{Just Us Kings}

Yes, today is the day. We’ve been waiting 9 months and she’s finally here! Stay tuned for more details throughout the day and week.

In January I started eating better and working out. Last week I stepped on the scale to see 306. That’s down 16 lbs from where I started just a few weeks ago. I’m getting there, headed in the right direction. I’ll probably check weight/body fat one more time before I go on hiatus Wednesday for the rest of the week (more on that later). I’m hoping that my body fat % is closure to 20% than 30% this time. Its been a good feeling working out. I feel better and Kristie says that I’m looking good (which is the most important reason)! The goal is to get under 20% body fat again. It is very obtainable and will be a very good place for me. I’m thinking that I’ll be in the 280’s when that happens. I haven’t been 280 since high school! WOW. I keep thinking of this verse as I go through this experience.

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Proverbs 25:28

In other words, VULNERABLE. It has been hard the last few days. Kristie has been baking. Cookies, granola, puppy chow… I mean, come on! Help a guy out. I am blessed with a tremendous chef and baker. A blessing and a curse for the big man! Plus people have brought meals, which contain foods that look and taste better than my chicken breast, fish fillet or ground beef with vegetables. HELLO PASTA!

Speaking of Kristie, this Wednesday is the day she goes under the knife one more time for her 4th C-section. Stay tuned here for updates. Also check out my twitter feed on the right. Emails, birth announcements and phone calls will find their way to some of you. Can’t wait to share our joy with ya’ll!

Two weeks ago yesterday I started actually doing something about my weight and how I felt. As of today, I’ve lost 10lbs and dropped 4% body fat.
I’m pretty excited about this. I already feel better and I can tell my middle is thinning out.
My buddy Jon Peacock challenged me to drop 14lbs by February 14th. I think I’m going to hit it. Watch out buddy, I’m coming for you!

It has now been almost 5 years since I have played football, and I’m still at my playing weight. You may think, “Hey, that’s great. You haven’t gained a bunch of extra weight.” The truth is that 322lbs is not a healthy weight for a 31 year old man, husband, and father of 4 (5 and under).

So, I recently started working out again and today I begin eating a better diet with a Protein Sparing Modified Fasting Diet (PSMF). 350g of protein a day and no carbs. I’m doing this with the help of a nutritionist and it only lasts a few weeks. After that, we will modify accordingly. The goal for me is two fold. First, I would like to lose weight, but really cut body fat. Getting back to about 17% would feel really good and probably put me at a weight somewhere in the neighborhood of 275, a weight I have not seen since my junior year of high school!
Second, I want to be functional in day to day life. I want to be able to get up and down to play with my kids. I do a pretty good job of this right now, but if I’m not careful I could end up with some real problems.

If you see me around, ask how I’m doing. I’m going to need some accountability on this one. It should be interesting, but much needed.

Today I was frustrated. Frustrated that my Bride had a different agenda in mind for my morning that I did. Frustrated that expectations were put on me that I didn’t necessarily know about or agree to.

I was frustrated.

Then I realized, as I talked it out with God on my way to the office, that maybe my frustration was not with other people or agendas or expectation that were put on me. Maybe I brought all that on by not communicating well with my Bride. Maybe I need to be presenting realistic expectations for other to be able to count on. Expectations of when and where I will be. How long a task will take. What time I’m going to get up in the morning and what type of things I’m going to get done that day.
All these things seemed to be at the heart of my frustration in what I thought was someone else’s issue. In truth, it’s my issue.

So. What next? I have to start presenting realistic expectation for the people in my life. This will be difficult at first, I am a very ‘fly by the seat of my pants’ kind of guy when it comes to me. That’s selfish. I have more that me to take care of. I’m going to need to be deliberate in what I do and how I plan.

It all comes back to self-control and discipline. Two things that I am continually working on.

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. – Proverbs 25:28

A city without walls is vulnerable and open to attack, like my frustration this morning which tried to lead me into anger. I want to avoid that at all costs. Becoming more purposeful in what do and showing self-control will also set a good example for my kids whom I desperately want to teach excellence to.

Time to start rebuilding the walls…