Kate Middleton, Jimmy Page, Richard Nixon, Dave Matthews, Crystal Gayle, Mark Martin, and...Gilligan (Bob Denver),
I'm in great company as I celebrate my 38th Birthday!
I love that my birthday is right at the beginning of a new year. Well, I've got to find something positive about having a birthday in the dead of winter. It's a fresh start and I have new goals in mind for the next year.
The last year has been one of the best of my life. I've missed all of my goals fitness wise, but am in the best shape I've ever been in. The commitment is what mattered most and that I have truly internalized. I never would have imagined that at this stage in life I'd be dead lifting 193 pounds or back squatting 143 pounds for the first time ever. I have achieved "double under" - a jump rope thing. But have failed to achieve "pull-up" - though the assistance bands I use have changed.
I had some blood work done a few months ago and it revealed a higher than desired bad cholesterol level. That is going to change this year. And the remaining 20 pounds I need to lose is going to go.
There have been some wonderful side effects to the fitness focus I've had. The positive mood I experience after every day I throw some iron around has been wonderful. I can't imagine a pill delivering better results. I accomplish more throughout my day when I take time out of it to work out. And the greatest side effect so far has been RLB saying to me, "those jeans make your ass look like crap when they are hanging off of you like that." They were my goal jeans that were hanging on my closet door one year ago.
I hope I'm not alone in making this next year a year to focus on health and fitness. If you haven't started your journey towards health, I hope you too decide there is no better time than now to start. You know it's time to stop looking in the mirror with shame and remorse. You know it's time to call out to God and pray for His assistance in giving you a resolve that can not be shaken. Ask Him to guard your thoughts so you may defeat your complacency. It is time to acknowledge the sin of gluttony and repent of it. Free yourself from it. Hold tight to the words of Galatians 5:16-26. No, I'm not going to give them to you. You look it up. Write it out and plaster it wherever you'll see it most.
Don't hide behind the lie that it's what's on the inside that matters. Your insides show on your outsides. You know that. Every relationship in your life will improve when you defeat that which is in your mind that holds you back. Most importantly your relationship with God will improve. And isn't that, after all, what we're all here for?
Now that I've become committed to fitness and health, my mind has been searching for other areas of improvement. Funny how that works. Please want that for yourself. You'll never regret it.
Excellent. After a long slog of having to lay low and survive, this is my breakout year, both financially and physically. On the other side of 2013, I will have both elements squared away nicely, and just might have some key elements of my life in the order I wish them to be in.
ReplyDeleteSelf-discipline is not for the faint of heart, but it is the key to all success, from money to health, and most of all, spiritual maturity and character development.
Love it or hate it, it is the answer to many issues.
I do love the correlation between 'discipline' and 'disciple'
and I leave you with a quote I once heard:
"discipline is a vehicle for joy"
Were they Mom-Jeans?
ReplyDeleteMom will love that generous 9 inch zipper! Order in the next 5 minutes and you get a macrame vest, free!
ReplyDeleteOh, aren't you guys hilarious! :P
ReplyDeleteI remember, in the 80's, the ridiculous fitting jeans that only came with the 9 inch zipper. I do still have a pair from 1987. They are my final goal jeans. I would never wear them in public but I'll know I'm back to the size I was in 8th grade.
The wife and I just began. Thanks for the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday! Good job on the weight loss.
ReplyDelete@ Samuel - Now would be a good time for me to mention that I have noticed such a change in your comments over the past year. You seem to have this secure peace about you now. I just skim some readers' comments, but yours I always stop and read careful because they are always so helpful. May the Lord bless your upcoming year.
- SSM
EM, this crossfit workout system has been awesome for SD. If you have the money to join that type of gym it will pay off. I'm in a bit of flux as SD has previously posted. Once I heal my back, I will go back to it. Crossfit workouts are my favorite because you forget that you are working out. Things change so much during the workout that you don't really have time to get bored or complain.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, SD!
ReplyDeleteI started getting healthy January of 2010 and lost a significant amount of weight. I have since plateaued short of my goal, I'd say I have about 20 (safely in healthy BMI territory) to 30 (vanity goal) pounds to go. I've successfully maintained at my current weight for the better part of a year now (well, not counting the 4 lbs or so I gained over the holidays...ugh!), but I just haven't been motivated enough to make that final push. I need to. I wish I still had my 8th grade Z. Cavaricci jeans to use as goal pants :)
I'm happy to say that Mr. Northwoods has both successfully reached and is maintaining a healthy weight. I'll admit I'm a bit jealous. Men seem to have an easier time of it. While he cut calories (like I did), he didn't put in NEARLY the exercise time I did, and with few exceptions, he always outdid me on the scale each week...grrr!
Thanks for sharing this. In my complacency, I forgot how rewarding it is to see those changes in your body. I need to get back on the horse, and I will take my first (baby) step today.
That's awesome, Northwoods! I highly suggest lifting weights. High weight low rep. You won't believe the physical changes you will see in your body in a short amount of time. That is also why our Mr.s lose weight faster than we do, they have more muscle. RLB can think of losing five pounds and voila, it's gone. He is very in control when it comes to what he eats, that is one of my goals for the next year, to leave food on the plate.
ReplyDeleteSo, we're in this together, here's to the next decade! (Inside joke with Northwoods)