Wisdom from my walk

After watching Dean’s T25 workouts I was intimidated by Beachbody. I have been fighting arthritis and fibromyalgia for years and I need a workout that won’t overly tax my body but still forces me to push myself. I started watching other Beachbody samples online in hopes of finding something I could keep up with. On Monday I started the Beachbody program Slim in 6. It’s a 6 week program that targets all over body weight loss and toning. The success stories I’ve read about it are hard to believe. I’ve seen the pics and wonder if their stories are true. I decided the only way to find out was to try it myself. Slim in 6 is much more affordable than the other BeachBody programs, which also helped seal the deal.

The 6 week program comes in phases. The first 2 weeks you do a workout called “Start in up”. It’s about 30 minutes. It also includes an additional session focused on abs called “Slim and 6 pack” that is 15 minutes long. They recommend you do this video 3-4 times a week in addition to start it up. There is another video called “Slim and Limber” which is total body stretching that you should do every day. Today I did all three workouts. I did “Start it up” this morning. Before dinner I did the other two workouts. I then went for a walk/run with the dog for a mile.

The scale isn’t encouraging but I can already see improvements in my fitness level. I can do the workouts more easily and my stomach feels different. I can’t wait to move up to the next level of videos and I am really praying all these crunches help repair the strength and tone of my stomach muscles. I’ve had 3 c-sections, a hysterectomy, 2 hernia repairs, and a laproscopic surgery on my stomach over the years. The result is my stomach always looks fat and flabby. My stomach muscles are also very weak due to all the scarring. I’m feeling hopeful since after just a few days I can see small differences in my stomach.

Unlike the other Beachbody programs you don’t weigh in or check measurements until the end of the 6 weeks, so I won’t have results to post until the end of October. This is great because my next weight loss goal is to lose 10 lbs before November 1. So expect some big announcements in 6 weeks! If I get the results I’m expecting there will be some great before and after pics. Until then, I’m going to press play every day and do my best!

Every 5 weeks I start a new class at college. In order to get everyone acquainted the first week of class it’s common for the professor to ask us to tell a little bit about ourselves.  I have been going to school since the fall of 2010. The first year of college I dreaded being the only one in class who wasn’t working full time.  When I went back to work I proudly shared about work.  Earlier this year I stopped working due to health problems.  I was grateful that my last few professors have assumed we know one another and not had us introduce ourselves during the first week of class.

As a stay at home mom I’ve always struggled, like most women do, with defining my identity.  My first priority is always my family.  I have devoted 12 years to being a stay at home mom, give or take a few years when I worked off and on.  Currently I’m a stay at home mom with kids who are in school every day til 2:45 p.m.  It’s kind of hard to be a stay at home mom when there’s no one home to take care of all day. Granted there’s always things to be done, like laundry, cleaning, managing the checkbook and running errands.  I could easily fill a majority of the school hours with these things as well as exercising every day.

I prefer to spend my time serving others, outside of my home.  The last two weeks I’ve managed to spend little time taking care of my home and kids but have poured my time into doing things for others.  I have been able to do some ministry work for our church, spend time in community with other women, offer help to those who need it during the day, and occasionally try to work on my homework.

Years ago I decided to go to a Christian college because I wanted to feel prepared to do full time ministry.  The church we were attending had many job openings but I was not making any progress without a degree, so I returned to college to obtain a degree. My focus is on Biblical studies and business management.  My ideal job would be as an admin for a church or as an admin in a small groups ministry.  Today I spent a majority of the school day working on tasks for our church.  I love feeling like I’m using my gifts and the knowledge I’ve learned at college. It feels great to have a finished product at the end of the day.  I also like feeling like I’m helping others.

A wise man once said, “I’m living the dream, but it isn’t mine… It’s better!” Today, I feel like this is so true.  We may struggle financially, but emotionally and relationally we are richly blessed.  The ability to stay at home, focus on my health, and serve in ministry is a gift.  I may never feel 100% prepared for ministry, but God has given me all I need to fulfill his call on my life.  Thankful for the opportunities to serve alongside some awesome leaders.

Next week when I start a new class at school I’ll be glad to share I am a stay at home mom and devoted wife who volunteers at her church.  I am doing exactly what God has called me to do for this season of my life and I’m loving every minute of!

Current short term goal: for my BMI to be 29 (or less), which means I’d go from the obese to overweight category, total of 10 lbs needed to attain this

Short term goal date: November 1, 2013 (our 15th wedding anniversary)

Mid-range goal: to have lost a total of 60 lbs

Mid-range goal date: January 17, 2014 (35th birthday)

Long term goal: for my BMI to be 25 (or less) which is considered the highest weight to be considered healthy for my height, need to lose a total of 35 more pounds to reach this goal, ideally total weight loss from beginning of journey will be 70 lbs (or more!)

Long term goal date: May 15, 2014 (last night of college, graduation is on May 17, 2014)

For those who need the motivation to not give up or to get off the couch:

I am so excited to announce that after months of sitting by and watching me work on losing weight and getting fit, Dean has begun an exercise training program!  I am so happy for him.  I admit part of me is concerned though.  We’re approaching our 15 year wedding anniversary in November. I met Dean when I was in middle school. In all of these years, I’ve never seen him play sports or do very much in terms of exercise until these last few weeks.  I keep wondering what this transformation will do to him as well as how it will impact our marriage.

Years ago we committed to one another. First we began dating, and then over time made a lifelong promise to stay together. On our wedding day we started a partnership that evolved over the years to where we are today. I’m so excited to no longer be on this fitness journey alone.  I admit Dean did a great job supporting my efforts for the last few months, but it’s completely different when I’m the only one in the house eating well and making fitness a priority.  I feel like we are working together in a partnership for change.  For months we’ve been working on rebuilding our marriage.  We’ve been working to be become emotionally, spiritually, and mentally fit.  Now we’re working together to become physically fit.

We’re slowly bringing the kids along on this journey as well.  With the birth of each child, we made a commitment to provide for them as best we could. Part of that commitment was to take care of their physical health.  I admit we were not always great about encouraging them to be physically active. We’re now spending our free time taking family walks or bike rides.  The boys are actually asking us to go on the trips, and we are more than happy to take them.

So while we are new to this journey, we are already seeing the rewards of focusing on our health individually, together as a couple, and as a family. I’ve already said “Thanks Shaun T.” once and I’m sure it won’t be the last time! Dean’s been getting up early, exercising, putting in a load of laundry and getting the kids ready for school.  These may not be physical changes but I’m really enjoying the benefits of his new found motivation!  The kids are now seeking ways to get in exercise each day.  Caleb is interested in eating healthier and all of the boys can now read and understand the nutrition label on the foods we eat.  They frequently read a label and ask me if the number is good or bad, or most recently Bo will tell us “this is really good or really bad” based on the calorie count.

The longer I am on this journey the more spectators seem to take notice.  I’m glad to have the chance to share my story, but I often feel very disqualified to offer anyone fitness or health advice. I realized today that while I may not be qualified, God has gifted me with an incredible story of life transformation. I’m happy so many of you are able to hear my story and I pray it inspires you to consider what areas of your life need to be strengthened.

Three years ago I returned to college.  Shortly after that our family endured a very traumatic event.  Two years ago I became a SAHM with no kids at home to care for. Shortly before the kids started school I returned to the workforce.  One year ago I was working, going to school, and trying to take care of my family.  We left our church of many years in search of God’s plan for us. Seven months ago I stopped working because my health was quickly deteriorating.  A few months later my “perfect” marriage was shaken in a very real and humbling way.  Just weeks ago it seems, I was struggling to get up and down stairs because of the pain and fatigue I faced on a daily basis.

Today, I ran (and walked) over 2 miles, had a ministry meeting with our pastor, and enjoyed some quality “me” time.  I joined my husband and mother-in-law for lunch.  Tonight my baby boy attempts to score a role in a professional theater group.  In a few weeks I’ll be co-leading the launch of small groups at our new church. In less than a month I’ll be running in my first 5K with an awesome friend by my side. In a few months I will graduate from college.

In the past few years I’ve been broken. Mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Today I am not only running this part of my physical journey, I am making leaps and bounds toward holistic healing in my life.  As I see upcoming dates as reminders of the heartache in my past, I celebrate. I celebrate the victories each new day brings.

My body has been restored.  My marriage is being restored.  We are now part of an amazing new community of faith that supports us and our dreams.  As I look towards the future, it’s with a grateful heart that I can see the redemption in my past.  Today I embrace the future.  The ups and downs of life may be hard, but they are always worthwhile when we let God take control of the details.