Truly Humbled

Well as I wrote last week I finished my crash diet and started my first week of the rest of my life. Maintaining my weight is going to be a challenge, and as I found out last week it can be truly frightening. Along with the last day I was able to take an "after" picture at the gym, and I am honored that they have made up the flyer below. My thought going into this journey was not about the impact the end result would have but on getting myself healthier. In the process I am finding that my story is like so many others out there. Unlike some of our athletic heroes today, I want to come straight out and let everyone know that my results are completely NATURAL. I did not take any drugs and did not have any surgeries.

I tell you all this because I have heard so many people who are desperate and talking about surgery as an option. Although I am not a doctor and cannot speak to the dangers or complications from a surgery, I can say that everyone can do this without surgery. It takes faith, trust, and plenty of listening skills.

What is the true key to my success? When I asked for help I listened and did what the person I asked told me to do. I am not saying follow someone blindly, but once you ask and the person gives you solid advice you have no other excuse but to just do it. What is the saying..."Anything worth having is going to cost you something"? Why is this any different?

Many say, "How can you give up so much or how did you do this?" My response is that I wanted to feel better about myself, I wanted to be the Father, Husband, Brother, Uncle, and Friend that God designed me to be. I was tired of turning down my daughter when she wanted to play. I was tired of not helping my wife around the house, I was tired of telling my friends I would love to do that but I am tired. I was plain tired of letting down the people around me.

To me it is not about me at all! If God wants to take me to Heaven, I say let's go! He has me on this earth for a purpose and that purpose is giving myself to bring Him praise. If that means being the best I can be, then I have to give it a shot.

In the end I set out to do something for others and somehow God is using it to encourage, inspire, and challenge others! That, my friends, is Truly Humbling!

Perspective

Well, today is the beginning of the rest of my life. Back in December of 2008 I started with this crazy idea that I would change my lifestyle and become more fit and healthy. As of this afternoon I am officially done with the losing weight portion of this program. I have lost 102 pounds and only have 14.2% body fat. That is a far ways away from the 311 pound start with 35% body fat.

To me it was a lot like climbing a mountain. Mount Everest sits at 29,000 feet high, and if you stood at the base of that mountain you could not even see the peak. When I started on this journey I stood at the base and went after something I could not see or touch. I merely set out to be healthier. In the process I would climb bits of the mountain day by day. Some days would be good days and I would make it further up the mountain than others. Some days I would hit some loose slate and slip down a little bit. But like any good climber I would reset myself and start back up the mountain. Well, this past week I stood at the point in the mountain where I could see the peak. Today I am on top of the mountain looking at all of creation!

What does the view look like? It is very scary! At the peak of mountain you get very volatile weather and things can change in a moment's notice. I am reminded that a lot of mountains shut down during the peak winter period due to the danger of being at the top then. For me it is scary because I have spent the last 20 years trying to lose weight! Now I move into a period of my life where I can go into maintenance mode. And in case you are not keeping track, the last time I was in maintenance mode things got out of hand and I ballooned up 100+ pounds!

As I was on the treadmill the other day I was looking down from the peak and noticed many people that are in the position I was once in. Now I look at them and want to encourage them! They can and you can do it, you just need to take the mountain one step at a time. I am reminded of one of my favorite followers' words a few years back, "You did not put it on in a day and it will not come off in a day." I wonder as I move forward, how will God use me to help others struggling to be the person that they were made to be?

From the peak I am also encouraged and excited. As I look down I can see so much more that I can do. I have set some lofty goals that for the first time I believe I can and will achieve. I will be running the Chicago Marathon in the fall. I am planning on training for an Ironman Triathlon for sometime in 2011 or 2012. I am able to play sports at the highest level in my life (including High School and College).

From the peak I see perhaps the most important thing that I can see. I see that God can do more than all I can ask or imagine! I know many that are reading this do not understand what I mean here, but all of this was not done by me. You say, what does that mean? Are you telling me you did not do the work? Are you saying that you did not run the miles? Are you saying you did not lift the weights? My answer? Yep, that is what I am telling you. The key, I believe, is my last blog posting on identity. Who are you? I am a Christ follower and with that I have died unto myself and now He lives in me! So, yep, the Christ that lives in me did all the work and gained all the results. I was just the passenger that got to watch it all happen and what a ride it was!

I cannot tell you how many mornings I woke up and went to the gym wondering how I was going to get the energy to workout that day. When I finished I knew that all God needed me to do was to show up and He would take care of the rest. Energy flowed through me during the workout and He accomplished all that He intended on those mornings.

The peak of the mountain is a cool place. It is a place not many people make it to and those that do can get knocked off pretty easily. So I will keep my head down and continue to humble myself! I want to encourage you all to climb a mountain that you see is too high or too tough to climb. Whether it is losing weight, running a marathon, getting your PHD, or something of that ilk, pray about it! Ask God if this is what He would want to accomplish through you! Wait for Him to confirm the answer, then pursue it with passion! Trust that if God gives you a direction He will see you through the process. All you need to do is show up and get in the passenger seat - the ride will be awesome. And the view? Well, it is breathtaking to say the least!