Total workout, from the inside out!

Whew! I am so very tired today. I've gotten up at 5am for the past three mornings to work at The Lamppost. For anyone reading this who doesn't know me, I work at a year-round Christian retreat center and we just opened a coffeeshop and bookstore and I have had a crash course in being a barista. I thought I would like it, but I didn't know I would LOVE it! The more I work at making the drinks, the more I try to challenge myself to pull great shots, to not waste milk and to stay consistent with the recipes. I did not know that working as a barista gives you a full upper body workout. I am not joking! My back, pecs, biceps and triceps are sore! I'm glad. :o)

I woke up this morning and, for some reason I was afraid to step on the scale. All I could think was, "What if the past few days have been a fluke and I step on today and my weight is up and I disappoint myself and everyone else?" Well, I took a deep breath and stepped on. 169.2!!! I was elated. It gave me the strength to get through another day and resist some yummy treats. I feel encouraged. I know that the same thought is going to run through my mind tomorrow, though. But, no matter what, I will not give up. I was looking at a picture of myself in my wedding dress today... I will fit into that dress again!  Weight loss isn't easy, but neither is anything worth doing and doing right.

As I get in shape physically, I've been thinking a lot about the flabbiness in my spirit. I cannot, in good conscience, make improvements to my outward appearance and not give the same effort to my spiritual condition. God is my creator. Not only of my body, but of my soul and I plan to give that a workout, too! This weekend was a great catalyst for that. We had a retreat speaker that really challenged me and made me realize, once again, that I have not arrived. As long as I draw breath, my goal will be to follow God's precepts, become more Christ-like and try to never forget that I am an ambassador for Him.