In a previous post, I confessed my obesity and my desire for God to change my bad health habits. I felt my Christian witness was compromised by my gluttony. I also promised that my blog would not become a "health and weight update on Rainer’s life," something that would both bore and frustrate my readers.

I have received, however, many requests in writing and in person for an update on my progress. So please bear with me as I use one of my posts to update my progress:

• I have been on this journey 144 days.
• My total weight loss to this point is 44 pounds.
• My waist is five inches smaller.
• According to body mass index (BMI) measurements, I am no longer obese, but I am still overweight. I still have a ways to go.
• I had the best report from my annual physical exam two weeks ago than I’ve had since I was in my early 30s (I’m 58 years old). All of my pertinent medical numbers are great.
• I feel great; I have so much more energy.

Everyone who attempts to get in better physical shape has his or her own approach. I will share mine because many of you have asked, not because it’s the best way:

• I begin most days with a prayer for strength and God’s wisdom in my eating habits and physical activity.
• The treadmill is my primary exercise machine. I typically walk three miles each day on a pretty steep incline. I typically watch a documentary while I walk.
• I keep a pocket pedometer to make certain I walk at least 10,000 steps a day.
• I use the app called Weightbot to monitor my progress. My son recommends the MyFitnessPal app to log food intake and exercise.
• My primary approach to eating is simply eating healthier foods and smaller portions. I found that the typical restaurant portion is three times the recommended portion.
• I do not allow myself to get hungry. I eat a healthy snack, like a small orange, to curb my cravings.
• I weigh daily. Most sources recommend against this approach. I need the daily accountability.
• A few weeks ago, I hit a wall and stayed on a weight plateau for three weeks.
• I moved off the plateau by adding strength exercises to my workout three days a week and by eating a greater variety of healthy foods.
• I also purchased a desk treadmill and put it in my study. Now when I’m writing or doing emails, I do so on the treadmill. It amazed me how much time I was sitting on my large buttocks each day simply writing.

Many of you are probably rolling your eyes at this post. I understand. It is self-centered and self-focused. And I don’t want to imply I have not had my moments of backsliding. Vanilla ice cream has seduced me more than once.

But I recently heard from someone who was diagnosed with early diabetes and warned about future heart problems by his physician. He told me that my first post on this topic “saved his life” (his words, not mine). He also told me that his witness and testimony have changed dramatically for the better because, like me, he was a perpetual sinner of gluttony.

Just a few stories like that make my self-focus worthwhile.

But I truly hope God takes the focus off me, because He deserves all the glory.

Thom S. Rainer is the president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Previously, he served the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for 12 years, where he was a founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism. He is a 1977 graduate of the University of Alabama and earned his Master of Divinity and Ph.D. degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

For the original article, visit thomrainer.com.

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