Happy Father's Day, and my 15³ Challenge!

Well, it was an interesting start to the Father's Day weekend.  It started with feeling extremely sick on Flag Day, and not being able to call in because of my responsibilities at school.  I'm not that kind of person (maybye it's a trust issue) that can leave my students in the hands of someone else.  I know my students in ways that other teachers don't see, and in some they do.

At any rate, somehow I made it through the Flag Day festivities (not without some tears though - thinking of Dad during Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA which is always played during our Flag Day Ceremeony).  I love it when Band kids get other awards, and Friday was no exception.  I really do get to work with the BEST kids in school.  Afterwards, I had to clear my room for some events next week, but in the midst of it, started feeling worse...I'll spare you the messy details.

Once I got home on Friday, I flopped into bed and slept.  And slept.  Then I came out to the living room.  And slept.  Then I went back to the bedroom.  And slept.

I woke up Saturday still having stomach pain.  I came out into the living room.  And slept.

About 5 o'clock, I finally ate something - chicken broth, with some bacon thrown in.  And 10 saltines.  Wow.  Livin large now...

So I started feeling better last night, and today, Sunday, Father's Day, most of my pains and symptoms are gone.

SO as much as I hated feeling the way I did, it actually was good for me.  I have been thinking up this challenge (and feel free to join me) of losing 15% of my body weight in 3 months, from June 15, to September 15.  And I'm calling it the "15³ Challenge" (the 15-cubed Challenge).

Now 15% might seem like a lot.  As of today's blog writing, I am at 190 lbs.  Losing 15% will put me just above the ideal weight (according to BMI charts and common practice) of 157 pounds.  That's roughly 30 pounds.

According to WebMD (http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/is-fat-the-new-normal) the average American is 23 pounds overweight.  I am not going to tout the reliability of WebMD, but how many of you faithful readers fall into that range?  How many of you think you would look, feel, and act better if you were to drop those 23 pounds?  If I go with 30 pounds, it comes out to 2.5 pounds a week - extremely doable, and I have already lost 7 from being sick...!

For me, I know I will feel better.  This weight loss journey, which for me started 4 years ago now, is never-ending.  I have had issues running of late, and have picked up biking, and hope to do more of that, but also find my mojo again with running.

So - who will join me on my "15³ Challenge"?  Here's the "rules"...

Weigh your self today.
Multiply it by .15 - that will give you the number of pounds to lose.
Keep track of it yourself (what do you think I am, nosy?)
OR
Join me on myfitnesspal.com, a really nice food/weight/exercise journalling site and app (available for most smartphones) - you can find me via facebook or my username "youffoniac".

SOOOO....it's Father's Day.  I think I will forgo the ice cream cake that was planned (due to being sick, and the challenge), but I will definitely find time to enjoy my family, and honor my Fathers, both earthly and heavenly.

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— ³ “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”⁴ Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.