A lifestyle change or just another diet?

A lifestyle change or just another diet?

A few weeks ago my doctor told me I had to lose weight - something we have all probably heard. Well, I basically ignored her. Then I decided enough was enough and thought about dragging Pastor Rick along for the ride because he needs to lose weight too. I told him let's make a bet and the winner pays the other $50 dollars at the end of the year. But there is a catch if I have soda I have to put $1 in the pot and if Rick eats French fries he pays $1. That money will go to a charity. Well needless to say this is hard. I have gotten used to drinking a soda every morning at work – let’s just say the pot is filling up thanks to me.

Some may ask why we are doing this. Yeah we look good in the end but we will be better people because of it. I am not currently taking cholesterol blood pressure medicine but if I keep going down the road I am one day I might need medicine. Our joints will not hurt as much and we won’t be as tired.

Let’s talk exercise...how does one find time for it? I like how I feel when I do workout but finding the time is next to impossible. I love swimming but again the whole time factor. Somebody told me you have to make time...well I will give it a try ... next week.

Yes the bet is between Rick and I but the challenge does not have to be. If you are reading this and want to participate come on and join us. Make a bet with yourself - lose the weight buy that little black dress I always wanted. The challenge ends December 31 - enough time to get into a routine and prove to ourselves if we survive the holidays the rest will be a piece of cake (no pun intended).

I hope to update my progress, and maybe Rick will too, at least once every couple of weeks.

Peace to you.
Elizabeth Thomas
Director of Youth Ministries

UPDATE ON PASTOR RICK'S WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY - OCTOBER 2, 2009

I'm beginning to understand why people develop eating disorders. No, I do not have one - I enjoy food too much - but I'm beginning to see how it happens. I lost 6 pounds right away in this deal which is a lot easier for guys (so the experts say) but then somebody brought me a pound cake and how could I allow their pastor to damage feelings and potentially a treasured relationship. It just wasn’t going to happen! So I ate the whole thing! Not at one time!

Okay as of today (October 2) I have lost only 4 pounds from my starting point. So, am I thrilled with this number? No. It is not where I want to be. My goal at that time was to lose about a pound a week - which is not an over-the-top number, in my opinion (or 25 pounds by my the end of the year – 2009 that is!)

I'm not going to lie. There are times where I've considered skipping meals... but I hate the feeling of an empty stomach. I know we all slip up, and I've accidentally skipped before, but I'm miserable by the end of the day. I’m going to continue to pray about this and for my buddies who are in this together with me – Elizabeth Thomas and Debbie Davenport . It’s really not the money now that matters at all… it’s my health and getting some weight off of these aching knees! I just learned yesterday that Michael Jackson weighed 136 pounds when he died and they said other than the obvious drug dependency he was otherwise a “healthy” 50 year old man. I weigh almost 100 pounds more. Shameful!