Week 2

I'm at Olive Garden starring at the menu. My family have all already ordered. Now they are waiting on me so the server can go. The server is trying to be helpful but doesn't know me, my likes, or even my health plan. For the first time in my life, I truly don't know what I want or what to order. Normally I'd order the Fettuccine Alfredo with steamed broccoli or maybe some Penne Pasta with a 1/2 Alfredo and 1/2 Marinara. But not today. Those are not approved in my health plan. Neither are breadsticks. So I stare as the patience of my family wavers. I'm a vegetarian, which adds a degree of difficulty to the process--and here we are. A crossroads in my health plan.

Earlier in the day I had stepped on the scale and discovered that for Week 2 I had lost an additional 10 pounds, 24 overall. At the same time, my waist is down 3" from where I started--allowing me to comfortably slip into a pair a jeans that just 2 weeks ago were much to small. So my resolve to stay on plan was strong...but what to eat?

​For Week 2 I had lost an additional 10 pounds, 24 overall. At the same time, my waist is down 3" from where I started.

It's not a unique challenge. In two short weeks I'm more resolved than ever to stay on plan though I'm discovering it's not easy. Last week when at a friend's house, they ordered pizza for all the non-dieters. That was a struggle. So much so, I almost went to bed to get away from it. 

But I'm discovering how much my health plan is beginning to affect every aspect of my life. In just 14 days I feel better. I haven't need Ibuprofen or Tylenol to cope with pain. I haven't needed or wanted an afternoon "pick-me-up" soda or cup of coffee. But perhaps what is most important, is that the strength I'm finding in managing my diet is also now carrying over to other aspects of my life. I'm accomplishing more in my day.

Perhaps most interesting to me, as a pastor, is my spiritual walk with Jesus is growing stronger. Don't misunderstand, I have studied and prayed all along. But it feels different now. It's almost as though I'm experiencing God's promise to care for me in a new way--the way He wants. One of the things that put me over the top in deciding to take this new journey was Paul's words: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV).

As for the Olive Garden conundrum: I ordered the spiral zucchini and squash. Took a bite of my wife's salmon, but ate some protein when I got home. Problem solved. Stuck to my plan.

Just a few more of my thoughts as I wrapped up Week 2.
Now on to Week 3.