Stuff Happens

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Did you know that thin people live in a perfect world? They must, otherwise they wouldn’t be thin. It’s those of us who are overweight who have all those fatal character flaws. That’s why we are overweight. I promise I won’t say this too very loud. We don’t want the whole world to hear: We believe it’s our fault. We believe there is something wrong with us.

Try this on for size. Did you ever think stuff just happens. That it’s really no one’s fault and that when I believe it’s always my fault and its one of the reasons I am over weight it is only a matter of how I perceive things and that its awfully arrogant of me to believe I can control the entire universe just because I have a pitiful self image some days? (That was a long sentence.)

I had one of those “stuff happens” days yesterday. I am in Nashville facilitating a union/management leadership summit and had a curve ball thrown at my schedule yesterday morning that basically caused me to put ten pounds of sugar in a five pound sack. Stuff happens.

Back in my pre Spark days I would have thrown my hands up and blamed myself, my poor eating habits my unhealthy appearance, etc, etc. I am upset I didn’t get my strength training in and I had to cut my cardio in half, but “stuff happens.”
The minute I allow that stuff to take control is the minute I go from being in control to being a martyr. That’s when the wheels fall off. I stayed well within my calorie guidelines and I slept well and I am looking forward to today being one of those great days that always follows the “stuff happens” day.

I can say that with confidence because I know there will be more days like yesterday in my future. Whether the absolutely great days like today come into play is entirely up to me.

Good, bad or indifferent, stuff happens. It’s got nothing to do with how much I weigh, it has everything to do with how I view myself.

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Gaining Support

Monday, June 21, 2010

I’ll be the first person to stand up and admit I have whined and complained about not receiving the ever elusive “Support.” It comes in all shapes and sizes and I often use it as an excuse for not being successful as in “If I only had the support of my…….”

Yesterday I learned a valuable lesson, one of those Holy Spirit inspired moments, that was both humbling and motivating at the same time.

Joan and I have six children. That means Mother’s Day and Fathers Day often resemble Christmas morning. Despite our pleas to not go over board or “just get us a card……..” there are a coffee table full of gifts on Sunday morning. Yesterday was no different except for the type of gifts I received.

My daughters pooled their resources’ and got me a watch that calculates my heart rate and my calories burned along with a few neat other things. They said since I had started running I could use it. Two of my sons purchased me the book Vegetarian Cooking For Everyone by Deborah Madison, which is about 8 million pages long plus a magazine subscription to Cooking Light. Very cool. Finally, two other sons got me a very nice Wok, with all the stuff I need to burn the kitchen down with.

The best present was that moment of inspiration God chose to share with me. Each of the kids explained their reasoning for the choice of gift. They wanted to support my life style change and recognize what I accomplished. That’s when it hit me; ‘If you want support show some results to gain the support.” I did, I am and I will. I saw a very clear picture of me in the past throwing up all sorts of excuses for me not being healthy and the largest one was no support. But as I thought about it I realized who would want to support someone who isn’t, hasn’t and won’t do anything about their state of affairs? I mean I wouldn’t.

The moment my family saw I was serious: Those times when I opted for the gym rather than going to have a beer or eating at home and turning down an invite to eat at a restaurant they saw I had made a commitment.

People can’t and won’t support what they don’t see. Don’t misconstrue what I’ve said here. It doesn’t always have to be dropping sizes, inches or pounds. It simply comes when they see us living what we say.

The Bible puts it much better

“By their fruits ye shall know them.”

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Accountability Is Not A Dirty Word

Friday, June 18, 2010

You Tube Link Is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9iXfkchn
hQ

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This Is One for The Book...........

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Rarely if ever do I blog twice in one day. I could not pass up this opportunity and I think you will agree with me when I am done.

One of the clients I am coaching approached me a few months back about my weight loss. He asked what I did. I offered to let him read The Spark and told him I would answer any questions he had afterwards.

I could tell right away that he wasn't really into it and I basically left him alone. I am trying very hard to live by the motto "Nothing changes until something changes."

He called me a few minutes ago. He was down and a bit depressed. His "diet" wasn't working out to well.

I asked him why.

Get ready. Here it comes.

"The people at work are getting upset with me because of the noise my stomach makes when it growls. It's so loud that they cant concentrate on their work. I tried eating more food, the healthy kind like you said, but it growls even louder. I am going back to my old eating habits. I cant afford to lose my job because other people are disturbed."

There was more than a moment of silence.

I told him that I could write a book on the excuses for eating poorly. I made up a lot of them all by myself. However, the one he had just given me was unique and one I had never heard before. I told him he must of put a lot of time and effort into coming up with that one and I was impressed ----- For all the wrong reasons.

"So," he said. "It's okay for me to quit dieting, right? I shouldnt be offending people, right?

I dont have to make this stuff up friends. I have enough of it happen to me every day. If you listen close enough you will hear some faint incoherent babbling.

It's just me.

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Six Months of Sparking

Thursday, June 17, 2010

If you had told me six months ago that my life would have changed this dramatically in a short period of time I might have suggested you get yourself drug screened. Yes, the weight loss is wonderful, super and all those other fantabulous modifiers, but the real change I have seen is the beginning of and continued development of the real and authentic me. As I peel back the layers I am finding all sorts of treats and have met all sorts of friends. My attitude towards many things has changed but more importantly my behavior is changing.

I find my way to the gym six days out of seven. I’d like to tell you that it’s the same time every day but it’s not. I go when I have time and it’s not unusual for me to be there three times during the course of a day to get my allotted work out in. I have to admit that ninety percent of the time I look forward to exercising and the other ten percent of the time I am glad I went after I finish even though I am kicking and screaming all the way there.

I have started to run. Well, it resembles running. I never dreamed six months ago I would do anything more than trot to the fridge. I would have laughed. Reading some your blogs inspired me and I began C25K training. I have completed weeks one and two and I’ll admit here that I had to do them both twice. I am now on week three and I actually ran farther Sunday and Tuesday than I ever have in my life. That is something I am starting to look forward to also.

People who know me stop me and gush about how good I look and while I admit it’s a really good feeling I can’t help but feel a bit disconcerted at times. Those people, who want to be my buddy, didn’t look at me twice seventy one pounds ago. That’s not right. You won’t convince me otherwise. My appearance is different I agree but I am still the same child of God. What I have learned is to be more open and more sensitive to people. I have learned to stop for a moment everyday and reach out to someone who may never have had anyone reach out to them before.

Six months ago I knew Joan and the kids loved me I didn’t know I would find so many genuine and wonderful friends like I have found here. So many of you, young, and old and in between have been so supportive of me and so open to help. I have to laugh at times because when I reach a milestone I think “OMG, I have to call *Your Name Here* and tell them my good news……” You are that real and important to me. I am closer to some of you than others but if we have crossed paths here, you have taught me something and I am applying it in my life. Never under estimate the power of a smile, a song or a poem.

Six months ago I thought I was starting another diet and today I realize I am in the middle of an experience that will only end when I am called home to spread the Spark for all eternity.

The tale of the tape says seventy one point eight pounds. There is no way to measure the internal growth and enormous wisdom I have learned from each of you. I am so happy to be part of your family and so honored that you share part of yourself with me on a daily basis.

I am excited about the next six months. I can only imagine what I will learn, who I will meet, and as Dr Seuss said “Oh the places you’ll go and the people you’ll meet.”

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