"Just keep going. Don't over-think it, don't make yourself crazy over-analyzing. Just do what you're doing. Just keep going."

That's what came to mind today when I began fretting that my 500-day project was trifling, that my chosen tasks were mundane and inconsequential.

By God's grace I was able to talk sense to myself. "Aren't these the crucial tasks that have been proven to result in weight loss? Is this the most important thing that you would choose to establish as a daily habit?"

The answer is yes. If I keep doing these things, today, tomorrow, and the day after that, in God's mercy I will reach my goal of a healthy weight and a strong, functional body.

I engaged for these practices for 500 days beginning February 19, 2013:
**1. I will track my food on SparkPeople. CHECK.
**2. I will stay in recommended calorie range. CHECK.
**3. I will do a minimum of 20 minutes daily exercise. CHECK. Two days I exercised for 30 minutes; every other day was at least an hour, thanks to the BLC 21 challenges!
**4. I will blog each quarter-term report card - coming March 20, 2013.

Today is Day 14, two weeks underway. I have pursued my course diligently. I have done the three homework items each day. I did feel some hunger on several different evenings when I refrained from eating more, before I exceeded my calorie allowance. But I was not biologically needing nourishment, and was able to distract myself until bedtime.

This term is the theme of Activation, and I have been reading many blogs to learn how successful Sparkers think and behave. I have also written a few blogs, trying to jump into the blog and ACTIVATE without being perfectionistic about it....just making myself flash a blog out there, however simple or silly.

I have also vigorously embraced each challenge offered by the BLC 21 team I'm competing with during a 12-week program. It is a phenomenal structure and support. Such a blessing. I am determined to score as high as I possibly can on these competitions. It is an unusually motivating framework, and I am losing pounds at a higher rate because of it. I will report my weight loss numbers at each term's completion.

I am pleased with my two week's work and I am grateful for God's help. Only 486 more days! And then to keep going with healthy habits permanently, but without carrying the excess pounds!