Goal Update: Jon + Treadmill – Soda = Beast Mode
A merry Monday to you all! I hope that you are all as excited to start this work week as I am. Perhaps a good number of you have the day off today…enjoy! I’ve been at the office since about 6:45am. Already 3 miles into my workday with a target of 8 miles. Taking a quick break from church work to write this update.
A long-exposure pic I took of the group gathered around the bonfire. (Click to see the full version)
Brianne and I had a great weekend at the Winter Quest youth retreat at Pettijohn Springs Christian Camp near Madill, Oklahoma. The event is organized by my friend Kevin Langford who always does a great job with anything he does. The theme of the event was “Rooted” and came from Hebrews 11. I was able to present a lesson on the faith of Sarah and had a great group of teens and adults in class. We were all able to enjoy a productive conversation about the faith of Sarah.
I appreciated Kevin’s recognition that we are probably sending the wrong message to the kids in our churches when we provide sodas and candy at snack time. Because of various food allergies, Kevin had to purchase snacks for the 200+ attendees that had no traces of nuts. A challenging task. I didn’t hear any complaints about having fruit, healthier snacks, water and lemonade for the various snack times over the weekend.
It is my tradition to stop at Dairy Queen on the way back home to get the kids a treat…if they all behaved. They were EXCELLENT, so a DQ blizzard is always a good way to end a great weekend. After DQ we stopped at a gas station to fuel up and I told the kids not to get any sugary drinks or snacks since we had just had DQ. I fueled up the church van and no one had come out of the store. I went in to check on them and found them all gathered around the drink cases. They were saying things like – This one doesn’t have caffeine, does it have sugar? Does the ‘major brand sports drink’ have sugar in it?
This is where you find sugar info!
I thought it was interesting that very few of them knew if drinks had sugar in them or not, or even how to find out what the sugar content was. I’m not a soul-crushing oppressor of sugar, but also have come to realize that it is my job to help these young people realize what they are consuming. Just like I do with my own children. The funny thing about junk food is that no one really misses it when it is gone.
And now for my update:
My soda reduction goals are still going very well. I was honestly concerned about the retreat this weekend, but Kevin not having sodas around made life a lot easier for me.
I have been very pleased that my soda reduction goals have caused a significant reduction in my junk food diet as well. It is odd to think that in the first 3 weeks of 2013 I have only had soda at one restaurant. This used to be a daily event for me.
I have re-developed a taste for water because it makes me feel so good. Well, water and all the other things I have been doing – treadmill desk, getting enough sleep, early morning work schedule. It feels like I am in beast mode right now. What is beast mode? A rare unification of energy, creativity and productivity where you tear through the workday like a beast.
Several people have asked if I have noticed any weight reduction. Not really, and I attribute this to the fact that my pulse rate doesn’t get high enough at the treadmill desk. I have worked my way up to working at a 1.0 incline and 2mph speed. I have noticed that I am thinning out a bit. Brianne noted the other day that my stomach doesn’t hang over my belt anymore, it’s pretty much flat now. Usually I can see changes in my face too, but my face is currently covered up with a very nice beard 🙂
I hope you are having good success with your goals in 2013!
I also wanted to let each of you know how much I appreciate you reading my updates. I was checking my site stats before posting this update. My mind is blown by the traffic that my little site is getting and in such a short time of existence. My Alexa ranking (a website traffic statistic) is slowly working its way down everyday. I have some exciting plans for this site in the next few months and have been tinkering with a second blog that would focus on a specific niche. Like I said…beast mode!
Well, I’m now at 4 miles for the day. Time to get back to work. Thanks for reading and make it a great week! You might consider checking out Kevin Langford’s excellent blog – myglimpsesofglory.com.
Hi Jon. Love keeping up with the McKenzie’s (hmmmm have you thought about a TV show? 🙂 ) through your blog. I LOVE the treadmill desk. We had bought a new treadmill a little over a year ago and before we put it together I injured my knee and ended up having knee surgery. My ortho doc told me NOT to use a treadmill. Booooooo. So we sold it a few months ago, for half what we paid, NEVER USED. Oh well….. Anyway, now I wish we had kept it and made one in Park’s office. I’m sure you remember his hours. Morning til 9:30 many nights. Almost all of the time in the office is sitting. And most of his visits and Bible studies are sitting. I think he might just be able to get behind this. Or on top of it, anyway. 🙂 Come visit soon, and bring the girls! However, this week our HIGHS will be in the teens and low 20’s. Be glad you’re not here now. 🙂 We won’t be in TX again til April, for Jackson’s 6th birthday!! Hope to see you and the fam soon….. Linda Linscomb
I think you could sell Park on the idea of a treadmill desk. Just tell him that it makes you more creative and productive and works very well with the Apple equipment 🙂 We’re looking at a trip in the Northeast during the summer months, the very first part of July maybe. I’m glad we are not there right now. I saw Kim D. posted a photo of frozen chicken eggs that her chickens had laid. That is cold!
There’s only 1 “soul-crushing oppressor” and sugar has no soul to crush. That noted, I’ve always had a love affair with a good glass of ice water. Crushed ice is my preferrence. After being outside working in the Texas heat I couldn’t care less about eating. All I want is shade (or A/C) and lots of ice water. When in the hospital and unable to have any water or even a single chip of ice for days I came to appreciate water even more.
Do you ever miss the old ice machine we used to have at the building that put out those wonderful ice pellets???
Congrats on staying away from the soda and the Alexa drop, it sounds like you’re making great progress in 2013!! I know some people that have used a treadmill desk but gave up due to the “novelty factor” wearing off – any thoughts on that? Most of the people I know that have used them were in large office corporate settings though, not exactly the same as you. Good luck, and keep up the beast mode!
AB
Thanks AB! I’ve thought about the ‘novelty factor’ of the treadmill. At the end of seven weeks I am still as excited about it today as I was that first week. I have walked and worked 131 miles in that time. I would think it would get tedious to use one in a corporate setting if there were a dress code and a constant stream of people. There are only 6 of us at the office and my co-workers are used to talking with me while I walk. Thanks for the comment and encouragement!