Only Believe

26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. Mark4:26-29(KJV)

Progress Report

Weight: 207.8 pounds

Waist: 34.5 inches

Today’s Workout

Great workout this morning! I’ve been walking a couple of miles with a 40 pound ruck on my back six days a week for the past month. I’ve also been eating in only a five hour window each day. I alternate each day between light dumbells and heavy kettlebells for my weight training workouts. That provides 3 hard and 3 somewhat easy strength workouts each week.

Felt much stronger today as I pushed up my 32kg big one. The manmaker is a complex consisting of a clean, squat, and press. I did 3 on the left, followed by 3 on the right. That’s one giant set. Three giant sets was all it took to give me a great workout.

I will lighted up tomorrow. Get a quick pump on the guns and call the week complete.

Today’s Workout

No workout today. It is my one day of rest each week.

Vital Stats

January 1, 2025

• Body Weight: 230 pounds
• Waist Measurement: 39.0 inches

June 1, 2025

• Body Weight: 210.8 pounds
• Waist Measurement: 35.0 inches

Praise the Lord!

19 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19(KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:6)

Raise the Gaze

121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Psalm 121(KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Never expect God to do a miracle when proper prior planning, hard work, and patience (God’s ordinary means of grace) are enough to get the job done. When Peter was in prison chained between two soldiers, God sent an Angel to bring him out. His chains fell off and the locked gate opened by itself before them. Once outside in the street though, the Angel left Peter to carry on alone by his own ordinary means (Acts 12:1-11). And so, God deals with each of us today. When a miracle is called for, faith receives the will of God. But to expect a miracle to make up for poor planning, a lack of effort, or a desire for instant gratification is to tempt God (Exodus 17:7). Thus, is wisdom profitable to direct in all things (James 1:5).

Wisdom is harder to define than it is to recognize. Wisdom is the God given ability to do all that we know is right (Proverbs 2). Wisdom is needed for both spiritual and physical matters as the one affects the other in this life. Doing all that you know to be right spiritually and physically is to sow precious seed that will surely bring forth the harvest of a totally transformed life (Hebrews 12:1-2; Galatians 6:7, 5:16-26; James 4:1-10). Ask God for a singleness of eye that is focused on Christ (Matthew 6:22-23; Ephesians 5:14). Be quick to turn from all that leads to darkness and death (1 John 1:9; Psalm 81:10). Hunger and thirst for righteousness and you will come to know (Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 5:6). Build on eternal things as true progress only happens with gains in faith, hope, and love (Colossians 2:1-3; Hebrews 6:11-20; 1 Corinthians 13:13).

Here’s what my numbers looked like today:

• waist circumference: 35.5″ (measured with tape parallel to the floor at belly button level)
• body weight: 215.0 lbs.

Today’s Workout

My workout this morning was a little rushed. I’ve been getting in a second workout at lunch time for the past few weeks. Just a walk that has now become a Ruck with a 20 pound rucksack. We’ll have to see how long it takes me to get back to my earlier Army minimum of 40 pounds. Spring is in the air though. The weather getting warmer means that a noon workout brings the sweat with its the need to shower after. Not a lot of time for all that during lunch, so this morning I’ve decided to move my Ruck right after my morning workout with weights. Then there is this post. Progress pictures and blogging both take time away from my morning routine. I managed to get it all done by the grace of God.

The emphasis of this morning’s workout was power. My favorite tool for power is the kettlebell, and the snatch is the Czar of kettlebell moves. This is the second time in the last two weeks that I’ve done a snatch ladder. Last week I used a single 16kg kettlebell. Other than getting me breathing hard, the 16kg proved to be fairly easy. Bumped it up a little to a 20kg kettlebell this morning. Great workout! Tough, but no so tough I needed to fall on the floor like a mass of limp noodles. I’ll probably repeat this workout one day next week to see if I can do the whole ladder without sitting the kettlebell down for a break.

I also warmed-up with 5 minutes of jump rope. It has been about 15 years since the days when I used to do 10 minutes of jump rope to warm-up before every workout. I’d like to get back to that. Right now though, I’m so out of practice that I think I caught the rope on my feet more than jumping it. Let us remember not to despise small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10)

Patience and Persistence

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:11-14(KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Good things never seem to happen fast enough. Bad things seem to change far too slowly. Feelings are fickle and change like the wind. Fix your sail when the winds are favorable. Put out the oars and go to work when they are not.

Faith requires both patience and persistence. Acquaint thyself with the true God, ask Him, and He will strengthen your heart with both. (Job 22:21; James 1:2-8; Hebrews 10:36; Galatians 6:9; Psalm 27:14)

Here’s what my numbers looked like today:

• waist circumference: 36″ (measured with tape parallel to the floor at belly button level)
• body weight: 219.6 lbs.

Today’s Workout

This morning was my “Big Guns and Popeye Forearms” workout. Starting to see more definition in my arms while maintaining the size. Quite pleased to see that blessing.

Wait on the Lord

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:7-14 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Good things take time. You may want to plant and harvest in the same day, but it just doesn’t happen that way. Whether you are okay with that or not, it doesn’t change the fact that there is a time for everything. This reality comes packaged along with God’s law of sowing and reaping. (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Galatians 6:7; John 7:1-6; Mark 4:26-29; Isaiah 40:28-31; Hebrews 10:36)

January was a long and cold month of good hard training for me. First week of January I could do little more than my usual warm-ups. This past week makes me feel like I’m back in the swing with 6 good workouts a week. Perhaps there is a little visible progress in the above photos I took today. As of Saturday, February 1st:

• waist circumference: 37.5″ (down 1.5″ since last month)
• body fat: 30.1% (down a little more than 3%)
• body weight: 230.0 lbs. (weight is practically the same)

I would have thought that I had dropped a few pounds as my pants are fitting much better, but it looks like I have kept the scale at the same number by putting on some muscle. I can’t be upset about that. I’m over 60 years old and I just put on muscle while trying to lose fat. I’m more than okay with that.

Today’s Workout

I call today’s exercise routine my “Thick and Juicy Torso” workout. My version of a light dumbbell workout for chest, back, and shoulders using 8lb dumbbells. Good pump and a real gut check after already putting in 5 hard workouts this week. Awesome way to finish the week and looking forward to my Sabbath day of rest tomorrow.

I’m thinking that for the month of February I will look to make a couple of changes. Firstly, I plan to push my first meal of the day back closer to noon. Break-fast somewhere between 1130 and 12. Secondly, add a 30 minute walk after my noon meal each day. I’m okay with gaining muscle. I’m hoping these two changes will also increase the tightening up of the tummy. Next month will tell.

Until then, God Bless.

A Mission, not a Resolution

21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-24 (KJV)

My Current State

2024 was a year of exception blessings for me. Now at the dawn of 2025 I am full of new hope and fire. I’ve made no resolutions. I have rather accepted the mission to prove all things that I believe.

The photos above document my present physical condition after having spent nearly all of Dec 2024 in Thailand eating well, exercising little, and struggling to hold on to my morning routines. Not complaining at all. It was truly a blessed time that I am extremely thankful for, and will be fondly remembering for many years to come.

I have come to realize that there are only a handful of physical measurements that really matter and are worth tracking. They are (in order of importance): blood pressure/heart rate; blood sugar; ketones; waist circumference; body fat percentage; and least important of all, body weight. Here’s what my numbers looked like today:

• blood pressure/heart rate: 121/88, 58
• blood sugar: 78
• ketones: (not measured, still waiting for monitor to be delivered)
• waist circumference: 39″ (measured with tape parallel to the floor at belly button level)
• body fat: 33.7% (measure with my home bathroom scale)
• body weight: 230.3 lbs.

Today’s Workout

I called today’s workout the “Rust Remover.” I’m feeling rusty and unable to do the same volume of exercise I was doing back in Nov 24. No big deal for me. This is a lifestyle and not a race to a finish line for me.

Started with my Daily Dozen +1 calisthenics moves for a warm-up. Main work today was done on my TRX. I originally bought the TRX for a previous trip to Thailand back in 2023. My shoulder was so jacked-up at the time that I never really got a chance to use it. I have it here with me in the US now, and I’m determined to get my money’s worth out of it.

I like the TRX. It came with instructions for the basic moves that work every part of the body. I only did one set of each exercise for 10 reps each. I really like. Awesome concept and it works well. I’m finding that it is a good way to plug the holes left by more traditional workouts with weights. I am far from being a master of the TRX though. I’m still getting a pretty good workout with just one set of the basic exercises. This makes me want to get better at it. No rush. Total workout time was about 55 minutes today. Hope you got yours in today as well.

May God bless your 2025.