Tom Branch - Roads of Faith

Ok things have been set into motion that is most likely way past overdue. In fact overdue would indicate it being early, so that's how long overdue things are. Let's see what is going on and what are the rules of engagement?

One I am overweight. I am tall and large framed yes, but I am still very overweight. In fact according to eh charts I'm morbidly obese. Wat such a horrible word to be labeled as in life. Morbid. But I am not all that bad. Depends on what I am wearing depends on how much I appear to weigh.

Even for the jokes I think the fat boy jokes might wanna slow down into nothingness.

So why is weight loss important to me all of the sudden? Actually it's not all of the sudden it has been such a long journey that has rarely ever been walked but always been felt.

Why I want to start...

I am tired of being out of breath going up just a small flight of stairs.
I am tired of hunting down clothes in my size at nearly every department store.
A lil selfishly, I want to feel good in my body one day.
A lil unselfishly I do not want my future wife or family to go through extra hardship because I did not take care of myself now, causing many more health issues when I get older. I do not wish to become a burden to my loved ones.
We are called to be stewards, and taking care of our bodies should be more important.
New health issues have arisen that I need to change now...Gout...I could become (if not already) diabetic, sleep apnea.

Other good things....

Save money by eating better rather than eating out or harmful foods (grease, fats, etc)
Help the environment by not eating fast foods or meats as much (less we eat, the less water used in feeding and cleaning animals for consumption)
I need a healthy venue for venting stress (from work) and dealing with frustrations and anger.
They say that success in thew workplace (new jobs, promotions, etc) are often linked to weight loss and health (as in getting healthier).

I grow so tired of being past lazy into lethargic not doing anything. I hate it. I sometimes feel I have no control over things. No control by means of things are getting out of hand from laziness and now creating more work in the battle. Doing nothing is loosing control that I do have.

Four years ago I was doing good. I was alone but it seemed to work out. I was exercising and loosing weight. I was down to just a tad below 285. People noticed. Then one day sick and broke I ate McDonald's. For the first time ( I had not eaten out in a long time) I felt so weighed down from the grease. I never felt it before until then. I mainly was walking and such or on a treadmill or a gym bike.

That was four years ago. It seems my health issues start hitting my, like gout, when I get above a certain weight. This worries me and frustrates me.

So here is where I am at...
I bought a food steamer for Christmas and started eating a lot of that. And I cut back on my sugar intake mostly. And I have lost 5 pounds just form the diet alone! That is a great start. Then just recently I joined the YMCA where I found many folks form church go there as well.

So I hope with a combination of diet and exercise with a few other lifestyle changes that I can loose some of this extra weight. My goal is to loose 75 pounds..

Current weight in 310 pounds, just a tad under. Mayhaps 308 depending on what time of day I weight myself.

Simple rules....(most worked for me the last time)

Opt for unsweetened tea
Cut back on sugar(s)
NO sodas
Switch to decaf (who really needs all that extra caffeine?)
No eating 3 hours before bed
No exercising 5 hours before bed
Drink more water (hopefully a gallon a day)
Park farther away form the building at work
More rice and cabbage and steamed foods
NO grease foods (no fried foods) or extra sparingly, extra extra
Fatty foods in moderation
Starches in moderation
Cook at home more than eating out
Stop eating just before you are full

This time what will I do differently? I need to really pray on this. I know that I have tried so many times before on my own and have failed. I need support and accountability or I will fail. I cannot do this alone. I lack discipline in this area and really need community this time in order to make this more successful than the last time.

I have not taken great care of myself. This is only one of many areas in my life I need to work on. And working on one will effect another. I will have energy once again. It is just not about weight loss, but also about control, discipline, saying no to myself when appropriate, making wiser choices in my actions (what I eat, don't eat etc).

This is apart of the package. This is not one battle. This is only one battle of the war to become the man God calls me to be. In fact this can even by a way of evangelizing, by means of my life as an example. Maybe even help others. Point my eyes away form myself and unto God, deny self, and sacrifice self for love and the family I desire In Christ and in the physical sense.

Externally or internally this i s not just about me anymore.

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