Doctors discovered 12 years ago that I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve that would need to be replaced at some point – probably in my 60’s or 70’s.  After having recurrent dizziness and chest pain earlier this year, my cardiologist ran multiple tests and determined that my heart was in a state of severe aortic stenosis and the valve needed to be replaced.  Within a week, he got me in to see a top cardio-thoracic surgeon.  A week later, I underwent surgery to replace the valve.  After returning home, I started having afib episodes. After multiple trips to the ER and having my heart restarted, I met with a Cardiac electrophysiologist who would later do an ablation in July to resolve the a-fib issues. I met this doctor first on July 9th and walked out of his office with a new perspective on my health. Neither the cardiologist or cardio-thoracic surgeon had ever mentioned my weight. I knew I had a weight problem but had never been successful at losing the weight and keeping it off.

When I met with the electro-physiologist, he had a serious talk with me about my weight. He explained that my sleep apnea (caused by my weight) causes afib and afib is the leading cause of stroke. He further explained that, if I didn’t lose 50-60 lbs over the next year, I would be in big trouble and could have a stroke or possibly even die. I walked out of his office with a new perspective and drastically changed the foods I was eating immediately. I gave up sugar (except what is in fruit), bread, pasta, and rice. That was July 9th of 2018. I lost 11 lbs in the first 10 days have lost a total of 40 lbs as of the end of Nov. My goal is to lose 40-50 more lbs to get to a healthy weight and to lose it by next summer so I can start kayaking again.

You see, I had undergone a gastric bypass in 2001 and lost 100 lbs by the summer of 2002 and I began kayaking and loved it. Slowly I gained 90 lbs back by 2018. Since my weight loss began on July 9th, my motivation has been to reach a specific weight and kayak again. I have been working with a wellness coach and logging my food daily since July, but I have seen things slowly creeping back into my diet, like bread, and sugar.

I came to a place yesterday where I had to be honest with myself about what was happening. I needed a RESET not only physically, but spiritually. I needed a real WHY statement to not only reach my weight loss goal, but to sustain me.   I needed a WHY greater than a number on the scale or a kayak on my car! I needed a WHY greater than myself!  I spent time praying this morning and talking with God specifically about this area. He reminded me of one of my favorite verses – Exodus 9:16 – “For I have raised you up for this very reason: that I might demonstrate My power in you and proclaim My Name in all the earth.” My WHY has to be to honor Him with my body in everything I put in my mouth; to live as long as He will have me on this earth; so that he can use me to demonstrate His power and proclaim His Name in all the earth! This is now my WHY! Before I eat anything now, I thank thank Him and say “I am eating this to honor You in my body that You might demonstrate Your power in me and that Your Name will be declared in all of the earth!”

Maybe you have a goal or will have a New Year’s Resolution in a few weeks that has tangible results similar to mine. What is your WHY that is going to motivate you beyond your physical/tangible goals? What is it that is going to not only get you to your goal, but sustain you, and satisfy you long-term? Do you have a WHY that is greater than yourself? What is it?

I wrote this blog to encourage you, too, to write down your WHY.