Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Last Supper, And Looking Straight Ahead

Well, I normally recommend against "last suppers" before starting a weight loss regimen; why give yourself even more of a disadvantage before you start getting serious? But I did exactly that, because we had planned a chili dinner last night at a friend's house, and I decided that would be my last splurge before getting back into a strict routine. Chili, cheese, corn chips, sour cream, and hot dogs were on the menu, and I gave it one last "hurrah" before a serious weight-loss effort. It could have been done with a quasi-healthier twist (turkey instead of beef, low-fat cheese and sour cream, etc.), but I wasn't doing the cooking. So we ate, and I indulged in seconds, plus some chocolate afterward.

In spite of a really late bedtime last night (watched/listened to the Falcons lose their game), I set the alarm so that I was in the gym by 5:15 this morning. I was pleased to discover that after a half-mile warm-up, I was still able to crank out several minutes of running without too much effort. Running intervals and 15-degree incline walking made up my workout this morning.

As I write this, I am literally six inches away from a third of a chocolate pecan pie, and half of an apple cake, as well as assorted cookies, candies, etc. We set up a table in the dining room to handle all the desserts Brenda made, plus various candies, nuts, etc. that were gifts from other people. It sort of looks like a shrine to the "fat gods". But I'm done with them. I ate, I weighed, and I repented! I wrote my buddy Skip and told him about my holiday damage - he just wrote back and said that at least we know what to do about it.

The battle really does start with putting "blinders" on... I haven't looked it up, but I wonder how many times in scripture God told various people to turn "neither to the right nor to the left". There's a reason for that - to the right and to the left are temptations that will get us off track and cause us to stumble.

To all of you who are planning on starting after the first of the year - I'm not going to be critical. It's better to have a specific start date in mind than to NOT have one in mind, even if it means a couple of extra days of indulgence. But on the other hand, if you need to lose 40 pounds, why push it up to 45 before you start?

I'd love to hear what your plans are regarding your weight in the coming new year - drop me a line on facebook, or comment on this post. I will be posting more frequently, and will be refreshing some of the things I posted last year regarding diet, exercise, and motivation.

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About Me

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Augusta, Georgia
I am privileged to serve as associate pastor of Lumpkin Road Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia. I have been married to my wife, Brenda, for 22 years, and have two children, ages 20 and 18. I won the 2010 Augusta's Biggest Loser contest with a record-setting 41.83% weight loss, from 342 lbs to 199 lbs in 6 months.