I had to go to the bank sometime today so instead of walking/running around my neighborhood on my usual route and then trying to coordinate schedules to borrow my mom’s car to go to the bank, I decided to just walk/run to the bank. It’s a little bit farther than my usual distance, but that’s okay. J I set out just after 6:30 a.m. but could’ve gone a few minutes earlier. I was a little self-conscious about running next to traffic because I’m kind of starting over and am not too concerned with form right now, just with getting back to running the whole distance. I overcame that self-consciousness and just did it. No one pulled over to tell me I wasn’t running properly or to ask why I had slowed to a walk, so it was okay!
I ended up doing a total of 4.6 miles in 52 minutes, running some and walking some. My knee made me walk just a couple times. The rest of the times I walked it was because my mind was slowing me down. I had to go back to setting goals for myself like, “Keep running until you get to the next cross street; then you can walk.” I did that many times. One time I did it and when I got to the cross street I knew I needed to keep running. There was no physical reason to stop.
It was so rewarding to put a practical purpose to my exercise!
In other news, a blogger I follow posted this question on Facebook:
Why do we struggle with food?
She had been talking about this with her counselor and is planning to do a blog post on it, but wanted her readers’ input. I read a dozen or so responses and almost all of them talked about overeating or unhealthful eating being learned behavior [blame your parents] or lack of self-control. They were so hopeless! I had to answer with the hope God has given me in overcoming the sin of overeating. Here’s my response:
“For me, it's plain and simple indulgence. I like the taste of food. I wasn't trusting God to give me what I need when I need it; I was getting it for myself...and lots of it. Sometimes when working late at night I knew I needed to sleep but I couldn't; I had to keep working. So I ate food for energy to stay awake. A bowl of white rice with butter wasn't the best choice, though. Now that I've learned self-control by denying myself what my body doesn't need, life is so much better. I still like food, and I still have a little chocolate most days. Food isn't what consumes me anymore, though. It's fuel for my body. Period. If I can make it taste good AND be healthful, so much the better. If I have to just eat and move on with my day, no big deal. Food is no big deal anymore. It's no big deal!!! If my current size 16 body had said that to my old size 26 body, it wouldn't have believed it, but it's true! I love this freedom!”
One person wrote after me that she wished she could just learn to put Jesus in place of food so she wouldn’t have these problems. I clicked through to her blog and left a comment inviting her to view my blog or email me. I hope she contacts me so I can share with her what Jesus has done for me!
