A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. – Matthew 13:3-8 NIV

Two weeks ago I was catching up with a fitness guru friend of mine who commented how someone she was working with was trying to follow the same regimen I was on. She told them what I was doing was “extreme.”

That comment took me back a bit. I do not feel like I am doing something extreme. It feels good to me.

Then I remembered my blood pressure hangs around 97/67, which is often what athletes have.

I do not feel like an athlete.

I do warn people who are just starting to not do what I am doing now.

But there is no reason why you cannot start the same place I did.

Many fail because they start their journey like others finish, rather than preparing their bodies, minds and spirits…their “soil” if you will.

Me: What’s your favorite part of school.

Rhaylee: Taking a nap.

Rhaylee is in Kindergarten. She is just starting out in school. She is not ready for fourth grade reading tests. But she is great at coloring in the lines and drawing her letters.

We all have to start somewhere.

Currently I am on a 1,200 calorie diet with two 600-calorie fasting days per week combined with two hours of activity per day including elliptical, cycling, walking and weight training.

But I started with no activity for the first week and a 2,600 calorie diet. It took me a while to adjust. I had to prepare my body for these changes, slow and steady.

To begin we must prepare our soil. To do this, we must prepare mentally, spiritually and physically. See Three Conversations. I also have several tips on how to get started. See How To Get Started On Your Weight Loss Journey

Under the care of a physician and a dietitian, I lost 200 pounds in 200 days. I lost over 41 percent of my body mass in less than seven months. But I was extremely, morbidly obese, starting at 484.4. And I am male.

If you are a 300 pound female, you should not expect the same results.

We are all different. But we can share the same goals, to live healthy for the remainder of our life.

May it be a long, fruitful one.