One day later the gym was quite thinned out. I was the only one on the track for most of my run. No struggle for space in the locker room and only two other people lifting weights with me in that area. Was that really it? One day after the new year and people decide that enough. The crowds I could do without, but if it means more people are getting into shape I’ll endure it.
I was glad for the extra room, but kinda disappointed that people seemed to be giving up that easily.
Way too many people at the gym today. First Monday of the New Year and everybody is determined to lose the ten pounds they gained during the holidays. At least they’re concerned about it right now. It will be interesting to see the state of the gym as the month goes on. There are 6-8 people I see at the gym all the time, every day. We kinda gave eachother disapproving looks as we fought for space in the locker room.
I jumped on the indoor track at the gym to do my 3 miles. Most of the time I’m only one on the track, but it’s not unusual to have 2-3 other people walking and running at the same time. There were a dozen+ people today. One guy saw me run past him and didn’t seem to like a round individual such as myself to be showing him up. He hung for exactly one lap (a tenth of a mile, I do 30 laps for 3 miles).
Make way for the fat man.
Sep 22 – 279
Sep 29 – 276
Oct 10 – 269
Oct 20 – 266
Oct 30 – 264
Nov 10 – 261
Nov 23 – 259
Dec 2 – 258
Dec 21 – 254
Dec 31 – 252
27 pounds! I still may be a long way from my goal, but I have lost nearly 10% of my entire body weight. I think that’s pretty significant.
Had a couple relatives notice weight that I had lost at Christmas which was very nice. If you ever notice someone has lost weight – tell them! Most people go through a lot to take those pounds off and the recognition is a big motivator.
I was talking about all the running I’ve been doing (up to 3-4 miles a day). My cousin asked, “How do you go by yourself? What’s your motivation?” First I really do like running. Also, I pop on the headphones with some Marc Driscoll or kickin’ music and I could run for a really long time. Mostly though I go running with two other people when I run. They both motivate me.
The first guy is 20 years old. He’s 5’9″, 210 lbs, built like an athlete. He runs smooth and strides long. His breathing is patterned and controlled. He sweats a little but mostly he’s just making his way to the finish line. Under control, regulated pace, the picture of health.
The second guy is my age. He’s also 5’9″, but 280 lbs and very round in the middle. His stomach inches over his belt line. He runs and walks as best he can, but he can’t really find a good pace. When he breathes is sounds like a vacuum and balloon running out of air at the same time. He is sweating profusely, but his “running” is just a shuffle that is slower than most people can walk. He is the picture of laziness and gluttony.
I’m sure you’ve figured it out by now. They are both me. I run in the middle (but closer to the fat man). The young Doug I am running towards. The recent Doug I am running from. When I take a day off or slow my run dow, the fat man gets closer. The healthy man further. Metaphorically, it’s an uphill run as well. It’s hard to keep going forward and uphill. It would be so much easier to just stop or go downhill. But if I do, that fat man will be here again.
I had to switch to a different belt. I have a couple pairs of jeans that are really too big now. Part of that process of moving forward may be to get rid of the fat clothes. I keep telling myself that I want to wait to buy new clothes until I reach my goal. Maybe pants are a small price to pay to make it harder to go back.
Wow! I haven’t blogged here in a long time. First resolution for the new year – get back on the blog!
Sep 22 – 279
Sep 29 – 276
Oct 10 – 269
Oct 20 – 266
Oct 30 – 264
Nov 10 – 261
Nov 23 – 259
Dec 2 – 258
Dec 21 – 254
Put it in the Books folks! That’s 25 pounds. Only about 40 more to go, which seems like a lot, but not as much as it used to be!
I ran 2 of the 4 days of my Thanksgiving holiday weekend. 50% of my goal. Meh. I ate WAAAY too much on Thanksgiving and again on Saturday at Bekah’s birthday party. So I was fearing my Nov. 30 weigh-in. I think I was fearing it so much that I accidently forgot on purpose to hit the scale on Monday. Finally I jumped on there yesterday (Dec 1). It could have been worse! I came in at 258. Despite the lazy weekend with too much food, a pound still came off! Not too shabby. At least I’ll take it.
Still looking for a goal. A triumph. An athletic accomplishment to work towards and overcome…
Sep 22 – 279
Sep 29 – 276
Oct 10 – 269
Oct 20 – 266
Oct 30 – 264
Nov 10 – 261
Nov 23 – 259
Dec 1 – 258
Next weigh-in Dec 10.
Still fasting and praying. (Luke 2:37)
My prayer life is unlike it’s ever been. God is really speaking to my heart. I’ve been taking plenty of fluids, mostly water. Coffee the last two mornings and a glass of wine at dinner time last night. Other than that, just water. (1 Tim 5:23)
I’m not even hungry. And I’m really joyful about it. This is too strange. Does food get that much in the way of my walk? How much of an idol is food in my life? I am keenly aware that this is a shock to my system and I will not continue it past 48-72 hours. I know the health risks involved after a few days. Right now I am not living on bread alone.
One mile today for time and weights.
Update – Fast ended at Dinner on Tuesday Night (Nov 24). It was amazing and I was very blessed by the time and focus it gave me.
This has been a very interesting day. I had NO IDEA how much my life revolved around the next thing I’m going to eat. This is only the end of one day of fasting, but I’m not terribly hungry. We say all the time that we’re “hungry”. I really want to know what hungry feels like. It makes me wonder if I’ve ever really been hungry.
My thoughts still go to God as I am constantly battling habit and advertisements. Lots of commercials that are just advertising crap. Taco Bell, Burger King, breakfast cereals, soft drinks. Plus, I want to open the fridge and look in the cabinets every time I pass by. I don’t need it!
Tonight, my dad was over for dinner. I sat at the table with my beverage and everyone ate dinner. We talked and I really paid attention to the conversation more than ever. I was up and down getting things for people, allowing Christina to sit there and enjoy her dinner. It was just awesome. What glory God gives us in the grace of those little moments that usually pass us by.
I am not on a fast by accident. God is teaching.
Finally got to weigh-in today at the gym and …. drum roll…. 259! That’s an even 20 lbs! Couldn’t be happier. Seriously, it is a huge benchmark and I am just as ecstatic as I could be. I’m more excited to reach 30 lbs though. Not only will that be another ten pounds and thirty pounds all together, but I would finally be under 250. THAT’S progress.
For the first time today I really pushed myself in a 3-mile run. My stomach started to cramp and I took a relief walk after 2 miles. I picked up to run again, but I slowed the pace for the last mile. I hate that I had to do that, but it was necessary to get the cramp out.
I’ve now been fasting for all of 5 hours (Christina the fast did not cause the cramp) and I already realize how much food gets in the way of my thought processes. I’m always thinking about the next meal or talking about food. My real effort has been to start intercessory prayer when I start thinking about food. I prayed a lot already today. All those prayers have basically started the same way, “God, I want to put you first today…” Also, I haven’t told anyone directly of my fasting effort – I don’t want to be a bemoaning martyr. If you see me day-to-day and you know that I am fasting, please just know and don’t say anything. This is between God and me.
Let’s review!
Sep 22 – 279
Sep 29 – 276
Oct 10 – 269
Oct 20 – 266
Oct 30 – 264
Nov 10 – 261
Nov 23 – 259
10 more pounds by Christmas? Might be too much to ask for, but still a good goal to shoot for.
My workouts have not been as consistent as I would want them to be. I didn’t get into the gym on Friday, so I had gone for a run after work on Friday night. I will get into the gym tomorrow and weigh-in.
I am going to go on a fast this week. This is not a weight-loss thing. It is a piety thing. All through the bible, fasting is used as a way to create less distance between man and God. I know that I need to focus on what’s important right now. I need fasting and prayer.
For those that care… I will be safe about this. I will drink lots of water and I will include other fluids with calories and protein.
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