Follow The Plan

I overslept today. I told myself I was going to get up early and I was going to head over to Medical Center and take a few laps around the track.... yeah, didn't happen.
If you know me, then you know I've been struggling with my weight. What you may not know, however, is that even though I have a weight problem I am actually very healthy. I went to the doctor about 2 weeks ago and had a full physical and checkup. I had all my blood work done becuase the Doctor was convinced that I had to have high cholesterol and diabetes. She was surprised to see that everything came back normal. She said to lose weight I needed to start being more active. I guess she figured I spent most of my time on the couch eating cheetos and watching TV. But the truth is, I am very active. I work out daily. I swim, I'm into boxing, and I love to lift weights. Back in April I even hired a personal trainer to help me lose weight.

Then WHY are you still overweight?? This is the question my doctor had, my family has, and unfortunately, a question that I know the answer to, but have done nothing to fix.

You see, I love working out. When my trianer is making me run, swim, or putting me through any other exercise, it may hurt a little, but it is something I'm use to. I was very blessed to play sports all my life, so working out is second nature. BUT, you see, working out is just a small part of losing weight. The biggest part is your diet.

I was raised in a Mexican household, so we fried everything. And my mom didn't use extra virgin olive oil in the skillet. She, like many other Mexican moms, used MANTECA from that big green tub you find at the bottom shelf at the grocery store. LARD.. FAT.. and we fried everthing with that. We even fried our beans. We love frying so much, we RE-fry our beans. I have 30 years of bad eating habits that I am trying to break, but it is so hard.

My trainer has put together a great nutrition plan for me. But I know, that if I don't follow that plan, I'm not going to see results. This is an issue I have prayed about, and I know the Lord has answered my prayers. I have prayed, "Lord, please help me to be healthy.. please help me lose weight." And he has. He has given me the finances to join a gym and hire a trainer. He has given me all the health information I need to know about obesity. He has put a trainer in my life who has laid out a great plan for me. God has said, "David, here it is. It's all laid out in front of you." But, if I refuse to follow it, then I will not lose weight. God has answered my prayers, but I refuse to accept his Blessings. I refuse to follow the plan.

HOW CRAZY IS THAT?

I think I have done this several times in my life. Not just with a weight problem, but with all issues in my life. God has laid out great plans for all of us. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Through His word and guidance, God has shown us so many wonderful plans to bless us. But if we refuse to follow that plan, we will not see results in our lives. So many people are so unhappy in church, or they feel like nothing is happening in their Spiritual lives. They feel far from God, and worship is not real in their lives. They know they are supposed to follow God, but they refuse to follow His plan. They return to all of their bad habits. They don't get rid of them.

We need to give those bad habits to God, allow Him to take them away, and then we need to follow His plan for our lives.

Pray for me. Pray that I can get rid of my bad eating habits and start following the healthy nutrition plan placed in front of me.

And pray for me and everyone you know. Pray that in our spritual lives, we will recognize God's plan for our lives. That we willnot return to our bad habits, but we will turn to God and recieve his Blessings. He is ready to pour them upon us. I think many times, we just refuse to accept them. Crazy...