I have a ten pound dog sitting on my chest. She is usually very sure of herself and headstrong. She is in a new environment this evening and she is out of sorts. So, she comes to me for comfort.

I like it. Since she is my darling wife’s dog, I am not usually the source of comfort. But, every once in a while she comes to me. I know things are better when I feel her breathing change. She loosens up and starts to relax.

While I love it that she will come to me, I don’t fault her for preferring my wife over me. I am rather fond of my bride as well. She gives me comfort like no one else. So, it is safe to say I understand where the pup gets it.

We all need that rest. We need a safe place we can go. I think that is why I love the verse in Matthew:

Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. – Matthew 11:28 TPT

Just like my little dog comes to me scared and nervous, I can go to Jesus with what burdens me. I can come to Him freaked out and He promises to refresh my life and be my oasis. When I let Him do that I find rest. Before long, I relax. He gives me peace and rest.

I feel stuck. I’m not, I don’t think…but it sure feels that way. The scale does this to me every so often.

For the first couple of weeks of this 100 Day Strong journey I wasn’t losing much. I started at 285 pounds. It felt like to took forever to get down under 280.

Then, when I got into the 270s, dropping weight went a lot faster. In no time, I was down under 270. Then things slowed down. I have made it down to 263, but it has taken some time.

My question is this: does it matter how fast it comes off or is it more important that I stick to the process? In truth, the process is the reason I am doing this and it’s the reason the weight is coming off. I need to trust the process and lean in.

This is why this challenge is set over a span of 100 days. I am striving to be consistent day over day. It is making a difference. The mirror is starting to tell me so. Keep moving forward.

Is it on the list? If it isn’t, it probably won’t get done. This has been my surprising discovery over the past 51 days.

What do I mean by this? As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have been following 7 steps to reach my 100 Day Strong goal. They are not complicated, but the power of writing them down has had great effect. I have accomplished everything on the list for 51 straight days.

For my exercise goal, I originally had weight lifting and walking as my plan. I worked out three days a week and walked the other 4. This was adequate for getting started, but I quickly realized I needed to improve on that as I went. So, I moved to lifting 3 days a week and also walking 7 days a week. I started to see results.

I then realized I needed to add flexibility into my routine as well. Enter yoga.

I am going to admit, I have never been a yoga fan. I have tried it more than once over the years and it never stuck. It seemed floofy. My best attempts have been using DDP Yoga. It is a great program and is more my speed. I have picked it up again and am starting to get into a rhythm.

Now, I am lifting three days a week, doing yoga 3 days a week and walking every day. The weight isn’t dropping as fast as I would like, but I can tell my cardiovascular health is improving. A lot. And my flexibility too…a little.

How did I add yoga in successfully? I wrote it down as part of my original list. If it doesn’t make the list it may not get done. I had to put it on there, because I need to get it done. It’s that simple. When it made the list, it had to be done.

What do you need to add to your list today?

Have you ever stared at a problem for so long that you finally have to take a break. You get your mind on something else and then bang…you work out the problem without even trying? That happens to me a lot.

I am amazed at the power of our brain to do multiple things at once. Whether we realize it or not, our brains are one of the most advanced super computers ever created. The amazing amount of calculations it can do at once is mind boggling. Don’t believe me…then you haven’t driven in Dallas traffic while talking on the phone.

We forget that we have to give ourselves space. If we get jammed up we have to allow for a diversion to get our brains unstuck. We have to have space to let all the calculations run.

If you have been staring at it for a while, go take a walk. Get some water. Laugh with your family. Before you know it, you will be back on track and have it solved.

Half way there. It is hard to believe, but I have been on my mission for 50 days. It has been an enlightening journey. Enlightening and satisfying.

One of the most surprising things has been my diet. I have lost 21 pounds in 50 days and I have not given up any foods. I have had cookies and wine and lots of other stuff that you would think wouldn’t work. So, how have I been able to lose weight? A calorie cap with macros.

One of the things I have learned is about the difference between my basic caloric needs and my basal metabolic rate. Have you heard of these? They were new to me as well. Let me explain:

From what I have read, you need to eat approximately 15 calories per body pound to maintain your weight. Currently, I weigh 264 pounds. If I wanted to maintain my weight I would need to eat approximately 3850 calories per day. Yes, you read that right. Almost 4000 calories. That is a bunch of food.

The next thing I have come to understand is the basal metabolic rate. This is essentially the number of calories that you burn by being alive, just laying around watching TV. This is approximately half (or a little more) of your daily calorie load. My BMR is 2300 calories, give or take a few.

So, when taking this into account, I burn 2300 calories per day. To maintain my weight, I have to eat nearly 4000. If I want to lose weight, I have two options: I can exercise and increase the number of calories I burn per day, or I can consume fewer calories. I really start to win when I do both.

I may be oversimplifying these two numbers, but the point is still the same. Burn more calories and eat less calories. Both of which I have done over the past 50 days. Every time I eliminate 3500 calories, I may lose a pound. The math is a little more complex than that, but it definitely has you headed in the right way.

Learning the lessons above has been very valuable. I wish that I had learned them sooner. However, no looking back. I have to keep marching forward and keep refining that deficit. This is how I have been losing and it has been a lot of fun.