My 50 day challenge to lose some wait was a complete bust. I have actually gained a few pounds. I lost motivation somewhere.
I went to the doctor's office yesterday for a check-up on my thyroid. My TSH level is a little higher than it was a few months ago, but still in a good range. This is a praise report. I have stopped stressing about the thyroid.
I haven't, however, stopped stressing about the extra weight I am still putting on. I have gained eleven pounds since the last time I was at the doctor's office. If the thyroid has leveled off something is wrong on my end...
I workout. Granted I haven't in a few days because I've been tired and on the go at the same time. I eat...healthy? I need to get focused again with the eating part of it. Andy and I were talking about it and we came up with some action steps. He's very supportive in all of this and loves me regardless. I'm glad I married him.
This is what I am doing:
1. Run a marathon: there are a few coming up in Atlanta. The one I really want to run is on October 3rd but it isn't realistic. I don't have enough time to train and it's really hot outside. Instead I am shooting for the November one, right before Thanksgiving
2. Join a rock climbing gym: this is something that I have been thinking about for awhile now. It is expensive, but it's something that Andy and I can do together which is great because he HATES working out. We found one near Andy's parents house and took a tour.
3. Portion distortion: When I am home I prefer to cook. I am gone so often that I really do treasure being home and cooking in our tiny kitchenette. When I am not home I am running around way too busy for any sane person. As my adrenaline gets rushing so does my appetite. I need to watch my portions. I grew up in a house where we ate plenty. My dad was afraid we were going to starve so he always cooked for ten people instead of three or four. I do the same thing.
4. Make the extra effort to get to the farmer's market: I love the farmer's market but it's inconvenient. I need to get cash out, make the trek over there, and then make sure I cook up/use the food I bought in a few days....but it's worth it. It's worth the trouble, the expense, and the attention required.
5. Staying motivated: This is vague but important. Andy is helping with this. He's my cheerleader and is a great encourager. He also doesn't take my crap and tells me what I need to hear but more than him I need to motivate myself. He and a friend are going to check in with me to help keep me motivated at least twice a week.
The battle is in my mind. The marathon will be a great motivator and a great mental challenge and the planning of the other things will help.
I am looking forward to all of this and know that God is teaching me a lot through all of this.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Is it just charity and does anyone care?
I've been grappling with whether or not I am involved in a standard charity or in something impacting social change. While I hate to admit it, I think we are just another charity but I feel we should be different.
We have a "program" (program is a key sign of charity at times) where homeless men and women are welcome to come in off the streets and shower in our locker rooms and get clean clothes. They leave their dirty clothes with us and volunteers wash their laundry, ready to pick up when they come back for their next shower. We provide a small breakfast and a sitting space with a couch, etc for the guys to chat and enjoy their coffee. I lead a devotional which has just been a question of the day. We have a food pantry and a little clothing warehouse and we try to give them whatever they tell us they "need"--shoes, belt, food, razor, shaving cream, etc. It's a great thing and very much needed in the community. The methodists had a similar program in North Philly on Broad street across from my office building.
When they are finished they leave the building to go back under the bridges close by to sit and watch time go by, or drink, or figure out how they are going to get their next high, or roam the streets.
Most of them have no interest in going to a shelter, or in receiving some type of "services." They are war vets, people with mental limitations, and one fully employed executive who is living in his car. Many of them receive government checks.
If someone is interested in going to a shelter we have a "list" of places that can be called, but always with the same response. "Do you have id?" "No" "You need id to stay here." That place is crossed off the list...for medical care "Do you have id?" "No"...and on and on it goes.
If we find a shelter, i.e. our organization's shelter, and we get the $10 fee waived and the id requirement waived, we still have to figure out transportation. One of my employees drove a guy down there two weeks ago because he could barely walk.
Ids aren't really a big deal. There are "programs" that help people get their ids if they want them. Despite the very limited number of shelter beds in Atlanta, including a 400 bed shelter that is closed down for political reasons at the moment, shelter can be found if you look hard enough.
But they don't want shelter. Or ids. They want to escape from life. Life has beat them up so much that they don't want the stress--they just want to be left alone which leaves me wondering--are we really helping them? Are we making a difference, or are we "just" a charity?
About 8-10 of the guys came to our dinner before Bible Study last night with the church people and before the fight broke out one of the gentlemen quoted Isaiah 58 for us and affirmed what we were doing. After that he got himself into trouble and we had to escort him outside, but he meant well.
Are we just a charity? Who gets to decide if we are "helping" them or not--generally it's us deciding, but why?
This is what Isaiah 58:6 says:
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
We have a "program" (program is a key sign of charity at times) where homeless men and women are welcome to come in off the streets and shower in our locker rooms and get clean clothes. They leave their dirty clothes with us and volunteers wash their laundry, ready to pick up when they come back for their next shower. We provide a small breakfast and a sitting space with a couch, etc for the guys to chat and enjoy their coffee. I lead a devotional which has just been a question of the day. We have a food pantry and a little clothing warehouse and we try to give them whatever they tell us they "need"--shoes, belt, food, razor, shaving cream, etc. It's a great thing and very much needed in the community. The methodists had a similar program in North Philly on Broad street across from my office building.
When they are finished they leave the building to go back under the bridges close by to sit and watch time go by, or drink, or figure out how they are going to get their next high, or roam the streets.
Most of them have no interest in going to a shelter, or in receiving some type of "services." They are war vets, people with mental limitations, and one fully employed executive who is living in his car. Many of them receive government checks.
If someone is interested in going to a shelter we have a "list" of places that can be called, but always with the same response. "Do you have id?" "No" "You need id to stay here." That place is crossed off the list...for medical care "Do you have id?" "No"...and on and on it goes.
If we find a shelter, i.e. our organization's shelter, and we get the $10 fee waived and the id requirement waived, we still have to figure out transportation. One of my employees drove a guy down there two weeks ago because he could barely walk.
Ids aren't really a big deal. There are "programs" that help people get their ids if they want them. Despite the very limited number of shelter beds in Atlanta, including a 400 bed shelter that is closed down for political reasons at the moment, shelter can be found if you look hard enough.
But they don't want shelter. Or ids. They want to escape from life. Life has beat them up so much that they don't want the stress--they just want to be left alone which leaves me wondering--are we really helping them? Are we making a difference, or are we "just" a charity?
About 8-10 of the guys came to our dinner before Bible Study last night with the church people and before the fight broke out one of the gentlemen quoted Isaiah 58 for us and affirmed what we were doing. After that he got himself into trouble and we had to escort him outside, but he meant well.
Are we just a charity? Who gets to decide if we are "helping" them or not--generally it's us deciding, but why?
This is what Isaiah 58:6 says:
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Day 30 + 1
Yesterday was day 30. Things are going well.
I have entertained a few things over the past week which include running a half marathon or re-introducing interval training into my exercise routine.
The main problem with running is that it's difficult to get running time outside since I can't run in my neighborhood and it's really, very extremely hot here. I don't do well in the heat, particularly when I am running.
I have done interval training before and I still do it when I ride the stationary bike. Introducing it more regularly into my "routine" would break the monotony up a bit and may start to yield results...I still look the same. Perhaps I always will.
Eating has been going well. I made gazpacho from scratch last night and have been eating lots of fruits and veggies. The gazpacho came out a little spicy but I am going to eat it all (I have like a gallon of it!) because I took the time to actually chop all of the vegetables before they went into the food processor. It's also nice to eat in the heat since it's a cold soup.
Andy and I had an enjoyable time visiting my brother and sister in law in Minneapolis. We saw some spectacular fireworks from the back of their condo building.
I am really enjoying the change of pace of my new job responsibilities and things are just going well. I'm happy which means I can focus on being healthy.
I have entertained a few things over the past week which include running a half marathon or re-introducing interval training into my exercise routine.
The main problem with running is that it's difficult to get running time outside since I can't run in my neighborhood and it's really, very extremely hot here. I don't do well in the heat, particularly when I am running.
I have done interval training before and I still do it when I ride the stationary bike. Introducing it more regularly into my "routine" would break the monotony up a bit and may start to yield results...I still look the same. Perhaps I always will.
Eating has been going well. I made gazpacho from scratch last night and have been eating lots of fruits and veggies. The gazpacho came out a little spicy but I am going to eat it all (I have like a gallon of it!) because I took the time to actually chop all of the vegetables before they went into the food processor. It's also nice to eat in the heat since it's a cold soup.
Andy and I had an enjoyable time visiting my brother and sister in law in Minneapolis. We saw some spectacular fireworks from the back of their condo building.
I am really enjoying the change of pace of my new job responsibilities and things are just going well. I'm happy which means I can focus on being healthy.
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