Exercise and Development

August 2, 2011

Today has been a very good day!  Working out in 105 degree weather DOES have its perks; You sure do feel like you have accomplished something afterwards!

I found out that I have lost eight pounds since the last time I was weighed, which was a couple of months ago.  I now weigh 200 pounds.  that is still the lost i have ever weighed.  I usually stay around 185-190 when I am in a muscle-building mode.  Since I am 6"1", that is a perfect weight for me, in my opinion.

When I was first arrested I was definitely NOT used to so much down time, when it comes to my physical activity level.  That, combined with the high-calorie food they feed us, resulted in a massive weight gain.  The most I weighed in here was 215!

I can't begin to express how many different benefits come from regular and consistent daily exercise.  Especially if you are ADHD!  Exercise is absolutely critical.  I am so grateful that the Lord has blessed me with the body I have.  It is one of my most important stewartships.  When you put forth the effort to make sure your temple stays healthy, the Lord pours blessings out to you.

We had a new guy start working out with us.  Today was his second day.  You could tell he was really struggling and that it was extremely difficult for him, but he pushed through the workout!  It's funny because looking back, we all have to go through those first painful weeks when we first start daily, consistent exercise.

Now that my body is conditioned to the exertion, I find myself enjoying the same workout that I first so dreaded!  I believe most things in life are this way.  I pray that we will all have the faith to push through the pain that comes when we first start pushing our limits.

Books You Must Read

July 27, 2011

I believe I have found my absolute favorite series of books!  I am in love with Gerald N. Lund's The Work and the Glory.  What an amazing work on the history of the restored church.

I am learning so much about the early days of the church.  I'm realizing that I knew practically nothing about all the details of the restoration during the first twenty years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Everyday I read it, I find my eyes tearing up a bit because the Spirit touches me so deeply.  I quickly cover my face and wipe the tears away.  Reading all the events that took place in those early days has also really strengthened my testimony of the Doctrine and Covenants.  Understanding all the events involved at the time those revelations were given really helps me to put it all into perspective.

Gerald Lund is nothing but inspired.  Before this series I also read a couple of his other books.  His #1 seller, and the #1 selling LDS series of all time,  is The Kingdom and the Crown.  He takes you back to the Savior's lifetime in Jerusalem and immerses you in those times.

These two series are a MUST read, if you are a Latter-Day Saint.  they will expand your understanding and strengthen your testimony.  He has written two other equally amazing and inspired books, The Fire and the Covenant and Undaunted.  They are both based on the early LDS pioneers.

I hope everyone will take the time to read these books.  They have a powerful spirit and a powerful message, of which I believe everyone should partake.

Sleepless in the Heat

July 23, 2011

It's been a long time since my last journal entry.  Much has happened and I am going to give my updates over the next couple entries. 

The last couple weeks signaled the arrival of summer.  That brought 115-118 degree weather, along with high humidity.  When the heat first arrived, it turned the dorm where I live into a sauna.  Nighttime did nothing to alleviate the sweltering heat and humidity. 

The worst side effect I suffered from the change in the climate was my inability to sleep at night.  For almost a month, it was impossible for me to sleep after the sun set.  Even when the weather cooled down a bit and the dorm was no longer like an oven, my sleep schedule was so off kilter that I still was unable to sleep at night.

After the first couple of weeks, it seemed like I was perpetually tired.  As my friends and family can attest, I can tend to be grumpy when I first wake up or when I am very tired!  I started getting very frustrated and the days seemed almost painful to me.

Today will mark the 4th day in a row that I have SLEPT all the way through the night!!  AND I did not take any naps during the day!  To say I feel like a million dollars would be an understatement!  I have been praying for months for the ability to follow the scriptures council to get up early and go to bed early.  I have always read that great blessings are promised to those who would follow that council.

I have struggled my whole life with "morning phobia."  It seemed that no matter what I did I could not get up before 8-9 AM and I could not fall asleep before 1 AM.  I, now, can see the Lord's hand in those three weeks of sleepless hell and I am, now, enjoying the benefits of His blessings.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.  I will be sure to be more grateful in the future for some of the difficult challenges that are sure to surface.

I still remember laying there all night long, praying that I could sleep.  I was so tired.  It became painful to be awake.  Now my joy is truly equal to the sorrow I experienced.  Just another example of how the amount of joy we can experience is directly related to the amount of sorrow we have endured.