I have been writing now for years, but since I felt God calling me to focus more on this writer’s journey several months ago, I have poured myself into spending time in His Word and in prayer over what His plan for me is, and I have at least a couple things straight.

[IMAGE CREDIT]

First and foremost: I am called to love God.  That’s pretty easy…it’s hard not to love and live for someone so AWESOME!!

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”   Deuteronomy 6:5

And secondly:  I’m called to be a help meet and teacher.  That one’s pretty darn obvious, I have a husband and four kids, and also very easy because again, it’s hard not to love and live with five entirely AWESOME peeps!!

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”   Genesis 2:18

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”   Proverbs 22:6

After that is where things get fuzzy.

I have an intense desire to write and share what God has done in my life, and so am writing, planning on attending a writer’s conference, and planning to write some more.

However since feeling this longing, I have poured myself into using the quiet hours of the morning in prayer… instead of sweat.

I have lost my motivation.

I previously used those hours to first pray and then work out.  I woke at 4:00am (the ONLY time I am not interrupted by the needs of my family) every day.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still waking at 4:00am, but am now using my work out time to continue in prayer.  And what I have found is; praying for a couple hours straight is so sweet, and adding coffee to the mix??  EVEN BETTER!!

[IMAGE CREDIT]

However… with my spiritual life hopefully heading down the right track, I have found there to be a few side effects;

soft mid-section,

[IMAGE CREDIT]

spreading seat,

[IMAGE CREDIT]

and SERIOUS lack of motivation.

[IMAGE CREDIT]

You see, six years ago after having my 4th child, I was 33 years old, over 230 pounds, depressed, exhausted, and just felt so defeated.  I once heard someone say; “if you get to your goal weight when you’re in your 30’s, it is much more easy to maintain that weight as you get older.”

I desperately wanted to lose weight, but didn’t know how, and I so wanted to be a good example to my children about how to live a healthy lifestyle.

I started by setting goals each day:

A fitness goal:

GET OFF THE DANG COUCH!

[IMAGE CREDIT]

“But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”   1 Corinthians 9:27

I began walking for 30 minutes or 1 mile, whichever came first.  Then it became 2 miles.  I started to feel a small urge to run, so I tried it.  And it was awful.  I couldn’t even run 30 seconds straight!  But I kept trying.  So I started small: walk 5 minutes, run 30 seconds, walk 5 minutes, etc…  I slowly got up to 1 minute straight, then 2…

After about 4 months, I was up to over 1 mile running.  It was not fun, but I could do it.  My sister asked me to do a 5k race the following month.  I never thought I could do over 3 miles – but she was told that if you can run 2, then the adrenaline would push you through the rest.  So I signed up, and set my goal to run 2 miles straight.  By the time the race came, I could do 2 miles.  I did finish the race, but the last ½ mile was very, very difficult.  I pushed myself and got through it.  I only stopped 3 times during the race, once for water, and twice for my sister’s untied shoelaces, and just the feeling of accomplishment is what I fell in love with.

A nutrition goal:

STOP BEING SUCH A PIG!

[IMAGE CREDIT]

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”   1 Corinthians 10:11

My mother had gone through Weight Watchers, and had all of the books, so I poured through the information and essentially did weight watchers without the corporate weigh-ins.  Meaning; I ate minimal sugar, fat, carbs, caffeine and because I was exercising I ate more lean protein.

A weight goal:

JUST LOSE SOMETHING!

[IMAGE CREDIT]

“to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,”     Ephesians 4:22-23

I weighed myself daily, and still do.  My weight fluctuates by about 5 pounds…depending upon what I ate and drank and so forth – so I’m not too much of a stickler on the number, but it does help keep me on track.

And lastly…

REWARD YOURSELF!

[IMAGE CREDIT]

“but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”   Matthew 6:20a

Ok, so the Bible doesn’t tell us to reward ourselves, but in certain cases such as potty training and weight loss, bribing absolutely helps.

I set several longer term goals and rewarded myself when I reached them…and DO NOT use food as a reward!!  I baited myself with things I normally wouldn’t spend money on.

When I reached 200 pounds = Teeth whitening.  190 pounds = Pedicure.  180 pounds = New clothes (that fit!!)  170 pounds = Naval piercing.  160 pounds = Tattoo.

The results??  See for yourself…

2006 ~ 230 lbs

2011 ~ 160 lbs.

So…I guess I need to get back on track.  Stop making excuses and glorify God in every aspect of my life!!

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”   Colossians 3:17

He has clearly given me guidance and passion in writing, and has even given me more time to write…so now it’s time to get back on track and, well… run!!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”   Hebrews 12:1

heehee…

“lay aside every weight…” (Now that’s funny right there!)  as said by Mater from Cars 

[IMAGE CREDIT]