Long but worth it... 40 Day Challenge to Rivendell

Our 40 Day Challenge

Michael and I are waiting to know what we’re doing next. We thought we knew and started acting on that feeling. But it fell through now, TWICE. I think its time to start listening more and spinning our wheels less.

It all started about a week ago. I was sitting in bed here in Virginia feeling like a failure as a wife; a fat, slow, lazy, messy slob, and was having a good old-fashion sob fest on Michael's shoulder. I was feeling utterly down on myself, and the world.

The Disney Princess half marathon weekend sign up day is fast approaching and I had SO wanted (to be honest I had promised myself) to be able to run the half marathon and not just the 5k again or the 10k. Conversely, at this point I have not worked out one time since the day of the actual Princess 5k back in February. I have gained a bunch of weight AGAIN and even if I lost 100 lbs I don’t think I could actually RUN a half marathon by next February.

Michael asked me why I don’t just change what I’m doing. He made it sound so easy.

Why don’t I just change? Oh I don’t know! Maybe cause its IMPOSSIBLE? It’s all just too big, and too far to get to, but it’s too soon, and it’s just too much. Its all so scary and really way WAY too much WORK.

AND really I have too much to do right now AND try and reinvent myself! I really felt like you would have to go to some kind of “facility” to try something like that. Like a fat spa, or a yoga retreat, or rehab in the middle of Arizona or something.  

We have to move this summer and we don’t even know where or when yet!

Michael counted the days till Princess registration, 40 days. Then he said, take the next 40 days and focus. What do you want to change? Write it all down, put it on a poster board and then up on the wall to see it every day, and then just DO it. 

Then the morning of race registration re-evaluate what you really want. Not before.

If you are tired of being fat, eat better.

If you’re sad you don’t hear from God, pray more and read the Bible.

If you are worried we wont be ready to move, pack a box every day.

If you’re tired of having a messy house, take an hour a day to just clean it.

How simple. How profound. Just DO IT? Wow, that really sounded actually manageable.

My husband is an amazing coach. He is able to, simultaneously, calm me down, get me to be honest to him and myself, and inspire me. It’s quite amazing! HE is quite amazing! How can someone talk about all your most embarrassing personal flaws and make it seem all right cause you can actually change them! He encourages me and somehow when I'm a sobbing puddle he is able to love me with dreaming, even if it's dreaming about working hard to change myself. He never judges, just loves on me. This guys got a gift... 

Michael said he would be willing to do it with me since he has some things he wants to change about himself and Just Do too. We have been given this waiting time for a reason; we might as well use it to some advantage and become better versions of ourselves. The time will pass whether we use it wisely or foolishly.

I started by making a schedule for myself. Michael is penciled in for his things, but I really hope to follow my plan.

Every morning starts the same for Michael and me.

Get up at the same time each day (except for Saturday), shower, morning coffee, then Bible study together, then its time to eat.

After that we diverge, I focus on cleaning or packing or laundry for an hour and Michael does his “constructive listening” of books and podcasts he has been meaning to study.

Lunch time, then some more housework for me, and Mike takes some time to relax with some well earned “summer fun” like music and video games.

In the afternoon I have scheduled, (yes I had to actually schedule it,) time to get on my computer and blog, OR do something crafty. Michael says I need to feed my creative soul daily. I love him!

Next is dinner cooking. Michael has promised to come in and be with me so I’m not all alone while I cook in the kitchen.

After we eat, each night is designated to a different activity.

Monday- TV Night (any of our favorite shows or sports)

Tuesday- Movie Night (something encouraging or inspiring)

Wednesday- Date Day (like a date night but in the day)

Thursday- Media-fast and listen to an audio book together. (Maybe the Hobbit?)

Friday- Date Night (like date day but in the night)

Saturday- TV Night (any of our favorite shows or sports)

Sunday – Media-fast and listen to a sermon online (We have been enjoying Pastor Jon Courson’s sermons. Here is (Pastor Jon's Webpage)

And while doing all this, we are eating strictly and mindfully. Meal planning and shopping for the week will be on Sundays (together)

We are eating low carb, no sugar, and low fat, lots of veggies and meals in healthy portions, smaller and more frequently. Michael is worried about giving up his beloved soda, and I, well lets just say Starbucks may notice a dramatic dip in its second quarter sales.

Michael (and my mother before him) says I’m a hobbit, like from The Hobbit, ya know? I’m a creature of comfort, who loves to eat, loves to garden, and has a distaste for discomfort or adventures when they disrupt my plans and life.

Just like in The Hobbit, I am going on an adventure.

According to this website, (click here for page) it took Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit 40 days to get from his home in the Shire to Rivendell. 

We like this analogy, because it wasn’t Bilbo’s entire journey, just the start. Just as these 40 days isn’t our entire journey, just an opportunity for us to refocus for the rest of adventure.

Since I love the Hobbit so much, and Michael calls me Bilbo anyway, we decided to call our 40 day challenge “40 Days to Rivendell.” We even chose a daily devotional called A Hobbit Devotional by Ed Strauss.

(Buy it on Amazon here!) 

So what we are hoping for is at the end of this 40 Days to Rivendell we will be healthier individuals, a closer couple, intimate with God, and more disciplined over all.