Training....

I received an email from the One America 500 Festival Mini Marathon people today.  An email that issued an invitation for me to walk in the above mini marathon for 2013.  I haven't registered.  Yet.  I know some that have already registered - even on the day they finished the walk for 2012!   But I have held back.  Various reasons.  True, valid reasons.  So perhaps I need to set something straight (for my siblings that may read this).

I would love to do the walk in 2013.  However, for the registration, even though discounted, and the airfare to and from Indiana, it will cost for two people close to $1000.  With currently being unemployed, that is not what I should be spending money on.   And, when I get a job (soon I hope), I probably won't earn a vacation by that time.  With working, when would I have time to do the training?  I was lucky this year and did not have a job that took up most of my day so that I could walk and train.

Therefore, I am looking at some runs/races that my son has sent out and hopefully will be motivated to participate in some of them.  Just not the mud ones.  I don't 'do' mud.  He's a boy.  He does. He is motivated by mud, I think. :-)  Love you Stuart!!

Training.  I know I didn't do as much training as I would have liked for the mini marathon, but we did do enough to be able to complete it.  Unfortunately my walking has dwindled down a lot - although I am still walking some - but nothing like it was before.  I am, however, going to start back up in getting this body moving starting today.  Got yoga all set to work on when I get off here.  If I could get my children to do some walking with me, that would be awesome. :-)

We give our bodies training for things like marathons and walks, but what about our mind?  We start eating better to make our bodies stronger and  more healthy, but what about what we put in our brains?  Scary thought, isn't it?  If you eat unhealthy and work out, all you do is build muscles under layers of fat.  I thought the purpose of exercise was to lose the fat.  So you change your eating habits so that you eat healthy and lose the fat so that your training won't be in vain.  Right?

Rick Warren had an article in Newsmax magazine recently - he called it The Daniel Plan.  I quote:  "Diabetes didn't scare me," (Rick) Warren confessed. "Heart disease didn't scare me.  But having a healthy brain got my attention."   The Daniel Plan is inspired by the biblical story of Daniel, who rejected King Nebuchadnezzar's royal food and wine for a diet of vegetables and water. 
Those on The Daniel Plan are exercising, eating plenty of vegetables and other healthy foods, and have sworn off sugar, white bread, rice, pasta, wheat, hydrogenated fats or oils, caffeine, and processed foods.   Now I don't understand entirely giving up the wheat products - perhaps because it is still carbs, but caffeine too?  This is endorsed by Dr. Oz too.  Makes one want to go 'hmmmm'.

I am going to throw out this question to you - what would you lose by following the above guidelines of The Daniel Plan - and what would you gain by NOT doing The Daniel Plan?  Even if you don't want or need to lose weight, or think you don't, you could think much clearer if you are eating the proper foods.  Are you willing to 'save your brain' for your future?

If interested - go to DanielPlan.com to read the six core principles and the action steps.  I think I'm going to.  Giving up my caffeine may create a problem - let alone chocolate!!  But to get a mind that allows me to think clearly just might be worth it.  What about you? 

I challenge you to one month of the above guidelines.  One month - 30 days.  Let's say, July 20 though August 20.  I'm not saying you (or I) won't slip up once in awhile, but try to be consistently following the Plan.

Caution - if you do The Daniel Plan, you may LOSE WEIGHT and be able to THINK CLEARLY. 

Training.  It's what we are called to do - whether for our pleasure, our bodies, our minds.

Hebrews 12:11 - "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

Are you "IN" for 30 days?   Let me know!

Blessings!