Make a Choice

A friend of mine, Angie, and I have decided to train for our first ever sprint triathlon. I was a bit nervous about the swimming part of it at first; actually kind of afraid of the swimming part of it, because I am not a very stronger swimmer. I taught myself how to swim because the very first house that my husband and I owned had an in-ground pool in the back yard, and there was no way I was going to only be hanging out in the shallow end of my own pool. I feel better about the swimming now because another friend of mine has agreed to coach us with the swimming. I am excited about being a stronger swimmer after this is all over with.

So, the beginning of March has started my official training for this triathlon. I have been trying for weeks now to get control of my eating. Actually that has been a battle I have been fighting for a really long time. I have tried to really control what I eat in the last couple of days and it has been difficult. I have an issue with food. I love it, I crave it, I use it to comfort me. It has always had control of me. Today is one of those day where the food has won control. It makes me angry when that happens. I am so tired of the way I look and the way I feel and I want that to change. It is frustrating; it should be easy when it is something you really want to do.

I have an easier time with the exercise part of getting healthy. I admit that I sometimes struggle with getting myself moving, but I am always glad when I do because I always feel much better. I like the challenge of exercise and feeling it get easier. I have started a running program. It is all laid out for me what to do on what days. It gives me something to check off when I've done it and it gives me a sense of accomplishment. I love programs to follow and charts to keep track of progress. Like I said it gives me a sense of accomplishment and it is a source of encouragement when I see the progress I have made.

So to help me get through this whole process I have started a catch phrase; three words to make me stop and think before making a decision. That phrase is; Make a Choice. I always have an excuse; I am weak, I have an addiction to food, I suffer from depression, there is not enough time in the day, no one understands, the list goes on. Those may all be facts but I have a choice. I CAN do it in my weakness, I CAN resist the food, I DON'T have to be controlled by depression, GOD gives me all the time I need, people really DO understand... JESUS give me all I need to make the right choice.

Today I chose to waste some of my time and I allowed myself to consume some junk, "this one last time". I started to come up with excuses and I was on my way down a negative path. Then I stopped myself, sat down with my journal and CHOSE to take it to God. Wish I had done it before I ate the two lunch cakes and wasted my morning playing scrabble on my phone. Anyway, I thought it would be good just to get what I was started to feel off my chest, so I made a list of all the things that I am tired of, then I gave it to God. After that I started to make a list of all the things that God has blessed me with that I am thankful for. It will be a list of 100 things, I left off at 19. I will work on the list over the next couple of days. I have done a list like this a couple of times in the past and they have always helped to change my mood. That was the choice I made today. I chose to not allow my negative emotions take over and to come up with a bunch of reasons why, and I chose to give it to God and force my brain to think about something else.

I want to share with you my journey of training and of learning to "Make a Choice". This will also be a good tool for me to work through trials and emotions, and to document accomplishments so I can look back and remind myself of them when I need some encouragement. And just maybe, in some way this will encourage you.

Until next time...
MAKE A CHOICE.