I look thin!

So this last Sunday I saw the first picture of myself that I actually think I look thin in. It was one of those stare at it for a long time pictures, the is that really me picture. So time to compare again! I've been losing again, went down to 192 this week. My goal it 164....28lbs to go!

Encouragement

It is so encouraging to hear from people that they read this thing and that they are gaining wisdom from it. I truly feel that God put me on this journey for a reason and it is not for me, but for His glory to shine through me. And when things get hard I can look back and see how much I have grown and changed. How much my Jesus has taught me through this and that He has even more to offer.
He has great plans for all of you and even though it isn't always easy you need to walk through the open door and follow the path He has marked out for you. You can stop and wait all you want but you need to start going again sometime. So why not now, why not follow the plans He has for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.

More to share

This week has been an interesting week. As some of you know back in Aug of 2008 I had my gallbladder removed and for 2 1/2 years I was living in pain after the removal. So in Jan. 2011 I had another procedure done where they found 2 very large stones that had been left behind! Those were removed and I felt like a brand new person for 5 months, it was so wonderful to be pain free. You don't realize how much pain can make your attitude change and your overall outlook at life different. Well the pain came back last week! I had an MRI and it came back clear, so the Dr. said that my bile duct is spasming and I will have to live with it! Now I don't look forward to this pain, I know what it is and that is half the battle. There are many prescriptions I can take but the effects are almost as bad as the pain. That being said I have still worked really hard this week through the pain!

So here you go.
5-26-11
Weight: 194 (-2lbs!) 

Exercise This Week-
Friday: I went country line dancing!!
Saturday: Ran May 5K it was cross country and due to my pain I walked a little of it and almost tossed my cookies! But did 38min
Sun: None
Mon: 17.23 Miles Spin,  & 3.33 mile run
Tues: 16 Miles Spin & weight training
Wed: 17 miles Spin & 1.3 mile run
Thurs:3 mile walk


Food This week-
Loses: Did well this week!
Wins: I ate what I was suppose to and enjoined many new recipes

Spiritual-
Wins: I have had wonderful times of prayer this week. 
Loses: My consistency of when my quite time is has seemed to go our the window. 


"pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness." 1Tim 6:11

Complete Honesty

Ok so I decide that I need totally real, and I decide to do it here. I am at a place where the end goal is a lot closer than it was before. But I am also at a place where it is easy to just coast on my current knowledge, not learn more, not push harder and just maintain b/c I feel so much better. But let's stop and think about where I am, I have about 30 more pounds to lose and it actually seems to be the place where most people start weight watchers. Yet I seem to be ok with just coasting, if i feel good now can you imagine how good my body will feel when I get to goal?
Why stop for only partial goodness?
I think that question has some huge spiritual implications too. Why do we stop seeking Christ when we first start to see His goodness? Why do we settle for the preview and not watch the movie? Why do we endure the challenge ahead and not collect the prize? Why do we push really hard to just coast and never get over that final hill?
So here and now I'm going to attempt to get over that final hill, I'm going to continue the journey to collect the prize. You say how am I going to do it? Well I'm going to do it by publicly tracking my week, I would like to say it will happen daily but with my crazy life I don't get to a computer daily so weekly is a promise.
I'm going to track my wins, loses, ups, downs and all the in between.

So here you go.
5-19-11
Weight: 196

Exercise This Week-
Sun: None
Mon: None
Tues: 15 Miles Spin
Wed: 17 miles Spin
Thurs:18 mile spin class & 3 mile run
Friday: I will Spin
Saturday: I'm running my May 5K

Food This week-
Loses: Fudge came into my house I ate too much, I have also been craving Peanut Butter. And I ate too many tortilla chips yesterday.
Wins: I have been doing well on my H2O, and getting a good protein filled Breakfast.

Spiritual-
Wins: I have had some solid days in the word and in worship.
Loses: I have not turned to God with my cravings and I need to.

So there you go read if you want or not, but I want to challenge you to get honest too. It might not be with food and exercise. But it could be with something else, maybe goals, lifeplan, time in the word, or organization. Just find what it is and push yourself.

"Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:4

Finish Strong

Those two words have been running through my head since my spinning class earlier this week. One of my instructors kept insisting that we push ourselves past our comfort level and then in the last few minutes continued to tell us to finish strong. And well it hit a cord with me, I know that it was only a 45min class but it got me thinking. Over a year and 1/2 I have lost almost 60lbs, before I started I never thought I could do it. I had every excuse in the book, I don't have enough money, I can't do it alone, me exercise you have to be kidding, I'm just big boned. All lies! The truth is even if I didn't have money for the gym or weight watchers I some how had money for that movie and pizza, I'm not alone I have God by my side and a whole lot of people that have cheered me on along the way (http://bcolling.wordpress.com/ , http://less2cmo2love.blogspot.com/ ,http://stevewallen.blogspot.com/), exercise starts just be walking to the mail box, and people God made all our bones and big boned isn't really an option.
So all week I have been thinking about finishing strong. I've lost 60lbs and I have 30lbs to go, I'm 2/3 the way to my goal. I only have that 1/3 to go....I must FINISH STRONG. I've pushed myself way past my comfort level......I need to FINISH STRONG. I've changed my life for the positive........I will FINISH STRONG!
So here is to finishing strong, when you see me you have all permission to ask me how things are going.

Running through 2011

So I just finished my April run in 31min!!
Jan. was 35
Feb. was 35
March was 33
April was 31
All my spinning has paid off!! My weight has not moved in months but I feel better than ever! I would like to lose about 30lbs to get to my goal, but I'm so ok if it takes another year. Why you ask? because I'm getting healthy and changing my life forever.
My challenge to you is to pick one thing in your life that isn't good for you and get rid of it. Take your time if you need to but when it is gone you will be happy!

2 long weeks

So it has been 2 weeks since I have written and well in that time I've been to Reno and back to visit with my parents who I hadn't seen in 2 1/2 years. It was a short but sweet trip, long enough to love on them but not too long to get upset with each other.

On a weight note, I haven't moved on the scale. But I have picked up on my exercise, I now run a 9 min mile and then start my 45min spinning class at 5am during the week! I really love it and besides wanting lunch at 10am it really makes my day so much better. But I do really wish I could get this last 25lbs off, I know I'm building muscle and I'm healthy. But I just can't wait to get to my goal!!!

Tonight is my 2nd small group. I'm so excited it is so wonderful to be on this journey with other people!