HERE I AM

It's been over a year since I last posted on this blog. Wow! Time flies while you're completing a Ph.D. and starting a new job as Chair of the Department of Graduate Studies at Beulah Heights University (BHU). I'm still pastor at Conyers Church of God and my wife has taken on a larger role as a true partner in ministry with me. She is the Church Administrator, but she does not receive pay.

Anyhow, life is very interesting as the university is planning for me to travel to Brazil and to Belgium to organize extension sites from BHU. God is in this in that I will be working with Church of God churches in Belgium as the largest churches in the country are member churches of the denomination in which I am credentialed.

God has something significant going on in my life and the church and school I'm working with. It has always been my contention that if we will prepare ourselves for more, God will give us more to do. If we, through prayer and study, prepare ourselves for significance, God will do significant things with our lives. Stay tuned.

Long Time No Blog

I haven't written much lately.  In fact, June was that last month that I posted. From June until now much has happned.  First, I took a job (in addition to pastoring) as the chair of the division of graduate studies at Beulah Heights University in Atlanta.  This it 10 hours a day in an office and it has cramped my exercise routine.  Second, my father died and between my time with him in the hospital, the funeral and driving a couple thousand miles from Louisiana, to Georgia, to West Virginia and back to Georgia, it really got me off track.  At one point I was within 2 pounds of my goal, but after dad's death and the days following at the office, I had gained 15 pounds back.  At present I'm 12 pounds away from my goal and I have five weeks to get there.  It is going to be tough to reach my goal of 50 by 50, but I'll give it my best.

Back in the Saddle Again

I've found that for me, the first sign of my fat is found under my chin.  Profile pictures have been very eye opening for me.  When we look in the mirror we can't see our profile, unless we have more than one mirror strategically placed.  This picture, compared to some earlier pictures, reveals my weightloss under my chin.  My neck size has gone down from 19 1/2 to 16 1/2. 

Also, I recently purchased a pair of size 33 inch waist shorts and they fit comfortably.  So, even though my progress was slowed by my back injury, I've managed to keep the weight off.  I'm 206 lbs now and my back is much better so I'm back on the treadmill and exercise bike and I'm doing a little weightlifting. 

Most of all I'm just glad that my back is better.  I heard a report on the radio that 90 percent of all back pain will get better with time.  Of the other 10 percent, only half (5%) will need surgery.  I'm not sure how I hurt my back, but by cutting back on my activities and managing the pain with ibuprophen, and lots of prayer, I was able to get better.  It took almost 2 months, and I hated not being able to exercise like I had been, but maybe that's just God's way of getting me to slow down and not to overdo it. 

After maintaining weightloss through the injury, I am now ready to start losing again.  My ultimate goal is 195-199 lbs., but I will have lost 50 pounds if I lose 3 more pounds.

Scripture: Isa 57:18
18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him;
I will also lead him,
And restore comforts to him
And to his mourners.
NKJV

Slowly Trying to Get Back

I was out of the workout saddle for almost two months.  I'm still not able to jog or hike because of the pressure it puts on my still recovering spine, but I am able to do some weightlifting that doesn't compress my spine.  My weight is bouncing between 206 and 209, and it is a bit discouraging not being able to do the kind of aerobic exercise that I was previously doing.  But I've included a few thumbnails of myself to chronicle my physique at this point. 

I have actually lost some muscle mass over the past month as my arms went down from 17 3/4 inches to about 17 1/4.  I haven't been able to do any sit-ups because of the torque it puts on my back, but I did do 50 crunches today and I feel okay.  I also did 50 push-ups this morning.  So while I don't have the six-pack abs yet, and I'm not shedding pounds like I was initially, as the farmer in the movie "Babe" said, "That'll do pig."

Still A Loser

Since my last post I've gone from back pain to hip pain. I may have a stress fracture (self-diagnosed) of my hip. Thinking it was my back I continued to run/walk and do other things. The doctor, thinking it was a back issue, told me to do whatever I could tolerate, with the exception of lifting weights. So I was running up 10 flights of stairs at the hotel in Virginia Beach, walking a couple miles (at a fast pace) with my dog, and other stuff like that. Well, my back quit hurting but my hip has been killing me. Over the past few days, therefore, I've tried not to do much as far as walking, climbing, etc. I think it is getting better. I'm down to two ibuprophen tablets a day.

Also, since my last post I went through the commencement exercises at Regent University (Virginia Beach) and earned my Ph.D. in organizational leadership. While there I ate whatever I wanted. After all, how many times does a person earn a Ph.D.? As I said, I did go up the stairs several times at a run (racing my family who were in the elevator) to the tenth floor. We also walked a few miles along the beach. Still, when I returned home on Monday I refused to weigh myself until Wednesday. I weighed 210 lbs. I had gained 1.5 lbs.

Upon returning home to Georgia, I've gotten back on my dietary routine (oatmeal and an egg/yogurt for breakfast, soup for lunch, and a light dinner with a couple snacks in between) and I did do some light yard work but no other exercise. So this morning I weighed in at 206 lbs. This means that I’ve lost 47 pounds since I started this diet.

I'm really having a hard time forcing myself not to exercise and try to give my hip (whatever the issue is there) time to heal. I can tell that it is slowly getting better, but I'm so afraid of how much endurance I've lost over the past month and a half since all this started.

Anyhow, the diet is still working and hopefully it won't be long until I'm back on my bike and back on the mountain.

This Is My Prayer: Psalm 6:2, NKJV

2 Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak;

O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.

Ouch! My Back is Killing Me!

For about two weeks now my back has been hurting something awful.  In fact, I'm not able to walk or bike or really do any type of aerobic activity.  About all I can do without putting any pressure on my back is to work my arms.  I have to tell you, I'm having withdraws from not getting my heart pumping and my lungs burning for air.  Making myself slow down has been the biggest challenge.

I haven't been to a doctor yet.  I take ibuprophen and the pain goes away and I think I'm healed, but then when the medicine wears off it feels like someone stabbing me in my hip and leg with a knife.  Apparently there's a nerve in my back being compressed and it is excruciating.

Anyhow, to compensate for not burning as many calories, I've tried to cut back (even more) on my caloric intake.  So far I'm maintaining at around 209-210 pounds.  I've had to buy new clothes as my old clothes are just too big.  It's hard to believe that I was almost at 42 inches in the waist of my pants and now I'm at 34.  That's like an 8 inch loss.  Also, my jackets have gone from 48 inches to 46 athletic cut.  Still, I have to buy seperates when I buy suits because the pants that come with a 46 athletic cut jacket is 38 inches.  Four inches is a lot to take out of a pair of pants. 

Nevertheless, I praise the Lord and am praying for healing or medical help for my back.  I hate not being out there jogging, hiking, or riding my bike. 

Verse of the Day: James 5:14-16
15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

One Week with P90X

I will have completed one week of P90X after tonight.  It is a fitness routine (DVDs) that is supposed to work miracles.  I think I've found that only God does miracles.  It isn't as difficult as I thought it would be.  I've added my own stuff in addition to the hour long P90X rountines.  I've been riding my bike, working out with weights, and doing some treadmill work.  In addition, I do sit-ups every morning.  In fact, I began P90X on April 1st weighing in at 210, went up to 214, and after a brutal day of bike riding, treadmill, and P90X (Kenpo X) I was down to 209 lbs. this morning. 

I have stayed off the bike today, because my legs need to recover, but I will do some P90X (stretching/rest on 7th day) and an arm workout with weights tonight after church. I don't know why I bumped up in weight for a few days, but it only makes me more determined to burn it off. 

Still, despite the slight weight gain, my waist and neck have continued to get smaller even as my arms have gotten a little larger.  I look forward to cooler temperatures this weekend as my wife and I plan to climb Stone Mountain, which is always a good workout.

Verse of the Day: Gen 3:19
19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,And to dust you shall return."

Pre-P90X

Before starting the P90X fitness program they want you to take pictures.  Here are mine.  I see a little chub around the tummy.  I hope the P90X can tighten that up.  Oh yeah, and maybe the P90X can help out these pitiful arms.  I'll put up some pictures of the same two poses after 90 days on this regiment.

Man! What a Ride!

Brutal!  I know for you bike riders this will sound wimpy, but for me it was a challenge.  I rode 7.5 miles in 39 minutes, burned 363 calories, and averaged 11 miles an hour.  Just getting out of my subdivision is a bear.  I am at the very bottom of a hill and it is very steep.  So by the time I ride about a half a mile up hill to get out of the subdivision, I'm pooped.  Of course it's all downhill from there.

Today went on my longest ride on my new bike.  I've riden 8 miles on my exercise bike with various levels of resistance, but there is nothing like the real thing.  I've found that the more coasting I get to do is only an indication of how much I have to ride up the hill.  I'd love it if I could ride on some nice level ground, but living along the Yellow River here in Rockdale there are no nice flat roads.

I am still working up to riding the old Olympic mountain bike trails.  In fact, I was very close to them today on my ride, but I was so tired that I didn't even think about riding the trails and then try to get home.  Later today my wife and I plan to hike up and down Stone Mountain.  I am still at 209 lbs and am looking forward to getting down to 205 by the end of next month.

Verse of the Day: Mark 11:22-23
22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain , 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  NKJV

New Low

It's difficult to take a good picture of one's self.  My pictures are blurry because I'm still moving while the auto-burst is clicking off shots.  Anyhow, I hit a new low this week by getting under 210 on Friday morning.  I weighed 209 lbs.   I feel good and enjoy being able to do what I want and need to do without getting winded all the time. 

I know that it may seem that all these pictures of myself appear to be vain, but I am keeping a photo journal of my weightloss journey.  I won't take any with my shirt off or anything, but a muscle shirt or two should still reveal the difference. 

My next goal for April is to get down to 205 by the end of the month.  I'd like to be holding at 209 or below by the end of March.  I am going to try to do a little more weights, but again nothing heavy.  Also as the weather gets better I'll be riding my bicycle more.  I'm looking forward to riding on the old 1996 Olympic mountain bike trail that only about 2 miles from my home.

Verse of the Day: Rom 8:31, KJV

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us , who can be against us?

Adding New Stuff

I'm doing new stuff now.  Still losing weight--I'm at 210 lbs and wearing 34 inch waist pants, but I recently bought a crosstraining bicycle (I can ride on the road and light trails), and I've started doing a little light weight lifting.  I'm hesitant to lift weights because I tend to grow muscle mass very quickly and to be honest, I don't want to bulk up.  I want to be fit and trim.  So I'm trying to use light weights with high reps, but as you can see from this picture, my arms and chest are still large.   I know that for someone who was once a bodybuilder it sounds strange to say that that's not the look I'm going for, but I'm more interested in a Lance Armstrong look than a Sylvester Stallone look.  In the end, it is about being healthy.

At my last doctor's appointment he was amazed at my weight loss (38 pounds at that time, now 42 pounds) and my bloodwork showed that I no longer needed one of my cholesterol medicines and my BP is great.  It is amazing how much losing weight can do to improve your health.

Anyhow, I know I haven't been keeping up with my blog like a true blogger should, but I am feverishly trying to complete my dissertation by the end of April and I'm having a hard time staying motivated.  Pray for me.

Bible Verse of the Day:  Prov 23:6-7, NKJV

6 Do not eat the bread of a miser,
Nor desire his delicacies;
7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
"Eat and drink!" he says to you,
But his heart is not with you.

I've Hit A New Low

Confession time.  I haven't been working out.  For two weeks I haven't been on the treadmill or on the weights.  However, I have continued to limit my caloric intake to less than 2,000 per day.  In fact, it's closer to 1,500 calories a day.  So anyhow, I was stuck on a weight plateau between 218-216 and without any exercising going on, I didn't expect to lose any weight, I just didn't want to gain any.  I'm looking forward to spring and climing mountains and stuff like that.

Well, yesterday I got on the scales and I was 214.8 lbs.  This morning I was at the same weight.  That's cool.  In fact, I don't remember the last time I was under 215 lbs.  It may have been after a 35 day fast on nothing but water.  At that time I lost down to about 186 lbs, but obviously I gained it all back and more in a short time.

I plan to get back into the swing of things with my exercise, but I've found that eating a healthy diet with limited calories isn't as hard as we think it will be.  I eat very little bread, a lot of fish, no dessert, and lots of steamed veggies, fruit, and nuts. 

Frankly, I just got bored with the treadmill.  I plan to get a recumbent exercise bike and when the weather gets better I may try to start riding a bike.  Bike riding is popular in this area and there's a park with bike trails only a mile and half from my house. 

Bible Verse: Deut 28:2
2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:

Three Pounds Down

Last Monday morning I weighed in at 223 lbs and this Monday I was 220. That's cool. Three pounds in one week. I was able to walk/jog on the treadmill 3 times this week and I've kept my food intake down. I've been snacking on nuts and hummus. A snack I like and which has less than 200 calories is a tablespoon of hummus on a medium whole wheat wrap. It always seems to hit the spot and suppress my appetite.


This past Sunday many people who have been out of church for several weeks, were back and they commented on who much weight I'd lost. I said that I'd lost 30 pounds but still want to lose another 20. They cautioned me not to lose too much. But I said that even if I lost another 20 I'll still weight 200 pounds. They were surprised. Apparently, so they say, I don't look like I weigh as much as I do. That's the benefit of broad shoulders and a narrow waist.  One lady asked my wife what I was doing to lose weight.  She told her, "He's eating less and exercising more."  Simple isn't it?

As I've lost weight I've found that I no longer need the breathing machine (CPAP) any longer. My blood pressure is great, and I'll bet my cholesterol level is down. My doctor will be surprised at my next physical.

Verse of the Day: Prov. 3:13
Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding.

Still On Track

I've kind of leveled off at 221 lbs but, I'm not worried.  I've been working at my desk for a couple weeks with no exercise, so in fact I am maintaining the weight I've lost so far (31 lbs).  I'll kick it in shortly and get back on track with exercise.  After all, another season of The Biggest Loser is on and that show really motivates me.  My problem at the moment is finding clothes to wear.  Most of my clothes that were once too small, are mostly too big now.  I jumped down in size without much time in between to wear the clothes have been hanging in my closet.  I frequently now have people tell me that they notice I've lost weight, and I'm glad they can tell.

I heard that the actor Jason Alexander (George from the Sienfeld show) is becoming a Jenny Craig spokesperson and his goal is to lose 30 pounds.  I did it without Jenny.  I wish him well.

My goal is to lose down to 200 by October, and I know that I'll need to get back on the treadmill.  In fact, I'd like to be down to 216 by the end of January.  That is my goal for this month.  My goal for this week is to lose down to 220.  I think if I work hard tonight and tommorrow I can do it.