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!

Identity

A couple weekends ago I went down to Huntington, WV to watch my oldest daughter perform in a show choir competition and stayed just down the street from the campus of Marshall University. Being a big sports fan, I love to watch movies that are about sports and in particular I love watching true stories about real events in history.

The movie We Are Marshall is a story about a day in November of 1970 when the football team of Marshall University was coming back to Huntington from Greenville North Carolina when the charter jet they were flying in crashed, killing all who were on board.

The few players and coaches that were not on board took on the task of rebuilding the program and struggled mightily with losing all of the members of their football family. One of the biggest things they struggled with was their identity! They knew that they went to Marshall but they struggled trying to understand why they were spared from death. In the end they realized that it was not something they could control and they began to chant 'We are Marshall'!

Since I was in Huntington and I was only about a mile from the campus, I thought what a cool place to take a morning run! As I took off, the movie was playing in my head and I was wondering things like, did they film the movie here? I wonder what the area was like back when the tragedy hit? I wonder how the University remembers this group of people. Quickly I came up to the football stadium and ran across the athletic facility. On the side of the wall is painted 'We Are Marshall.' The rest of that run I pondered the meaning of this phrase...

What does it mean? Why did it resonate with the people of the time? Why is it so known and understood now? I came back to my room and posted the pictures on my Facebook page and wondered how long it would take for someone to comment with the 'We are Marshall' phrase.

I uploaded them at 8:35AM and at 8:50AM I had already had one 'We are Marshall' comment. So what was God teaching me on this run? I think I figured it out on my way home on Sunday. He was telling me it is not about me! It was not about those that were killed! It was not about those that survived! It was not about a movie or a city! It is all about our identity.

I think one of the biggest things that I get out of a long run is a true understanding of who I am and what powers me. When I set out on a long run, I plan to run out so far and then run back. On the way out all seems good as I am fresh and still excited about running. The way back is a different story. Many times I am truly humbled and begin to cry out to God for help on my journey. With no other way to get back home, I have to rely on my legs to get me there!

Paul tells us in the book of Romans that if we are truly believers of Christ that we have died with Christ and He now lives in us. So what does that mean to me when I run or do anything? It means that it is not me that is running but Christ's spirit running in me!

So to me if God is good, powerful, strong, wise, and never fails or fades, then I can depend on Him to get me through anything that He puts on my heart. Notice the subtle difference here! I did not say that He would get me through anything I want to accomplish, He will get me through anything HE wants to accomplish through me. Further, He states in His word that He has begun a work in me and He will see it through to an end! Praise Him!

Excitement Builds!

As I take a break this week from my bland diet and live a bit, I am filled with excitement for the next step in my journey. I am not sure if any of you have ever set out to accomplish a goal that seems a bit out there, but for me to run a marathon seems a bit much. I am confident, however, that I will not only complete it but I will run it strong. With that being said ,I am excited to go and do it now!

Slow down, Matt! You are not ready today to go out and run 26.2 miles strong! But that is what I want to happen - I just want to show up and complete the task. Maybe some could go and do a 5K or 10K that way, but running a marathon that way is not very smart. See, I feel this is the way we all look at a task. We see something that we want to do, we explore all about it, we realize and visualize the euphoric feeling after completing the task, but we often glance over the pain and hard work that leads to the end results.

Last year when preparing for the Akron Half Marathon, I ran 275 miles in a 11 week period. I also did somewhere between 3-4 hours of swimming and I maintained a 2 day a week weight lifting program pretty much right up until a week or two before the race. I can honestly say that I felt like I was ready for that race, but as I reflect on the work I am amazed at what my body went through and at times I am on the verge of tears and overwhelmed by the blessing that God put into my hands.

What will that mean for this year's journey? I am plotting out the 16 weeks leading up to the race and I am enjoying doing it. Putting the journey down on paper helps me to make sure I do not look too far ahead. It helps me to keep my eye on the prize, which is to glorify Christ with every step on race day. It helps me to be accountable to my training! (note: I will be posting my workouts on my blog in the upper right hand corner to share with you all and to hold me accountable for the training)

In the meantime I will begin to build a base of mileage and strength for the next 16 weeks leading up to the week of June 1st when countdown begins. Will that mean 500+ miles, 8-10 hours of swimming, and weight training? I will let you all know, but one thing is for sure - I plan to enjoy it and work intensely in the process. Besides, what else can I do for a few hours to glorify the one who poured out His blood for me?

45,000 of My Friends and Me!

Well, today I took a big step forward in my future goals. After much consideration and prayer I have signed up for the Chicago Marathon on 10-10-10! What a better place to complete my 1st full marathon than in Chicago. It is the location of my first ever business trip, and I love the city! In particular if you ever get to visit Wrigley Field it is a must!

I am excited and again nervous, to run 26.2 miles in 4 hours is a rather large task! However I will not be alone, my two brother-in-laws will be with me as well as my newphew Jeremy, and a couple friends. Along with them will be 45,000 total participants! Yes, that is the right number and I am sure it will be complete chaos!

Another goal I set for this year was to return to the Akron Marathon and complete the 1/2 marathon again. This will always be a special place for me. Not only is Akron my hometown, but the organization of this marathon is second to none! It is easy to register, the health and fitness exhibition is awesome, and the start and finish are incredible. Finishing inside Canal Park is special as the stadium has great seating for all who are there to cheer the runners on and you are not funneled into a narrow finishing area (Columbus). To top it off, the race director shakes each finisher's hand as he or she comes across the finishline.

The course is challenging as well as historic and beautiful. The full marathon takes the runners through the city down the Towpath and through the gardens at Stan Hywett and to Canal Park. The half marathon goes through the city, the University of Akron and then to Canal Park. Anyone looking for a goal, the 1/2 Marathon at Akron is a must. Plenty of people walk/run this event too, so do not think you have to run it in a speedy time.

As I embark on this year's journey I am confident it will be fun, challenging, satisfying, and glorifying of God. I am still nervous, but it is the good nervous - you know when you are excited to do something! I am excited I have such a good group of people for accountablility and for encouragement! Can't wait to see my wife and daughters at the finishline in their Team Dudones shirts and give them a big hug!

Every week my church and I say a benediction from the book of Ephensians. It is, "Now to Him who is able to do more than we can ask or imagine with His power at work within us. To Him be the Glory forever and ever Amen!" This is who I will depend on 10-10-10 to carry me for the full 26.2 mile journey! Thank you, Jesus!

Biggest Loser Commentary

Last night's Biggest Loser shone a light on something that I think we all can identify with - denial! If you have watched the shows this year or any year, you know that if you listen and accept the help that is offered to you that you will find that results are pretty certain. I have yet to see a person come on the show and leave heavier than when they went on the show. Call it what you would like, but it is a fact that if you eat less than you take in you will lose weight in 99% of the situations.

If you watched the show last night you will recall that the red team was confronted with throwing two weigh-ins in a row. The female on the team gained a pound the first week and lost one pound the next week. Oddly enough, both weeks they had immunity and could not be sent off the show.

This female lost double digits the first week, which is a strong indicator that she does not have a metabolism issue thus taking away any thought that she needs to truly change the way she is doing things. She merely needs to do the things suggested to her by those much wiser than her on the subject of weight loss. When confronted with her efforts, she minced words by complaining that she was called a liar on national television.

What does it matter if she was called a liar? She never said she gave it her all! Many of us look for excuses and find ways to comfort ourselves by saying we are stricken with weight issues. Are you really? We find ways to justify why we eat what we eat!

In this lady's case she was complaining about being called a liar when in fact she was avoiding dealing with her addiction to food. The bottom line is that she did not give her all and got called on the carpet. This is when help kicks in. As any good trainer would do she was confronted out of care and love for the person, not from a 'I told you so' attitude.

My thought goes like this: The overweight person became overweight not because they knew what to do and did not do it. They became that way because they did not know what the best things to do or eat were, so they did the wrong thing. They gained weight and now is the time to learn. The goal for this couple should be to shut up and listen. What they did to begin with got them in the situation they are in. Time for CHANGE!

I love the excuse that she was worried about being called a liar on national television. Do you think she is embarrassed that she has been filmed weighing in wearing a sports bra? Being called a liar is of no relevance at all to the situation.

As we do not see what these people eat, it is hard to comment on her eating habits. Based on the fact that they workout 8-10 hours a day, she had to eat a crap load! Putting up the defense here seems much easier than bellying up and taking the criticism that is given in the form of help. Also, look at her weight loss this week - she lost double digits again. Huh, do you think the trainer motivated her?

Ask yourself: is God sending you help and you are not listening? Are you another former athlete (Like myself) that thinks "I understand how to do this on my own"? Have you read my blogs and thought "he has something I do not"? Are you still saying all this information is great but...? Stop the but and quit making excuses ! Whatever it is that you having been putting off, weight loss, a goal, a career, etc... go after it and seek the Lord's guidance. For me it was not until I accepted help that I had great success with my goals.

Truly Amazing! Much More Than I Can Ask or Imagine

Well after a year where I was blessed to have trained in so many places as I trained in Wyoming, Colorado, Florida, Texas, California, England, and Ohio I broke down and wrote this entry. It is so easy to say what you did to obtain such great results, however I did this before and it all came back. What is the true difference this time around? Well have a look at this entry and I think you will see my perspective. For me I guess I liked beating my head against the wall but I finally gave up and I am forever changed and grateful! Enjoy!

September 8, 2009

Seventeen miles and Matt running in the same sentence! You know God has to be at work! More than I can ask or imagine has been on my mind throughout this entire journey and I would say He is not letting me down one bit at all. This past Saturday I did 17 miles at a 9:07 pace with the first 13 done in 8:59 pace. I was hardly breathing during the first 13 so I think I could have kept a much faster pace. What will that pace be on the 26th of September? That I think will be up to the Lord! My only aim is to somehow glorify him with my meager 13.1 mile journey! I have thought about how to show my gratefulness to my King and I know one thing for sure and that is that I need to give my body as a sacrifice. I cannot make anything up or plan to glorify God I need to just be me and do what I can to make sure He is seen on that morning.

1 Cor. 9:25
“25Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither.”

What does this mean when It comes to running this 13.1 mile race? Today this came through to me and really has got my mind wandering! I think the best part of this verse is that we can all win the race and get the crown. When I run the race on the 26th will I run it for myself or will I run it to serve others? What does that mean? When I run I will be seeking the presence of God and asking Him what I need to do for His glory! Hopefully people will see me and get a glimpse of God, maybe they will see what He has done in me and ask themselves what can He do for them?

How easy it is to look at what I did and claim that it was done in my power! I put in the miles, I put in the weight training, I disciplined my eating habits, I went and paid for the trainer, I bought the gym membership, I decided to go and do it, I, I, I! The issue I have is that I could not have coordinated all these things myself. I had to be put in a position to afford the gym and the trainer. I had to know that the trainer I choose was a fellow brother (worshiper at that). I had to know what food was best and how the body works! I had to know that my trainer would edge me to the goal that I wanted to accomplish over 2 years ago a ½ marathon. I had to know that I would have the support of a wonderful family and many friends keeping me motivated. Too many things had to be in line.

In reality God had to get my attention and help me understand that I needed Him! He did this through prayer and lots of it! So many times I wanted to quit, give up, cheat, fake it! Each time God said trust in me, Love me, depend on me, know that I am God and I can do more than you think! So when times got tough I would see God even more, He would send His presences.

Many of my runs were hard, even to a point that I wanted to stop and found good reasons to justify stopping but each time God would pick me up and I would feel like I was gliding! I would simply look up to the sky and see the clouds pulling me up and carrying me down the path. Then I would praise God even more.

I often think about the past years and how I lost 70+ pounds only to put it back on. What happened and why is this time different? This time I did not try and do it on my own. I got help! The Lord heard my cry for help and put people, things, objectives into place! God was all over this experience and continues to do so. As I move forward there is nothing I do not believe I can do if God puts it on my heart. This experience makes me more confident that God has a plan for me and that I am running in order to accomplish the plan. He gave me a dream of a prayer ministry and I can believe He will fulfill it. God has built up my faith in this experience, He has move my thought past what I think can be done and made me believe it is what He can do through me! I depend on Him because of what He has done for me. What can I do in order to glorify Him? The only thing I can do is give Him my body, time, and effort all of it!