RESETTING THE DECK

365 Days of Thanksliving – Day 178

A couple of times in this journey, I’ve referenced my Navy buddy, Billy. Mr. Mesecher and I haven’t laid eyes on each other since I transferred off the TR back in ’92, but we stay squared away on Facebook. Billy has always reminded me of my dad, or another good Swabbie friend of mine, Jim. See, guys like Billy, dear old Dad (aka Ronald Bonnicksen), or even old Jimmy boy—all three share that magical metabolism where they can eat whatever they want and not gain a single ounce. Oh, what a terrible burden to bear.

Me? Even as a kid I had to watch the mess deck menu; I was always prone to carrying a little extra cargo around the waistband. You wouldn’t know it by looking at my wedding pictures, though. Danielle and I got hitched less than a month after I left the Roosevelt, and my time aboard that ship was the thinnest I’ve ever been. Humping who-knows-how-many miles every day across the deck of an aircraft carrier will do that to a guy. These days, all I have to do is look at a carbohydrate and I transform into the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Where are the Ghostbusters to cross the streams and incinerate my fluff when I need them?

Well, like Popeye, I can't stands no more! So yesterday, the wife and I hit the reset button. For me, this is round three. I suppose saying "try" isn't the most faithful mindset. Twice I’ve gone Keto. Twice I found success and dropped around 45 pounds. But twice, somewhere around month three or four, I let the old habits creep back into the galley. That’s the mindset that requires a hard to port. P.S. — it couldn’t hurt to send some prayers up to the Big Man on my behalf. Seriously, if you want to pray for your pastor, pray I have the discipline to hold the line on this lifestyle change, every single day.

Day Two is officially in the books and checked off the calendar. Two days of clean eating, hydrating like a camel (even choking down that salty electrolyte water), all without cheating. I've got a few aches here and there and I'm dragging a bit, but that’s par for the course. The body has to shift gears from burning glucose to ketones and all that metabolic stuff. It’s a one-day-at-a-time deployment... yet again. Maybe the third time really is the charm.

This might sound a bit strange (but you know me, I'm a certified oddball), but today I’m actually thankful for those minor aches and pains. Why? Because it tells me my body is adapting to a healthier course. And that, my friends, is something to be thankful for.

Are the sugar cravings still barking at me? Sure. I’m trying to ignore them, even as I strolled past my office manager’s bag of chocolate chip cookies sitting out in the open. Ahem. (It’s Shawn’s fault; he planted the contraband.) But I resisted the siren song, retreated to my desk, and chugged some water.

As for this Popeye, here’s what I say: The Lord is my strength, and with Him, I can be "strong to the finich." He is all I need to navigate the rough waters, and to Him I choose to look when my willpower is running on fumes. Because for me, the Lord is me spinach.

Okay, we've officially crossed into silly territory. Day 178 is a wrap… or is it Day 2?

What are you thankful for today? Drop me one in the comments section below.