"Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally." - David Frost
Well, didn't gain/lose any weight this month. But again I try not to gauge my success in this lifestyle change by the numbers on a scale. It's more than that. Success is being able to jog a little over a mile without stopping. Success is gathering $695 for a charity walk event, beating your previous year's donation goal.
A successful weightloss journey is much more. Being able to resist overeating or the urge to not get out of bed at 4:15am to jog in the dark, that is success.
Take some time today and think about some of the small successes you have enjoyed recently. How about putting on those pants you haven't worn for 5 years because they were too small? Or take that extra lap around the neighborhood that you wouldn't have even thought of doing a year ago.
"Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it." - Author Unknown
Matty
Friday, June 30, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006
Identity...
"He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away." - Raymond Hull
Ever have an identity crisis? I am currently working my way through one. Actually I think I have been in one all my life. I've turned into a shapeshifter over the years to battle with fear and the need for acceptance from other people. I can get into a social situation and key in on what people are talking about and most of the time sound intelligent talking about it. To make friends I have found what others were interested in and then learned all I could about it so we had something to talk about.
I've been into comics, basketball cards, cars, computers, video games, hunting, guns, you name it. Now I have gotten to the point where I want to be accepted for who I am. But who am I? That's the $100,000 question.
Don't be pressured or try to revolve your life around what others think of you. If it takes things to impress people, then those aren't the people I want to spend time with.
How do you get through the identity crisis? Not sure. I take it day by day and trust that God will direct me. I am me. A guy that was determined to lose weight. I am a guy that has a passion to get his story out to inspire others. I am accepted by Christ...
"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." - e.e. cummings
Matty
Ever have an identity crisis? I am currently working my way through one. Actually I think I have been in one all my life. I've turned into a shapeshifter over the years to battle with fear and the need for acceptance from other people. I can get into a social situation and key in on what people are talking about and most of the time sound intelligent talking about it. To make friends I have found what others were interested in and then learned all I could about it so we had something to talk about.
I've been into comics, basketball cards, cars, computers, video games, hunting, guns, you name it. Now I have gotten to the point where I want to be accepted for who I am. But who am I? That's the $100,000 question.
Don't be pressured or try to revolve your life around what others think of you. If it takes things to impress people, then those aren't the people I want to spend time with.
How do you get through the identity crisis? Not sure. I take it day by day and trust that God will direct me. I am me. A guy that was determined to lose weight. I am a guy that has a passion to get his story out to inspire others. I am accepted by Christ...
"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." - e.e. cummings
Matty
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Pleasure...
"In everything satiety closely follows the greatest pleasures." - Cicero
Food used to bring me satisfaction or at least temporary comfort. The key word in that last sentence is temporary. You can't eat your way, drink your way, or buy your happiness. The more I ponder on it, the more I begin to realize that the things of this world are temporary. The pleasure they bring are temporary, for example my Xbox. I used to play it all the time, enjoyed the challenges of the games. But now it's a rarity that I pick up the controller, I do on occasion to play with my son. You can have too much fun where it gets sickening after a while. Solomon wrote a book in the bible all about it. He was the richest man, EVER. He had everything he wanted, built many buildings and monuments, accomplished many things but after a while he became jaded. It just wasn't fun anymore. The thrill was in the chase, but since the chase was over - it wasn't fun anymore.
We need to think of that in our own lifestyle changes. We need to continue to set the bar a little higher, we need to reset goals and not rest on our laurels. If we don't, we too will become jaded and fall backwards. I think happiness closely follows contentment, so try to remember to be content with what you have now, but not with who you are. Strive to go the extra mile...
"Fun I love, but too much fun is of all things the most loathsome. Mirth is better than fun, and happiness is better than mirth." - Thomas Carlyle
Matty
Food used to bring me satisfaction or at least temporary comfort. The key word in that last sentence is temporary. You can't eat your way, drink your way, or buy your happiness. The more I ponder on it, the more I begin to realize that the things of this world are temporary. The pleasure they bring are temporary, for example my Xbox. I used to play it all the time, enjoyed the challenges of the games. But now it's a rarity that I pick up the controller, I do on occasion to play with my son. You can have too much fun where it gets sickening after a while. Solomon wrote a book in the bible all about it. He was the richest man, EVER. He had everything he wanted, built many buildings and monuments, accomplished many things but after a while he became jaded. It just wasn't fun anymore. The thrill was in the chase, but since the chase was over - it wasn't fun anymore.
We need to think of that in our own lifestyle changes. We need to continue to set the bar a little higher, we need to reset goals and not rest on our laurels. If we don't, we too will become jaded and fall backwards. I think happiness closely follows contentment, so try to remember to be content with what you have now, but not with who you are. Strive to go the extra mile...
"Fun I love, but too much fun is of all things the most loathsome. Mirth is better than fun, and happiness is better than mirth." - Thomas Carlyle
Matty
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Perspective, Pt. 2...
"If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail." - Abraham Maslow
I thought I would continue a little more on perspective since I heard a song the other day that kind of clarifies what I was talking about:
"You say that we've got nothing in common
No common ground to start from
And we're falling apart
You'll say the world has come between us
Our lives have come between us
But I know you just don't care
CHORUS:
And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's?
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got."
I see you - the only one who knew me
And now your eyes see through meI guess I was wrong
So what now? It's plain to see we're over,
And I hate when things are over -
When so much is left undone
CHORUS:
And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's?
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got.
"You say that we've got nothing in common
No common ground to start from
And we're falling apart
You'll say the world has come between us
Our lives have come between us
But I know you just don't care
CHORUS:
And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's?
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got."
- "Breakfast at Tiffany's" , Deep Blue Something
The guy could have just given up on the relationship when the girl said they had nothing in common. Instead he looked at it from a different perspective and found some common ground in the movie, "Breakfast at Tiffany's". So often we live our lives in terms of seeing the glass half-empty. Think of what we can accomplish if we perceive the glass as half-full instead! If something has got you down today, step back and try to look at it from a different perspective. You may surprise yourself and find an answer that you hadn't thought of!
"Retreat, hell! We're just advancing in another direction." - Oliver Prince Smith
Matty
I thought I would continue a little more on perspective since I heard a song the other day that kind of clarifies what I was talking about:
"You say that we've got nothing in common
No common ground to start from
And we're falling apart
You'll say the world has come between us
Our lives have come between us
But I know you just don't care
CHORUS:
And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's?
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got."
I see you - the only one who knew me
And now your eyes see through meI guess I was wrong
So what now? It's plain to see we're over,
And I hate when things are over -
When so much is left undone
CHORUS:
And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's?
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got.
"You say that we've got nothing in common
No common ground to start from
And we're falling apart
You'll say the world has come between us
Our lives have come between us
But I know you just don't care
CHORUS:
And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's?
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got."
- "Breakfast at Tiffany's" , Deep Blue Something
The guy could have just given up on the relationship when the girl said they had nothing in common. Instead he looked at it from a different perspective and found some common ground in the movie, "Breakfast at Tiffany's". So often we live our lives in terms of seeing the glass half-empty. Think of what we can accomplish if we perceive the glass as half-full instead! If something has got you down today, step back and try to look at it from a different perspective. You may surprise yourself and find an answer that you hadn't thought of!
"Retreat, hell! We're just advancing in another direction." - Oliver Prince Smith
Matty
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Perspective
"It is not enough for a man to know how to ride; he must know how to fall." - Mexican Proverb
It's all about perspective when it comes to failures. Sure we hold a pity-party and cry about the failures when they come. Or we can change our perspective and look at the situation from a different angle and try to gain some sort of insight or bright spot.
Dave Ramsey said something that made me think a little- he spoke about the old saying "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade," but he continued, "Or you will spend the rest of your life tasting it's bitter fruit." Or something to that effect. It's true, you can wallow and moan about your situation or you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps and make changes that will bring a positive result.
Take time today to think about a failure or some unfavorable situation and resolve to find something positive in it. You'll be surprised what a new frame of mind/different perspective will achieve...
"My play was a complete success. The audience was a failure. " - Ashleigh Brilliant
Matty
It's all about perspective when it comes to failures. Sure we hold a pity-party and cry about the failures when they come. Or we can change our perspective and look at the situation from a different angle and try to gain some sort of insight or bright spot.
Dave Ramsey said something that made me think a little- he spoke about the old saying "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade," but he continued, "Or you will spend the rest of your life tasting it's bitter fruit." Or something to that effect. It's true, you can wallow and moan about your situation or you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps and make changes that will bring a positive result.
Take time today to think about a failure or some unfavorable situation and resolve to find something positive in it. You'll be surprised what a new frame of mind/different perspective will achieve...
"My play was a complete success. The audience was a failure. " - Ashleigh Brilliant
Matty
Friday, June 09, 2006
Anxiety...
"Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday." - Author Unknown
My stomach is in knots. Is it worry? Is it anxiety? Why do we worry about stuff that we have no control over? Dr. Covey talks about changing your thinking to things within your circle of influence and things outside your circle of influence. The things inside the circle of influence are things that you can change yourself. Those outside the circle are things you cannot change.
The trick is to sort out what you can change and what you cannot change. I will do that today. Figure out what is within my circle of influence and that which is not a part of it. After those have been sorted, it comes down to figuring out how to change what can be changed -whether it be an attitude about something, positive mindset, a physical change. That will take time as well as you assess what can be done. But we all need to do that. You cannot go on and worry about things that you have no control over.
But I am struggling today. Problem with a co-worker that I cannot seem to shake. Life is never easy and I never expected it to be...
But I will resolve to figure out what I can do to change what is in my circle of influence.
"Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere." - Glenn Turner
Matty
My stomach is in knots. Is it worry? Is it anxiety? Why do we worry about stuff that we have no control over? Dr. Covey talks about changing your thinking to things within your circle of influence and things outside your circle of influence. The things inside the circle of influence are things that you can change yourself. Those outside the circle are things you cannot change.
The trick is to sort out what you can change and what you cannot change. I will do that today. Figure out what is within my circle of influence and that which is not a part of it. After those have been sorted, it comes down to figuring out how to change what can be changed -whether it be an attitude about something, positive mindset, a physical change. That will take time as well as you assess what can be done. But we all need to do that. You cannot go on and worry about things that you have no control over.
But I am struggling today. Problem with a co-worker that I cannot seem to shake. Life is never easy and I never expected it to be...
But I will resolve to figure out what I can do to change what is in my circle of influence.
"Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere." - Glenn Turner
Matty
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Jealousy...
"Envy is a waste of time." - Author Unknown
Sure we all struggle with jealousy and envy. We look around us everyday and see something that someone else is doing or has and wished that we had the same things or opportunities. But envy can lead us down some dark roads. Roads that lead to restlessness, discontentment, anger, and depression. This can eventually lead to poor food choices and lack of enthusiasm for exercise and cause us to lose our focus.
I am struggling with that a little bit today. But you know, I shouldn't be envious. Their situation is fraught with their own set of problems - some that I know of and I am sure there are many others that are just beneath the surface. Instead I will make sure to wish them well today and be thankful for what I have and for what God has allowed me to accomplish.
Don't get sucked into the mainstream that you aren't cool if you don't have the latest and greatest or are wearing or driving something cool. Be content and feel blessed with what you have and watch as God blesses you with more.
No sense in letting jealousy grab ahold of you, it will only lead to misery. Again, be content with what you have but not with who you are - you can always improve yourself.
"Envy is the art of counting the other fellow's blessings instead of your own." - Harold Coffin
Matty
Sure we all struggle with jealousy and envy. We look around us everyday and see something that someone else is doing or has and wished that we had the same things or opportunities. But envy can lead us down some dark roads. Roads that lead to restlessness, discontentment, anger, and depression. This can eventually lead to poor food choices and lack of enthusiasm for exercise and cause us to lose our focus.
I am struggling with that a little bit today. But you know, I shouldn't be envious. Their situation is fraught with their own set of problems - some that I know of and I am sure there are many others that are just beneath the surface. Instead I will make sure to wish them well today and be thankful for what I have and for what God has allowed me to accomplish.
Don't get sucked into the mainstream that you aren't cool if you don't have the latest and greatest or are wearing or driving something cool. Be content and feel blessed with what you have and watch as God blesses you with more.
No sense in letting jealousy grab ahold of you, it will only lead to misery. Again, be content with what you have but not with who you are - you can always improve yourself.
"Envy is the art of counting the other fellow's blessings instead of your own." - Harold Coffin
Matty
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Regression...
"What you need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this very moment. And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new. Right now." - Author Unknown
I was walking to church the other day and saw that someone had written years ago into the wet cement "regress". That odd word actually hit me with some meaning. This last month was a sort of regression in my weight loss journey. I had relapsed into some unhealthy stress coping and with not maintaining vigilance with measuring portions or staying within calories, I gained 4lbs. That was a wake-up to me. I also cleaned out my closet this past week and weeded out a lot of the clothes that I can no longer wear. Each shirt or pair of pants that I pulled out was a reminder of where I was and that it also was a vow that I would never fall back into those same habits again.
We all relapse sometimes, hey, but the difference has to be not to wallow in those relapses. Reflect on the past but don't long for it. I was watch Kathy Griffin last night and although she has some funny stories - she's a Democrat at heart. She was whining in one of her bits about the good old days of Clinton in the White House and the Monica situation. Although I have to admit that my faith in the President is wavering, I cannot say that the Clinton administration was better or worse than this one. That's all I have to say about that.
I remember in the movie, "Say Anything" the commencement speech that the character Diane had given to her classmates at graduation. One line caught my mind as I thought about the word regress - "I can say that I have glimpsed the future and all I have to say to you is... Go back..." Or something to that effect. Sure I admit for some things it would be cool to go back, but as the quote I found at the beginning of this entry states, all things have worked together to bring you to this moment...
"The one charm of the past is that it is the past." - Oscar Wilde
Matty
I was walking to church the other day and saw that someone had written years ago into the wet cement "regress". That odd word actually hit me with some meaning. This last month was a sort of regression in my weight loss journey. I had relapsed into some unhealthy stress coping and with not maintaining vigilance with measuring portions or staying within calories, I gained 4lbs. That was a wake-up to me. I also cleaned out my closet this past week and weeded out a lot of the clothes that I can no longer wear. Each shirt or pair of pants that I pulled out was a reminder of where I was and that it also was a vow that I would never fall back into those same habits again.
We all relapse sometimes, hey, but the difference has to be not to wallow in those relapses. Reflect on the past but don't long for it. I was watch Kathy Griffin last night and although she has some funny stories - she's a Democrat at heart. She was whining in one of her bits about the good old days of Clinton in the White House and the Monica situation. Although I have to admit that my faith in the President is wavering, I cannot say that the Clinton administration was better or worse than this one. That's all I have to say about that.
I remember in the movie, "Say Anything" the commencement speech that the character Diane had given to her classmates at graduation. One line caught my mind as I thought about the word regress - "I can say that I have glimpsed the future and all I have to say to you is... Go back..." Or something to that effect. Sure I admit for some things it would be cool to go back, but as the quote I found at the beginning of this entry states, all things have worked together to bring you to this moment...
"The one charm of the past is that it is the past." - Oscar Wilde
Matty
Friday, June 02, 2006
Regret...
"Regrets, Ive had a few
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption." - Frank Sinatra, "My Way"
We all have regrets, times where we wish we could go back and change that one decision or seize that one opportunity. "If onlys" seem to dominate many people's minds these days. But you have to look at the flipside - you wouldn't be who you are without those decisions. For example, if I had seriously studied in college and pursued the degree I was looking to get - I'd probably be in Hollywood as a part of some film crew. Sure it'd be an exciting life to make movies, but would I have come to know Christ? Would I be married? Would she have been as wonderful as Brenda? What if I didn't have the courage to ask my wife out on our first date? I think I would be living in Texas with my mother right now working at some rundown movie theater. Seriously.
Live in the now and learn from the past. It's not a crime or bad to wish for the times of your youth, but never ever for a second believe that those times were better than today. What we remember are the good times for the most part, like when I was in high school. I remember all the fun we had piling into my friend's mini-van and going to the local burger joint, grabbing a huge sack of burgers and making cat-calls at the girls in the parking lot. What I try to forget is the times I felt so alone because my friends all had girlfriends and the taunting I got from the jocks for being a fattie.
Would I trade away anything that has happened to me over my life? There may be one or two moments, but for the most part - no, I wouldn't. Everything that has happened to me has culminated and fused together to make me who I am today. Remember that...
Carpe Diem, my friends...
"Look, if you had one shot,
one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted
One moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip? " - Eminem, "Lose Yourself"
Matty
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption." - Frank Sinatra, "My Way"
We all have regrets, times where we wish we could go back and change that one decision or seize that one opportunity. "If onlys" seem to dominate many people's minds these days. But you have to look at the flipside - you wouldn't be who you are without those decisions. For example, if I had seriously studied in college and pursued the degree I was looking to get - I'd probably be in Hollywood as a part of some film crew. Sure it'd be an exciting life to make movies, but would I have come to know Christ? Would I be married? Would she have been as wonderful as Brenda? What if I didn't have the courage to ask my wife out on our first date? I think I would be living in Texas with my mother right now working at some rundown movie theater. Seriously.
Live in the now and learn from the past. It's not a crime or bad to wish for the times of your youth, but never ever for a second believe that those times were better than today. What we remember are the good times for the most part, like when I was in high school. I remember all the fun we had piling into my friend's mini-van and going to the local burger joint, grabbing a huge sack of burgers and making cat-calls at the girls in the parking lot. What I try to forget is the times I felt so alone because my friends all had girlfriends and the taunting I got from the jocks for being a fattie.
Would I trade away anything that has happened to me over my life? There may be one or two moments, but for the most part - no, I wouldn't. Everything that has happened to me has culminated and fused together to make me who I am today. Remember that...
Carpe Diem, my friends...
"Look, if you had one shot,
one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted
One moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip? " - Eminem, "Lose Yourself"
Matty
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Being Yourself...
"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." - Judy Garland
I have a problem with being myself around others sometimes. I always have the feeling like I need to be 'on' all the time in order to garner the acceptance of others. Self-esteem or having confidence in yourself needs to become a priority in your walk. You cannot plan a path based on what others might say, think, or feel. You cannot start your weightloss journey based on wanting to please others. Using this method of thinking will guarantee failure.
We all want to be liked. We all want to be a part of the 'cool' crowd. It feels good to be liked or to have people want to be around you. We, like junkies, sometimes makes decisions or do things to get that 'fix'. We don't look at the whole picture to see what consequences may come, only looking at the current moment.
My self-esteem has been in the toilet for over 20 years, it is one of the things that had caused my weight gain. Low self-esteem leads to depression, and for me, depression leads to eating, which in turn comes back to the viscious cycle all over again.
Slowly I am realizing that I shouldn't care what others think of me, their opinion of me has little bearing on my life. But it's hard, so hard sometimes to go against the grain or popular flow. Stay strong, stay the course...
"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." - e.e. cummings
Matty
I have a problem with being myself around others sometimes. I always have the feeling like I need to be 'on' all the time in order to garner the acceptance of others. Self-esteem or having confidence in yourself needs to become a priority in your walk. You cannot plan a path based on what others might say, think, or feel. You cannot start your weightloss journey based on wanting to please others. Using this method of thinking will guarantee failure.
We all want to be liked. We all want to be a part of the 'cool' crowd. It feels good to be liked or to have people want to be around you. We, like junkies, sometimes makes decisions or do things to get that 'fix'. We don't look at the whole picture to see what consequences may come, only looking at the current moment.
My self-esteem has been in the toilet for over 20 years, it is one of the things that had caused my weight gain. Low self-esteem leads to depression, and for me, depression leads to eating, which in turn comes back to the viscious cycle all over again.
Slowly I am realizing that I shouldn't care what others think of me, their opinion of me has little bearing on my life. But it's hard, so hard sometimes to go against the grain or popular flow. Stay strong, stay the course...
"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." - e.e. cummings
Matty
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Promises...
"A promise never intended to be kept is a lie." - Matthew Vander Plow
I was biking yesterday morning and saw a rainbow. It was the first time in years that I had actually seen a fully arched rainbow. It reminded me of the story of Noah and how that rainbow was a reminder to future generations that God would never deluge the world in a global flood ever again.
We all make promises to ourselves, to others, and to God. But how many of them do we make as a part of duress or to quell an argument or other situation? God takes promises very seriously and as His creations, we should also hold them in high regard.
How did it feel when someone made a promise but never kept it? I have had many promises broken and let me tell you, it did not feel right at all. I have also broken promises myself and I felt awful when it happened.
We need to be careful of the promises we make because someone is always keeping score... Take time to mend some broken promises and be wary of new ones you make and be sure that you can follow through with them to completion.
"Promise only what you can deliver. Then deliver more than you promise." - Author Unknown
Matty
I was biking yesterday morning and saw a rainbow. It was the first time in years that I had actually seen a fully arched rainbow. It reminded me of the story of Noah and how that rainbow was a reminder to future generations that God would never deluge the world in a global flood ever again.
We all make promises to ourselves, to others, and to God. But how many of them do we make as a part of duress or to quell an argument or other situation? God takes promises very seriously and as His creations, we should also hold them in high regard.
How did it feel when someone made a promise but never kept it? I have had many promises broken and let me tell you, it did not feel right at all. I have also broken promises myself and I felt awful when it happened.
We need to be careful of the promises we make because someone is always keeping score... Take time to mend some broken promises and be wary of new ones you make and be sure that you can follow through with them to completion.
"Promise only what you can deliver. Then deliver more than you promise." - Author Unknown
Matty
Monday, May 29, 2006
Peace...
"I take it that what all men are really after is some form of, perhaps only some formula of, peace." - James Conrad
Went to the Memorial Day parade in my hometown today. We're kind of an old-fashioned type town with tree-lined streets, victorian-era houses, small downtown district. It's things like parade days that I enjoy living where I live. Watching the kids in the parade and the people cheering and clapping along the sidewalks gives me a sense of peace. Peace is hard to come by in this day and age with 24 hour access to entertainment, news, & commerce.
We all need to take a little time, turn off the television, put the cellphone on standby, sit outside and listen. Listen for the peace inside your heart. Did you fall today? Something not go right? Having a crappy day? Take a little time to listen to the peace that is waiting inside your heart.
Take time to step back and look at the situation your in at a different angle. What can you learn from it? Did you overeat? What caused it? What can you do differently next time?
Thank the Lord today for the tribulation you are going through today and ask for the peace to face it competently.
And God bless our troops, both from former, current, & future conflicts to protect our nation and other nations around the world.
"Let there be peace on earthAnd let it begin with me." - Seymour Miller & Jill Jackson
Matty
Went to the Memorial Day parade in my hometown today. We're kind of an old-fashioned type town with tree-lined streets, victorian-era houses, small downtown district. It's things like parade days that I enjoy living where I live. Watching the kids in the parade and the people cheering and clapping along the sidewalks gives me a sense of peace. Peace is hard to come by in this day and age with 24 hour access to entertainment, news, & commerce.
We all need to take a little time, turn off the television, put the cellphone on standby, sit outside and listen. Listen for the peace inside your heart. Did you fall today? Something not go right? Having a crappy day? Take a little time to listen to the peace that is waiting inside your heart.
Take time to step back and look at the situation your in at a different angle. What can you learn from it? Did you overeat? What caused it? What can you do differently next time?
Thank the Lord today for the tribulation you are going through today and ask for the peace to face it competently.
And God bless our troops, both from former, current, & future conflicts to protect our nation and other nations around the world.
"Let there be peace on earthAnd let it begin with me." - Seymour Miller & Jill Jackson
Matty
Friday, May 26, 2006
Complaining...
"You can overcome anything if you don't bellyache." - Bernard M. Baruch
I fell yesterday. Not literally, but failed as far as my calorie intake. This was due to some stress that overcame my life. I've been on this journey for over 2 years and I still find myself falling into the same traps that caused me to gain weight. I had been dealing with some stresses over the past 2 weeks that has been causing me to consistently go over in calories. This had started to become habit and I needed to break it. Finally I thought I had it licked and was back on track until yesterday. The lawn mower decided to crap out on me. In my frustration at trying to restart it, I yanked the pull-cord right out. Then while trying to take off the cover to fix that I dropped a screw into the engine. I was pissed because This month's commission check was larger than I had figured (a first in many months) and I was planning to get some plants and bark for my yard as well as start a raised-bed garden with that money. I figured I might as well kiss that idea goodbye when the mower crapped out. So I ate. And ate. And ate. Finally I said enough was enough and ended my childish hissy-fit.
Funny how we seem to revert to a child-like behavior when we either want something or something goes terribly wrong in our lives. Have I learned from this experience? Yes, if I didn't then it would not have been worth going through the experience. I have learned that things happen and to thank God for the money to fix the mower. My dad brought up a good perspective - Since God is all-knowing, He saw the lawn mower trouble and made sure we had the money to pay for it. Hadn't thought about it that way...
"Oh, wouldn't the world seem dull and flat with nothing whatever to grumble at?" - W.S. Gilbert
Matty
I fell yesterday. Not literally, but failed as far as my calorie intake. This was due to some stress that overcame my life. I've been on this journey for over 2 years and I still find myself falling into the same traps that caused me to gain weight. I had been dealing with some stresses over the past 2 weeks that has been causing me to consistently go over in calories. This had started to become habit and I needed to break it. Finally I thought I had it licked and was back on track until yesterday. The lawn mower decided to crap out on me. In my frustration at trying to restart it, I yanked the pull-cord right out. Then while trying to take off the cover to fix that I dropped a screw into the engine. I was pissed because This month's commission check was larger than I had figured (a first in many months) and I was planning to get some plants and bark for my yard as well as start a raised-bed garden with that money. I figured I might as well kiss that idea goodbye when the mower crapped out. So I ate. And ate. And ate. Finally I said enough was enough and ended my childish hissy-fit.
Funny how we seem to revert to a child-like behavior when we either want something or something goes terribly wrong in our lives. Have I learned from this experience? Yes, if I didn't then it would not have been worth going through the experience. I have learned that things happen and to thank God for the money to fix the mower. My dad brought up a good perspective - Since God is all-knowing, He saw the lawn mower trouble and made sure we had the money to pay for it. Hadn't thought about it that way...
"Oh, wouldn't the world seem dull and flat with nothing whatever to grumble at?" - W.S. Gilbert
Matty
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Perseverance...
"I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday." - Author Unknown
Stick with it. Plow on, dig in, keep going. I'm sure your mind is racing with self-defeat, telling you that you cannot overcome. You can. It takes commitment and perseverance to win. You may get discouraged from time to time, but hang in there. The prize is definitely worth it: feeling better about yourself, wearing clothes that actually fit well, being energized, just plain feeling good.
I'm reminded of a lyric from "Burning Heart" by Survivor:
"In the warrior's code, there's no surrender
Though his body says stop, his spirit cries never
Deep in our soul a quiet ember
Knows it's you against you
I's the paradox that drives us on
It's a battle of wills, in the heat of attack
It's the passion that kills
The victory is yours alone"
I struggled with that this morning. My mind was encouraging me to just sleep in today and not go out and jog. It took some determination to change that attitude, but once I got out there to jog - I knew I made the right decision. Don't let that little voice distract you from your goals today. Take some time today and write down your goals, or better yet develop a personal mission statement. Mine is in the works and isn't totally polished but here is the gist of it:
"I will strive to help people to better themselves through making positive changes to their lifestyles. I will be a caring and helpful listener. I will use my creativity and compassion to lead discussions, write books and other materials to empower people with the tools needed to make those positive changes. I will not allow fear of rejection or ridicule to prevent the joys and blessings I have receive through God from being passed on to others."
A personal mission statement is always in a constant state of being changed and upgraded.
"When the world says, "Give up,"Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."" - Author Unknown
Matty
Stick with it. Plow on, dig in, keep going. I'm sure your mind is racing with self-defeat, telling you that you cannot overcome. You can. It takes commitment and perseverance to win. You may get discouraged from time to time, but hang in there. The prize is definitely worth it: feeling better about yourself, wearing clothes that actually fit well, being energized, just plain feeling good.
I'm reminded of a lyric from "Burning Heart" by Survivor:
"In the warrior's code, there's no surrender
Though his body says stop, his spirit cries never
Deep in our soul a quiet ember
Knows it's you against you
I's the paradox that drives us on
It's a battle of wills, in the heat of attack
It's the passion that kills
The victory is yours alone"
I struggled with that this morning. My mind was encouraging me to just sleep in today and not go out and jog. It took some determination to change that attitude, but once I got out there to jog - I knew I made the right decision. Don't let that little voice distract you from your goals today. Take some time today and write down your goals, or better yet develop a personal mission statement. Mine is in the works and isn't totally polished but here is the gist of it:
"I will strive to help people to better themselves through making positive changes to their lifestyles. I will be a caring and helpful listener. I will use my creativity and compassion to lead discussions, write books and other materials to empower people with the tools needed to make those positive changes. I will not allow fear of rejection or ridicule to prevent the joys and blessings I have receive through God from being passed on to others."
A personal mission statement is always in a constant state of being changed and upgraded.
"When the world says, "Give up,"Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."" - Author Unknown
Matty
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Perfection...
"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it." - Salvador Dali
We all strive for perfection. It seems to be an ingrained trait put there by our creator. But we as humans cannot ever hope to achieve perfection without Christ in our lives. And even then perfection will not be completed until the end of our days.
We need to step back and take a deep breath. We need to resolve ourselves to the fact that nothing is perfect. It's okay to strive for perfection but not to the point where it becomes an all-consuming passion in our lives.
If you fall off the wagon, don't fret. We all make mistakes and will continue to do so. I am no ironman and have fallen off many times. This week it seems I have been falling off every day by going over in calories. Does that get me down? Yes. But I get right back on the horse and try again the next day. The difference between failing and falling is not trying.
"A good garden may have some weeds." - Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732
Matty
We all strive for perfection. It seems to be an ingrained trait put there by our creator. But we as humans cannot ever hope to achieve perfection without Christ in our lives. And even then perfection will not be completed until the end of our days.
We need to step back and take a deep breath. We need to resolve ourselves to the fact that nothing is perfect. It's okay to strive for perfection but not to the point where it becomes an all-consuming passion in our lives.
If you fall off the wagon, don't fret. We all make mistakes and will continue to do so. I am no ironman and have fallen off many times. This week it seems I have been falling off every day by going over in calories. Does that get me down? Yes. But I get right back on the horse and try again the next day. The difference between failing and falling is not trying.
"A good garden may have some weeds." - Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732
Matty
Monday, May 15, 2006
Action...
"The shortest answer is doing." - Lord Herbert
Taking action is usually easier said than done. You can make all the plans and precautions necessary, but unless you get to it and implement them, they aren't worth 2 pennies.
Making lifestyle changes starts with you. It starts today. It starts now. Put down the cappucino and doughnut. Take the stairs today instead of the elevator. Order a salad at lunch or brownbag-it instead of going out. Make little changes at first. As you get into the routine you will be able to alter those changes slightly to make bigger commitments.
Don't let your commitment die when you fail on occasion to follow-through with a lifestyle change. Remember, it takes time to develop a consistent habit. Start fresh again immediately. Don't dwell.
Get out there and make those changes! TODAY!
"Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned. " - Peter Marshall
Matty
Taking action is usually easier said than done. You can make all the plans and precautions necessary, but unless you get to it and implement them, they aren't worth 2 pennies.
Making lifestyle changes starts with you. It starts today. It starts now. Put down the cappucino and doughnut. Take the stairs today instead of the elevator. Order a salad at lunch or brownbag-it instead of going out. Make little changes at first. As you get into the routine you will be able to alter those changes slightly to make bigger commitments.
Don't let your commitment die when you fail on occasion to follow-through with a lifestyle change. Remember, it takes time to develop a consistent habit. Start fresh again immediately. Don't dwell.
Get out there and make those changes! TODAY!
"Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned. " - Peter Marshall
Matty
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Freedom...
"Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide." - Napoleon Bonaparte
You can be free from being overweight. It takes dedication, commitment, & faith. Making the right choices, following through, not dwelling on mistakes, all are needed in order to reach freedom from our fleshy prisons.
I do liken being overweight to being incarcerated. Limited mobility, depression, rampant vices and urges, many of the same things you think of when you think of prison or jail. But you no longer have to be a prisoner of your body. By making changes to your lifestyle that will last, you can be paroled into a new life. Again I say paroled because these changes are going to last the rest of your life - kinda like parole.
I enjoy new freedoms that my previous weight had kept me away from. I jog now. I bike. I play on the swingset with my son. I can buy clothes at Target or Old Navy. As you lose weight, you too will see new freedoms opening up for you. You can do this, break free from the chains of fat...
"In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
Matty
You can be free from being overweight. It takes dedication, commitment, & faith. Making the right choices, following through, not dwelling on mistakes, all are needed in order to reach freedom from our fleshy prisons.
I do liken being overweight to being incarcerated. Limited mobility, depression, rampant vices and urges, many of the same things you think of when you think of prison or jail. But you no longer have to be a prisoner of your body. By making changes to your lifestyle that will last, you can be paroled into a new life. Again I say paroled because these changes are going to last the rest of your life - kinda like parole.
I enjoy new freedoms that my previous weight had kept me away from. I jog now. I bike. I play on the swingset with my son. I can buy clothes at Target or Old Navy. As you lose weight, you too will see new freedoms opening up for you. You can do this, break free from the chains of fat...
"In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
Matty
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Habit...
"I am your constant companion. I will push you forward to success or I will drag you down to failure. I am completely at your command. 80% of what you do, you might as well hand over to me and I will do it promptly and I will do it correctly. I am easily managed; you must merely be firm with me. Show me what you'd like to have done, and after a couple of lessons, I will do it automatically. I am the servant of all great people. Alas, I am the servant of all failures as well. All who are great, I have made great. All who are failures, I have made failures. I am not a machine; but I do work with the precision of a machine and the intellect of a human. Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I'll lay the world at your feet. Be easy with me, and I will destroy you! Who am I?"
I AM HABIT
I read somewhere that it takes 21 days (or 3 weeks) to develop or break a habit. Repetition is the key, repeatedly doing the same thing at around the same time everyday. That's how I got myself to get up at 4:10am every morning to exercise. That's the reason I get itchy when 11am rolls around - it's time for a walk. You can develop good habits, you just need to be determined to see it through. From budgeting to exercise, from weightlifting to reading - you have the power to change your lifestyle.
Like anything else it takes time. You will forget or not feel like doing whatever habit you want set. This gets easier as time rolls on, just keep plugging away at it. When I got my bike this past weekend my butt was sore. I got a different, wider seat thinking that it would help, but it still got sore. I was thinking on saying forget the bike riding because it hurt so much. But I was determined to change. As a result, the pain is becoming less and less and I am enjoying a new hobby.
Temporary pain or discomfort of starting a new habit is worth it. Stick with it, it'll only get better...
"Habits are safer than rules; you don't have to watch them. And you don't have to keep them, either. They keep you." - Frank Crane
Matty
I AM HABIT
I read somewhere that it takes 21 days (or 3 weeks) to develop or break a habit. Repetition is the key, repeatedly doing the same thing at around the same time everyday. That's how I got myself to get up at 4:10am every morning to exercise. That's the reason I get itchy when 11am rolls around - it's time for a walk. You can develop good habits, you just need to be determined to see it through. From budgeting to exercise, from weightlifting to reading - you have the power to change your lifestyle.
Like anything else it takes time. You will forget or not feel like doing whatever habit you want set. This gets easier as time rolls on, just keep plugging away at it. When I got my bike this past weekend my butt was sore. I got a different, wider seat thinking that it would help, but it still got sore. I was thinking on saying forget the bike riding because it hurt so much. But I was determined to change. As a result, the pain is becoming less and less and I am enjoying a new hobby.
Temporary pain or discomfort of starting a new habit is worth it. Stick with it, it'll only get better...
"Habits are safer than rules; you don't have to watch them. And you don't have to keep them, either. They keep you." - Frank Crane
Matty
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Discipline...
"Many people think they want things, but they don't really have the strength, the discipline. They are weak. I believe that you get what you want if you want it badly enough." - Sophia Loren
In order to make any change permenant you have to want it. You have to want it with every fiber of your being. Half-assed attempts or half-heartedness will only spell disaster and failure. I hear it all the time from people that, although they don't mean to, make my efforts seem trivial. "Oh, I wish I had your discipline to lose weight," "I should start eating better," "I should follow your lead and lose these 10lbs." Even though the sentiments are well-meaning, they somehow put a non-sensical spin on it. I can't really explain it, it's as if they are saying that they can do it but choose not to.
I have fallen off the wagon many, many times. Discipline is a process that will take a lifetime to master. It's about making choices in our food choosing, exercise, and other things associated with our daily lives. We may not make the right decisions all the time, but it's being determined to make the right choice the next time.
Yesterday was my birthday and I fell off the wagon to the tune of 1200cal over my allotment. I made some poor choices. But today I am going make the right choices and stay under calories.
Only when you are determined will you succeed...
"Without discipline the Army would just be a bunch of guys wearing the same color clothing." - Franks Burns, "Novocaine Mutiny"
Matty
In order to make any change permenant you have to want it. You have to want it with every fiber of your being. Half-assed attempts or half-heartedness will only spell disaster and failure. I hear it all the time from people that, although they don't mean to, make my efforts seem trivial. "Oh, I wish I had your discipline to lose weight," "I should start eating better," "I should follow your lead and lose these 10lbs." Even though the sentiments are well-meaning, they somehow put a non-sensical spin on it. I can't really explain it, it's as if they are saying that they can do it but choose not to.
I have fallen off the wagon many, many times. Discipline is a process that will take a lifetime to master. It's about making choices in our food choosing, exercise, and other things associated with our daily lives. We may not make the right decisions all the time, but it's being determined to make the right choice the next time.
Yesterday was my birthday and I fell off the wagon to the tune of 1200cal over my allotment. I made some poor choices. But today I am going make the right choices and stay under calories.
Only when you are determined will you succeed...
"Without discipline the Army would just be a bunch of guys wearing the same color clothing." - Franks Burns, "Novocaine Mutiny"
Matty
Friday, May 05, 2006
Crisis...
"When written in Chinese the word 'crisis' is composed of two characters - one represents danger and the other represents opportunity." - John F. Kennedy
Life is full of crisis, there's no getting around it. But you do have a choice of how you deal with the crisis. Let me reiterate - whether its a money, family, work, or social crisis - YOU have a choice on how you respond to that crisis.
For many years I used food as my response to crisis and stress. Food was always there, never judged, and temporarily relieved the stress. Coupled with low self-esteem I ballooned up quickly over the years. I now realize that there are healthier alternatives to stress and crisis management that do not involve food. Don't get me wrong, I still have pangs to instinctively reach for food in times of trouble - but for the most part I do not allow them to follow through (I have slipped on occasion - hey I'm human!).
I pray, I walk, I breathe deep, I occupy my mind, I rationalize on whether the stress is necessary. Many things that I had sweated over in the past did not have anything to do with me - I could not change anything in those situations and yet I subjected myself to undue stress because of them. Things happen. Life goes on.
I had a situation a while ago where we had just made Baby Step #1 on our total money makeover ($1000 in the bank). Then the car flipped out - total cost $660.00. Times before I would have stressed out big time, but because we had the emergency fund - the stress was non-existent. I was bummed that we had to start over on the fund. I was thankful and prayed for a renewed spirit. The Lord blessed me in this and we were quickly able to replenish that account.
You do have a choice in crisis situations - not doing anything IS a choice...
Matty
Life is full of crisis, there's no getting around it. But you do have a choice of how you deal with the crisis. Let me reiterate - whether its a money, family, work, or social crisis - YOU have a choice on how you respond to that crisis.
For many years I used food as my response to crisis and stress. Food was always there, never judged, and temporarily relieved the stress. Coupled with low self-esteem I ballooned up quickly over the years. I now realize that there are healthier alternatives to stress and crisis management that do not involve food. Don't get me wrong, I still have pangs to instinctively reach for food in times of trouble - but for the most part I do not allow them to follow through (I have slipped on occasion - hey I'm human!).
I pray, I walk, I breathe deep, I occupy my mind, I rationalize on whether the stress is necessary. Many things that I had sweated over in the past did not have anything to do with me - I could not change anything in those situations and yet I subjected myself to undue stress because of them. Things happen. Life goes on.
I had a situation a while ago where we had just made Baby Step #1 on our total money makeover ($1000 in the bank). Then the car flipped out - total cost $660.00. Times before I would have stressed out big time, but because we had the emergency fund - the stress was non-existent. I was bummed that we had to start over on the fund. I was thankful and prayed for a renewed spirit. The Lord blessed me in this and we were quickly able to replenish that account.
You do have a choice in crisis situations - not doing anything IS a choice...
Matty
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)