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Disclaimer

Before beginning any exercise regimen, always consult a physician. All suggestions on this blog are just that-- only suggestions. Each individual is responsible for deciding what is best for them.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Seems to be working!

I'm trying to make small changes and see how they work. My first change was to use smaller dishes when I eat. I don't normally go back for seconds, so this was worth trying. I bought some little bowls, and now eat dinner from a smaller luncheon plate. Yes, it does look like I'm eating off doll dishes!

The other change was to start drinking "green" smoothies for lunch at work. What's a green smoothie? It's a regular smoothie, except most of the liquid comes from blended spinach....hence the word "green"! Sounds terrible, I know, but if you put in fruit, you can't taste the spinach. If you have 5 servings of leafy green vegetables a day, you prevent diabetes. One smoothie has 6 servings!

This was a challenge. I bought a small blender to take to work, but there's still the challenge of keeping the berries frozen and cleaning everything up afterwords. So, I make it the night before, put it in a larger plastic container with a screw-on lid, and freeze it overnight. It naturally defrosts in time for lunch.

My recipe is 3 cups fresh spinach (washed), 1 cup almond milk, and 1 cup frozen fruit or berries. Be warned, if you don't use dark berries, your smoothie will be bright green! If you use blueberries, it just looks like blended blueberries.

15 pounds and one size later, looks like it's working. Even my friends are starting to notice!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Weight Loss

By Randy McNeely

The past few weeks have been interesting. I've had ups and downs, but I continue to progress - though not as quickly as I'd like. I'm down to 236. That's 30 pounds down since October. I feel pretty good about that. Still I have 61 pounds to go to reach my goal of 175. I know with the Lord's help I can do it. I also have 30 pounds to go for my weight loss fundraiser and 11 weeks to do it - an average of 3 pounds per week. I may not get there, but I'm going to give it my best shot!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Small and Simple Things

I remember years ago when I was a part-time janitor at BYU while I was going to school. It wasn't the greatest pay, but I worked with great people and I had the opportunity to greet people as they came into the Wilkinson Center early in the morning.

When I did greet people, I always tried to be cheerful. I would say "Good morning," and ask them how they were doing or tell them they looked nice, etc. I wasn't trying to "brown nose" or suck up, but I really meant what I said. After the brief greeting I'd go on my way, not really thinking about how my greeting affected people.

I found out one day, by surprise, that my greeting had affected someone. On of the staff members at the BYU bookstore would always come in early and if I was out cleaning or sweeping, I always greeted her in my usual manner. What I didn't know was that one of those days she was really feeling down and discouraged and my greeting lifted her, cheered her, and changed her whole outlook for the day. I had no idea until I came in to my bosses office a couple of days later and she handed me an small envelope with my name on it and told me someone had dropped it off for me. I opened it up and found a note from the bookstore staff member and some BYU bucks to use at the bookstore. In the note she thanked me for always greeting her and telling her she looked nice. She explained how she'd been feeling and how my simple greeting made her day.

I don't share this story to boast about myself. I share it merely as an example of how a small and simple act of kindness can make someones day. More than once I've been in a situation where I needed that simple act of kindness and been blessed to receive it. I'm sure you have too.

I hope you my readers have a great day. Thank you for being the wonderful people you are.

Working Out

By Randy McNeely

Life sometimes throws us curve balls but we have to keep moving. For some reason I've plateaued right now. I've lost 26 pounds since last October, and I seem to be stuck. I'm hovering right at 239-240.

That said, I am by no means discouraged. I can't be if I am to succeed. Those thoughts got me out of bed this morning and I worked out hard doing push-ups, rows, flies, curls, and standing stretch exercises, as well as jogging for 30 seconds in between each exercise. I went through two full sets of each today, except for push-ups of which I did three sets.

I will meet my goals. I won't be easy, but nothing worth having ever is.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Going Down

By Randy McNeely

Another 12 days gone. I'm down to 240. I'm down by 5.5 pounds since I started my Weight Loss For Charity fundraiser. I've got a long way to go.

I know I can do it. It's hard staying motivated sometimes, but I have a lot of support.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Still moving too!

Like Lynn, I'm moving on. Thus far this week I've lost 3 pounds! I have the extra motivation now as my Weight Loss For Charity Fundraiser is in full swing. I have added pressure too as I was just interviewed on WBOY TV. I weighed in at 249 with my clothes on. I now weigh just under 246. With the Lords help I'll make it.

Anyone out there who is interested can find out more about the fundraiser and how you can help at http:/wl4charity.blogspot.com

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Still moving!

Well, although I've been noticeably absent from this blog, I've still been trying to eat right and exercise!

I was recently called to the Relief Society presidency in my ward, and between meetings, working overtime, and school, well, you know....

The good news is that I'm praying for a reduction in my workload and continuing to exercise, even if it's 10 PM when I get home. My motivation? One of my friends recently ran a half marathon at Disneyworld. I want a Donald Duck medal!

My husband promised to take me to Disneyworld if I could do a half marathon in a "reasonable" amount of time. I'm shooting for three hours. So far, I've increased my treadmill work from 2.5 MPH for 10 minutes to 3.2 MPH for 33 minutes. I have a long way to go, but I have a year.

My efforts have been paying off. Four pounds so far. Not thrilling, but a start. All you need is a start....

Monday, February 7, 2011

Hold On!

By Randy McNeely

In these uncertain times, both politically, temporally, economically, and especially spiritually it is easy to get down and discouraged. What a blessing it is to know that when we feel down or depressed we can turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for help. He it is who to whom we can lay down our burden and bear a song away. He knows our needs. He knows our fear, uncertainty, and doubt. He knows that Satan's evil grows stronger in the world and that mists of darkness swirl all about us. Yet through that darkness, even through all darkness, the light of His countenance breaks forth, even as the rays of the sun pierce the fiercest thunderstorm, and through the halls of time we can still hear his meek, yet powerful, voice say "Be not afraid, only believe."

The following video displays what I'm trying to say, much better than my words above.

Up and At It

By Randy McNeely

Another new day and another opportunity to exercise. Same struggles with mind over mattress as usual. However, I have extra incentive now. I did my official weigh in last Saturday for the Weight Loss For Charity Fundraiser I organized. I weighed in, with my clothes on, at 249 pounds. The goal is to lose 40 pounds by June 4th. Great ambitions. Great expectations. Lots of hard work. I can do it, with the Lord's help. I know I can.

I worked my legs and abs today, as well as jogging in between exercises. I exercised for 30 minutes! Yea!

Now, to all of you out there trying and feeling discouraged, I say the immortal words of Winston Churchill; "Never, never, never give up!" To those who fear and doubt, I add the eternal words of the savior, "Be not afraid, only believe."

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Still Striving

By Randall McNeely

Well, my gazillion followers, these past couple of weeks have been a challenge for exercise, at least regular exercise. I've gotten a lot of exercise in ways I didn't intend to via snow shoveling - TONS OF SHOVELING! Still, I managed to maintain my weight, but not lose any.

Now I'm traveling and have a nasty cold. Still, I'm going to force myself out of bed tomorrow. I have to. I've eaten to much the last too days! Ah.

This weekend I do the official weigh-in for my Weight Loss For Charity fundraiser. I've set the goal to lose 40 pounds between February 5th, and June 4th. I need 1000 people / corporations to pledge to me to reach my goal of raising $10,000. That works out to $.25 per pound per person if I lose 40 pounds. I can do it. Will you? Will you help me in this great cause? If you would like to pledge, stop by my blog http://wl4charity.blogspot.com, click the Join Me! link and send me your name, the amount you wish to pledge, your email address, and phone number. None of your personal information will be published. It will be used for donation tracking purposes but only privately by me. The initials of those who pledge and what they pledge will be posted on the blog on the Individual Pledges page.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Keep Moving Forward

By Randy McNeely

This past week was a real challenge. On the one hand, I gained no wait. Yea! On the other hand, I didn't lose any either. Sometimes we have weeks like that. A differing work schedule threw me off as I wasn't able to follow my regular workout schedule. This week is more of the same.

However, I'm not discouraged.  I will keep moving on. I will lose the wait. I've done it before, and I can do it again.

As I side note, I've organized a fundraiser called Weigh Loss For Charity to raise money for The Bartlett House homeless shelter here in Morgantown. I had the opportunity to appear on WAJR radio 103.3 FM (wajr.com) yesterday morning to talk about it. I haven't had as good a response as I hoped to have. However, there are more ways than one to skin a cat. Check out my wl4charity blog to get the latest.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Daily Journal - Spiritual - Thought for the Day

He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.

Proverbs 8:25

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Daily Journal - Physical -Staying committed

By Randy McNeely

In my "Why This Blog" section, I stated my reasons for needing to lose weight. I have several incentives--I  need to bring down my cholesterol, in need more energy, I don't want to wear a C-Pap, I want to be there for my kids and be able to do things with them, etc.

Knowing those things, however, and translating that knowledge into action, are two different things. Like many of you, I don't particularly like exercising. However, I do like how I feel when I have exercised. I feel awake and alert. I feel more energized. I feel a sense of accomplishment for having done it even though I didn't necessarily want to do it. I also like the fact that because of the exercise my weight is going down and I fit into my clothes better (yes men do think of those things too -- though we're not nearly as obsessed about it as women are :-)). 

So, when 4:45 am hits (that's my new wake up time--I'm working toward 4:30 am), an I'm faced with a mind over mattress battle, I force myself to think of those things. If I don't, my king size mattress is way to comfortable and try as I might, I lose the battle.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Daily Journal - Spiritual

By Randy McNeely

Read a great article today by Elder Kent D. Watson entitled Being Temperate In All Things. It seems particularly appropriate at this time when there is a great "strife of words and contest of opinions." I invite you to read it and come back and share your thoughts.

Daily Journal - Physical

By Randy McNeely

Made it up again. Keeping on. Did upper body workout - push ups, and several exercises with resistance bands, along with jogging for 30 seconds in between exercises.

I feel better every time I exercise.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Daily Journal - Spiritual - The Humor Factor - Trimmers Gone Awry

I'm often accused of being to serious or taking myself to seriously. Those who know me well, however, know that I'm a firm believer that one of the ingredients for spiritual fatness is a good sense of humor.

To that end I share the following story.

You know you're getting old when one of your Christmas gifts is a genuine deluxe ear, nose, and eyebrow trimmer. What's worse is knowing that you need it and that others recognize that you need it. Ah, sad day!

Such was the case for me this past Christmas. There it was among my stocking stuffers, a loving trinket from my sweetheart. I was grateful for her thoughtfulness. However, my pride was thumping around inside my head. I'm not that old. Yes I may have a long nostril hair or two and my eyebrows do look rather like one long bushy caterpillar, but are they really that bad? And my ears, I don't have long hairs in my ears--do I? Nevertheless, I swallowed my pride and after all the gift opening was done, I went to the bathroom to try out my new "toy."

When I opened it, there were several little attachments, each one fashioned for its assigned purpose. There was also a little manual. Being the man I am, and it being such a little tool, I was sure I could figure out how to use it without reading "The Friendly Manual."

I did figure out how to put in the battery and how to put on the attachments. Having done so, it was time to test it. I looked in the mirror and the bushy black caterpillar on my forehead seemed to say "pick me first. Give me a good trim." I listened and proceeded to trim the middle between my eyes. It was then that I experienced that feeling that every mother, or occasionally father, feels when their little girl or boy walks into the room with a sheepish grin on their face and chunks of hair missing from their head. "I cut my hair. Doesn't it look nice?"

In less than a second, not only was the caterpillar cut in two, but fully one quarter of the left side was gone! Ahhh I screamed out of shock--and a ton of embarrassment. This wasn't supposed to happen. There I was, completely bald between the eyes and seriously lopsided on the left. What did I do? I did the only thing I could do--I trimmed the right side (much more carefully) in attempt to regain some balance. I looked better, but I still, at least in my mind, looked utterly ridiculous. I leave it to your imagination as to how my wife, mother-in-law, brother and sister-in-law and children reacted.

I'm happy to report that I learned a lesson from this experience. No matter how small the tool, always, always, read "The Friendly Manual." We'll see how long that lasts, however, given that guys seem to have a built in gene for not asking directions and not reading manuals.

I'm also happy to report that I'm very grateful for a couple of other things. Fortunately for me, no one at work noticed any change in my appearance, or if they did they were kind enough not to say anything. Additionally, the old saying that "time heals all wounds" (and silly trimmings) is proving to be true as well. Mr. Bushy isn't back to normal yet, but he's filling in quite nicely.

Daily Journal - Physical

By Randy McNeely

Week 3 - Day 1

Last week was a bit of a challenge. Still, I lost two pounds even though I did a lot of shoveling and was not able to do my regular workouts.

I was up and at it early today. I got my regular leg and stomach workout in.

Question for the day - does anyone out there have a favorite healthy recipe they's like to share? I'd love to add some more to the Recipes page.


Friday, January 14, 2011

Committed!

One of the keys to success in any project is commitment. So, I've been getting committed all over the place....

No, not the psych ward, although at times this week, it was a possibility! Committed to weight loss. What did I do? A few simple things.....

I bought a much more difficult workout game for the Wii, which not only weighs you, but tracks your measurements, tracks your calories, and notes when you exercise. It asks you to commit to a program, and I chose to work out 6 days a week.

I was asked to select a product to review on my blog, and I chose a portable step machine. I plan to keep it in my office for stress relief and to get in a little exercise. I have to use it, or I can't do the review--committed again.

At work, the nurse has begun a "Biggest Loser" contest. There are 12 of us, and our entry fee is a $10 gift card. Whoever has lost the biggest percentage each week will get the gift card of his or her choice.

Thanks to Randy, I'm now committing myself in public. Finally, I've also committed to myself and my family... the most important people of all.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Daily Journal - Spiritual

By Randy McNeely

My journey through the Doctrine and Covenants continues, with a stop today in D&C 11. Every time I read this section I can't help but feel amazed at the Lord's love and wisdom and the great promises made to Hyrum Smith, which, if we live for it, can be ours too. Like Hyrum, if we will follow the Lord's admonition and study the scriptures, we too can be filled with the words of life (spiritual fatness) and have our tongues loosed so that we can be instruments in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth.

I have to ask myself when I read verse seven, "what are earthly riches compared to the riches of eternity? What greater gift can we obtain than wisdom and knowledge from God?" Words cannot describe the sublime feeling that penetrates the soul when pure knowledge from God flows in. This is true joy! Those moments, too sacred to speak of, unless prompted by the Holy Ghost, make an indelible impression on our hearts and minds.

What's even more wonderful, though, is when we have those moments when writing to, speaking to or teaching others.  Then it is that the words of D&C 84:85 which states, "Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man," are literally fulfilled and all are uplifted and edified.

I've had those moments. I know they are real. I hope to have many more as I continue my journey to being spiritually whole.

Daily Journal - Physical

By Randy McNeely

Well, the daily journal hasn't been so daily this week. The past three days have been crazy for time. I have gotten exercise in--though not in the way I planned.

Tuesday and Wednesday saw me spending time fighting yet again with that fluffy cold white stuff that looks so beautiful--from a very long distance (I don't want to offend all you snow lovers but I wouldn't care if I never saw it again--or at least not for a very long time and even then only for a day). Woo hoo! I lost a pound in water weight doing it.

I got home late from a Daddy daughter date last night so I didn't get up this morning. However, I walked 1.5 miles at work. Not a full workout, but better than nothing. 

Thanks to Sweethaven for her great post. Keep up the battle.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The Quest

Everyone in life starts out on quests. Like knights of a past time those quests can be an honest and sincere wish to see improvement or a misguided crusade where people or ideals get hurt. A lot of life is figuring out the path that our life will take, and yes where we go is our choice. There are times when we wish that we could blame where our life has brought us on someone else or uncontrollable situations, but never give in. Never give away the power that is in you to choose where your life is going to take you.

There was a time in my life when I gave away my power – when I forgot that I had a choice where I wanted my life to go and it led me to being 240 pounds.

Growing up I was never quite comfortable with myself, I always saw myself as fat. I have looked at so many pictures from my childhood and remember what I felt in those moments, shame and embarrassment of myself. Those feelings should have had no merit. Anyone looking at my childhood would have seen a normal child. I was not overweight but that was how I felt. I do not share these feelings to gain pity but to relate to all the people out there who I know felt the same way.

Those feelings were what I focused on and eventually those insecurities I made into my reality. As I was growing (In age and girth) I told myself all the different excuses –“I eat like everyone else, I shouldn’t have to change”, “I already give up so much, I can’t give up more”, “What if I fail…” Those thoughts were reoccurring constantly in my mind. I didn’t know what my potential was and I didn’t know if I could ever get there, so for years I didn’t try.

The day I decided to change nothing traumatic happened but I made a choice. Every pivotal point in our lives starts with a choice. I didn’t know where that choice would take me, I didn’t know what my success would look like, but I made a choice that I wanted to be healthy. I made being healthy both physically and spiritually a quest for myself; a quest to discover what my potential is. I have gone from 240 pounds to 175 pounds. The liberation that I feel is undeniable. I feel that I am still on my quest to discover my ultimate potential but I invite you to join along in my journey. Make a choice in your life today. Decide what you will no longer accept and take your power back. Never give up your power to choose.

Sweethaven

Monday, January 10, 2011

Daily Journal - Spiritual

By Randy McNeely

I didn't do as well as I would have liked with my spiritual exercise yesterday. I had plenty of opportunity but allowed myself to get side-tracked by too many distractions. I didn't get into my scriptures really until it was time to go to bed. Pretty bad--especially for a Sunday.

Thanks goodness for repentance. Today is a new day and I did have the chance to feast a bit this morning. And the Lord knew exactly what I needed to read. I started out reading in Doctrine and Covenants section 10. This is the section where the Lord really took Joseph Smith to task for allowing Martin Harris to take the 116 pages of manuscript, which he subsequently lost. Verse 4 reads as follows:
Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable you to translate; but be diligent unto the end.
I've read that verse dozens of times, but this time the word diligent really jumped off the page at me. So I looked at the footnote which referred me to the word diligence in the Topical Guide. In reviewing the verses listed there, I was impressed by how many of them refer to diligently keeping the commandments of God and being diligent (or enduring) to the end so that thereby we might win the prize. Just as we must exercise and eat properly to gain  and maintain the prize of physical health, so too we must exercise and feast properly to gain and maintain the prize of spiritual health.

I don't know about you, but being consistent is a real challenge for me. I seem to go in spurts (writing, exercising, spiritually feasting, etc.). I have a tough time setting goals and meeting them. My desire is to learn to do better at that. I know many of you are good at being diligent and setting goals, etc. I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas. Come on by and drop a note or two.

Daily Journal - Physical--Up and At it Again - Day 7

By Randy McNeely

Hello all my loyal followers! It's great to be at the beginning of another new week.

Well, today was hard. Trying to peel myself off the mattress was like trying to peel dried paint of your windshield. After much mental exercise I manage to slither out of bed.

I'm glad I did. I did my lower body workout and I feel great.

I also weighed myself. I'm down 2 lbs. from last week. Not as good as I'd hoped, but still moving down. Yea!

I should note that I cheated. Well not really. Normally I don't exercise on Sunday. And I didn't do it on purpose yesterday. However, when the snow comes, there's no getting around getting a workout here as I have a huge driveway. So I got a de-facto workout whether I wanted to or not.

Happy exercising, eating right, etc!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Daily Journal - Spiritual

By Randy McNeely

As I indicated in my physical entry, yesterday was not a good day with regard to spiritual feasting. Thank goodness for repentance.

Today I read again in the Doctrine and Covenants, sections 7 and 8. I was struck by several things.

First, I've always been impressed when reading about John the Revelator and the Three Nephites and their desires to live until Christ comes in his glory so that they could bring more souls back to the Kingdom of God. What great love they must have for us. I can't help but wonder how many lives have been changed because of their intervention. I look forward to the day when we will find out!

Second, in reading the Lord's words to Oliver Cowdery in section 8, I was particularly struck by the words in verse 10--"remember that without faith you can do nothing." One of the cross references to the word faith goes to 1 Nephi 7:12. In that verse we are reminded that "...the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him...." That knowledge is a great comfort to me. If we exercise faith in God and do our part, and desire those things that are in accordance with His will,  he will bless us according to our needs. 


Have you gotten your spiritual exercise today? If so, what did you do? How did you feel? Feel free to share you thoughts. I'd love to hear them.



Daily Journal - Physical

By Randy McNeely

Day 6

Wait a minute. What happened to Day 5. Well, the mattress won the battle yesterday. I didn't sleep well and when the alarm went off, I couldn't get up. I stayed up too late the night before. As you might imagine, that through off my whole schedule. Needless to say, my spiritual feasting was more like a spiritual fasting. Prime example of why "early to bed, early to rise" are wise words to live by. When I don't, the outcome is always the same.

I did better today. I got up and stretched. The went out to shovel four inches of snow off our longer than a football field (over 400 feet) driveway, followed by using a roof rake on the southern side of our roof. It was a good workout.

I should add, that on Thursday, in addition to the exercise I did in the morning, I also walked a mile at work.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Daily Journal - Spiritual

By Randy McNeely

For my spiritual exercise today I read a bit in the Doctrine and Covenants. I read both section 4 and section 5. Section 4, as many of you know, describes the qualifications for becoming a missionary.  Verse 5 reads:

And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work. 

I've always been struck by the fact that there is a distinction made between charity and love and wondered why. I'm still puzzling this out in my mind. What are your thoughts?

Daily Journal - Physical

By Randy McNeely

Day 4. Back to the lower body routine. Completed two sets and exercised for 1 half hour. I feel great. 

It was hard to get out of bed, but I forced myself. The challenge I have is getting to be on time. We have five children, the youngest of whom is 2 months old and sleeps in our room. It is sometimes hard to get to sleep when I have baby noises in the background.

Does anyone out there have any simple lower body exercise suggestions? If so, I'd love to here about it. Please email me

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Day Three

By Randy McNeely

Made it up again today. Ugh. I'm tired. Or at least I was. Now I feel pretty good.

Half hour of exercise consisting of stretching, jogging in place (with a few aerobic moves thrown in that would look ridiculous to you if you could have seen them), and riding a stationary bike for just a bit over a mile.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Daily Journal - Spiritual

I had the opportunity this morning to start reading in D&C Section 1. I've read it many times before, but it was very poignant for me today. The words of this section are very sobering and given the situation we find ourselves in as a nation and a world it really hit home. The Lord is very straight forward in this section and doesn't mince words. The revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants were meant to be a warning to all people. What an awesome responsibility members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have to share the gospel with all the world!

Spiritually Fat? What is that?

Some of you may be wondering why I used the term "Spiritually Fat" as part of my blog title. As I explained in my original blog, it was inspired by verses in both Isaiah and 2 Nephi which talk about letting your soul "delight in fatness."

So what does that mean to me? To me it means doing all in my power to be worthy to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. It means praying with all the energy I possess to be filled with the pure love of Christ, so much so that it exudes from me. I hope some day to have such and abundance of the spirit and love that wherever I go those around me can feel it. I don't mean that in an arrogant way. I want others to want to know Christ because they know me. I'm a long way from that right now (at least I feel I am). We've all been around people like that, though, and found ourselves thinking "I wish I could be like that."

A good friend of mine once shared a story that exemplifies what I'm trying to say. He was walking through  the Los Angeles, CA airport -- LAX. As usual it was very crowded. As you might imagine he was shocked when as he walked through the airport he suddenly felt the Spirit of God so strongly that it almost overpowered him. He stopped dead in his tracks and started looking around him, trying to figure out what was going on. Then he looked over to his right and sitting there waiting for a flight was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Marvin J. Ashton.

Thats what I'm talking about. Oh that I can be that spiritually fat someday!

Daily Journal - Physical- Two Days in a Row!

By Randy McNeely

Quick Journal Entry

Tuesday Jan 4, 2010

Up at 5:00. I had a real mind over mattress battle, but I won! Yea for me.

The purpose of this entry is to explain what a little bit about what I'm doing for me on a daily basis. Don't worry, all the entries won't be this long.

I've worked out a schedule that works for me. I recommend everyone find what works for them and stick to it.

For me, I'll be working my legs and stomach on Mondays, my upper body on Tuesdays, and doing aerobic exercises on Wednesdays. Then I'll start the cycle again for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Yesterday (Monday) I exercised for half an hour.

What I do every day to start out with is stretching. I found that for me this helps me get warmed up for the real exercising. I start by jogging in place for 1 minute then I go into the stretching. I do exercises to stretch my back, legs, arms and calves.

Then I go into the exercises. I do a workout designed for both weight loss and muscle strengthening. It combines both aerobic exercise (jogging in place between the main exercises) and specific exercises for specific muscle groups. The workout came with the Bodylastics resistance bands I purchased a couple of years ago.

I don't have a lot of time to go into the exercises here, but I will try to get more detail later this week.

Bottom line, yesterday I worked my legs by doing squats and reverse leg thrusts. Then I worked my abbs and lower back by doing back extensions (laying on your stomach, stretching your arms over your head, and lifting your arms and legs off the floor at the same time), bended knee crunches, leg raises, and full body sit ups. After stretching and before doing squats, I jogged in place for 30 seconds. I also do that in between the squats and reverse thrusts and the back extensions. The back extensions and other exercises are all done in succession without jogging in between.

Today I did the usual stretching. Then I did pushups and several upper body exercises using the Bodylastics resistance bands.

Two days down. I feel great!

Monday, January 3, 2011

Motivation!

By Lynn Parsons

I was very excited when I found out Randy was starting this blog. I have many reasons to lose weight, including my health, how I feel, and my new daughter-in-law.

While my story is not as dramatic as Randy's, I still need to lose weight. I have rheumatoid arthritis, and my joints don't appreciate the extra pressure. I can feel my blood pressure going up, and will need medication soon if I don't do anything. I am also concerned about developing diabetes, which runs in my family.

My main reason, though, is that I'm not comfortable in my skin. I was a slightly overweight child, often teased as the lone girl with three brothers. When I entered college, I had no transportation other than feet, and was too poor to eat much. I also discovered that if I walked fast, I could leave home 10 minutes later and still make class in plenty of time. Turns out, that was aerobic walking before its time, and I was so slim that my husband could wrap his hands around my waist. That hasn't been true in quire a while. I'm tired and irritable, and don't sleep well. This keeps my spiritually from growing at its usual rate. I've felt it, and have been praying for help and direction.

I met Melanie, now my daughter-in-law, last summer, when she and my son were dating. I next saw her about 3 weeks ago (we lived in different states), she had lost more than 40 pounds. She looks great! Melanie and John are temporarily staying with us, and she's teaching me delicious recipes that are very healthy. I had "macaroni and cheese" tonight that was very low calorie and had many healthy things in it.

So, time for a change. I hope blogging will also increase my motivation. I need to take action before I need a seatbelt extender on my next plane ride! I've already started by eating fruit for breakfast (two servings) and another piece of fruit for my midmorning snack. Next week I plan to add a large salad before dinner.

I'll keep you posted. Next big hurdle--an exercise plan.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Why this Blog

Those of you who have stopped by may be wondering what motivated me to do this blog. I alluded to it yesterday when I talked about my obesity. There's more to the story.

To start off with I was having challenges with falling asleep at work.  Then my wife told me one night that in the midst of my snoring (I snore like a buzz saw) I stopped breathing for nearly a minute. That scared her and me both, so, I went and a sleep study done. Through the study they found out I have a mild case of sleep apnea. I stopped breathing about 8 or 9 times through the night but only when I turned over on my back. On a scale of 1 to 100, I'm at about a 7 or 8. In the process of that diagnosis they did some blood work and found out that I also have high cholesterol. I was told I would need to lose weight and that I would need to get a CPAP machine to wear at night so I could breath properly.

To get the CPAP I had to go through another sleep study. I need to explain a little here. When you go in for a sleep study, they wire you up to a machine in a couple of dozen places on your chest, legs, arms, and head. Then they give you a sleeping pill to help you sleep with all that wiring and they monitor you all night. Needless to say, being a stomach sleeper, which I have been all my life, it was not super comfortable. When I woke up in the morning I had wires wrapped around my neck and just about freaked out.

Now imagine all that and a mask stuck on your face. The mask has air blowing through it to keep your throat open so you can breath better. I was given a special slotted pillow--meaning that on either side there was a half circle missing so that you could supposedly sleep on your stomach even with the mask on. However, even with the pillow, there is really no way to sleep on your stomack with a mask. Every time I moved the mask would slip to one side or the other and air would be blowing in my face. I then tried sleeping on my side but couldn't get comfortable. Finally I decided to turn on my back but when I did, I stopped breathing. When that happened the guy who was monitoring me turned up the air pressure trying to force air down my throat. I woke up feeling like I was drowning in a wind tunnel. As you might imagine, I only lasted an hour before I called the monitor and asked hm to unwire me as I was going home. I told him "There is no way in hades I'm going to wear that mask. I've been sleeping on my stomach for 40 years and that isn't going to change."

So I came home.  A couple of days later I went to see my doctor and we discussed the situation and determined that the only option for me is to lose weight and get in good physical shape.

It was not too long after that when I read the verse in 2 Nephi 9:51 which I quoted yesterday:
Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.
When I read that, the idea for this blog came in to my head. I made the logo for it and created the blog, but then let it sit for a little while.

Then this week I ended up in the hospital because I started feeling pressure and tightness in my chest. It turns our my heart is fine, but I have really bad acid reflux which can cause symptoms that appear to be similar to a heart attack. Yet another reason to loose weight because when you have a large stomach, as I have, it can cause your esophagus to move upward and outward, making it so the valve at the end doesn't close properly, which in turn allows stomach acid to flow into your esophagus--hence the acid reflux.

In addition to affecting me physically, I know that all these conditions have affected me spiritually. When I'm tired, it is harder to feel the promptings of the spirit. I also tend to be irritable and cranky with myself, my family, and my co-workers which also drives the spirit away and can lead to contention and stress--not only stress at home but in the work place. The added stress leads to more fatigue. It becomes a vicious cycle. Without the closeness to the spirit that I need to be a good father, companion, friend, co-worker, etc., I cannot function properly.

So here I am. The only options I have are to lose weight and do everything in my power to be "spiritually fat" so I can be the man I know God wants me to be, and my family needs me to be. I'm a holder of the Melchizadec Priesthood. I have to be worthy at all times to use that priesthood. I cannot afford to not have the spirit with me. As Elder Packer pointed out in his talk in the April General Conference:

The authority of the priesthood is with us. After all that we have correlated and organized, it is now our responsibility to activate the power of the priesthood in the Church. Authority in the priesthood comes by way of ordination; power in the priesthood comes through faithful and obedient living in honoring covenants. It is increased by exercising and using the priesthood in righteousness.
Now, fathers, I would remind you of the sacred nature of your calling. You have the power of the priesthood directly from the Lord to protect your home. There will be times when all that stands as a shield between your family and the adversary’s mischief will be that power. You will receive direction from the Lord by way of the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Elder Boyd K. Packer, The Power of the Priesthood, Ensign, May 2010, p. 9)
Hence this blog. Hence the exercise and diet I'm going to follow--one I've used successfully before which I'll share next week. Hence the scriptural and hopefully spiritual feast I intend to have.  Anyone interested in joining me, feel free to contact me at psfsrmac at gmail dot com.