And it all begins again.....

Dear blog,

Several changes are continuing to be made while in progress. One, who knew almond milk wasn't all that bad. I am in the process of converting to ovo-lacto  vegetarian diet. The almond milk helps cut down my milk consumption but I can't seem to break my cheese habit, hence, the ovo-lacto part of the diet. I am cutting back my total meat consumption, boosting my whole grains, and still eating eggs and cheese as a primary protein. Also, I have boosted my water consumption a bit as well.

The results are easy to deduce. I have gone from exhausted to tired, which is a good thing. I am starting to notice the hint of my clothes fitting better. It is getting easier to sleep at night. And, I am discovering that I don't always have to eat meat. Eating quick, which is always a problem, is getting easier to work as I have introduced the occasional protein shake when necessary to fill gaps.

The only thing I've got to get back to is working out. I hope to restart that by this weekend. Based on past experience, it will take about three weeks or so but I will go from tired to less tired in short order. Ultimately, I am shooting to feel better.

B.B.

Dear blog

Dear blog,

I have not written you in a while. I must confess I should report to you more. I have rebooted the weight loss process but I have to be more aware than I was before because of the gains that I have made.

The reasons for me losing weight are too numerous to recount but some bear repeating. First, I have forgotten the lessons of mom's death. The diabetes that took her --slowly. The fact that though she knew she had it and constantly fought the ways to make her better or at least more comfortable as time progressed. I have to remind myself of the pain that the effects of the disease caused her. Though it could not be stopped, there were ways to make her going less tortuous. I am in a position to make things right. I still have time. I need to do it.

(God, you slowly reveal your calling in my life and I purpose to continue that calling until You see fit that I should complete it. I know I have my own stewardship of this time and this temple. Lord, give me strength to give up what I should and not give in to temptation. I have seen the horrible after effects of living this way. I know the fall has taken its toll on us as humanity but, Lord, keep me from stewarding my own temple in such a way as to dishonor you. Amen)

A second fact is the compounding effect on my other weaknesses. I have a heart problem, electrical and dangerous, that is further exacerbated by not taking care of myself. Every other stress I put on this problem makes daily living a chore. It is workable now but I have made comparison between having lost weight and gained some of it back. I used to feel better. I used to have more energy. I want it back.

A final fact, for know, is that I do have something for which to live. I love my wife and my hope is that I spend as much of this temporal life with her as God allows. She has stood with me through it all. I love her and, although this may seem selfish, I want to spend as much quality time as I can with her. I have my students. I have learned from them as much as I have taught. I like this exchange. I want to continue. I have the ministry that God has given me. Whatever that is, it is a privilege to live in doing a Sovereign God's will.

BA3

Beginning again...

I started to feel that which I already knew. My clothes were fitting tight again. The last five months have been harrowing to say the least. Beginning the steep climb of a dissertation, trying to finish all the seminar work - barrier tests and comps, helping my wife through her father's health, teaching at two institutions, and working on the weekend at a church, all left me with little time to do much else. I had to determine which would be left behind to focus on the others and I left behind my health. I stopped watching what I was eating. I stopped working out. Then, I started gaining back.

All the ground that I had given up. I have reclaimed. I am not back where I started from but I can feel myself edging back. I cannot. I will not. This journey has not been without its setbacks but none like this last one. I have to determine to dig deep and begin, maybe not again, but at least restart in earnest. This I will do today. The gym. The egg whites. The water. The victory. I will once again focus my resolve on being a healthy temple.

Pray for me, its going to be a journey.