Just Keep Swimming

I started this blog because I wanted to be honest. I decided that whatever I write about, I'm not gonna sugar coat it and I'm not gonna lie. It might be awkward at first but I hope everyone gets used to it. I just got tired of playing politics, ya know? It never felt right.

Starting last Saturday, my friend Brianna challenged me to a competition of sorts. Actually, it came out as more of a suggestion but I turned it into a competition, as is my nature. In the next 4 weeks we're both gonna try our darnedest to work out, eat healthy and lose weight. To make it fair, we'll decide the winner by figuring that total percentage of weight lost instead of pounds. She doesn't have as much to lose as I do. How do you figure percentage you ask? You take you total starting weight(x) subtract new weight(y)to get pounds lost then divide by starting weight(x) and multiply by 100. So the equation looks like this: {(x-y)/x}*100= % Still confusing? Okay, let's say the total starting weight is 500 and after the first week you get down to 480. 500 take away 480 is 20lbs. 20lbs divided by 500 is .04, then multiply by 100 and you get 4% of the weight lost. This way, we can post our percentage lost but not our weight since we're women and we get self-conscious about that sort of thing.

I'm excited about this. I think it's gonna be awesome. So far, I've worked out everyday and I feel fabulous! I'll weigh myself on Sunday and post my percentage lost here every week. Knowing that Brianna is doing the same thing at school in Missouri is really encouraging and I think it'll better hold me accountable.

For those of you who don't work out, I strongly recommend it! In just one week I've noticed a huge change in my quality of sleep and my daily fatigue has all but vanished. I have a lot of extra energy and my body feels like it's finally being used for what it was built for. It's so hard in the beginning, trying to convince yourself that you can do this. You can fight this battle. But you can't. You can't do anything without God (Mark 10:27 : Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.") You have to let go of all the reasons why it's none of His business and just obey. Our bodies are amazing and only He knows what they're capable of because He created them (Psalm 139:13-14 : For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.) This is an incredible journey I've started on with my Lord. I have to start every workout session with prayer. I find myself talking to Him in the middle of it, during my hardest most intense moments. He makes me strong on so many levels. I'm being pushed and changed in such intensity. My body finally feels like it's being used for what it was intended for. Like I'm reaching toward a goal and God can and will use me better in this state. (1 Corinthians 9:26-27 : Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.) I don't know that whys yet but I know i must obey my Lord. Maybe I'll be an encouragement to others someday. How can I know? Only He knows.



*all the verses came from NIV