One day I felt awful. I didn’t know why, but I realized for the past few days I spent my days slumped in the chair sleeping the hours away. I didn’t feel sick, but I did feel terrible. Something has to give, I thought to myself. I knew I had to do something to change how I was feeling. Since I have read that doing something for 21 days will initiate a habit, I decided that whatever I did, it would be for twenty-one days. So here was my plan:

• use my newly purchased spin bike for at least 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week. I would go on youtube.com and search for 20 minute videos: I took a liking to the GCN site
• I would find cardio videos for 20 minutes and videos that used weights, all to mix it up, so I wouldn’t be doing the same things every day
• I would change my eating habits, so I bought cookbooks with the Mediterranean diet recipes, and learn how to make veggie/protein bowls

I was ready to begin. The day before the first of 21 days began, I went to the grocery store and got the food needed for this plan, and once home I cut up the veggies and lettuce, and cooked the protein; that way it would not take long to put the bowls together for a meal.

The first day was a beast on the bike, I was so out of breath, and sweating profusely; but at least I got through it while keeping pace with the video. As time wore on, it seemed after the first week I wanted to do more than 20 minutes on the bike and 10 – 15 minutes of cardio, so I upped the ante on each type of exercise. I did cardio at least 20 minutes, and one time I did it for an hour! I admit I had to stop the video a few times, but again, I got through it and felt pumped of that accomplishment. By day 15 I changed the bike class to 40 minutes, but that proved too much, so I found a sweet spot in doing 30 minutes. Then I discovered I no longer hated the bike; I started liking the exercise. Go figure!

The veggie bowls were fine, but there were many times I just didn’t want to eat anything. There were times when I forced myself to eat, and other times all I wanted to do was eat. But I noticed I cut out fried foods, soda and candy (though I did sneak in a slice of cake from time to time).

The twenty-first day was today, and I promised myself that I would not weigh myself until today. Two pounds lost….wah, wah, wah.  😦   That’s all? I thought. I fought plummeting into a valley of despair, praying to God and apologizing for not doing better.

But I realized some things had happened that was more than just the weight issue:

• I was sleeping better, more soundly, and I was getting back to having a sleep schedule that aided in my sleeping habits.
• My belly was so huge as it once was. There is more to be worked on regarding this, I acknowledged, but there was much improvement in this area. Also my ankles weren’t so swollen as they once were
• I stuck to drinking more water
• I didn’t eat a lot of restaurant/fast food anymore. Of the 21 days I may have done that once a week, and the last week I didn’t eat out at all. That means I utilized my kitchen and cooked a lot, putting cooked meat in the freezer and taking it out when I needed it. In turn, that cut down on expenses. And regarding the cake, if I went to the grocery store when it opened, the bakery did not put the slices that early, so I couldn’t get any
• I committed myself to exercise six days a week, at least 30 minutes a days, which adds up to 180 minutes a week.

While I have to focus on the positive of what has taken place, I must do an analysis on those areas that need improvement. In this case, it is food intake. More veggies, less protein and more fruit. As for another twenty-one day commitment: I think I can do that.

Through praying to God, I felt encouragement to continue and not stop because I did not achieve a substantial weight loss. In talking to others, I still hear testimonies of losing ten pounds or more, which discourages me. But the question I ask myself is should the negative outweigh my goal of losing weight and getting healthy? Thank God I can say no to that question. So I will continue.

Another point I have to admit to myself. I can’t do this all by myself, I need help. The encouragement of others and constantly asking God for his power that enables me to say no to myself when I want to devour a pizza or eat a piece of cake. God says if I seek His kingdom and His righteousness, all these things shall be added. God told Joshua to keep the Law, meditating on and doing it constantly, and then he would be prosperous and successful.  I need to do the same.

Whatever is challenging  you, prosper and be in good health, even as your soul  prospers. Focus on what God has to say regarding how to live life, that He will always be with you no matter what, and if we emphasize and implement what He says in our everyday living, success will come. Be strengthenized…

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”   3 John 1:2

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayeth observe to do…for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  Matthew 6:33