Where does motivation to transform come from?

I get asked a lot about where my motivation to change came from.  Because, let's be real, even I can't deny that it took a LOT of hard work and persistence and determination to healthily shed 135 pounds.  And my answers to these questions from loving, inquiring friends and strangers changes with time as I get to know and understand myself better and how God really does love and care for each of us.  This is my latest revelation.

Where does my motivation to change come from?

It comes from lots of places.  God.  Life Experiences.  Dreams.

The question I think people are really asking when they ask about motivation to change is rather, they want to know if I experienced God as a lightening strike and if so, what that lightening strike wake up call was for me to get my life together and stop eating myself into an early grave.  Because, God knows, that is what I was doing.  Food had become my best friend and it was destroying my body, my relationships, and my soul.  And I was only 27.

The short answer is: No.  There was no lightening strike.

Actually, it was quite the opposite.  In the summer of 2010 I was completing my Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program in Milwaukee and thought it might be nice to hit the gym again and swim off some of that stress I knew would come with learning and working in a level two trauma center.  Two or three weeks went by and I was definitely tired and stressed and I definitely had not hit the gym.  I continued to go for more awesome things like frozen custard.  I mean, it was summer in Wisconsin after all!

One afternoon or evening; I really have no recollection of what day of the week it was, my cousin and I were watching TV and she starts to get up off the couch and says "Ok, let's just go check it out.  It's only a tour."  And so we went and we toured the Wisconsin Athletic Club and as we were leaving I will never forget Piper, the membership guy we talked to, tell me as I walked out the door, "You better come back before that guest pass expires and get your student membership for the summer."  A week later, without an appointment or having a clue about anything, I walked back in and there was Piper.  We sat down and we talked a little bit and I got my membership.  Then I noticed a sign that said new members get two free personal training sessions.  I inquired about that and the Bible verse "ask and you shall receive" comes to mind because not only did I get two free sessions, but once I completed those I got a certificate for another one or something like that.  But what I really got were two new friends, an amazing coach, and an unbelievable support system to help pull me out of a pretty hopeless place.

Joining the gym wasn't going to be enough to move me from where I was to where I kinda knew God wanted me to go.  A few days later, I met Jeremy G., my trainer who took me by his side and guided me on a new path.  He taught me how to exercise, modifying a lot of things in the beginning so that I could do them,  helped me understand food and nutrition and how our bodies react to not only the specific food we eat, but also how our brains react to different types of nutrients and chemicals.  I learned to push myself to try new things.  I learned to trust again, knowing that he would catch that barbell if I failed and that he didn't care if I wasn't good at something (oh, burpees, we might never be friends) so long as I tried.  And when I accomplished a goal, we celebrated.  Then we focused on the next goal.  We celebrated again.  When I was away from Milwaukee, we kept in touch by email.

My motivation to transform is best described as an experience of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.  As I reflect on it, now nearly two years since I first set foot in the WAC, that's really what it was like.  Something beyond me, call it God, call it fate, call it chance; whatever it is, happened.  People came into my life and in a very loving way took me by the arm and showed me a new path.  I'm really thankful and blessed God showed up when God did.

Now I continue on the transformation path.  The motivation to keep going comes from faith, experience and knowledge, new friendships and coaches, and learning to trust myself to work hard, but also to know when to reach out because the fear of relapse may never go away.

May you be blessed with faith, health, and joy all the days of your life!

Running in the Desert

It's true, Lent is a time to listen and take a break from the normal busyness of life. We are called into the wilderness to meditate and pray and hear what God is trying to speak into our hearts and lives.

A few weeks ago I was running Ragnar Del Sol. It's a 200.5 mile relay event from Wickenburg to Tempe, AZ. Think 12 runners, two vans, three legs. It's crazy! The second leg of my run was about three miles; so totally doable. I mean, I run that distance easy a couple of times a week. The thing is that I don't run hills. I don't run at night. And I don't like running when I don't know where I'm going. Yet, here I was at 4 a.m. running on the side of the road through the desert near Cave Creek.

Have you ever found yourself running or lost in the wilderness?

It's a strange feeling, to say the least. On one hand you want to keep moving and on the other you want to stop and wait for someone to pick you up. Like the road that I was running on, often times God has laid a path for us to follow in life. That does not mean that God has predetermined every single step or decision we take or make. It does mean that God is with us and wants to help us get to where we are going. Sometimes in order to help us get wherever we are going, we have to feel and experience being lost. If we don't know what being lost is like, how will we ever know what being found is like?

Some 36 minutes later (yeah, I know, I was slow!), I finished my darkness-filled run, made it to the exchange, and passed the baton to the next runner who took their turn in the dark wilderness of the Arizona desert. What did I find when I got to Cave Creek? A group of cheer leaders, water, food, and a sense of peace knowing that I was no longer lost.

Our lives are like relays. We go, go, go and eventually we reach a point where we stop and revel in what we've done or we take a break from what is wearing us out. Sometimes, if we're lucky, they are one in the same. I like relays because there is a beginning and an end. But I definitely prefer the going to the stopping because I have less time to think about why I am going as I move compared to when I am being still and reflecting on what I've done or what I'm about to do.

How are you feeling this Lent? How is the wandering and resting in the wilderness going this year?

Persevering When Life Happens

We can't avoid it. Life happens. You move. You get a new job. A loved one dies. A new baby is born. You're gone on vacation for two weeks. You get sick. Maybe you just need to rest.

You're not completely off the band wagon. I mean, you are still drinking lots of water and exercising or maybe you're not, but your eating is okay. Either way, you know you are not doing your best like you want. You have one foot in and one foot out and it feels like at any moment, you could tip one way or the other.

What can push you back into the band wagon instead of off the fence?

I've had a couple of weeks recently of feeling on the fence while dealing with a lot of change and stress. Some things I found helpful for making it through the really tough time and for pushing me back to that place of determination to stay on the healthy band wagon are:

1. Prayer, Worship, Devotion

Lent is here and a perfect opportunity for self-reflection. It's a great time to pick up a good devotional and spend a few extra minutes each day in thought and prayer. I find the simplicity of worship during this season also helpful for uncluttering my brain from all the craziness that life can bring in.

2. Call in Reinforcements

Seek out friends, family members, coaches, and your biggest fans who can really listen to you and be there, even if only for a hug. We all need others to share our lives with, especially during the hard times. For me, while I was away from Arizona and in Wisconsin, this meant staying ith my cousin, working out with my favorite trainer, and making frequent calls to my best friend. Now that I'm back in Arizona, I'm setting new goals, getting the support I need to reach them, and searching for new adventures to get excited about.

3. Ease Back into a Routine

Getting enough sleep, making time to cook healthy meals, and taking a few extra hours a week to relax can all help you get back into the band wagon. Take it easy and be kind to yourself; one good day might be followed by another challenging one. Like I mentioned in a previous post, there are no do overs in life; only opportunities to begin again. Give yourself the time and space to adapt to life after whatever it is that tried to derail you. And I'll do my best to do the same.

There is Power in Positive Thinking

We've all heard that there is great power in positive thinking. I believe it really works! I also know that embracing positive thoughts about one's self, sharing positive feedback with others, looking to God for help through prayer, and surrounding yourself with positive people is sometimes much easier said than practiced. Here are a few simple ways to help focus on the positive when the going gets tough:

1. Pray or meditate
Invite God into your life. It's really not dumb! Yes, God is always present and doesn't NEED an invitation. I find it helps me REMEMBER that God is present when I invite God to help me get my workouts in, eat healthy, and take time to get adequate rest. This time to center and focus the heart and mind is calming and relieves stress which makes it more likely that you will be able to maintain a positive attitude.

2. Boost Your Ego
When you get up in the morning, look yourself in the mirror and say, "I am awesome and I am beautiful!" Sometime during the day, perhaps when you are in a rut or lull, write down three things you have done well. It's the culmination of little things like drinking 8-10 glasses of water, going for a walk, or achieving a goal that make a big difference. Reminding yourself that you are awesome builds your self-confidence and all of that positive energy is sure to rub off on others.

3. Share the Love
What goes around comes around. Do at least three things daily to support others. It can be anything from saying hello to a stranger, sharing a high five with your workout buddy to volunteering at a soup kitchen. You may never know, but your kind words and deeds might just be the pick-me-up someone needed for the day.

Motivation

At Desert Cross Lutheran Church, where I am serving my internship, we just began a twelve week circuit training program. Each Saturday, we gather for prayer, inspiration, exercise, and fellowship. One of the participants asked, Do you have any tips for staying motivated?

It is January and 'tis the season for New Year's resolutions! Everyone wants to know what is the one thing that will help them reach their goals and push through when most people seem to fall off the bandwagon by March. I think there are three keys to staying motivated:

1. Set Realistic Goals

There is not one single more sure way to fail than to set yourself up for failure so set a goal that is achievable, yet challenging. My suggestion is to have a dream or a big goal and then break it down into smaller ones. If you're looking to lose weight, focus on no more than 10 pounds at a time. Before you know it, each of those ten pounds goals really adds up!

2. Recruit Your Cheer Leaders

Making lifestyle changes isn't easy. Whether you are looking to add walking 30 minutes a day three days a week to your routine or hoping to lose 100 pounds, you are more likely to be successful if you surround yourself with people that will cheer you on and help you stay on track when you have a bad day or feel like giving up. Especially if you live with others, be it family, friends, or roommates, tell them what you are doing and why you are doing it. Invite them to join you or at least ask them to be supportive. It's hard to eat healthy if everyone else is eating unhealthy. When I lived in the dorm at school last year with 16 other people, I made sure everyone knew what I was doing. Instead of insisting that there never be treats in the kitchen, I asked that they be covered with foil and kept in one place so that if I was having a particularly challenging day, I could just avoid that area and not have to see the tempting brownies, cookies, etc. Also, ask for help! Personal trainers and nutritionists are wonderful resources!

3. Reward Yourself

Once you have set your goals and established mini ones, choose dates when you want to achieve them by. Again, make sure you are being realistic. Losing 5 pounds in one week is not reasonable; I don't care what you may have seen on the Biggest Loser! Strive for things like: "I will walk an extra mile this week or I will lose 10 pounds in eight weeks." Then pretend it's Christmas and make a wish list. Choose things that correspond to your goals and also that are realistic gifts you can buy yourself. Maybe it's 5 new songs for your iPod for a mini goal and a massage for a milestone.

Good luck!