Finding Faith ... in yet another healthy reboot

I have been on about a seven year journey to improve my health, everything from dental care to more proactive health care to nutrition to more exercise.

It's been a rollercoaster of a ride, with plenty of ups and sweeping falls. I've made this no secret, even writing about it in this blog a few times.

The high water mark would have been about three years when my wife and I worked with a nutrition consultant and I was very serious about my exercise. I dropped to about 300 pounds, which was the lowest I had weighed since my early 20s. I even ran a half marathon at that point, finishing somewhere in the 2 hour 40 minute range or so.

And then the pandemic set in, and I went from working full-time at my media job, part-time seminary studies, half-time pastor at the church, and trying to be a full-time dad and husband ... to full-time everything. While the pandemic shuttered or slowed down many professions, it actually forced local media folks and pastors into overdrive. So essentially I was working two more-than-full-time jobs while still finishing school and trying to be a husband and dad.

And, well, you can about imagine what happened to my health disciplines at that point.

I was far more sedentary, with lots of work that forced me to be in front of a computer or phone for hours on end every day. There wasn't the time to properly prepare nutritious meals, and eating became a what-can-I-grab-on-the-go exercise. And there didn't seem to be any time in the day to exercise like I was before.

The result was a complete collapse in any healthy disciplines that I had had. And I gained back all of my wait and probably more. The truth is I haven't weighed myself in so long that I wouldn't know. But I've had to buy bigger clothing twice during the pandemic, which lets me know that it's a lot of weight that I have gained.

I can blame this all on a lot of things. The pandemic was hard on everyone, and there was a big emotional toll that pastors took trying to carry the worry and anxiety of entire congregations. In addition the work that I do for my media company, which is still in a start-up phase, was extremely taxing emotionally and mentally as well. ... And this all ate away at my good and healthy habits.

And so it's time for yet another reboot. I've done this a half dozen times in the past seven years, but this time I am more aware of the precariousness of my situation. I'm not getting any younger, and there is heart disease that runs in my family. And each time I try to reboot my health habits at a later age, it gets harder. And so this time I have to turn the corner, for my sake, my wife's sake and for my kids' sakes.

Last week I started out on the treadmill again, but I preceded that by a couple of weeks of just making better decisions. Trying very hard not to eat another meal at night while sitting in my recliner working or watching TV. Taking smaller portions. Cutting out the milk and other drinks that include sugar, or just drinking smaller portions. ... You know, the small decisions that are critical to long-term success.

And then there is the treadmill. To be frank, I actually love my time on the treadmill. Over the years I've finished dozens and dozens of audio books, TV series and movies while walking/running on the treadmill. So I put the time to good use, and I actually love the feeling of watching the miles walked or run add up. And so why I ever let the habit slip is beyond me. Chalk it up to human nature that when you slip in one area, you feel you are feeling in every area and so you give up.

But, today is a new day, and I have a weeklong streak on the treadmill going and a couple week streak of making smaller decisions that will affect my outcomes, and that is all we can do isn't? We try to improve one step at a time and one decision at a time. And we ask that God support us in the endeavor. And hopefully, over time, we make better decisions more often and develop a positive outlook about the physical activity, and seek support from our loved ones along the way.

And so today I am finding faith in another healthy reboot. And I would appreciate your prayers of support!