Take time to take stock of your life

After my heart attack last summer, I had the time to take stock of my life. I looked at things like my work load, my stress level, my eating habits and my weight.

I realized that many things in my life I couldn’t control. My work load is what it is and I can’t really change it. I have learned ways to take care of myself and lower my stress. I have learned to leave work issues at work and value my time with my family.

The one thing I could change was my weight. I wasn’t “over” weight but I wasn’t at my optimum weight either. But I wasn’t exactly sure how to go about losing the extra pounds.

I had always been very careful about my diet but I love chocolate so I knew I would have to include some of that in whatever diet I decided to do.

I started the week before Thanksgiving by using an app that I downloaded to my phone. I just entered my current weight, the weight I wanted to be and the date I wanted to get it done by. This app then told me how many calories I could eat in a day.

The app tracked my protein, carbohydrates and sodium. It charted my weight loss and let me eat what I wanted if I stayed within the designated amount of calories.

I was able to give myself several months to lose 16 pounds. I am happy to say that I am now two pounds away from my goal. This app allowed me to make slow but steady progress and when I do reach my goal, it will help me maintain my weight.

This weight loss experience reminds me of what people go through on their Christian faith journey. They start off with questions about how this experience is going to work.

As they get to know more about Jesus Christ and what He has done for them, they come to understand what it will take to walk with Him.

As time goes on and they see positive progress, they become more and more excited about learning all they can about our Lord and how to serve Him better.

As they walk the Christian life, they come to see eternal life with God draw closer and closer. Just like weight loss it is a slow but steady process that has far-reaching rewards.