Infromation for August 3rd and 4th

August 4^th, 2011

Once again first things first launched the day and so far a spectacular day it is!

Here is the summary from yesterday:

Total allowed calories today (Aug 3, 2011):      2638

Total used:                                                        1703

I really don’t expect that this will be maintained every day but was thrilled that is was how yesterday concluded.

Today is going to be far more of a challenge. I took Liam so he can help some friends of ours move. To start the day we had breakfast together and I had the most calories for breakfast I have in several days. Stuck with water to drink however and the hardest part, didn’t eat all of Liam’s leftovers even though they were quite literally screaming my name to do so! This is very hard for me as I so hate to buy food and then have it end up in the bottom of a garbage can.

Cool studying a little more today on the thought that just because what we are doing is good doesn’t automatically mean that God will take pleasure in it. Rather we have to ensure that what we are doing is what He wants of us. It’s not what we think; rather what He wants that makes all the difference.

I was away from the office yesterday so this isn’t being posted until Saturday Aug 6^th, 2011.

Here is the summary from August 4^th, 2011:

Total allowed calories today:                             3378

Total used:                                                        2583

I spent several hours helping my pal Tim Beach move.

August 3rd, 2011

Aug 3^rd, 2011

Yippee first things first again! Kelsey is off to Kelowna for a holiday with her cousin and Aunt and Uncle, they are showing her some of the wonders of British Columbia. Then later on Gloria and Liam will head out for some days in the sun as well. Maybe Liam will get a fishing trip with Uncle Ernie also.

Day One of No Timmies is now in the history books. The summary is as follows:

Total allowed calories today (Aug 2, 2011):      2638

Total used:                                                        2334

I had a good day; it also resulted in maybe convincing Gloria to do the tracking thing too. Let’s see how this day goes as things unfold. I was going to change up the bagel this morning but slept in a little so it will have to wait until tomorrow.

Small victories from yesterday worth noting:

a)      No Tim Horton’s

b)      No French Fries

c)      Walked the dog for 30 minutes even tho I had a sore ankle

Only thing a bit too bad was I stayed up way to late last night. I need my sleep so need to be careful of this.

Well, breakfast is over for today and I hung in there and actually really enjoyed my bagel. Funny how things I didn’t really think about before I am now quite focused on. Just had an interesting test, my boss offered to buy me coffee and I had to pass! Somehow that makes the temptation harder?

Lunch was a salad and supper was home made Tuna sandwiches. It all ended very well with a quick walk with the pound hound just before meeting.

July 29th - August 2nd, 2011

July 30^th, 2011

This is being recorded on the morning of August 2, 2011. I meant to record this daily but didn’t so, so will update the weekend as follows:

a)      I kept first things first all weekend… super stoked about this. In fact this is still true for today too.

b)      I set up to track my fitness and food using a telephone app. This is going to be cool.

c)      Worked really hard at maintaining my fitness level, twisted my ankle on Saturday so really curtailed my activity for Sunday and Monday.

d)      Managed to get most things sorted out. I checked Kelsey in for her flight to Kelowna today.

e)      Summary for Aug 1^st, 2011 tracking my Calories Allowed 2410 Total still available at end of day 65. This was just based on my normal weekend activities however to be fair by the end of the day I was paying so much attention to the total that when I went for a bowl of ice cream and strawberries I limited myself to one scoop of ice cream instead of the three I would have normally had. (So even before the start of tomorrow my mind was shifting.)

Aug 2^nd, 2011

As noted earlier today was day #9 of first things first, I almost missed but then managed to pep talk myself into keeping to the program. Love the feeling of small victories I am sure it will spread into the rest of today and have an impact there too.

I am currently at work, brought a bagel from home today, will toast and eat this today instead of Tim Horton’s! It is almost time to do this… I need to keep my energy level a little higher today.

Well I did it, just toasted and ate my bagel (thinly sliced into 4 slices) and had a bottle of water for breakfast. Just waiting on an email to get some paperwork done and then I have some running around to do.

Managed to stick to my guns through lunch hour, had a Wendy’s salad and mixed berry parfait for lunch… still have 1400 calories to go… Have to walk the dog tonight or some form of exercise, the commitment is to have a minimum of 20 minutes of exercise daily.

Will update you all tomorrow, so far two bottles of water today.

July 29, 2011

July 29, 2011

Good Morning World!!!!!

Wow… I am doing cartwheels inside! Day #5 of first things first and I am really stoked about this. It is interesting to me but the fact that I am writing this down is huge in making it something I have to keep going! It was interesting as I had received a number of messages overnight and today was so tempted to read them first! Happy to report that I didn’t and the few minutes I took to do first things first made me so glad I did!

So I am undertaking this massive lifestyle change right now! I have alluded to it a little bit in previous notes but today am going to flesh it out just a bit more. Since the events of a week ago I am determined that my life is going to change! Some of the things I have always done, I will continue to do. Other things that I haven’t been very concerned about I am now going to think about and act on! This has started with the “first things first” idea’s contained in my blog of about five days ago. Further I have committed to undertaking a “thirty day” fitness and eating lifestyle challenge with my co-workers. This will be totally pointless if I just do it for thirty days as I will then just revert to what was before. Not this time… things are changing and I am going to record the ride!

As of August 2^nd, 2011 I am quitting cold turkey Tim Horton’s Double Doubles and French Fries totally, potato’s will be reduced to no more than half a potato at a sitting if any! Also greatly reduced Pasta in take… likely I can’t eliminate this totally as we do eat a lot of it.

Also part of this was twenty-minutes of exercise a day, every day… no specification of what for exercise but definitely twenty-minutes of exercise. I will record this and so you will know how it has worked out. Last night I walked around the north end of the lake we live at. It took me an hour; I didn’t set any land speed records, but had a nice walk and definitely felt it a little. It did tire out the pound hound that’s for sure.

Also I am going to record my measurements as this too will give a point of reference. These will be only taken at the start of the first thirty days and then again at the end. I am not going to do these on a daily or even weekly basis because for me the issue is that I am doing something not whether the measurements change at all.

Starting on Tuesday August 2^nd, 2011 I am going to track all I eat in a day, everything in excruciating detail so prepare to be amazed.

July 28, 2011

July 28, 2011

Good morning, yes it is a good morning and the following milestone is achieved. For the fourth straight morning First things first was again achieved. I am thrilled with this. It is such a big plus to starting my day.

Secondly, I did take the dog for a 30 minute stroll yesterday. I felt it even if it was a slow walk but a slow build up to the start next Tuesday of my lifestyle change is likely a very good thing. The eating part will be the hard part, last night we splurged and had ice cream for a treat… going to be tough to say no to these things this time next week.

I have several tasks I have to get to today, some involve some running around so will get on this before too long. I think Kelsey is riding so will try and coordinate my trip with this as well.

So far so good, managed to get several items scratched from my, “to do” list. This feels very good although I always struggle to move onto the next task when one completes or I am sidetracked by the phone etc.

Got a phone call today and some material I had ordered a longtime ago has arrived in so I need to make arrangements to pay for it and pick it up. It is for Kelsey’s room upstairs so will maybe work at this while she is away. It would be cool to have this looking ship / shape before she gets back from her holidays. There is enough material to do the main floor den also, however that will likely have to wait a while.

Not such good news for one of my clients. He wanted wood or some photo shoots but its not available in time… will have to come up with some other options for him.

July 27, 2011

July 27, 2011

Yes, three days and counting. Marching towards the goal and thrilled that for three days now I have preserved the “First things first” rule. A bit of a sobering read this morning as I read Jesus words, “Father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”  I feel the sadness of these words and yet because of the high of getting victory for the third day in a row and the victory reflected in the surrender of these words I am thrilled that this is where my first thoughts this morning went. Let’s see how this day unfolds from here. I love the way that when I keep first things first my thoughts are set on these things for the day regardless of what else is to be addressed. Oh yes and a little more sleep last night did also go a long way towards restoring the equilibrium one needs to stay happy and positive.

Funny how this day started much higher than yesterday, but now in the middle of it, it is beginning to drag a little. Time for a re-focusing and a get busy approach! I enjoyed my morning but the Timmies breakfast I indulged in seems to have left me a tag lethargic as opposed to energized. (Looking forward to August 2^nd, 2011 I was lectured today because I am holding off on starting my transformation and lifestyle change until then. I firmly believe however for my personality and long term success this approach will prove to be the best! Really only time will tell for sure!)

Speaking of the shift in life style I will have to start planning a menu etc. Also need to write down specific goals and targets as the others are doing the same thing.

Managed to squeak my expense report in under the wire, now to start working on my invoicing for the month, better get it out so that all the powers that be are happy!

Took a few minutes and continued reading through some old notes. It helped… all of a sudden the afternoon is over and I am on my way home.

T

July 26, 2011

July 26, 2011

Had a good day yesterday, it ended later than usual and I struggled with getting to sleep in a hot and muggy house, for some reason it was a rough night in the sleep department and not for me only as when I was up in the middle of the night I found one of the kids was up too. It will take an extra measure of determination today to be cheerful and positive.

I am very happy to report that day one has started with First Things First. It was actually harder than I thought to do this, likely because I was still so sleepy from last night. Anyhow I spent a small portion of time getting my thoughts where they were supposed to be. Now all I have to do is keep them there today.

It will be interesting to see what transpires on the fitness front in a week. Here is what I know about what’s occurring. My diet is going to get an overhaul. No more or very little carbs and definitely no fast food. My large double double is going to be history at least for the next month. Secondly I am committing to a minimum of twenty minutes of exercise per day for the five working days of the week. I have lots to choose from as I have a full gym in my basement along with a mountain bike in my garage and a dog that is happy to walk anytime! I will let you know how this goes, I know that this will be an added difficulty as my evenings are very full and so likely the time for this will be before work!

Anyhow, there are several tasks at hand waiting to be done, so I will leave this for now and carry on with what has to be done!

We are now about midway through our day. I had some paperwork to get completed before a mtg. this afternoon. I am happy to report that while it looked overwhelming it has now been accomplished so this is positive.

I just compiled a list of gems which was a nice exercise and lifted my spirits on this gloomy day (Partly lack of sleep last night, partly the overcast skies outside.)

The following is the list of gems:

Some gem thoughts:

·        Are you willing for the cost of a miracle?

·        Our reputation is about what we are; our testimony is about what God has done in and for us!

·        On the road to knowledge many things are accumulated, on the road to wisdom many things are discarded.

·        It is our responsibility to prove by how we go through the storm what God is doing in our lives.

·        We have everything to gain and nothing to loose.

·        Don’t forget for a minute that Jesus human nature was worse than yours! What tempts me, may not tempt you at all and vise versa, however it tells us that Jesus was tempted in all points! This means everything was a temptation to Him.

·        A child asked his mother the following: “Mom, does God know that we don’t believe in Him?”

·        God is abundant in mercy and this is our hope.

·        God can hear hearts that don’t have words, but He can’t hear words that don’t have heart.

·        The Holy Spirit is seeking to guide you in all things, I hope you are listening?

·        This year in life’s experiences we have endured some things and enjoyed some things. Every life experience will have a dark portion to it however this better enables us to enjoy the sunrise.

·        It is our responsibility to hold up the standard (Christ) when we fail to do this; we haven’t changed the standard but rather have let the standard down. We don’t set the standard!

·        Prayer is trading “me” time for time with Jesus.

·        What are our priorities? How we set them will determine what we get out of this next year.

·        A desire to see, a desire to hear and a will to do will make all the difference in the days ahead.

·        Remember as a Child of God every earthly experience can be worked to your eternal benefit. (God may not change the experience but often He will change us in the experience.)

·        How we live our days has everything to do with how we will live our lives!