One Year Later

May 11th marks a special day for me. It was one year ago that I first stepped back into a pool and decided that I was going to lose weight again. Six or seven years ago I lost 70 pounds...but after four years of graduate work, I had gained back about 55 or 60 pounds of that.

Now a year later, I have far surpassed where I was before coming to Louisville. Furthermore, this time I can tell my healthy lifestyle change is around to stay.

I want to encourage those out there that feel as though they 1. "cant do it" or that 2. eating right is "impossible" or that 3. they are too busy...None of those excuses are viable excuses.

1. Anyone can do anything they set their minds to...all it takes is to start. Start slow, 30-45 minutes of cardio 3 or 4 days a week...but continue to add challenges to your body as it becomes easier. Before the summer was over last year, I went from swimming 1/2 mile a day to 2 miles a day...6 days a week. If it gets boring, switch it up. I started rollerblading some last summer too...and now I use the treadmill, track and lift weights.

2. Eating right is a mind thing. If I feel like I am going through a period when I will be tempted more, I dont keep anything in my house that will tempt me (peanut butter, though good in moderation, is a weakness of mine. i could eat half a jar in a day if i dont watch myself :) ). Plus, you allow for one "splurge" meal a week. This does not mean order a whole large Papa John's pizza and sit on the couch and eat every crumb. You can have pizza, but order a medium and share it with someone...have them take the leftovers home with them instead of keeping them at your house. Also, always remember if you "fall off the wagon", tomorrow is a new day. start fresh...but dont wait until Monday of the next week.

3. Busy-ness is the least viable excuse of them all. If you knew now, that you could spend 30-45 minutes 4 days a week and avoid a heart attack in 10 years, would you do it? Let me tell you a little about being busy...

Granted I am single, but that does not mean I dont have commitments. I work 40 hours a week, I go to church about 3 or 4 times a week, I am in charge of a local college ministry that meets one night a week (not to mention special events), I work with a college group at my church that has one large event a month as well as several small events scattered throughout, I am working on my masters degree taking classes on nights and weekends, I play djembe with our Singles band and I have played with another band for one concert (i hope to continue with them) that required several practice sessions, I play djembe at another church on Sunday nights, I have met with people one-on-one for mentoring and discipleship, and I do have a family and somewhat of a social life :).

...it is within this schedule that my typical week is to swim six mornings a week, lift three evenings a week, and find some random times to go to the treadmill or track.

Up to this point, most of what I have talked about is directed to the individual, but truly, I give the credit for my accomplishments to God and my relationship with Jesus for this past year's success. Without God, there is no way that I would have changed from the night owl that I was to the disciplined person that gets up at 5:00 a.m. It is my relationship with my Lord that gives me the ability to accomplish all that I do in my life, and He is where I lean to find the strength that it requires.