Intentional is my word for the year. Without being intentional, we simply drift through life without purpose or direction and we find ourselves in the same position as before. To avoid drifting, I must be intentional. I must have a plan. What is it that I want to improve or change? What must I do to make those changes?

The beginning of the year is a great time to start over. It’s a great time for a second chance at it.

If I want to lose weight, and that is my plan, I must be intentional. What will I do differently to move me towards my goal?

Four things that I will do:

1. This year, I bought a new smart scale to help motivate me. Of course, initially I was afraid to get on it, but my curiosity got the best of me because I wanted to pair it to my phone, so I faced the number. Facing the number helps me to see where I need to go from there. I will weigh in at least twice a week.
2. I also decided to re-implement intermittent fasting. I did it for a short while last year, but just in the first 10 days this year, I have already lost 4.4. pounds. I’m excited!
3. In addition, I am looking at familiarizing myself with the Mediterranean Diet. I just bought the cookbook. The Mediterranean Diet is simply a different way of eating. The Mediterranean Diet includes dishes from the region surrounding the Mediterranean Sea; Italy, France and Spain to the north, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon and Syria to the east, and Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Libya of North Africa. So, there is not one simple diet from all these diverse countries but rather their diet has an emphasis on vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils, whole grains and more seafood than poultry and meat, and of course olive oil. I am not a dieter, but am planning my diet to fit the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid. I am just starting down this path.
4. The final thing I am doing to move toward my goal of losing weight or better stated being in a healthier state, is MOVING! My normal routine has been for sometime a 7-mile walk, five days a week. I will continue to do that unless weather or something prevents. But I will also return to doing other exercises like crunches, jumping jacks and squats.

Remember the Forrest Gump movie line, “Stupid is as stupid does?” Well, I have changed it to Healthy is as healthy does.

Whatever it is that we want to change in our lives, we will have to be intentional. About four years ago, I wrote about this It Doesn’t Happen By Osmosis.

Let’s not drift, and listen to the Apostle Paul’s advice:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control… I Corinthians 9:24-27a

We’re ten days into the new year, what is it that you want to change or need to change? Let’s be intentional!

Happy New Year!