the air...that I struggled with eating. Because, in today's culture the rest of the world looks at overweight people as they say, "Just stop eating so much and start exercising...don't be lazy." But, it's not that easy. Maybe you know of someone who has been addicted to some sort of substance or to something physical...eating is no different, and breaking it doesn't come overnight! But, with faith, hope, prayer, and persistance it DOES come!!

I have been able to talk with so many people who deal with over eating...but, I also got to talk to a woman who's trying to quit smoking, a woman who is dealing with anorexia, and a recovored anorexic. Even though we are all dealing with different struggles, they ALL relate! And, I am here to encourage you through that struggle. I refuse to let my weakness win, and I hope you feel the same! Keep up the amazing work! I would love for you to leave your struggles, encouragments, and questions here...so we can all do this together!

Just in case you missed this week's tips from my trainer, Andy, I've posted them below for you!

-Instead of thinking of this change you are making in your life as a 12 week challenge or a new years resolution, start thinking of it as a life long journey. That way when you reach your goals you can just maintain a healthy weight and never have to quote on quote “Diet” again!

-When sitting down with a snack, measure out a correct portion size before you start the munching. Otherwise you might end up regretting the amount you ate afterwards.

-During your cardio, try doing interval training at least 1-2 days/week. Interval training is a short burst of high intensity, for example 30 seconds, followed by a longer recovery period, ex. 1 minute 30 seconds, to allow your heart rate to come down. This will help to increase your endurance faster than staying at the same pace the entire time you do your cardio.

-Drink 8-16 oz. of water before each of your 5-6 meals/day to help trick your body into thinking it is not as hungry as it is. This will allow you to eat less.

-Chew sugar-free gum when you get the urge to munch on something. Put a piece of gum in immediately after you finish eating to prevent you from going back for seconds or nibbling on what’s left on your plate.

-Make sure you have variety in your resistance training program. Constantly change the weights, reps, and types of equipment you are using to constantly shock your muscles. This will prevent you from hitting a plateau.

Keep up the AMAZING work! I'm praying for you!!

David

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Week 5 (Part 1) - Keep Going!!

We're at the beginning of week 5, and I've dropped over 12lbs! All I can say...God is faithful!

Maybe you're feeling what a lot of us have been feeling lately...ready to give up, ready to cave in to the temptation of food, ready to not care any more. Don't think I haven't been there, because I have struggled with eating my entire life! I've been there MANY times in the last few weeks, but it's always when I turn to God that He changes my perspective! I don't know about you, but it's usually when I mess up or "cheat" that I feel like quitting. But, God has showed me that He's not going to beat me up over one or two or even 10 slip-up's, so why should I beat myself up?? I'm not perfect...no one is perfect...so, there are going to be slip-ups...but, it's not the end of the world! Keep going!

That's the lesson I've been learning the last two weeks, and I have a feeling I'm not the only person in that place right now. Don't listen to those people that say you have to do everything perfectly in your diet and exercise or you are going to fail. It's not the truth. That would be like God saying, you have to live your life perfectly or I'm not going to love you. He NEVER says that...thank goodness! I'm going to do my BEST, and embrace and learn from my mistakes and slip-up's and I pray that you will do the same!

Keep up the great work, and keep me posted here on how you're doing! If you have a question or want to find out more about my trainer, Andy, you can leave him a comment here or check out the website for his gym (www.infinity-fit.com)! Keep going...never give up!

David