A Cord Of Three Strands

A Cord of Three Strands

Our health journey continues.  Part and parcel to regaining our health is losing excess weight.  I have already shared that 66% of our nation needs to do that.  So far I have lost 43.2 pounds.  Martie has lost 22.8 pounds.  As great as my weight loss may seem, it is convicting to know that I had let myself wander so far of the path and I am only half way to my goal weight.  It is not because people were not telling me.  I remember my uncle Bud saying to me, a number of years ago, "Charley, you are starting to get a belly on you!"  He had known me while I was in the Army and was very fit.  Well, I ignored that.  The next milestone .. or was it a millstone .. was when our general practitioner in Mississippi told Martie and me that we were pre-diabetic and we need to lose weight and change our diet.  We went on Metformin and cholesterol medicine as a diet alternative and continued to eat whatever we wanted.  And so the story goes.. Doctor after doctor would say lose weight and exercise.  I already knew that, but ignored their advice and took more medication to counter the effects of my poor health choices.

I don't really know what the catalyst for us changing our attitude toward getting better was, but it did.  One day, I had an epiphany.  I was really dissatisfied with my health and was dismayed at the prospect of  becoming a burden to our children because of my poor health decisions.  It was time to change. That is when I coincidentally saw my friend, Mitch Reed, on Facebook.

 I don't know if you have tried to lose weight or, more correctly, get healthy in the past.  Most likely, you have.  It is difficult to do on your own.  There are a hundred reasons why you can't.  Many of them have to do with your family and their eating habits. I can't get better because I can't disrupt the way and what my family eats.   None of them hold water. Let me tell you there will always be reasons why you should not get better.  You have to fight through those.  Your life, your health, your future, your family are all worth whatever it takes. And trust me, the cost today will be much less than the cost later.

Ok so what's with a Cord of Three Strands? Ecclesiastes 4:9-13 "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. ... if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."  Just as with our faith where we need to be encouraged by other Christians .. we need to be encouraged when we commit to doing the "hard" things.

One of the hallmarks for Take Shape For Life - OPTAVIA is the extensive support system that is an integral part of the program.  You are not on your own.  You have a health coach and network of other people who are committed to restoring their health as well. When one falls, there is another to pick them up.  Your chance of success is better if you are partnered with other like minded-people.  If you could have done this on your own, you already would have.

Pray about this.  It is something that you must decide to do.  My hope is that you will choose health.

IM me on FaceBook or email  me if you think you might be interested and I will provide you with the tools you need to get started on the path to a healthier life.  Blessings   Charley